An undeniably gnarly brawler that really moves despite its 3v3 format, Invincible VS should appeal to both fighting game fans and comic book OGs. The story mode is slickly animated but almost insultingly short, and there’s not a lot to appeal to single players beyond that. But the rollback netcode seems sturdy and the combat system mixes accessibility with depth, resulting in a system that should have legs long beyond its initial novelty.

But all in all, this game made us smile. If you have any fondness at all for early era Castlevania, then you should definitely give it a try.

Starfield is bigger and better than ever on PS5, but it still crashes against the roadblocks of old. A complete lack of exploration leaves the RPG in an awkward place where it can feel like an objective ticking exercise with little to distract you. Its faction questlines are the highlight, and the improved combat systems and new gameplay capabilities make the experience worthwhile. However, two and a half years later, there is considerably more Starfield. Only some of it makes it better.

I know there have been other musical RPGs before, but People of Note still feels largely unique. I love how heavily it leans into its theme, and while I don’t expect the YA vibes to resonate with everyone, I personally found myself invested in the release’s cast and its brisk storyline. I think the battle system could have been further refined to feel more impactful and I would have liked to see it evolve faster. Furthermore, I’m not sure all of the environmental puzzles are as fun as the developer intended – although they can be disabled if you’re not feeling them at all.

Life is Strange: Reunion could have been a full Double Exposure sequel, and it could have been a full Max and Chloe entry. Instead, both narratives are squeezed into a bloated finale with dull pacing and a lacklustre resolution. There are sparks of brilliance in there and fantastic chemistry between its two leads, but it's never given the love and care to blossom into something beautiful.

Marvel MaXimum Collection is worth the price of entry for X-Men: The Arcade Game alone, but there’s a lot to love about this bundle. While not every game included is an all-timer, there’s a good enough mix here to make this a compelling collection of superhero brawlers, and the quality-of-life inclusions are excellent overall.

We can't fully recommend Crimson Desert in its current state on PS5. Far too many technical issues — of varying shapes and sizes — hold the experience back. But given time, and despite its obvious narrative shortcomings, Pearl Abyss' fantasy outing has the potential to be something truly special. As an open world adventure, it can be utterly engrossing; a smorgasbord of systems and mechanics that somehow — against all odds — form an intoxicating whole. For better or worse, there's simply nothing like Crimson Desert.

Although some parts haven’t aged as well, most noticeably regarding its gameplay, the Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection is worth checking out if you enjoyed Battle Network or are looking for a new RPG series to dive into.

While the presentation is mixed and the game does ultimately run out of ideas, we actually do recommend this to beat-’em-up fans. There’s more depth to the combat than we anticipated, and there’s an air of weirdness to the whole endeavour that helps it to stand out.

Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake is arguably one of the scariest games we’ve ever played. Team Ninja has somehow managed to make an already terrifying game even more so, turning Minakami Village into a visually striking and tense playground for fear. The Camera Obscura combat remains novel and unique, but clunky controls and some drawn-out encounters can frustrate.

It's just good fun. You can argue against some of the back-tracking and some slightly fiddly platforming, but by and large this is a solid beat-'em-up with a lot of personality.

There's so much to like about Tokyo Xtreme Racer, and while it has its flaws and certainly isn't for everyone, it stands out thanks to its brazenly old school and pleasingly straightforward approach.

Ultimately, it's four identical games with no newly developed content, a sprinkling of bugs, and an absence of the nostalgia-inducing original soundtrack. It leaves us wishing Ubisoft had spent more time deciding which games to include in this collection, and also put more effort into refining the 30th Anniversary Edition of one of PlayStation's most iconic IPs.

God of War: Sons of Sparta is a fun spin-off that takes a series we all know and love and places it somewhere entirely different. It's a mostly successful experiment; the Metroidvania structure works well with the franchise's mechanics, and it looks and sounds the part. However, it takes too long to really come into its own, leaving the early parts of the game feeling a bit lacking compared to the richer experience found later on. If you have the patience to see it through, and can overlook some rough edges here and there, this is a worthwhile adventure for fans that delves into Kratos' history in a way we haven't seen before.

