Ghost Recon Wildlands is a fun romp in a huge world that allows you tackle each encounter in as tactical or non-tactical manner as you please. Your fellow players are what bring this game to life, so best not look at this as a single-player experience.

A mechanically strong stealth title with some of the most eye-rollingly awful dialogue I have ever been subjected to. Styx as a character is obnoxious, unlikable, and immersion breaking, but he does wield some of the most impressive and well-designed infiltration abilities in the genre. I just wish he would shut the hell up.

Loot Rascals is a unique roguelike whose bright and breezy presentation contrasts nicely with its intricate systems and ferocious difficulty.

Berserk has its moments – the Berserker Armor is absolutely hilarious, and getting to play as Zodd is awesome – but a few glimmers of amusement aren't enough to save it. The game doesn't have a lot to offer anybody – newcomers to the series will be left in the dust, long-time fans will be turned off by the clumsy adaptation, and anyone looking for a decent action game should grab a copy of Nioh instead. It's likely this will end up as just another forgotten footnote in the series' troubled history of adaptations.

While Malicious Fallen has the potential to be a fun hack-and-slasher, it is diminished by slippery movement controls, enemy AI that can overwhelm you and break the flow of the game, and an underwhelming soundtrack.

Halo Wars 2 both illustrates the problems traditional RTS titles have on console, and demonstrates how to overcome them with its excellent Blitz mode.

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.

The campaign's story falls to earth with a thud, and technical problems are currently marring its online component, but For Honor's masterful presentation and combat rescue it from mediocrity. Given a few patches, it'll be a force to be reckoned with.

Sniper Elite 4 improves all areas of the franchise to a greater or lesser extent, and its protagonist remains the only real weak spot.

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.

Don Bradman Cricket 17 builds on a strong foundation to provide video gaming's best crack at emulating a complex and (for the gaming mainstream) niche sport. While we give it an 8/10, in cricketing terms, it's a well-played four.

Space Hulk: Deathwing is a below par title with some excellent art design and satisfying enough combat. Enemy variety is higher than expected, and the unlockable weapons all feel appropriate, but overall it can only really be recommended to 40K diehards.

FFXV's ambition is laudable, but it's flaws are too big to fully cast aside. The result is an interesting and spectacular-looking title likely hampered by a protracted and unfocussed development.

Steep crams the Alps full of activities, but its systems are either poorly explained or poorly implemented, or both.

The Last Guardian can be frustrating gameplay-wise, but the connection you'll feel to its beautifully-realised yet intractable companion creature leaves no room in your heart for such concerns. Somehow, this game was worth the wait.

Watch Dogs 2 is an excellent sequel that ditches the earnestness of its predecessor, pumps up the power fantasy, and turns players loose in a vibrant and engaging city. It's one of the best open world games to come around in a while.

Tyranny comes to a screeching, premature halt, but prior to that it spins an absorbing tale with which player actions have long-reaching consequences.

Titanfall 2 is a gigantic stompy robot that for whatever reason is slipping by gamers unnoticed. This is a travesty, as it's an incredible title – easily one of the best of the year.

World of Final Fantasy could be an ongoing offshoot of the FF franchise, and has all the baggage to prove it.

While The Ezio Collection shows its age in some areas, the trilogy allows a welcome return to one of the franchise's best characters and storylines.

Planet Coaster is a celebration of everything Frontier Developments did well back in the Rollercoaster Tycoon days, with new mechanics and systems piled on top. Its variety of customisable buildings, scenery, objects, coasters, and rides make for an incredibly special game.

You can't accuse Infinite Warfare of being light on content, but most of what's here has been seen many times before, and none of the modes represent franchise high points. Also, the multiplayer microtransactions are off-putting.

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.

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.

Mafia 3 is a great step forward for storytelling in games that is dragged down by its consistently unpolished and poorly executed mechanics.

Dragon Quest Builders is an entertaining RPG, a marvellous builder, and simply a tremendous game all-round.

Shadow Warrior 2 is much like its predecessor: a gore-spattered first person kill-fest interspersed with lowest-rung lowest brow humour. Both of these elements are executed to excess, giving us a game that is equal parts head and eye-rolling. Still, it never stops entertaining if you have a taste for it.

Here's hoping the better two games get standalone releases for cheap, because they're good (but not NZ$69.99 good).