If you’re looking for a tactical, turn-based strategy title that’s oozing charm, humour and playability without sacrificing depth, Skull of the Shogun is worth the investment, and a shining example of the genre on consoles.

Pokken Tournament may have the image of a kid-friendly fighting game, but it’s absolutely dead serious in its approach to offering something new to fighting game fanatics.

A short, disappointing tale makes nearly no progress in 343’s trilogy, and offers nothing that lives up to the billing of a tense showdown between Halo 5’s two protagonists. Thankfully the improved gameplay and consistently great multiplayer shine in Halo's uneven debut on the Xbox One. The multiplayer is fantastic, and the co-op is magical. Bring friends.

Short and sweet, Transformers: Devastation wears its nostalgia proudly and has plenty of charm packed into those few hours of high-energy action. But it might be worth a wait to scope it out when it goes on sale, instead of paying full price.

There’s also a co-op mode by the name of Overwatch, which allows one player to spot target for the other and works well over the larger maps. It’s just a pity that there are only two such maps available, resulting in a tight-fisted experience.

Series veterans are also going to realise that despite the various improvements, The Sims 4 is not in any way as robust as The Sims 3. The core game is magnificent and well designed for the most part, but there are a ton of missing extras, which will presumably be filled out with various DLC packs.

WWE 2K14 is a history lesson for the ages, but the excellence of execution is lacking. 2K Games has a solid franchise to work on though, provided that they manage to get some new blood in to help the franchise regain the ruthless aggression that made it a champion in the first place so many years ago.

If you've not played Quantic Dreams' pair of interactive dramas on the PlayStation 3, they're worth playing on Sony's newest console - if you can get past the lack of player agency as their inexorable progress pulls you through to their conclusions.

Super Mario Maker makes creating levels an easy, effortless exercise – letting true design shine through rather than hindering ideas by muddling with software. It’s just a pity that it takes too long to truly wrestle that power from Nintendo’s strict hand-holding.

Technically and visually impressive, Killzone Mercenary is the game that'll make you believe that first-person shooters have a home on handhelds, even if it is derivative, sticking too close to its established genre tropes.

If you are a golfing fan then you are going to thoroughly enjoy this title and you should buy it. However being told I can't be a season ticket holder every time I load the game is very frustrating and has knocked the score.

Splatoon is a vibrant, colourful and innovative competitive multiplayer shooter that's beautiful, addictive and undoubtedly fun - but a lack of maps and modes could hurts its lasting appeal.

It’s pure Borderlands, with more than enough content to keep you going for some time. It’s just a pity that the Handsome Collection didn’t receive the technical love that the franchise clearly deserved as it jumped onto newer platforms.

The single player campaign is the freshest and most exciting Call of Duty has been in years. It's at its best when it veers away from the series staples and genuinely tries new things. Conversely, its multiplayer isn't - essentially rehashing last year's effort. Zombies? Well, it's Call of Duty Zombies, only with an 80's makeover.

Star Fox Guard is as unbearably tense, and frighteningly stressful as it is fun. It may look like a simple, throwaway digital game, but it could be better than the game its packaged with.

On the surface, it appears to be a charming, survival title. That’s merely a ruse, as The Flame in the Flood is ruthless in difficulty, at least for the first few hours. Overall, it’s a great, enjoyable game, though the experience can wear a little thin after a while.

Democracy 3: Africa is great fun. For fans of the original game, it offers some new challenges and achievements, while still being interesting for newcomers. It may not the most evenly paced strategy game, it will still steal hours of your time without you realizing it.

Enjoyable and immersive mobile adventure with Lara Croft. The fact that I wish there were more to it is a testament to how much fun I had with it. While it's not always as challenging as I might hope, it still offers plenty of fun for puzzle fans.

With memorable, meaningful levels that cleverly utilise the game’s simple dynamic with aplomb, it’s wonderful, joyous stuff; cute, clever and charming. And unlike other Kirby games, it’s actually challenging.

