Cryptmaster is a wickedly clever spin on the edutainment games of old. It combines good old fashioned typing with an underworld full up of gallows humour and eccentrics to meet, including its titular star. Spread the word, Cryptmaster is a must play indie.

Little Kitty, Big City is a hugely charming, succinct romp that's littered with gags laser-targeted at cat owners. It's light and breezy in the best ways, and although some technical rubs soured my time on Xbox Series X, it's a purr-fectly pleasant time.

Crow Country is a quaint compilation of survival horror’s many time-tested tropes, from its tank controls to its labyrinthian network of corridors. For all it loads into a relatively small package, it pays homage to its roots within an irresistible framework from the antiquated era once befitting the original PlayStation.

Endless Ocean Luminous is a mildly confounding product. On the one hand, it's still got that very compelling offering of hours spent drifting through gorgeous oceans and coming face-to-face with hundreds of stunning creatures, without complex mechanics or urgency to get in the way. On the other hand, the overall gameplay experience has been dulled down so much to feel like a backwards step, and the system of randomly-seeded dive spots dilutes a lot of its personality.

Another Crab's Treasure is a scrappy, succinct and soggy soulslike that doesn't just pay homage to FromSoft's pioneering efforts but stands out in its own right. There's no getting around the fact that it has serious issues of performance and polish that can really bring down the experience, but it's a game so packed with charm, so inspired, so unexpectedly cooked and with so many flashes of brilliance that I can genuinely say it's worth suffering through the pain points. I don't think I've been quite so enamoured with a game like this in a long time.

A stunningly realised rendition of Akira Toriyama’s work, Sand Land matches its aesthetics with fun, breezy systems and a charming, if clumsy, tale of war, friendship, and hope.

Stellar Blade recalls the classic era of character-action games in truly inspired fashion. It might struggle to deliver on its core narrative, and its platforming is often more frustrating than it isn't, but neither of those things are enough to bring down a thoroughly enjoyable action experience. It wears its inspirations on its sleeve, but manages to build on them in engaging fashion with a deliciously layered combat system and gorgeous presentation to boot.

TopSpin 2K25 is without doubt the best tennis game since the last Top Spin game. It succeeds at finding the all important balance of risk versus reward that the foundation of Tennis is built on, and whilst it's not perfect, it provides a solid base for 2K to build on.

The simple gameplay of Wrath of the Mutants can be enjoyable in the right mood, but don’t expect anything more than a bland and repetitive button masher.

Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is an earnest first video game effort from a studio that's destined for great things. Weak exploration and a lack of combat variety are minor flaws in an overall package that offers up fluid platforming, some great gameplay hooks, an emotionally-resonant story and a rich tapestry of sights and sounds that's like little else in the space. It's almost the perfect pairing to the recent Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, offering a succinct and approachable take on the concept that offers even more story, worldbuilding and visual flair.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a robust remembrance of JRPGs from a bygone era. Despite some of the more archaic design elements of that generation seeping through the cracks, this spiritual successor to Suikoden offers a comforting and familiar experience that feels inherently nostalgic. Between engaging characters, a diverse world, alluring combat, and more, Hundred Heroes is proof that this sub-genre is timeless, even at its roots.

It might not come as a surprise, but Dave the Diver is just as good on PlayStation as it is elsewhere. If you're yet to experience this intoxicating combination of scuba, sushi and silly mini-games, there's really never been a better time – especially because you can snag it as part of a PlayStation Plus Extra subscription.

Harold Halibut’s narrative, setting and visuals are so wonderful and creative from a sci-fi perspective, it’s an enormous shame it’s housed within such a one-note and heartbreakingly boring video game.

House Flipper 2 is a genuinely impressive effort to spin an awkward, viral oddity into a more structured and goal-oriented game that builds on the moreish qualities of the original while honing its visual language and hugely expanding on its possibilities. It's just as good on PS5 too, with solid performance and mostly-intuitive controls making it a great choice of platform for budding flippers out there.

As macabre as it is, Children of the Sun’s addictive leaderboard chase is sure to rekindle the competitive spirit in those who find themselves lapping up this world's darkness after having ventured heavenward in Neon White.

