If you’re a steampunk aficionado then Vaporum will doubtless hold some appeal for you; it’s smartly presented and tells a tantalisingly haunting tale of man’s folly. But for those who aren’t as taken with steam power, Vaporum is a rather average dungeon crawler.

Playable in one or two long sittings, The World Next Door is an interesting mix of genres. It won’t set your world on fire, but what is there is pretty fun. Without much reason to replay, you probably won’t jump right back into Emrys when you complete the game, but it’s well worth your time at least once.

Despite its lack of challenge, Neo Atlas 1469 offers up a unique and enjoyable experience.

Mechstermination Force is enjoyably challenging, reasonably cheap, and mildly humorous. That makes it a success in my book.

Even if you’ve already played the first three Ace Attorney games, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy offers the opportunity to experience all those legal shenanigans on the big screen. And if you’ve never seen Phoenix Wright bluff his way to victory, it’d be criminal to miss out.

Its puzzles are challenging enough to keep you engrossed through its three- to four-hour play time, but its Silence‘s locations and environment design that will really make you fall in love with this game. And Spot, of course.

Disappointing is perhaps the best word to sum up Dangerous Driving. It could have been so much better, but instead it’s just passable fun. The saddest thing is, if you want a game that plays like classic Burnout, it’s the best option currently available. Like a cover band howling the tunes of your favourite but now defunct artist, it’s not a patch on the real thing, but you make do with what’s on offer. Dangerous Driving is good enough to provide some high octane entertainment, but it’ll still leave you craving a worthy Burnout successor.

It’s undeniable that Outward‘s combat is sub-par, and that its systems prove to be very punishing when combined.

A game of extreme peaks of troughs. At times it’s dreadfully boring; other times it’s wildly exciting. It doesn’t want to make your life easy, but then throws so much resources your way that being downed is trivial. It looks great, but it has a lot of bugs that will only make you able to view the game as ugly. Like Marmite, Generation Zero will dramatically split opinion. But it’s not just a matter of taste – Generation Zero‘s glitches and ill-implemented mechanics are just as much to blame.

Sure, there’s the odd misstep throughout the game’s 20-odd hour running time, such as some challenge rooms that feel shoehorned in, but on the whole Darksiders: Warmastered Edition is an absolute pleasure to play. If you’re after an epic action-adventure game to play on your Switch, look no further.

It’s not a perfect game, but it comes very close. FromSoftware, via Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls, Tenchu, and Bloodborne, has built this beautiful, mystifying, work of art. A work of art that demands your patience, persistent and the application of all of your skill to fully understand and enjoy it. But it really is worth the effort. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is yet another FromSoftware classic.

A triumph of a finale that gives the players – and the characters – the ending they deserved.

While it may be quite a departure from a standard Atelier game, Nelke & The Legendary Alchemists is a valiant attempt to diversify the series. It may not appeal quite so much to fans of traditional JRPGs, but there’s certainly enough here to enrapture Atelier fans along with newcomers who enjoy the townbuilding genre. As long as you can get past the frustrating first hour, Nelke & The Legendary Alchemists: Ateliers of the New World opens itself up to be a rewarding and engaging experience that’s surprisingly hard to put down.

Ultimately, while Xenon Racer‘s initially frustrating difficulty barrier can be overcome, its blurry visuals, brief campaign and awful announcer take the shine off of the whole experience.

Some games are simply a pleasure to play from beginning to end, and Unravel Two is one of them. It’s a masterfully crafted adventure that keeps you glued to your screen, and melts your heart as the credits roll.

For most of us though, the frustrating world traversal, disappointing combat flourishes and all-too-generic gameplay will make it hard to find a reason to stick with Death end; re Quest.

At times, The Division 2 does just feel like more of the same but with a new setting, but when it’s pulled off this well, who cares? In developing The Division 2, Ubisoft has taken what worked from the first game and listened to fans, creating a follow up that’s captivating and densely packed with things to do. If you like third-person shooters or love loot, it’s a must-buy.

Fate/Extella Link doesn’t provide an experience that’s a million miles away from Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star, but pretty much everything about it is just better. Its story is shorter but more entertaining, its combat is massively improved thanks to you having more abilities at your disposal, and it both looks and sounds better too.

Its new challenges are a lot of fun, and they’re different enough from the original game that it doesn’t feel like you’re merely treading old ground. For the price of £5.39/$5.99, it’s well worth it if you enjoyed the base game.

One Piece: World Seeker isn’t the most inventive open world game out there. It’s not the biggest or the most varied in terms of mission design and structure. But it is a delight to play, thanks in part to its wonderful characters, well-written story and absolutely stunning-looking world.

