Come for the historical Japanese setting and story, stay for the pleasing, fast-paced combat. Spirit of Sanada puts combat, its best asset, front-and-centre, and it pays off.

Whilst some of the gun mechanics don't work as well as they should, there's still lots of missions, customisation, and a cracking electronic soundtrack in the vein of Hotline Miami.

As far as finales go, From the Gallows is pretty good. There are some great interactions between the brothers, only let down by the treatment of one of the character's deaths.

Taking its inspiration from some of the best dungeon crawlers out there, Victor Vran is an immensely fun action-RPG that will keep you playing for hours and hours.

A great showcase of how a much beloved series has evolved over nearly a decade. It still has some great moments and can still feel fresh and exciting, but those moments cant hold back the slump into grinding repetition most matches end up being.

Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2 is one of the best fighting games available today and one that is brilliant for both newcomers and veterans alike.

If you have a virtual reality headset and you’ve always dreamed of being aboard a Star Trek starship then it’s a no brainer. It has a learning curve that may take you a few hours to get to grips with but don’t let that put you off. Sure, the Move controllers aren’t the greatest, but they assist in providing a level of immersion that will make you geek out a little harder. Even if you’re not a Star Trek fan this is still a game worth considering, especially if you’re after a social virtual reality experience. Just try not to become a redshirt.

World to the West puts players in control of four unlikely heroes with unique skillsets and tasks them with exploring a puzzle-filled map. The world and its humourous characters are presented in a delightful art style and the soundtrack is great but the gameplay becomes repetitive in lengthier chunks.

Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception is a great visual novel for fans of the slice of life genre and one that made me want the sequel right now.

I haven't played anything like this since Journey. It is a stunning game to explore and exist in, and the story is going to move a lot of people.

Street Fighter 2 remains a good game, whatever incarnation it appears in, but the new modes add nothing (and are bad) and it's far too expensive. A conundrum, then, and one only you can decide if you're willing to pay out for.

Resident Evil Code: Veronica X gives PS4 players a chance to experience an underrated classic of the series, via this surprisingly robust PS2 Classics emulation.

Cooking Mama: Sweet Shop is better suited for young children due to the incredibly easy mini-games and lack of variety.

Fast, furious, fun and another positive adjective beginning with f, Injustice 2 is everything you need from a fighting game.

Releasing Minecraft on the Switch was a real no brainer for Microsoft, the game has found a natural home and is worth yet another purchase.

The Forza Horizon series has always embodied the adventurous and fun side of driving, and the Hot Wheels expansion delivers that in spades.

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.

Disgaea 5 Complete is the best version of Disgaea 5 and a great strategy RPG that is well worth your time.

If you're looking for a quick fix of addictive gameplay within a multiplayer environment, you can't go wrong with this.

Farpoint isn't bad, and to PSVR players who've never experienced anything like it, it may resonate harder. But know that there's far better out there in the same space.

Akiba’s Beat is a tedious action RPG that has very few redeeming factors and one that has made me appreciate Akiba’s Trip even more and that is saying something.

Put aside any misconceptions you have about strategy RPGs, Shadows of Valentia demands your time and will make you feel good for it.

I started Last Stitch Goodnight unimpressed with its attempts at humour but after four and a half hours of basic yet varied combat, unique boss battles and intriguing story, I finished with a much more positive outlook.

The Surge offers an interesting world to explore, and a few new tricks that set it apart from the competition, but often falls short of its inspiration due to wonky combat and uninspired enemy designs.

There are few rhythm games that are as joyful or as fun as this. If you need a happy place, this should most definitely be it.

It's great to have a basketball arcade game back in the public domain, but it falls short of the successful heights of NBA Jam.

Period Cube is a good otome visual novel with great visuals, interesting characters, and nice music but one with a derivative and cheesy story that let it down.

Prey is a game that meshes together a variety of ideas into a game that rewards exploration and experimentation and provides players with a fun toolbox with which to do so.

Operation Babel is a good dungeon crawler but not even close to Experience Inc’s best work or most of the competition on Vita.

An improvement on the original, but it throws in a few flaws of its own.

Syberia 3 isn’t a bad game by any means and offers up an immersive story… If you can make it past the horrific graphical hindrances that is.

GNOG is a game that defies explanation. It is a weird, abstract puzzle game that has a sense of play and about it, but ultimately leaves you wanting a little more.

The Caligula Effect is an average JRPG with a memorable soundtrack that has some ambitious ideas for mechanics, but fails in executing them in a constructive manner.

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.

As far as frantic FPS's go, this is one of the best, but poor AI and a ramped up difficulty might prove too much for some.

It’s a stunner of a game, both visually and mechanically, and if you do indeed love the 2D platformer genre that pushes your reflexes and patience, Super Rude Bear Resurrection is the best out there. The levels are bursting with colour, complexity, and smart encounters, with a bear wearing a purple baseball cap as the game’s protagonist, looking cool af. Seriously, go out and play this game.