Don't Starve's overwhelming difficulty and complex crafting make for a stressful and gruelling experience. Embrace its charms, and you'll be rewarded with the joys of exploration and discovery.

As a metaphor for the ties that bind a family together, Yarny and Unravel are exceptional; beautiful, and invoking a quiet contemplation, It's just hard not to wish it was a better game.

After reading the above, you may think this game is terrible. Here’s the thing though, it really isn’t. Its Saints Row, looking better than ever with some work done under the hood. The trademark humour is there, delivering some hilarious one liners and some genuinely funny dialogue.

Zombi loses a little of its charm in its transition from Wii U to other systems, but not enough to detract from it being a great survival horror game. ZombiU has managed what few games in its genre have; it's a real survival horror, with the emphasis on survival - and it's both tense and terrifying.

Far Cry Primal does little to reinvent the series' established formula, sometimes taking it backwards more than its new time period may suggest. It's filled to the brim with the familiar and fun Far Cry trappings, if that's what you want out a game. It's an enjoyable, gratuitously violent romp in the past. If you're looking for some sort of narrative impetus tying it together though, you're bound to be a little disappointed.

FutureGrind may only be made up of some bright colours, but it delivers a solid and challenging experience in the platforming genre. Simple mechanics and a selection of dynamic gameplay styles result in a satisfying playthrough.

It's most certainly a launch title racer and it's not doing much to rectify that. I'm reminded of the limited scope of Motorstorm as a launch racer for PS3. Like Motorstorm, however, the core Gameplay is solid enough to earn a recommendation to NFS fans.

Is NBA 2K18 an all-around slam dunk? Not quite thanks to unscrupulous microtransactions, the undercooked Neighbourhood, and mediocre/annoying storytelling. However, despite these fumbles, NBA 2K18 still delivers wildly when it comes to the ability to just play basketball better than any other title without having to leave the couch.

An elegant game of art mixed with problem-solving, One-Line Coloring is a fun distraction with a laidback attitude that’s perfect for a less stressful afternoon when you want to give your brain a quick warm-up.

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.

The world and concept are Remember Me's redeeming factors. Even though the moments of excellent game play are broken up by generic and repetitive elements, the overall experience is definitely enjoyable.

With some polish and refinement; it could be a great series. I really hope that this isn’t its final form.

Beyond the cheap titillation, Senran Kagura Burst Re:Newal offers plenty of solid action and drama, all wrapped up in a gorgeous visual package that makes a tempting jumping on point for anyone who has ever wanted to hop into the long-running franchise.

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.

Most importantly, it’s fun. The super hero-infused setting though opens it up to players who aren’t quite as enthusiastic about fighting games, but they’ll get the least out of it. Most players will, instead, get their kicks from having their friends around on a beery Friday night; finally putting paid to the question of which spandex-clad metahuman would win in a fight.

The Reignited Trilogy is Sypro in his best purple suit, with a stunning recreation of his three adventures making you forget how rough and aged they’ve become over two decades. Its gameplay is retrospectively simplistic but still engaging, with only persisting camera issues and troublesome audio implementations getting in the way of a special return journey.

While Sleeping Dogs is still an excellent game, the Definitive Edition simply doesn't bring enough to the table to make it fit in with other games on the new consoles. Without adding more than some aesthetic polish, it simply doesn't feel worthwhile unless you missed out on the game in the last generation.

While not the best stealth game, Styx: Shards of Darkness offers some fun, unique gameplay. It might be filled with mixed messages, but there's still a number of hours' worth of sneaky, fun, stabbing action.

A modest expansion to Pokémon Sword and Shield, Isle of Armor doesn’t stray away from the established formula of last year’s blockbuster game. But when the core experience was that good to begin with, more of the same is exactly what the series needs to still stay fun and fresh.

Packed with features, more challenging than ever before thanks to its crafty new Neural AI and still a love letter to an adrenaline-charged sport, MotoGP 19 is an amazingly complete package that is just one spark short of being a motorcycle legend.

