An incredibly tense survival horror multiplayer FPS, where you are just as likely to die at the hands of a monster as you are another player. Listening out for enemy activity is crucial, and once you learn how all of its systems work Hunt: Showdown is a an extremely satisfying game.

Arcade Paradise not only looks cool, but the running of your business is fun and enjoyable, and the arcade games are wonderfully designed.

With the enhancements and ability to play anywhere, The Zodiac Age on the Switch is everything I wanted from a portable release. It was obviously not feasible to have this on Vita but I’m glad Square Enix put this on a portable because the gameplay perfectly suits portable play and it is the full game with even more features than the PC version that was already a step above the PS4 version. I know its unlikely but the only thing I’d want more from this version is the ability to sync my save with Xbox One since I have that version as well.

The juxtaposition of cartoonish humour with incredibly dark and macabre imagery and story direction means that even after playing for several hours you’ll still find things to surprise and shock you.

This is how you do DLC. Superb value for money that truly gives you a reason to revisit one of 2014's best games.

La Poule Noire have done a fantastic job with Edgar: Bokbok in Boulzac. It's a funny, feel good time of a game that doesn't take itself too seriously but delivers an enjoyable story filled with likeable characters and beautiful artwork. Edgar: Bokbok in Boulzac does a good job in introducing a humble new hero that everyone will enjoy.

Whether you're into tending to crops or collecting adorable monsters, Moonstone Island is a game you really shouldn't miss out on.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure is filled with the same powerful moments as the original, with fresh new characters and clever gameplay.

It’s a shame there are only five levels, but what is here is eye-wateringly good.

South of the Circle is a great narrative experience, with a lovely visual style that delivers a heartfelt story in an impactful way.

In a year that's slowly being dominated by indie releases, Songs of Conquest from Lavapotion is a stand-out hit.

The finale the game deserved, cementing Life is Strange as one of the best games, and biggest surprises, of 2015.

Die hard fans of XCOM will likely fall in love with Phoenix Point, a hard-as-nails challenge that offers procedurally-generated replayability and a suite of tactics to help you thrive on and off the battlefield.

It’s the style that shines through, though. I said it when Persona 4 Arena came out and it stands true for Ultimax; Persona 4 Arena is the most stylish fighting game ever, and a gem of the genre to boot, thanks to its combination of appealing and genuinly cool aesthetics with ocean deep gameplay.

SteamWorld Build is a deeply compelling city management title that adds new mechanics all the time, keeping you hooked throughout.

Beyond Good & Evil - 20th Anniversary Edition is a great version of a genuinely wonderful game that truly does the original release justice.

Darksiders III is a stunning achievement, bringing the once-dead series back to life with aplomb.

Ironically, Bravely Default is one of the best Final Fantasies in years. Taking the very best of 8/16-bit entries of the series, and bringing them up to date with some beautiful graphics, clever features and engaging gameplay, this is a must for someone looking for a more traditional JRPG.

The realism and tweaks to gameplay and options makes this year’s entry great, giving basketball fans an immersive and varied experience.

Ib is a truly unsettling horror game, with charming characters and sound design that will send shivers down your spine.

Metro Exodus on PS5 is the ultimate version to play. The visuals are better than ever, and the DualSense implementation is remarkable.

With its superb atmosphere and genuinely innovative inclusions, this is perhaps the best World Cup tie-in of recent times.

Not only is Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales a great game in its own right, but it's also a worthy entry into the franchise and lore.

Compelling from start to finish, Bayonetta 3 is an exceptional time and up there with the very best there is - and was worth the wait.

World of Goo 2 is a sequel that exceeds all expectations, with a ridiculous amount of creative ideas packed into its gooey shell.

An incredible package of puzzle gaming content, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 is full of wacky and serious game modes that will delight players of all experience levels.

The Plucky Squire is a game oozing with charm and positivity, and the clever word and book based puzzles will keep you gripped from start to finish.

Moving Out is filled with plenty of beautifully designed buildings, providing plenty of challenges for you to enjoy alone or with up to three friends.

A charming management game that's designed entirely for your convenience. Very easy to learn, with enough complexity to keep you entertained for hours.

Wilmot Works It Out is a wonderful example of cosy gaming done right, with colourful puzzles to solve and a whole lot of charm to boot.

Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is a refreshing take on the city builder genre, offering a wonderful sense of freedom and exploration.

Lara Croft GO is one of the best puzzle games available today, and a perfect reimagining of Tomb Raider in a stylish package.

The Room on Switch is the definitive experience when it comes to controls and visuals and the only real flaw is the fact that holding the Switch for a touch only game is not as comfortable as holding your iPhone or iPad with weight and the battery life is obviously not great on the Switch.

Endless Dungeon is a fantastic roguelike with beautiful visuals, a charming cast of heroes, genuine humour, and a comprehensive, well-designed meta-game.

Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 - Turbocharged offers tons of cars and tracks for players to enjoy, featuring solid gameplay throughout.

Project CARS strips back racing to what it should be: just the car, the track and you.

Man of Medan builds on the solid foundation of Until Dawn. The decisions you make actively alter your experience, meaning you'll want to replay it over and over.

Pokemon Brilliant Diamond is like a warm hug, offering nothing but smiles and enjoyment throughout. Long term fans will find the quality of life changes make it even easier, but nonetheless, it's an otherwise faithful remake and a joy from start to finish.

Splatoon 3 isn't the most exciting release on the calendar, but it is the best the game has been. As a standalone game it's a rip-roaring success, and perhaps the game that fans wanted all along.

EA Sports FC 24 features technology that improves the game beyond what's been seen before, making the beautiful game even more appealing.

A fantastic effort that was well and truly worth the wait, and deserves the full attention of action platform fans young and old.

Pokemon Brilliant Diamond is like a warm hug, offering nothing but smiles and enjoyment throughout. Long term fans will find the quality of life changes make it even easier, but nonetheless, it's an otherwise faithful remake and a joy from start to finish.

The best basketball game around, giving you an enjoyable and realistic experience with tons of modes and options that will keep you busy for hours.

Okami HD is still as wonderful as ever, and now it has 4K resolution. Grab yourself a Sake, close the curtains, and sink into one of the most immersive and beautiful games ever.

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition offers a pleasingly brisk and enjoyable format that makes it the unexpected party game hit of the Summer.

Black Ops 4 is an excellent entry into the series. Some may mourn the loss of the single player campaign, but this is the tightest most balanced multiplayer the franchise has seen in a long while.

Arise: A Simple Story is a delightful mix of stunning visuals, sounds, and engaging story. But there's also a satisfying game underneath to enjoy too.

Bayonetta Origins is PlatinumGames bringing its A-game to the table, delivering a beautiful adventure with some wild ideas, unique combat, and a superb game from start to finish.

While nothing has actually changed in terms of content, the visual and performance upgrades are much more noticeable than expected. This makes Dark Souls Remastered the definitive edition of FromSoftware’s modern classic.

A brilliant game that’s deep and offers accessibility for people who struggle as well as people who want to master every inch of the combat. In a crowded marketplace, Astral Chain stands out as a unique, interesting game that you’d be foolish to pass up on.

Dark, compelling, and occasionally unflinchingly brutal, Shadow of Mordor is Lord of the Rings for grown-ups. It’s not just a good game based on an established franchise, but a fantastic game in its own right and one that deserves to be judged purely by its own merits, and not by what has come before.

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


It almost feels like Horizon Chase did to Out Run what Octopath Traveler did to 16 bit era JRPGs when it comes to feel and visuals. If you need something to satiate your old school racing desire before Out Run shows up next year, get this. It is a must play title.

Tekken 8 is a welcome return for the series, with a fighting style that feels fresh through its aggressive combat, and plethora of modes.

Dragon Quest Treasures is just an infinitely likeable game, that had had me beaming from ear to ear from the word go.

This is just the same wonderful game that was first released in 2015, and it's delightful to see it given a new lease of life on Nintendo Switch.

Salt and Sacrifice may not be the best Metroidvania ever made, but as a 2D distillation of the Soulslike formula, this is pure gaming alchemy.

A revelatory combination of the online PvP survival and competitive shooter genres, well deserving of being labelled as a phenomenon. As an added bonus, you don’t have to be pro gamer to enjoy some level of success online.

Gearbox has taken two of the finest RTSs ever made and turned them into something you’d be proud to show off on any modern gaming PC. Fans of the originals will fall in love with this, and if you missed them the first time around you’re getting two of the very best RTSs ever made with this.

Don’t be a conformist, grab this one and indulge in the stupid toilet humour and dick jokes that it possesses. One of the best games of 2014 so far.

A solid sequel that comes close to but never quite surpasses its exceptional predecessor, Mankind Divided is nonetheless an essential purchase for fans of stealth and story.

Desta: The Memories Between is a perfect example of Ustwo Games' flare for poignant storytelling and inventive gameplay.

The game rewards you for replaying levels and the aesthetic alongside the sublime score from Joris de Man make for an unforgettable experience. I’m glad more people will get to play this gem.

Windjammers is something I never thought I wanted until I played it. Having spent a decent amount of time on it across PS4 and Vita, I’m glad to have yet another indie I played often available on the Switch through such a great port.

An exquisite feeling fighter that is both approachable and deep. Time will tell if it has staying power, but it's the best use of the Dragon Ball Z name in quite some time.

