One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows falls terribly short in almost every aspect. While the premise works well in the world of Anime, it does not translate well to the format of Gaming. A combination of lackluster gameplay, woeful voice-acting and a story as bland as they come, even die-hard fans of the series would be doing themselves a favour in avoiding this one at all costs.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Coteries of New York is a hell of a mouthful, but one that you should at least take a nibble at. The streamlined gameplay and engrossing story make it an approachable title that artfully embraces The World of Darkness. While its relative lack of role-playing depth, linearity, and brevity may be off putting to some, when taken for what it is there is a lot to enjoy here.

Snack World: The Dungeon Crawl Gold falls short in most areas with it's dull, monotonous gameplay. Repetitive missions and gameplay lead to this one wearing out it's welcome after a few short hours, despite having lots of content.

Patapon 2 Remastered doesn't introduce anything new to the game, but is still fun to play for fans of the genre. Input lag can unfortunately rear it's ugly head, which can make an already difficult game, nigh impossible on harder difficulties. It's tough to recommend this one for any but the most devout of fans as there are a wealth of better rhythm based games out there right now.

I wanted to love Journey to the Savage Planet, but ultimately it falls short. While the world and its inhabitants are well-designed, the lack of any real payoff in both story and gameplay leads to an altogether forgettable journey. While some of the game's jokes hit the mark, there's just not that many reasons to grab your spacesuit and gun for this adventure.

There must be a reason we keep buying the same story over and over again, right? While the game certainly has its technical flaws, there's no denying that fans of the franchise will find a lot of love and attention paid to the classic series. It may not add anything truly new to the DBZ saga, but Kakarot is an interesting diversion sure to spawn several sequels or spin-offs.

Pokemon Sword & Shield doesn't take enough risks or attempt anything really new and important. The overwhelming amount of re-used assets and shortcuts leads to one of the biggest missed opportunities on the Switch to date. Newcomers will find a lot to love here, with no previous games to measure it against, but longtime series fans will likely be left wanting in almost every area.

Pokemon Sword & Shield doesn't take enough risks or attempt anything really new and important. The overwhelming amount of re-used assets and shortcuts leads to one of the biggest missed opportunities on the Switch to date. Newcomers will find a lot to love here, with no previous games to measure it against, but longtime series fans will likely be left wanting in almost every area.

Pokemon Sword & Shield doesn't take enough risks or attempt anything really new and important. The overwhelming amount of re-used assets and shortcuts leads to one of the biggest missed opportunities on the Switch to date. Newcomers will find a lot to love here, with no previous games to measure it against, but longtime series fans will likely be left wanting in almost every area.

Need for Speed: Heat can be a ton of fun but is held back by incredibly questionable AI. The vehicle customisation and tuning is incredible and the games has plenty of content to keep you racing for weeks. The story feels a little silly but the racing itself is a joy to play. This is the course-correction the series so desperately needed, and I can't wait to see Ghost Games build on this solid foundation for their next entry.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 has some good ideas, but is held back by conflicting graphical styles and some dull events. The game is made for multi-player and those with enough controllers will find some fun to be had. It's a shame there wasn't just a few more great 3D mini-games or team events to mix up the more boring events.

Grid is a great looking game and features some excellent driving and physics. It's let down by a questionable damage system and boring design. From the games dull menus to no-frills racing, there's just not enough here to separate it from the pack.

Ghost Recon Breakpoint doesn't do anything new but still provides a lot of fun, if you're willing to slow down and play tactically. The game falls short in many areas and doesn't quite keep up with it's competition but shooter and stealth fans will have a blast. Performance issues do hinder the experience and some questionable design choices left me baffled. If you're a huge third-person shooter fan and love open-world games, you wont regret giving it a shot, provided you check your expectations at the door.

Jet Kave Adventure looks good but feels uninspired and altogether too easy for the type of game it is. Considering the strong competition on the Switch, it's hard to recommend this one to any but the most die-hard platformer fans or the younger gamers out there looking to dip their toes in the genre.

The Sinking City features a genuinely interesting story and setting but is let down by performance issues and very poor combat controls. Traversing the city is often a chore and will have you hitting more dead-ends than a night of speed-dating. The Switch port is the worst way to experience the game and I can only recommend it to the most die-hard Lovecraft fans.