Well crafted, tightly put together indie puzzler that will casually steal hours of time as you work your way through each level. The $12 price tag may deter some, but it is still a fun, challenging and rewarding game.

A beautifully designed game with some minor gameplay flaws. Slime flies when you're having fun, and I definitely enjoyed playing Snailboy.

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.

If you’ve played through Civ 5 more times than you care to admit, this expansion definitely freshens things up and adds a whole new level of game play.

There's a stark lack of content on offer here, but that shouldn't detract from what's one of the best digital recreations of Golf available. There's not a lot of it, but what there is, is a joy to play.

Destruction AllStars is both new and familiar, but it’s a refreshing collection of cars, modes, and madcap driving that shows great promise for the future. A mental destruction derby with some admittedly annoying quirks, there’s plenty of charm under the hood of this game that respects your time and smashes into the competition with a gung-ho attitude and some novel ideas.

'What We Deserve’ is a solid ending to The Walking Dead: Michonne saga. Though it’s far from perfect, it does tie up the series nicely with a satisfying conclusion.

There’s a lot of golf to be had in this game, and it’s damned good golf. Still golf, which isn’t going to be everyone’s taste to begin with. However, World Tour’s charming world and interesting overworld design sets it apart from the other titles in the series and earns a surprising recommendation.

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.

Suffice to say, there’s plenty to do here. It’s a pricy expansion, but it’s well worth it if you’re a fan of not only the game, but the great outdoors as well.

Charlie Murder is an uneven, yet decidedly fun hybrid of brawler and RPG with a kick-ass punk rock soundtrack.

Seriously fun if only for all the Mario jokes and impressive use of music. Clever level design is great, although irritating combat and lackluster RPG elements might alienate fans.

Although Prey’s combat and narrative fail to fill the shoes of the games they’re so obviously taking inspiration from, the visit to its Talos I space station is a marvel in interconnected level design and presentation. This is environmental storytelling and mechanical tension done to a tee, even if Prey is working hard to try and yank you out of its immersion far too often.

Maintaining all the trademarks that distinguished it from other arcade racers, Grid has returned boasting driving just as engaging as before. Limits are reached in some core areas of gameplay such as though such as the number of locations, and the formula may prove stale for those looking for a road less traveled.

More than a cynical cash-grab, Zombies Chronicles is a carefully remastered collection of the best of Call of Duty’s Zombies. With enhanced visuals, lighting and especially audio, it’s a must for Zombies fans.

DC Super Hero Girls: Teen Power succeeds in not feeling like a simple cash-grab. Much like its source material, it has genuine heart, plenty of activities to take part in, and a cast of characters who are simply adorable. Some of its more social open-world gameplay may feel a touch slapdash, but its colourful and explosive action more than makes up for it by being a blast of addictive and easy-to-grasp fun.

This updated version unfortunately doesn’t do enough to set itself apart from the original but if you’ve never played the original before I highly recommend you pick this game up and prepare to sacrifice your time with this addictive game.

Occasionally cumbersome controls and a generic sci-fi aesthetic do little to deter from a tight, addictive and explosive shooter.

Old-school dungeon crawling with a few modern-day touches, Vaporum attention to detail is wrapped around a tale of steampunk mystery and some fresh ideas.

Torchlight 3 will scratch any basic RPG itch for adventure, loot, and fantasy, but even with a heckin’ doggo sidekick at its side, it feels a bit too old-fashioned to stand out from the rest of the pack.

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.

Disintegration absolutely nails the idea of managing a squad and blasting away at the opposition from within your high anti-gravity horse, but some rough edges in the multiplayer department derails this ambitious concept before it can truly stand out from the pack.

For the PES franchise, it continues to feel like two steps forward and three back. The gameplay is undoubtedly the best in any football game to-date once you get to grips with it, but in a world where gamers crave fresh content, it’s sadly lagging the competition. I get why Konami focuses on gameplay, but it does seem to be causing some tunnel vision, and the longer the other elements are ignored, the longer the game will be considered an “also ran”.

