It feels like a missed opportunity. It starts okay, but it’s not long before the downtime or micro-management begin to push the enjoyable segments of gameplay further and further apart.

A completely insane concept, ScreamRide is a decent coaster sim combined with a brilliant physics game and a complex yet engaging level designer.

Knowledge is Power is a good quiz game, but it does feel repetitive after a while and should probably be enjoyed when sandwiched between other PlayLink titles.

Miitopia is a game packed full of adorable moments and Nintendo charm, but don't go in expecting the deepest RPG experience around.

While The Devil's Daughter does a lot of things adequately, it does absolutely none of them spectacularly, and feels like a bit of a misstep for the series.

There’s nothing here you haven’t seen before, and while it’s a decent take on the runner game, you’ve no doubt seen it done so much better elsewhere. There’s very little payoff or reason for repeated plays, and that’s a big problem with a mobile 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.

You'll enjoy exploring, and the bosses are tough nuts to crack, but frustrating controls and its difficulty may prove a little too much for some.

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

This is a great backup version, but a largely inferior edition of a terrific game.

Although frustrating and oppressive by design, Jump King brings a level of satisfaction in victory rarely found in gaming. The varied level design and sheer amount of content within will provide hours of falling for those with the patience to continue.

Probably the most fun you can have in a Nickelodeon videogame, this is a derivative but fun fighter that kids will enjoy, but will probably do quite well in the competitive community too.

Once Human is an immensely playable, atmospheric and addictive third-person survival crafter with a huge world to go out and explore, alone or with others.

Harold is enjoyable enough, but the omnipresent AI, kindergarten story and the unshakable feeling of being unconquerable ruin the experience.

Sonic Frontiers has its fair share of issues, but the open world direction and varied gameplay makes it the most exciting Sonic game in decades.

Clockwork Aquario is a restorative labour of love 27 years in the making. What’s not to like?

Overall, the Switch version is an excellent port of the previous remaster with the same additional content available once you have completed the main story. There is very little to distinguish this version from the previously released HD remasters, the only difference being the portability option that the Switch console offers.

Combining the combos of PS2 classics with flashy, modern looking spectacle, Monster Jam Showdown is muddy good fun.

Last Stop does a decent job of hooking you into its story, but the ending lets it down. The journey of characters is more enjoyable than where it ends up.

An incredibly relaxing experience, with a great story to tell. Exploring the breathtaking environments as adorable animals is consistantly satisfying. The voice acting does detract from some moments, but Lost Ember's charm and beauty is undeniable.

LEGO Horizon Adventures is a lot of fun, and Studio Gobo has done a great job making Aloy's journey full of excitement and humour.

H1Z1 may well have been inspired by the original version of PUBG, and it shows, but in Auto Royale it provides one of the most fun battle royale modes out there.

Sundered is a beautiful-looking Metroidvania with interesting mechanics, let down slightly by performance issues and a difficulty curve that is simply too steep during its opening hours.

The Road to Boruto DLC has some great combat and cut scenes, but the whole expansion doesn’t feel as grand as the original game did.

Deadly Premonition Origins looks bad on the switch, and there are various issues including poor frame rate and awful driving controls, but its just as bizarre as it ever was.

Pacer is an adrenaline-fuelled racer with tons of replayability, and plenty of customisation options to make each win count.

The Last Case of Benedict Fox on PS5 is a huge improvement on last year's release, with fluid and responsive combat being its best feature.

While the presentation leaves a lot to be desired, there are plenty of elements that make Demon Gaze a good jumping-off point for the first person dungeon crawler. If you can stand the typically Japanese sexism, you might just enjoy this challenging, if repetitive, adventure.

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

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.

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

Ion Fury is clearly a love letter to 90s shooters. Lovingly crafted and blisteringly fast, it's well worth your time.

Just Dance 2021 works fine with solid choreography, but with very few base game changes, Just Dance Unlimited feels like a much better option.

Despite a number of performance issues and combat that feels just a little too loose and mashy compared to its genre-mates, Code Vein presents a unique take on the Soulslike formula.

Madden NFL 25 looks gorgeous, has great attention to detail, and a game-changing physics engine, which takes the series to the next level.

A very poignant game that will hopefully help people to speak out about their struggles, as well as showcase just how important storytelling is in games.

Darksiders III is a stunning achievement, bringing the once-dead series back to life with aplomb.

TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3 is a thrilling racer that highlights the spectacle and dangers of such an iconic competition.

A fresh take on the physics-based video games we’re used to, but gets tied up with awkward camera angles and tricky movement.

Disney Dreamlight Valley is brimming with Disney magic, but it's also a well-constructed game with plenty to keep you playing. [Early Access Score = 90]

Go Mecha Ball is a fast paced, fantastic twin stick Roguelike, and as long as you don't mind a lack of items early on you'll have a great time with it.

qomp2 is a delightful retro romp that answers all the questions you ever had about the Pong ball, and is packed full of creative mechanics.

The targets are harder to kill and the environment isn’t as pretty as previous missions, but Colorado offers excellent gameplay and tons of replayability.

Whilst more Spider-Man is never a bad thing, the DLC doesn't last that long, and there's nothing really new to keep you entertained outside the story.

A Fisherman's Tale has some fantastic puzzles and great level design, but the movement manages to ruin some of the puzzles.

Zombie Army Trilogy feels a little less essential than other ports to the Switch, however it is technically a good port of a decent game. Firing slow-motion x-ray shots consistently is always a thrill.

Gods Will Fall is a solid adventure with some cool ideas that will satisfy your craving for challenge while it lasts.

Minecraft Dungeons has heaps of potential, and in a year’s time it may be a very different beast. But right now I can’t shake the notion that this is a squandered opportunity.

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.

NASCAR Heat 4 still has its issues, but Monster Games’ long overdue overhaul finally makes this the game that the series has always tried to be.

Fe is very pretty, and the music is equally stunning. It's a wonderful little game let down by some drawn out puzzles and some tricky climbing mechanics.

MXGP 2020 feels like it was made for those who already enjoy the series. Whilst the gameplay is solid enough, it is often unforgiving, and with little in the way of new modes, you'll likely grow tired quickly.

Hyrule Warriors: Legends is a solid handheld musou experience only let down by some technical limitations.

It is fast becoming the case that the formula is becoming a little stale, and although the games are nice and inoffensive enough, it’s becoming harder and harder to shake the feeling that you’re just playing the same game, again.

Immortal Realms: Vampire Wars offers some new ideas and a cool setting to the strategy genre. However, its stripped-back approach may be too simplistic for some.

While definitely not for everyone, Dustforce is an ambitious and charming game that shows touches of brillance as frequently as it punishes and annoys.

If you’ve been crying out for a good console strategy RPG you should give Regalia a go, it’s not perfect, but it’s an exceptionally well told yarn.

Elderand is an enjoyable, old-fashioned hack ‘n’ slash adventure that will challenge you without punishing you.

Road 96: Mile 0 is a strong narrative adventure that not only builds on the original, but offers new and exciting gameplay elements.

After 26 years, Beyond A Steel Sky is a strange yet welcome sequel. Not quite fresh enough to stand alone nor nostalgic enough to stir the memory, it nevertheless manages to thoroughly entertain if not thrill.

The simplified gameplay mechanics and additional balancing ideas should provide a more level playing field to start off on. Longtime series fans, however, are likely to be left cold by this stripped-down title, which eschews the combo-juggling they are used to.

Issues with game length and difficulty aside, this is a brilliant and respectful update of one of the best platformers ever made, and one that gamers of all ages will enjoy, whether you’ve played the original or not.

The story may be a bit too much, and the gameplay beats can be a touch clumsy to begin with, but Inazuma Eleven 3: Team Ogre Attacks is a mighty entertaining sports RPG that – just like its lead Mark Evans – has a big heart, and an infectious enthusiasm for what it is.

Vertical Drop Heroes is a cheap and certainly cheerful 2D platformer, and pretty enjoyable, although it’s unlikely to hold your attention for too long. It’s a game that’s as much about luck and perseverance than actual skill, but Roguelike fans who want something a little lighter might well enjoy this.

Epic Eric is the perfect game to play on the tube. It will keep you entertained, but doesn’t require massive amounts of concentration. The gameplay is fun and some of the puzzles are brilliantly designed. However, too many stages are too simple and offer little challenge. All in all, Epic Eric is a decent game, but somehow feels like it’s missing a final stage.

A superb puzzle game that has the added bonus of being cross-buy.

Death Star is the best expansion so far for Battlefront, but the way the DLC as a whole is presented only further segregates the player base.

Whilst this collection has a lot to offer, those unfamiliar with Atari probably won’t want to spend that much time with these bonafide classics.

