Injustice 2 goes to great lengths to be a fighting game with longevity in mind without ostracizing a more casual audience. A superb story, a great roster, and a smart, if overly complicated, Gear system all contribute to that, and the result is arguably the best overall fighter of modern times.

The murder mystery puzzler makes the jump to PlayStation as Capcom successfully revives Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective. Captivating characters, an engrossing mystery, and inventive puzzles ensure Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective's appeal is alive and well in 2023.

Dead or Alive 6 is the first great fighter of the year. It proves that once you strip the "fan service" away, you see how deep and masterful the core combat can truly be.

Much more than just a sterling evolution of arcade legend Gauntlet, Heroes of Hammerwatch melds superbly robust dungeon crawling gameplay together with ingenious roguelike design to create the genre's next must-have title. If like me you missed out on Heroes of Hammerwatch when it first released, now is the time to correct that mistake. You won't regret it.

Blurb: Even though the visual remastering is a touch on the modest side, Sega have nonetheless done great work here. With reworked localizations, improved sidestory finding and smoother gameplay overall, the Yakuza Remastered Collection nonetheless proves itself as the definitive way to play Sega's PS3 trio of core Yakuza games.

Whether you create a rookie to take through the paces, or start off with a professional team in season play, NBA 2K12 is easily the most enjoyable basketball game on the market.

Gorn 2 doesn’t reinvent the series, and it doesn’t need to. It refines the original in smart, deliberate ways: tighter progression, sharper visuals, and more variety through new weapons and absurd traps. The core loop remains that gleeful, physics-fuelled violence, now smoother, better paced, and more reliably fun. For fans of the first entry, Gorn 2 delivers a more polished and engaging experience — a true sequel that earns its place in the arena.

Despite an underwhelming story and a few hiccups here and there, the stunning world of Oros makes Far Cry Primal an experience worth going through.

A thoughtfully crafted love letter to the sort of titles that many of us forged our gaming mettle with.

Easily the best looking anime fighter on the market today, the fourth and final entry in the Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm series proves to be a highly entertaining one as it parallels its stupendous presentation with substantial longevity and an easily accessible brawler.

Lighting Returns takes to the end of the world with vivacity and conviction, reshaping the way that RPGs can and should be in many great ways. Even if the game engine is well past its prime and the voice acting is weak at times, the overall package is an entanglement of nostalgia and intrigue for fans of Final Fantasy XIII and the RPG genre.

NBA 2K14 rewards those willing to learn a new way to use the right joystick and takes from still existing modes everything great that they have to offer. Though the experience may be narrow, the beautiful, immersive gameplay stands on its own among the rest of the sports gaming genre.

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

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

A refined and polished sequel to a brilliant skateboarding game.

Ravenswatch has the hard stuff nailed down - the combat is sophisticated, the roguelike mechanics are spot-on and there is no shortage of progression avenues and opportunities; it just needs more content than it currently has to really shine. As it is, Ravenswatch is a roguelike overflowing with innovation and potential, it just needs a bit more content to turn a very good experience into a great one.

Ultros is ultimately an excellent game, and I loved almost every minute I spent with it exploring what is really a giant work of art. The storytelling, the music, the art, the design and exploration are all wonderful to experience, even if its biggest puzzle mechanic is also its biggest frustration. But those frustrations don't overshadow the things that make Ultros shine, and they are all why it is a must-play game for Metroidvania fans, or anyone that just wants to be awed by what they're looking at every five minutes.

A stellar compilation of games from the industry's most legendary fighting franchise, Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection is a must for fans of the series and newcomers alike.

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles is an experience that never overstays its welcome. While the map may be simplistic and outdated, the combat, visuals, voice acting, and story more than make up for anything the game lacks. New and old fans will find something to enjoy here, while the versus mode will keep players engaged long after the credits roll.

Written by and starring the original cast of Ghostbusters, Ghostbusters: The Video Game Remastered is simply the best video game based on a movie property ever created. With fun gameplay and bizarre events, this is the closest you’ll ever get to strapping on a real proton pack.

A charming and well-constructed take on the twin stick shooter, Flame Over endears itself greatly with easy to play, yet difficult to master mechanics which neatly avoid the frustration usually associated with roguelike titles.

Buckets of adorable charm and solid platforming fundamentals win out over some minor shortcomings to cement A Hat in Time as one of the best surprises of the year.

Biomutant is a fun title with some amazing visuals and a huge open world to explore. Experiment 101 have gone out of their way to make you feel like you're a first-time visitor to an unknown landscape. Though its morality system leaves a lot to be desired there is plenty here to enjoy. Despite suffering from some technical issues, none of it hindered me from pouring hours and hours into the game. If you're looking for something fresh, unique, and exciting, Biomutant is a brand new IP that you should play.

The best point and click adventure effort to come along since Thimbleweed Park, Lucy Dreaming is a relentlessly entertaining genre effort that deftly blends well structured puzzle design with the sort of delightfully irreverent and offbeat humour that will have you grinning and quietly chuckling like a loon throughout its duration. A great point and click offering that you can enjoy with a nice cup of PG Tips, though I suspect that a cuppa of Yorkshire Tea would be more in line with what the creators intended.

Riders Republic is at its core a fun game that only wants you to have fun, more than most games. Its UI isn't the best, and there still seem to be some bugs that need to be ironed out, but there are no issues that really break your fun along the way. On top of the gorgeous presentation, Riders Republic is easy to recommend for anyone with a liking towards a game where they can flip around three times on a pair of rocket ski's mid-air while dressed as a giraffe.

Sumo Nottingham's fresh take on the asymmetric multiplayer genre is greatly welcomed. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre offers an intense horror experience when playing as the victims, and is equally as fun as chasing them down as the twisted Sawyer family. Faithfully capturing the iconic characters, and what made the original film so great, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a best in class of the genre.

Yakuza: Like A Dragon is an impressive and quality JRPG that successfully acts as a jumping in-point for new fans and also ties itself to the series' past in exciting and engaging ways. The turn-based combat has been infused with some mechanics that help retain the action and over-the-top hilarity the series is known for. Mini-games once again shine and there is a lot packed into Ijincho. Like A Dragon paves the way for a bright future for the franchise.

The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets is so packed with charm that one might underestimate some of the sharply clever puzzles involved. Though it you will probably only play it once, that’s no reason to skip on a game of this quality. A complete delight that could only exist in VR, Stolen Pets bursts with nostalgia and fun.