An incredible update to a much-loved title, WipEout HD has set the bar for high-speed, high-adrenaline racing! A must for every PS3 owner.

A glorious celebration of guns and violence.

An interactive experience like no other. Perfect for unwinding after a long day.

This is no slap-dash conversion. The transition to consoles has been managed with extreme care and respect – so much so, that as we speak, playing with friends on the sofa is the best way to experience Diablo III.

Pikmin 3's release in Japan gave the Wii U a significant sales boost in that territory, and it's easy to see why. A wholesome yet colourful and engaging title, Pikmin 3 has wide appeal, and a great multiplayer mode to boot.

Warhammer II is a worthy successor to its older brother, and fans of either series will relish the chance to throw themselves into its immersive world. However, those same shop-worn Total War tropes that were pretty past it last time have surely well and truly earned a peaceful retirement now.

Warlords of Draenor is WoW at its very best, a return to and step beyond form for the behemoth MMO.

Developer SCEE Cambridge has struck the finest of balances between determining what the port platform is capable of and what the game is all about – before creating new content to make up the difference.

The complete racing package, Race Driver GRID is perfectly tuned to produce a fine balance between fun and realism. A large range of classes means the comparatively small number of cars does nothing to detract from the sense of scale.

Bayonetta is a refreshing and somewhat surprising addition to an already extensive catalogue of action games. A must-buy for any anime gaming fan, and an excellent representation of the genre.

A Crack in Time is an engaging conclusion to a trilogy that has been thoroughly enjoyed by millions and now seems like a fitting place to say our fond farewells to a larger series and let nostalgia take over.

This is no incremental update. The AI, the animations and collision detection are dramatically improved and the detail given to player faces is genuinely impressive. The only thing holding NBA 2K14 back it seems is Visual Concepts compulsion to change their control scheme annually.

This is a good solid game with some interesting concepts around vehicles and weapons. It sits well on the console, both single- and multi-player.

Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection is a truly fantastic trio of games that are a mere rope swing away from perfection.

After a decade of development, and thousands of years of bloodshed and territorial domination, it seems the Total War series has come full circle. Fall of the Samurai is the resounding conclusion, a well-thought out, well-crafted game that puts comparable expansions to shame.

With Fight Night Round 4, next-gen consoles are once again graced by a highly polished, well implemented and enjoyable boxing title. With a focus on realism and simulation, Fight Night Round 4 provides a stunning view of boxing.

This game is what the Wii is all about. Making the most of the unique Wii control system, it delivers wholesome fun with a bit of puzzling thrown in for good measure. Great game, great fun, and definitely one for your collection.

There's no denying that Total War: Warhammer is an enjoyable and accomplished title. But it's also one that takes few risks, and so a sense of what could have been occasionally floats over its crowded battlefields.

More than six months after the fact, PC gamers can get their hands on Capcom's latest instalment in the Resident Evil series. Significantly optimised graphics, improved aiming, better inventory management and new extras arguably make this the finest version of the title but if you've already played it on a console, there's not enough here to warrant another investment.

Clearly the best artist-specific Guitar Hero yet, Metallica captures the intensity and pace of one of the most influential bands in history. It's a no-brainer for purchase if you're already a Guitar Hero fan, and looks sure to become a party favourite amongst those who appreciate extremely loud music.

Monster Hunt 4 Ultimate is easier to get into than its ancestors, but is just as entertaining.

While Patapon is not without its frustrations, it’s very difficult to put down. Overall, it’s a charming wee title that is well worth buying.

An amazing RPG that sets some new heights with very little to criticise. An great story coupled with fantastic characters and lots of replay value make Dragon Age: Origins easily the best RPG of the last few years.

The Sims 3 is a serious advancement of the series, however underneath it's still the same Sims, and if you couldn't stand it in the past chances are you still won't be able to. Some of the micro-management tasks have been made a bit easier, and the addition of a whole town to physically explore is fantastic.

Titanfall is the game Microsoft's new-gen console has been waiting for: a fast, frenetic mix of parkour gunplay and agile mech combat that makes for an incomparable shooter experience.

Lara's return is a triumphant one, providing gamers with a visually breathtaking adventure around a well-realised island setting that harbours some dark secrets. Some more challenging puzzles and platforming would have been welcome, but as it stands, Tomb Raider is a thrilling reboot of a legendary franchise.

Gears of War 4 is a confident offering across campaign and multiplayer from The Coalition. There's hours of fun to be had here, especially in the updated Horde mode.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. But don't overdo it to the point that it starts to feel dull either.

With a huge singpleplayer campaign, and shrewd changes to multiplayer, StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm has something to offer every RTS fan.

