Not just one of the most versatile 2D game creation tools on consoles but the best collection of new Super Mario courses since the 90s.

The best Mario Kart clone of the nineties is also the best Mario Kart clone of the 21st century, with a stunning remake that offers welcome refinement and improvement.

The best Castlevania game never made and while it adds relatively little to the formula it is the best example of its use in many years.

A fun spin-off that takes some of the best parts of Yakuza and weaves a story that’s at least as compelling – even if a lot of gameplay elements are becoming overfamiliar at this point.

A clever mash-up of two very different games that perfectly evokes the best of 2D Zelda while integrating the surprisingly tactical rhythm action combat of Crypt Of The NecroDancer.

Between managing individual outbreaks you use a world map view to spread the infection to neighbouring countries in your ongoing effort to kill all humans. But while the process is reasonably compelling, the relative simplicity of its mechanics eventually starts to undermine the fun.

Its frequent checkpoints get more spaced out as you progress, but the invention never stops, expanding its simple base mechanisms in increasingly challenging new directions. Its polished, elegantly biological good looks are complemented by deliciously gloopy sound effects in this satisfying and tactile action puzzler.

If you’re not careful you’ll also find yourself learning a lot about the period’s history and the Romans’ divisive final lurch towards Christianity. But don’t let that put you off, as this is a deep and varied strategy game that never lets historical authenticity get in the way of fun.

Patients’ stories are hilarious, as are the songs that pepper the game, and the appalling medical advice you offer based on observation of the zodiac. Even more bizarrely, it’s based on the life of real Elizabethan astrologer, Simon Forman, albeit jazzed up considerably for the game.

Another engrossing example of traditional Japanese role-playing, that’s still accessible enough for anyone to enjoy – as long as they’ve played the first one.

A slight downgrade on the original but still a fun crossover that works as a crash course in the joys of both Persona and Etrian Odyssey.

Not your typical real-time strategy game, but despite a few interesting ideas this shallow husk of a game feels almost barbarically simple.

A rare, honest-to-goodness video game comedy that will delight Rick and Morty fans but also features some imaginative use of VR.

A charmingly inventive temporal puzzle and exploration game, that makes full use of one of the most enjoyably interactive game worlds of recent years.

The worldless storytelling is as compelling as ever and the purposefully frustrating control system still seems an excitingly daring experiment – now softened by an optional co-op mode.

On a flat screen Thumper already seems like a near perfect video game experience but in VR it becomes its own reality, one that’s thrilling and unnerving in equal measure.

We still have a problem in the game not evolving past its initial set of ideas, and resting on its laurels long before it gets to the end of its short running time, but this is definitely the most we’ve ever enjoyed it. It’s also another game where Oculus Quest’s superior controls and roomscale tracking makes all the difference.

Having Patrick Stewart as your narrator is quite the selling point, but he seems oddly wasted here, in this otherwise fairly low budget, portal-filled puzzler. Before you get too excited this is really nothing like Valve’s classic and a much more slow-paced, story-based affair.

Another of Quest’s most important launch titles, this has long been championed as one of the best first person shooters for VR headsets. At heart it’s a fairly simple wave-based shooter, in some ways a modern day interpretation of dual-stick shooters such as Robotron: 2084 and Smash T.V. You’ve got two pistols and a heavy weapon and have to mow down hordes of malfunctioning robots, but somehow it’s a lot stranger than you’d imagine.

It’s an utterly charming experience whose only fault is that you’re always left wanting more.

We’re glad this is an Oculus Quest launch title because we never had the chance to review it when it first came out on PC and PlayStation 4, but it’s easily the most entertaining VR multiplayer game – multiplayer in the sense that you get to play it with other people not wearing a headset.

The Quest controllers are much more precise, and together with the lack of cables transforms this from a good game to a truly great one.

The Quest has to start somewhere with online multiplayer though and this is as good a place as any.

It’s actually quite hard, and has its own minor unlockables, which further justifies the already perfectly reasonable asking price.

A very compelling mix of roguelike and first person shooter, with highly distinctive visuals and pleasingly difficult tactical choices.

A blockbuster action movie in VR form that shows the abilities of PlayStation VR and Sony’s studios better than ever before, even if the experience is ultimately rather shallow.

Still one of the best action games ever made, but while this is a competent port/remaster the absurdly high price makes it an expensive novelty.

An excellent mix of turn-based dungeon crawler, roguelike, and card game whose perfectly balanced combat will have you constantly coming back for more.