Short but expertly designed- as close to perfection as you can get in terms of difficulty curves and crafting an experience that leaves you wanting more. The game is somewhat abstract with a simple story, you have the case of “man overcoming machine,” though, the player character is perhaps deliberately a woman, as is the AI. You escape a sterile, stark white lab environment where you are constantly being monitored, emerging into the outdoors and nature, reminiscent of classic science fiction. There are really enough symbols in here to elicit multiple readings and interpretations. Tackling each puzzle is a rewarding experience and this feeling compounds towards the end when you are forced to think quickly. The mechanics and design of this game still blow my mind 15+ years on and I’m looking forward to playing the sequel.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of narrowly slipping through traffic, trading paint with a car inches away before drift boosting into a turn and sending another car hurtling through the back of a truck. The camera gives you a brief moment of respite, before whipping you back into the chaos, all the while the early 2000s pop-punk guitar kicks up on the soundtrack.

Burnout 3 perfects its unparalleled sense of speed and adrenaline with its tight controls and track design. Its addictive gameplay keeps you in a stranglehold, only relenting once you’ve secured the gold medal. Two decades on, and this game still rocks while remaining the peak of its genre.