Capcom’s new franchise impresses with engaging mechanics, tightly designed environments and dynamic combat. Only the characters and storyline fall short in what might be the start to a great new franchise

Halo 4 is something really special. Not only is it a first-rate exclusive for the good old 360, it's also a shining example of the kind of technical excellence that's still possible on the elderly hardware. It's one of these games that justify the decision to buy this console. 343 Industries has gone ahead and obliterated my qualms about the brand's change to another developer than Bungie. Now there's only one thing I want: More.

Even though Pokemon X is undoubtedly the strongest entry in the series yet, after 14 years of playing with a basically unchanged formula, I kind of expected something more.

It's neither as groundbreaking as the first one nor a compelling a narrative as the Max Payne 2 (…) but it's still the kind of 'Welcome Back'-Party you wouldn't want to miss.

Three years after its initial release, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance remains the perfect JRPG, which shines in the new edition with better performance and an expanded story. Sensible additions to the game elements also make it easier to get started without scaring off hardcore fans, for whom new conveniences remain optional. A clear recommendation for anyone who has always wanted to get into the franchise or is simply in the mood for one of the best modern JRPGs.

Saros might not be perfect, with the storytelling in particular showing some rough edges. It takes a while getting up to speed but when all systems are in place, it's an exceptional arcade shooter and an extraordinary spectacle.

Cute, charming, flexible: Pikmin 4 skillfully combines the qualities of its predecessors into a varied, elegant package, and I'm quite taken with Ochin. It's a bit of a pity that it doesn't reveal its best tricks a tad earlier.

Final Fantasy has a habit of reinventing itself. That's why the series, with all its ups and its few downs, has remained relevant to this day. Final Fantasy 16 is no exception. Who knows how long the series will remain this straightforward a story and action-experience. For now and for this game, anyway, it works wonderfully. And not because its combat is particularly outstanding or the story changes the way we'll look at fantasy in the future, but because Final Fantasy has always been more than the sum of its parts. That has rarely been more true than for Part 16.

It shines in each and every discipline, only taking the very occasional and tiny misstep, you'll be hard pressed to notice or get in arms about. It's one of these games that gets you thinking long after you finished it, which makes me want to recommend it even more.

What else can you say about these two games? For me, they were and remain the crowning glory of Mario creation, masterpieces of level design, and a bottomless treasure trove of interesting ideas to toy and tinker with.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is so close to the original that it almost feels like a precious relic in its own right: a long-lost type of adventure that even the recent movies have been unable to unearth, no matter how hard they dug. It is playful, cheeky and blessed with an enviable innocence that you would not have expected from such a large, lavish mainstream product from one of the biggest publishers in the world. It belongs in a museum.

It is a symbiosis of elements from the old titles and a lot of Uncharted. As such, free-form exploration, puzzles and tombs to raid meet big-screen action and frenzied shootouts. It could be a great way into the future for Lara, one you couldn't really picture before. For now, this really works.

Sure, Tearaway's depth is more an emotional one than of gameplay. But you only need to take one look at that permanently grinning face in the sun to know: In the end, that's what it's all about.

It‘s a fan-feast for the ears, then, with a good sense of rhythm and lots of tracks. It‘s just a shame that its looks are somewhat disappointing and that it‘s comparably stingy in terms of extras commemorating the series‘ 35th anniversary.

Resident Evil 7 on Switch 2 is a technically polished piece of series history and, above all, a very well-rounded package for Nintendo fans who don’t own another console.

The fresh new skills are great, as is the loot. Adventure mode's just heavenly, and the new classes have exceeded my expectations. As soon as Blizzard integrates a ladder and gets the PVP straightened out, the competition will be done for years to come.

The cool thing about the PlayStation VR2 implementation is that you can aim not only with the analog stick, but also with the Sense controllers themselves, as well as by turning your head and just looking at it with your eyes ... If you glide around in the vicinity of several enemies, the surround sound in particular comes into its own. Just be aware here that your head and stomach have to tolerate turns in all directions, which is not everyone's cup of tea in VR.

