PixelJunk Monsters used the popularity of the Tower Defence-concept quite handy. Too bad there isn't an online co-op or a level creator though. It doesn't take away the fact that this is currently one of the best games available at the Playstation Store. So if you are looking for fun, challenge and addictiveness, then run like hell to your Playstation 3 to download the game on your harddisk for only 4,99 euro!

Persona Q is a great mix between Persona and Etrian Odyssey. The gameplay mechanics from both franchises are complementing each other and offers us a great dungeon-crawler. The interaction between characters is great for people that played other games in these series, but newcomers will find it difficult to really get this game.

The last part of this special cross-over between Disney and Square-Enix seems to collapse under its own weight, but yet it stays on both feet. It is taking you to the end in the loveliest way. Worth the wait.

Resident Evil 5 starts with bang. An original setting and zombies that are just waiting to get shot are a perfect start. But a soon as your surroundings changes from a beautiful African landscape to dark and boring industrial complex, the gameplay turns a bit sour and transforms into a standard action game. An action game with the limitations of the horror genre. Resident Evil fans are probably dying to know how the story unfolds, but gamers with little knowledge of the previous games will find it nothing more than an average action game.

Angry Birds Space is a refreshing new take on a well known concept. Figuring out how to launch the birds most effectively has become much more challenging due to the importance of gravity. The game feels fresh and is at least as addicting as its predecessors.

Splatoon 3 is an excellent sequel that mainly picks up on the best aspects of parts one and two. Everything works just that little bit more logically and runs as you would expect, from the signature gameplay to the menus. Except for a more extensive, fun single player campaign, you don't have to count on much news.

Black Ops 2 is a good and complete Call of Duty-game. The Zombie-mode is once again very entertaining and the single player the best yet thanks to the moral choices it presents players with. The multiplayer still plays the same way after all these years, which makes sense, but is slightly disappointing for those who hoped that the new setting and structure would've caused it to change. All of the modes are a lot of fun though, but to enjoy it you'll have to bite through pretty outdated graphics.

This is a very well rounded basketball game, made by and for fans of the sport. The countless details and different facets of the sport are perfectly recreated in the game. The graphics are insanely realistic, but the frame rate suffers sometimes because of it. Still, this is the best basketball game of this season.

This War of Mine conveys the horrors that occur when trying to survive war time. Not through story, but through gameplay which is done perfectly. It is a heavy game that touches upon subjects that are usually kept quiet. It's too bad that the roguelike element of having to start over again and again in this game, stands in the way of really leaving a mark.

Devil Daggers is an intense first-person shooter that seems to be shallow with a lack of features, but actually has an unexpected depth to it. In every level you will learn something new and the possibility to check out how other people play the game, makes it a very engaging experience.

Space Marshals feels great to play and feels like more than just a mobile game. It has great graphics, the controls are very intuitive and the gameplay is strong. This is a stealth shooter that offers hours and hours of fun.

This game might be a bit easy, it is still very fun to discover this well created world. It is amazing how well two game genres are mixed into one game.

Persona 4: Arena is the result of an especially improbable, but successful marriage. Developer Arc Systems bring us one of the deepest and at the same time most accessible 2D-figheter ever. Atlus on the other hand, worked on the presentation with enough love and care to give Persona 4 a worthy successor. Do know that you're getting into though. Whoever wants to play a fighting game a few hours a week, will merely crush the tip of the iceberg.

Digital Reality wants to breathe new life into the shoot-'em up genre with Sine Mora. At a glance they succeed with beautiful backgrounds and lots of variation. Other satisfaction can only be extracted from getting the best high scores, because the story is simply all over the place.

That Need for Speed Shift was going to be more of a simulation wasn't a big surprise when Slightly Mad Studios got the job. It is however a surprise that the game ended up being this good. Thanks to the cockpit-view, the sense of speed and the eye for detail, Shift takes the Need for Speed-series back to the top.

Bangai-O is a one of a kind videogame. The only game that you can compare it with is the first installment of Bangai-O. And that's equally good as it is bad. Good, because it's totally different then anything else. Bad, because it will be hard for players to get accustomed to the series. In all fairness Bangai-O is a very good game but it gives the player litte chance to ease into the game.

Ring Fit Adventure offers an excellent fitness fantasy that actually makes you forget that you are doing intense exercises. Although the gameplay and story do not contain much depth, the game offers excellent motivation for gamers who are looking for a little more movement in their lives.

