As the credits rolled after my four hour and 30-minute journey, I found myself a little lost trying to decipher exactly what had happened, but the experience getting there was the compelling next step of the gameplay seen in the previous Little Nightmares titles. Even if the puzzles remain simple and the controls occasionally stumble, these minor flaws hardly detract from the overall package, which includes striking visuals, tense encounters, and richly varied environments. Reanimal delivers a grim, beautiful, and unsettling time. Whether played solo or in co-op, this game proves Tarsier Studios are able to keep delivering little nightmares time and time again.

It might not feature a class based objective system like "Quake Wars," but it’s sure a damn better multiplayer experience than that port.

It becomes such a good time, ultimately you can almost forgive it for the disjointed, confused main game. If you’re a big fan of the series, you’ll power through until you get to the good stuff and perhaps if you’re a newcomer you’ll get something out of the greater narrative focus but personally, I found it to be a bit of a bore until it really kicks into gear once it bins all of that stuff off and tasks you with the titular hunting of monsters as the primary focus. As much as I’d like to say you can forgive a poor 15-20 hour story mode when the post-game is potentially hundreds of hours of incredible content, the way I’ve always seen it is 20 hours is still a LOT of time to invest in a game before it gets truly good, regardless of how good it gets.

For a fantastic price of £3.99, fans should not hesitate picking up The Walking Dead: 400 Days. It might move at lightning speed, and we might not get the most out of these new characters, but the sense of drama coming from these short stories makes for a tantalising time.

Fable 2 would be a superbly accessible entry-point into action RPG’s for any casual gamer, but more experienced players may feel let down by the concessions to simplicity that have been made.

Being able to adapt the heart of Monster Hunter into a turn-based RPG is Monster Hunter Stories’ biggest success. It’s aesthetics are visually pleasing, some of the best on the 3DS, bringing a sweet, sugar-coated take on the world of Monster Hunter that is only spoiled by taking too long to get challenging. Despite that issue, the game is a pleasant experience which brings with it an enjoyable, lengthy adventure that gives people fascinated with the world of Monster Hunter, but maybe could not get into the main games, a chance to enjoy the spirit of those titles in a game that cries out to not only the Monster Hunter fans, but fans of Pokemon and light-hearted RPGs. This game could easily find a new audience to build itself up, lifting it up from simply being a spin-off game to becoming a fully fledged series to sit along side the main titles.

Velocity 2X fits perfectly on the switch and is a top tier indie game on that platform, it refreshing to play a game that isn’t procedurally generated and you can really feel the passion that went into it’s making, from it’s engaging gameplay and stellar level design this game shows us all exactly what arcade shooter games can be.

In many ways, yes this is a definitive improvement over previous Burnout games, the online mode is fantastic and the open world environment has many perks that reward players who make the effort to learn its small nuances. The game is let down by the lack of a proper Crash modem, the irritating sat nav and the lack of a retry button.

Just like a film, Sumire will not take a lot of your time, but the time it takes from you is respectfully used to deliver a touching narrative of one’s hardship growing up in a challenging world and what tackling them dead on can do to change one’s life, a story that many of us can no doubt relate to.

Haters will forever hate the series, and this game doesn’t do anything to change that, as it’s after its fans, and for those fans, you’re going to love Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends Complete Edition, as it jammed with hours upon hours of content that once again improves on the series’ formula and pushes it towards its prime.

This is one horror game that’s worth the play in any month: just remember to shut those lights off and keep the flash on.

It’s goodbye to Irrational Games, but at least the studio got the chance to finish off the series with a standing ovation, a satisfying conclusion that will help fans remember it for years to come.

Besides the lack of any meaningful graphical or gameplay upgrades from the PSVR1 version (or worse yet, a cheaper upgrade alternative, as both this game and the sequel must be purchased separately without the ability to transfer progress), the only quibble is the simplistic combat, which is satisfying enough to control but suffers from a lack of moves and a bigger lack of enemies. The traversal and puzzle elements, however, are frequently kept fresh thanks to new power-ups obtained and new head-scratchers to solve as the journey continues…plus the storybook visuals combined with the unobtrusive VR effects combine into an experience that truly is a showcase game for the new PSVR2, one that guarantees most people of all ages can appreciate, rather than hurl.