Divinity: Original Sin is not necessarily better than the classic RPGs it's bowing its head to. It's not even on eye level with some of them. But it's coming at the right time, knowing exactly where it came from and where it wants to go.

The ways it tries to scare you are somewhat limited and there’s some technical issues, but this is a well-made, discreet and smart reboot for a series that deserves a second chance

Stunning, deep, and incredibly rewarding - Monster Hunter Stories 3 transcends its spin-off roots to become its own unique beast. A top-tier, premium JRPG experience.

I could tell hour-long anecdotes about my adventures in this weird world. Find another Spelunky-Player and these spin out of control – into endless amusing conversations. It may not be for everybody, but once it's got you hooked, it won't let go of you for days.

Lumines Arise is a fresh and striking audiovisual experience that elevates the only game matching the brilliance of Tetris to a new level.

This impressive console port is a great fit for those who are new to the series and to co-op fans alike.

It's both the funniest and most exciting game story of the year, presented in a package of incredible creative integrity. Dispatch presents the most convincing argument against player-facing generative AI in video games. It's full of life and character that machines will never be able to replicate.

Conrad Roset's second game is a visually stunning parable about life and death - very straightforward, but with a touching story and inventive combat.

A first-class Monster Hunter experience! Sure, its Switch roots are showing, and it's not the most sumptuous game to look at on these new platforms, but Monster Hunter Rise more than makes up for that in the gameplay department.

A sterling example for an effective and utterly successful overhaul of a proven and compelling concept, rather than a fundamental shake-up. This might not be a system-seller some people might have hoped for. But those who already own a Wii U can and should look forward to many, many hours perfectly tuned Nintendo entertainment.

Absolum is a game that convinces you of its quality right from the start, only to reveal new strengths with every run and every new ability. Do yourselves a favor.

Whatever Visual Concepts has in store for the next generation: I can wait. The enhanced defense and the overhauled ball handling will make this year a short one.

Dexterity, nerves, observational skills - Snow Riders loves to see all of this from you, both solo and in multiplayer. But this game is also fine with you wanting some peace and quiet or a little vacation feeling in the mountains. To me, this vibe is a revelation.

Rarely have I experienced such a thrilling rush of action and acrobatics, and if you're even remotely in the mood for that, don't miss Turbo Overkill.

In any case, Fall of the Samurai demonstrates what releasing a good add-on truly means. They could have gone down the cheaper "a little more of everything" road. But instead, Creative Assembly invested their hearts, brains and their uncompromising attention to detail into this, to give this expansion its very own charm and character.

The shortcomings of the career are the main reason why my enthusiasm is a little bit dampened, but the rest of the game was improved in all its aspects. The new moves, attacks and the inclusion of the PRIDE-Modes make it a must-buy for fans. Even newcomers and people who so far just liked the UFC-Videos don´t need to be afraid of the steep learning curve they found in the earlier games.

Age of Empires 2 hasn't lost any of its fascination, the Definitive Edition brings it in line with modern gameplay sensibilities and, as an upgrade, is as good as it gets. If you've ever wanted to play Age of Empires from the comfort of your couch, now's your time.

The most beautiful version of Dragon Quest 3 to date knows exactly how to make a visual impression. However, the teeth of time have been gnawing mercilessly at the plot and gameplay.

Once again, Two Point Studios succeeds in combining their mix of quite complex, demanding management, which requires a lot of thought, with humor and the usual silliness that you know from the series.

Incredibly charming depiction of Batman's entire history in a game that could easily be a full-on spin-off from the Arkham series.

Very entertaining action adventure with extremely likeable characters. However, its launch on the PC is not flawless.

Respawn created a game that's easily on equal footing with the big-name established franchises, while breathing new impulses into the genre.

This Silent Hill 2 is more beautiful and bigger than ever- And those are just two of the problems with this fantastic remake. What can I say, it's complicated.

1000xRESIST tells a surprisingly deep and compelling story. What at times it lacks in terms of pacing and production value, it makes up with an abundance of creativity and unique storytelling.

