Routine is a tense, atmospheric adventure through an unforgiving lunar base where everything is out to kill you. It has its imperfections, but, in the face of the narrative and puzzle craft that beckons you through every minute of Routine, they seem infinitesimally small.

Civilization VII is a newcomers ideal Civ game. Packed full of streamlined systems and approachable design choices, VII gives players access to a fun, gorgeously realised sandbox in which history is (mostly) theirs to decide. While some of its smoothed edges hinder player-driven storytelling, the effort to onboard new players and refresh the game for veterans is ambitious and stacked with potential.

EA Sports FC 24 doesn’t go out of its way to change too much, but it doesn’t need to – the additions to Ultimate Team, refined gameplay and nicer presentation packages make it a great football sim.

Dead Take is a game about actors, made for actors by actors. While the plot and mystery surrounding the narrative turns shoulder the burden of keeping up interest throughout, sound puzzle design and a blanketing atmosphere make it a worthwhile play for horror fans.

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair ironically does justice to the impossible task of living up to the name of great platforming games like Super Mario Bros, Donkey Kong Country, and Rayman Legends. It’s a joy to play, feeling simultaneously modern and yet nostalgic. The odd omission of boss battles and some issues with variety aside, Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is a game any self-respecting platformer fan should play.

Burnout Paradise is unarguably a stellar racing game and it paved the way for the likes of Forza to do what it has done with its Horizon franchise, so for that there'll always be a place in my heart for it. It's a tough sell for returning veterans as the visual buffs are minimal and the game itself is unchanged. Though if you were too young and didn't get to play Paradise, there's enough here, especially with all of the extra content on-disc, to justify the price of admission.

Carrion is another hit from a publisher that has built its name on delivering to us unconventional and unexpected experiences. Devolver’s seal of approval is more than ever evidence of a classic as Carrion’s credentials as an incredible Metroidvania title as well as an inverse horror experience will never be in question.

The Callisto Protocol is a modest starting point for what I hope will flourish into another heavy-hitting horror franchise. It's gory and gratuitous, with an endlessly satisfying combat system. But the lack of enemy variety scares, and surprises, even if engaging, stop it from being the horror game masterpiece it's trying to be. Despite all of its shortcomings, it's an immensely enjoyable romp that's left me desperate for more.

Another Crab's Treasure is a scrappy, succinct and soggy soulslike that doesn't just pay homage to FromSoft's pioneering efforts but stands out in its own right. There's no getting around the fact that it has serious issues of performance and polish that can really bring down the experience, but it's a game so packed with charm, so inspired, so unexpectedly cooked and with so many flashes of brilliance that I can genuinely say it's worth suffering through the pain points. I don't think I've been quite so enamoured with a game like this in a long time.

Deck Nine’s delivered their best Life is Strange game to date with Double Exposure. Barring some bugs and narrative nitpicks, Life is Strange: Double Exposure is a great continuation of Max Caulfield’s story, taking the series in an interesting direction while ensuring the bones of what makes the series so memorable remains intact.

What would otherwise be a mess is beautifully brought together in Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes. While much more simplistic when compared to its predecessors, Travis Strikes Again is a fun and fast paced action game that commands your attention from beginning to end. It has a few pacing issues, especially towards the end and the co-op implementation might not be perfect, but Travis Strikes Again is yet another momentous trip through the wicked and warped mind of Suda51.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, won't be for everyone, but the people that it is for, will adore it. It's squarely and solely focused on putting power into the hands of the player through customisation and the ability to manipulate the lives of these little Miis. You can always count on it for a laugh, and if you enjoy sims, I have zero doubts you will sink hours into this game.

Ace Attorney Trilogy is a modestly priced collection of thrilling adventures that highlight the best narrative arc in the series thus far. The writing is smart, the narrative is enthralling, and the characters are charming if not kooky. There’s a personal concern that the newer and cleaner art direction will put off some series purists and the cases can feel a bit slow in some parts, but otherwise, this is the best the series has ever looked and played and easily worth your attention.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 is yet another tremendous celebration of skateboarding, the video games that catapulted it into the mainstream, and the sport’s current slate of stars. I’d argue it has some curious design choices, both necessary and not, that perhaps leave one half of the package feeling a little slightly lesser than.

