An interesting story, varied and over-the-top gameplay, and entertaining weapons helps drive the sandbox genre to new heights.

Oodles of content, some of the most fun you’ll have in a modern shooter with or without friends and a wicked sense of humour make Borderlands: The Handsome Collection fantastic value.

An ultimately conservative though meaningful improvement upon the previous Division title in every way, Tom Clancy's The Division 2 stands as a sterling third-person loot shooter experience that is best enjoyed with friends and is one which plays host to an evocative setting that lingers in the memory.

With great additions like the real-time swing aid and the ability to tune your golf clubs, Woods' latest virtual outing gives owners of previous instalments more than enough reason to upgrade to the latest model.

Madden NFL 18 is a breath of fresh air in the franchise, highlighted with Longshot, a new engine, and more accessible game modes to round off the package.

Jurassic World Evolution 3 has the workings of a solid game, complete with options for newcomers and genre fans alike. The hardcore fans may not find enough here to satiate their sim appetites, but the appeal of dinosaurs is hard to resist. Even if this is a game, there aren't many consequences to your in-game actions; the big hurdle is learning to navigate the game's many menus while using a controller. Thankfully, you can pause the game and make choices, but even though it's a welcome option, this still feels more like a hotfix rather than a design choice. $60 is an attractive asking price, but it might be too much to ask for those on the fence, even if there are dinosaurs on the other side of said fence.

The trenches have never had this level of attention, so the hard-nose side of the game holds proper presentation alongside its vertical counterpart.

All That Remains is a seamless continuation of the first season's story, with all the gripping narrative, well-written characters, and obnoxious technical issues we've come to expect.

Codemasters has finally made the Formula 1 game F1 fans have been clamouring for – realistic, thrilling, and adrenaline pumping.

Nowhere else in the game is that drama more prevalent than in the new penalty shot feature.

A fantastic tribute to The Lord Of The Rings franchise and one of the best LEGO games to boot.

A much more inventive and thoughtful affair than the duo's previous outing, Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is the closest you'll get to Donkey Kong Country on PS4 and you should embrace it with the accordant warmth.

Combining the sheer frustrated joy of twitch platforming and puzzle-solving with a sprinkling of modern sensibilities, N++ is a gem whether you’re alone or with friends.

After several years of seemingly going through the motions, PES 2015 absolutely nails the football side of things whilst making small advances other departments. There is still work to be done for next year, but for now, where it matters most, PES is on the up.

Atelier Sophie 2 does a lot of things well, keeping pace moving forward at a relatively good pace. At the same time, it leaves plenty of opportunities to grow as there are some franchise issues that remain in place.

A fiendishly clever and enduringly charming Wild West take on the stealth strategy formula that Mimimi Games previous effort Shadow Tactics did so well, Desperados 3 does a fantastic job of cloaking what is a supremely clever stealth puzzlebox as a narrative driven tactical effort that everyone should try.

Oozing heart, wit, charm and adventure from every digital pore, Ghost of a Tale is a beautifully crafted and warmly affecting adventure that deserves a place in the collections of PS4 owners everywhere.

2K Czech serves up an ace with Top Spin 4 through authentic gameplay and animations, plus a new streamlined approach throughout the entire game.

Some disappointing soundtrack modifications didn't hamper my time with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4, as its truly timeless and nostalgic gameplay experience ultimately reigns supreme.

A deliberately slow, and sometimes frustratingly patient, start aside, The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles revamps the Ace Attorney formula by injecting it with a take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Great Detective stories that is recognizable, and yet oh-so-perfect for this series in how it changes it. If the Phoenix Wright games have lost a little of their luster for you, then this double header Victorian-era spinoff may well be worth investigating.

One of the best puzzle games of 2016. Addictive, fun and clever.

Sairento VR is one of the best games on PSVR. With non-stop action and thrilling acrobatic controls. It delivers an adrenaline shot of pure action straight to the heart. There is simply nothing else like Sairento VR on PSVR or any system for that matter. This is a groundbreaking, standard-setting game that will serve as a waypoint for VR action games for years to come.

A House Divided leverages streamlined gameplay to yield serious character and plot development. Alongside more technical polish than The Walking Dead has ever seen, this is Telltale's best effort yet.