Ultimately Greedfall is an OK game. It is neither good nor bad. It is however the best game Spiders have made to date, and that gives me hope that they do have a great game in them. I just hope they stop trying to emulate and instead try to innovate.

Despite being developed by one of the best action game studios in the business, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order falls short of its predecessors. Gameplay more often than not turns to button mashing monotony and is only briefly satisfying when playing with a new character.

When played with a group of friends The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan is an undeniably fun experience. However, the main story and core game feel rather skeletal when not being filled out by the real-world flesh and blood of your nearest and dearest. Bugs and performance issues constantly nag, but the real disappointment is that as a horror story Man of Medan is not even close to being as smart or fun as its predecessor. I hope the next entry in The Dark Pictures anthology can recapture the gore and glory from Until Dawn.

Despite some interesting puzzles, Keepers of the Void is a repetitive, shallow, and excruciatingly dull. The issues I was able to look past in the core game smacked me much harder this time around, and unlike the attacks in-game, I could see every one of these hits coming.

Tiny Metal: Full Metal Rumble attempts to fill the void left by Advance Wars, but struggles meet expectations. Several issues with the games UI lead to more frustration than fun.

Katana Zero looks fantastic and has fun fast paced combat, unfortunately the combat is broken up with a confusing and convoluted story. It was all over too quickly, but for people who want more, a dialogue system provides replayability.

Red Faction: Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered is a bunch of fun for first -timers, but those who have taken the trip before wont find many reasons to make a return. The Switch struggles to keep up with the most intense destruction and ends up feeling more like a port of the original game.

Jupiter & Mars may just induce the most motion sickness we've yet to encounter in a VR title to date. Boring gameplay mechanics lead to an altogether forgettable and dull experience. Younger players may enjoy what the game has to offer, but when there are so many other amazing PSVR games out there right now, it's hard to recommend to any but the most die-hard dolphin or neon fanatics.

Warhammer Chaosbane is a rather pretty, but ultimately shallow Diablo wannabe. By adhering too closely to its inspiration is fails to bring anything new to the table, and end up looking like a poor imitation in somewhat shinier armour and fails to deliver anything with any impact. More whiffle bat than Warhammer.

Sniper Elite V2 Remastered lacks any of the polish typical with modern remasters and struggles under the weight of dated design and poor presentation. What could have been a fun little jaunt through Nazi territory devolves into an altogether lackluster experience. Only for the most die-hard sniper fans.

Observation is undeniably beautiful, but it is also vapid and shallow. An interesting premise is let down by simple puzzles and awkward controls. While the game does have some interesting ideas, the execution fails to stick the landing.

When The Occupation works, it’s a thrilling investigative adventure that allows the player freedom to explore and chase leads in a way that feels incredibly exciting. Frustrating controls can be overlooked, but unfortunately, the bugs in the game are incredibly persistent and capable of completely turning a promising experience into one that’s too annoying to go on.

World War Z is probably actually up there as film tie-in games go, and is capable of offering some nifty zombie action that can get your pulse racing. But once you've seen its tricks, it all gets a bit samey fast - faster because we've seen something very similar before - and it's hard to imagine it having much of a shelf life.

One Piece: World Seeker is lacking in so many areas. It may be lovely to look at, but an overall shallow and repetitive experience take away any semblance of joy fans are likely to find.

Blood Money and Absolution are great games but even with the enhancements they are showing their age, not only when compared to the most recent entries but also to each other.

Anthem is a game with unmet potential at every turn. The gameplay is fantastic and recreates the ’30 seconds of fun’ that has made its competitor Destiny such a success. But in its current state of bugs, server issues and poor design decisions, it is planted firmly in the ‘play it in six months’ category.

Q.U.B.E. 2 is a welcome addition to the puzzle genre but is not without its technical hiccups on the Switch. While it struggles occasionally under the hood, if you're willing to look past these shortcomings, there's a fun game with its fair share of brain-bending challenges for die-hard puzzle fiends.

Even though there’s heart and care put into the game’s style and use of myth, the same isn’t true for the rest of it. It runs fine and the combat is functional, but it won’t leave a huge impression. If you’re fond of Norse Mythology and don’t have much time to spare, Fimbul might be up your alley. A single playthrough is enjoyable enough, but filling up the story thread and replaying the same battles repeatedly isn’t worth the effort.