Blizzard has once again proven its flair and a sure hand in expanding upon StarCraft 2's multiplayer. Don't expect big innovations, though, it's just reasonable improvements that are on display here. The campaign is entertaining enough and some of the mission designs are a real treat, even though 'zerging' through enemies by way of simple bases still promises sure success a bit too often.

Forbidden Solitaire turns a simple game of patience into a surprisingly clever horror card adventure with dungeon-crawler DNA. Not every battle hits hard, but its musty ’90s CD-ROM charm works brilliantly.

While Ghost of Yotei’s gameplay and structure are fairly conventional, it’s still home to a gripping revenge story, a great combat system, and one of the most beautiful game worlds in a long time.

Between the clever level design, the game's gentle way of teaching you the mechanics and the simple, heart-felt story with it's phenomenal finale, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons should be played by pretty much everyone.

The Ghost Trick Remaster is a neat fan package and, despite some outdated decisions, makes for a great puzzle adventure thanks to exciting ideas and a well-crafted (if somewhat unfinished) storyline.

What might be the friendliest extraction game out there might also be the best: Incredibly solid core mechanics converge with a captivatingly beautiful world that consistently produces memorable moments.

It took Ubisoft some time and Assassin's Creed 4 hasn't totally freed itself from all its past sins, but the fourth numbered entry in the series managed to capture me from start to finish, thoroughly entertaining me, wrapping me up in the engaging, often truly joyful proceedings.

The new edition of the JRPG is convincing to the end thanks to a technical overhaul, an unusual combat system and a dramatic story. The combat system seems refreshing, but some elements of world exploration are outdated. Numerous characters and endings ensure a high replay value.

Colorful action and rewarding exploration make for an excellent platformer: Sega's silent ninja returns in an inspired adventure.

It combines fighting and stealth in an elegant manner, gives you just enough freedom to make you forget there's actually not all that much of it there. All in all and tonal inconsistencies aside, it's one of the best engineered games out there.

This golden age of Marvel Games and the tournament brawler genre has aged well. Fluidly and with vigour, these heroes fight each other a quarter of a century later as if no time had passed and no MCU had ever happened.

Chants of Sennaar is a strikingly stylish and, above all, playfully addictive puzzler, where you have to decipher foreign languages to understand the puzzles and their world. For me, it's a big hit, which certainly didn't come out at the most opportune time of the year. But ambitious tinkerers should not lose sight of it despite everything.

It's firmly rooted in the tradition of Bizarre Creations' glorious Project Gotham series, the best arcade racers there ever were. What more could you want from this?

Once again, it's quite beautiful how all the mechanics just snap into place like in a well-oiled machine. The new features integrate so seamlessly into the campaign that you'd be forgiven for thinking they had always be there. Most impressively, through this, XCOM gains breadth and depth without losing any of that infectious accessibility that made the main game such a hit.

I'd say 'fans of the genre, go ahead and get this', but honestly, there's no way you don't already have it.

This extremely entertaining pinball game floods the brain with reward hormones. The overkill disrupts precision and tactics - they are replaced by variety and an audiovisual feast.

It might sound a bit more harsh than the game deserves, but sometimes you have to call the developers out when a game suffers under ill-advised direction. Thanks to the beautiful and richly filled houses and some really great characters, Luigi's Mansion qualifies as a really good game. It's just not the fantastic one it could have been.

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon definitely carries around some legacy issues. These and a couple of other annoyances aside, the game clearly shows how much From Software has grown over the past ten years. Because in its best moments, Fires of Rubicon is a furious action fest that requires skill, quick reactions and a spirited tactical approach.

It plays super-slick, is easy to learn, all the while still offering enough depth to take on the competition. Just like with all the other Beat 'em' Ups, though, you can't help but wonder when the genre will take its next evolutionary step.

In its rousing finale, without a single word, Cairn makes me understand what was always inscrutable to me. I realize what Aava feels when looking up at Mount Kami from below. Not a grave, not even a threat, but a gateway to eternity. Powerful.

