From its sharp art and bouncy soundtrack to the sheer insane usage of a world-seeding system that makes it incredibly replayable, It should be held as an industry standard for years to come, just as its predecessor was.

Teleglitch is a unique combination of a number of different, but common, gameplay features that mash-up into a great game.

Rocket Riot is a great little game, one of the best I’ve played on Xbox Live Arcade in quite a while. There’s something about it that almost makes you feel like you’ve played it before, and several elements are reminiscent of other games.

Yakuza 0 is a strong testament to the level of detail and the amount of content the series is known for. The writing is equal parts a compelling crime thriller and a hilarious spoof of Japanese culture, the combat is simplistic but unobtrusive with some satisfying hard hits, and the numerous amounts of side activities, unlockables, mini-games and extra modes will keep players satisfied and busy before the next game rolls around.

All of this amusement with words is priced at a smashing 400 Microsoft Points, a bargain when there has been a noticeable increase of prices recently on XBLA. It's quite hard not to recommend the title, and I can only see people who really loathe games that require a good use of vocabulary hating it. For everyone else, this gaming dictionary is worth your time and you might even learn a few new words during your play – who says learning can't be fun?

There’s a ton of depth that is often lacking in such bonny titles and plenty to keep you engaged for well over ten hours. Plus the difficulty is absolutely perfect for a real hungry brain-teaser lover such as myself. The only negative thing I can even really say about it is that it’s not exactly a novel concept as there are many other games that will have you programming bots. Human Resource machine is incredibly similar with its drag-and-drop command layout, I got quite addicted to Bitburner a year or so ago which uses a real programming language to have you level-up in a sort of an idle game, and I’m very excited for Linkito that lets you build out entire systems with logic gates and bits of hardware. That doesn’t stop Star Stuff being great, though – it actually means there’s somewhere to go from here if you want more. Give it a shot.

Persona 5 Strikers might not be the full fat Persona experience nor a true Warriors game – it is certainly targeting the Persona fans more than Warriors fans – but it is a quality extension to the Persona 5 story, a worthy summer road trip that might be advertised as a spin-off, but truly feels more like a sequel with a new flavour sprinkled on top.

Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams – Rise of the Owlverlord is a great game, especially for those looking for a platformer to challenge their reflexes.

This is a game that has successfully changed my opinions on American Football, and could do the same for you.

Madden NFL 13 is a great game of football. It is also a shining example of a series that could really use a new console to help freshen up the franchise which is starting to feel in need of a pick me up. If you're a die hard Madden fan it probably doesn't matter what I say you have already bought your copy. However for those on the fence I would say this is a great version to jump back into as it has a ton of content, great commentary, and even better action on the field.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 Full Burst is a great anime licensed game that gives anyone exclusive to the PC a chance to finally jump into the colourful world of Naruto.

It may end up being a little too simple and repetitive once you figure out the secret sauce but by that point I think the combat, exploration, and initial challenge should have already satiated any interested party’s appetite. The end game is for sure disappointing, basically just increasing enemy and trap damage, and the daily single-play events only really permanently cursing the player with whatever old status effect means there isn’t much replayability once you reach the end, but it is still there if you want it. For everybody else I’d say check it out, get your 25-hours of exciting action, and get out. Oh! – and nerf the bow!

This isn’t one to be missed if you in the market for a challenging puzzler.

I’ve played every game in The Room series so far and I just can’t get enough, Fireproof Games have delivered yet another great port built from the ground up for PC. The Room 4: Old Sins is by far the best one to date; the story, gameplay, and atmosphere all tie together perfectly to create a mysterious story and Lovecraftian vibe. I hope for the next instalment they will push the series even further giving us a deeper look into this world and its mysteries.

Immersion is one of Dead Space’s top specialities and the sound follows suit. Exploring the Ishimura is a pleasure to the ears in a sort of freaky way.

