JRPG veterans will enjoy the updated and enhanced, yet still deeply in old-school-virtues rooted presentation and mechanics. This is a labor of love - and it shows.

Xbox luchadores might have had to wait a little longer, but it was worth it. This was and is one of the prime action platformers in recent years.

Colorful, charming, challenging and full of humor: Guacamelee celebrates classic exploration, fighting and jump&run on the highest level.

Beautiful, content-rich and extremely elegant: This action adventure not only feels feels like Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but can almost equal its tremendous quality.

So this is what happens when you mix pinball mechanics with an open 2D-platformer... This is my personal arcade highlight so far this year.

This is like your first love rekindled – if you are fan of classic adventures. Filled to the rim with references to old masterpieces from LucasArts while sporting old-school qualities like beautifully written dialogue, quirky characters and bucket-loads of humour this is on par with the likes of Maniac Mansion, Zak McCracken etc.

After the weak ‘Generations’ Naruto returns to top form. It has its share of flaws, but nonetheless this is the best Naruto adventure yet.

Asgard’s Wrath is a competent, vast, visually stunning and challenging action RPG for VR. It could use some finetuning in terms of partner AI and the control options for looting, though.

Deponia is an incredibly funny, affectionately designed adventure. The tale of the underdog who simply refuses to give up makes you smile again and again. The tasks need brains as well as patience, but stay logical most of the time. An entertaining addition to the adventure genre.

This modern reconstruction of the “Descent” formula is a no-frills shooter that is almost perfect in its simplicity.

The biggest star is the physics system. And on the PS3 neither the physic based experiments nor the steampunk machinery has lost its magic.

This is a stunner. The merger of Crypt of the NecroDancer and Legend of Zelda is a blast to play (as was to be expected) and looks like it jumped straight from the SNES into this era.

This is a remarkable premier for the Canadian team IronOak Games. This varied adventure constantly feels like you’re playing a board game with enhanced roleplaying, not only because of the wood carved design of the characters.

Wowie Zowie! 2D Mario is back and is finally running at full speed again in his new adventure thanks to fresh ideas and the creative miracle flower.

Top optics, the cutest animations that exist and largely well thought-out gameplay make the turn-based strategy game a treat - for young and old players alike.

You will need training. You need skills and lightning fast reactions. But in return you'll get magical moments that only Pro Evolution Soccer can deliver – even though the engine and overall presentation need an overhaul.

Bizarre postapocalyptic fight for survival.

I hate you. More than anything else. I don't want to play anymore. Okay. One more time. Really. I promise. Okay, now only one more time. Damned, I can do better than that. This is really the last time. Oh man, that was close. Just one more time, I can do it. I hate you. I love you. One more time. Damn, you look good.

You can leave this high school either as a murderer or as a corpse. The line between friendship and rivalry is blurred. You look into the soul of the characters where hope gets replaced by despair in an instant. This is an excellent morbid surreal whodunit.

Zelda meets Robotron: Isaac celebrates old school topdown action in randomly generated dungeons.

For its 25th anniversary of the franchise, Tales of Arise doesn't only get a new exciting look, but the action RPG also delights with a dark, mature setting and presentation.

This is a fountain of youth for shoot-em-ups: It is idiosyncratic and boisterous, but creative at the same time, resulting in a thoroughly motivation gem.

It took almost two years, but finally with its Arcade Edition Street Fighter 5 is the beat-em-up you always wanted.

Astro’s Playroom is a creative surprise. For the PS5 launch Asobi Team serves up a jump-and-run highlight – preinstalled!

It starts slow, but no matter where you look, Xillia gets more interesting the longer you play until it hits you with its full force of different viewpoints, gripping realtime battles and customization options.

Due to missing feedback in certain situations Rocksmith is still not able to replace the teacher, but if you have basic knowledge of using a six-string you will get a lot out of this. And it is darn fun, too!

Quotation forthcoming.

This action roleplaying game demonstrates not only the technical competence of Guerilla Games. In terms of storytelling, quest design and characterization it almost reaches The Witcher 3. So even with its flaws like the abundance of crafting material and the superficial close combat this is another great franchise for the PS4.