Cryptark is unforgiving and merciless in its approach to balancing roguelike elements with a deeper sense of exploration and survival. It may not be to everyone’s tastes, but anyone looking to salvage a lengthy dungeon-crawler in space that is heavy on action and challenge will find plenty to love here. And scream about, when a perfect run is cocked up by the ship teleporting in a few heavy reinforcements right on top of you.

Morbid follows the Dark Souls formula pretty closely despite it having a retro charm, but the boss fights are an undeniable highlight of the game. Disturbing bouts of danger that will snuff your flame out with a single lucky blow, these encounters boast an incredible art direction, fascinating gameplay quirks, and a challenge that’ll leave your controller moist with hand sweat.

Pathologic 2 is a punishing, twisted game that is burdened by some intentionally poor mechanics that, while interesting to analyse, detract from the game itself.

The difficulty curve is spot-on but storytelling pacing could be better and more emotional. With core game play that becomes as monotonous as you'd expect, the side-stories needed higher stakes for more emotional investment.

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.

Ryse is a bit of a marmite game, if you are looking for a great gaming experience that takes forever to perfect then Ryse is not for you. If you are interested in a Roman interactive movie with a solid story line then I’d say give it a shot.

The added perspective brings Skyrim’s immense scale to life, giving the 6-year-old game a renewed vigour. As incredible as it is, it’s just not the sort of game that really benefits from VR. Skyrim’s made to be played for long sessions, but most people can only tolerate VR for shorter bursts.

With the opportunity for your present success to impact your future prospects, Into the Future adds some nice new elements to the Sims 3 experience. Not for those who prefer to stay in their Sims' house, this expansion is larger than you might expect for a franchise preparing their new installment.

Zen Studios are masters of what they do, and if you enjoy digital pinball then Pinball FX2 in VR is revelatory. One of the best VR experiences available, this the closest you’ll get to playing pinball without standing in front of a real table.

Silly, colourful and filled with more comic book knowledge than an entire chain of stores dedicated to superheroes. It may be a fan service game, but it delivers on that promise all the way.

Hyrule Warriors is at its core a Dynasty Warriors game, but it injects enough of that Legend of Zelda pizzazz to feel fresh and fun in its own right. This game won’t convert you into Dynasty Warriors fan and it has its fair share of problems, but after all is said and done I can say this; Hyrule Warriors is fun, and I guess sometimes that’s all that matters.

It’s a confused game that doesn’t quite know what it wants to be; is it an MMO, a pure shooter, or a sprawling space epic? It tries to be all of them and misses the mark on most. As much fun as it can be - especially when played with friends - Destiny ultimately crumbles under its own ambition.

Drawkanoid is a unique, creative exploration of brick-breaker games and the mechanics that drive them. It delivers a solidly enjoyable experience but is unfortunately limited in its scope.

With clever puzzles and a dash of modern sensibilities inspired by the BBC show, Crimes and Punishments is an easy recommendation to armchair detectives - and the first to let players really experience being Sherlock Holmes.

You can't go wrong with this strangely addictive puzzle game. It's without a doubt the best AR game on the PS Vita - with enough charm to offset the potential ache in your muscles.

Yo-Kai Watch might look like a pocket monster clone with a fumbling battle system, but it’s the genuinely endearing cast of characters and Yo-Kai who give it enough heart to be more than just a simple copycat. It’s not the next Pokémon, but it certainly is going to be something in the future at this rate that other games will aspire to emulate.

Greymoor may be a paint by numbers expansion to The Elder Scrolls Online, but it still manages to be a nostalgic return to the glory days of Skyrim that is enhanced by the fascinating Antiquities system and scenic locales.

Budget Cuts remains a sometimes frustrating, but worthwhile delight to play. It’s one of the finest things available on PSVR right now, and those toting Sony’s headset should add it to their collections. Blending stealth, action, and deep immersion, Budget Cuts remains one of the best examples of “proper games” on VR.

