DmC does a fantastic job of being immediately recognisable as a game belonging to the franchise, while also providing an experience that will introduce those unfamiliar to it. It's sleek and cool, providing a frantic and flowing combat system that underlies and defines it from the get-go. Dante doesn't just look cooler, he plays cooler, and this may well be the series' finest hour.

From Software might have started this genre, but Ninja Theory is hot on their heels when it comes to quality. Nioh 2 is an achievement. It’s equal parts challenging and rewarding, with a loot system that rocks, a combat system that is deep and nuanced, an online component that adds to the experience, and great performance on PC. I haven’t enjoyed myself this much in a long time. If you enjoy games of this subgenre and haven’t yet experienced Nioh 2, the time is now. Jump in, test your mettle, and become the samurai that world of Nioh so desperately needs.

3rd Strike Online Edition provides a lick of paint that improve the dated visuals considerably.

It's testimony to Harmonix that the Dance Central series has become an essential purchase for Kinect owners. Having two players in front of the screen is tremendous fun, and adds to the game's appeal massively.

Total War: Warhammer 3 makes it easy to lose countless hours spilling blood across its lush fields and rugged mountains, even before its Mortal Empires campaign inevitably turns it into a behemoth of a game. If you’re even remotely interested in the series or Warhammer Fantasy, this is one you won’t want to miss.

Bastion is not just a great game: it's a beautifully articulate, heartfelt and poignant work of fiction.

There's issues and niggles here and there in the amount of Career Mode repetition of event types and environments, as with many racers, and the game is almost devoid of innovation in all modes other than the brilliant Gymkhana – but perhaps an evolution rather than a revolution was all that was needed for DiRT 3.

The deed system is so simple yet so great; it’s a real surprise it hasn’t been included much before.

Desperados III is like a decadent cake. It’s very rich in detail and design, and highly recommended, but that richness is for a certain palette that won’t appeal to everyone. Yes, it can depend on trial-and-error and the loading times can be unsavory. But it’s been awhile since a game plagued my thoughts like Desperados III. Getting a plan to work is a blast, and some excellent characterization prop up the mechanics nicely. Mimimi Games is a worthy successor to the Desperado franchise, and III will convert skeptics.

Lizardcube has perfected its craft of elevating retro games for the modern era. The gorgeous 2D graphics feel fresh yet oddly nostalgic, which is mirrored by the fast, fluid movement that feels like the natural progression for 2D platformers. Not everything is polished. Some parts of the level design, menus and UI don’t live up to the heights of other aspects of the game, but this doesn’t wholly retract from an experience that will delight 2D platforming fans new and old.

A consistently thrilling and explosive tale that states its case as one of 2012's best. I'd be hard pushed to find a game that has made me scream with excitement on such a regular basis, as the compelling narrative and rewarding gunplay conglomerate into a truly spectacular product.

The additions that change the gameplay do make enough difference to those schooled in the ways of hockey, and the goal tenders being made more real is a big boost to how 'authentic' the whole thing feels. But is it worth it for those who like it but who don't know their Jarome Iginlas from their Sergei Samsonov? You've got to say no, even if it is, yes, still a great game.

It has an appeal to it that cannot be denied. Gameplay is there, the soundtrack is there, and the pieces fall together well. Whether you see yourself playing with a turntable controller or not is up to you, though chances are if you’re unsure, you’ll find yourself trying it out at a party or friend’s house very soon.

Enemy Within makes for an incredible, and fresh, journey as you fight to save the world one more time, and it’s definitely worth picking up eventually. We would totally understand though, if you wanted to wait for a steam sale or something.

In every way, DJ Hero 2 is an exceptional successor, and a great rhythm game for this year.

Guitar Hero 5 is definitely the highest point of the series, since it passed into the hands of Neversoft. Activision's game has some very interesting ideas like Play Party, Avatars in game and a lot of game modes to have fun with your friends. Some imperfections in the packaging still restrict the final judging, but all those who loved World Tour can buy this chapter without remorse.

There’s a bounty of new swag, interesting characters and quests to be had in these isles of Mania and Dementia; a great expansion to an already great game.

The problem is that when it works, it works, but when it doesn’t, it really doesn’t. Luckily, the game’s low points like the horrible binary stealth system and the bugs and lack of QoL are either fixable or vastly outweighted by the good bits, and the overall tally still ends up being much higher than the average of many other games out there. That’s helped a lot by the moment-to-moment gameplay, which pays off just as much as the story beats; the movement system lets you climb almost any short object, vehicles are weighty to drive and have fantastic interior and exterior designs, and guns feel properly loud and heavy. It’s story and narrative kept me glued to the screen, and everything – from sex scenes and romance options to Keanu Reeves trying to kill you or help you throughout the game – are remarkably well done. Cyberpunk 2077 is a game crafted with love, and it shows...A remarkably well-executed open world game whose great heights exceed its profound depths.

Despite a few performance hiccups we encountered and the absence of a few of the more fun console perks or events, Injustice 2 on PC is a much better port than the first game or Mortal Kombat X. And a good thing too, because Injustice 2 is a superb fighting game. Combat is satisfying and is just as accessible to casual fans as professionals, and there’s an absolute wealth of content both online and offline that could keep you playing forever. The story mode is an absolute blast, with fun writing, acting and amazing facial animation, and sports a far better villain than the Justice League movie. Injustice 2 is by far the best fighting game this year, and may very well be the best fighting game on PC.

Despite minimal flaws, Inscryption masters the experiment of blending a card game and horror into a bizarre mindtrip.

Sam Fisher is back with a vengeance then, leaner and meaner than ever before. Splinter Cell: Conviction, like Fisher is also rather lean in terms of narrative-based content, but there's more than enough going on in multiplayer to make SCC well worth the asking price.

It’s an experience that truly stretched different parts of my mind in more satisfying way than Portal.

In summary - here’s the city-builder you’ve been waiting for.

Despite a battle system that has the ability to irritate, Ni No Kuni should be experienced and enjoyed by all types of gamers.

More importantly, it's actually one of the best fighting games available on the market in its own right, so it shouldn't be overlooked by those who enjoy the genre but not the sport.

A fantastic RPG that superbly mixes player choice and great combat to something bigger than the sum of its parts.

The Sly Trilogy is worth a punt whether you played the originals or not. It still plays fantastically, and now looks gorgeous too. Prepare yourself for the upcoming fourth release, and grab a copy of this 2000's legacy.

The price tag for these games feels about right for the number of hours that come out of them, and I find myself going back and replaying earlier episodes, which helps me to feel that I got the bang I want for my buck.