The improvements to the game are much needed, the single player campaign is one of the best I have played this year and as we draw to the close of 2016 I am almost 100% sure that no one will be able to top it, but I am more than willing to be proved wrong! Graphics are fantastic and a treat to the eyes, game modes have increased overall for multiplayer but there is the occasional hit and miss. Also… You CAN hack specters in multiplayer! I don’t know WHY so many people are saying you can’t!

A briefly funny but ultimately shallow experience that throws all of the progression into the less interesting mode and wears its inspirations on its sleeves.

Skyrim is still a great place to get lost in and the visual upgrade is welcome. It perhaps doesn’t go as far as it should and it’s a shame no other aspect of the game got looked at but it’s still well worth your time.

As someone used to simulators, I have to say this is the most playable one I’ve seen for a long time that isn’t just a sequel. There’s little mechanically wrong with it, and the sense of scale that it achieves is very impressive. I really enjoyed the in-game radio and that there was a form of story progression to most of the random activities together. Ultimately though it is let down by how tedious some of the missions can be and how plain it looks, and although it is relatively short there wasn’t a lot that made me excited to continue playing after the novelty of driving these huge machines wore off.

A game that is lovingly made, with a very interesting crafting system. Unfortunately, due to a lack of goals, purpose or anyone one else playing it has very low playability.

Ginger: Beyond the Crystal tries to revisit the golden age of Rare-style 3D platforming but instead falls a bit short of the mark due to a lack of depth and engagement.

Farming Simulator 17’s odd mix of authenticity and not-quite simulation is curious. The core gameplay loop is by its very nature extremely repetitive but if you have an interest in farming you’ve probably already bought into the idea. It’s certainly not a bad game but it’s definitely an acquired taste.

Civilization VI is most definitely the best base-game installment of the franchise yet. There are so many gameplay mechanics included here that it feels like it’s already had a large expansion. I can’t wait to see what Firaxis could possibly add to improve on an already spectacular and complete game. But as much as I hate to say it, with so much to learn this is one of the least accessible games in the series for newcomers. Still, with beautiful visuals,step-up in AI competence, and so much to do, for returning players this is the best Civilization game in history.

The Bunker is a well written short film with some good acting. It’s not really a game though, so it ultimately fails to live up to expectations.

New ideas and innovations help move the franchise forward, but a lot of the same bugbears are still prevalent. Until we get a new engine I believe we are always going to be waiting for that truly amazing wrestling game experience. Until that happens, 2K17 is a nice bridge between that gap.

This beautiful puzzle-platformer is filled with attention to detail, and with its tight controls and clever puzzles I couldn’t recommend playing this enough.

Overall, it’s great to see a new top-down racer that isn’t just a re-hashed mobile game, and one that handles well to boot. It can be a blast with a few mates on the couch and has a fully fledged campaign that doesn’t resort to just getting three stars per race for when your mates are off doing less fun things.

It’s a short but sweet game that does something a little bit unique. It’s unlikely to win any Game of the Year awards and it will only be amusing for so long, but considering it’s a budget priced game, I still felt that I got decent value out of the title.

A game for the kids, an incredible game that doesn’t outstay its welcome. With a strong sense of style, Shu takes the action platformer genre into its own stride with ultra shine polish and melodic music that’ll warrant listening outside of playing the game. This is a game that’ll age well for its solid game play.

For me, Football Manager 2017 is undoubtedly the best game in the series, and even when results aren’t going my way, I’m desperate to come back and go again. The changes to the match day experience are superb, and the social feed is a touch of genius.

After having a blast with the campaign, The Coalition have taken the helms of the Gears of Wars franchise and have made it their own. There was little to dislike about the experience and the team have more than proved that a returning franchise can still be epic.

Simple combat, poor mechanics, boring voice acting and some unpolished graphics mean that the fans of the book series might find themselves struggling to finish it. For those without an invested interest in the character or the story: this is one to avoid.

Inklings really is a great modern puzzle game. Whether you’ve been itching for more Lemmings, or just a new puzzle game that’ll make you think, this is definitely something you should check out. While it may look like a rip-off of a classic series, it adds its own flair to both the gameplay and look, and deserves a spot in any puzzle-aficionado's library.

Zombasite might be a little hard to wrap your head around but the blend of action RPG and Civilization-style strategy works really well. A little rough around the edges but the game underneath is a gem worth digging for.

Fun and entertaining with its eclectic mix of indies (never heard any of them if I’m honest), give a miss if you’re searching something that’ll give you a proper run for your money song choice with high BPM songs - since some stretch to a slightly unbearable 70 BPM.

The game is an unfinished and sloppy mess. With the majority of balancing and tweaking yet to be done there are some questionable items in the game, such as the previous mentioned shield for the Space Marines which seems to be capable of blocking all projectiles fired towards it. The shooting mechanics are alright but third person cover has always been something I have detested, being able to see over walls whilst hidden behind it often leads to some unfair and one sided gunfights.

For those wanting a game where stealth is the focal point, and not a subclass you choose, Aragami is most definitely for you.

The formulaic plot, and some immersion-breaking moments don’t take away too much from this being quite a fun adventure, with a ton to do and return to.

I can’t comment on the general and RTS side of gameplay because I haven’t really experienced any of it. Progression however is painfully slow and could most certainly use with an increase in order to get the ball rolling for new players. Graphics could definitely be improved, it feels slightly dated and the pictures displayed on the store page show a greater graphical superiority when compared to actual gameplay.

There is nothing bad about this casual sidescroller but there is nothing to get overly excited about. A solid game that is worth picking up with friends or possibly on your own.

Kelvin and the Infamous Machine is probably the best point-and-click game I have played. It’s artistic design is very quaint and detailed, and the hugely engrossing story had me hooked from the off. It's a shame that it wasn't longer, even though the chapters can take a substantial time to complete - which isn't necessarily a bad point in this this game. What I did play left me desperate for more, and that surely is the mark of a great game?

Solid gameplay and simple storytelling give players a reason to keep coming back, simply put, Dragon Quest Builders is a game for those that enjoy structured creative freedom, even if that is an oxymoron.

A Bastard's Tale is a visually appealing game with nothing to do. Barebones from front to back and a lacking experience, this title is nothing but a tall tale.