A rush of humor, tactical brilliance, and unbridled joy make Sparks of Hope one of the best of the year.

Halo Infinite on the Xbox Series X is classic Halo fun that has received a true next-gen makeover that really upgrades our favourite Spartan, the Master Chief himself!

In the end, Pentiment is one of the best games of 2022 that anyone could play. The story is rich and wonderfully written, and it is not afraid to point out the hardest struggles of our past and today’s lives. The characters, same as the story itself are authentic and created thoughtfully. The gameplay of Pentiment is simple compared to other Obsidian games, and it might be too simple, but it is not something that would decrease the pleasure of enjoying this piece of art. I have lost count of many times I’ve admired the details and aesthetic of the game which becomes a full package of 16th-century culture when the music reaches your ears.

Nixxes has done a fantastic job bringing The Last of Us Part II Remastered to the PC platform. A vast, beautiful game, that scales well across a vast array of hardware.

Endless Dungeon manages to create the perfect mix of tower defense, roguelikes, and twin-stick shooter to create a deep, yet accessible adventure for the ages. One of the best co-op games of 2023.

A must play for action-RPG fans looking for deep combat systems and an expansive open-world that truly rewards exploration.

If you are a fan of Dune, there’s a lot here to enjoy, the interplay between houses, the war of assassins, and of course the fear of being pursued by a worm and only just escaping, or perhaps not escaping. Despite the glitches, I have still found myself returning time and time again, and though some tasks can be frustrating or repetitive, it’s such a beautifully realised world that I don’t really mind. Even when I shut it down to take a break for a while, inevitably I will be firing it up again before long to see just how much further I can get, or what I can manage to get the resources together to build next. I’m so close to being able to build my ornithopter. Definitely jump in and explore!

Syberia: The World Before, is one of those rare masterpieces where the story is just so freaking well written, the soundtrack is perfect, the graphics are stunning and the puzzles inspired.

Scary Girl, a visual treat and even more fun to play.

Skunkape Games have remastered and re-listed Poker Night, given it a fresh lick of paint, reintroduced it's most important feature and all that at a decent price. They've truly gone all-in.

The Last of Us Part 1 is an outstanding remake on the PlayStation 5 that is not only beautiful to play but filled with emotion.

Observer: System Redux is a beautiful, scary, immersive experience that will get your heart beating. You wont be quite the same after playing this one!

I appreciate just how much effort has been put into this collection, and note that it appears that the zombies are not not just lumbering monsters as they were in the past, but move with improved AI that increases their ferocity and cunning. All up this revamp is a stunning success, and for newcomers and seasoned veterans alike, I would strongly suggest you add this pack to your arsenal of fun.

Overall I’m thrilled with the game, there are settings that make it easy to just pick up and have an easy fight… or you can ramp up the difficulty and really challenge yourself to become the best fighter you can. Highly recommended for old fans and new fans alike!

DOOM: The Dark Ages is a fantastic experience from start to finish. Mixing up the gameplay of its predecessors drastically, while still feeling like DOOM.

With interesting plot threads to discover, beautiful locations to traverse, and powerful equipment to loot, there’s plenty on offer in Jaws of Hakkon—it’s a valuable addition to what was already a worthwhile

Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan is a near perfect game and a great introduction as someone's first RPG. It may be a little long winded at times, but overall Rainbow Billy is a must own.

If you’ve ever had an interest in Mario and his friends or you love board games or mini games… this is really a simple choice… grab a copy and have fun!

While never straying very far from the ideas of its predecessor, Octopath Traveler II improves upon every aspect of that already great game and ends up being one of the best JRPGs I’ve ever played.

There’s been much hype surrounding Horizon Zero Dawn and thankfully it has delivered in more ways than one. It boasts a very likeable and interesting protagonist and the story behind Horizon Zero Dawn is one that is filled with mystery and intrigue. Of course, it’s all about the gameplay and Guerrilla should be commended in creating such a fluid and dynamic game as you explore this post-apocalyptic world 1000 years in the future that is filled with different cultures and even history which seems so real. Combat is fun and the missions are diverse and at the end of the day, Horizon Zero Dawn is a title that really raises the benchmark on the PlayStation 4.

