Gears Tactics is the best Gears of War game since the original trilogy came to a close. The genre may have changed, but the action still has the same immediacy, and it’s just as much fun as ever to chainsaw an enemy in half or blow them to bits with a frag grenade.

Sakura Wars is far from being perfect. It does, however, have charm, and that goes far. With its amusing character interactions and dramatic scenes, it keeps you eager to discover what’s going to happen next.

For rally fans who haven’t yet dived into DiRT Rally 2.0 for whatever reason, this Game of the Year Edition is essential. There’s no finer looking rally game available, no other rally games handles as well, and now, no other rally game compares in terms of content. If only DiRT Rally 2.0 Game of the Year Edition wasn’t so hard on players then it would be perfect. It’s near enough for most, though. This is undoubtedly the best rally game available right now. And it probably will be until the next DiRT Rally emerges.

Lacklustre animation aside, Pirates Outlaws is a great addition to the strategy card game genre. It might not push the boundaries or offer up anything extraordinary, but it is a solid, genuinely fun and easy-to-play adventure. It’s a game that I can see myself going back to time and again, because I know there’s still more it can offer me. If you’re a fan of pirates and a fan of strategy card games, you should set your sights on Pirates Outlaws, me hearties.

MotoGP 20 is undoubtedly the best MotoGP game yet. Not everyone will be on board with some of the changes made to its core modes, though. There’s room for the managerial features of the career mode to be refined and expanded upon in the next iteration, and opponent AI could still do with a bit of work, but they do little to sully the racing experience provided this year. Needless to say, if you’re a fan of the sport or after a bike racing game that ties itself to tracks rather than open roads, MotoGP 20 is highly recommended.

All things considered, then, Obey Me is… fine. It’s not remarkable in any way, but it’s perfectly playable. Its take-it-or-leave-it story gives way to passable combat, set in a bland world. There are plenty of other games out there offering something similar, and doing a much better job of it. Still, at least here you get the bonus of being accompanied by a doberman from hell.

Heal isn’t a long game; it’ll likely take you only a couple of hours to reach its conclusion, with a pause to shout at that one frustrating puzzle. But you’ll still be engrossed by this OAP’s otherworldly outing.

I wouldn’t go as far as calling Hot Garbage, well, hot garbage. But it’s certainly not great, and it’s somewhat tarnished my otherwise excellent experience with Journey to the Savage Planet. By all means, give it a go if you’re desperate for a new area to explore – you can’t really go wrong with its £6/$8 asking price – but don’t expect too much. And be prepared to get very frustrated.

Needless to say, if you enjoyed The Division 2 and are looking for more content to stick your teeth into, consider The Division 2: Warlords of New York an essential purchase. Its missions are some of the most nail-bitingly tense and exciting yet, and returning to New York City is a pure delight – even if the state of its streets is even more harrowing than before.

As it stands right now, however, it simply isn’t fun to play most of the time. Stick to Left 4 Dead in the meantime; Resident Evil Resistance is better left buried until its developers have reanimated it with some much-needed updates.

Even though it’s arrived nine years later than planned (it was cancelled and later resurrected due to the 2011 Japanese earthquake) this is a step back for the Disaster Report/Zettai Zetsumei Toshi series. There are a few highlights, but Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories has so many rough edges, broken mechanics and frustrating, counter-intuitive elements that it’s anything but memorable.

Final Fantasy VII Remake is the best JRPG from Square since Final Fantasy VII. It takes a classic, carefully builds on it, and although certain changes made to the story may not be as well-received by all players, overall there's no denying that it's a massive success.

It’s an emotional tour de force that will keep you hooked from start to to finish.

Few Rogue-like games have grabbed my attention quite like HyperParasite has. Its unique premise is a lot of fun, and the sheer wealth of characters available means that the game can feel like a totally different experience from one moment to the next. Unlocking all characters means there’s always something to work towards; add to that the game’s tongue-in-cheek 80s atmosphere and bombastic soundtrack, and there’s plenty of reason to keep jumping back in. It’s just a shame that HyperParasite‘s unforgiving nature means most of its players won’t ever fully experience what the game has to offer.

