The almost overabundance of content, interesting characters and clever, addictive combat make this threefold saga the very best that the Fire Emblem series has to offer.

Kirby remains as pure and charming as ever, and his newest game is an absolute joy.

Gears of War 3 is the definite pinnacle of the series. The third chapter about Marcus Fenix and his gang of brutes is exciting from start to end, and an incarnation of everything that Epic Games has learned during the last five years.

Chaotic, ridiculous, and ridiculously fun – Borderlands 4 is Gearbox back at its very best.

Flock is simply a great deal of fun, largely thanks to its sizeable roster of weirdly interesting creatures — creatures that truly trigger the «gotta catch 'em all» mentality. Effortless controls and an amazing soundscape also contributes to make this one of the most surprising games of the year.

Tears of the Kingdom is Nintendo's full realization of the vision Breath of the Wild started, trumping it in every area.

It's a formidable return to form for Master Chief. This gorgeous game offers thrills and challenges from start to finish, and provides a much more personal story for our hero than what we've seen before.

Against the Storm is not just an incredibly enjoyable game experience — it's also bursting with atmosphere. From the slightly Warcraft III-inspired visuals to the gorgeous music that draws you into another world, it's easy to lose track of both time and place.

This lovely looking, great sounding platformer has a surprisingly deep and engaging narrative. It is well crafted to the point of surely being one of this year's finest.

Quotation forthcoming.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth offers a lot of new questions while answering others. It has the best combat system in the series, and is a massive feast – especially for fans looking to lose themselves in its sprawling world.

Banananza had me hooked from the first levels, delivering tons of chaotic charm. A must-play for Switch 2-owners.

LEGO Voyagers is a charming and wonderful experience for two, where simple mechanics blend with the joy of doing things together.

The Outer Worlds 2 is a fantastic RPG that lets me just run around freely, discovering the world and resolving its issues in my own time. The world is great, the dialogue is fantastic, and it's very hard to put down.

Bayonetta 2 is an exhausting, but incredibly fun game that through it's fantastic combat system will both challenge and reward you in equal amounts.

An unique atmospheric horror game that offers plenty to chew on.

Recycling weapons has never been this fun. Borderlands improves and expands on everything in the predecessor. It's bigger, better and even more hilarious than anything you could have hoped for.

The story, characters and action sequences all add up to one of the best experiences video games has to offer. Every PlayStation 4 owner should have this in their library.

You can have a great time if you stop there and just enjoy the game at its most fundamental, but if you take your time, get into the details, and get to know the different drivers and vehicles, you will find a game with enormous depth. It lies in the small details, and there are many of them here.

Mario Kart World is a brilliant addition to the Mario Kart family, and offers a lot of fun. It's one of the few games where the whole family can join in and have equal fun, with adjustments for the weaker players, and plenty of antics for the experienced. If I have one complaint, it's that we currently don't get to drive fast enough. It didn't take long to get gold on everything in 150cc, but the robust online multiplayer mode more than makes up for that.

Dishonored is a love letter to everyone who has longed for more stealth action games in the vein of Thief. With its vast levels, openness, and its plethora of different ways of play this is a game that should be a great fit for practically everyone.

Devil May Cry 5 is a brilliant and exhausting game that continuously reaches new levels of greatness. This is Capcom at its finest.

XCOM 2 brings all of its strategy-goodness to the consoles. Despite a few performance issues and long loading sequences, the deep strategy mechanics and customization options create a tactical classic that console gamers might finally enjoy.

StarCraft II proves that old game mechanics can still work if done right. The game is fun to play in singleplayer, but its true excellence is stated in the best realtime strategy multiplayer yet to date. It´s an instant classic which will be played in many years to come.

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is a triumph, for Mario and Nintendo as well as for Ubisoft. The game bursts with creativity and charm. It’s beautiful, funny, challenging and original. But most of all, it’s a bold risk, and an immensely successful one at that.

Ever wanted to rule the world? Civilization V gives you all the tools you need to do just that, and boy is it addictive. This is a game absolutely everybody needs to try.

To me, this series is a perfect example of a video game larger than the sport it simulates. You don't have to be a ice hockey fan to enjoy it, nor do you need to be an avid gamer to understand its magic. This is one of the greatest sports games of all time.