I came away from Tales of Arise with a new appreciation for the Tales series. I loved my time with the endearing cast of characters and the exciting, fast-paced story alongside the energetic and action-packed battles. Tales of Arise is an excellent action RPG, and a fantastic entry point into the series.

As an indie effort and a debut game, Kena: Bridge of Spirits makes a good impression. It balances simplicity and challenge while weaving a neatly-paced story into something that can be played over a chill couple of days. Despite fantastic production values it's still far from a AAA title – so it's important to keep expectations in check, but anyone looking to lose themselves in a charming, gorgeous world ripe for exploration should look no further. It's exactly what I needed right now – perfect cozy weekend entertainment.

Pokémon has been in dire need of a reinvention for some time now, and while Sword and Shield brought some new ideas to the table, Legends: Arceus serves as a solid jumping off point for future entries in the franchise. While it might not provide the visual fidelity and exploration we might wish for in an open-world-esque Pokémon game, it does provide a satisfying and addicting gameplay loop, alongside a surprisingly enjoyable narrative to boot.

Mouse: P.I. for Hire is a tremendous, modern take on the boomer shooter. It has wonderful level design and gives you the right tools to explore it without restriction, mostly. Despite serving up meaty cases that have enormous ramifications within Mouseburg’s social and political landscape, the player is given zero agency to work them and, as such, Mouse falls agonisingly short of being a true detective fantasy.

SteamWorld Build is another feather in the series' cap and another great distillation of genres into a friendly and wholly addictive package. The city building and mining halves come together effortlessly thanks to a pitch-perfect campaign, though with just a single scenario there's not a heap of longevity. The console version's awfully-small text also threatens to undo the good done by its superb controls, but in the end it remains another banger SteamWorld game.

The Cub is a short but sweet little tribute to licensed Mega Drive platformers that revisits the fantastic world set up in Demagog's previous game, Golf Club Wasteland, and comes out just as striking and memorable. Crucially, the warm tones and cool tunes of Radio Nostalgia from Mars are back to have you vibing in your seat for a handful of hours as you throw a small, mutant child into mortal danger over and over again.

Mario Tennis Aces is without doubt the best tennis game to come out in the last five years.

Conscript is a horrifying account of the cost of Verdun, and all of its battles and its loss, framed entirely as a classical survival horror game, for all of the good and bad that implies. It’s a punishing, dire take on the war and a unique approach to a genre that I’d mistaken for being creatively wrung dry.

There's so much about Tchia that feels at odds with what I'm accustomed to considering "good" game design, but it's also taught me to throw a lot of those ideas out the window. Tchia is a game that's exactly what it wants to be, and that makes it something that everyone needs to play. It's refreshing, charming, earnest, honest and – most importantly – a heap of fun.

Attack on Titan 2 is a great dive into the brutal world of Shingeki no Kyojin, and is a blast to play on the Switch. While held back by some annoying technical bugs, what’s on offer here should be enough to appease both series veterans and newcomers alike.

Sonic Origins keeps the focus on the hedgehog's early core entries, polishing them up to a fine sheen and creating an addictive ecosystem around them that breathes new life into each title. The new and improved Plus version is a bit of a mixed bag of additions, but more is still better, especially for anyone picking it up for the first time as a complete package.

Skate Story is a spectacular collision of glass and the most grounded skateboarding I’ve felt in-game. It’s an interesting observation of perseverance in the face of brittle fragility that’s undercut by a need to make its journey palatable, and its stubborn hesitance to push the player closer to their breaking point. As an experiential trip, Skate Story remains a must-play.

Man of Medan is a stellar example of how to push boundaries and innovate within genres that seem restrictive at first glance. On the surface, it doesn’t seem like Supermassive has done much to give the game its own identity, but enough is going on under the hood to make it unique and have it stand out among the plethora of choose your own adventure games. There’s a few pacing and gameplay variation issues that hold it back from being excellent, but a plethora of game-modes that all offer unique experiences and loads of replay value get the first game of The Dark Pictures Anthology off to a great start.

