Overall, this is a comprehensive, complete-feeling package in terms of its original inclusions, that gives you two very excellent games from the earliest days of a gaming giant - games that will bring a smile to your face whether you played them at the time or not. And alongside those, a curio that might pique the interest of some, but is probably best left in the past; and 'Definitive' versions of varying results.

Maquette, in many ways, is a delight. Visually it's stunning, and the puzzles you encounter are often nice little brain teasers - I can imagine playing on a sofa with a significant other would elicit some fun conversations in the same way a murder mystery might. It has its problems and it's not perfect, but, as I said, you should think of Maquette as a rom-com of games. Not the highest form of art and not up for an Oscar nomination, but something you can certainly enjoy on a rainy Sunday afternoon.

I get the impression, too, that Resurrection's default difficulty of Knight is harder than what I played on the original Ghosts 'n Goblins, its arcade sequel, and the Mega Drive port of Ghouls 'n Ghosts, which I adored way back when. I've been dabbling in Capcom's new Arcade Stadium collection on Switch, which features the arcade versions of Ghosts 'n Goblins and Ghouls 'n Ghosts, but I haven't played it enough yet (I bought it, so it's for my downtime, not for review work) to really know where Resurrection sits in terms of overall toughness, and in regard to a series 'ranking' - but after a few runs through its devilish dangers, it's made quite the impression. I'm just glad I'm not paying for it with my pocket money, nowadays.

Bravely Default II is a gem. It serves up amazing visuals with a combat system that both veterans and newcomers will love. It marries excellent characters with a rich in-game world, and delivers it with a majestic OST. It's not perfect but it's an excellent RPG that every Switch owner should try.

Multiplayer gripes aside, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury easily earns its place on Nintendo Switch. As a port of an already exceptional game, it elevates itself to new heights with the inclusion of online multiplayer and a whole new add-on. While it may not be perfect, it's undoubtedly one of the best Super Mario games in franchise history, worth replaying time and time again.

Persona 5 Strikers is a fantastic game. It embraces the hack and slash genre without losing that signature Persona feel, and with more success than Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity does. The characters are wonderful, the gameplay is fun and rewarding, and the dialogue reaches similar highs to previous games. There are times where the self-awareness and fan service are a bit much, but overall, Persona 5 Strikers is a great game in its own right, for newcomers and fans alike.

Little Nightmares II does everything you'd expect of a sequel. It sticks closely to the grimy winning formulae of Little Nightmares, while improving on it in key areas. It's clear that Tarsier Studios know what makes their players tick and delivers it to them in festering bucketloads. Everything from the game's story, to the claustrophobic atmosphere it creates combine into an incredibly compelling package that is a must play for horror lovers everywhere.

A thoroughly enjoyable game that's quite unlike anything I've played in a while. None of Olija's core ideas are particularly original, it has to be said, but it delights in picking the best elements of classic 16-bit adventure games and platformers to produce something stylish, striking, and oh-so strange.

Buried underneath the messy narrative and the mundane gameplay, there's a good game in here, somewhere. But for the most part, The Medium is a game that I'm very happy to put behind me and never think about again. For any fans of horror, I would firmly recommend you give this game a miss.

The Turrican games have stood the gameplay test of time as elegantly as any of their contemporaries - the likes of Super Metroid, Gunstar Heroes and Metal Slug. These are uncomplicated, elemental experiences - run, roll, jump, blast lasers at robots until robots explode, repeat (unless the time runs out on a level - there are some sprawling ones!) - but such was their purity at the source that no amount of time passed can significantly dull them. They are tough as nails, mind, very much designed with the arcade mentality of having players blast through their pocket change to make progress (even though Turrican was only ever a home-gaming concern), so consider that before taking the plunge. Or, alternatively, cheat. I'll allow it.

Hitman 3 features both some of the best missions of the series so far and, with the bundled older levels, you get all the other standouts included. Which is a rough way of saying this is the best way to play the Hitman series as well as being an essential new Hitman game in its own right.

If you, like me, loved River City Girls in 2019 and Streets of Rage 4 in 2020, and have maybe enjoyed the modern side-scrolling likes of 99 Vidas and Fight'N Rage, too, then even if you never played this one a decade ago, you need to be playing it now. And if you did play it back then, you already know whether or not you're grabbing this in 2020 2021 (haha), and all of these words haven't made a damn bit of difference.

