It’s part of the Season 9 Playground Island update dropping on March 4, which also includes a track creator. There’s also a bit of NASCAR Circuit racing to look forward to, and, of course, some new cars. The new island seemingly offers multiple distinct biomes, with tropical forests making way for mountains and even an underwater viewing gallery, complete with a shark. We’re definitely making a pit stop there! It’s a lot to take in, if we’re being honest.

All in all, it’s looking like a solid addition to Ubisoft’s open-world racer, and a timely one, considering that Forza Horizon 6 isn’t too far away. Ubisoft Ivory Tower is going to have a hard road ahead, but if the Playground Island is any indication, it’s going to be an interesting one.

The Crew Motorfest is available for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Check out our review for the base game here.

You even get the Rocket Pass Premium in Rocket League (remember when that was still a thing?). As for actual game offerings, Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault will be available via Game Preview on November 19th for Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers.

Premium subscribers, meanwhile, can check out Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo and Revenge of the Savage Planet on the same day. They’re followed by Monsters are Coming! Rock and Road and The Crew Motorfest on November 20th. There’s also Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden and Kill It With Fire! 2 on November 25th for all three tiers.

December 1st marks the day one launch of Marvel Cosmic Invasion for Premium and PC Game Pass, while Lost Records: Bloom and Rage will arrive on December 2nd. Of course, Xbox advises checking back on November 20th following the Partner Preview for more news, so expect even more announcements.

Check out the titles leaving the service on November 30th:

• Barbie Project Friendship (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Lords of the Fallen (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Octopath Traveler (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Octopath Traveler 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• SteamWorld Build (Cloud, Console, and PC)

It’s certainly an exciting time for racing fans on PS5, but there are a couple of caveats with Forza Horizon 5’s PS5 launch. First, there’s the kicker. Players have to link a Microsoft account upon starting up the game, a process that other Xbox-to-PlayStation games like Sea of Thieves has required. Unfortunately, there won’t be the added benefit of cross-progression from a PC or Xbox save to PS5. There is cross-play between PC, Xbox, and PS5 versions of the game, though, so that’s nice. On the PlayStation side of things, a PS Plus subscription is required to take part in any of the online features of FH5. When enabled, Forza Horizon 5 allows up to 16 online players at a time in the game world. The multiplayer offerings are rather extensive, ranging from a battle royale mode called The Eliminator to a large suite of mini game challenges from smashing pinatas to zipping around obstacle courses. Forza Horizon 5 has a single player offline mode too, of course, but you won’t be able to engage with the robust auction house or try out other players’ custom tracks, in addition to the aforementioned modes.

I don’t think there’s been a more ideal time to jump into Forza Horizon 5 than now. The game originally released back in 2021 and has benefited from a wealth of updates and fixes. I’m disappointed that the $59.99 base edition of the game on PS5 doesn’t go the distance with the inclusion of the Hot Wheels and Rally Adventure DLCs – those have to be bought separately in addition to the numerous Car Packs. Still, the base package here is staggering. The game includes well over 700 cars and that number goes up past the 800 range when we include DLC, so you’ll not be wanting for variety.

And there’s even more new content to look forward to. The PS5 release of Forza Horizon 5 coincides with a new free content update across the game’s various platforms. Horizon Realms has been positioned as the big central addition with the update. Realms features 11 of the most beloved environments from Forza’s Evolving Worlds seasonal rotation. A new permanent Horizon Stadium Circuit is also coming to the game in addition to the 11 seasonal returning Realms locations.

And for gearheads, there’s a total of eight new vehicles added to the game via update, though four of them (including the exhilarating Lamborghini Revuolto) are rewards for clearing Horizon Realms achievements. The other four cars are from the new Nissan Retro Rides car pack. As with all car packs, there’s a dlc sticker price of $4.99 attached to it.