Far Cry: New Dawn offers fans of the series much of what they have come to like about it and does some good work as a direct sequel, but its reduced scope has led to some changes that are not for the better, and it definitely stands as a minor entry.

Jump Force could have been another great fighter but is held back by dreadful animation, a tiresome main hub, questionable mechanics and a lackluster story. Fans looking for the next great thing in Anime Fighters will likely be left unimpressed and wanting.

Astroneer provides a (mostly) tranquil environment to explore with your friends, or by yourself to unwind. The fact that the game doesn’t bury you in a collection loop and actually gives you breathing room to explore and tinker will be a downside for some, but for those with the patience, it’s a game you could easily spend hundreds of hours unraveling.

8-Bit Hordes is a pleasantly diverting and fast-paced “blast”-style throwback to the heyday of the RTS, with plenty of charm. It’s also easy to pick up and play. But its major lack of depth will turn off hardcore strategy fans, and several annoyances detract from what would otherwise be a polished product.

Below is a solid and well-designed game that will challenge every level of gamer. Steeped in mystery, fans of Roguelike dungeon exploring will feel right at home in this subterranean adventure.

Like an old friend come back to life. Ace Combat 7 feels like a neat and tidy resurrection, bringing back everything you missed from flight simulator games, while consequently reminding you why the industry lost interest in them.

Pikuniku is a hilarious game that’s oozing with charm. Its single player campaign is full of moments that make you feel like a kid again, and its co-op mode is surprisingly relaxing. Unfortunately its charm is let down by a clumsy control scheme that doesn’t always mesh with some of the mechanics, and this can create an experience that ultimately feels unrewarding.

Just Cause 4 feels uninspired and lacks anything new and exciting enough to keep players hooked. While the moment to moment gameplay is fun and refined, the lack of variety in both setting and structure makes the game fade into the background in a year packed with so many impressive titles.

Despite a growing industry-wide acceptance that open-world games developed for the screen do not adapt well to VR – Gearbox bowled on ahead with their, years too late, adaptation of Borderlands 2. A port with unsurprisingly fails to fix the inherent problems with this transition – with gammy controls and gameplay not well adjusted for the VR medium.

The multiplayer integration of Fallout 76 opposes the core tenets of the Fallout games at every turn – utterly undermining the core formula. What’s worse, it then fails to justify the multiplayer in any way. Buried beneath the bugs, network issues and multiplayer allowances, it is possible to see what could have been a wonderful single player experience in a fascinating time and location – but one that we will never experience.

New players might feel a bit intimidated and frustrated at times by the many unexplained mechanics, but if the time and dedication is put into it, Spintires: Mudrunner can become a dirty but somewhat fulfilling experience you can return to again and again.

Space Hulk: Tactics is probably the best video game adaption of the classic board game yet, with decent presentation and some welcome additions. But the faithfulness of its adaption only highlights the limited tactics offered by the board game's basic setup, and its lower budget makes for a lack of polish in some areas. Strategy buffs may be diverted for a bit, but won't fall in love.

Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle is a curious marriage of gore and puzzles which unfortunately doesn't quite it right. Fans of the franchise will get more enjoyment than others, but it's hard to recommend this puzzler to any but the most die-hard Vorhees fans.

While Starlink may be a bit expensive for some, there's a tremendously fun game hiding beneath the toys-to-life options. The core combat loop stays satisfying throughout the journey. It's a great first entry in a new IP and I'm excited to see what else Ubisoft does to expand on the universe and gameplay.

Sinner: Sacrifice for Redemption nails its combat but loses ground almost everywhere else. This Souls-like boss battler leans too heavily on its inspiration and has no sense of itself as a result.

While the full-fat FIFA 19 experience delivers in spades, the Switch version feels dated and is lacking in key gameplay improvements — even some from years ago. Unfortunately, it’s easily the worst way of experiencing FIFA 19 this year.

Daedalic Entertainment’s State of Mind wants players to explore the idea of what is it that makes us us, but never provides the player any real opportunity to do so. You simply follow the path and mark off another check mark. In the end all you’re really doing is little more than counting electric sheep.

