In the end, probably the best remark I can make about the game is that it is one of more accessible available from the selection of EA Sports branded titles, and as a result of this, it’s probably one of the most fun to play.

How am I supposed to warn people who choose to play that they may end up with a urge to smash their controller with a sledgehammer due to the intense anger this game may cause? And crucially, how am I supposed to tell them that it is all truly worth it in the end? I really do not know!

I’m going to be recommending Minishoot’ Adventures for some time and to pretty much anybody who will listen because it’s a game everybody can enjoy and honestly I may get another playthrough out of it myself in the near future; I’m already feeling the cravings. But I’m also positive that when the inevitable inspirations begin to follow, it will be one of those that end up taking on the mantle for the genre.

If you fancy a different take on the racing genre and want something that lives and breathes the arcade experience, then go take yourself for a skinny-dipping session in Hydro Thunder Hurricane, as this is the best Xbox Live Arcade racer yet on the system.

If you like strategy RPGs then you owe it to yourself to check this 20+ hour game out. Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love will be one of the freshest experiences you've had in the genre for a while and shouldn't be avoided because of the word "dating sim."

In the end, while the core gameplay remains wholly unchanged from the original (not to mention that expert players can still cheese their way through most areas by abusing the wizard's crate-creating spells), the stunning visual details and effects do more to enhance the already-robust mechanics then one might expect.

I still thoroughly enjoyed my time with The Last Guardian and in retrospect I believe a friend put it best – 'it’s a flawed masterpiece’ he said and I truly believe that. The essence and meaning of the game is in tact but it’s presented in a cracked vessel.

Darkest Dungeon still remains a fantastic, dark RPG on its move to the Switch, one that offers a challenge stacked with replayability. It’s one of the few hardcore RPGs that I can stick with without getting annoyed or bored at its difficulty. It’s a shame that the deep and rewarding gameplay is spoilt by poor controls, but once used to their awkwardness, what remains is a brilliant release for Nintendo’s system. Darkest Dungeon is suited to the mobility of the device, thanks to the short dungeon times. It is a game that will keep on giving players constant nightmares and hardships as they slowly become engrossed in the gameplay loop, while probably going insane at the same time trying to go deeper into the lair of evil that is known as the Darkest Dungeon, a game that is one of the best indies available right now on Switch.

Crimsonland is one of those very simple games that is very easy to pick up and play, but extremely difficult to master.

Boulder Dash XL is highly recommended for anybody who likes their arcade games with a puzzle element, young or old alike.

Be it a trip down memory lane or your introduction to the 8-bit era the Mega Man Legacy Collection gives you all you’d expect and more.

While Rogue Legacy 2 is more of a refinement than a revolution, it nonetheless stands out as another must-have Roguelike, which is impressive given the ever-increasing supply of quality titles in the genre. Even if the plate is currently full, this is another tasty dish that is worth savoring when the craving comes calling again.

As it stands, F1 2012 is the best F1 game I have ever played, and for anyone who is interested in the sport, then you really owe yourselves to check out this great representation of F1.

It is greatly designed – yes, it has its flaws, but it’s built around a fantastic and incredibly fun core that is unlike anything else out there and I hope to see more DLC, or even a sequel, in the future.

Worms W.M.D‘s successful outing marks the series’ long overdue return to relevance. The detailed 2D graphics look great, run very smoothly and the new mechanics all slot in seamlessly alongside the 90s core of the game. This is now the definitive edition of Worms to buy – there is a lot to enjoy it’s one of the best in-person social multiplayer games available.

Pawnbarian isn’t for everyone, being a hardcore puzzle game at heart, but it is a great shining example in its field and a must-play for those whose curiosity is piqued by it. Now I just need my Steam Deck to arrive so I can play on the go…

I’m not a fan of the system at all. But, if you can round-up a few amigos, order in some food and drinks, and pop this sucker in, I can guarantee you’ll be jumping up out of your seats in excitement and screaming with laughter more than any other game you can think of. This doesn’t mean I forgive it for being so shallow mode-wise, but what is there is damn good.

It is a clever game, with a simple idea at it’s core, that consistently brings enough clever ideas to the table as it goes to remain captivating throughout.

A grand achievement that gives the player a new take on how conventional RTS games play.

Gran Turismo 6 is a nice farewell for Sony’s ageing hardware, as the company begins to move to the new generation of console gaming.

Cult of the Lamb is a good game. It’s a lot of fun. But I have this nagging sensation it could have been so, so much more interesting, and it leaves me wanting.

Can I recommend Death Stranding? Not really. I don’t think it can be directly labelled ‘good’. It’s a full price, full length, but all too frequently sluggish game. However, if you’re a Kojima fan, I don’t think you’ll want to miss out on this deranged roller coaster ride of an experience and that really elevates it for me.

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers is a solid taster into sampling a blast from the past. It’s obviously aged a bit, which is clearly seen in this port, but the story is good and the rewarding, deep combat mechanics survive the test of time to make this a solid, satisfying RPG to play in 2013.

A year after its PS5 debut, Rise of the Ronin arrives on PC with Team Ninja’s combat prowess at its core—fast, fluid, and deeply satisfying. The story is engaging enough, though its pacing can feel slow at times, while the open world is filled with familiar tropes—plenty of icons, bandits, and the occasional stray cat, but also plenty of that great combat to experience. PC performance is underwhelming, and optimisation could certainly use some work, though there’s hope for future improvements. It’s not a masterpiece, but Rise of the Ronin stands out as a game where the real excitement lies in its combat, not the world it inhabits.

Moving to an open-world concept is a brilliant step forward for the Pokémon series, but currently, this release lacks the Nintendo quality that we expect from their published titles. In terms of mechanics, vision and gameplay elements of Pokémon, this is a shift in the right direction, and it only makes me get excited to see what future games do on new Nintendo hardware, whenever that arrives. I still recommend Pokémon Scarlet and Violet to fans of these wonderful little critters or to people who grew tired of the original formula, as the shift to an open world makes for a more exciting experience. Just be prepared to suffer from something that is very un-Nintendo like with this game’s inconsistent frame rates and the occasional glitch, which will put a dent in what should have been a wonderful new direction for the extremely popular creature collecting series.

I don’t know what it is with Capcom recently, but they seem to be getting the most important parts of their fighting games – the fighting systems and mechanics – spot on, but dropping the ball in other departments. That said, Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite is too much fun to simply advise people to ignore, it’s a good fighting game surrounded by the unpolished presentation, but it does enough to be able to recommend it to fighting fans, but less so for the Marvel comic/film fanatics.

Moving to an open-world concept is a brilliant step forward for the Pokémon series, but currently, this release lacks the Nintendo quality that we expect from their published titles. In terms of mechanics, vision and gameplay elements of Pokémon, this is a shift in the right direction, and it only makes me get excited to see what future games do on new Nintendo hardware, whenever that arrives. I still recommend Pokémon Scarlet and Violet to fans of these wonderful little critters or to people who grew tired of the original formula, as the shift to an open world makes for a more exciting experience. Just be prepared to suffer from something that is very un-Nintendo like with this game’s inconsistent frame rates and the occasional glitch, which will put a dent in what should have been a wonderful new direction for the extremely popular creature collecting series.

The issue is not with the game's creators, who haven't made a bad game at all. It's with the community that they have catered for with it. Words like 'PWNING' popping up when you're on a killing spree, however tongue and cheek, still add to the vibe that these overly-aggressive, humiliating or just downright internetty behaviours are encouraged.