Dark Souls II takes everything built up with the two previous games, improves upon it and results in a fantastic action adventure. Hard as nails, and equally satisfying gameplay with a good variety of bosses and enemies.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is the perfect entry point for anyone curious about either the Yakuza-series or JRPGs as a whole. It's a fantastic game with a great story, great gameplay and myriad little distractions.

With it's seventh main game, the Kingdom Hearts-franchise switches things up quite a bit, making room for some exciting new elements, like the flow motion and the including of characters from The World Ends With You. At the same time it manages to keep things like they have been for the past six games, with plenty of beautiful Disney-worlds, great characters and a good mix of action and roleplaying.

This is without a doubt one of the best licensed games ever. It is impressively faithful to the show, and you'll be amazed by the beautiful graphics and the awesome battles.

The Witcher has matured from a game brimming with potential to a milestone in rpg-history. The Witcher 2 offers a thrilling and well-polished adventure with all the raw brutality we crave. An instant classic.

Charming character design. Varied and challenging, but uneven, level design. Darwin's Paradox is a great classic platformer with a retro octopus twist.

While Mario may have stumbled a bit in his last few releases, Super Mario 3D World proves that Nintendo is still one of the finest makers of platform games out there. Everything from the visuals, the music, character animation and level design is incredibly well thought out and implemented, and it is one of those games that's worth buying a Wii U to play.

This is without a doubt one of the best licensed games ever. It is impressively faithful to the show, and you'll be amazed by the beautiful graphics and the awesome battles.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a breathtaking and emotionally rich JRPG with one of the genre’s best combat systems, crafted with such artistry it rivals the classics it’s inspired by.

FTL offers almost everything one can ask of a rogue-like indie game. It's deep, it's varied, it's intense and quite frankly great fun. It's a must for everyone who wants a challenge and highly rewarding gameplay.

Mythos is an absolutely astonishing expansion, and marks the return of A Total War Saga: Troy both as an amazing game, and as proof that historical and mythological amusement may indeed be found in one and the same game after all - just not in the way the game first intended.

The story of Lee gets even more twists and turns in this second to last episode. It's an action-packed race to the finish, and ends with a cliffhanger that left me on the edge of my seat, yearning for the conclusion to the story.

Quotation forthcoming.

A brilliant and impressive journey that adapts to your every move.

A hugely rewarding game for gamers who don't mind a challenge. Be prepared for many, many hours of exploration, in a game world that's truly memorable. The game is best played with a controller, but that should not be a problem for a PC gamer in 2012.

The best remake of Link’s Awakening that we could hope for.

Oxenfree sneaks up on you with its quirky charm, disarms you with a knowingly lame joke, before it pushes you heads first into a creepy, nightmarish tale made up of equal parts Twin Peaks and Are You Afraid of the Dark?

Quotation forthcoming.

Whether you're a Paradox pro or newcomer, Stellaris invites you to a grand strategy experience like no other. With its beautiful visuals, deep exploration mechanics, inspiring soundtrack and intriguing mysteries, Stellaris is bound to make you boldly go where no man - or woman - has gone before.

After 5 games with build-up, we are left with a staggeringly good game that delivers both quality and entertainment beyond all expectations. It is both big, beautiful, varied and very, very fun.

This game hits the mark on all fronts. Through the beautiful visual presentation comes a bloody and engaging world filled with myriad battles and a relentless chase for skills and loot that sucks you in and makes you stay.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a masterpiece, and one of the most impressive role playing games ever made.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations is another great entry into the franchise based on the popular anime. With content from both previous installments and greatly improved flow of combat, thanks to some minor but incredibly welcome changes, it's better than ever. The outstanding audiovisual collaboration is as always the icing on the cake.

Jusant is a small, playful and extremely atmospheric adventure. Here, the developers at Dontnod use their flair for colorful universes and unique gameplay to create a game that is engaging from start to finish.

In this latest installment of the series you get a story that's even darker than before. A lot of hard moral dilemmas are thrown at you, and you see the group you've come to know as a family falling apart. This episode also brings more puzzle elements than before, making it feel more like a traditional adventure game than an interactive graphic novel.

