For what Paper Trail sets out to do - it does so with a clear passion and mastery of craft that is rarely seen in the industry today. While not everyone might resonate with the story in the same way that I have, those who do will feel every fold and every step of Paige's journey through a whimsical and wonderfully designed world that manages to mix an inventive new twist on top-down puzzling with a heartening premise that will sit with me for a long time.

A novel concept is unfortunately lost in a muddle of confused mechanics and cheap presentation that makes me question exactly why this foregone Stadia game even made the jump to major platforms. Where I managed to have some small fun on the virtue of this still being the PAC-MAN we know and love, I found myself quickly wanting to reinstall other versions of the game. Given that this isn't even the first instance of a PAC-MAN battle royale, I'm sad that this didn't manage to emerge as a worthwhile competitor.

Though appearing a touch derivative at first glance, Crow Country breaks from tradition in a number of smart ways, delivering a well-rounded, memorable experience that cements it as one of the better survival horror throwbacks of recent memory.

Sometimes, having the most faithful remake doesn't mean it will be the best. I love Front Mission 2 and will always return to it, but this Remake may be hard for some people to accept and swallow with the lack of tutorials, hard-to-navigate menus, and a translation that could have used more time. It's still a fun game you must love to get through.

Rare charted its course, and created a true treasure in Sea of Thieves. Its only lows found in solo gameplay, and its one dimensional melee combat. It is the king of emergent gameplay, and boasts a timeless aesthetic. With other issues such as the tedious downtime fixed, and a great many quality of life and accessibility changes, through years of dedication and continued support, Sea of Thieves is the best game as a service on the market.

If you have a PS5 and have always been curious by Grounded when it was shoehorned to Xbox/PC exclusivity, you'll find Grounded: Fully Yoked Edition to be a fantastic surprise. There's a lovely and expressive attitude and plenty of meat on its crafting and survival bones.

Wrath: Aeon of Ruin feels like the hardcore peak of the so-called ‘boomer-shooter' subgenre. A punishing (sometimes unfairly so), yet rewarding and surprisingly innovative exercise in first-person shooter goodness, Wrath: Aeon of Ruin is recommended for anyone looking to test their genre skills within the confines of its grim design and unrelenting onslaught.

Tales Of Kenzera: ZAU is a solid debut title from Surgent Studios, with its strongest aspects coming from the art style, world design and a truly impactful story. It's gameplay however lacks the same depth, and doesn't do enough to set itself apart in a genre crowded with some of the best games ever made.

2K comes out swinging with TopSpin 2K25, with this being the return to the popular tennis franchise. Presentation and gameplay meet the 2K Sports' standards that fans of the games come to expect, and TopSpin fans can feel comforted in the fact that the game still feels like it should. Controls ask you for more precision and discipline than the previous entries did, but this makes for a more satisfying experience once you nail down the control scheme. Some visual oddities, a rare gameplay simulation, and the lack of depth in setting customization ask you to forgive a few things along the way. Nonetheless, the experience far outshines any competition and leaves the door wide open for future success with a formidable foundation the franchise can firmly stand on.

Sand Land is a fun filled game that offers players a lot of different things. Easily the best part of the game is the vehicle combat and puzzle solving, but the narrative doesn't always deliver.

Another Crab's Treasure sets out to try and create a Soulslike that trims down the complicated foundation into a new approachable format and succeeds in every regard. A variety of accessibility options mean that anybody can dive in and experience the journey of Kril and have a part to play in the hunt for his shell. While inviting newcomers, Another Crab's Treasure manages to offer an exceptionally unique approach to combat that manages to stand out among the crowd. Technical hiccups throughout sour the experience very slightly, but the game on show here is ambitious and a strong candidate for anybody's first foray into this well-beloved genre. All managing to come together under an appealing and consistently entertaining journey and cast, Another Crab's Treasure is a great time.

In a year when Sony's marquee first-party offerings seem to be almost distressingly thin, Stellar Blade's dogged pursuit of an engaging and polished single-player action adventure experience is more welcome than ever - even if much of it feels like a loving greatest hits interpretation of past genre luminaries. Nonetheless fans of gorgeously rendered, high-octane action adventures with style to spare will find much to enjoy in Shift Up's stellar PlayStation debut.

Sker Ritual has a lot of good, strong bones as a round-based horde shooter, it's very easy to be having fun while playing and to recognize the things that it does well. Despite that it still feels half-baked, due to balancing issues, sound issues, technical issues, and an overall lack of polish. But if you can see past those rough edges, and you've been a COD: Zombies fan for years, then Sker Ritual is something you shouldn't miss out on.

Ready, Steady, Ship! is a fantastic spin on the chaotic cooperative game formula, and gives players a variety of tools and a sometimes head scratching puzzle to use them on. Despite some frustrations, it's definitely worth checking out.

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.