A good sequel makes sure to keep all of its main components the same while enhancing what makes those components enjoyable. PowerWash Simulator 2 manages that in spades. Providing new equipment, changing how you use soap, and adding meaningful elements to the gameplay loop keep the formula fresh without dirtying up what makes the game a fan favorite. At $25, PowerWash Simulator 2 is a steal.

Darksiders is an action game borrowing heavily from God of War and Zelda. While it doesn't compete with either series, the game offers a healthy dose of fast combat, gratuitous gore, and overly drawn out puzzles and dungeons.

Enjoyable, brash and well designed. Huntdown is a fun action game full of charm and swagger. It has short, enjoyable levels and very well designed bosses. It's streamlined, old-school and not bloated in any way whatsoever. I thoroughly enjoyed my playthrough and may return at some point to mop up a few things I missed.

Skullgirls has almost everything going for it. Fantastic art, fantastic net code, and a near-perfect fighting game engine. As such, it's a shame such a polished game was shipped missing an in-game moves list and no multiplayer lobbies.

With a massive character roster, great online mode and solid gameplay mechanics, Tekken Tag 2 is easily one of the best brawlers on the market and a triumphant return for the series.

A collection of fun, forgettable mini-games, Sportsfriends demands local players but struggles to be the life of the party.

Dragon Age II offers an action-oriented RPG adventure with enough refinements to improve upon the stellar Origins. However, the new streamlined combat, loot, and exploration system may turn off hardcore RPG followers.

With its large new map, unique dungeons, and captivating story and side quests, Skyrim's Dragonborn feels far more like a complete expansion than basic add-on content. Familiar issues persist, and riding dragons isn't all that cool, but it's certainly great to play more Skyrim.

Hitman 2 is an absolute masterpiece of emergent, sandbox game design. Retaining all the key elements of the 2016 original, developer IO Interactive has instead restricted itself to a handful of minute but important changes. Streamlining the overall experience and producing what is, hands down, one of 2018’s most entertaining and satisfying titles.

If you have any interest in puzzle-platformers, don't let Omno pass you by. It's one of the most heartwarming adventures you can experience on PlayStation 4 with a level of charm seldom found in the medium.

A Plague Tale Innocence set the beautifully grim tone, and A Plague Tale Requiem goes beyond it and tells a captivating tale of hope and misery that builds on the original’s promise in almost every way. It may struggle to match its ambition in places, but Requiem is nothing short of a remarkable achievement.

No Man’s Sky’s PSVR2 upgrade fills in a significant missing piece of its existence-spanning puzzle. Hello Games has managed to make this love letter to classic sci-fi even more poignant and romantic than ever before. An already impressive game has reached a new high in player immersion with a fantastic overhaul of its VR capabilities.

Though appearing a touch derivative at first glance, Crow Country breaks from tradition in a number of smart ways, delivering a well-rounded, memorable experience that cements it as one of the better survival horror throwbacks of recent memory.

Death Standing proves itself as a unique, palpable new IP, filled with rich storytelling both in narrative and gameplay. The beginning of the game suffers from long gaps of time intended for learning the ropes, but the ship rights itself once it finally turns the corner. Despite that with a handful of missteps, a deep, potent message of coming together rings through every aspect of Death Stranding that dazzles the game as a whole. If you give it the time, Death Stranding will offer you something most games never do.

The best 2D fighter on PS4 with superb cross-buy and cross-play functionality.

Fallout: New Vegas needed more time in the oven to work out all the kinks and bugs, but it is still a terrific experience for anyone interested in re-experiencing one of the greatest action-RPG series of our time.

The congregation of turn-based strategy, stealth and roguelike seems like an odd grouping, but my word, it works so very, very well.

There’s nothing new for repeat players except another crack at an exceptional, if ever-so-slightly dated game. For those who haven’t picked up Resident Evil 4 in a while however, this is as good a time as any to remind yourself of what heights this series can reach.

Stuffed with masses of modes and a veritable avalanche of stuff to do, Mortal Kombat 11 is the best the series has ever looked, sounded and most importantly, played. Oh and it doesn't hurt either that it just so happens to have one of the best story modes ever made, too.

It's on the pitch that really matters and PES 2013 delivers an exciting, fluid game of football that finally takes it to the next level.

An admirable, if problematic, port of a fine strategy game, XCOM Enemy Unknown Plus gives the PS Vita a welcome, posthumous, shot in the arm.

