The only way I could recommend this game to you is if you’re looking for a particularly un-aesthetic type of suffering. But if you’re keen for that then ring me up. I’ll paint myself magenta, scream at you and repeatedly kick you in the shins. It might not be as painful, but it will be free.

For all the wonderment it brings though, A Pixel Story is a bit stop-start, without either the story or platforming side ever really being let off the leash. When the controls allow it, the traversing sections work well and the story is utterly brilliantly, but just occasionally they get in the way of each other.

Shift Happens isn’t exactly a bad co-op game, but it does suffer from some rather noticeable irritations and when joining a genre of successfully established titles, there really needs to be more on offer than that included.

There are many hours of gameplay to be had here and if you’re after an old fashioned, but fresh RPG, which takes its role playing roots seriously, then this is a must buy for you. If you love story and narrative, rather than action and shooting, then you should be grabbing it right now.

All in all, Ghost Blade HD is a very enjoyable game. It is unashamedly retro, and captures the vibe of the 90’s shoot-em-up very well. The slow down is annoying but isn’t a deal breaker, because with practice it is possible to compensate for it. The addition of the Global Leaderboards brings in the chance for competition, and if you are willing to invest the time to learn the enemies attack patterns, then the chances for score chasing fun go through the roof. With local co-op play and the score attack mode, the 1990s have never looked so good.

How to Survive 2 is definitely a much improved sequel, the added player count is a neat addition giving you the option to enjoy the cool parts of the game with more people, including the interesting community building mechanics that you could literally get lost in, or the upgrade and survival-able systems. Nevertheless a culmination of small, but meaningful issues, leaves me with a sweet but bitter taste in my mouth.

I’ve both loved (you wouldn’t necessarily believe that) and hated Adventure Pop in my time playing it. The lovely vibrant colours, the cheerful soundtrack and the bubble popping in general are immensely enjoyable. The sheer number of levels will no doubt tide you over for many hours and the gameplay is kept fresh with new features thrown in periodically. What I don’t like though is the shady hit detection at times, the slowness of shooting during what should be intense and frantic affairs, and the crazily difficult levels which are there to shove you in the direction of micro-transactions.

For Honor is a game that I am not even close to finishing with. Its campaign is big enough to not feel tacked on, but the draw of the multiplayer action keeps dragging me away from finishing it. I can feel my skills improving after every round because it’s a new way to play against other players and that deserves highlighting in a highly saturated section of the market.

I have two distinct reactions to my time with Vaccine. The first is hatred of its terrible old control system, changing camera angles and the random generating house of horror. The second reaction though is of respect and enjoyment at the increasing tension of the challenge, while getting better at unlocking the secret of the Vaccine. This is a game that you need to fail at and spend some time with in order to get the best out of it. If you can get past the issues I had at the beginning then there is a good Survival horror game in here, with a neat concept, that will make some classic gamers very happy indeed.

Trulon: The Shadow Engine certainly looks ready to send gamers on an adventure, especially in creating a world full of fantastical beings, but that’s where the goodness ends in truth. The turn-based card combat system grows tired in no time at all – despite a decent array of enemies – whilst the difficulty spoils and subsequently halts progression through to the end.

The Riptide series always felt too big for its mobile roots, and Renegade may be the jewel in its crown. The story adds a new depth to it and shows that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Everything has been improved upon from the previous entry on the Xbox and it has remained a decent price. If this is a series you have yet to get into, Riptide GP Renegade is easily the best place to start.

That leaves me with wondering what is the point of Chime Sharp – especially when much of the game will be locked down and inaccessible to many. Well I’m not really sure to be honest, but then I’ve never really understood the point of Tetris either. If however you want a reasonably decent game that you can just sit down with, for ten minutes at a time, drawing off the positive, fast-flowing vibe it brings, then you’re in luck.

Battle Islands: Commanders deserves a few mini-sessions of play a day, because it’s not a bad little strategy game at all. Deciding upon placement, timing and whether to allow your opponent to deploy his troops first are all important factors in winning. It’s frantic at the best of times, with most battles going right to the last minute, but it’s a one-trick pony in that Ranked Battles are all it really has.

