Maize, despite its problems, is certainly one of the most unique games I’ve played over the past year. I completed it in just under three hours, though players who want to find all the collectibles, each with their own humorous description, will certainly spend longer time on it. The jokes don’t land as often as they should and the gameplay is very straightforward, but for those looking for something weird, Maize is certainly a game worth your attention.

Headlander occupies a space of being a game which is a great deal of fun to play to completion over a weekend. While some of the game mechanics are fairly unique, it’s not trying to do anything complex. Anyone who’s played this type of game before will feel right at home from the early going, and although some sections are difficult, they shouldn’t have any trouble progressing through the game at a good pace. It’s a shame some of the story sections and dialogue aren’t funnier, but that doesn’t stop Headlander being a game well worth your time.

All in all, Super Dungeon Bros is either a case of developer blindness or a product rushed through development with far too little time spent on QA and balancing. The aesthetics are polished and professional-looking, and the gameplay elements are all there, but the responsiveness of the controls, gameplay balance, difficulty and level design are so poorly done that it’ll take some serious patching to whip this title into shape.

If you’re looking for a deep sim, this game isn’t going to be quite deep enough to satiate your hunger. If you’re looking for constant guided goals and challenges, you’ll run out soon enough. Where Planet Coaster’s long-term legs are going to reside is with the people like me that simply enjoy the thrill of the build. It’s easy to sink hours into, even if you’re just trying to design a building or tweak some scenery. Quite simply, it’s the sequel that RollerCoaster Tycoon games of yore really deserve.

Killing Floor 2, for better or worse, is much like its predecessor. The strong gameplay system is elevated by both its visuals and audio, with the guns being a particular highlight. There are some kinks to be ironed out here and there, but at the end of the day, Killing Floor 2 is a satisfying cooperative shooter that is so simple, so easy to play, that it’s difficult to not come back for more.

Dishonored 2 may not rank as one of my personal favorites of the year, but it does build greatly upon everything the original put in place. Characters, lore, gameplay, settings... literally everything has been improved upon. The replayability is once again very high, but alas it still suffers from being on the short side if you're not one to plan the perfect approach. Dishonored 2 may not be the best adventure title ever, but it certainly is one of the most interesting.

The way Football Manager has changed means a better game for everyone. You are able to do everything you need to do to run your team successfully much quicker than you’ve been able to before. The improvements to the match engine make actually watching the games fairly entertaining. Clunky elements like the conversation and press conference systems remain, but fans of the series have learned to accept these for what they are now. There are certainly more improvements to be made to Football Manager, but what we have got right now is rather good indeed.

If you are a sucker for an interactive trip down memory lane, especially one with pleasing aesthetics and entertaining writing, then Super Rad Raygun might be the game for you. If you’re looking for a quality platformer with good level design, interesting enemies, and solid gameplay on the other hand, look somewhere else. The developers may be able to whip the title into shape with patches in the future, but until then I can only recommend it to those with nerves of steel.

My time with Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence- Ascension may have been confusing at times, and I still don’t feel like I’ve entirely mastered everything it has to offer, but I did have a good deal of fun playing. The game could certainly benefit from a little life being blown into its cold, clinical presentation, but from storming castles to forging alliances and maintaining roads, I always felt like I was part of a larger living picture, and that’s a cool feeling to have.

Exploring the island of Xanadu is engaging in many ways. When you’re not finding loot or battling enemies, the cartoony visuals bring the island to life. For the intimate setting the locations are surprisingly varied, and considering this is a 2005 game it holds up pretty well. The aesthetic lends to the game’s sense of humor, whimsy and charm. It’s not every game where you have an adorable young sidekick pack you a lunch before you leave the village.

There’s comfort to be found in Cossacks 3. Despite its problems, it manages to replicate what made RTS’ of yore enjoyable with its vast armies and settlement building. Unfortunately, questionable UI choices, a lack of variety and poor AI result in an experience that leaves a lot to be desired.

