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.

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair will sometimes shamelessly steal from other iconic platformers, but it adds enough ideas of its own to get away with it. The sequel works better in terms of gameplay and level design than the three-dimensional original.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon initially stands out for its excellent new turn-based combat system. But this cross-gen game mainly impresses as a social critic. Rarely does a game appear that examines class differences, social taboos and social norms so sharply and in such a sharp manner.

Matterfall is a platform game for the best speed runners. It is a bit too little to be called a PlayStation alternative for Mario, but it is fun to try to beat yourself by seconds.

Proteus is without a doubt not for everyone, because playing in the traditional sense of the word doesn't really happen. It does, however, deliver an enchanting experience through the harmony of images and sounds, which leaves enough room for your own imagination.

Lost Odyssey might not have the same quality or finishing touch as the Final Fantasy-games, and also don't play the game for renewal of the genre. This doesn't take away the fact that the game is extremely enjoyable with a beautiful result of the somewhat unoriginal story. It has its limits, but Lost Odyssey is absolutely worth the trouble. A nice start for a beautiful series with potential.

Shift 2: Unleashed might not be the realistic racing game of which the developers speak, but it does offer an intense racing experience we haven't seen before on the consoles. You literally experience the race through the eyes of the driver which offers a lot of exciting moments which will keep you interested from start to finish.

The figurines of Skylanders are not as recognizable as the Disney or Nintendo ones, plus they are pretty expensive. That being said, Skylanders: Trap Team is the best one in the Skylanders franchise, with great variations in gameplay and tons of fun.

Playground Games and Turn 10 Studios proved with Forza Horizon that the franchise could successfully be transported from the asphalt to an open world. The Rally Expansion Pack adds a whole new dimension to this, in which racing with juiced up monsters on wheels across dirt roads feels very spectacular. Too bad it isn't as faithful to the real thing as we hoped though.

Saints Row is a playground for adults, a not so subtle satire of modern culture and entertainment. It's also the opposite of Grand Theft Auto. It's very rough around the edges, unfortunately, and isn't that much different from its predecessor. Still, it's proper fun.

Shift 2: Unleashed might not be the realistic racing game of which the developers speak, but it does offer an intense racing experience we haven't seen before on the consoles. You literally experience the race through the eyes of the driver which offers a lot of exciting moments which will keep you interested from start to finish.

F1 offers a wide array of options, but when it comes to driving behavior it is not the best. However, this is the best Formula 1 title since Grand Prix 4.

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.

IL2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey succeeds at bringing a flightsim to the consoles. The game delivers a few things that console gamers haven't had for years, but at the same time takes its place between the less-realistic alternatives on the consoles. If you can look past the minor flaws, Birds of Prey is recommended for the serious flightsim-enthusiast.

The best lightgun-shooter on the Wii, and that's saying a lot. The graphics are a little dated, even for the Wii, but the gameplay is all the more satisfying. Hardcore gamers who want to perfect their high scores might be offended by the long levels, but everyone else will really enjoy themselves here.

The Blob is a very high quality product with almost no flaws whatsoever. But most importantly The Blob is original. It's a form of art and a videogame in one. The Blob is one of the few Wii games that can actually hold our attention for more than a couple of hours. The game is just one big splash of fun.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution – Director’s Cut is still a great action RPG with a phenomenal virtual word to get lost in. It doesn’t ad much aside from The Missing Link DLC, and isn’t very impressive graphically, but we can still recommend it for Wii U. Especially if you haven’t gotten around to playing it yet.

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.

The Xbox-Live Arcade version of Torchlight is definitely a memorable port. Thanks to certain smart adaptations, the game works very well with a controller instead of mouse and keyboard. The only thing that holds back Torchlight is that it can feel a bit limited at times with Torchlight 2 just around the corner, and due to the lack of cooperative modes.

Lone Survivor is one of the weirdest, most disturbing survival horror games available now. From start to finish, it takes you on a fuzzy trip in the world of the 'lone survivor'. Despite its two-dimensional appearance it's a very atmospheric and frightening game that constantly makes you think. It does this in a unique way by challenging you on a psychological level.

The Bit.Trip-series are about short, simplistic games and Void fits like a glove. You immediately understand the goal of the game and everyone can have a go at it, but the difficulty ramps up fairly quickly. It’s a shame there aren’t many levels and an online leaderboard would have been the perfect addition, but still, this experiment has succeeded.

Ninja Gaiden 3 abandons its predecessors completely and draws its own plan. This is an in-your-face spectacle, which is very accessible and lets players randomly hit buttons until their fingers go numb. Does that make this game bad? No. It does well enough on its own terms. But fans beware: this is not the Ninja Gaiden you remember.

Don't let the playful title fool you. Toy Soldiers Cold War can stand its ground between the big wargames. You'll find plenty of action, a challenge and basically a game that will appeal to a lot of gamers.

Gears Tactics is a great strategy game, but that's not really surprising. It is precisely the Gears DNA - taking cover, making optimal use of the scarce grenades, the chainsaw executions - perfectly suit the genre and giving Gears Tactics its own face.

Dead Space has enough new elements to make a memorable experience out of it. The lack of a HUD, the use of telekenetic powers and the original weapons all contribute to that. Even the setting, a spaceship, is done so well that there is enough variety in the environments. The controls could have been a bit more direct, but Dead Space is still a perfect way to have a few scary nights.

Gunpoint is a 2D-indie game with razor-sharp pixel-art, atmospheric music, the best auto-save in recent years, humor and a story with well-done moments of choice. The most important element is the Crosslink-puzle-mechanic. This system gives you so much freedom to reach different solutions, that the developer doesn’t even know them all.

Pure strategy, complex but solid controls and an irresistible multiplayer make Frozen Synapse a surprise hit. It's not a beautiful looking game, but ignore the basic presentation, because this is a game everyone should try at least once.

F1 23 is an excellent representation of the highest European racing class. The races offer excitement and sensation, strategy pays off more than ever and Verstappen wins – as good as always. The theatrical storytelling in Braking Point focuses on pressing issues in elite sports and provides a great introduction to the otherwise excellent gameplay. The new F1 World lays the foundation for a live service. This provides hours of entertainment, but is also obviously designed to keep you in the F1 ecosystem for as long as possible. That incentive is superfluous: F1 23 is rock solid even without this kind of fuss.