If narratively shallow yet entertaining movies are popcorn flicks, Rage 2 is the ultimate popcorn game, and that’s okay. At no point during my 15 hours running rampant around its post-apocalyptic wasteland did I feel the need to know more about a character’s subplot, or question the antagonist’s motives. I was too caught up in the spectacle of carnage to care.

Players can enjoy a variety of modes, from fast-paced 3v3 Quick Matches and full NBA Seasons to custom tournaments for up to four local players. Play solo or in co-op, with easy controls and game modes like Training, Full Season and Party Mode this is an easy to get title without too many confusing menus and systems. But that in turn means not a huge amount under the hood. And at that price, it’s quite a lot for quite a little.

World War Z is a pretty fun but extremely short co-op zombie shooter that is eerily similar to Left4Dead but helps counter the withdrawal any fans of that franchise may have. A few more bug fixes and much more in-game content would give this game the much-needed resuscitation it deserves.

Overall, you get a lot of bang for your buck in this year’s Black Ops. While the campaign is a bit meh, it’s got a couple of really neat ideas and an unusual theme for a Call of Duty title. The multiplayer is fast, frantic and as good as ever and the real selling point of this title. And the addition of meaty zombies and dead ops modes means there’s plenty of gaming to be had in the overall package.

While all its relevant parts are good, none of them really stand out among today’s very best. So if you’ve only given this a passing glance when scrolling game trailers on YouTube and it’s not particularly floating your boat, be prepared for a decent player here but not one that’s going to dazzle you for months ahead.

Although this is one of the worst ports of a recently published game I’ve seen on the Switch, The Outer Worlds is still a fantastic game that is well worth your time. The issue with porting this game, in particular, is that it’s a bad solution to a problem that nobody had — the game is less than a year old and the Switch simply isn’t capable of doing the game justice.

But when it comes to gameplay its fine but not anything to write home about. A nice game but not a great game.

For now, this is a funky, odd and cooperative multiplayer ride that gets quite tense at points. One that could do with more under the bonnet. But it works well and has some lovely ideas for baddies and challenges.

Gameplay-wise there’s not enough here to really grip and keep hold of you. This type of game has been done far better before.

It’s all a pale imitation of Mario Kart and that would be fine if the gameplay matched up to the depth in options. Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3 might be worth a look once it’s in the bargain bin, but for now it’s not worth the £40 full price. You’re better off saving your money for something like Beyonetta 3.

Switchback VR is fun, and tries to make the most of the PSVR2 but its wildly bouncing storyline and one-trick-pony gameplay means you’ll tire of it fairly quickly. An okay if not amazing VR title for the Playstation.

The creativity is fantastic with dance games, relay races and bowling alley mini-games using Bob’s head as a series of pins, for example. But it all comes down to control and right now Surgeon Simulator 2 is too broken when it comes to gameplay to really do the great ideas behind the game justice.

Overall this is a God of War game that fails to reach the heady heights of normal franchise levels. And while it’s an okay game, this road has been well trodden in the genre and done with more surprise and addictiveness.

The controls can be a little fiddly, which annoys during crucial boss fights, but it isn’t enough to ruin Scars Above and after a good old play through you’ll find yourself warming to the fight-die-repeat Soulslike dynamic. A decent but not amazing game with few surprises.

I have no doubt that the team at Wales Interactive are filled with great ideas and I’m fairly confident its next game could be something truly special. As it stands, Maid of Sker feels like a replication of past ideas, none of which are strengthened.

With a refined matchmaking system (and rewards to go with it), as well as a balanced set of character classes and improved monster control, it could be a sleeper hit for many. For now, though, it feels like a missed opportunity. The fact it's bundled with a fantastic 5-star game in the form of Resident Evil 3 Remake, certainly helps. But as a standalone product, it's a fun but ultimately flawed experience; albeit one we hope improves in time.

The story is cliched too and features far too many well-trodden gaming and movie tropes. So the freshness of what could have been in Forspoken isn’t realised. It’s a good game to play, just not a great game and that’s a shame.

Wolfenstein: Youngblood is a game that is great for shooting Nazi’s with a buddy, but is bogged down by frustrating grinding mechanics, a poor narrative and an uninspired cast of characters that feel complacent and bland.

This is ultimately a complete rip-off of Mario Kart. And to be honest, that’s probably not a bad thing as few gamers would ever tire of playing more of that excellent kart racing goodness, particularly when in a multiplayer environment. Chocobo has a couple of key differences but nothing that really reinvents the wheel. It’s a very solid race game but I suspect once Mario’s new Booster Pack DLC drops with more than 40 old kart tracks this may well fall into the back of the memory.

It’s very limited in it’s fighting mechanics, game modes and there’s no huge addictive quality bringing you back time and again for more. If you’re looking for a 3D-looking Smash Brothers-style fighting game that’s simply not as good as that Nintendo classic then try this. But as much as I wanted to smash up giant robots with my own mech monster, the limitations of Super Mech League left me cold.

Well worth a look if you’re seeking the comfort of nostalgia with some quality acting talent.

On one hand, it’s one of the prettiest, most realistic titles the Switch has, and the slow-motion shots have a surprisingly rewarding tactile feel. Despite these high points, the rest of the game is extremely average, packed with throwaway collectibles and filler game modes that can’t hide the cumbersome cover shooter that lurks beneath. In the end, the gloom outweighs the glitter and though Sniper Elite V2 Remastered is a nice title to see on the Switch, it's certainly not an essential one.