As with the first game, LocoRoco 2 Remastered is an unremarkable remaster of a delightfully charming game. The game’s bright and colourful visuals pop in higher resolutions, and the music comes to life through bigger speakers than the PSP offered. It’s a pity that like other PSP remasters, the cut scenes are a blurry mess, but that’s a minor complaint.

Excellent combat and the joy of customizing a character keeps this as a strong entry in the franchise, even as it is undercut by a lackluster story and underwhelming humor. Level design is mostly great with some uninspired moments. Definitely still worthwhile for kids, but not necessarily as intriguing for adults as well.

Trover Saves The Universe isn’t the most challenging game players will experience this year, but it’s unique, and it’s also probably the funniest.

Road Redemption is a surprisingly sincere and brutal love letter to the past and its inspirations. It may look like a junker if you glance at its battle-worn chassis, but underneath the fairing is the heart of a surprisingly addictive and fun road warrior game.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon’s switch to turn-based RPG combat and team-based tactics may bite off more than it can chew thanks to terrible difficulty spikes and ill-defined character progression, but it’s still a breath of fresh air for the series. Ichiban Kasuga and his pals are an entertaining lot, the game has plenty of style, and even though the combat devolves into an ungodly grind, it’s a flashy new start to one of Sega’s best franchises.

Battletoads retains the DNA of its hard as nails source material, reworking it into a chaotic brawler that’s fascinating to see in action, looks gorgeous, and never overstays its welcome.

Maneater plays its hand early, as the novelty of being an almost unstoppable apex predator thrown into an unforgiving ocean doesn’t have much depth to it. What Maneater does have though, is a meaty world worth exploring, a fascinating system of evolution and whip-smart writing that adds colour to your deep blue killing spree.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 doesn’t really do anything new, but it’s a thoroughly enjoyable if mindless whirlwind tour through Marvel’s hottest properties. An entertaining story, satisfying combat and over-the-top action are sure to delight Marvel fans.

A truly deep and compelling 4X game that will keep players busy for hours. What it's lacking in ability to pick up and play, it makes up for by delivering a beautiful experience for those who are willing to keep at it until they understand it all.

A gorgeous platformer with an exceptionally unique protagonist and powerful narrative, Bound offers up all the elements of a compelling title that fits in with the growing list of games reaching for high art. It confusion about whether to fully commit to this is sadly to its own detriment though, sullying the underlying message and begging the question of what could’ve been.

Tell Me Why is a moody and mature-minded mystery focused on family secrets, while touching sensitively on themes like mental health, gender, and indigenous cultural practices. It’s slow going but compelling. Less successful is a supernatural gameplay component that’s never fully explored, and feels superficially integrated with the storyline.

If you are keen for a heart-pounding horror game, you could do far worse than Until Dawn, even if it doesn't fulfill its true potential.

What begins with a disaster ends with love, sandwiching in a meaty filling of guns, conspiracies and Wendigo testicles along the way in Borderlands 3: Guns, Love and Tentacles. Not a bad way to spend a weekend, when you’re officiating the union between beast and melee attack. I now pronounce you man and knife.

If fans come in expecting something more like Castlevania IV than Symphony of the Night, they're in for a good experience. More than anything though, Mirror of Fate has me excited for Lords of Shadow 2.

Killzone: Shadow Fall offers up incredible presentation and a better-than-average campaign narrative that’s unfortunately more boring to play than it should be. The exciting multiplayer mode injects some greatness into an ultimately good game.

Might and Magic X: Legacy is an uncompromisingly old school trip into forgotten territories. It’s a risky move, but it’s one that should attract plenty of gamers who want less new school action and a more cerebral roll of the dice in their RPGs.

A slower episode that sacrifices action for more character development, Telltale’s Batman game is shaping up to not only redefine the dark knight but also his greatest nemesis as Bruce Wayne finds himself caught up in a dangerous game.

FIFA 18 makes some notable and important changes both on and off the pitch, but it’s a formula that still often feels at odds with itself. And while EA is trying to recapture its former glory with the series, it continues to lose ground to the competition. Even if FIFA 18 is the best entry in the series for some time.