Semblance is fun game that nails the fundamentals, but the limited scope and brevity don’t allow it the opportunity to really shine. Puzzle-platform fans will enjoy what is on offer here but will be left wanting for more.

Runner3 is a fun – if flawed – continuation of the Bit.Trip Runner series. While its stages are beautiful and the whimsical nature of it all is charming, the heavy difficulty spikes make you really work for any sense of enjoyment.

A pocket-sized noir adventure filled with genuine charm and challenge that doesn’t really feel all that comfortable on console.

In the end, Distant Stars is worthy it for the extra anomalies and the novelty of the L-Clusters alone, though it’s hardly a must have. Paradox’s ongoing support is commendable, but the studio has consistently failed to fix issues that have plagued the game for nearly three years now.

Sea of Thieves isn't a complete game. Much of what's present is enchanting, but repetition will claim most before the kraken does. Check it out on Xbox Games Pass for a month, or hold out and hope that it is filled out in time.

While it's certainly the definitive Attack on Titan game, A.O.T 2’s repetitive missions and lackluster online mode will quickly turn stale the freshness of the updated gameplay.

The Station tackles with some of life's biggest questions with finesse, and will have you pondering it all long after the credits roll.

Crossing Souls is heavy on nostalgia, but somewhat shallow when it comes to gameplay. The result is a lovingly crafted ode to an era that's neither bodacious nor bogus.

Hacker's Memory mostly builds upon its capable predecessor, but despite an interesting cast, some tedious content holds it back from true greatness.

Star Wars Battlefront II's campaign is merely okay, and its multiplayer is hamstrung by an awful upgrade system. There's also the spectre of loot boxes hanging over it like a Lightsaber of Damocles. However, it looks and sounds amazing, and gameplay-wise delivers the goods.

Hob is a beguiling action adventure that's hamstrung by its platforming and a sub-par second half.

The Frozen Wilds introduces many poorly-designed elements which make it a lesser experience than its brilliant base-game.

Call of Duty: WWII is a step back into the grounded realism the series has been sorely missing for years. While its single-player campaign isn’t anything to write home about, the new additions seen in multiplayer and the return of Nazi Zombies make for a package well worth playing.

Gran Turismo Sport looks great, but a lack of content, some dodgy AI, and an always-online requirement see it limp into the pits. Still, how 'bout them interiors?

Hand of Fate 2 improves on its solid predecessor, but it's a couple of cards from a royal flush.

WWE 2K18 is in desperate need of an overhaul. It's an entertaining game in WWE Universe mode, but most else is beyond retirement age, and many complaints fans have had for years have not been addressed.

The Fractured But Whole is more of the same. It's occasionally hilarious, but often misses. Not even an updated combat system and interesting new skills can disguise that fact that it is just The Stick of Truth in a different and less-interesting costume.

Forza is still the jack-of-all-trades motorsport video game that will appeal to fans of cars and racing them. The passion is still there, albeit slowly being crushed under the ever-growing mountain of poor design choices and cash-grabs. For returning fans there are precious few reasons to upgrade other than the extra cars and tracks. As someone who’s been playing these games since the original, the direction that has been taken is disappointing to say the least.

Ruiner's cyberpunk carnage and soundtrack evoke Hotline Miami, even if the gameplay doesn't quite measure up. It's a spectacle, but it's over too soon.

Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite doesn't electrify the way its predecessor does, but it's nonetheless a competent and chaotic, newcomer-friendly yet deep competitive fighter with a huge amount of fight style flexibility.

That a crossover as bonkers as Mario plus Rabbids by way of XCOM even exists is to be celebrated, and fortunately it's an absorbing title that's only slightly diminished by some simplistic cover mechanics.

Life Is Strange: Before The Storm gets off to a moderately good start. Its characters are interesting, but the plot is entirely unclear right now, and is moving in a direction I'm not all that invested in.

Matterfall contains some welcome formula tweaks and the usual level of Housemarque polish, but it's much less inspired than the Finnish studio's better shooters.

