Mario’s first Switch outing is not only one of the best releases in an unusually brilliant year, but arguably one of Nintendo’s greatest gaming achievements ever. With refreshingly varied kingdom designs that offer a playful mix of the old and the new, Super Mario Odyssey is a game where you never really know what to expect next. We could tell you more about the individual moments that make this game such a magical experience, but honestly, to reveal too many of its secrets would simply spoil the fun.

While there's still gore and violence by the corpse-load, this cinematic adventure feels far more reminiscent of the father-daughter relationship in The Last of Us than the testosterone-soaked Devil May Cry challenger the franchise started as.

There are no two ways about it: this is one of the most impressive games on the Nintendo Switch, and represents some of the best value for money we’ve seen in video games in years, whether you’re into single player or multiplayer. Buy this game, you will not regret it.

The game is a stunning achievement, so far ahead of any racing title or driving sim on the market, it’s bordering on obscene.

The best classic fantasy RPG on console, ever.

It is the best SoulsBorne game since the original Dark Souls, a tremendous victory lap for the genre that pushes the series in a fascinating direction, revitalizing its most stale features and introducing bold new ones.

This is the Shadow of the Colossus that you thought you played over a decade ago, unfolding before your eyes. Every second as sad, as spectacular, and as exceptionally unique as it ever was. And worthy, indeed, of creating more memories with.

It’s not just a loving restoration but a temple built on newly solid foundations, with emotional beats that genuinely resonate. It sets a new bar for what a video game remake can be, masterfully marrying nostalgia with modernity without quite being a slave to one or the other. And so barely a month into 2019, we have our first front-running contender for Game of the Year.

Quite simply, this game is gorgeous. With huge and beautifully atmospheric landscapes for you to hunt and gather across, the new graphical grunt afforded to the devs has resulted in a brilliantly immersive world. Little plants retreat when you walk near. Colourful insects flutter and glisten across the horizon. It’s a functioning ecosystem designed with love and care and the locales you find yourself exploring are every bit as memorable as the monsters themselves.

Into the Breach really nails the idea of “flow” — making a game not too hard, not too simple, maintaining just the right about of stress and excitement. Its main Vek-thumping loop ranges from “I might actually do this” to “Yikes I’m barely hanging on.” But in the rare case of comfort, there are additional challenges to ensure you’re in that sweet spot of stress.

These are two of the most enjoyable and finely crafted action games ever released. While the lack of meaningful new content or resolution bump is a bit disappointing, if you’ve yet to experience these bats–t crazy but beautiful brawlers, this is the perfect time to discover what makes the Bayonetta series so bewitching.

Dead Cells is an example of how to do things right in so many ways. How to do Early Access. How to listen to your community. How to take inspiration from games while growing into your own style. It also happens to be the best time to jump in and ride the content train that’s sure to keep rolling for a long time to come.

This is truly Tetris like you’ve never played or felt before, and the blissful escape we all need in 2018. Because when the real world is full of chaos, Tetris Effect, much like the psychological phenomenon the game takes its name from, is about finding order in things, and taking back control.

The Switch version of Okami HD – with its portability, its motion controls, its touchscreen paintbrush and its compact charm – is hands own the definitive version of Okami. If you’ve never played it before, we’re happy to go as far as saying this is an essential purchase for your system. It’s a timeless classic.

No matter which way you prefer to play, Subnautica is an incredibly engaging experience. It’s one of those games that you can play for 10 minute chunks, or lose four hours without noticing.

This is the best Devil May Cry yet. Each character has enough depth to fill a game by themselves, the story does exactly what it needs to, the twists and turns keep you on edge and the combat sets a new benchmark for action games as a whole. Capcom has made a masterclass in stylish combat gaming here, and there’s enough content to keep players happy — even if it takes another 11 years for a sequel.

Dragon Ball FighterZ has managed to prioritise competitive play while still packing in the hyper-stylised, fill-your-entire-screen special effects the franchise demands. The moves are super cool, and the fact they don’t obscure vital telegraphing is even cooler.

There is fat on Odyssey. Fat that could be trimmed and not mar the experience one jot. We’re pleased we took our time to write this review. The first four drafts didn’t do the game justice. Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey is too visionary a title, too fun, too memory making, for these flaws – irritating, exhausting, not game breaking – to negate us recommending it to you. It’s one of 2018’s best games. One of the decades finest. You will soak up the game like the characters within it absorb the Mediterranean sun.

Thanks to its masterful sense of flow, knowing nods to the world of Marvel and refreshing sense of mission variety, there was rarely a moment in its 20 plus hour playtime where we didn’t have a sh*t-eating grin plastered across our faces. Quite simply, it’s consistently a joy to play. And while it may not push interactive entertainment into a bold new realm, it’s a superhero sim that fulfills your every web-slinging fantasy.

It’s clear the creative resources that weren’t used on overhauling the gameplay systems were used on a strong narrative. The writing, cinematography, and acting in Wolfenstein II have elevated the franchise from humble beginnings as a first-person-shooter reliant on compelling gameplay. Now, Wolfenstein is synonymous with enthralling storytelling, along with it’s invigorating gameplay.

For players that appreciate classic run-and-gun combat, punishing difficulty, constantly learning from failure, and breathtaking art, Cuphead’s experience will not disappoint.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is one of the most compelling video game experiences to come out in years. That its stood out in a year filled with some of the best games ever is a testament to how brilliant it really is. It’s the sort of game I talk about in excited, quick bursts with friends, the kind I think about when I’m not playing it.

It’s traditional to a fault. It may look beautiful and the voice acting is a worthwhile addition, but overall Dragon Quest XI does nothing to push the JRPG genre forward. It’s a shame, as despite Square pushing XI as its big Western RPG this is a game that’s incredibly hard to recommend to a new audience.

Essentially, Black Ops 4 a Frankenstein Monster of a FPS experience. That’s fine. It’s also a little bit sad. Time will tell if the package peels further back to reveal more of its own soul. [Provisional score = 70]

It’s amazing...In a sea of LOL imitators, its refreshing to see so many smart design ideas on display here. Thanks to the game’s gleeful disregard of genre conventions, Battlerite feels like something that few free to play games manage — refreshing and dynamic.

It’s this sense of streamlined player experience that really defines Destiny 2. Where the first game had you grinding for hours just to experience increasingly diminishing returns, this is a sequel that trims away its processor’s frustrations, firmly putting fun first.

Level-5 has still put together a wondrous and whimsical RPG to lose yourself in for many hours.

Bafflingly, only some textures have been updated, and it’s incredibly jarring when you see shiny new textures sitting side by side with the old. It often feels like Dark Souls Remastered is a face lift applied to only half the face.