With 2.5 hours under the belt, I can say the ending was sudden, surprising , and not fulfilling by any means. It did not strike a chord that rang in success or failure. In fact, thanks to the stiff animation of the scene, I actually blurted out a laugh. The setting, the lore behind it, they’re ultimately squandered as far as horror goes, or even as adventure. What Through The Woods ultimately boils down to, is a couple hour walking simulator with an interesting narrative trying to be played out by the most unlikeable character I’ve ever seen in a game.

On the whole, Jackbox Party Pack 3 has a stronger collection of games than each of its predecessors, making it the best one to buy if you’ve never tried them before. It’s just a shame that you can’t buy the majority of games from previous packs separately as add-ons.

My heart is screaming to love Clockwork Empires. Its premise, its setting - it is so uniquely fresh and daring that it should have amounted to something extraordinary. I’m struggling to even like it, let alone love it. No, I do like it, but it is a crying shame that it lacks the polish it deserves. As it stands, the interface throws up too much of an obstacle for Clockwork Empires to shine as it might have.

For a single-player rally enthusiast, WRC 6 may be a little too arcadeish, but for those looking for a fun split-screen game to play with their friends or family, this is a safe, and very visually pleasing, bet.

While not everything has panned out as brilliantly as I had hoped, I have to say this is the most fun I’ve had with a Civilization game since III (I know - heresy).

Crazy Machines 3 is unapologetically a puzzle game about fixing, creating and customizing crazy machines. In that regard the game is solid. For puzzle aficionados maybe that’s all they need. However, in a year where we got The Witness and Steven’s Sausage Roll, Crazy Machines 3 does little to stand out from the competition and even its own series. Much like Peter Griffin and his failed breakfast contraption you might ask “What’s the point?”

Since picking the game up, I've already sunk over 40 hours into it and I don't see that stopping any time soon. We are back to what Battlefield is all about, and it's never been better as far as the multiplayer is concerned. It is the stuff dreams are made of, the very thing that Battlefield 1942 strived to be all those years ago but was limited by hardware at the time. It may not be the single player experience some people may be looking for, but for the multiplayer massive-scale shooter fan, this belongs in your library of games. It has crawled through the mud, bludgeoned previous entries, and taken its rightful place as my favorite Battlefield game to date.

Mafia III does most things right, though. It is an enjoyable game, one that has probably the best licensed soundtracks for a game outside of a music-based game. The combat and cover mechanics work really and the cut-scenes allow the story to progress smoothly in the wonderfully presented city of New Bordeaux.

Playing Shadow Warrior 2 was like hand-delivering a gift to 14-year-old self. Maybe I should think that’s a bad thing, but I don’t. Despite a few flaws with pacing and level design, there are few games that have made me feel as much of an unstoppable god of death as I did in my time here.

With a good balance of a quality campaign, multiplayer, and cooperative modes, there’s something for just about everyone to enjoy.

I really wanted to like Giant Machines 2017. I really, really did. It’s unfortunate that a game that can make me feel like I’m entering a darned megazord one minute can so completely turn me off the next.

The frequent deaths will turn off many, and it will take a lot of time to properly master the game. But for those who persevere, GoNNER is a rewarding, challenging experience that is a blast to play.

I find myself thinking that maybe I’ll play Lichtspeer again at some point in the future, but after the short time I’ve spent with it, I feel I’ve experienced all there is.

Anyone looking purely for tension and scares could, and should, check this out. Anyone hoping for scares - and - a captivating plot will likely be disappointed.

In terms of sheer number of game modes, FIFA is unmatched, and The Journey alone is enough to warrant a badge of recommendation. Hopefully future iterations of the game won’t just be rehashing the same story told this year. The PC version of the game is having technical issues at the moment, but if these can be ironed out, then the online modes are a great deal of fun too.

Virginia is a really, really cool little piece of media as long as you know what you’re getting yourself into.

The Metronomicon comes together in a neat package which rhythm game fans will certainly get a deal of enjoyment out of. The soundtrack is varied, with highlights being songs from the likes of Perturbator, however it’s likely you will dislike just as many songs as you do like. Bringing in the RPG elements makes this game stand out from other rhythm games, and there’s enough here to keep you going through the end of the game and beyond.