Though some curious issues persist, there’s no denying that the Spyro Reignited Trilogy is a stunning effort that every platforming aficionado and fan alike should grab with both hands and not let go until every last gem is wrung out.

Remedy's Control might eventually be one of the coolest games on the market, but upon release framerate, balance, and popup issues are so rampant that players are forced to change their style of play to work around the bugs. While Control's world-building, performances, and writing are all superb, the difficulties in actually playing through the game to see all that cool stuff leads to a deep sense of frustration.

Little Nightmares 2 is a game that pulls together every aspect of a game's presentation and pulls it off miraculously. Everything here is amplified from the original and moments feel like true cinematic wonders, unlike anything you have seen before. Combat doesn't always work, but the whole package is truly impressive and a showcase of the talent Tarsier Studios possess.

Sublime physical football with a tactical brain sees PES 2020 bring a successful gameplay refresh, but far more needs to be done about the list of problems that have been left untouched for much of this generation.

A resoundingly confident continuation of 2016’s Game of the Year, Death of the Outsider is a worthy addition to the Dishonored pantheon.

Streets of Rage 4 is an absolute masterclass in maintaining the essence of a classic but also in reimagining certain aspects of its design DNA for a contemporary audience. Streets of Rage 4 is without doubt the best side scrolling brawler you can get on any system.

Grid might have been gone for 5 years, but in those years it developed into a truly great and unique racing game. From the wide variety of cars, to the insane level of detail and the great audio, Grid 2 offers something for all racing fans. While simulation racing fans might not prefer the mix with arcade, Codemasters did a an excellent job blending the two styles and making something quite unique.

A charmingly well-crafted marriage of co-operative play and Metroidvania esque mechanics, Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is quite unlike any PS4 game currently available and is absolutely worth the price of admission for those looking for their next long-term co-op fix.

An enduringly clever inversion of traditional survival genre tropes coupled with a palpably tragic and gut-wrenching experience, This War of Mine: Final Cut offers up 11 bit studios magnum opus in its perfect form. By packing in all of the DLC released to date in addition to the stellar Stories expansions and providing a pin-sharp 4K presentation, This War of Mine: Final Cut is an ageless, horrifying and inventive survival effort that everybody should play without delay. This is as essential as survival games get and its mediation on the desperate plight of civilians during a time of war has never been more resonant.

Gris is a serene experience all its own, filled with problems to overcome and success to achieve. Gris is a wordless game dependent on your ability to surpass what it throws at you. Pacing aside, not much gets more beautiful than witnessing Gris in full motion.

A toweringly charismatic twin-stick blaster that expertly marries retro shooter beats with roguelike game mechanics, Enter the Gungeon is one of the cleverest and most enjoyable shooters money can buy.

Atlus and Vanillaware make a strong case for the greatest tag team in modern gaming. Dragon's Crown is a brilliant reimagining of a classic genre that wields the depth of an RPG while keeping core elements intact.

Though the breadth of the upgrades that the PS5 brings to WRC 9 is expected and somewhat unambitious to an extent, the truth is that developer Kylotonn has provided a delectable coat of polish to what is already considered to be one of the finest rally games in years. If you've got a PS5 and you want a rally racing sim to cut your teeth on, they don't come any better than WRC 9.

Child of Light is a game that should not be missed, especially by RPG fans. If someone asked me to give them an example of why video games are considered art, Child of Light would be that game. Child of Light is easily an early contender for Game of the Year.

A triumphant debut for Kingdom Hearts on PSP, Birth by Sleep's combat system is deeply addictive and its characters utterly charming.

Despite colossal expectations, The Last Guardian is a triumph. The tale of Trico and the boy is profound—a beautiful, affecting journey grounded by their relationship.

So, EA Sports College Football 26 is better than last year albeit demonstrating its superiority in a measurement of inches rather than miles. That said, the raft of incremental improvements, massive amount of content to stuck into which when married with EA's reliably all-star, blockbuster presentation which succeeds in emulating the audiovisual sensation of the real-life spectacle mean that EA Sports College Football 26 remains an essential purchase for those looking to hit digital college gridiron. All in all, EA College Football 26 is the best football game to come along for a good while and once again supplants the Madden NFL franchise as the premier gaming series for America's most passionate sporting pastime.