Planet Of Lana is a captivating narrative adventure, with a stunning visual design and cinematic focus that will leave you desperate for a photo mode, or hoping a new technology will appear that lets you jump right into the games world, and experience the wonderful vistas of Lana's home planet alongside her and Mui. The gameplay however doesn't include enough variety to keep things interesting all the way through to the credits, even with a short runtime. But if you're someone who leans more towards the narrative in a game anyways, then Planet Of Lana's touching story, charming characters and (once more for emphasis) beautiful and stunning art style, you absolutely must play Planet Of Lana.

Though plaudits will be rightly levelled at its appearance, Harold Halibut is equally as impressive when it comes to its narrative, world-building, and how both are realised. Despite being relatively light in gameplay terms, the game packs a punch where it matters by sticking its landing and proving beyond doubt that the answer to the meaning of life may be closer to home than you think.

House Flipper 2 is a wonderful house-management game that deserves a far better console port than the one it got. Based purely on the content of the game itself, impressive sandbox offerings and relaxing gameplay come together to make an umatched experience on those merits. Despite this praise, House Flipper 2 has been saddled with an archaic control scheme that results in what was meant to be a relaxing alternative to busywork, became far too finicky and irritating in places that my relaxation was significantly dented. While it certainly is playable, it isn't how I would recommend the game to interested players without some incredible patience.

Open Roads often feels like a game at odds with itself, that probably would have been best served in a different genre. Whilst it starts off strong, it progressively loses what makes it good and feels more disconnected. Despite that, the two main characters have an engaging mother, daughter relationship that make the game worth playing, in no small part thanks to the excellent actresses, and their performances.

Tomas Sala has created another great game with Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles. The ability to expand and experiment without worry makes it very accessible for those unfamiliar with the genre, as well as it being a thought provoking adventure even for genre veterans. While it may not be for everyone, there is something special here for those that connect with it.

The GRANDIA HD Collection is the only way to experience these two great titles on modern platforms. Both Grandia and Grandia 2 stand the test of time with great writing and characters and a unique combat and skill upgrade system. It's just a shame that not enough was done to provide quality-of-life upgrades. The only real updates these games have received are game visuals and widescreen support.

Managing to step out of the shadow of its inspirations, Freedom Planet 2 is a brilliant 2D action-platformer that balances all of its elements in a near-perfect harmony while trying plenty of new things. Painstakingly detailed visuals, an entertaining cast and toe-tapping soundtrack help to set this game out as a game that any platformer enthusiast should seek out, despite some small hiccups.

Many pretenders and contenders have attempted to lay claim to Contra’s run-and-gun throne over the years, with some glowingly successful and others failing abysmally, but Contra: Operation Galuga largely preserves its legacy with this faithful recreation of the much-loved 1980s classic. While Operation Galuga won’t offer fans anything shocking or out of the ordinary, it’s still a pleasing upgrade they’ll be clamouring for. There’s plenty in here to relish, and it’s not bloated with new features and ideas that could otherwise jeopardize this renewed relic. Yes, more could’ve been done to reinvent the classic gameplay, but one shouldn’t fix what isn’t broken, and so Operation Galuga is a successful if formulaic return for one of gaming’s most hardcore franchises.

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake for the PS5 is a great way to experience this classic indie on modern consoles. With its new visuals, creative gameplay mechanics, and deeply moving narrative, it offers an unforgettable gaming experience that resonates long after the credits roll. Whether you're playing solo or with a friend, the bond between the brothers will tug at your heartstrings, reminding you of the power of love and connection. If you own a PS5, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake is an essential addition to your gaming library.

With great art direction and fun, though infuriating, puzzles. The Last Case Of Benedict Fox is a fun Metroidvania with great brain teasers and entertaining combat. It just takes a while to experience the best parts of the game. Exploration is fun but suffers in places like the combat and puzzles. But it doesn't keep the game from being fun all the same.

A breezy and affordable South Park curiosity, South Park: Snowday! Is a delicious slice of immature humour pie that sits comfortably in the stomach. Turning to an action-RPG experience away from a turn-based one isn’t an entirely successful one, as the lack of the unexpected will become noticeable throughout, but the pleasure of slashing your way through a short, affordable and gratifying South Park adventure will win out. Snowday! Is ultimately a nice and welcome treat as long as you keep your expectations in check.

Far more than a one trick pony, What the Golf? is a brilliant party sports game that manages to entertain in every way that it sets out to do. From beginning to end I found myself surprised and entertained by what new twists were thrown my way and I look forward to seeing what the team has in store next. Some technical hiccups here and there led to some small frustrations but none were enough to get me to hang up the club. Well worth a look for all who are interested!

MLB The Show 24 is a game that continues to deliver. From emotional history from Story Lines to the new amazing inclusion of Women into The Show. While this may seem like small new additions now, these ripples now have the potential to create large waves into the future. Young girls finding, or strengthening their love of baseball in this game, seeing themselves as MLB stars growing up and forcing baseball to evolve and change for the better. While I may have slight issues with the the visuals not being on the same level as the game play or game modes, it is still one of the best looking sports sims on the market and the best looking baseball game hands down. The Show 24 impresses more than disappoints and is another winning season for PlayStation and San Diego Studios.