Maneater is knowingly imperfect, but presents a very competent open world checklist RPG where you happen to play a shark instead of the usual cop or criminal.

Regardless of negatives, Trials Fusion is still a fun, yet hard-core twitch-based experience that will give you hours of pleasure (depending on your definition of the word), but the best part of it is still the competition it creates with your friends list, and with that in mind, I’ll see you on the leaderboards, folks.

Senran Kagura Peach Beach Splash has exceeded all my expectations and is my favourite Senran Kagura game by far.

Natsu-mon: 20th Century Summer Kid is a charming rural romp full of bug catching and recycling, perfect for a stress free evening.

Company of Heroes 3 - Console Edition is a mostly competent port of a very good tactical WWII game, but it still feels like it very much belongs on PC.

Phoenix Springs is an intriguing adventure game with a wonderful setting which it's fun to interact with, but don't expect it to be easy.

The Town of Light is a powerful experience and you’ll certainly be affected by its story. There are a few issues with music breaks and some of the things you’ll see may provide too upsetting, but overall you’ll never forget your time in Volterra.

Jailhouse Block is an action packed episode with some great humour and exciting set-pieces.

Pirate Outlaws is an engrossing deck builder, with plenty of cards to unlock and multiple challenges to endure through fluid gameplay.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO is a wonderful and unique fighting game that fans will love, but it takes a lot of dedication to learn how to play.

Monark's creepy setting, tactical combat and banging soundtrack is well worth experiencing, but prepare for some obtuse puzzles.

More Fibbage, more Quiplash. Do you need anything else?

The Crackpet Show: Happy Tree Friends is a super violent roguelike, with fantastic progression and co-op as well.

Despite being fairly light on story and pigeon-holing its protagonists (I’m sure the only reason the woman is always the “demon” is for an excuse to dress her in tight trousers and make her speak purely in Sass), God’s Trigger is a vibrant, violent romp through Heaven, Hell, and everywhere between.

Miis aren’t for everyone, but Miitopia is easily the nicest and most accessible RPG ever made, and for that it deserves considerable praise.

A beautiful, relaxing puzzler that demands little more than your attention.

PHOGS! is a puzzler aimed at those who want a fun escape and a chilled out experience, but also welcomes them to a place filled with happiness, charm, and comfort.

Magical Delicacy is a charming cosy crafting game, and despite a lack of guidance this cooking adventure will tantalise your gaming tastebuds.

A relatively plain platformer boosted by a vivid and surreal art-style, Icycle: On Thin Ice is just about crazy and unique enough to warrant a look. Bite-size, fun-packed levels make for a game that doesn’t overstay its welcome, and stands out from crowd both artistically and mechanically.

The Room VR: A Dark Matter is a puzzle-heavy game that keeps you immersed from start to finish, with wonderfully crafted rooms and challenges.

Conscript is brutal and unnerving, with the reality of war ever present, and it's take on the survival horror genre feels new yet familiar.

While the changes across the board make for a better game than last year, there are still cracks that need cementing, not papering over. Evolution, not revolution this year for FIFA, then, but still a fine game fit to burst with things to do.

Considering that Fractured Space is a free-to-play MOBA, there’s a great strategy involved, providing some really tense firefights on the battlefield.

Dragon Quest Builders is quite simply a perfect fit for the Nintendo Switch and a brilliant entrée before the sequel releases this year.

Ever Oasis is basically a Harvest Moon-esque game with semi-open world roaming and Zelda-like dungeons. It’s nice, aesthetically and thematically, with lovely solid chibi style characters and some wonderfully twee music that I just can’t stop humming. It falls down somewhat with the adventuring, what with the AI issues and slightly simplistic combat, but the town management side of things can really get its hooks into you. There’s a serious buzz to be had whenever your Oasis gets a big transformation. This is a game that wants to make you smile, and it will do just that; just don’t expect a champagne supernova.

Relaxing and compelling, with Dragon Quest Builders if you’ve struggled to get into the genre with building games in the past this might just be the game that changes your mind.

Forma.8 is an utterly gorgeous and affecting take on the familiar 2D Metroidvania style game with some clever puzzles for your plucky little probe to navigate.

Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town takes a while to reveal its charms. The pace may put players not familiar with the rhythm of farming and relationship sims off, but for those invested they will be treated to a lovely, relaxing slice of idyllic rural life.

WRC 6 is a great addition to the series and is genuinely good fun, but despite its accessibility is still only likely to appeal to fans of the sport.

In keeping the grind but removing the online requirements, Airship Syndicate are sending a clear message: Wayfinder is a game for the players.

