With some very smart additions, Vacation Simulator is a suitably more free flowing and open ended experience than its predecessor. Larger locations, reasons to revisit, and a huge range of things to see and do, this is a successful evolution of the silly sandbox antics Owlchemy Labs does so well. Despite PS Move tracking issues and no real step forward in writing, this is another mindlessly fun time-waster for when the summer Sun dips behind the clouds.

Those willing to spend their time slowly crawling into position, waiting for that perfect shot, will find an engaging experience that encourages experimentation through its enormous levels.

C-Smash VRS is a brilliantly restorative VR experience. With finely tuned motion controls, sparklingly simple visuals, and a chilled-out electronic score, it’s yet another fine addition to Sony’s roster of VR titles. We can even see it becoming a go-to with friends who just want to game and have a catch up. Yet while the core experience is fun enough, its lack of content and currently empty matchmaking experience leaves it feeling like an unfulfilled promise — especially if you're playing solo. We’d love to see an improvement to matchmaking and servers, but until then, C-Smash VRS will leave more of an impact on our battered walls than it will our memories.

With cross-buy support and a fresh set of Trophies to obtain, this portable port is more than deserving of a place on your handheld’s memory card – just don’t expect to be blown away all over again.

While the game treads fairly common ground, the true retro call backs, satisfying difficulty, arcade minigames, and audio comfortably set it above the sediment of what's average.

It's not quite up there with the best that the Vita has to offer, but a good battle system and an enjoyable story go a long way in making this a rock solid role-playing release.

When it comes to action, Yakuza 4's a blast. Each playable character has their own unique fighting style, with Akiyama's lightning fast kicks and Saejima's brute strength being particularly satisfying. And in typical series fashion, there are some top tier boss fights on offer alongside a load of addictive minigames -- including in-depth hostess club management.

MLB The Show 24 tweaks an already sturdy foundation, with new defensive animations bringing the biggest change to gameplay. Its success as a compelling package largely stems from its single player additions, with the documentary-like Storylines mode starring Derek Jeter accompanying the second season of the outstanding Negro Leagues. The addition of female athletes to Road to the Show is sure to inspire an entire generation, while foundational favourites like Franchise and Diamond Dynasty remain at the top of their game, despite their underlying familiarity.

Silent Hill F takes the survival horror series in a new direction, which pays off for the most part. It’s quite different, and hardcore fans will have to accept that. Combat is a heavy focus, and the move to Japan means there’s a different kind of tone and atmosphere in the air. Technical problems aside, it marks a bold new chapter in the Silent Hill saga. Accept it for what it is, and you’ll find one of PS5’s most intense experiences.

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.

Embers' debut game is beautifully presented, with an interesting but flawed combat system. Lovely music (thanks to Journey composer Austin Wintory) and exciting boss battles make it worth your time.

There’s no doubt that Arcana Heart 3: LOVE MAX!!!!! is a bit of a niche proposition, but it provides extremely enjoyable combat that rivals the smoothness of more well known brawlers. Sadly, what brings down the experience is the dull story and cluttered screen layout that makes arenas feel unnecessarily small.

Life Is Strange: Before the Storm is more down to Earth than the main campaign, and it’s actually better for it. Deck Nine’s done an incredible job of working within the boundaries that DONTNOD’s story set, and its biggest achievement is characterising the enigmatic Rachel Amber, who’s both intoxicating and fragile all at the same time. Episode 3: Hell Is Empty feels like it could use a little more breathing room, but it crescendos with a gorgeous conclusion that’s as heart-warming as it is heart-breaking. After all, we already know whether this story ends.

While there's nothing in the game we haven't seen before, it's the delivery that makes it novel. The writing is genuinely amusing, the story rather sweet, and the slapstick physics plenty of fun to engage with. Only some minor technical hiccups interrupt the otherwise smooth gameplay, and while finding the last remaining collectibles can be difficult (even aided by a special Junk-detecting hat), the game succeeds due to its brevity and playful tone.

The Sinking City is a captivating detective undertaking that dives into the hauntings of H.P. Lovecraft with a compelling narrative that is sure to question your viewpoint as well as reality itself. If you can look past its presentational shortcomings and mediocre combat system, the plight of private eye Charles Reed is one worth seeing for yourself.

Megaton Musashi W: Wired is one of those games where you can identify its flaws very quickly, but they're not going to stop you from having fun. Ultimately, it's the title's fast-flowing and easy-to-grasp combat that wins the day, bolstered by an addictive loot system and a moreish, mission-based campaign.

Actual Sunlight's ability to stir discomfort is its greatest achievement. It depicts the difficulties of trying to beat depression alone, and while that makes for some pretty heavy material, it's successful in what it sets out to do.

Sadly, Harvey’s New Eyes stumbles with occasional poor voice acting, and story and character work that doesn’t quite live up to the standard of the puzzles and visuals. The darker nature of the plot is a good contrast to the vibrant visual style, but the narrative is not as compelling as in other examples of the genre. That being said, Harvey’s New Eyes is likely to be an enjoyable experience for any point and click fan who picks it up.

Stop us if you've heard this one before: FIFA 21 isn't a huge upgrade on FIFA 20, but a boatload of small improvements do help it rise above its predecessor. The on-pitch action arguably feels more arcadey than it has done in years, but there's no denying the excitement that comes with playing through a 5-4 thriller. FIFA is still king in delivering a robust and accessible footballing package, but the series needs to step up its game on PS5 — particularly when it comes to presentation.

With just 10 weapons and three maps, it feels a little barebones at launch, although this will undoubtedly be supported over time. What's here is a great start, and well worth checking out for some simple multiplayer mishaps.

While it's not the most ambitious remaster, the hilarious jokes, varied gameplay, and stellar voice acting ensure that you'll have a good time.

Overall, this is an intelligent, neatly packaged puzzler worth checking out.

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue is a strong but unnecessarily pricey collection for die-hard fans, especially for those who don't intend to play Dream Drop Distance. For those who do, it most certainly is a wonderful game that has undergone an admirable transition between platforms. With a fair film and enticing episode in tow, there's only so much more our hearts can bear in anticipating Kingdom Hearts III.

Milestone's latest is a fun romp through a variety of off-road locations, offering both quantity and variety in terms of tracks, cards, and modes. It's not the most ambitious racer ever, but the non-serious style of the flagship Off-Road Masters mode will be very appealing to those wanting an enjoyable arcade experience.

Rusty Rabbit is a standard Metroidvania that doesn't stray far from the formula, but surprises with lots of customisation and light social sim elements. It's worth playing for its protagonist alone (in the Japanese dub at least), a cute rabbit with the stern vocals of Kazama Kiryu.

It may sound a bit all over the place, but in practice this is a nicely paced and thoughtfully done game that manages to draw a lot from an old school Atari classic.

Color Guardians is a charming little title that will be appreciated by endless runner fans. The inconsistent difficulty is a problem, and its lack of variety means that it's best played in short bursts – but if you want something simple to brighten up your day, then this will do the job adequately.

There's a lot to like about Everhood, with its unorthodox but engaging battles, bizarre world, and interesting story. While we didn't gel with many of the characters and found some of its insane visuals a little too much, overall we enjoyed the journey.