Much like its protagonist, Assassins of Kings stands in defiant contrast to the crowd, but in doing so CD Projekt RED has come away with a product that appeals on many different levels – a strong draught of dialogue, action, and coordinated gameplay that ought to slake the hunger, thirst, and yearning loins of any lonesome traveller of the road.

Super Mario Maker 2 is a joyous experience jam-packed with seemingly never-ending content thanks to its rich suite of editing tools and a thoroughly talented community of level designers. No matter your skill level, you'll find something to love here, from it's wonderfully tight gameplay to the outstanding level-creator.

Devil May Cry 5 keeps what made the franchise so popular while refining its systems to near-perfection. With some of the most impressive animation and combat out there right now and the addition of Bloody Palace arriving in a free update this April, Devil May Cry 5 is the definitive DMC experience and should be played by everyone looking for incredibly satisfying & stylish combat!

For gamers looking for something intellectual about their medium, in their medium, The Stanley Parable is the only choice available – and thankfully, it’s a good one.

Legacy of the Void is a grandiose Space Opera of the highest order, a stunning conclusion to not only StarCraft II but the entire StarCraft epic that began a decade and a half ago. That’s only part of the story though: Blizzard has also managed to embrace new players with a more forgiving entry point, while also providing more depth and increased skill ceiling for the long time devotee. That might be the real legacy of this game.

Diablo 3 on the Switch may be a graphical step-down and far from the best place to play multiplayer, but if you’re looking for the perfect platform on which to sink into the end-game grind by yourself – there is no place better to play it.

Somehow, the game is once again a significant improvement over last year's iteration and if you're a football fan FIFA 11 is a must: EA have shown they can draw blood from a stone and they've done it with style.

It's the closest the Vita has to an 'essential release', a game that encourages its audience to build and create as if there was nothing to stop them while providing the perfect example of what that kind of mentality can produce.

Legion is excellent, a thoroughly enjoyable expansion made all the more impressive by the base game's age. It might have taken a demon invasion, but WoW's players are back together at last.

The Talos Principle on PS4 lives up to the hype of its PC cousin. It's a genre masterpiece that anyone with the slightest interest in puzzles or philosophy should pick up as a matter of priority.

Nioh is a triumph. It stands head and shoulders above every other title in the genre, even eclipsing its obvious inspiration. Team Ninja is not only back, but it has thrown down the gauntlet, and only time will tell who's up for the challenge.

Animal Crossing: New Leaf encourages the player to approach it as a calm in the storm of everyday life: a portal to a new, conflict-free world that you can escape to for a little while each day. It's a peaceful, guileless, and totally enchanting title.

All these things combine to what is arguably the best role-playing game of the year – or at least until Skyrim.

In spite of a lack of competition, Visual Concepts hasn't eased off the brakes. Every year the developer continues to deliver. NBA 2K13 isn't just the best basketball game of the year, it's the best sports game of the year.

Rocksmith 2014 many improvements on its predecessor see the franchise elevated from a decent diversion to a great tool for budding strummers and shredders. There’s a ton of quality content to get through, but best of all it’s presented in an appealing and addicting manner that takes much of the pain from practice

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.

Levels are broader and more varied, small alterations have been made to force the player to put more thought into how they craft their experiences, and there's some genuine emotional content being experimented with. The whole enterprise does end up feeling a bit too earnest, a bit too forced, a bit too cornball. Despite that, though, there's a maturity of vision to Halo 4, one that manifests itself, in small ways, in the narrative and in the ways you interact with that narrative.

Injustice 2 is the goods: a great fighting game with an absorbing narrative, plenty of content, and a legendary cast.

The Witness is an expansive and wickedly smart follow-up to Braid, with puzzles to test even the brightest minds. Its mental gymnastics are well worth the occasional frustration, and you'll come out feeling like a genius.

Perhaps the greatest triumph for Civilization VI on PlayStation is that it is the full, uncut, and immersive Civilization experience PC players have been enjoying for decades perfectly translated to console. A challenging, but welcoming strategy title that is either the perfect entry point for new players, or the single best reason for long-time fans who have transitioned to a more couch-based gaming lifestyle to jump back in.

Final Fantasy VII REMAKE is a spectacular game that soars and falls in equal measure. There is a lot to love here, but frustrations and disappointments mar the experience. A solid central story is undermined by needless padding. Exceptional combat loses its edge at times due to unfortunate design choices, and gorgeous visuals are muddied with some appalling technical shortcomings.

If you're looking for a nourishing gaming experience sprinkled with the addictive sea-salt of Pokémania, then these games are for you.

The sixth Pokémon generation’s leap into three dimensions is a godsend, maintaining a recognisable experience while giving the aesthetic experience much-needed depth and dynamism. Even with this new presentation, though, the seventeen-year-old core remains the same – a trusty old heart that doesn’t really need to change.

A truly spectacular soccer title with exceptional player animations, ball handling and gameplay to boot. The AI will provide a significant challenge, but the implementation of one of the most advanced and complete online modes will mean that this game will truly last you a long time.

It’s almost everything we want in a PC shooter. DICE’s latest installment in the Battlefield series sets the bar – we just wish there were more developers trying to surpass it.

A truly spectacular soccer title with exceptional player animations, ball handling and gameplay to boot. The AI will provide a significant challenge, but the implementation of one of the most advanced and complete online modes will mean that this game will truly last you a long time.

Guacamelee is a solid, well-paced Metroidvania-brawler hybrid with style to burn and a fun spin on a doddery old narrative. It also tries desperately hard to be funny, though, and it falls well short of the mark.

Astral Chain is one of the most exciting new IPs I've played in years. From its stunning combat design to its gorgeous visuals, it packs a punch in almost every area. Combat feels incredible and the Legions add a huge amount of options to how you tackle any given battle. Some may fault the game for its more quiet moments and investigations, but the contrast they offer to the frantic action, feels near-perfect in its execution.