Capcom Fighters Collection is yet another example of the utmost respect Capcom has for its back catalogue. Even worse, it’ll make you sad that Darkstalkers is dead.

Astral Chain is a unique experience from beginning to end, but some strange choices in the way it tells its story and major pacing issues in the third act bring it down. Regardless, Astral Chain fits right in amongst the Platinum greats, offering a fun and unique battle system that does a fantastic job at differentiating itself from its contemporaries.

Venba is a sweet, short-lived episode that presents the place held by food and cooking within our lives and cultures as near-on divine. It explores familiar relationships, as well as the ones we keep, for better or worse, with food itself, and left me with plenty to ponder as the credits rolled.

Despite the few flaws that exist for the game, it is truly great to see Burnout back on consoles, even if it is in the form of a remaster. Die-hard fans of the game can probably give it a miss if they already own it on other consoles, but if you’ve never played a game from the Burnout series and want to know what it’s all about, this is definitely worth your time.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is almost a tale of two games; the original holds up extremely well gameplay-wise, while is obviously let down by its dated graphics, while the remaster feels almost like a new game with its quality of life improvements. This definitely isn’t a half-baked package and is well worth it for original fans and newcomers alike - with the depth of the tactical RPG system that Square built many years ago, you’ll be obsessing over the best way to win a battle even when you’re not playing.

While it doesn't reinvent the wheel, Emio - The Smiling Man succesfully uses drama and horror to great effect, crafting a story that's equal parts gripping and shocking.

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a fun and unexpectedly fleshed-out experience that seeks to only better illustrate the potential of what Bayonetta can be beyond action games. Its combination of engaging puzzles, simple but enjoyable combat and inviting exploration more than outdoes its slow start and simple combat. While it's a story that didn't need to be told, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a bewitching experience overall.

As it ran its course, I realised I quite adored As Dusk Falls. As a decades-spanning crime thriller throughout America’s western plains, it’s well acted and admirably realised. Although the cliffhanger beckons another chapter, my journey through As Dusk Falls felt whole, though I can’t wait to explore all of the possibilities on offer.

Watch Dogs Legion builds upon the solid foundation established by Watch Dogs 2 while adding its own ambitious twist with mixed results. Having literally every character playable is a gargantuan task, and from a gameplay perspective it works to cement Legion as the best Watch Dogs game thus far. Narratively speaking, however, it collapses under its own aspiration to offer an intriguing concept with spotty execution. Regardless, Legion is a triumph for making good on most of its lofty promise and a triumph for the series.

Revenge of the Savage Planet is a confident sequel that expands on the original game in all the right ways. Its five densely packed planets are a joy to uncover, more importantly, invite exploration in all the right ways. While the humour is a bit hit or miss and I will personally always miss the first-person, Metroid Prime-like gameplay, some strong level design and a satisfying loop of exploration makes Revenge of the Savage Planet a strong but quirky debut for Raccoon Logic.

Lost Judgment rectifies a lot of the shortcomings of its predecessor while repeating a few of them. A compelling murder mystery coupled with intoxicating side content and sumptuous visuals make this another solid Ryu ga Gotoku title even if franchise fatigue threatens to take off some of that shine. It succeeds by expanding on what made Judgment great while offering the best real-time combat experience yet. Plus, you can skateboard and solve crimes with a Shiba Inu – I don't think I need to say much more than that.

While it’s clear that some things need work on MultiVersus, it’s encouraging to see that the things that truly matter – the unlocking of characters and the core gameplay systems – are the things that have received the most attention. These are easily the two strongest tenets of MultiVersus’ offerings thus far. With time, I can only hope that the lack of variety in levels, lacklustre music, and slower cosmetic offerings can be remedied.

Yoshi's Crafted World is a fantastic reminder of what makes Nintendo games great. At a time when other publishers are adding more and more into their games, Nintendo has shown that creative levels and an incredibly cute art style is all you need for a good time.

We haven't had a Borderlands game this packed with changes and new ideas since Borderlands 2. In many ways, Borderlands 4 feels like a natural continuation of the franchise's trajectory. It isn't without faults, but what it does deliver on makes for an evolution unlike any other game in the series.

