Chants of Sennaar is one of the most unique games of the year and it's impressively rewarding, too, so definitely play it if you love puzzles.

I'm very happy that Super Bomberman R 2 is here and its highly strategic Castle mode is simply one of the best innovations that the series has ever seen. In addition to that, the single player component is brimming with rewarding content that'll keep lone wolves entertained for hours while the multiplayer element is as frantic and fun as it's ever been. It definitely lit my fuse; that's for sure.

A great mech combat game that boasts a surprisingly moody atmosphere while offering one of the most rewarding customisation components in all of gaming. So, definitely play it if you love tough combat and plenty of explosions.

Isekai Rondo is one of the quirkier old-school RPGs that you can play and it's really quite a unique experience from its singular yet super-long dungeon to its outstanding retro visuals. It may be on the easy side but what's here is still a treat for any classic RPG aficionado.

The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails brought me back to the wonderful PSP days and for that, I feel indebted to this fantastic gem from that era. Throw in excellent gameplay, an undeniably charming world, and oodles of cleverly designed levels and you're left with one great action RPG. Just keep in mind that its story is nowhere near as epic as the Trails in its title may lead you to believe.

It's awesome that Escape Academy: The Complete Edition is a thing as it's full of well-crafted puzzles that'll keep you entertained for hours. Plus, it works well on Nintendo Switch so even more folks can enjoy it than ever before.

We Were Here Expeditions: The FriendShip is a bite-sized spin-off that acts as an excellent intro for the great We Were Here series.

How 2 Escape is a brilliant cross-device co-op puzzler with an eerie tone that will thoroughly test your communication skills. Great stuff!

Lies of P is a very good Soulslike that doesn't quite reach greatness due to its lack of variety and needless limitations. That aside; what's here is still undeniably rewarding and entertaining so fans of the genre will enjoy what it has to offer.

Mon-Yu presents an old-school RPG formula in an accessible way that'll still force you to strategise when it comes to both traversal and combat. Because of that, it's one of the most rewarding and enjoyable dungeon crawlers that I've ever played.

I had a great deal of fun with Samba de Amigo: Party Central and am looking forward to playing it more, especially while exploring the online modes so if you're down for a fun-filled maraca-shaking good time, why not monkey around?

Enchanted Portals looks great within its charming old-school cartoon world but it mostly plays like a bargain bin Super NES game.

Combining puzzles and platforming has endless possibilities yet I've never played anything like It's a Wrap! before; it's great stuff.

The roguelike nature of Nova Strike is the best thing going for it because unfortunately, its core gameplay isn't all that entertaining.

Jets'n'Guns 2 feels like one of the best DOS games that you'll ever play thanks to its ridiculous shooting action and rewarding upgrades.

It may be on the basic side of the shmup spectrum but there is some fun to be had in Hexapoda in its non-linear insect-blasting journey.

I'm surprised how jam-packed Overdriven Evolution is, especially considering that the core experience is entertaining enough on its own.

I thoroughly enjoyed 30XX and the thing is; there's always more to play with its open-ended nature and clever roguelike structure.

As a fan of retro games and documentaries, The Making of Karateka really hit a sweet spot that I don't think any other game has before.

Fae Farm is one fun farming sim with tons to keep you busy for many in-game months as well as a large world to explore beyond the farm. The only thing it's missing is a substantial family system so pick it up if you're more into the farming and adventuring side of things.

Rune Factory 3 Special is an attractive upgrade to the DS original and I had fun exploring its dungeons, upgrading my tools, farming, and wooing my future wife. However, its issues with inventory management, lack of gender and marriage options, and a rather limited set of dungeons make it a middling (but still good) Rune Factory game overall.

Taito Milestones 2 presents a good offering of 10 retro arcade games with some truly fun hidden gems and excellent shoot 'em ups along with a couple of the dumbest fighting games that I've ever played.

Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy may not be a title on everyone's lips but it's certainly game of the year material. With a wide variety of abilities and mechanics and astoundingly adaptive gameplay (especially for co-op play), it's quite the achievement in game design.

Agatha Christie - Hercule Poirot: The London Case is another enjoyable mystery with great gameplay and a complex storyline that'll keep you guessing. I'm definitely looking forward to Blazing Griffin continuing to improve the series and seeing what they come up with next.

Sea of Stars is an excellent retro-inspired RPG that will make you happy to explore its packed and beautiful world. It may get a little stale at parts for various reasons but what's here is still undeniably special.

In an age when RPGs are generally becoming increasingly dark, violent, brash, and serious, the brilliantly colourful humour-filled lightheartedness of these Rhapsody games shines through in a profoundly distinct fashion. From adorable characters to lovely musical numbers and rewarding combat to oodles of side-splitting jokes; there's certainly a lot to love here.

Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition is a story-heavy game that not everyone will appreciate but those who do will love it a lot.

Your enjoyment of Iron Danger will rely on how much you love tinkering with plans until you execute something perfectly. So, if that sounds like your jam then you'll be absolutely smitten with the strategic possibilities in Iron Danger.

Even with its goofy premise, Shotgun King: The Final Checkmate is a cleverly strategic roguelike that'll certainly keep you hooked.

