While the mixed reviews of Yooka-Laylee made people question if 3D platformers were just a thing of the past to be forgotten, Unbox: Newbie’s Adventure shows that new things can still be done in the genre to produce some real gold dust.

I’ve spent hundreds of hours playing video games before now and, at the conclusion, felt good for having completed it… but it’s those shorter games, games like Pinstripe, that stick out in my mind as having formed a real connection and left a lasting impression.

Video games don’t have to equal violence. Knowing that no monsters await you around any corner, and that no band of rogues is out to kill you is strangely liberating. Put down your guns, your swords, and your bows and arrows, and step into the world of Yonder just for an hour or two. You might just love it.

Cars 3: Driven to Win isn’t really a bad game. It can be fairly enjoyable in short bursts, especially in co-op. At the same time, however, it’s not what I’d call a good game either. It’s decidedly average, chock full of content and variety, but let down by being prescriptive, uneven in difficulty and quite frankly, a bit dull.

Redout is one of the most delightfully high-octane, edge-of-my-seat racing games in recent memory. It’s a thrilling adrenaline rush of an experience. It’s a finely-tuned joyride that’s been polished and balanced until it shines in a cornucopia of flashy colours.

Hero in Residence is a sterling start to Minecraft Story Mode Season 2, an entertaining, engaging outing which shows that that the series is capable of doing more than retreading old ground.

In many ways, Iron Crypticle is old fashioned to a fault – the lack of persistence and awkward 8-directional movement and shooting mires it in the past, bereft of any modern gameplay enhancements.

Bulb Boy is a wonderful addition to the Switch, especially if you’re looking for something a little more unusual.

If you have inhuman hand/eye coordination or really do like inflicting inner turmoil upon yourself, then you probably should consider picking AFTERGRINDER up. You’ll probably get a kick out of it, you sick bastard.

Nongünz is really something special; a shooter with brains that’s not only haunting, challenging and utterly compelling but, thanks to its procedural nature, is hugely replayable.

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.

Compared to some past entries, Song of the Dark Swan‘s visuals look even more vivid and sharper than ever before, and altogether are more beautiful to look at. Even if you don’t particularly enjoy this simplistic style of game, you can appreciate the well-crafted artwork.

Though this fun piece of software does what it needs to do, the limitations of the 3DS’s abilities, the lack of direction and the painstaking work that is required makes RPG Maker Fes feel like a let-down.

With its charming papercraft-like visuals and enjoyable 70s themed soundtrack, Serial Cleaner can be a lot of fun if you have the patience for it.

Minor grievances aside, the fact remains that Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is easily the best version of the game. Those who were deterred by it the first time around are unlikely to warm up to it this time, as its divisive battle system remains completely in tact. That being said, the sweeping narrative and endearing cast of characters, alongside the drastically improved character upgrade system, provide an expansive and refined role-playing experience that still manages to charm even a decade after its original release.

Black the Fall definitely isn’t for the casual gamer; it’s crazy tough, but for someone looking for a fun challenge it’s worth a try - or two, or three... since you’ll be dying. A lot.

By no means is No70: Eye of Basir perfect, but coming from a little-known developer, there’s a lot to be applauded for an ambitious first major project. It looks beautiful for one, with gorgeous lighting effects that bring every area to life, and great audio design that really complements the game’s atmosphere.

Ultra Despair Girls’ loop of exploring dungeon-like areas, mowing down waves of Monokuma bots, and switching between the ranged combat of Komaru and melee barrages of Genocide Jack… means you’ve got a third person shooter unlike any other.

Drifting Lands takes two fantastic genres and marries the best aspects of them together with flair, creating an original and massively addictive experience that deserves to be on your radar.

Arizona Sunshine is straight-up fun to play, and the game’s sound design is particularly noteworthy… Pop on a set of decent headphones and the 3D sound comes alive with braying zombies all around you, with things becoming nerve-wracking pretty quickly.

It’s a responsive, smooth experience, but Ancient Amuletor lacks the depth it needs to be a truly worthwhile PSVR title.

If you’re already previously invested in Operation Babel: New Tokyo Legacy‘s universe, characters and gameplay, then I’m sure there’s a lot to like here. However, for a newcomer to the series, the lack of tutorials is frustrating, the environments and world are visually bland, and the gameplay loop not engaging enough to make me want to come back for more.

If complex, entertaining battles float your boat, and you can tolerate the lack of diversions or deviations, then you’ll be in your nostalgic element with God Wars: Future Past.

If you love classics like Streets of Rage or Double Dragon and long for the arcade cabinet experience of the past, Kung Fury could be what you’re looking for, but its short length, frustrating mechanics and lack of variety really hold it back.

Despite a repetitive structure and some boring dungeons, Toyko Xanadu‘s action-based combat was effective in keeping my interest. The characters are also generally quite likeable, with their relationships and quirky personalities coming off as genuinely enjoyable.

With The Crimson Court, I feel like Red Hook is taking us even deeper into Lovecraftian parentage, not just in expanding its supernatural mythos and pantheons, but also by delving deeper into the sense of tragedy, the sorrow of fragile mortality that must be a part of all horror.

Bar some buggy controls and slightly mediocre gameplay, it might have been an enjoyable blast of nostalgia… But Starfighter Origins flaunts its influences so brazenly that it’s difficult, no matter how much I tell myself that it was made by a small team of indie devs, not to compare it to those giants of the genre.

If you can get your head around the concept that you are just a regular soldier… then you’ll find an incredibly unique experience in Rising Storm 2: Vietnam.