Endearing characters, a deep battle system, and a buck-wild storyline had me hooked right to the end. With it’s new epilogue chapter, graphical enhancements, new challenges and difficulty options for newcomers and veterans alike, Xenoblade Chronicles is a fantastic way to discover a classic of a past era.

Yakuza 0 Director's Cut may not be worth the double-dip for those who've experienced it before, but it's a no-brainer for first timers. It's a great upgrade to arguably the best entry in the Like A Dragon series, despite some questionable new additions.

Assassin’s Creed Rogue Remastered is a modest remaster but a good one. While some other options would’ve been appreciated to prioritise framerate over resolution, the game itself still stands up four years on. It’s missing some of the bells and whistles that games like Origins have since introduced, but it’s unique premise and concept means it’s an experience most Assassin’s Creed fans shouldn’t miss.

There is no denying that Turok 2: Seeds of Evil is a more refined game than its predecessor. That much is certain. With Nightdives efforts, Seeds of Evil plays better than it did twenty years ago. There are some things players will have to overlook – particularly the dated visuals and some samey looking level designs – but Turok 2: Seeds of Evil is still a blast to play.

A Plague Tale, at times, feels like a missing early chapter of the Assassin's Creed catalogue. Its ability to bend a truly fascinating point in documented history into a fantastical, mythical story that keeps you invested from start to finish is remarkable. It's a cinematic journey that is uncomplicated in its delivery, managing to occupy gamers without distracting from the game's narrative and the bond that develops between the de Rune siblings which, in the end, is A Plague Tale's undoubted strength.

With a map that pleads to be unlocked and explored wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling, as well as tremendous combat inspired by the best platform fighters, Possessor(s) is a heartfelt, and most unexpectedly great, Metroidvania that treats story and action, two distinct and unique facets of game design, as equals in this lovely story of coexisting.

It's far from a best-case port, but Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition serves up a cult classic JRPG that deserves to be appreciated by everyone that hasn't had the legal means before now. The Radical Dreamers part is a very welcome bit of history given some genuine love from Square Enix, too. If you've already smashed out a Chrono Cross replay in the recent past though, you might be okay to skip this package for now.

Beyond Good & Evil's 20th Anniversary Edition does a commendable job of freshening up an experience that had long aged out of its must-play status. Enhanced visuals that don't dull the original charm, welcome quality-of-life and control improvements and a nice smattering of extra content go a long way to making this a worthwhile revisit to Hillys.

Two Point Campus is another excellent entry from Two Point Studios that showcases not only more of the team's penchant for humorous and accessible management sim gameplay but genuine love for the genre. With a new spin that makes for a distinctly new-feeling gameplay loop and moment-to-moment decision making there's something here for both hardcore sim fans and casual onlookers. Some missed opportunities and controller-specific issues aside, there's never been a better time to create a ton of student debt.

Where it lacks in the storytelling department and capturing the emotion of the narrative, it makes up for in the depth of gameplay that it offers.

Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster features two fantastic games with a heap of compelling content but is ultimately marred by questionable attempts to improve its presentation. The new soundtrack is good but fails to pay tribute to its predecessor, while the new character models look clean but lifeless. Despite these visual issues, it’s hard to deny that these games are some of the best Final Fantasy games and worth your time whether on Xbox or Switch.

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered is the best example of a remaster I think I've seen in years. Where some titles have played fast and loose, with full overhauls of their game mechanics or visual styles, Aspyr has taken a classic trilogy and revamped it as a love letter to its origins, bringing memories of old back to life. As more and more titles get the reboot or reimagining treatment, it is refreshing to see an old classic come back in a new style.

Goat Simulator 3 is a remarkable improvement on the original in practically every way, with a great variety of gear to wreak havoc with. While the attempt to introduce a story mode is satisfactory at best, the dedication to offering fun and robust multiplayer modes easily elevates Goat Simulator 3 to be greater than the sum of its parts.

Forza Horizon 4 offers racing fans endless, ever-changing amounts of fun.

