Left 4 Dead 2 is a perfect example of what happens when a competent developer takes an existing game and adds just enough to make it better, without subtracting from its initial appeal.

F1 2017 is without a doubt the finest F1 game ever made, and a superb motorsport game as a whole. The cumulative lessons that Codies has learned over the years are really paying off, as it continues to push ever forward in both realism and accessibility. How it’ll manage to surpass this come next year has me scratching my head, but its recent track record instils hope it can pull another rabbit out of the hat yet.

Hot Pursuit has overdosed on the adrenaline, providing gamers with some of the fastest action this year.

The almost perfect marriage of elegant game design, evocative audio, and stunning visuals delivers a gaming experience far richer and affecting than I could have possibly imagined. It’s not without a few flaws, but they are easily forgotten almost as soon as they have passed.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses had me completely hooked from when I first picked it up, right up until the end. The ability to train your units in extremely flexible ways in addition to throwing away the old weapon triangle has made combat so much more interesting to engage with. The teaching and monthly schedule provided a welcome respite from the battles, making each one feel so much more engaging. Despite the series continuing to suffer from two-dimensional writing for their characters, I still had a lot of fun taking my favourites to tea and pairing them off together. This is a fantastic installment for returning fans or newcomers playing for the first time.

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.

The campaign may be pants, and the co-op may struggle to find a niche, but DICE knows multiplayer – that much is evident. In this regard, Battlefield 3 exceeds expectations.

Dreams has opened up the artform of games to the experimentation and creativity of anyone and everyone in a way never before achieved. As a result, it is an experience that is wonderous, fulfilling and exciting - regardless of whether you are learning to develop, developing something, or playing something made by others.

Simply put, it's the best Rock Band experience to date.

Rockstar has excelled in producing a truly innovative title that sets the high-tide mark for inquisitive gamers looking for a real challenge. It's not to be missed.

Peggle is a colourful, highly addictive puzzle style game that the whole family will absolutely love. The online multiplayer modes make it that much better, and it's a worthy investment for anyone who wants something a bit simpler to wind down with.

Battlefield 1's campaign is thin as ever, but most will be on board for the multiplayer, which – while simplified compared with recent entries – remains practically peerless when it comes to delivering intense, large-scale battles.

Throw all of these things together and you have an excellent game that falls just a little short of perfect.

Guerrilla Games' punt on a new IP has paid off handsomely, as despite its silly title, Horizon Zero Dawn is a magnificent open world action-adventure that lives up to its hype.

Get into the Dark Souls mindset and be prepared for repeated failure in one of the most engrossing gaming experiences available.

Poignant and powerful, What Remains of Edith Finch has set a new standard in storytelling. Don’t be put off by its brevity – these are two of the most enjoyable hours I have ever spent in front of my PC monitor.

The phenomenal feeling of speed and the freedom to pretty much do what you like has once again taken the Burnout series to another level.

War for the Chosen adds a huge amount of content and a number of new mechanics to an already brimming game. It's a generous package that ought to please and frustrate (in a good way!) XCOM devotees.

Put that aside and enjoy Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 for what it is: a brutal and rewarding game that knows what players expect, and delivers it with well-earned confidence.

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.

2K have one again proved that Rapture, through all it's wild, twisted and crazy moments, is an unforgettable place to be. You may think you've seen it all before, but that's no reason to deprive yourself of what is most certainly one of the best titles of the year.

Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix is a great addition to the Street Fighter franchise and will keep dedicated fans entertained for a long time to come. Unfortunately though, new players to the title will most likely be deterred by the fairly steep difficulty curve in Arcade Mode, and the fact that the controls are never really explained.

Left Behind shares many of the traits that make The Last of Us so good, but as a prequel, it is unable to surprise the player with its parent game's trump card – its plot. Even so, it's an enjoyable companion piece to the best game of last year.

Doom Eternal has taken what were already some pretty innovative new approaches to gameplay, and either refined, expanded, or built upon them in a way that elevates this visceral, kinetic and exhilarating approach to combat up several hundred notches.

An excellent remake that does total justice to the original. A joy to play with the fantastic humour and characters lovingly recreated as we can only imagine they were originally intended.

Easily the best FPS I’ve played in a long time. Dialogue that makes me want to watch a feature film starring these guys. A virtually flawless single and multiplayer experience.

XCOM 2 manages to raise the stakes and challenge of its predecessor without ever becoming too frustrating. Defeat will be frequent and death even more so, but victory is all the more sweet for it. In short, it's bigger, better, broader, and even more brutal!

Frustration and reward go hand-in-hand in Cuphead. Your fingers will feel the pain of extended play sessions, but your face will be fixed in a fierce (albeit slightly pained) grin.