The Ashes isn’t going to bowl over non-cricket fans, but it’s a solid representation of the sport, and not that biased against us poms.

Even without having any headline stealing innovations, F1 2014 is still a finely tuned, expertly crafted testament to the sport, and great way to experience the trials and tribulations of meandering a stylish, super powered car around a circuit for an hour or so – heck, I can even be the cause of those crashes I so desired.

Taking cues from its contemporaries, particularly Metal Gear Rising Revengeance, Grasshopper’s hack and slash tale of moon power and misogyny is an entertaining diversion, particularly narratively and artistically, but its gameplay unfortunately lacks the inventiveness or ingenuity to see it mature into a truly timeless action game.

No Place Like Home has some nice touches that offer a satisfying gameplay loop, but there are some issues holding it back.

The story and design may not be unique enough to allow the game to stand out and be a hugely memorable experience, but the gameplay itself is very satisfying and not purely a nostalgia trip.

For a game designed by a relatively small indie studio, Strayed Lights is more than competent in terms of gameplay and combat.

Valkyrie Elysium is an enjoyable action RPG packed full of combos and upgrades, but the boring levels and story detract from the fun.

A respectable effort in turn-based strategy, but if you’re after a story and a welcoming hand, you’ve come to the wrong place.

Scarf offers a short and sweet platforming experience. It's perfectly enjoyable to play, but you'll likely be left wanting more when the credits roll.

Penny's Big Breakaway is a fun 3D platformer with great locomotion, but a whole host of bugs and checkpoint issues spoil the good time.

If you can ignore The Sinking City's technical failings, set the combat difficulty to easy and stick to getting embroiled in the story.

Just Colors is as simple as puzzle games get, but with a good approach to building upon a basic, easy-to-understand idea.

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.

Gimmick! Special Edition deserved a wider audience back in the day and is well worth your time if you are a fan of old-school platform hopping fun.

Rainbow Moon’s cutesy style and twinkly audio design cleverly disguise a genuinely challenging, surprisingly sprawling adventure with enough depth and variety to appease even the hardiest strategy-RPG fan. Forced grinding and unexpected dfficulty spikes aren’t all that enoyable, but they’re not game-breaking either.

A good start to Starcraft II’s DLC, Nova Covert Ops delivers a fun and tense opening chapter, but suffers from a lack of story content.

Garden Story is a beautiful game with a laid back attitude, but the slow paced gameplay won't be to everyone's taste.

There’s a lot to love in Alone With You: the wonderful art style, the synth soundtrack, the well written story, and the way it touches on interesting subjects being just a few. However, unnecessary padding and busy work really drag the overall enjoyment down.

Amid the Ruins has its fair share of shortcomings, but it also ticks most of the boxes of what we have been asking for in the past. It maintains a good pace throughout, and avoids getting bogged down with trivialities. It also manages to provide a mix of action sections, emotional scenes, and conversational passages – yet we also get some much-appreciated character development.

SingStar Celebration is a vanilla version of a party game classic, and you'll have a great time if you allow yourself to let your hair down.

Whenever a game can surprise you, it’s obviously a good thing. Stick It To The Man definitely does that at points – but, when it’s touted as a comedy and the laughs don’t come in thick and fast, disappointment follows.

OPUS: Rocket of Whispers while not as great as the previous game, is still well worth your time if you enjoy games with heartwarming stories. You will need to tolerate some padding to get ahead in the story sadly.

Issues aside, Dreamfall Chapters is an adventure game worthy of your time. The story is powerful and engaging, with characters you’ll fall in love with. Get past the annoying robot and characters that swear far too much (and seemingly for the shock factor) near the start, and you’ll begin to appreciate all the hard work Red Thread Games has put into each and every book.

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.

Fitting for a game called ‘Tales’ Vesperia spins a good yarn, but ultimately the game is showing its age.

Despite a few illogical puzzles and poor controls, The Inner World’s writing shines through to create a decent, amusing adventure.

I wish the difficulty spikes weren’t as annoying because this is a fun experience with some good humour and an interesting gameplay mechanic.

Play through the story mode until you take out the first boss and you should have a good grip on how the game is played, once there I suggest you stop before the game turns you into a gibbering gibbon of pure hatred. Take that part as a tutorial and then play against your friends and you’ll have a whale of a time. I put the game in front of my family members, and for the first time ever I saw interactions that wouldn’t look out of place in a Switch infomercial, they were having pure, unadulterated fun and that’s where this game’s magic lies.

Little Big Workshop is an enjoyable entry in the management sim game. It features cute diorama style visuals, but has surprisingly deep systems to tinker with that will keep you focused and strategising for the best way to grow your factory.

Senran Kagura Burst Re:Newal is a nice gateway into the franchise and a very good remake of the 3DS classic but one that won't offer much for players of Estival Versus thanks to a lot of reuse.

