A slew of engaging gameplay modes and a huge character roster ensure that you'll be kept busy, but once again, it's the brilliant and intense spectacle of all-out ninja warfare that'll keep you utterly glued to your controller.

NHL 26 isn’t a massive overhaul by any means. The title fixates on a couple of key areas to improve upon, and unlike some previous entries, it succeeds. The new updates to Be A Pro, chiefly the World Juniors and voice acting, are incredibly welcome. Even more so, the tweaks to the hitting engine and especially goaltending are phenomenal. But that’s a rather slight list of changes for a full-scale annual release. Pair that with poor online performance and difficulty of finding matches, and you have to ask yourself if the updates are worth it. Is this a better title than NHL 25? Absolutely. But are those changes enough to make this a good game? Well, that’s a more complicated question.

Ultimately, R-Type Final 2 is exactly what you’d expect a sequel to R-Type Final to be like. It certainly doesn’t attempt to reinvent the wheel, and some may be a little underwhelmed by the fact that it lacks any massive gameplay changes from previous instalments in the franchise. Still, that’s rather missing the point; games like this aren’t as common as they once were and getting a shmup of such quality in 2021 is truly something to celebrate.

If you can look past the repetition and the roadblocks, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a largely solid shooter. It nails the visuals, the guns generally feel great, and the sound design is suitably punchy — just don't expect it to push beyond those foundations.

If it seems like we’re dogging on this latest outing for the series, it’s only because we know just how unique and entertaining it can be. Double Exposure isn’t a bad game, it’s just not the series at its best. It loses some of that inviting atmosphere with Caledon paling in comparison to Haven Springs or Arcadia Bay, and its narrative suffers from an overreliance on the supernatural. But we’d be lying if we said it wasn’t great to see Max Caulfield return and we still think it's worth checking out if you’re a fan of the series.

Escape Plan has broken free of the shackles of the Vita and tunnelled onto the PS4 with a surprising degree of success.

The lack of information about the world makes you feel like you're just roaming a random castle or tower, like those Mega Drive roguelikes where the only goal was to get to the end. The length and price just help to make this excellent idea more unattractive.

Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight has some of the best music on the PS4, and mastering its beats is immensely rewarding. It's a top tier rhythm game that's sure to strike a chord with fans of the PS2 classic, but more than anything, it's made us realise just how desperate we are for a Persona 3 remake or remaster.

Weird West sets its sights high by promising player freedom and a responsive world to butterfly effect the hell out of, and it very nearly delivers on all of it. At its best, WolfEye Studios' first outing offers delightfully chaotic combat and an interesting supernatural setting that leaves no actions without consequence. But while in many respects Weird West achieves some of its grander ambitions, it fails to nail some of the basics. Immersive sim fans will be in their element here, but Raphael Colantonio's latest won't have as wide an appeal as his previous successes with Arkane.

To be fair, the game is visually appealing, with a minimalistic art style that manages to convey the feeling of the time. It's an interesting experience and a unique premise (how many other Cold War disaster games are you going to play this year?), but ultimately that can't save the title from falling a bit flat.

The World to the West is a fun brain-teasing challenge which is worth a look for those who like to mix up their puzzling with some combat and exploration. It's no Zelda-beater, but for those seeking a PS4 alternative, you need only go West.

Action Henk is a slick and addictive platformer. Its mechanics and controls are perfectly tuned, and its momentum-based gameplay is somewhat original and fun, but a couple of visual hiccups, some slightly bland level design, and a few wonky power-ups mean that it never reaches its full potential. However, as an exercise in running and jumping, few titles match its physics-based prowess.

Batman: Return to Arkham isn't the greatest ever remaster, but the price offers excellent value and the gameplay of both Asylum and City still hold up. Couple two of the greatest superhero games of all time with their DLC, and you get a lot of bang for your buck here.

As a platformer, Never Alone is solid, but not exactly revolutionary.

We’re giving Fobia - St. Dinfna Hotel the benefit of the doubt. It’s flawed for sure. But the ten or twelve-hour playing time is mostly a good time thanks to the effectiveness of the titular guest house as a setting and the oppressive atmosphere it manages to conjure during your stay there.

Freedom Wars is a solid action RPG that's put behind bars by a slew of elements that end up lacking.

GRID is a very solid racing game that harkens back to the 2008 original in some important ways. The action-packed racing itself is great and often unpredictable, and the handling strikes that balance between arcade and sim wonderfully. However, presentation isn't really up to scratch, and it leaves the game feeling a little cheap. We can't shake the feeling that the pursuit of that GRID personality has only led to a game that's, perhaps ironically, struggling for an identity. When all is said and done, though, there's still plenty to enjoy here, and it's certainly one of PS4's better casual racing games where it counts.

If you've always wanted to play the Dreamcast version of Under Defeat but have never felt brave enough to stump up the large amount of cash to do so, then this PS3 update is the answer to your prayers. It offers not only the original edition, but a spruced-up HD variant as well.

Lushfoil Photography Sim is a deeply relaxing, lovingly crafted excursion that's so easy to get lost in.

Earth Defense Force 6 brings the series back and better than ever. It offers the same bug-smashing action with a time travel twist in the tale. Classes remain as satisfying as ever and multiplayer spreads the joy. Don’t go in expecting a graphical powerhouse, though.

The campaign may have some low points, but attacking bases and liberating towns is some of the best fun that you'll find on the PS4 this year.

An entertaining handling model coupled with copious amounts of content make this a must-own option for motorsport aficionados, while the ability to tune the experience to your own personal skill level means that those in need of training wheels will enjoy their time in the saddle, too.

With tight gameplay, sharp shooting, and a remarkable sense of style, Futuridium EP Deluxe is a delightful 3D shooter.

Sword and Fairy: Together Forever won't satisfy everyone. Action enthusiasts will be disappointed in how underutilised the combat system is, and those looking for a lovingly crafted story will have to stomach an especially poor English localisation. But even with its obvious flaws, Together Forever has undeniable charm in its endearing characters and elegant presentation. An enjoyably breezy RPG, if you can keep your expectations in check.

Branching storylines, cool combat, and rewarding RPG elements work in tandem to form a memorable adventure, but one that needlessly stumbles and falls over various technical issues. This certainly isn't the true ending that we were hoping for.

Nova-111 is an enjoyable turn-based adventure game that manages to impress with its refreshing controls and charming art style. Though it does have some flaws, such as a lacklustre auto-save feature and a cumbersome amount of abilities, you'll be hard pressed to find a weirder and more brilliant tribute to the men and women who changed the world through science.

This episode is a light, fun romp, and its consistently goofy tone helps to craft the series' identity at long last.

No Heroes Allowed! VR is a deeply satisfying and surprisingly humorous PlayStation VR strategy game. It doesn’t do much with virtual reality, but it looks great inside the headset and has some unique gameplay ideas to boot. Sure, its high price means that it’s never going to get to the top of the food chain, but this likeable title is still worth feasting on – assuming, of course, you can afford it.