Torchlight II was a great action RPG back in 2012 and it still remains it to this day. Everything I enjoyed about it still holds true now, and of course, that is also the same with the negatives, plus with the lack of local same Switch cooperative play is a bummer. Still, this is a superb port by Panic Button that the minor niggles should not put you off, because Torchlight II‘s addictive dungeon crawling action is a wonderful fit for the Nintendo Switch, even if you already own Diablo III: Eternal Collection.

The reboot is a complete success. I enjoyed every second of the single-player campaign, from the huge sequences to the little moments that are integrated perfectly with the gameplay.

Sure, it would be nice to have more throws, more submissions, more customization and such, but hell; they need SOMETHING to add to the next one. For those of you who are UFC/MMA fans, this is an essential purchase, no questions asked.

Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is a smashing port that brings all the revamps of Final Fantasy XII International Zodiac Job System and adds more to it to improve the game for a better experience. If you had issues with the story or didn’t enjoy the battle system – if you were a young whipper snapper, I recommend trying it again, as you might come round to it this time around – then it won’t do anything to fix that for you. If you have never played Final Fantasy XII or are a fan of the game, then this is simply the best way to play Final Fantasy XII and experience its innovative and fun mechanics.

Ultimately, MVC Origins comes the closest I've seen yet to recreating that arcade feeling you know and love. After playing these games, don't be surprised if you start demanding your opponent's quarters because of how badly you just beat him. There might be other games that copy the speed-based fighter formula, but few have ever and may ever copy this great blend of characters, enjoyment, and playability.

Infinity Wars – Animated Trading Card Game is a confidently made card game that comes with complexity and depth that tries to distinguish itself from the standard card gameplay that has become popular with Magic the Gathering and Hearthstone.

Little Nightmares is a thrilling game of horror built around its twisted and fascinating location. It drops the conventional cheap scare tactics and shines with psychological fear when it is delivering its unnerving, sinister frights through the eerie atmosphere, creepy visuals and stellar sound. If it wasn’t for some of the minor control issues, Little Nightmares would be a near perfect package in what it is trying to deliver, but even with the slight tarnish on the overall experience, there’s no denying that Little Nightmares is one of the more imaginative horror titles currently available.

If you are looking to invest in a current generation hunting game that offers fast, fluid combat and amazing monster designs, then Toukiden: Kiwami is a great recommendation for existing fans or newcomers to the genre.

As a first timer to the Mario & Luigi RPGs, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions makes a great impression for the series. I couldn’t tell it was an old game, holding up well with today’s current handheld games, thanks to the enhancements stemming from its sequels. I found being constantly active in battles a change from a lot of mainstream RPGs I’ve played, and the ageless dialogue stands the test of time, due to how well written the adventure is – it truly delights with its humorous, friendly comedy that can generate some real laughter. Unlike Metroid: Samus Returns, I feel Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions is more for newcomers to the series rather than existing fans. I’m sure some fans will enjoy the new side content or replaying a better looking Superstar Saga that they haven’t touched for a few years, but for people who have never experienced Superstar Saga, then I whole heartily recommend grabbing your 3DS and picking up this delightfully charming, creative role-playing game.

The reality of the situation is that if you want a fully featured and licensed affair, there will be those of you that will just go with the new FIFA offering, and that’s fine I guess. But there are those who like a purer experience, and it’s undeniable that Pro Evolution Soccer has that.

If more time was spent to slowly explain its gameplay, or better yet simplify it so that it doesn’t conflict with players who want to experience the story, it would have proved a much stronger recommendation.

You cannot mention A Plague Tale: Requiem without the graphics, especially some of the mind-blowing environments and vistas, no matter how beautiful or vile their settings are, plus the incredible rat rendering technology included, help make this some of the best visuals in a medium for 2022. Fans of the first game are in for such a treat, and newcomers, more so those who love games that focus on spectacle narrative with over-the-top action, are going to love the continuation of Amicia’s and Hugo’s gruesome journey, which showcases a strong bond between family that would impress even the likes of Dominic Toretto.