Despite the unique nature of Birthdays the Beginning, and how it approaches the god game genre from a completely new direction, I really can’t see it appealing to too many people. It has the potential to be a decent learning tool, but the progression blocks in the early game, combined with a tutorial that just doesn’t explain anything in enough depth, will keep most people from seeing the best bits anyway. Sir David Attenborough is a better bet, if you want entertainment while you learn.

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.

TumbleSeed had the potential to really be this year’s Spelunky or Isaac with its amazing visuals and music design but it throws far too much at the player early on making it a tad more frustrating than fun.

Flinthook would have been a much better game with handcrafted levels as opposed to being a roguelite and one that needs some tweaking visually.

While Expeditions: Viking won’t be winning any awards for ground-breaking storytelling or innovative gameplay, it’s compelling in just the right way that keeps commanding attention throughout. I found it to be a lot of fun, if a little unpolished in places.

Ultimately, The Deer God’s biggest sin is that it just feels utterly pointless. There is no emotional reason for me to play, and the gameplay is so benign and fruitless that it just made me wonder why I still held the controller in my hand. It may be trying to convey some important message about nature of survival, but it’s nowhere near engaging enough to be noticed.

Cities: Skylines is a blast to play on Xbox One, but I wish they hadn’t left out the fast forward feature and also added the other expansion that are available on PC to this release.

Strategy games may be a niche market on console, but Tethered genuinely has its heart in the right place. With a little more autonomy in its Peeps, it could have been a great game, instead of an above average one. Certainly a good choice if you want a lengthy VR game, though.

It goes without saying that this game sets a new benchmark for storytelling, and the imaginative ways in which it's done, all the while dealing with death in a delicate and poignant way.

Thicker Than Water is the best episode yet, and as it finished I was left with the all too familiar feeling of nervousness and fear us Walker fans are used to. Telltale Games makes great use of Walkers, too, and you remember just how random and deadly their attacks can be. Going into Episode Five it’s going to be interesting to see how the group dynamic works after the crazy events of the end, and just how the gang are going to recover. There’re still plenty of issues with the animation on the character’s eyes, and some of the facial animations aren’t telling of what they’re actually trying to say, but forget this due to the gripping nature of the story. It’s clear to see why The Walking Dead is Telltale Games’ jewel in the crown, and if the previous two seasons have taught us anything, it’s to bring your hankies to the finale.

The Sexy Brutale is a lavishly stylish, unique and engrossing murder mystery game in which, on a day that always restarts, you must prevent the staff of a grand mansion from murdering the several guests and solve the intriguing mystery.

A solid effort from CI Games, Ghost Warrior 3 is a series-best, but hamstrung by long load times and a dull story.

If you thought the original did a good job of scaring you to death, this one does it 10 times better.

Puyo Puyo Tetris is a great puzzle mashup game with loads of game modes and a robust online mode offering a fun experience.

If you like these artistically pleasing platform puzzlers, then this is going to be something you'll enjoy. It's not very challenging, and it has a few issues that will frustrate, but this is a fine one-and-done game, and for the price, it's well worth investigating.

Ultimately it’s too expensive for how long it is, but if you have invested in PC-based VR, it’s hard to imagine you’ll baulk at the price. I hope this isn’t the only dalliance with VR we see from Rick and Morty, because despite being a bit of a shallow, short experience, what is here is excellent. It’s funny, self aware, and has the same great voices from the TV show. It may be the most niche VR game ever, but if you’re a fan of Rick and Morty you owe it to yourself to find a way to play it (for less than it costs to buy a new PC and VR).

A solid riff on Hotline Miami, but with its own, fun spin.

Veterans of the original Dawn of War will take to this game like stepping into their old Power Armour. Exhilarating, over-the-top spectacle, and meeting expectations like only Dawn of War can.

Deluxe may be the wrong word for it, but this is the definitive Mario Kart 8 experience, which ultimately makes it one of the best kart-racers ever made.

Probably the best way to get into the series, and the best way to bring yourself back up to speed before Kingdom hearts 3 is released.

Shiness doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, and its style and execution are designed to evoke memories of your gaming past. Come for the pretty world, stay for the fast, if slightly messy combat.

The Silver Case isn’t a bad game by any means, but it is definitely suited to a specific audience due to its story-heavy nature and difficult puzzles.

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.

Full Throttle Remastered is a fantastic point and click heavy metal adventure that is an essential for fans of the genre.

This collection reminded me how much I loved the games as a child, and getting the theme songs out of my head is going to take a great amount of time.

It's not a bad game by any means, but I'm starting to feel fatigued by episodic games. The characters work well together, and there are some nice ideas, but I'm not finding anything beyond this to keep me hooked.

