Forza Horizon 4 isn’t as surprising or inventive as the last one, but that’s hardly a slight considering how good it was. Horizon continues to shine as one of the best things on the Xbox. It’s beautiful to look at, it’s fast and it’s unbelievably fun. Forza Horizon 4 is a joyous, enthralling celebration of racing.

Despite a few issues and a dearth of modes, Firewall Zero Hour is the best multiplayer shooter available on PlayStation VR, and one of the platform’s best games. It’s exhilarating, immersive, tactical team-based fun, and one of those rare VR games that I’ll keep playing long after finishing this review.

Lara Croft’s final adventure in her revival trilogy is easily her weakest yet. Shadow of the Tomb Raider’s story fails to critique the heroine in the many ways it attempts, while aging gameplay mechanics and troublesome new additions undercut deeply satisfying exploration and an exquisite visual presentation.

Beyond the resolution increase, improved audio mix and middling VR, there’s really not much to this remaster. The exclusion of the first game also makes recommending last gen’s collection easier.

Aside from the microtransactions and occasionally tedious load times NBA 2K19 has all the modes, polish, challenges and value you’ve come to expect from the franchise.

Destiny 2: Forsaken returns the story that Bungie began back to its roots: A power fantasy with a more sombre story, that retools the sequel to once again feel like a hobby that’s well worth investing in, even if some rough edges do still show in this adventure to enact some old school justice on some new school enemies. Exciting, mysterious and always engaging, it’s good to see Destiny 2 back on track.

F1 2018 doesn’t skimp on technically deep and rigorous racing, but its approach to appease both hardcore F1 fans and curious racing fans alike make it a title that has a much broader appeal than just the sport itself. It’s a gorgeous package with smartly designed content to keep you entertaining on and off the track, and just a darn fine racing experience around every corner.

This singular vision is perfectly at home on consoles. The experience is mirrored more or less perfectly on the controller and the addition of split-screen is a welcome one. Its characters, world and combat are a breath of fresh air in a stale genre. Though new content would not have hurt this supposed Definitive Edition, Original Sin 2 is perhaps the most compelling Role-Playing Game in a decade.

SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy might rightly draw ire for its overt, unnecessary sexualisation of fighting games’ femme fatales, but its problems extend further than social problems. It's anaemic in content and the fighting itself lacks any real depth.

Battle for Azeroth, despite the endless grind, has been an exciting expansion this far. However, raids and additional content are what makes the game great. Blizzard has made the entry level into the new expansion welcoming for new players and some die-hard critics have shared their concerns with the current direction Blizzard are going with making the gaming “easier.”

A fantastic game. The on-field experience is one of the most authentic, impressive portrayals of football you are ever likely to see. It’s what happens when a team is finally completely comfortable with the engine and system. Every match feels like it offers something different and that adds to the whole experience. The on-field additions certainly make up for the lacklustre menus, the loss of licenses and the lack of innovation, but only just.

Marvel’s Spider-Man is charming and energetic, action-packed and surprisingly capable of tugging on your heart strings to deliver a one-two punch to the emotional gut. If you had to sum up Marvel’s Spider-Man in one word, nothing would be more apt than…amazing.

At its best, Strange Brigade is a solid time-killer with plenty of class and brass to its name that is best enjoyed with a few fellow adventurers at your side as you tackle co-op conundrums. Hit or miss gunplay hobbles the experience, but at least Strange Brigade has plenty of charm and style to fall back on.

Wario's relentless onslaught of microgaming still packs in a tonne of fun, especially for newcomers. For long-time Wario players, WarioWare Gold is a blessing and a curse. It’s nice to have a collection of games from across the franchise in one collection, but it also means that fatigue and familiarity can set in pretty quickly.

Overcooked 2 is a lot more of the same, but it’s a well-rounded sequel that improves on its established gameplay with small, clever refinements across the board. Add to that new online multiplayer support, a quick-fix Arcade mode and more devious kitchens to conquer, and Overcooked 2 is a perfect choice for your next co-operative craving.

A chimera of genres, Dead Cells succeeds in forging its own path with incredibly polished combat, retrotastic art design and drawing the right amount of influence from the past.

Sonic Mania is a celebration of everything that made Sonic the Hedgehog such an enduring, beloved character. Plus adds to that, making one of the best Sonic games in decades even better.

It may be almost a decade old, but Red Faction Guerrilla’s bland sandbox and story is still easily overlooked in favour of its gold standard of open-world demolition that now benefits from a substantial bump in visual quality.

