For a game set in a jail, Back to the Dawn offers an impressive amount of freedom. Coupled with a conspiracy-minded story, and more side-quests you can shake a shiv at, you'll be hooked.

Considering just the gameplay alone, it’s incredibly fulfilling – and at times, quite tricky.

With its huge roster of fighters, thrilling combat system and satisfying selection of modes, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is a must-have for fans of the franchise. Newcomers are likely to enjoy it, too, though they might find themselves a little lost when tackling its story-driven Episode Battle mode.

With Sifu, developer Sloclap has delivered one of the most striking and original roguelikes we’ve ever had the pleasure of playing. Like the process of actually learning a martial art, this is a game that requires practice and patience – and the rewards speak for themselves.

It’s not a flawless experience; using lookout towers to discover new locations is a little old hat and the handling of SnowRunner’s smallest vehicles feels a bit off. However, even when you’re struggling up an incline with a 20-tonne load, SnowRunner is a joy to play. Driving around, making deliveries at your own speed, is just as much fun as leaning into the gripping off-roading elements and, no matter what the game throws at you, you’ll always be throughly invested in your success. Truckin’ ain’t easy but if you jump into SnowRunner’s driver’s seat, you’re in for a great ride.

There’s a lot to like in Fate/Samurai Remnant for Fate fans, or those who simply enjoy action RPGs in general. The story is meaty, and with multiple endings as well as a New Game Plus mode available, some may even jump in for another playthrough or two. It’s a shame the combat isn’t a little more refined and less reliant on giving enemies armour, forcibly making fights more drawn out and challenging than they should be. Those that can look past this issue, however, will get a lot of enjoyment out of this latest effort by Omega Force.

Accessible, engaging, thought-provoking, and packed full of content, Catherine: Full Body is one of those rare things: a perfect game.

While it's not all that different from its predecessor, Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 proves to be a worthy follow-up, offering more missions and more Brothers to collect, and ultimately just being more fun in general. Whether you're an existing fan of the series or want a fun way to dip your toes into it, World Brothers 2 is easy to recommend.

When it’s at its best, generally during the latter third of the game, the results are often phenomenal. At its worst, you’ll wonder how it can pass as a Final Fantasy game. On the whole though, the good far outweighs the bad, making Final Fantasy XV a flawed but essential title for fans of the long-running series.

With its saccharine visuals and cheesy yet infectious music, Puyo Puyo Tetris is about as sweet a game as you can get. And, like sugar, the gameplay is devilishly addictive. You’ll spend hours and hours in the adventure mode, earning credits and unlocking extras like new background music whilst trying to get three stars on every stage. Along the way you’re likely to dive into the many additional gameplay modes found in solo arcade, setting high scores and honing your skills. All the while, its ample multiplayer options will see you challenging friends, family and strangers to impromptu battles, eager to show them who’s boss. Puyo Puyo Tetris is the complete block and jelly dropping package, and you’d have to be mad to pass it up, even though it can get a bit crazy at times.

Ni no Kuni 2's gorgeous worlds and lovable characters make for an enjoyable and engaging experience from start to finish, and its story, while not the most original or expansive, will undoubtedly warm your heart and leave you wanting more.

Freedom Planet 2 will surely be enjoyed by Sonic fans wanting some more high-speed 2D platforming antics. It even has a soundtrack that can trade blows with the Blue Blur’s finest. It suffers from the same pitfalls as a typical 2D Sonic game, though, such as enemy placement sometimes feeling punishing. And the deviations from the Sonic formula often work against the game rather than for it, with combat in particular being deeper but also scrappier. Still, this is a solid game, and developer GalaxyTrain should be applauded for trying to build on the Sonic formula rather than simply replicate it.

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.

Risk of Rain mixes the perfect levels of fun and challenge and looks damn good doing it. It’s a bloody good game.

