A new height for storytelling in Call of Duty games paired with a remodeled multiplayer component that is as addictive and rewarding as ever makes for really attractive package, despite its shortcomings.

A Japanese take on the Ghostbusters, sacrificing graphics for functionality. A fun game that can be done in doses, and with a story that will keep you wanting to come back for the next dose. Great for visual novel fans, or those looking for a different kind of RPG.

Sometimes you want to start a game and have fun right from the get-go. Evil West doesn't try to do anything fancy or tell a big cinematic story. Instead, it gives you various tools to go in, and slaughter vampires like humanity's existence depend on it. With plenty of weapons and fun combat, Evil West provides plenty of non-stop action, although it's let down by a paper-thin story and some issues with visuals and lighting.

A fascinating if overly lean meditation on the video game scene of old, 198X is a compressed, weaponised dose of nostalgia that deserves to be experienced by anyone whom professes a love for this greatest of hobbies.

Astria Ascending is a fascinating JRPG with intriguing storytelling, distinctive characters and charming hand-drawn art. Artisan Studios has outdone themselves providing a lengthy gameplay experience and addictive mini-game that will have you entrenched for hours. My only grudge against the game is the maps can be perplexing at times when attempting to complete side-quests or just finding your way through dungeons and temples. However, the combat mechanics are solid and customization options for your party and builds provide a lot of depth and strategy. Considering the fact that Astria Ascending is not a full-priced title, the game is definitely worth checking out, especially for fans of the genre.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is just as fun as it was eight years ago. Though the game didn't get any updates to its inventory management system or the criminally long load times, the combat is still great and the vast world is a blast to explore.

Shenmue 3 is an uncompromising love letter to fans of the original games, make no question about it. If you weren't on board before, then this will do little to sway your opinion, as modern conventions have been largely ignored in favour of preserving a 20-year-old experience. While it's not perfect, Shenmue 3 is about as solid of a sequel as we could have expected after all this time.

Tomas Sala has created another great game with Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles. The ability to expand and experiment without worry makes it very accessible for those unfamiliar with the genre, as well as it being a thought provoking adventure even for genre veterans. While it may not be for everyone, there is something special here for those that connect with it.

Great fun, especially with friends, Goat Simulator is so out there and different to the norm that you can't help but have a good time, and laugh along with it.

As silly and sadistic as ever, Worms W.M.D. is a multiplayer hoot.

Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 has the potential to be a sleeper hit. The multiplayer is a major focal point and the classes have a lot of variety and complexity ready for every level of player. The repetitiveness aside, there’s enough here for everyone to have a good time, especially when friends are involved.

Hitman’s third episode builds on your pre-existing knowledge and ramps up the pressure in a very hostile environment. The trip to Marrakesh never quite reaches the giddy heights of the previous episode, but it still stands as another exceptionally-designed level to add to the growing greatness of 2016’s Hitman experience.

Mafia: The Old Country is all killer and no filler, featuring a lean campaign with engaging characters, cinematic set pieces, impressive visuals and a solid mob story that can be guilty of being a touch too predictable at times.

The Night is Darkest Before The Dawn. Through the Darkest of Times is an interesting strategy game that combines the storytelling of a visual novel with the tactics of a war table planner. The art style is striking in its simplicity and the music provides an immersive ambiance. The game’s focus on telling the story of the fight against the Nazis from the inside offers a compelling plot and plenty of character moments that draw you in.

Some new additions to the gameplay makes this title more than a simple Vita conversion, and great for those who never picked up the original. Still, if you already own it on the PS3 there is nothing that new to warrant a new purchase unless you need an RPG on the Vita or are a seasoned trophy hunter.

Two of the finest games of the past decade don't quite get the treatment they deserve in Return to Arkham, with Arkham Asylum in particular, suffering more than benefitting from the visual overhaul. The game’s are still magnificent love letters to Gotham’s protector though, even if these remasters don’t give the same level of respect to the pointy-eared one.

All Zombies Must Die provides an afternoon of fun creating weapons and shooting zombies, without the cliche of its genre.

Representing some of the most fun I have had with my PlayStation VR2 headset since launch, though Kill It With Fire VR is a touch too short, what we have here is nonetheless a hugely entertaining morsel of VR gaming that deftly blends a real-life fear of arachnids with a corresponding range of increasingly deranged methods to deal with them. Easy to play and resoundingly suitable for VR newcomers, Kill It With Fire VR is a whole heap of welcome chaotic fun.

Eternal Threads presents a unique story with some of the best writing and character development I've experienced this year. Though it's a short and simple experience, I found myself glued to the screen to see what happens next. There isn't much else for you to do in Eternal Threads, making it the definition of a walking simulator, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

The multiplayer is shaping up to be the real star of the show, with in-depth customisation, the likes of which we've never seen before in a shooter, and a variety of brilliantly designed maps.

Thank Goodness You're Here! is a game for a short time and not a long time, and that combo makes playing it a great time. I understand the humour in it might not be for everyone, but for those that do enjoy it you'll see just how wonderfully the comedy is woven into the gameplay. The charming visual style and absolutely amazing voice acting make it an absolutely hilarious game.

Chernobylite gets new life with its release on the PS5, harboring enough improvements to make its fundamental shortcomings easy to overlook. Frame rate, graphics, and performance all get enhanced to the next level, making this the best way to play Chernobylite.

Not every idea in Nightreign lands cleanly, but its willingness to push Elden Ring’s mechanics into unfamiliar territory is admirable. It’s a game made for a specific kind of player—those who crave a punishingly difficult challenge. If that’s you, this detour is worth the journey.

Though the in-game shop feels poorly realised and it sometimes veers away from what it does best, Pepper Grinder nonetheless remains a resolutely well made, roundly attractive and frantically satisfying platformer that basically turns you into a terrifyingly militant dolphin obsessed with high speed loot and murder. And, well, who has never wanted to be one of those before?

Lots of depth and replayability, but a few unexpected surprises like unusually poor voice acting dull the shine.

Lies Of P is one of the best Soulslike games to enter the genre, and on multiple occasions builds on the games that inspired it, adding refinements that result in a better gameplay experience. However it emulates its influences a little too closely, and fails to hit the same highs as the games that it has clearly used as a skeleton, inviting comparisons that aren't always flattering. Along with an incredibly disruptive difficulty spike, Lies Of P stands as a game that is very nearly great, and will scratch the right itch for fans of the genre to stick with it.

It's always nice to be surprised by a title. Citizens of Space is one of those games where you can see the passion and more importantly the fun the developers had making it. Citizens of Space oozes charisma and for those looking for a fun silly experience, this is the game for you.

Despite its slow pacing and simplicity, Buzz! Quiz World is a terrific sequel and makes for an ideal purchase for trivia aficionados.