It's a shame that original DS and DS Lite owners have no way of trying out Flipnote Studio, as what is on offer here exceeds any other DS game in terms of potential and creational ability.

There is an abundance of things to love in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. It successfully provides players with an excellent linear critical path and a ton of side content which some players might call bloat, though it is entirely ignorable. It has absolutely insane production value, housing one of the most insane and interesting Final Fantasy VII stories so far, which strikes a perfect balance between incredibly silly, self-referential and very serious. It has a couple of slight technical issues but is otherwise the perfect follow-up to part one and the perfect setup for part three. Absolutely recommended!

It has taken Nintendo almost 30 years to get its flagship side-scrolling series back on top, but that is exactly what has been achieved with Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Not since the days of the SNES has 2D Mario felt this original and fun, with the bizarre hallucination-like gameplay elements contributing to both the joy and hilarity all at once, coupled with brilliant character animations and a multitude of ideas that makes every level unique. Stages could have stood to be longer, and it may have been a good opportunity to go a bit wilder with the story and villains, but those are small complaints for what is an absolute blast from beginning to end.

With its predecessor hitting the dizzy heights of a 9/10, Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth was going one of two ways, either resting on its laurels and delivering another great experience, or going above and beyond to provide new and innovative opportunities for mayhem. With a solid story and fantastic cast of characters supplemented by hours of side content, this is again, not only a game of the year contender, but one that is contending for best RPG ever made (Yes I said it, I mean it too).

Street Fighter 6 in it's simplest form remains a fantastic, fun experience, retaining the same gameplay that has been tweaked and improved throughout the years to ensure it remains top of the pile. Jarring attempts to meet the needs of young players alongside a World Tour mode that fails to meet the hype placed upon it however, stop this from being an essential purchase. Stick to Arcade Mode and enjoy what made this franchise so great in the first place. A fantastic fighter is there, just buried under the fluff.

The Xbox brand has taken great strides in diversifying its portfolio of first party offerings, and Ori and the Will of the Wisps is quite literally genre-defining. Slightly more linear in nature than its predecessor, Will of the Wisps still manages to make exploration feel fresh and traversal fluid. Stunning graphics, a wholesome and immersive soundtrack, tight controls and fun varied combat truly make Ori and the Will of the Wisps a must-own for Xbox Series X|S owners.

Imagine if any other big franchise took absolutely all the best elements from its previous instalments, bundled them together, and - as if that wasn't enough - threw plenty of even more excellent ideas into the mix for good measure! Well, if your mind already set itself to work on finding a single example of this in recent memory, look no further...Fire Emblem: Awakening - the prime example of this!

Divinity: Original Sin II - Definitive Edition is absolutely phenomenal; almost perfect in every way and easily one of the greatest RPGs of not just recent years but all time - easily able to stand alongside the greats not just in this style, like Knights of the Old Republic, but alongside any RPG. It puts Bioware's recent efforts to shame. It's fantastic that it's coming to console and that more people will have an opportunity to play this magnificent masterpiece.

It's a bright, bustling multiplayer fest that deserves a place in any Wii U library.

OneShot: World Machine Edition is an unbelievable triumph of video game storytelling and adventure game design. It's simple enough that anyone can pick it up and figure it out, but it has enough depth to keep it interesting. Its strength lies in its atmosphere, storytelling, and the emotional connection players have with the characters, especially Niko. It’s an incredible experience that takes around five hours to complete, with even more time for those who explore the alternate endings, all for just a few dollars and often available on sale.

I could say it in a thousand different ways, but let's put it simply: whether you already have this game or not, you have to buy Chrono Trigger DS, because it's just one of the best RPGs ever, if not one of the best games ever.

Bayonetta 2 remains a niche title that will annoy some and be loved by others. Some of its mechanics have been left untouched from the original game, and, most importantly, it's pretty much the same deal all over again... and yet, this remains one of the finest specimens of hack 'n' slash-y, brawling fun...now on its perfect home: Nintendo Switch.

Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker caps off the Hydaelyn and Zodiark saga in a near perfect fashion. The storytelling on display vastly outshines the hit or miss quest design. The English voice acting deserve praise for consistent performances of both old and new characters backed by great directing. The dungeons and trials are some of the best in the game that continue to offer escalating challenges while keeping to consistent visual language. Each zone has a unique visual style and tale to tell in this final chapter, despite one or two having a rather slow introduction. All rounded out by a masterwork soundtrack, this MMORPG continues to prove that it shouldn't be missed.

Now Monolith Soft's grand Xenoblade Chronicles has arrived, bringing with it an sterling soundtrack, a phenomenal visual impact, vast amount of customisation, intriguing story and massive value for money.