Atomfall is a surprise in all the best ways – it is a dense but enjoyable world to explore with a sense of freedom in every sense of the word. The objective and quest designs feel truly open-ended, inspired by the best aspects of games like Fallout: New Vegas. But despite some friction between the game's action underpinnings and light RPG mechanics, Atomfall is an intriguing, unique and ambitious foray into a new genre for Rebellion, and one I hope to see them continue to dabble in.

Lies of P takes a bit to get going but once it does it’s an absolute joy to play. While as challenging as you’d expect from a game channeling Bloodborne, its minor improvements help make the experience ever so slightly more accessible. More importantly, it manages to carve out its own niche and is one of the strongest adaptations of the formula that make games like Bloodborne so revered. And while some aspects of it’s source material don’t translate as well as you’d hope to a video game, Lies of P is a solid action game that’s well worth your time.

Project Cars 3 is bustling with things to do. It’s as accessible as the series has ever been, and while marred by some inconsistencies in its presentation, is for the most part a joy to play.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection really nails what a library of retro titles should look like. Hitting that sweet spot between nostalgia and playability, it is clear that Konami and Digital Eclipse have gone to great lengths not only to preserve some of the best beat-‘em-up titles from the late 80s and early 90s, but to make them accessible to younger Turtles fans as well. With stacks of bonus content to explore as well as online and offline multiplayer modes, grab yourself a pizza and kick some shell.

In a medium so fixated on hurting others, it's refreshing to enjoy a slice of life story about the complexities of love, romance and life itself.

Forza Motorsport ticks all the right boxes for just about any racing fan – honing in its focus on the love of cars and offering up a balance between approachable racing and hardcore simulation. Progression changes might rub some the wrong way, and its AI drivers desperately need more practice time, but a long hiatus for the franchise has birthed a solid baseline for the future.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is an exceptional platformer that feels right on the Nintendo Switch. It's one that both experienced gamers and newcomers alike will both enjoy (thanks to the new Funky Kong mode), but probably not worth it at full price for those who picked it up on Wii U.

Superhot’s standalone expansion Mind Control Delete is a great example of how to achieve growth, drive your franchise forward and prevent an admittedly pretty basic concept from going stale. Before I knew I was ready for a change, Superhot Team thrust age-old video game tropes into gaming’s most unique shooter in ways only they could and, in a crazy twist, it works.

With robust single-player offerings, as well as a fast paced and dynamic fighting system, Soulcalibur VI represents the best the series has been for a long time. It has a great and diverse roster of characters, and Geralt fits right into the world too. It’s just a little bit of a shame that it’s missing a few things from previous games. Despite this, Soulcalibur VI is easily the best Soulcalibur game and one of the best 3D fighters you can play right now.

Burning Shores is a worthy expansion and follow-up to the incredible Horizon Forbidden West. It's packing a fantastic new location to explore, compelling new characters and fearsome new machines to fight while offering an exciting glimpse into the future of the franchise. It's a bit more rough around the edges than I'd like but it's essential playing for Horizon fans.

Moving Out 2 is an accomplished sequel, building on what made the first game great and really honing in on its presentation and content offering. It's not a radical departure, and not all of its levels are designed equally, but overall this is another feather in SMG Studio's cap.

Cricket 19 delivers us another solid improvement in the world of cricket games, and while it still doesn’t quite match up to the big budget sports games, it certainly gives the genre a good run for its money.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses features some of the most refined and enjoyable battle mechanics the series has seen since its successful renaissance with Awakening. But the renewed focus on support relationships gets in the way of what some may have valued most from the franchise – the strength of its strategic design and the battles themselves. Regardless, it’s hard to argue that Three Houses is the best Fire Emblem since Awakening, so it’s still worth your time, even if you’ll have to spend it wisely.

Keeper is an arresting, emotionally resonant, and experiential title which shelves the company’s regular yuks for something genuinely poignant. Despite some bothersome gameplay hang-ups, Keeper remains a beautiful must-play for the “games are art” crowd.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is another great entry in the long-running series. Combat is complex, but well enough explained to readily understand and feels fantastic to play with. It has interesting characters, an intriguing world and an engrossing storyline that had me always wondering what was going to happen next. Whether you're new to the series or a veteran, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is stylish, intriguing, super fun, and well worth checking out for RPG fans.