The synergy between audio and visual in Bit. Trip Presents Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien greatly redeems a game that can become as tedious as its title.

Crucially, Crysis 2 represents the maturation of first-person shooters in general. Gone are the ludicrous system requirements, and the open-world setting. Instead, the series has shifted to a more focused linear playing field, where your actions are guided by the game rather than by your own curiosity.

Matchmaking is as woeful as you would expect, and the campaign mode is too short and plays like it was designed by a committee. The Special Ops mode fails to lift the uniform score of this game to anything worthy of remembrance.

Even if gamers may have to wait for something truly definitive, Mortal Kombat represents significant, praiseworthy progress for the series. A joyful respite for long-battered fans and a highly entertaining, bloodied distraction for the rest.

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons isn't just pretty, it's story is downright magnificent. An at times harrowing but powerful title, it makes a strong case for the categorisation of videogames as art.

Since its arcade version dropped, Street Fighter: 3rd Strike has been released in various forms on the Playstation 2, Dreamcast and original Xbox over the years. However, this version is the definitive one, and is nicely priced at 20 bucks too.

Final Fantasy XII – The Zodiac Age is far from the perfect game, but it is one of the few in the series I bothered to complete. From its lofty melodrama and rewarding combat and character systems to its missed story beats and sloggy late-game, it's an adventure I will not soon forget. More importantly, it’s one I do not want to forget, which is more than I can say for almost every entry in the series released since this game first saw light 11 years ago.

Homeworld Remastered Collection not only brings two classic games back for longtime fans, it will surely capture a new generation with its unique perspective, brilliant storyline, and engrossing gameplay.

The franchise's tight combat mechanics and deep move sets are present and accounted for, bolstered by a decent story and new platforming mechanics. There are some flaws, but DmC is so consistently good that it's hard to imagine anyone being disappointed with Ninja Theory's series reboot.

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is essential gaming for anyone who has ever dreamed of running up the Jolly Roger and taking whatever they can carry from His Majesty’s holds.

This is almost certainly the best F1 game from the development team thus far, and a real step up from last year. Codemasters has finally hit its stride in the racing genre, with some quality racing sim titles such as this and Dirt Rally.

With this release, Supergiant Games has set a new high-water mark for not only for budget-price RPGs, but XBLA games as a whole. Highly recommended.

Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition's enhancements are cosmetic-only so the flaws present in the game's last-gen version are still present. Even so, it's a great game made greater, so for those yet to play it, this is the version to get.

MLB The Show 19 is another fine entry in the series, with Sony San Diego doing what they do best. The new Moments and March to October modes offer some dynamic new ways to play, while the rest of the game finds a strong balance between engaged control for the parts that matter, while offering an autopilot for the things that aren't for everyone.

It's surreal. Altogether, the impression is of a work that feels like an addled and hazy reflection of the truth. It's far removed from what we know, but unlike so many games there's a real sense that our world and our lives are just beyond the horizon.

Touted as being the pretender to the throne of MMO games, expectations for Warhammer Online were running high. Whilst brilliant in a lot of ways, the lack of polish and a fundamental flaw in the game dynamic does not bode well for its longevity. It is certainly worth playing, but it will leave you wondering why it was not finished before release.

Rise of the Tomb Raider is a big-budget title that delivers a breathtaking adventure with all the trimmings.

Dead Space was definitely a risk for EA and it's great to see they were willing to run with it, because it is a fantastic game. It looks and sounds great, is a lot of fun to play and oozes atmosphere.

It comes off as being a well rounded turn-based strategy game.

Horizon 2 is a wheel that has not so much been reinvented as polished to perfection. Whilst comparable to other open-world racers such as Burnout Paradise and Test Drive Unlimited, it takes the genre to a new level.

Beat Saber is possible the best VR experience ever made. It is an incredibly satisfying rhythm game which uses the immersion of VR to evoke a sense of scale, power and energy that hugely enhances the underlying gameplay loop. The mechanics, music and VR environment tap into something deep in your psyche that creates an irresistibly fun and empowering experience.

By adding more content, more depth, and more choice, Enemy Within enhances rather than alters the core XCOM experience, and in doing so makes a great game even greater. A must-have.

Luigi's Mansion 3 is yet another excellent Nintendo exclusive and is the perfect antidote to the doom and gloom that runs rampant in the horror genre these days. It may not do everything perfectly, but from a technical side, I'm hard-pressed to think of a better-looking game on the Switch this year. It may not have the challenge some are looking for, but when the rest of the game is this wonderfully presented, it's hard not to just get sucked right along for the fun-filled, spooky adventure.

