Shaun Munro
In many ways Shadow of the Tomb Raider is an apotheosis of everything the reboot series has attempted to achieve, and while this certainly makes it feel like a greatest hits of the franchise at times, the gorgeous hub-worlds and superb pacing ensure it's an easy recommendation for fans of the prior titles.
Though far from an unqualified success, it nevertheless proves itself a surprisingly nuanced and less-surprisingly addictive sports title overflowing with personality.
Though dialling back the frustration and amping up the breezy enjoyment is the key to Unravel Two being an overall more satisfying experience than its predecessor, the inclusion of co-op really is the pièce de résistance. It transforms an already endearing indie platformer into a gleeful social experience.
Onrush is one of the more intriguing (non)racers to come down the pike in quite some time; a slick, lightning-paced breath of fresh air for those who find Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport drier than sawdust.
If you're craving an undemanding shoot 'em up romp that has little time for niceties such as an actual narrative, Immortal Redneck's minimalist carnage just might do the trick.
Laser League isn’t a revolution for the genre, but it deserves plenty of credit for not just cynically rehashing the successes of its forebears and betting on a more inventive central gameplay loop.
Rarely do games feel as singularly visionary as God of War; this is a rarest of AAA games with no whiff of publisher interference or executive meddling whatsoever. Almost entirely fat-free while still serving up literally dozens of hours of worthwhile, value-filled entertainment, that it does this alongside an unexpectedly visceral and emotionally involving story makes it an elite, towering accomplishment that a sequel nevertheless has the potential to build and improve upon.
There are sure to be passionate debates about where exactly Yakuza 6 lies in the grand pantheon of Sega’s titanic franchise, but with its smash-mouth combat, surprisingly engrossing story and wealth of wacky content, it is nothing if not another towering entry.
It is light fun at its best, and a neutered knock-off of [Trials] at its worst. More than anything, it’ll likely leave you craving an actual Trials game on the Switch as soon as humanly possible.
How much patience you’ll have for Sea of Thieves will depend almost entirely on your social set-up, how much you care for loot and how allergic you are to repetition.
It's cute, easy to play and nice to look at, but by the end of it, you'll probably be left craving something that pushes back at least the teensiest bit.
While just about every PSVR owner has been clamouring for the platform to get its own worthy successor to Time Crisis that makes stellar use of the marvellous Aim controller, this embarrassingly clunky, depressingly soulless shooter sure isn't it.
As a social space to kick some digital footballs around in and have some janky laughs, it shines, but as a faithful rendition of the beautiful game, it's sadly a bit of a clumsy mess.
A terrifically executed, endearingly cute and thoroughly immersive romp, even if its disappointing brevity may leave you both craving and expecting more.
An unassuming VR shooter that excels by executing a familiar premise with sure panache, the game boasts some of PSVR’s sharpest tracking, married to an entertainingly self-aware 80s aesthetic.
A rather dated proposition in 2018, one that’s made worse by some eyebrow-raising omissions and a baffling AAA price tag.
Disc Jam could be so much more with some extended development...but if the Switch’s player-base can embrace the game and sustain a community, this could be one of the console’s go-to multiplayer titles for many.
An underwhelming, scarcely two-hour horror romp that not only fails to make the most of its brief length, but also makes numerous choices directly antithetical to the dread-infused atmosphere it sometimes manages to muster.
Ultimately Shu is a bit of a strange beast; it’s probably not difficult or substantial enough to appeal to the Super Meat Boy crowd, but also perhaps a little too frustrating to rope in those craving a purely relaxing experience. The near-total lack of a story certainly does it no favours, but on the flip side, when this game really hits its stride, it can be ludicrously entertaining.
While undeniably rough around the edges, the game’s enticing art-style, free-wheeling “do what you like” gameplay and ethereal musical score did nevertheless make most of my time with it both relaxing and enjoyable.