Popcap has improved upon the template they laid out with Garden Warfare, fleshing out the sequel with an array of things with which you can wile away your time. It’s excellent family friendly fun but genuinely great to play for all ages.

The Walking Dead: Michonne is off to an excellent start, bringing back all the tension and emotion that we have come to expect from the highly regarding series.

Megadimension Neptunia VII shows that Compile Heart understands how to use the hardware to make their games feel faster and play better but is again let down by the same flaws the series has had for the last few games.


Far Cry Primal retains the framework of previous entries, but introduces enough to breath life into the series.

The Following is a huge expansion that swaps the ruined city for the rugged countryside, but loses none of the desperate thrills of the original campaign.

For a certain niche crowd that has the patience (or plays the game in short bursts), this’ll be right up their street, but for the rest of us, it’s nothing special.

Snowfall is a generally well executed if rather mistimed expansion to Cities: Skylines, allowing you to build expansive cryogenic creations but unfortunately doesn’t go far enough in terms of providing a wintertide chill to truly remember.

One of the best multiplayer games available today. Rocket League is a fantastically fun, frenetic game and you'd be hard pushed to find a better arcade-style football game anywhere else.

From grind-happy obsessives, to those whose love for the genre might have lapsed, and are looking for something to bring them back, this a must-buy game for fans of Bravely Default, as well as anyone who loves JRPGs.

It’s hard to find fault with the bigger picture Capcom has in mind here and, assuming the online issues are dealt with quickly at launch and the rest of the game modes arrive as promised, this is looking like a perfect round.

Wonderfully mischievous visual tricks and grim environments can’t stop Layers of Fear from falling flat with its hellish pacing, framerate issues and scares you can spot a mile away.

Darkest Dungeon is one of the most atmospheric games I’ve played in a very long time, it nails its core concept and delivers an exceptionally well-crafted and interesting dungeon crawler that will take you hundreds of terrifying hours to see through to its ludicrous ending.

Another combat-heavy title that doesn’t really offer anything different than other Omega Force titles, but the story is certainly worth following and Arakawa’s artwork is stunning.

An interesting enough take on the genre that's let down by boring looks and frustrating little niggles.

A gorgeous, spellbinding game that plays with your thoughts and delivers a narrative throughline that you never see coming. An absolute must for fans of storytelling in games.

A pleasant little entry that can provide hours of entertainment, but is weighed down by it’s unfair difficulty spikes and tedious formula of dungeon-crawling.

Unravel can deliver some picturesque desktop wallpaper, but when in motion, this 2D platformer becomes a frustrating puzzler that expects you to know more than you've been taught.

The final episode of the Chronicles trilogy emerges with a muffled pop rather than a bang, but presents a satisfying adventure for anyone who enjoyed the last two.

The puzzles are fun, it could benefit from some polish in terms of presentation, but you'll enjoy Shadow Puppeteer more with a second player by your side.

An interesting fighting game that has a few flaws, but otherwise held my attention enough to keep going back to it for random matches online, or trying out the varied cast of fighters.

The light-hearted fun gameplay is still prevalent here and while the game has many good points, the disappointments within LEGO Marvel's Avengers means it never really live up to its potential.

A competent map pack featuring two that are very good, one that's extremely popular, and one not very good map.

A phenomenal fighting game that offers lots of different modes to keep you busy, but one with an abundance of cutscenes and narrative throughout, which might not be everyone’s cup of tea.

Fortified marries several genres successfully, but its diverse arsenal can't quite make up for a lack of mission variety.

Not a Hero is a funny and frenzied game that will have you laughing out loud as you attempt to conquer its varied range of challenges, even if there are a few issues with its cover system and level structure.

The Witness is an outstanding game, one that slowly reveals its brilliance and assumes the players intelligence rather than guides it. It is an absolute must play for puzzle fans.

It will score a lot of points for the sake of nostalgia, but in all honesty the reboot does nothing important that the original didn't do better, 34 years ago.

It isn’t the best first-person adventure you’ll ever play, but it does offer some fun in its combat and time travel mechanics to warrant your time.

