Niggling issues and strange presentation decisions aside, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition is a must for any fan of the franchise, and an extremely well put together remake of one of last generation’s most defining titles. Gears of War seems in safe, loving hands with The Coalition.

A great port of a fantastic game, Torchlight 2 still holds up as a great example of an ARPG dungeon-crawler that is unfortunately plagued by some annoying bugs and control scheme limitations.

The Stretchers is a deceptively simple co-op game that manages to be fun for every second of it’s brief run time, delivering interesting levels and hilarious chaos as your shout at your partner (or left hand) to just pick up the damn stretcher.

Dragon Quest Heroes 2 is a surprising game. I went in expecting it to be a typical Musou game, but what I got instead was a fantastic action-RPG that’s really worthy of the Dragon Quest name. I’ve played many Musou games over the course of my life, more than I would like to admit, but I have to say that this is probably one of, if not the best game of its kind that I’ve played.

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.

Watch Dogs 2 manages to improve on almost every point that made its predecessor so disappointing. It’s a more robust open-world game, packed with meaningful content and mechanics that beg the player to experiment and toy with them. Though it still hangs onto some facets a little too tightly, this is one sequel that manages to make its opening act seem like a mistake best left forgotten.

Noita is an exciting experiment that grew into a tense, complicated, and altogether satisfying game of self-expression and discovery. It allows players a level of freedom often unseen in rogue-likes at the expense of a clear and distinct visual language, and situations that become difficult to quickly parse.

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.

Despite some excellent puzzle design and classic Layton aesthetics, it doesn't always feel like the game takes advantage of what the 3DS can do. Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy is a fantastic addition to the franchise. A must have for any puzzle lover.

Islanders is simple and straight-forward but still manages to make each of its city-building runs engrossing with a high-score to chase and procedurally-generated spaces to explore. It's the charming visuals and meditative soundtrack that make your brief stays worth it, enrapturing you in a relaxing aesthetic as you try to survive as long as you can.

Void Bastards is many things when you get your hands on it, but the most important influences that it draws from all combine to form a game that feels uniquely witty, addictively compelling and satisfyingly deep to explore thanks to tight gameplay, a colourful comic book visuals and a style all of its own.

Patapon’s primal rhythmic challenges and its keen real-time strategy blend together to create an unusual yet still unique game that’s as charming as ever. It does however, feel better suited to being played on a handheld than on the big screen.

Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia isn’t just an old game with a new coat of paint that brings everything from cinematics through to voice acting into a more modern age of gaming. It’s also a prime example of how the fundamentals of a classic game can still resonate today with newer audiences. Good game design stands the test of time, something that Shadows of Valentia has plenty of.

A bigger roster, more finely-tuned gameplay mechanics and a more versatile creation system help make WWE 2K16 the current-gen superstar that it wants to be, even if some inconsistent ideas and bugs do hold it back from time to time.

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.

Almost three dozen games, a trip into a bygone era, and plenty of reasons to have a pocket full of coins jangling away as you peruse the offerings. Depending on your fondness for the past, Capcom Arcade Stadium has a divisive collection of charming cult classic titles and time-wasting distractions, but it's all presented in a package that lures you in with bright lights, loud sounds, and plenty of nostalgia.

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.

There’s a banging soundtrack, the visuals look sharp across the Switch’s multiple playable formats and the action still feels as deliciously old school as ever. Everything you could possibly want from a white-knuckle schmup ride with Syder Reloaded.

It's a small mobile game but the complexity of the gameplay and graphics definitely surprised me. A solid title that you just have to try.

Old at heart but young in spirit, The Outer Worlds is a vibrant and stunning new chapter from Obsidian that doubles down on what the studio does best and throws in some surprisingly fun gameplay on top of that.

Batman The Telltale Series Episode 3: New World Order may be a slow burner, but there’s a raging inferno of action and tragedy by the time it finishes as the Dark Knight and Bruce Wayne face threats for all sides.

A game about conducting heists from behind a pc screen? It sure sounds mundane and complicated. Blendo Games though, have somehow managed to pull it off with ease in Quadrilateral Cowboy. They’ve put together a highly polished, surprisingly enjoyable product - one which every gamer should at least consider playing at some point.

Farming Simulator 17 is the best version to date, and if you’ve ever been curious about what the genre is all about, now’s the best time to experiment with something a little different. However, it’s not a title that will appeal to everyone. This is after all a game about watching digital grass grow.

SuperHot uses its time-altering core idea to great effect, creating a puzzle game that forces you to balance slow, thoughtful moves with quick, precise shooting. It’s a puzzle shooter that is easy to digest in small does but hard to put down, making the entire mind-bending journey one that will get your adrenaline pumping and brain thinking in equal measure.

