It manages to improve upon the previous game, and thankfully fixes some of it's problems. Since you can import your save from the last game, you should probably check that out first - it will help give you a deeper understanding of the story too.

A fun albeit short puzzle game betrayed by a confusing UI and some naive design choices, this isn’t the Heath Robinson contraption game we were hoping it would be but it’s nonetheless a good time.

Delivers what a sequel should be, with more of... everything... on top of the solid foundations they had with the predecessor. Fans of shoot-em-ups that aren’t straight up bullet hell titles should be looking into the Sky Force franchise.

A disappointing romp through an underwhelming narrative from an unpleasant game. Overall, just a poor time. Has the potential to be decent, but is ultimately bogged down by the plethora of issues the base game forces upon it.

Full motion video has certainly come a long way, and with a crazy script like Press X to Not Die, it’s simply great. Short but sweet is a phrase created to describe this game.

Only a few new things from the most recent Artifex Mundi release. Same old quick and easy completion with its fair share of puzzles to solve and hidden objects to find. Still art looks great while animations, voice acting, and narrative are a bit lacking. Arguably one of the better titles released by the studio.

In the full spectrum of things, Tokyo Xanadu eX+ is a title that offers just enough to be considered entertaining, but not so much that it tries to excel in its genre.

Tennis in the Face is not going to amaze or disappoint players, it’s a serviceable physics-based puzzle game designed to provide a short, but challenging experience.

As a combination of both political strategy and Lovecraftian drama, The Shrouded Isle takes this idea and provides a comfortably tense experience whereby every choice should matter but with enough leeway that inexperienced players can still make mistakes. Fans of classic horror literature may be drawn to this game through its distortedly gothic art style and otherworldly premise, but the large difficulty curve may be too complicated for them, even if the repetitive gameplay structure can feel rewarding once you get the hang of it.

Scrap Galaxy is a robust title that is a fantastic addition to anyone's collection of local co-op games. With engaging gameplay and modes it is sure to keep you and your friends entertained for hours making it definitely worth picking up.

Ambitious, but unfortunately falls under the weight of those ambitions. Trying to juggle too many things, there’s a decent game here, it’s just hidden under awkward controls, a restrictive camera and the need to vomit. Also the names kind of dumb.

Gorogoa is a tremendously designed puzzle experience that rewards creative, out-of-the-box thinking. Though there were a few, rare moments where frustration blemished the ride, the game is so authentically unique, beautifully illustrated and wonderfully scored, that it’s impossible to not be enamoured by its potent, singular vision.

Road Redemption is a fantastic game to play when it works, when it does not it becomes the most frustrating game I have played in a while. The systems in place will at times not give the player a chance to recover or in some extreme cases races are lost before they even begin. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Road Redemption but I cannot forgive some of its technical flaws and because of that I cannot see myself returning to play this title unless these problems are solved.

Curse Of Osiris Is very fun on the first playthrough, however playing through the story on a second or third character can be very tiresome and not very fun. The raid is the biggest addition to this DLC and is the best part, if you haven't already bought the season pass and are on the fence just think, did I enjoy Crota's End? If the answer is yes then I highly recommend this DLC. If you played Destiny 2 for its story, then this DLC will disappoint you and I can't recommend it to you.

I would give this higher, but I know later down the line and looking back this is by no means a 9 or even 10 in terms of the game’s scope. But if the writing kept its pacing from start to finish, it would’ve matched the astonishing soundtrack, blistering court cases, impeccable murders, and superb characters. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to find myself a tissue for the tears I shed to those lost in this Killing Game.

Star Ocean: The Last Hope looks and performs great on PlayStation 4. With an incredible story, great graphical options, stunning visuals, this is a game for new and old fans alike.

If you are looking for a bullet-hell game that has roguelike elements to sink a great number of hours into, look no further than People Eater!

A competent puzzle game that struggles to live up to its inspirations, but worth playing for fans of the genre nonetheless.

Xenoraid is a solid and enjoyable scrolling shooter that feels tight and responsive to play with plenty of roguelike options and content throughout. If you are looking for your next Nintendo Switch purchase, this may be it.

What are you waiting for? Go forth and take on the Dealer’s challenge! Yes, you will need to manage your Resources, choose your Equipment carefully, plan for Encounters, and fight your way through many foes, but proving yourself is more than enough of a reward, is it not? The Game is waiting, take your seat and experience it for yourself.