An already great game returns as one of the best space strategy games ever made.

The Enhanced Edition improves upon an already excellent game and brilliantly spreads the Witcher gospel to Xbox-owners. The dark and brutal adventures of Geralt are still marvelous and everyone who hasn't played Witcher 2, but enjoys an occasional RPG, should prepare themselves for an exciting and seductive experience.

Sound Shapes is a charming and beautiful platformer based on music and rhythm. Your goal is to collect notes and build on the song playing in the background. All the levels have a different look, with a team of graphic artists and performers combining their talents to make something truly enjoyable and unique.

Some of the best combat encounters in the entire game takes place in The Frozen Wilds, making this expansion essential for all who are fond of the core game.

A New Day is an exciting point and click adventure, and a great adaptation of the graphic novels with both a thrilling story and comic book look. It's all about the choices you make, which have consequences for the story as it progresses.

Project CARS is a massive and stunning experience. A realistic physics engine combined with a beautiful and dynamic weather system, a massive selection of the most important tracks and race cars truly is a winning combination. This is the closest you’ll get to experiencing a race weekend without leaving home.

Year Walk is an intense and uncomfortable point-and-click horror adventure. Its puzzles rely heavily on the player’s ability to observe and deduce, and the game never directly tells the player what to do next. Granted, Year Walk has some good jump scares, but it’s really the atmosphere that makes it shine, weighing down on your shoulders like heavy Swedish snow.

Thanks to its sprawling world and plethora of engaging ways to play, Hogwarts Legacy manages to set itself apart as the best Harry Potter related game of all time.

Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales is another massive achievement for CD Projekt Red. Based on the card game Gwent, the developer has managed to combine an astonishing open world, a great soundtrack and unique role playing and strategy elements into one great package - albeit one very different from what we are used to.

Nightreign is a game like nothing you've ever played before and that is in large part one of its biggest strengths. That, and its deeply engaging cooperative gameplay loop.

Kingdom Hearts III is big, bold and beautiful. The game delivers on almost all fronts: from the charming and faithfully crafted Disney worlds, to the engaging and extremely varied gameplay. Some aspects are still a little confounding, and the game is clearly not meant for newcomers, but returning fans will find exactly what they've been waiting for here.

Although its single player campaign lacks some inspiration, Battlefield 3 stands out as the pinnacle of modern day war-based first-person shooters. With its astounding visuals, sound effects and addictive multiplayer gameplay, it's a game that will be played and loved for a very long time.

Subnautica is a great survival game that is totally unique. Despite some small issues it captivates and ensures that the player has a need to explore its ocean.

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception's visuals are absolutely stunning, from beautiful and life-like surroundings to characters that look like they could walk into your livingroom any moment. And when Drake returns this time, developer Naughty Dog has perfected the balance between storytelling and gameplay. They've practically ticked all the boxes this time, and Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception may very well be one of the best games this year.

Quotation forthcoming.

Quotation forthcoming.

Max Payne 3 brings back the depressed and trigger-happy former cop, in a new and surprisingly entertaining chapter of his life. Rockstar has brought the story to São Paulo, equipped Max with a few new tricks and made everything look a bit more polished and updated. The addition of a well-rounded multiplayer proves to be a stroke of genious that adds loads of extra hours of fun gameplay.

Feels like a love letter for the series that mixes and matches the best parts from previous games, while building upon the foundation laid out by Resident Evil 7.

This game definitely isn't perfect, but it is the most solid addition to the FIFA franchise thus far. FIFA 11 represents the greatest and most mature simulation of football in a video game to this date.

In 2006 Final Fantasy XII was ahead of its time. In 2017 it might find a better response from its audience.

A lot of work has gone into this version of FIFA, with an abundance of gameplay improvements, quality of live improvements and the festive new street football mode Volta. All of this results in a brilliant and highly accessible version of the annual football frenzy.

Far Cry 3 is impressive on all levels. The island pours over with insanity, helped along by a great cast of friends and foes. Graphically stunning, and a candidate for Game of the Year-awards.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a faithful and immersive adaptation of the character, and a great Indy story in its own right.