For PS5 players, the most exciting ‘update’ comes in the form of DualSense support. Turn 10 has confirmed full DualSense and DualSense Edge functionality, with adaptive trigger feel for threshold braking and surface conditions. If it performs like Gran Turismo 7 or The Crew Motorfest, heavy dirt roads will amp up the vibration intensity tenfold and the accelerator and brake pedals will have a realistic tension translating to the triggers.

Luckily for PS5 players, Forza Horizon 5 isn’t the only racing game getting new updates. Gran Turismo 7 is a PlayStation exclusive well and truly anchored to the PS5 and it’s still receiving new updates three years after release. GT7 is currently on its 28th free update. Since its launch back in 2022, hundreds of additional cars and a handful of circuits have been added. The game currently features 532 vehicles and 39 tracks (not counting different configurations).

All of GT7’s content (including all updates) is available free of charge once you’ve bought the game. PlayStation racing fans suddenly find themselves with a nice advantage: access to Sony’s premier exclusive with Gran Turismo 7, as well as the recent Forza Horizon 5 port. It’s wild that in 2025 Sony players have access to one of Xbox’s flagship exclusive racers in addition to Sony’s Gran Turismo juggernaut, but here we are.

Sim racing fans have GT7 and Assetto Corsa to play on PS5, but what about the open world crowd? Well, there’s actually been quite a handful of quality open world racers within the PlayStation ecosystem even before Forza Horizon 5 joined. The Crew Motorfest, while featuring a far smaller map than the The Crew 2‘s vast United States, features the Hawaiian islands of Oahu and Maui. What’s impressive is the recently released free Maui update, which adds the new island as well as a range of new Playlist challenges and new vehicles.

Another fun open world racer is Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, a game struggling with its online offerings despite a rich and varied Hong Kong Island map. Despite being hot off the heels of its initial release last year, TDU: SC already has a significant update which includes the Ibiza island map, smaller in scale though it may be from TDU 2‘s Ibiza. Now with Forza Horizon 5, PlayStation racing fans have three marquee open world experiences to test out the world’s fastest and most desirable cars around in.

Kart racing fans have their share of quality games to choose from too, even if Mario Kart isn’t one of them. Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled is a frenetic and fun Mario Kart alternative that uses its PlayStation branded IP to great effect. Team Sonic Racing and the upcoming Sonic Racing Crossworlds provide that same flavor of kart racing fun that the very best in the genre are known for. And then there’s the plethora of third-party arcade racers on PS5. Need for Speed has been oddly silent about a new entry, but NFS Unbound comes highly recommended if you’re into cop chases and real-life car brands with some of the most impressive exhaust sounds in gaming. Hot Wheels Unleashed 1 and 2 are also a ton of fun with the custom track creation and satisfying physics (which even let you fly off the track).

PlayStation’s racing ecosystem is perhaps the strongest in gaming at the moment. The prospect of other Microsoft exclusive racers like Forza Motorsport coming to PlayStation is now highly likely. Sony racing fans now have their pick of Xbox and PS games racing titles to choose from. And what’s more, there’s not a single racing genre underrepresented on PS5. I just wish there would be less of an emphasis on microtransactions and season passes with today’s racing games, but that is an industry-wide issue that exists regardless of console ecosystem. Between their pick of GT7, Assetto Corsa, Forza Horizon 5, The Crew Motorfest, TDU Solar Crown and a wide array of arcade racers, PlayStation players have a veritable buffet of fun driving games to enjoy.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

The island of Maui will be depicted in The Crew Motorfest as having more than 100 square kilometers to explorer and race through. Players will be able to race through Kahului, Haleakalā National Park, and Ohe’o Gulch Sacred Pools.

Part of the game’s fifth season, Maui will be available for all players of The Crew Motorfest to explore and race through for free. The island also serves as one of the settings for The Chase Squad, which will have players join and compete against elite driving teams.

The Crew Motorfest is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Earlier this year, the PC version also made its way on to Steam, rather than only being available on Ubisoft Connect and Epic Games Store.

