Elder Scrolls Online is neither a true Skyrim sequel nor another World of Warcraft clone, but developer ZeniMax Online has constructed a halfway house that will satisfy fans of both franchises.

The overall game may fail to hit the same (perhaps unrealistically) lofty highs of one of the best titles on the Switch, but it's impressive how much it manages to feel like a Fire Emblem game and not just a Warriors title with familiar characters thrown in. That is its greatest strength, and the result is an experience where it's easy to warm to and invest in your favourite Fódlan characters all over again.

Fieldrunners 2 is definitely geared towards tower defense veterans, so newcomers to the genre will quickly become overwhelmed, but those looking for a new strategic challenge to conquer will get a lot out of this sequel.

Once Upon A Monster isn't the most challenging of titles, which is understandable considering its audience, but it's a fun-filled Kinect game brimming with life and full of charm.

It builds and evolves to eventually become an RPG that stands firmly on its own, borrowing from its peers but making sure it's also totally unique. We haven't been able to put it down, and we've not said that about a 3DS game for a while.

However, it is rather irritating that one of those extra units is something so essential as the medic class, which gives those willing to pay more a significant advantage. Even with that drawback, Great Big War Game lives up to its name and is a great pick for any strategy game fan.

The game covers the events of the comics up through the campsite, with at least two future updates planned adding levels up through the prison and beyond. Fans of the series will surely get a kick out of seeing the comics come to life in The Walking Dead: Assault, but the repetitive level goal might make you feel like a zombie just going through the motions before the game is through.

In many ways Abzu looks and feels like a successor to Journey, but while there's mystery and beauty in its underwater world, it's rarely quite as engaging. The simple, predictable gameplay is one barrier, the abstract nature of the story another, creating an experience that's big on audio-visual power and artistry but short on the stuff that made Journey truly magical.

Make no mistake about it, Catherine is a niche title and probably won't be to everybody's taste, but it's also one of the most captivating and absorbing games we've played in quite some time.

Despite its name change Stealth Inc is very much still a bastard, though in the best of ways. It is brutally challenging, but never unfair.

The fact that it is actually possible to earn enough currency to unlock everything makes Chip Chain unique among free-to-play games, to the delight of players. All of it leads back to a satisfying core matching game that will keep players glued to their touchscreens for a long time to come.

A mite obtuse at first and sometimes unfair in its logic, sure, but a recommended game and one sure to have people poring over pulling off their perfect Shawshank Redemption-esque escape for years to come.

Jazzpunk is like an interactive trip through a Leslie Nielsen flick, showering the player with witty irreverence at every turn. Any situation will be taken to its most literal or bizarre conclusion, depending on which will serve for the better punchline.

It may not be wholly original, but thanks to a compelling Nemesis System, Shadow of Mordor forges its own unique path, which marks it out for praise.

Top-notch writing, great characters and the ever-present thrills of the courtroom - this is unmistakably an Ace Attorney game.

They say it's impossible to please everyone, but Splinter Cell: Blacklist comes admirably close.

The Wonderful 101 is a great fit for the Wii U, being rich in color and charm and putting the system's unique features to good use. Combat is strategic and rewarding, and some of the mechanics on show are refreshingly innovative.

Alien: Isolation is one of the most faithful video game adaptations you're ever likely to play, coming across as an homage to Alien and a like-for-like recreation of the used future Ridley Scott introduced us to in 1979.

Simply because it builds on an already fantastic game, Football Manager 2017 is in itself a winner. But a lot of the new features feel a little rough around the edges. The social aspects are repetitive, the improved graphical engine disappointing and there isn't much to tempt those who don't want to sign the next 12-months away to a simulation game.

That aside, Retro/Grade is well-executed and worthy of your time, particularly if you're a fan of the rhythm genre. All of the components come together really smartly to deliver a game that's a joy to play, on both an audiovisual and gameplay level.

Fez is ultimately a game about games much in the same way Hugo is a film about films. Fez can be very demanding to get the most out of it, but without ever actually asking anything of you. Do not play Fez to beat it, but play to explore and get lost in its puzzles and pixilated world.

When it comes down to it, it's the communication and that sense of shared success that makes Triforce Heroes such a joyous and satisfying release.

For fans of dogfighting games, Sky Gamblers: Cold War more than has you covered with its lengthy campaign, competitive online modes and various aircrafts to pilot.

If you don't already own FIFA 21, we doubt this upgrade will convince you to head out and buy it. But if you're a fan of the franchise and are thinking of picking up a new console, the next-gen update might be the thing that makes you fall in love with football all over again.

