It’s a pity the pricing isn’t as accessible as the action, but this is a fun and unusual online shooter that suits PlayStation VR surprisingly well.

An inspired mix of graphic adventure and Majora’s Mask style time travel, that offers some of the year’s most inspired puzzle-solving.

One of the most unique-looking shooters of recent years, but not necessarily in a good way. Especially not when the action is this unrefined and purposefully annoying.

The price alone will put most people off, but underneath that, and the obnoxious dialogue, is one of the most original first person shooters of the last gen.

Even with its positive changes Lego City Undercover doesn’t feel quite as special as it did four years ago, when it seemed to hint at a new direction for the Lego series in general. In that time the franchise’s release schedule has slowed noticeably, to the point where there are currently no new games announced and rumours suggest that Lego Dimensions might be coming to an end. What happens beyond that is a mystery, but while the foundations of Lego City Undercover are worth building on the rest of it needs tearing down if there’s ever to be real progress.

A charming and emotionally honest interactive story, despite distracting flaws in terms of both the script and presentation.

It perfectly fulfils its brief of being a new Banjo-Kazooie game in all but name, but Yooka-Laylee’s reliance on nostalgia may struggle to find new fans.

One of the most influential rhythm action games ever made, but the graphics and gameplay definitely show their age – remaster or not.

A tedious trawl through the worst aspects of roguelikes, turn-based strategy, and bad interface design. Only somehow less fun than that sounds.

Despite a few rough edges this is easily the best new graphic adventure since the ‘90s, and a game that can stand toe-to-toe with the rest of the LucasArts pantheon. More importantly, it’s a game who’s focus on dialogue and character has an awful lot to teach modern games when it comes to telling a ripping yarn.

A great concept with a perfect mix of retro modern gameplay and aesthetics, even if the idea never evolves to have real legs.

What’s most unforgiveable is how imprecise slugcat is to control. We know there’s the whole slug side of things to consider, but he’s a lot heavier than he looks in the videos and because of the procedural animation he often doesn’t respond as quickly as you need him to. Add in the boredom and repetition from having to constantly hibernate and the game proves to be very aptly named: it’s dull, miserable, and makes you want to stay inside and do something else instead.

One of the best role-playing games ever made, Japanese or otherwise, and beyond that simply one of the most stylishly told interactive stories you’ll ever experience.

As satisfying an ending as Dark Souls was ever going to get, with some shocking story revelations and memorable boss battles.

The experience is especially well suited to the 3DS, and although this is supposedly the last of the series we do hope some kind of compilation can be made for the Switch. We won’t mind if there’s never another sequel though. For in a world where no franchise is ever allowed to die a dignified death it’s nice to know that Qbby has been all that he can be, and that his final adventure was his best.

A welcome return for one of the forgotten masters of Metroidvania, and an excellent example of how to remaster a retro classic.

In so many ways this feels like a driving game from another age, but no matter how much you miss old school arcade racers FlatOut 4 will end up driving you crazy.

Adding a true open world to the Monster Hunter formula works just as well as you’d expect, even if this sequel is still a long way from perfecting the concept.

Gorgeously presented and cleverly designed, this impressively realised Metroidvania excels in every area except originality.

What could have been an all-time classic action role-player is let down by a surprisingly poor script and unengaging characters.

Despite the pedigree of the developer, and some unusually disturbing subject matter, the main enemies in this survival horror are frustration and boredom.

A very welcome compilation of two of the best story-based games of recent years, that manage to transcend their anime presentation and apparent absurdity.

A Lego version of Minecraft sounds too good to be true, and while this isn’t as versatile as Mojang’s classic it does offer a fun alternative for young builders.

Another excellent expansion for the indie classic, and arguably the equal of the original in terms of retro thrills and 8-bit mentality.

Only one game in five is any good in this five-games-in-one compilation, whose brazen recycling of old content is equal parts embarrassing and cynical.

As an open world co-op shooter there’s a lot to enjoy here, at least until you realise how shallow and repetitive the underlying action is.

No matter what it says about the potential usage for the Switch’s touchscreen this is a beautifully presented and enjoyably novel rhythm action game.

It may still be an off-brand F-Zero, but this is closer than ever to the real thing, and with some impressive graphical and multiplayer options.