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’ve played a Warriors game before, then you’ve basically played One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4. Thin story, okay graphics, and somewhat shallow but satisfying action gameplay are all par for the course here, not to mention a lion’s share of content to work through. If you’ve ever been curious what this sub-genre is all about, this is a great place to jump in with its easily approachable gameplay and that lovably goofy One Piece aesthetic. If you’re a long time fan, we’d encourage you to ask yourself how much you want more of the same and decide based on that. One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 is the furthest thing from reinventing the wheel, but it sure has its unique and addictive gameplay loop down to a science.

If you’re expecting a full follow-up to Enter the Gungeon, with the same degree of depth, you’ll be disappointed. Exit the Gungeon is, at its best, a fun but shallow shooter, which doesn’t really deliver on its appealing premise. But if you’re prepared to take this light and fluffy sidequel for what it is, there’s still joy to be had on your way out of the Gungeon.

If you’ve never played Zombie Army Trilogy before and are wanting to pop some undead skulls, you should seriously consider picking this up. Especially if you have like-minded friends to play it with. Hell, even those who have already played it before might get some kicks out of it too. Let’s face it, how often do you get to shoot a zombified Hitler in the face while sitting on the loo? This is a great game, not compromised in any way, now playable absolutely anywhere. There’s little better than that.

A sharp, smartly written interactive thriller, with not a single one-dimensional character in sight, The Complex is (despite its theme) a joy to experience.

In terms of thrills and spills, Resident Evil 3 offers what is perhaps the best Resident Evil campaign ever. There's less busywork to bog you down, allowing you to move through the game at an enjoyably brisk pace. And while it is no doubt more action-focused, it's incredibly tense at times.

If you’re looking for a game that’ll keep your younger children occupied, Gigantosaurus: The Game could be it. Its built-in local co-op means it’s perfect for siblings to play together, and its Easy Mode means that even the youngest children can get a kick out of it. There’s plenty of gameplay for those who want to hunt for everything – and even for those who don’t it offers an easygoing, cheerful distraction from the real world right now.

It’s clear to see that One Piece Pirate Warriors 4 is one of the best and most enjoyable games based on the hit One Piece franchise. It has a terrific roster of characters that are brought to life like never before, its story is ridiculously entertaining, there’s plenty of content, and the action has been tweaked in ways that make it feel surprisingly fresh. Whether you’re a fan of Warriors games or One Piece, One Piece Pirate Warriors 4 is easy to recommend.

If you love Control, definitely consider picking it up.

Saints Row IV: Re-Elected‘s over-the-top antics, larger-than-life characters and superpower-focused gameplay make it one of the most ludicrous ways to waste away a decent number of hours. And in these trying times, perhaps that’s what we all need.

It’s dated, sure, but for £3.99/$4.99 you can’t really go wrong with DOOM 64. There’s just under 10 hours of solid gameplay here, and many might return to tackle the game’s harder difficulty levels. It won’t get your heart racing in the same way that more modern DOOM titles do, but if you have a penchant for retro shooters there’s plenty to like. It’s perhaps the best of the classic DOOMs, if you don’t mind that its soundtrack doesn’t have tunes that you can tap your feet to, that is.

There has never been a better time for a new Animal Crossing game to arrive. It cannot fix what’s going on in the world right now, but Animal Crossing: New Horizons gives us the joyful, meditative escape that so many of us desperately need right now. Whether you’re young or old, you’ll find something to like. What isn’t to love about customising your dream island and being able to sit on a bench by the beach, listening to the waves, just because you can? Nothing I can think of, that’s for sure.

Uno remains to be one of the most enjoyable family card games out there, and its digitised version is just as fun as the real thing. Uno Ultimate Edition‘s add-on content – particularly Uno Flip – makes it an even sweeter deal, adding new and exciting modes of play. If you don’t already have Uno in your library, do yourself a favour and pick up Uno Ultimate Edition. Otherwise, just grab the Uno Flip DLC; you won’t regret it.

Paper Beast isn’t perfect; like a dream, the game just ends without warning. But the trip is such a joyous, meditative experience it’s worth this parting burst of confusion. If you’ve got a PSVR, Paper Beast should be high on your to-play list.