If you’ve already played Two Point Hospital to death and desperately want more content – you’ll need to have unlocked at least seven hospitals in order to to play this – then Pebberley Island is worth a look. It’s more of the same, with a sandy spin, and there’s nothing crashingly wrong with that. But, going by the DLC’s price tag – £7/$9 – I expected Pebberley Island to shake things up a little more.

Left Alive is simply not worth your time or money. It has a fairly interesting story to unravel, but only the most patient and persistent of players will be able to enjoy it, even if they pop the difficulty down to its lowest level.

While Attack of the Earthlings is aiming to be more casual than its counterparts, its gameplay really is too simple to be interesting for more than a few minutes. This, mixed with the criminally awkward and slow animations, makes the game little more than a chore, broken up a few some decent jokes.

In 2019 then, MX vs ATV All Out Anniversary Edition is a largely passable experience. At its budget price you can no doubt have some fun with it, but there are better racing games out there that are more worthy of your time.

Trüberbrook isn’t without its charm, though. Despite the dull protagonist, the game’s story is engaging, and the smatterings of humour will occasionally raise a smile. Equally appealing is Trüberbrook’s graphical style, particularly when you’re able to behold the backdrops in all their glory. But considering how many logic-defying hoops you’ve got to jump through and the company you’ll be keeping, the journey to Trüberbrook is only for the patient.

The gameplay is easy to learn, but it doesn’t do much to keep gameplay new and exciting. Its unpalatable themes, even though clearly put there on purpose, could do with being toned down a few notches.

It speaks volumes that despite Devil May Cry 5‘s obvious issues, it still impresses so much. It’s a game that looks better than anything else available at the moment, and yet somehow runs at a solid 60 frames per second. And its combat is undoubtedly the deepest of any action game, making its linear structure actually not that much of an issue. Devil May Cry 5 isn’t perfect, but it’s a damn good Devil May Cry game. Honestly, I think Ninja Theory’s DmC was better, but in 2019 I’ll accept Devil May Cry 5 with open arms.

RemiLore: Lost Girl in the Lands of Lore is a pretty basic hack-and-slash that offers some interesting levelling up options, but the lack of depth in both the story and combat leaves it feeling a little empty. Despite the great story premise, and a fun choice of character with Lore, the pages just feel a little empty to this book.

It’s not going to set your world alight, but chances are it won’t leave you regretting your purchase, either.

It looks beautiful, has a wonderfully relaxing soundtrack, and spins an interesting fairytale yarn, but Degrees of Separation only really shines when you’ve got someone to play it with. From its simple beginning, right to its very challenging end.

Treasure Stack‘s unique twist on a familiar genre makes for addictive and engaging gameplay – but it’s not going to be for everyone. Getting to grips with the game’s quirks takes patience, and becoming good at the game will take a hell of a lot of practice. But once you get into the game’s rhythm, it’s hard to put down.

It perhaps plays things a little safe, but mechanically Dead or Alive 6 is up there with the best fighting games currently available.

ToeJam and Earl may have gained cult status for their past escapades, but unless you're a hardcore fan of the series, the magic doesn't quite carry over to the 21st century.

I think I just really wanted Fimbul to prove it had more to offer. It’s not a must play, but it’s a game that, if presented to you as a player or spectator, is worth charging through.

Be prepared to die and die some more, but Ape Out is a game that'll get into your psyche, and beg you to carry on. As you progress, your heart will likely be beating as fast as the music, but the adrenaline pumping around your system will only spur you on further. Each death is a tragedy, but each one only makes that eventual success ultimately more rewarding.

Devotion succeeds because it’s an understandably human tale with misery, not murder or monsters, at the heart of it all. It is a tad short, particularly when compared to Detention, and while the somewhat ambigious ending might prove a turn-off for some, it’s still chilling, unsettling and heart-breaking in equal measure.

Needless to say, if you’re after a hardcore platformer that will keep you on the edge of your seat well into the early hours of the morning, Almost There: The Platformer will do the trick.

Trials Rising offers phenomenal value for money. The tried and tested gameplay has been refined to perfection, there are more than 100 events on offer, and its multiplayer modes are a blast. Any Trials fan should expect to get dozens of hours of gameplay out of Trials Rising, which is not to be sniffed at.

Warplanes: WW2 Dogfight is a real gem, and for its cheap price it offers a bite just as big as its bark. Combat is exhilarating and highly addictive, and upgrading is simple yet impactful. Sadly, it does feel like it’s missing a story element, or a real reason to want to progress within the game, but the silky smooth controls and combat will get you jumping back into the cockpit in no time at all.