I have really been enjoying Headquarters: World War II. The difficulty options are perfect because I tend to find these days that I enjoy the storytelling of games more than the tough grind to success. If on the other hand you are all about the thrill of a hard won victory… you can certainly choose a punishing difficulty level. The unity variety and importance of using those differences to your advantage makes this far more engaging than many of the other “generic” World War II RTS games. Certainly consider grabbing a copy for some historically inspired RTS action.

Overall though I continue to find the Shadow Warrior games a lot of fun… it’s nice to have a different main character to the muscle bound blond balls of brawn we are usually provided. Lo Wang is the hero we don’t deserve… but he’s all we’ve got… and it’s a lot of fun playing as him.

Killzone 3 is far superior than its predecessors and this will definitely be the must have first person shooter game on the PS3 for 2011.

To date, ‘Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector’ is the best digital rendition of the Warhammer 40k table-top miniatures game that I’ve ever played. The amazing attention to detail and unknowing nature of each mission will resonate deeply with 40k fans and be a good starting point for newcomers to the franchise. Personally, I would have loved to have seen more factions engaged in battle but introducing the Sisters of Battle as reinforcements has been a clever way to expand the list of units available without straying away from the deep lore that the game is set in. Although I wouldn’t call ‘Battlesector’ a difficult game, it does pose quite the challenge for players of all skill levels. I recommend this game to anyone who wants to get into Warhammer or is already a fan. Hopefully more units and factions will become available in the future, further adding to enormous amount replay value.

The great number of diverse things to do in the game is its strongest asset.

Rocksmith 2014 is the reason closet guitarist are coming out, and maybe creating the next generation of musical artists all in one.

It’s a great addition to the Elder Scrolls Lore and a lot of fun to set foot upon those lands again with higher quality visuals and game mechanics. If you love your open world gaming mixed with a bit of sword and sorcery, grab a copy and don your armour… it’s time to save someone from something…. oooh what’s that quest icon over there for…..

A true visual novel that draws you in and leaves you wanting more. Fantastic voice acting and musical score really just provide icing on the cake here. Very worthwhile!

The Alters is 11 bit studio's most ambitious, and possibly best game yet. Combining all their experiences in base building, crew management, resource gathering and survival, they try to pull off something they haven't done before. Create an engaging, huge, sci-fi narrative adventure. And they succeed. From it's themes, to it's music, acting, visuals, survival gameplay loop, basebuilding, and so much more, The Alters is a triumph that exceeds expectations and an unforgettable, deep adventure.

Old tracks, new tracks, more characters, more vehicles. This new Mario Kart expansion has it all!

The difficulty level is just right, it's enough to keep your entertained that is sprinkled with enough frustration to keep you going. The environments are well designed and the gameplay is pretty much flawless… this is how RPG's should be made!

Zen Pinball takes us away from the bright lights of the standard pinball venue and sends us to the dark basement to play the grizzly horror themed tables of our nightmares.

Lumote: The Mastermote Chronicles is a game that everyone in the family can enjoy, that’s a pretty big bonus for those of us with young ones in the family and certainly make a difference from all the more mature themed games that we have to wait till the little ones are asleep or at school to enjoy. The controls are simple enough to pick up and use without much thought… ie they are quite intuitive. It’s a pretty decent price and considering I could just sit and watch the beautiful colours dance across the screen whether I’m trying to complete the level or just chill for a while, you can get a decent bit of play time out of it. Grab a copy if you like a bit of puzzle gaming or if you just like some pretty visuals, either way Lumote: The Mastermote Chronicles is likely to put a grin on your face.

Halo the Master Chief Collection is the definitive version of this amazing series that plays and looks amazingly on the XBox One.

