Games like HeartGold and SoulSilver, and the more recent Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, won over fans because they elevated the originals – either by adding engaging new features and areas, or by reimagining their visual style in order to capture the way players felt their beloved childhood games used to look. Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl struggle on both these counts, meaning they can only really be recommended to die-hard fans of the originals. Luckily for any newer fans of the series, there are plenty of other, much better, Pokémon games to dig into.

Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain shines as a party game, adopting a family-friendly approach that evens the playing field regardless of each player's age and experience. We had a lot of fun with our family and friends across the 20 puzzle activities featured in this accessible and budget-priced package. It's just a pity that there aren't a few more minigames (or a slightly more substantial single-player component) for greater replay value.

Mario Party Superstars is the strongest outing for the long-running franchise since at least the early GameCube days. It doesn't take many risks and admittedly lacks imagination, but this party leans on nostalgia and understands why these games are so popular among longtime fans. It's a well-executed and highly enjoyable return to the series' roots while remaining largely accessible to first-time players.

True Colors makes an extremely strong case for the best Life Is Strange game yet, with an affecting story that tackles themes such as loss and belonging and featuring the series' most likeable protagonist to date in Alex Chen. The town of Haven Springs is also a standout, and by the end of the game, I was sad that I had to say goodbye to the cast of characters. Hopefully this isn't the last time we see Alex.

Tetris Effect remains the best version of Tetris on the market, and the Nintendo Switch port is hardly compromised, successfully retaining what made the game stunning in the first place. The added portability of the Switch version is more than enough reason to double-dip, and it looks wonderful on the OLED Model's new screen if you're fortunate enough to have the upgraded console. The Switch has become our personal platform of choice when it comes to Tetris Effect: Connected, but regardless of platform, this is a special title that absolutely deserves all the praise it's received over the last few years.

Samus Aran's latest 2D mission boasts consistently high thrills in exploration and combat to provide a worthy sequel to a highly-regarded game that came out 19 years ago. Metroid Dread doesn't quite deliver on the "dread" promised in the title, with atmosphere lacking and the initially-tense EMMI encounters becoming predictable, but nonetheless we had a tremendous amount of fun and hope we don't face another 19-year wait for the next original entry.

WarioWare makes a welcome return, providing the familiar fast-paced microgames action that fans will be accustomed to. Filled with quirky charm, this Switch entry doesn't disappoint. The new character gimmick, however, does get in the way slightly despite adding a neat twist to some of the microgames.

Cottage Living will make a lot of fans happy, and there are plenty of positives in the expansion's attempt to make good on the farming and countryside themes. It's a shame then that a number of aspects hold the pack back from realising its full potential. Henford-on-Bagley is a nice enough world, but errs too much on the safe side to leave a lasting impression.

Dream Home Decorator isn't for everyone, but those who enjoy renovating homes will be impressed by a generous variety of items and an engaging new career, even if the amount of new gameplay is on the slight side. It's a shame that the pack has launched with a troubling amount of bugs, and anyone considering making the purchase at this moment in time should keep that in mind.

It's a breezy, short and fun run through a series of bonkers planets, tense boss-fights, and heartfelt cutscenes. With Sony's exclusives like the upcoming God of War sequel being delayed further beyond 2022, we only have a few games to enjoy, but we think you'll cope if you've got Rift Apart to play.

New Pokémon Snap is a delight, and a big part of that comes from how the Pokémon are brought to life, from the animations to their behaviours and the way they inhabit the world. Each unique creature is afforded their moment to shine, contributing towards making the Lental region a vivid and fulfilling place to explore.

This game manages to find new ways to thrill, excite, and stomp all over your poor, terrified little heart – which we suppose is great for people who have that sort of kink. Whatever floats your boat, we suppose.

Super Mario 3D World on the Nintendo Switch is the definitive version of an already stellar game. More than seven years after the original release, Mario's Wii U adventure hasn't aged a bit – oozing creativity and providing platforming thrills at nearly every turn. Bowser's Fury is a nice little companion, and although not quite as consistent, it combines with 3D World to form an outstanding package.

The story ekes out slowly and drips darkness and tension as you play hide and seek with a cast of horrors – most notably The Thin Man – leading to a blinding twist which only left us more unsettled yet ready to jump back in for another ride.

If you don't already own FIFA 21, we doubt this upgrade will convince you to head out and buy it. But if you're a fan of the franchise and are thinking of picking up a new console, the next-gen update might be the thing that makes you fall in love with football all over again.