The Reignited Trilogy feels well at home on the Nintendo Switch. Spyro is still fun to play in a world that looks great. Incremental improvements on all fronts, gameplay and otherwise, keeps the adventure throughout engaging, if a little cumbersome at times.

One of the simplest, and most fun mobile games of the year.

Although it picks up some unfortunate compromises along the way, Poochy and Yoshi’s Woolly World is every bit the engrossing, expertly designed platformer that it was on the Wii U. It’s a challenging and equally rewarding title, with enough options to captivate both the casual onlooker and die-hard platforming fan just itching for a new test. Even if the dust has settled, this is a game to brush it off your 3DS for.

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.

The Surge 2 does enough to tweak the formula of the original to iron out some of the creases that plagued the original game, these improvements overshadowing the game's hit-or-miss writing and occasionally recycled content.

Sometimes inconsistent, other times explosive, Telltale has managed to create a Batman who is more than just the sum of his fists and gadgets. A Batman for the 21st century, whose personal pain not only motivates him but also guides as this final episode of this series reaches a satisfying conclusion.

FMV games aren’t to every taste, to be fair, but for a change of pace, and an opportunity to jump into the genre, Erica is the best of its class. A dark, gory thriller, Erica comes across like a compelling mix of Broadchurch and The Wicker Man, elevated by surprisingly strong performances and polished production values. Pity about the restricted, rigid control options that have carried through to the PC release.

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

Autonauts is a colourful, creative and energetic game of automation and colonisation, whose cute facade is home to some truly engaging coding that never gets too complex.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD offers a sharper, more visually appealing version of a game that has already earned its merits in design. One that sometimes doesn’t hit the highest notes the series is capable of, but one that equally manages to keep you engaged in a more though provoking, mature Zelda tale. Whether returning or venturing forth for the first time, it shouldn’t be missed.

It’s agonizingly cute, addictive and packed with content. Animal Crossing New Leaf should please fans both young and old.

After rocking the world with guitars and other assorted musical stylings, Fuser feels and sounds like the logical next step for Harmonix. It’s colourful, brimming with positive energy, and the musical mash-ups that you can potentially create aren’t just surprising, they deserve to be heard around the world. If a steady flow of DLC keeps Fuser alive, I’ll happily hop back into the DJ booth to create a few more surprise hits.

On its own, the Freeze episode isn’t much longer than any of the preceding Arkham Knight episodes that built up the DLC content for most of Arkham Knight, but it’s massively satisfying to see Batman’s cold-hearted cryogenics expert get some much-needed closure – as well as see Batman: Arkham Knight wrap up on at least one post-launch high note.

System Crash’s campaign is compelling, as are the actual card game’s mechanics. It's smart and satisfying - but having multiplayer functionality present would have catapulted it to the upper echelons of digital card gaming.

A vibrant and challenging puzzle game, Filament has a slick style that’ll pump positive energy into your brain with every mystery that it throws at you.

Astral Chain is one of Platinum Games’ most complex and satisfying action games to date, with combat that’s suitably fast but far more purposeful and careful in execution. Its gorgeous world and enticing premise are betrayed by an uninteresting story and characters, but there’s little else to fault when you’re teaming up with your legions and solving cases across different dimensions.

A solid title that will make fans of the Civilization franchise extremely happy, and might even attract some new players - if they can survive the initial challenge.

Lego Marvel Super Heroes might just be the perfect game to keep kids occupied these holidays, as it’s crawling with familiar faces, voices and some downright charm. Just be cautioned however, as several flaws may make you angry. And you wouldn’t like this game when you get angry.

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.

If you need some optimism and pure joy injected into your life, Pikmin 3: Deluxe Edition is for you. A fantastic remaster that adds a healthy chunk of new content to what was already a bulky game, that improves the overall experience.

Everybody's Golf is a reasonably priced game that will give you many hours of enjoyment. Don't let the cutesy graphics dissuade you, it's a great game to play. Even if you own Grand Theft Auto 5.

King's Quest: Once Upon a Climb may lack complexity, but it more than makes up for it with strong storytelling and effusive charm.

The video game equivalent of a shot of espresso, award-winning Fractured Minds is a short, potent and tonally dark exploration of living with anxiety and other mental health issues. In some ways, it’s obviously the effort of a teenage game developer. In others, well, a good many adult creators can learn from its perceptiveness and sophisticated implementation.

Its shallow narrative and bland protagonist detract, but those looking for a finely-crafted open world game that eschews parody and satire for an overall darker tone will have a great time in Watch Dogs' digital Chicago.

