Colourful and over-the-top, Revenge of the Savage Planet captures much of the same space-faring japes that made us love Journey to the Savage Planet. Its humour doesn't hit quite in the same way, though, and a few annoyances with combat left us a little frustrated.

When Ski Lifts Go Wrong is very much like Poly Bridge from Dry Cactus, and that’s no bad thing. Aside from those irksome technical issues, Ski Lifts Go Wrong stands very nicely alongside Poly Bridge and other physics-based puzzle games of the same ilk. If you enjoy a good challenge – and a good amount of silliness – you’ll certainly get a kick out of this.

Unoriginal art direction aside, Natsuki Chronicles is a thoroughly entertaining shoot ’em up that any fan of the genre should check out. Though thanks to its generosity with handing out additional credits and shields in each of its game modes, it’s even suitable for those with only a passing interest in the genre looking for a good entry point. Only players who truly wanted to follow its story will find real fault with it – everyone else will find it to be a blast from beginning to end.

Essays on Empathy is an intriguing collection. It’s a shame that a few finishing touches weren’t applied to give the overall package the polish it deserves, but there’s no denying that the concepts created by Deconstructeam are seriously impressive. You likely won’t find a collection of games as eclectic as this anywhere else.

The saving grace is that combat isn’t all that frequent in Paper Mario: The Origami King, so it doesn’t bring the experience down all that much. You’ll have so much fun exploring its papercraft world and devouring every line of its sumptuous dialogue that you’ll just grit your teeth and persist through the battles you encounter, knowing full well that in a minute or so you’ll be back at the good stuff. It isn’t perfect, but Paper Mario: The Origami King has a huge amount of charm, and those with a keen sense of humour and adventure will find themselves effortlessly falling in love with it.

One of the best and most under-appreciated games of 2024, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess has made the successful leap to Switch 2 and is as unique and essential as ever in 2025. Offering a mesmerising combination of action and strategy, it will grab you from the outset. And as you get about your work cleansing a mountain of defilement, you'll be floored by the brilliant enemy designs.

Featuring 12 levels over three distinct themes, Escape Simulator 2 has plenty of content at launch, with every level being brilliantly designed and filled with clever, challenging puzzles. For those who want more, there's a level designer and the option to play community-created levels, so there's potentially endless content here. A bargain for £14.99/$19.99.

Everything is, at once, utterly bizarre, brilliantly hilarious and incredibly profound.

What really matters is that the emulation in SEGA Genesis / Mega Drive Classics is of a high standard, and the range of games included is pretty great.

For those who have played and enjoyed Judgment, the decision to pick up Lost Judgment should be a no-brainer. With a brand new story that's just as engaging (if not more so) than the first, as well as many gameplay improvements and a bucketload of new content, it's a fine example of a sequel done right. It's like a lucky dip where every time you load it up to play you're never sure what you're in for – but you'll rarely, if ever, be disappointed. Variety is the spice of life, they say, and Lost Judgment might just be the spiciest game I've played this year.

It’s safe to say that we’ve been taken by surprise by DNF Duel. We were drawn in by its trailer showcasing its eye-catching visuals, but have been very happy to find that it has real substance. Its combat is exhilarating and easy to get to grips with, yet has enough depth to keep you going back for more. And with its many characters – ahem, classes – as well as a pleasing selection of modes, there’s plenty to go at. Whether you’re new to the fighting game malarkey, or a seasoned pro, this definitely deserves your attention.

Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is another solid entry into this bizarre but lovable drumming rhythm game. The 70 songs included within the game offer plenty of variety, but it’s a shame some of the best tracks are locked behind the Taiko Music Pass subscription. The multiplayer modes on offer are a welcome touch, but if you’re expecting more minigames like Drum ‘n’ Fun, you may be disappointed. This is more about the music, and we can’t really fault that.

Like almost all of The Sims 4‘s expansion packs, Snowy Escape adds plenty of content, making this a worthwhile addition to any collection. The new location of Mt. Komorebi might just be the prettiest yet, and seeing your Sims try (and often fail) at skiing and snowboarding is wonderful. The new Japanese-inspired furnishings are the cherry on top, allowing you to create homes in a completely new style. If you’re a regular Sims player, you won’t regret walking into this winter wonderland.