Tears of the Kingdom captures and improves upon everything it's predecessor was. The sky was they limit and they certainly reached it.

Make no mistake, the Tony Hawk series is back in all of its resplendent glory. It’s awesome seeing the Birdman back up on his perch and coming back to these games after a decade of unworthy entries really felt like a revelation as I was immediately reminded of how much I’d been missing the series from my life. With tight controls, awesome music and a whole ton of new content in the form of challenges, this is as close to perfection you can get when attempting to update a classic franchise for a new generation.

The Sexy Brutale is a stellar mind bender, one of the best mystery themed, puzzle titles in years. Behind a seemingly simple formula lies a challenging and clever game, one wrapped in beautiful graphics and a fantastic soundtrack.

All in all, Modern Combat 5 ticks all the right boxes for gameplay, graphics and audio.

With a strong homage to the games before it and the inclusion of new gameplay plus 3D, Fire Emblem: Awakening ticks all the right boxes and creates a thoroughly entertaining turn based tactical RPG that not only challenges the player but is also quite fun to play.

Divinity: Original Sin II – Definitive Edition is the best way for PC, PS4 and Xbox One players to experience Larian Studios’ masterpiece. The transition to consoles has been a smooth one, and PC players who own the original get rewarded with a free upgrade – meaning there’s no excuse to not jump into Rivellon for another playthrough. The Definitive Edition adds so much more content and quality-of-live improvements to an already great base game, it’s a must-play for isometric RPG aficionados everywhere who value a crazy amount of complexity, interactivity and replayability in their role-play.

The plot elevates the already terrific puzzle elements to even greater heights and, overall, it serves as an exemplar of the ever blurring line between digital entertainment and true art.

One of the best games in PlayStation’s library has been made even better. A graphical update and a whole host of new content make The Last of Us Part II Remastered easy to recommend for fans and newcomers alike.

Offering at least 35 hours of play, Dark Souls II is a challenging experience and a satisfyingly in depth game that rewards perseverance and intelligent tactics.

At the end of the day, Street Fighter IV is easily one of the best fighting games for quite some time that is high on content and high on gameplay.

All in all I have to say once I got out my gamepad this game became a blast to play. Codemasters did one hell of a job giving a sense of speed and realism when playing this game. Now I will say this is also a review coming from someone that has not played the previous installments so some of the things I mention may be carried over from previous titles. So this review was from someone going in blind so take that for how you will.

Monster Hunter Generations successfully captures what made this series so great and then amplifies it on the 3DS!

Certainly worth a look if you like detective or adventure games, with a lot of depth and character to them!

For now, Forza 3 is easily the most impressive and realistic racing simulation on any console and its online community as mentioned before is unparalleled.

It's a well-polished side scrolling adventure in an amazing world, filled with wonderfully weird environments and creatures.

Personally, I’m glad that “Legion” took a darker turn and really explored the true possibilities of how technology can be used for malice purposes, as it gives the player a real sense of triumph taking down these digital villains. I do recommend caution for younger gamers, as “Legion” is definitely aimed at an older audience. Regardless, “Watch Dogs: Legion” has an enormous amount of replay value and a very compelling storyline with unexpected twists along the way.

Rise of the Tomb Raider is a brilliant game on the XBox One but it’s familiarity with the previous game prevents it from being its natural successor.

Dragon Age Inquisition is a must play RPG on the PS4 that successfully takes the best out of both previous games to create sword and sorcery perfection.

The gaming gods of Naughty Dog have spoken in Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection and wow, what a ride on the PS5!

A fan-faithful remake rebuilt from the ground up and jam-packed with quality content. A package both longtime Resident Evil fans and newbies will enjoy.

Mallow Drops is a slick, well-balanced puzzle game that relies on simple controls and gravity to keep you entertained.

Contact is an absolute quality DLC release; it is a fully immersive, story-rich and refreshing change from the original game. Also, in comparison to the original single player campaign, is seemingly bug-free with absolutely no crashes to desktop.

