If you forgive it for its flaws, the game accomplishes its mission. You end up with a taste of what it’s like to be Tony Montana.

After the massive improvement of last year, we're glad to see the WWE brand is back on track.

Although flawed, Thrones of Decay is a desperately needed step in the right direction for Total War: Warhammer 3. The strong roster of Legendary Lords alongside new units that add flavor and fill gaps in their factions’ rosters do the heavy lifting. They offer compelling reasons to revisit or try out their respective races, especially if you also factor in the reworks coming in update 5.0. At the same time, delaying the DLC didn’t fully help avoid undercooked elements. Lackluster “legendary” battles taking place on maps that feel randomly generated, the three lords never clashing in an epic confrontation, and Tamurkhan’s campaign ending all too suddenly all feel like cut corners, while a host of familiar – yet undoubtedly effective – mechanics could have used a bit more uniqueness. Even with these issues, Thrones of Decay remains a good Warhammer 3 DLC and its different pricing model certainly helps lessen the effect of some of these negative aspects, as you can pick only the faction(s) you’re interested in or purchase them in a staggered manner. Hopefully, this marks the moment when the game’s troubled post-launch support finally begins hitting its stride.

However while The Chinese Room have attempted to make their Amnesia a purer horror experience they’ve merely succeeded in removing all the actual gameplay along with the first game’s brilliant sanity meter.

As the first proper DLC expansion to Wolfenstein 2, the best FPS of the year, The Adventures of Gunslinger Joe is incredibly entertaining but isn’t without disappointments. Episode 1 of The Freedom Chronicles is decently sized and plays like an exciting classic linear FPS with the same level of excitement and imagination in the gunplay that made Wolfenstein 2 so entertaining. It’s incredibly fun then, but at the same time there’s nothing here that wasn’t done in Wolfenstein 2. The levels in particular are all re-used assets from the main game, and despite the framing device of Freedom Chronicles as non-canon pulp fiction comics Episode 1 never gets crazy or unique enough to justify that. It’s worth picking up if you’re looking for the best FPS action around, but don’t expect anything new.

Gemini Rue is a truly great adventure game, with its clever mix of puzzles, logic and action, marred only by a convoluted aura.

Dying Light 2 was my first contact with the series and it can certainly be an exhilarating open-world game. Its gorgeous city, intense chases, fluid parkour, and visceral, meaty combat are well worth experiencing. Although they never completely overshadow its accomplishments, boring gear, repetitive side missions, and a story that never finds its focus do, unfortunately, keep it away from greatness. But, if you keep some of your expectations in check, all these missteps can easily be drowned in an ocean of freshly-cut zombie limbs and peaceful paragliding.

White Night’s biggest achievement though is clearly the terrifying atmosphere that pervades throughout its duration. Though certainly not absolving the game of its other flaws, the sense of dread and fear is palpable and in a genre which has largely neglected the finer aspects of its craft, White Night stands out as an exceptional, yet mechanically imperfect proposition.

Instilled with an obvious reverence and applied knowledge of the genre, The Journey Down is an adventure game made by people who love adventure games. The ride's a little bumpy at the moment, but it's surely going interesting places.

We like Halo 3: ODST and welcome the injection of personality brought to the narrative by your lost crew - especially Firefly actor Nathan Fillion as Buck - but it doesn’t quite manage to live up to our lofty expectations of what a Halo title should offer.

The emphasis on grinding, the linear environment and the rather uninspired early levels pose a serious threat to this games growth. Whilst these are things that cannot be changed, it will depend on what NCSoft will do next which will ultimately make or break it.

The campaign isn't up to much, the interactions between various factions are simplistic and missions occasionally feel repetitive, but the game largely nails that feeling of being a grizzled starship captain who doesn't play by the rules, making his living any way he can.

Gears of War’s second remaster isn’t a substantial makeover, and some rough edges linger, but small improvements pile up to make Reloaded the best way to experience a modern classic.

It feels fresh and unique, and the way the plot and lore slowly collects over the course of the first three episodes leaves me pining for the next two.

Zone of the Enders ultimately doesn't offer much, but then it didn't really promise much either – it's a great, if short ride for any mech fans, and even those who just enjoy fast paced action games should get a good kick out of this as well. Here's to Zone of the Enders 3.

Atelier Firis certainly lacks the depth that hardcore JRPG fans come to expect from the long-standing genre and hardly taxes the brain with morale decisions, but it gives a relatively safe environment in which to get to know some colourful characters and beat up monsters in some rather impressive ways. The soundtrack does little for the ears and the characters are likely to be relatively forgettable, but it’s a game full of charm and a good recommendation for those looking for something a little less broad in scale at a time full of AAA blockbusters like Horizon: Zero Dawn and Mass Effect: Andromeda.

Halo Wars 2 is a competent RTS game. It has its fair share of issues, and in some minds might be deemed simple. However, if you’re willing to look past the convoluted and frustrating UI, or maybe you want an RTS to get into, but are intimidated by the offerings on the market, Halo Wars 2 is a great place to start. Its story is good, delivering a true Halo narrative on the platform for the first time since Halo 2, and while the issues with the RTS elements might annoy some, it doesn’t meant the game isn’t fun to play. Additionally, the replay value is there thanks to the myriad of matches, the unlockable skills the game has for you, as well as multiplayer modes to take advantage of. And while Blitz mode does post a pay to win threat to the game itself, the mode on its own, taken at face value, is a frenetic blast to play.

Far: Changing Tides largely sticks to the same recipe as its predecessor, making its vessel more complex and sending players on a journey through a different world. Its description as a companion game is fitting – although you will get slightly more out of it if you play the series in order – and while I loved the original, the sequel didn’t grab me as much. There’s something great about helping the small protagonist make a big hunk of metalwork by diligently pressing buttons, loading items into the furnace, jumping on bellows, and lowering the mast so it doesn’t collide with incoming structures. But pacing problems, environmental storytelling that’s a little too vague, and an art style that sacrifices contrast for a richer yet muted color palette, ended up making me less invested in the world and Toe’s journey. I’m glad I saw it through; I just don’t feel the same mixture of awe and sorrow that was so prevalent in its predecessor.

Anno 2205 has so much going on and makes all of your tasking varied and interesting. One game is three different building sims with real-time strategy naval battles peppered in and everything moves in a way that makes it compelling and addictive instead of overwhelming. It’s an ambitious improvement in a lot of ways over Anno 2070. Unfortunately, the technical issues keep it from being the perfect entry in the series that it wants to be.

Story-wise, you'll be hooked enough that you'll want to finish Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands, but it's the always engaging gameplay that's king here.

It may not quite master its new perspective, but Trine 3 is still a charming, light-hearted romp that’s well worth your time.

It’s definitely a step in the right direction for the series as a whole, but I can’t help but feel Gaming Minds have held out on us a little bit.

Until a more precise programme comes along, Your Shape will do a great job of keeping you active with minimal fuss.

Propaganda have done a really good job in crafting something that not only achieves its main purpose, but also doesn't completely suck.

Propaganda have done a really good job in crafting something that not only achieves its main purpose, but also doesn't completely suck.

But is it worth the initial investment? Due to the impressive groundwork laid by the excellent character creation and combat, I'd say yes.

A largely straightforward motorsport management game with a distinct visual style, Golden Lap manages to offer tactical race simulation with off-the-track drama in a minimalist package. It may not satisfy hardcore petrolheads, but for slightly more relaxed race enjoyers, it’s a fine sim experience.

It’s ok, but it’s probably not the best piece of DLC they’ve put out.