Darksiders II might be a long journey, but it is one that is enjoyable the whole way through. Developers Vigil Games have built upon the core established by its predecessor in some intelligent ways, sculpting one of the most enjoyable gaming experiences of the year so far. While some slight technical glitches and control issues mar what would otherwise be an incredible title, Darksiders II is a true delight and a game well worth playing.

DJ Hero is simple to pick up and learn, but also difficult to master. I am yet to get a 100% score on Medium Difficulty, and I think I’m doing quite well.

Halo 5: Guardians is Halo evolved. The campaign ends with a whimper but is great until that point, and Warzone ably expands the series' peerless multiplayer.

Rock Band is more than a simple video game, it's a highly interactive social experience. There's enough depth and fun here to keep you and your friends entertained for months. A must-have for the festive season!

While the game play additions do mix it up slightly, the game often feels like a huge expansion rather than a stand-alone release.

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.

Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales is a wonderful addition to the Switch. While it may not appeal to all fans, those who enjoyed Gwent in The Witcher 3 will find a lot to love. There's enough nuance and strategy for those hungry for a challenge and it does a great job of adding to the mythology of the world and it's excellent characters.

Another fantastic effort from EA, building on solid foundations from last year's iteration. Enough entertainment to keep you on the fairway for months to come.

It manages to stay feeling fresh and thrilling all the way through to the final battle, and it looks absolutely incredible. The story is mostly well paced and told with cinematics of extremely high production value. While the co-op is not exactly game changing, it is a very welcome addition to the series and the game is definitely a lot more fun when played this way.

Even with its abstract and convoluted single-player campaign, Black Ops III is one of the best Call of Duty packages in years thanks to excellent refinement of the series’ multiplayer, and the return of Treyarch’s well-loved zombies mode.

EA and DICE took a risk with Mirror's Edge, but ultimately it has paid off. This is an exciting title with a great premise, and despite a few minor issues we could be looking at a fantastic foundation for future sequels.

Remnant: From the Ashes is a spectacular co-op experience when played with friends, and a potentially frustrating one when played with strangers. While procedural generation can lead to some monotony, a solid combat engine and incredible creature design make it a punishing, yet incredibly satisfying joy to play. The game is held back by several bugs and crashes, but this shouldn't stop you from giving it a go.

With its cartoon punk press aesthetic, excellent soundtrack and lengthy-but-unpadded campaign, there's little reason not to enthusiastically recommend Charlie Murder.

Rockstar has gone all out to make a great street racer with this latest Midnight Club release. Packed with hours of gameplay and incredible visuals, you'll probably still be playing as your Christmas dinner gets cold.

A real challenge to... you know, that other sandbox game... Saints Row 2 expands on the original with a dizzying level of complexity. Stilwater is back and bigger than ever - there's so much to see and do you'll be entertained for hours.

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?

Marvel Vs Capcom 2 delivers the retro arcade fighting style that many adore and successfully integrates modern features through XBLA. If you are a fan of the classics, and love a good ol’ button mash, you are in for a treat.

The Banner Saga is an absolutely gorgeous, engrossing RPG that features well-balanced and pleasingly tactical turn-based combat. It's a linear journey, but one that's definitely worth taking.

Second Son's sky-high production values do most of the heavy lifting, but beneath the flash are solid systems and a well-acted story that's easy to recommend to franchise fans and newcomers alike.

Until Dawn is the best cinematic horror game to torment players this past decade. It doesn’t hit every beat, but by morning you will have experienced terror, tension, and tragedy, and killed a few of your friends – if you even survive that long.

Its novel use of mechanics, its comic writing, and its retro aesthetics make Super Time Force a sure bet for those in search of light entertainment.

Swap Force is another winning entry in the Skylanders series, proving once again that games aimed at children can provide fun for those that detest them. Deep pockets will be required to get the most out of the game, but even the vanilla version still represents value for money.

With wonderful combat and more charm than any game I can name off the top of my head Steamworld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech is a very easy recommendation from me despite a few undercooked ideas.

The only criticism I can personally level at the game is that after a few hours of play, I was filled with a burning desire to play some Civilization IV, rather than have another round of Colonization.

Genius in it's simplicity, this collection will allow you to revisit your favourite titles from yesteryear, albeit with a few notable exceptions.

Although it was released nearly a year ago in Japan, Tales of Vesperia still represents good value for money. It's a fun, quirky JRPG that provides hours of entertainment for the whole family. If this genre is your kind of thing, you could do a lot worse.

Super Scribblenauts isn't so much a sequel as a successor to 5th Cell's innovative DS game. Adjectives allow for more creative solutions to puzzles and a tidier interface make for an superior experience, but one that players of the original may feel too familiar with.

Lego Dimensions gets its crazy pop culture mash-up right, and adds some interesting real-world mechanics to the toys-to-life genre. The financial barrier to entry is high, but it's not bad value by any stretch.