NME

A much-needed shot in the arm for single-player first-person shooters, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a masterpiece of atmosphere, made with brain-melting ambition and conviction. Its technical troubles will fade in due course, giving way to an essential experience that is tremendously easy to get lost in and doubly hard to forget.

After a number of lovingly crafted parodies of global franchises, Lego has turned its playful sights to 2017’s sprawling epic Horizon Zero Dawn. Lego Horizon Adventures looks incredible but this reimagining is too simple for long term fans and not inviting enough for newcomers. Add in the non-stop stream of banter, repetitive levels and some annoyingly challenging battles, it’s hard to know who this crossover is for.

Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 refreshes the franchise with a feature-stuffed blockbuster. It’s the most complete Call Of Duty experience in more than a decade – and presents a strong argument for giving the series’ developers more time to make each game.

For better or worse, A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead sticks firmly to the path laid out by the movies. The bloodthirsty Death Angels are terrifying menaces that force the player to make as little noise as possible, giving the early levels a creeping intensity. With developers not wanting to expand the lore or play around new threats, your slow walk to salvation quickly runs out of road.

Bloober promised a “safe” remake that respected the legacy of Silent Hill 2, and they’ve delivered a game that takes its iconic horror to new places, without unnecessary baggage or cheap shocks. Instead, their version of Silent Hill 2 is stretched to expand on the dread while the nightmarish town has never looked more beautifully terrifying. It’s a terrifyingly faithful reimagining that’ll scare veterans and newcomers alike.

There’s a tense, challenging and truly immersive game to be made in the butterfly-effect, play-the-movie genre; take the pace and drama of Quantic’s Detroit: Become Human. Sadly, Supermassive are determined to stick to a very old and restrictive script.

Outlaws feels like a proper Star Wars game, but isn’t tied down to the Skywalker saga. The world feels suitably massive, with plenty of places to explore, skills to learn and dodgy dealings to get involved in. Developers have cherry-picked the best moments from groundbreaking titles such as Uncharted, Tomb Raider and The Witcher to create a unique, cohesive Star Wars title.

Black Myth: Wukong delivers on the spectacle and satisfying combat that caught everyone’s eye during its trailers. Discovering secrets and boss fights are the highlights here, but overall level design and some of the upgrade systems feel messy. Despite that, Black Myth: Wukong is still an incredibly fun time.

If you can see past its dull story and some uninspired art direction, what remains of Once Human is a profoundly compelling shared-world survival game. It’s a moreish riot of perilous progression and deep customisation, more than capable of keeping you entertained for months, and maybe years, to come.

Despite launching in sunny June, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is the perfect companion for cosy autumn nights spent on the sofa. Rich in character and atmosphere, it’s very easy to look past a few unwelcome haunts.