One mark of a great game, for me, is how well it can pull you back after a crushing defeat, and this one’s got quite the lure.

Playing Tetraminos with a couple of friends is without a doubt some of the most enjoyable split-screen action that I have experienced in a number of years.

The puzzles on offer are the usual fare of untangling, turning, finding, matching or clicking; there’s nothing that’s going to melt your brain but they’re engaging enough to give you some satisfaction.

It’s surprising to see such little care done [in the console release], thanks to the age of the original PC version.

Despite a long list of small gripes, it’s hard not to see the majesty in [Dragon Quest VII].

The story is human, relatable, enabling you to build an empathetic bond with Anne with ease. And even when events go all mind-bendingly crazy as you reach the final stretch, you still care.

PC just isn’t the right platform for a title like Guards.

Like a cryptic film, you’ll probably find yourself finishing a playthrough and heading to Google to search ‘Dear Esther meaning'.

Despite its technical issues though, Bioshock: The Collection brings together two of the best games of last gen with one really good, though ultimately inferior sequel.

One of the biggest frustrations with Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters [is] its combat is almost completely based on chance.

For all the 3DS owners out there who, like me, are sick of seeing the deluge of kiddie-focused games appearing in the Nintendo eShop, Steel Empire is a very welcome respite. Outside of the Sega 3D Classics, range this is the best thing to appear on the 3DS in recent memory and is a must-have purchase for any 3DS owner.

I, Zombie [feels] almost like a flash game, nothing more than a momentary distraction.

Avadon 3 proves that the classic RPG isn’t, and nor should it ever be, dead; as long as we have people like Jeff Vogel creating these involved and terrific worlds full of choice and enjoyment the genre will never leave us. Some people may scoff at the visuals or at the lack of a soundtrack; others may be put off by the sometimes poor UI or the intrinsic slowness of it all, but even those things add charm to something like this.

Bears Can’t Drift!? is gorgeously designed with multiple brightly coloured levels and smooth character animations.

Rive is responsive enough that nothing feels like a particular chore. I always felt that I could calculate instantly how far a jump will go and the twin stick shooting does not leave anything to desire.

Pizza Express is one of the most intense, complicated, and truly fun management simulators I’ve ever played and truly came out of nowhere! I love its art style (apart from some hard to read pixel text) and retro feel, along with its loveable characters and overall entertaining story and gameplay.

The Bunker isn’t a game to rush through but rather savour every moment spent in its incredibly well-crafted setting.

Considering just the gameplay alone, it’s incredibly fulfilling – and at times, quite tricky.

The dark, foreboding, post-apocalyptic worlds are beautifully drawn with some amazing attention to detail.

It’s a typical bullet hell game that doesn’t do much more than the bare minimum. It’s got a beautiful aesthetic, great sound, and a fantastically appropriate soundtrack. A solid upgrade system and ship selection will keep you going for a while, but that flame will burn out.

Without a doubt the highlight of Jotun is also its raison d’etre: spectacularly epic boss fights against gargantuan Gods.

The difficulty [of Shiny Gauntlet] is often too much to bear and rarely encourages you to come back and try again.

It’s probably as close to perfection as an arcade racer could possibly be. The visuals are simply phenomenal, the sound effects and soundtrack bring aural pleasure to your ears, and the gameplay is infectiously addictive.

The sense of being constantly on the edge is what makes every lap of every race exhilarating and great to play.

A great addition to a series that is turning out to be one of Telltale’s best. The combat continues to improve, the story is fantastically written, the choices are tough in the best way, and everything really feels like a cohesive package.

There are plenty of moments in Legion that make you smile, and playing with friends has been the engaging social experience that WoW has missed for a long time.

Sky Force Anniversary is a great modern shmup that unfortunately pads its content by pushing players to the max. Not only that, but there are implementations, such as the specialties, that feel arbitrary. Detractions aside, I liked the game quite a bit and the addition of co-op and Remote Play was a godsend. Sky Force Anniversary didn’t evolve the genre, but it created something moderately pleasant in our modern architecture.

For £7, you have one of the finest examples of not just a shoot’em up, but of any small-scale arcade-style experience game out there.