As it stands, I don't think I can recommend Cyberpunk 2077 to you if you plan to play it on a last-gen machine, at least not right now. Based entirely on my own experience of running the game on the PlayStation 5, I still think you might be better holding out until 2021 and the "true" next-gen versions of the game, at which point I've no doubt many of its more glaring issues will have been fixed...For now, Cyberpunk 2077 on consoles - on new-gen consoles, that is - is a good game. It's often a truly great game - one that I've been having a ton of fun with.

Ultimately, Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is a game that is accessible for all ages, with its gentle pacing, undemanding mechanics, and cheerful premise. What struck me the most in its story is that there is not one adult character in Pinar del Mar that brushes off Alba and Inez, or speaks to them as though they're ill-informed (well, barring one, but that's a spoiler). A pride flag waves in the sea breeze from one of the balconies along the beach, and there are a range of identities and personalities represented in Alba: A Wildlife Adventure. It's a short and sweet adventure that will really resonate with young gamers with an interest in conservation... and older gamers who miss the Spanish sun.

Twin Mirror is a lot, and I mean a lot, of fun. If you're looking for a visually stimulating and, at select points, an intellectually invigorating game with the makings of a modern Agatha Christie novel, this is absolutely for you. It's for point-and-click lovers, mystery admirers, and those who just want an good gaming story that comes in at under 10 hours. Is it perfect? Not at all, but it's another quality release from DONTNOD which bodes well for future projects.

I think the final takeaway from Planet Coaster: Console Edition is that you already know what you're getting, and what you're getting is really very good. An excellent time sink where you can meticulously craft your ultimate theme park. If management sims interest you and you haven't checked the game out before, now is a great time to pick it up. If you already have the game then there's not much that will draw you towards buying this version, simple as that.

In a game that's about making smart decisions rather than having the best equipment, the Demon's Souls remake, as a product, ultimately has both. Bluepoint's processes of marrying the old and new have resulted in a truly stunning effort, making a decade-old critical darling a bona-fide system seller in 2020. Truly a remarkable feat, this should be picked up by anybody buying a PlayStation 5 whether you've played the original or not, and is a must-have for early adopters.

While it isn't perfect, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity proves its value by serving up one of the most epic tales Princess Zelda has ever starred in. There's a magic within this game's story, reminiscent of Ocarina of Time, and that's something to cherish. The relatively simplistic gameplay may detract from the overall impression, but that won't stop me playing it again.

While it has to appeal to both turntable beginners and disciplined mixmasters alike, which could compromise its instant-click appeal, Fuser isn't found lacking in the slightest, whatever your past experience of DJing. Its purest joy, for all of its online options and battles, is absolutely the freedom of the freestyle mode, where creativity can run rampant - but if you want to face off with bass and beats as your arsenal, Scott Pilgrim-style, with a pal, the option's there. Longevity will be determined by how much the song library grows, but right now, Fuser is an exceptional music game that needs to be heard by, and played by, as massive a crowd as possible.

In multiplayer, Treyarch have gone back to their roots rather than trying to innovate, and clearly learned from previous titles, with signature maps and a simplified create-a-class system. The Zombies experience is definitely a lot more accessible, and maybe Treyarch are appealing to newer audiences more with the addition of the mini-map and indicators. But under the surface, the Dark Aether storyline is waiting for die-hard Zombie fans to unravel it, upon launch. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is an all-round excellent sequel to 2010's Black Ops. Although a little light on launch content in places, it definitely is a must-play title in the Black Ops universe.

In a year that has already provided its fair share of surprises, The Pathless might just be the best one yet. I knew this was a game I'd enjoy after seeing its debut trailer, but the way it manages to twist the well-worn open-world formula into something new and genuinely intimate is one of the most unexpected delights of 2020. I truly believe this is one game everybody needs to check out at their earliest convenience.

Playing Bugsnax feels like you're clutching the giant pull switch in Dr Frankenstein's lab, the creation before you twitching beneath the white cloth, while the sunlight streams through the windows: it's a lovely day outside.

