A smart and challenging blend of action and strategy.

One of the best new features is the Speed Kill, a stealth attack that requires timed button presses for successful take-downs - a brilliant addition to the already exhilarating game play.

With two styles of satisfying combat that stay fresh throughout the entire game, supported by a side of Zelda-style item-based dungeon puzzles and pre-apocalyptic series lore, this is a brilliant adaptation of Darskiders' signature brand of fun, even if it's not as grand or cinematic as the third-person action games.

The various combatants are well-balanced and there is a huge variety of vehicles and aircraft to pilot, including X-wings, TIE fighters, speeder bikes and hulking AT-STs.

The game is delightfully simple to learn but requires tactics and quick thinking.

Pool Paradise is one of the best budget games in years. This is an addictive, near-faultless pool simulation, with the various games played in the surrounds of an idyllic tropical beach resort.

Artfully designed for a young audience, Madagascar will keep kids constantly entertained by serving up a wide variety of fun activities. The amusing movie characters and dialogue also ensure plenty of giggles.

But where this latest instalment excels is in enhanced options and customisation for serious fans, while still offering pick-up-and-play access for those after a quick sporting fix.

Collecting stars, dashing to the finish line within strict time limits and hunting for tokens are satisfying goals thanks to clever level design.

Our hero is usually equipped with a sniper rifle, complete with a brilliant targeting scope.

It's accessible for beginners but has tactical depth for experienced warmongers.

Single-player is fun, but the game truly shines with four people in the mix. It's a little easier, but there's still about 20 hours of co-operative campaigning to be had.

Veterans may feel it is overly familiar but Gladiator is a quality action game.

The best inclusion is a compulsive Platform mode requiring death-defying leaps. Trial and error repetition can frustrate but improving your scores by performing perfect jumps is addictive.

A bare-bones but substantial package, this celebration of the first decade or so of the storied franchise will be extremely welcome for old-school fans, and makes an excellent starting point for new players.

Controls are incredibly precise, although real Street Fighter diehards might want to ditch the joypad and invest in an arcade controller, such as NubyTech's Street Fighter Arcade Stick or an X-Arcade.

A car aficionado's paradise and a novel concept in driving games. Unlimited's online world is certain to be mimicked.

Pool Paradise is one of the best budget games in years. This is an addictive, near-faultless pool simulation, with the various games played in the surrounds of an idyllic tropical beach resort.

The branching track system is brilliantly designed to challenge and thrill in equal measure. Giddy car handling enables skilled drivers to power-slide gracefully around corners at ridiculous speed.

While Mega Man 11 absolutely sticks with the same familiar fundamentals and plays just like the games of old, it also represents the biggest modernisation attempt the series has seen in decades, with a fresh style and new mechanics. There's room for improvement, but bringing this icon of the '80s back in such a convincing fashion is quite an achievement.

Starlink is a streamlined but impressive space opera in a wide open star system, giving you the freedom to get lost in space or just warp around for the story, and on Switch it makes awesome use of the Star Fox crew. The physical toy element is a lot of fun and adds a great dose of tactile play, but if it isn't for you you're at no disadvantage for going digital.

Strict time limits seem an unfair way of extending the game's lifespan but replaying levels as quickly as possible is surprisingly enjoyable.

A value-packed collection of infinitely replayable and hugely enjoyable classic card and board games.

From the swampy bayou location to the more intimate brand of horror on display, RE7 is the result of some unexpectedly excellent creative decisions for a series that has long suffered from identity crisis. It's a polished, confident horror game, and I can't wait to see more.

The branching track system is brilliantly designed to challenge and thrill in equal measure. Giddy car handling enables skilled drivers to power-slide gracefully around corners at ridiculous speed.

Adults will breeze through the game in a few hours, but youngsters should be content replaying the adventure many times.

Following up a landmark cinematic tale of trauma, mental affliction and grief, without repeating itself or undermining the central character's growth, Senua’s Saga is a stunning, well-paced adventure that pushes the boundaries of human theatrical performance in games while also spinning a riveting tale of power and sacrifice.

Players may occasionally feel like they are going through the motions, but there is a wide variety of challenges include races, turret blasting, hoverboard trickery, arena combat and an exciting sequence escorting an explosives-laden train.