Great God Grove had me hooked until the moment I had cracked the thing and brought peace and harmony to the Grove.

An impressive RTS that offers a well written story, magnificent visuals and a stunning soundtrack that will stay with you long after playing.

Hand of Fate is unique, offering an addictive and incredibly entertaining experience that anyone can enjoy.

If you’re buying it to play alone, you’re not going to get the benefit of the full experience, but if you have friends and a few controllers, you’ll be hard pushed to find a better multiplayer experience around at the moment.

Despite the multiplayer being slightly underwhelming, the new creation tools, single player story, and addition of Super Mario 3D World make Super Mario Maker 2 a fantastic overall package.

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is a remake with a modern look, but no real new content. However, it’s still a fantastic game and the best version for people to experience for the first time.

With nods to the previous games, it makes you wonder what else they have up their sleeve. Probably more genius, tucked up there like a spare hanky. Anyway, now for that 3/10. Oh, it’s too late. You’ve already bought it.

It’s an extraordinarily well-made game that shows no signs of slowing down, and which performs very, very well on PS5.

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands probably won’t win over many new fans, but it refreshes the existing formula and re-injects it with humour and heart.

An interesting mashup of genres, ultimately creating an experience that can stand alongside even the best Soulslikes.

This is another brilliant table from Zen, who seem to have developed a knack for both innovative table design and how to put a licence to good use.

Warframe is a fantastic sci-fi shooter with a very consumer-friendly business model and a ton of free content.

Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter builds on the original and makes it better in every way, with excellent combat and a strong story.

Kalimba is a fantastic, colourful little game with a unique mechanic, but it's no pushover.

Penko Park is a charming and delightful photography game that fits loads of upgrades and weird monsters into its short runtime.

If you're looking for a solid action game to really show what the PSVR and Move are capable of, Sairento is arguably the best available right now.

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.

Legacy of Romulus is an excellent example of expanded content, and combining it with 7 “seasons” worth of additions and tweaks, great storytelling and an engine that has proved it can stand test of time means it’s only fair to readdress that original score, and critique this all over again as a complete package.

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.

Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep is the pick of a series of top-notch add-ons, and the best Borderlands expansion since The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned. If you own Borderlands 2, this is totally, utterly essential.

Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 is a superb foray into the universe and a more-than-worthy successor to the original.

Even if you don’t play puzzle games, Linelight is a shining beacon in dark times.

Helldivers 2 is a surprise hit, featuring some of the best moment-to-moment combat and a satisfying rinse and repeat formula.

FAR: Changing Tides is a beautiful game with a stunning soundtrack that puts you in control of a ship you'll build a fantastic bond with.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a spectacular game that moves the series forward in new and exciting ways. Whether you’re fighting one enemy or a hundred the action is always fast-paced and engaging, and with so many weapon types and special attacks at your disposal there’s more than enough variety. Regardless of whether you love or hate this series, Dynasty Warriors Origins is a game that could well surprise and delight you.

King of Fighters XV is a delight. It feels like a new dawn for a legendary series, and I am genuinely excited to try out some of the future DLC characters that are on their way over the course of the year.

Overall, the Switch port is almost everything I wanted in a new port. It runs and looks great almost all throughout and makes good use of the Switch hardware. I would’ve loved to see Capcom include some extras like trailers or galleries like the Mega Man ports. If you’ve never played these games before, you need to get them on Switch.

The entire package is put together with humour, warmth and class – it straddles the geeky retro chic that is so popular with indies right now, but also manages to drag an elderly game firmly into the present day with trophies, leaderboards, and intuitive choice of hardware. Immediately you know you are playing a Llamasoft title.

A triumphant follow-up that sets the bar for the looter-shooter. There are some teething issues, but The Division 2 is an incredibly polished product, and downright compelling at the same time.

VVVVVV on the Nintendo Switch is the definitive version of Terry Cavanagh’s classic with an exclusive co-op mode and better performance than the other versions.

Despite a lack of massive changes, NBA 2K15 is still the premier basketball experience that I don’t see being unseated any time soon. The gameplay is as satisfying and fun as ever, and when combined with the TV style presentation it is amazingly realistic.

The Knight Witch not only looks stunning, but the gameplay is tight and inventive, providing an enjoyable bullet hell extravaganza.

Those expecting a revolution may be disappointed, but Age of Empires IV is still a confident, deep, and hugely compelling return.

In a year of great games, Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course is one that shouts to be played loudly enough that it simply cannot be ignored.