NHL 21 is a brilliant hockey game combining excellent controls, an engaging Be A Pro story mode and the quickfire HUT Rush arcade mode - as well as the opportunity to engage in the odd scrap to let off steam. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a newcomer to Ice Hockey, NHL 21 will most certainly tick all the boxes.

Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered welcomes you back to Seacrest County in an interesting fashion, and for lovers of the 2010 title who are perhaps looking to redeem this year with the help of some Hot Pursuit nostalgia, then it's certainly worth checking out. With that said, playing this game 10 years on has made me wonder if I'd enjoy this remaster as much as if I was playing the original for the first time in 2020. While the remastered version does include slightly better graphics, DLC and various quality of life updates, I'm still left wondering if this is enough to wow any newcomers or die-hard NFS fans who are more interested in other series entries.

Astro's Playroom is just that; a playroom for the next generation - a small glimpse into what the PlayStation 5 will be able to do with the DualSense.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a game of universal appeal. A modern RPG with retro callbacks, it celebrates its past enough for veterans without excluding newcomers. With world class voice acting, and generation-defining visuals, it's a must-play game that easily earns its place on next-gen consoles. Characters are fascinating, the map is stunning, and the way the story incorporates real-world themes to deliver a first-rate dramatic experience means Yakuza: Like a Dragon deserves a spot on everyone's 2020 top 10 games lists.

Little Hope is a genuinely good time horror game, that isn't quite at the apex of what the team behind it can achieve. It's good fun alone but really comes alive when shared with another person, or group. I have no doubt that when the full Dark Pictures Anthology is complete and sold as a package, that history will remember it quite fondly. Despite the well worn path this entry treads at times, it whittles out enough of a memorable story for those who dig these kinds of games to really find enjoyment in.

As one of the Wii U's best games, Pikmin 3's arrival on Switch is welcome indeed. Already beautiful, its visuals didn't need much attention; and the controls, while initially a little fiddly, will click after a couple of days' exploration. It's great that more people will now play this compelling, oddly affecting strategic-puzzler (with a hefty splash of terror stirred in, no matter the low expense of the expendables).

All in all, it's the experience of Amnesia: Rebirth that has oozed into my veins and into my memories of last week. The corrupted monsters whose wails reverberate in your skull, the hazy discovery of a world beyond our own, the pulsating vision as you step into the darkness not knowing who or what you will meet. Frictional Games has infused Rebirth with the lessons learned from SOMA and The Dark Descent, the new tools at its disposal, and its passion for this apocalyptic world. Throwing everything at the wall like this, it's understandable that some things might slide, yet its scares are something I can't shift from my mind. With Halloween approaching, maybe it's not so bad that we'll be stuck inside, if we've got Amnesia: Rebirth to send shivers up our spines.

These minor niggles aside, Carrion is a title that I think is well worth checking out for the design of its monster alone, and the carnage you can cause together. It's been a rough year, and we all need to blow off some steam somehow. I just never quite expected that taking control of an otherworldly nightmare unit would be the cathartic experience i needed, but life comes at you fast. Much in the way that giant red tendrils can.

Star Wars: Squadrons is not a spiritual successor to Rogue Squadron. In fact it's far closer to the much-loved X-Wing Vs TIE Fighter, while still being something entirely new for the franchise. It carves out its own niche in the Star Wars universe. One of an enticingly replayable seismic battle between good and evil, as viewed from the cockpit of a starfighter.

It's genre-defining - a benchmark for so many parts of the roguelike genre. The amount of time Hades spent in early access, tinkering with the game until it was released indicates to me that this is almost the best the concept could ever get.

All in all the game is straightforward and for the most part is enjoyable as you do feel like you're basically a captain of a Star Trek-style ship. It does unfortunately start to feel a little repetitive as the missions go on, as they tend to just be things like heading to a certain location to pick something up, or heading somewhere to clear the area. But there's a good amount of content in here to keep you entertained, such as unlocking new parts for your ship, recruiting new members, and being able to customise the look of both your crew and ship.

Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit delivers remote-control racing like you've probably never seen before. Its augmented-reality features are brilliant and genuinely surprise with just how well they work, 'in hand'. Home Circuit is full of classic Nintendo charm from its out-the-box elements to its cheery software; it's extremely intuitive to use and offers troubleshooting advice if needed; and it does work in a small space, even if you'll absolutely get more from it, the bigger your home is. It's all the vroom your living room has ever needed - just be sure to keep the kart where you can see it.

At a time where a 'Britain divided', in the near-future and distant past respectively, is the setting of at least two new AAA games - namely Watch Dogs: Legion and Assassin's Creed Valhalla - it's refreshing and comforting to play through a game where this place I call home isn't, well, a load of sh*t. The bucolic, pastoral Britishness of I Am Dead is weaved throughout its gentle humour and its heart-squeezing moments of emotional lurch, likewise its old-time seaside quaintness and whimsical soundtrack. It's a nice game to spend time with, in the same way that Detectorists (for example) was a nice TV show to spend time with; and for a title that's ostensibly about preventing a cataclysmic eruption, it's incredibly relaxed. It's definitely not for everyone, but to return to that Annapurna catalogue of paragraph one: if those games do it for you, I Am Dead will scratch the same itches with all the agreeable satisfaction of a Morris Lupton bellyrub. Woof.

So we'll leave a thousand or so things about it left unsaid - the music, yes, it's wonderful, sorry we didn't spend more time celebrating its City Pop-riffing breeziness and loose funk swagger; and those character poses really are straight out of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. I mean, we didn't even touch on the influence of Suda51 and the Danganronpa series - but seriously, I think this is one where the less you know, the even more amazing it is. Oh, and that it makes you pay for things in blood? Really. What a game.

Those that found Crash to be one of the clunkier and more irritating platforming mascots from the old days probably won't have their minds changed by this latest outing. But on the other hand, if you grew up loving Crash Bandicoot, you're going to adore Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time. I promise you that. Toys For Bob set out to create an authentic sequel, and in that regard this game is a stunning success.

I really like that the difficulty of Warsaw seems intrinsically tied to the plight of the Polish people during the Uprising, even if it does at times make the game more punishing than fun. Having never played it on PC (or for that matter the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One) it's difficult to say whether the Nintendo Switch is the way to experience the game, but I am happy to concede playing it there felt like a completely natural experience. If you're in need of a new roguelike and have an affinity for World War Two history, Warsaw is well-worth a look.

If you're a fan of the original Mafia then you should give this remake a try. It captures the spirit of the game while also making it a thoroughly modern shooter. If you never played Mafia, then this doesn't feel like a nostalgia project but a new game. The split structure of the story mode and open world may be unusual when lined up against its current competitors, but if you find yourself lost in large open worlds like Assassin's Creed and are looking for something that has more respect for your time, Mafia may be for you.

Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy are not only two of the greatest Mario games ever, they're two of the greatest video games ever. Each brims with ideas, with intelligent and intuitive design, and with an irresistible pull on the player to get through just one more level before calling it a night - which then becomes one more, and another, until your Switch battery dies. Even without anything extra added, and the non-native-platform awkwardness of Galaxy appreciated, they're essentials. Super Mario Sunshine is also included.

Multiplayer options will naturally add longevity if you want to explore them with pals - but as an arcade racer in 2020, this is absolutely best in class.

The Last Campfire might not be big, but it's clever in all the ways that matter, using its puzzles to represent relatable concerns and obstacles that, sometimes, need a little helping hand to overcome. It's a succinct, complete, so-called 'small' game that's actually got more substance to it than many narrative titles billed as brief experiences, and greater emotional depth than its artwork might suggest. It's a memorable adventure that will appeal to anyone who prefers a mental challenge to a physical one, and who cherishes the small things that make us all who we are, for better and worse.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 is about as good a remaster as we've ever had, staying as close to the originals as possible, and only veering off slightly where it spots a chance to improve on the source material. There's really no reason not to get this if you have even a passing interest in the original games, or skateboarding, or hanging out with your buddies on a Saturday night to see who can nail the craziest combos.

Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions may be a game about students playing football, but it feels more like a tactical battle experience. You wear teams down by crushing their players. You smash through defenders and score ludicrous goals. It's not realistic but that's a good thing. It's about something more fanciful, more spectacular, more theatrical.

