It’s not perfect, but WWE 2K19 is a massive and fun return to form that focuses on what truly matters inside the iconic ring and delivers a pulse-pounding thrill ride that finally feels like a showcase of the immortals.

Sometimes inconsistent, other times explosive, Telltale has managed to create a Batman who is more than just the sum of his fists and gadgets. A Batman for the 21st century, whose personal pain not only motivates him but also guides as this final episode of this series reaches a satisfying conclusion.

Packed with features, more challenging than ever before thanks to its crafty new Neural AI and still a love letter to an adrenaline-charged sport, MotoGP 19 is an amazingly complete package that is just one spark short of being a motorcycle legend.

Dragon Quest Heroes 2 is a surprising game. I went in expecting it to be a typical Musou game, but what I got instead was a fantastic action-RPG that’s really worthy of the Dragon Quest name. I’ve played many Musou games over the course of my life, more than I would like to admit, but I have to say that this is probably one of, if not the best game of its kind that I’ve played.

Tacoma is a captivating tale that messes with established tropes in a way that Fullbright might become known for. Although it spins its wheels at the start, this slow and methodical journey through the lives of a small group survivors is one with some fantastic twists and turns, and one that should stick with you long after its conclusion.

MotoGP 20 will tick all the boxes for what a game based on the most exhilarating racing sport on the planet should offer, but it’ll seldom exceed your expectations thanks to its sterile presentation and no-thrills approach on the track.

A beautiful twist on the city-building genre, Airborne Kingdom is a fascinating journey with innovative gameplay mechanics, a stirring soundtrack, and a sense of exploration that flies high.

Mortal Shell is an excellent entry in the Souls-like space with some fantastic ideas around character progression and combat, but is unfortunately let down by a health system that discourages exploration and an element of tedium that unnecessarily pads out encounters.

Bloodroots is an aesthetically gorgeous, grindhouse inspired action game with a glorious combat system that’s unfortunately spoiled by some poorly designed platforming segments that just refuse to gel with the game’s core mechanics.

Ratchet and Clank: Nexus has enough content to keep fans happy, and despite the abrupt ending, caps the Future series off nicely. Solid and charming, it’s most likely the final game in the franchise that’ll appear on the PS3, but it bows out with a bang.

Trover Saves The Universe isn’t the most challenging game players will experience this year, but it’s unique, and it’s also probably the funniest.

Aegis Defenders comes highly recommended. The level design is inspired, challenging players to adapt their playstyle on the fly, and the gameplay is riveting and enjoyable. And it's all just so charming, with vibrant characters, witty dialogue, and a story that unfolds at a natural pace.

L.A. Noire is still a strange, sometimes brilliant game that you should try at least once. But if you’re returning to try and recapture what enjoyment you might have had with it six years ago, you might find yourself staring at a package that hasn’t aged well at all.

Mafia: Definitive Edition is a stunning recreation of a classic game, adding competent gameplay upgrades and a polished recreation of its plot. As solid as the overhaul may be though, it doesn’t do much else to evolve the experience beyond the bare essentials. Not that you heard that from me, capisce?

It’s hard to justify the maps in Uprising, because as a whole they lack several appealing aspects from the first DLC pack, Revolution. Mob of the Dead on the other hand, is going to be an essential add-on for zombie fans. There’s a moment of brilliance present here in Uprising, but it's fleeting.

Pokken Tournament may have the image of a kid-friendly fighting game, but it’s absolutely dead serious in its approach to offering something new to fighting game fanatics.

A minor improvement over the first episode. New enemies, new weapons, and a slightly longer duration – if Capcom can keep this up, Revelations 2 will definitely be a great game overall.

It’s Far Cry 4 simplified into a four hour experience of looting, exploring, climbing and injecting exotic herbs into your bloodstream all over again, in one short and sweet DLC expansion.

There’s a beautifully detailed game just waiting to be explored inside of this sequel to a forgotten cult classic, one that will have hardcore RTS fans in their element if they can overlook a clunky campaign flow and dive deep into its many layers of strategy. Fortune favours those who are bold and prepared in Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia.

Noita is an exciting experiment that grew into a tense, complicated, and altogether satisfying game of self-expression and discovery. It allows players a level of freedom often unseen in rogue-likes at the expense of a clear and distinct visual language, and situations that become difficult to quickly parse.

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.

Yo-Kai Watch might look like a pocket monster clone with a fumbling battle system, but it’s the genuinely endearing cast of characters and Yo-Kai who give it enough heart to be more than just a simple copycat. It’s not the next Pokémon, but it certainly is going to be something in the future at this rate that other games will aspire to emulate.

Super Mario Party retains the whimsical and hilarious nature of its predecessors while greatly expanding on its mini-games and their complexity. It’s a joyous time with a bunch of friends or family, even if you can’t actually get any better at playing due to its heavily randomised mechanics.

It’s a middle of the road RPG in a sense, because it skimps out on some of the deeper mechanics that the genre is known for while double dipping on others. In a sense it’s the best type of RPG for a mobile device such as the 3DS then – offering bite sized worlds to have fun in for a short time and a combat system that links up with this design perfectly. But it’s deep and long enough to be considered a wholesome adventure, and one that never loses its way in terms of writing, challenge or intrigue along the way.

While its premise is absurd, Sushi Striker's core action/puzzle mechanics are undeniably fun and initially addictive. It wears a little thin though, with the campaign becoming laborious well before it comes to an end. Thankfully the multiplayer is superb, and is a perfect fit for both the 3DS and the Switch.

The Dragon of the North DLC does little to shake up the Nioh formula, providing familiar environments with uninspired boss battles. That said, this is more Nioh, and the strength of the base game should still give you the challenge and thrill of combat despite the DLC's downfalls.