I'd love to be able to recommended Redeemer: Enhanced Edition to you. Its top-down shoot and beat 'em up combat is tremendous fun, and the local drop-in and out co-op mode is treat, but there's way too many game breaking bugs and glitches that hold up any recommendation. If these issues are fixed with a patch then feel free to add a few points to the score, otherwise you're best off looking for your gory thrills and spills elsewhere.

Catherine: Full Body has aged like the finest of wines. For fans of the story, the new characters and plot threads fold in fantastically after an awkward start, and they're coupled with a wealth of new dialogue and beautifully animated cutscenes. For fans of the gameplay, new remixed levels and difficulty options add brand new challenges for even the most hardcore Catherine enthusiasts, and with support for the game's niche competitive scene to boot. And if you've never played the game before, all of these additions make an already classic video game even more of a must-play experience.

Wreckfest is a surprising triumph in blending the best that sim and arcade racers have to offer in an explosive and visually gratifying package. A few visual issues and overly aggressive AI do little to spoil one of the best driving games of 2019.

Mad of Medan looks and sounds gorgeous, but it's spoiled by some technical issues and, depending on your choices, characters doing stupid things just so the plot can continue, both of which break the flow of what could have been a decent horror story. It's an excellent night or two's entertainment with a bunch of mates in a dark room and plenty of beer, though playing by yourself or online with a chum is an altogether more muted experience. This is a fair start to The Dark Pictures Anthology.

After MXGP Pro settled into a hardcore dirt biking niche, MXGP 2019 surprisingly steps away from that feel just one year later. It tries to combine multiple elements like track creation and player challenges, while still representing an official championship and gets lost on the way. It’s neither an arcade racer nor a serious simulator and the end result is quite bland.

Astral Chain boasts the same winning elements of Platinum’s finest work – exhilarating combat, characterful visuals, and a compelling story – but it loses a bit of personality. Where Bayonetta and 2B provided an emotional centre point for the fantastical storytelling, Astral Chain’s unnecessarily silent protagonist is a charmless creation saved by an utterly charming world.

Control is one of the best story-focused single player games in years. Its unique mix of surrealism, sci-fi and mystery draws you in, but doesn't give everything away, and the combat is fantastically varied and provides just enough challenge. A culmination of everything that went before, Control is Remedy's magnum opus.

Grandia HD Collection is a wonderful entry point into a criminally under-discussed JRPG series. Both games are absolute classics, featuring wonderful characters, inventive gameplay and really astounding writing. Die-hard fans might take issue with the updated nature of the sprites in Grandia 1. Every player out there, meanwhile, is likely to be turned off by the constant performance issues of Grandia 2. This isn't a perfect release, but the pros still far outweigh the cons when it comes to having an accessible way to play these old-school gems.

If you really, really have to play an RTS on console then you could do a lot worse than Ancestors Legacy. Well thought out controls, appealing visuals, and a solid multiplayer make for a reliable RTS experience. You might never feel compelled to reach the conclusion of the samey single-player campaign but you will delight in just having one more go at flanking your pal's Teutonic Knights with your Hurscarl Warriors.

Whether I will be able to devote the time to really get the most out of it is another matter, but I am certainly keen to finish the story at least once. It doesn’t have the depth or range of other similar games though, so I’m not sure if it’ll attract enough players to stay viable.

Automachef is a bizarre yet interesting take on a cookery game. Saldy, a lot of what it has going for it also goes against it and feels a little off – excuse the pun – as a result.

Horace is one of the most pleasant gaming surprises in years. I'm clearly a key part of its target demographic, having lived through the 1980s and early 90s that so heavily influenced it, but my enjoyment and engagement went past such an identification. I was completely absorbed throughout, and fully intend to return to collect the remaining pieces of junk. It may not be as immediately impressive as the latest AAA blockbuster, but Horace is essential for fans of retro games or hard platformers and a real contender for Indie Game of the Year.

Sagebrush's story isn't one that will leave a lasting impression and the pacing can feel off, but it is succinct, suspenseful, and on sale for less than a fiver, making it well worth your time if 90s cult thrillers are your jam.

