For all its linearity, Mainlining does a fantastic job of making you feel like a detective. It’s as much a puzzle game as it is a point-and-click, and the continous light-hearted humour keeps the experience from feeling too drab.

If you’re a die-hard RTS fan, Seigecraft Commander and its brand of cheerful, bright and breezy gameplay is enjoyable enough. But without a significantly larger online community, Siegecraft Commander just doesn’t last long enough or offer enough of a challenge to say it stands out.

If you’re looking for something unique with a great replayability factor – and most of all, lots of fun – then SpiritSphere is worth checking out.

If you want something actively engaging, then this isn’t the title for you. But if you’re happy to let yourself relax and get lost in an intriguing, dark, sometimes funny and always mysterious narrative, then [Knee Deep] is definitely worth picking up.

99Vidas‘ humour can be very hit and miss, and the game’s challenging difficulty level may put some people off. But persist and you’ll find it a rewarding and hugely enjoyable brawling experience that will have you coming back for more, no matter how many virtual teeth you lose.

The post apocalyptic world of Diluvion has a steampunk mixed with sci-fi feel to it, and the story reflects that too. I just wish there was less travelling from A to B, or a busier, more detailed landscape to explore along the way.

The sort of rare failure that makes you look out in awe in its magnificence, knowing you yourself will never reach such an absolute. It is the worst video game I have ever played, period.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is a remarkable accomplishment and a truly triumphant return of a storied franchise. Masterfully executed on all fronts, this game will leave a lasting impression on you long after you’re done.

Toby: The Secret Mine can be easily pardoned as a complete larceny of Limbo – but it’s not as simple as that. When Toby does craft its own uniqueness, there is a lot to like.

If you want a quick blast of escapism with a bit of a challenge, then this what you’ll get. Nothing more, nothing less.

Whilst the Final Fantasy series constantly shifts in an attempt to expand its audience, alienating many long-term fans in the process, Tales of Berseria is a love letter to Tales fans, reassuring them that the series doesn’t need to change to remain relevant.

The Flame in the Flood successfully captures the intricacies of a better class of survival games and wraps them in a very neat, very pretty package.

The Lions Song – Episode 2: Anthology is a wonderful second story to this series. Each of its elements – the soundtrack, graphics, story and dialogue – add up to create a wonderful, yet short experience.

If you let it gets its hooks into you, you’ll be able to tolerate its flaws. While it won’t sate hardcore horror fans, Nevermind is visually and thematically striking enough to be worth a look.

Quite frankly, there’s nothing about Saban’s Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Mega Battle’s creation that feels worthwhile.

Dream Drop Distance is a fine HD remaster, and the game is solid, if not the best of the series. 0.2 Birth By Sleep, on the other hand, should not be missed, and has got me incredibly excited for where the series is going to go next.

The most frustrating thing about playing an indie release like Spheroids is the feeling that the developers were not even attempting to create something fresh or novel.

Between the bland visuals, the uninspired soundtrack, the unoriginal characters and lacklustre plot, Asdivine Hearts offers nothing compelling to fans of the genre.

To play Yakuza 0 is to deeply fall in love with its characters and world; a challenge that many games try to conquer, but only a handful ever manage to actually achieve.

It’s far from perfect, but if you’re willing to overlook its lack of polish and graphical fidelity, Sylvio has a decent experience to offer – especially if you’re a dab-hand at puzzle solving.

Power Hover is one of those rare games that will compel you to go back and try to perfect each level.

Whereas particular genre elements and features make a point of setting it in the past, 2064: Read Only Memories‘ outlook and perspective firmly place it as one of the best point and click adventure games of late.

Offers mindless fun, sure, but there are a slew of other Musou titles also available on PS4, and nearly all of them are superior to this.

While it’s by no means perfect, Tattletail goes beyond mere jump-scares and delivers an experience that is genuinely and persistently frightening.

Afterbirth+ completes the package and in that respect, purchasing it will give you the definitive Isaac experience. But I can’t help but feel that it’s overpriced. A safe tack on to a game that’s finally rounded off, yet somewhat exhausted.

A lot of Epic Manager‘s mechanics, like the map, contract negotiations, and the random encounters are fleshed out and well-designed, but core gameplay elements like the turn-based combat are so simplistic that the game quickly becomes tedious.

For all of Aqua Moto Racing Utopia’s light sense of fun and nostalgic reminiscence of past games like Wave Race 64 and Jet Moto, the act of taking to the waves is unfortunately tarnished by some frustratingly aggressive AI and a general lack of polish.

If you like a good challenge and value quality gameplay over length, which you should, Rise & Shine is a great little title and a great start to the gaming year.