More than a tech demo or a fleeting curiosity, Astro's Playroom is a phenomenal game in its own right that paints a bright future for both the PlayStation 5 and Astro himself
The Pathless is the next great indie adventure. Whether the joy you take from it is in its unique and super-slick traversal mechanics, or the arresting world and faultless artistry, there's no denying that Giant Squid has absolutely nailed it. If I could somehow travel back in time and get lost in this game all over again, I would. While I can't speak to the experience on Windows or Apple devices, I believe this is one for the PlayStation 5 players most of all. This world needs to be taken in at its most visually rich, and the unique properties of the DualSense heighten its gameplay even further. If you only pick one, non-AAA exclusive for your next-gen PlayStation, pick this one.
Miles Morales is a worthy standalone addition to Insomniac's excellent Spider-Man game and a compelling part of the PlayStation 5 launch lineup, even if it does seem a little pricey
Yakuza Like a Dragon is both a fresh start and a shot in the arm that caters to series veterans and newcomers like. It bears all the hallmarks of a great Yakuza game, while making a damned good case for its revamped battle system. After Yakuza 6 topped the rest of the franchise with a matured and succinct focus it feels even more exciting to see the whole thing blown wide open again and have Ryu ga Gotoku just run wild. Kudos is deserved at Sega of America for their commitment to the game's localization as well, which is incredibly considered and comprehensive. I think I've found a new favourite Yakuza game.
It can be a frustrating bloody thing at times, but when it picks up steam Ghostrunner is a balls-to-the-wall thrill ride that delivers on its cyberpunk stylings and repays patience with a dystopia-grade injection of dopamine
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time is both a successful celebration of the original trilogy as well as a worthy follow-up. Toys For Bob has taken the essence of what fans loved about the classics, distilled and bottled it and then shaken it up. Some old issues rear their heads, and there are definitely some dud levels and boss fights, but it's a package so chock-full of content that the good far outweighs the small amount of bad. Anyone hankering for some old-school Crash Bandicoot action will find exactly that and more, and all wrapped up in one of the most gorgeous platformers I've ever seen.
This from-the-ground-up remake takes a certified classic and makes it even better with a thoughtful modern update that absolutely nails the storytelling and atmosphere of great mafia fiction
It's hard to fault a collection of three absolute classics like these, but this particular package feels surprisingly unceremonious
Windbound throws a wide net of ideas in the hopes of catching something magical but a lack of depth leaves it high and dry
Backed by stellar writing, a gorgeous presentation and the culmination of years of innovation in the genre, DONTNOD's latest episodic narrative game is their best yet
A wild, rocking adventure that exemplifies everything that makes indie gaming great, eclipsing its own shortcomings with an endless torrent of unbridled creativity and energy
A frustrating mish-mash of weird and bad ideas that wastes a somewhat enjoyable story and moments of creativity
The effort made in reimagining this oddball classic is impressive, but Crypto may have lost his currency
Amanita Design does it again with a change in direction that still embodies everything that makes them a beloved indie developer
Ghost of Tsushima might be built from the same stuff as its AAA, open world contemporaries, but that doesn't stop it from being one of the best open world experiences of the generation.
Despite a lacklustre audio treatment and throwaway new content, this underrated 3D platformer makes a surprising return that looks fantastic and plays better than ever
A simplistic and repetitive, but appreciably cathartic shark-em-up that would be the perfect weekend blast if it wasn't so frustratingly undercooked
A gorgeous, dense JRPG classic made richer and more beautiful with a seriously impressive makeover and a suite of new features. This is how you do a remaster.
At the end of the day, the value of Saints Row: The Third Remastered will wholly depend on either a heady reverence for the original game/series or a penchant for emphatically stupid antics bolstered by puerile humour. There's no denying that the visual overhaul is thoroughly impressive, but little else has been done to make the game feel like anything other than a throwback to the year that put both Pitbull and LMFAO in the Top 10.
"A remastered and complete version of a divisive franchise entry that won't change anyone's mind but is well worth a replay for die-hard fans or anyone keen for a more considered crime sim"