Final Fantasy XII – The Zodiac Age is far from the perfect game, but it is one of the few in the series I bothered to complete. From its lofty melodrama and rewarding combat and character systems to its missed story beats and sloggy late-game, it's an adventure I will not soon forget. More importantly, it’s one I do not want to forget, which is more than I can say for almost every entry in the series released since this game first saw light 11 years ago.

Strafe isn't bad, but there are many better ways to satiate your nostalgia for '90s FPS titles.

Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles offers an amazing world to play in, but an underdeveloped story and menial side-quests offer little to keep players interested.

Morrowind is a capable add-on to an MMO that's a leader in story and questing, and is only improving with age.

Naughty Dog has been done proud. These games demonstrate how innovative the developer was even decades ago with its unique approach to camera-work, level design and overall tone. It is Vicarious Visions that's at fault for this collection's pitfall. Its decision to leave gameplay largely untouched is questionable, but the overall lack of polish on the package itself is inexcusable.

Get Even is a strange game. It's almost schizophrenic in its execution, but The Farm 51 should be applauded for trying something different. It represents what I love about independent game development: it maybe a little rough around the edges, but it takes risks and provides a truly unique experience. For that I applaud it, even if I cannot unreservedly recommend it.

With so much content from the rest of the series present here, Tekken 7 is a celebration of the franchise up to this point. The amped-up combat mechanics and the poignant conclusion to the Mishima story are all steps forward, but they are countered by a number of steps back. The lack of a tutorial, forgettable soundtrack, and absence of some staple gameplay modes may alienate newcomers and leave veteran players wanting.

Rime is a pleasant title that's extremely easy on the eyes, and perhaps a little too easy on the brain.

The Surge is occasionally electrifying, but combat issues and cheap enemies dampen enjoyment levels.

Outlast 2 is more of an ordeal than the first, in terms of content but also gameplay. The story provides some momentum, but trial and error sequences will see many succumb to frustration (and many large pick axes).

Judged purely on its own merits, Mass Effect: Andromeda is a good game. But this is BioWare, and Mass Effect being merely good feels like a failure. It's a little clumsy in places, and daft in others, but I found it mostly endearing despite these quirks.

Ghost Recon Wildlands is a fun romp in a huge world that allows you tackle each encounter in as tactical or non-tactical manner as you please. Your fellow players are what bring this game to life, so best not look at this as a single-player experience.

A mechanically strong stealth title with some of the most eye-rollingly awful dialogue I have ever been subjected to. Styx as a character is obnoxious, unlikable, and immersion breaking, but he does wield some of the most impressive and well-designed infiltration abilities in the genre. I just wish he would shut the hell up.

While Malicious Fallen has the potential to be a fun hack-and-slasher, it is diminished by slippery movement controls, enemy AI that can overwhelm you and break the flow of the game, and an underwhelming soundtrack.

Halo Wars 2 both illustrates the problems traditional RTS titles have on console, and demonstrates how to overcome them with its excellent Blitz mode.

The campaign's story falls to earth with a thud, and technical problems are currently marring its online component, but For Honor's masterful presentation and combat rescue it from mediocrity. Given a few patches, it'll be a force to be reckoned with.

Space Hulk: Deathwing is a below par title with some excellent art design and satisfying enough combat. Enemy variety is higher than expected, and the unlockable weapons all feel appropriate, but overall it can only really be recommended to 40K diehards.

FFXV's ambition is laudable, but it's flaws are too big to fully cast aside. The result is an interesting and spectacular-looking title likely hampered by a protracted and unfocussed development.

Steep crams the Alps full of activities, but its systems are either poorly explained or poorly implemented, or both.

Tyranny comes to a screeching, premature halt, but prior to that it spins an absorbing tale with which player actions have long-reaching consequences.

World of Final Fantasy could be an ongoing offshoot of the FF franchise, and has all the baggage to prove it.

While The Ezio Collection shows its age in some areas, the trilogy allows a welcome return to one of the franchise's best characters and storylines.

You can't accuse Infinite Warfare of being light on content, but most of what's here has been seen many times before, and none of the modes represent franchise high points. Also, the multiplayer microtransactions are off-putting.

Mafia 3 is a great step forward for storytelling in games that is dragged down by its consistently unpolished and poorly executed mechanics.

Here's hoping the better two games get standalone releases for cheap, because they're good (but not NZ$69.99 good).