What The Long Reach may occasionally lack in originality, it more than makes up for in inventiveness, personality, and bubbling slow-burn horror chills. This is a well-written, atmospheric horror adventure, and it deserves your attention.

Arcade Spirits presents an intriguing world filled with vibrant characters and deep emotional feeling. The story is beautifully written and provides a clear path with plenty of choices along the way to really make your story unique. While there are some conversations that repeat depending on choices made the game flows smoothly. All in all, it is a truly enjoyable story with plenty of little treasures for fans of both modern and classic gaming.

Pacific Drive is a game absolutely dripping in atmosphere and excellent spooky vibes, with an exploration-to-looting-to-tense extraction-to-crafting/upgrading and back again gameplay loop that doesn't get old, and a story that is both emotional and intriguing. While pacing issues do hamper it down some, that doesn't damage the experience enough to leave it off anyone's must-play list for 2024.

Leaving its predecessors legacy far behind, Knack has seriously grown up and become the platformer we deserved all along.

Shakedown: Hawaii builds on its predecessor by improving it's visuals and music massively. It does keep its unique humour, story and over the top action though. The city building systems are a welcomed addition and I feel most players will enjoy what's on offer. You get quite a bit of game for your money and there is a lot to do in this uncanny little title.

This might not be the biggest Killing Floor launch ever, but it might be the best-built one — at least once the performance issues are patched up. You get fewer weapons and perks, but they’re better designed, more interesting, and full of potential thanks to the new mod system. The side objectives and movement upgrades push things forward just enough without losing what made the series fun in the first place. I have so much faith that this will build upon itself to be as much of a titan as Killing Floor 2 eventually was. As a fan from the start, I feel compelled to credit it for that.

In NHL 11, EA scores off a slap shot built on a strong physics system, a realistic presentation, and a deep hockey experience. Every year it seems EA makes an NHL game that will be hard to top, and this year is no different.

Metro Awakening VR is one of the best survival horror game experiences available on any VR headset, with thrilling scares and strong survival mechanics all tied together with an immersive and rich atmosphere. Even though the story loses steam before the end and stealth combat fails to impress, the rest of its best parts make for an unmissable game for any horror fans with a VR headset laying around.

If you're the sort of person who saw martial arts movies in your teens (or younger) and immediately started mimicking scraps with your best mates as you left the cinema, then Midnight Fight Express is for you. Jacob Dwinzel feels like he is aspiring to be the games industry's equivalent of The Raid and Gangs of London director Gareth Edwards and cannot wait to see whatever violent delights this acolyte of cinematic violence comes up with next. For anyone else with even a passing affection for roaming brawlers, Midnight Fight Express boasts some of the most satisfying combat I have experienced in any game of the last few years and on that fact alone carries it to a high recommended indeed.

A breath of fresh malodorous air, Blood West's take on ponderous demonic murder in a Wild West that is as weird as it is wild feels overdue for a setting that has otherwise stagnated with traditional open world efforts and fairly dunderheaded shooters. Sure, it's a little rough around the edges and the low-poly, retro 90s visuals invariably won't be for everyone, but there's an old-fashioned earnestness to its design and approach to progression that is almost overwhelmingly endearing all the same.

Stressful, tough but immensely challenging and rewarding, Dark Souls 2 will take you to hell and back, and then back to hell again.

Don't let the massively blocky visuals fool you - The Last Door: Complete Edition is one of the atmospheric titles to come out in quite some time and one of the very best point and click adventure games the PS4 can offer right now. Don't sleep on this one.

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.

It is remarkable how far Codemasters have come with the F1 series and F1 2018 has proven that a move towards simulation can be done without alienating casual players. Finally a spectacular Formula 1 experience for simulation fans.

Rocket League is one of the best multiplayer experiences of this generation. The single player pales in comparison, but with the joy-riddled social chaos Rocket League has on offer, any solo campaign would.

An excellent remaster of an excellent game, Live A Live influence can be spotted in many titles to this day, and most people may have never even heard of it. After 30 years, consumers can finally enjoy one of the most unique and compelling JRPGS from the SNES area.

Team Sonic Racing is a blast to play. The unique team based racing puts a spin on an already successful formula that encourages players to work together while also feeling competitive enough to not keep those away who always want to prove they're the best.

Othercide is the most pristine AA game I have played. Its haunting world and grotesque creature design cement themselves as some of the best in gothic horror, whilst the unique, timeline-based combat provides a twist on traditional tactical games. Othercide is far more than just a striking art style and everyone should give one of the most unique games of the year a shot.

It’s a game to lose yourself in, forget about what you’re supposed to be doing and just to explore and experiment. The Avalanche Engine 2.0 is a remarkable beast and Panau Island is a place that deserves to be explored by the masses.

Wanderstop won't win any awards for its deliberately thin gameplay mechanics, but over its 10-15 hours you'll be reminded how a simple act of kindness can change lives and that just slowing things down and taking time for yourself away from the stresses and white noise of daily life is perhaps just what the doctor ordered.

The stunningly designed city of New Malais and Cole's range of superpowers are two of the main highlights, but the content creator really pushes the genre to a whole new level. inFamous 2 is, in almost every way, better than its predecessor.

The latest PixelJunk Monsters lives up to the series' pedigree, making no concession on punishing trial-and-error gameplay while delivering undeniable fun over dozens (hundreds?) of hours.

Children of Morta is a handsomely crafted dungeon crawling effort with a stirring narrative that freshens things up on account of its familial theme and structure. The gorgeous presentation and resolutely solid hack and slash beats are supported by some surprising mechanics and flourishes that help to ensure that Children of Morta is one of the most pleasant surprises of the year.

Avowed on PS5 is a focused, polished RPG that thrives on combat variety, skill depth, and companion-driven encounters. Expanded progression systems and gear upgrades make your chosen playstyle feel consistently rewarding, while companions add tactical and narrative depth to every fight. Though Obsidian has kept some story beats and familiar design elements safe, the meaningful tweaks and updates bring more out of your experience, making exploration, combat, and progression more engaging than ever. Limited enemy variety remains a minor restraint, but overall, the PS5 version feels complete, confident, and satisfying from start to finish.

A great rendition of an old IP by using the functionality of the PS Vita in the best ways.

Soul Calibur VI has the heart and soul of what makes a great fighter great. However, Reversal Edge is a mixed bag, and some presentation elements lack visual investment. Regardless, Soul Calibur VI is the complete package, accommodating to newcomers and veterans alike.

Taking inspiration from Jet Set Radio, this game effortlessly carries on its legacy. With great gameplay mechanics, a deep story, and fantastic music Bomb Rush Cyberfunk raises the standard for indie games and making it one of the best indie games you'll play this year.

Kingdom Two Crowns is an immersive and frequently surprising strategy game that is quite unlike any other. Fans of slow-burning, atmospheric strategy efforts with emergent discovery will find much to enjoy here - as would newcomers to the genre at large.