How to Survive 2 is a much improved sequel, featuring some beautifully looking environments. There are plenty of upgrades for you and your haul, and you’ll lose yourself in the menus if you’re not careful. The music is wonderful at times and it makes tense moments even worse, even if it does remind you of the opening theme song of The Walking Dead. Whether you’re playing with friends, strangers or on your own, How to Survive 2 offers an authentic survival experience that has plenty of replayability.

Capcom Fighting Collection is a fine collection of titles, with only one real clunker – yet even that is worth a blast just to see something different.

Trials Rising is a thrill ride of crazy tracks and various challenges, pushing physics-based racing to its limits.

Bang-On Balls: Chronicles is a wonderful 3d platformer, with dense and creative worlds to explore and loads of cosmetics to try on.

It lays the existentialism on pretty thick at times, and it has the potential to thoroughly overwhelm you, but Per Aspera is an oddly intoxicating expedition into the colonisation of another world.

It is still miles away from a BlazBlue, but it is much more intuitive to play. There is a ridiculous amount of fan service going on, including more original movie sections than you can shake a nunchaku at. CyberConnect, don’t you ever change.

Zarvot is definitely a fun time and if you don’t get it, you’re probably a square (not a cube). It has loads of charm and the gameplay doesn’t get old.

Despite some technical issues, Void Bastards on Nintendo Switch is a superb, clever game that deserves to be played. Don't sleep on it again!

It's still relevant now just as it was all those years ago, and getting a beautiful art style helps to keep Wonder Boy fresh and enjoyable.

Demon Turf has a truly unique look and varied platforming gameplay.

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified is a good shooter occasionally elevated beyond that by its subject matter. Unfortunately, every time it has a really good idea, someone else has already done it.

Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris is a solid evolution of the formula established in the original, and does a fantastic job of encapsulating the old Tomb Raider atmosphere and presenting it in a smaller (yet no less involving) world. The platforming may occasionally annoy, and it isn’t the longest game around (even for its price bracket) but it’s an absolute blast to play either alone or with friends.

Against all odds, somehow the team at PopCap have managed to craft a fun shooter that remains true to the series. More commendably, they’ve created a shooter that takes you by surprise and makes you laugh.

If you've never played the original, then this is a great entry point. It's hard to hide its age even under the layer of polish, but Diablo 2: Resurrected is still a damn fine game.

Tormenture blends a retro horror game with real world escape room elements to create a really unique (and rather spooky) experience.

Slain: Back from Hell is a more metal and modern Castlevania that looks and plays great, but is held back by a few sections which feel unfairly difficulty.

Paper Beast is a wonderful puzzle game that features a stunning soundtrack, a poignant story, and some tender moments that leave you breathless.

Patapon 2 Remastered brings its unique style to the PS4, with plenty of variety, and some wonderful music to boot. It's just a shame that the input lag is a problem.

A hugely innovative single player social game, Gnosia blends Among Us with visual novels to create an entertaining (if slightly repetitive) experience.

If you played Yes, Your Grace on PC I wouldn't rush out to grab the Switch version, but if you missed it and fancy a bit of court intrigue, I'd highly recommend giving it an audience.

Earth Defense Force 5 is a fantastic game for fans of the series and a great starting point for newcomers looking for a B movie like experience with addictive gameplay.

There’s no doubt that Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Edition is a product of its time, but there’s also no doubt that it’s an absolute classic of the RPG genre.

If it goes the distance, Warhammer 40K: Darktide will get better with time. As it stands it's an enjoyable romp through an almost endearingly macabre world.

Katamari Damacy REROLL is a fantastic experience for people who have never experienced the game before but it is a pretty barebones port on PC.

Nier Replicant is so damn fun to play. Combat is ultimately its best feature, but some of the ideas are implemented superbly, whether in the story or the mechanics.

This is another gentle, feel-good indie release that provides a most enjoyable alternative to blasting people or taking in a high definition sports match.

A sequel that definitely builds upon the promise shown in its predecessor. A great combination of fantasy adventure and comedy.

RiMS Racing is an absolutely unique combo of engineer simulation and road race action and a breath of fresh air in the bike sim marketplace.

A superb piece narrative experience that never outstays its welcome, but does leave you wanting more.

Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection is a wonderful bundle of action RPGs that will appeal to new and old fans alike.

Blue Fire is an excellent adventure game with just enough flavour pinched from a variety of games across a plethora of genres and platforms.

An open-world fill of exquisite explosions that, while often falling afoul of flaws, might well contain some of the most fun moments this year.

Mario Strikers: Battle League Football is great with others and offers plenty of opportunities to shoot, pass, and play the beautiful game despite there being few modes to choose from.

It's quite slow to start and has a pretty harsh difficulty curve, but when everything clicks, it proves to be the best use of the Jurassic licence yet. Running a park isn’t easy, but incubating your first velociraptor makes it all worthwhile.

