While not as technically impressive as its predecessor, Monster Hunter Rise succeeds as a follow-up by focusing on getting players into the hunt quickly and comfortably without compromising on challenge.

Armed with its easily accessible two-button setup, One Finger Death Punch 2 stands as a sterling example of how to make the most out of an extraordinarily streamlined concept. More than that though, it's simply a hugely enjoyable and stylish rhythm fighter that does a grand job of keeping players coming back for more.

The landscape of the beat ‘em up genre may have altered in the ten years since Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game first released, but it’s return is wholly welcome. A wonderful compliment to the graphic novel series, and a stylish throwback to the delightfully gaudy brawlers that boomed and bloomed loudly in 90s arcades. Add friends for maximum impact.

Road of Devastation changes up the pace enough to make things fun, and as a fan of Dead Nation, for $3.99, it's hard not to recommend this add-on.

A more than competent puzzler that wows with its impressive vistas, excellent sound design and subtle horror-tinged plot. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is a thing of dark beauty.

A supremely well constructed RTS that feels right at home on PS4, They Are Billions sets a new golden bar for other genre efforts to try and match.

A great spiritual successor to Wonder Boy. Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom does everything right and leaves you without wanting or needing it too do more.

FIFA 11 personalizes the soccer (football) genre like never before with the new Personality Plus feature and Pro Passing. While it lacks any major overhauls like we've seen in years past, it's still a worthy follow-up to last year's installment.

Rollerdrome is an incredible arcade shooter that combines fluid movement with addicting mechanical loops which encourage you to pull off visually appealing stunts with ease. Though your mileage may vary be you a high-score chaser or not, it never fails to be fun, and Rollerdrome is more than worth a look for any arcade shooter lover.

Something of a welcome throwback to when games revelled in creativity and developers weren't afraid to combine deeper, more profound themes with some smart genre blending, Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath ascends beyond its mish-mash of platforming shootery to create a memorable effort that a whole new generation of gamers can finally enjoy in its best form. Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath might not be perfect, but it is delightfully odd, full of charm and laden with surprise and that, in 2022, still remains more than enough to make it irresistible.

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.

An industry iconoclast, beloved eccentric and arguably the father of modern high score chasing, the sort of spotlight that the Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story puts on its titular subject feels hugely overdue to say the least. Beautifully put together with a wealth of painstakingly researched historical material, candid looks at Jeff's storied life from Jeff himself and just about all of the games that heralded his rise to prominence in the games industry packed in for kicks, Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story is a masterclass how you find out about one of the charismatic and genuinely talented legends of the games industry - and you'll have a great time doing it.

An over-the-top brawler with a surprisingly deep combat system. Fans of both brands will love the new characters, but the lack of overall content keeps it from being a complete K.O.

Another great addition to an already excellent game. The Darkness in the Capital DLC is packed with great content that not only expands the lore of the Nioh franchise but provides some excellent boss battles, level design, and easily the best weapon in the entire franchise. It's also pretty great to fight an ancestor of one of gaming's most iconic characters as a fun easter egg.

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.

Though the additions to this newly reinvigorated version of Death Stranding might be considered to be superfluous by die-hard Kojima fans, there's no denying that Death Stranding Director's Cut is the definitive version to play Kojima's most recent opus on console, thanks to an opulent visual makeover and a wealth of quality of life improvements. Though still remaining divisive at its core, Death Stranding Director's Cut is absolutely the best way to see the hype surrounding Kojima's most esoteric work.

A reassuringly solid trilogy third act, Shadow of the Tomb Raider will certainly prove familiar. Nevertheless with better tombs to raid, improved underwater exploration and a more brutally framed narrative, enough adjustments have been made to underscore everything that fans have loved about the series for years.

A fantastic remaster of one of the best Final Fantasy spin-offs. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion is the definitive version of a game lost for fifteen years. With a masterful visual and audio upgrade and a combat system that, in my opinion, outshines Remakes with its fluidity and ease of use, Crisis Core shouldn't be missed; it's just a shame that the writing remained unchanged, and side content is just as repetitive as it was fifteen years ago.

I cannot overstate how much fun I had with Soundfall. It has a few shortcomings along the way, but absolutely nothing stopped me from jamming out while I shot up baddies. Drastic Games combined two different genres into one engaging and entertaining package. Soundfall is a 2022 sleeper hit.

Absolutely overflowing with evocative characters, situations and stunning world building, Citizen Sleeper effortlessly punches its ticket as one of the best narrative adventures on PS5. Sure enough, the lo-fi presentation and plodding tabletop mechanics won't be for everyone, but for everyone else Citizen Sleeper is a beautifully written, often emotional cyberpunk adventure that will linger long in the mind long after completion.

A golf game for people that don't like golf (though people who do like golf will likely also get a similar kick), Golf Club: Wasteland cleverly interweaves arcade style golf with deep themes and a superbly smooth soundtrack in a bite-sized package that is both utterly unique and impossible to ignore.

A charming and quirky simulation game in the spirit of Animal Crossing. Castaway Paradise is the virtual vacation that will end the summer gaming drought.

The remarkable gameplay of Ratchet and Clank's first three adventures holds up in this great HD package, but don't expect a pitch-perfect port.

A technically impressive brawler that looks just as good as it plays.

It's not every day you get to play a video game based on an anime or manga designed to utilize every aspect of the source material to make a great game, rather than simply cashing in on its popularity of it for a quick buck. One Piece: Odyssey tells a good story that spawns many of the franchise's various arcs allowing you to experience the vast One Piece lore in a brand new way. Its turn-based combat is simple but addicting and fun, utilizing each and every member of the Straw Hat crew to the best of their abilities.

For all the shortcomings in the single-player, and the triumphs in the multiplayer and co-op, DICE deserves a fair amount of credit for creating worthy competition to that other modern-shooter.

Sniper Elite 4’s advancements make it the best entry in the franchise to date and a must-have for anyone with a penchant for stealth-based action.

Little gets in the way of Yuffie's debut to the Final Fantasy VII Remake project. Despite her one-dimensional companion, she takes the foreground and never lets it go. Thrilling enhancements to combat and interesting narrative twists and connections make INTERmission worth playing.