Melody of Memory is a nostalgic, rhythmic celebration of Kingdom Hearts that fans of the series and the genre will adore.
After a six-year absence, PlayStation's knitted icon returns in stunning form in one of the year's best platformers.
Infuse Studio has done a fantastic job in remastering Spirit of the North's visuals for PS5, but while it looks gorgeous, this edition neglects the elements that needed an update most. Though the controls remain stiff and your objectives aren't always clear, anyone willing to look past this will find a wonderful experience at the core. If you've been searching for a new adventure game, Spirit of the North is short but sweet and despite these flaws, comes recommended.
Fire Emblem's original 8-bit adventure is back and for the most part, Shadow Dragon * the Blade of Light still holds up well.
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 is a worthy successor to the first game, expanding upon the original premise with additions like skills battles but retaining that same addictive gameplay puzzle fans will love. Providing a fantastic multiplayer experience both online and locally, fans will find plenty to keep them occupied. It isn't entirely flawless and the lack of changes with bonus content feels a little too safe but it's a minor criticism in the grand scheme of things. SEGA has done an excellent job here and it comes highly recommended.
Ocean's Heart is a charming, albeit uninspired, Zelda-like 2D adventure that wears its influences a bit too heavily.
Retro-styled shoot 'em up Habroxia 2 makes for an entertaining experience even if it doesn't rise above others in the genre.
You can see Cyanide Studios had good ideas for Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Earthblood, so it is a shame to see that potential wasted. Tearing through enemies is undeniably satisfying and Earthblood's stealth mechanics feel rewarding but with poor visuals, a short campaign, and disappointing story, you can't ignore these pressing flaws. Cyanide has faithfully integrated Werewolf's lore here – even if that is a little bare – so tabletop series fans will likely enjoy it, but anyone else would best approach with caution.
For PS5, Monster Truck Championship’s improvements are technical, offering a 4K resolution upgrade and 60 frames-per-second gameplay. Unfortunately, there’s no DualSense support and previous PS4 owners don’t have a free upgrade. When backwards compatibility exists, we can’t recommend double dipping, but new players will find much to enjoy. This is the definitive edition, and if you enjoy monster truck racing, then this naturally comes recommended.
Co-op is where Can’t Drive This truly shines. Bringing some frantic entertainment, cross-generation multiplayer, and adaptive feedback for acceleration – the only major PS5 upgrade — we just wish there was more to it. It’s also incredibly bare, and there isn’t huge variation between these modes. Unlocking new customisation options isn’t enough to keep you coming back, and though you’ll have a fun time with friends, you won’t be here for a long time.
Tennis World Tour 2 gets a next-gen upgrade, and it makes for a decent tennis sim.
Disco Elysium's expanded edition successfully builds upon an already excellent RPG, making it just as relevant today as it was in 2019.
Judgment remastered is a fine return for 2019's Yakuza spin-off. Though all of its changes are purely technical, it's the best version of this detective thriller.
Before I Forget is a highly emotive tale about one woman's struggle with dementia, and a story that everyone should experience.
Wreckfest is back with a fine next-gen port, going that extra mile with some wonderfully chaotic gameplay.
An Airport for Aliens Currently Run by Dogs is Strange Scaffold's latest bizarre outing and offers an incredibly funny adventure let down by constant fetch quests.
While King of Seas is a slow-burning pirate adventure with some finicky combat, it ultimately makes for a fine journey across the Seven Seas.
Ultimately, World Brothers is a good introduction for newcomers that’ll appeal to long-time fans too. It’s not especially deep and solo play can feel slightly repetitive in longer stints, but if you gather a few friends, you’ll have a lot of fun with this colourful spinoff.
Rebellion and Just Add Water's made a fine effort at bringing Sniper Elite to PSVR. By offering a full-sized original campaign, more authentic weapon handling, and ample replayability, it's a strong debut for this established series into first-person territory. Though motion controls feel fiddly at times and the PS Move controllers do the experience a disservice, it's a great adaptation worth looking into.
It harks back to 3D platformers of yore, but Demon Turf is so much more than a Banjo Kazooie-like. With its inventive platforming, packed to do list and great sense of humour, the latest game from the creators of Slime-San is devilishly good fun.