Regardless, Heavy Rain is a fascinating project. It takes away much of the control featured in traditional videogames, yet is no less engaging because of it.

Fans will be happy that Phoenix Wright was able to localize it – it really would have been a massive injustice if this game never saw the light of day outside of Japan, as Dual Destinies is up there with the best entries in the franchise.

Whilst the ending is a disappointment, the game gets so many things right it is all too easy to succumb to its charms.

All in all it's another winner from the guys at Sega. Enough has been added to make it worth buying, while not messing with the perfection that made it a hit in the arcades over a decade ago. If you want to play tennis on your console it doesn't get any better than this.

At the end of the day, it was the gameplay that made last year’s XCOM: Enemy Unknown a standout title and that remains intact, but XCOM: Enemy Within is the dessert package to go with the main course you just ate, adding that sweet delight on top of an already pleasing and tasty meal.

SnowRunner is certainly not for everyone. Its slow pace, punishing resets and the ask of an methodical approach from the player is one that will not fit everyone’s personality, and the cooperative element is missing some key communication features. But, if you are one of those people that gets turned on by dirty mud deformation and enjoys an element of puzzle solving to their driving, then SnowRunner offers some impressive physics and environmental challenges to overcome, which makes for a thoroughly stimulating and rewarding drive.

Great production values from EA, which hasn’t rested on its laurels and has gone all out to make a great game. Cracking.

Chime Super Deluxe is superior to its already brilliant forebear, but a small selection of missed opportunities compels us to drop the score a little.

Puppeteer is a superb demonstration of one team’s imagination let loose on the stage.

The normal match modes and multiplayer are a step up from Fifa 08, with player movement and ball control even more realistic than what has come before.

As great as it is, there are too many irritations with the combat (and too many unnecessarily drawn-out combat sections) to hail it as a true classic.

Despite the issues Madden NFL 10 has, the bottom line is the gameplay is as tight as it has ever been, with the new tweaks adding to an already accurate American Football experience. A few niggles here and there prevent this from being an essential crossover sports title, so for now, Madden NFL 10 will satisfy the current fanbase rather than appeal to a new one.

Launch troubles and lack of single player aside (which this score addresses), Street Fighter V is a brilliant fighting game. While currently in its infant stage, Street Fighter V will continue to grow into something amazing.

In the end, episode 2 is a more dialogue-heavy entry compared to the first, but it’s also a much stronger episode for it.

I went into Ion Fury not expecting much from it, but after finishing the game, I can easily say I bloody loved my time spent with Shelly. Voidpoint has managed to bring to life a retro shooter that takes a beloved style and rigorously craft something so spot-on, so perfectly 90s, but doing so without hampering the experience. The superb and frantic action, well-thought level design and brutal weaponry all play a part in coming together to offer a joyous single player campaign.

Taking on Mario Kart is a daunting challenge but Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing is a faster alternative that stands up well. A decent kart game on PS3 and Xbox 360 has been long overdue so it’s easy to recommend this.

All in all Dead Rising 2 does everything a good sequel should, new story, slightly tweaked gameplay, additional game modes, all whilst retaining what made the original so good.

While Final Fantasy XIV Online: A Realm Reborn does not bring much innovation to the genre, it’s taking aspects from other games and spinning them with a flavour of Final Fantasy. This mixture makes it one of my favourite MMOs of the last couple of years and one that certainly goes into my top three of all time.

It might not be the best version of Slay the Spire, but it’s the only one you can take on the go at the moment, being ensnared in its fun, rewarding gameplay, which can lead to missing a bus stop or two on the way to work without feeling all that bad about it.

Overall, Animal Well is a visually striking 2D metroidvania that immerses you in a pixelated world full of mysteries. As you explore this intricate “puzzle box world,” you’ll rely on a variety of items to navigate its passages and uncover hidden secrets. While the game definitely caters to completionists, there’s plenty here for all players to enjoy. The core gameplay is packed with puzzles, intriguing locations, and a sense of discovery that will keep you engaged. BIGMODE definitely found a great debut game and developer in Billy Basso, and I hope their relationship brings a fresh and innovative energy to the gaming scene once again.

