Vampire Survivors delivers on exactly why it’s an addictive rougelite with near-perfect execution. Incredibly easy to pick up, even easier to get lost in and a well of secrets to keep you playing. It doesn’t offer too much variety with its gameplay but you’ll barely notice as the flashing lights of weapon upgrades and coins enamour you.

A spot on throwback to the hedonistic and violent days of the Manga animation brand, Mullet MadJack is top tier indulgent fun. Its insane pace, somewhat too on-the-nose allegories for consumerism, and blinding visuals, make it a blast for that repetitive, quick-fix roguelike fan.

Blind Drive is unlike anything else out there at the moment. It’s unique, innovative and hopefully the start of something new. As a proof of concept, this game demonstrates that it’s possible to create an absorbing, exciting experience based purely on sound. As a game in its own right, it’s thrilling, funny and a triumph of audio game design.

Return to Monkey Island lives up to the near thirty year long wait with a modernised take that feels fresh, unique and brand new. Nostalgia naturally fuels a major proportion of its endearing qualities, but the new puzzles, the sumptuous music and the glorious performances bring the series back to life in ways we couldn’t have imagined. An absolutely stellar return for a franchise we thought we’d never see again.

Some of its endings might leave you feeling a little derezzed, but the branching narrative journey you take to get there makes Tron: Identity an experience worth having. Thought provoking writing and incredible music are coupled with an enjoyable card game in a tale that tackles new frontiers in the world of Tron which will be essential for those that ‘fight for the user’.

Finally making its way onto PlayStation, Among Us is still the very best that the social deduction genre has to offer. Using some inventive workarounds to support controllers, this game loses little to nothing in the port away from its natural home on phones and tablets. With a group of strangers, it’s easy to have a great time with this game. With friends, Among Us comes alive in one of the best multiplayer experiences on the market today as you attempt to stab your pals in the back. Both figuratively and literally.

Despolote is a reminder that video games are so important to the medium of storytelling. Through gorgeous visuals and a story is elation and excitement, this unique experiences manages to keep you engaged and uplifted throughout. It won't be for everyone, but if you're a player that loves to find greatness in independent games, you're going to feel like you've scored a hat-trick with this one.

The Witch Queen is a terrific addition to the Destiny 2 canon, finally balancing the combat and the story to near perfect levels. There’s so much here to enjoy, breathing new life into Destiny as a whole. Absolutely brilliant.

Sniper: Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 is a prime example of sequel done right. A few technical issues that highlight the mid-line entry of the game don’t dampen the experience. The sniping, its core tenet, is where the money is. About half a mile away, in someone’s head. Go and get your money’s worth.

This remake of Destroy All Humans! is really quite incredible.

DREDGE’s numerous gameplay systems that don’t overwhelm but invite players are a cloak and dagger for the true horrors that’ll keep you lost at sea. Phenomenal in its art direction and engrossing to play, it’s clear that Black Salt Games have dredged up a mystifying debut.

A truly one-of-a-kind take on first person puzzle games, Superliminal may not be the longest game on the market. But what it lacks in length it makes up for in ingenuity.

After this many years, that Suikoden I & II got remasters is in itself a blessing. That Konami paid attention and added quality of life improvements is testament to the esteem that these two titles hold. Lush visuals over a pixelated palette, UI tweaks and traversal improvements, this is a real love letter to Suikoden fans. There are a few cracks, more so in the first game, but as a package it's easily ignored for the stories and fun that both games bring.

Birdigo captures that feeling we all felt when we played Balatro for the first time, but gives it a Wordle/Scrabble-esque remix with a narrative about migrating birds. On paper, it probably shouldn't work but John August and Corey Martin have created a game that is quite frankly unputdownable. A glorious puzzler with roguelike mechanics, Birdigo's talons will hook you in and not let go.

Ghost of Tsushima is Sucker Punch’s masterpiece. With the depth of its combat, its incredible open-world design and its rich historical authenticity and cultural legacy, it’s a heady contender for the most incredible release of this console generation. It’s definitely the best samurai game ever made.

