It's a nice platformer to play if you're looking for a bit of light relief from the countless open world and heavy-themed games of 2017.

Download play in Kirby Battle Royale will give a group a burst of fun, but after that it’s unlikely you’ll return for more.

Superbeat Xonic on the Switch is another fantastic way to play one of the best rhythm games in the last few years but one that should’ve made better use of the platform’s unique features.

Almost everything I wanted out of the port, but it is only worth picking up if you plan on playing handheld only.

Demon Gaze II improves on the original in a lot of ways and is another excellent dungeon RPG from Experience Inc. that is worth your time.

Whilst it may not encapsulate the wonder of Burnout's Crash mode, it's still quite fun, and will give you something to do for a few hours.

Need For Speed: Payback may not do anything new, but it brings together elements of Forza Horizon and Burnout Paradise to create a fun and explosive racer.

It's great to have some new content for Horizon, and this piece of DLC certainly does it justice.

Tackling a topic like Syria is difficult, but not when it’s created by a refugee of the civil war. Abdullah Karam tells his story with surprising humour, and while that doesn’t always work, it still results in the beginnings of a unique war story.

In a game that can be finished in under an hour, Bubsy doesn’t so much as strike back, but rather say a few harsh words before getting pummeled into the ground.

Slow and steady like the game itself, but a virtual experience can’t live up to the real thing.

Just Dance 2018 is just as good as it’s always been, but it’s beginning to become hard to justify shelling out just for a smattering of new songs with each iteration.

Young children are going to find plenty to keep them invested with or without it. It looks lovely and there's lots to do, but it feels a little safe by today's standards.

An entertaining game for kids best enjoyed in short bursts.

If you're looking for a game you can pick up and play, as well as make you smile, this is certainly one to consider.

A spectacular release that has a strong chance of becoming a fan favourite as one of the best Call of Duty releases in years.

With its pedestrian pace and delivery objectives, Mudrunner won’t appeal to an awful lot of people, but that doesn’t stop it being a fun and often relaxing experience.

There are holes in the tapestry for sure, and your mileage will vary depending on what you expect to get out of the experience, but ultimately Destiny 2 is a likeable grind-fest designed to be built upon, that demands very little in return for the fun it offers when played with friends and taken for what it is.

Basically a ‘complete edition’ of the original release, Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection adds enough to keep both fans and newcomers happy, providing challenge for those who want it and a sandbox mode for those wanting a more laid back experience.

The series has managed to reinvent itself, all whilst still keeping the heart of the series intact. Bayek is a great character, and the open world of Egypt is remarkable.

By far the best first person shooter released this year. It is often brutal and totally unflinching in its depiction of the violence people do to each other, but it is also hilarious and moving and tells a very human story.

While the 3DS hardware doesn’t measure up to the Switch, Fire Emblem Warriors provides the same experience regardless of format.

Life is Strange, it always has been, but just like life, don’t let this pass you by.

Platforming perfection, full stop.

Nights of Azure 2 on Nintendo Switch is a lazy port with loads of visual and performance issues and a downgrade compared to the first one in every aspect.

Yomawari: Midnight Shadows is a worthy successor to one of my favourite horror games and an unforgettable experience that is marred with a few annoyances.

Conga Master Party is fun while you’re in it, but the appeal is a little short lived, just like a real conga line.

Despite some fun shooting, Rogue Trooper Redux plays almost identically to the original, which unfortunately hasn’t aged too well.

Echo is an example of an exceptional idea that is enough to carry a whole game. The clever use of AI creates unique challenges, but the lack of environmental changes and same enemy type throughout means that it does slightly out-stay its welcome.

Even if you’re not a fan of bullet hell you should give Earth Atlantis a try, this really doesn’t deserve to sink without a trace.

Not just a great game to bear the Fire Emblem name but also one of the best Warriors games out there.

The Evil Within 2 is a game that uses stealth and atmosphere to create some great situations, but its use of sound elevates its scares well beyond those of lesser horror titles.

Whilst there are some changes, it doesn't feel that different from last year, and the technical issues hinder enjoyment somewhat.

Etrian Odyssey V is a true successor to the original two Nintendo DS Etrian Odyssey games but one that has modern improvements to gameplay and a best in class customization system.

