It may not be a step forward for the series, but that’s never what it was supposed to be. Instead, it’s a noteworthy look at what came before that’s been revamped for a newer generation. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is pretty damn fun.

After the plodding pace of Episode 3, Above the Law, Episode 4 brings back what the series so desperately needed.

Dawn of War 3 is a great next chapter in the Dawn of War franchise. The title pulls together the best parts of the last two games into an extremely worthwhile strategy experience, with a well-balanced single player and suitably frantic multiplayer. The title could do with a few tweaks here and there to perfect the experience, but this is one for strategy fans to look to for their next future war fix.

As it stands, though, Expeditions: Viking is simply a solid and at-times frustrating entry into tactical role-playing games, and should only be seriously considered by diehard strategy fans and history buffs – at least until it has been thoroughly rebuilt.

Almost everything about What Remains of Edith Finch is head and shoulders above its competition, though some may be disappointed by its ending and some of the graphical issues. The game’s short length (it can be fully completed in just a few hours) and lack of replayability may also be a turn off for some, but anyone looking for innovative gameplay and some of the best storytelling in gaming should seriously consider picking up Giant Sparrow’s latest effort.

Long load screens and a very cookie cutter narrative hold SGW3 back from greatness, but there’s no denying that this installment in the shooter franchise has brought the series forward quite a few steps.

With a compelling story, strong graphics, and some genuine scares, Outlast 2 is one of the better horror games to come around in recent years. Some aspects of its gameplay may fall short and the first half of the game is a bit of a bore, but overall, it’s an experience worth having, especially for fans of the genre.

SkyKeepers is very much a flawed game, with a few pockets of gameplay that struggle to make up for the title’s shortcomings. Although there are signs of a good game underneath the surface, the lack of finesse on the graphical front and the level of frustration found within large chunks of gameplay makes it a tricky game to recommend.

Ultimately, Little Nightmares strikes a fine chord between charming and creepy in a way that perhaps only a former LittleBigPlanet developer could do.

This isn’t just the definitive version of Mario Kart 8, it’s the the measuring stick that all future franchise installments will be compared to.

Above the Law is a decent continuation of The Walking Dead: A New Frontier‘s story, but still a bit of a come-down from Episode 1 and 2. It does succeed in setting the stage for Episode 4, and with a few characters’ fates hanging in the balance and questions left unanswered, chances are most players who have come this far will see the rest of the season through.

Yooka-Laylee is built on a foundation of tried-and-tested gameplay, and it’s packed with content, considering it’s priced at $40 rather than $60. Anyone that’s eager to revisit the 3D platformer genre will be well served by this game. However, those that don’t enjoy a sense of nostalgia for jump-and-runs of days gone by might not find much to enjoy among its rough edges and throwback atmosphere.

The Crow’s Eye is at its best when remaining somewhat static, allowing the user to play out the conflict between the rational solution to puzzles and the irrational fears that the game so cleverly hints at with a breadcrumb trail. It’s full of great ideas, and more than does enough to separate itself out from the crowd. The game’s clunkier moments may put off some users, but those willing to persevere and put atmosphere and plot above pure gameplay could find themselves with an enjoyable game – albeit one that could cause a few sleepless nights.

A high quality collection that will enthral new players and offer those who haven’t picked up the series in a long time an excellent reason to revisit it. Minor technical issues and dated gameplay aside, it is hard to find a compilation with this much value built-in, and Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX is the best excuse Square has given players to brush up on Kingdom Hearts yet.

Those looking for definitive Mario sport experiences are best to stick to dedicated games.

Mass Effect: Andromeda is far from a perfect game, but it is an absolute must-play for fans of science-fiction or BioWare RPGs. The storytelling is at an all-time high once things get underway and players who make it through the adventure will be unlikely to regret their time spent in this new corner of the Mass Effect universe.

More of the same from Spike-Chunsoft, which is not a bad thing at all. The games are still engaging, fun, and in the case of Virtue’s Last Reward, have some of the most challenging puzzles in the visual novel genre. Zero Escape: The Nonary Games is an above-average compilation that offers just enough changes to make it a good purchase for both newcomers to the series and franchise veterans, although, as always with this genre, those looking for action had best look elsewhere.

The finished product is an absolute gem that only helps to highlight one of the major benefits of the platform by allowing for stop-and-drop multiplayer at a moment’s notice. Indeed, this downloadable game is well worth the paper.

The presentation, innovation, and unabashed love of the strange all coalesce into something that looks like what would happen if Hideo Kojima attempted to design a Final Fantasy, and as it turns out, it is something that needed to happen.