Semblance is a frequently delightful, innovative platformer that's all about breaking the rules. When it’s at its best, it’s devilishly clever, but it has a curiously stilted pacing and flow. Its subversive take on mouldable platforming is fun to play, but ultimately its underutilised core concepts will leave you wanting more.

The same compelling puzzle adventure that it was on the Wii U, but now on a system that feels far more suited to its bite-sized levels and rapid pace. Its strange control quirks in docked mode make it a less alluring prospect at home, but if you’re looking to kill some time anywhere else you’d struggle to find something this good to scratch that itch.

What you see is what you get with Far Cry 5: Lost on Mars: Plenty of Hurk, a ton of bugs to kill and a straightforward romp on the red planet that’ll kill a few hours of your time.

A beautiful and modern JRPG that stays true to its roots. It can feel repetitive at times, but the amazing combat, heartfelt stories and extraordinary soundtrack counteracts its structural issues in almost every way. This is a definite must-play for Switch owners.

Panic Studio's port of Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus may be a game of compromises, but the amitious effort still manages to capture not only the complete content of the original game but also its very essence.

Tight action, packed with more guns than Ted Nugent's home and a singular focus on turning the tables on bullet hell enemies makes Mothergunship a slick piece of high caliber fun.

Forgettable, drab and middling to the extreme, MXGP Pro is an unfinished two wheel disaster.

Dillon’s Dead-Heat Breakers doesn’t stray too far from the established formula of the previous entries but it still manages to provide a fast-paced take on the tower defense genre. It’s unfortunately marred by some repetitive gameplay sections but it’s still a blast to play in the end.

No matter the element, The Crew 2 is a fantastic vehicle in which to master the ins and outs of speed. It’s just a pity that Ubisoft’s new world of varied racing disciplines feels hollow and uneven as it won’t hold your attention for very long in its current incarnation.

If you don’t mind the lower resolution and slightly less crisp visuals, then the Switch version is incredibly easy to recommend, especially as it gains portability. It’s a cracking port of one of the best remasters around. It's odd to say, but it almost feels like this should be Crash's new home.

While almost every LEGO game has included some sort of new mechanic to differentiate itself in some way, LEGO The Incredibles just feels like it’s going through the motions. The formula is wearing mighty thin, and is the least inventive, most unexciting LEGO game in ages. Still, it's a decent kid's game, with plenty of family-friendly fun to be had.

If at first you don’t succeed and find yourself horribly mauled to death by a lunar landshark, try try again. Prey: Mooncrash takes the core elements of Prey and tweaks them to provide a new and immersive experience that offers a fresh new spin on Arkane Studio’s fantastic game of spacebound paranoia.

The minimalist art design is beautiful, and its characters are wonderfully expressive and emotive despite their simplicity. There’s an elegance to Pode, that belies its imperfect platforming and frequent frustrations.

Onrush is the perfect game to play after a long day at work. It’s fast, it’s fun and somewhat cathartic as well. Unfortunately the lack of content and a cooperative multiplayer focus that’s never fully realized will leave you rushing to play something else after a few sessions.

Mario Tennis Aces gives the arcade tennis series a massive injection of depth, turning this family friendly sports title into a tactical, fast-paced chess game that is a thrill to play against other people. Its depth is well explained in a limited story mode that has some interesting ideas, but it’s a tougher sell if you’re not looking to lose yourself in hours and hours of online play.

For every inch of innovation, there is endless, effortless copycatting.

Funcom has delivered an above-average open world survival game that lives up to the mythos created by Robert E Howard. It fits in perfectly with the rest of the lore. However, while it is a fun game, it lacks a lot of polish, but if you can look beyond the flawed exterior, Conan Exiles will deliver hours of enjoyment.

Far Cry 5’s first big slice of DLC lasts almost an hour, trading the chaotic mountain ranges of Hope County for a more subdued and streamlined stealth-heavy tour of duty in the Vietnam War that fails at feeling meaningful or having anything to say.

While its premise is absurd, Sushi Striker's core action/puzzle mechanics are undeniably fun and initially addictive. It wears a little thin though, with the campaign becoming laborious well before it comes to an end. Thankfully the multiplayer is superb, and is a perfect fit for both the 3DS and the Switch.

Dark Souls is an amazing and important game, but the remaster does little to spice things up, providing little reason to really go back to Lordran. Blighttown runs at 60fps though, so that might be reason enough for some.

Aragami: Shadow Edition is all you could ask for and more from a game that is built on the mythology of shinobi. It may still have a few rough corners, but for a first stab on console that emphasises stealth, patience and bloody retribution? It’s a superb experience with plenty to say thanks to its included Nightfall expansion.