Cyberpunk 2077 is a fantastic game that we have never experienced before, and is a window into the future of next-gen gaming and what it's capable of. We are addicted to its world and everything in it, and we don't mind risking our reputation saying that it's easily our game of the decade, despite it missing out on the Video Game Awards for 2020...This is a brutal, visceral world to live in, where death seeps through the concrete jungle and every job you take on feels like the beginning of your dark end in this unforgiving landscape. Yet every time we complete a quest and receive some EuroDollars for our effort, we find ourselves itching to rush back into the danger and discover what other horrors await us.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War's campaign is tight, slick, and lots of fun, it almost avoids getting totally bogged down with militaristic mumbo jumbo, thanks to a barmy plot, and fun, albeit cliched characters, and most importantly, genuinely creative and impressive gameplay mechanics, that don't involve shooting. Sure it's as short as ever, but given it's one part of the package that includes zombies and multiplayer, it's easily the best Call of Duty story for many years, and perhaps one of the best shoot-em-up campaigns, too.

Fuser is one of Harmonix's most impressive releases to date, crafting a unique experience that encourages and rewards creativity. It may lack the replay value that some players may be looking for – which might be addressed if the downloadable content for the game takes off – but that downside is outweighed by the euphoric highs from putting together mixes where everything somehow meshes together perfectly.

Mt. Komorebi is a wonderful world that we cannot get enough of. Backed by a generous number of activities and features that come together in a satisfying way, it's a place that we're sure we will return to time and time again. Snowy Escape is a stellar expansion, and arguably the best since Seasons.

Legion doesn’t quite reach the lofty heights of its San Francisco predecessor. Your team isn’t as endearing, the missions aren’t as fun and the story is just not quite as engaging. Though, if you take the time to explore the streets of London, and make it your playground, there is still lots to like. The gameplay loop is addictive once you get into it and if you can look past the bugs and pantomime voices, you’ll be happy you digitally toured one of the worlds greatest cities, albeit a bleak one.

New York City is a fantastic setting to step into the world of next-gen gaming, with smooth, consistent frame rates and the mind-blowing ray-tracing capabilities to carry Spider-Man into the future. With Insomniac Games likely planning DLC to extend the campaign, Miles Morales is a brilliant follow-up to a fantastic PlayStation-exclusive franchise that will likely tempt over many gamers on the fence to buy the PS5, just so they can experience this wondrous story.

Yakuza: Like A Dragon was poised to be the biggest of the series yet and it’s clear that Ryu Ga Gotoku have delivered. Pushing the cult series into brave new places, it’s a rich experience that’ll leave you wanting to explore every inch of Yokohama, and with a cast of characters you’re bound to fall in love with, it's bombastic and fun with a capital F. An essential for fans of the series and even newcomers.

Mafia: Definitive Edition is a stunning remake that improves upon so much while staying true to its original vision. As you'd expect, this balance between new ideas and old concepts has its advantages – and its drawbacks. But it remains an exciting experience with a nostalgic warmth that'll keep you coming back to explore its expansive yet conservative map, free from the bloat that similar games in this genre have been subject to for far too long now.

The Sims 4 Star Wars: Journey to Batuu delivers one of the most vibrant and memorable worlds yet, but is let down by a weak narrative, dull missions, and a self-contained experience that fails to play to the franchise's strengths.

The Sims 4: Eco Lifestyle is an impressive expansion that emphasises not only green living but also community. The biggest success stems from how the core features come together in a cohesive way to make your neighbourhood feel connected, backed by Evergreen Harbor's memorable world.

The Last of Us 2 is going to be divisive. Naughty Dog has made brave narrative choices for its difficult second album, which we massively respect. We would just have liked to have seen the same applied to the gameplay. It's still solid and thrilling, and if you loved the first game, this is a must-play. It's not as groundbreaking, but equally as heartbreaking.

Overall, Resident Evil 3's gameplay is solid, fun and thrilling, it's definitely worth playing at some point, but tragically it's all too short lived.

Discover University is a generous package with plenty to do and experience, but the biggest appeal lies in the way higher education is integrated with the rest of the game to provide further storytelling opportunities for your Sims. This expansion is another success in what has been a very strong year for the franchise, and is particularly worth considering for players who like to come to The Sims for realism narratives.