Quotation forthcoming.

A beautiful adventure that you can’t put down for the first thirty hours. The second half isn’t as gripping as the first, though. It’s interesting that the game sways away from the previous games in the series, but not everyone will be pleased with the linear gameplay.

Matching the success of Angry Birds while introducing a new concept seemed like an impossible task for Rovia, but they succeeded with Bad Piggies. It combines that 'I'll-quickly-play-a-game'-feeling with challenging 'build-and-reach-the-finish-line'-puzzle gameplay. It's funny, addicting and last but not least: it doesn't have any birds in it.

Zombies is great this year as usual. The single player is very entertaining, although some missions are a bit boring towards the end. The multiplayer is polarizing. Known problems (spawns, bullet registration) have not been addressed. Although the new way of moving allows for very spectacular actions, the high pace also ensures a high entry threshold. Black Ops 6 is a good Call of Duty as a total package, but will not convince dropped out players. Black Ops 6 is too safe for that - even for a Call of Duty.

Borderlands mixes up RPG and shooter and this works well. Don’t expect a Fallout 3 though, because this is an entirely different product. This really feels more like a shooter at most times.

Pocket Card Jockey turns a crazy combination between horse races and solitaire into a funny and addictive game. The game is complex, but if you use Horse Off Course, tune into your strategic skills then you should have a blast playing this game.

Dragon Quest Builders is much more than just a construction game. It is an inspiring hybrid between two genres with an amazing mission structure and lively characters.

Given the fact that the gameplay still appeals lets us know we are dealing with a good quality product. So if you are looking for a nice fighting game with a beautifully worked out multiplayer, then Bleach: The Blade of Fate is definitely your game.

Transistor has every element necessary in it to steal your heart. The combination of an inventive combat system, beautiful surroundings and an intriguing narration results in an elegant symbiosis which you will often enjoy. It's just a shame that Transistor never becomes the memorable masterpiece that would expect. Therefore, the story turns to anticlimax and fighting never exploits its potential.

Lumines: Electronic Symphony is one of the best launch games for the Vita. The soundtrack and its design are great and the puzzle mechanic works well for long and short sessions. It's just too bad it's so expensive.

Splatoon 2 does not differ much from the first game, but its strong gameplay is very entertaining in multiplayer. Matchmaking and the party system are a bit of a let-down, but other than that, this is a must-have for Switch.

A brilliant game design that leaves you begging for more. And for online leader boards! Why didn't they include those? That would make sense.

Stray knows how to depict the life and movements of a cat like no other game. The robot city your kitty gets lost in is a joy to explore. Disappointing sections with mediocre gameplay, however, are a black mark in this beautiful cat coat.

Just like the funny first part, World of Goo 2 is full of ingenious puzzles and even more creative solutions. The game sometimes reminds you very much of the first part, but you will only really notice that if you have played World of Goo recently.

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life offers amazing storytelling and world-building, but when it comes to gameplay mechanics and technique Yakuza 0 and Kiwami 2 are way ahead.

UFC 2009 is a delicious fighting game and hopefully the start of a successful franchise. A franchise Mixed Martial Arts-fans have been waiting for. The learning curve is pretty steep, but it makes the taste of success, when you do get the hang of it, a lot sweeter. A must buy for fighter fans.

The first impression that Terraria might give could come off as a bit stale due to its flat 2D-look, but that look just conceals the immense depth it contains. Real adventurers will be entertained for hours on end by exploring the different environments, fighting countless different monsters and by creating new equipment. The best thing: its low price.

You've got to hand it to Square Enmix. Most developers would've tried to forget a failed MMO as quickly as possible. Not at this Japanese company. They relaunch their title as a completely new game to save the Final Fantasy name. And they succeeded. A Realm Reborn is very traditional, but it's also one of the best traditional MMORPG's to have come out recently.

Quotation forthcoming.

The Tomb of Sammun-Mak isn't as strong as season opener The Penal Zone, but still delivers solid puzzles and hilarious jokes. Furthermore, the many references to earlier episodes and the strong origin story are bound to put a smile on the faces of every fan of the original two seasons.

Just Cause 2 is the ultimate transition of the explosion-filled, stunt-heavy blockbuster action movie to the videogames medium. The spectacular grappling hook action takes place on the beautiful, humongous fictional island state of Pauna. The few flaws don’t hurt the overall experience at all.