There are some great moments in Harold of Halibut, even if it takes a while to get going, and the art style is stunning in every way.

Atelier Firis tells a bright, fun tale in a somewhat restricted world.

If you enjoyed or enjoy games like Don’t Starve and want something like that with a great art style, Smoke and Sacrifice is for you. There’s always a sense of mystery that is nice and the mix of different mechanics works well. The world always seems huge and the game isn’t a short experience. If you’re willing to overlook some of these flaws like the UI problems, you will find a lot to love here. I can’t wait to see this improve over time.

It isn’t a fantastic experience but hopefully post launch patches improve the visuals and the framerate. If you want to play this docked, get it on another platform.

A stripped-down version of its desktop counterpart that still provides the series’ addictive gameplay.

While Age of Empires was once the best game of its kind, the Definitive Edition’s changes are only superficial, ignoring the gameplay advancements that have improved the genre since 1997. As such, only existing fans will fully appreciate it.

Despite its irksome shortcomings, Magicka: Wizard Wars succeeds in amply entertaining the frugal among us… at least until your next paycheque hits.

Big on story but short on thrills, State of Mind nevertheless delivers a compelling mystery

There's a lot to like about Vampyr, despite some slightly lacklustre combat, and it's a decent-sized adventure to sink your teeth into.

The excellent multiplayer integration and classic gameplay that just never gets old will be enjoyed by those looking for another Tetris fix.

Simple, innovative controls and a pretty art style make it a fun game to play when you’ve got time to kill.

A decent team-based shooter that will disappoint hardcore Metroid fans, but is enjoyable enough for those who don’t have lofty expectations of what this game should be.

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory takes a stripped back look at the story of the series whilst putting the fantastic music at its core, although the timing issues can effect the enjoyment of revisiting the past.

If you’re into crafting and gathering, steep challenge and risky exploration, The Serpent Rogue is a concoction worth tasting.

Overall, the toning down of some effects and lighting would have been more palatable if the image quality itself was good. The visuals look a bit too soft in both handheld and docked mode in the current state. Thankfully, I ran into no trouble playing the games on either mode and have been enjoying them. I think they hold up great and are a lovely addition to the Switch platformers available.

Go into Nuclear Blaze knowing what to expect and there's a lot of simple firefighting fun to be had. Oh, and there are cute kittens to save, too.

Abyss Odyssey is absolutely the sum of its parts. While its platforming and fighter credentials might not hold up individually, their combination alongside the roguelike sensibilities and community co-operation help elevate these lacking mechanics to be something more compelling than they would be alone.

The Brigmore Witches is a mostly satisfactory end to one of 2012′s best-loved games, but it could have and should have concluded with more pizazz.

World War Z: Game of the Year Edition is still a good game, but now comes packed with more content: a new three chapter story mission, new horde and challenge modes and a slew of cosmetic and weapon customisations to keep you busy for a while.

The daunting difficulty is always going to be a problem to a newcomer taking their first steps into such a popular, community-driven landscape, but Magic 2015 offers an in-depth tutorial that doesn’t skimp on the information. Sadly, though, the main game will disappoint established fans.

It’s certainly a game you’ll get more enjoyment from with the maximum number of allowed players, and if you and your friends are extroverted and feel incredibly comfortable around each other (or have a stash of strong alcohol nearby), then for the price of entry (£5.99) this is an absolutely great party game that gives a shining glimpse of what can be done with the Wii U if a bit of thought is put into it.

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.

The whole game is a large pile of harmless fun for a saturday afternoon when nothing much needs doing. If you’re a grown-up fan of the series, then this is the game for you.

If you’re looking for a very different kind of management sim and a steep challenge, Vagrus: The Riven Realms is the game for you.

It's doing something different as part of Play Link, and there is no better studio to do a crime story using this service, even though some of the gameplay elements are a bit dull.

Genesis Noir is a simple puzzler with point-and-click elements that are stripped back to reveal an engaging and beautiful story. It may be too easy and rather linear, but it's still a well presented game that'll keep you engaged throughout.

Super Bomberman R does a great job of bringing back those warm, fuzzy feelings of the SNES era. Those days where you would sit around your old CRT TV with a multitap plugged in playing with your family at a get together, and for that, it’s hard to fault. What you can fault, though, is the cost of entry, with a forgettable single player and a whole load of unused multiplayer content can you justify the outlay? Maybe it’s worth clubbing together with a bunch of friends and affording it that way – just a suggestion. Either way, your justification for buying Bomberman is always going to be how much you value nostalgia, and for some the price might just be a bit too steep.

It's a great way to get involved in TESO, and even though there's not a lot of new stuff it's still worth giving it a go.

One Many Nobody is a fun enough puzzle platformer, but one that never really manages to break through to greatness.

A lovely 2D horror adventure that falters in a few aspects but is still worth playing.

Miniature mechs minus the mayhem, Futurlab’s newest is bursting with tactical depth, yet lacking in variety.