Space Hulk’s latest iteration is potential squandered, regularly broken and guilty of a crime worse than the Horus Heresy…It’s boring.

Yoku’s Island Express is whimsical, charming and a joy to play. It’s developed by people who have an obvious love and deep knowledge for both pinball and Metroidvania games, and frequently delights and surprises by taking established genre conventions and quite literally flipping them about.

Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition has all of the quality of the 3DS version that built on the Wii U original (and some of the more recent Fire Emblem Warriors improvements added for good measure) and none of the drawbacks.

Frostpunk is an ingenious blend of city building systems and morally ambiguous decision making. Its mechanics are streamlined enough to be easy to grasp, but it’s tension and demanding nature make it an apocalyptic experience you shouldn’t skip.

Those hoping for an engaging, exciting Tennis game are bound to be disappointed. Tennis World Tennis World Tour is an unpolished, unfinished simulation that’s impossible to recommend.

Detroit: Become Human manages to dial back Quantic Dream’s usual style of storytelling and instead focus more on the characters and their personal journey resulting in one the most compelling adventure games in recent memory.

Trailblazers has plenty of charm and style with its gimmick of painting your way to victory, but it barely crosses the finish line thanks to its uneven AI, sloppy handling and lackluster multiplayer.

If you’re new to the franchise, you’ll be a bit under pressure to read up on characters and events from the first game, but it caters to new players (or those who have simply forgotten everything from the first game) well enough, is one of the best story-telling experiences I’ve had in recent memory, and is otherwise bloody fantastic isometric RPG.

MLB: The Show 18 is an incredible game with as much depth as you are willing to handle. It has incredibly intuitive and nuanced controls, entertaining commentary and a swathe of freedom that allows you to traverse the immense depth of the game as you feel comfortable doing. This is a game you can enjoy whether you’re a hardcore baseball fan or someone looking for something new in the sporting genre that isn’t FIFA 2018.

It's quite simple. If you loved the first game, you'll appreciate the changes, like a more structured take on base building and community management. There are fantastic systems, hampered by repetitive and shallow gameplay that ultimately feels pointless. State of Decay 2's scale and lower price don't quite make up for its lack of polish.

Destiny 2 does have an identity once again, a solid bedrock upon which to build its future. But whatever Bungie has planned, it’s going to need to be far sturdier than its latest collection of recycled content, uneven new events and a meagre amount of PVP content.

The Dragon of Dojima returns for one more adventure, with the stakes higher and more personal than ever in this touching farewell to a Yakuza legend. With a tale that closes the book on a long-running saga, Kiryu’s farewell results in a story that is as satisfying to watch as its gameplay is as underwhelming to consume.

The Switch version of South Park: the Fractured But Whole is a straight port. It’s a good game that will appeal to anyone who has a love of violently tolerant rednecks and children caught up in increasingly bizarre situations, but a few loading time issues stop it from being the best way to play.

The new funky Mode dials down the challenge, but Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze remains one of the most inventive and exciting 2D platformers. It may not be surprising, or as fresh as it once was, but it's varied and challenging gameplay cement it as one of modern gaming's best platformers.

Ni No Kuni 2 manages to showcase that even without Studio Ghibli, Level-5 can still create a truly wondrous and magical JRPG. Even though the new features and strategic elements feel undercut by its easy difficulty, this is still a fine example of what the genre has to offer.

It’s a triumph in storytelling and design, making it one of the most exceptional experiences gaming has ever seen.

It's Job Simulator with a coat of nihilistic, irreverent paint. It's fun, funny and indulgently self-aware. It's undoubtedly a must-have for fans, but like the character you play as, it's a disposable clone.

It’s beautiful, it’s fun to play and it’s accompanied by some wonderful music, but it’s the way that the narrative of loss and failure, of hope and redemption is inextricably woven into the game that makes it special.

Extinction is a fantastic idea buried in mediocrity. It’s one trick is stunning for a short while, but quickly runs out of steam as repetition, flimsy combat and a glib story cuts it down to size.

If you were ever hesitant about jumping into Injustice 2 due to the fragmented nature of fighting games in the new age of content delivery, then rest assured: Injustice 2 is 2017’s best fighting game made even better in 2018.

Detective Pikachu, as a character, is really quite special - but the game itself is unfortunately just not very much fun to play.

Foxnext’s first foray into the Marvel universe is a slick and addictive RPG featuring Earth’s mightiest mortals in action.