For more details on The Crew Motorfest, check out our review.

The Crew Motorfest, which has been available on PC only via Epic Games Store and Ubisoft Connect since its launch last September, will be releasing for Steam on April 18, Ubisoft recently announced. The game’s Steam page is also up, and it can be wishlisted now.

In our review of The Crew Motorfest, we awarded it a score of 8/10, saying, “The Crew Motorfest embodies the spirit of the Forza Horizon franchise in more ways than one, and though it doesn’t ever quite touch the same heights, it does deliver what is easily the most enjoyable game in Ubisoft’s open world racing franchise.” Read the full review through here.

The Crew Motorfest is available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Shortly after its release, Ubisoft announced that it had set a new record for first-week sales for the franchise.

https://twitter.com/TheCrewGame/status/1772307538983129562

THE CREW MOTORFEST

The change in scenery in The Crew Motorfest from mainland United States to the island of Oahu was easily one of its biggest strengths. The open world clearly takes a lot of cues from the Forza Horizon series, and honestly, it’s better for it. With plenty of environmental variety, gorgeous locales, and a festive vibe throughout the map, The Crew Motofest’s open world is a fun one to simply exist in.

SONS OF THE FOREST

We’re pivoting here and going from a festive location to an oppressively dire one, but Sons of the Forest absolutely deserves its flowers. Even in early access forms, it’s one of the most memorable experiences of the year. Struggling to survive in its hostile and horrific world, which is so densely laden with atmosphere, remains an enthralling experience no matter how much time you put into the game.

DIABLO 4

Diablo joined the ever-growing list of franchises making the switch to an open world format, and it did so in mostly successful fashion. Though Diablo 4 loses the trademark claustrophobia that the series has always been known for in going for an open world setting, it balances the scales with a large, desolate, gorgeously designed map, which it crams full of addictive, repeatable content.

LIKE A DRAGON: ISHIN!

The Yakuza franchise, now known as Like a Dragon, has always excelled at crafting small but dense semi-open world maps, and Like a Dragon: Ishin! benefits from those strengths as well. In addition to boasting a smattering of engaging side content – something the franchise has always been known for – Ishin also boasts the unique strengths of its wonderfully atmospheric period setting, which it brings to life expertly.

LORDS OF THE FALLEN

Lords of the Fallen’s semi-open world approach is very much focused on tighter and linearly designed interconnected areas in the fashion of the Dark Souls series, and it boasts a lot of the strengths that those games do as well. Slowly unlocking the world and consistently making it slightly less hostile to navigate always remains a rewarding experience, made all the more compelling by the game’s dual realm system.

DEAD ISLAND 2

Dambuster Studios’ decision to develop Dead Island 2 as a semi-open world experience with a lot of open and explorable maps, rather than as a full-fledged open world title, proved to be quite a smart one. The zombie slasher-basher is able to exhibit an impressive level of variety in locations throughout its runtime, and each of them not only does a great job of capturing the vibe and personality of an LA setting, but is also rendered in visually spectacular manner.

EVERSPACE 2

Everspace 2 took a big swing with its switch to an open world format, and it’s safe to say at this point that the risk paid off. Exploring the vast expanses of space is always an alluring prospect in a gaming experience, and that’s basically what the entirety of Everspace 2 is built around. Thanks to a strong environmental design and flying and combat mechanics that never lose their sharpness, exploring the game’s map always remains enjoyable.

LIES OF P

There was a lot to love about Lies of P, as is evidenced by the widespread acclaim it has enjoyed, and its atmospheric gothic horror Belle Epoque setting had a big role to play in that. It brings the city of Krat to live in excellent fashion, and exploring its ominous and dilapidated remains is a consistently engaging experience, not least because of the incredible design and art style the game exhibits across its entire world.