Those already addicted to Tiny Wings' charm will love the new levels, while those still on the fence couldn't have asked for a better invitation to join in.

For us, when it works its magic, it really works. It’s certainly the most exciting Pokémon game in years, and even if it’s a little overambitious – wouldn’t we rather have that experimentation over the same journey we’ve been on many, many times?

Layton Brothers: Mystery Room may not have anything to do with its namesake, but fans of piecing together mysteries will find it to be a rewarding puzzle all the same.

The story ekes out slowly and drips darkness and tension as you play hide and seek with a cast of horrors – most notably The Thin Man – leading to a blinding twist which only left us more unsettled yet ready to jump back in for another ride.

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End and The Lost Legacy are two unmissable experiences for PlayStation players. They're huge, bombastic, and rich stories that go toe to toe with some of the biggest Hollywood blockbusters around – and with their upgraded graphics it's hard not to say this collection is worth a look. If you've yet to play either game, this is a must-buy. Ultimately, however, these are a fairly barebones repackaging. So if you've already experienced both games, the high price tag might not be such an easy sell.

With its interesting time-control mechanic and relatable protagonist, Max's tale is off to a strong enough start to suggest that Quantic Dream and Telltale are in danger of being beaten at their own game.

Ultimax is a fine follow-up to Arena and a no-brainer for anyone who enjoyed its predecessor, whether you're in it for the story or the fighting. The narrative is arguably not as memorable this time around, but it's still a wonderful excuse to spend more time with characters you've already spent a hundred hours with and see the mysteries from the previous game resolved.

Features one of the most iconic and wonderfully-realized gaming locations of all time. With so much to see and do, it's a fantastic gaming experience for all of the family and so much more than a minigame compilation.

So far, Hitman feels like the perfect blend of Absolution and Blood Money; the accessibility and polish of the former, but with the same approach to level design and characterisation as the latter. It looks fantastic and the frame rate even holds up during the busiest scenes on PS4.

Killzone: Mercenary fulfils many of the broken promises of previous Vita shooters by delivering an experience that replicates the best qualities of its home console predecessors, while taking the series along new avenues.

Super Hexagon is perfectly designed for mobile.

OlliOlli achieves exactly what it set out to by providing a stern test of player's reflexes, with a level of playability that will keep them coming back for more punishment. You'll feel the desire to smash your Vita on some of the more taxing courses, but the urge to get back up on that skateboard for yet another attempt will prevent you from going through with it.

It's a breezy, short and fun run through a series of bonkers planets, tense boss-fights, and heartfelt cutscenes. With Sony's exclusives like the upcoming God of War sequel being delayed further beyond 2022, we only have a few games to enjoy, but we think you'll cope if you've got Rift Apart to play.

Even without the downloadable level packs, HueBrix brings a fresh face to mobile puzzle games for a head-scratching good time.

Baldur's Gate 2: Enhanced Edition is still an excellent RPG to this day though, so regardless of what platform you play it on, it is an adventure you won't soon forget.

Metro: Last Light rarely feels like a revolutionary shooter experience, but it embraces the traditions of its genre and combines them with trail-blazing visuals and a gripping story.

Chock-full of content and fresh ideas, Skylanders SuperChargers revitalises the toy-to-life series by seamlessly integrating racing into the mix and cranking up the variety.

There's isn't much new on offer, though the chance to own all of Kratos's adventures in glorious high definition will prove more than enough for his dedicated followers.

Roar Rampage is a mindless game in the best sort of way. It brings fun destructive action to your fingertips with a whimsical sense of humor.

As a tribute to a franchise's greatest moments, it's almost unparalleled in its breadth and attention to detail, and whether you're a long-time fan or someone who has only skimmed through a few core entries, there's no better way to revisit the series.

While the Ridge Racer series has been rather hit and miss in its last few iterations, Ridge Racer Slipstream feels like a return to form for fans of Namco's careening cars.

FTL did the punishingly difficulty space-faring genre better last year, but for that type of experience on the go Star Command is your best bet.

Lone Survivor: Director's Cut improves upon the already excellent original with an expanded story for its most dedicated fans, making it the definitive version of the psychological horror adventure.

In Starfield, this blend and culmination of ideas sometimes pays off in wonderful ways — but sometimes it falls short, because pushing too far in one direction would mean committing to an idea. Consequences.

If you've got the time and patience to overcome its seemingly ​impenetrable​ exterior, then Dirt Rally is a thrilling racing game that's best in its class. This is a game where satisfaction can be had with a podium finish and one where you'll feel a true sense of pride and joy for every hard-earned victory... as rare as they may be.