Windbound might not be a perfect game that delivers on all of its promises, but it comes close. Those of you looking to scratch that open-world survival itch could do a heck of a lot worse. While it could definitely have used a little more time in the oven to really smooth over its rougher aspects, 5 Lives has still managed to create a seafaring adventure that, for the most part, feels truly grand.

A lot of families hide pasts that, well, those living in the present day would rather not talk about. The Ronan twins' past is one touched by darkness, by actions and individuals who they have, understandably, pushed to one side. Going through this journey of rediscovery with them is a sometimes shocking but often joyous experience, and if you're someone who loves a tender yet twisted narrative adventure, Tell Me Why absolutely deserves your attention.

I'm convinced Fall Guys is going on to be absolutely massive. The game has been out for a matter of days, and already seems to have cultivated a massive community of players who, even as I write this, are rushing to social media to share their own hilarious blunders and last-minute victories. Mediatonic have created a party game that's equal parts unpredictable, accessible, maddening, and laugh-out-loud funny. The most thrilling thing about it all? I suspect things are only going to get bigger, better, and infinitely more bananas from here on out.

What Black Forest Games and THQ Nordic have achieved with the Destroy All Humans! remake is impressive. It certainly doesn't feel worlds away from the original, which is always a concern when there's a classic of this calibre being remade. Although some of the enhancements are a bit hit and miss, most do work really well, and can make you wonder how you coped without them in the original. It's clear that a great deal of effort has been put into enhancing what already was a stellar title, whilst also introducing it to a new audience. Players who have been dying to play as Crypto-137 once again will feel right at home when they're tasked, once more, to Destroy All Humans!

Had Intelligent Systems found some way to make fights more interesting or worthwhile, this might have been the best Paper Mario game to date. As it stands, The Origami King is easily the best adventure with the paper plumber I've had in years, even if it doesn't quite reach the delirious highs of the first two series entries.

Ghost of Tsushima is a fine open-world game. It ticks all the boxes of what you would expect it to do - but it doesn't do anything more than that. This is one of the last exclusive games for the PlayStation 4, and it's disappointing that it has nothing new to say.

The truth is Deadly Premonition 2 is like watching Nicolas Cage act: an incredibly divisive experience. There are things it does well and there are things it apparently doesn't. There are even elements of it where you just can't tell whether it's genius or nonsense. No video game has ever been so good and so bad at the same time.

If you're curious and you have a PSVR headset otherwise collecting dust right now, there's a demo of the game available on the PlayStation Store. It gives you the whole crashing-plane sequence, which will be enough to determine whether this is worth more of your time and, more importantly, any of your money.

The Almost Gone has that same feeling of exploring fabrications made up to represent familiar surroundings, of having to look beyond the usual ways out to get out; and it has a comparable atmosphere of dread, manifesting an uncomfortable of pressure on the player. The more you play it, the closer you feel to some ominous truth you don't really want to discover - but you have to. So you do. And then all that's left are the empty sets. Tl;dr: this pretty little puzzler sure isn't Monument Valley.

The Isle of Armor DLC feels like a glimpse into the future of what Pokémon is going to be. It's just a shame that elements from the base release hold it back. Let's hope the next half of the DLC, The Tundra Crown pushes the gameplay to even greater heights.

Valorant is a lot of fun to try and master though a little tricky to pick up at first. The gunplay feels as precise as any shooter on the market and the cast of agents add to the erratic nature of unique gameplay situations. The game has only just come out of beta, so improvements and additions are likely to be made in the future. Valorant is very good right now, but it has the potential to be truly great.

I was already a big fan of the series when I started playing Desperados 3, but I've been so taken with how well this old series lives up. The real-time tactics genre was big in the '90s and '00s, with games like Commandos and Syndicate being well-known names on PC, but they largely disappeared in the last 15 years. It's a real joy to dive into a wholly new game that shows how engaging a style of play it can be. Hopefully this won't be the last of its kind.

As a video game sequel, it ticks all the boxes of being bigger and better with more to say. But as a story, as an experience following one of the most critically acclaimed tales ever told in this medium, it sits uncomfortably on a knife's edge, waiting for the passage of time to pull it one way or the other.

