Building on the foundations of Rise of the Tomb Raider, there’s more depth to the actual tomb raiding, more flexibility in the combat, and the city of Paititi is a hub that you can easily get lost in as you explore it and the surrounding jungle. So, while Shadow of the Tomb Raider’s story lacks some of the meaning and impact that it sets out to, this is another action packed romp for fans of the series.

Lego Marvel isn’t the most polished game you’ve ever seen, but it doesn’t pretend to be. Instead what you get is a fun action-platformer for young and old that is filled to the brim with Marvel fan service, offers tons of content and entertainment, and is a great latest instalment in what continues to be one of the most enjoyable couch co-op series out there.

The visual fidelity is a big improvement, though perhaps not a big enough leap to tempt people to upgrade from PS3, and it’s thoroughly enjoyable to play such realistic replications. Table by table, it is becoming the definitive, one stop shop for die hard pinball fans.

There are no heavy plots to become embroiled in, each mission is essentially just a method of throwing you into another zany situation and then rewarding you for getting out of it. That's the strength of this game: that it just wants to make you smile.

It looks fantastic on that big bright screen and the new control systems are utilised without feeling too tacked on and gimmicky - at least in the main mode.

The story is a bit shallow, but missions are well written and exceptionally designed, leading to an endgame built around tons of content and a deep loot system.

This is another case of same-but-better for EA.

Madden 18 is yet another triumph for the series, and this year’s big success story is the game’s Longshot narrative. It seems incongruous to be talking about heartfelt, well-acted storytelling in a Madden game, yet it’s a perfect fit, hanging some drama off EA’s rock-solid mechanics and fantastic visuals.

Jurassic World Evolution 3 is exactly what you’d want from a JWE sequel. More dinosaurs, enhanced options and new systems that make your stunning dinosaur menagerie more realistic than ever before. Life finds a way, and you have a direct hand in it.

At its heart, Runbow is a game to break out during a big gathering, rather than play on your own. Nothing is more fun than hooking up controllers and playing with a whole bunch of your friends for a night, and Runbow offers that in spades, provided you have all the Wii Remotes and attachments at your disposal.

Quell Memento is just one of those puzzle titles that is pretty much perfect.

Hellclock is a solid game that offers something new to both the roguelike and Diablo genres but may not have the wider appeal of titles such as Hades due to its focus on min-maxing and DPS over skill. The confused approach of offering game modes that actively undermine the title’s central gameplay mechanic, and the current performance issues in the latter stages, are real negatives but the first can be avoided and the second is being worked on. If the idea of a roguelike Path of Exile appeals, then Hellclock may well be the game for you.

F1 2016 offers the most comprehensive representation of the sport we’ve ever seen. Codemasters have implemented an array of features that are pure wish-fulfilment for fans, and cover the whole gamut of the F1 experience from paddock to track. There are still some key presentational improvements that need to be made.

Bungie has done an excellent job in, not just creating enough content for the game’s fourth season and start of the second year, but in reviving a game that stuttered after its initial launch.

To me it seems that EA have learned their lesson from past games and have went all out to provide a game that anyone watching the World Cup will be proud of and you know what? They have succeeded.

Vendetta Forever is a new contender for my favourite VR game. Its high speed, intense, but relatively short levels are always somewhere between very cool, very over the top, and quite funny. It's a game that's in love with old school action movies and did it darnedest to let you shoot your way through countless classic set pieces.

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is a game for those who adore the genre and want something bright, colourful and full of self-referential puns to end a long day at work. However, you have to be able to overlook some game design and quality-of-life flaws that can make the game frustratingly hard.

Happy Home Paradise gives you the easiest job in the world. Creating holiday homes for various Animal Crossing characters is about as pressure-free as it gets when you're given a clear direction, a curated set of furniture to choose from, and the knowledge that the customer will love whatever it is that you do. There's no risk of a Changing Rooms disaster here. It's another avenue to express yourself in New Horizons, just don't expect much challenge, critique or need to think too far out of the box.

Frog Detective 3 is definitely the most important game about a scooter-riding frog you'll play all year. It's a heartwarming and effortlessly charming finale for the adventures of this silly, shy, super-talented turtleneck-wearing frog pal. In a world where triple-A game remakes and hundred-hour RPG mega games rule, it's always such a nice breath of fresh air to dive into a game like Frog Detective 3 that does so much, and so well, with so little.

N++ is a further distillation and refinement of what made N and N+ cult classics in the first place. Rather than replacing those games, it expands upon them greatly, with a bafflingly vast array of levels that come to test you mastery of the game’s pure platforming, and the tools to make even more.

If you enjoyed Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle, then picking up Donkey Kong Adventure is a no-brainer. In some ways it’s even better, with Donkey Kong and Rabbid Cranky two great new characters that work so well together and even more flexibility in battle. If the main game’s main meal was a lovely mushroom risotto, then Donkey Kong Adventure is a large serving of banoffee pie for dessert.

Sega has managed to craft an incredible entry in the long-suffering franchise that is fun, fully-featured, and gorgeous. In a time for the industry where a game like Valkyria Chronicles should struggle to find footing, Sega has proved that this dark horse has many bright years ahead of it.

Tadpole Treble is a charming, lively rhythm game with a simple premise and a lot of challenge for those looking for it. As great for younger gamers as it is for gnarled-thumbed veterans, this charming concerto deserves whatever the tadpole's version of a standing ovation is.

The Murder of Sonic The Hedgehog is a simple and fun visual novel adventure that any Sonic fan can click with. Even though it's been released for April Fools, the game is well polished and offers a truly engaging experience.

Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream is an absolute gift. Sophie is just as charming and inspiring as ever, and even though the story tacks on more dimensional time-travel drama than I would've cared for, it's just as touching and cozy of an experience as the first Atelier Sophie. Gathering, crafting, and battling are all plenty of fun too, and flooded with enough layers of mechanics that it's easy to pick an area you want to focus on and purely master that one element of the game. By looking to the past, this surprise sequel has delivered a promising vision of the future of the Atelier series.

Gears Tactics gets a no-nonsense port to Xbox One and Series X|S, feeling at home on console and looking great on Series X in particular. Jack's wide-ranging buffs and abilities give a helping hand through the Jacked campaign, but in either mode, this is a slick turn-based tactical game that should appeal to XCOM and Gears fans alike.

F1 23 is a good evolutionary step forward for the series. The returning Braking Point story mode offers an enjoyable narrative with mixed up racing challenges, while F1 World brings together solo challenges, multiplayer events and car evolution in an interesting, if not yet essential way. The most significant step forward comes with the revised car physics and handling, which can still punish your mistakes, but makes racing without assists far more accessible.

I have really enjoyed Shadowverse, and I will no doubt keep this on my Switch as my go-to game when I’m stuck on the Tube. The problem is that if anyone looks over my shoulder to see what I’m playing, they’re probably going to make a snap judgement about me and what I’m into.