Those difficulty spikes are just too unforgiving, and there’s only so many times you can be completely obliterated by the same set of enemies before you have to throw in the towel.

It’s challenging, humorous, beautifully designed and offers a surprising amount of variety. However you feel about the insurmountable challenge of its final level, there’s still plenty to enjoy outside of that. If you enjoy platforming games, you’ll find a lot to love here. And did I mention how cute Yooka and Laylee are?

Undoubtedly, Overcooked! All You Can Eat is the best way to play Ghost Town Games’ excellent co-op party game. There’s a ridiculous amount of content here, and the new features make it a truly impressive package. It’s just a shame that it’s only available on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, and there’s no discounted upgrade if you own any of the games on the previous generation. But if you’re lucky enough to have a next-gen console and want something to play with friends, you won’t be disappointed with this co-op extravaganza.

I’m already itching to get back into the Gungeon. Even if it’s occasionally frustrating, it’s still an addictive, rewarding experience. Polished gameplay and accessibility make way for fun, frantic and stylish firefights, whilst the classes add variety and cater to different playstyles. It’s a game that feels great to play alone, and is probably even better with a friend through local co-op. Simplistic, yet full of depth, Enter the Gungeon deserves to be in your collection.

Blisteringly fast and relentlessly unforgiving, Thumper will keep you engaged for hours.

There are times when Death of the Outsider feels a little too familiar but, despite the game’s reuse of art assets, these moments are far and few between. An engrossing, well-paced send-off for a series that already tops the stealth genre, Dishonored doesn’t get any better than Death of the Outsider.

Jackbox Party Pack 4 isn’t completely disappointing – there’s still enough here to warrant a few giggles and it’ll pass an hour or two with a few friends, but it’s not the best that Jackbox has to offer. Go for Party Pack 2 or 3 instead.

Welcome to Elk is biographical adventure that oozes charm. It shines with humility and thoughtfulness, and it covers topics that other game would shy away from. Best of all, though, it does it with a softness and laughter that one wouldn’t expect. The topics dealt with in the game may be difficult for some, but those that shy away from the game will be missing out on an experience like none other. It may be short, but Welcome to Elk is an adventure like no other, and one that everyone should experience.

One of the best Picross games I've played, Squeakross deals up more than 600 engaging and intuitive puzzles alongside a fun little sub-game that has you decorating a home for a cartoon mouse. Each puzzle you solve unlocks a new piece of furniture, and you won't want to stop until your mouse has the best mouse-house on the street.

Consisting of remakes of the first two games in the series, Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake is a somewhat simpler experience than Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake. You play the first game with just one party member, for example. It's still charming, though, with Dragon Quest 2 being a highlight, but both titles still might feel a little too archaic in ways.

If doom and gloom isn't your thing then Frostpunk won't appeal and you're better off with a less misery-drenched city-builder such as the excellent Cities: Skylines. But if you're a sucker for the punishing post-apocalyptic (and this game can certainly dish it out) then Frostpunk's bleak winter wonderland will keep you hooked, turning you into a horrible, horrible person in the process.

Housemarque has done it again; Nex Machina is a brilliantly action-packed shooter that’s engrossing, addictive and absolutely sublime from start to finish.

It can’t be denied that Virtuos has done a great job porting Bioshock: The Collection to Switch on the whole. All three games are complete, look great and perform well. It’s just Bioshock: Infinite‘s problems, both old and new, that let it down. Still, if you’ve never played these games before and have a Switch, you’re bound to have a great time with them. These titles have mostly stood the test of time, and still present some of the best video game storytelling to date.

Another fantastic game from Naughty Dog, a developer whose pedigree only seems to grow stronger with each title.

Two Point Hospital on console is simply a delight. Anyone who has fond memories of playing Theme Hospital will find themselves right at home here. Packed with challenge, wonderful humour and a flawless control scheme, it’s very hard to find fault with anything Two Point Hospital has to offer. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have patients to tend to – and will you please stop dying in the corridors?