XCOM: Chimera Squad is a thoroughly enjoyable twist on the franchise, bringing some fresh ideas to the fore while still retaining the roots of the original game it draws from. There’s certainly fun to be had here if you’re able to overlook the occasional bug.

Little Big Workshop is an adorable slice of capitalism and taking over the market one quality product at a time, provided that you’re willing to work for that dream. Batteries not included in dreams of wild success.

With its unforgiving retro platforming nature, Cursed Castilla EX will undoubtedly be a divisive game. It has its minor flaws and blurs the homage line on occasion, but fans of the genre looking to step back in time to the classic days of coin-munching arcade games will find this recreation of that era to a be a treat. A treat that may just leave you contemplating murder on occasion.

Biomutant juggles a ton of balls at any given time, and while it might not be able to keep all of them in the air, it's still an ambitious open-world adventure that's hard to not fall in love with. Maybe it's coming at the right time as well, as its generally laid-back approach to storytelling, wonderfully silly crafting, and deep character customization more than makes up for the rough combat that could do with some more polish.

Assault Android Cactus is a solid, memorable twin stick shooter. It has mechanics in place that make it accessible and fun for all. Its visuals and story unfortunately though, leave a lot to be desired.

Visually striking and mentally satisfying, Creaks is a puzzle platformer that fully embraces its oddball nature. Some control and pacing niggles aside, it’s a bright new genre entry, sure to have extra appeal for people with darker, cerebral tastes in entertainment.

Mafia: Definitive Edition is a stunning recreation of a classic game, adding competent gameplay upgrades and a polished recreation of its plot. As solid as the overhaul may be though, it doesn’t do much else to evolve the experience beyond the bare essentials. Not that you heard that from me, capisce?

If the Taken King was a statement on just how far Bungie could push the genre with its own ideas, then Rise of Iron is a love letter to the fans who kept Destiny alive. It’s Tenacious D’s Tribute, a gloriously over the top experience that’ll pull fans back in with ease.

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.

The sixth time is the charm, as WRC 6 finally nails the winning formula for a properly decent rally game that emphasises accessible fun over unforgiving precision. It’s not perfect, but it’s easily the best use of the official FIA World Rally Championship in many a year.

The story may not be up to scratch, but the game remains fun and enjoyable.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is an ambitious exploration of the Star Wars universe that succeeds in delivering both compelling combat and characters, even if it suffers from tedious exploration mechanics and a lack of polish.

Although buggy at times, the overall design and experience of the game is immensely satisfying and entertaining. At $15 for the base game and $20 for the Complete Edition on Steam, it may be a bit expensive, but there is plenty of value for money. A must play for any ARPG fan.

Hyrule Warriors Legends is a fantastic game that is not satisfied with being a simple port. Its new features and content, refined gameplay and the inclusion of all the original’s DLC makes this an easy recommendation, if, and only if, you have a New 3DS.

Thanks to some rather insightful evolutions from its predecessor, a deep fighting system that rewards dedication, and some super fun alternative modes for the more casual player, EA Sports UFC 4 is undoubtedly the greatest mixed martial arts video game we've seen to date. But being the greatest doesn't mean perfect as there's still room for improvement thanks to a wonky submission system and dated visuals.

It’ll be an acquired taste, but for those who have the patience for its deliberate opaqueness, Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey is the type of game its fans will be playing on and off for months, if not years. Its challenging nature makes it equal parts compelling and frustrating, but there’s no question this smart survival adventure contains loads of rewards for persistent players.

OlliOlli manages to walk a fine line between being legitimately infuriating to insanely rewarding. It's probably not for everyone, but if you've been yearning for a challenging game, with a nostalgic nod to yesteryear, then you can't go wrong with this one.

A strong start for Agent 47 that will have old-school fans in their element as they experiment with murder, although a few technical challenges still need to be taken out back and introduced to some piano wires around the throat.

Less is more, and Destiny 2: Beyond Light feels like a positive first step towards a new era for the franchise. New Stasis subclasses, a compelling storyline, and a gorgeous new planet to explore make for an intriguing new direction for Bungie’s cosmic sandbox.

While Ghost Blade HD isn’t for everyone, it’s hard to not appreciate it for what it is despite the fact that it’s as brutally short as it is challenging: An intricately designed experience of speed and shrapnel coming at you from every single angle. There’s a certain layer of subtlety present, but don’t expect Ghost Blade HD to redefine the genre. Rather, it’s a celebration of everything that made schmups fantastic so many years ago, wrapped up in a tight and bright package.

A great start to what will hopefully result in a solid and memorable entry in the Resident Evil franchise. If the following episodes are as good as this one, I firmly believe it will be.

Vectronom is a gorgeous and accessible rhythm-puzzle game that still manages to both challenge and entertain with tricky courses and a banging soundtrack.