As expected, Wildlands is at its best when players are on voice chat with a group of friends and the team is coming up with creative ways to take down cartel bosses by crashing planes into their mansions or picking off their guards with the help of drone intel. Although the game does stand-up in solo mode with fairly reliable AI partners, the massive world to explore becomes a little lonely and boring without some actual friends along for the ride.

Maybe if Nintendo opted to include it as a pack-in, it would have allowed users to appreciate the half-hearted nature of its lackluster design.

Unfortunately for WayForward, there’s no rescuing this PC remake of LIT from becoming another faceless title in an ever-growing pile of cheap Steam games, and no reason for gamers not to simply download the free mobile version of the game instead of this seemingly pointless PC port.

Breath of the Wild isn’t just for longstanding Zelda fans, it’s the pinnacle of an open-world experience that will appeal to anyone looking for a great game. An overall lack of voiced dialogue and an initially tricky menu layout are easy to come to terms with and overlook when compared to the sheer scale and fun found in Breath of the Wild. Anyone wondering how it stacks up, it’s important to note that this could very well be the best Zelda has ever been, and it provides gamers of all walks with a Hyrule that’s more than worth saving.

For Honor is great fun, but like any fighting game, it’ll only reach its true potential if players stick around for the long haul. It takes time for experts to develop high-level strategies, and for that knowledge to trickle down to the rest of the community, and as such it’ll be a few months before it’s clear whether or not the game can stand among the current titans of the genre.

Technical issues and the lack of content in Blitz aside, Halo Wars 2 is a fun game that is the best bet for RTS fans looking for something to play on Xbox One. The campaign is engrossing from start to finish, the multiplayer matches are consistently exciting, and thanks to its status as an Xbox Play Anywhere game, Halo Wars 2 offers fans plenty of bang for the buck. If 343 and Creative Assembly are able to patch the game’s technical issues and add more areas to Blitz mode soon, then Halo Wars 2 will be a no-brainer for fans of the real-time strategy genre and the Halo franchise in general.

Dark Souls, Far Cry Primal (or any open world Ubisoft game), Uncharted – these are just a few of the games players will cite when finding points of comparison for Horizon: Zero Dawn. But the Guerrilla Games developers have made sure that its game still feels unique by comparison, thanks to a vibrant world bursting with stunning detail, challenging robotic enemies, and a story that explores an uncivilized world in an inventive way. Some weak AI, awkward dialogue sections, and a prototypical open world framework are the game’s bigger faults, but they don’t weigh the game down to much or ruin the experience. When all is said and done, Horizon: Zero Dawn could easily be Sony’s next great franchise, but even as a one-off it’s very impressive.

Sniper Elite 4 may lack the bells and whistles of other World War 2-based shooters, but its top tier shooting mechanics and open maps make it a fun experience for the creative sniper.

The level layouts are excellent, the sugary aesthetic is unique, and the protagonists are easily liked. While the lack of co-op and additional Poochy Dash levels are noticeable, Nintendo has still put together a wonderful handheld edition of one of its best side-scrollers in recent years. It’s accessible, expertly crafted, and simply enjoyable – all of which is an incredibly hard line to tow.

Good-nature intentions aside, however, We Are Chicago stumbles when it comes to presenting a polished and ultimately memorable gameplay experience, failing to capitalize on the depth of its poignant subject material.

Nioh may borrow Onimusha‘s art style, Dark Souls‘ challenging combat, and Diablo‘s loot-farming, but it combine these elements in a way that makes it feel like a unique experience. Everything comes together to create a wholly engrossing action-RPG that’s hard to put down, with Nioh standing as an impressive return to form for Team Ninja after spending a decade in development hell. In short, Nioh is Team Ninja’s best game in years, and should leave fans plenty excited for the next Ninja Gaiden.

Dragon Quest 8: Journey of the Cursed King is an incredibly long game filled with standard offerings from the tried and true JRPG genre. While the battle mechanics remain traditional, the narrative and characters that push it forward are incredibly charming. So much so that they surround the game’s design with ample incentive to keep playing until bitter sweet farewells are made. DQ8 is goofy, charming, and endearing, but more importantly it’s still constantly enjoyable even after spending an absurd amount of time with it.

It’s a great game that’s bustling with creativity, and it’s a gripping experience whether you’re a fan of the horror genre or otherwise.

Hive Jump is a fun and exciting retro shooter romp, with plenty of variety and a great co-op multiplayer experience marred by a lonely single player mode.

Tales of Berseria’s heavy anime and manga influence and its incredibly lengthy campaign will likely be a difficult barrier of entry for many gamers. That said, RPG fans won’t want to pass this one up. Its style may be over the top, but there is actually a pretty compelling story here and an unforgettable cast of characters with unique abilities to get to know. All of that on top of a challenging combat system make this the best installment in the Tales franchise in recent memory.

While Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue suffers from Square’s scattershot approach to what has been included in the collection, it nevertheless remains a must-have for Kingdom Hearts fans, especially those who didn’t have access to Dream Drop Distance the first time around because of the franchise’s odd migration to and from Sony and Nintendo devices seemingly at a whim.

Gravity Rush 2‘s post-launch support and top notch visual presentation combined with its engaging combat and engrossing story ensure fans of the original or Gravity Rush Remastered will find plenty to love about the sequel. It’s held back by poorly designed stealth missions that serve little purpose other than keeping players away from the better parts of the game and a wonky camera that can be downright disorienting at times, but otherwise Gravity Rush 2 is bigger and better than the first game.

Overall, The Walking Dead: A New Frontier is off to a solid start. Fans of the series will definitely have plenty to enjoy here – and emotionally suffer through – and players who found the game to be too clunky and slow previously may appreciate this entry more.

Overall, The Walking Dead: A New Frontier is off to a solid start. Fans of the series will definitely have plenty to enjoy here – and emotionally suffer through – and players who found the game to be too clunky and slow previously may appreciate this entry more.

Dead Rising 4 is certainly good, but it’s still not as good as it could have been.

After a decade of work, Square Enix has succeeded in delivering a Final Fantasy experience that can please long-time fans, while simultaneously luring in a new generation of adventurers. The game isn’t quite perfect, but it is close enough that it will very likely be a game of the year contender on many lists.

Story wise and visually the game has a lot going for it, but mechanically there are some genuinely troubling areas. Everything works, but it is nowhere near as polished as it should be, and occasionally that lack of polish hurts the overall experience. The Last Guardian is going to be a memorable release; there’s no doubt about that. But its legacy won’t be quite what fans had hoped.

When stacked up to the Wii U version, there’s little doubt that Super Mario Maker For Nintendo 3DS is the lesser of the two – and it doesn’t even support 3D on the notoriously 3D-enabled handheld. The lack of online sharing is only made more baffling by the fact that apparent user-made levels from the Wii U iteration can be accessed through the ‘100 Mario Challenge’ mode, while the exclusion of Mystery Mushrooms also makes little to no sense given how prominent amiibo support on the portable is nowadays.

It’s an absolute blast to build attractions and customize each park’s look from the ground up, and the game consistently keeps things fun and light. It’s hard to shake a feeling of utter satisfaction when one grabs a first-person seat and rides through a freshly built coaster, or watches as a series of triggers make a giant leviathan pop out of a lake every time guests walk near it.

Watch Dogs 2 excels at variety and, although there are many repetitive chores that players can choose to do in the open world, the main campaign never feels stale or redundant. Each mission takes players to a new, unique location full of bizarre characters and pop culture references and the lengthy campaign manages to fly by thanks to the immersive environment and the entertaining company that Marcus keeps.

Sun and Moon are the biggest changes that the core Pokemon series has ever attempted. Removing gyms, Hidden Machines (HMs), and altering original Pocket Monsters was a huge gamble – and all of it has paid off. Honoring the franchise’s past while looking to the future must have been a difficult ideal for Nintendo and The Pokemon Company to nail down, but the end result of this undertaking is a pair of lovingly-crafted, must-haves for fans new and old. Truly, this is the celebration of Pokemon that gamers have been waiting for.

Sun and Moon are the biggest changes that the core Pokemon series has ever attempted. Removing gyms, Hidden Machines (HMs), and altering original Pocket Monsters was a huge gamble – and all of it has paid off. Honoring the franchise’s past while looking to the future must have been a difficult ideal for Nintendo and The Pokemon Company to nail down, but the end result of this undertaking is a pair of lovingly-crafted, must-haves for fans new and old. Truly, this is the celebration of Pokemon that gamers have been waiting for.

The opportunity to revisit Call of Duty 4‘s multiplayer without the annoyance of hackers ruining the fun is one that will be hard to pass up for those that loved the original. Even so, the multiplayer also feels somewhat dated compared to most modern shooters on the market. While there’s something to be said for the impeccable map design and polish of Modern Warfare Remastered‘s multiplayer, it’s still the same experience as before, and may come across as rather simplistic and plain to those that have been playing this year’s new shooters.

The game is not perfect, and some may find the odd all-or-nothing decision regarding forces to recruit jarring, or the locations within the world itself a little too devoid of scope to be a truly immersive experience. However, it’s in the large concepts, and in its gentle manipulation of the player’s trained responses, that Tyranny finds its purpose. A must-have for fans of the genre, and a worthwhile title for those after a truly different experience.

