In recent years, observational $gamma$-ray astronomy has seen a remarkable range of exciting new results in the high-energy and very-high energy regimes. Coupled with extensive theoretical and phenomenological studies of non-thermal processes in the Universe these observations have provided a deep insight into a number of fundamental problems of high energy astrophysics and astroparticle physics. Although the main moti- vations of $gamma$-ray astronomy remain unchanged, recent observational results have contributed significantly towards our understanding of many related phenomena. This article aims to review the most important results in the young and rapidly developing field of $gamma$-ray astrophysics.