While the game does have its faults - particularly falling apart when Garrett is spotted - Thief excels in the shadows as a pure stealth title, becoming increasingly enjoyable as your skills improve.

Wasteland 2 might be daunting to newcomers, then, but its a sequel that successfully captures the strategic depth and black humor of the original...Brian Fargo and his team at InXile have delivered a quintessential role-playing experience with infinite possibilities.

Rift is another great entry in the NecroDancer series. It may be a more 'traditional' lane-scrolling rhythm title, but how the game incorporates Crypt's elements to create its own spin on the formula is noteworthy.

While the side-quests can underwhelm and frustrate, the sheer amount of extra content is a welcome addition, making for a more well-rounded role-playing experience and one that well lives up to the Final Fantasy name.

The extensive RaceNet-powered multiplayer mode, in particular, offers an enormous amount of things to do and players to challenge, which should keep fans on the road until the studio's next hotly-anticipated release. Let's just hope we don't have to wait another five years for GRID 3.

The story is not without its flaws. While there are a lot of different ending variations based on who makes it through the night and some key decisions, the true final chapter of the game ends on a rather abrupt and underwhelming note. But that doesn't change the fact that this is an entertaining and very worthwhile ride, and one that players might want to experience more than once from the beginning to see all of the different ways in which the deadly events at Hackett's Quarry can unfold (including all of the gruesome deaths).

Trials Fusion may not make as far of an evolutionary leap forward as its predecessor, but that doesn't make it any less worthy a successor to the Trials name.

Zoombies: Animales de la Muerte takes the lane-based tower defense of Plants vs Zombies and adds a more action-heavy twist to make it better fit touchscreen devices.

Whether it's the best occult or not is another matter. As a package, Werewolves is a shade above Vampires by 2022 standards – with supporting content like the world and accompanying lore fleshing out the occult beyond the core gameplay. But we'd also argue that a vampire Sim, by itself, has more engaging interactions with other Sims and weaknesses that have greater impact on everyday moments.

Republique Episode 2: Metamorphosis builds on the first episode's foundation for a stronger experience in every respect, with a story build up that is poised to make the wait for episode three feel even longer.

Wonderbook: Book of Spells is an impressive piece of technology, realizing the potential of augmented reality as a teaching tool and a means of wholesome family entertainment. Its appeal diminishes the older your children get, but Sony has convinced us that a world of possibilities lies ahead for Wonderbook.

Nidhogg is definitely a blast if you have a few friends around, and it's easy to see why it has been hyped up over the last few years.

Of course, that is assuming the second act can satisfactorily tie everything together. Act 1, if played at a relaxed pace while exploring every dialog possibility, is about a three-hour adventure.

Dungelot 2 polished and expanded the original's accessible charm to make a dungeon crawler that is both more approachable and far deeper than ever before.

Monument Valley's absolutely stunning visual style and clever level manipulation make it a fantastic mobile experience. The only shortcoming is that you will wish there was more of it.

Hitman GO is far cleverer than it has any right to be, putting a refreshingly unconventional spin on the stealth genre.

Give the free levels a try, and you will have a hard time not downloading the additional campaigns right away.

Leviathan: Warships has some issues in its controls, with buttons that can be slow to respond and ship menus that can get cluttered if you zoom out, but the game's solid strategy foundation still makes it a great pick for armchair tacticians.

Hearthstone's main drawback is a matchmaking system that can often put new players in matches out of their depth, along with a few stability and framerate hiccups that pop up in the iPad port.

It is a blending of genre and style that is an unexpected treat, and already one of the year's role-playing game highlights.

Samus Aran's latest 2D mission boasts consistently high thrills in exploration and combat to provide a worthy sequel to a highly-regarded game that came out 19 years ago. Metroid Dread doesn't quite deliver on the "dread" promised in the title, with atmosphere lacking and the initially-tense EMMI encounters becoming predictable, but nonetheless we had a tremendous amount of fun and hope we don't face another 19-year wait for the next original entry.

Double Exposure may fall a little short when compared to some of the previous games in the series, but Max Caulfield's return is still a riveting (and wild) ride. Max is as caring and likeable as ever. We loved spending time with her again – from her adorably awkward attempts at flirting at the start through to the dramatic if slightly uneven climax – and would more than welcome further stories with her.

A hugely enjoyable hack and slash title, with an incredibly satisfying combat system, memorable boss battles and an entertaining narrative.

Old Skies is an engaging point-and-click. It may not deviate heavily from the genre's formula, but the way the game bakes the time-travel aspects into some of the puzzle-solving provides a number of highs, and Fia's touching story and the twists along the way are worth experiencing.