Ninja Gaiden 4 is a worthy successor to the best games in the franchise thus far. It modernises the combat without losing the spirit that made the original games so strong. While the handoff to Ryu is undoubtedly clumsy and a bit of a dip overall, Ninja Gaiden 4 is an outstanding action game that's punishing in all the rights ways.

While The Man Who Erased His Name is a very safe Like A Dragon experience, longtime fans are sure to relish its smaller scope and renewed focus on Kiryu. It might lack some of the suspense and unpredictability of prior entries, but more than makes up for it in its more intimate exploration of one of the most legendary characters in gaming.

After some time away from the ring, Visual Concepts has re-emerged to deliver a wrestling game packing more than a few (superman) punches. WWE 2K22 is a significant step up from what has come before, and I’m hopeful this becomes the building block for future entries in the series.

Shin Megami Tensei V is the best Shin Megami Tensei game thus far, without a doubt. It’s incredibly stylish and delivers an intriguing plot filled with the philosophical and metaphysical concepts that fans have come to expect. Its battle system is every bit as engaging as it’s contemporaries, and the fusion system remains as one of the best in the genre. And while it’s got some strong art direction, technical issues and ho-hum dungeon design keep Shin Megami Tensei V from being as great as it could be.

Psychonauts 2 brings together classic platforming, an engaging story and well realised combat in a package that feels reminiscent of the best platformers of decades past. Even better, it does this with a visual flair that’s unmatched by its contemporaries. It might be more of the same, but given how unique it is, that’s hardly a bad thing.

Cult of the Lamb is sure to be a homegrown success on the back of its tremendous presentation, which is helped along by captivating notions of cultism and devotion. I just wish there was more of an accord between the game’s working parts, which ultimately feels like a game of two individually brilliant halves.

Tarsier Studios’ unique take on horror is immersive and terrifying, and, barring some load time issues and small technical problems, finds a good home on the Switch.

There’s something really special about MediEvil getting a well-deserved remake beyond the visual and audio glow-up. It provides the title with a chance to break out of the confines of relative obscurity to reach a wider audience. MediEvil deserves all of this and more with its fantastic tone, entertaining characters and story, excellent level design, and stellar pacing, even if a few issues hold it back. If you haven’t played it before you’d be doing yourself a disservice by not giving it a go, and if you have played it before, rejoice in Fortesque’s skeletal embrace.

Outlast 2 on Switch is a great way to tackle what is one of the scariest horror games I’ve played in recent memory. The port is excellent, only marred by some inconsistencies seen in the game itself — horror fans should definitely check this one out.

Dying Light 2 Stay Human is a solid step-up from Dying Light in almost every way. Still, its increased emphasis on storytelling feels entirely misguided to the point where it’s worse than Dying Light. Despite this, Dying Light 2 has fantastic traversal, satisfying combat, and some great quest design and variety that makes it Techland’s best.

While it's not as strong a game as Tropical Freeze, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a great way to introduce younger or less skilled players to the wonderful world of Donkey Kong Country. However, those familiar with the game already through its two previous releases may struggle to find much value in another revisit, even if the visual improvements are numerous but sparse.

There’s no denying that Life Is Strange: True Colors does things a little differently from previous games while retaining that signature look and feel that we’ve come to expect from the series. Overall, it’s a solid effort from Deck Nine and a considerable step up from their last take on the series, Before The Storm.

Although the campaign is only a small slice of the larger package in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, it’s great that it counters its ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ length with a bit of replay value and some memorable missions you’re bound to want to play again. Raven Software’s more subtle approach to Cold War espionage feels like viewing Call of Duty through a new, exciting lens.

With Observer’s original atmosphere intact, System Redux is an exceptional refinement and redelivery of one of the generation’s most underrated titles. The loss of Rutger Hauer felt even more profoundly exploring these tenement halls again, but his offbeat and quirky role as Daniel Lazarski will live on for another generation.