Though the gameplay additions for this year merit a purchase (yes, even if you own last year's version), I truly hope the DLC model for this game doesn't become standard in sports titles.

Project CARS: Game of the Year Edition is a great package packed with everything one needs for a thrilling and demanding racing experience, being the perfect jump in point for newcomers to get everything available from the get go.

JYDGE isn’t a perfect game. The gameplay could be improved in some sections. Stealth is one example, where some missions require not being spotted, but I never felt that stealth fitted right with this game, what with all the shooting and movement. Little issues with the game can be ignored when all the action is happening and you are in the zone, the great soundtrack adds to the feeling that you are the perfect cyber cop and must accomplish cleaning the streets of Edenbyrg. I had a great experience with the game, and being a fan of such movies like Robocop and Judge Dredd certainly adds to my enjoyment I had with all the action going on in JYDGE.

It is a great game, one that is a faithful update to a game that only four years ago attained universal acclaim, but in that time, things have changed and, for better and for worse, Resident Evil 5 has only made baby steps when compared to the giant leaps that its predecessor made, and because of this, won’t be getting near that perfect 10. The issues with A.I and the controls will put off some of the more fickle gamers, but for those of you who part with their £40, like an A.I controlled Sheva to a horde of zombies, you’ll find plenty here to get your teeth into – fans and newcomers alike.

Visually, the port doesn’t do much that the 360 version didn’t - but then the game looked pretty incredible to begin with, so that’s hardly a criticism.

As sparse as the extra options are as well as the inclusion of a couple of legitimately awful titles, both of the Mega Man X Legacy Collections pay adequate tribute to one of the premiere 2D action franchises of all-time, which itself spun off a legendary franchise. One can only hope that Capcom will continue to give the Blue Bomber and his distant predecessor more love, both with additional updates to the existing collection as well as some long overdue sequels.

Crysis Remastered Trilogy offers a great insight into the series’ shift in design, from the experimental freedom of Crysis to the linear campaign of Crysis 2. This Trilogy Remastered collection allows the games to be at their visually best and are able to run better now thanks to advancements in PC hardware. Anyone looking for some slick first-person shooting action will most likely enjoy this. Even if new people do not like the now clunkiness of Crysis, they will likely enjoy the polished controls and gameplay of Crysis 2 and Crysis 3. It is a shame the multiplayer modes or the editors are not included, as that would have made this the perfect package, but for everything else, this is a worthwhile collection of some of the PC’s most fascinating sci-fi action shooters.

Abzû might not offer an easy to digest story, but those missteps are made up with a dazzling experience, some marvellous set-pieces, beautiful visuals packed with vivid colours, and a lovely soundtrack. All this artistic work gels together for a relaxing and reflective afternoon of wonderment.

In a nutshell, Remnant II is a great game but an underwhelming sequel.

If Lego Dimensions is a real thing, and we’ve no 100% confirmation it is, then the house of Brick better get on with it otherwise Sick Bricks will have established itself as the go to brick based toys to life experience.

In summation Chronicles of a Dark Lord Episode II: War of the Abyss is better than its predecessor, and Kisareth have managed to deliver yet another greatly immersing gaming experience.

Costing the now seemingly normal 1200 Microsoft Points, Comic Jumper is worth the price alone just for the humorous experience that the game is built around.

Yacht Club Games has once again hit paydirt, and Shovel Knight Dig is as deep a gameplay experience as fans could hope for, in addition to newcomers. Now stop reading all the digging puns in this review and get shoveling.

It is a charming stylish endeavor that mixes the joys of experimentation, with the satisfaction of solving puzzles, whilst not forgetting to remain fun in the process. You cannot ask for much more than that.

Whilst I cannot recommend anybody stick around for the story that I could honestly scarcely tell was trying to be funny, serious, or sarcastic, in general I highly endorse The Textorcist. Its compelling and testing gameplay, great art style (especially the hellishly stylistic demons), sweet soundtrack, and awesome theme make for a great title.