Telltale’s second Batman season goes out with a bang, as it boldly reinvents the familiar in grand fashion while ensuring that players have an emotional and personal investment in the crazy twists dealt to them when the Joker runs wild.

While it fails at being a game, Attentat 1942 succeeds at being an experience. It sacrifices all aspects of player choice and interactivity at the expense of delivering a compelling and interesting story. It can be praised for exploring an aspect and setting of a famous conflict that most games wouldn’t touch on.

Sea of Thieves has a startlingly gorgeous presentation and well-thought-out pirate simulation for you to get excited over. But its spell on the high-seas is short-lived, with a lack of incentivising quests and lacklustre combat forcing you to make your own compelling reasons to stick with it rather than it not loosening its grasp on your attention.

Choice is the driving theme in Far Cry 5, a game which opts to venture out of its comfort zone while fine-tuning every aspect of what makes the series so great. It’s incredibly relevant, Montana is a gorgeous slice of new terrain that is fraught with peril and the road ahead that Far Cry Arcade represents is exciting to say the least. Simply put, the fifth numbered chapter in Ubisoft’s series of madness, freedom and exploration is Far Cry perfected.

TT Isle of Man: Ride On The Edge is a definitive race around a legendary and lethal track, one that captures the thrill and joy of two-wheeled power unleashed with a satisfying and strapping sense of speed. A pity then, that the rest of the supporting architecture doesn’t measure up.

World of Warriors is truthfully not a very memorable game and not one that will have you jumping out of your seat to buy. It does a lot of things well and has a beautiful art style but its lack of ambition means it’s safe and but also easily replaceable.

Pure Farming 2018 suffers from tedium that masks itself as originality, which only highlights how similar it is to others. There is very little reason to recommend it over its competitors, but that's only because of similarity; not a lack of quality. If you're looking for an intro to farming games, then you may find a chilled and informative experience here.

Wild, adequately beautiful and a reminder of what a real need for speed truly feels like. Burnout Paradise Remastered may not be essential for anyone who has already spent many an afternoon committing its many and shortcuts streets to memory, but as an example of how racing games can fuse euphoria and momentum into one packed package of V8 action? It’s the original benchmark that hasn’t a single ounce of torque.

Long-time fans of the franchise will likely be disappointed by a watered-down entry that doesn’t come close to capturing the creative spirit of the original games. In fact, it doesn’t even bother. On the other hand, newcomers with no expectations should appreciate Showdown as a colourful, cute, low-effort party game that’s more diverse than most.

Kirby's debut on the Switch is a vibrant and fun game that's best played with friends. It's cheerful, colourful and its blend of new and old mechanics works, but it's missing the inventive spark that separates good Kirby games from great ones.

Tesla vs Lovecraft doesn’t reinvent the twin-stick shooter wheel, but it does refine and perfect the formula of what makes that genre tick thanks to its suitably meaty action, vibrant visuals and a perk system that is deeper than the sunken city of R’Lyeh.

It may have the blandest visuals on the block and its multiplayer offerings are currently in shambles, but Gravel is still brimming with attitude and excellence. No-frills racing to the extreme, Gravel is a nostalgic road trip that excites, thrills and charms when its given a chance to rev its engine.

Frantics should be a fun collection of casual-friendly mini-games made in the Mario Party mould. Unfortunately, it's just criminally boring.

Bravo Team embodies some of the worst traits in a VR game. It’s lackluster gameplay and stale shooting never take full advantage of VR as a medium, and stumble across all the worst hardware pitfalls PSVR has to wrangle with. It’s a mercifully short experience that doesn’t justify the price, especially when better games that fundamentally understand VR hardware exist already.

Metal Gear Survive is a good idea that finds itself crippled by an overwhelming mob of bad ideas. It’s interesting but ultimately handicapped by a ruthless application of unnecessarily brutal constraints that serves to diminish what should have been a fascinating spin-off.

Moss is a joyous, delightful experience that is both captivating and enchanting. It's one of those games that leaves you with an indelible smile on your face from beginning to end. It's just a pity that the end comes so soon.

A solid and dedicated start right out of the gate, Monster Energy Supercross struggles to maintain its momentum across the entire race as technical issues and a bland road to Supercross glory hamper its progress.

EA Sports UFC 3 is definitely fun to play and does an amazing job at recreating several aspects of competing in MMA's biggest organization. But despite the knockouts it delivers in some places, it's unforgiving submission system, uneven AI, and a few silly UI and gameplay choices means it's still susceptible to a few knocks itself.

