Life Is Strange 2 Episode 2: Rules moves at a slower pace than the first but still manages to take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions that will have you feeling all kinds of things including a bit of ill will towards DONTNOD for making you wait for the next chapter.

A Fisherman’s Tale tells a charming story with surprising depth that is unfortunately marred by technical issues. Within its brief playtime, the game’s story packs in enough thought provoking content that I found myself thinking about it for days after playing. Though I’m not recommending A Fisherman’s Tale, I wouldn’t blame you if you decided to play it anyhow.

In many ways, Capcom has achieved the near-impossible with the remake of Resident Evil 2. It’s a remarkable labour of design, iteration, faithfulness, and adaptation; a masterclass in knowing what to change, how to change it, and what to build upon. Sure, there are some slight niggles and design choices that perhaps long-time fans won’t appreciate but there’s no denying that Capcom has been bold in its design philosophy and has exuded a confidence and consistency in its execution throughout. The biggest compliment that can be levelled is how the game manages to elicit the same sense of dread and consequence that made the original a classic whilst injecting just enough complexity and modern sensibility to see it emerge from its namesake’s shadow with consummate ease.

A voxel based console RTS that tries to simplify things for the platform but comes up short. There is a whole lotta game here but the simplistic controls and poor AI end up making the whole experience hard to enjoy unless you really love the RTS genre.

The Hong Kong Massacre is a game that will leave you with vivid memories. The awesome stunts you pulled off, the impossible feats you were able to achieve, and the crazy killing sprees will all stick in your mind. It is a game that perfectly executes on a vision and offers some of the most gratifying few hours you can find in gaming today.

Ace Combat 7 delivers a perfectly honed iteration of a familiar framework, making vast visual and gameplay improvements while still maintaining the familiar structure of Ace Combat. Balancing the angst of seeing a war from multiple sides, every mission you fly feels consequential, your tiny contributions having an effect on the events of a world that is so much larger than the pilot known as Trigger. Ace Combat 7 is a must for flight-sim fans and a fantastic addition to the series.

A nicely designed Steampunk action adventure underpinned by an intriguing story line, Smoke and Sacrifice is hampered by repetitive world design, an excess of unnecessary crafting and a fighting mechanic which just isn't as much fun as it should be.

Though it boasts a resoundingly striking aesthetic, a haphazard save system coupled with a raft of glitches and a misjudged waypoint system all manage to tarnish what should have been one of the first major indie darlings of the year. Vane is simply too frustrating to recommend in its current form.

Onimusha: Warlords is a decent remaster.While its combat remains great and its mechanics solid, some of the graphical upgrades can be hit and miss.

Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition has everything an RPG fan could want: engaging combat, fun tactics, and a stellar narrative. What puts Vesperia above the rest of the franchise, however, is how accessible it is to everyone. It has clear signs of age, but within Vesperia beats the heart of a classic that everyone should experience.

Borderlands 2 VR takes a beloved classic game and gives it new life in VR and does so in a way that doesn't feel gratuitous. With a level of user controls that should be standard for all VR games, Gearbox has taken great care to provide a unique experience for those prone to motion sickness as well as seasoned VR users. Despite lacking Aim controller support, DLC content, and co-op, Borderlands 2 VR is one of the most enjoyable shooters on the PSVR.

A promising twist on turn-based strategy games, Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden is more than the sum of its parts. The addition of stealth and ambush mechanics to the familiar turn-based strategy formula, forces the player to think about their approach to combat in a new way. This "Tactical Adventure" is definitely worth the journey.

Kingdom Two Crowns is an immersive and frequently surprising strategy game that is quite unlike any other. Fans of slow-burning, atmospheric strategy efforts with emergent discovery will find much to enjoy here - as would newcomers to the genre at large.

Warhammer Vermintide 2 doesn't just reinvigorate the template that Left 4 Dead established all those years ago, instead it stabs, sets it aflame and proceeds to kick it through the nearest wall. This is one of the best co-op games available and toweringly fine way to close out 2018.

Gun Club VR is exactly what it sets out to be - a game where you shoot real world guns on the world's most elaborate range. It turns out that all by itself, this is really fun. A bit of strange UI and glitchiness aside, Gun Club VR is well worth a look - both for gun enthusiasts and gamers that enjoy well made products.

Though mechanically unambitious, Silver Lining puts a workmanlike though effective capper on Spider-Man's City Never Sleep DLC series all the while paving the way for grander and hopefully more innovative adventures farther down the road.

R-Type Dimensions EX has everything you need to get back into these classics. A few adjustments made can take some acclimation time. Still, this is a complete package for anyone looking for an old-school arcade shooter.

Battle Princess Madelyn is everything you need in a retro romp. The lack of a map with limited direction may be frustrating at times, but the heart and soul of Ghosts & Goblins remains true to form. Battle Princess Madelyn is a joy to play and a must for retro fans.

Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales tells a good story with some fantastic writing. The writing alone is worth the price of admission, but the Gwent combat can get confusing and overwhelming at times.

Red Matter delivers an intriguing retro-future cold war story with confidence. In VR, setting is half the battle, and Red Matter nails its Soviet-era underground bunker with a realistic visual flair. With achievable puzzles that never slow down the story and a great control scheme, Red Matter sets a new standard for the VR adventure genre. This is a game that deserves to break free from the crowd.

Though ironically beaten to the punch by the likes of H1Z1 and Call of Duty, and tarnished by a handful of shortcomings, PUBG nonetheless remains a commendably inventive and expansive shooter that deftly embodies the Battle Royale genre.

Override: Mech City Brawl is as fun as your attention span will last. There just isn't enough content to keep players coming back for the long haul.

The Last Remnant has its inherent flaws. However, there is plenty there to engross any RPG player, old or new, who needs something else. The game offers little direction and limits itself narratively, but trial and error can help polish off the rough enough to see its glimmer

Though the modest technical execution tarnishes The Council to an extent, it remains an innovative and clever adventure which does that rarest of things - it treats the audience as intelligent, educated individuals. With its sophisticated geopolitical backdrop, occult themes and in-depth RPG style progression and decision systems, The Council sets a compelling blueprint for the episodic adventure to follow.

The First Tree is an exceptional story of loss and regret. The achievement by the game's one developer, David Whele, cannot be understated. The combination of all the elements of this experience creates one of the most memorable games this year. If you enjoy narrative adventure games then The First Tree is more than worth the two-to-three hours it takes to beat it.

Gungrave VR isn't a very good VR title, It isn't that good of a game in general, With all that it tries to do it doesn't do much of anything well. Not only is Gunrave VR a poor game its a poor use of an excellent license.

Space Pirate Trainer is a very high quality arcade-based wave shooter - nothing more, nothing less. If you are interested in pushing your high score up the leaderboards, there is plenty of polished gameplay for you to enjoy. If you are seeking a deeper experience, however, it is probably best to seek elsewhere.

Earth Defense Force 5 may seem like a mess but it all adds to its charm. The pure joy of taking on hundreds of monsters and watching the destruction unfold is something the franchise has always been good at. EDF 5 is easily the best in the franchise.