I love that FIA European Truck Racing Championship exists and I really hope such a niche title finds the right audience. Developer N-RACING has been faithful to the essence of truck racing, but it hasn’t been able to create the structure, close fighting, nor personality the series has to offer. Variety is good, and I really hope they can work on an improved sequel. For now, once the novelty has worn off, you are left with a pretty lifeless game.

A Cthulhu Adventure is a real treat, and one of the most enjoyable games of its genre and textual influence I’ve played in a long while. It isn’t the longest game by any means, but there are many Easter eggs and cool horror references hidden away to find. Stuck In Attic have excelled themselves with this genuinely funny game and I look forward to seeing what they have to offer next. The one major bugbear throughout this is why they didn’t call it Gibbous: A Cathulhu Adventure.

Lightbearer is a marked improvement on the main game, and it feels as though the DLC is the kind of story-driven experience the team behind We Happy Few wanted to make all along. It somehow makes the main game retroactively worse, while also being intensely confusing. The story is short, which is a mercy, but it’s very hard to say this DLC is the reason to jump into We Happy Few and give it a shot, because there still isn’t really any reason to do so.

Madden 20 provides another year’s worth of well-crafted gridiron action. It’s a shame to say goodbye to Devin Wade and the Longshot narrative, but QB1 does a decent enough - if short - job of framing your own rise to fame. The rest of the package is as slick and smooth as you’d hope. Should you upgrade? If you’re an avid fan, you probably already have. For everyone else, both Madden 18 and 19 still play a fantastic game of football.

Effie is a decent traditional third person platformer, but could have been so much more. Perhaps we’ve been spoiled in recent years, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that Effie could have been elevated if it had tied the interesting backstory to the game mechanics or development in some way. As it stands, the narrative is totally removed from the game itself and this makes it feel old-fashioned in the wrong sort of way. Not a disaster but a missed opportunity.

Pawarumi is a vital, beautiful and utterly enthralling entry in the Shmup genre. Its trifecta of concepts might seem daunting at first, but this is an instinctual shooter that will blow fans of the genre away.

Gravity Ghost is an almost meditative puzzling experience. The gameplay is simple to understand and puzzles are quick to complete, and with no pressure of failure it's quite relaxing. Some issues with movement could be better but overall if you want a game you just want to relax with then Gravity Ghost is a good choice.

Subdivision Infinity DX is a decent space shooter filled with fast and frantic action. The grindy nature and and exploration missions do let it down a bit, but the gameplay is stylish and fun, and there's plenty of challenge for those that want it.

While stunted, there’s still plenty to hack and slash your way through, Friday the 13th proving to be one of the most unique multiplayer experiences available on any platform.

Metal Wolf Chaos XD is definitely a child of its time. It's an over the top action fest that has a few issues with it, but can provide a decent amount of entertainment. Perhaps the most interesting thing about the game is seeing FromSoftware's early work and recognising the systems the company would settle on to make the big leap to the more famous follow-ups in the Soulsborne style of games.

Telefrag VR is a good attempt at a 1v1 VR arena shooter, though it feels basic in parts and there's a lack of content. When it gets going the action is fun, but there is quite a bit of downtime and it can get stale without any sense of progression. It's a good attempt fron Anshar Studios.

The science fiction setting puts a compelling new spin on Age of Wonders: Planetfall, with a lengthy single player campaign and half a dozen contrasting factions to see rise from the ashes of the Star Union. There's some niggles I have on console, but this is easy to recommend if you're hankering for a new 4X strategy game.

There are some intriguing ideas at play here. Decent stealth mechanics and a captivating cultist backdrop will reel you in though there just isn’t enough substance to make The Church in the Darkness a lasting, worthwhile experience.

Forager is a lovely surprise, its simple appearance disguising a huge amount of content packed under the surface. Rarely has crafting been as enjoyable and streamlined, whilst the sheer range of things to do means that you never have to feel bored. You’re always working towards something whilst the dungeons are well designed and feature classic puzzles which makes for a refreshing change of pace from the relentless acquisition. All in all, Forager is a gem, and well deserves to dig its way under your skin. Just don’t complain to me it's 4AM and you’re still mining.

Cricket 19 is a comprehensive and detailed simulation of the sport with a bewildering number of modes and options. Its depths and complexities can be daunting for newcomers, and playing against the AI feels a bit arbitrary at times, but from playing Ashes Test series to one off challenges, there is something here for every level of cricket fan.