Samus Returns has been designed for hardcore Metroid fans and rightly so, as I don’t see many newcomers playing a monochrome Game Boy remake on 3DS as their first Metroid game.

For me, the true tell of a successful game is one that excites that passion for racing and vehicles. Racing is more than just laps on a circuit, but vehicle management, lap times and the thrill of the chase and victory. F1 2017 easily achieves this, and continues upon the brilliance that was F1 2016 last year. Fans of the motorsport and racing in general would certainly do well to check out this title, with Codemasters once again proving themselves as one of the leaders of the genre.

The series’ monster and equipment design has always been high-quality, but the cartoonish presentation of Stories simplifies the art style without losing any of its flair.

Those who’ve been spurned by Destiny only to be won over by rich DLC will feel right at home in Destiny 2. Those who passed on the original title because of its weak launch will find this is a completely different experience, one with Halo‘s DNA interwoven through Destiny‘s addictive core gameplay. It’s definitely worth a try.

It’s hard to deny that Knack 2 looks beautiful and demonstrates that lessons have been learned since the debut of the PS4, but you’ll walk away from a game session feeling that nothing was memorable. Despite its shine, Knack 2 is bland — a well-polished bit of blandness, mind you — but one you could easily skip over.

Resident Evil: Revelations is perfect for fans of the franchise who don’t own a 3DS or didn’t take advantage of the last-gen release. Equally suited are die-hard fans who want the chance to experience the game again (or even again), this time with Trophy and Achievement support. It was a great return to the elements that made Resident Evil great, and helped Capcom to realise how we wanted Resident Evil 7. Get back on that ship.

There’s no denying Kingdom Battle is an amazing experience, but it’s also a tough one to describe to friends and family. Heavy on Mario characters and locales, it’s not your usual Mario game. It features Ubisoft’s highly annoying Rabbids, but in a format that finally works, subdued and entertaining. It uses humour that kids will appreciate, but parents and adult gamers will get more from. Best yet, it doesn’t hold your hand, demanding a carefully-planned strategy to accomplish your goals. I can’t recommend it enough, but to the right audience – players over the age of 15 will find the title an utter delight.

While this new iteration mightn’t influence other titles or franchises like Drake has, it’s nonetheless amazing to play an Uncharted game with a strong heroine with a nose for relics, a pistol in hand, hair tied back in a ponytail and no need for help from the likes of Drake or Sully. The Lost Legacy is a great little addition to the franchise, ideal for newcomers or fans alike.

Agents of Mayhem is Volition’s latest, a third-person, single-player shooter that’s been spun off from Saints Row and wants to channel the likes of Overwatch and Borderlands. It does not succeed.

There’s not much to Matterfall, but there doesn’t need to be. Once again, Housemarque has made a tight little game with polished mechanics that’s sure to delight.

Infinite Minigolf is a simple, engaging little title that will keep you entertained for hours on end. While it mightn’t provide the endless experience its title claims to provide, its price point should be enough to forgive it.

Given the chance, Pyre opens up a world rich with lore to enjoy, and a variety of characters to throw headlong into magical bonfires. With both the story campaign and a multiplayer match mode available, it’s easy to get deep into the Rites yourself.

The main mantra of Splatoon 2 seems to be ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, and this is fine. This new Switch offering is robust, full of content and fun. Go and feed your hungry home-handheld hybrid.

If you could forgive Rugby League Live 3 its flaws and enjoy it, then this sequel will leave you as happy as Fatty and King Wally after Origin 3. Everything about the gameplay is tighter; from the improved ruck and play-the-ball to a more realistic AI that flings passes around less but ruthlessly punishes you for shooting out of the line or attempting to stop a big man with a little one.

Action, adventure, variety — those looking for a decent Ultimate Alliance fix need look no further than Marvel Heroes Omega. It’s great.

Final Fantasy XII was a great RPG, swapping out gunblades and epic, world-destroying storylines in favour of ones revolving around political intrigue; it remains as such. It’s as fun to play now as it was back in the dying stages of the PS2, and is perfect for returning fans or those who missed out previously.

First presented as a PS Vita game in 2015, Ultra Despair Girls sure looks it.

It’s a no-brainer for those with a PlayStation Plus account and one to consider for those with a bunch of friends and worn out copies of Jackbox’s finest. You’ll definitely have to invest in a portable charger for your phone or tablet, though.