This is a brave, important experience, and one that feels like a form of therapy for the creators. That Dragon, Cancer is truly unforgettable.

Circa Infinity is a great puzzle platformer that has me utterly addicted to it in a way I haven't felt since Super Hexagon.

The care and attention that Milestone has put into it, coupled in with the frankly ridiculous amount of content (including the amount of vehicles and modes) makes this an easy recommendation to add to your collection.

A solid remaster of a good game means that Gravity Rush genuinely feels at home on the PS4.

Final Fantasy Explorers may tread a new path for the franchise, but it doesn’t offer anything new for the genre.

One of the most inventive puzzle platformers in years thanks to the way it constantly defies expectations, but the story is nowhere near as interesting as the game design, and it goes on for far too long.

A more story-driven take on the gather & build genre, Crashlands wears its inspirations boldly, but gets away with it.

A beautiful amalgamation of ideas that work on their own, but not together.

A game like no other, and even though it can be hard to play at times, it still offers a unique and rewarding challenge.

Games have taught us to expect the expected, but Pony Island throws the rulebook out the window in this puzzle-cum-runner title where you must escape Satan's clutches.

One of the best games of 2013 is finally out on consoles. If you haven’t done so already, you owe it to yourself to experience a beautiful story and some very clever, but understated, game design.

Oxenfree is a haunting, emotionally-charged mystery that spreads its shocks a little too thinly, but still manages to deliver an engaging, memorable experience.

Resident Evil 0 looks and sounds better than ever, providing the same great game as before, even if the controls feel somewhat unnatural at times.

It'll suck you in slowly as it transforms into one of the greatest JRPGs of the last few years, with memorable characters and gameplay.

An impressive RTS that offers a well written story, magnificent visuals and a stunning soundtrack that will stay with you long after playing.

A good second stab for Ubisoft's latest spin-off series, India makes up for what it lacks in excitement with visual flare.

Lovely Planet is deceptively hard and surprisingly time-consuming, but its reliance on simplicity may divide opinion.

Amplitude has a great soundtrack and is really addictive, but lacks any real longevity or appeal beyond the first five or six hours of play.

A masterclass in storytelling with its memorable characters and soundtrack. Undertale is a phenomenal experience overall.

The conclusion to the Wither Storm storyline is delivered in a refreshing and heartfelt way, and I am looking forward to seeing what Jesse and friends get up to in the conclusion.

This isn’t just the best Hearthstone expansion to date, it's one of the best expansions I’ve had the pleasure to play for any game.

Rubble Without a Cause takes King’s Quest down a much darker path and is very enjoyable for it. With having to solve puzzles against the clock it really feels as if your decisions matter, due to gut punching consequences.

An inoffensive yet unspectacular game that pleases through being something different and relaxing.

Yakuza 5 offers a different kind of open-world experience, giving you more of an immersive game than you may be expecting, even if it does suffer from repetitive combat and long cut scenes.

An incredibly fun combat mechanics is the basis for one of the most enjoyable 3DS games this year.

Fat Princess is a fun, well made, but ultimately shallow four-player hack and slash with a cutesy aesthetic and amusing writing.

It won’t be for everyone, but this is a brutal and unwavering assault on the senses, made for the most hardcore of racing fans.

Fun gameplay that reminds me why I enjoy playing video games in the first place.

A brainless shooter that manages to be fun despite poor aesthetics and a host of technical issues.

Hard West is a turn-based strategy game that gives you an authentic western experience whilst pushing you to the limits of your ability.

This isn’t an awful game by any stretch, it’s not nothing special, despite the feeling it should be.

A brilliant online experience that is tense and strategic, but one that really needs to be played with friends to get the full experience.

An open-world fill of exquisite explosions that, while often falling afoul of flaws, might well contain some of the most fun moments this year.

This is an essential purchase for all Wii U owners who love the JRPG genre.

This game is in no way a revolution of what’s come before, but that doesn’t matter one bit - the mechanics are still as solid as they always were, the humour still makes my face ache from smiling, and not once did it ever outstay its welcome.