Despite some unsatisfying gameplay systems, Darkwood can provide legitimate thrills and scares for the horror fans that miss the vibes of such classics as Silent Hill 2 and Pathologic without ever using a jump scare. Whether it is the uniquely grotesque art style or the ever-challenging design of its difficulty, Acid Wizard Studio has proven it understands what ingredients make up a good horror experience and the randomised elements of the game allow a unique narrative every time you play.

Ultimately, The Low Road can be summed up with the phrase "what could have been.” The wonderful art style and soundtrack, great writing, memorable characters, and occasional moments of engaging espionage-themed gameplay all demonstrate what a unique, fun title it could have ended up being. Unfortunately, this promise is drowned out by bland, repetitive adventure game puzzles and it all ends way too soon for a game worth roughly £15. Pick it up when it’s on sale.

I can count on one hand the number of times where Tokyo Dark fully takes advantage of its powerful storytelling abilities, and you’re left looking for more of them.

Where it takes mechanics from others in the industry, it improves upon them; where it introduces new ones, you slap your forehead in amazement that it hasn’t been done before. Breath of the Wild is development done right, and damn near the best game you’ll play all year.

While WWE 2K18 does hit enough right notes for a recommendation, it still leaves something to be desired. As much as I like the style of these newer games, I miss being able to be as nonsensical as the older ones would allow. All in all, it's a toss-up for me.

One of the most creative and well executed titles ever released, dragged down by a disappointing remaster.

If you want play the time trials and can stomach, or at least ignore, the half-hearted attempt at a story then you might derive some enjoyment from Time Recoil. Still, things like the randomized ammo drops, muddy visuals, and poorly designed puzzles are needlessly frustrating, and your time and money would be better spent elsewhere.

Whether you’re a cat lover or not, Cat Quest creates an ideal blend of charming graphics and traditional hack-and-slash gameplay. Despite holding back on a few things, the satisfying combat and convenient loot system show that The Gentlebros have a tremendous understanding of RPG mechanics and – to let the cat out of the bag – it could pawsibly be my favourite game of the year.

It may not be outstanding to look at, or indeed listen to, but Crimsonland is a pure, easy-to-pick-up gameplay experience that comes dangerously close to becoming pretty addictive stuff.

Super Mario Odyssey is a phenomenal return for Nintendo’s mustachioed mascot, and (whisper it) the worthy successor to Super Mario 64 that fans have been longing for.

Deadbeat Heroes is a solid brawler with good humour and a well-directed art style. While the execution of some of the combat elements interrupt the flow of said combat it is still a fun game to play. With a small degree of tweaking to the combat mechanics, this title could go from being an average brawler to an amazing one. The developers are supporting the game and recently released a patch in direct response to player feedback, so my fingers are crossed that they will continue to support the game and make Deadbeat Heroes a title worth remembering.

If you can look past the missed opportunity that is the lack of motion controls, and the fairly simplistic gameplay, you’ll probably find a title that is entertaining in short bursts. Don’t expect it to light your world on fire, though.

Although it’s easy to blaze through, Metropolis is a pretty enjoyable match-3. It has an enjoyable story, and you can replay it for the alternate endings, or just to listen to the soundtrack.

Battlestar Galactica Deadlock finally gives us a solid game based on the popular franchise. It doesn’t attempt anything new but some polish issues aside it’s a solid strategy game that does a good job of translating the feel of the show.

While Oh My Godheads may be fun with friends at a party, it just loses all of its value when it comes to playing against the AI. With the lack of any online multiplayer or real single player, this game loses all of its replay value in a matter of hours.

While Max: The Curse Of Brotherhood does have a good story, it has too many downfalls to forgive. The platforming just isn't up to par, and the checkpoints will have you throwing your controller at a wall in no time.

Spellspire is a game that knows what it is, and doesn’t aim for the stars. It’s a more than enjoyable experience worth the price tag. Those looking for a fun little game to play during downtime, or even something to distract the kids, can’t go far wrong here.

A very fun game with lots and lots of things to do, sadly let down by some bugs and poor audio quality. 70s songs and a 90s story don’t quite save this.

Despite some missteps with its gameplay, Indygo is a deeply immersive, realistic, and nuanced depiction of depression.

With a distinct sense of humour and a few secrets hidden beneath its cutesy demeanor, Wuppo will surprise any player that hasn’t seen it in action before. This sense of surprise is consistent throughout and is only made that much better when bosses are introduced. Interesting areas with bizarre characters and tons of items to play with, Wuppo will keep you busy for a remarkable amount of time.

Sporting everything from a new and improved Fibbage to brand new games with new ways to play, it is actually rather impressive that each of these Party Packs continue to feature such fun games. Barring a few technical issues, I only saw minor issues in any of the games and would gladly recommend them all to friends looking for a way to entertain guests.