A Realm Reborn is one of the biggest reversals in fortune we've seen for a game in many, many years. A must for MMO and Final Fantasy fans alike.

Ultimately, all you want to know is whether DJ Hero 2 is better than the original (which was by all accounts a fantastic game) and if you should buy it. Quite simply, the answer to both is, as the mighty Flavor Flav would say… YEEEAAHHH BOYEEEE!!

The Taken King is one helluva good apology for the mediocre mis-start that was 2014's Destiny. All of our grievances have been addressed in some way. The loot system is fairer and more sensical, there's an actual story worth emotionally investing in, plus the combat's had an adrenaline shot thanks to new enemies, gats to gather, and exciting new subclasses.

Splinter Cell: Conviction is an exceptional game that packages together some entertaining content. The fun co-op multiplayer pads the short single-player out nicely.

Dirt Rally is a tough but hugely enjoyable racer that easily eclipses its competitors and is likely destined for the rally video game hall of fame.

Crypt of the Necrodancer evolves the roguelike genre substantially with an exceedingly simple addition. The rhythm mechanics, combined with some really great music and the roguelike experience, create one of the best titles either rhythm games or roguelikes have to offer.

The games industry is full of serious business FPS games and RPGs that blend together in stale genericism. Ni No Kuni sets out to be a unique experience, a beautiful adventure that can be played instead of just watched. While in no way perfect, it achieves its goal admirably.

Beautifully presented and expertly executed, The Legend of Grimrock 2 is everything that made the first game great, only now there is even more of it. Wonderful puzzles and plenty of variety will keep eager adventurers entertained until the very end.

Dragon Age: Inquisition is still a brilliant if flawed gem from one of the best storytellers in the genre. The journey is long. The path is fraught with dangers and more than a few missteps, but it’s an epic adventure well worth the undertaking.

The Outer Worlds, much like a solar eclipse has blocked out the rest of the genre with it's excellent systems and setting. Obsidian have delivered one of the best games of the year and in my opinion the best RPG of its kind in years. From it's jaw-dropping visuals and design, to the hilarious world and its colorful cast of characters, The Outer Worlds represents the new benchmark for the genre and is a masterclass in player choice. If you hold even a passing interest in RPGs, stop everything you're doing and play it right away. This is a very special game that deserves all of the recognition I'm sure is coming.

Boasting a low price tag and the promise of more Lara action, The Guardian of Light seems too good to be true.

Despite a troubled development, Doom is a confident, cracking throwback that pays loving tribute to its much-vaunted forefathers while bringing the noise via cutting edge tech. In a world awash with sci-fi hitscan shooters, it's a breath of fiery air that will delight as it melts faces.

A very innovative blend of RTS and RPG that is a ton of fun to play, Dawn of War II is easy enough for almost anyone to pick up without being intimidated, yet deep enough to still be challenging for the more hardcore players. It has the strategic depth of Company of Heroes as well as the "just one more mission" mentality of a good RPG like Diablo.

It’s hard to believe that EA’s Madden NFL 2010 is the 5th Madden release on the Xbox 360. Each incarnation has built upon and improved on the previous. Madden 2009 made the series and the sport itself accessible to the masses – so how much room has the latest release got to move?

Batman: Arkham Knight is a visual treat. This sets a high standard the gameplay and story largely match, and the result is a closing chapter that's easy to recommend.

Life is Strange got off to a so-so start, but strong storytelling and impressive choice and consequence mechanics boost its first season. Soon the world really gets its hooks in, and you'll enjoy it despite yourself.

Not only is Hotline a shoe-in for Indie of the Year, it represents a masterful, artistic achievement that generates equal parts frustration, enjoyment and addiction, and therefore comes highly recommended.

A huge leap forward in co-operative play, Guitar Hero World Tour is a worthy addition to the franchise and will offer hours of fun for anyone willing to pick up an instrument and invest some time. An awesome effort, although not without its flaws.

Rocket League isn't so great solo, but it's a fantastic multiplayer title that's easy to pick up but surprisingly deep.

This is a great example of what can be achieved if fun is the primary aim. Massive tricks, amazing scenery, hugely modifiable bikes - what more do you want?

No better and no worse than the original - but still an absolute joy in nearly every respect. This is a must-have title for the PSP.

A hugely improved fighting title that harks back to the excitement of the original. If you're a fan of this genre, you absolutely have to pick up Soul Calibur 4.

A hugely improved fighting title that harks back to the excitement of the original. If you're a fan of this genre, you absolutely have to pick up Soul Calibur 4.

Most gamers should find many solid hours of entertainment in this title, and most racing game fans will probably wish they could live in it.