An enjoyable sign that Nintendo is still willing to experiment with the series. More importantly, it’s proof that the developer will go out of its way to accommodate those hoping to play with nearby friends, and that’s a noteworthy selling point for a notorious multiplayer title.

The updated graphics may not feel truly current-gen to Xbox One and PS4 players, but the quality and originality of the game’s mechanics and setting are still a step above the competition.

Even though Zombies in Spaceland and multiplayer are just more of the same, as a whole, it’s hard to find an FPS on the market as fully-featured as Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare. The campaign is the surprise highlight, with heart-pounding action, jaw-dropping graphics, and fresh ideas for the series, making it worth checking out even for those disappointed by its sci-fi themes.

In short, FIFA 17 is a fuller experience than previous games, and when that’s married up with the slick, licensed depth and complex player ratings that fans expect, it’s hard to find reasons not to pick it up. The gaming equivalent of a half-volley into the top corner.

Titanfall 2 has succeeded in surpassing the original title in every way. It delivers an emotional, action-packed single player experience that will leave fans new and old feeling satisfied, and the fluid combat mechanic both in and out of one’s titan packs plenty of punches and doesn’t hold back when it comes to the visceral brutality of pilot warfare.

Broken DLC promises, long load times, and story padding hurt Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, but it is still a game with plenty of content for Dragon Ball fans to sink their teeth into. It has a large roster full of diverse fighters, endless character creation possibilities, a streamlined hub world, and an engaging story. Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is a vast improvement over the original, and should leave franchise fans satisfied.

A remarkable blend of old-school JRPG mannerisms and innovative, mold-shattering gameplay elements that challenge what a Final Fantasy game is “supposed” to look like.

Sometimes innovation requires a look back rather than ahead. Battlefield 1 is proof of that.

Until Dawn: Rush of Blood features a haunting atmosphere and plenty of scares, but the experience is hampered by a constant need to calibrate the hardware.

Paper Mario: Color Splash is the best looking installment in the series, offering the most immersive world to-date. Still, its battle system suffers in a misguided bid to innovate.

It’s a compelling virtual reality experience that is a great way to sell people on the potential of the technology, and while it has some issues, like occasionally spotty motion controls and a short play time, it’s still a must-have title for anyone’s PlayStation VR library.

The arrival of Yo-Kai Watch 2: Bony Spirits provides fans with a familiar experience that changes very, very little when compared to the first iteration of the series.

Gears 4 is a painstakingly crafted love letter to those that have a meaty soft spot for the franchise. Aside from the costly cosmetic-focussed transactions, this is the exact experience that fans have been waiting for.

Dragon Quest Builders demonstrates that a JRPG can think outside of the box and successfully incorporate elements out of games like Minecraft, although the experience needs a little refinement before it becomes perfect.

Maybe the game runs too long, but the characters and narrative are likeable. The truth is that Dragon Quest 7: Fragments of the Forgotten Past is an all around good game that does too much in terms of length and too little to mix things up. Simply put, it’s a revamped classic from the PlayStation era made mobile, and that’s quite something special for Dragon Quest and JRPG aficionados alike.

World of Warcraft: Legion adds ten levels, a new zone, and a new hero class to the twelve year old MMO and manages to deliver some of the best content that the game has ever offered.

Halycon 6: Starbase Commander may lack the nuances of some of its peers, but it nonetheless delivers a charming and moreish strategy RPG for science fiction fans to enjoy.

Hue easily sets itself apart from its indie platformer peers, with a well-crafted world, pitch perfect art and sound design, and taxing gameplay with an excellent learning curve.

Despite its imperfections, this is far from a bad game. It’s not for everyone, but there are certainly players out there who will eat it up.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice is sure to please fans with its engaging story and sharp humor, but the gameplay formula is starting to show its age.

NHL 17 isn’t leaps and bounds better than last year’s NHL 16, but it’s evident upon even a glance that EA Sports has been listening to its fan base. The end result of this leaves glimmers of unrealized potential, but the realization that this is the best installment that the series has seen thus far. It’s been a rough trek for gamers, but NHL is back and it’s better than ever.

Those after a light bite of RTS/RPG gameplay with a positive attitude will find a lot of fun with Champions of Anteria. It is unlikely to blow any players away, and fans of The Settlers will find little to keep them occupied, but there’s a nice little game here. Without expecting too much, Champions of Anteria delivers a decent injection of fantasy humor into the market.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided improves upon its predecessor in nearly every way and delivers an incredibly tense and entertaining action role-playing game.