WILD HEARTS

Map design and traversal are probably among Wild Hearts’ biggest strengths. Each of its unique open world maps are not only sufficiently large, they’re also gorgeous, vibrant, and brimming with a ton of environmental detail and diversity. On top of that, exploration and traversal is always a blast, thanks in large part to Karakuri devices and the emphasis placed on on-the-fly crafting.

HORIZON FORBIDDEN WEST: BURNING SHORES

The Horizon franchise has always excelled at putting players in incredibly well-realized post-post-apocalyptic renditions of real-world locations, and that’s very much the case in Forbidden West’s expansion, Burning Shores as well. It looks gorgeous, as is expected of the franchise, and the imaginative and visually striking way in which it portrays its version of a half-destroyed, half-sunken, volcanic Los Angeles is hard not to be impressed by.

CYBERPUNK 2077: PHANTOM LIBERTY

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty (in conjunction with Update 2.0) uplifts so much of the game in so many ways, including its open world. For starters, the new district of Dogtown is easily among the best areas in the entire map, and somehow manages to boast an impressive level of density and variety in spite of its smaller size. Beyond that, the underlying systems also see significant improvements, which breathes new life into all of Night City, even beyond the walls of Dogtown.

SEASON: A LETTER TO THE FUTURE

Given how dense and eventful 2023 has been for gaming, SEASON: A Letter to the Future has slipped under the radar for money, but those who’ve played it will gladly tell you how good it was. Exploration in the game is deliberately slow-paced and encourages you to take in its gorgeously rendered environments, memorializing them in anticipation of an upcoming catastrophe. With its stunning visuals to the melancholic vibe, SEASON leaves a lasting impression.

FINAL FANTASY 16

Final Fantasy 16’s decision to not have an open world setting may have proved controversial, but the game still placed plenty of focus on exploration. Traveling throughout Valisthea, Clive and his companions explore a variety of different locations, from forests and cities to deserts and wastelands, and though the level of freedom they offer can vary, overall, the game rewards exploration just enough to ensure that it remains an important part of the experience.

STAR WARS JEDI: SURVIVOR

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor obviously excels at being a Metroidvania game, build as it does on the solid foundations of its predecessors, but on top of that, it also expands significantly with semi-open world elements sprinkled in as well. The planet of Koboh in particular is particularly expansive, offering a massive amount of play space in which to navigate excellently crafted areas and discover all manner of optional content, secrets, and more.

HOGWARTS LEGACY

An open world Hogwarts game has been something many people have dreamed of for years, but Hogwarts Legacy proves equal to those lofty expectations. Iconic, memorable locations from in and around Hogwarts are brought to life with incredible authenticity and detail, and the game does an excellent job of thoroughly immersing you in its world. Meanwhile, exploring the vast areas around the castle itself – whether you’re flying through the air or remaining grounded – also never loses its charm.

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TEARS OF THE KINGDOM

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s open world perhaps doesn’t make the same kind of impact that its predecessor did, owing simply to its familiarity, but make no mistake about it- it’s a far, far better version of it. On top of retaining the incredible design and traversal mechanics of Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom also makes a number of smart and significant changes to the otherwise familiar Hyrule, while also adding in a staggering amount of new real estate in the form of the Sky Islands and, much more significantly, the unsettling Depths, which is an entirely new, mind-bogglingly massive underground map that you can spend dozens upon dozens of hours in.

BALDUR’S GATE 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 might not have a traditional, seamless open world structure, but you’ll struggle to find many games that place as little limits on players as Larian’s RPG does. There’s no shortage of large, open, freely explorable locations throughout the game, and each of them is brimming with engaging, incredibly designed, and expertly written quests that emphasize player agency and choice-and-consequence mechanics above all else. What’s even more impressive is just how organic exploration in Baldur’s Gate 3, how seamlessly and easily all the content available in the game seems to flow into each other, and how, no matter what you’re doing, you always feel like you’re headed in the right direction and making progress.