South Park: The Stick of Truth is the first time that a South Park game truly feels like an addition to or extension of the show, while giving fans a hilariously good time to boot.

Short and sweet as the experience may be, Rez Infinite is still a highly recommended VR game that begs repeat playthroughs, and will undoubtedly prove a dazzling experience for even the most skeptical VR critics (even the ones with potentially weak stomachs). More importantly, the PSVR2 version is undoubtedly the best, most definitive version of the cult classic game, making it one of the few unironic instances where a title truly was “ahead of its time”.

Speaking of unlockables, I would also like to have being given the chance of getting to mention the likes Time Attack, which is supported by online leaderboards, and Endless Attack, which is probably the most hard-hitting survival mode ever included in a game in the history of time, tasking players with getting by as many screen as possible before unmercifully dying.

Anyone interest in the need to be scared should check out Outlast. It takes some ideas from Amnesia, but blends them with its own unique gameplay mechanics and setting.

Crea is a fairly deep sandbox game that’s capable of keeping a person entertained for hours, and as a bonus can also be played cooperatively for a further nuanced/social experience.

I highly recommend this game to those PC gamers out there that love those fast-paced, dodge-everything shoot 'em up games, or those who just love music or retro-style games.

Here's what it boils down to. It's a Kairosoft game and all of them are easily worthy of ten hours of your time, considering they cost less than five dollars each. Venture Towns doesn't differ greatly to their other titles but has the same addictive gameplay. If you are a newcomer, ask yourself if you would prefer to build a modern-era city, if not have a look at one of the other amazing Kairosoft games.

Even after ageing a good five years, God of War III still remains a fabulous action game jammed with memorable set pieces and locations.

If Activision had found a way to allow importation in to Guitar Hero World Tour a la Rock Band AC/DC, or at minimum allowed Death Magnetic DLC to work on the Wii version, it would have been exceptional.

In the end, Disgaea 5 may not have evolved much from its glory days, but the latest entry proves that the tried-and-true mechanics still hold up, even if the aesthetics and characters remain somewhat antiquated. There is no other RPG that features this many options, which will undoubtedly win over the hardcore RPG crowd with far too much time on their hands.

Ys: Memories of Celceta is a solid, all round, action RPG that anyone can pick up and get into. And for fans, well, you’ll be happy to know that this is up there as one of the better entries in the franchise.

Total War: Rome 2 is a hugely in-depth and highly engrossing experience; it has it’s pro’s and con’s (as does every game), but this is a game that will age like a fine wine and as such get better with time (and developer support and updates).

If you like your point and click adventures there really is only one reason why you shouldn’t buy this, and that is if you already bought it on PC. Otherwise this is a great addition to Xbox Live Arcade’s selection of point and click adventures. You won’t find many games funnier than this.

I really can’t stress enough just how much fun Everybody’s Golf is. From the moment you pick up the controller and start hitting your first ball, you come to understand the charm that the game is filled up with. It’s golf at its purist fun.

A fabulous gateway for new players and something fresh for those of us already obsessed with digital cardboard rectangles, Balatro is an explosion of glee but it burns out fast.

Mullet Madjack is a rush of action, a pump of dopamine throughout its entirety, just like the core mechanics of the game. This is fast, frantic and chaotic which goes all in with its well-executed life countdown gameplay. Everything is built solid to support that concept; it never frustrates. The game focuses on what makes a fun shooter, the speed, the violence, and the addictive gameplay loop. Mullet Madjack delivers that engaging rush that keeps players on their toes. It could do with more elements, more powers, and more building blocks for its levels, as those soon begin to lose their spark. But, for the affordable price (£16.95) and the compelling gameplay within its Endless Mode or difficulty settings, it is worth spending time with to enjoy its energetic gameplay.

Cat Quest turned out to be a low impact game with a high emphasis on fun. It’s a great armchair zen experience that fits Switch to a tee. It’s easy to play for five minutes, an hour, or more, and always make worthwhile progress – even on busy days when time is not on your side. It’s a pun filled game that’s a purrfect fit for gaming on the move. Sure, not everyone will approve of it’s unapawlogetic feline-centric wordplay, and upbeat pawsitive nature, but others may just find the humour to be cat-hartic – especially whilst compared to the self serious attitude seen in other modern RPGs. If dog is your pet of choice there is however no hope for you. Sorry.