The sequel to Ubisoft’s Grow Home is a charming follow up that gives gamers more to explore and collect, but ultimately fails to capitalize with further innovations.

It’s hard to find fault with what Codemasters has done with F1 2016. The game is a fabulous return to form for the series, delivering thrills that had been missing for some time, and the title could no doubt find a place among many racing fans’ libraries.

Gone are half-baked water physics and worm classes, replaced by more creative and complimentary features like vehicles, crafting, and building interiors.

Madden NFL 17 doesn’t move the series forward in any significant ways, but it provides one of the most polished NFL football video game experiences to date.

Appreciating the design of a game and investing time in its gameplay are two different things. It requires a very specific type of gamer, one who loves finding their fun in an experience with a ton of freedom, to keep progressing through No Man’s Sky. The game is part Minecraft, part Subnautica, and part its own creation, but if any of those component parts interests you then this may be worth checking out.

Winning Putt has the potential to be a must-play title for anyone looking for an engrossing golf video game, but a few rough edges detract from the overall experience in its current form.

It functions on a basic level as a competent dungeon crawler, but its repetitive gameplay combined with its cheap deaths will make most gamers look for other options.

Ubisoft’s Uno does a good job of replicating the original card game as a video game, and it’s a good option for players who want to play with friends that aren’t close to home, but its shortcomings for in-person players means it definitely doesn’t qualify as a party game.

Bound brings a unique approach to the speedrunning platformer by putting the focus on a heartbreaking narrative and a beautiful dance mechanic to pull players through its world.

Spearhead Games’ Stories: The Path of Destinies is a fascinating jaunt through a more mature fairy tale setting that blends serviceable gameplay with remarkable wit.

The Bruce Wayne sections help develop the plot and present the player with dialogue choices that will pull their allegiance in one way or another. While the Batman sequences truly typify the character, highlighting both his skills as a detective and a tactician.

Headlander from Double Fine Productions is a fun, quirky science-fiction Metroidvania game with engaging puzzles, strong exploration elements, and flying heads.

Ghostbusters offers a top-down co-op shooter with light RPG elements that fails to capitalize on the magic and humor of the supernatural franchise.

MilitAnt‘s poorly implemented targeting system combined with its weak visual presentation and mediocre platforming squander its interesting premise.

The premise of a procedurally generated rogue-like experience sounds fun, and it certainly starts off that way – but once things start to get repetitive and the game slows down to a familiar grind, the brittle bones of Necropolis are exposed.

I Am Setsuna might not be the most innovative or technologically demanding game released this year – or even in the past five – but it is one of the most complete, and it offers an experience that near-perfectly blends incredible visuals, a music score that rivals some of Nobuo Uematsu’s best, and superb, polished gameplay into one of the best JRPGs released in years.

Although Lost Sea provides fun, laid-back gameplay alongside a colourful, cel-shaded world, a lack of depth and some restrictive design choices may limit the scope of the game.

Bandai Namco’s first attempt at localizing a Gundam game in many years comes with mixed results, as Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme Vs-Force is a largely average experience.

Spike Chunsoft does it again, combining intuitive, puzzle-based gameplay with one of video gaming’s best narratives in the wonderful Zero Time Dilemma.

Although The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing II doesn’t look as sharp, it certainly delivers more than enough entertaining content for the price of entry. Fans of ARPGs who enjoy micromanaging can’t go wrong with this title, but its lack of deep tutorials might make it difficult to jump into for gamers who aren’t already familiar with the genre.

Gamers looking for a challenge, a beautiful world and musical score, and some truly memorable bosses will still be pleased at what Furi has to offer, however, and even though it’s not the absolute best of its kind, it’s worth a look from anyone willing to suffer through some frustration for what amounts to a hell of a five hour ride.

Adventures of Mana is a short, enjoyable, and addictive little trip back to the humble beginnings of handheld gaming and the wildly popular Mana series, and the improved graphics and dedication to reproducing the original game’s feel are evidence of this.

What it boils down to is that Umbrella Corps is an interesting idea that had potential, but was ultimately ruined by poor execution.

Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness is a clunky, sometimes beautiful mess, navigating between some exciting highs and many disappointing lows to fall short of its promise.

Nintendo’s Kirby: Planet Robobot introduces the pink protagonist to a brand new platforming mechanic in the form of a giant mech suit, and the end result is rather refreshing.

Inside builds on every strength of Playdead’s Limbo, while also delivering a compelling yet haunting world filled with smart puzzles and inventive mechanics.

Trials of the Blood Dragon serves both properties well in its design and story, but the gameplay is overall inconsistent as the title tries to expand beyond basic Trials.