A fun way to learn the guitar which compliments existing methods with a comprehensive set of tutorials and a superb feedback system that challenges you to improve.

Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred brings some new content to the table, including the new playable class, a new zone, a new coop mode, and some new story. However, the story lacks the kind of oomph and satisfaction that usually comes with Diablo. To boot, Party Finder limits itself with the seasonal and non-seasonal characters, and the Spiritborn class is still receiving early adjustments to how it plays. Still, there's a great free patch that comes alongside the expansion. This creates the perfect opportunity for returning players to check out where Diablo IV is now. The free quality-of-life changes might just help persuade you to jump back in the deep end.

Hitman: World of Assassination's VR update brings you a brilliant new perspective and fun, interesting mechanics to the entire trilogy. Regardless of the few bits of content that didn't get the treatment, there's more than enough here to keep you occupied for hours and hours on end. Whether you're a long-time fan or looking to become the Silent Assassin for the first time, and I found it just as fun as its flat screen counterpart.

Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon has its flaws but overall this 80s-inspired shooter packs more than enough bang for your buck.

The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series is the complete package. If you haven't yet experienced Clementine's genre-defining journey through the zombie apocalypse and fancy a few bonuses thrown in for good measure, then this is absolutely essential. Not to be missed.

MLB The Show 18 touches up some places and refines others. Despite missing online franchise, The Show 18 slings a complete game, even if it has a couple of problems on base.

Every kart racer from this point forth needs a track editor, enough said.

Soul Sacrifice Delta delivers a payload of extra missions and gameplay time as well as enhanced controls. Though the grind of the game is increased further by the extra content, the gameplay enhancements make enjoying the game for what its worth that much easier.

As solid as ever from San Diego Studio, but a few tweaks and a superb Storylines mode make MLB The Show 23 an even more worthwhile purchase than recent editions.

Despite my initial trepidation, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds defies the odds and managed to hook me. Strong fundamental gameplay is paired with genuinely cool customisation options and fantastic track design to make for a compelling and addicting racer that I’ve had to tear myself away from to even write this review. We’ll see how online balance plays out in a realistic sample size, but so far, I’m massively impressed.

All in all, Fuel Tiracas is a great game; it has addicting gameplay and for just 40p (UK price) it represents unbelievable value for money.

Resolutely challenging without ever being unfair, frequently gut-bustingly humorous and stuffed with all manner of unexpected twists and turns, The Messenger one of the most essential platformers on PS4. It really is that simple.

Honkai Star Rail offers a palpable universe full of possibilities on top of an accessible turn-based combat system that you can dig as deeply into as you want. There's a grind involved with any gacha game, and Honkai Star Rail is no exception. Strong writing, intriguing characters, and engrossing combat make Honkai Star Rail a must-play game that's also relatively friendly to free-to-play players.

Tetris Forever is far more of a historical exhibit than video game and that's all it needs to be to be a vital pick up for anybody even curious in the origins of the puzzler. The history of Tetris is laid out in an engaging and approachable way that balances information and engagement, as well as allowing people to share in that history with the exhaustive catalogue of games on offer here. The commitment to preserving the old is commendable, and this is a landmark in what has become quite a saturated market for publishers. All compilations should strive to be as comprehensive as this.

Kill Knight is one for the purists. A distilled isometric, arcade, shooter boasting thrilling, smooth gameplay that will keep you coming back for just one more run. What might quietly be one of the best this year, is loudly apparent once you start playing.

Turbo Overkill proudly wears its influences on its sleeve to weave together a ferocious blast through a cyber retro world. It's chock full of charm with plenty of viscera to boot, and reminds you exactly why you loved all the games it doffs its cap to while simultaneously feeling like its slick modern counterparts.

For anybody who enjoyed Vampire Survivors and wanted something resembling a full-throated next step of that formula, Soulstone Survivors fits the bill handily. Though the small map sizes and occasional slowdown take the sheen of the package a little, Soulstone Survivors nevertheless makes a compelling case for itself as the next essential Survivors title that is very much worth of your hard earned cash.

If the original was too difficult, the expansion pack will throw you into fits. Avoid if you dislike critical thinking and purchase if you enjoy anything the tower defense genre has to offer. This expansion is a luxury, not a necessity.