This title doesn’t add anything to the previous titles and doesn’t offer up a great story. Although, it does have the usual chilled out gameplay and can keep casual gamers happy for a few hours.

Vostok Inc. is enjoyable more for its concept than execution, as it was quite clever to fuse a twin-stick shooter with an idling game. For those who have already beaten their fair share of clicker games, there isn’t enough reason to play this one until the endgame.

Whether you are a serious fan of bullet hell games or new to the genre, Raiden V: Director’s Cut is a great place to start. It offers easy to play, but hard to master gameplay and some great moments throughout and lives up to the series name!

The bloated and often confusing narrative might be a bit too much for those that aren’t already fans of the Fate series, but for those willing to brave the ridiculous amount of dialogue a satisfactory Musou game awaits them underneath.

Wolfenstein II does a brilliant job of mixing social commentary with unnecessary violence and a tongue-in-cheek attitude. There’s a few optimisation issues and the level design could be a touch better, but this is an overall outstanding game that deserves a look.

Flix and Chill 2: Millennials attempts to give an insight into millennial culture and issues that affect the younger generation. Instead the game either misses its own point or is just comical in its delivery. There is very little game here. It is possible to finish in under two hours and with the lack of any mechanics, other than dialogue choices that may or may not even yield a different result, Flix and Chill 2: Millennials feels very lackluster.

ELEX is a broken, messy game that might have some interesting ideas deep down but they won't save it. Honestly you are better of avoiding or waiting for the developers to maybe save this title.

With an addictive, fully-featured multiplayer suite, one of the finest campaigns the franchise has seen in years, and a fresh, revitalised Zombies mode, Call of Duty: WWII is an absolute blast that boldly goes where no modern Call of Duty has gone before: back to its World War roots. And it’s about bloody time.

Cook, Serve, Delicious 2!! feels like a step backwards when compared to the first game. A lot of features are missing and those that have been added aren't enough to make up for them. Save your money and buy Cook, Serve, Delicious!

There is too much wrong with Sonic Forces to recommend it to everyone, but if you’re hankering for 3D Sonic, and you’ve finished every other Sonic game, then check it out on sale.

I would have loved to have given this game a higher score, but I found a lot of issues with it from bugs to the things with the map and other small bits, although I did enjoy playing it because I am a huge Assassin’s Creed fan. It’s really big and fun, but the issues I listed and the changes they made aren’t all great ones.

A Hat in Time doesn’t reinvent the 3D platforming wheel, but it walks it with such confidence and panache that it would be criminal to overlook this game.

Yes, having poo for a weapon is mildly amusing, but when there’s not that much substance to the game, the joke wears thin quicker than it ought to. It’ll be fun at a party after a few beers for an hour or two, but this isn’t a contender for the next big esport.

The PC version of Destiny 2 replicates the amazing gunplay the first game is known for. The visuals are gorgeous and the environments are so expansive that there is hours worth of exploring to be done. There is a huge amount of content to keep players entertained and almost all of it can be replayed with worthwhile rewards to be gained. This title lives up to its predecessor and has surpassed it in almost every way. For those looking for a casual shooter with a great story or for those who want to challenge themselves in raids and competitive PVP, this title caters to a wide audience making it a great experience all-round.

Featuring a stunning low-poly art style, a wonderfully well-integrated soundtrack, an ingeniously simple control scheme, an interesting transformation mechanic, and impressively designed temples, AER has a lot going for it. It’s unfortunate that the experience is as short as it is and there is no way to keep track of what’s been seen. A few more environmental puzzles and a simple journal would fix my only complaints about this exploration-heavy title.

Megaton Rainfall is an interesting title, it hands the player overpowered abilities and a huge sandbox to play in but forces the player to restrain themselves by making collateral damage the key to success or failure. I had hours of fun exploring the universe, checking out landmarks and discovering secrets out in the galaxy between fighting off waves of alien enemies. Unfortunately I have to mark Megaton Rainfall down for its mission-breaking bugs, however this title is a refreshing experience and a fun one at that. I recommend just taking some time to sit quietly and absorb the experience that is Megaton Rainfall.

Warriors All Stars does a fair job of being more than just a tie-in, and brings some genuine innovation to the table. If you ignore the trope-filled storyline and strange setting, it functions as a great stop-gap before the larger release of Dynasty Warriors 9 or as a meaty hack ‘n’ slash to get into in short bursts.

