Zombie Driver: Immortal Edition on Switch provides simple fun that can get a little repetitive if played for too long, yet you’ll want return to it time and time again.

While Road 96 doesn’t have quite the level of freedom of choice that it advertises, it doesn’t matter. This is a moving, thought-provoking adventure that’s filled with obscure moments, dark comedy and characters you won’t forget in a hurry. Its heavy political slant won’t be for everyone, but if that doesn’t put you off, you’re in for one hell of a journey.

While Super Crush KO isn’t perfect, it’s hard to play without a smile on your face. Brawlers aren’t usually my cup of tea, but this title is smooth, exciting, fun and a real joy to play. And it really fits perfectly on the Nintendo Switch. With a few tweaks to allow players to up the difficulty, I have no doubt that Super Crush KO will attract a passionate band of followers.

There’s an awful lot to love about Rogue Heroes: Ruins of Tasos, especially for those who were huge fans of SNES-era 2D adventures. It wears its influences proudly, and mixes them up with compelling Rogue-like elements. Sure, a bit more challenge would be nice, but when exploring, solving puzzles and progressing is this much fun, who really cares?

A Pixel Story is a hugely fulfilling experience. Its perfectly pitched difficulty ensures that it’s challenging but never frustratingly so, and above all, it has that elusive ‘just one more go’ quality that will keep you hooked.

Some of Huntdown‘s boss battles might have elements that feel a little unfair, especially on higher difficulty levels, but it can’t be denied that it’s a great game with lots of character. It does a brilliant job of feeling like a blast from the past, yet the responsive controls and cover mechanics firmly plant it in the modern age. It’s the best of both worlds, basically, and if you’ve ever enjoyed mowing down legions of goons on a 2D plane while characters’ wisecracks compete against synthesised 80s beats for your attention, you’ll absolutely love it.

Basically, no matter what floats your boat, there’s a good chance that The Crew 2 has it. And that’s why I can’t help but love it. Warts and all.

NASCAR Heat 4 is, without a doubt, the best NASCAR racing game yet, but there’s still some room for improvement. Many will find its online features lacking; career mode still isn’t what you’d call “deep”; and crashes remain unspectacular. Still, the whole experience is engaging enough to make it worthwhile. There is pleasure to be found in managing your team and coming out on top, which means you’ll find yourself returning to NASCAR Heat 4 until next year’s inevitable follow-up.

The important thing is John Wick Hex has an abundance of intuitive and original ideas, and it’s fun and engaging to play. It’s certainly worth your time if you like strategy games, and if you also happen to be a fan of the films then that’s just the icing on the cake.

Thanks to a new rider-based handling model, the racing action found in MotoGP 26 both looks and feels better than ever. There are some welcome improvements to its Career mode, too, though there's nothing all that drastic. Ultimately, this is an evolution rather than a revolution.

Overall, EA Sports UFC 3 is a great game let down by some modes that just don't entertain as much as they should.

We do love a good roguelike, and we’re happy to report that Knight vs Giant: The Broken Excalibur is well worth jumping into. Its charming art style, its fast-paced action and its wealth of upgrades all come together to make this a very moreish adventure indeed. Fans of the genre would be wise to give this a go.

For fans of the genre, Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town is a great example of a life/farming sim at its finest. There’s a mixture of everything here: farming, town building, exploration, relationship building, fishing, cooking, crafting – and it’s all blended together so well. If you’ve got the time to sink into it and you’re looking for something seriously relaxing, you really can’t go wrong.

It’s actually surprising just how good World War Z is.

Tormented Souls is a great survival horror game, and on Switch it’s more impressive than ever. The visuals are good, the puzzle-heavy gameplay remains engaging, and being able to quickly bring up the map makes a world of difference. If you’re an old-school survival horror fan and haven’t played this yet, get it bought, pronto.

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.

Can’t Drive This is that rare thing: a very simple concept, but one that’s so well-executed that it creates absolute carnage and hilarity. If games nights with friends are a thing you enjoy, make sure to include Can’t Drive This at your next one. You won’t regret it.

Short but poignant; that’s ultimately what Endling: Extinction is Forever is. It perfectly conveys the horrors that mankind is capable of, and how it affects the land and animals around us. And it doesn’t pull any punches. There’s no happy ending here, no matter how good you are at looking after your cubs. It’s a game that should be played though, as its message is important. Just be ready to have your soul destroyed by the time the credits roll.

Spray Paint Simulator is rewarding and relaxing in the same way that PowerWash Simulator is, with you bringing new life to a range of objects and locations. Some jobs are better than others, though, and it can be finicky when it comes to completing some smaller part of jobs, but it's still thoroughly enjoyable on the whole.

Mable & The Wood is no cakewalk and there are brief moments where you’ll struggle to make progress. But promise of new abilities and new areas to explore will keep you playing – and when you leap, slash and swing your way to them, you’ll never be disappointed. Mable & The Wood oozes charm from beginning to end and, even in a market that isn’t short of Metroidvanias, it more than distinguishes itself.

Pikmin 3 Deluxe is a wonderful adventure, and even if you’ve fond memories of the game on Wii U, the new content makes it well worth returning to. While some issues that have shown up in previous titles are still present here, there’s nothing that ruins the fun of commanding your little army of Pikmin. Whether you’re a fan of the series or picking it up for the first time, there’s a lot to love here. With its extra content, co-op play and some truly excellent boss encounters, Pikmin 3 Deluxe might just be the best in the series.

Discolored is an intriguing adventure set in a minimalistic but intriguing world. The lack of dialogue and no developing story might put off some players, but its atmosphere alone is enough to keep you engaged. It’s a short experience, and I found myself wishing it was longer – it’s an enjoyable world to explore and discover secrets within – but it means the game never outstayed its welcome. With a beautiful soundtrack, smooth controls and a unique concept, you’ll be hard pressed to find another puzzle game out there like Discolored.

If you enjoyed Cole Phelps’ investigations the first time round, you’ll likely still get a kick out of them six years later. But if you’re new to the game, its flawed systems and dated visuals will likely tarnish the experience for you. It’s a game worth playing for the story and setting, but not for the detective work involved.

Gord isn’t the deepest of city builders, and its campaign can sometimes feel like an extended tutorial, but nevertheless, it provides an engaging mix of city building and exploration. With its sanity system and pesky Horrors that need to be dealt with, there’s not much else like this around. Jump into its Custom Scenario mode with both feet, and you’ll likely a find a game that will eat up hours of your time.

Had Ghost of Tsushima released earlier into the PS4’s life, chances are it would be revered. But now, in a world in which the likes of Red Red Redemption 2 and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey exist, it feels a little underwhelming. Still, it is quite possibly the best samurai game ever made, and is well worth picking up if you’re after another epic open-world to get lost in. Just temper your expectations as much as your steel.

Ninja Theory ought to be praised for what it’s achieved – an adult story that’s told like no other, combat that’s skilful and harrowing, unique environmental based puzzles and light, scenic adventuring. It’s just a shame that some of Hellblade‘s gameplay components at times feel forced.

Fun, colourful and surprisingly well-presented, there's a lot to like about My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery. Not focusing on the task at hand can be a little frustrating, but when horsing around is so enjoyable, it's hard to be too incensed.

As an introductory episode to a three-part series, Awake absolutely nails it. The action that takes place is pretty low-key — don’t run into Before the Storm expecting epic adventure sequences — but it’s a perfect return to Arcadia Bay.