It relieves its predecessor from the position of being the best skill-based game on this platform with honors. And that is a remarkable trick in and of itself.

In this new iteration, Animal Crossing: New Leaf still may not be the most complex sim there is. But it has a special brand of charm that transforms even the most basic of activities, like sitting on a virtual bench, into a wonderfully soothing experience. This is why I love it.

Legend of Grimrock deserves candlelight and graph paper. Who knows how long it will take until someone will bridge the gap between an idealized past and the reality of now in such a wonderful way again; and if it will be in such an uncompromising and yet perfectly working way, as it was accomplished with Legend of Grimrock.

This double feature is one of the best games of this type and era...It's a revelation for everybody who was there when it first came out in the arcades and for those who just dream of simpler times. Better yet, Capcom didn't content themselves with forking it out for the sake of quickly getting another product on the market. They spent ideas, love and not least considerable resources to get this version right. You know what you're getting yourself into with a brawler like this. If that's what you're looking for, you can hardly do any better than with Chronicles of Mystara.

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.

It might be more of an ugly duckling than the console versions were, but this is still the zombie-survival game we've been waiting for all these years. It's not perfect, and sure as hell not an ageless beauty, but in breadth and depth utterly fresh and fully engaging. One of the most pleasant surprises of the year.

Dressed up for the present, old strengths preserved, a perfectly executed balance of trash and elegant horror shooter. Resident Evil 4 is still the most straight-up fun outing in the series.

It's the best form a Gran Turismo can take and could be a fitting conclusion to 15 years of Real Driving Simulation. Now, the only thing that has to happen is for the "Driving" part of this equation to evolve into "Racing".

It is not the most cutting edge conversion, but the lavish art manages to shine even more in this sharper, prettier and more fluid version of Lords of Shadow. So, in our book, the game still holds the same appeal as the console versions back in fall 2010, especially seeing that PC users don't get this brand of bombastic brawler all too often. This game won't get any better, at least not until Lords of Shadow 2 rolls around.

This is currently the best exclusive the Xbox One has to offer.

The limited number of units available and the exciting battles once again keep me glued to the screen. You never know what awaits around the next corner, and whether another counterattack will suddenly roll in, for which I have to prepare at lightning speed ... As much as I like other strategy games, hardly any of them offer as intense and thrilling battles as Company of Heroes 3, with this level of spectacle and production value.

Not only is Jazzpunk in and of itself a clever and positively insane experience, it is one of the funniest games of all time.

No, of course and I'm not going to pretend that Thumper alone justifies spending 600 euros on new hardware. But it is without a doubt the game that most clearly demonstrates something that can only exist on PlayStation VR2. Most outstanding among them is the physical feedback on the head, which, combined with the exhilarating audiovisual experience, simply has to be felt to be comprehended.

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

Is Little Inferno a game? What the heck do I know! What it is, though is quite unique experience, whose only downside I can think of is the asking price which might be considered by some to be slightly on the steep side.

Fans of the genre without prior contact to BlazBlue should definitely take a look at this Vita port. If you own the PS3 or 360 Version though, you only need this, if you just can´t live without the colorful BlazBlue-Heroes, while being on the road.

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.

Depending on how you play, Dragonborn is a 10 to 25 hours ride offering fresher and more compelling material than Skyrim itself came up with. That might be because it is slightly more dense and compressed. But it's more likely that it is down to a new found courage of its designers and their willingness to show you some new corners of this own cosmos and fill those with some interesting dungeons.

It never ceases to amaze how Atlus manages to make Japanese games that lose none of their appeal in their translation to the West. Even though this is totally banking on it's Nippon slice of life approach, its no less compatible with western audiences than any other RPG. This is an approachable and sympathetic cast of characters going through relatable hardships – you don't need to be an anime fan to get that. In light of the Vita's situation you might not want a reason to get one of Sony's struggling portables. Now you have one nevertheless.

It's the visually masterfully realised translation of a Lovecraftian short story into something that is not necessarily a horror game and maybe not even a real video game per se. But be that as it may, I had two evenings of excellent entertainment, so there is little to complain about.

Like its predecessors, Expeditions strikes a brain-bendingly perfect balance between relaxation and tension.

Deep Sleep: Labyrinth of the Forsaken is raw, intense, and haunting. No gloss, no spectacle – just indie pixel horror that hits harder than many AAA titles.

A thoroughly successful remaster of the classic shooter, which has never been more beautiful than it is today. Plays perfectly on PC and console.

