Project Cars 2 is a game that doesn’t manage to capitalise on a lot of the enthusiasm that was generated for the original. Too buggy and not as accessible for newcomers as it should be, a lot of the genuine improvements are lost behind a veil of annoyance and frustration. Hopefully Slightly Mad Studios stick with it, because the wider range of racing disciplines, the refined career, and the improvements to LiveTrack and weather are all fantastic and deserve a better, more polished product to bring them to as many people as possible.

Divinity: Original Sin 2 is the strongest CRPG in decades, with a fascinating plot that enthrals, despite taking a while to get going and being hard as nails at times. It’s the little adventures that flesh out the world and so much of it can be missed at first glance because you didn’t have the right skill or failed a persuasion check. Massive in scope and jam packed with features that includes a GM mode that shows a surprising amount of customisation with great ease, Divinity: Original Sin 2 is a bumper package.

For fans of the original game, Total War: Warhammer II is a great follow-up. Creative Assembly has created something both new and familiar, keeping that central core intact while transporting players to a part of this universe ignored in previous video game adaptations. That change of setting and the narrative drive of the Great Vortex will be enough for most, alongside a suite of smaller, more subtle changes. There’s also the exciting prospect of new armies, campaigns, and other features that are no doubt just around the corner.

Peach Beach Splash is not a groundbreaking, esports experience, but its mindless fun, with quirky characters and addictive customization. Fans will probably be more willing to overlook the flaws in the game, but newcomers should still find something worth hiding from their family in Peach Beach Splash.

The Lost Bear isn’t necessarily what you’d call a killer app for PlayStation VR. It doesn’t have that same immediate impact games like Batman VR, Farpoint, or Arizona Sunshine demonstrate so well. Over time, however, that brand of first person virtual reality has become more and more familiar and I find myself looking for games that attempt to use the technology in new ways, which is what you get from The Lost Bear.

With NBA 2K18 we’ve reached an inevitable crossroad, though the signs should have been seen a while back. The on court action is still the best available, but there is now room for another franchise to come and steal an audience that will be sick of the costs of simply being able to compete in the 2K series. The grind isn’t fun and paying gives advantages over those who won’t or can’t afford to. You absolutely cannot ignore how NBA 2K18 is a full price game that also integrates the business model of a free to play/pay to win title and the way that the enjoyment you get from it suffers because of it.

I’ve been excited for and anticipating Danganronpa V3 for a long time, and after playing it, I can say it was absolutely worth it. Danganronpa V3 is an impressive culmination of nearly 8 years of twists, turns, heart-breaks, and murders, and is an amazing entry in a consistently well-written and addictive franchise.

If interesting and intelligent indie games are your thing, then get yourself a piece of Figment.

It’s always nice to see Marvel and Capcom working together on a fighting game and Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite is still a great fighting game with neat ideas. Infinity Stones are a breath of fresh air, and going back to a less chaotic 2v2 format makes it more playable at a lower level, but ultimately some of the silliness and wonder has been sucked out of its DNA. For the hardcore audience, it’ll still play wonderfully and I had fun, but casual players will find little to sing and dance about.

INK is an ambitiously simplistic platformer that creates its own identity with its level splatting gameplay. The only problem is that despite the attractive colourful visuals at various points, the game’s simplicity can get tiresome in long sessions. INK is worth picking up if you’re a puzzle-platforming fan, but those looking for a bit more depth may find other 2D platformers more enjoyable.

With an expanded roster that only improves on an already great lineup, fantastic gameplay, and an increased range of challenges and modes, Pokkén Tournament DX is true fighting game gold.

Death of the Outsider might be smaller in scope (and launch price) than the first two games, yet Arkane has crafted a game that meets the quality of design found in those games. It takes the best bits of the series and improves them, putting together a story that feels personal despite its huge ambition and featuring what may be the best Dishonored protagonist yet. If Death of the Outsider ends up being the closing chapter for the Dishonored series, then it is a truly fitting conclusion.

Redout is an ambitious attempt to recapture the glory of futuristic racing games, while paying homage to WipEout. The game’s controls and responsiveness have been fine-tuned to make the hardest of tracks very interesting and engaging to race across at supersonic speeds. Redout is an example of a game that’s given and old formula another coat of paint, but it could also mean the beginning of another futuristic racer franchise, in the absence of a true contemporary from Sony.

PES 2018 is a great football game that delivers a fun experience across its various modes. The actual in match gameplay can be sublime and its hardly ever boring thanks to the lack of stoppages. Konami has created a real contender for this year’s footballing crown, but issues like the simple nature of the commentary, and AI being a little silly at times hold it back from being proclaimed champion just yet. However, if you love your football then PES 18 is well worth picking up.