World Series has a lot of good ideas that were implemented quite poorly. If you were thinking about this one to scratch a casual racing or nostalgic itch, you’re best to hold off – at the very least, until these niggling performance issues are corrected.

Crash Bandicoot was the game that started many into a lifelong addiction with Sony’s home console, and the N. Sane Trilogy only helps to reinforce this.

Melee attacks and a general active feel just don’t work in a tactical RPG.

There are only a handful of titles that I come across that I would truly recommend gamers to experience — Get Even is one such example. If you enjoyed titles like Quantum Break and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, with an element of thriller thrown in, you’re sure to enjoy this.

DiRT 4 is arguably the most complete rally title on consoles to-date.

While I think there is the opportunity for fun to be had in this game, it would mostly be generated by the players making their own fun and not the game supplying it. Friday The 13th: The Game has the potential to be a great game but sadly it’s not right now.

ARMS is a clever idea with polished core mechanics that ends up feeling underdeveloped and lacking in identity.

WipEout Omega Collection won’t hold your hand; if you’re not at the peak of perfection, you’ll find yourself trailing behind the pack. It’s as much a celebration of old-school difficulty as it is WipEout itself. Full of crisp, vibrant and detailed tracks, ridiculous speeds and an overall feeling of bad-assery, it’s hard to go wrong with the bundle.

This one’s for fans of the franchise and fans of the genre. After a long drought on consoles, Tekken is back — and with a vengeance. Innovative enough to keep long-time fans happy, this release manages to stick to what it does best. Get ready for the next battle.

Bridge Crew — even after two delays — reeks of unfinished promise. The campaign’s main goal is discarded almost immediately, replaced by a shoot ‘em up premise far removed from the Aegis’ specialisation. It’s the opposite of both Red Storm’s intentions and those of Starfleet itself.

RiME is exactly the game I like to slowly work my way through. A deeply atmospheric world with some challenge, without frustrating me with its obtuse inner logic (cough cough, The Witness, cough). The boy is endearing as an avatar, shouting and scrambling his way along with you, and the soundtrack would put anyone at ease. Sit back, relax, and shout some urns apart.

The first-person Way of the Hado mode is garbage.

Fire Emblem: Shadows of Valentia is really fun and easy to play in short bursts — just like any good handheld game should be. Some of the new gameplay mechanics are cool, but it wouldn’t be a huge loss if they disappeared in the next installment.

As with Injustice, this sequel is far more than a fighter. It’s a love letter to DC’s heroes and villains, with each easily identifiable… yet not as you’re used to. With a variety of gear sets to earn and apply, alongside the ability to play with a host of colour schemes, Injustice 2 is also a creative playground. With fights. Good fights. If you’ve any interest in DC, or love fighters, this one’s for you.

Judged as a shooter, Farpoint is as generic as they get; thankfully, Impulse Gear’s effort has other things going for it. The side-story is rewarding, even if some of it goes without resolution, and its immersive visuals alone make it a treat to play.

The Surge does a wonderful job of presenting a Bloodborne-style game in an entirely new sci-fi setting.

The entire experience is one that’s reminiscent of NBA Jam, but never provides the same levels of joy you’re after.

AFL fans might never get the game we’ve been dreaming of, but we deserve a much better attempt than this quick cash-in.

Despite those rough patches, Prey is wholly engrossing, begging the player to solve Talos 1’s many mysteries. It works well as a shooter, a stealth game and carries an 70s sci-fi vibe that is nothing short of a delight to experience.

The biggest single-player draw card is Adventure, the game’s story mode, and one we’ve specifically been told not to spoil.

sadly, much of Bulletstorm gets in its own way.

Once again, Relic has done a great job at bringing Warhammer 40,000 to the digital world.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is solid and enjoyable title, with small tweaks that mean it easily surpasses the Wii U's original release.

Thumbleweek Park is a stellar mix of mystery and humour, letting players delve into a case that requires plenty of thought… and, sadly, a lot of backtracking. A fast-travel map mitigates the latter issue quite a bit, but one elevator will make you rip your hair out, forcing you to take characters up and down one person at a time.

Controls move from the Vita to the PS4 easily, though gameplay itself seems better suited for a portable console. Gameplay is incredibly taxing at times — especially courtroom scenes — so it’s one you’ll likely play for short bursts rather than a marathon. Still, this is a great package for those without a PS Vita — Danganronpa is a must-play.

Forget Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts -- Yooka-Laylee is the third game in the Banjo-Kazooie series.

