Endlessly joyous.

One of my favourite roguelikes of recent years, Lost in Random: The Eternal Die takes the world of 2021's excellent Lost in Random and turns it into something new. It's a whimsical, action-packed adventure, with combat that feels smooth and satisfying. Even facing the game's ferocious bosses is seriously exhilarating. It's just a shame there's not a little more variation between runs, but that's to be expected.

A gory affair, there’s a hell of a lot to like about Infernax. The tried-and-tested gameplay sits alongside purposefully dated but nonetheless charming visuals, but the freedom you have really sets this apart from other games in the genre. Will you save the world or be a blight on it? That’s up to you. And while you may always have good intentions, sometimes your decision can have unexpected results. In any case, you’ll have a lot of fun slaying monsters and developing Alcedor as you play.

Slayaway Camp isn’t a large nor an expansive experience – but it doesn’t want to be. It wants to be a simple puzzle game that through evolving mechanics becomes a difficult and satisfying experience. It revels in both the ludicrous and outlandishly fun things that come from its original genre while making fun of its stupidities. It won’t be for everyone but for those who enjoy basic puzzling at its best, Slayaway Camp is a killer.

If you like a good book but also appreciate aural and visual stimulation, it’s definitely worth picking up on Switch, allowing you to enjoy it on your big TV or in handheld mode in bed.

You’ll have to leave any run-and-gun sensibilities at the door when you jump into Crown Trick; it’s a game about thoughtful manoeuvres and carefully-planned attacks. But it results in combat that’s extremely rewarding, and a challenge that’s a lot of fun to take on. Progressing in Crown Trick may be tricky, but it’s never insurmountable – and you’ll be enjoying yourself so much that you’ll want to keep jumping back in, seeing if you can get that bit further next time.

There’s a lot to love about Monster Sanctuary. Exploring its world is rewarding and enjoyable, and its turn-based combat packs enough depth to keep you invested. Hitting a brick wall and needing to grind can be frustrating, but the desire to progress is usually strong enough to keep you going. It’s the perfect blend of Pokémon and Metroidvania, and it works exceptionally well. Even if you’re a fan of only one of those, you’ll find plenty to love in Monster Sanctuary.

Islanders truly is a relaxing, immersive experience that’s so easy to get lost into. The challenge of working out the best location to place a building is endlessly enjoyable, and for puzzle fans there’s even a hint of Tetris as you rotate differently-shaped buildings in order to make them fit perfectly within a space. For players looking for something a little lighter to play, I can’t recommend it highly enough – Islanders is the perfect way to switch off and unwind from the stresses of real life.

For fans of Slay the Spire and its ilk, Roguebook is a no-brainer. This is a gorgeous, engaging take on the roguelike deckbuilding genre that carves out its own niche without ever feeling derivative of games that came before it. Combining the joy of map exploration and discovery with deep, strategic combat, the result is a game that absolutely nails replayability. If roguelikes are your jam, you’re going to find it hard to put Roguebook down.

It’s tough, but Kombinera impresses with its clever ball puzzles. Like most classic puzzle games, the concept is simple and easy to get your head around, but allows for some serious brainteasing as more elements are added. Some may quickly become frustrated with it, and it’s a shame there’s little in the way of help when you truly do become stuck, but that shouldn’t stop puzzle fans from lapping this up. It might just be one of the best puzzle games in years.

It’s safe to say that Them’s Fightin’ Herds subverted our expectations. It’s easy to look at it and think that it’s going to be a jokey affair, and while there is an air of playfulness about it, at its core is a solid, taut fighting system. Add in the genuinely unique story mode, and you have a fighting game that’s well worth your time and money, despite having a limited roster of fighters and uninspiring stages.

Post Void won’t be for everyone: you only need to look at screenshots or watch a short amount of gameplay to realise that. But for those into fast-paced retro shooters that offer a great deal of challenge, it’s very easy to recommend, especially given its price. It doesn’t have complex mechanics or a deep story, but those are its strengths. This is all about offering short bouts of intense action with a style that makes you feel like you’re on a bad trip. And at that, it succeeds with gusto.

Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is the kind of gorgeous, wonderful indie gem that leaves you with a huge smile on your face. Whether you’re familiar with the Moomins or not doesn’t matter one jot here as care has been taken to make sure this game is accessible to everyone. Its beautiful art style and equally mesmerising soundtrack will keep you hooked from start to finish — we just wish there was more to enjoy.

Imagine Link to the Past without the combat and threat: that's sort-of what Pine Hearts feels like. There's a lot to like about this cosy adventure set in a colourful world, but a few issues hold it back from being quite as good as it could have been.

With multiple endings to discover, Threshold may be short, but chances are you might return to it multiple times. And with its PS1-inspired visuals, it’s truly atmospheric. So, if you’re after a game that genuinely keeps you on your toes, definitely keep Threshold in mind. Ultimately, the question is: what’s more important to you — doing a good job or uncovering the truth?

Vampire Crawlers is a weird spin-off, as it has almost nothing to do with Vampire Survivors other than it exists in the same world and contains the same characters and items. And yet somehow, this fast-paced dungeon crawler manages to be just as moreish as the game it is derived from.

Despite its issues, Command & Conquer Remastered Collection provides an excellent trip down memory lane.

Server issues aside, which eventually should be eliminated, jump into Helldivers 2 and you’re bound to have a good time. Its battles are challenging and engaging, it’s got a fun sense of humour, and it’s rewarding seeing your war efforts pay off. Whether you find yourself fighting against fearsome automatons while waiting for your flag to be raised, or squashing bugs while racing to take down an illegal radio signal, chances are you’ll have a big grin on your face while doing so. And that’s what really matters. Helldivers 2 isn’t particularly big or clever, but boy, is it a lot of fun.

Beneath all the trimmings and little things that this game does so well, and outside of the intense competitive nature that keeps driving me back again and again, Laser League does something even more important: it reminds you, like all my favourite games of yesteryear, that gaming is supposed to be fun.

Is Switch the best place to play It Takes Two? Probably not: it’s a beautiful game which truly deserves the power of a high-end PC or next-gen console to really shine. But that doesn’t mean that this isn’t a worthy port. If Switch is your only gaming format, or even if you simply want to enjoy it again, this time handheld, you’re going to be in for a treat.

The tone shifts could leave a bad taste in some people’s mouths but overall, any negatives of Watch Dogs 2 are minor and far outweighed by the sheer amount of fun that can be had in this vibrant and exciting world.

A truly immersive, inspired leap into a world full of life. Hand of Fate 2 is a defiantly different powerhouse fuelled by pure imagination. Speak to The Dealer, he has a story to tell, and he needs your help writing it.

Supraland pushes boundaries to try to create something unique, and for the most part, it succeeds with gusto. It’s a game where you really feel like you’re exploring someone’s imagination; a hodgepodge of wonderful ideas that combine together well to create a delightful experience. Its combat may feel superfluous, but its excellent puzzle design and beautiful world more than makes up for it.

Seriously slick and responsive to play, The Rogue Prince of Persia will likely win you over instantly thanks to its stylish traversal. Add to the mix some wonderful storytelling, a world that's a joy to explore and challenging (but rewarding) combat, and you have one of the best roguelike platforming games of recent years.

Two Point Campus might not reinvent the wheel, but this is a game that knows exactly what it is and who its audience is – and it nails it. Two Point’s tried-and-tested formula works like magic in a university setting, and the freedom it gives to players to create the campus of their dreams is unrivalled. Its attempts at humour might sometimes fall flat, but it hardly matters when everything else is so good.

If you’re looking for an atmospheric, beautifully crafted, nuanced and thoughtful narrative experience, The Banner Saga 2 is a contemporary leader in all of those fields.

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero brings the series to the best place it has ever been, thanks to some fantastic visuals, a catchy soundtrack and a loveable cast of characters.

Despite his demonic tendencies, it’s impossible not to love Cid; and the other characters you’ll encounter on your adventure are delightful too, brought to life with excellent voice acting. It looks wonderful, it’ll regularly have you laughing, and solving a puzzle by yourself is always rewarding; all in all, Darkestville Castle does a wonderful job at capturing the joy of the classic point-and-click genre.