Ditch the podcasts or netflix for some games that seem to want you to enjoy in parallel to the experience. If you don't focus on The Talos Principle alone, you'll never experience that sublime moment, where some puzzles seem to solve themselves, because you instinctively get this world's inner workings and use its tools with machine-like efficiency.

World of Warcraft: The War Within represents a strong start for the worldsoul saga and brings with it many improvements and numerous new features that will advance WoW in general.

I don't usually count myself in the group of people who frequently wished they were younger. But in this particular case I'd give a lot to be able to see this world and its magic through young and unspoiled eyes, to be able to take it all in unfiltered. The influence Studio Ghibli exerts over this is so strong that it single-handedly might make Ni no Kuni that defining game for a young and Japanophile generation, not unlike what those Final Fantasys of old managed to become for us. And because I hold those so dearly, I couldn't think of a bigger compliment. I salute Ni no Kuni.

As a sequel, Legend of Grimrock 2 parties like it's 1991 and itself is a Beholder: bigger, better and basically the same game… I guess not that much has changed since then when it comes to sequels. Anyway, for every one of you dungeon crawlers out there, this one is a dream come true.

It's the only RPG you'll need this winter and finally a worthy heir to Origins, last generation's best role-playing game.

Playful and with a spatial openness previously unknown in the isometric Hyrule, Zelda celebrates her grand entrance, but also proves that the Switch is technically at the end of the line even when it comes to in-house productions. ... The approach of omitting iconic tools works because the heroine is able to shake a bouquet of alternatives from her staff in return - and thus builds up more than a sword could ever tear down.

Is the new technology worth the 10 euros if you already have the original in your collection? Yes, I think so. Is it worth buying if you've never played Zero Dawn? The answer should be clear: Horizon: Zero Dawn Remastered is a must-have.

It's not as special as the title suggests. But that doesn't make it any less – or more for that matter – of a brilliant game.

Just leave me here, on these lush, gigantic worlds, and I'll be too well entertained to over-analyze Survivor's certain lack of precision or it not exactly inventing all these mechanics anew. I am docking a point for the technical state it is launching in, though.

Even though I like Starfield more than Fallout 4, it's just 'the next one of these', instead of the big new beginning that some might have hoped for. If that's not enough for you, I understand. In the end, however, I have to say that these old bones are still robust enough to carry heaps of fun through this fresh and technically as well as visually appealing scenario. Here's hoping for a 'Starfield: New Vega' from Obsidian.

2K manages to impress the 14th time in a row. That's not an easy feat to accomplish.

Assassin's Creed finally arrives where it has always belonged: firmly into the stealth genre, where a mistake is just as deadly as your famous blade. The division into two characters, each with their own weaknesses instead of one superhero finally allows for new, successful impulses for the series. And old Japan is simply gorgeous.

I'd have to make things up to find anything else that's worthy of complaint about this wonderful game. Gaijin Games has taken the best and most appreciated entry in the Bit.Trip saga and honed it to perfection, small lapses in creativity in the final levels notwithstanding. I honestly don't think there's much room for improvement for a possible part three.

Sometimes, videogames are thought of as a means of escapism into worlds and universes you always wanted to immerse yourself and spend your time in, but in reality never could. I truly hope I never encounter someone who thinks this way about Hotline Miami.

Comprehensive modernizations, useful QoL features, and a spectacular graphics update: While not entirely free of some grating gameplay anachronisms, this is still the best possible version of Kojima's legendary classic.

Somewhat straightforward, but exciting and elegantly presented urban development against the constant scarcity of resources.

The last time I had this much fun with a similar racing set-up, I was playing Project Gotham Racing 2. Fans of the genre should definitely keep an eye on whatever Playground Games decides to invest their considerable talents in next.

The Dark Ages wanted to be the most forceful Doom, and it succeeded. Did it take the series any further? No, not really. And as much as I love the fact that there Doom: The Dark Ages exists and as much as I wouldn't want to miss it - the world certainly doesn't need a second one any time soon.

The Stick of Truth is a great game, no doubt. Sadly, the adventure is brief one that leaves you craving more. This is a testimony to the sublime quality that's on offer here, but doesn't change the fact that you're a bit unsatisfied when you're done with it. Still, if you like the series at all, you should absolutely play this.