The Atelier Dusk Trilogy Deluxe Pack is a great package. It’s true that Atelier Ayesha through to Atelier Shallie aren’t exactly the pinnacle of JRPGs, but they’re very solid nonetheless. And here you’re getting them enhanced and with a considerable amount of DLC. The only real downer in the whole affair is Atelier Ayesha‘s performance problems.

Doctor Who: The Lonely Assassins is a small but highly engaging tale that proves you can do Who without shoehorning every enemy into the mix. If you’re a Doctor Who fan, especially if the Weeping Angels are your monster of choice, Doctor Who: The Lonely Assassins is well worth your time.

Its black and white presentation and 1930s noir-style storytelling sets it apart from the crowd, as does its unusual cast of characters – teddy bears, robots, talking fish and stuffed giraffes are just a few of who you’ll meet along the way. It’s a shame that only chapter four has achievements, however, as the previous three chapters are just as deserving of your attention. Regardless, if you dig talking bears and puzzle solving, Bear With Me deserves a place in your library.

Resident Evil Village is a far cry from its more grounded and horror-focused predecessor, but in the end, it’s perhaps just as lovable. At times it feels like a greatest hits collection of some of the best elements of previous Resident Evil games, and while that leads to it not being wholly coherent, it’s not to its detriment. It may not be perfect in terms of combat mechanics and storytelling, but Resident Evil Village keeps you on your toes, with you never truly knowing what’s waiting for you around the next corner. And that’s why when playing it, the hours simply fly by. Will the series ever become stale? Not while it’s being as inventive as this, that’s for sure.

A gorgeous adventure that is as surprising as it is beautiful, Keeper is far more than the game about a sentient lighthouse that it presents itself as. Filled with engaging puzzles, mesmerising scenery and a visual story to make you think, Keeper is well worth taking the time to complete.

Stories Untold places a hidden story within a hidden story; a puzzle that only reveals itself once you piece together its outer layers – and it’s one of the most fascinating and unique tales you can play this year.

Some may find it repetitive, but those who like the idea of going on a strange and spooky safari through an abandoned wildlife park will love Penko Park. It’s a short and sweet experience brought to life with a cast of creative critters – and hunting them down to shoot them (with your camera of course) is nothing but a joy. If you like Pokémon Snap, this one is for you.

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy is a bit of a no-brainer for fans of the series – it’s three more solid entries enhanced for modern consoles alongside a wealth of extras and quality of life improvements. What’s not to love? Saying that, however, we’re of the opinion that this offers the weakest selection of games when it comes to the three collections now available. If you’re new to the Ace Attorney series, perhaps start with the Phoenix Wright Trilogy or Great Ace Chronicles, then think about picking this one up.

If you like to immerse yourself in tough but rewarding puzzles, pick up Nelly Cootalot. If you want to step into the shoes of a delightful, cartoon pirate – if only for a few hours -pick up Nelly Cootalot. If you want to laugh, smile, and generally have a jolly ol’ time, pick up Nelly Cootalot. You can thank me later.

With beautiful pixel art brought to life with bright neon colours and wonderfully absurd enemy designs, Neon Abyss is an absolute joy to play. Its bombastic soundtrack spurs you on through each dungeon and if you die – no, when you die – you’ll just shake it off, eager to jump back in.

Beautifully presented and with thoroughly enjoyable puzzles that will challenge even the most astute of minds, there’s a lot to love about Railbound. While they start off nice and easy, its puzzles soon get fiendish, and solving them is so very rewarding. This is the perfect game to cosy up with this winter, particularly if you like giving your noggin a workout.

Perfectly capturing the feeling (and look) of a classic animated movie, Stars in the Trash is a short but delightful game that puts you in control of a mischievous cat. There's an enjoyable adventure to be had, but I've had just as much fun 'catting around', knocking stuff off and being a furry little nuisance. This really is a wonderful little treat.

Anyone looking for a challenging action-packed 2D adventure won’t go far wrong with Maldita Castilla EX.

[Fast RMX] may be little more than a port with spruced-up visuals and a smattering of new content, but it’s a bloody good one, so if you have a penchant for arcade racers you should definitely pick it up.