Crypt Custodian is a game about a cute kitten with a little broom who has to clean up the afterlife. Crypt Custodian is also an excellent metroidvania that doesn’t push any boundaries, but it does understand exactly what makes the genre so good: a cute kitten with a little broom.

If Resistance 3 turns out to be the last game in the series, Insomniac can look back without any shame. The series hasn't gone out like a candle, but like fireworks. Sometimes the game is a little rough around the edges, but at the end of the ride you have enjoyed yourself, screamed and laughed. That's more than we expected from a developer who had little experience in the genre at the start of this trilogy.

The tower defense-game Orcs Must Die! 2 isn't that different from its predecessor, but it does have the cooperative mode we longed for. Additions like more enemies, extra weapons and a new game-mode make it better and more balanced than the original. The multiplayer just completes the picture. This sequel feels more like an expansion than a completely new installment though, but the low price makes up for that.

Metro Redux is more than just a polished version of Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light. The terrifying and sinister games have improved on every level, which makes Redux the best way to play both titles.

This is an amazing ode to classic JRPGs. Thanks to a few tactical tricks and an amazing exterior it's worth being its own game.

Triangle Strategy tells a deep political story on a grand scale, packed with unique characters, betrayals and twists and turns. Unfortunately, there is no real interesting tactical gameplay.

Original and filled with character. Winterbottom is a charming platformer that reminds one of Braid. Maybe it’s not as brilliant as that game, but it’s still a wonderful ride.

The Zero-games tell a great story in a few of the hardest and best action games of its time. The ZX games had their own issues, but their still worth your while.

You only need a shallow appreciation for the Marvel super heroes culture to enjoy the newest Lego game. It has a lot of playable characters and the variation between exploration and standard levels is great. That makes it hard not to take the sometimes antiquated design for granted.

Lords of Shadow defies the boundaries of what Castlevania should be, but it works. The game pulls you in medieval times, but the gameplay, presentation and story are without a doubt as modern as you can get. The ghost of old Castlevania flows through the game, while being fresh enough to make it feel like the start of a new franchise. Both fans and newcomers will find plenty to enjoy here.

Darksiders looks like the result of a head-on collision between the Zelda and God of War-franchise. But instead of a big mess, both fuse together to form a hybrid with the best elements of both, combined with a great story. The game won’t win any awards for originality, but thanks to its long playtime, strong puzzles and great alteration between elements and scenery we can only conclude that Darksiders is already one of the first great games of 2010.

'Skyrim in space' falls short on Starfield, but at the same time it is the perfect description of this total package. Starfield is so big, diverse and detailed that it's hard not to lose yourself in this world. Not everything is perfect, but the negatives are completely outweighed by the positives. In short, a typical Bethesda game. But then in space.

Alan Wake is a decent port with a few console-characteristics that cause a few annoyances. But PC-gamers finally have the option to enjoy Alan Wake's unique and gripping story.

Delivers on a unique cooperative experience that has you sneaking through levels as a member of a team of four burglars, with the right composition of classes. It won't be long before you'll get sucked into the charming atmosphere developer Pocketwatch Games established here. Alone, or with ill-intentioned players, it loses a lot of the charm and gets really hard during later parts of the game. Only play Monaco with accomplices.

Moonlighter is one of the most beautiful pixel games of the past few years, with a fun twist on both roguelikes and rpgs.

New ways to interact with the game world allow for stronger collaboration between you and Quill. This makes Moss: Book 2 feel both familiar and innovative.

The song 'Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger' by Daft Punk describes inFamous 2 like no other. The story hits you harder than its predecessor did, the gameplay works better and faster and Cole feels stronger with his new powers. That the game isn't much deeper, is a fact you'll take for granted while taking over the world as a hero or villain.

Jusant remains continuously fun thanks to varied climbing puzzles and an impressive game world. Based on that world, Just also tells a moving story with an emotional ending. This is one of those games that you probably want to skip at the tail end of an incredibly busy gaming year, but Gamer.nl recommends otherwise.

Outland is without a doubt a good game. The switching between light and dark works well in this platformer, and gets assisted by great smooth gameplay. Include the cooperative elements and you've got a game that belongs at the top of downloadable titles. That Outland doesn't belong to that elite is because of the sometimes very artificial and stale level design.

