Fight'N Rage borrows heavily from classics like Streets of Rage and Final Fight, but its combat does a great job of building on the basics without making things too complex. Your fighters have combos, special moves, sprints, evasive hops, aerial attacks, throws, and even parries if you learn to exploit enemy attack patterns. You can definitely button mash your way through much of the game -- on easy and normal, at least -- but pulling off a perfect series of blows and watching your unfortunate foe explode into a pile of bones is seriously satisfying.

Despite some low-res textures, a pleasant art style tops things off nicely, and a decent range of comfort options is there if required. The Last Clockwinder isn't a big, showy experience, instead using VR to really root you to the puzzles. Enjoyable throughout and no longer than it needs to be, this is quietly one of the better games among PSVR2's launch lineup.

Not top dog, but not in the land of nod either; Sleeping Dogs is a predictable but thoroughly enjoyable open world romp. Its undercover narrative and atmospheric Asian setting help to augment the title with an original identity, even if it's forced to sit a couple of places behind Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto franchise in the sandbox pecking order.

Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection does exactly what it says on the tin. It's a lovely compendium of every single Street Fighter from the arcade original right up to Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike. Fans of the franchise will really appreciate having so many entries in a single place, and the wealth of customisation options, online modes, and extra content in the museum will go down a real storm.

Two Point Museum successfully transposes an effective gameplay formula to another theme, with this game in particular packing some serious variety due to the different types of institutions you can build. It’s laugh out loud funny, moreish, and there’s an enjoyable difficulty curve. But if you’ve never been particularly fond of this type of tycoon title, don’t expect to find anything here that will change your mind.

With its addictive and accessible gameplay, not only is it the perfect title for players of any skill level to test their metal, but you'll also have such a good time playing it that you'll quickly forget it isn't the direct sequel to SteamWorld Dig that you may have been hoping for.

Hitman: Absolution represents a stellar return for Agent 47, incorporating the best elements from previous titles, while also experimenting with plenty of new ideas. Some of the additions are a little rough around the edges – the narrative stumbles over its ridiculous characters, and the checkpoint system discourages experimentation – but it's still a refreshing experience that challenges your thinking and rewards perfection.

Though the single-player campaign is far from a strong point of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 due to its clumsy narrative, ill-judged sections and short length, the online multiplayer still hits all of the right targets. Some crucial changes ensure that it's a decent fit for a range of skill levels and more flexible than before, and the Zombies mode has been improved once again. It might not fire on all cylinders, but as a multiplayer game, Black Ops 2 is still in the upper ranks.

Tales from the Borderlands: Episode 3 – Catch a Ride starts to get to the meat of the plot, but it still leaves a lot of questions.

Like we said in the beginning, Mortal Kombat 1 is the best and most refreshing entry in the series since Mortal Kombat (2011), but it falls directly into the same traps as those prior entries. The core fighting is great thanks to the excellent Kameo Fighter system and increased pace (as well as ditching the styles and gear-specific moves), and the return of PS2-era fighters is fantastic. But sadly, the selection of modes and character-specific training options feel extremely dated – especially compared to Street Fighter 6.

Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined is a very high quality remake and a potent reminder of just how endlessly charming the longstanding series can be. While the story does still drag its feet at times, sweeping gameplay improvements and some welcome streamlining make Reimagined a must for anyone with a hankering for old school JRPGs.

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.

These gameplay moments and the parts where every aspect of the experience comes together to work in harmony aren't quite common enough. We wish some mechanics stuck around for longer, but it does keep the experience fresh and consistently exciting, making Neva another hit from the small Barcelona-based studio.

The Devil’s Playhouse Remastered is handily able to retain its charm, all the while looking the best it ever has.

Iconoclasts blends a complex story with neat puzzle platforming, and does so in great style. The game’s length occasionally works against it, and the boss fights aren’t all winners, but the story is worth seeing through to the end thanks to a memorable cast of characters and plenty of variety along the way. It’s just a very robust, unique game that you’d be a tool to miss.

