Ghostwire: Tokyo is a gobsmackingly gorgeous action-horror with enemies that you won’t forget any time soon, not only for their eclectic appearances but their formidable ferocity in combat too. It’s a moreish game, and I want to trawl through every inch of this odd facsimile of the capital city, though I hope that Tango Gameworks rolls out an accessibility settings update to allow even more fans to enjoy this glittery and ghostly game.

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.

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.

In a year that has provided so many gems including the likes of Baldur’s Gate 3, Alan Wake 2 and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, it would have been easy for Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora to get lost amongst the shuffle. I’d be surprised if this latest Ubisoft open-world game wins Game of the Year awards, despite its best efforts. Yet, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a surprise cherry on top of what has been a fantastic year for video games and I encourage fans of the Avatar movies to put this unexpected charming delight on your ever-expanding wishlist.

As much as I wish I could dive into Rage now, the story’s second and final part, Don’t Nod is very clever in holding the instalment back. Its lack of availability only proves that the studio has achieved what it set out to do as I’ve not been able to stop theorising about what may happen next. Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is a modern classic. Tape one, Bloom, proves that this is the evolution that the episodic adventure genre needed, replacing player passivity with a clear sense of agency and involvement. When all that is backed by an intriguing story, well-written characters, and an infusion of 90s nostalgia, well, you end up with something very special indeed.

No More Heroes III is knowingly crass, extremely violent, and doesn't look close to a modern-era AAA action-adventure, which will put some (boring) people off. But beside that core of hacking and slashing is a warm heart, a kind soul, and the fun-loving spirit of a creator who clearly adores playing video games as much as he does making them. It's a game out of time, a game apart, and a game that anyone who finds repeat instalments of established series a bore and the incessant raft of remakes a chore absolutely has to play.

The Outlast Trials is an example of a beloved series trying something new, and for the most part it works. The trials themselves are enjoyable, with huge maps to explore, memorable psychos to avoid and enough spooks and jumpscares to keep you entertained for a long time. The game is made, and works best, with multiple players in mind, and while that does take away from the overall horror, what replaces it is a barrel full of laughs as you watch your friend get ripped out of a locker and smacked with a big stick, and that’s good enough for me.

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.

Ultimately, AI Limit does not have the scope or impact that titles such as Elden Ring and Bloodborne have but it still manages to hold its own in the soulslike genre thanks to its unique combat system and engaging environment. However, I still believe that such an environment and story is wasted on occasion and AI Limit could have benefited from straying away from the soulslike genre to explore a more RPG-focused narrative.

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.

It might obviously borrow from the likes of Tron and Another World, Superbrothers and even Ready Player One (the old-school pop-culture nods become comparatively exhausting), but there's just enough here that feels forged anew, born of fresh imagination rather than successful precedents, to give Narita Boy an edge over a lot of other titles in its genre. Digital stores across computer and console formats aren't exactly lacking in side-scrolling, pixel-art action-platformers - but this is one worth finding time for, pulsating as it does with promise that actually, largely, delivers.

Emio - The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is a game that rewards the patient, observant, and curious. Its visual novel-esque gameplay isn’t going to thrill the casual Nintendo Switch player but should you be someone who relishes in the nuances and turns of a good story, you’ll feel right at home here. Emio - The Smiling Man is a tragedy just as much as it is a thriller, with a variety of complex and sensitive themes handled well. If you fancy yourself as an amateur sleuth, then I implore you to give it a go. Just prepare for the game to simultaneously tug on your heartstrings as it sends a chilling shiver down your spine, with both feelings staying with you long after the credits roll.

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.

For all the gorgeous visuals, and flashy, beautiful effects that spark and burn from abilities, there’s nothing offering any real bite. There’s no hook, and if a roguelike needs one thing, it’s a hook; give me an excuse to stay up until 2am figuring out new builds and synergies to slay your, admittedly, brilliant, bullet hell enemies. And so, I walked away from Dragon is Dead, which is a very odd title, by the way, feeling underwhelmed.

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.

This all culminates in an experience that does an effective job at emphasising the connection between people, achieved in a way that feels particularly clever and responsive to how your own actions affect others, as theirs do unto you. Tides of Tomorrow delivers on making you feel like you’re part of a greater whole, while also providing a story that is wholly individual and intimate.