Despite all the game's flaws,they've created something new, and it works. There's a world and a concept here that has the potential to deliver something truly epic - and the gameplay itself, when it's at its best, is pretty damn great. There are lessons the team will have learned in making Disintegration, and I hope they get the opportunity to grow as a studio and create a truly special sequel. The potential is there.

I cherish the memory of playing Command & Conquer 25 years ago, and yet was surprised to find myself getting frustrated at the slog of completing some of the missions in the first game's campaign. But, given the choice, I still wouldn't change a thing about this remaster.

For what it is, and as a successor to the DS's Clubhouse Games of 2005 (bloomin' heck, how time flies), 51 Worldwide Games is perfect, really. Does that make it a perfect video game? Clearly, no. It's a very recommended collection for super-convenient family-time play, with a handful of attractions that will become regular favourites - like I said, its bowling is dangerously close to becoming an obsession. But it's not something that can be scored alongside a Breath of the Wild, a Persona 5 or a Witcher 3. So while the number below might not immediately scream buy this, if you're hankering for a fine-indeed mini-game collection for your Switch, they don't come much finer than this one.

Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition is the best game released for Switch so far in 2020. Its roots might be a decade long, but its excellence in the context of the here and now, in comparison to other role-players on the platform, cannot be undersold.

Maneater is in some ways a spiritual successor to Jaws Unleashed, so if you're a die-hard fan of that old cult hit, this is definitely up your creek. The game boasts beautiful environments and a compelling combat system which work really well hand in hand. The story in some ways feels as if it exists just for the sake of it, however - it doesn't seem to add a great deal as the game progresses, other than to explain the origin of the baby bull shark at the start. Maneater makes for an interesting addition to the action-RPG genre, and is one that is sure to capture the imagination of adventurous aquatic gamers, if only for a few hours of undersea fun.

Minecraft Dungeons is an enchanting game that will keep you, and your kids, entertained for a good few hours. A decade on from the original game, this is an exciting move for the behemoth that is the Minecraft franchise, and I can't wait to see where it goes next.

It can't be overstated that this is an experience that won't be as rich, as rewarding, as exciting to younger players as it will be to those who were raised on the Mega Drive. But for anyone with fond memories of this genre at its peak, on home consoles and in arcades throughout the 1990s, it's unlikely you'll play a better game of its kind than Streets of Rage 4 in 2020.

While Gears Tactics could serve as a great introduction to the more traditional and brutal turn-based tactical games that inspired it, it shouldn't be seen as just a stepping stone. It's a brilliant adaptation of the Gears universe into a new genre, and the freedom of movement and action that comes in its late-game is hard to find elsewhere. Developer Splash Damage has found a wonderful sweet spot of thoughtfulness and violent reward, where the battlefield becomes a challenging puzzle which once cracked unravels with bayonet charges, chainsaw dismemberments, and exploding heads.

In short, you don't want to sleep on Deliver Us The Moon if you enjoy sci-fi puzzlers. The five-to-seven-hour playtime feels about right, and there's a healthy amount of replayability too, especially thanks to a few trophies that require you to complete sections in certain ways...The blend of intricate puzzles and survival in space creates thrilling tension, and the way the soundtrack suits each moment of triumph and discovery makes you feel like you're really out there among the stars on an epic quest.

There's a fun game in Moving Out, and I'm sure there's an audience who will get hours of multiplayer, physics-based enjoyment out of it - but for me there are better games that scratch the exact same itch. A lack of charm and humour and some dodgy physics really hold back a game that could have been a lot more enjoyable.

This is an incredibly hostile game that would rather break your fingers than hold your hand, and your mileage with it invariably comes down to how patient you are. But sick with it, and there is so much waiting for you out in the depths. Just try not to eat your crew, eh?

If you've been raised on a diet of the very best role-players of the past ten years or so, Remake may struggle to hold your attention as it streamlines itself into a tunnel-vision state of failing to see the bigger picture of what could have been. Fingers, toes and chocobos crossed, then, that part two sees the promise of this remake project fully blossom.

It won't change the way you think about Resident Evil, but Resident Evil 3 is a faithful and thoroughly entertaining retelling of one of the most fondly remembered zombie games ever made. Throw in the replayability and an entirely new game in Resident Evil Resistance, and you've got yourself a title fans will be pining over for some time to come.

