20. Horizon: Forbidden West
One of the few genuine AAA blockbusters to launch since the pandemic played havoc with development schedules and working conditions, this much-hyped sequel took the best bits of the first game – robot dinosaurs, exploration, sci-fi hokum – and added much, much more of it. Size isn’t always everything, of course, but you there’s no denying the spectacle. Read the full review
19. Kirby And The Forgotten Land Nintendo’s roundest, cutest, pinkest mascot has made his way into the third dimension for the first time for the most adorable adventure of the year. A classic 3D platformer for the ages with Kirby’s newfound power to absorb whole cars or giant lightbulbs adding some welcome new twists to his usual power-stealing formula. Read the full review
18. As Dusk Falls
Former Quantic Dream developers break away to make their own intriguing interactive fiction. A unique hand-drawn style illustrates a branching plot of two families that come together in tense circumstances in a roadside diner. What you choose along the way for its characters will have an effect on the long-reaching aftermath.
17. Ghostwire Tokyo
The brilliantly realised and abandoned Tokyo is the star of Tango Gameworks’ latest horror. The deep debt to Japanese folklore and yokai is also a strength as Ghostwire serves up its compelling ghost stories with a unique twist on martial arts magic. Read the full review
16. Gran Turismo 7
Polyphony’s famous driving sim arrives on PS5 with a bootload of charm and a contagious love of cars. Tremendous on the road, too, with a handling model enhanced by the DualSense controller’s feedback. Read the full review
15. Roadwarden
It is a delight to know that in an age of time-swallowing, triple-A supergames, the humble text adventure can be just as impactful when done right. And boy does Roadwarden do it right. A compelling historical fantasy illustrated with otherworldly pixel art, you are a humble handyman, tending to villages, managing inventory and doing your best to help the local peninsula’s populace as an in-game clock ticks down.