Botany Manor is a delight. It's sweet, succinct and serene, packed with clever puzzles that reward thoughtful exploration and engagement with its narrative. At a little under three hours it's the perfect lazy weekend getaway for those that like to stop and smell the flowers as much as they like to enrich the soil of their mind.

Unicorn Overlord isn't just another slam dunk for Vanillaware, it's perhaps their greatest title yet. A comprehensive understanding of what makes tactical RPGs click at a fundamental level in combination with meaningful improvements to the formula makes for one of the best tactical RPGs of all time. 2024 is already off to a great start for RPGs, but don't let this sleeper hit slip under your radar.

Pepper Grinder is a rollicking platformer that combines some classic level design with revitalised traversal mechanics akin to Ecco the Dolphin’s nose-first ocean-cruising, except on this occasion the nose is a big, bad-ass drill that makes short work of terra and pirate terrors alike.

An alright little adventure for South Park fans or for those wanting a casual game to play with friends, South Park: Snow Day has all the charm of an episode of the show, but its roguelite nature becomes a tad frustrating with wild difficulty spikes and a lack of checkpoints. Chock full of references and jokes without filter, the game is definitely entertaining; but with a lack of a roadmap or post-release content, some players may be left in the cold thanks to a short story and repetitive loop.

Although Open Roads gives no reason to make this game’s North American road trip an annual fixture on the calendar, the adventure itself is one worth experiencing. It’s a family affair that welcomes you into its inner sanctum and leaves you in a state of adoration over its leading ladies’ sincere performances.

Bears in Space feels like a game that was lifted directly from the early 2000’s, remastered and then released today, and I mean that in the best possible way. With the recent deluge of fantastic retro-flavoured FPS games, I think it’s high time for a kitschy comedy 3D boomer (millennial?) shooter renaissance. Though I’m sure it’s not for everyone, Broadside Games have delivered a delightfully ridiculous debut title and if you’re a 90s gamer kid I urge you to check it out.

Despite its technical woes and pervasive simplicity, there's just enough of a spark in Princess Peach Showtime! that it had won me over by the time the curtains closed. It might not be deserving of a standing ovation but it's certainly got the stage presence to attract an audience. It's good, light, family fun that's consistently charming and perfectly cast.

While still an apt Souls-like experience, Rise of the Ronin struggles to find its identity amongst Team Ninja's catalogue. It feels like it's being pulled in different directions, and starts to collapse under its own ambition in the third act. In saying this, the DNA of Nioh and Wo Long is palpable here, and I have no doubt that fans of Team Ninja will enjoy this first foray into open world design despite its shortcomings.

Dragon's Dogma II embodies the essence of what the original should have been. With its expansive open world teeming with dangerous but delightful encounters, enjoyable combat, and versatile vocations, it's an enchanting experience from beginning to end.

Alone In The Dark is an ambitious reimagining that does little to differentiate itself from the games it's inspired by. While it's clearly taking inspiration from both Resident Evil and The Evil Within to be a survival horror powerhouse, the flat feeling combat and timid horror elements stop it from standing above the games that inspired it. Despite this, a unique take on the story and the strong setting makes it well worth a look for horror fans.

Highwater is definitely one for fans of Demagog Studio's other work, presenting yet another distinct gameplay experience set in the shared world. It's also a great little game in its own right with fun turn-based strategy encounters and charming characters.

After two decades of advancements and innovation, Battlefront I and II still offer some of the most enjoyable gameplay in the shooter genre. Rich in content, new and old, the Classic Collection successfully brings two fan-favourite Star Wars games onto today’s hardware. The absence of a few modern creature comforts is disappointing, but it does little to weigh down an otherwise brilliant bundle.

Contra: Operation Galuga brings the essential Contra experience into the modern era. It retains the classic’s white knuckle challenge, awesome level designs, boss creativity and firepower while adding some modern touches to make the game palatable and enjoyable by more people. It’s not particularly long, but playing through once has never been the draw of a Contra game. It’s a game that begs to be re-played and perfected. If you’ve ever been curious to try Contra, this is a great way to get into the franchise.