An ultimate edition of the original PS3 version. The added free goodies rewards fans and those who skipped it on the PS3. Disgaea and RPG fans will be in love, but the extra trinkets won't be enough to win over non-fans of the long running series.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a must-have RPG this holiday season. There is so much that Veilguard brings to the table that it's hard to find something to dislike. Veilguard is a complete package that gives you everything you could ever wish for in an action-RPG, and is without a doubt a return to form for BioWare.

While a bit on the easy side, SteamWorld Dig is an addicting and unique experience featuring heaps of replay value.

Aside from some perplexing omissions, Tekken 7 is a roaring success where it truly matters; in its mechanics, its dynamism, and its ability to engage the player through its concise presentation. Make no mistake, the King is back.

A clean and realistic presentation with addicting game modes makes this game a must-have for college football fans.

The Thaumaturge does so much right. From the voice work to the narrative to the customizability of combat, your time with Wiktor will be time well spent. Still, combat can feel like more work than it should in the first couple hours, and short-lived performance glitches tend to appear after most cutscenes. Finally, in some areas, the isometric angle of the game does not compensate for tall buildings in certain areas, making it hard to navigate in those places. Regardless, none of these things bring down the experience. Wiktor makes for a fantastic lead character in a strong combination of narrative and concepts. The Thaumaturge is a more-than-worthy purchase, even for non-fans of isometric RPGs.

Mega Man 11 is another great addition to the franchise. The unique Dual Gear system gives the franchise a much needed boost to the formula. It may be easier than past titles in the franchise, but Mega Man 11 is a great title for newcomers and veterans alike.

Overall, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered brings plenty of welcome changes to the original formula while still maintaining the quirkiness of the original game. This is a prime example of a loving remaster: improve the original concept without veering away from it completely. It's not completely perfect, since it still features some of the glitchy nature of the original game, like asset pop-in. Nonetheless, "perfect" isn't what fans want out of Elder Scrolls. They want exploration and fun, and that's exactly what you get from The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.

Though the narrative setup did little for me and the occasional orientation issues mildly frustrated, Viewfinder still manages to shine through as a resolutely interesting, smart and enjoyable three-dimensional puzzler that feels like it was cut from the same, ingenious cloth as Valve's legendary Portal games. What's not to like?

Capcom has created a luxurious VR experience for Resident Evil Village that grows in power the deeper you delve into it, It’s a tough one to get to grips with, but this is a shot in the arm for an already great survival horror adventure.

It can feel desperately unfair at times – bordering on blatant cheating – but the fact that you'll unwaveringly persevere speaks volumes for FIFA 15's distinct appeal. A must for footballing fans.

WWE 2K23 sits at the head of the table as the best sports simulation game on the market. Fine tuning last year's entry to an impressive level of detail, and adding a layer of realism that is needed in a simulation game. With an array of modes, including the highly addictive MyGM, the introspective MyRise, the improved Showcase, and an extensive creation suite, wrestling fans will find themselves spoilt with WWE 2K23's offerings.

A word of warning though: unless you really understand pinball and the strategy behind it and what all the individual lights, holes, ramps and bumpers mean on each table you won’t get the best out of Zen Pinball 2.

Look, it's really simple, Burnout Paradise Remastered is essential for fans of racing games everywhere. They just don't make them like this anymore (but they really, really should).

Saints Row 2 isn’t Grand Theft Auto, but that's a good thing. With strong replayability and wacky mini-games, the game will remain relevant for months down the road.

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga does a lot of things right that make it the best LEGO Star Wars game, and LEGO game to date. But it's level structure and pacing leave something to be desired more often than not, and co-op play has seemingly gotten far less care and attention than it deserved, putting a damper on what is otherwise a hilarious and fun experience.

Severed is quite simply a handheld tour de force without equal.

Marathon is further proof of Bungie's pedigree and ability to create enthralling, engaging, and addictive shooters. While Marathon is brutally challenging and unforgiving, especially for the solo or casual player, it begs to be experienced.

Pixel Ripped 1995 pulls off a remarkable magic trick, slamming players back in time to the gaming days of the mid-90s. With brain-twisting challenges and a solid dose of nostalgic delight, Pixel Ripped 1995 is an amazing romp through the games of yesteryear, combined with amazing modern mechanics. Highly recommended.