Into the Breach really nails the idea of “flow” — making a game not too hard, not too simple, maintaining just the right about of stress and excitement. Its main Vek-thumping loop ranges from “I might actually do this” to “Yikes I’m barely hanging on.” But in the rare case of comfort, there are additional challenges to ensure you’re in that sweet spot of stress.

FIFA has its ups and downs, going through years when the company seems to care more about swaying grass and and player celebrations than tactics or responsiveness. Happily, FIFA 19 is one of the good ones.

Fluctuating like a Geiger Counter between nihilism and utopianism, this game’s muddy morality is a thing of beauty in the current climate and could be one of 2019’s most important games as a result.

This is a game which can be enjoyed by the entirety of the Marvel fanbase. It’s nerdy enough for the hardcore (did we mention that Elsa Bloodstone is a playable character!). It’s got every character those who’ve only ever seen the films would want to see. There’s real diversity within the chosen roster too. A team of Black Panther, Ms. Marvel, Luke Cage and Captain Marvel really is the future that liberals want. Perhaps most impressively, it’s a game which is pitched in that sweetest of spots; true universality. Children will enjoy this game. Adults will have a blast too. This, of course, is the Nintendo way, but it’s still worth applauding during this most divisive of times.

Despite the often baffling and obstructing in-story puzzles, there is a ton of fun to be had here.

Ropey dialogue may keep this from being a must-play experience, but if you’re looking to embark on a compelling and surprising c0-op adventure with a friend, A Way Out is more than worth the price of entry.

It’s not a perfect port. For those looking to play DOOM purely on the big screen, the Switch version’s janky visuals make it difficult to recommend. Yet, if you’re looking for a portable version of one of the best shooters in recent memory, DOOM thoroughly deserves to be the blood-soaked outlier lurking in your Switch library.

It’s clear the creative resources that weren’t used on overhauling the gameplay systems were used on a strong narrative. The writing, cinematography, and acting in Wolfenstein II have elevated the franchise from humble beginnings as a first-person-shooter reliant on compelling gameplay. Now, Wolfenstein is synonymous with enthralling storytelling, along with it’s invigorating gameplay.

Undoubtedly one of the funniest video games ever made. Packed full of more hilarious moments than most gaming franchises manage in a decade and boasting a surprisingly deep combat system, this is undeniably a great little game.

Even though it feels little more than a setup, it’s still an intricate setup, with a lingering promise of big emotional reward.

Battle Chef Brigade is yet another wonderful addition to the Nintendo Switch library of games. Its quirky dialogue, clean art style, and clever implementation of gameplay mechanics make the game stand out. That being said, the game is a bit guilty of a monotonous grind and the puzzles become more of a nuisance rather than entertaining.

Shadow Of The Tomb Raider is a bit like an enormous box of Celebrations. There’s loads to binge on and you’ll really enjoy gourging on most of it – but there’s also mini-versions of Bounty bars you’ll have to suffer through here, too.

Despite some technical blemishes on the Switch version, including notable frame drops in busier sections, it’s another great addition to a growing roster of quality JRPGs for Nintendo’s system. And of course, this will also serve as a great way to fill the gaping hole in our hearts left by a lack of Switdh Fire Emblem, which isn’t due until 2019. In short, if you’re looking for a new portable strategy game on Switch — look no further.

There are two types of sequels, those that take the template of the original and improve upon it beyond recognition and those that just opt for the bigger and better approach. Overcooked 2 is undeniably the latter.

Dragon Ball FighterZ has managed to prioritise competitive play while still packing in the hyper-stylised, fill-your-entire-screen special effects the franchise demands. The moves are super cool, and the fact they don’t obscure vital telegraphing is even cooler.

Despite dashing the dreams of Bowsette fans everywhere, this is a great game made more palatable for gamers of all skill levels, and although sometimes it threatens to be too easy by grafting in characters without really thinking about it, there is a blockbuster amount of content here that is fantastic fun solo, only to be made more exciting by the four-player multiplayer.

Pokémon Let’s Go is an experience that’s more concerned about capturing the magic of living alongside these captivating creatures than being a hardcore game — and it’s all the better for it.

While it may not push the franchise in a bold new direction, Let’s Go feels like the perfect stopgap before next year’s brand new Pokémon Switch outing. And with a whole new generation of kids now discovering Pokémon for the first time too, we can’t think of a better way to introduce them to the wonders of Kanto.

Age of Empires: Definitive Edition is a must-play for series vets looking to recapture the nostalgia of their first RTS experience, and well worth a look for new players looking to understand the roots of the RTS genre.

Every decision is appropriately weighted against a thematically sensible in-game resource. Sometimes you’re weighing up Hope vs "Discontent, or Discontent vs time, or skilled engineers vs coal, or scout exploration vs an increasingly sick population in need of heat. It’s all tied to something solid, in a way that makes sense, and in that way Frostpunk achieves its goal as an empathetic, story-driven city-builder.

Bafflingly, only some textures have been updated, and it’s incredibly jarring when you see shiny new textures sitting side by side with the old. It often feels like Dark Souls Remastered is a face lift applied to only half the face.

Toys for Bob has done an exemplary job of bringing Spyro into 2018.

Fans who have stuck with this series for a significant part of their lives will find a worthy conclusion that touches on each character equally and offers some satisfying closure.

You’re free to grow your operation, tinker with drug combinations to engineer supersoldiers, get the right mix of equipment and training, and fully deck out your MKUltra brainwashing facility. We aren’t fans of how often “addictive” is used as a synonym for fun, but thanks to its loop of world map organisation and tactical missions, Phantom Doctrine is both.

Level-5 has still put together a wondrous and whimsical RPG to lose yourself in for many hours.

Play it with friends, play it with family, don’t take it too seriously and for the love of God don’t play it alone. Stick with that ruleset, and Super Mario Party might just be the party game you’ve been waiting.

In the end, Comrades feels like the missing puzzle piece of Final Fantasy XV. Not only does it plug a narrative hole, it does so with coherency and commitment to its end-of-the-world bit. Yes, the multiplayer itself is over simplistic and you can actually play the expansion without interacting with others — but then you’re missing the point of story Comrades is trying to tell.

If you don’t play many shooters and haven’t seen what the genre has been up to in the last few years, its additions might seem fresh enough. If you’re the type to buy FPS games often, you won’t find much new or impressive here.