If it wasn’t clear from my introduction, then it should be now. Samurai Warriors 4 is Omega Force taking the series forward by recalculating its understanding of the franchise and adapting it to be better at what it does best – supplying none stop badassery, frantic, fast action with improved mechanics to the core gameplay and plenty of content to explore, which in turn shifts the title for best entry in any Warriors game to date into this warlord’s castle.

While it might not be the best racing simulation on the market, there is no other place to get the full experience of Formula 1 as one of the ten teams or as a fresh newcomer on the block. If this is the final game for the current generation of consoles, then this is a lovely way to end that cycle. If Codemasters keep this up going into next generation, then expect the series to only get better, because right now, F1 2020 is a worthwhile investment for F1 fans and fans of realistic style racing games.

Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden also brings in oodles of personality and an intriguing world through its exploration parts and charming characters that banter with each other through humorous dialogue. The game’s only let down is its focus on delivering more of a role-playing game, which has taken away the replayability that rival games in the genre have going for them, thanks to the use of random generation, but that shouldn’t be too much of a negative on a game that offers a great first playthrough experience.

The dialogue options in this game do serve to reveal an intriguing insight into Michonne’s character: in other Telltale games, I rarely, if ever, chose silence even though it was always an option. With Michonne’s character, however, silence almost always seems the right option. Telltale skilfully displays how Michonne is a woman of few words and I enjoyed painting her as the strong, silent type.

As I play more of Republique and the story gets bigger and better, I am beginning to get a real feel for who the goodies and baddies are.

With its sandbox style approach to escaping, sometimes you might find yourself flapping in the wind and unsure what to do next. The pacing of the game has been improved since the first one, with less time spent waiting around. The 16-bit style visuals have also been given a nice step up, with the game overall looking and playing great.

Son of Scoregasm has the mechanics in place for some addictive high score attack gameplay. It’s such a simple twist on the twin-stick shooter formula, but having multipliers tied to the pulse bomb gives itself some originality, but more so, an addictive and tense scoring mechanic that benefits risk/reward and skill for anyone good enough to make it through all the levels. Don’t let its visual simplicity mislead you, while this game is simple to pick up, it turns into a challenging game, fast, but also an entertaining one, which pretty much sums it up. Son of Scoregasm should supply a few days of fun for anyone looking for something to play on the Vita in quick bursts while on the go.

Worms W.M.D. is a triumph. Sure, we could tie ourselves in knots asking why they didn’t come out with something like this sooner, but what would be the point? For now, let’s just bask in its wormly glory.

Given the state the Vita is in the moment, there's no denying that Disgaea 3: Absence of Detention is one of the best games to have on the system. It's got bucket loads of content that will give months of gameplay. The game is also charming, pumped with personality, has a likeable cast of characters and a quirkiness that only the Japanese can bring

There is a very enjoyable action game here, wrapped in a well plotted storyline populated with likeable characters and powered by a simple-yet-genius system to make you actually care about who you fight alongside, managing what other shooters struggle to accomplish after entire trilogies.

I would say if you enjoy business simulations in general, or if you’ve ever wondered what life is like on the other side of the sword counter, then you should give Shoppe Keep a try.

Post Void is a barrage of garish visual information parading through the interface of a first-person shooter. As either an act of mercy or a concession to humanity, modest roguelite trappings force all of Post Void’s noise and fury into manageable dosages. This leaves Post Void as a wonderful party drug, provided you can sustain the party and handle the drugs.

It manages to blend rhythmic platforming with the runner genre tremendously well, creating a cocktail of pure enjoyment from start to finish, and is accessible enough that anyone can get into.

Simply put, everything in Ys VIII feels real good. The controls are tight, the action is blazingly-fast, and a lot can be accomplished without succumbing to the usual grindy affair of most RPGs. As a middle-ground RPG, Lacrimosa of Dana carries a hefty amount of content and a ton of addictive gameplay as well as challenge. Anyone looking for the polar opposite of the genre’s turn-based gameplay need not look further, as the Ys series remains the undisputed champ of the thinking man’s button masher.

