Victor Vran Overkill Edition is a worthy addition to the genre. It doesn’t out-Diablo Diablo, but thanks to the care put into the levelling and loot systems, it is undoubtedly worth the time to explore.

Disco Dodgeball – REMIX is without a doubt one of 2018’s indie dark horses. With enjoyable gameplay, a ton of game modes, and plenty of fun to be had, there is no doubt that those who decide to jump in will head back time and time again to get in on some dodgeball action

Bio Inc. Redemption actually allows you to experience both the preservation of life and the threat of death very well. Sure, it’s morbid, but once you get over that, the concept is smart and completing scenarios provides a sense of achievement.

Despite the massive overhaul to the battle system and more subtle changes elsewhere, TFBW feels like a very safe sequel to The Stick of Truth. It’s still a great journey with characters that fans of the show know and love, but I am unsure why this game was delayed so much when it appears to have re-used a lot of the assets from previous.

Clouzy is the Animal Crossing pet-raising spin off that never happened. A hidden gem that I can wholeheartedly recommend for any parents out there.

If you’re looking for a cheap new adventure to get your teeth into, or are just after a loot collector that will invoke memories of the classic hack ‘n’ slash era, then Hammerwatch will happily ply you with the content required.

Which gang you fall into will be completely up to you. For us, we’ve always been on the side of the Third Street Saints and with the rebooted Saints Row, will continue to do so.

No matter what you may think, sometimes going back is good. Especially when it evokes such great memories of gaming from decades gone by. Hyper Sentinel does that brilliantly.

Children of Silentown is yet another immaculately sculpted point-and-click adventure from Daedalic Entertainment. Compared to Deponia, The Dark Eye and their other adventures, Children of Silentown is somewhat small-scale in scope, but its intense focus allows it to explore themes of childhood and imagination with a deftness that they haven’t achieved before. Treat yourself to a creepy little page-turner.

Dragon Blaze is not pushing at the boundaries of what shoot ’em-ups can do. Even for Psikyo, who are well known for sticking to a formula, this is one of their most formulaic games. But like ordering the same tikka masala over and over again, simply because you know it’s going to be good, Dragon Blaze delivers a return on the trust you put into it.

It’s fair to say that if you enjoy games such as XCOM, or other turn-based tactical combat games, then Jagged Alliance: Rage is going to appeal to you. It doesn’t quite match the quality of its gameplay in terms of the visuals, and the sound design certainly isn’t going to win any awards, but if you’re after a game you can really sink your teeth into for hours on end – and still come out with a real sense of accomplishment at the end – then this is a game you should be adding to your collection.

The combat is a particular highlight, so if you like brawling or Chinese history, Bladed Fury is an easy sell. Even if you don't, it’s worth a punt, if only so you can dash about with twin blades.

Astroneer is a dream for those who love a sandbox to play around in. It comes with a great design, and a good number of relaxing worlds to explore, mine and create in, with the emphasis constantly being on survival. The controls can be tricky to start with, and there are some weird camera glitches that drop in every now and then, but Astroneer is certainly a game to lose some hours in.

If you’re a fan of old-school Assassin’s Creed, you’ll love what has come about in Mirage, what with the more compact story that is told. Others may still long for those previous hundred-hour adventures though…

If you're thirsty for a unique and flavourful RPG experience, a game that is full-bodied, then Cabernet might be just the drink you're looking for.

We don’t get games like Ynglet often, so let’s take a moment to celebrate it. It may look superficially like thatgamecompany’s Flow, and it might have the simplest of all objectives - to reach an exit. But in all other ways, it’s deliriously unique.

If you’re a fan of Resident Evil or any of the other horror games that are available in the gaming space, Song of Horror is well worth a look. The permadeath of characters won’t be for everyone and the random element of when attacks occur might also frustrate. But for others the tension and thrills will be what make the journey.

There’s no doubt that the Definitive Edition of HITMAN is well worth a look, but it definitely works best when played little and often. Either way, roll on HITMAN 2.

We have a burning love for Rise of the Third Power. It’s a long, lingering cuddle of a JRPG, doing everything we want from the genre: rich storytelling, chummy characters and a large side-step of ‘the grind’. If you can forgive the lack of any combat, loot or progression depth, you may love it as much as we did.

Grabbing three friends and playing will bring you a time that not only will strengthen your bonds of friendship, but will also determine who is the Ultimate Chicken Horse!

Samurai Shodown on Xbox is an excellent fighting game; one that is incredibly well-made and able to provide a return to form for the franchise. It’s runs at a different tempo to many other popular fighting games available today, but it’s wild fun. Unfortunately the story mode is disappointingly light and the online multiplayer is sparse.

It may not be the easiest, and it can be a little insistent in its objectives, but Super Mombo Quest is as rewarding as they come. Just keep that combo up, soldier.

Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 provides one hell of a sniping experience. With so many different ways to approach your targets, multiple challenges to take on and some excellent gadgets to make use of, you’re not going to get bored easily. On the higher levels, the psychic enemies can be a bit wearisome, but this does encourage careful planning.

Jump King on the Xbox One isn’t for the faint-hearted: vertigo sufferers and hot-headed people are better off leaving this “smoking hot babe” for the real heroes. It is however a simple 2D vertical platformer that works on two levels; instantly accessible whilst being painfully difficult.

Flightpath: Adventures in Venaris is one of the better shoot ‘em ups available on Xbox. The strong narrative, the experimentation with loadouts, the all out blasting action - they’ll all allow you to have a lot of fun.

Little Bug is deeply unique, especially regarding its main gameplay mechanic and some of the clever storytelling devices. It's a game where the difficulty can prove to be very taxing, but it just about keeps to the right side of enjoyment, rather than spilling over too much into frustration.

A delightful game that will keep you busy for no more than an evening, Hidden Cats In Rome will sink its claws into you from the get-go, whacking you silly with some seriously addictive hidden object hunting. With the addition of a new-to-the-franchise game mode, this is probably the best in the series so far.

Losing yourself in Haven on the Xbox is a sedate joy. You can wile away hours, clearing Rust from the world and pocketing alien produce. Then it’s back to the Nest for a night’s kip and one of the more endearing romantic relationships in video games. But as you skim across the surface of the Source, you’ll be left wishing that Haven could have trusted you a little more, and let you dive deeper into its shallow systems. It may not quite reach the heights of its inspirations, then, but Haven is an alien holiday that might just blow your troubles away.