Battlefield 1 is a brilliant fast-paced military shooter that I spent a lot of time playing, especially over the recent Christmas holidays. The additional content in “They Shall Not Pass” is fun to play, but it does leave you a bit sour when you look deeper into it and see so many assets which have been reused. On top of that this content also splits the community, and pressuring players to purchase the DLC or be left behind. There are much better ways to handle delivering extra content to players, unfortunately this isn’t one of them.

Persona 5 is a beautiful balancing act; one that feels eternally stressful unless you give in and enjoy it rather than aiming for the perfect run.

Old Time Hockey is as bush league as it gets – from a desire to represent that mirrored by the size of V7 compared to the gargantuan EA Canada. It’s occasionally rough around the edges, but in ways that usually elevate rather than hinder it. Questionable design decisions aside, Old Time Hockey is great fun — a reason to invite a friend over, crack a beer and dive back into the good ol’ days.

Levels take around two to three minutes to clear, so Bye-Bye is well-suited for portable play.

Mass Effect: Andromeda is a science-fiction fan’s wet dream; a game incredibly difficult to put down once started.

FlatOut 4: Total Insanity is quite an improvement over the last game in the franchise. This is a competent car game, not excelling at anything but merely holding its own. You can get better racers or derbies out of a handful of other games, but its stunts are unique and enjoyable. They alone are worth a purchase if you’re in amongst a group of rev heads with nothing to do on a Friday night.

Styx: Shards of Darkness is an evolution of the franchise, and an improvement over a game stealth enthusiasts will greatly enjoy. Don’t expect to run around, daggers raised, and succeed in this one. If a high-quality stealth title is right up your alley, you won’t do wrong with Styx… just turn down the volume in-between deaths.

Is Matchmaker life-changing? No. Is it action-packed and as gripping as Breath of the Wild? Certainly not. It is, however, a fun little time-waster, full of memory puzzles, personality assessment and inclusiveness.

Snipperclips requires thought, co-ordination and timing in a combination that means friendships will be tested.

Overall, these three new Operations feel very consistent with the standard set by the core Watch Dogs 2 experience. The chance to return to San Francisco and geek it up with the DedSec team is welcome, and their characterisation remains as energetic and positive as ever. While the missions aren’t perfect – the return of an extended ‘getaway chase’ sequence brought on rage-flashbacks to the ‘Cyberdriver’ mission of the critical mission path – it does give another taste of everything that made this game great last year. Wth more DLC yet to come, I’m hopeful this same standard will be maintained and help bring on an even MORE hipster Watch Dogs 3 announcement.

Local multiplayer is where Fast RMX slots in nicely as part of the launch line-up. At $28, it’s got the price right.

Super Bomberman R is basic Bomberman. There’s nothing here you haven’t seen before, but it’s still great fun with simple, chaotic local multiplayer after all these years, even if it is extremely overpriced.

You shouldn’t buy Wildlands right now. The types of glitches and problems we experienced in previews still rear their head; while they’re forgivable in a pre-release environment, the same isn’t true when buying what should be a finished product. The entire experience is best summed up by our multiplayer adventure: you’ll run around a lot, but you’re not going to be able to get much done.

Sadly, a game that’s meant to showcase the Switch’s Joy-Cons also demonstrates how broken they can become.

Breath of the Wild is The Legend of Zelda game I didn’t know I always wanted until I starting playing. It’s a disservice to simply label it spectacular, and “must buy” as a Switch launch title is merely a formality. Nintendo promised a lot and left us hanging delay after delay, culminating in a cross-gen switch, but it’s delivered in every sense of the word. Breath of the Wild is the best in a series that’s almost never disappointed.

While it is a bit of an odd duck in the series – many of the unique elements such as voice acting were reverted in the subsequent release of Dragon Quest IX – VIII it still holds a special place in the hearts of many gamers. The re-release also offers curious first-timers such as myself the ability to experience this hard to find gem in its full glory, rather than the tweaked versions available to smart devices. If you’re ready to stomach some old-school hangups with your goofy fun, this one’s worth a look.

For all the hype that’s been extended to Horizon: Zero Dawn, it hasn’t managed to fully deliver. That’s a bit fitting — while we didn’t have access to its day one patch, confirmed by Eschler to enhance the PS4 Pro experience, I really didn’t notice an increased framerate or up-then-downrezzed textures on my 1080p television. Truly, there’s a lot of promise and potential in Guerrilla’s latest work, but ideas and intentions haven’t come together in a way that’s jaw-dropping.

