This remake is a nostalgia fest of grabs, spins, flips and skids – and a stiff, even occasionally humiliating test of skill
The Nintendo Switch 2's flagship game is a winner, and often feels more like a journey with your friends than a straight competition
Obsidian's huge, heavily detailed fantasy world has a lot of variety and texture, and interesting people to meet - but the combat and exploration wear thin
It's great to finally get to play as Zelda, but working out how to take an active part without being able to fight is rather hard work
Fun-packed and brimming with personality, this full-length Astro Bot outing pays tribute to PlayStation history while pushing the console's capabilities
It definitely exhausted my brain from time to time – now and then I was just shifting stuff around in circles because I couldn’t figure out how to make three blocks land on three separate switches at the same time, as the conveyor belt logic of the puzzles temporarily eluded me. But more often I felt locked in, darting around the levels and arranging them almost on instinct, feeling as if I was playing Tetris. Having reached the end of Jenna’s adventure, I am definitely done with block puzzles for a while – but rarely do you play a game that explores one good idea as thoroughly as this.
Quick-witted and hilarious, this madcap band tour/space caper is sold short by its premise
This gloriously messy, medieval-flavoured silliness will give you the best adventure you've had in years. There's nothing quite like it
There’s no story to discover, no complex rules to learn; just instant, appealing fun. It’s fun you’ll have already experienced if you’re a Mario fan, but with enough novelty and unexpected twists to prevent it from feeling over-familiar. And for those new to Mario – kids just ageing into video games, friends or family members tempted into a multiplayer session – this is a wonderful introduction to the fizzy creativity and attention to detail that has made Mario a family staple for nearly 30 years.
Playing a professional diver maintaining undersea oil pipes may sound like an odd premise for a game, but it's so peaceful down there
Occasionally a game comes along that makes you look at life in a whole new way. This glorious, hilarious, utterly absorbing Zelda instalment is one of them
Plumbing the depths of our fear of the ocean, this clever and compelling video game will suck you in for hours at a time
Even the most fervent millennial fans will find little here beyond being able to wield a wand in the hallowed halls
This imaginative sequel is a blast, as Kratos and his wayward son fight their way through the nine realms trying to avert the war to end all wars
Never mind the spectacularly colourful paint battles, this is quietly one of the best and most inventive action-puzzle games around
This fascinating game provides an interactive film trilogy, complete with behind-the-scenes footage, to help solve the mystery of missing movie star Marissa Marcel.
This unusual game has you managing your dad's launderette while running a secret arcade out the back.
A branching thriller played out from different perspectives, including characters' histories, is clever though at times repetitive
Pattering through a ruined city, being petted by robots and watched over by a friendly drone, cat lovers may regret finding the escape
A noble environmental message provides the basis for this delightfully uncomplicated adventure, but elements of performance are amiss