NHL 23 is a vast improvement from last year's entry, featuring better control on the ice, the inclusion of women in HUT, and so much more.

Dreamscaper is a stiff challenge, for sure, but it’s also a beautiful, moving adventure that takes a very familiar genre and does something very different with it.

Insane moments are blended with genuine, heartfelt ones, and the juxtaposition doesn’t diminish either, but instead serves to emphasise them. Visit Kyrat and you won’t regret it.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is bigger than Fallen Order in every way, offering excellent combat and traversal, as well as a fantastic story.

Gunborg: Dark Matters is a fantastic twin stick platformer, with a ton of variety and frantic twitchy action.

Vertigo 2 is a charming game which had me itching to play more, with great writing and replayability.

It’s become cool to hate on Infinite in recent times, but bandwagons be damned, this is a fantastic piece of content, if a little pricey. You already know you’re going to play this if you grabbed Part One, but I’m here to tell you that you won’t be disappointed with Part Two.

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen feels like something built for the veterans, for the long-standing fans. It’s both a culmination of years of story and prelude to something much bigger.

It is undoubtedly an excellent effort, which breathes new life into a decade-old title, and is a bright and arresting way for Link to debut in HD. What Nintendo need to do now is set about crafting something more than just a do-over, and move the wonderful old series forward on their richly promising hardware.

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

More of the Ace Attorney you know and love. With five full cases (plus an extra DLC case to purchase and download), each lasting tons of hours, there’s a full game here for a relatively cheap price.

For the entire duration of my time with Tearaway, I was beaming from ear-to-ear at the magnificence taking place in the palm of my hands. It has taken quite a while, but at long last the Vita has an original IP that it can truly call a killer app.

No Man’s Sky sits comfortably next to the best ports on the platform. Of course it doesn’t sing quite as beautifully as the most high-powered console versions, but really, when you can planet hop in a decked out space ship while having a number two, who cares? Absolute wizardry.

EA Sports F1 23 is an improvement on last year, bringing back the enjoyable Braking Point story, and providing better control on the track.

Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails, with its strange design and riveting gameplay, echoes this side of the feline personality, too. Captivating stuff.

It’s about as complete an experience as it can be, and MMA fans will love what EA has done with UFC 3.

Shovel Knight Dig is the perfect first roguelike, packed full of that tasty Shovel Knight gameplay we all know and love.

The Walking Dead is back on track, after a slightly dull Episode Two, this is exactly what the series needed. It will make you care again, it will make you angry and sad in equal measures, it will remind you that nobody is safe in this universe, but best of all it recaptures The Walking Dead’s brilliance. I cannot wait for the next episode.

Shogun Showdown is a cracking game that lures you in nicely with its simplicity but eventually becomes a rather complex beast with a lot of very well thought-out moving parts.

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.

Indivisible is just as good as it ever was, and the visuals hold up well on the Nintendo Switch. The story is engrossing, the gameplay is challenging yet fun, and the hand drawn environments are beautiful.

I Am Dead does a fantastic job of forcing us to look at our lives, and reminds us that those who are gone are still alive in the memories we hold dear. The puzzles are fun, and the island of Shelmerston is beautiful.

Loop Hero is a dense and dangerous journey that puts you in full control, merging deck building and the rogue-like genre brilliantly. With tons of options to choose from, and lots of surprises along the way, it would be a mistake to miss out on Four Quarters' wonderful indie title.

Arcade racers are seeing a resurgence of late and Wreckfest fits nicely into that sub-genre, bringing banger racing into the limelight and turning it up to eleven. It may not be named Destruction Derby, but the spirit of the old Psygnosis classic is alive and well in Bugbear’s latest racer.

Ace Combat 7 is a hugely satisfying, even empowering, experience that's taken to the next level in VR.

NieR: Automata The End of YoRHa Edition is brilliant: it's still essential, still bonkers. Play this game.

PES has the best gameplay on the pitch bar none, and it feels like this year's entry has got everything spot on in game, it just falls short when the servers aren't as stable as they could be, and commentary still struggles to inspire.

Despite some worryingly customary bugs, Assassin's Creed Valhalla serves up a treat for both series fans and RPG afficianados. Eivor is a great protagonist, while rural England and the snowy climbs of Norway provide some of the best adventuring in the franchise to date.

Surprisingly accessible considering the depth of management on offer. Football Manager 2020 delights in almost every way. Prepare to be sucked in once again.

Wildermyth is quite simply different to anything else I’ve played, and feels genuinely compelling and charming at the same time.

Give in to that inner-child and enjoy what is a terrific, entertaining game that absolutely anyone will love, because this is easily the best Skylanders game to date.

UFC 2 is an great MMA game, providing the most authentic and fun game on the market, adding yet another string to EA Sports’ bow, even if the career mode is a little empty.