Knights of Pen and Paper is being praised as a pocket sized Dungeons & Dragons-simulator. Because of the indie-spirit, many geeky references and addicting gameplay you might actually start to believe it. But then you’d be fooling yourself and you’re missing the essence of role playing games. This is a grinding simulator, not a night of D&D.

What moves a developer to make a game that looks like it created out of cut-outs from old magazines and newspapers? Sceptical as one can be, we are glad to say that And Yet it Moves managed to turn us around. Copying and pasting has never been this original. With its quirky art style and brain-twisting puzzles, it is nothing short of a small piece of art.

If you want a taste of the real deal, Football Manager 2009 offers a great alternative. The improved graphics aren't all that, but all the other extras are undoubtatly a big plus for the series. And considering that the extras are build on a more than solid base the only conclusion you can make is that Football Manager is, again, the best in i's genre. Even the little flaws can't prevent that from happening.

Torchlight is the ultimate rival for Diablo. The game doesn't introduce something new to the genre, but that's forgiven by the atmosphere it provides and the Blizzard-like level of polish. Thanks to its small price tag and the addictive nature of the game, it comes highly recommended for everyone.

Fifa 19 is a very complete game, but we are not sure about its course. Instead of pointing out some nuances in soccer or making it a better esports game, the game has used the same limited gameplay mechanics for three years.

NBA 2K15 offers nearly perfect gameplay and thankfully the realistic graphics of NBA 2K are here to stay. Lots of improvement on the different modes as well. NBA 2K15 is a basketball game to love, but the servers are not making the relationship go smoothly.

With its amazing story and deep combat system Xenoblade Chronicles 2 offers an excellent sequel to what probably is the best jrpg of the past two console generations.

Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp most importantly gives two Game Boy Advance games a fresh coat of paint to make them look a bit nicer on the Switch. We fully understand that, because the games that lie at the core have aged tremendously.

An excellent football game that even excels FIFA 10 in some ways. But in the end this is still a basic version of that game and together with a few rough edges it keeps the game from becoming truly fantastic.

Gravity Rush is the best, prettiest and most unique game for the PlayStation Vita to date.

Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are top notch remakes. The DexNav-application for the Pokédex makes catching Pokémon more dynamic and more worth while; the Hoenn-region is an awesome place for an adventure.

The Frozen Wilds exactly does what is expected of dlc: it is a more of the game we already loved to play.

Contra 4 is a respectable comeback of the series to its original form. The game brings good memories and is something every gamer should have played once. It might be difficult in the beginning, but once you get the hang of it you will be rewarded. Not everyone will like the game, but those who do will enjoy one of the best times in their life.

Rhythm Paradise is fun to play. Even though the game has no groundbreaking gameplay elements and has it share of flaws. Furthermore Rhythm Paradise distinguish itself through a unique style of audio and visual and it's rhythmic gameplay. Add a low price tag and you've got yourself a interesting videogame.

Trials of Mana is one of the best games from the 90s, which can now finally be played legally in English. The localization of that game alone justifies the high price tag of what is basically a collection of old ROMs. It’s a really nice nostalgia trip that comes with another classic as a gift.

Quotation forthcoming.

Stacking makes use of some inventive gameplay mechanics that lets the player decide what kind of experience it wants to get out of the game. Accessibility, clever puzzle design, a charismatic world and oodles of fun are what developer Double Fine whips up into this delicious little game.

Disc Room is a simple concept taken to the limit. Although every room is filled with dangerous disks, the game continues to surprise with deadly challenges. Not every part of it is equally brilliant, but the trance-like concentration that Disc Room evokes is a pleasure to experience room after room.

In essence Hitman: Absolution is still the stealthy murderous game you know. As usual there are dozens of ways to take out your targets, lots of disguises to wear and the environment can be scaled and used the way you want to. It's also as hard as you remember it, but doesn't linger in the past mostly due to an increased focus on action and it being easier to play and. Graphically the game looks wonderfully dark, the interface has been completely redone and Agent 47 is easier to control than ever. The artificial intelligence leaves something to be desired, but aside from that Absolution is a fine Hitman-game.

With Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Game Freak is betting on innovation, not improvement. Although the game drops a few stitches and asks the player to put aside their skepticism, setting up the first Pokédex remains fun for tens of hours. Legends: Arceus is much more dynamic than many games in the franchise and keeps players enthralled for a long time with different ways of discovering, collecting and fighting.