The land of Bohemia beckons you into one of the most immersive, visually impressive and brutal worlds you could ask for. A masterful RPG that combines impactful decision-making, gratifying combat, meaningful progression and a host of gameplay variety, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a triumph that deserves not just your money, but your time and your appreciation.

SUPERHOT: Mind Control Delete is an exquisite game, that ticks all the boxes of what a sequel should be. I loved my time with this game with some playthroughs taking me into the wee small hours of the morning. (If you know me and how much I need sleep, this is quite the accomplishment) What this game does beautifully is condense all the flare and pageantry of a full-on FPS into a few minutes of intense bullet-time action which will leave you smiling from ear to ear.

Gunbrella is a cinematically fulfilling 2D action platformer whilst showcasing one of the best game mechanics of the year with its titular weapon. The shorter run time and less is more approach to the gameplay may not be for everyone, but the streamlined and frenetic run and gunning met with an intoxicating world is an astounding quality in any game.

It’s not easy, but then, nothing fun usually is right off the bat. Give it time, get used to the mechanics, and Neon Abyss will take place as that frustratingly fun game in your library.

Whilst it initially looks like carnage, Police Stories offers a level of tactic and forethought to the top-down shooter genre. Get past that initial steepness and there’s a wealth of fun to be had in the methodical approach.

Helldivers 2 is the conquering bald eagle of freedom fans of the original have been waiting for. Despite the familiar surroundings and setup, the switch to third-person is an inspired choice. You’ll bask in the cinematic moments of your last stands and celebrate the arrival of liberty via an orbital nuke with reckless abandon. Salute your fellow Helldivers and take on the galaxy, how do you like the taste of freedom, a second time?!

Golf on Mars is a natural evolution of the Desert Golfing formula introducing new mechanics and a more interesting landscape. There’s no adverts, no microtransactions and no distractions – just you, the never ending landscape of Mars, a simple but engrossing concept and a game play loop that won’t get boring for many, many hours. For some, the reduced challenge in this game will take a little away from the experience and some old frustrations have been replaced by new one’s but if you’re looking for something to kill time, there’s only a few games that can do it as expertly as Golf on Mars. Only 25,769,997,800‬ holes left to go…

Don Duality is a wonderful tycoon game with duality gameplay in seizing the city and laundering money through a successful restaurant. A surprisingly addictive gameplay loop which has players fighting to stay alive another day and needing more strategy than meets the eye. For fans of the tycoon this is a good entry that sits comfortably between the big hitters and the idle clickers.

A succinct and well-told story, Jack Move’s character-writing and dialogue are endearing, and its pixel art charms. It’s a short and satisfying bitesize JRPG of around 8 hours for players with a bit less time on their hands or perfect in between 100-hour behemoths.

The reason Let’s Sing 2021 works as well as it does is because it feels more like a game than many of the titles it shares DNA with. Whereas most previous karaoke games were of the common “sing a single song and we’ll give you a score” variety, this feels the template on which all future games should be based upon. A more extensive core tracklist would be nice, and I hope future iterations might do a bit more to cater for the quieter singer, but this feels like an excellent pushing-off point for the franchise and the genre as a whole. [Tested on XSX]

A few annoying glitches can’t spoil the ground-breaking, emotional journey of Before Your Eyes. An imaginative control method is used in ingenious ways to tell an occasionally uplifting but ultimately heart wrenching story. It’s only a few hours long but that’s more than enough time for this game to get under your skin and leave its mark.

A more obscure collection than the original, Capcom Fighting Collection 2 nevertheless features some absolute classics from yesteryear , along with first time re-releases that will appeal to the most hardcore of classic Capcom fans. And look, it features Power Stone 2, so that's more than worth the price of entry.

Beyond Blue isn’t groundbreaking in terms of structure or mechanics and for a lot of the game, it feels like you’re simply following waypoints. Thankfully the environments you explore, the deep sea life you encounter and the trials you see them go through make for an engrossing mix. Beyond Blue is a beautiful game that educates as much as it entertains and carries an important message that, in 2020, couldn’t come at a better time.