It’s addictive, great fun and all about people playing online together. And it feels original, even if many of the individual elements are borrowed from other games. If you have a PS Plus subscription it’s a no brainer to download this free title at some point over the next two months before it becomes paid for. Destruction AllStars is a brilliant new addition to the PS5 roster and will brighten up dull February with some colourful car-smashing fun.

Hopefully in time, more maps and modes will give Concord a discernable, standout place in the crowded FPS market. Right now it’s a decent more-of-the-same option and a missed opportunity for Sony.

It just needs more content - which is eventually coming down the track - and, for me, a greater fluidity and speed of movement. All in, for £35, well worth a try on PSVR2. But hardcore first-person shooter gamers won’t find the next big thing here just yet.

An exciting game to play which feels like a whole new adventure each time you play.

It’s a decent effort, one that monster truck fans alone will get the best out of. But if you’re a gamer looking for a top-rated car and racing experience, there’s better out there.

Overall, a decent shooter that feels a little too overblown for its own good. It’s best elements lie in the past but there’s plenty here to get your teeth into and potentially dozens of hours of multiplayer fun for the winter months.

If you’re willing to loose yourself in Cyberpunk for the long term you’ll definitely get your money’s worth out of a strong role-player that’s flowing with action missions.

There’s a good game dying to get out here. But with a lack of content and wobbly online connectivity it’s not currently where it needs to be. Hopefully with heist updates and stability fixes Payday 3 will eventually shine.

A fun Lego-like exploration title with a hint of Minecraft and maybe World Of Tanks mixed in there too. There's something for everyone of all ages.

There could be a cracking little game in here for kids, if the level design were more captivating and the job at hand felt more worthwhile. It pales into comparison compared to the Marios of this world.

There is plenty of wild action and adventure to be had in Suicide Squad. And it is certainly worth a look if you like the idea of a decent mix between games like Guardians of the Galaxy, Gotham Knights and Sunset Overdrive.

The graphics aren’t amazing, certainly not in the next-gen category, the story writing lazy and predictable and the role-play poor. But there is a great combat hack-and-slash in this title dying to get out, almost like a werewolf itself. It’s a shame the developers didn’t ditch the average bits and focus on unleashing that beast. Perhaps a slimmed down sequel could do just that job.

Well worth a look, but not in my gaming top tier.

Overall, a poor Call of Duty but there will still be enough in the multiplayer for fans to enjoy for months to come...Just ignore the campaign unless you have an afternoon to kill.

The AI of the stalking homeowners can be a bit off, sometimes you’re right in front of them, or on a wardrobe above them, and they’re oblivious to you. That feels like a backwards step. Gamepad controls can also be a little sticky some times, and more than once I was left frustrated as my character didn’t quite spring into life as I’d have liked when being chased in a panic. So all in, a decent if somewhat underwhelming game, with limited gameplay time to it.

Behind all of its faults, even its painfully jingoistic overtones and its overtly militaristic design hides its true entertainment value.

The story isn’t much to write home about and the boss fights are okay but not outstanding, like with Soulslike games. But it is good fun and offers almost too wild on-screen battles at its best, it can be quite overwhelming with so much going on. This doesn’t beat anything out there but it does offer a decent fighting game with a unique twist on a classic Nottingham legend.

Developer Big Ant Studios claim this is “the most comprehensive tennis experience” but sadly when it comes to gameplay it’s more Queens than Wimbledon.

The overall idea of In Nightmare is solid. The trapped-in-a-child’s-nightmare vibe and slow unveiling of his past traumas feel fresh.

While the puppies might be adorable and the kittens mischievous, the games lack of features and broken motion controls make it more frustrating than enjoyable. Once you’ve done everything once, you’ve done everything, and even the cute little critters running around make it difficult to recommend.

As it stands we have a rather generic and repetitive short lived battle game that’s lacking any real gameplay innovation. The story is dull and there are not enough laughs.

Dance of Death: Du Lac and Fey is as awkward to play as it is to say. The interesting concepts can't save it from being a rather disappointing outing for the legendary characters.

There is an awful lot to like about Those Who Remain, but unfortunately, there is also a lot which will leave players deeply frustrated. Its most fundamental problem is that it tries to do too much. The atmosphere and storytelling, particularly at the start of the game is a great start, but the developers felt the need to add elements of survival horror, which ultimately exacerbate rather than scare.

The sound is decent and helps to build that classic Stranger Things atmosphere. But the story isn’t all that and, overall, this game is more of a missed opportunity than a breakthrough in the VR horror genre.

You know the old expression, there’s an app for that? Well, if you’re the kind of person who loves to finish somebody else’s sentences, then dear reader, Dear Reader should absolutely delight you.

Embr is a really fun game that will have you alternating between elation and frustration. The colourful and silly world makes for a surprisingly perfect setting for a game about the dangers of the gig economy. It’s best enjoyed with friends, so the lack of local co-op is a disappointment. The early access release is also short on content, but with the promise of a lot more to come and some replayability it’s definitely worth looking at. You’ll have a blast!

I put my hands together for the few pairs of Arms fans out there, and I’m sorry for all the hate this series is getting but I extend an olive branch to put the “whoas” to rest in hopes the next DLC character is someone better.

Divine Knockout is great fun and a fresh take on the Smash Bros style of brawler. It’s quite limited at the moment, there’s only six arenas and eight fighters at launch, but hopefully the makers at Red Beard Games will improve that over time with promised new content. And there’s definitely room for a single player platform story in future too. Well worth a go in the chilly winter months if you love a bit of button bashing action.