Sorcerer King’s fatalistic themes are tied cleverly in to its mechanics, resulting in the first game in the Elemental series that really feels like it has a distinct identity.

Technical hiccups aside, Blues and Bullets is a raucous and relentlessly entertaining inaugural entry into the episodic adventure genre.

For those willing to forgive its more archaically-rooted foibles however, Way of the Samurai 4 very often proves to be a hugely entertaining prospect while providing a gleefully quirky look at one of the most enticing and formative periods of Japanese history.

The Swindle is a highly addictive and fun randomly-generated steampunk thievery simulator.

Nevertheless A Nest of Vipers ups the ante considerably and makes for a fine build-up to the finale.

In the end, Traverser is a game that shows great a deal of promise in the early going, with its interesting setting and accomplished visual style making the game tremendously easy to get into.

So minor licks of new paint aside, Worms World Party Remastered remains much as it always has been then. Twee to look at and evolving little in this latest instalment but still horrendously entertaining all the same, it’s difficult to be too upset with Team 17’s newest release when it maintains the core of the series so commendably well.

Still, there’s plenty more to keep them satisfied, and the game’s rough presentation and slightly disappointing campaign are easy to forgive when the basic gameplay is so solid.

A bold take on the long-forgotten FMV adventure genre, Her Story might be old-fashioned and light on what some might describe as traditional gameplay, but its sophisticated narrative and entertainingly novel take on detective work both allow it to soar far beyond the zenith of its seemingly outmoded remit.

It’s not essential, and several of the really game-changing ideas are contained in the accompanying free patch, but if you’re a EUIV fan looking for some interesting new challenges, you won’t regret picking it up.

With some more creative level design and a fully fleshed-out campaign, Star Hammer could have really been something special.

Believe it or not, there is an entertaining action strategy game underneath all this, it’s just that with the crushing weight of issues that sit atop it, we tragically rarely see it.

Dirty Bomb is off to a great start, offering a blend of fast-paced team-based action that I hadn’t realised I’ve been missing since the glory days of Enemy Territory.

As it is I believe Kholat is still worth playing but just be aware that frustration and tension will be present in equal measure.

Massive Chalice is lots of fun and highly addictive.

The narrative is interesting, the puzzles are fun to tackle, if a little too simple and yet, if there was just a lot more content and if everything was a little more polished, we would be looking at a great game heavy with recommendation, rather than a good one laden with caveats.

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing 3 is a good-looking game but the lack of features from the previous entries are a sore point

Game of Thrones is really beginning to kick in to high gear as things start to possibly look up for the Forresters in Sons of Winter, but most importantly the characters start to get much-needed shots in the arm.

Magicka 2 offers a smoother, more comfortable experience than its predecessor, but that doesn’t mean the series has lost its signature charm.

Technobabylon is one of the best adventures WadjetEye have ever published, and that’s saying something.

Those niggles aside, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an absolute triumph and the best open-world RPG around, maybe even the best altogether.

Block N Load offers an intelligent blend of tactical play and madcap carnage that hits the spot in a way that Ace of Spades never did.

A homage to retro classics is one thing but having gameplay that’s both challenging and fun makes Axiom Verge special. If you grew up in that era, you’d be a fool to miss out on this and if you’re new to the genre, I can’t think of a better entry.

Maybe not the best there was or the best there is and certainly not the best there ever will be then, but it’s a good start all the same and after all, legends have been fashioned from less.

Wolfenstein: The Old Blood is an incredibly fun standalone expansion to one of the Best games of 2014, and in plenty of places is tougher.

Overall Broken Age is hugely fun game, but hardly the second coming of LucasArts as many backers probably hoped.

Galactic Civilizations 3 is a constantly rewarding experience, a colossal box of toys with which you can create some truly memorable stories.

Much like the conflict that the game shares its namesake with, Verdun is a ferocious and tense multiplayer shooter the likes of which we haven’t seen in a long time.