There's not much I could complain about. Building a railroad empire has rarely been so relaxing. A real time-eater that will always give you plenty to do.

You should definitely treat yourself to the upgrade if you picked up Hogwarts on Switch back then, only to put it aside after an hour or two in frustration. Or you can start fresh now because you already thought it wouldn't work back then. Either way, now is the time to catch up on a wonderful game in a version that does it justice.

Ants may be tiny to us, but they live in their very own world with their own problems, dangers and challenges. Empire of the Ants conveys this feeling quite well and I am glad that there is a game that shows this perspective.

This is what ShootMania is about: consistent minimalism, first-rate e-sports suitability and loads of creative potential. Still, sometimes you might hunger for something more that a bare bones match with three different guns, after all, games like Quake and Unreal Tournament didn't become classics in spite of, but because of their ludicrous arsenals. If you can live without the graphical opulence of the other offerings and are dead-set on pure playability, you won't regret getting this.

In Harm's Way is so outstanding, it'll be interesting to see if Telltale can keep up the excellent tension for the remainder of the season.

I really loved the character design and the make-up of the interactive stages. Plus, it's without a doubt the most interesting story mode I ever had the fortune playing in a beat 'em up, and I would have loved have gotten a few more hours out of it. Even if the rest of the package can be a bit workmanlike, everything works splendidly.

Relic did everything right back then and after many, many years Blackbird Interactive has managed to build on this in a worthy way. In terms of gameplay and feel, Homeworld 3 is very close to the originals and I would definitely say that all fans will have fun with it. The war games mode isn't necessarily for me, but I'm sure it will be a worthwhile challenge for some. All in all, I'm happy with this game and glad that it exists.

At times, Infinite Wealth feels a little unfocused in terms of plot and progression, with all its little mini-games and time-wasters in a positive sense. Then again, maybe that's the wrong way to look at this game. These distractions an essential part of this Hawaiian excursion and a big reason why you're doing it all in the first place. It gives these characters and the world life and vigor - you're here to take a vacation. If you embrace that and let yourself drift through Hawaii instead of running from one quest marker to the next, you'll find this the most positively sunny game of the winter.

For me, The Crew Motorfest is clearly the best part of the series so far. This is not only due to the beautiful setting, but also the much improved handling of the cars, which keeps me much more glued to the screen than the two predecessors. It's not quite perfected yet, but with the more manageable setting this time around, the improved handling as well of the abundance of variety, Ubisoft Ivory Tower is on a very good path.

Monster Hunter Wilds has a lot to offer, has been optimized in all the right places and comprehensive post-launch support has already been promised. For fans, there is no reason not to pick it up, while everyone else will certainly find it one of the best starting points to get into the series.

It's faster, more elegant and plays really diversely thanks to the depth the weapon, perk and upgrade systems bring.

At the price point of a mere 1200 points, I can hardly bicker about the lack of truly new features or the absence of a new high-end-engine, but praise SEGA, that they haven´t put this update on the shelves for the full price.

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.

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.

The Coca-Cola of shooters entertains with a lively new movement system, strong maps in multiplayer and a fun, if bonkers, campaign.

In my opinion, there is really nothing to complain about. During the two-year early access phase, there was ample time to refine the game, and that time has not gone to waste. Pioneers of Pagonia plays very well, looks very nice, and its sights and sounds create a pleasant, relaxing experience.

It might not yet feel as complete as the 'official launch' label on its Steam page suggests. But still, you have never seen anything remotely like this. And Uber Entertainment's game loses no opportunity to remind you of that.

TT Games' most recent brick-adventure once again shines with its loving sense for details and its admiration for the source material. This one is easy to recommend to young and old alike because of its typical brand of LEGO humor and the tried and tested playability.

Even though its world isn’t quite perfect, Hogwarts Legacy is compelling on many levels and surprises with inventiveness and loving details.

Clean, unadorned and never pretentious or ponderous elegance. It's an unapologetically modern game in a classic guise.

Ys X: Nordics is a really well-done little-big action-adventure RPG that can give you hours of fun. I guess I don't have to fear the demise of Ys after all. But still, Nihom, seriously: at least take a look at Unreal Engine 3 or something. Might help.

Although beautiful and rich with story, the Living Lands is not the most believable role-playing world – yet compelling to explore thanks to parkour-heavy movement and satisfyingly physical as well as tactical combat.

Monster World is the real highlight of these Vintage Collections... You have to hand it to old action-adventures: they manage to stay surprisingly young.

