A true spiritual successor and sequel in one. Every little element is instilled with the same wit and comedy as the original, and the mechanics are polished to perfection. The constantly evolving needs of each stage, and the regular requests that pop up as little memos mean this never gets dull, and continually keeps players on their toes. There's easily 20 hours here, and plenty more on replays Anyone who loved Theme Hospital will find their new obsession here.

Marrying the current craze for brain teasing puzzles with a delightfully mysterious tale that entertains throughout works brilliantly and everything just smacks of pure quality.

Square Enix is not likely to ever make Final Fantasy games like X or X-2. They were the last of their kind that had involvement from Hironobu Sakaguchi, and his mark has been missing since his departure from the company. Xbox One is blessed to have one of the best versions to play what might have been the artistic highpoint for the Japanese RPG juggernaut. These hold up very well, and will keep a Final Fantasy neophyte's attention, should they look past some short comings like low-detail NPCs and some minor plot holes.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 on the Nintendo Switch is a fantastic port. Sure, it's graphically inferior and not as pretty to look at, but that's the only noticeable concession made to get it to run on Nintendo's beloved hybrid console. That's not to say it's being rendered in "potato mode," by the way - it still looks great for what it is, with each real-life skater clearly distinguishable despite the lower pixel count. With the outrageously impressive amount of content and extremely rewarding gameplay loop, there's nothing to stop this port being a solid recommendation for Switch owners.

Although not all Legend of Zelda elements make the transition where it may have helped, Minishoot Adventures is a creative and successful blend of top-down adventuring and twin-stick shooter gameplay. Plenty to discover, collect and challenge yourself with makes for a thoroughly rewarding experience that, despite feeling like a bit more could be extracted from this genre mashup, will greatly satisfy both classic Zelda and shoot ‘em up fans.

Fans of the games don't want an overhaul or drastic innovation but just an understanding that Mario Kart needs to shift forward with bolder moves rather than tentative baby steps. Nintendo need to be braver in their thinking and stop considering the franchise along straight lines.

Fans of action RPGs, dungeon crawlers and puzzle games will absolutely fall in love with this game. It isn't a flawless title, but it's definitely worth the purchase if looking for a lengthy experience.

Pikmin 3 was already a superb game, and while this release is not a remaster, the extra elements added to Pikmin 3 Deluxe elevate it to something special. While the price point may be exclusionary for some, this is completely worth the asking price, even as a double-dip for those who already have it on Wii U. Perfect for families to play together, for friends to grab a Joy-Con each, or for solo play sessions to track down every badge and master the highest rank.

Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist may not reinvent the Metroidvania genre, but it beautifully nails its thesis. Its tale of dystopian despair unfurls with elegance, carried by characters as striking as they are melancholic, and gameplay that borrows wisely from the genre's titans. Like Lilac herself, Ender Magnolia blooms amid the mist.

A true gem amongst a lot of bile in the Wii's software library.

Dragon Quest Builders 2 is simply everything that its predecessor was and then some, with some improved mechanics, more block types to choose from and a new and more interesting story. This is topped off by a much more social experience thanks to the great implementation of online sharing of creations and the inclusion, at last, of multiplayer.

Switching between Kamurocho and Sotenbori with there being so much to do means the action never gets stale, and the new content offers some variety that will spice things up even for people who know Yakuza 2 inside out. That said, the features that have been cut from the original are greatly missed, and the new songs just don't have the same impact as the old ones do, most of the time. It's still definitely worth a play-through if a fan of the series (or even if only recently getting into it), but it's difficult to call it the definitive version of Yakuza 2.

One of the most addictive rogue-lites on the Nintendo Switch, Heroes of Hammerwatch blends classic action RPG progression with a hostile world design that'll have heroes second guessing every turn they make, and whether or not their next foe will be their last. Procedurally generated level design can never match up to thoughtful handcrafted stages, but HoH is able to cut the difference thanks to its easy to pick up gameplay loop, and an understanding that even the smallest bit of progress is meaningful. Between experimenting with classes, upgrading your town, and dungeon-eering with a trusted group of friends, Heroes of Hammerwatch is a must-play.

While this is obviously not Red Dead Redemption or anything of the sort, West of Loathing proves to be truly entertaining for what it is. The huge amount of text to read through to really appreciate the humour may be deterring to some of the audience, as much of the events and details are conveyed solely through the text on-screen, and the simplistic aesthetic may not do this game any favours to attract attention, but let nobody be fooled as this is indeed a truly awesome story to sit through.

All told, AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES: nirvanA Initiative is a worthy sequel to the 2019 original. While some elements of the story don't always fit with the cast of characters, the core of the narrative keeps players invested throughout. The new somniums are very well designed in both pace and aesthetic, making them each feel unique. The additional hints and difficulty options are welcome, too, for those who want them. Virtual Reality sequences do well to add to the gameplay outside of somniums themselves, providing some great variety. This science fiction mystery thriller is certainly worth a look for fans of Zero Escape and visual novels in general.