All in all, Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2 is a welcome upgrade for fans that own the previous iteration (they even get a discount), and an especially meaty experience for newcomers, even if the story will be far ahead of their level of understanding. With Injustice 2 and Tekken 7 falling in the same month, it’s been a heck of a comeback for modern fighting games.

Disgaea 5 Complete certainly appeals more to people who have never played the game over the fans that jumped into it first on PS4. What is great is that nothing is sacrificed on it’s move to Nintendo’s new hybrid system, so those fans who like the idea of playing the game again with a portable aspect will be happy with the transition. For newcomers, what should be known is that Disgaea 5 Complete is a great strategy RPG with some unique features going for it that no other strategy RPG does (e.g. Item World). It also brings deep gameplay, fanatical characters and a silly story that makes Disgaea 5 Complete a fantastic additional to the Switch’s library, filling in a genre that the system doesn’t have at the moment, while being the best version of Disgaea 5.

I don’t imagine there’s many Fatal Fury fans out there who wouldn’t much prefer two actual Fatal Fury characters rather than two characters clearly stuck into the game due to some hefty influence from their controversial owners. I’m sure they would prefer the game to not be associated with KSI and his bunch of cronies. Sadly, I’m also absolutely certain that if it wasn’t for SNK’s owners having more money than God at their disposal, we’d not be playing this otherwise excellent sequel to Mark of the Wolves. C’est la vie, etc. I’m a lifelong fan of fighting games. I love fighting games and I love this game, but honestly, I hate all of this.

Kotaro Uchikoshi thanked his fans for helping him get the third game in the Zero Escape series completed, and in return he has brought a memorable conclusion for his final act.

Animal Crossing is cutesy, it’s inviting and it’s addictive. It’s a mug of hot cocoa after the stresses of the many gritty, intense blockbuster games on the shelves today.

Immersion is one of Dead Space’s top specialities and the sound follows suit. Exploring the Ishimura is a pleasure to the ears in a sort of freaky way.

EA continues to make the look and feel of the Tiger Woods series distinct from any other franchise, and the marked improvements to the game allow me to confidently state that you’ll enjoy it more than other title in the series.

Revelations 2 continues to steadily climb upwards in both quality and content, with episode 3 possibly being the longest experience yet. The decision to distribute the episodes weekly also prove that the Resident Evil series makes for a surprisingly good episodic series.

When it comes to the core game, Souldiers brings all its terrific mechanics and clever level design together for a lengthy experience that gets you engaged in its gameplay and platforming rather than its story.

Dante’s remastering demonstrates that no matter what colour your hair is, a great game remains a great game made better by the frame rate increase and all the extras that come included in the package.

It is absolutely the best game for wasting away those hot summer days. If you’re a fan of superhero games or just love gratuitous violence, you can’t go wrong with Prototype.

This is a minimal remastered release of a great cult Japanese RPG that still has a distinct story, setting and theme, with entertaining and challenging combat. It might be a bit too old school for some, but for fans or people who want to flesh out the Atlus RPG catalogue and see some of their history, then they will get to experience a special mature JRPG that holds up through its strong core mechanics. It is just a bummer that more has not been done with the remaster treatment, as this game deserves to be treated with more love.

It is one of the most perfect examples of bite-sized gaming, giving you a pleasant feeling of accomplishment even if you were just looking to kill time for 5 minutes.

The short time you spend with this game is sure to put a smile on your face.

Iron Galaxy has done no wrong with this beautifully cared for port of the two Darkstalkers games. The only negative is that the use of the arcade version means that Darkstalkers 3 is missing a few characters that appeared in the console version, but apart from that, this is a port full of love and care for the franchise.

Speaking of unlockables, I would also like to have being given the chance of getting to mention the likes Time Attack, which is supported by online leaderboards, and Endless Attack, which is probably the most hard-hitting survival mode ever included in a game in the history of time, tasking players with getting by as many screen as possible before unmercifully dying.

If you're a fan of atmospheric games, espionage or FPS games in general, you should definitely give this one a try.

The big question here: Is Off The Record different enough from the original Dead Rising 2 to warrant a purchase? For fans of the franchise the answer has got to be yes. There may not be loads added, but considering the budget price it is worth picking up, if only just to play as Frank West again.