A high score with the caveat that it’s a VN that kept me thoroughly entertained through its thick and thin, highs and lows, as well as the assumption that this is the culmination of series as whole.

A very funny game that will also give you feels. It will take you about nine hours to complete, and you’ll have a blast doing so.

Neon Chrome is a brilliant title that has plenty of content packed into it with well-designed gameplay mechanics at work to give players a solid title. Though playing in docked mode has a number of minor issues that can be overlooked, the game is a blast to play in handheld mode. If you are looking for an engaging and challenging title you and pick up and play on the go then look no further than Neon Chrome.

South Park:The Fractured But Whole is a fun experience for newcomers and fans of the TV series. While the combat can get repetitive, the story is told in true South Park fashion. If you enjoy South Park’s humour, you should get this game, if you don't really like South Park, then you should wait until this game is on sale, and then still get it.

A fun, interesting dungeon builder that lacks confidence in its own identity. Clever mission design with an interesting overworld/dungeon dynamic is overshadowed by an over reliance on pop-culture parody.

Middle-earth Shadow of War adds a lot to the already great formula, with the addition of sieges and the great additions to the nemesis system this is a game of the year contender for sure.

JYDGE is a well polished title that will keep you coming back for more and more, whether it's the soundtrack or the multiple ways to approach a situation this is a game that demands you give it the justice it deserves. With non stop action and seemingly never ending progression JYDGE stands out from its fellow twin stick shooters making it a must have for fans of the genre.

If you want a top-down game that lets you shoot people and steal cars, you might get more out of this. However, the storyline isn’t very strong, and it’s quite repetitive. Riskers could have been more, but sadly it isn’t.

Beyond the impressive visuals and large collection of different Gundam units featured in the game there is not much else going for this title. Gundam Versus is an interesting title that will tick all the boxes for any fan of the series but sadly does not feel like a complete package that is lacking in reliability and content.

Ruiner is a competent top down sci-fi shooter that boasts an emphasis on difficultly, but a lacking in story. The gameplay sells it, for sure, just don't be shocked when the plot doesn't draw you in.

Sporting more interesting mechanics than you can shake an oversized sword at, Battle Chasers has a little bit of everything from classic turn-based JRPGs for everyone. Even though it loses the wow factor on subsequent runs, the dungeon delving has a lot to offer and can hide some rather sneaky secrets. Not a bad title by any means, only a little repetitive, despite its efforts to be otherwise.

The Superfluous has a number of interesting ideas and gameplay mechanics, thought none of them feel polished or refined enough to make the title stand out. The few systems in place that are engaging are sadly not so for very long, and as a whole, The Superfluous is a title that can easily be overlooked.

Tense, terrifying, and a significant improvement on its predecessor, The Evil Within 2 capitalises on the potential the franchise clearly shows.

While Chaos;Child doesn't do much to innovate the genre at all, I can't deny that the story, sound and art are incredible. Although, the Delusion trigger system feels pointless and changes next to nothing. This doesn't damage the story or any other aspect of the game, but is disappointing. Any fans of the series or graphic novels will thoroughly enjoy this game.

No Stick Shooter is a solid retro throwback with a knack for replicating the classic arcade style and bringing it to the modern spotlight. A techno soundtrack beats along with lights and lasers as you progress through each stage, earning points and defending your turret at all costs.

FIFA 18 is certainly an upgrade on FIFA 17 and undoubtedly the franchise is going in the right direction, but with the same flaws still remaining it is hard to solely focus on the positives. The game needs balancing out as far too much of the game is focused on attacking, rather than the grittier and more tactical side of football. FIFA 18 is superb to look at with the slick menus, pre-match changes, vast licences, wonderfully represented stadiums, and player images, but changes to its gameplay are a necessity for me. Having played PES 2018 and FIFA 18 this year, I can comfortably say PES takes the award for being the best football game, but FIFA still has the greater depth to it, and is the more sociable game of the two.

I went into Beans expecting a frantic coffee shop game, and instead found a peaceful store simulation. Still, the game is just fine as a slower-paced goofy title. From start to finish, Beans shows everything that goes into running your favorite local coffee shop, and that nothing beats a freshly brewed caffeinated beverage.

An entertaining and nicely constructed love letter to the Metroidvania games of old. If you’re the kind of person that got excited for the SNES mini then this is one to watch.

Not a lot has changed here, so if you didn’t like the first game, you’ll probably not feel any more warmth to this one. If you did like the original Knack though, then this is more of the same and chances are you’ll enjoy it. Without the pressure of being a launch title, we can see the game for what it really is: a fun platform title that does plenty of things well, if very little that’s particularly ground-breaking.