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.

Timespinner is a wonderfully accessible and inclusive Metroidvania that does justice to the genre despite some missed opportunities and brief run time.

Push past the convoluted mechanics and daunting start of Trials of Fire to be greeted by a deep and engaging deck-building rogue-like that’s meticulously designed, generous with content, and rewarding to play.

Apart from the maps not offering anything groundbreaking and some minor annoyances, The End Game DLC does what it sets out to do; keep you hooked on Battlefield 3 until its big brother successor is released.

A solid city-building and economic management game, one that provides an addictive experience. As the end game draws on however, some players may experience fatigue and move on. Fans however, will find a sim that will eat up dozens of hours of their time, especially if they are out to establish a perfectly balanced economy.

Need for Speed Heat may be a greatest hits collection of past success stories in an attempt to make up for the past, but it still pushes the pedal to the metal when it comes to being a guilty pleasure of pure street racing junk food that’s hot off the engine block.

As a driving simulator, Gran Turismo 6 excels at bringing you an unparalleled driving experience, but as a racing game it falls short in a variety of ways that while still good, hold it back from being a truly great modern console gaming experience.

It’s Far Cry 4 simplified into a four hour experience of looting, exploring, climbing and injecting exotic herbs into your bloodstream all over again, in one short and sweet DLC expansion.

Luftrausers is the very definition of replayable insanity. It’s difficult,intense and feels smooth when you master the controls. And yet you’ll come back for more in a new and improved Rauser time after time, with the constant flow of action never getting old.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is still a Deus Ex game through and through, even if it doesn’t always manage to hit the same highs as its predecessor. But for all its faults, its numerous other triumphs made it utterly compelling to play through until the end.

Knockout City is both easy to pick up and deviously simple in its design, hiding a layer of complexity behind more casual gameplay that fans will discover the more they become invested in it. There's some standard launch-month polishing left to be done still, but Knockout City lands more hits than misses with its high-stakes gameplay and cunning combat, resulting in a multiplayer experience that's both fun and intense at any given moment.

Packed with fan service, beautifully rendered and more challenging than you'd imagine. Star Wars pinball fans are going to feel a stirring of the Force in their pockets with these Resistance and First Order tables.

Kirby: Planet Robobot might be easy, but it’s an equally satisfying platformer to play on the go with the 3DS. It’s an adventure that the round pick hero begs you to join him on, and you’d be hard pressed to be dissatisfied with the journey.

Borderlands 3’s first slice of DLC has plenty of action, charm and style to spare as it kicks off a season pass of expansive new adventures with a full house of fun.

Jydge is superb in its approach to a niche genre. It’s violent, it bends to your particular whims thanks to an onslaught of constantly available upgrades and it never takes itself too seriously as you dispense instant jystice.

The second expansion pack for the Sims 4 certainly delivers the goods. There’s lots to be done, a bunch of new goodies to interact with, new areas to explore, and interesting clubs just waiting to be created.

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.

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.”

The Division is a strong start for a game that Ubisoft is clearly aiming to keep alive for a long time. It gleefully fulfills promises instead of just making them, even if some of its later elements fall prey to the inevitable wait for more content.

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.

With the freemium model, SMITE is worth trying out if you’re a MOBA fan with an Xbox One. There’s zero risk, a massively deep game to jump into and a surprising play-style that actually makes the genre fun, instead of a reason to daydream about drowning the people on the opposing side for rushing you.

Persona 5 Strikers is much more of an action RPG than it is a straight Musou but it still manages to pull in the best of both worlds. The fun combat system and a fantastic cast of characters more than makes up any of the game’s issues.

Whether you’re pining for the good ol’ days of sim management madness or you’re new to the idea of simulated insanity in the workplace, Two Point Hospital clearly has the cure for whatever ails you.

Despite the cut content, New Super Mario Bros Deluxe remains the most feature-packed, and dare I say fun 2D Mario game in decades. If you missed it on Wii U, own a Switch and love Mario, platformers, fun and just plain good games, there’s no reason not to get New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe. There's just no real reason for those who've played it already to get it again.

Fire Emblem Warriors does a better job of blending two disparate series than Hyrule Warriors did. Fire Emblem’s ethos remains intact, perfectly accentuating, and enhancing Warrior’s’ patented hack-and-slash gameplay.

It all feels like a bit of a missed opportunity. Had it been a compilation of all three numbered God of War titles, it’d be easy to recommend without hesitation, but as it stands now it’s only really worthwhile for God of War neophytes.

Played alone it can be a chore, but with a group of friends or like-minded people, Tri Force heroes is inventive and fun; wonderfully distilled co-operative take on the Legend of Zelda.