I want to like it, but damn does it make it hard. Like the games that came before it in this genre, I’ve no doubt that Anthem will get better and bulkier with updates over time, but if Bioware takes too long in getting there, I fear most of the player base will have moved on. For what it’s worth, Anthem does show a lot of promise.

I’m quite torn by DiRT Rally 2.0. Its improved visuals and handling undoubtedly make it a better game to play than DiRT Rally, but in terms of content, it leaves me wanting. Sequels like this are meant to be bigger and better, but DiRT Rally 2.0 feels about the same size but better, and with less track variety as standard. Regardless, for devout rally fans it’s still pretty much essential.

If you like stealth, definitely give Intruders a shot, but there are certainly better horror games out there.

As a package, then, Evoland Legendary Edition makes for excellent value. The Evoland games are both brilliant for their own reasons, and if you’re a fan of adventure RPGs, Evoland Legendary Edition is simply a must for your collection.

This Switch port of both games doesn’t really offer anything new for those who have played either title to death before, but those who are yet to dive into an OlliOlli game will find themselves presented with a generous package that feels right at home on Switch.

Uniqueness is what keeps Stunt Kite Party afloat. It’s disappointing that playing against the computer in Story Mode simply isn’t all that fun. And it’s disappointing that there’s no online play. But honestly, you’ll have never played anything quite like it before.

Despite its disappointing combat system and its missed opportunity for providing a more engaging story, Thea: The Awakening still manages to be a riveting game that’ll keep you hooked for hours.

I wasn’t particularly fond of feeling like I was watching an anime without being able to take a break between each episode, but I’d have to be an idiot to not see that Steins;Gate Elite is still one of the best visual novels out there.

Forget Crackdown 2 ever happened, Crackdown 3 is the sequel we deserve.

If it wasn't for Jump Force's highly entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable combat, the game would be a disaster. But Jump Force is a fighting game, and so everything about it that's turgid and unnecessary can largely be avoided or overlooked. It's got a large roster of fighters, plenty of content, and looks great in action. Those are the things to focus on. Could it have been a hell of a lot better? Of course. But that doesn't mean you should write it off. Neither should you write it off for its unusual art style. Just engage in its unique brand of fighting, block out the rest, and enjoy.

The board is beautifully designed with fun animations and sounds as well as music. Dozens of different cards and traits are available, so gameplay never gets stale – it is simply a relaxing and entertaining way to spend several hours. Grab Evolution if you love board games and are looking for a new fantastic challenge.

Deviating from the series' formula and taking the adventure above ground was a bold move for 4A Games, but it's paid off. Metro Exodus can be unforgiving at times but it's a rollicking, radioactive road-trip that's sure to scratch that post-apocalyptic itch.

It’s certainly not the ideal game for those expecting sweat-inducing horror or adrenaline-pumping action, but for those who like to explore eerie environments and unravel a good story, there’s a good evening’s worth of entertainment.

It packs in a challenging campaign, brought to life with characters that are hard not to love, but it’s the level editor that really sets WarGroove apart. If it’s your jam – like it is mine – then Wargroove offers literally endless potential. And even if level designing isn’t really your thing, it’s still a lot of fun to play around with.

A beautiful-looking game that tells a charming story, but its gameplay is just lacking.

Band of Bastards isn’t epic in length or bursting with content, and its overarching story isn’t likely to get its hooks in you, but it’s still a good reason to revisit Kingdom Come: Deliverance. And if you’re still making your way through the game for the first time, it’s even better. Thanks to its witty, humorous dialogue and multiple outcomes as a result of your actions, it’ll likely remind you why Kingdom Come: Deliverance is such a great game in the first place.

Even despite its downfalls – its repetitive gameplay loop, its dense narrative and its lack of worthwhile adventuring – there’s something that makes Kingdom Hearts 3 difficult to resist.

If you’re a fan of point and click games, you will not be disappointed with what The Book of Unwritten Tales 2 has to offer you. With a staggering 25-30 hours of gameplay, fully voiced characters, excellent soundtrack, great visuals and incessant hilarity (that may or may not warrant the odd groan) there really is very little to complain about here.

Despite its initial allure, The Mage’s Tale just didn’t connect with me in the long run. PSVR has some incredibly high notes, and some pretty low lows, and this game sits comfortably in the middle. It doesn’t do anything exceptionally well, and its shortcomings are somewhat tied to the shortcomings of the format it’s presented on.

