Nintendo has, incredibly, made a gaming giant even grander. One of the all-time greats. [July 2010, p.84]

A Mario classic - it's rare to find a game so consistently brilliant. A wondrous journey. [Christmas 2007, p.44]

No game can match its mix of scale, direction and quality - and we don't know when one might. [Dec 2013, p.52]

Up there with the finest Zelda games, Breath of the Wild is bold, liberating, and utterly astonishing. [Apr 2017, p.60]

It's a massive game set in a glorious looking world of intrigue and fun. [Aug 2011, p.95]

The definitive version of what is quite possibly the greatest game ever made. It's worth reliving. [Feb 2015, p.58]

Perhaps the most charming Mario ever made, and a game that never forgets the plumber's proud past...With hundreds of Power Moons to unlock and some kickass secrets to discover - including the coolest end-game East egg we've ever seen - only BOTW can match Odyssey as the most must-have package on Switch. Mario's star has rarely shone brighter. [Dec 2017, p.56]

BioShock feels too long, even though it's actually not. This is the result of your being given too many item-collection goals, which will often mean backtracking for those who've been diligent explorers. [Oct 2007, p.64]

What it lacks in originality it makes up for with polished gameplay and engaging storytelling. [Dec 2009, p.60]

With the fantastic "Team Fortress 2" supplying the multiplayer action, this is a formidable complilation. What more could you want? That box of chocolates? Would've been nice. [Dec 2007, p.60]

The most polished and impressive RPG from BioWare to date. Roll on part three. [Mar 2010, p.60]

A spectacular, jaw-dropping send off for the faithful old GameCube. [Mar 2007, p.84]

Staggering detail collides with unprecedented scale. The game doesn't stop giving. Essential. [Jan 2012, p.57]

An amazing achievement and every bit as intuitive and addictive as we'd hoped. [Dec 2008, p.62]

Thrilling survival horror with brutal combat, rich characters and stunning environments. [Aug 2013, p.57]

A massive and engaging adventure that uses the Wii controller superbly. Amazing. [Christmas 2006, p.52]

A touch less impactful now, but one of last year's highlights is still of 2014's best games. [Oct 2014, p.61]

Immersive environments, intense action and one of the most powerful stories ever told. [July 2010, p.73]

Made of gimmicks but not gimmicky, funny but never throwaway, challenging but never irritating. It's magic. [June 2011, p.68]

An excellent, essential update of a PlayStation icon. Kratos has never been more relevant or relatable. [June 2018, p.72]

Quite simply, this is the best war shooter of the year. [Christmas 2007, p.64]

Brave, brutal, brilliant - the gold standard by which all future videogames should be judged. [Dec 2011, p.67]

The best version of one of the best games of all time. [Aug 2011, p.72]

Unless you own a Wii, there's no excuse not to enjoy one of the best games in years. [Dec 2008, p.82]

Frankly, there's never been a better time to surrender to the frightening pleasures of a future in which you have the power to make a real difference. [Feb 2010]

A scintillating dose of uber-violence. Un-freakin'-missable. And then some. [Christmas 2006, p.56]

Columbia is one of the most inventive and intriguing game settings of this generation, and it houses a shooter that compares with the very best. It's gaming heaven. Or the closest we'll get to it, anyway. [May 2013, p.59]

Genre-defining. [Nov 2007, p.58]

It's been a slow few years for the single-player RPG. This makes up for all of it. [May 2006, p.68]

A superb package that manages to add to the incredible "Snake Eater" experience. [Dec 2006, p.90]

The best Call of Duty yet - and possibly, the best shooter, too. Get enlisted. [Winter 2009, p.62]

Despite its flaws it's a largely successful of marriage and plot and play, a towering achievement and one of the finest action games ever made. [July 2008, p.60]

Controlling Brawl with the remote's D-pad feels like the devil's work and even the remote/nunchuck pairing suffers from the lack of a second analog stick - you need it for quick smash attacks. It's playable with the Wii's controllers, but seasoned smashers should grab a Classic Controller or dust off their old GC gear. [Apr 2008, p.58]

A new high-water mark in strategy gaming, for both veterans and newcomes alike. [Nov 2006, p.71]

A criminally good game by any standard but on the DS it's practically unparalleled. [May 2009, p.58]

DX is the gaming equivalent of throwing five Mentos mints into a cola bottle and shaking it until the lid pops in a fizzy explosion of insane foamy greatness. [Feb 2011, p.91]

There's so much life in the RPG genre, and Original Sin II absolutely crackles with its energy. [Nov 2017, p.74]

Braid sums up everything we love about gaming. A near-perfect experience. [Oct 2008, p.76]

Critics might wonder that if GoW2 turned out this good, imagine what it would have been like on PS3...yet in resisting the lure of all that next-gen horsepower Sony Santa Monica have instead crafted a sequel that somehow - amazingly - coaxes out every last drop of PS2 juice to create a fitting testament to the system. Astonishing. [Apr 2007, p.78]

It's not a game that'll single-handedly save the Wii U, but it is a typically brilliant, typically Nintendo experience - and one that'll live in the memory long after the final flag pole has disappeared from view. [Jan 2014, p.45]

Make no mistake: this is the finest fighter ever made. A glorious reworking of a classic that leaves the pretenders to the console fighter crown picking up their teeth with shattered fingers. [Mar 2009, p.62]

Big, beautiful, and without limits, Minecraft is the box of blocks you never have to tidy up. [Feb 2012, p.79]

Gorgeous port of a PS2 classic that's packed with new features, making it stronger than ever. [March 2013, p.82]

A personality-filled, stylish adventure with gripping mechanics that drill deep into your brain. [Apr 2017, p.66]

