With layered yet totally approachable gameplay mechanics and a fully-realised world to put those mechanics in, Penny's Big Breakaway is a breakout success that should be experienced by absolutely everyone with a passing interest in 3D platformers. Every moment I spent with this game was utter bliss and learning the intricacies of movement and learning my way around imaginative levels was a treat. Genuinely phenomenal.

One of the most polished dungeon crawlers in years, Victor Vran is an easy recommendation to anyone with even the slightest fondness for the genre.

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.

Great art, a brilliant soundtrack and a challenging, rewarding survival experience awaits those who have the patience.

Final Fantasy XVI Echoes of The Fallen serves as a refresher into the realm of Valisthea, bringing with it increased level cap, new gear, and some new bosses. It doesn't last long, clocking in at around two hours, but it does just enough to keep you curious for what comes next.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War takes you back to the past, not only in setting and theme, but in its gameplay style and more. It all feels so classic. Between multiplayer, Zombies, and the return of a proper (and surprisingly less-linear) campaign, there is plenty of value for the soldier in all of us.

With its balanced class-based, teamwork orientated gameplay, great graphics and slick mechanics that keep you playing into the wee hours of the night, Evolve itches that competitive urge and feels a lot more evolved that your standard, run-of-the-mill shooter.

A solid title that ends the Dusk trilogy on a positive note. New and altered gameplay mechanics will determine if you rank this above or below Escha and Logy, but either way it is still a must-have for Atelier and TK RPG fans.

Despite an aggravating interface, this is one of the best space-strategy games I've played in a long time. The battles are epic, the story is engaging and thought provoking, space has never looked so good, and the music is top-tier. I hope Black Lab and Slitherine Studios produce more like it, as there are tons of franchises to choose from, perhaps Babylon 5 or The Orville. Battlestar fans will get their fill of Cylon battling action, and I'm sure will love to add this gem to their collection.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War on PS4 is an ever-so-slightly worse looking version of the PS5 release, but with disappointing performance. If you can ignore those shortcomings, the same game with its summer blockbuster-style campaign and classic CoD multiplayer is still here.

You can always depend on the indie game scene to try new things, and Withering Rooms is no exception. A thoughtful implementation of the rogue-like formula into a horror scenario makes for a great combination. Combat offers an up-and-down experience that leaves an imbalance between magic and melee, especially since melee leaves you suffering cheap shots from time to time. Despite the snags along the way, Withering Rooms adds its own ideas into the genre, making this a must-buy for any fan of the spooky stuff.

Full Throttle Remastered is a no-nonsense package that does exactly what it sets out to do by updating the audiovisual experience whilst retaining the original game. It has its faults, borne of its age and shift towards what would become the modern adventure game style, but it remains a fine game, and an important part of the history of point n’ click adventures.

Unfortunately, Mortal Shell just feels like a bad Dark Souls game, while I enjoyed it initially, the more I played the more it wore away my enjoyment. The few unique features it has do make the game feel slightly unique but its world-building, combat and enemies pale in comparison to its inspiration. The bad AI and other small issues do little to complement what could have been an enjoyable title. There are far better games in the genre.

Madden 25 is what Madden fans want: updated rosters, controls, and schemes, but it's not a game changer. Consider this more of a preview for what's coming in the next generation rather than an equated version.

There is an exceptionally solid foundation here for some great racing, especially in multiplayer with friends. And if you take the game on that value alone, The Crew Motorfest is a fantastic game that has some great tracks and scenery to soak in as you race around this truncated version of Hawaii. Unfortunately, the single-player experience and general annoyances throughout the game took away from this focus and left me feeling small doses of frustration throughout.

World of Horror uniquely combines roguelikes, horror, and point-and-click into one delectable package. While the formula creates a significant amount of repetition and the controls aren't as refined to consoles as they could be, the final package is still a worthy look for fans from all three genres.

Batman: Arkham Origins has refinements the series deserves, but core elements are missing the imagination they need right now.

Stardust Odyssey is a game of true beauty, transporting the player to a fantastical world as hauntingly familiar as a recurring dream. While the Stealth gameplay can become frustrating due to escalating difficulty and some checkpoint issues, Stardust is still a game that every PSVR fan should experience for its world-building alone. A true step forward in VR gaming.

Firewatch really gets you thinking, plays on your emotions, and delivers a unique experience that stays with you long after the final credits roll.

Destiny 2 Beyond Light has turned the universe we know and love on its head by removing four major locations, five raids, outdated activities, and the sunsetting of weapons and gear. While the removal of content may seem negative, this is what the game needs to grow. Destiny 2 Beyond Light gives us a great story and an exciting new subclass with Stasis, and a huge new location in Europa. Bungie has made some hard choices to restructure Destiny 2 rather than restart the game completely with Destiny 3. What's on the horizon is something I truly cannot wait for, and I am excited to experience everything the game has to throw at me. While the Darkness is finally here, the future is bright for Destiny 2, and Beyond Light is only the tip of the iceberg.

Reach VR is a confident leap forward for nDreams and for virtual reality on PS5. Its tactile movement, convincing world, and expressive design make it one of the most engaging uses of the medium this year. There are moments when repetition and polish issues hold it back, but its highs easily outweigh the rough edges. This is the kind of game that reminds you why VR matters — not because it’s a novelty, but because it makes the impossible feel real.

Forget about graphic fidelity, and find a strong narrative and character development alongside a universal combat system that Tales of Hearts R can only deliver to the PlayStation Vita.

Sports Champions provides a terrific introduction to Move for both hardcore and casual gamers. The game is at its best when played with others; however, the single-player experience leaves a bit to be desired.

A fun but short detective game that utilises the Wonderbook in great ways.

We've had a blast playing MK vs. DC Universe, despite its uninspired storyline.

Near the end of the game, Isaac Clarke tells John Carver, “Good men mean well. We just don’t always end up doing well.” Ironically, the statement is exactly how I feel about Visceral Games’ work on Dead Space 3. The elements they chose to add were in hopes to attract a larger audience yet in a questionable direction. What’s left is a game that is mildly fun, but filled with flaws.

.hack//G.U. Last Recode is a great attempt to modernize an older franchise. All the improvements made by CyberConnect 2 were not only needed but welcomed. Sure it still suffers from designs of its time but that shouldn’t deter you from a good overall experience.

I had a lot of fun playing through the game, and exploring all the different locations around the world. The story was interesting, especially the main character being such a blank slate. It took me a few hours to get used to the combat style, and I will admit I got lost a few times during the story. But that was fine because I got to do some dungeons, explored the world and got buffs before falling back into doing the main questline.