If you're one of the unlucky saps who have yet to be caught in Peggle's addictive grasp, the affordable, content-packed Peggle Dual Shot may be the best gateway to this enduringly enjoyable franchise.

A dense, detailed, and hugely varied strategy roguelike, Mewgenics borrows much from its iconic predecessor with an imaginative and rewarding gameplay loop. Occasionally harsh RNG can be a buzzkill, but doesn't prevent this from being a worthy successor to The Binding of Isaac.

Far better than any other flight game on the 360 - and it also happens to be a technical showcase for HDTV fanatics everywhere.

A fantastic RPG with a creative aesthetic and fairy tale narrative, Child of Light is a memorable experience that's as fun to play as it is artistically pleasing.

If you're a fan of well-crafted children's stories and tightly designed gameplay, there's no excuse not to give The Maw a shot.

A huge expanse of wilderness added to an already excellent MMO, Heavensward opens up the world of Eorzea to even greater possibilities.

The game’s blood-spilling action is balanced by strong exploratory elements and frequent plot updates.

The cure for the common Triple A title, Dark Souls takes every gloriously strange and punishing moment from Demon's Souls and expands and improves upon it. While its fundamentals hew closely to the original's, Dark Souls is a completely unique experience with no direct competition on the market. For those who get it, it's undoubtedly one of the year's best.

Nothing else has ever paired high tension with complete silliness like this, and Fall Guys reveals we should've been doing it a long time ago.

Machinarium's distinct visual style and seamless animations are etched with a staggering level of detail, and few games come close to possessing the sheer beauty found here.

Armored Edition is a great way to finally appreciate the game along with a majority of its DLC. However, the Wii U port isn't preferable to Game of the Year versions you'll find on PS3 and 360. Armored Edition utilizes the GamePad better than some other AAA games being ported to the system, but that's still not enough to make this the definitive release, or one you should go out of your way to play.

Heart of the Swarm transforms the StarCraft II landscape in all the right ways--enough to surprise and excite you, while still being amiably familiar at its core. As with its predecessors, it offers fast-paced real-time strategy with a great amount of accessibility and no skill ceiling in sight. Rather than feeling like an ugly middle child between Wings of Liberty and Legacy of the Void, Heart of the Swarm is a star in its own right.

An open-world that tailors to each and every interest, Horizon: Zero Dawn keeps combat fresh, with an intriguing protagonist to match.

Hockey fans and casual sports gamers alike will love NHL 08, as its simple yet deep controls invite all comers to the ice.

Armored Core 6 is FromSoftware like we've never seen it, back on its mech beat with renewed vigor after 10 years away. It's an exhilarating game that lives up to the promise of action that only mechs can deliver, and it's a refreshingly short and easily replayed experience that still manages heaps of depth.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus is a refreshing take on the Pokemon formula, stripping back the game to focus on the titular creatures with such great success. It's just let down by the graphics.

This is one of those rare titles that add strength to the argument of games as art. Get it.

Deathloop is a killer new-generation showcase that will keep you guessing until the very end.

NBA 2K17 continues the theme of excellence that has made the series so popular. It’s slick, smart, and deep. It is the model that all modern sports video games should aspire to be, appealing to virtually every type of player and fan.

Winning Eleven Pro Evolution Soccer 2007 is the least evolved Evolution yet, and ironically, in literal comparison, probably the best. It's still the only game GR's UK staff plays every lunchtime and talks about all day.

The most playable FIFA – oops! – in years. This is an encouraging new start for the EA Sports FC franchise, with Ultimate Team innovations truly standing out, and PlayStyles adding a smart new wrinkle to the on-turf action.

Expands and improves upon an excellent foundation in meaningful ways, with minimal compromise on the Switch's mobile hardware.

With such a vibrant atmosphere and fundamentally fun gameplay, Puppeteer is a cut above most contemporary 2D sidescrollers.

Immerse yourself in Detroit’s wonderfully realised world, engage with its characters and stories, and you’ll love this game.

Minor graphical issues and clunky inventory management aside, Torchlight for XBLA does a spectacular job of translating a PC dungeon hack-and-slasher to two analogue sticks and face buttons.

The only downside - and it's huge - is that as of this late March 2007 writing, the PS3 Oblivion does not support additional content the way the 360 and PC versions do.

Faster Than Light is the Star Trek, Star Wars, and Battlestar Galactica game you've always wanted.

Damn near essential if you’ve yet to experience the horror that followed Emergence Day, and very heartily recommended to those who’ve forgotten just what a special time that was.