Hand-holding in this game is virtually non-existent. Aside from a few quick tips here and there, it's up to you to figure out how to manage your zoo. It is nice to let the player choose their own playstyle right from the start, essentially making it a sandbox experience. However, at the same time, you are dumped with a plethora of information, which makes the lack of a proper tutorial noticeable. Talking about chaos, the poor UI aggravates this issue. Navigating through the menu and unlocking items for your zoo can be messy, with the latter having no clear categorical relation as you open up new items to decorate your park. Still, with enough humour and its fun game mechanics, Let’s Build A Zoo will have you sinking hours into your park, if you can get past its poor UI and lack of guidance.

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord combines RPG mechanics with grand strategy and features battles so epic they can be overwhelming at times. It has some rough edges, and the interface can be unwieldy, but at its core lies a roleplaying experience that is virtually unrivalled in scope — especially on console.

Earthion is an outstanding achievement – a blissfully retro shmup experience with just enough modern sensibilities to make it appeal to an all-new generation of players. With sublime pixel artwork, a scorching score, and a creative campaign that keeps you on your toes, this is an absolutely outstanding effort from 90s dev Ancient.

All in all, whether you’re new to the franchise or not, the abandoned underground has never looked this inviting.

Ratchet & Clank's third native PS3 adventure A Crack in Time remains the popular duo's most essential outing, but that doesn't detract from the Ratchet & Clank Trilogy's appeal. If you're eager to learn a little more about the franchise's origins, or simply want to re-visit three of the greatest PS2 titles ever crafted, then you'll be well serviced here.

While some of its later puzzles are a bit too fiddly for their own good, and the overall pacing sometimes feels a little off kilter, this is still a space voyage that comes highly recommended.

Granted, the game doesn’t do much to take advantage of the PS4’s supercharged hardware – but when the core action’s this fun, we’re not even sure that the Hulk would be able to get angry about that.

The deep, meaningful narrative, partnered with the lovely pixel art and outstanding music composed by Masdito Bachtiar, create a mysterious title that we couldn't put down until we had seen it through to its satisfying conclusion. We would highly recommend A Space for the Unbound for anyone who loves a good story-driven adventure game — just expect to be run through the wringer in this powerfully emotional tale.

The story, the characters, and the design can’t be knocked, but the presentation and the decision not to support cross-save means that there’s little reason to give Ubisoft your money again.

While Polyarc doesn’t get too wild and crazy with its second title, it didn't need to considering how solid the foundation was with Moss. Book II takes the time to tighten up a few lingering issues from the first title, while providing more of the incredible world of Moss, albeit on a grander scale. Moss: Book II is further proof that Polyarc is among the best developers working in the VR space.

Whether you're a fan of the first inFAMOUS or new to the series, the amount of gameplay and riveting story should please all. A few small tweaks to the Move controls would go a long way in improving the overall feel of the game but an absolutely fantastic and worthwhile title nonetheless.

Yakuza 5 may no longer be dressed for the part, but like any respectable gangster, it has a good heart beating beneath its unkempt exterior. It's a fitting analogy for a game that's ultimately all about aging, so while time may have been tough on Kiryu and crew, this dense and occasionally oddball adventure still has plenty of strong stories to tell.

MLB The Show 25’s refinements to Road to the Show and Diamond Dynasty make this another superb baseball sim. The on-field gameplay may feel largely familiar, but it’s already so well executed that it staves off any feeling of samey-ness. Some great new modes and another enjoyable set of documentary-esque storylines round out a package that’s still quite comfortably at the top of its game.

Creaks is one of PS4's very best games of 2020 so far. Its commitment to continually evolving its mechanics makes for a phenomenal puzzling experience packed full of surprises and elating moments. With a stunning art style to boot as well as a narrative which reveals itself in all the right ways, Creaks offers an unforgettable ride that can be considered truly special.

Ultimately, the extra bits draped around the core experience are the real star, offering up a helping of charm and wit that help sell the title as a cosy little experience worth your time, even if you might not have much cause to return to it once you’re done.

It's a clever setup; we're surprised it's taken this long for the star signs to be turned into a series of boss characters.

Punchy, futuristic weapons, even faster gameplay, and additional agility make Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare a joy to play, both offline and online.

SteamWorld Heist 2 does everything the name implies. It has the copious amounts of charm and strong world-building found in the wider series, while building and improving on the excellent gameplay foundation introduced in the original SteamWorld Heist. This seafaring adventure isn't one you should miss if you're after some top-tier tactics, and the improvements over the original make the almost-10-year wait more than worth it.

Think of this as a motoring playset – a production line of components that you need to order and assemble for yourself. Once you get the controls where you want them, your car exactly how you like it, and your race day tactics tightened up, it delivers an exhilarating ride, but few will have the patience – or, indeed, the willpower – to reach that point, and thus it's hard to imagine this outing achieving the mainstream success of other competing motoring series.

Truly egregious commentary aside, FIFA 19 is another winner for EA Sports. The improvements over last year's entry are subtle but many, resulting in a footie sim that feels incredibly refined. Better balance across the pitch opens options for more tactical play, and there's more nuance to explore than ever before. More casual FIFA players may not see the difference immediately, but there's a deliberate intricacy to FIFA 19, and it's enough to keep the series in top form.

Misplaced microtransactions sully the experience slightly – but this is still only a few scratches short of a flawless victory.

Fortunately, the small changes do improve the overall package – and Visual Concepts already had an outstanding basis to work from. Basketball fans will find everything that they want and more here.

One part Persona, one part Ace Attorney, and one part Battle Royale, Trigger Happy Havoc and Goodbye Despair are two of the very best murder mystery titles available for PS4 right now, together in one pack. While the games may move just a tad too slowly for some players, those willing to take a chance on a visual novel with a difference will find Danganronpa to be a fascinating, multi-faceted, frequently surprising story that's among the most compelling on the market, full of engaging characters, anarchic humour, and jaw-dropping twists.

All in all, it seems as though Madden as a series won't be deflating any time soon.

This is still a great game, but it’s not the polished up final product that you may have been hoping for.

Spiritfarer is a game with a lot of moving parts, but most of its elements are well handled. Progression comes at a good pace as you upgrade Stella's ship, her abilities, and build relationships with a colourful crew. The crafting minigames are a weak spot, and the writing doesn't always land, but there's a lot to like about this maritime management title.

Gravity Rush is a rare gem. It's a game that defies expectations almost as frequently as the physical properties it's built upon. A surreal narrative is complemented by genuinely ground-breaking gameplay mechanics, and while it's not always flawless, it culminates in one of the most outstandingly original experiences of the year.

Horizon: Zero Dawn delivers a timely reminder of why it should be a Game of the Year candidate with The Frozen Wilds. This sizeable selection of snowy quests expands upon an already excellent campaign with a decent new storyline and plenty of fresh exposition. While it is, by its very nature, more of the same, it’s hard to complain when the foundations are already so strong.