ALAN WAKE 2

Remedy Entertainment has always been associated with tight, linear design, and while Alan Wake 2 obviously still does exhibit those strengths, it blends them with a more open-ended structure. Across Saga and Alan’s stories, there are four large semi-open world hubs to explore, each bringing with it its own unique and incredibly crafted areas, with plenty of optional content and hidden rewards tucked away. That structure fits particularly well with the game’s more deliberate pacing as a survival horror experience.

PIKMIN 4

Pikmin has always placed a great deal of emphasis on exploration, but never has that been truer than in Pikmin 4. With the almost complete removal of time limits, the game allows players to explore all of its maps at their own pace, and boy is it a rewarding experience. With secret collectibles, hidden dungeons, optional battles, shortcuts to unlock, and more, each of its large and intricately designed maps remains a constant joy to explore, not least because of how the game contextualizes the scale and size of each of these locations.

MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN 2

You’d think that having a third successive game set in the same open world New York map would be a bit boring, but Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 circumvents any potential issues in a number of key ways. For starers, the map is a significantly larger one, thanks to the addition of Queens and Brooklyn, while it also feels much more lived in, dense, and dynamic. More crucially though, making your way through the map is also more enjoyable than it has ever been, thanks to a combination of significant improvements made to the already excellent traversal mechanics.

STARFIELD

Bethesda Game Studios has always had an incredible knack for crafting immersive open worlds, and though Starfield’s open world structure is quite different from the studio’s past games, here at GamingBolt, we found it to be just as magical, and just as easy to get lost in. From the typically strong and captivating lore to the vast, endless amounts of content on offer, from the variety it exhibits across its four main locations to the absolute freedom the game affords to players, from being able to plant your flag on desolate planets and build massive outposts there to creating your own ship and flying it through space, Starfield’s open world had a grip on us in a way very few open worlds have managed in recent memory.

#10. TT ISLE OF MAN: RIDE ON THE EDGE 3

Owing to its very nature as a hardcore superbike racing sim, TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3 is not, like its predecessors, a game with widespread appeal, but for fans of the sport and racing sims in general, there’s a lot to love here. Its rough production values, lack of variety in content, and less-than-stellar visuals do leave a little something to be desired, but with incredible physics and driving mechanics, a rewarding sense of challenge, and incredible sense of speed, TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3 has an excellent foundation.

#9. MONSTER ENERGY SUPERCROSS: THE OFFICIAL VIDEOGAME 6

Milestone has a grip on the bike racing simulation genre in a way no other developer in the industry does, and Monster Energy Supercross 6 was yet another feather in the developer’s cap in 2023. From significant improvements to the physics and handling systems to an impressive level of polish and attention to detail, from a solid selection of new and returning modes to a much stronger balance between authentic simulation and accessible fun, Monster Energy Supercross 6 is a promising glimpse of how the series can continue to improve with future instalments.

#8. MOTOGP 23

MotoGP 23 is a perfect example of how a game can benefit from a bevy of iterative improvements as much as it can from a smaller number of radical revolutions. Rather than trying to reinvent the wheel, it builds on its predecessors’ foundations by making notable improvements across the board, from the new Career mode to the introduction of more newcomer-friendly mechanics, while continuing to exhibit the same authenticity and love for bikes that Milestone’s games are so often associated with.

#7. LEGO 2K DRIVE

A Mario Kart-inspired open world arcade racer making use of the Lego license? With an elevator pitch like that, any game is bound to turn its fair share of heads, and LEGO 2K Drive mostly makes good on its promises. Though it can feel a bit shallow and repetitive, the underlying systems and design deserve credit. Maps are colourful and tightly designed, driving mechanics are tight and strike a nice balance between skill and accessibility, and vehicle building and customization in particular can offer up hours upon hours of enjoyment. It may not have been a revelation, but LEGO 2K Drive is a solid enough racer than genre fans of all ages can enjoy.