Blasphemous 2 is a streamlined sequel that any genre fan can enjoy, especially with its creepy cast of characters and superb bosses.

I enjoyed Immortals of Aveum a great deal thanks to its action-packed gameplay, rewarding character progression, and top-notch presentation. It's fantastic to experience games that this much love went into and I look forward to a sequel.

Chrome Wolf is an enjoyable retro RPG that may not be all that polished but it still manages to remain jam-packed with rewarding progression systems and satisfying tank battles. So, if you want a new old-school RPG then you might thoroughly dig this.

It may not give a good first impression but once you start to learn strategies and achieve higher and higher scores, Quantum: Recharged quickly turns into one of the most rewarding and enjoyable arcade-style games that you'll ever play.

Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew is one of the best games of the year. From its clever gameplay concoction to its gorgeous presentation, excellent sense of humour, and rewarding character abilities; this is one outstanding seafaring adventure.

EVERSPACE 2 looks and plays amazingly with its intuitive and satisfying space combat and exploration. Even though it gets repetitive after a while, what's here still adds up to a special game that you'll gladly take off to the outer reaches of space for.

Moving Out 2 made me a happy bear thanks to its comfort food co-op gameplay with more variety than ever. Plus, you can play as a cob of corn and that's like totes shway. So, if you and your chums need to move a couch together then play this instead; it's more fun.

From a humble start to developing a massive network of automated islands, Nova Lands is one of the most rewarding games of its kind.

I'm delighted that Marble It Up! Ultra continues the trend that its predecessors set as it's one super-fun formula that'll keep you hooked.

Although Adore presents a promising formula and solid first impression, its campaign becomes all too predictable earlier than you'd think.

Zombie Soup is full of highs and lows with its boss fights being the highlights and low points resulting in tedium and frustration.

Playing Unidentified Falling Objects made me very happy, especially with its unique gameplay that'll really put your skills to the test.

Venba is a short, impactful, and beautifully presented look into the lives of an immigrant family that'll likely stay with you for a long time.

I enjoyed my time with Ducky's Delivery Service so if you want a unique arcade-style game then you may find yourself having fun with it.

As far as co-op games go, PixelJunk Scrappers Deluxe is a thoroughly enjoyable title that's jam-packed with variety and nifty mini-games.

It's definitely a unique and entertaining puzzle game yet Side Decide doesn't quite have the staying power that I was hoping it would.

I can easily say that Cramped Room of Death is up there with the very cleverest puzzlers and it's a heck of a lot of fun so check it out.

Patrick's Parabox is a mind-blowing puzzler that any fan of the genre will love, especially if you're looking for something out of the ordinary.

Tiny Thor may be a tough game at times but its formula remains a rewarding one complete with awesomely-designed stages, a health system that's reminiscent of Yoshi's Island, and oodles of satisfying collectibles that are cleverly hidden throughout.

YGGDRA UNION: WE'LL NEVER FIGHT ALONE may not be the most epic SRPG yet it's undeniably special and has held up wonderfully.

The Entropy Centre is a difficult first-person puzzle platformer that will reward you for thinking ahead and remaining patient so make sure you're prepared for quite a challenge as well as some needlessly frustrating footwork.

Even with a couple less-than-stellar tracks thrown in, Wave 5 of the Booster Course Pass is a ton of fun, especially the fact that Squeaky Clean Sprint is as silly as it is and you can finally race through a Canadian city in Vancouver Velocity. Great stuff.

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is a solid successor to one of the most iconic beat 'em up series out there. If you're up for some brawling fun with an interesting roguelike structure then definitely give it a go but watch out for those TNT blasts.

It may not live up to the Illusion titles for Sega Genesis but what's here is good stuff nonetheless as Disney Illusion Island presents a wondrous game world that can be rather enjoyable to explore. Just don't expect much variety or any sense of challenge.

Anyone who digs challenging 2D action games will have a blast with Gravity Circuit so this is one indie that I highly recommend.

Manic Mechanics' simple approach to co-op gameplay is enjoyable at first but it becomes repetitive fast thanks to its lack of variation.

If it released in 2010, Killsquad would be considered a much better game but there are simply so many better options out there now.

Mind-bending first-person puzzlers don't get much better than Viewfinder so play it if you enjoy games like Portal and Superliminal.

As a spin-off of a highly underrated game, Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara is a lovely 3D platformer that's full of charm and heart.

Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes: Definitive Edition is simply a fantastic adventure that any puzzle game fan should go on.

Oaken is one of the best-looking and sounding indie games I've played this year and its strategic elements are wonderfully fleshed-out.

I had way more fun with Mr. Run and Jump than I thought I would as its puzzle-like approach to stringing together jumps is impressive.

Remnant II is the most improved sequel that I've played in a long time and I can't wait for the third installment to release. Until then, I'll enjoy blasting away all sorts of dastardly foes within the absurdly wondrous world that's presented here.

Exoprimal is a hilarious game that will likely (and unfortunately) fall flat in today's overly serious gaming culture. However, if the concept of mowing down a ludicrous amount of dinosaurs because an AI tells you to puts a smile on your face then you're sure to love it.