Its minimalism, but just because something’s minimal doesn’t mean it is without soul and anyway, the graphical updates mean it’s awash with garish colour and this just about does enough to bring the title up to date – albeit to that of a modern doujin homebrew game.

Overall, Drip Drip looks great, sounds great and is a heap of fun.

Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations is sure to be a hit with fans. No doubt they were already going to get this since the track record for the Ultimate Ninja Storm series is a positive one.

Fans will like the new modes and the inclusion of Silver creatures, and newcomers shouldn’t feel scared of joining the fun, as Magic 2014 is once again another successful attempt at digitally recreating the intricate card game and breaking it down to easy, understandable fun.

Taking on Mario Kart is a daunting challenge but Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing is a faster alternative that stands up well. A decent kart game on PS3 and Xbox 360 has been long overdue so it’s easy to recommend this.

The game is still jolly good fun.

Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is the best, deepest, and most exciting Tekken to be released to date. While it does not particular move the series in a groundbreaking way, it does bring back the fast-paced tag mechanics that haven't been in for twelve years.

Shortcomings aside, for a game that everyone thinks of as a shameless copy of Rock Band, Guitar Hero: World Tour has come off extremely well, and throws in more than enough good ideas of its own (and some slightly rubbish ones, admittedly) to make itself a worthy contender to the rhythm-action throne.

Wii Sports Resort serves as more than just a tech demo for WiiMotionPlus, and more than just a collection of minigames. It does well as a proper sequel to Wii Sports, being easy to pick up and fun to play alone or with friends. There is far more below the surface than meets the eye in this title that is far more hit than miss.

A perfectly polished and presented package. It offers extreme-tricking and adrenaline-fuelled racing and does it in a refreshing and challenging way.

I would go so far as to say that Rogue Legacy is the greatest Metroidvania game I have ever played. It may sound like an extremely controversial opinion, but as it stands, this definitely tops the list as far as I’m concerned.

Mothergunship is hectic, fast and feels very 90s, and if that is something that tickles your fancy, then there is no wrong in picking up Mothergunship and having a blast with its bullet-hell, roguelike, insane gun crafting blend of action until you become sick of it, at that point, hours will have passed and many robots will have gave their life for your frantic enjoyment.

For fans of the series and newcomers alike, this remaster offers an improved version of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, surpassing it in all ways that are important, even if it doesn’t fully capture the essence of the original Ninja Gaiden 2. Whether you’re a seasoned shinobi or a novice ninja, Ryu Hayabusa’s global adventure remains as action-packed as ever, and this version proves that Ninja Gaiden’s action is still relevant in 2025, making me excited to see what Ninja Gaiden 4 has to offer.

Even more colourful, engaging and eccentric than ever before, Splatoon 3 is bringing the same highly amusing casual and competitive fun of Splatoon’s unique paint-based versus gameplay and polishes it closer to perfection, like topping up some old decorations with a fresh coat of paint. It is disappointing that there is nothing ground-breaking, as new weapons, maps and a couple of modes are nothing to scream about, but the campaign is the best and most inventive it has been yet, bringing a good solid 7+ hours of fun. The game also throws in a card battler for some added distraction. The quality-of-life improvements to the multiplayer were so needed, bringing the game closer to the current modern age of online gameplay.

The shorter length and arbitrary conditions of the final episode may not be as well thought-out as previous episodes, but as a combined whole it is a solid finish to a spin-off that successfully restored a lot of lost faith with the Resident Evil brand.

A well-done port for newcomers to the game and at the same time a reminder that Resident Evil can be a great game with quality atmosphere without having to succumb to the big-budget, AAA nonsense that plagues the industry.

Even though it’s unassumingly tucked away in the 3DS‘ eShop, Fallblox is frankly a great little game.