Assassin's Creed Origins shakes up the series' combat, loot, and progression, while retaining the atmosphere, impressive open world, and historical bent that has made the franchise so beloved.

Super Smash Bros. makes the leap to 3DS with aplomb. Its deep, addictive combat makes it the best fighting game on the system.

The single-player campaign involves a riveting and emotional story, and the inclusion of co-op is fantastic. The game itself however is heavily weighted towards multiplayer, as was its predecessor.

Nioh 2 shows Team Ninja at the top of their game. From it's newly added mechanics to the awesome character creator and skill trees, the amount of depth on offer is incredible. The sequel improves on the original in every conceivable way and makes it one of the best entries in the genre. While it may be sadistically difficult at times, it's wildly entertaining combat will have you going back time and time again.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition is something of a technical marvel on the Switch. Through what seems like techno-black magic, CD Projekt Red and Saber Interactive have ported one of the generations best games with smart compromises made to deliver the full experience. The game plays excellently on the small handheld and while the quirks and bugs found in the original release are still present, they're massively overshadowed by just how incredible the game is in almost every other way. If the Switch is the only console you own, and you're a fan of adult RPGs, it's an essential addition to your Switch library.

The extra time and effort placed on redeveloping the party play mode has made an enormous difference to the latest Guitar Hero release. If you've been waiting for an excuse to revisit the series, this is it.

With its compelling storytelling, rich characterisations, and engaging player choices, The Wolf Among Us succeeds in spite of its gameplay short comings, and looks to be another genre-defining title from the team at Telltale Games.

Two Point Hospital does an excellent job of bringing the genre into the modern-day gaming space. From its simple and excellent graphics to the pitch-perfect humour and gameplay, I can't recommend it highly enough to fans of the genre. While we may never see a sequel to Theme Hospital, I'm more than content with Two Point Studios taking the reigns and can't wait to see what the studio does next.

Destiny 2 is the game everyone hoped its predecessor would be; a massive, polished, breathtaking beast in a class of its own.

It's not doing anything revolutionary on it's own, but serves the loyal audience with the best offering Nintendo can muster – and that's pretty good indeed.

Hats off to EA for taking a simple concept and turning it into a must-have title for the Wii; it's fun, addictive, and thanks to its flexibility holds mass appeal.

Dragon Quest Builders 2 takes everything that made the first entry great, and refines it. While the core combat can be a bit on the dull side, the incredible options available for building and crafting make this one an absolute joy to play. Anyone remotely interested in building games and RPGs should do themselves a favour and play it ASAP. You'll quickly get lost in a charming world with seemingly endless options for fun.

It's a case of third time's a charm for this DLC. Simply put, it's a must-buy for any Borderlands fan.

Undisputed 3 is a hearty revival of a franchise that has successfully managed to bottle the essence of a sport rapidly growing in popularity, and the brutal strategy contained within offers a little bit of everything for stalwarts and newcomers alike.

Its RPG elements may be a little superficial, and it relies on fetch-questing too much, but faithful production and a laugh-a-minute script means South Park: The Stick of Truth is a true diamond in the licensed game rough.

Wipeout Omega Collection is the triumphant return of an icon. Its blistering speed, slick visuals, and thumping soundtrack are everything you’d ever want from a Wipeout game, even if – upgrades aside – it is everything you’ve already had in a Wipeout game.

A worthy sequel to the original Red Faction titles, Guerrilla sports a tremendous physics engine that is capable of producing some outstanding effects. It may be lacking in story, but don't let that put you off - there's plenty of fun to be had with both singleplayer and multiplayer modes.

The Lombax and his trusty robotic companion make their PlayStation 4 debut in style with an entertaining story, great gameplay, and a beautiful galaxy to explore. This is one of the PlayStation 4’s best exclusives by a mile.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 can feel like a clone at times, but a small iterative change makes a meaningful difference to an otherwise identical experience. I felt like I was playing a game preserved in time, which was semi-refreshing after a decade of absence, but my thoughts might change if Valkyria Chronicles doesn’t eventually.

Love it or shove it, Final Fantasy IV on the DS is a challenging, RPG classic which still offers plenty of bang for your gaming buck. While it is essentially the same old book with an updated (3D) cover, fans both new and old will delight in the extreme makeover.

It's still an exciting, tough fighting game, and it's infinitely preferable to some of the attempts at shaking things up that we saw in the past.

CD Projekt Red have delivered an exceptional adventure in Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales. One that any Witcher fan should not hesitate to experience. While Gwent is undeniably fun, it falls short of its full potential in a single-player only game with AI opponents.