If you like games that are fast-paced and that don’t bog you down with gameplay elements that can feel like busywork, Ghostwire: Tokyo may not be for you. If you don’t mind the slower pace, however, and are excited by the prospect of busting ghosts with magic thrown from your hands, chances are you’ll love it. It may feel like virtual tourism during a cataclysmic event at times, but that’s the charm of it. And there’s plenty of it to be done as you traipse back and forth across Tokyo trying to thwart a Hannya mask-wearing psycho.

The real draw here is the captivating looter-shooter action that grabs you early on and simply doesn’t let go. You’ll love running into each combat encounter, commanding the battlefield like the Altered being that you are, before sweeping up any loot left by those you’ve slain. Then, back at camp, you’ll paw over your stats, improving and modding your gear as you see fit, before heading out into the fray once again. To play Outriders is to become engrossed in it, whether you’re alone or with others. Needless to say, it might just prove to be the biggest surprise of the year.

If you enjoy the likes of Stardew Valley, you’ll get a kick out of Spirittea. There’s serious joy to be found in seeing your bathhouse improve over time, but that’s only part of the fun to be found here. Simply existing in Spirittea’s unique little world is wonderful, making friends with its colourful residents – and enjoying a spot of karaoke. It’s a unique take on the genre, for sure, and if you’re not too spooked out by spirits, Spirittea is absolutely worth soaking up.

The gameplay of Puzzle Bobble never gets old, and in Everybubble it’s no different. Popping bubbles is just as much fun as it was in the 1990s: almost 30 years later, and it’s as enjoyable as ever. Puzzle Bobble Everybubble offers up a well-rounded package with plenty of modes to jump into, with Baron’s Tower and the joyous Space Invaders twist giving players reason to keep jumping back in long after the story mode has been completed. What’s not to like, really?

If you’re a fan of The Surge and you’re fine with the idea of A Walk in the Park only taking up a few hours of your time, I’d say jump into it. It may be quite short but it’s enjoyable every step of the way, and there’s plenty of goodies to carry through to the rest of the game. For those expecting a longer running time, however, you may want to wait until A Walk in the Park becomes a little cheaper. Though do make sure you pick it up.

What I know for certain is that Genital Jousting is a secret gem that far surpasses the toilet humour you’d expect.

Sonic x Shadow Generations feels right at home on Switch 2. Both Sonic Generations and the new Shadow campaign look fantastic, and performance is solid, making these fast-paced platforming experiences a joy to return to time and time again. It's just a shame there's no upgrade path for those who already own the game on the original Switch.

After the disappointing Halo 5: Guardians, it really does feel like 343 Industries is getting the series back on track with Halo Infinite. The setting is familiar, and so is the gameplay, but like returning to your hometown to meet up with long-lost friends, it’s a wholesome experience and, once you scratch the surface, things are different enough to allay any fears that you’re just re-treading the same old ground. Perhaps the biggest shame is that co-op won’t be available until after launch, because those open areas could really do with multiple Spartans causing havoc in them. But until then, even playing solo is bound to be captivating thanks to firefights that put most other first-person shooters to shame.

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.

As its name suggests, Find My Frogs is a game about, well, finding frogs. And gnomes, and insects, and other bits and bobs. With a gorgeous art style, this is a seriously pretty and relaxing hidden object game that's well worth its discount asking price.

For shoot ’em up fans, the decision whether to purchase Raiden IV x MIKADO Remix or not on Switch should be a no-brainer. Not only is this one of the best shoot ’em ups around, but here it’s enhanced with additional modes, global leaderboards and a brilliant remixed soundtrack. Throw in co-op, an abundance of options to fiddle with, and TATE mode, and you have a game that will keep fans of the genre entertained long into the future.

Without a doubt, The Assembly is one of the first high-quality, content-rich VR games, and if this is any indication to go by, then VR narrative games are going to be a huge and exciting chunk in that VR pie. [Tested with HTC Vive]

If you feel like taking on Lady Luck and fancy a roll of the dice, Dicey Dungeons is a hell of a lot of fun. Its vibrant art style is a delight, and its simple but endlessly entertaining gameplay loop will keep you coming back time and time again.