The decaying splendour of Rapture loses some of its impact due it being your second visit there, but the gameplay is still rock solid. If you enjoyed the first game or like your first-person shooters to have a strong single player campaign then you can’t go wrong with BioShock 2.

Sure, it is a game riddled with issues and raises more gripes and tantrums than a game should. But once you whittle down all the issues, bugbears and negatives, PES 2016 manages to be a wholly comprehensive footballing experience and the best available this year.

An outstanding and thoughtfully assembled title.

Overall this is a highly enjoyable game which anyone who can get over the controls should give a go.

Read Only Memories has patched itself through and into my brain unlike a lot of other games this year. There are a lot of thought provoking ideas about topics that have made me think differently about things that I interact with daily like technology, xenophobia, humanity and time.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2015 brings a mechanically crafted and intelligent game of football to these new consoles that even a lack of official licence or boring commentary cannot take away from its addictive and brilliant gameplay.

Overall, Devotion may prove disappointing for anyone hoping for the next big Indie Horror game, as the moments where the game forgets itself and tries to adhere to traditional horror tend to be the weakest points. Instead, Devotion should be praised for conveying a tragic story that emphasizes the far more effective approach of psychological horror, with long moments of dread and discomfort that tend to have a more lasting impression than the brief startling of a ghost popping around the corner.

There is much to experience here, from its great characters and solid storytelling that brings a captivating plot with two of the series biggest and best characters. It also makes strides to bring improvement to the brutal combat, while offering an eccentric presentation and over-the-top humour to keep people engaged in the wonderful and freaky world of Yakuza until its end.

Such frustrations aside, Metro 2033 is still a pleasant addition to an otherwise played-out genre and setting.

If you like the idea of a sandbox western then this is money well spent. In what other game can you earn a 'dastardly' achievement by saving a damsel in distress, then putting her on the rail road tracks to meet her fate?

While the puzzles are not challenging for most, and the combat is never as demanding as the mainline series, they are a refreshing redesign that brings its own puzzle elements into the combat for a genre that could easily have gone without any action to be successful.

Mistakes, creature deaths and restarts are likely to happen here to gain the most out of Planet Zoo, but like real life, no one really magically makes a fantastic zoo on their first go, and with the lessons learned from Jurassic Park Evolution, Frontier Developments has made Planet Zoo a better game than its dinosaur filled predecessor, and is by far the best zoo management/builder you can play today.

So is Puzzle Agent 2 worth your time? If you enjoyed the first one, then that question is an absolute no-brainer.

This is a title that gets most of the important parts right when it comes to an action game. It makes you feel like a bad arse, thanks to the cool-looking combat and easy-to-produce combos, but remains deep to allow people to delve into the system and pull off some wild moves.

Saints Row: The Third was a sacred moment in time where lunatics reimagined the animus of an open-world crime game. It enabled players to thunderously lead a prestigious gang of miscreants and also turn themselves into a toilet. Eight years later Saints Row: The Third’s glut of Content is more difficult to digest, but its outrageous ambience is (mostly) still so sweet.

DOA5+ is a must-have for PS Vita owners, as it has a lot of content you don’t normally get with other games in the genre – and it’s portable.

SEUM delivers hours of entertainment, frustration, and the perfect bite-sized trials to hit, not just the ‘one more try’ feeling, but instead the ‘damn I was close and I won’t stop before beating this thing’.

Human Revolution is an engaging and compulsive piece of work that'll find itself nestling near the peak of many a top 10 chart. With Mass Effect 3 postponed, this'll be the one bit of interactive escapism that the fella in the Battlestar Galactica shirt can rely on for his kicks this year.

For what it presents, the game works on so many levels. It is a landmark experience and one that deserves repeated playthroughs, if only to try and make it to the end unscathed. Not perfect by any means, but then is anything ever really perfect? I'd argue not. We are all perfect in our imperfections; by this outlook, so is ZombiU.

Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX is a game that holds bundles of musical delight.