High on Life 2 is a great sequel that sticks to its guns and refines the best parts of the first game. The skateboard-shooting concept works excellently, elevating the gunplay and creating a more engaging and enjoyable moment-to-moment experience. But all of this is ruined by incredibly poor visual fidelity on PS5 and PS5 Pro that distracts from the release's overall artistic achievements.

Even with its slow moments and uneven presentation, Dark Auction’s writing and mystery kept us hooked. If you enjoy character‑driven visual novels with a darker edge, then it’s worth a look.

In the end, you get a title with little interest in holding your hand or teaching you the ropes. However, if you put in the time to learn, there’s an impressive amount of content to enjoy. The presentation makes it all worth it, offering a wildly immersive experience.

Just as enjoyable as it is frustrating, Romeo Is a Dead Man is an incredibly uneven experience. You’ll love it one minute and hate it the next. Persevere with its more annoying elements, and you’ll discover a unique and entertaining hack and slasher at the end of it all. It just takes a lot of effort and restraint to get there.

Cairn is a great climbing simulator, one that presents you with an entire mountain and complete freedom to traverse it as you please. Some light survival mechanics apply just enough pressure to push you forward, and the purposely slow pace encourages careful climbing and proper planning. Aava's expedition is simultaneously meditative and fraught with danger, with death just one slip away at all times. While we have some small reservations about the story, and the frame rate struggles to measure up to Mount Kami, those looking for a challenging, satisfying journey will find Cairn a unique adventure to conquer.

Code Vein 2 is not the strongest soulslike we've ever encountered. While there is absolutely some fun to be had slaying the myriad horrors that inhabit this post-apocalyptic world and building a powerful Revenant Hunter, repetition inevitably kicks in. Narratively, it's pretty dull, lacking compelling characters or quests to engage with. While not broken or a bad game per se, it is hard to recommend when so many better entries in this well-worn subgenre already exist.

If you've been wanting to play through Yakuza 0 again, or even get stuck in for the very first time, then you can't really go wrong with Director's Cut. But at the same time, its additions range from superficial to downright dumb, cheapening a game that introduced so many to the franchise.

Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow had so much potential. It’s got a great aesthetic, and VR movement feels as fluid as you’d hope. However, glitches, disappointingly thin levels, dumb enemy AI, and a lack of replayability result in an undercooked experience.

That's pretty much it; a simple, arcadey rally racer with fun stages, recognisable cars, and a great aesthetic. Hopefully the iffy default handling doesn't deter people, because there's plenty of fun to be had once you find the right balance.

Octopath Traveler 0 is a perfectly solid instalment in the Square Enix franchise, though its overwhelming familiarity will make large parts of it feel like a retread. Its town-building mechanic and expanded party system are smart expansions, and the move towards a single, centralised story is a benefit. However, Octopath Traveler 0 will still feel largely the same in an experience below that of its predecessors.

If you're a fan of roguelikes that push back, rewarding skilful play and understanding of its barely-explained layers, Morsels is definitely worth sampling. Some might be frustrated by its refusal to hold your hand, but those who stick with it will have a fun and singular experience.

The most ridiculous Call of Duty has ever been, all of Black Ops 7’s multiplayer strengths are overshadowed by the silliest campaign in the franchise’s history. It’s still quality online, and the Zombies mode is as solid as ever. They don’t matter quite as much, though, when a co-op campaign manages to reframe an entire release into one of stupidity.

Neon Inferno has nice visuals and is a solid throwback to classic arcade titles, though you may find yourself becoming overwhelmed by the high volume of enemies, projectiles, and more present on both parts of the screen.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide isn't going to blow anyone away, but it's a perfectly decent 3D platformer that mostly captures the energy of the show. Swapping between SpongeBob and Patrick is a neat mechanic that's used very well throughout, and levels are big and varied as you explore Bikini Bottom and talk to its populace, all of whom are voiced by the proper cast. It definitely has some rough edges and some soft writing, and it won't win over any SpongeBob detractors, but it's a good all-ages game for both kids and longtime fans.