Grow: Song of the Evertree is the epitome of cosy, wholesome gaming. With a healthy mix of town-building, farming and adventuring, there’s a huge amount of content here for the modest asking price. If you enjoy relaxing games that you can take at your own pace, you won’t be disappointed. It’s a shame that it’s still waiting for some bugs to be ironed out, but once they’re fixed, this will be a must-have.

Thanks to its retro-styled visuals and old-fashioned gameplay, Terminator 2D: No Fate genuinely feels like a blast from the past, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. While it's rather short and it's disappointing that there's no voice acting, it perfectly captures the essence of the classic film and remains fun to play throughout.

Working out the real from the fake, the safe from the damaging is all just part of the game’s mystique, and [hackmud] is almost entirely player driven; nearly everything has been built by other players.

[Blackwood Crossing is] not perfect, but the amount of love that pours out of the game – both in terms of the visual and technical quality from the team of developers and in the palpable relationship between the characters – far outweighs any minor nitpicks you could have.

It’s hard not to love Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Yes, I wish there was more scope for open exploration, and I wish some of the combat encounters were a little more varied. But there’s a ridiculous amount of heart here. From an absolutely killer soundtrack to brilliantly-written characters that you can’t help but adore, it’s a rip-roaring adventure through space that left me wanting more. Ultimately, it’s one of Marvel’s best video game outings yet.

If you're a fan of run-and-gun shooters, Iron Meat is a must-have thanks to its responsive controls and excellently-designed stages. A genuine blast from beginning to end, it's just a shame there aren't more modes.

No matter your age, there’s plenty of fun to be had in Pile Up! Box by Box. Its papercraft world is beautiful, and exploring each of its levels proves to be an entertaining endeavour filled with enjoyable puzzles. It’s just a shame that it’s all over too quickly. But if being left wanting more is the only real problem, then that’s a pretty good sign of a great game.

So, for fans on the Contra series or the run ‘n’ gun genre, Contra Anniversary Collection is a must-have. A lot of its games might feel overly similar to one another, but for its budget price you’d have to be a bit of a scrooge to hold it against it.

If starting all over again drives you up the wall, then Lone Ruin probably isn’t for you. For everyone else, it’s a frenetic, fun and highly replayable outing that’ll have you coming back for more. But if you do find a strange meteor in your backyard, do the sensible thing and toss it in next door’s wheelie bin.

Evil Genius 2: World Domination was a great game on PC and thankfully it’s equally as great on console. If lair building and managing a criminal empire is your thing, consider this an absolute must-play. Rebellion has done a great job ensuring that pretty much every action you could want to perform is at your fingertips on a controller. And with a robust tutorial system, this is a game that’s accessible to all, regardless of their skill level. Evil Genius 2: World Domination really does make it dangerously fun to be bad.

Despite its steep learning curve and occasional forced endings, Elsie is a fast, frenetic and fun roguelike with plenty of ways to change up your runs. It'll have you running and gunning for hours on end, leaving you eager to jump in for yet another run. If roguelikes are your thing, Elsie is well worth its bargain price.

A fantastic introduction to The Walking Dead: A New Frontier. The story is incredibly well created, still managing to feel fresh despite the amount of baggage its carrying from two previous seasons of diverging narrative.

For fans of vampiric tales, dark narratives and grizzly visuals, there’s a lot to love about Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong. You may be thrown straight into the deep end, but once you acclimatise yourself with the fascinating, macabre world around you, you’ll feel right at home. It blends intriguing storytelling with investigation, skill-building and player agency, leading to a game that you’ll most likely struggle to put down.

While there’s a lot to love within The Arges Adventure, it’s mostly superficial due to a frustrating combat system that forces most of the game to become a slog.

Adding yet more layers to the web of intrigue, episode two of Blues and Bullets offers us few answers to the questions on our lips at the end of the first episode, but it doesn’t leave you dissatisfied; it just leaves you eager for the next chapter of the chilling and mysterious tale that’s unravelling to arrive. For a story-driven experience, surely that’s the highest praise that can be given.