Clever developments to gameplay and visuals make this sequel an exciting progression that can become an act of patience when the numbers stop going your way.

Going Under is a brilliant first release from Aggro Crab Games, combining challenging gameplay, rewarding combat and a wealth of possibilities in terms of both the dungeons and the enemies. Though let down by a myriad of performance issues and bugs, fixes are promised in upcoming patches, as is a variety of post-launch content. For £15.99, you can't go wrong.

With an enchanting art style Crown Trick is a delight to play, yet is challenging and frustrating before you master its combat system.

Although Outlast’s probably not a game you’ll revisit once completed, it’s certainly somewhere you’ll remember for a while to come.

Old, familiar concepts and designs mix with the new in this worthy re-release. Owners of the original game wont find much new here, but for the many that missed Super Mario Bros. U the first time are in for a treat, especially those with friends or family to play alongside them.

A fantastic entry point for those who are unfamiliar with the series as well as being a great addition for long time fans. Torna ~ The Golden Country manages to be approachable and enjoyable for everyone. The new changes to combat really help make things more interesting and the world is huge. Definitely worth a play.

Neon Abyss is colourful, bright and a lot of fun. While I found a lot of the room layouts and levels a tad repetitive, there is enough there to keep you entertained. The mini-games and weapons are great. It looks good, sounds awesome and will find a home in any rogue-like fans gaming collection.

From it's cute inhabitants to its picture book environments, Ghost Giant is a joy to be part of. It's perhaps a bit on the short side but the time you spend here will be fun and immersive. The story is very moving and surprisingly deep. It's soundtrack pushes you through the story nicely and accentuates it's more emotional parts beautifully. Interacting with its world is glorious and I have never felt part of a VR games world more than I did here.

Coming as it does then at the end of a the PlayStation 3’s lifecycle God of War: Ascension is a stunning technological achievement which will always satisfy but rarely wow given the ever-decreasing gains as you move from a launch window to year seven of a particular hardware setup.

A strong opener and weaker follow-up chapter, but the third season is certainly heading in the right direction, narratively at least.

Gathering Storm enhances Civilization VI to such a degree that it is hard to think of this as anything other than the best possible Civ game. The array of new features make every match more interesting, and will keep you coming back for more time and time again.

With an opening chapter weaker than its sequels, The Sly Collection is nevertheless an ideal opportunity to become acquainted (or reacquainted) with Sly, Bentley and Murray.

Bad press aside, I found Pokemon Shield to be a solid entry in the Pokemon franchise. If only the difficulty was a bit elevated for seasoned players.

Puppeteer receives a standing ovation for its visual originality and everyone working behind the scenes should come to the front stage and certainly take a bow.

All told, Under Night is a reliable, enjoyable effort, especially for newcomers.

Boasting solid gameplay and one of the most compelling stories I’ve played in recent times, Metro Exodus’ shift to the striking Russian landscape is not only a worthy successor to the previous entries, but one of the best shooters on the PS4 today.

DOOM Eternal is considered to be one of the best first-person shooters of this console generation. Jump into this fast-paced sequel to DOOM (2016), fight against the arbiters of Hell to save the last surviving humans. Now on the Switch, it’s a feat to behold, because Nintendo isn’t known for FPS’s. The quality may be downgraded and the controls clunky at times, but it’s definitely one of the best Switch ports I’ve ever played.

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown is an excellent package. Its overly-complex narrative bogs down so much of what makes the game a carefree thrill ride, but a great campaign structure, intense multiplayer and a VR tour de force make this the best game in the storied franchise and one every pilot should pick up.

400 Microsoft points for an hour’s play might seem steep but is fully justified when the product is this good; a promising indication of Telltale’s increasing confidence in the genre and an assurance that we can look forward to season 2 with genuine relish.

Relic have played it safe here, it has to be said. With an admittedly beautiful graphical overhaul and solid mechanics Company of Heroes 2 was never going to be anything less than good. But there are few real developments in terms of gameplay and innovation which may feel like a missed opportunity for ardent fans.

A personal, touching journey wearing the bright red cloak of an intricate puzzle. For a game that doesn’t utter a word, RiME says a lot - and it’s all wonderful.

A mesmerising co-op platformer with gorgeous artwork, Trine 4 has a dreamlike fluidity to its gameplay, an enchanting atmosphere and innovative physics-based puzzles, despite the sometimes underwhelming combat.

As a 21st-century take on 90s platformers, Mekazoo is a winner. It doesn’t set out to tell a story, or dazzle you with power-ups. It trusts in its core mechanics, a handful of cute protagonists and some lovely visuals, and the end result feels like the gaming equivalent of a decent jazz band: it looks good, sounds great, and when all the components pull together you feel like you’re in the presence of something magical.

Smart tweaks to an aging formula, fun characters and an excellent new stealth element more than make up for a disappointing by-the-numbers premise. A true sleeper hit.

Blazing Beaks is a lot of things, all at once, splitting focus between a rogue-lite Story mode and twin-stick local multiplayer shenanigans. Neither mode is perfect, and there might be stronger options available if you’re only interested in one of these genres, but there’s an astonishing level of replay value here, across the board. You’d be quackers to miss it.

It’s Japanese, it’s crazy, it’s fantastic and there’s the best bear character you’ll ever see in a game ever (sorry P4G Teddy!) – just be sure to enjoy the time you spend locked into Hope’s Peak.

The world of Pandora has a vault full of lore and stories to offer, so if this game matches the critical and commercial success of other Telltale games, then we may only have begun to scratch the surface.

If you’re looking to play for a complete experience that will not only test your survival and decision-making skills but also your compassion and moral compass, look no further than This War of Mine.