Baldur's Gate III scratches the D&D itch with near perfect precision. It'll have you coming back for more every time!

Max Payne 3 is a violent thrill ride with an action hero that does not know at times that he is the hero. With slick visuals, and blood spraying violence it may not be for everyone. For those fans of Max Payne, and those action film fans, I think this one is for you.

With amazing graphics, a sturdy control system and a story to die for, Dead Space is definitely a candidate for game of the year on the Apple iPad! Highly Recommended!

Payday 2 is a Co Op game. While it might have benefitted with a cool story arc for a single player mode the game offers a great outing with 3 other friends for an experience that will keep having you come back for more. Payday is simply put the improved, polished and closest experience you’ll find to robbing an actual bank. It’s just legal.

Although Activision doesn’t reinvent the wheel with Guitar Hero 5, it thankfully doesn’t try to be clever with the franchise, ensuring that old users will find enough in this program for a worthy purchase.

In the end, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is a visually impressive game that contains a very sturdy gaming engine. If you haven't played a traditional RPG in awhile, the learning curve is a little steep and challenging at the start but once you have the experience under your belt and selected a direction for your character, battles will slowly become easier but fortunately there is always something along the way to challenge you. This is what RPG's are all about and I sincerely hope that this game will become the template for games to come on the PC.

In the end, Forza 4 is a worthy addition to the franchise and even though it is a little light on new tracks, the tracks included can be played a variety of different ways that does increase the amount of different types of ways of finishing it.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution is the sequel, or prequel that fans of the original deserved all along.

Dirt 3 has modest game length; the concept over all does not grow tiresome which is great. It has solid fun gameplay from single player experience, to multiplayer online or even split screen multiplayer. Dirt 3 may not please everyone out there, what game does really? Dirt 3 is a solid addition to the series, which keeps rally car racing as the coolest thing out there.

Dirt 3 has modest game length; the concept over all does not grow tiresome which is great. It has solid fun gameplay from single player experience, to multiplayer online or even split screen multiplayer. Dirt 3 may not please everyone out there, what game does really? Dirt 3 is a solid addition to the series, which keeps rally car racing as the coolest thing out there.

Red Dead Redemption is more than just some basic concepts with a new coat of paint. Standing on it's own two feet, with out comparing it to anything else from Rockstar's past games...(Because of course something years later sure as heck should be better.).....Red Dead Redemption is a stellar game.

At the end of the day, Resistance: Retribution nicely compliments the PS3 version of the game with sturdy gameplay, a great storyline and an endless amount of nasties for you to send into the ether.

Without a doubt, one of the best sports games of the year.

Soldner: X2 Final Prototype while a short game like most of this genre, is none the less a spectacular romp that will have players jumping on for a quick blast fest, or seeing just how skilled they are and racking up the points and special upgrades in the levels.

In closing I would say that Battlefield 3 ups the gaming bar and stands on its own two feet. Its single player experience is stellar, but it fly's to new heights with its multiplayer experiences.

A truly fantastic arcade game that not only plays well (with a few 21st century tweaks) but looks amazing on this next-gen console.

There are a few glitches but even so, these do not hamper the gaming experience and if you're looking for value for money, than you have come to the right place my apocalyptic brothers and sister.

The master of it all that changes things for the game as it progresses is the AI Director 2.0. It's what makes Left 4 Dead 2 have such dynamic reactions to what the player is or isn't doing. The AI Director changes weather effects, world objects, lighting effects , and even pathways!

Limbo has made the leap to iOS admirably, losing nothing in the translation and only minor quibbles with the jumping mechanics really stand out enough to drop the score slightly. Indeed, Limbo is surprisingly well suited to the sporadic habits of the handheld gamer, with well thought out checkpoint placement allowing you to tackle a few quick puzzles at your leisure whenever you have a spare minute or three and the spine tingling aesthetic of the game benefits greatly from the intimate nature of handheld gaming.