A fast-paced twin-stick shooter that doesn't do a lot to stand out but offers a blast of fun in short doses.

Aven Colony is a gentle city builder where you will be tasked with growing colonies in different locations each with their own challenges. Where it lacks in depth it more than makes up for it in accessible gameplay, perfect for dipping into.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII is a good RTS, but there’s plenty to learn that may put off those looking for a shorter and snappier experience.

Ultimately, while it is fun in small doses, Rocket Arena feels itself like an alternate mode in a larger game. It's bright and colourful but as a standalone experience it feels a little too limited and imbalanced to lead the pack

The same old Worms gameplay you’ve seen many times before, with bolder animations, new weapons and added vehicles.

It’s going to cost you a fortune, though, because once you start to enjoy dashing through the air as Iron Man, you’ll want more of those pricey heroes to throw into your game, because they’re wonderful little toys that look and feel good.

If you're a horse lover, the The Sims 4 Horse Ranch expansion is a no-brainier. For anyone else, this is one that it might not be a bad thing to skip.

Whilst Rage 2 offers an intense wave of combat, the open world is dull, and the story and missions rarely excite.

A charming Steampunk romp with the spirit of the Silver Age of Comics, which stumbles thanks to some awkward design choices.

The Lost Child is a good dungeon crawler but there are so many better ones. Kadokawa’s production values shine with gorgeous character art, great music, and even the voice acting. I wish they had gotten Experience Inc. to do the actual dungeon design.

A game that does well as a single-player RPG, and does well as a vast, exploration-based semi-open-world adventure, but excels at neither. Better than many of the RPGs in its ancestry, it nonetheless suffers from frustrating NPC engagement and lacks the intelligent storyline required to make it a classic of the genre.

The four challenge maps will get a little tiresome for all but the most competitive players after a couple of hours, and unless you have friends on the leaderboard that you’re trying to beat it’s a small distraction at best.

Loot Rascals is a quirky turn based card strategy game that incorporates rogue-like elements. The off the wall presentation hides a surprisingly deep system to manage, but luck often hampers the best laid plans meaning progression feels limited at times.

The bugs and general lack of polish do have a negative effect on the game and the short playtime will have some questioning whether it’s worth the asking price. But if you are looking for a couple of hours of fun with a lot of laughs, you cant go wrong with Goat Simulator.

Song of Horror has some great ideas and is genuinely scary at times, but random deaths and awkward controls sometimes threaten to spoil the experience.

Anno 2205 offers plenty of enjoyment, but may not appeal to the hardcore strategist.

If you’re a fan of Sword Art Online then this is a must buy, with it’s alternate reality separating it from the series.

The platforming can be tough at times and the camera only makes thing worse. The poor story and voice acting, straight out of a Saturday morning cartoon, will alienate the older audience, too, which really leaves Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures with no real market – which is a shame, as some of the ideas and platforming sections made for some of the best fun I’ve had in years.

Alone in the Dark is a faithful take on the original, with some smart puzzles and a charming Southern tone despite some frustrating combat.

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

Despite some iffy performance and a lot of proper nouns that I just couldn't track properly, I enjoyed my time with Mechwarrior 5: Clans.

The story is the best in the series but, when it comes to gameplay, Warner Bros. Montreal seem to have taken the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mantra and done the exact opposite.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre has a lot of promise, but it'll need some updates before it can truly be called great.

Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance is much better with friends. There's loads of loot and fun to be had, but combat is quite sluggish.

While mostly appealing to fans of the original series, Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness is able to present an immersive world and appealing narrative to newcomers - but come prepared to learn.

Summum Aeterna is a decent roguelike adventure with a great aesthetic and superb music, but its gameplay loop and protagonist left me a little cold.

If you're here for nostalgia's sake, more power to you, but if you're expecting a sweeping remaster of this beloved trilogy that brings it up to date in a meaningful way, you'll have to keep waiting.

Choo Choo Charles never takes itself seriously, but there's a fun game at its core with simple yet effective mechanics.

Star Renegades has some great ideas; the characters are solid, likeable and believable, and the world is intriguing, but it may be too punishing for some.

Simple controls and amazing areas to explore make the game a pleasure to play, I just wish there was more of it to enjoy.

Probably the most un-Final Fantasy game in the series history XV Pocket Edition HD at least provides a decent game to get us going before more full-fat titles arrive.

Pokémon Rumble U is a very simplistic game, but a very fun one.

If you’ve played a Lego game before, you know what to expect. It’s full of charm and wit, while lacking much innovation.

A steady puzzle game elevated by its story and mystery that's never quite original enough to stand out.

If you’ve been craving a first person dungeon crawler on the Switch, Coven is definitely a much better game but if you already played that, this is worth looking into if you’re after fan service.

Umamusume: Pretty Derby - Party Dash is a decent party game, but some poor events and a lack of tutorials spoil the experience a bit

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.