A pretty straightforward modernising of a fondly remembered 1980s shoot ‘em up that successfully adds a handful of modern bells, whistles and gameplay wrinkles to proceedings whilst also suffering somewhat from the inherent gameplay restrictions of its source material.

If you skipped God Wars on PS4 or PS Vita, this is definitely the version to get. It looks and plays well in both docked and handheld settings.

My Hero One’s Justice certainly gets an A for effort but scrapes by with a C for it’s working out.

There’s a lot to enjoy in Chasm if you’re after a less intense Metroidvania-like experience.

If you're able to ignore the hokey storyline and amateurish writing, Obey Me is a decent action game.

We Were Here Together is a fun escape the room type of puzzle game with an interesting story and beautiful aesthetic and soundtrack. It’s let down by some unnecessary difficulty and teething console issues with regards to controls.

Radical Rabbit Stew is afun 16-bit puzzler with an amusing story. While it's short, sitting at the 2-3 hour mark to complete, it's a good way to spend an afternoon. Different, cute and quirky.

The Sims 4 Journey to Batuu is a great addition to the library, but it’s reaching a point where I’d like to see how far Maxis can push the Sims concept with a new iteration.

For people who like their puzzles just a little bit different and their pixel art filled with severed limbs Red Ronin is an absolute must.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Wrath of the Druids presents a good 12 to 18 hours of new story and side content, with loads to get stuck into.

Risk System is for the hardcore, yet it's also original and well presented. That said, it just won't click for some due to the high level of difficulty.

Madden receives a kicking each year regardless of what changes EA and Tiburon make. But it seems the developer listened a bit to the voices of dissent as what I am feeling here is a much crisper and user-friendly game than the buggy mess of last year. I will be playing this one throughout the season and very much looking forward to seeing how that pans out. Sadly, I cannot say the same for the Jets. But there is always next year.

Just Dance 2023 Edition can be a whole lot of fun with friends, but it has a host of issues that also hold it back.

The Banished Vault is an intricately designed strategy with plenty of layers, however, there's a truly satisfying gameplay loop at its core.

Airhead wastes no time trying to force itself around a story, and as such it remains a simple but challenging joy throughout.

Throne and Liberty has some solid ideas, but it’s mostly held up by the combat and exploration, rather than the actual MMO elements.

This is a port only really worth picking up if you missed it the first time, but even then the iffy controls (sprint is the left bumper and the menu wheel is on A, for some reason best known only to Hell’s most prolific torturers) and shocking performance issues will leave you wondering what all the fuss was about. 8 years after its original release t’s still irreverent fun, though certainly hampered by iffy shooting and iffier driving, but Saints Row has always been one of those series that kind of gets a free pass because it’s so endearingly nuts.

Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer offers some solid exercises and a comfortable difficulty curve to help people of all fitness levels.

This dancer has still got the moves, but could do with learning a few new routines.

A fun addition to Steep, with plenty new events and slopes providing a nice change of pace to the base game. Yet if Steep annoyed you because of its buggy nature, then it probably won’t win you back over.

There’s so much fun to be had here, and the co-op is probably the best I’ve seen in a long time. The country of Bolivia is massive and fun to explore, with plenty to do and visuals that never fail to impress.

Arca's Path is a simple game with some nice challenges and some nice level designs, and never becomes too difficult to allow all ages a chance to enjoy.

Magrunner: Dark Pulse completely and unabashedly rips off the Portal franchise. It does make a vain attempt to add its own elements but just feels too cluttered.

Bright, colourful and a lot of fun, Taiko no Tatsujin is a beat ‘em up I can really get behind.

New World is a pretty damn good MMORPG. It's fun and accessible, and though it doesn't do anything truly new, it has enough little twists on existing ideas to keep me invested.

It may not be the most important remake of the year, but Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is a gorgeous, dense, and charming adventure.

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.

The stunning world Graceful Decay has built in Maquette is perpetually gorgeous and dream-like throughout its short time, never failing to blind you with its beauty. The puzzles utilise size manipulation to provide you with a satisfying mix of challenges, too.

A debauchery-fueled beat ‘em up with plenty of ways to cripple your enemies, its excessive violence never overshadows the smart and intuitive combat.

The striking is very satisfying, and the new submission system is interesting and creates a more level playing field than in the past, but the game is let down by poor wrestling and transition mechanics.