Casey Powell Lacrosse 18 is a solid sports title that newcomers will find engaging and enjoyable. Die-hard lacrosse fans will frankly gobble this up.

Sony Santa Monica has turned its established formula on its head and created a core loop and setting with tremendous potential.

The Pillars of the Earth weaves a fascinating tale and does so with superb style.

It takes the Far Cry blueprint and expands the highlights while changing the sliders on aspects that became overused to craft not only the best Far Cry game, but one of the best open worlds to explore this generation, whether alone or with a little help from a friend (or AI dog).

Perhaps the least forgivable aspect for me, given my love of exploration and discovery in games like these, is that all the islands feel the same. For Sea of Thieves to be a truly unforgettable experience for me I’d have liked to have seen islands and archipelagos that feel lovingly crafted with supreme attention to detail. What we have instead is a map that feels like Rare turned “Generate Game” on once and just ran with what the creator spat out. This, more than anything else, saddens me as it makes things feel even less devoid of life. Islands are too spread out, too samey and too uninteresting leaving the player with a, “seen one, seen them all” feeling.

A Way Out mightn’t be all I wanted it to be, but it is competent and different. That’s enough to recommend you try it — Hazelight’s latest might not be perfect, but it represents a genre and new mechanics I’d be keen to try again.

If you love Origins, you’ll get a big kick out of “Curse of the Pharaohs”. Simple, really.

Surviving Mars will easily offer hours upon hours of city-building gameplay for those interested in the genre and, like me, those who really aren’t but love a bit of sci-fi. It comes highly recommended.

Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom is an instant classic that can do it all. It's a beautiful action RPG, settlement builder and strategy … that offers a possible hundred hours or more of gameplay.

While Rogue is polished and tells a different story than one you'd normally encounter in the Assassin's Creed franchise, time hasn't done the title any favours.

The in-combat effects and camera work really make what could be a relatively basic combat cycle into something that feels dynamic and empowering.

Star Allies isn’t bad, it’s just dull. Perhaps that’s worse.

Despite a lacklustre remaster (I’m looking at you, textures), returning fans will feel right at home in Paradise City with Burnout Paradise Remastered. Though newcomers to the franchise may be a little disappointed at first because of its last-gen mentality, there’s still a lot to enjoy with this neat little package.

It’s poorly made and is, hands down, the worst game I’ve ever played. The fact that the end credits didn’t include a personal apology because you simply made it to ’em is astonishing.

It’s not perfect, but it’s still pretty fun. With single- and multiplayer offerings and a wealth of nostalgia, it’s hard to do wrong with Age of Empires: Definitive Edition.

Fe is simple yet complex, stylised and engaging. A six-hour affair, it’s perfect for those who found delight in Journey and, to a lesser degree, Ori and the Blind Forest. For others, it might be too much style over substance.

This is one for Bayonetta hardcore fans or those who’ve missed out on the originals. It’s also a brilliant way to get ready for Bayonetta 3.

These new streams bring the world together in a way that Civ VI didn’t. While there’s still a bunch that could be improved — including occasional, woeful AI — a game of Rise and Fall makes you feel like everything you have done has really mattered. That every action taken mingles with those of others and changes the world. It’s great.

While it’s true that Shadow was starting to show its age in 2011 and is continuing to do so in 2018 — even rebuilt from scratch — those who’ve played the title before will revel in the new life that Sony’s breathed into the classic. For those unfamiliar with the game, it’ll be a harder sell — but that said, stick with it.

If you’re already a fan of the series, you’ll love this. If you’re new though, you’d better be dedicated as this takes a long time to learn, and longer to master.

While there’s the potential via various endings and story branches, the simple slog of The Inpatient has proven too much for me. Is it VR that’s the culprit, or does Supermassive already need a new hook?

A mish-mash of concepts and half-cooked ideas that are never fully developed, wrapped up in a cutesy aesthetic that is at odds with its (at times) dark and disturbing themes. This is one to avoid.

It’s Quiz Time is a great trivia title, losing out to games like Buzz! or You Don’t Know Jack! when it comes to its host, but easily making up for that with a variety of questions and game modes.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 isn’t a bad game by any means, but it’s one that only die-hard JRPG fans will love.

I wish Hidden Agenda was more of a traditional PS4 game rather than a PlayLink gimmick. Still, with a solid (yet slightly predictable storyline; at least, the one I played through), it’s well worth a go. Supermassive is quickly becoming my favourite Sony developer.

It’s good if you’re Skyrim obsessed or if you’re a Switch owner who’s (somehow) never played the game before.

Ashes Cricket is the best cricket game ever made, enhancing the foundations of the Don Bradman Cricket series, rather than starting afresh. Player licensing takes it up a notch, as does an improved batting system and motion capture. While there are still too many glitches and commentary remains a mess, it delivers on the pitch with more accessible options for new players and improvements for veterans.

There’s great humour, knowledge and deference to the source material, and more than 250 little plastic people to unlock if you’re that into it – yet at the same time, it’s wrapped in a playstyle that’s really starting to crack and fray at the edges.