This is a solid, Creative Assembly-driven RTS, well-suited for those who love the genre and also for those who are into science fiction; if you’re a fan of both, even better. Simple to understand, fun to play and challenging on higher difficulties, it’s hard to go wrong with Halo Wars 2.

After two solid days of play, across various modes and basically on the hour, we’re confident that Ubisoft has bolstered its backend to ensure For Honor will be a delight to play, not only in mechanics, but over the internet too. For Honor is a refreshing new take on combat, and one that everyone should experience.

If you haven’t experienced the open world, stealth extravaganza that is Sniper Elite, this is the time to jump in. For those returning to the franchise, buckle up — and play about two difficulties higher than you were planning. You’ll thank me later.

At the end of the day, this does feel like a Star Wars experience. There are several subtle, and not so subtle, nods to the movie that tie it in nicely. The simple overall design of the table will welcome new players, while the deeper design decisions will give more experienced players a run for their money. Is this my favourite Star Wars table? No. Is it a good Star Wars table? I can say wholeheartedly, yes.

There’s no denying Nioh is easier than Dark Souls – as evidenced by the fact that I could not only get to bosses, but beat them – and that’s okay. As someone who is constantly frustrated by Bloodborne and Souls, Nioh is, at the very least, accessible.

Poochy & Yoshi’s Woolly World is cute, but not worth revisiting if you’ve played it on Wii U. With a cutesy aesthetic and new, even easier ways to SuperGuide proceedings, this one’s best for children.

Character development is pushed to new nights with the use of the Tales series optional skits.

Capcom has delivered a refreshing return to horror, saving face and the franchise by focusing on a tight single-player experience.

I’d never played a Yakuza game before this one, much to the dismay of certain friends. While it’s definitely a daunting franchise to enter into, Yakuza 0 is simultaneously the best and worst starting point for newcomers like myself.

Despite all these negative qualities, you can get back to basics with select side-missions, ghost challenges and unfettered exploration.

While it may be the remaster none of us asked for, Ty the Tasmanian Tiger is a fun, nostalgia-filled title that’s relatively easy on the eyes and won’t be a problem for most PCs.

Super Mario Run is the perfect implementation of Nintendo’s biggest star in mobile form. While it’s hard to deny the success of Pokémon Go, Niantic’s mobile offering doesn’t truly capture the heart and soul of the franchise it belongs to. Super Mario Run excels in that department, offering a title that’ll have you constantly coming back for more.

Pleasure Planet excels in every way over its predecessor. Puzzles are challenging but fair; each failure made is clear-cut and understandable (though with that said, it’s best to save more often than simply rely on the auto-save). One or two puzzles suffer from a logic gap or have elements that simply work themselves out, inexplicably, to progress a thread, but they’re quite uncommon and largely forgivable. I never experienced the states of hopelessness and futility that Space Tyrant was often plagued with.

Don Bradman Cricket 17 expands on its pioneering predecessor with the fundamentals of cricket translating to fun, challenging gameplay. Batting and bowling are similar, but better rounded, and the introduction of female cricketers has been given the utmost care.

Calling All Units is a neat expansion to add to The Crew, but unless you’ve got a sufficient in-game credits you’ll either need to buy crew points with actual money or grind through events to afford the vehicles you’ll need to complete the additional missions.

Robinson showed a great deal of promise, but ended up much like any other VR game in this launch window.

Individually, these are three fantastic franchises, taken as a whole this is a fantastic pack of tables that should appeal to both pinball players as well as gamers who have never picked up a virtual pinball game.

Ultimately, Super Mario Maker is paired down on 3DS, but not to ridiculous levels.

While the game world is richly styled and interesting, the frame rate will chug as you enter the larger areas.

At launch, Eagle Flight doesn’t offer enough for the near-full price it charges. Single player isn’t enough to justify a purchase and multiplayer isn’t populous enough to get regular matches. Eagle Flight gets the basics right, flight is great and combat can be full of excitement, the game just doesn’t build much on that strong foundation.

While some parts of its narrative had me emotionally invested in the relationship between boy and beast, constantly fighting against the game’s broken mechanics left me unimpressed. My frustrations with Trico often ignoring my commands made interacting with the world more difficult and time-consuming than I wanted it to be. There are moments in The Last Guardian with potential, but ultimately, it’s more flawed than the authentic experience I was hoping for.