Simply stunning... It's touching and near impossible to resist. Your heart will melt, your eyes will do little wheelies and your brain will send you yummy jolts of happiness as thanks. [JPN Import; July 2006, p.78] A compelling, beautiful game that's one of the most enjoyble adventures in years. [Feb 2007, p.70]

Eclipses 360 and all but the most pimped PC rigs. The definitive Oblivion? Probably. [May 2007, p.66]

Fallout 3 is a masterpiece. Failing to add it to your games collection is simply not an option. [Christmas 2008, p.74]

One of the finest action games of the year that improves on the original in every way. [Christmas 2008, p.56]

A heart-pounding, exciting, tragic, daring, but blemished conclusion to Mass Effect. [May 2012, p.69]

Maybe not the finest Metal Gear, but certainly one of the finest games of this generation. [Oct 2015, p.60]

A daring break from the norm for Zelda, but a spectacular, boundary-smashing success. [Christmas 2011, p.76]

More than just a game - it's a genre-shifting music revolution. [Issue#232, p.78]

Whiteknuckle action, captivating characters, and luscious locales - the best Uncharted yet. [June 2016, p.64]

The most haunting and affecting game of the year. [Sept 2016, p.76]

The series' most polished, action-packed entry yet. A glorious celebration of open-world racing. [Issue#336, p.66]

It retains the series' hallmark action but literally turns things on its head by dropping in dynamic landscapes that twist and turn as you fight. [May 2010, p.70]

Addictive rhythm gaming made all the better by its guitar controller. [May 2007, p.65]

A fantastic excuse to jump back into a truly great game. [Dec 2012, p.92]

A polished visual treat, but quality competition means it isn't as outstanding as it once was. [Christmas 2011, p.62]

A good-looking, super-immersive game. [Nov 2011, p.94]

Party games don't come much better. The best of "Guitar Hero" and "SingStar" with drums. [July 2008, p.76]

What a world. What a combat system. What a game. You don't want to miss this. [June 2015, p.56]

After its stormy development, FF12 isn't just a worthy installment of the series, but a great RPG in its own right, one that thinks differently and feels all the better for it. [JPN Import; June 2006, p.72] Stunning Design. [Feb 2007, p.66]

A wonderful little puzzler that will charm and entertain you effortlessly. [Apr 2012, p.93]

A strong contender to be called the best fantasy RPG of all time. Absolutely essential. [July 2015, p.60]

More accessible but more comprehensive. 2009's greatest race simulator. [Dec 2009, p.66]

Arkham Asylum is a game with the power to utterly captivate you and can stand proudly alongside modern classics such as "Resident Evil 4", "Gears of War," and "BioShock"...Simply put, Batman: Arkham Asylum is a masterpiece. [Sept 2009, p.66]

A superb game that will consume every spare minute of your time. A must-have. [June 2013, p.66]

A sprawling ode to Nintendo and punching, this'll keep fans scrapping for years to come. [Feb 2015, p.66]

Every niggle from the original ironed out and loads of new stuff thrown in. Ace. [Christmas 2006, p.66]

As addictive as "Guitar Hero" with four sections to master. Few games offer as much fun. [Feb 2008, p.74]

Up there with the DS's best. Fast-forward to 7 February and pick this up yesterday. [Feb 2009, p.77]

One of the most emotionally charged gaming pilgrimages ever devised. Tiny but tremendous. [Apr 2012, p.92]

A fantastic achievement in storytelling and gameplay. Truly unmissable. [Nov 2011, p.86]

The definitive edition of the world's greatest arcade racer. Switch has its second essential game. [June 2017, p.64]

A vast, joyful playground, and a wonderful excuse to return to The Witcher 3 one last time. [Aug 2016, p.81]

The finest fighting game ever made. [June 2010, p.80]

It's the best rolling ball platform puzzler ever. [Christmas 2010, p.91]

A brilliant expansion to one of the year's best games. [Jan 2009, p.74]

Dishonored is one of the defining games of this generation... A dark, stirring and beautiful game. The new Master Assassin. [Dec 2012, p.63]

A fantastic improvement in every way on the original, you'll be playing this for years. [Mar 2011, p.80]

Interesting development of a series that really needed it. [Oct 2009, p.81]

Once you lose your rock star inhibitions it's great fun. But it gets very hard very quickly. [May 2006, p.72]

Let it hook you in and it's genuinely difficult to put the bloody thing down. [July 2012, p.93]

Keeping WoW at the top of a very big pile, this is a wonderful expansion. [Jan 2009, p.68]

A must-buy for newcomers to the series and worth another go if you've played them before. [Nov 2009, p.78]

More of the same peerless action mechanics, barmy spectacle and wonderful depth. [Dec 2014, p.60]

The puzzles are much more varied and cleverly constructed. [Jan 2011, p.96]

Like arcadey racers? You'll like this. Not a petrol head? You'll still like this. [Dec 2013, p.76]

An aquatic arcade romp with buckets of charm, style and humour. [June 2013, p.86]

The mix of action and intrigue results in one of the most compelling games of the year. [Winter 2009, p.76]

Different enough to warrant a replay. If you're new to the game this'll blow your mind. [Aug 2007, p.70]

Fuelled by a semi-simulator brain and arcade heart, Horizon 3 is a very g'day indeed. [Dec 2016, p.62]

A vast, photo-realistic game world with perfectly paced missions to play within it. [Christmas 2007, p.78]

A technically jaw-dropping portable romp, even if it lacks the craft of its PS2 brethren. [May 2008, p.62]

This is as good as it gets for online roleplaying. [Apr 2007, p.84]

A fresh coat of paint spruces up an already timeless classic that still feels like a breath of fresh air today. [March 2018, p.70]

Its ambition was to be the best FPS on PS3. At this moment in time, we're not going to argue. [Mar 2009, p.58]