Hades II
Supergiant's sequel is the best action game in our set and the cheapest major release here. Every store charges the same £24.99.
Verdict 9.3Value 8.9
from £24.99All verdicts
Twelve celebrated games, judged on play and on price
Ranked by overall mark. Filter by the hardware you own, the kind of game you like or what you want to spend; every card shows both scores and the lowest standard UK price.
The verdicts
12 reviews
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
A French studio's debut turned turn-based combat into something you perform. Game of the Year, fairly priced and on Game Pass from day one.
Verdict 9.1Value 8.6
from £41.99
Terraria
Fifteen years of free updates for less than £10 on PC. The best value in our twelve, by a distance.
Verdict 8.5Value 9.5
from £4.59
God of War Ragnarök
Sony's Norse epic is the best-looking, best-acted and most accessible game here. It costs £20 less on PC than on PS5.
Verdict 9.3Value 8.0
from £49.99
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Nintendo's sequel turns Hyrule into a construction kit. It is the finest open world in our twelve, sold on the UK's strictest store.
Verdict 9.2Value 7.7
from £59.99
It Takes Two
A co-op adventure that reinvents itself every chapter, and the best deal here for couples: one copy covers two players.
Verdict 8.3Value 8.4
from £34.99
Mario Kart World
A connected world of tracks and a 24-racer knockout mode make this the most ambitious Mario Kart yet. Online racing needs a Switch Online membership on top.
Verdict 8.8Value 6.4
from £66.99
Donkey Kong Bananza
Almost everything can be punched through in Nintendo's destructible platformer. It is a joy to play, with a costly expansion attached.
Verdict 8.5Value 6.5
from £58.99
Hogwarts Legacy
The castle is a triumph and the open world around it is ordinary. The same game costs £15 more on PS5 and Xbox than on PC.
Verdict 7.4Value 7.7
from £49.99
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
The whole planet, streamed in detail, with a new career mode. Wonderful to fly, expensive to kit out, and on Game Pass from day one.
Verdict 7.6Value 6.5
from £69.99
Sid Meier's Civilization VII
A bold redesign that split the series' fans, much improved by free updates. The base game is £59.99; the add-ons so far cost another £140.
Verdict 7.4Value 6.5
from £49.99
Cities: Skylines II
A city builder with a superb traffic model and a heavy add-on bill. The base game is £41.99; everything released so far comes to £204.78 at list price.
Verdict 6.5Value 6.7
from £41.99