Blacklist doesn't do all too much to bring the series forward, let alone reinvent it. But it still is a good looking, supremely solid crafted and well-balanced stealth game that knows exactly what it needs to accomplish. I know a lot of people who will find quite a lot of beauty in that.

It's three games that are not coincidentally phenomenally successful, all rolled into one batch. And it really is a winner, as long as you enjoy the HD graphics and are willing ignore that it is a bit pricey and you always have to cram out the disc if you want to have a go. It doesn't take much away from the quality on offer, but it's up to you if you need the prettiest and most expensive version of this.

A clever, engaging mix of roguelite and tower defense with an antique flair and a high 'schadenfreude' factor - despite minor UI clunkiness and slightly too punishing progression loss upon game over.

Stronghold has its very own charm. Things have been improved, supplemented and even though not everything may be perfect, for just 15 bucks you get a lot of content, a game that still works well today and you can see for yourself what the Stronghold series is all about.

Helldivers 2, then: It's blunt, but very, very good, combining moments of unbridled panic with epochal triumphs. It's simply an exercise in barely controlled chaos. Arrowhead knows how to bring you dangerously close to the threshold of being overwhelmed every few meters and then give you a friendly pat on the back.

This remake is a wonderful example of how such classics can be brought into the modern age without losing their charm and appeal. I would also like to see this done for other classics of the genre.

As soon as you invest the requisite time and a bit of cash in Project Spark, you'll find it to be a wonderful tool that leaves little to be desired.

While Tokyo itself is somewhat disappointing in terms of size and flair, the drift-prone driving physics are incredibly fun. Content-wise Forza Horizon 6 is as big as ever - there are dozens of hours of fun to be had here.

As always, a very detailed and successful football management simulation that you can spend hundreds of hours playing.

Open-world arcade racer with a few rough edges, but deep customization and excellent car handling that allows for some smooth drifting.

A surprisingly atmospheric mystery novel about urban legends, with an engaging story, a unique pixel art style, and a wonderful soundtrack. Although the gameplay loop becomes repetitive towards the end, the plot and characters remain intriguing throughout.

You get a fascinating vision of the future, in which you have to fill a few gaps yourself, if you don´t want to fall into its holes. But at the core it is a very solid story, entertaining, with a few fresh ideas – something that can’t be said about every work in this genre – and would not have been misplaced in one of the books by Gibson/Sterling. As it is, I experienced Remember Me first as this story and only second as a game of decent climbing-passages and solid brawling, which I enjoyed more as a nice form of diversion.

Sad Cat Studios’ debut is an atmospherically powerful tour de force that only occasionally runs out of steam.

Rising Storm is a very special brand of shooter, not that you'd expect any less from Tripwire Interactive. The pacific setting gives the trusty Red Orchestra gameplay a fresh coat of paint and the game does a good job in keeping a good balance between American and Japanese forces, which could have easily been skewed against the latter. Instead, Rising Storm shows very well that it's not always down to who's got the bigger guns at their disposal.

Enjoyable, flashy remake of the first Mario RPG that makes up for its battle's lack of bite with buckets of charming nonsense and revives one of Bowser's best appearances.

Goodnight Universe is a striking reminder of how powerful good storytelling can be. The webcam controls are simple, yet far from a gimmick — they amplify each scene and pull you in even deeper. In short: a small game that hits straight to the heart and lingers long after it’s over.

All of the preconceptions have been rectified, DiRT Showdown s a reasonable, competent expansion of the series that not only could offer the possibility for another spin-off in a traditional rally direction, but brings back that good old Destruction-Derby-feeling that so many seem to have a craving for. Don´t keep saying "there are no more games like that". Here is one. Enjoy.

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.

Granted, Omega is as much a matter of taste and preference as the next DLC. It's a story of its own without big connections to the main plot and you'll definitely get the most out of it, if you fell for Aria and Omega in Mass Effect 2. I liked it for its great production values and a solidly balanced mix of story, character dialogue and often more open ended fights than in the main game. Though this is hardly a must-have, it is most definitely four hours of entertaining side content with interesting companions and a charismatic bad guy.

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 franchise, like no other, is a conglomerate of almost indescribable uniques, which sometimes take themselves a little bit too serious, sometimes not serious enough, but will never fail to captivate.

If you have been waiting for a good honest FPS on the Vita, this is it. In fact, there aren't many ways in which Killzone's debut on Sony's starving handheld could have been much better.

