If you’re a fan of racing games, F1 2017 should be considered an essential purchase — even if, like me, you don’t follow the sport. The racing is seat of your pants stuff just like it ought to be, and its career mode is simply phenomenal and offers tens of hours of in-depth gameplay. With F1 2017, Codemasters may have just made the best Formula 1 game ever, and I just can’t wait to see how they aim to top it.

Unlike some other roguelikes, Songbringer didn’t quite suck me in. The shortcomings in gameplay, variation, and narrative make the desire of another run fade away quicker than most. That said, it is still a challenging, fun and creative example of the genre.

As an introductory episode to a three-part series, Awake absolutely nails it. The action that takes place is pretty low-key — don’t run into Before the Storm expecting epic adventure sequences — but it’s a perfect return to Arcadia Bay.

Warriors All-Stars has quickly become my favourite Warriors game of recent times. The great cast, the huge amount of content and the smattering of unique game mechanics all combine to make a game that’s fun despite its repetitive nature. It’s yet again a ridiculous power fantasy, but this time with more colour, wit and humour. That makes it a winner in my book, despite its couple of missteps.

Comprised of the base game and both parts of the White March expansion, Pillars of Eternity: Complete Edition surely offers more than 100 hours of gameplay for those who succumb to its charms. That’s exceptional value for money, and with the writing and gameplay being so interesting and entertaining, it’s easy to get sucked in.

Everybody’s Golf‘s lack of visual splendour shouldn’t put you off playing what is the most accessible and enjoyable golf game there is on the market though. Creating and developing your own comical golf avatar is wonderfully addictive, and while there are only five courses available, the vast array of gameplay options and features means it’s hard to ever tire of sinking balls until the early hours of the morning, whether online or off. Everybody’s Golf on PlayStation 4 is the best it’s ever been, and that’s all you really need to know.

Ys Seven may be quite old and rather basic, but it’s still an action-RPG that’s worthy of your time. If you’re after a light-hearted romp full of action that proves that solid gameplay is more important than snazzy visuals and complex mechanics, you won’t be disappointed.

Rabi-Ribi’s magic really lies in being relevant right now, as an innovative, deep and well-crafted 2D platformer complete with cutesy retro/Anime artstyle. It’s incredibly good fun to play, engaging and witty, easy to pick up and almost impossible to put down.

If you’re a fan of tower defence games, then you’ll likely enjoy the fun elements that Rock of Ages 2 injects into an otherwise fairly dry genre. It’s much better as a local co-op experience, but if you do jump into the single player, you’ll at least get a guffaw or two out of the wacky cut-scenes. It’s just a shame that the same amount of character and personality don’t run over into the actual gameplay.

It isn’t perfect, and frustration will rear its ugly head from time to time, but for all its quirks, The Escapists 2’s blend of excitement and tension will keep you hooked. Lock yourself away with The Escapists 2 and you won’t regret it.

For its budget price, Yakuza Kiwami delivers more than its fair share of violent crime-filled action laden with a weird sense of humour, and I was glued to the screen for every minute of it.

I can’t recommend The Pillars of the Earth highly enough. Beautiful artwork combined with a deep and rich story make for a compelling experience, and I’m eager for book two of the game to release so I can get stuck back in.

Another fantastic game from Naughty Dog, a developer whose pedigree only seems to grow stronger with each title.

It has some flaws that can suck the fun out of it, but White Day should still be of interest to horror fans looking for something substantial.

Circuit Breakers is incredibly good fun. It might not entirely scratch my gaming itch but if you’ve got a love of arcade action or you’re after a pick-up-and-play game to dive into for a few minutes at a time, Circuit Breakers is absolutely the time-waster for you.

For music rhythm game fans, SUPERBEAT XONiC EX is an essential purchase. It’s challenging but accessible, and the wide range of songs and customisation options available means there’s plenty of content to go at, just as you like it. Every bit as good as the PlayStation Vita but with more content and the ability to play it on a big screen and with a better sound system, SUPERBEAT XONiC EX will push your hand-eye coordination to the limit, but you’ll enjoy every eye-watering minute of it.

I was pretty disappointed with Nidhogg 2. After a few hours of playing I don’t see myself going back to it any time soon. The weapon changes and graphic changes were enough to turn me off. Although the game can be fun to play for a few minutes at a time, all of the extra additions were just a little too much. I’ll stick to playing the original, I think.

Despite its few missteps in repetition and a few bland design choices that stand out amidst a wash of personality, there’s no denying just how much fun this game is.

Night Trap: 25th Anniversary Edition is an important game that’s worth experiencing. It’s just not a particularly good one.

I’m not going to beat around the bush; the Switch version of Severed is easily the best yet. Being touch based, the Switch’s responsive and gloriously large screen means that the gameplay shines brighter than ever before. Severed‘s unique, almost papercraft-like art style is really showcased on the Switch too, bringing its haunting world to life.

This is a game with a long, arcing story that takes some awkward, colourful teens through their turbulent teenage years with a fun and vibrant world to explore, charming characters to befriend and a turn-based combat system with a surprising amount of depth once you look beneath the surface.

It successfully picks up the pace and raises the ante without abandoning the themes of friendship, personal growth and responsibility that made the first episode such a great start to the season. Whether you’re a Minecraft fan or not, this well-woven tale of dilemmas and derring-do will have you on the edge of your oddly blocky seat.

Those who have grown up playing Mega Man games, however, will absolutely love it. The controls are responsive, performance is solid, and the number of added features and challenges is commendable, making Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 a must-buy for fans who long for a taste of nostalgia.

Though it has some minor issues that undoubtedly hold it back a little, Sine Mora EX is a fantastic side-scrolling shooter, cram-packed with enough content to keep you playing in the long term. The high level of difficulty may be off-putting for those who aren’t overly familiar with the genre, but those who persist will find a game that looks great, sounds great and is ultimately very rewarding.

When played in VR mode, Rez Infinite soon becomes one of the most compelling arguments for the existence of the format. And Area X? Well, it just gives us hope that a sequel will eventually be made that well and truly blows our tiny minds.

Matterfall is perhaps the least essential Housemarque title in the PlayStation 4’s catalogue, but it’s still a cut above the majority of the competition. Had there been more variety to its levels, some additional features and a tweak or two to the gameplay it could have stood toe-to-to with the like of Nex Machina, but as it is, it just doesn’t feel like the well-rounded package that we’ve become used to.

An audio and visual tour de force, Observer doesn’t pull any punches. It would appear that Layers of Fear was simply foreplay for Bloober Team; a warm up for the full-on fuckfest that Observer is. Combining investigation, exploration, stealth, puzzles, and a near constant barrage of horror, Observer is a meticulously created game that rarely puts a foot wrong. If you think you have the stomach for it, this could be one of the biggest surprises of the year.

A Sonic fan couldn’t really ask for more than what’s been delivered by Sonic Mania. It’s got the gratifying Sonic physics, responsive controls, thrilling speed, open levels and brilliant bosses. It truly is a return to form for our favourite speedy blue hedgehog, which is ironic considering that it’s not made by Sonic Team.