If you’ve got a need for speed and plenty of death through trial and error, then Remnants of Naezith will easily scratch that itch with its mix of platforming and finding the perfect path through its numerous deathtraps.

Though the first game’s starting to show its age as far as visuals go, the relentless action remains timeless. Fast, frantic and frivolously fun, it’s still worth playing. The sequel, however, improves upon everything; deliver a more focused, more nuanced and more refined. It’s a glorious masterclass in design and flow.

Lost Sphear is a bit of a hard sell to people who are not fans of JRPGS and even though the writing and characters are quite stereotypical, the story has a lot of heart. The battle system and customization options make for a fun game.

Aegis Defenders comes highly recommended. The level design is inspired, challenging players to adapt their playstyle on the fly, and the gameplay is riveting and enjoyable. And it's all just so charming, with vibrant characters, witty dialogue, and a story that unfolds at a natural pace.

Quick on the attack and heavy on style, Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late[st] is a fighting game that requires an equal mix of brawn and brain to survive its unique take on all-or-nothing fisticuffs.

Dragon Quest Builders is every bit the captivating building adventure on the Switch as it was when it first released. It’s strong sense of progression, charming aesthetic and easy mechanics make it great for casual play, while its robust worlds and interesting characters make for a charming tale. It takes a misstep or two along the way, but Dragon Quest Builders isn’t an adventure you want to skip out on.

Monster Hunter World is an addictive, thrilling but ultimately satisfying experience. It’s the perfect starting point for newcomers, but it also has all the depth that long-time fans enjoy, making this easily the best game in the series.

Every bit the genre-defining, captivating adventure that it was 13 years ago, Shadow of the Colossus reminds you yet again just how masterful design and keenly focused art direction never age. But it’s Bluepoint’s respect of these elements and the smart decisions to tweak and improve them that make this the most definitive version of the Team Ico classic you’re likely to ever get.

The line between hero and villain is further blurred in Telltale’s latest Batman episode, as a world of half-truths and lies comes crashing down on players in the most unexpected of ways.

Subnautica harnesses feelings and fears we experience in reality and uses them to drive us to want to survive in this alien world and find our way back home. It is simply you versus the vast, unknown expanse of the ocean.

Appearing out of nowhere, more than a decade after the original game's release, Titan Quest: Ragnarok is a welcome and nostalgic treat for fans of the action-RPG franchise who longed for more. But despite the glowing nostalgia and overall thrill of being back in this world, this expansion has its flaws with unnecessarily boring bits and a dated presentation.

The definitive Dragon Ball fighting game, bar none. Arc System Works have created a game which walks across many a fine line, blending style with substance and accessibility with reverence for the source material. It’s wild, it rocks my dragon and it sets a benchmark for the series that proudly enters the domain of fight game gods.

The Inpatient is a fittingly terrifying visit to the sanitorium that set Until Dawn in motion and does a good job pivoting from campy slasher tropes to more psychological horror. Its choices lack the same punch though, and despite its shorter runtime, The Inpatient does a worse job of convincing you to play through it multiple times. Despite that, it’s captivating world and solid opening remain engrossing, even if its upended near its closure.

InnerSpace wears its inspirations on its sleeve, and manages to replicate the tranquil atmosphere it’s clearly aiming for. Its flight is enjoyable, with breath-taking views and colourful planets to poke around in. But it’s progression and overall narrative really buckle under the weight, making the crumbling Inverse a wasted space for this otherwise relaxing exploration title.

Clocks and glocks all come together in a game that makes the most of its signature idea, as Time Recoil adds a new twist to the twin-stick shooter genre with its chronal-stretching gameplay.

Crimsonland has always been a book that you can judge by its cover: A loud and silly twin-stick shooter that throws buckets of enemies at you as you fend them off. Not the most complex game ever devised, it’s still a firm slice of action that’s perfect for killing aliens and time.

It may have a sparse selection of tables on the Nintendo Switch and visuals that looked more jagged than the inside of a shark’s mouth, but Zen’s Pinball FX3 is a magical replication of the joy of pinball thanks to some savvy use of the Switch hardware that’ll delight any pinhead on the go.

With staples like the persistent timer and sporadic saves gone, the urgency and dread is gone – allowing Dead Rising to be the silly, absurd bit of zombie-slaying mayhem it always wanted to be. Purists may scoff, but there’s no denying that it’s fun – and just about the best Christmas game in existence.

Blending the mundanity of virtual work with the mania of wave-based shooters, Shooty Fruity perfectly pulls off an experience that's both absurd and satisfying.