This remake of Dragon Quest 3 remains very old-fashioned; it's at times uncompromising and it's missing some modern quality of life features. For existing fans of the JRPG classic and those who aren't afraid of a challenge, however, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake will no doubt prove to be captivating.

A stealth game played from an isometric viewpoint, Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is likely to win you over thanks to its stunning visuals, engaging narrative and rewarding scenarios that are best approached like puzzles.

Think of Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Future Tone as a massive ‘best of’ compilation of her greatest hits that you can play and you can’t go wrong. It’s the kind of game that you’re likely to revisit for years to come.

Think of Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Future Tone as a massive ‘best of’ compilation of her greatest hits that you can play and you can’t go wrong. It’s the kind of game that you’re likely to revisit for years to come.

Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless sticks to the tried-and-tested format of its predecessors, for better or worse. If you’re a fan of the series but you’ve found yourself getting a bit tired of the gameplay, there’s not much here that’s going to hugely revitalise your interest. For those who simply can’t get enough, however, this might prove to be a highlight. The visuals are bold and have real character, the story is entertaining, and you have more options than ever when it comes to putting together your team and developing it. For most Disgaea fans, then, that’s more than enough reason to jump into this latest entry.

Avalanche Software and Portkey Games have done an impressive job of creating something original within a much-loved franchise. Hogwarts Legacy is the closest any of us are ever going to get to actually attending Hogwarts, and what a magical experience it is. It’s clear that it’s been created with love, and the attention to detail here is phenomenal. It’s not without its issues, of course, but there’s few that get in the way of the overall experience. It looks gorgeous, it’s a joy to play, and being a wizard is just about as fun as we’d always hoped it would be.

Gradius Origins not only bundles together the first three Gradius games and makes multiple versions of them available, it also includes a trio of Salamander games and Life Force. These spin-offs dramatically boost the collection's value, especially with Salamander 3 being a brand new game that's been developed by M2. Add in plenty of options and museum-like content, and you have a genuine treat for shoot 'em up fans.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 was already a brilliant game when it launched last year, but this Enhanced edition makes it even better. Combat is notably improved at 60fps, and when playing on PS5 Pro it still looks phenomenal when playing at this higher framerate, too. Add in the challenging Dark Rot mode and the enlightening developer commentary, and you have the definitive version of Ninja Theory's best game yet.

It’s a charming adventure set against a gorgeous backdrop, and even though it may take a while to get going, it’s worth persevering with. Its combat is engaging, exploration is a delight, and its characters are a pleasure to know. Even if you’ve never played an Atelier game before, Atelier Ryza is one worth jumping into.

Our time with Venba and her family may have been short, but we quickly came to care for each of them as we watched them struggle through life. This is a beautiful portrait of a couple and their son who feel just as real as you or I. It’s a celebration of being Indian, of being human, of being a parent, of culture, of food. It reminds us of the importance of family and tradition – and the joy that eating (and preparing) a good meal can bring even in the darkest of times. Brief as it may be, Venba has left a lasting impact – and it’s made us desperate to try some traditional Tamil cooking of our own.

Our only real reservation about Boxes: Lost Fragments is how close it is to The Room. But should we really chastise it for taking heavy inspiration from a classic puzzle game? Whatever the answer, we can’t deny that this is a beautiful, clever puzzle game that’s provided us with a few hours of engaging gameplay. The puzzles here are excellent, and it’s a visual treat.

For fans of puzzle games and visual novels, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective is a bit of a treat. It’s a stylish and humorous affair that’s a pleasure to look at and has a fun soundtrack. Only the odd frustration is likely to sully your impression of it, as having to watch the same scenes play out multiple times until you strike it gold with the solution can get a bit tiresome. But overall, these moments are far outweighed by the many bouts of joy you feel as you overcome challenges and unfold the game’s engaging tale.

Age of Empires II is a game that has demonstrably lasted the test of time and arguably didn’t need an update; even in its original form it remains a real staple of the real-time strategy genre. However, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition has taken that winning formula and ever-so-slightly tweaked it; not enough to disrupt anything that makes the game some great in the first place, but just enough to bring the game into the modern day.