Monster Energy Supercross 2 is the best supercross available right now. It might even be the best supercross game ever made. It’s just a shame that even though improvements have been made to its career mode, it’s still not particularly engaging or noteworthy.

The direction in art and story is the high point in RIOT – Civil Unrest for sure. It helps depict these events, and teach the player about them – most of them I’d never heard of, but now I feel like I’ve learnt a bit about each. It’s grim and effective in that regard, but its gameplay really lets it down. RIOT – Civil Unrest‘s captivating art style and audio design is worth paying a visit to, and the game has some great ideas, but poor UI design, buggy AI and gameplay glitches really dampen the experience.

Despite this, Etrian Odyssey Nexus is an excellent dungeon crawler, overland locations and all. It’s not only the perfect antidote to grimmer adventures but it’s an addictive, creative, appealing outing that will have you coming back for more and rarely regretting your return.

I’d even argue that using the Dragons IP holds back Dawn of New Riders. Film tie-in games are always looked down upon, and the fact that it’s a franchise aimed at kids means most grown-up gamers are not going to take it seriously. But underneath its licensing, Dawn of New Riders is a sweet adventure game.

Its beautiful visuals and flourishes of gameplay ingenuity are hampered by bugs, combat that doesn’t excite, and what often feels like an unfair level of difficulty.

If it wasn’t for its mobile gaming elements, Farm Together would be easy to recommend. As it is, it’s a fun game to play in short bursts, but there’s no overlooking its bewildering design choices.

If you’re in the market for an action-packed 2D side-scroller on PC, you really should check out Bladed Fury. It looks wonderful, plays well, and has plenty of content for its humble price.

When Ski Lifts Go Wrong is very much like Poly Bridge from Dry Cactus, and that’s no bad thing. Aside from those irksome technical issues, Ski Lifts Go Wrong stands very nicely alongside Poly Bridge and other physics-based puzzle games of the same ilk. If you enjoy a good challenge – and a good amount of silliness – you’ll certainly get a kick out of this.

It’s a testament to the game’s staying power that, even when your ship has been destroyed, you’ll come back for more. Just don’t go sticking your face in any oversized eggs.

Killer7 is a mad piece of work, and embracing it doesn’t come all that easily. Those who do open their arms for it though, will find themselves in for one hell of a wild ride.

Just a little bit too dated to carve out a place in the modern market. Its aesthetic may still carry some charm, but next to the likes of Super Mario Odyssey, or even the remakes of Crash and Spyro, it just doesn’t hold up.

A story that keeps you on the edge of your seat is hugely important to point and click adventures such as The Raven Remastered. And thanks to its clever writing and mostly believable voice acting, it manages to accomplish that. It’s not quite up there with the likes of the original Broken Sword, but it deserves to be remembered as a cult classic. Control issues aside, The Raven Remastered is one of the best point and click style adventures available right now, and its presence on Switch is very much welcome.

This re-imagining of Resident Evil 2 is everything a Resident Evil fan could ask for, taking the series back to its roots without feeling old. It is single-player survival horror at its finest, and quite possibly the best Resident Evil game ever made.

Senran Kagura Burst Re:Newal is one of those games that’s not bad, but not particularly good, either. It’s flawed in multiple ways, but it’s still somewhat fun to play, albeit in short bursts.

Pikuniku is an eye-pleasing, entertaining outing that just oozes charm, with characters who are endearing without ever becoming irritating. If you want a game that will have you grinning with joy, then pick up Pikuniku.

Vane is a unique experience and for that in itself Friend & Foe should be applauded. As an artwork, it’s compelling. But as a game, it’s recommended with strings attached: this is a harsh, uncompromising world and you’re going to need to struggle to survive.

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown is only really brought down by the occasional frustration felt upon the often unfair failure of a mission. Its campaign really is great overall, but sometimes you’ll curse when a timer imposed upon you expires when you’re just shy of meeting a score target. Or when a mission critical friendly plane gets shot down just as you’re about to dispatch the last enemy. You’ll always hit that “Retry From Checkpoint” option though and jump right back in, because Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown’s moment-to-moment gameplay is simply ace.

Forever Forest feels like an early access game; it looks and sounds a treat but there’s disappointingly little joy to be had here. You’ll initially enjoy treading the game’s green spaces, and swapping your character’s mask out for a more impressive, and lethal, piece of headgear will raise a smile. But with no meaningful goal to power through the tedium towards – and since the game theoretically goes on forever – you’ll quickly lose interest. Lovely as it is to look at, Forever Forest leaves a lot to be desired.

