If you enjoyed The Outer Worlds and were one of those who thought it ended too soon, then The Outer Worlds 2 is for you. It may be bigger and different from the first game, but there is no doubt that this is still, thankfully, The Outer Worlds.

Jurassic World Evolution 3 is exactly what you'd expect: Frontier taking note of fan feedback (longer and deeper story mode, deeper management options, introduction of full customisation of buildings and terrains) and surprising us with baby dinosaurs, which is a very cute and well thought-out addition, even if it doesn't change much about the way we play the game. Naturally, it lacks the element of surprise and innovation, and some would argue that this is little more than an update on what was before, which is also what we said about Evolution 2.

Vendetta Forever is a puzzle game disguised as a shooter, and you'll get a kick out of spinning around yourself to clear a room of enemies while ducking to avoid their projects. It has that 'I've-gotta-try-it-again' feeling and it's definitely a game worth checking out if you're looking for a good and accessible action game to knock the dust off that PSVR2 headset.

The problem I have with MLB The Show 24 is nothing on the pitch, where it is fantastic. Instead, it's that it's starting to feel old. Every year I get a sense of deja vu. It's the same game as last year. I'd love to see the series get a real fresh start next year.

The old Tony Hawks have still have their own kind of magic, and with the new game engine and added content it's still hard to beat many of these games. I still enjoy the buzz and sunshine just as much as I did almost 25 years ago.

It's a modest visual upgrade that doesn't take advantage of today's consoles, even if wet surfaces, dirt, and textures are slightly more defined, in addition to tighter game controls and a handful of new tools than last time around. If you liked the first game, you will feel at home here as it's more of the same, but if you didn't like it last time, it's unlikely to win your heart this time either.

It's a good game - in many ways better today than it was then, with lots of content and a racing curve that anyone can handle, whether they're just starting to learn to drive or drifting on a daily basis. However, the lack of a proper online mode where you can play with or against others is a missed opportunity. Instead, you have to battle it out on leaderboards that invite rivalry. The AI-controlled opponents tend to behave strangely aggressively at times, with proper PIT manoeuvres that send you spinning, which of course has no place here.

Midnight is a very solid expansion. Levelling remains exciting, gear acquisition feels less tedious, and Blizzard clearly understands what makes the game work. It's World of Warcraft at near its finest once again.

A story campaign, a parallel PvE campaign, a 6v6 PvE mode, two different enemy factions, co-op, single-player, different Space Marine classes, more weapon loadouts, thousands of enemies on-screen. When you list it all down like that, it could sound like Saber Interactive was destined to come up short on at least a few aspects of this game. However, I am consistently blown away by Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II and how it has managed to do it all. It's a bombastic action fest that reminds you of the best games of yore. A triumphant achievement as not just a Warhammer 40,000 game, but an action game for the ages.

Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders is truly a gem, and it manages to take an already fantastic concept and make it even better. The wintry environments are as beautiful as they are challenging, and the new gameplay mechanics make the experience feel fresh and new.

The Ghost of Glamping is brilliant through and through—fun without being superficial, lighthearted without feeling silly, and with a narrative thread and coherence that many other games can only dream of. Quack-tacularly entertaining.

So all in all, given the content and the ideas, and the customisation possibilities, I think this game makes 2018's quite enjoyable Super Mario Party pale in comparison, which again is not what I was expecting. It's just much more comprehensive, better-rounded, more complete as a party game.

The basketball is better than perhaps ever and the presentation of the game, especially around the games, is leaps and bounds better than what other sports game series offer. If you can overlook (because it's hard to overlook) all the attempts to get your money out of your wallet, this is such a great sports game. I just wish they would stop being so greedy, but the fact that it's incredibly fun to play basketball on the court might be the most important thing.

It's a huge homage to Jet Set Radio and Jet Set Radio Future, and if you liked those two games, Bomb Rush Cyberfunk is a must-have.

Counter-Strike 2 is a solid package in many ways. It's still the best in its sub-genre and I can see myself playing it for thousands of hours, as I did with its predecessors.

Sonic Racing: Crossworlds is a good game that has something for everyone. But it also has its obvious problems that will be difficult for the developers to correct in retrospect.

This is definitely a game to check out if you've ever wondered what it would be like to cross anthropomorphic dinosaurs with that of a Netflix high school drama TV series.

I don't have much to complain about in this Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. I've completed the game on version 1.0.0 on Nintendo Switch and I haven't experienced any lag or bugs. The only downside is that it's Dragon Quest III. If you're not used to this kind of game, where you need to spend a lot of your time fighting to level up in an ever-increasing loop of hours, this might not be for you. But if you want to get to grips with the mythos and get swept up in a classic story with unparalleled visuals, then Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is your gateway to the series.

This is another title that reinforces the "just one more round" feeling in an extraordinary way. It's very entertaining, and you always know how you can do a little better next time, by making a design a little more efficiently. Even though you can move on to a new island once you've reached a certain score, you can also stay where you are and try to increase your score for as long as possible, then move on to the next one when you can't build any more where you are. It's meditative, relaxing, enjoyable, and very cosy, although perhaps a little too familiar for those of us who played the predecessor.

Octopath Traveler 0 is as much Final Fantasy from the past as it is something new that sharpens and tweaks a familiar concept with fresh features. This is new old-school in all the right ways.

It's not like there's a particularly memorable overall narrative here, and it would have helped Lil' Guardsman to feel as mesmerising on a broader scale as it does when you're just... well, being in it. That said, this is an awful lot of charm for the amount of money it costs.

Ninja Gaiden 4 thus gives a rather mixed impression, but nevertheless one that leans positively. There is a familiar charm to the way the adventure is structured, and although I don't want to brush aside the criticism of substandard graphics and outdated design and defend it with rose-tinted nostalgia, the concept of simple action, built with equally simple game code, works surprisingly well. It's not a game that will go down in history in the same way as its predecessors, but it's still an adventure worth playing through if you're craving more frantic ninja action.

Marathon’s foundations are solid, strong, and well-functioning, and although the game might lack a hook, or simply maps that build on this solid foundation, I feel confident enough, even without Cryo Archive, to recommend Marathon solely on the basis of this rather fantastic loop. That doesn’t mean Marathon is a fantastic game in itself, but it could very well turn out to be one, and that’s more positive than for a great many other live-service games.

If you're looking for a more work-friendly substitute to Stardew Valley, this may be just the quiet place you need.

If you're into rhythm games (and you're usually good at them), then you should take a look at Fresh Tracks, because it shakes up the genre a bit and the result is captivating, and before you know it, you've spent an evening in the company of the game. But the game demands it, because nothing comes easy here, and in return, it spoils us with one of the best soundtracks of the year so far.

Wildfrost is refreshingly well made and innovative, and quite addictive, so if you like a card game that never gets monotonous, then Wildfrost is just the thing for you.

Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is a relaxed and slow-paced adventure, and sometimes that is what you need between shooters and action games.

It manages to create a similar type of gaming joy that Miyazaki and his FromSoftware team has developed in stages, and even if finesse and deep-rooted mastery are not present to the same extent, it is enough to make you want to play more, and then a little more again.