The removal of the timer from as compared to past games might not bode well with fans of the series, but it allows others a sense of freedom to move within the game at their own accord. That all said, there just isn’t enough to keep you engaged apart from the main storyline; killing zombies with crazy theatrical weapons is fun, but after a while it just becomes too much of a grind.

Featuring systems that focus on community engagement and competition among friends, there are some clever new ideas that haven’t been seen in games before. Still, Steep falls short where it matters most, offering you more moments of anger than adrenaline. If you have plenty of patience then this might be the game for you, though most will end up pissed off rather than going off-piste.

While I may not think of this personally as a true Final Fantasy title, that doesn’t make it any less of a good game. Despite all my above quibbles, I still haven’t been able to put the controller down for any longer than it takes to visit the bathroom or refuel my needy human body.

For newcomers to the Assassin’s Creed franchise, this is the place to start — and with the Master Assassin, no less. For others, it’s probably one to miss, unless you really, really want to get back into the thick of things.

Frontier has done a wonderful job of maintaining the excitement, visual appeal and overall happiness of both a theme park and a theme park builder.

There’s a huge focus on all the new features, but there is still a lot of nostalgia here. This is the 20th anniversary of Pokémon after all, and Pokémon Sun and Moon celebrates by boldly reinventing the wheel. This will go down as a huge success with returning players and it’s easier than ever for newcomers to enjoy after the success of Pokémon Go. Fans are in for a treat, and if you’re new don’t hesitate. There has never been a better time to play Pokémon.

There’s a huge focus on all the new features, but there is still a lot of nostalgia here. This is the 20th anniversary of Pokémon after all, and Pokémon Sun and Moon celebrates by boldly reinventing the wheel. This will go down as a huge success with returning players and it’s easier than ever for newcomers to enjoy after the success of Pokémon Go. Fans are in for a treat, and if you’re new don’t hesitate. There has never been a better time to play Pokémon.

Rightly or wrongly, the Carnival Games name has come to represent the type of shovelware that shifted opinion on the Wii from revolutionary to revolting in record time. Carnival Games VR is inoffensively decent, controlling well and offering some moments of entertainment, but it doesn’t last and does little to reverse opinion on the series.

Watch Dogs 2 is the game that the first one should have been and is a shining example of Ubisoft’s already proven ability to respond well to feedback. It offers true freedom and creativity to play the way you want, laugh out loud moments found in scripted events and self-made fun in a virtual city that needs to be seen to be believed. Starring characters that you’ll genuinely care about the more you get to know them you’ll have no trouble finding motivation to see this one through to the end.

Emily injects new abilities, alongside some different weapon upgrades. There are excellent new environments to go with a similar story that doesn’t really go anywhere; it’s almost a clone of Corvo’s original desire to clear his name of wrongdoings amidst a powerplay. It makes for a very good action-stealth adventure that genuinely encourages playing by your own rules. But whereas we praised Dishonored 1 for being one of the most unique triple-A games of last-generation, that inherently isn’t the case with its very good, but very safe, sequel.

Infinite Warfare is a strong return for Infinity Ward on the campaign front, and a lacklustre event in multiplayer. Zombies in Spaceland is the themepark experience you never knew you always wanted, with the right crowd. Together, it’s a fun but safe three pillar entry in the Call of Duty series; then there’s the fourth pillar, for a price. Modern Warfare holds up extremely well for a nearly decade old game. Its campaign is still fantastic, and its masterful, yet dated, multiplayer is a blast; it’s clunky and at times deeply frustrating, but it’s pure Call of Duty.

The season ends with a cliffhanger of sorts – of course – which sets it up for Season Two; still, I’m still left wondering what exactly is happening. Perhaps played all at once, Hitman‘s story would make sense, but this episodic system has done nothing for it.

After ploughing through the tutorials though and spending a little more time, you do start to appreciate just how detailed a game like this is.

Who knows how long it will last, but Rivals had me clearing a permanent place to store the plastic drums and guitar once again, items that were long ago retired from the lounge room. It took Harmonix a year and an expansion pack with a hefty price tag, but Rock Band 4 is once again a headline act.

Paired with a well-written story and varied soundtrack, Owlboy does something that a lot of pixel-art games don’t – it elevates the medium from the bare requirements.

Based on the first two instalments however, I can happily recommend this for anyone that loves to dig into a layered story – or just wants to snoop around in somebody else’s emails.