Hard and unforgiving, Has Been Heroes has the potential to create the videogame equivalent of Jack Torrance in anyone who plays it.

With its immature design and humour, Drawn To Death is a game out of time. Its server issues and general instability compound that, distracting from what could have been a fun arena shooter.

With such a fun story, great gameplay, and the ability to enjoy with a friend or relative, you’re never short of having a good time.

It’s a stunning game, majestic in art design and fluid in combat. It’s difficult at times, but the rewards for getting to the next area far outweigh the frustrations.

If you love rhythm games and bass heavy music, this is one you’re going to want to check out. The levels are gorgeous, and the gameplay is straightforward, but challenging especially towards the end.

The Ringed City DLC is a mixture of things, unfairly difficult in the beginning, it opens up and delivers a thematically fitting end to the series of the whole. Great boss fights as well as a new PvP mechanic elevate it above the previous DLC.

If you never had the privilege of playing this when it came out originally, now’s the perfect time to give it a go. It’s action-packed and smarter than it may appear, plus Duke Nukem is in it!

A Rose in the Twilight is a worthy spiritual successor to The Firefly Diary and one very intriguing puzzle platformer on its own with a unique and eerie atmosphere.

88 Heroes is a fun, chaotic platformer where 88 is king. You have 88 minutes to complete 88 rooms, you have 88 seconds to complete each room and have an army of 88 characters to play with. With a lot of unique and funny heroes on offer, 88 Heroes is a nice bit of platforming goodness.

It may not hold up to the current crop of rhythm games, but there’s still lots to love about this 20-year old classic. Besides, who doesn’t appreciate a love story between a rapping dog and a sassy sunflower?

Blackwood Crossing is a surprising release, a game that delicately explores the difficult emotions of grief, guilt and love told through the eyes of two orphaned siblings.

Yooka-Laylee could have been the start of a new generation of 3D platformers, but its design leaves it firmly stuck in the past.

Thimbleweed Park is a game this generation needs, not for quenching nostalgic needs, but to show us just how great point and click adventure games can be in the right hands. Even though some of the puzzles can have you ripping your hair out, the satisfaction of solving is second to none. Terrible Toybox has put together a delightful game, and it would be a real shame if you were to miss out on the mysteries of Thimbleweed Park.

Managing Freeburg’s police force whilst simultaneously skimming yourself a little bit of cash on the side is a decent time, even if monotony does creep in as your days in the force dwindle. The minimalistic style and presentation do it some favours, and the story makes good use of some familiar good-cop-gone-bad tropes with a bit of personal introspection thrown in for good measure. Whilst its handling of specific topics that are currently being played out in our own society is decidedly haphazard, This is the Police remains pretty easy to drop in and play, in no-small part thanks to some smooth tunes.

A kids RPG that’s kind of hard to hate, but the mileage may vary depending on how much said child likes to do as they’re told.

There is no ‘best way’ to play this, other than in a quiet room with your headphones firmly in place and nothing to distract you.

Snake Pass is a unique take on the classic puzzle platformer with a genuinely inventive style of movement that reinvents the genre, but a difficult camera and archaic save system takes some of the shine off.

It may not be the best in the genre, and it certainly has its problems, but you’re given an intriguing mystery to solve in an interesting and unique setting.

Persona 5 is one of the best games I have had the pleasure of playing and something that managed topping my favourite game of all time Persona 4 Golden in almost every way.

Sadly, despite its pretty aesthetic, Rain World is a confusing and sluggish platformer that failed to give me any reason for what I was doing and just left me feeling bored and bewildered.

It may not have the same levels of engagement as previous episodes, but the character development is on point, and some of the busier moments are delivered with aplomb.

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 Nonary Games is a fantastic package that has two of the best adventure games of all time in a single package with worthy enhancements to 999 which remains one of my favourite games of all time.

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.

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.

If 2Dark’s tone was in line with its subject matter, it might have been something worthy of recommendation. But its story is almost nonexistent and nothing quite works as intended.

Probably the most definitive Just Dance game yet, but maybe it should be the last?

While it didn’t hook me completely, with some refinement and a little more time this could be a really interesting title.

Getting people playing together wherever the Switch is, is the machine’s USP and Snipperclips is the game that realizes that vision most effectively.

The sheer scope of Everything is an incredible achievement, and it does offer at least a few hours of entertainment, before it inevitably becomes a bit stale.

Toukiden 2 is a well-crafted action RPG with plenty to do, but its combat doesn’t quite hit the spot.

A welcome return to Bioware’s space opera, introducing great characters, an interesting story and some fantastic designs, always providing things to do.

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

It isn’t F-Zero, but there’s a good, fun challenge here for anyone with an anti-grav racing itch.

Beautiful aesthetics and soundtrack wrapping a Doom-alike shooter, slightly marred by unfair and punishing gameplay that could use a good dose of balancing.

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