The tiny SSD is running a race when it should be preparing for a marathon, the initial amazement of the user interface hides some big issues with the console software, and there’s clearly still some work left to be done in the backwards compatibility department. And yet despite those faults, the PS5 still locks and loads a wow factor that can’t be beat thanks to just how well its best games run and the senses-shattering use of its new controller. The potential of this console to lead the way into the next-generation of gaming is undeniable, but it’s up to Sony to help the PS5 realise that possibility.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon’s switch to turn-based RPG combat and team-based tactics may bite off more than it can chew thanks to terrible difficulty spikes and ill-defined character progression, but it’s still a breath of fresh air for the series. Ichiban Kasuga and his pals are an entertaining lot, the game has plenty of style, and even though the combat devolves into an ungodly grind, it’s a flashy new start to one of Sega’s best franchises.

It’s shorter and familiar, but the first solo outing of Miles Morales in his own dedicated video game is nothing short of amazing. A follow-up to an already spectacular first game, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales improves on its core design with creative energy and attitude that sets it apart from the original. A brilliant first step on the PS5 and a final hurrah for the PS4, Marvels Spider-Man: Miles Morales is spectacular.

Godfall hits the nail on the next-gen launch game head: All style, very little substance. Granted there’s some fun to be had but once the next-generation glitz wears off what’s left is a repetitive slog through levels that quickly get old.

More than just a tech demo for the DualSense controller, Astro’s Playroom is a stunning showcase for the PS5 and the very first game that you have to try out on the next-gen system. Fine-tuned for maximum haptic feedback fun, Astro’s return is a marvel that celebrates the past and the future of the PlayStation.

It’s both hilarious and serious, but Chicken Police is more than just 2020’s weirdest game. Beneath the clucked-up surface is a genuinely engrossing story, amazingly developed characters and a cast that brings them to life. With slick production values, this is one hard-boiled detective story with a unique flavour.

A saga for the ages, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is a breathtaking journey of discovery that has a cold charm to it. It is both serious and ludicrous in equal measure, an RPG that has added more than it has removed from its core experience while delivering a game that feels familiar and completely new at the same time. Skal.

That you can play games better, smoother, and quicker than ever before while having full access to your personal legacy on Xbox Series X, makes for a console experience that comfortably transcends multiple generations. It's been a long wait for Microsoft to hit the reset button, but its new console proves that Xbox is finally back and ready to rock.