Returnal is a challenging, atmospheric and creative experience that boasts amazingly smooth and satisfying gameplay. Add in an intriguing narrative, graphical excellence and some impressive utilisation of the DualSense controller and Returnal might just be an instant PlayStation classic.
While it might appear to be just another cover shooter on the surface, Outriders' excellent class abilities, aggressive combat and engaging loot systems allow it to stand toe to toe with some of the genre's greats.
As visually striking as it is addictive, Curse of the Dead Gods blends together satisfying combat with a few unique mechanics, making for a roguelite that will eat away at your free time in a big way
Valhalla brilliantly mixes brutal combat with satisfying stealth to offer up a package that ticks many open-world boxes that are so often missed
The gameplay, presentation and depth are all strong with the force, but one of the two multiplayer modes keeps this space dogfighter from achieving the rank of master
The agressive monetisation in Battlegrounds goes a long way to undermine an otherwise fun and thoroughly entertaining brawler
The technical issues and repitition of Marvel's Avengers are a drag, but they don't eclipse the deep combat and exceptional campaign
The emotionally-driven plot and moral choices drives you forward, even if the technical issues, puzzle difficulty and lack of scares tries to take you backwards
While it's an off-road simulator with good vehicle variety and excellent terrain physics, unresponsive steering and creeping monotony damages the overall experience
Ultimately Syder is a decent enough bullet-hell shooter with a good deal of potential that will hold your attention for a while, but no longer than that