#6. RIDE 5

Yep, another Milestone-developed bike racing sim, and easily the one that impressed us most this year. The RIDE franchise has continued to push the envelope with its visuals, authenticity, and technical achievements with each new instalment, and RIDE 5 didn’t disappoint on that front either. On top of that, with notable improvements to the Career mode, the addition of new elements like Rivals and your very own HQ, the introduction of dynamic weather, a new Race Creator option, and a continued push for accessibility and approachability, RIDE 5 once again proves why Milestone’s franchise is the undisputed king of bike racing sims.

#5. THE CREW MOTORFEST

After two instalments in the mainland United States, with The Crew Motorfest, Ubisoft’s open world racing franchise took players to the island of Oahu, and it turned out to be absolutely the right decision. Courtesy of a much more varied, vibrant, and colourful world that is teeming with gorgeous vistas to take in, The Crew Motorfest benefits from excellent festive vibes that make it a much more engaging experience, while a smart, new structure for the main content and improvements to the driving mechanics also make for more enjoyable racing mechanics. It might not be the competitor to Forza Horizon’s throne that it was perhaps being positioned as, but it’s still a hell of a racer that fans of the genre will enjoy.

#4. F1 23

Codemasters’ annual F1 franchise has been one of the best racing sim experiences around for a long time now, and 2023’s instalment was another predictably excellent one. With its loot-driven F1 World experience, F1 23 offers a different flavour of content than most of its predecessors have been known for, while the return of F1 21’s story mode, Braking Point, also proves to be a triumphant one. That, combined with improvements to the underlying driving mechanics made for an excellent all-around package, even if the game does still feel a bit stagnant where its visuals and Career mode are concerned.

#3. EA SPORTS WRC

The WRC license switched lanes to Codemasters and EA Sports this year, and the former leveraged its expertise with rally racing simulators to deliver another excellent outing for the licensed series. EA Sports WRC captures the adrenaline-fueled thrill of rally racing better than most other games have managed in the past, while it also offers a smattering of contents across its many modes, tracks, vehicles, and more. Admittedly, the experience can be dragged down at times by issues such as bugs and a few modes that feel a little undercooked, but by and large, EA Sports WRC has laid down an excellent foundation for Codemasters to build on with future instalments in the years to come.

#2. HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED 2: TURBOCHARGED

The fourth Milestone-developed game to earn a place on this list, and without a shadow of doubt, the best of the lot. Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged is an excellent evolution of its already solid predecessor. That sense of speed and arcadey thrill that the first game boasted is not only present and accounted for here, but shining brighter than ever before, while also touting stunning visuals, incredible track design, a vast array of customization options, and new driving and movement options like jumps, dashes, and more. Ultimately, it’s an iterative improvement rather than a radical one, and the single player offerings do leave a little something to be desired, but the final product is one that improves on the first game in some key ways.

#1. FORZA MOTORSPORT

The Forza Motorsport franchise had been dormant for longer than most would have expected, but in 2023, it finally made its comeback with what was billed as a reboot. Whether or not it turned out to be the undisputed king of racing sims might still be up for debate, thanks in large part to a divisive new structure for its campaign, but there’s so much else here that we can’t help but be impressed with. New weather effects, a healthy offering of content (especially in the multiplayer department), stunning visuals and attention to detail of the sort that only this franchise can manage, crucial improvements and tweaks to the moment-to-moment mechanics- the list goes on and on. Even though it doesn’t hit the highs that many of its predecessors are remembered for, Forza Motorsport is still a triumphant return for Turn 10’s long-running franchise.

Terminator: Resistance Enhanced

Terminator: Resistance is a fun first-person shooter based on the popular movie which allows players a ton of flexibility in how they choose to go about the many encounters peppered throughout the story. You can choose to sneak through enemy areas and pick them off one by one, or you could just go in guns blazing, or anything in between. The Enhanced version soups up the original in a wide variety of ways, which makes it the best way to experience this underrated shooter.