Charming, original, and terrifically paced, Tangle Tower is a strong contender for the best point-and-click adventure of 2019. Puzzles require real wit without bogging readers down with irrelevant information. Each screen is filled to the brim with detail, blending colour and lighting into a living, breathing tower. Only a few hours long with a gripping mystery at the centre of its plot, Tangle Tower is a must play for fans of the genre.

Football Manager 2021 is a continual improvement over its predecessor. While not doing anything that radically shifts the dial, this latest addition further improves the user experience and gives even more ways to set up and run a successful football team. With a 3D match engine that is really starting to do a great job at bringing the action to life, and further touches of realism to player and media interactions, there's enough innovation here for fans to jump onboard. Social life be warned, FM21 is a fantastic time sink and once stuck inside, it's hard to get out.

Final Fantasy IV is still a cult-classic, even after all those years, and it should be highly recommended to any fan of the series and/or the genre.

Hal Laboratory and Nintendo smashed it out of the park with Kirby and the Forgotten Land, adding yet another gem to the already stacked Switch library. No, it's not the most challenging or taxing gameplay experience going, but that's not what one should expect from Kirby either. Perhaps it could be described as the perfect palate cleanser or antidote to those more difficult experiences - and more importantly, unlike those titles, doesn't require as many caveats to its recommendation. For those who enjoy their character designs round, this will likely appease, but at the end of the day, it's just… fun!

The coming together of two fantastic platform adventures, and a decent enough puzzle entry, means that Mutant Mudds Collection is well worth checking out for those that are up for a very strict challenge. It has some drawbacks in terms of how smooth the lead character jumps, but the majority of the game is so well constructed that those loving retro style outings will quickly become accustomed to the games' approach and quickly fall for its classic charm.

Despite gameplay better suited for a mouse and keyboard, Darkest Dungeon transitions rather well from PC to Switch. The controls were always going to be convoluted when adapted to a controller, but it doesn't take too long to adjust, and the core gameplay loop is strong enough where overlooking that initial awkwardness is more than doable. Darkest Dungeon is by no means for everyone, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth the stress.

The animated segments add a whole new dimension to the way the story is presented, and it is seamlessly pulled off to create a quite brilliant interactive anime of sorts, but the lower quality of the character designs compared to the gorgeous original artwork from the standard version takes a bit away from it all. Not enough to lose the impact and engagement this new interpretation delivers, and it is still a sure-as-heck must-buy for Switch owners that have no other means to play this title, but some players wishing to see the fuller endings and with superior art may want to opt for the PS Vita version if they can.

The length of development and the decision to opt for the two-month delay have been vindicated with the release of what is one of the most polished and detail packed Total War entries in the entire series. The number of generals and play styles of each of the factions ensures that there is enough content here to fill at least a several hundred hours of addictive gameplay. As always, the battles are exciting, and the scope and scale never fails to impress, with the addition of the heroes adding a new dimension to tactics and strategies. This is the game that Romance of the Three Kingdoms fans have been waiting for.

The Apollo Justice trilogy is a fantastic set of visual novel games that do a great job at involving you with the narrative and making you feel smart while doing it. The immediate replay value is virtually nonexistent and it’s a shame it doesn’t do more to clean up its more outdated elements, but that’s not the biggest issue when their already high value is accentuated in HD. They’re a great entry point for visual novel or Ace Attorney newbies, and veterans revisiting these games can do so with these undeniably definitive versions.

Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is at times frustrating, but is mostly a fun, light-hearted, and immediately and consistently enjoyable videogame.

The PlayStation VR deserves to be thought of as a whole separate platform, and thus far that platform has been lacking in the killer games to sell it. This is the first must-have release to arrive; something truly special. Moss is an absolutely phenomenal experience; completely captivating, utterly endearing, and absolutely magical. Ghibli fans will find this closer to the works of the legendary studio than the Ni No Kuni games. Best of all, it finishes on a promise of more adventures to come and, like a bibliophile desperate for that next book, players will be left desperately wanting the next chapter in this story.

The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is one of the grandest pieces of literature ever written, and it has quality to its quantity. However, at times, the quality suffers as a result, and it could have benefited from a couple of additional editing rounds to weed out certain aspects. Some routes are terrible compared to the general quality of the game. At the end of the day, fans of the Danganronpa and Zero Escape franchises have a game that is on the must-buy list and will last a very long time. It comes strongly recommended to visual novel fans in general, and even to non-gamers who are into heavier pieces of literature.

There is a lot to enjoy with the new challenges brought on by Shovel Knight Dig. Gameplay is fast paced, the music is just as catchy as its predecessor, and the quirky dialogue between the NPCs brings back the nostalgia from the original. Although the environments are repetitive, losing a run never feels like a typical game over; it is just a quick regroup and back into adventure. The only major drawback of Shovel Knight Dig is that it is relatively short. Unless trying to get the perfect run, it ends just as quickly as it begins. Still, Yacht Club Games has managed to make a fun new genre and chapter for its fans and new players alike.