While the core gameplay of Redout 2 is solid, the difficulty spikes will suck much of the fun out of the experience for some. And while steadily developing your ship helps players adjust to the increase in speed over the course of the career, it’s a strange and unfortunate choice to not offer a range of starting craft, tuned to multiple play styles. With a bit of work, then, Redout 2 could really stand out in the anti-gravity racer genre. But until then, it’s hard to recommend to all but the brave and the hardcore.

Whether you’re an avid Marvel fan or simply enjoy sinking numerous hours into action RPGs, there’s a lot to love about Marvel’s Avengers. Its characters and its world have been brought to life with a lot of care and detail, making it a pleasure to spend time with. But it’s just how fun the game is that really draws you in. It’s a Hollywood action movie you can play, basically. Sit back, relax, and enjoy punching, shooting, flying and looting. It might not require much in the way of brainpower, but it’s one heck of an enjoyable ride.

Its surfeit of busywork does it no favours, but if you can immerse yourself enough in the game to overlook that, you'll find that State of Decay 2 offers more than enough to quench your shambler-smashing, apocalypse-braving thirst.

Detective Pikachu Returns is, for the most part, a delight. You’re naturally going to get the most out of this game if you’re a Pokémon fan, but even if you’re not, it provides a fun entry point to the world where monsters and humans co-exist. If you’re a seasoned mystery game player, the pace might be a little too slow for you: it’s more about enjoying the story than putting your investigation chops to the test. But if you’re willing to accept that, there’s a great deal of fun to be had here.

In this case, total insanity doesn’t equate to total fun; it equates to frequent failure. Albeit, often financially rewarding failure. No, the finer moments of FlatOut 4: Total Insanity are to be found when it’s either being more restrained or just all out daft.

Chaos Code seeks to carve out its own niche and it may just do that here in the west. It’s an entertaining brawler in its own right and its roster of bizarre characters and ludicrous moves are just appealing enough to keep you engaged.

With Song of the Deep, Insomniac Games have truly surprised and impressed, and hopefully they will continue expanding their portfolio with similarly leftfield titles in the future.

The post apocalyptic world of Diluvion has a steampunk mixed with sci-fi feel to it, and the story reflects that too. I just wish there was less travelling from A to B, or a busier, more detailed landscape to explore along the way.

A platforming game at its heart, Skully is brought to life with beautiful visuals and a unique character system. Its puzzles will, at times, have you scratching your head, and some platforming sections will really test your mettle. In fact, it perhaps verges on being overly frustrating on occasion, but overcoming an obstacle and making it to the next checkpoint is genuinely rewarding. Ultimately, there’s little else like Skully out there, so if you’re a fan of 3D platforming with a smattering of puzzle solving, it likely won’t disappoint.

It might rub some people up the wrong way in light of the current sensitivity surrounding US law enforcement, but it should be said that, while it might exhibit less tact in dealing with some of those situations that hit closer to home, This Is The Police still gives the player the ultimate choice: they can choose to do what’s morally right or… not.

If you like a good challenge and value quality gameplay over length, which you should, Rise & Shine is a great little title and a great start to the gaming year.

Battlezone is one of PSVR’s bulkiest titles, but fails to drum up replayability in the long run.

Trüberbrook isn’t without its charm, though. Despite the dull protagonist, the game’s story is engaging, and the smatterings of humour will occasionally raise a smile. Equally appealing is Trüberbrook’s graphical style, particularly when you’re able to behold the backdrops in all their glory. But considering how many logic-defying hoops you’ve got to jump through and the company you’ll be keeping, the journey to Trüberbrook is only for the patient.

Still, putting aside the few minor technical issues, the voodoo theme and the wealth of content on offer manages to be the game’s real strong suit. There is plenty of fun to be had with Full Mojo Rampage – even moreso with friends!

Hitman HD Enhanced Collection thankfully isn’t a lazy port, but I can’t help but feel that a mistake has been made with regards to its pricing.

Like the real thing, Way of the Hunter is a game that rewards patience and persistence. Yet since it doesn’t bog itself down with trying to provide the most realistic experience that’s possible, it’s quite possibly the most accessible hunting game on the market. It’s enjoyable, too, if you’re into this sort of thing, but a lack of polish will pull you out of it from time to time and possibly frustrate. Still, if you’re after a game that lets you wander through the outdoors and occasionally test your shooting skills, this is worth considering.

