It's so sweet it might cause you digital diabetes, but its levels are well designed and the entire thing is thoroughly charming. Kirby Fighters is a surprisingly robust addition, that makes the wait for Super Smash Bros a little more bearable.

Genshin Impact may be one of the biggest surprises of the year: A free-to-play RPG that gives players an absurd amount of freedom and content to dip into. Some barriers can still be found in the absurdly rare drop rates for premium characters and the world shows some growing pains, but you’re still receiving a gorgeous fantasy world that doesn’t press-gang you into spending money on it.

I Am Dead is a deceptively charming and emotionally potent experience. It’s hard not to be won over by its good spirit and intricate, lovingly crafted world. Despite its simple gameplay and heavy dose of eccentricity, it's a tender reflection on ordinary lives, death and the power of memory. A game that will linger in the memory.

Tesla vs Lovecraft doesn’t reinvent the twin-stick shooter wheel, but it does refine and perfect the formula of what makes that genre tick thanks to its suitably meaty action, vibrant visuals and a perk system that is deeper than the sunken city of R’Lyeh.

At the cheaper price and all the updates, this is the definitive version of PES for the current-gen, and a great way to move into the next game.

It may not hit the same high notes that Sapienza did, but the third Hitman episode is still a high level game of infiltration and assassination that is peppered with plenty of memorable moments.

So that’s it! you'll get 4 great maps and while I definitely have my preference I can honestly say I’m never disappointed with which map is picked in the rotation. They are all good in their own way, just like the kid at school who licked the chalkboard when no one was looking.

While the franchise still needs to overcome some inherent flaws, Assassin's Creed Syndicate feels refreshingly different and a joy to play. With believable characters and fluid gameplay that feels trimmed of its excess fat, it is the best Assassin's Creed game to come out in years.

The Solitaire Conspiracy is one of this year’s most surprisingly addictive games, a tense showdown amongst spies using nothing other than your own wits and a few card tricks up your sleeve to deliver a quick punch of strategy.

I often get frustrated, often spit fire at other players, or the game itself for doing something as simple as moving a Palace Guard onto the village I wanted to move into, delaying me and causing me to lose any time I had to win. But I’m always happy to start the game up again and give it another go, because it’s a type of frustration that’s damned good fun.

Paper Beast is a unique look at a reactive living world. It’s a game that makes you feel like you’re exploring an alien habitat through the lens of an interactive nature documentary. It’s filled with (occasionally obtuse) natural, organic environmental puzzles. A personal and contemplative experience, Paper Beast could only be better if it were narrated by Sir David Attenborough.

Dark, depressing, and more than a little intense, Inmost is a gorgeous game with a powerful narrative hook that doesn’t need to focus on its gameplay to deliver a powerful experience.

Pocket Card Jockey sounds like the kind of game which just shouldn't work. But it says neigh to those disbelievers, as it's easily one of the most addictive games of 2016 to grace the Nintendo 3DS.

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll jump in Thomas Was Alone on Nintendo Switch. Whether you’re leaping in for the first time or playing through the adventure yet again, this complete port does the iconic indie game proper justice and proves that great video game ideas are timeless.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is a game many consider as the catalyst for skyrocketing battle royale from a fun mod to a full on genre. They've had a slow start to catch up to rivals but after spending significant time with the PS4 release, they're on the right track.

Not A Hero is an unforgiving and relentless dive into the world of politics, bullets and ballots. Silly, violent and nostalgic in all the right ways, it’s strangely weird and gleeful attempt at winning votes with swift deaths and top notch level design.

Bravely Second is one of the few JRPGs to play purely for the gameplay. While the story is good, the writing tends to spoil one too many potentially great moments with unnecessary fluff and comedic skits. On the other hand, everything else about the game is fantastic and was more than enough to hold my attention. Though the writing may make you cringe, the fun and incredibly deep battle and customization system makes this an easy recommendation to any JRPG fan.

A junk food JRPG that won't push you to the limit, Fairy Tail is a comfortable blend of fantasy and strategy that's authentic to its source material of magic and mayhem.

Forget the cheesy story, the occasional bad camera and the fact that MGR:R is about as stealthy as a snowflake in a coal mine. The game knows that it’s a winner on the action front, and it takes steps to make certain that that is what gamers come back for. Sure, it may be over quickly, but with VR missions, secrets, easter eggs and upgrades, it’s worth replaying a few times.

Despite its lingering flaws and often frustrating pacing, The Last Guardian rises above expectation to deliver an engrossing adventure. Team Ico have brought together everything they’ve learnt over their past two games to present a heartfelt tale wrapped in an often-bewildering platformer – even if it took nearly a decade to make it here.

Forager is a quirky, relaxing game that is dripping with charm. A simple premise expanded on in meaningful and tangible ways creates a title that is not only delicious fun but also thoroughly addictive.

If you’re a fan of top down shooters but also enjoy a deeper gameplay experience, then I couldn’t recommend Livelock highly enough. The gameplay is delightfully hectic and destructive, while the RPG elements make for a more engaging experience. Despite the slightly bland environment design, Livelock is a game that straddles the line between casual and hardcore gameplay.

While the franchise still needs to overcome some inherent flaws, Assassin's Creed Syndicate feels refreshingly different and a joy to play. With believable characters and fluid gameplay that feels trimmed of its excess fat, it is the best Assassin's Creed game to come out in years.

The reality of war, hammered home through stark visuals and tight resource management, in a game where just surviving another day is winning.

Dragon Quest Builders is every bit the captivating building adventure on the Switch as it was when it first released. It’s strong sense of progression, charming aesthetic and easy mechanics make it great for casual play, while its robust worlds and interesting characters make for a charming tale. It takes a misstep or two along the way, but Dragon Quest Builders isn’t an adventure you want to skip out on.

The World Ends with You is a little less fresh and exciting than it was a decade ago. But, despite a few shortcomings and the loss of dual-screen play, it’s still an incredible game and worthwhile for those who’ve yet to play it. There’s not quite enough that’s new here for returning fans though.

A whimsical and charming adventure, LittleBigPlanet 3 makes a few welcome changes to the core game; namely new characters and new powerups four our old knitted chum, Sackboy. With an even more robust set of creation tools, it's a game of limitless possibilities.

If you’re looking to re-experience the original StarCraft in a new super-polished form, then I’d definitely recommend jumping into StarCraft Remastered.