Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir is a must-play for fans of the original or platformers in general. Expertly written and well executed, the title played like some sort of grand theater, possessing a narrative that was both familiar but also new, filled with dynamic characters who interacted seamlessly not only with each other but also with the world itself. Don’t let a few minor issues put you off, Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir is a top-tier action RPG effort that is more than worthy of your time.

Theatrhythm: Final Bar Line takes a great opportunity and make a strong go of it. Gameplay feels good, and customization options give you nice flexibility to cater to your style. A couple things don't mesh nicely, but the game itself is a complete rhythm package of great gameplay and fantastic songs.

WipEout HD is one of the best PlayStation Network games to date, and the only decent futuristic racer on a home console since 2003. It doesn't look half bad either

Absolum is not only one of the best beat-’em-up titles I’ve played, but it’s also easily DotEmu’s best outing yet, and easily establishes them as the best developer in this genre for the current generation.

Challenging, fun and hypnotic, Velocity is one of the best mini games you'll experience.

Greg Lobanov has produced a game that has it all. It’s a truly heartwarming story with unique gameplay, clever puzzles and a colourful cast of characters in a gorgeous world that never feels limited by its retro-inspired, two-dimensional roots.

Phantom Liberty brings a high-quality new storyline to Cyberpunk 2077, even if its new area "Dogtown" is lacking in size somewhat. Coupled with the 2.0 Update, Phantom Liberty brings the Cyberpunk 2077 redemption tale full circle. If you've waited to play Cyberpunk 2077 at its best, you needn't wait any longer.

Scholar of the First Sin is a noble attempt to right the perceived wrongs of Dark Souls II, but while some tweaks are welcome, others -such as certain enemy placements- are less so. Whatever way you cut it though, Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin is still a great game.

Polished. With the exception of some shaky network issues, Resistance 2 is incredibly refined. The gameplay, visuals, and features all scream high production values, and more importantly, great execution. With the risk of being entirely cliché in mind, you shouldn’t resist the urge to pick this one up.

Ultimately, it’s an evening worth of entertainment and you’ll probably be satisfied with the result. Just don’t expect to be talking about Flower or playing it beyond the next couple of weeks.

Witty, charming and full of character, Psychonauts 2 manages to keep what made the original so memorable, and add worthwhile additions to improve the experience. It tackles dark subjects with tact, humour and is like nothing else on the market. There are not enough of these types of games these days and Psychonauts 2 stands tall, proud, and nearly alone in its field.

Bandai Namco created something special here. Fast-paced, accessible combat meets a well-constructed narrative told with beautiful visuals, wonderful voice work, and an impeccable soundtrack. Even with its odd issue here and there, nothing stands in the way of Tales of Arise succeeding on all levels.

A thunderous sequel that surpasses its already incredible predecessor in every way that counts, Spelunky 2 is the ultimate roguelike and ruthlessly inventive platformer that never stops surprising and delighting those who pick up the controller. There are perhaps far fewer better ways to close out a console generation than this.

MARVEL vs, CAPCOM Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is exactly what it says on the front and so much more. This collection is a triumphant return for a selection of games that many thought lost to complicated industry red tape, and it comes back with some serious bite. The 6 fighting games in this collection are almost perfectly preserved for new hardware and modern audiences, with a suite of additional features to fill out the experience into both a preservation effort and a deep-dive into Capcom's history with Marvel. While it might take a bit of work for newcomers to get to grips with these classic games, the effort is well worth it for one of the most well-realised crossovers in gaming history.

Imaginative gameplay meets tactical depth in this pure arcade shooter with enough content and competitive thrills to distract from infrequent quirks.

Despite the lack of multiplayer, LittleBigPlanet remains one of the most enjoyable offerings on Sony's handheld platform to date.

Suffices to say, If you haven't played Lumines before you're in for an exquisite audio/visual treat loaded with memorable and impacting vibes. Arise's soundtrack doesn't quite reach the majesty of Electronic Symphony on the Vita as the tunes can be too soft and not as emphatic, but in every other way Arise is the best Lumines game yet, and aptly bursts with life just as fervently as its new gameplay mechanic.

Despite some incomprehensibly overwhelming battles, you will quickly become addicted to Bayonettas witty dialogue, additive gameplay and eye-popping production values.

A Crack in Time is a well crafted platformer boasting hilarious dialogue and addictive gameplay. While it doesn't make any radical changes to the formula, both fans and newcomers will have a blast out of it.

Fallout 4 captivates with a hauntingly beautiful apocalypse and refuses to let go. Exceptional gameplay is marred by a few flaws, but the Wasteland’s flaws have never been fewer.

DJ Hero 2 adds a thick coat of polish to an already brilliant original, and as a result is the best music game on the market for those looking for something a little unique.

The Nathan Drake Collection presents a trilogy of single-player adventures at their technical best, but the value proposition will depend on series experience and a few matters of preference.

Diablo IV takes the series to new heights, but also spends plenty of time covering familar ground. The compelling rush for loot is as strong as it has ever been, and visually, the game is spectacular. It doesn't exactly feel like a massive leap from Diablo III yet its focus on the series' core strengths ensures that's likely more than enough for long-time fans.

With Tales from the Borderlands, Telltale Games has struck gold. Easily its best effort since the first season of The Walking Dead, Tales marries the series cheeky humour and laugh-out laughs with some properly touching and poignant moments. This is as essential as it gets.

A beguilingly beautiful and practically pitch-perfect mixture of Legend of Zelda and Dark Souls mechanics, Tunic is a boundlessly charming and highly challenging adventure that gets so much right that it borders on ridiculousness.

Taking the game as a whole, it’s hard not to be massively impressed by what Pipistrello manages to do with the toolkit it gives itself. Every piece works together to make for a distinctive adventure game that will grab you from the very first minute and refuse to let go. While I might take some convincing on the “Yoyovania” as a genre, it’s clear that there’s an unparalleled creative vision here that should be admired.

Codemasters has yet again released another glorious Formula 1 game that continues to push the franchise forward. With its updated handling model and in-depth career mode, it’s perfect for fans of the series building upon the best parts of what made F1 2016 great.

Crash Bandicoot 4 on PS5 is pretty much unchanged from PS4, still offering excellent gameplay, but this time with mouth-watering 4K visuals. DualSense use is slight but noticeable; however, useful Game Help guides and Activity Cards make the upgrade well worth checking out for those still collecting secrets.