A fresh take on that most hackneyed of genres, the first-person shooter, Evolve is an online cooperative monster-hunt, the action split between controlling one of three hulking colossi or playing as a member a four-person crew intent on bringing one of the beasts down. The eponymous Darwinian element comes in the development of the monsters – they are large, but to begin with are relatively weak and feeble, and if nabbed by their human foes early on, the action doesn’t last long. The challenge, when playing as a monster, lies in creating sufficient distance between yourself and your predators, while consuming local alien life in order to develop into a powerful killing machine – at which point the game’s dynamic shifts dramatically. Each of the monsters has unique skills and is suited to different styles of combat.

The Wraith strikes silently from the shadows, using decoys and teleportation to befuddle the enemy, while Goliath has ostentatious fire-breath. Similarly, the hunters have particular skill sets: Assault, Trapper, Medic and Support.

The joy of the default hunt mode is so delightful that the progress that you need to make – unlocking all the abilities, monsters and hunters – does not feel too arduous, and other modes such as “rescue” and “nest” offer some variety. More monsters and hunters are being released, but even without shelling out extra cash Evolve offers a longlasting online challenge with some beautifully satisfying action.