When you’re in the thick of the action, Titanfall is like no other shooter. It succeeds in making you feel like a superhero, piloting a giant mech to destroy your enemies with ferocious aggression. The fact there’s no option for private matches is an odd one, and there’s not a huge amount of guns on offer, really, but it’s arguably unfair to come down too hard on a developer choosing to focus on gameplay innovation over peripheral issues.

The Good, the Bad and the Undead is Marvel's Midnight Suns Deadpool expansion - and it's as mad as you'd expect from the Merc with a Mouth.

Two Point Campus is an evolution, not a revolution, but it's more refined and considered than its Hospital predecessor, making it a must-play.

DiRT Rally delivers a stunning performance on console, offering a difficult but rewarding experience which cements it as one of the best rally simulators available.

Harmony: The Fall of Reverie is DON'T NOD's best work to date, showcasing an gripping story with an interesting approach to player choice.

Hell Pie is a 3D platformer that’s crude, rude and has some of the best locomotion in the genre thanks to its grappling gameplay.

Instant gratification combined with those stellar mechanics mean you’ve got a hardcore platformer with the hooks to keep you coming back for more.

An emotional tour de force that has considerably upped the ante as the final episode approaches. That last episode can’t come soon enough.

Hidden Through Time is a simple and relaxing experience that will see you lose a lot of time to it but in a good way. It never feels like a chore attempting to find items and this might be down in part to how lovely and bright the whole game looks and feels. If you’re looking for something out of the norm and very Where’s Wally/Waldo esque then this is definitely worth your time.

If you’re after a royale-y good time you should look much farther than Tetris 99.

Diablo 4 may not be the huge leap forward some were hoping for, but it still offers an incredible adventure through a dark, compelling world.

Hardspace: Shipbreaker is like no other game out there, and offers a genuinely immersive and rewarding experience.

Victoria 3 is an incredibly detailed strategy game that’s as laborious as it is rewarding. You’ll need to put in the work and be prepared to spend a lot of time busying yourself while waiting for things to complete.

To call this the definitive edition of the original game is a bold move but it achieves that. It doesn’t add a huge pile of new things but it doesn’t detract from the original in a single way. Even the soundtrack can be flip at will if you like the old MIDI one. This is merely an addition to the base game and that base game is rather wonderful. Dragon Quest is comforting in a year that hasn’t been – a solace from the proverbial dark. I didn’t want to leave Cobblestone but by the time I had, I didn’t want to go back. Dragon Quest is a very special game. It always has been. It always will be.

Parking Garage Rally Circuit will provide an instant shot of warm nostalgia for anyone who ever played a SEGA arcade racer in the mid 90s.

Final Fantasy VII Remake is simply stunning, and a breath-taking masterclass in recreating something beloved for a new – and old – audience.

The best Far Cry yet, with well written characters, lots of freedom to play how you want, and a lot of fun to be had on your own or with a friend.

The Last Faith doesn't have a hugely original setting, but it’s an atmospheric, thrilling experience throughout.

Despite some minor missteps, Cookie Cutter is easily one of the best Metroidvania games of this year, and an absolute must-play.

Closer the Distance takes the theme of grief and uses it to construct a wonderful narrative and an intelligent gameplay approach.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure features some great platforming across gorgeous levels, with plenty to do and collect along the way. The music is a lovely touch to a rich and fulfilling adventure, and playing with others is the best way to enjoy it.

Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines is a delightful 2D platformer, with slick swinging gameplay and loads of lovely collectibles to gather.

WarioWare: Move It! is a hilarious, bonkers game that shouldn’t be missed, and the best WarioWare title since Smooth Moves and the earlier handheld titles.

Sanabi is a wonderful action platformer with great grappling gameplay, but the pacing struggles thanks to the lengthy story sections.

When it originally launched on the Switch, it had some performance issues and a poorly thought out icon on the home screen but both of these have been fixed since then. Now, Death Road to Canada is in my goto Switch games that I play while travelling alongside The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ and Enter the Gungeon. If you enjoy roguelikes, this one is super fun and pretty damn polished.

The minimalist approach may not work for every game, but here we have a truly successful, consuming experience that you just can’t put down.

Black Bird is one of the most interesting games I've played in a long time with loads of surprises all over the place.

With a compelling story that keeps you guessing, and a pin-point utilisation of the platform, Device 6 is an accomplishment in games design, mobile or otherwise.

Cosmic Star Heroine is not only a fantastic old school experience but one that goes above and beyond with art and music and happens to be a perfect fit for the PS Vita.

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is visually stunning, and the omni-directional combat and build assembly is tons of fun.

If you’re looking for the best turn-based strategy on the market, it’ll be tough to find something as exceptional as this.

Solar Ash offers sublime movement and an interesting story, with some fantastic mechanics that make you want to explore every facet of it.

Catherine: Full Body on Nintendo Switch is an excellent game filled with tons of variety in the puzzles, and a story that keeps you gripped until the end.