The action-based battle system is still a lot of fun. No skill, no kill, that's a lot more entertaining than standing around and clicking to rotate certain actions.

Another magnificent Anno game that sets new priorities and offers greater freedom, but does not quite reach the design heights of its predecessor yet.

This new version with polished graphics manages to beat the competition easily. Monkey Island is still one of the best adventures around, maybe still not a 100 percent up to date, but once you're in the Caribbean, you won't care anymore.

What a comeback! Finally the FIFA series has overcome its form crisis and is celebrating modern football (soccer) again, both graphically and gameplay wise. Not everything is new, but most things look better. Pro Evolution Soccer may be the better simulation, but the fast action of FIFA 09 is just as much fun. EA Sports is back in the top league.

MH Rise refines the combat system with clever innovations that both veterans and newcomers will enjoy - if they can overlook the low-grade graphics and story.

The Old Republic gives me exactly what I expect as a fan: Star Wars atmosphere till the cow comes home. I can flail around with lightsabers, fight spectacular space battles and roam around on the famous planets from the template. And indeed, the quests comply with genre standards. And well, the combat system is not particularly innovative. But on the other hand I get a customised story for myself, which drives me with the aid of the the dialogue, really cool AI companions and the freedom of choice into the game in an outstanding wise – this is something that I never witnessed in an online role-playing game in this way. I can already see myself levelling up all eight classes to level 50, just to experience the terrific story.

It's quite confusing: Flatout: Ultimate Carnage is the third game of the series, but at the same time it's the PC conversion of the Xbox 360 game, which was a new version of the PC game Flatout 2. Basically Flatout: Ultimate Carnage is a remake with better graphics and more cars. If you already own Flatout 2, there aren't many new things in the game to justify buying Flatout: Ultimate Carnage, but if you don't, go ahead and get it.

Extensive and entertaining content that will delight fans of alternative histories in particular.

Old school stealth tactics game in a modern style with motivating and great level design that requires strategic finesse.

A successful successor, which will satisfy all fans of the predecessor.

Extremely difficult platformer with a wonderful cartoon look, requires a lot of patience and offers rich rewards in the end.

Atlas Fallen convinces with its unused scenario and innovative gameplay. Only the staging lags behind.

Heavy mech action with plenty of variety. If you like challenges, you won't be able to avoid this game this year.

NBA 2K18 is currently the best sports simulation. However, the weak technology and the omnipresent virtual currency are very disturbing.

Sickly sweet and sophisticated 3D platformer, which is close to best titles of the genre and offers lots of creativity and great level design.

After playing hundreds of hours there is one thing we can say for sure: this is a good MMO, a very good one, maybe even the best. It offers great quests and great PvP and the fact that both help to gain levels is very motivating. Technically, the graphics are not that good, but landscapes and other places are full of details.

If you own the original game, you may be disappointed about the lack of changes. But if this is your first Street Figher game or you just like the genre, there's just no way around this one.

Total War: Three Kingdom.s is the perfect contrast to the Warhammer games

Quotation forthcoming.

The crowning glory of a ten-year saga.

Thanks to improvements to details and the extensive solo mode, Soul Calibour 6 is a very good continuation of a Beat'Em Up classic. Soul Calibur is alive! Also on the PC.

An excellent addition to the main game, providing especially experienced knights with a few extra hours of entertaining gameplay.

Silksong is a unique, fantastic gaming experience - though it may not be suitable for everyone.

Call of Duty: World at War goes back to the battlefields of World War 2. The game delivers well staged nonstop action and looks good, but the missions are barely connected, just like in the first three games of the series. It's still a good, maybe even a very good FPS, but not fit to hold a candle to its predecessor.

Although stylistically different from its predecessors, the fantastic combat system retains the core essence of the classics.

The first Sims had a holiday add-on, the second Sims had a holiday add-on and now Sims 3 has one, too, and it’s the best one so far. The touch of adventure works miracles for Sims 3, but the stories are goofy and some missions boring. It’s still great, because it’s full of new things to explore.

It's a trip to the countryside with incredibly motivating game mechanics. Once you're there, you won't come back very soon.

Miles Morales can keep up with Peter and sometimes surpasses him. However, you have little time to savor this action fest.