With a rather easy learning curve, this game can be played by a variety of people and whether you're a newbie or veteran gamer, Xenoblade Chronicles provides an immersive world filled with action and story that easily allows you to play it again and again. Recommended!

In the end, Madden 13 is a fast paced NFL game that allows fans to play a variety of different gameplay modes, including a relatively in-depth career mode. If you want to take the gameplay to another level, the title also supports a detailed online mode so you can challenge other players from around the world. With a strong gaming engine and graphics that will amaze, it's definitely a great time to be a NFL fan.

In conclusion, Saints Row the Third is a fun and extremely ridiculous game. It's definitely the most fun I've had on the PS3 for quite some time and it's great that Volition have taken the piss out of the gaming world with this release.

Sine Mora is a game that you should go out and buy now and as the translation of Sine Mora is without delay (it's Greek), it actually suits this title perfectly from its epic battles, lush graphics and almost flawless gameplay. Who would have thought that a game inspired by the classic 8-bit side scrolling genre can still find a place in the 21st century of gaming.

Overall DMC is a great reboot, probably the best reboot that I can think of in game industry. I would compare it to the Batman Begins of the video game world.

With great graphics, a sturdy gameplay engine and some of the best music ever to grace this console, Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker is truly the next chapter in the MGS series and dare I say it, one of the best releases for this console in quite some time

Rayman Origins is the best fun I've had on the PS Vita that has definitely set the arcade benchmark quite high for future arcade titles.

In the end, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 is a very impressive game on the iPad that contains some of the best graphics to grace this smart device with almost flawless gameplay. So what are you waiting for, pick up your iPad, choose your virtual golfer and starting hitting those balls as you improve your skills and become the best possible virtual golfer you can be. With tons of replay value, this is gaming at its best on the iPad!

A spectacular game on the PlayStation 3 that not only respects the previous titles but enhances the future of this genre.

Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D is a must have game for lovers of platformers that really takes this port to the definitive level.

Once again Tetsuya Mizuguchi has created an amazing game, just like he did with Rez those so many years ago. Child of Eden however is far superior thanks to the FULL HD graphics, a beautiful soundtrack and almost flawless Kinect controls that work perfectly with the gameplay.

These two small additions alone make all the difference, instead of tinkering with all the objects of the game, Capcom knew they had a good thing here and stuck with it, simply making a few small additions that would push the game along, if you chose to use them.

The Witcher 2: Assassin's of Kings Enhanced Edition is not a perfect game as the title does contain some graphical clipping, a few bugs and some truly frustrating moments such as over the top boss battles (depending on difficulty) and of course the horrible inventory system. However, thankfully the pros more than outweigh the cons in this title which creates one of the best RPG experiences on the XBox 360.

With a well written story, relatable characters and a mystery that draws you in, Personal 4 Golden is definitely the game the PS Vita needed!

Weapons and equipment are equally as diverse as the characters and whether that’s shurikens, mines or guns, everything has a place.

Little big Planet Planet will take time to master but if you have the patience, the rewards will be endless. Highly Recomended!

Irrational Games have found the perfect formula for Bioshock Infinite, almost flawless gameplay, graphics and sound plus a mysterious story about a broken city of gold but where the game goes beyond its predecessors is with the inclusion of one of the most realistic AI characters to have ever graced a game.

From character clothing, to the architecture of buildings and the molding’s and bits of machinery and piping that seem to have something to do with how the city is staying in the air. It fires the imagination and puts that spark into adventure once again.

The Minecraft PlayStation 4 Edition is the penultimate version of this game on any console.

This new DLC takes nothing away from the fun experience of the original Soldner experience while still granting new trials and challenges to try.

Kratos is definitely back as are all the wondrous mythological creatures and settings of ancient Greece.

For 2013, Bravely Default is easily the best RPG of the year that will keep fans of this genre extremely happy as they join these characters in their fight for freedom.

Another must-have Switch exclusive, and a modern reminder why the mother of the Metroidvania sub-genre still demands attention.