This is one sequel which bucks the trend by taking an already good concept and building on it, raising the bar in the process. Simply put, it's better than the original because there's a lot more to do, and everything meets or exceeds expectations.

In order to describe every little thing that you see in this game would require volumes. There is a staggering level of detail and for every detail we've mentioned so far, there are at least a dozen we've missed. Still, that's the beauty of Grand Theft Auto IV: the details will always be there for you to discover yourself.

Grand Theft Auto V is the pinnacle of the franchise and of gaming in 2013. A ridiculously ambitious title that wrings absolutely everything out of the aging seventh-gen consoles, it's a spectacular triumph in every conceivable way. Rejoice, for Rockstar North has done it again.

Despite stumbling at the very beginning Red Dead Redemption 2 cements Rockstar Games’ place at the very top of the games industry. It’s been eight years and well worth the wait.

Grand Theft Auto V for new-gen is without a doubt the best way to experience one of the biggest releases of the last half decade.

Super Mario Odyssey is an innovative masterpiece that takes an already creative series to the next level, demonstrating that there is no limit to the adventures that can be had in games or the ways they can be played.

There is simply no argument to be had. The PC release of GTA V is by far the very best version of the very best Grand Theft Auto game to date.

Uncharted 2 improves on the original in almost every way. A solid gaming experience, and one that will rate among the very best PS3 games ever made.

Much like the first Mass Effect, you can ignore everything that is wrong with Mass Effect 2, because it is just so good at everything that it does right. The faults are not as glaring as they were in the last game and you will be so enthralled with the amazing story, characters and combat that for the most part, you won't care anyway.

Where Oblivion may have caused many to sit on the fence when faced with any new Elder Scrolls release, Skyrim stands tall in redemption. It is, without any shadow of doubt, the best RPG experience available right now.

Sony's exclusive title shows potential, but it has several areas that need improving. It's refreshing to see a title that has such fun gameplay and amazing customisation options, and we're sure LittleBigPlanet will be around for a long time to come.

An absolutely stunning game that only minors and the squeamish should avoid, The Last of Us will rightly be remembered as one of this generation's very best games.

If you’re already a Persona fan, Persona 5 Royal offers up even more of what you love, taking an already massive game and upsizing it to epic proportions. This is a must-have for JRPG fans, but it is also one that might be a little too much to swallow for newcomers.

The Last of Us Remastered is a better-looking, better performing version of an already incredible game. As such, those who haven't played the original version should buy immediately, and those that have probably should as well.

Portal 2 manages to exceed expectations without compromising any of the core gameplay that made the original so popular, and should easily be considered one of the best titles available so far this year.

Red Dead Redemption is not just the definitive sandbox gaming experience, nor simply the best Wild West videogame (hardly a challenge), it is developer Rockstar's crowning achievement to date.

God of War is a genre redefining epic, a triumph for SCI Santa Monica, and the single best reason to own a PS4 in 2018.

Arkham City does what everyone hoped it would yet feared it couldn't; expand and improve on Arkham Asylum. Indeed, Arkham City is a bigger and better game in all regards, delivering an immaculately presented, rich, compelling play experience and gripping story while simultaneously respecting its source material's legacy and pushing the Batman myth further forward.

It certainly is refreshing to get a game that isn’t a terrible console to PC port.

Players who have never taken on the adventure and those who are old masters will find joy in unlocking Hyrule's hidden secrets, and felling its foes.

No major graphical updates here, nor has the story been modified in any meaningful way. But, it's BioShock, and therefore a must-buy for any platform it's available on.

BioShock is the most important new intellectual property of this hardware generation. Like its predecessor, it is an experience that could only ever be achieved in a videogame, one that demonstrates the true power of this medium to engage and inspire us, and in doing so it soars far above so many other games, clipped and blinkered as they are by their lowly, merely filmic aspirations. Irrational's achievements in BioShock Infinite dignify the medium.

Overall, Street Fighter 4 doesn’t bring a lot of new ideas to the table but it does do everything better than any previous incarnation, which is exactly what we wanted.

Everything a great sequel should be, and fans of the series will love the additions Infinity Ward have included this time around. Easily one of the best games this year, and a contender for the best shooter currently available for next-gen consoles.

Metal Gear Solid 4 isn't just a game, it's a work of art. By far and away the best PlayStation-exclusive title this year.

This game is huge in entertainment value and a tour de force for the Nintendo stable of characters. Its many game options and the full-on combat make it a game you will come back to again and again. Highly recommended for any Wii owner.

Probably the best DS title on the market currently, Chinatown Wars shows Rockstar can master not only next-gen console and PC, they know a thing or two about handheld gaming as well.

I named the vanilla release the best game I had played this millennium in 2017, and the Definitive Edition on PS4 the best RPG I had ever played in 2018. 2019 sees Larian’s RPG opus become portable and it is as fantastic as ever. It is easily the deepest, richest, and most rewarding game on the Switch. In short Divinity Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition the best game on Nintendo Switch.