Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is totally bonkers in places, but don't let that put you off; there's a surprising amount of heart in its narrative, and the game effortlessly captures the thrill and spirit of adventure. With tons of content, rewarding and cinematic combat, and a memorable cast of characters, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is nothing less than a triumphant spinoff.
Sonic X Shadow Generations is a high-speed thrills package that combines the best of 2D and 3D Sonic, with superb level design and great boss battles. The addition of Shadow's campaign is a great bonus, and despite some issues with stages proving a little unforgiving and delivering cheap deaths, the overall package is a must-have for Sonic fans.
Silent Hill 2 Remake is bleak, grotesque and utterly compelling in its retelling of a horror masterpiece, with superb visuals and performances, and an immersive narrative that is just as hard hitting as it was over 20 years ago. A couple of missteps here and there do not deter from Bloober Team's masterful remake of what is, for my money, the greatest horror game ever conceived.
Epic Mickey is a stunning-looking game packed with memorable locations, a cast of unforgettable characters, and solid gameplay. The paintbrush mechanic is satisfying and feels right at home in the Wasteland without ever coming across as too gimmicky. There's a few annoying hiccups here and there, but overall, Epic Mickey is an adventure worth your time.
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft is a superb collection of some of the PSOne's best adventure games. Whether you're a newcomer or veteran fan, the games remain hugely enjoyable and challenging, and the extra improvements really shine, particularly if you're new to the series and are intimidated by the old-school mechanics. Dive in and discover Lara Croft at her very best.
Tekken 8 is a fantastic entry in the long-running franchise and a fitting celebration of its 30-year history. With a varied roster packed with unique move sets, the addition of the Heat system and recoverable health gauge, plus a huge variety of modes, Tekken 8 is unmissable for both newcomers and fans alike.
Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is another fantastic entry into this much-loved series, proving that Kiryu has more than enough gas left in the tank to continue fronting the series. Despite some combat gadgets feeling a bit gimmicky and some obvious grinding to lengthen the story, The Man Who Erased His Name is a compelling time sink and proves that Kiryu isn't a spent force.
Assassin's Creed Mirage is a fantastic return to form for the long-running franchise, and by leveraging the very best of the series' offerings and doubling down on the original game's design philosophy, Ubisoft has created the most authentic Assassin's Creed game in a decade.
Separate Ways is a fantastic addition to the Resident Evil 4 Remake that is packed with great bosses, a new spin on familiar locations, and some meaningful narrative progression.
Resident Evil 4 Remake is a masterclass in action-horror. The game not only maintains the spirit and gripping gameplay of the original, but expands on it with some meaningful mechanics and fleshes out areas that were previously lacking. Even if you haven't played the original version, Resident Evil 4 is easily one of the best horror games on PS5 right now and a must-have for your collection.
Hogwarts Legacy is a compelling fantasy-RPG packed with stunning scenery, memorable characters and fantastic combat. Not only is it a brilliant love letter to fans of the Wizarding World, it excels as a game in its own right, so even non-Potter fans will find themselves immersed in its great story and characters.
Resident Evil Village: The Winters' Expansion is packed full of great content and definitely worth putting down the cash for. While Shadows of Rose feels cut a little short in terms of potential, it's still a great narrative-based DLC and a unique look at some familiar areas, while the third-person view and extra Mercenaries content is the icing on the cake.
Saints Row is a necessary reboot for a series that was getting out of hand (pleasingly so, but still), and Volition has made smart decisions in retooling the origins of the purple-clad gang without losing that silly, violent, and crude spirit. It leaves room for future improvement and escalation, and that's an exciting place to put the Saints in.
Sonic Origins is a fantastic celebration of 30 years of SEGA's spiky blue mascot, offering four of the best platformers money can buy and chucking in a bunch of great extras that long-time fans can appreciate. Regardless of where the Blue Blur head next, Sonic Origins is a reminder of just how damn good these timeless classics are.
The Quarry is a pulse-pounding teen slasher packed with strong characterisation, amazing atmosphere, and scrumptious visuals. Yes, it's not exactly the most challenging game thanks to dumbed down QTE events and interactions, but with a great story and heaps of replay value, you won't really care. If you're a fan of Until Dawn, then this is a must-have.
Kao the Kangaroo is a fairly decent, if unspectacular, platformer that harks back to a golden age of the genre's 3D era in many ways. Sadly, it falls short of being a notable addition to a heavily stacked part of gaming's history. That could well be its strength when it inevitably becomes an unexpected platforming touchstone for a new generation of young gamers in the way Croc, Gex, Crash, et all did for previous ones.
Sniper Elite 5 is the series at its strongest to date. It's not a radical paradigm shift by any stretch of the imagination, but it doesn't need to be. Instead, it builds on what Sniper Elite 4 did so well by expanding on the scale of maps, stuffs them full of things to do, and polishes its already-compelling combat. If you're looking for a tactical, rewarding World War II-era shooter, Sniper Elite 5 comes highly recommended.
The House of the Dead Remake is everything you'd expect from a revamp of an old-school 90s zombie rail shooter. It's fun, all too brief, but still provides enough entertainment solo or with a mate in tow. However, it still feels like a missed opportunity to stuff it full of some worthwhile new content.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla - Dawn of Ragnarok is a sizeable expansion offering a gorgeous new realm to explore, memorable characters, while new abilities such as the Hugr-Rip adds a new dimension to combat and traversal. Beyond that it's more of the same however, so that'll determine whether or not you'll want to dive back into Valhalla once again.
The Dark Pictures: House of Ashes is the best entry in the series yet, packed with gripping storytelling, compelling characters, and solid performances. Your choices feel impactful, and seeing your relationships grow or fall apart based on your decisions carries a lot of weight. With tons of collectibles, an improved camera, and solid pacing, House of Ashes will keep you glued to the screen until the credits roll.