Going in, there was a real fear that Cuphead was going to be style over substance. You’ll likely feel the same as you punish yourself over and over through the first few stages. That feeling disappears once you start reading the enemies’ tells, and get a good understanding of when specials should be used. Eventually you come to understand what you’re about to partake in, and in the moments of quiet as the enemy gets knocked into its next phase, you’ll stare at the backgrounds, or the over the top animations, and you’ll wonder why a game like this hasn’t been made before. A good bullet-hell game doesn’t need amazing graphics to hook you into its gameplay, but it’s certainly nice to have one that makes every frame look gorgeously unique.

Forza 7 is the best looking and most comprehensive entry to date. It drives like a dream, and with the stable and well populated multiplayer, DLC car packs, as well as ongoing custom events from Turn 10, you’ve got a game where you can collect the cars you like, paint them, customise them, look at them, and race them for months to come.

Overall, Death of the Outsider ties up the first arc of Dishonored nicely; I have no idea where it’s going to go next, and all I can do is pray that Arkane don’t call it a day, because I adore this series. All other issues seem trivial in the face of it being such a well-crafted piece of art, and my main complaint is that there simply isn't enough of it. I adore this series, and this game. Buy it, play it, and love it.

Destiny 2 is a long list of refinements. Tweaks and tightenings to the gameplay loop, and quality of life improvements that cater to the player – instead of making them subservient to mechanical whimsy. It still has its rough patches, but it realises – and raises up – the systems of its predecessor.

If you are weighing up the decision on whether you should buy Pokkén Tournament DX, it’s an easy one to make. Despite its flaws, it’s a fantastic fighting game that is easy to pick up, making it appealing to the casual and hardcore audience alike. Fans of Pokémon would be crazy to overlook it, and fighting game fans should find something unique here.

FIFA is one of the longest running game franchises, appearing almost every year for 25 years. For die-hard fans, buying every new edition is just a way of life – and with improvements across the board, they won’t be disappointed this year. However for more casual players who purchased last year’s FIFA 17, all you’ll really be missing out on is the new player rosters, strips, and a few extra nice-to-haves.

Project CARS 2 is not for everybody, yet at the same time, it also kind of is. Primarily it wants to be a racing simulator – a goal it certainly attains – while at the same time being approachable enough for the less enthusiastic. The game’s ambition as a serious racer, and it’s desire for you to meet that challenge, nevertheless come across stronger than its acceptance of low level players. You can play Project CARS 2 on the most lenient settings possible, yet you’d also be missing out on the more authentic driving experience the designers chiefly had in mind.

I’m no expert at fighting games. I like them, but I’m terrible at them, and tend to judge them on how well they do when both players are blindfolded. Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite passes that test well, making for a great party game. Most of my issues with the roster comes down to personal preference, but it’s safe to say you shouldn’t pick it up for the story mode alone.

Monster Hunter Stories is a brilliant spin-off that captures the essence of Capcom’s successful series. The combination of a charming story with a deceptively deep combat system, creature collecting, and the trademark gameplay loop of gathering, crafting, and fighting makes for one of the best RPGs on the 3DS. It’s evident that a lot of love and attention has gone into Stories. The result is a delightful title that continues the success of the franchise.

Another remake, but a damn good one. The perfect place to begin if you’ve never played Yakuza before.

Metroid: Samus Returns is a welcome addition to the 3DS library. Whether this stands alone as Nintendo honouring a part of the franchise that didn’t get its time to shine, or if this is their way to set the scene before a full-blown Super Metroid remake, I hope they do it again. There are a lot of Nintendo classics that have been lost to time, and Metroid: Samus Returns proves that a new coat of paint, and the modernising of mechanics can go a long way in revitalising a franchise.

The story that The Pillars of the Earth tells makes it worth sitting through a few tedious puzzles and the odd bug. This is just the first part of three planned, and I can’t wait to see how the rest of the game plays out.

So, is it worth buying two years in a row? The answer is probably a bit of a cop-out. No, it’s not. But, this is only because annually released sports sims never are. But – and this is a big “but” – Longshot is different, and it’s an experience worth having. MUT has never been more engaging, while online is packed with modes and runs great. Madden has never been friendlier to new players, and, who knows? Like me, you might learn something new about football.