Cross Tails is one of the best strategy RPGs that I've played in a long time with its in-depth systems and rewarding combat. It made me incredibly happy that some developers are still inclined to resurrect formulas that you don't see often enough nowadays.

I had an excellent time with Pikmin 4 and I'm sure you will, too. It's not only a culmination of nearly everything in the series so far, it also introduces plenty of welcome new features that'll make you happy to be reacquainted with your Pikmin chums yet again.

Touhou: New World is a lovely action RPG that will keep you entertained as you fight through charming levels that are filled with excellent music. It occasionally gets repetitive but what's here is still nothing short of delightful, especially if you're a Touhou fan.

As a long-time fan of Taito's Operation series of light gun games, I'm super-excited that Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission VR finally puts the familiar gameplay in the virtual realm and for the most part, it's great stuff that'll make you feel like one of The Expendables.

Although it takes an understandably simplistic approach to the familiar gameplay, there's so much to love about Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg that any fan of the series will absolutely adore almost every second of playtime.

Q*bert may be an ancient formula at this point but Hoppy Hop makes it fresh thanks to its vibrant visuals and rewarding scoring system.

Its gameplay is as funny as its title so if you want a humorous action-packed arcade score-chaser, definitely play Russian Subway Dogs.

If you're in the mood for a challenging minimalist shoot 'em up then you can't go wrong with what Feeble Light has to offer.

Penetrating Armored Lab Force VULVEHICLES can be tricky due to its unconventional controls but once you get in there, it's pretty fun.

Gimmick! SPECIAL EDITION is a delightful NES classic and its rewind feature is essential seeing as it can be one brutal adventure.

As you can see, Enclave HD presents a rapid succession of highs and lows so at the end of the day, it's quite a middling affair.

Crime O'Clock may be an easy-breezy game but watching everything play out as it does is simply as mesmerising as it is rewarding.

OXENFREE II: Lost Signals shows that dialogue can carry a game even if it's light on gameplay so it's great if you want an immersive tale.

PokerStars VR is a game for the socially-inclined and for that, it's quite a unique and impressively welcoming experience.

Progressing through Zenith: The Last City's RPG world delighted me despite its more cumbersome aspects and for that, I'm happy.

Your enjoyment of Song in the Smoke: Rekindled will entirely depend on your patience but if you have plenty, there's a lot to love here.

I thoroughly enjoyed the relaxed and lighthearted vibes of Townsmen VR so if that sounds like your cup of tea then check it out.

C-SMASH VRS is a simple tennis-like game that would be way better if there was no lag and single player content with AI opponents.

From its wide variety of metal tunes to its intuitive and satisfying gameplay, Ragnarock is a fantastic VR rhythm game.

Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge - Enhanced Edition completely captivated me and I can't wait to play a sequel.

Synapse is one of my favourite games for PSVR2 so far thanks to its frantic shooting gameplay and spot-on telekinesis mechanic.

Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE does a good job of refreshing the mystery solving formula with fun mini-games and an attractive neon city backdrop; that is, if you can sit through hours of banter between the more enjoyable parts.

I had a solid time with Pretty Princess Magical Garden Island and plan on playing it more whenever I'm in the mood for a delightfully relaxing wind-down after a long day. I'm also happy that it made this mama bear feel pretty which is a nice change of pace.

When it comes to co-op games, you can't do much better than The Lara Croft Collection. It's an absolute blast whenever you play it with a friend whether you're working together or laughing your asses off while blowing each other up with carefully-placed bombs.

I'm amazed that in an era when the aim for mass appeal is actively compromising many iconic franchises, The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie defiantly stands tall as an undeniably niche and ultimately incredible experience that fans will absolutely adore.

Ray'z Arcade Chronology is one of the best shoot 'em up collections you can get thanks to a phenomenal trilogy of games that have defiantly stood the test of time and can appeal to a wide range of genre enthusiasts. I just don't know who this Ray fellow is.

Escape Academy: Escape from the Past is an origins story that will keep you and a chum happily thinking outside-the-box for hours.

Stay Out of the House proves that you don't need realistic graphics for a fear-inducing experience. It's one of the scariest games ever.

I enjoy 2D indie horror games and old-school RPGs so of course, I think Raging Bytes is great stuff and if you play it, I'm sure you'll agree.

When you add up its clever combat, involving party setup systems, and streamlined dungeons, SOULVARS equates to one epic indie.

Dr. Fetus' Mean Meat Machine may not be the clever concoction that I was hoping it would be but it can be fun in short bursts.

There may be a lot you can do in APICO but no matter what you fill your schedule with, you're bound to have a lovely and relaxing time.

Within a wide variety of clever scenarios and dastardly bosses, ProtoCorgi's tight unique gameplay and cute visuals really shine.

2D action games come in all varieties but I bet you haven't played anything quite like Orbital Bullet; it's one of the year's best indies.

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective is a classic puzzle detective game from the makers of the Phoenix Wright series and it's absolutely packed with humour, satisfying puzzles, and colourful characters that you'll get to know well throughout its complex supernatural story.