Atelier Sophie 2 is a high point in a fantastic series. Gathering and alchemising materials has simply never been so compelling.

Etrian Odyssey Nexus is the perfect send off for the best DRPG franchise that honestly won't be the same without a dual screen system.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a fantastic sequel. It builds on the original with a few new ideas to deliver a complete experience.

Dragon's Dogma 2 is exactly what veterans will be expecting, as double-edged as that may be, but there's simply no other action RPG experience like it.

One of the best CRPGs of recent times, with a rich world to get lost in, and some great mechanics to keep you playing for hours.

Asgard's Wrath 2 takes full advantage of the technology on offer, and is one of the best VR titles I've ever had the joy of playing.

The fighting game that everyone can play, ARMS is Nintendo multiplayer gaming at its best.

If you already played Roki, there's nothing to bring you back in. But if you missed before, then it's absolutely worth getting lost in.

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.

Yakuza 6 is a fitting end to a great saga, with fantastic combat and lots to do outside the main story.

A great reminder of a game developer proud of its achievements, and rightly so. With the opportunity to play some of the finest point-and-click adventures ever, you won’t be disappointed with the sheer amount of fun on offer.

Pillars of Eternity II is incredible. From the layered-but-accessible combat, to the deep conversation systems and sailing around a world packed with quests and events; there are few RPGs out there that can stand up to this giant.

It looks gorgeous on the Switch, both in handheld and when docked, and all of the gorgeous artwork stuns with every scene. It is the music, however, that stands out amongst everything else. Each boss has a song to accompany it, and every song in the game is catchy, with great lyrics that compliment the writing of the entirety of Figment. I adore this game, and with the ability to take it on your travels I’d highly recommend you play this now.

Whether you're buying Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War for the campaign, multiplayer, or Zombies, there's so much to enjoy, with great handling, cross-progression, and much more.

Though technically iffy, Dark Souls 3 is yet another example of how worlds should be built: interlocking, beautiful, and interesting. The combat feels quick and fresh, and despite a few bosses that feel unfair, it's a glorious return to form for the series.

A sublime blend of deck building and post-apocalyptic survival, Nowhere Prophet is tense, thoughtful, and incredibly satisfying.

Paper Trail is a fabulous puzzle game with a unique paper folding central mechanic, some seriously clever ideas and a wholesome story.

It’s comfortably the best Alien game ever made, and delivers authenticity along with a new story that is worth seeing, experiencing, and fleeing from into the darkness. Never once allowing the immersion to be broken, Creative Assembly have done it. They have actually done it.

Guilty Gear Strive is a real triumph for Arc System Works, fast becoming the gold standard of the genre, and it is going to be extremely fun to see how it plays out in coming months.

Observation is a fantastic game, bringing gripping science fiction and unique gameplay together for a truly remarkable experience.

From the comprehensive career mode to the fun of Rallycross and Joyride, Dirt 4 is one of Codemasters’ best. And it’s the best rally game by quite some distance.

There is no denying that the physics and physicality are seriously impressive – if the Infinity 2 engine is able to deliver so impressively, then we are eager to see how the Ignite Engine will make a difference when sports games start to arrive on the next generation of consoles.

Its breathtaking take on the world of cars is a petrol head’s wet dream.

With its incredibly satisfying handling model and excellent career mode, MotoGP 20 offers one of the best circuit racing experiences on the market.

Finally a game designed to truly showcase what the Wii U's unique feature set can do.

Animal Well is a Metroidvania that stands out in a crowded marketplace thanks to a lack of combat and some seriously creative power ups.

Dirt 5 is an excellent rally racer offering plenty of race modes and car classes to choose from. The Career mode is engaging, and the presentation is gorgeous.

It’s not perfect, no, but it brings such joy to the player that it’s impossible not to fall utterly, head-over-heels in love with it. Aside from online multiplayer, it’s tricky to know just what else Ubisoft Montpellier could have brought to the table here, as there really is such a high level of detail, care and love for their product.

Goodbye Volcano High is a charming visual novel packed full of great ideas, with a really interesting way of handling narrative choice.

VOEZ is a rhythm action game, but unlike the more well-known titles like Project Diva and Guitar Hero, you don’t push buttons in time to the notes. The game’s interface is a series of lines, one horizontal and several vertical, note markers flow down from the top of the screen to the bottom where you perform the required action to ‘play’ the note. Movements required include genre stalwarts such as tap and hold, but will be regularly interspersed with times you’ll need to swipe, and others where you’ll need to slide as the path changes. It doesn’t sound very special but it’s all down to how it’s presented.

Hyper Light Drifter is one of the most perfectly balanced, stylish and intriguing action RPGs of recent times.

It's great to see this series on the PlayStation 4, and you'd be daft not to give it a go. Fantastic track design, a stunning soundtrack, and plenty of game modes makes this one of the best racers out there.