Dying light 2

Developer Techland’s latest Dying Light 2 might not have fulfilled most of its promises, but it’s still a solid game that’s worthy of your attention. It excellently builds upon the foundations laid in the original, and meshes them well with new mechanics like paragliding and improved combat. Add to that some gorgeous graphics and oodles of content, and Dying Light 2 becomes a really great game that players can sink dozens upon dozens of hours into.

Haven

Released in 2020, Haven is an indie gem that tells the story of two lovers trying to make a life on a distant planet. It features a really charming story with beautiful characters, and while the gameplay mechanics are really simple – they work pretty well within the context of the game itself. Between this and a highly imaginative world, Haven has the capability to keep you engaged for a long time.

Bugsnax

Bugsnax looks like a rather childish game at first glance with its cartoony characters and Pokemon-style game, and while that notion isn’t completely wrong – it isn’t indicative of the full picture either. Bugsnax’s story can veer into pretty dark territory at times, and the gameplay revolving around constantly upgrading your snacks is surprisingly addictive for all age groups.

Weird West

WolfEye Studios’ Weird West is an action RPG that combines a familiar Wild West setting with dark fantasy elements that culminate in a world that looks like no other. The gameplay is pretty open-ended in its nature, and players are encouraged to come up with creative solutions for the presented problems. Add to that some quality writing, and Weird West becomes a really gratifying experience.

Aragami 2

Aragami 2 is one of the very few stealth games in the current gaming landscape, but what makes it special is the solid foundation of mechanics that it operates on. Aragami 2 is all about hiding in the shadows, carefully surveying your surroundings, and using your tools and abilities to pick out enemies and complete your objectives while being a complete ghost. The story might not be the most interesting, but the gameplay is engaging enough to make you want to keep playing regardless.

Evil West

Flying Wild Hog recently released Evil West to some great critical reception, but the game unfortunately never received the love and appreciation on a commercial level. Evil West puts you in the shoes of a cowboy hunting for monstrous creatures, and that weird premise has been wonderfully realized here – which makes for a fresh setting. Add to that visceral gameplay and high-fidelity graphics, and Evil West becomes a game that’s really hard to pass on.

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy suffered from a lot of skepticism after Marvel’s Avengers flopped hard, which is part of the reason why it never got much mainstream attention. But those who have played it will most likely sing endless praises about the story and its simple yet fresh combat mechanics, and we can’t really argue with that. Guardians of the Galaxy is a really solid game that sadly flew under the radar for many gamers, but it is a game that is most definitely worth your attention.

Lost Judgment

The original Judgment was a fun spin on the Yakuza formula, and Lost Judgment does an equally good job of building upon those mechanics. The detective murder mystery at play never fails to keep one guessing, and those narrative beats are punctuated with some excellently choreographed fights and chase sequences – which makes for a thrilling ride through and through.

Chernobylite

Chernobylite is set 30 years after the disaster at the nuclear plant and focuses on a physicist that returns to seek out his beloved. Though players will have to deal with hostile soldiers, including Stalkers that roam the zone, they can recruit teammates to their cause. Crafting equipment and weapons is the key to survival but keep in mind that any character can die with a wrong decision. Two graphics modes are available for the PS5 version – Performance and Resolution. The former offers 1080p resolution and 60 frames per second gameplay with “higher graphics quality.” The latter is dynamic 4K and 30 FPS with ray tracing and improvements to shadows, environments and texture quality.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure

Sackboy: A Big Adventure was one of the PS5’s launch titles that sadly got overshadowed by the likes of Demon’s Souls and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a charming ride through some gorgeously knit levels, and the platforming also does a good job of introducing new kinds of obstacles at every turn. It’s a very relaxing game that doesn’t ask much from the player, and that alone has a very distinct kind of charm.