A refreshing thing about Golden Abyss is that it feels like you are playing Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. After the crazy set-pieces and over the top action in Uncharted 2 and 3, it is nice to go back to playing something that's slower-paced. This time it's more about exploring around the jungle, cliffs and ruins, climbing all over the place and solving puzzles.

Space Ark is a charming hybrid of a handful of classic arcade games. Its combination of score-beating arcade mentality, and devious puzzle elements in the later stages, make it shine against the murky backdrop of lesser XBLA titles.

It's rare that a handheld game surpasses it's console cousin, but this is definitely the case here. The inclusion of the adventure mode is really quite different to anything you'll find in any sports game anywhere.

Though Final Fantasy IX’s PS4 port lacks the same love and care that was given to the recently released Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, it is still a solid enough re-release, and more importantly another modern source for players to experience this wonderful RPG classic, whether for the first time or the hundredth time. The timeless charm, characterization and content guarantees that this game will be the place you’ll return to someday, now and forever.

If you’re new to the genre, then this is no doubt an excellent place to start – but there’s a clear argument that it might be better to wait until a few of the planned expansions and improvements have been released before taking the plunge.

While the main story missions are a little easy, it still is really fun to play with, and there are already plenty of user-generated missions to play with. Volume’s purity of focus in creating simple stealth works well for the most part.

Forced is absolutely brutal, requiring constant team communication, clever problem solving and the mastery of combat skills. It can be an incredible amount of fun and is highly recommended for any group of gamer friends (casual gamers may get their asses kicked).

The Evil Within 2 is a grand follow up from a studio who has set out to fix the pacing issues with the first game, while offering a bigger, more coherent title that looks better and plays better with the reworked stealth and upgrade mechanics, but without forgetting the parts that made most of the original a solid action horror title. The Evil Within 2 throws players into its disturbing, more personal world for Sebastian, offering some great horror scenarios and thrilling, tense action to back up its amazing monster and environment design. Even though this year has been amazing for games, it’s not been the most active for action horror fans, making The Evil Within 2 highly recommended for people who enjoy throwing themselves into disturbing adventures to get their thrills.

For the most part, it's brilliant. An entirely robust fighting engine has been crafted here, with a whole host of different moves each with their own characteristics and applications.

Still, none of this detracts from what Plain Sight really is; a brilliantly-designed and engaging multiplayer game with one of the finest risk/reward systems we've ever seen.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is a great MMORPG that has an enjoyable story, mechanically solid gameplay, lots of content for Final Fantasy fans to love, but also offers rewarding and challenging dungeons for people who adore playing online RPGs.

It is a unique mismatch of ideas, and that is what makes it so uniquely appealing, and very much worth giving a go.

Though not as expansive enough to call it a true special edition, Devil May Cry 4 features a lot of fan-favorite additions and an attractive price that makes it well worth double-dipping (or triple-dipping if you originally started on console and moved to PC).

Skylanders: Swap Force is a game packed with a variety of content for people of all ages.

These hiccups aside, Worms Reloaded is a welcome, engaging and worthwhile title, and a measured balance of old and new.

Virtua Tennis 4 World Tour Edition may be a port, and it's only additions may be a few fun, time wasting mini-games, but it shows that the Vita can handle console games without downgrading any feature to fit on a portable device.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light should please fans of the franchise while they wait for their next big Tomb Raider title. I also believe that this game will allow people who don't normally like Tomb Raider games to be finally able to enjoy a game staring one of the biggest females in gaming history.

Gamers that are interested in the sport owe it to themselves to get UFC Undisputed 3. Fans will enjoy the improvements, and, simply put, it is the best MMA game out there today. It seems the spare time helped Yuke's concentrate on the feedback and critique that people had complained about. Playing UFC is ruthless, a ton of fun, and you can do it all in the safety of your own home. The undisputed king is still undisputed in the mix martial arts fighting genre.

Ys: The Oath in Felghana is a game that derives from the old fashion days of action RPGs.