AI: The Somnium Files - nirvanA Initiative tells a fascinating story with some weird and wonderful characters and more than a few twists and turns.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero is a sensational JRPG from top to bottom, and one that fans can’t afford to miss.

Viewfinder is a smart puzzler that pushes the boundaries between reality and challenge, building both beautiful and creative levels.

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.

A masterful re-up with a great story, a beautifully grim world and exciting, fast-paced gameplay. And that price point makes it essential.

Million Onion Hotel is a quirky and addictive arcade action game with a strategy element that has been a blast to play over the last few weeks.

Lost in Play is a charming and amazing point-and-click puzzler that will make you feel like a kid again.

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake is a top example of bringing back a classic to the present day, with stunning visuals and a great story.

Warstride Challenges is immensely compelling and endlessly fun - and an absolute must-play for FPS fans.

With a fair learning curve that will ease in all-comers, and RAD mode (every landing must be a perfect one) for the people who want a challenge, this is an absolute must own game.

I cannot recommend Timespinner enough. The Switch port is fantastic and the game itself is special. My biggest disappointment is not being able to back the Kickstarter project because I had no idea about it then. I know most people who enjoyed Castlevania: Symphony of the Night will likely be enjoying Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night right now but Timespinner is something you absolutely need to play.

More than just another arena shooter, LawBreakers stands on its own to fill a niche that’s different to any other titles out there, and I am thoroughly pleased to have the game change my opinions on it. An essential shooter.

Venba is a lovely little narrative game about the struggle of raising a child as immigrants told via food, but it'll be over too quickly for some.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel on PS4 is everything I wanted in a remaster of one of my favourite RPGs this decade and more.

It’s a shame that some modes haven’t made the cut for the next-gen version, but you’ll only miss them if you played them a lot. Career Mode and FUT still offer incredibly high value for money, and this is probably the best version of FIFA to date.

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.

Death's Door is a beautiful game, both in the way it looks and the way it plays. Acid Nerve has hit the sweet spot when it comes to combat and exploration.

Clannad on Nintendo Switch is the best version of the game. It has everything the PS4 version offers plus touchscreen controls that work brilliantly. If you’ve never watched or played it before, this is the version to get. Just keep in mind that it is very long even by visual novel standards.

A truly fresh, innovative take on a genre crying out for something new. Freestylegames has utterly succeeded in making Guitar Hero relevant again.

Everspace 2 on console is the best way to enjoy Rockfish's epic space sim RPG, with so much to do and tight and fluid controls that make combat thrilling every time.

A collection of pure gold. Even the few less-famous titles are worth a look, and the inclusion of a handful of last-gen diamonds makes it unbelievable value.

Not only a blast of die-cast nostalgia, but a brilliant arcade racer to boot with superb customisation options.

Persona 3 Portable has a script that's sharp as a tack, and one which makes you identify and fall in love with the quirky cast of characters that you interact with, as well as feeling very much in control of your protagonist.

A puzzling masterpiece, Grindstone is easy to learn but hard to master. With a ridiculous amount of content and varied gameplay, Grindstone is the total package.

The missions are varied and intense, and the characters provide plenty of great moments. If you’re craving a game with a gorgeous, busy and unique open world, this is the game for you.

With controls feeling slick whichever way you play, the Switch version comes recommended due to its versatility and if you’ve yet to take the plunge (literally) with Downwell, there’s never been a better time to do so.

BlazBlue: Central Fiction – Special Edition is by far the best fighting game on Switch. It was already fantastic on PS4 but having everything included here right from the get go in a port that runs brilliantly even in handheld mode makes this my favourite version of the game. If you enjoy 2D fighters and have been wanting something content packed and polished, this is all you need on the Switch.

It may not be genre-defining like its progenitor but it’s easily the best shooter on the current crop of consoles and one of the finest first person shooters of recent years.

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is a stunning remaster, taking a beloved game and making it relevant and vital for modern players.

Curse of the Dead Gods is an excellent rogue-like, and the massive variety of curses, weapons and buffs creates a different experience each time.

Let's Revolution! uses the mechanics we all know from Minesweeper to create a thoughtful Roguelike puzzle game unlike anything else.

Tales of Zestiria is a great game that gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling in the pit of your stomach. The story is gripping, the characters are surprisingly fleshed out and the open world feels alive. Some of the dialogue is great and gave me plenty of laughs, whether it was due to genuinely good writing or some sentiments that get lost in the translation – it doesn’t really matter.

Blasphemous 2 is a bold step up for The Game Kitchen, and somehow manages to feel both familiar and brand new.