There's a good game here - two, indeed - with fascinating stories and enough things to enjoy overall, but only if you're a patient, analytical soul with the perseverance of a merry Sherlock Holmes. Otherwise, Famicom Detective Club is up there with the most frustrating things I've ever done, and I worked in the Civil Service.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 is a worthwhile remake that follows on from the great work achieved in the original Kiwami and Kiwami 2. The game feels fresh in all areas that it needs to be, without losing the identity of what made this game popular in 2009. The combat is fluid and fun, the graphics are sharp, the camera is not restrictive, and there are some new elements, such as cut-scenes, modes, and mini-games that help make the game feel somewhat fresh. Simply put, if you’re already in love with the Yakuza series, then you’re gonna love Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties.

I really wanted Far Cry 6 to be more than the previous games. A shake up of the formula that accounted for the violence of its setting. You're leading a revolution, starting a vicious civil war between entrenched factions, this is something open world games can reflect so well as areas of its land change based on your actions. But, disappointingly, it not only does little with its premise but is a poor version of things Far Cry has done well in the past.

Eastward: Octopia might not be the biggest or most original farming sim you’ll ever play, but as a relatively inexpensive DLC it’s an absolutely essential experience for fans of the base game. For anyone else? Well, pick up Eastward for the wonderful farming game and get one of the best RPGs of the last few years as a tidy bonus.

When Europa simply allows you to unwind and explore at your own pace, it’s one of the most captivating experiences I’ve had this year. There is real beauty to be found here, for sure, but it’s all-too fleeting.

While I don’t think Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is going to become the sudden favourite of soulslike fans, I can see it getting plenty of time in the sun. The issues I felt are, in the grand scheme of things, relatively minor and can all be worked around, or even patched out by the developers. Which leaves me with an utterly engaging world, filled with sheer beauty, and plenty of fresh ideas.

Nintendo should, by all means, take what it’s learnt from Princess Peach: Showtime! and expand upon it, but it shouldn't fall into the trap of keeping her, or indeed any of its other female characters, confined to dress changing antics only. Peach deserves more backstory – more freedom from Mario – so that she can become as lauded as the likes of Lara Croft, albeit in her own, unique way. Pretty in pink is Princess Peach’s opening number, but for the show to truly go on, she needs to be allowed to broaden her horizons. Princess Peach: Showtime! is a fantastic first step, now all Nintendo needs to do is embrace the era that’s on the cusp of dawning.

Ooblets takes elements of Stardew Valley, the Animal Crossing series and the Pokémon franchise, and stirs them together for a first-rate life sim adventure with hours of playability that feels perfect for the Switch. It’s not flawless, but the good easily outweighs the bad. If you’re looking for a new chill-out game, Ooblets has got you covered.

Lysfanga is quite a special game. With combat that feels solid and impactful, time-hopping abilities that create a very unique set of puzzles; it’s the type of game that doesn’t come along too often - one that feels wholly original and intensely rewarding. A game that, when everything falls into place, can bring impressive levels of delight.

Cutting right to the chase, Frogun is primarily a game for players who want to go back to the 1990s. From its visual style to its gameplay mechanics, everything about it screams retro, and that’s both a good thing and a bad thing from where I’m standing. Yes, it succeeds in channelling the past but the downside to that is some awkward controls and punishing levels.

Sonic Colors: Ultimate is a good game by the low standards of 3D Sonic titles. The levels are pretty and offer optional routes. The gameplay is functional but not without flaws, yet somehow still enjoyable. Despite issues, I've enjoyed my time with the game, but I doubt I'll be playing it again soon.

If you loved the first Jurassic World Evolution, and have been chomping at the bit to play more new experiences, Jurassic World Evolution 2 will go down a treat. It’s the perfect follow up in a way that expands on what was good with the first game and offers new styles of play and narrative scenarios that really help it feel fresh. The comparisons to the original bring all the good and the bad from that first game, so anyone who’s played it knows exactly what they’re getting themselves into. I just wish the visuals were as polished as its predecessor.