A great sequel with much more going on, and is built with a lot of love and respect for the series it comes from.

Touhou Kobuto V: Burst Battle is the worst Touhou game I’ve played and one that you should avoid unless you absolutely must own everything Touhou.

Bad Apple Wars is yet another interesting otome game from Otomate that manages to stand out from their other releases really well but one that has a terrible font that annoyed me constantly.

Stardew Valley on the Switch is my third time buying it and the only one that actually clicked and got me addicted while proving to be a relaxing experience in the middle of the busy review season.

An adventure that will only appeal to people who really miss the old ways.

Transcripted is a fun game with some nice ideas, but it'd be far more at home on a tablet or handheld without all the boring dialogue.

Jydge is great. Not only is it inexpensive, but it offers a lot of diversity in terms of builds or play styles. If you want to make it to the end, you’ll certainly be required to branch out and test the waters, but this only led to more fun in my experience.

Digital tabletop games are a great idea, but Ogre is simply too harsh for anyone but the most stubborn of players, thanks to some of the worst RNG I’ve seen. When played with friends however, it shows how good the game could have been.

Offering up a small slice of emergent storytelling, Another Lost Phone does a good job of highlighting difficult themes.

Fun, quaint and a bit buggy, Golf Story is a lovely but flawed distraction.

Not so hot alone, Astro Bears Party comes alive with friends only to quickly run out of steam.

Jettomero: Hero of the Universe is visually very beautiful, but it feels like a game that contains a number of unfinished ideas wrapped up in a gorgeous package.

Despite adding a bit extra to this year’s career mode, there are some technical issues that plague the experience. Shame really, because NASCAR Heat 2 can be quite fun at times.

A superb game for any arcade style fighting game fan who is looking for fun mecha action but one that could’ve done with a better set of offline modes.

A dated version of FIFA, then, but still a fun one, with plenty to build on for next year.

A fantastic puzzle game that is almost perfect on the Nintendo Switch.

Factor in the rather obtuse nature of the puzzling and the uninspiring cast and you’ll find that there’s a lot to be disappointed with in this return for the famed puzzle series.

Everything about this game outdoes the first, and with the expanded Nemesis System, superb combat, and epic story, you'll be immersed for a long time.

A fairly lacklustre remaster does nothing to diminish what makes Dragon's Dogma such a unique and memorable role-playing game. For fans of western style action RPGs it's a must play.

Bowser’s Minions is certainly a Marmite game, it won’t be for everyone but it’s a nice diversion from the main story. Although, considering how good the main story is, you might not want to be distracted from it. It’s good looking, humorous, and overall really good fun to play, there are mild annoyances with how the touchscreen is put to use, but they’re unlikely to spoil the joy the game will ultimately bestow upon you. It’s been fourteen years, but it’s time to get lost in the Beanbean Kingdom again.

A unique game that's visually distinctive and at times quite beautiful, but it suffers from a little unevenness in some levels which distract from the meditative experience it has been pitched as.

Fantastic writing and voice acting abound in the deep, fantastical world of Divinity: Original Sin 2. Despite some massive difficulty spikes, its gameplay is incredibly rewarding and great fun.

I can’t deny that Forza Motorsport 7’s racing is some of the most fun there is, but its overabundance of progression systems make it more of a grind than it should be.

Whilst it may not be the complete package, it does a lot right and has a new and sturdy foundation to build the future of the series on.

The LEGO Ninjago Movie Videogame is a lot of fun, but the camera angles are diabolical in co-op, detracting from the fun that playing with someone normally brings. The story is weak, but the humour more than makes up for it, and the diverse combat feels great to control, especially when racking up a 100-hit combo.

It's difficult to get excited about Telltale Games at the moment, but this has me hooked and I can't wait for the next episode.

Sine Mora EX is an excellent shoot em up with a dark narrative and some really nice boss fights and is only held back by a few flaws and its asking price.

One Piece: Unlimited World Red Deluxe Edition on Switch is the best way to experience Unlimited World Red and exactly how a licensed game should be.

A cool shooter with some great ideas - we just wish there was more of it to begin with.

A stunning visual feast that belies an intense level of difficulty. Cuphead won't be for everyone, but it's still a very good game.