Ghost of Tsushima is a stunning homage to the mystery of Feudal Japan and the Samurai warrior. Sucker Punch's world is a sight to behold, offering up plenty of excitement as you walk the path of the honorable samurai or the cunning Ghost.

The Battlefield 4 single player campaign lacks both depth and complexity, which results in an all-over poor experience. Multiplayer has however always been the focus of the Battlefield series, and even though there’s few revolutionizing changes from Battlefield 3, the game is filled with new and interesting content.

Cities: Skylines is the city-builder we've been both waiting and hoping for. Simple, but elegant systems and potentially huge landmasses to build upon and expand your city. The game doesn't overcomplicate anything, but strikes a good balance between depth and ease of use.

Prey offers a good story, utilizing great environmental storytelling and design. Combat, especially melee combat, suffers somewhat, but the game deserves credit for delivering on story and ambience above all else.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla is a massive game that really picks up steam and becomes an engaging adventuer after the first few hours.

Appearances aside, Escape from Ever After isn't just a Paper Mario knock-off, but a wholly enjoyable roleplaying game in its own right. If Flynt had a red cap and an airy moustache, you might've convinced me that Nintendo had made this.

Ori and the Blind Forest is a stunningly beautiful game that manages to live up to its appearance with brilliant and memorable gameplay.

Quotation forthcoming.

Phoenix Wright's latest misadventure in the courtroom is undoubtedly his greatest. The overarching plot is as well written as always, with plenty of in-jokes and pop cultural references. While the central gameplay of the series remains intact, the game manages to make it all feel fresh through a number of small updates that improve the overall flow of the game.

Besides the meaningful addition of shield combat, The Dark Ages does little to reinvent the series' gameplay formula. Nor does it have to. Sure, riding dragons are kinda neat, but at its core Doom continues to deliver some of the crunchiest, gnarliest shooting in the business.

Admittedly, Puppeteer does resemble a somewhat traditional platformer at its core. However, the generic mechanics are nevertheless well executed, and coupled with wildly imaginative visuals and an enveloping atmosphere this is an undeniably memorable game that never runs out of surprises.

Forza 4 gives us the most complete experience of all the Forza games. The physics are better, the multiplayer and career modes are improved and there are more cars and tracks than ever before. But there are few truly new features for the racing enthusiast. Where is the dynamic weather and night racing?

Primal Planet is a gorgeous and dinosaur filled adventure that can stand tall next to the best metroidvania games out there.

The eight generation of Pokémon games is far from the astounding leap one might hope for when transitioning to a full-blown home console, but it still offers a hell of a lot of engaging, colorful and charming fun.

The eight generation of Pokémon games is far from the astounding leap one might hope for when transitioning to a full-blown home console, but it still offers a hell of a lot of engaging, colorful and charming fun.

Trials of Mana is a great example of how to rebuild old games from the ground up.

A fantastic kick of adrenaline that mercilessly sends you into close combat with the enemy, and gives you all the tools you need to do it in style.

Resistance 3 steps up to become the best game in the series, featuring a number of exciting weapons and beautifully designed levels. The horror elements mixed with the toned down story of one mans mission to make the world a better place for his family is thrilling and very enjoyable.

The eight generation of Pokémon games is far from the astounding leap one might hope for when transitioning to a full-blown home console, but it still offers a hell of a lot of engaging, colorful and charming fun.

Stalker 2 stands out as an impressive and immersive survival shooter. A huge, handcrafted world with interesting story choices, lots of content and quality all around. Refreshingly, you are not a superhero out to save the world, but a regular grunt trying to survive.

Resident Evil Revelations 2 is a necessary step forward for the Resident Evil franchise, with more action-oriented gameplay and a story that works well on its own. Raid mode is amazing, although the lack of online at launch is disappointing.

Minecraft for Xbox 360 is a solid conversion and much more user-friendly than the PC version. The new split-screen mode is a great way to experience Minecraft with others. There are some issues, though, and the main problem is the small environments which removes a lot of the exploration that was so fun on the PC.

Planet Coaster is more or less everything we could hope for in a roller coaster simulator. Sure, it would be great if we received a few tutorials here and there, but the fun factor is extreme, made that way by the excellent soundtrack, the city-building like strategy aspects and the gorgeous, merry (go-round) visuals.