On the surface, there doesn't seem to be too much different between Rock of Ages and its sequel. Rock of Ages II plays very much the same and fills the same niche. However, it is a much nicer game with better defense items and a lot more polish. Sadly, I found that Rock of Ages II couldn't keep my attention unless I had someone else to play with.

Episode 1 succeeds as one of the most poignant stories in episodic gaming. In just a few short hours you’re prone to a cacophony of emotions which all stumble and fumble together into a narrative which feels like it was never written, because it feels plausible. Such is the story’s persuasive power. However this is not a game for those with a grudge against passive experiences. There’s probably even less meaningful interactivity here than usual, and is probably the most film-like episode I’ve played since the genre was resurrected.

Nintendo’s Switch has had a steady flow of amazing titles since its March 2017 release, and having Ubisoft buddy up to create a game like this is another feather in the console’s cap. It has all the graphical charm of a Mario platformer, an amazing soundtrack by an industry legend, the backing of two big studios, and the rarest thing of all: hilarious Rabbids. Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is simply no joke.

F1 2017 is an impressive game. It not only retains the feel and flavour of Formula One racing, it makes it all accessible. No doubt there is a touch of arcade racing about it. The heavy rain, fighting lens flare, and swapping paint. Although, the likes of Lewis Hamilton have made swapping paint a more common event than it has been in the past. With the upgrade system and large collection of classic cars, it’s even overcome the problem that every car – in past games – felt essentially the same. Even if it hasn’t won the Constructors’ Championship, in almost every way F1 2017 has driven to an impressive win.

All considering, I must admit this game is not for everyone. A prospect which saddens me, but one I must unfortunately accept. I play games for all kinds of reasons, not just for fun, and Hellblade is not fun – it’s emotionally brutal. An emotional inferno, worth your suffering.

It’s fascinating that for all of the 3D, more technologically advanced Sonic games that we’ve seen over the years, this retro approach is still the best in over a decade. It’s mainly thanks to the development team being able to channel the essence of what made Sonic so successful in the first place. The decision by Sega to engage with independent studios Headcannon and PagodaWest Games after their passionate work in the Sonic fan community was a stroke of genius. It’s not perfect and it’s not ground-breaking in the slightest, but it’s still great to see Sonic back in good form after so many years of neglect.

White Day: A Labyrinth Named School is still a game I’d strongly encourage for anyone who enjoys a good survival horror game, and misses the days when horror was about disempowering players and using that to inspire terror. It’s still one of the scariest games on PS4. I just wish it had been able to fully capitalise on its setup – the way I’m told the original game did – to deliver a truly terrifying game from start to finish.

Matterfall, as with many other Housemarque games, is a flawed but fun experience. Its relatively small number of levels helps keep it light on fluff, appealing to people who want to find every collectible and maximise their score on the leaderboards. Its short length also means it isn’t an imposing task for someone looking for a change of pace.

Masquerada has decent combat, painfully linear level design, and an amazing story with equally amazing characters. Come for the colourful art style, stay for the fantastic world building and plot twists.

Agents of Mayhem is a fun ride if you want more of Saint’s Row while you’re waiting for the fifth main game to trundle along, or if you want a different take on the hero-based shooter. It’s by no means a bad game, just not a great one. You’ll play it once, have a good time, and forget about it.

The story is key here, and it’s hard not to smile every single time there’s an interaction between Miis. Nintendo’s charm is all over Miitopia. The music is goofy, and the title screen with the singing is simply fantastic. The presentation and the ability to utilise any Mii imaginable is downright genius. I’m not sure if this is the perfect RPG for a very young gamer, or if it was designed for the gamers who enjoyed quirky, passive titles like Animal Crossing or Tomodachi Life. Whoever it was made for, it wasn’t made for those looking for a hardcore RPG.

Whatever small missteps that Uncharted: The Lost Legacy does take, are drowned out in the fiery explosions of its set pieces. They’re forgotten, amidst the humour and humanity of its cast, and the witty banter they share. Chloe and Nadine are proof that Uncharted can exist – and thrive – without Nathan Drake.

It’s not without it’s flaws, but all is forgiven between the start and end of each round.

Rugby League is a simple game. If you want to maintain a winning record, focus on rucking it up hard, holding on to the ball, and kicking deep. And avoid playing me online. It’s not worth it.

A refreshing genre piece, which plays on expectations to explore the humanity of its cast.