Halo Wars 2 irons out any issues that the original game had, and provides more of the same, but with a bit more polish. Whilst fans of the series will be glad to play this sequel, newcomers to the RTS scene might have a harder time.

Artifex Mundi have delivered a worthy follow-up in Enigmatis 2. I’m intrigued as to what comes next in the Enigmatis series, as it has been a great on-going tale so far.

Doodle God: Ultimate Edition falters in many areas, but mainly in the one-dimensional, so called puzzle solving and the sheer pot luck it often requires. Instead of making me feel like a god, I am constantly left like a monkey, bashing buttons and hoping a masterpiece comes out. The terrible control system simply adds to my pain, and whilst there is a lot to do, any supposed fun wears off in mere minutes.

Perhaps it doesn’t have the legs to carry itself for weeks and then months down the line, but for the price and the amount of randomly created content on offer, it’s a bit of a no brainer really, delivering one of the most addictive rogue-like experiences I’ve ever played.

Simply put, Typoman is a superb indie title that I had a brilliant time with. The main campaign may be over in around four hours, but there are a couple of mini games that test your creating skills to the max. The world, the story and gameplay it creates are stunning, with real deep moments of sadness quickly switching to those of hope.

I Am Bread is a brilliantly funny, unique game which will make you laugh out loud. There are moments when the camera will glitch, there are times when you’ll be frustrated and scream “That’s not fair!”, but most of all you will look upon any bread with a newfound sense of respect...No other game has had such a poignant and important message: Nothing is as ordinary as it seems.

Wells isn’t an entirely terrible game and anyone looking for a simple platformer, or those looking for an easy boost to their Gamerscore, will be more than set with what it holds. But if you’re looking for an adventure that offers any form of engagement that stretches beyond the first level then you will certainly want to look elsewhere.

iO proves that you don’t need a great story, you don’t need stunning visuals, you don’t need complex controls and you don’t need a banging soundtrack. You will however need to be a certain type of gamer to enjoy all the stages that iO delivers, but should you be a puzzle fiend and in the market for a clever, albeit slightly frustrating, abstract brain taxer, then you could do worse than check it out.

While many will look to Sniper Elite 4 for the solo experience, anyone who has played previous titles will know that the multiplayer offerings are exceptionally enjoyable and Sniper Elite 4 takes this to the next level. Those playing as a team, with communication, will find it truly enjoyable, but that’s not to say those going it alone will be left disappointed. They won’t, for Sniper Elite 4 excels in many ways...Have we seen the year’s best shooter? Quite possibly.

Fallout Shelter is a game that shows its mobile roots quite strongly. The graphics, although simple, are in the signature Fallout style that oozes charm and get the job done effectively. The sight of two dwellers, both in nightwear to maximise their Charisma, doing the dance of love and then running off to the bedroom is enough to bring a smile to most peoples faces.

With an improved matchmaking system on offer, Halo Wars: Definitive Edition provides a truly exceptional title that shows just how well an RTS title can work on console, bringing all the quality of the Halo franchise to the table in a strategic and interesting way, and adding a new level of immersion to the series for newcomers and veterans alike.

It’s fast, fun, can be enjoyed by yourself or with friends online, and has enough customisation and track variation to keep me entertained for hours to come. It could have been improved by real bikes and a greater variation in music, but this is a minor chink in the armour of this wonderful game.

Come and join the mission to rejuvenate the marvellous place that is Stardew Valley; it’ll be the best farming experience you’ve ever had.

AQUA KITTY UDX won’t appeal to all, but that would be a huge shame. It’ll whisk you back to the golden age of arcade games, before hitting you smack in the face with its modern day feel, bringing enjoyment that very few other side scrolling shooters can manage...Each and every year, an indie title pops up and wows me. Here, in 2017, AQUA KITTY is that title.

Although World of Van Helsing: Deathtrap looks very drab and appears to be just another tower defense game with a gimmick, playing it will cast these negative thoughts away because the enjoyment factor and depth to the whole thing cannot be ignored and really should be praised.