Tales from the Borderlands: Episode One – Zer0 Sum is a brilliant start to the season, showcasing a strong cast of characters, speedy pacing, while managing to sustain the Borderlands tropes without hurting what people like about the cinematic adventure genre.

Fans of bullet hell games are going to enjoy the gameplay mechanics of Akai Katana. It's a great solid shoot-em-up that once you master its in-depth mechanics you'll become captivated by its addictive gameplay. It doesn't do anything to push the genre, but then that was never its intended aim. It also won't do anything for people who don't like these games, but for people who love putting their sharp dodging and shooting skills to the test then Akai Katana will be a welcoming pleasure for you as Cave once again shows why they are the rulers of the genre.

This is a worthwhile follow up, and Steins;Gate fans will have to snap up and experience this right now. It upholds what its predecessor did and retains the fantastic writing, beautiful art and its many layered storytelling that will have anyone who jumps into this talking about it well after the 40 hours needed to finish it, making it an essential purchase for visual novel enthusiasts.

First episodes are always going to be hard to evaluate to see where the season is going to go, but as an opening episode for Season Two of The Walking Dead, I feel that it gives a strong first impression.

Overall, Disgaea 1 Complete is a sufficient reminder of what made the series such a cult hit that continues even today, but the recent release of the more feature-filled and modernized Disgaea 5 puts it at stiff competition. For anyone looking for a fix after 5, or is hankering to go through the series’ roots either for the first time or the fourth time, there’s still plenty to love in this classic re-release.

Very little has changed in Killing Floor 2, except where it matters the most: the game just oozes fun and refinement from top to bottom, with every weapon having its own unique pros and cons, a decent enemy variety that requires quick thinking and strategic cooperation (or retreat, for those pushing their luck trying to take out a bigger enemy all on their own), and an overall feeling of visceral excitement over the mountains of corpses beneath your feet and the appropriately head-banging heavy metal soundtrack screaming into your ears. The co-op combat is the main draw, and it is almost always consistent and chaotic fun.

Atelier Shallie Plus: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea is overall a pleasurable tale, and even when the overarching story has a depressing theme and the graphical performance is a little lacking, nothing stops it from being just a bliss of fun, a warm bundle of charm in a climate where we kind of need something to give us a smile from time to time.

It won’t top Brain Training’s immense sales, but it’s better in every way.

Overall, Chronicles of a Dark Lord: Rhapsody Clash, whilst not being the best starting point to the series, is nevertheless a game worth playing through at least twice.

Well, call me utterly surprised. Spec Ops: The Line showed me that it's more than just a generic shooter. Backing up the solid, if somewhat familiar, gameplay is a fantastic and smart story experience that no other shooter has done for some time.

Mortal Kombat arrives on current generation, bringing a refined and gory battle system with additional depth with the implementation of character variations, refreshing and cool new characters, another solid story and plenty of content, but the best improvement is the smoother fighting engine with better animations that no longer look awkwardly wooden.

But unless you are serious about golf, or videogame golf at least, then you may find it frustrating.

Between the two Ys games released on Steam this year, I feel that Ys Origin is just that bit better than Ys: The Oath in Felghana. Both are great titles, but Origin builds on the formula with a solid, constructed experience from start to finish that never gets stale, great pacing, multiple and distinctive characters and a fast, in your face combat system. For £12.99 on Steam, you seriously cannot go wrong with checking out this top action RPG.

Like Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, this is a game that is simplistic in concept but catered heavily toward fans of the series. Yet unlike Theatrhythm’s serviceable-yet-sterile insert of characters and compositions, Dancing All Night goes the extra mile to ensure that Persona 4’s beloved cast bring their A-game to this endearing love letter in addition to its plethora of toe-tapping remixes.

Despite its shortcomings, MadWorld still deserves heaps of praise for the things it does right. Its mix of visceral but strategic combat with stunning visuals, memorable characters and some genuine laugh-out-loud moments easily earns its place on anybody’s shelf.

BG&E HD is an easy game to recommend, regardless of whether or not you played the original release. It's not quite as mind-blowing as it was back in the day – looking back, a lot of good games surfaced in 2003, but originality wasn't too high on the agenda – yet it remains entirely enjoyable and charming throughout, bar a few irritating hovercraft sections.