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What struck me the most about Woodo is how much it feels like an interactive storybook, but doesn’t come across as strictly childish or pandering, it’s something I enjoyed just as much as a 30-something-year-old gamer as I would imagine a very young player would. That’s not an easy thing to achieve, but the folks at Tiny Monks Tales have done just that. There are hidden collectibles and other bits to enjoy once you’ve seen the bittersweet ending through, as well, so don’t write this one off as something for one age group or another – it’s truly special.

The amount of care put into the card designs, and pretty much all the merch and other inventory in the store is very much appreciated in the face of its otherwises default Unreal Engine look. I’m especially fond of the ability to play using local currency, so I can deal in the same Australian notes and coins I’ve handled throughout years of working retail.

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve delivers a dizzying thrill ride of a campaign that’s brilliantly paced. I just wish its overall packaging as a product were in any way in line with the messaging it attempts to deliver through its story.

Control Resonant proves unequivocally that Remedy understands the medium. Somehow, in crafting its most video-game-ass video game to date, it's managed to not just retain but amplify its own, peculiar and fascinating brand of storytelling. This is not only an excellent Control sequel, but a damned good character action game in its own right.

Hot Wheels Infinite Rush takes some confident turns toward a new paradigm for Milestone's plastic-and-alloy racers, even if it loses some of the Unleashed games' inherent charm in the process. With more forgiving races, tons to see and find, and another banger catalogue of photorealistic die-cast cars, there's still plenty to like here.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword isn't just an excellent series revival from a company that has seemingly mastered them, taking a proper understanding of the early entries' appeal and matching it perfectly to modern sensibilities. It's also just plainly the best action game this year, and probably for the past few years.

Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 may not have the best story, most innovative mechanics, or even a great respect for the franchise – but it can be decent, mindless fun with friends or internet strangers. It's just too bad the bugs and network issues bring the game down.

Splatoon Raiders successfully twists the Splatoon formula into a slick, satisfying single player-focused looter shooter that's incredibly difficult to put down. Surprisingly deep loot game, some absolutely hectic encounters and a bleakly-beachy vibe all its own, there's plenty here for fans as well as anyone previously put off by the series' multiplayer focus.

Denshattack! is hands-down one of the most joyful games that I've played in a long time. And it's not just the sheer absurdity of doing flip tricks, grinds and even taking to the skies in a passenger train, but equally its surprising story of anti-capitalist rebellion and nature's reclamation by way of... well, trains.

A cosy, lightly choice-driven narrative and puzzle game on the surface, D-topia's true form is a wonderful exploration of the human condition, and what may be sacrificed in the pursuit of utopian perfection. It's a charming, digestible and accessible probe into a number of difficult topics, and a sterling example of what video games uniquely bring to a conversation.