Other than a few issues here and there - incredibly small text being one, which I beg be patched in the future to allow for scaling - Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist: Link Evolution is the pinnacle of all the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG video games. It's one that honours each generation in a way that will make fans from across all eras of the franchise feel warmly welcome - if also sometimes a tad overwhelmed.

In every way, developer Id's new shooter is bigger than its predecessor, more developed, more thought out.

All of these changes make Persona 5 Royal the definitive version of this title, for newcomers and veterans alike. There are more characters, more things to do and more time in-game to do it all. P-Studio have managed to take a near-perfect game in Persona 5 and elevate it to another level. It gets in your head like never before thanks to its refined blend of dungeon-crawling RPG action and satisfying high school simulator mechanics. In a year where Final Fantasy VII Remake is set to take the world by storm, the Persona series has done what it always does and produced something even better.

While New Horizons doesn't do much - or anything at all, really - to win over anyone who didn't "get" Animal Crossing previously, veteran fans and interested newcomers alike will find 2020's sweetest, most wholesome game yet.

Minor niggles aside, I can wholeheartedly recommend Ori And The Will Of The Wisps to all of you. Whether or not you've played the original game, picking up this new adventure should be a no-brainer. Moon Studios has gone bigger and better in every conceivable way, crafting an epic, emotional adventure that borrows from some of the best games out there and smartly remixes various genres and ideas in thrilling, unexpected ways.

It's less of a binge-watch kind of game, and more one you may want to pace yourself with; but that takes nothing away from it ultimately being a successful fusion of punchy interrogations, well-written narrative twists, and brain-itching puzzling.

A terrific port of a terrific game, then, finished off with background options, screen size and scan line adjustments, and the option to play the Japanese version (it changes Tails' name to Miles, that's about it). But do you need another version of Sonic 2 in your life? For me, given I've already got this on at least four other platforms - not least of all the Mega Drive itself - I probably wouldn't have grabbed it had SEGA not provided a copy, even with the added Knuckles. But if you've never taken this sensational platformer for a spin before, and the Switch is your console of choice right now? To echo a previous sentiment: it's truly a no-brainer.

Two Point Hospital is a huge amount of fun, and it's so easy to find yourself engulfed for hours at a time, perfecting every single aspect of your respectable institution and unlocking more and more 'kudosh', the game's essential currency for all of those requested upgrades.

Small issues aside, The Suicide of Rachel Foster is a truly riveting thrill ride. The story plays out perfectly in the first-person narrative video game medium. You owe it to yourself to discover the secrets of the Timberline Hotel - just make sure you've got a few hours spare, because you're not going to want to put it down once you've started.

While the game does what it says on the tin, it doesn't add a wealth of new experiences or features to set it aside from previous Zombie Army titles…A few hours into the game... you do sadly get the impression that you've seen everything Zombie Army 4: Dead War has to offer.

Not Tonight: Take Back Control Edition is a good time, all things considered. Checking IDs is satisfying enough to make you feel good for doing it well, but it can grow stale at times. There's plenty of comedy in there too, especially if you're a fan of gallows humour, but this game's ability to capture the feeling of dystopian totalitarianism is where it really shines.

Those issues aside, Stories Untold is a genuinely smart, immersive, and thoroughly creepy piece of work. It's the kind of story that could only ever be told in the medium of video games, and deserves a place in every gamer's library. Just maybe don't play it in the dark if you have a cat with a penchant for jumping on you.

The port itself is perfectly fine, working well in handheld mode on the Switch. Load times are short and all the game's functions map well to the Joy-Cons. So, if you're looking to play Stranger's Wrath on the move and you've not picked it up on mobile, this is a great option. It's just that, while I'm a big fan of Stranger's Wrath, and I'm looking forward to returning to Oddworld with Soulstorm, as good as a game as this once was, its shine has dimmed over the years.

That most of the game takes place in a virtual world constructed from a dying man's fading memories, accessed via high-tech headsets and computer programs, is purely a background element in a fulfilling, affecting experience that will leave most players solemn and silent at its end, but happy, too. Because while To the Moon is definitely a sad game, warm and generous humour runs through it, especially in the interactions between the two doctors.