Out of the three versions this is the Yo-Kai Watch 2 to get, it’s very much what has gone before, but this time they’ve thrown in the kitchen sink.

If you love a challenge, and appreciate fantastic level design, this is most definitely for you.

It may not be the purist’s choice, but for pure enjoyment it cannot be beaten. Everybody's Golf is everything I wanted from the return of the series.

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.

PES has the best gameplay on the pitch bar none, and it feels like this year's entry has got everything spot on in game, it just falls short when the servers aren't as stable as they could be, and commentary still struggles to inspire.

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 on Nintendo Switch is a very interesting late port and one that is very good but definitely could have been a lot better.

SEUM: Speedrunners from Hell is a repetitive game, but one that has enough draw to it to give you that “just one more go” drive.

With great level design and a satisfying mixture of puzzles and combat, Hob is one of the most beautiful adventures in a while. From humble beginnings, its scope will often take your breath away.

Blue Reflection is Gust’s best new IP and one that would’ve been a better game had Koei Tecmo put some actual effort into localization wise.

Fun and frustrating, often in equal measure, Ruiner is polished to a high shine but still won't appeal to everyone.

WRC 7 is undoubtedly 2017’s most exciting rally game, held back only by an overall experience that makes the same mistakes as its predecessor.

Atomega’s concept is great, especially in a world of identikit PvP shooters, but its dearth of content means it simply doesn’t last.

If you're looking for not only the greatest basketball game but the greatest sports game in existence, this is definitely it. A huge improvement on last year, let down only by its weak attempt at a story mode.

Cook Serve Delicious! 2!! is a bigger and better Cook, Serve, Delicious! but one that is lacking in direction and feels a bit unfinished

Early on Robonauts is a nice little blaster, but a rote mission structure and a headache inducing core mechanic let it down.

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

Figment tackles a potentially emotional subject, but does so without depressing the player. Quite the opposite. Its gameplay and writing come together in such a charming and musical way, you’ll find yourself smiling throughout.

Auto Age: Standoff wears its Eighties influences on its sleeve, but doesn’t add enough content to back it up. It does offer a decent distraction though, with a bit of fun vehicular combat that harks back to the days of Vigilante 8 and Twisted Metal’s PSOne days.

Dorothy and Fen’s adventure is a brilliant slice of zen gaming, a treat. Image & Form have knocked the it out of the park with this sequel.

A fantastic expansion to an excellent game, Dishonored: Death of the Outsider is a macabre joy to play from start to finish.

It suffers from various issues that make the experience feel more padded, but Danganronpa 3 still has memorable characters and a kickass soundtrack holding it up.

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

AI issues aside, Slightly Mad Studios has put together an astoundingly deep racing simulator with an enormous amount of content.

In a big year for fighting games, Marvel vs Capcom Infinite squares up to its rivals confidently. With a healthy amount of content, it makes up for the lacklustre launch of Street Fighter V, despite not being quite as good.

Pokken is a fighting game that while decent could do with understanding that complexity doesn’t necessarily equal depth.

It's still a great hockey game, and NHL Threes is a great addition, but beyond that it's very much the same game as last year's.

Maize is an amusing title, it's puzzles don't really require any critical thinking and it is overly linear but it kind of works as a curio with some genuinely funny jokes dotted throughout.

Lichtspeer: Double Speer Edition is fun for a bit but gets tiring quick and only really enjoyable as a party experience.

Drive Girls is a disappointing game in almost every aspect with only a few redeeming factors.

It's incredibly ambitious, but without spending hours upon hours building a safe haven to protect you from the brutality of PvP, the single player feels a bit redundant without anyone to play with.

Bringing NeuroVoider to the Switch was a real no-brainer for Flying Oak, it’s a good slice of rogue-like action for this terrific machine.

A worthy conclusion and a fantastic follow up to Mask of Deception that is a must play for visual novel fans on Vita.

Its humour and quick mission times make it an interesting prospect in a genre filled with far-too-serious stories and long, drawn-out missions; but the constantly babysitting your units drags it back from being anything truly special.

Planet of the Eyes is a competent puzzle platformer, short enough to be played in one sitting, but with a sterile and empty world it fails ultimately to leave any lasting impression.