Baja is about as middle of the road as remasters get. While it’s great to see Nordic paying attention to its stable of dormant THQ properties, exhuming an average racing game from 2008 seems a tad misguided. Baja hasn’t aged particularly well, but it’s far from bad and there’s still some fun to be had taking to the track. You just have to question why this remaster even exists.

Every part of the game has been reconsidered to create a more uniformly rewarding and engaging experience, from the main story and planetary activities to the Nightfall strike and beyond. It has left some of the returning activities feel less rewarding for time spent, and the smaller scale Crucible multiplayer scratches a different, more competitive itch than in the original game, but these are things that Bungie can and will address over time. Destiny 2 is a fantastic new beginning for one of the most popular online shooters out there, and I can’t wait to see how it grows and evolves over the coming months and years.

Sparc is the first in what will hopefully become a burgeoning genre for virtual reality. It’s a frenetically charged competitive sport that doesn’t bog itself down with too many rules. At the same time, it’s a risky investment. I hate being a pessimist, but as soon as the number of active players begins to dry up, you’ll be left with an empty husk of a game.

Metroid: Samus Returns shows why 2D Metroid is still top-tier. It’s far from the perfection that Super Metroid had, but this takes my least liked 2D Metroid game and reimagines it so completely that it almost beats the remake of the original Metroid in my estimations. If someone at Nintendo can add the ability to switch control schemes, it would make a huge difference. This is the return we’ve been waiting for, though I want Nintendo to develop the “Next Mission” in 2D for the Switch themselves.

In some ways Everybody’s Golf has been well worth the wait. This is still the same gentle and appealing brand of arcade golf that fans have come to know and love, and it’s easy to get caught up in the sheer fun of it all. However, once you venture online you’ll discover that the game is currently deeply unbalanced, with micro-transactions and mobile-esque grinding sapping any sense of competition from proceedings, while asking players to reach for their wallets in order to gain an advantage. In a game that’s supposed to be all about the golfing fun, Sony have categorically found a way to put you firmly in the rough.

X-Morph: Defense successfully mashes up the shoot ’em up and tower defence genres which is no mean feat. and the co-op mode is a really great addition and helps alleviate the repetitive nature of the tasks. There is at least fifteen hours of gameplay on the easiest difficulty level and as you are ranked at the end of each battle there’s a good reason to go back and try again. If you like tower defence and big explosions it’s well worth a look, especially if you have a friend to join the battle.

While it’s certainly more approachable than your typical Monster Hunter game, Stories fails to capture what has made the series such a hit over the years. Sure, the setting is evocative but, as many die-hard fans will tell you, it’s the high octane rush of hunting with friends that forms the true backbone of the franchise. That said, Monster Hunter Stories goes beyond your average spin-off and feels like a genuine attempt to expand this universe instead of simply trying to milk it. From the simple yet expanding battle system to its many ties with the core games, there’s plenty here for newcomers and grizzled veterans alike.

While I liked a couple of the ideas behind Dead Alliance, they’re not capitalised on to create something truly interesting. What we’re left with is a painfully generic, often broken online shooter that’s begging to be put in the ground, preferably under ten feet of quick-set cement.

Knack 2 is a bright and breezy action romp that keeps up its breathless pace throughout its runtime. Its well-trodden gameplay beats are far from revolutionary, but it is undoubtedly accomplished, and redeems much of what the first game managed to somehow get so wrong. A surprise and a somewhat guilty delight.

Absolver is superb yet flawed. Sloclap have some really fun and innovative ideas though, for some reason, they’ve built a gorge between players and their game. Like digging for gold, if you want to get anything of value from Absolver then you’ll need to work hard and put in the time. Needless to say, those with a casual curiosity will likely find themselves completely turned off.

Sneaky Bears is simply great fun while it lasts, so it’s a shame it can be completed so quickly, as I would have loved to spend more time with Buddy and Frank. It’s also a bit expensive (£15.99) given the content, but that’s the case with most PSVR games. All in all, it’s one of the best wave-based shooters on PSVR and definitely worth a look, especially if you have younger players in the family.

The true test for any game of this kind is whether it can keep player hungry enough to see it through to the end. Although I wasn’t completely enthralled (the repetitive puzzles and a couple of bugs broke my immersion) it still managed to lodge its hooks in me and I’d be lying if I said those final moments didn’t make me feel anything. Last Day of June is a emotive, sometimes enchanting story of love and loss that, while it doesn’t break new ground, will resonate with plenty of gamers out there.

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.

Ys VIII is, without a doubt, a huge step for the franchise. In stripping away a lot of the usual narrative tropes the series is usually known for, Nihon Falcom have put a fresh spin on the franchise that puts characters and small moments over grand adventures and vast mysteries. Tied together by a fast-paced combat system and great music, the negatives of Lacrimosa of Dana are far outweighed by the positives, and this is a game that any JRPG fan would be a fool to sleep on.