With extra polish, all DLC content included, plus various tweaks to improve the experience, Nintendo has delivered the ultimate Mario Kart experience for all comers, new and old alike.

A certain Italian plumber should watch his back - Rayman Origins is as good as New Super Mario Bros. Wii and not far off from approaching the quality of some of his finest 2D adventures.

Building upon the superbly solid foundation of Rayman Origins is no mean feat, but Ubisoft has indeed managed to out-do the House of Mario in the genre in which many thought Nintendo was untouchable.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is clearly inspired by many sources - the character modifications of Final Fantasy VIII’s Junction system, Persona's combat user interface and camera work, and the Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice parry and dodge mechanics - but the way Sandfall Interactive uses these inspirations together with the story, the characters, and the music is unique. No microtransactions, no subscription pass, no major features trapped behind future patches; Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a single-player complete experience, with a New Game Plus to keep players coming back. Meanwhile, its exceptional music, writing, voice acting and visuals make it as aesthetically pleasing as it is mechanically satisfying and interesting. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a Game of the Year frontrunner.

It's no exaggeration to call Unavowed one of the most replayable point-and-click adventures the genre has seen. The sheer amount of decision making available to the player - from which characters participate in the plot to the protagonist's whole backstory - keeps every playthrough fresh. Although there isn't much in the way of demanding puzzle-solving, puzzles themselves have multiple solutions and the story can branch in different directions depending on who's in the party. In-game actions and dialogue options also have consequences, granting the plot a real sense of weight. Topped off by excellent atmosphere, a tight script, and great performances, Unavowed might just be Wadjet Eye Games' best work.

The Switch port of INSIDE is very solid and runs excellently, looking comparable to all existing versions. This is one of the better adventure style platformers that emphasises the visuals to get its point across. It always feels like Playdead could have done a bit more with the gameplay by making it longer and having more complexity to some of the puzzles. Most people will feel completely bewildered when it is all over.

With three brilliant games that challenge and exhilarate the player, the Metroid Prime Trilogy package is a masterpiece filled with with pristine graphics, an in-depth storyline, and non-stop exploration and action .

Bayonetta 2 is a Game of the Year contender, which comes extremely recommended.

Dragon Quest XI on Switch is a masterpiece of the genre that is only held back by unfortunate occasional crashes during extended play sessions, which we can only hope will be annihilated entirely shortly after release, and a 2D mode that doesn't feel perfectly integrated into the Switch experience. It is therefore not perfect... but came darn close!

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is the breath of fresh air the "Soulsborne" sub-genre needed. It proves that stats, levelling-up, and equipment, is not what makes this kind of games. Instead, what matters is how death is treated, what sort of consequences there are for choices the player makes, and really big doors that open dramatically slow. The verticality of the level design, grappling hook, jumping and almost Zelda-style progression makes this one stand out in an ever increasing sea of imitators. Ultimately, this is more than just a sum of its parts; it's full of mystery, jaw-dropping spectacle and intense satisfaction.

The fan outcry for a physical version of Sonic Mania was enormous, and while it did take a year for SEGA to act, it has ultimately delivered a package that is simply outstanding. After so many bad outings in the series, Sonic's legacy was beginning to turn to dust. Many mistakes have been made in trying to emulate, yet evolve the 2D adventures of yesteryear, with failed projects, such as Sonic 4. Sonic Mania Plus, however, restores the series back to the gold standard. It will be revered for decades with the community who will no doubt set this as the benchmark for any future sequel to the series.

It is difficult to not be blinded by nostalgia, especially when a game has been part of the ongoing zeitgeist of the franchise for nearly 20 years. Resident Evil 4 Remake is, by intention, an unfaithful love letter. The remake has changed certain story beats, altered movement, overhauled combat and revised the visuals. Those jumping in for the first time in 2023 may not understand the hype surrounding this particular entry in the series, but, remember that a lot of modern games owe their DNA to Resident Evil 4, even if they have perfected it since.

Crusader Kings III is a massive step up in all regards featuring many QoL changes and improvements. While some features, such as the character designer, are sorely missed, the major improvements, refinements, and the like, ensure that fans of the series will almost certainly enjoy the new title. While it is more welcoming to newcomers than prior entries, it may still be too dense for those not interested in the heavy political focus of the franchise.

F1 2020 has taken key fundamentals from previous iterations and built upon a strong foundation to include a stellar, engaging and fantastic My Team career mode. The authenticity of the product has also continued to live up to the high standards set by the predecessors and the inclusion of split screen multiplayer as well as the options for more casual modes of play has made F1 2020 not only incredibly accessible for newcomers but also new and varied for veterans of the franchise. This is easily the best F1 game to date and contender for one of the best simulation racers of the generation.