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name might not be the franchise at its finest, but it is a game that has plenty of merits to its name. The gameplay transports us back to the series’ brawling roots, and the inclusion of multiple playstyles also makes combat a medium of personal expression. Of course, you also get a whole host of side activities to indulge in apart from the main story – so there’s that to consider as well.

Outriders

Developer People Can Fly’s Outriders is a pretty competent looter shooter that not only nails the shooting but also manages to create a progression loop where you are constantly getting more powerful and facing equally challenging obstacles. The story isn’t the best, and there are some balance issues here and there – but Outriders can be a really fun game to sink your teeth into, and it gets even better if you have a couple of friends raiding alongside you.

Solar Ash

Solar Ash takes place in a fantasy world where you must complete a series of challenges to save the world from imminent doom. Developed by Heart Machine, Solar Ash boasts a beautiful art style and a solid movement system with fluid animations and a great sense of flow to the gameplay proceedings. It has a few rough edges here and there, but it has its fair share of merits as well.

The Crew Motorfest

The Crew Motorfest aims to resolve most if not all of the issues with prior releases, and the end result is definitely remarkable. The smaller map means that it has been curated with plenty of attention to detail, and the selection of racing events also features some much-needed variety which ensures the gameplay doesn’t get stale after a while. It borrows a lot of ideas and elements from Forza Horizon 5, but that doesn’t make it a bad game by any means.

NetherRealm’s Mortal Kombat 1 also performed well. It was the second best-selling game of the month and the eighth best-selling title in the US year-to-date. It also topped the PlayStation charts, ranked second on Xbox and PC and third on Nintendo Switch (despite multiple problems at launch).

The other big release for September was EA Sports FC 24, which debuted in third place. It saw “double-digit” percent growth in unit and dollar sales, per Circana executive director Mat Piscatella, compared to FIFA 23. Despite launching close to the end of the month, it’s the 14th best-selling game of the year to date.

Also, despite a troubled launch, Payday 3 still managed to rank in fifth place, while NBA 2K24 debuted in sixth and The Crew Motorfest in seventh. Check out Circana’s top 20 best-selling games based on dollar sales below.

September 2023 Top 20 Best-Selling Premium Games (Dollar Sales, Excludes add-on content) pic.twitter.com/rNhAH8d8xY

— Mat Piscatella (@MatPiscatella) October 18, 2023

Starfield was the best-selling game of September, instantly becoming the 7th best-selling game of 2023 year-to-date. Starfield ranked as the best-selling title of the month across both Xbox and PC, with PC being its lead sales platform.

— Mat Piscatella (@MatPiscatella) October 18, 2023

Mortal Kombat 1 debuted as the 2nd best-selling game of September and the #8 best-selling game of 2023 YTD. Mortal Kombat 1 was the best-selling game of the month on PlayStation platforms, placed 2nd on both Xbox and PC, and ranked 3rd on Nintendo Switch.

— Mat Piscatella (@MatPiscatella) October 18, 2023

EA Sports FC 24 was the 3rd best-selling game of September. Double-digit percentage growth was seen across both units and dollars when compared to FIFA 23’s September 2022 launch month. EA Sports FC 24 launched as the 14th best-selling game of 2023 year-to-date ending September.

— Mat Piscatella (@MatPiscatella) October 18, 2023

It is worth noting that the free trial is only available to players that haven’t already played the game during a previous free trial back in September. The new trial is strictly aimed at players that may not have given The Crew Motorfest a shot yet.

As part of the free trial, players will be able to check out the full open world of The Crew Motorfest, which takes place on the Hawaiian island of O’ahu. Players will be able to take part in any event they find in their 5 hours of play time in the trial. Multiplayer is also fully supported for free trial players.

The Crew Motorfest was released in September, and is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Back in September, the game got a trailer highlighting its accolades. It has also set the first week sales record for the entire franchise. For more details, check out our review of The Crew Motorfest.