Jurassic World Evolution 2: Dominion Malta Expansion adds enough for fans of JWE2 to enjoy, with the Dinosaur Exchange being a highlight.

Architect mode adds depth and creativity to the mix, while the 33 maps included in the main campaign offer a decent amount of variety and light challenge that will keep you busy – and only occasionally stumped – for a little while. Overall, Hidden Through Time 2: Discovery is exactly what it needs to be, and a great option for anyone looking for a different kind of cozy puzzle game.

Challenging, fast and exciting, AiRace Speed is as fun as it is fast. It’s got that “one more go” factor, and provides a couple of hours of twitch gameplay for less than a fiver.

Oddworld Soulstorm modernises and reimagines the series classic gameplay, but doesn't hold back on the difficulty.

Goblin Stone is a wonderful RPG with thoughtful combat, some seriously compelling base building, and a whole lot of little green folks.

Sable features a wonderful open world presented in a gorgeous art style that gives you complete freedom in working out who you are.

Castle of Illusion does a commendable job of feeling both modern and old-fashioned at the same time.

Drenched in atmosphere and relying on running over gunning, The Consequence wreaks havoc on the nerves and keeps you on your toes at all times.

Continued character focus and new content additions make Eight Princes a solid piece of DLC for Total War: Three Kingdoms.

While EarthNight looks and sounds like it could be the product of a bygone decade, the gameplay and structure are very modern.

Don't Be Afraid 2 is a nerve-inducing puzzle game where the horror is ramped up in every new room, with some smart ideas everywhere.

Subnautica is not without its issues, but it successfully manages to combine a strong sense of exploration and discovery with an interesting story hook and an exceptional soundtrack to make it one of the very best examples of the genre.

Ignore the terrible story and turn off the voices, Inazuma Eleven GO: Chrono Stones Thunderflash is a decent title that’s worth your time.

UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys Celes is a strong fighter with gorgeous visuals that challenges players to learn, adapt, and take risks.

Runner3 is reminiscent of the hard as nails games of old, and wants you to play the game over, but it will cause you to lose your temper.

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is a bit rough around the edges, but it's so fun to play, with a well-written and exciting story.

Portal Knights takes inspiration from a variety of games, blending the crafting and building of games like Minecraft and merging loose RPG elements to make it a sandbox game with a goal.

The Last Worker features a well-written story and some smart ideas in regards to its gameplay, offering a solid narrative experience.

Chariot is up there with the best of them: its take on puzzle platforming is unique enough and challenging enough to keep you engaged for some time. It won’t capture the attention or admiration of everybody, of course, but for those of you who yearn for days gone by, Chariot is a must see.

The Collider 2 is a fast-paced race to galactic supremacy, giving you reason to stick with it and compete in its labyrinth of challenges.

A few technical issues aside, this is a great expansion that will please fans of the original Morrowind, as well as allowing new players to finally experience Vvardenfell for themselves.

There is so much to like about Splatoon 2. When it comes to the actual gameplay, I don't think there are many experiences that touch it right now. It's addictive and enjoyable. It's just a shame that history is repeating itself, and the stupid things surrounding the game let it down.

Oddworld New 'n' Tasty is an absolute classic with gameplay that holds up today, that unfortunately isn't as technically sound on the Switch.

Nintendo Switch certainly doesn’t have an abundance of first person shooters, and so Battlezone Gold Edition fills a definite gap in the catalogue, and its super-fast pace and simple premise will appeal to those who like to jump on and kill ten minutes in handheld mode.

Even with some hiccups when playing single-player, the attention to detail in this beautiful story all about friendship is bliss.

Whether you played the original or not, The Talos Principle 2 is still a drop dead gorgeous, incredibly challenging puzzle game.

Butcher is a triumphant ode to id Software’s classic shooters, but still forges its own path. Just be careful not to slip on all the blood it spills.

With sharper AI and more considered NPC behaviour, Thief could have been a masterpiece. There are true flashes of brilliance, and they’re not rare, but they’re almost always offset by something that breaks the immersion or otherwise shakes the foundations of the game world.

Golden Force is a fun and varied 2d action game, but you'll need a lot of patience to overcome its challenging difficulty.

Biomorph is an inventive Metroidvania packed full of monster morphing, secrets, and some seriously helpful map ideas that'll help you find everything.

The Garden Path is a chilled out slice-of-life sim that requires patience, but if you're willing to give it that, there's fun to be had.

Exographer is a puzzle platformer with a healthy love of science, and its many clever mechanics make it a joy to dive into.

Brothership is a fun time, but has frustrating moments. It's not an easy recommendation like Paper Mario, but you'll have a good time nonetheless.

Princess Peach: Showtime is a lovely time full of clever ideas, and a great way for Peach to make her solo debut.