Crates falling from the sky can aid your toaster with temporary power-ups like baguettes and bagels, with new bread attacks unlocking the more crates you collect. The downside is that Toast Time's 45 levels can go by rather quickly, but with more power-ups and costumes to unlock it makes for an excellent excuse to keep playing this quirky gem of a game.

Not only does The Stick of Truth capture the show's wicked sense of politically incorrect humor, but it wraps it up in what is actually a pretty fun turn-based role-playing game, making it a must for fans of the series and the fantasy genre.

Mirror's Edge Catalyst makes some major missteps in the story and character department, but hey, that's what the mute button is for...More important is that when the action is go and Faith is in full stride, Mirror's Edge Catalyst is as thrilling and sure-footed as they come.

It's a more methodical game than Angry Birds, requiring thoughtful planning and pinpoint timing, but in many ways that also makes it a more enjoyable game than its predecessor.

Out There is a game about controlling what you can, and adapting to what you can't, as a new story unfolds with each jump across the stars.

Taking into account everything the game does right, not least the top-tier racing and the Knockout Tour mode, World is arguably the most fun Mario Kart entry in a long time.

Gunpoint is a game with tremendous respect for the player, essentially giving you a toolbox of spy gadgets and a new stealth playground in every level, then letting you have at it at your own pace.

The greatest accomplishment of Super Smash Bros for 3DS is that the core battle system works so well on a handheld device. Once again Nintendo has demonstrated exactly how to bring a home console game to the small screen without compromising on concept and content.

After a constant stream of more realistic racing simulation games, the high-flying action of Asphalt 8: Airborne stands out for its interesting courses and intense speed.

A well-presented and engaging horror-themed first-person shooter. The story elements tread a delicate balance between the usual mobster clichés, yet the quality of the writing ensures that the game never becomes overbearing. Its also admirable that the campaign is utterly linear yet also hugely engrossing.

Solid controls and addicting gameplay already make Sheep Happens hard to put down, while the raining sheep and clever visual gags add that extra touch to turn it into a game you will keep coming back to again and again.

Soul Calibur V represents a strong return for the series, with battles more hard-hitting and free-flowing than ever before. Long-term fans might bemoan changes to the core mechanics, such as the removal of Critical Finishes and Guard Impact, but it's hard not to view most of its additions as progress.

Remains the definitive video game golfing experience.

Barring a slightly more restrictive career mode, Forza Horizon 2 more than builds on the solid foundations laid down by its predecessor. Forza Horizon 2 easily records a podium finish ahead of what is going to be a busy winter for the racing genre.

A game that captures all of the high points of the long-running series, and only one or two of the lows.

It's remarkable that a game as lengthy as Dragon's Dogma and with as little plot development manages to hold our interest through to an excellent finale. The combat system is undoubtedly the glue that holds the game together, providing a compelling reason to keep playing.

While there were a couple of things that didn't quite work for me, the stories that the machine holds, the strong writing, and the novelty of the game itself elevated TR-49 into something that really pulled me in. It's a fascinating puzzle game, and one that I hope doesn't go under the radar.

The stylish visuals compliment the well-executed action, resulting in a game that resembles past SOA favorites Limbo and Shadow Complex.

If there is a downside to One Epic Knight, it is that the upgrades are priced high to encourage in-app purchases using real money, which is a common problem with this type of mobile game. Other than that, just make sure you turn down the volume to avoid the grating voice acting, and enjoy dashing through castles in one of the best mobile infinite runner games yet.

Still, as an alternative to the likes of Forza Motorsport 5, Need for Speed Rivals offers a deep, extensive and enjoyable racing experience that seamlessly flits between single and multiplayer.

While many games will borrow elements from the classics in an attempt to become a spiritual successor to some popular title, MouseCraft manages to pay homage to its inspirations while retaining an identity all its own.

There is oodles of fun to be had in tackling the tracks alone or even more so with friends playing locally.

The game moves along nicely, eliminating potential problems with repetition; the graphics are great and the multiplayer is enormous fun, despite a few technical problems. OK, so Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine isn't the most original of games, or the most innovative, but it is finely polished and paced, and offers enough entertainment to overlook any shortcomings.

Cities: Skylines successfully caters for the audience left disappointed by SimCity with a level of accessibility tailored for casual city builders, combined with enough substance to delight veterans of the genre. Colossal Order has learned from EA's mistakes and brought us a game that steers clear of those pitfalls and emerges as a pioneer in its category.

Bug Heroes 2 has a steep learning curve, but mastering that curve reveals a strategic shooter with deep class specialisations and a satisfying online arena.