Everhood has a similar story to many you’ll hear – a passion project, brought to fruition after years of hard work. Its inspiration in Undertale is clear, but this never holds it back from standing on its own merits. What a visually intense, aurally stunning, philosophically charged experience – and possibly one of the best games of the year.

No Reload Heroes: Enhanced Edition offers a different take on the arena shooter, but ultimately doesn’t offer much for those after a strong single player experience. For those who want something to throw on for younger or less-experienced players, you might get something out of it… at least in the short term.

Rummaging through boxes full of files sounds like the most boring thing you could do in an interactive setting, but it turns out it can be more rewarding than pulling off a quadruple no scope 360 headshot kill. Colestia’s Cold War thriller packages up the mundanity of decades past into an incredibly rewarding few hours, perfect for those who love uncovering truths hidden and long forgotten.

Anodyne 2 is a surreal 3D Zelda-like with 2D Zelda-like dungeons, but it’s also much, much more than that. Analgesic Productions output is singularly distinct, and the Anodyne games stand as their greatest works to date.

Summerland is a fascinating little game from a budding young creator wanting to make games about something. Living ethically in a world where ethics can never be set in stone is something we have to do every day. Combine those two things into a short game with a thoughtful story, which you can play for free right now? Why not?

A no-brainer delightful JRPG to start the year with beautiful aesthetics, endearing characters, and an easy-to-engage storyline. I implore you to not miss this call to our classic JRPG foundations.

The mystery at the core of this tale is an emotional and intriguing rollercoaster that will have you guessing right up until the very end. Even with such fantastical ideas and unending twists, the game still remains grounded and coherent all the way through.

Nerve takes a simple concept in the tube racer and manages to build upon it in many distinctive ways. The core structure makes it incredibly easy to dive in, have a quick session and move on.

If there’s something appealing about the rougher, more ambitious project that calls to you, Shattered may well be worth taking the punt on. I can’t help but look at my time spent with Shattered fondly. It may not be a masterpiece, but its zeal is undeniable.

Those who are fortunate to have a next-gen console will be able to experience Control at its best, but even those who are playing on the last generation still have the benefit of an awesome game that has had the annoying issues fixed from the original release. If you haven’t yet experienced Control, now is a perfect time.

Surrealist art is so often overlooked for the superficial layer we may bounce off of. Don’t let the very human tales at the core of Off-Peak City be ones you ignore.

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury is a sensational package. It reintroduces the world to an often forgotten (or straight-up missed) classic Mario platformer, while lays the groundwork for a new type of Mario experience, one that, with some further refinement, could be one day looked back upon as yet another defining moment in perhaps the most decorated franchise in the industry.

Little Nightmares II is a masterclass in suspense and audio design that feeds on your childhood fears. This unsettling mix of whimsy and the macabre will urge you to push past your fears and a few frustrating mechanics in order to discover the secrets hidden in its grotesque world.

Persona 5 Strikers is one of the best spin-off titles I’ve ever played and gave me everything I wanted from a Persona 5 follow-up; a chance to revisit these characters in a much less bloated fashion and further modernising its combat system to complement the shift from randomised dungeon layouts to bespoke creations that P5 was praised for.

A big bowl of comfort food gaming, Werewolf is a game that feels like a throwback to simpler times. It is a welcome blast from start to finish and while ultimately forgettable, it is undeniably fun while it lasts.

Where Habroxia tried and failed previously, Habroxia 2 excels. The game has made just the right decisions to turn itself into the top-tier retro-styled SHMUP that it’s predecessor had aimed to be.

If one could sit back and honestly be happy with a six-hour experience with beautiful voice acting and music, non-frustrating gameplay, and most importantly, is fun from start to finish, then Olija definitely a game you want to check out and one we can easily recommend.

Lithium City is the antidote to the massively mundane – an experience that cuts everything to the bone, producing a game in its purest form with a number one focus on having you feel like a badass. What’s not to love?

An incredibly thought provoking archaeological game of big questions with even bigger philosophical implications. Though hampered somewhat by clunky physical mechanics, translating an ancient language has never been so enticing or exciting.

The Medium is an atmospherically creepy psychological thriller that puts a new spin on the genre while evoking feelings that fans of Silent Hill will find familiar. If you’ve been looking for a tense horror game that’s largely without jump scares but will still leave you with chills, this one’s for you.

While making the giant robots the focus of the sequel is a good start, it doesn’t make up for the shortfalls in the gameplay loop and certain design choices carried over from the first game.

There is so much to like in this open-world tactics RPG. The battles are some of the best in the business. The world, while feeling somewhat empty, for the right kind of person is a wilderness ripe for spending hours upon hours getting into fights. With 45 hours on the clock by the time my goblins completed their quest, this juicy tale has become a favourite that I know I’ll return to time and time again.

The DLC’s shorter length does make the juxtaposition between heated, Gears action, and deeper, more heartfelt moments, feel a bit like the flicking of a switch, but the campaign itself is a must-play for fans of Gears. It makes some interesting steps forward for the IP, introduces a fascinating new cast, while the moment to moment is as thrilling as ever.

An interactive art piece using the language of video games to tell a deeply affecting story about life and memory. This hour long “hardcore walking sim” might mechanically push some away, but if you can move passed that, Promesa is unforgettable.

A franchise like no other comes to an epic and satisfying conclusion. Hitman III is the culmination of both story and development skill that will leave fans everywhere smiling with joy.

Puyo Puyo tetris 2 is an enjoyable yet simple puzzler that combines two classic titles into one fantastic game that is sure to leave a smile on your face.

The Switch version of Doom Eternal is ultimately a complex beast to recommend. If you’re someone wanting to take on some demons on the go? The lack of an adaptable UI makes it tough to recommend based on the amount of text which is unreadable when in handheld mode. For those players who primarily play Docked, especially if the Switch is one’s primary system? It makes for a far better prospect.

Empire of Sin successfully captures the atmosphere of the roaring 1920’s, but some solid narrative elements and an innovative character relationship system are tarred by slow game progression and an unbalanced tactical battle system. If you’re specifically craving some gangster goodness, give it a go, but be prepared for some hiccups and frustrations along the way.