While obviously not without its flaws, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana is one of the stronger, albeit more obscure, JRPG offerings to hit the PS4 this year.

Nioh 2 is an fast, frantic and fluid action-RPG experience that will appeal to fans of Code Vein, Dark Souls and Sekiro for its intricate combat and role-playing systems, extensive character customisation and striking historic fantasy Japanese setting. While the storytelling for the main narrative mostly falls flat and is confusing to follow, the rest of the package more than holds up against its predecessor. The game presents a great challenge for those willing to put in the time to master its numerous playstyles it caters, so it might not be a great fit for those seeking a more casual adventure – but it’s definitely recommended for fans of the first game looking for greater refinement and newbies looking for their next great RPG.

Witcher 3 for the Switch is a technological masterpiece but at a serious graphical cost. Still, the ability to play a solid, portable version of one of the best games of the modern era is worth the sacrifice.

My only gripe is the absolute bare bones quality of this release; sure, you get two pretty awesome, albeit relatively short, titles for a bargain basement price, but it would have been nice to have had a few extra bones thrown in for fans to gnaw on… Hell, I’d have even accepted the inclusion of the cheesy as Chester Cheetah’s balls ‘Bayonetta’ anime but, alas, there’s nothing of the sort. Still, this bundle is a pretty easy recommend for fans of Japanese action games and is a good way for fans of PlatinumGames’ more recent work to get a little bit of insight into the early days of the studio.

While never straying very far from the ideas of its predecessor, Octopath Traveler II improves upon every aspect of that already great game and ends up being one of the best JRPGs I’ve ever played.

TellTale Games hits it again with interactive story gaming.

I would say that Far Cry 2 is a well put together game that will be giving players hours of gaming fun for along while.

The graphics are beautiful, with a familiar 1950s sci-fi look to all the ships and the limited sound effects and music complement this feel. There are loads of levels of alien blasting fun, several satellites and enemies to discover, brilliant cuts scenes – It's just a whole lot of ludicrous amusement and at just a few dollars, this is one game that I would gladly recommend.

For a modern warfare game, Bulge sacrifices rule complexity for accessibility. This means it can be mastered after a few games.

Yakuza 0 starts 2017 with a very enjoyable gaming experience that takes elements from a variety of genres and then blends them together like some Iron Chef of gaming!

Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition is a true achievement for Nintendo’s new Switch 2 that will pave the path for more next-gen AAA titles on this console. The game not only looks great but plays exceptionally well and being able to play Cyberpunk 2077 on the go is worth the admission price of Night City!

A much more cohesive experience overall this time around, Destiny 2 may not be all that big of an evolution over the core elements of the first game but Bungie have trimmed the fat and refined the foundation in order to give its target demographic exactly what they want.

A delightful mashup that is greater than the sum of its parts.

Even though Nintendo have used this formula for their latest Mario Kart game, they have added enough changes and tweaks plus the inclusion of 3D to truly make this title stand out from its predecessors. Gaming mechanics are strong and the controls work perfectly on the 3DS, although the gyroscope is a little iffy.

Halo the Master Chief Collection is the definitive version of this amazing series that plays and looks amazingly on the XBox One.

I was asked recently if I thought someone should but the game or wait for a sale. It’s somewhat a tough choice because the story is definitely worth it… if it was a movie I would say add it to your collection without hesitation (and this episode has some stunning use of lighting that really revs up that cinema feel).

Play Assault Android Cactus and revel in its satisfying action, adorable characters, and somehow exciting-yet-calming soundtrack.

For newcomers to the series, Darksiders II provides a satisfying gaming experience on the Nintendo Wii U. With fun gameplay and lots of challenges to be found along the way, the only thing holding back the title is the frame rate and loading times that can sometimes be an issue. However most of these can be forgiven, especially when you are finding new weapons and powers as you search the land for a way to vindicate your brother.

The Alters is 11 bit studio's most ambitious, and possibly best game yet. Combining all their experiences in base building, crew management, resource gathering and survival, they try to pull off something they haven't done before. Create an engaging, huge, sci-fi narrative adventure. And they succeed. From it's themes, to it's music, acting, visuals, survival gameplay loop, basebuilding, and so much more, The Alters is a triumph that exceeds expectations and an unforgettable, deep adventure.

If you’ve sat on the Shantae series up until now, then this is the perfect game to jump into the series with; it’s easily the most accessible and is more likely to attract newcomers with its new cel-shaded art direction and more forgiving difficulty level.

Age of Wonders: Planetfall is truly an awesome game and is excellent value for money. I can only describe this game as a console love child of the beloved board games Monopoly and Chess. Players, like myself, can easily find themselves spending 15+ hours on a single level, trying to complete all of the optional and story-based objectives. The one drawback of the game is that it’s not something that can be completed quickly and requires a level of planning and patience to play. However, this game does offer something for everyone regardless of experience or age.

The thing that sets Wipeout apart from racing games of today is that it doesn’t take itself seriously during a time where some racing games are beginning to do so more regularly. Wipeout is silly, it always has been, but that’s the beauty of this gravity-defying joyride. Every time Sony releases their latest console, I eagerly anticipate the release of a new Wipeout game to accompany it. Although this time it’s taken a while for this iconic racer to get an update to next gen, WipEout: Omega Collection has been worth the wait.

Red Faction: Guerrilla might be missing the polish of GTA IV, but it gets the core elements right and its stand out feature does an excellent job of making it stand out.

Shaking up the formula somewhat whilst still ensuring that longtime fans and purists are catered for, Lucid Games have done the unfathomable and created a game that betters the already stellar efforts of Bizarre Creations.

Ratchet and Clank packs a sentiment and graphically stunning punch, but remains imperfect beneath the surface.

A great game filled with the cutest adventurer in the Nintendo Universe for the first time in 3D.

A Plague Tale Requiem is one of the must play games of 2022 on the Xbox Series X and if you enjoyed the original or looking for something different yet totally enjoyable, this next-gen experience from Asobo Studio will keep you invested from start to finish. Highly Recommended!

Far Cry 4 is an enjoyable, exhilarating thrill ride full of enough entertainment to keep you happy... just be nice to the elephants!