Assassin's Creed Odyssey is a superb open world RPG. It can be a little rough around the edges, but there's a gameplay freedom to this particular adventure that's really a cut above what the series has attempted previously. With a gameplay loop that simply never stops giving, Ubisoft's recreation of ancient Greece is an amazing achievement, and in some ways, a genuine step forward for open world game design.

Arc System Works squeezed a staggering amount of fighting action into this portable rendition of BlazBlue: Continuum Shift. Not only are you getting one of the deepest fighting games you're ever likely to encounter, you're also getting more playing modes than you'll know what to do with. But be warned - if you're one of those fighting game fans that likes to be able to pick up a fighter and become skilled quite quickly, this is probably not the game for you. Button mashers need not even apply.

Move or Die is a frantic, fast-paced multiplayer game that will have you falling out with your mates in no time. Though your mileage may vary, the rapid pace and variety of gameplay should keep you coming back for more. It's a shame the title is marred by audio bugs, as this is otherwise an accomplished party game with a unique hook.

A charming visual novel about tending a cyberpunk bar, VA-11 HALL-A is a genuinely fantastic title. A focused, neon-drenched art direction, paired with incredible music and razor-sharp writing, the game is great if you’re new to, or curious about, visual novels. The writing’s deft handling of darker or more taboo subjects makes for a compelling title with a varied cast of characters that each bring something unique.

Monster Sanctuary is a delight. Exploring the interconnected world with your team and discovering cool new monsters is always fun, but it's the process of developing your favourite companions that makes the game so hard to put down.

The beauty of Islanders is how simple it all is. Unlike most building-based strategy titles, you're not scrolling through endless menus looking for the right bits and pieces. Instead, the game presents you with two different building sets every 'turn'. You pick the one that you want, and then you place each piece on your island(s), with thoughtful placement earning you more points. For example, throwing all of your lumber mills together will net you negative points, while properly spacing them out, and putting them alongside trees, bags you bonuses. It's really easy to find your rhythm, and watching your score steadily increase is satisfying. Meanwhile, if you're just here to relax and create detailed island dioramas, Sandbox Mode is the way to go. Here, you can build to your heart's content without having to worry about score modifiers, switching islands at will. And it helps that Islanders is very aesthetically pleasing; there's real satisfaction to be found in the simplistic art style as you decorate each landscape.

Much like last year's The Making of Karateka, Digital Eclipse’s format sets a high standard for retro collections going forward. It's made the story of these games accessible to all audiences. As a portrait of Jeff, it’s a heartwarming and educational depiction of a personality every gamer should know about.

Trombone Champ: Unflattened is a great conversion to VR, and a natural fit for the tech, adding yet another strong rhythm game in PSVR2's collection.

Ys VIII is still great, then, and although it's not worth shouting about, the experience is enhanced on PS5. A slight resolution boost, better shadows, and a much improved draw distance gives the game's somewhat aged visuals an edge. Load times are basically non-existent as well.

Helldivers 2 is a riotous affair, offering up best-in-class gunplay, a truly epic and often cinematic experience, mixed in with one of the best co-op gameplay romps currently available. Its present matchmaking issues hold it back from true glory, but when it works it really works, forcing you to feel a sense of patriotism for Super Earth as the score swells and bullets fly. Helldivers 2 is a hell of a lot of fun, and is the best laugh you and your mates will have on PS5.

Ys: Memories of Celceta doesn’t bring anything new to the action RPG table, but makes such strong use of its combat that it’s still hard to put down. It may not have the most engrossing narrative or original ideas, but it still manages to keep you hooked throughout the course of its campaign.

When you find yourself in the zone, Laser League is a joy to play. Controls are as straightforward as they come and the game's rules are easy to follow, meaning anyone can pick up a pad and join in. However, the depth that comes with the various character classes, their abilities, and power ups is surprising. This is classic "easy to learn, difficult to master" territory, in other words, and whether you're playing online or offline, it can be excellent fun with a few friends.

One of the more interesting ideas the game posits is actually how it approaches trophies. A collection of “zodiac riddles” give you vague clues about what to do, and are usually weird things you would not do while playing regularly. This is a master stroke as it vastly increases the replayability of the title, which would top out at barely an hour without it. Despite its short length, this is still very much a trip worth taking.