Don't miss out on this gem! Even if you know Tower Defense inside out or perhaps don't like it at all... although: especially then. Because Kunitsu-Gami feels so distinct, as is rarely the case under the umbrella of a big label like Capcom, and is made with so much attention to detail it enchanted me from the very first minute.

So, Wii U owners: In the end, you got the weakest version of a game that stays utterly remarkable in its own right. It deserves all of your attention. Everyone else, go on, there's nothing here for you that you haven't experienced in a better iteration somewhere else.

This is not exactly the worst port in the world, but the only glorious thing about it is its sheer existence. But nonetheless, PC-gamers should still be grateful, even if it does not offer the kind of technical improvement that they are used to and have to battle a few odd bugs. But since these are mostly restrained to graphical issues which can be fixed – not always thanks to FromSoftware ... – neither the score nor the conclusion have to be changed: Dark Souls is THE game of the last few years.

This is not a weaker version of what awaits us when the Wii U outing rolls around in a few weeks time. It's one of the best handheld games out there.

You'll leave with the knowledge that sometimes better tech really does make for a better game. On the PC you read the battles better and more immediately and have an easier time, translating the desired action onto the screen. You really become a better fighter in this incarnation. In a genre where milliseconds can make all the difference, this ultimately makes for a more enjoyable experience in total. Ninja Theory really did go the extra mile for the PC, giving DmC the last little push it needed to become something really special.

Shovel Knight is all that we once held dear at the tail-end of the eighties, distilled into one beautiful new game.

A strong narrative with charming characters and the relatively free creation as well as interpretation of tarot-like cards distinguish this stylish adventure game.

The 'f' is for 'finally': Not exceptionally scary and treading on very familiar ground in terms of gameplay, but still disturbing and powerfully resonant: Silent Hill f revitalizes the legendary horror series as a subtle narrative puzzle for you to pick apart.

Lies of P: Overture adds a beautiful chapter to a fantastic game. The only criticism you could levy against it, is that it's not as essential to this game's world as it should be.

Although highly formulaic, this open-world adventure is incredibly engaging because both the action and the completion of numerous tasks, including the extensive character development associated with them, feel excellent.

JRPG fans who subscribe to the school of thought that imagination can triumph over any of the logical inconsistencies this particular genre regularly brings with it, will welcome this as the new king of their genre. Everyone else will find this to be competent in the gameplay department, visually and acoustically arresting - and completely confused in terms of story.

Every frame is stunningly composed, the voice actors as fitting as they are talented. On PC, even the tech has come a long way since The Walking Dead, which helps to get totally wrapped-up in this extraordinary murder mystery. This close to the release of Beyond: Two Souls, there's also something to be said about characters that are believable and relatable, without having to bank on star power and performance capture.

Ultimately, Cyberpunk 2077 is one of the most remarkable games you can buy for the launch of the Switch 2. Firsty, because the port proves what Nintendo's console is technically capable of. And secondly because this is just a massive, excellent RPG that has matured nicely, indeed.

Minishoot’ Adventures is the triumphant fusion of nostalgic dungeon exploration and modern bullet-hell precision – further proof that the best ideas are often the simplest.

Even though it's not quite a perfect collection, it's a dazzling value and a brilliant way to prepare for Halo 5: Guardians.

Skate Story is an intoxicating hell ride with great board feel, insane presentation, and a fiercely singular identity. If you love games that scramble your brain and senses, you should definitely give this trip a chance.

On Wii U this stays an essential buy for everyone that hasn't played it yet. It is a very, very accomplished game and great for all the reasons the original was a few months ago, but you don't have to buy it again for the WiiU. Also, it doesn't do much to prove that conversions to this platform are necessarily better than their 360 or PS3 counterparts. It's still 'just' one of the best games in recent years as it was back in summer.

Ender Magnolia is an excellent Metroidvania, that is definitely worth your time. Sure, you need a certain level of stress resistance when you come to the boss fights, but then again, who plays games because they’re cozy.