Zodiac: Orcanon Odyssey is a great translation of traditional JRPG mechanics for a touch screen that excels with visuals but is let down by some glaring issues.

The Old Hunters faithfully adds to the gothic adventure of Bloodborne, and reminds you how delightfully wicked that bunch at From Software really are.

More action packed than the previous episodes, with better character development and progression, The Last Place you Look is the best episode yet.

A brilliant strategy game that asks you to think carefully about every decision, pushing your tactical buttons in every conceivable way.

It’s a rather transparent and honest take on free-to-play monitisation, and as long as you’re sensible enough to either abstain from paying any money, or to set yourself a budget, then there’s a little bit of fun here for you.

A high price point and lack of players means Wild Run won’t tempt you back.

Football Manager 2016 makes you care about your team just as much as in the real world, providing the most realistic football manager experience to date.

Fans of Phineas and Ferb might get some enjoyment out of this, but platform aficionados might find their time invested better elsewhere.

Sword Art Online: Lost Song is a solid Japanese Action RPG that has enough to keep old and new players interested with touches of innovation here and there, even if it does fall short in certain areas.

Assembly Required is a solid, but very short, entry. Here's hoping that episode three can start to pull it back around.

A cute little platformer that will impress younger gamers while it lasts, but which is unlikely to engage even older children for long.

Coast Guard struggles to keep its head above water and offers very little to keep you going back for more.

Poncho is memorable with its lush pixel art and catchy music but also for its frustrating level design relying on a single infuriating mechanic.

The fact that it's a mechanically solid sporting experience can't save it from mediocrity or a lack of any real reason to come back, and that's really the worst sin a sports game can commit.

TellTale's meandering Game of Thrones ends with an episode that is very much like the rest of the series. Just "alright".

A solid, functional episode, but one clearly aimed at a younger audience and therefore less involving than previous Telltale adventures.

A powerful standalone expansion that feels like a last hurrah for Blizzard's seminal RTS franchise.

Accessible, well made and full of really, really cool moments, it’s hard not to love it. Add in a perfectly crafted Star Wars dressing and an impressive amount of cinematography and you have my favourite multiplayer shooter in years.

Anno 2205 offers plenty of enjoyment, but may not appeal to the hardcore strategist.

New handling model shakes up a familiar game, and is well worth a look.

An incredibly fun and action-packed experience, perfect for local co-op.

Stella Glow does a lot of things well, but it also has annoyances that hold it back from being an easy recommendation on the 3DS to any SRPG fan.

Heart of Thorns is a worthy addition to the Guild Wars 2 world that brings enough new features to the table to keep the franchise going for a few more years.

Everything a great horror game should be, with a fantastic story and a beautifully bleak world to explore.

Bethesda have done it again, refining the formula for open-world RPGs and delivering a vast, deep and involving experience.

An essential purchase, and although it's a case of simply being more Tomb Raider, lessons have been learned along the way to make this one of the most refined and enjoyable blockbuster rides available.

This is my favourite rhythm game across all platforms, with its song selection spreading across all genres, perfect core gameplay, and fantastic presentation.


A phenomenal multiplayer along with a larger, improved zombies mode mean that, although the solo campaign is a slight misstep, Black Ops is the best call of Duty on the current gen consoles.

The Room Three expands on what the first two games did and raises the bar for puzzle games in general to a whole other level.

Rodea The Sky Soldier on 3DS has very few good things going for it, overshadowed by atrocious controls and bland visuals. It is designed to be replayed, but I don’t ever want to experience it again.

A perfectly serviceable racer with great looks, plenty of customisation options, and passable driving, but it’s a real shame that latest reboot of this franchise had the hallmarks of the greats in the series’ past and could have been truly special.

WWE 2K16 is the team back on their way to greatness, and a definite turning point in how wrestling games should be made.

The best Halo campaign since Reach, Guardians is a return to form - but more Chief next time, please, and less microtransactions.

An intriguing puzzle game let down by dull visuals and tiresome design.

The definition of average, Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden isn’t good enough to delight you with the subject matter, but nor is it terrible enough to incite your rage over how bad it is. It’s simultaneously very competent and very unspectacular.