Don’t bother unless you enjoy playing the same mission over and over again with no guarantee of any sort of pay off. The (very) few good things this game has going for it are completely dwarfed by the poorly implemented or flat out reprehensible systems that the entire experience hinges on.

A must-have for any platforming fan. Nearly everything is perfect in this game. If the soundtrack was a bit more memorable and the game didn’t stutter when a new song played, I’d give the game a 10 without question. But unfortunately, I can’t look past all the deaths this glitch caused me or how bored I was by the new list of songs.

Blue Reflection is one of the few times where I would say that it would work better as an anime rather than a game. It has a lot of good ideas and systems at work but sadly none of them are fully developed and poor performance ruins the experience.

If you’ve never played a previous Ys game, like me, this is a great game to experience despite the long history and number in its title. Lasting just over 40 hours for me, this is a relatively easy recommendation for even none JRPG fans who prefer more mechanically driven games.

In summary, SteamWorld Dig 2 is a stellar addition to the Switch, and it’s a great throwback to the classic 2D platformers and side-scrollers of yesteryear. There’s more to the game than just the main story mode, and going off the beaten track to discover side quests, relics and other secrets is very rewarding. From the unique plot to the charming visuals, SteamWorld Dig 2 excels from the off. I especially loved the Western style music, which suits the theme of the game really well. Indie titles have been flooding onto the Switch since its release, and the highly-impressive nature of them has me excited to see what comes out next.

Good fun crashing simulator that will keep you coming back to improve your score, but not because of the depth of what's available. Here's hoping this is a prerequisite to a fully fledged game from the Three Fields team.

Grab The Bottle has style and that unfortunately is all it has to offer. The puzzles boil down to retry after retry, until finally succeeding and being rewarded with another level of repetitiveness. The mechanics do not vary enough to be engaging and the story is not present enough to keep the attention of the player.

On a whole, RAID: World War II feels exactly like what you’d expect from a Payday clone. It takes less of a political approach than other games featuring Nazis such as Wolfenstein or the upcoming Call of Duty: WW2, and instead moves away from the war is hell narrative to opt for a more hyper-violent, stylised approach to the subject matter. While the choice of game engine severely lets itself down, there is still much to appreciate if you enjoy other co-operative shooters of its type.

I still highly recommend this game to fans of similar titles such as Twisted Metal, Destruction Derby or even Rocket League. If Auto Age: Standoff can find a regular player base and continue to update and provide content then this is a game to keep an eye on.

Although I speak very highly of Cuphead, I do think the game can be a little too unforgiving in enemy attack patterns and their ability to hit from offscreen without much warning. Regardless, the game’s tight controls, fun boss fights, and pleasing aesthetic make it a must have.

This title is probably better on the PC where I imagine it runs smoother. How it is now, it makes for a decent puzzle title with an interesting concept that is shackled by an issue that ruins the experience by making easy moves difficult and difficult moves impossible.

Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire continues the story with an imaginative and fun campaign filled with great character moments and a reverence for the world of Tyria that is infectious. The addition of mounts that feel more than a speed boost is a welcome one but the lack of dungeon and raid content sticks out.

The LEGO Ninjago Movie Videogame stands out from other LEGO games, not for the huge game changes but for the little additions that are often unappreciated. I thoroughly enjoyed this title and I am looking forward to playing more.

There’s a good game in Morphite, but unfortunately it’s nothing special. Steam says that it’s had three developers, yet still I keep glitching through portions of the 15 pre-built worlds, and some of the procedurally generated ones. Everything looks nice, but that doesn’t elevate it far enough given the audio and fairly boring gameplay.

Bleed's entertainment value is through the roof. Despite some nitpicks here and there, they're all overshadowed by the fast-paced, balls to the walls action that Bleed has to offer.

A proficient sim-racer that brings a lot to the table - both in content and playability. Would have been great to see the base Xbox One version maybe lose a bit of the graphical sparkle in exchange for a 60 FPS lock, but that's more commentary of the power of the Xbox, rather than the game.

Code 7 really makes you feel like a hacker with truly immersive gameplay and grabs your attention from the get-go with an intriguing narrative.

This is the DLC for Mantis Burn that's nobody knew they needed. Now it's a staple mainstay for the game and shouldn't be played without.

Iron Crypticle is arcade shoot ‘em up done right with decent twin stick gameplay that changes up often enough to keep the player engaged for many runs. With the addition of powerful bosses, impressive power ups, diverse enemies, and an interesting main concept, this title is quite a hidden gem.