There is heaps to do here regardless of whether you’ve played before, and the sheer volume of content on offer here is staggering. Yes, it’s slightly less easy to pick up and play than Monster Hunter World, but what Generations Ultimate lacks in polish and pizazz it makes up for with unbridled depth and longevity.

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is a strong reimagining of a horror classic, smartly expanding on both combat and exploration from the original in clever ways. Despite such a strong and positive change in the fundamentals of the game, the locked and stuttering 30fps mode on consoles is a baffling choice for an otherwise stellar remake. Even so, this is Fatal Frame at its best and well worth any self-respecting horror fan's time.

Whether it’s the super-catchy theme song, the nostalgia-evoking gameplay, or simply the very basic fun of hunting new Snax to transform the Grumpuses, Bugsnax is a game that is well worth your time. Its simple yet addictive challenge of catching the cute yet strange creatures coupled with some wholesome storytelling delivers a well-rounded and fun adventure.

FIFA 19 is really solid overall with what feels like more changes than we've seen in the last few years combined.

The Crush House is a clever and entertaining spin on reality television - one that has its tongue firmly in cheek, but which also speaks to deeper themes in the metanarrative I'm working hard not to spoil here. It's repetitive and a little unfair at times, but also compelling and enjoyable - and there's a real thrill to getting good footage.

Cat Quest III is a succinct, super-adorable action RPG that builds on its predecessors with even more variety, accomplished visuals, fun twists and an absurd dictionary of puns. If you're after an adventure that offers everything you'd want from a modern RPG in a bite-sized format and less than 10-hour runtime, this is fur you.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD makes great efforts to improve the original to make it the definitive way to play the series’ origin story. Whilst the game's initially poor pacing has improved, the game can still be slightly tedious and repetitive. Putting that aside, the dungeon design, item ingenuity, and some of the boss battles are series highlights that no Zelda fan should miss.

Teardown is a fun and ballistic sandbox for people intent on watching the world burn. Its war chest of tools and curated mods offer near limitless possibilities in the coolest game of its kind since Minecraft.

Tombi! Special Edition is a great example of how something like LRG's Carbon Engine can be used to help preserve a game accurately and respectfully while also modernising the experience enough to make it compatible and palatable for future audiences. The bonus materials could be better-presented, and the game's original blemishes remain by virtue of its preservation, but it's a great way to re-live an underappreciated classic in the genre.

Tell Me Why is a Dontnod game throughout its every part, right down to its bones. Although those bones might be bare, it has a lot of soul. With care, Dontnod dive into discomfort and drag us with them throughout three concise episodes that explore the power that comes coupled with familial ties, both bound by blood and by the metaphysical, as well as memory and all of its heartbreaking deceptions.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 is a one-way ticket to the turn of the millennium. It's a complete, beautiful love letter to not only Tony Hawk himself as an icon but to a time when both the series and the sport of skateboarding itself were most pure and fun. As a bundle, and with the multiplayer providing even more longevity, this game offers unrivalled value.

Yooka-Replaylee demonstrates resoundingly what needed to be fixed with the original game, offering an experience closer to Banjo-Kazooie rather than Banjo-Tooie, and being a better game because of it. Smart quality of life adjustments streamline exploration and progression, sharpening the pacing. Not all changes are equal, however, as Rextro still feels like a bit of a slog, and I still wish there were more worlds to explore. But the overall improvements to the experience are undeniable. With strong performance, great presentation and clever tweaks, Yooka-Replaylee delivers on the promise that Playtonic made so many years ago. It feels like the true successor to Banjo-Kazooie that we always wanted.

New Pokemon Snap really captures what has made Pokemon popular for so many years. It gives a new life to so many Pokemon that we've known and loved over the years and provides a relaxing relief from the plethora of action games on the market. I don't know if a lot of the padding was necessary, but I still enjoyed every second of my time with the game.

Courtesy of some really great hand-drawn art, it’s hard not to adopt the game’s most excellent and bodacious attitude through osmosis. But OlliOlli World’s strength, as it has always been, is in its low barrier to entry and the fact it’s just so damn fun to pick up and play.