With the inclusion of F2 and an even more comprehensive career mode, F1 2019 is the biggest game in the series to date and quite possibly the best.

This is very much the Wii U version with a few bells and whistles, but it's still one of the best non-Mario platformers of the last ten years, and that's definitely worth shouting about.

We Love Katamari Reroll+ Royal Reverie is my new favourite Katamari game, with varied stages and a whole lot of wacky charm.

If you’re interested in competitive gaming and really need something new to sink your teeth into, you do not need to look any further than Battlerite. Balanced, fun characters, unobtrusive monetisation, and refined to give the core experience of competitive gaming. Battlerite is exceptionally good.

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

Crusader Kings III is an excellent kingdom management game, more intimate but no less intricate than the likes of Civilisation VI, it’s as unforgiving a simulation as you’re going to find while still being more fun than you’d expect it to be.

Cat Quest 3 is a near purrfect action RPG, with engaging combat, a gorgeous world to explore and loads of side quests to dive into.

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.

What Lies in the Multiverse is a sublime puzzle platformer. The puzzles are engaging and the story balances comedy and drama with aplomb.

Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled is a fantastic remaster, filled with great courses and plenty of replayability, even if the difficulty sometimes feels off.

With the benefit of some great training tutorials, before long anyone can be carrying out line changes, deking with the best of them and carrying out a brilliant selection of slapshots, pivots and, of course, brutal punches to the face.

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.

For players who have never played Terraria before, this Switch version is an excellent port, but for those players who have experienced and loved Terraria on other platforms I’d argue that this version is still essential. The ability to play on the go in handheld is a huge draw and thanks to the excellent work to utilise the Switch’s unique features makes this challenging game an utter joy to play again.

Furi is a rare game: unique, challenging and fun, but it will almost certainly prove insurmountable for some.

Evergate is a touching and thoughtful puzzle platformer, with an incredible soundtrack and unique mechanics.

If you fell in love with all over again with Cloud and co. in FF7 Remake, you’ll fall in love with Yuffie in Intermission.

When you think you’re seeing a render in-game that looks too good for Switch, that’s because essentially a video is playing. Yes, the actual game part is lower resolution, and yes, of course if you can play it on PS4, Xbox One, or PC, you’ll get the better looking experience, but if you are a Switch-only console household then you’re getting a great looking game that sounds amazing, and tells a story with one of the best takes on mental health in a long time. Play it on handheld with headphones and you’ll be shocked, just don’t be surprised if it looks blurry (and sub-HD) on the big screen.

Dead Space is a fantastic remake, taking what was great about the original and adding plenty of smart and impressive features.

With an interesting progress system and competent FPS-style platforming gameplay, Meet Your Maker is one to keep an eye on going forward.

Visually the game is stunning, and at times can be mistaken for an actual game of basketball. Everything has received a visual makeover and it sure looks impressive. The gameplay is as solid as ever and is great fun, whilst still being a first class simulation of the sport.

Infinite Warfare provides a huge package with a lot of fun gameplay throughout. There's something here for everyone, and enough to keep us all playing for another year.

A phenomenal multiplayer along with a larger, improved zombies mode mean that, although the solo campaign is a slight misstep, Black Ops is the best call of Duty on the current gen consoles.

Ashwalkers is an inventive survival sim that puts the story centre stage. Whilst managing resources and the survivor's physical and mental health is important, the choices you have to make are where it's at its most inventive.

Despite a few visual and audio issues, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is just a really good time, plain and simple.

Cocoon is a beautifully designed puzzler with some fascinating ideas woven throughout the fabric of the world.

The Entropy Centre is a fun, clever, and taxing puzzler that rewards your effort, persistence and, frankly, backwards thinking.

It’s by no means easy, and takes a hefty investment of time to fully appreciate. Even after the tutorial prologue, you’ll have a lot to learn, but it’s a testament to the developers that they were able to create an engrossing game that draws you in even with such a steep learning curve.

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.

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is an incredibly well-made adventure, and a heartfelt ode to games past.

Bringing back classic Spies Vs. Mercs is a smart move that will please many, whereas offering a decent length single player adventure that is open enough for all play-styles and all-comers, whilst offering an optional challenge for the veterans, pays off. Blacklist really is a game all about options, and as such, is one not to miss.

There is no question: this is the version of Spelunky that you should purchase. Even though the game was released on Xbox 360 over a year ago, the cross save and cross buy interaction between PS3 and Vita – along with the Vita’s ability to deliver instantaneous spelunking – make this the ultimate port of a superb game.