While some of it feels a little dated and the side missions don’t diverge as much as they could, the overall package is a deeply engrossing fresh way to experience an old staple for any Dragon Ball Z fan.

Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE Encore fully deserves its place, its second chance, on Nintendo Switch. Its characters are charming, the dialogue is always enjoyable, gameplay is satisfyingly addictive, and the overall narrative is compelling. It may not be the best Atlus game coming out this year, but it's still a wonderful adventure that you won't regret playing.

When it's all said and done, all laughed and cried, Wattam really is a game apart from the pack - a clear continuation of the creative mindset of its maker, given what he's done before now, but also quite, quite different. It follows its own playful logic, offering clear instructions and never giving into surrealness for the sake of it, and is absolutely a more meaningful experience than meets the eye.

I can see that while I play, The Outer Worlds is everything needed and expected from a first-person RPG, one that can then be expanded on in the future, with innovative systems, original worlds, and unexpected characters - they now have a hub to fit into. The problem for players is: why play this game instead of waiting for the one that fully escapes the shadow of Fallout?

The whole game offers up an innocent thrill with the kind of naive charm you get from a well-crafted kids movie, like The Goonies. The characters all have a delightful appeal, the world of Denska is enchanting, and the story is well delivered. It is on the short side, and doesn't feel like a challenge even when the story suggests you're in a difficult moment, but it's definitely worth replaying again and again. In short, Concrete Genie is a beautiful game all about emotions and doing what's right, and it's truly very special.

Luigi's Mansion 3 is easily the most delightful game I've played in 2019. Its tiny details add up to form an engrossing and endearing whole: the way ghosts wear sunglasses to block the light from your strobe attack; how enemies try to shoot Gooigi with children's water pistols; the way Luigi moves along ledges with a scared little hops; and how when you're hoovering up mice, they cling to the floor for a moment before being sucked into the nozzle. All of these touches make for an extremely enjoyable game that I've played for hours at a time without feeling that a second was wasted.

I wanted to like Death Stranding. I'm a big fan of Kojima's previous games and I enjoy them for the mishmash of ideas they always are, and in theory I've no problem with playing a delivery man (I've put far too many hours into Euro Truck Simulator), but this game drowns its exciting systems and ideas with a messy execution and dragged out campaign. By stretching it out to such a long playtime, you can't escape Death Stranding's weaknesses - repetitive missions, simple combat, and a badly told story.

This is easily the best game in the Mario & Sonic series to date. Unfortunately, all that really means is that your mileage with the game comes down entirely to your own experience with the franchise, as this latest effort just doesn't do enough to tackle the problems inherent in its predecessors, and does precious little to keep players invested and engaged for more than a few dozen hours.

Need For Speed Heat is more fun than I was expecting. It's hugely enjoyable, and almost relaxing, to fly down the roads of Palm City. If you like NFS games, you'll have a good time with Heat. Personally, grinding away to fully unlock everything in the game doesn't wholly appeal, but I'm sure to be jumping back into this one, for an hour of so of escapism, driving recklessly to raucous music.

Imagine the joy you felt playing Untitled Goose Game for the first time, then imagine playing that with a friend. Sprinkle in a dash of Overcooked, a smattering of Crazy Taxi (or The Simpsons: Road Rage) and you'll get a good idea of the terrific fun that can be had with The Stretchers.

An original Star Wars story though it is, with electrifying lightsaber action and an adorable droid, as a video game Fallen Order is an experience that never once escapes the shadow of its predecessors.

All the pieces were in place for Game Freak to make a truly stunning and ambitious new entry in gaming's biggest franchise. Tragically, it clearly wasn't given enough time to realise that ambition. Pokémon Sword & Shield aren't bad games - not even close - but they fall far short of what they might have been: the biggest and best Pokémon games in years, and the evolution the series needed.

All the pieces were in place for Game Freak to make a truly stunning and ambitious new entry in gaming's biggest franchise. Tragically, it clearly wasn't given enough time to realise that ambition. Pokémon Sword & Shield aren't bad games - not even close - but they fall far short of what they might have been: the biggest and best Pokémon games in years, and the evolution the series needed.