Exoprimal is a relaxed cooperative PvE action that generates a lot of momentum through indirect competition with an opposing team. Especially when you coordinate with up to four friends, it's surprisingly entertaining - much more entertaining than the pictures and videos with thousands of dinosaurs in front of rather functional backdrops would suggest.

It's simply fun to experience Age of Mythology in this modernized version, with its mythological elements it stands out pleasantly from the main Age series. Ultimately, there is little to complain about here.

With clever puzzles, likeable characters and a polished, modern reworking, the two Another Code games look great on the Switch. Lengths in the story or the lack of bonus material only amonut to minor drawbacks.

Design-wise and in terms of using the Zelda license, Omega Force deserves a pat on the back. It's their best game to date.

Come for the hilariously stupid premise, stay for the constant surprises.

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.

Even if the puzzles are a bit uneven in their quality, it is still one of the best hack and slash games around. In the past this series managed to elevate itself from other solidly entertaining games of that ilk a bit better, with all the glorious set-pieces and awe-inspiring moments. These are harder to find in Ascension, though. But what did you expect, when the gods themselves have already been felled? Still, this was a lot of fun, but the next God of War better have some really interesting ideas, if it wants us to really marvel at it again.

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

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.

On the track, it shines with its charms and its finely tuned balance between diligence, precision driving and luck.

A good conversion of the PC city builder for consoles, which also unfolds its addictive potential there. The controls work well, but unfortunately the season passes will not be released for consoles.

Resident Evil Village on Switch 2 is a technically impressive port, but ultimately one that will likely only appeal to Nintendo purists.

It ropes you in as a cute and simple game, only to show its true identity after just a couple of rounds. Only if you play clever and smartly plan your journey, you'll be able to ever finish FTL: Faster Than Light – only to turn around on a dime and start all over again.

If GRID Autosport is Codemasters' way of saying 'sorry' for the last one, consider the apology accepted.

Rise of Venice is conservative in the best sense of the word. It's a classic simulation, German through and through, brimming with detail, depth but still accessible to players new to the genre.

Ball x Pit is an audiovisual onslaught – chaotic, clever, and cathartic. A Breakout for the modern age that proves the simplest ideas often have the longest shelf life.

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.

It's a well-realized trip back to the good ol' times.

A little too conservative and talkative here and there, but a thoroughly fun comeback with smartly amended combat mechanics and a backpack full of nonsense.

Eight months after release, Injustice is an accessible but mature fighting game with oodles of content and lots of character.

Most of all, Virtua Tennis 4 impresses because of the quality of this port, which might well be the final word when it comes to handheld conversions of home console titles. You're almost puzzled that the game doesn't support cross-platform play, so close is this version to last year's counterpart ... The quick-fire arcade style of gameplay with its focus on minigames and short match-ups seems like a much better fit for a handheld than it did for Xbox 360 and PS3.

A nice technical upgrade of the modern classic, but nothing more. The Zelda Notes functions should have been in the game rather than on smartphones.

Sure, it's a calculated affair. But the well known formula still makes Far Cry 4 a very welcoming shooter-sandbox with a refreshing knack for chaos.

You know how these go: Another LEGO game that is just a lot of fun for young and old to explore. TT Games reliably delivers the well-known quality.

A game that can be very unusual and chaotic at times, but is still enjoyable once you get into it.

If you're a fan of turn-based strategy, you're can't go wrong getting Songs of Conquest on your Nintendo Switch. The port is a success, and the game still is a lot of fun on Nintendo's console, reminding you of the "good old days" of the genre while enjoying a modern version of it at the same time. It's just a shame that there are no optimizations for the Switch 2 yet - I hope these are still to come.

While adding little to existing career and other modes Milestone has taken huge strides with its largely improved physics model. Virtual bikes never felt as real as these do.

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.

Thing is, my considerable enjoyment of this remake would probably still be the same if they had put much less of an effort into this. So, should I commend them for putting everything they had into this love letter to a really, really good, if imperfect platformer, or complain that they didn't use the budget to port 20 different Capcom classics in a more humble, functional manner? Maybe both, but probably a bit more of the former.

It all comes down to the question, if you want more of Rage. Depending on which difficulty setting you're playing on, this is two to four hours of that for the price of about 5 euros. That's pretty decent, considering that there are full price games with just about twice as much of content out there. To surmise: a good story, if you want to call it a story, solid, fresh enemies and new corridors for you to shoot through, that are enjoyable in spite of their linearity. If that sounds like a good evenings' entertainment for you, you can't go wrong with The Scorchers.