Episode 3: Broken Toys continues to improve and is paving the way for one hell of a finale. In spite of its annoying technical issues, players should look past that and see the fantastic piece of work that’s been put together there. Broken Toys isn’t perfect, but its dialogue is superb, its pacing is fluid and its gameplay is fun and engaging.

My Time at Portia takes a lot of positive notes from popular farming simulators like Stardew Valley and Minecraft, and puts its own creative spin on things. It might seem just like any other farming sim at first glance, but the more you play the more you’ll discover its unique story and engaging gameplay elements.

Launching at a budget price, I truly am glad that Onimusha: Warlords has found its way onto current gen-consoles and PC. While its visual presentation isn't going to impress you, its new soundtrack proves to be a rousing affair. But most importantly, its gameplay still has hooks. Carefully balancing atmospheric exploration, strategic combat and brain-teasing puzzles, Onimusha: Warlords never feels like a chore to play. It doesn't stretch itself too thin, and I appreciate that now more than ever.

Hitman HD Enhanced Collection thankfully isn’t a lazy port, but I can’t help but feel that a mistake has been made with regards to its pricing.

Its asking price of £18/$20 may be a little steep considering the game’s lack of replayability, but if you’re a fan of platforming and adventuring, Elli definitely has enough to offer that’ll keep you engaged for several hours.

The mood, ambience, and ultimate meaning of The Eternal Castle all come together, intertwined and beautifully realised. It will be a long time before The Eternal Castle [REMASTERED] leaves my imagination, which, funnily enough, is exactly the feeling from which the developers created it.

Bury Me, My Love isn’t always an easy trek, perhaps reflecting its subject matter, and it’s still better suited to mobile phones. But it’s so emotionally engaging that, despite multiple, doomed playthroughs, you won’t leave Nour’s side until you’ve guided her to safety.

What was once great then, is now simply good on the balance of things.

Everything a retro collection should be, but the games it includes mostly haven’t stood the test of time.

It has pretty big setbacks, but its many small redeeming factors – the art style, the voice acting, the setting, and of course the boys – are sure to inspire a cult following.

It looks quite nice, has a soothing ambience about it, and it’s rather cheap (£7.79/$9.99). It’s just a shame that using a controller isn’t an option, and that long-term competition is limited.

You’ll rue the lack of some crucial features, and its performance will grate on you, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had in shaping your own park. Whether you’re aiming for the prettiest themed landscape, or care more about building massive and crazy roller coasters, there’s plenty for you to sink your teeth into. Just don’t expect to be able to micro-manage every element of your park, and you shouldn’t be too disappointed.

At its best, Viviette is an unsettling, atmospheric little escapade, telling a story which, while hitting some familiar horror beats, will make you thoroughly uncomfortable.

Trouserheart is a great pick-up-and-play game for children who are new to gaming. Its fun and colourful levels are sure to keep kids engaged for hours, and the campaign is not long enough to become monotonous to more experienced players. But the game’s lack of depth and difficulty certainly pull the trousers down on what could be a very fun game.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate beautifully tows the line of accessibility for casual players and depth for the hardcore fans.

For gamers who still enjoy the retro allure of games like Ghouls ‘n Ghosts, there’s a lot to like as you explore the swamps, caves and forests to attempt to unearth all the secrets.

Football Manager 2019 Touch is so much more than its iOS/Android namesake; it’s the beautiful game made even more beautiful. It’s the definitive option for any diehard Football Manager fan, or football fan, looking to take their passion on the go.

It’s acutely aware of its own silliness, even giving you the option to unlock (no, there are no microtransactions here) different colours and ridiculous accessories for your foe.

It almost feels as though it was made for the mobile market in a way, with its small but plentiful maps and cut down features.

Earth Defense Force 5 stands in the face of pretty much every game released these days. It’s the game that doesn’t bother trying to keep up with the Jones’ because it’s happy doing its own thing and being just what it wants to be. And that’s brilliant. And you know what else is brilliant? Shooting hundreds of enemies while listening to humorous quips. That never gets old. Never.

Gris may feel sluggish to control at times, but for the most part, you’ll want to take it slow anyway, to take in the game’s beautiful environments. When you reach a new area, or unlock a new colour into the world, you’ll soon forget about that annoying platforming section; you’ll be too busy being mesmerised by how beautiful everything is.

I Am The Hero finds its home with beat ’em up fans quite well. As far as appealing to the wider audience, however, it falls short. Combat that fails to offer a personal feel alongside a lack of depth and replay features leaves me wanting more. High-score chasers and leaderboard-savvy players will have lots to love, but those looking for a casual beat ’em up may find themselves turning away at some point.