Simple, addictive, soothing and a lot of fun, Powerwash Simulator VR is the ideal fit for the Meta Quest headset. [Meta Quest 2]

Toem is the absolute pinnacle of easy-going gaming, and although it's a bit brief you'll never want to leave its gorgeous black and white world.

Heading Out is one of the most inventive games I've played all year, with plenty of replayability, great ideas, and an engaging story.

Protodroid DeLTA shows us just how fun a 3D Mega Man inspired game can be, and had me dodging lasers and grinning from start to finish.

Tinykin is a joyous and unthreatening exploration based 3D platformer, with a ridiculous amount of charm.

At a price of around a tenner, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite may be one of the more expensive apps out there, but you’re looking at over a hundred hours of gameplay, with one of the best ports I’ve ever played on an iOS device.

If you've not played Alien: Isolation, then now's the time! If you've been waiting for it to come to the Switch, then it's a must buy if you want to be scared to death, filled with impressive visuals and thrilling moments.

Hello Kitty Island Adventure is so much fun to play, with so many things to do, cute characters everywhere, and a world ripe for exploration.

The Banner Saga is one of the most original games you’ll play this year. That such a small team has managed to create a story that will be unique to every player is astonishing, and that the story actually makes you care even more so.

Same Stitch concludes Telltale's second season brilliantly, and Joker is shown once again to be Batman's greatest foe, written beautifully by the guys at Telltale.

John Wick Hex on PS4 is a faithful take on the movie franchise, providing challenging gameplay, a superb soundtrack, and an authentic experience. Although the game's difficulty ramps up towards the end, it's still a great approach to adapting the movies into a video game.

The best Pac-Man game ever. The formula may be an old one, but sometimes the old ones are the best – or at least they would be if they didn’t have Facebook integration.

The Auction House is gone, the loot system is fixed and we finally have a proper end-game that will keep both new and experienced players fighting for many hours to come.

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered makes sufficient improvements to the visuals, bringing the same incredible JRPG to PC and PS4 without leaving any detail behind.

I Am Your Beast wastes no time in establishing your character, Harding, as a John Wick-style badass, and keeps you there for the whole game.

It's great to have some new content for Horizon, and this piece of DLC certainly does it justice.

Aliens: Dark Descent is one of the most immersive and exciting tactical shooters I've played, and a worthy successor to James Cameron's masterpiece.

By discarding any semblance of plot, characterisation and conventional mechanics, Proteus is a brave and highly original title that forces you to use your imagination, and forges unforgettable memories through simple exploration and a sense of wide-eyed, almost childlike wonder.

Return to Monkey Island feels like a bridge linking some of the absolute best point-and-click adventures of gaming’s younger years with the sensibilities of the modern world.

Jupiter Hell is a thrilling turn-based roguelike with stripped back mechanics that make every playthrough more exciting than the last.

Easy to pick up, hard to put down. Muse Dash is a brilliant slice of musical goodness.

Easily one of the best mobile games I’ve played this year, Anomaly 2 is a tour de force of impressive visuals and exciting gameplay that raises the bar for mobile strategy games. It’s a refreshing take on a genre that clearly has some new ideas left in it.

The Switch port of Persona 5 Tactica is absolutely wonderful, and it's a perfect game to play portably thanks to its lovely bite sized missions.

I thoroughly enjoyed the VR elements including it's stellar gameplay. Matches are intense, and the focus on team play does the game justice.

Not all of the acting is perfect, admittedly, and the audio presentation won’t be to everyone’s tastes, but when it works Cloud Chamber is an absorbing, massive, occasionally unsettling, but absolutely compelling experiment in community narrative investigation.

A clever, ghost-busting title that’s even better with friends.

Nex Machina is shoot-em-up kings Housemarque's latest game, and it might just be their best. A top-down Resogun that takes all that was good from that, improves on it and then adds so much more. Tight and responsive controls and great visuals make up for some exhilarating action.

Far Cry 6 Vaas: Insanity sees Ubisoft tackle the roguelike genre, allowing players to play as the iconic villain in a great expansion.

It may not be The Witcher game you expected, but Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales is an exceptional addition to the series, and a must-play for all Gwent fans.

You’ll suffer hundreds of deaths in Ghostrunner 2, but every single one is worth it to move you forward step-by-bloody-step.

Those seeking a hardcore shooting challenge and something a bit different from the usual will find both in BPM: Bullets Per Minute.

Mullet Madjack is a fantastic boomer shooter, with Roguelike elements and loads of fresh mechanics that mean you'll never get bored.

Whether you play alone or with a second player, Cat Quest II is an outstanding action RPG with a great sense of humour.

The Quarry is one of Supermassive Games' best titles, harking back to the glory days of Until Dawn for all the right reasons.