Wayward Sky would be a fun game as a "normal" puzzle-'em-up, but the sheer sense of scale and winning use of PlayStation VR elevates it to another level. With a nicely designed sky fortress which is easy to explore and lots of puzzles to solve, this is a great beginners VR game.
EVE: Valkyrie is one of the better PlayStation VR experiences out there at the moment – a true Top Gun. Packing slick design and stunning visuals, as well as thrilling gameplay. For fans of multiplayer space dogfighting, this is the (un)real deal. Virtual hats off to CCP on creating a fantastic space combat experience.
100ft Robot Golf delivers a winning combination of sci-fi anime and nicely playable golf. It won't win any awards for production values, but it's such a fun solo experience and manic laugh in multiplayer that you'll be happy to look past that. Importantly for PlayStation VR owners, piloting a 100ft Robot is a joy in virtual reality mode – but the core gameplay works fine in the standard not-as-cool regular mode.
Criminal Girls 2: Party Favors is a niche release for sure, but it's also a solid RPG experience which is ideally suited to the Vita. If you've got Sony's handheld device and an open mind regarding how female fighters should be motivated, then this is a slice of good quality JPRG that can provide many hours of battling pleasure. Just take our advice and try not to play it in public.
Strike Vector EX delivers fun and frantic airborne mech combat action, and while it is only a short lived diversion in single player, it really shines in multiplayer. This one's packing a ton of customisation and an addictive core battle sensibility that will keep you engaged, and it represents a great alternative shooter to the likes of Call of Duty or Battlefield.
Videoball is a classy and low cost game that is manic fun in multiplayer and an okay grind in single player arcade mode. Don't let the simplistic looks put you off – have some balls and fire this up at your earliest convenience.
Grand Kingdom is a strong tactical title that will ignite your inner sellsword. Some minor difficulty spikes can't upset the entertaining strategy action being served up here, and with tons of content on offer, this is a game that you could potentially still be playing this time next year.
Perfect Universe is a good collection of games, and it packs so much fun that it's worth downloading – even if you only intend to boot it up when you have friends and family around. Congrats to creator Will Sykes on a really accomplished package.
DiRT Rally is the purest and most visceral rally game in a long, long time: it's a constant knife edge experience of risk and reward, trial and error, concentration and sweet, sweet progress. This simulation comes highly recommended to both rally and racing fans everywhere.
The Witch and the Hundred Knight: Revival Edition is undoubtedly a Marmite game, even more so than its niche Nippon Ichi siblings. For JRPG fans who missed this on the PS3 and are willing to sink hours into mastering its various systems, menus, and combat skills, it can prove to be a worthwhile battle-'em-up. For everyone else, it may be too much of a commitment – unless being bossed around by a super demanding, foul-mouthed evil witch is your cup of tea.
This War of Mine: The Little Ones throws you into a beautiful and compelling hell. Experiencing war as a group of civilians whose lives rest in your hands with only your conscience to guide you is a refreshing change of pace from pretty much any other game out there. This is brilliant mix of harrowing survival interspersed with moments of joy. Having fun really isn't the point here: this is a game that will challenge anyone desensitised to the real sufferings of war – and that's a bold move.
Primal Carnage: Extinction feels like a great concept which has just not had enough "shine" put into the end product. Basic menus and average production values could be forgiven if the gameplay was killer, but dinosaurs deserve to be more badass and exciting than this. So while there is some dino fun to be had here, this is a game that will likely be left on the virtual shelf and left to turn extinct.
Overall, the Jackbox Party Pack 2 is a great addition to any gaming collection – especially as the festive season beckons. Packing enough variety to keep different age groups entertained, this is an affordable set of fun games that are easy to organise since they don't even require additional DualShock 4 controllers. What's more, the games themselves are really good fun to play and memorable enough to make you want to come back. Party on dudes.
Toto Temple Deluxe is a recommended multiplayer game that deserves a look. This is fast, fun, squeal-inducing action for all of the family/herd. It's a game that will go down well at any awkward family get-together, dinner party, or youth group – and another reason to love indie game producers for taking an established gaming formula and making it fresh all over again. Get your goat, you've pulled...
Pumped BMX + doesn't really do anything particularly wrong, but it lacks that je ne sais quoi needed to keep its wheels going around. You'll happily bunny hop into this one for a few short sessions, but once you're done, you'll likely find yourself leaving this bicycle out to rust.
You'll need the patience of a saint to break this curse, but if you've got the skills then Curses 'N Chaos can be a very rewarding game. Strong design and a surprising amount of depth offset some minor niggles, and thus with a low price tag, this is well worth bashing your gaming skills against.
Commander Cherry's Puzzled Journey is a barmy title built around one imaginitive mechanic. Using the PlayStation Camera to bring yourself into the action is a neat novelty, but it does have a shelf-life. It's also not for those that are opposed to moving more than their thumbs. Still, if you're looking for something a little out-there, then this is an interesting option – and the fact that it offers an excuse to actually use the PS4's underutilised camera is just the cherry on the top.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist is the ultimate version of arguably one of the best card duelling games on the planet. Essentially a virtual version of the real thing, it probably won't entice those who don't like the franchise, but for die-hard fans and interested newcomers, this is a game that offers unlimited hours of battling fun. If you've ever enjoyed Yu-Gi-Oh!, you owe it to yourself to give this a chance.
PlanetSide 2 is a staggering achievement that feels right at home on the PS4. For a fun, engaging battle-'em-up that doesn't cost a penny, it delivers potentially unlimited hours of adrenaline pumping excitement – there's nothing out there quite like it. Now if you'll excuse us, we have some Terrans to shoot.
Magicka 2 makes a good transition to the PS4 – the controls map nicely to the controller and it all looks nice on a big television. It's an oddity in that it really shines when you have two or more players, but is much less fun when playing alone. Overall, there is much to commend in this magical blaster – just make sure that you bring a friend.