Alan Wake is all about the story. It is told very well and constructed in such an intelligent way, that you want to complete the game in one blow. Even though the gameplay itself good, it’s not nearly on the same level.

Eddie Riggs is the character that brings together the entire metal world and the smartly written story. His charisma and wit make Brütal what it is. The game mixes genres in unusual ways, but it’s a shame the side-missions all look alike and the game is pretty short. But it’s always a sign that you’re playing a good game when you’re left wanting for more. Brütal Legend isn’t the best game of this year, but it certainly rocks the most.

A fresh surrounding, new characters, great action sequences and room for giving the gamer a good sense of what certain characters are about; this episode is amazing. It is too bad that it has a lot of small issues, especially as we had to wait for it for a long time.

In Katana Zero you will find shallow and flashy gameplay presented nicely. The story and the limited interaction is the main reason for playing this blood-spattered sidescroller. It's too bad it all ends a bit too sudden.

GTR Evolution feels like the most complete but also last installment in the series. The next one will probably be more like a revolution than an evolution. And with for good reason. Evolution is starting to look a little outdated. Just don't let this stop you from buying this game. GTR Evolution offers you an all-in-one package of cars and tracks in a racer that's almost as good as the real thing.

Mortal Kombat 1 mainly draws strength from the formula that made the series great. This means a high degree of accessibility, completely bizarre and grotesque characters and of course blood that flows (very) freely. The Kameo fighters are an excellent addition that give the gameplay the necessary depth. This means that Mortal Kombat 1 remains fun to play for a long time, even if you are already tired of the gruesome fatalities.

Neva feels more like a 'game' than Nomada's previous title, but is nonetheless a top-tier work of art.

The wonderful hack-and-slash action combined with fluent animations and a beautiful visual presentation make Dust: An Elysian Tail an adventure that you don't want to let go. Fortunately, there's a lot to see aside from the main story in the world of Falana, as to postpone your goodbye with the game quite a bit longer.

There is no doubt that Marvel's Midnight Suns is a very good strategy RPG. The interaction between the popular and less popular superheroes of the Marvel universe is a feast for fans, with the biggest meal of all being the incredible turn-based fights.

Hearts of Iron 4 is a strategy game with a nice flow. The many aspects of war are realistically embedded in the game, thought the AI unfortunately fails very often.

Aside from over 150 characters, easy to get into gameplay and pretty, varied levels, Skylanders Swap force has one excellent new element: dismantling the toys and combining them into new characters.

F1 2011 is better than F1 2010 on all fronts. A great combination of challenging gameplay and the right race feeling makes this a must-have for all racing simulation fans.

One of the best first person shooters available right now. The game has a unique character thanks to the required combination of tactical insight and pure skills. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive's gameplay won't appeal to everyone, but that's also its greatest strength.

Iconoclasts might be the most beautiful Metroidvania we have played these past few years. The concepts are not very original, but this game feels like a love letter to the ‘90’s in many ways.

Bardbarian is very addicting. So much so, that it’ll have you wonder whether you’re actually playing it to enjoy yourself. Thankfully, this doesn’t matter on the commute. A game of Bardbarian is a great time waster.

This is one of the best multiplayergames for Switch. Though it really is Worms as we know it, Team17 does freshen up the known formula with a few fun additions.

Curtain Call takes the original Theatrhythm and mixes it with a bag of new tracks, some new modes and a brand new way to control the game. The end result is a light-hearted trip down nostalgia lane for die-hard Final Fantasy-fans.

Pokémon Platinum is in fact one of many variants on the first few parts, with the marginal note that the game lacks any form of renewal. Nevertheless Pokémon Platinum still offers a very decent roleplaying game that makes good use of the online capabilities of the Nintendo DS. If your not familiar with any of the preliminary titles that this one will be a perfect opportunity to get accustomed to the series.

Odyssey is the best game in this franchise. It would have been great if the less interesting content was discarded (such as a few locations that are too simular), but the important missions, the war and the hunt for the sect offer many many hours of fun.

With Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Nintendo shows that is still knows best how to create an excellent platformer. Not only is it beautiful to observe, but the level design is amazing and it has many memorable moments.

F1 2021 impresses. Whether you're an avid competitor or want to pursue a storytelling career on your own, you'll be given countless opportunities to customize the game. That makes F1 2021 a versatile title. Once on the track, it is still a very solid racing game, suitable for both controllers and (semi) professional racing wheels.