Knockout City has surprised me. It has all the ingredients of a successful multiplayer game: an enjoyable core gameplay mechanic, a high skill ceiling, and the promise of continuous and meaningful support. It’s the type of game I could easily see becoming a popular esport. If you’re after a new competitive online game to play that’s fun and rewards teamwork, be sure to give it a try. If you’re an EA Play or Game Pass Ultimate subscriber, you don’t even need to pay anything for it. Velan Studios has taken the simple concept of dodgeball and turned into one of the most original and enjoyable multiplayer games I’ve played in quite a while.

For the most part, Zero Time Dilemma is a challenging, fantastical ride. Its puzzles are perfectly pitched, and while it may take you a while to wrap your head around the game’s story, you’ll delight in slowly piecing together its winding narrative.

With a wealth of new environments and a decent storyline to boot, Middle-earth: Shadow of War doesn’t feel like a forced entry but a great expansion on the original concept. It’s rather funny, too.

Judgment is more than “more Yakuza”; it’s a markedly different beast that, despite using assets from Yakuza 6, re-introduces you to Kamurocho through a new set of eyes. Tak is brasher, smarter, and more inclined to use brains than brawn, and the characters he goes up against are surprisingly grounded. Altogether, it's a thoroughly delightful detective adventure.

If you’re a huge basketball fan then of course you’re going to want to buy NBA 2K20, warts and all. But you should probably ask yourself, “do you need to?”. If you just want to play basketball, NBA 2K19 does the job nearly almost as well – and you can pick that up for peanuts if you don’t already own it. NBA 2K20‘s MyCareer is a huge disappointment, and other modes have had minor improvements at best. All you’re really paying for is roster updates, WNBA and the opportunity to buy more VC. If that sounds like a good deal to you then jump in, but it really shouldn’t.

New Super Lucky’s Tale is a game that probably doesn’t need to exist, all things considered. But I’m very glad it does; the changes made to this version make it even better than it was the first time round. It remains one of the most wholesome and enjoyable 3D platform games of recent years, and I just hope we get more of Lucky’s adventures in the future.

One of the most original horror games I've played, Among Ashes presents a game within a game which quickly draws you in and keeps you captivated until the credits roll. Considering this is the work of a solo developer, it's hugely impressive and deserves a place amongst 2024's highlights.

If you like challenging games that are full of action and are dripping with atmosphere, Valfaris comes highly recommended. And if you happen to like metal music, it’s even better. Steel Mantis has struck silver with this metal-infused shooter. It isn’t perfect but it’s bloody good.

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake feels like a missed opportunity to build on the unique concept of the original game. It could have been expanded with new scenes and situations to provide fresh new challenges and keep players on their toes. Given the success of A Way Out and It Takes Two, more work could have been done to make its co-op mode much more intuitive and enticing, too. As it is, it’s successful in beautifying the original game but nothing more, unfortunately.

Inversus packs a lot to love into a little package and it just works. The gameplay is smooth, the mechanics are solid and deep, and the soundtrack is perfectly tuned to the game. I admit that I didn’t catch the bug for Inversus when I first played, but I have it now and I like it.

It’s safe to say that Frontier has done a fantastic job bringing Planet Zoo: Console Edition to life. Playing on console is just as joyous as playing on PC, even if it may take a little while to get used to the controls. It’s intuitive enough, though, and it’s a game worth persevering for: growing your own zoo, seeing your animals thrive in your built environments and watching your visitors have a jolly old time in your park is endlessly rewarding.

If, like me, you’ve been waiting what feels like forever for a new Ridge Racer game to be announced, I really do recommend that you give Hotshot Racing a go. There are some elements of it that don’t quite align with Bandai Namco’s premier arcade racing series, but it lets you get sideways in a range of wonderful locations, and challenges you to carefully use your boost to remain at the front of the pack. I don’t know about you, but that’s something I’ve been craving.

If you’re after a game that’s fun to pick up and play, GoNNER is well worth the asking price. Its unique visuals, great soundtrack and wonderfully responsive controls make it a title you’ll go back to again and again; perfect for a portable device like the Switch.

An action RPG with survival and base building elements, you get out of V Rising what you put into it. This is a deep and engrossing experience in which you get to develop your very own vampire lord, even going so far as to designing and building their castle. Only fiddly controls let it down a little on PS5.

A new Ninja Gaiden for a new generation, Ninja Gaiden 4 features combat that's faster-paced and more intense than ever before. It's the most accessible, too, thanks to a range of difficulty levels and assists. It's just a shame that its new protagonist isn't a little more likeable.