Taking on the role of a paranormal investigator, The Occultist gives you multiple unique abilities to make use of as you explore areas and solve an assortment of puzzles. It's a bit rough around the edges, but fans of narrative driven supernatual adventures will likely get plenty of enjoyment out of it.

I actually like the idea of an RPG without the exploration bits, but such a game desperately needs to place more emphasis on engaging and enjoyable combat, which here, is severely lacking.

Its mechanics don’t impress like they used to, but they get the job done. And besides, the story is the focus here, and it still grips you like a vice. It’s just a shame that it’s plagued by technical issues on console, particularly on PS4. If you’re someone who can work though them, Mafia II: Definitive Edition is worth picking up due to its budget price – it even includes all DLC previously released for the game. Those who prefer more polished experiences, however, are better off waiting to see if it gets patched.

So a masterpiece it is not, but Dustoff Z has its merits. Its polygonal art style is cute, and its easy pick-up-and-play level system means it’s the ideal game to stick on for a few minutes while you’re waiting for an update to install elsewhere. It might feel like little more than a mobile game, but it’s an entertaining way to pass the time in between more engaging endeavours.

For fans of the Neptunia and/or Senran Kagura series, there’s a fair bit to like about Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars. While I couldn’t muster any enthusiasm for the game’s story, others may get on better with it. And while the combat isn’t great, it is at least enjoyable for the most part, with some pretty challenging boss battles. Add in plenty of fan-service that some are sure to appreciate as well as post-game content, and you have a game that will keep those who gel with it entertained for many hours. Those unfamiliar with either property involved in this crossover, however, probably won’t find anything other than confusion and disappointment.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space is a strange choice for an asymmetrical multiplayer horror game, but it works. It's fun playing as either a human or a Klown here, with just enough twists on the tried-and-tested formula to keep matches unpredictable and interesting. There's still a little work to be done when it comes to balancing, however.

Right now, Bleeding Edge is an enjoyable but light multiplayer diversion. Needless to say, its ongoing success depends on Ninja Theory’s ability to keep the experience interesting and fresh. If it’s left too long without new content or modes, current players will probably move on, and an online multiplayer game with no players isn’t any fun at all. There’s a good base here on which to build, but if it’s left to stagnate it will quickly be forgotten.

If you’re a hardcore shoot ’em up fan and are desperate for something new to play, Sisters Royale: Five Sisters Under Fire might scratch that itch. For a little while, anyway. Its gameplay is fine, but it doesn’t attempt to further the genre or do anything new in any way. Sure, it packs in a story, but its groanworthy quality perhaps detracts from the overall experience somewhat. It’s fun enough while it lasts, but there are plenty of other shmups out there that offer a much better experience than Sisters Royale, so we recommend you go for one of those instead.

Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions does a fantastic job of capturing the magic of the Wizarding World without overdoing it on fan service. Sure, there's a healthy helping of Harry and his pals in the training segments of the game, but beyond that point, this is all about you and your handmade team of Quidditch heroes. Playing the sport is surprisingly good fun, and we can see ourselves diving back in here for a quick game every now and then for some time to come.

Perhaps I have been rather critical of Button City; there is something sweet in its cuddly art style and although its dialogue and narrative may be try-hard, it is effective at times. The real issue is that it feels like its developers have relied too hard on simply being cute rather than focusing on creating engaging gameplay. Regardless of how adorable the protagonist and their friends may be, there’s just not enough here to hold my attention.

There are definitely times when Someday You’ll Return‘s Czechoslovakian charm shines through. But reaching those islands of excellence means pushing through a game that grows more meandering and repetitive with each chapter. Throw in a protagonist who’s anything but sympathetic and you’ve got a trip that’ll thoroughly test your patience.

The Magnificent Trufflepigs is a beautiful escape to the countryside; its slow pace lends itself to being a relaxing and almost meditative experience. Top-class voice acting and excellent writing means you’ll quickly care for its characters and their stories; and regardless of how you feel about the ending, it’s hard to disagree that the journey was worthwhile.