The rewarding sensation of finally felling that painfully difficult boss or clearing that area after numerous tries is still there and remains Dark Souls’ biggest draw.

rackmania Turbo combines the thrill of arcade racing with the addictive short-form challenges of games like Trials.

The experience that this game provides has been long overdue, and I praise it for doing such a terrific job.

A beat ‘em up with the style and flare of one of Nintendo’s best franchises.

Bravely Second: End Layer is inextricably tied to its predecessor but still manages to be a fun, cute, old-school styled RPG.

It isn’t the greatest music app but it’s great for beginners.

Quantum Break is another incredibly satisfying action-adventure mystery from Remedy in the same leagues as Alan Wake and the original Max Payne – bolstered by a bigger budget which has resulted in a terrific cast of actors, complex and intriguing storyline and script, and well-implemented live action television sequences.

Screencheat on XBox is a game that harkens back to those classic days of LAN gaming!

Simple enough to pick up, but tricky to really master, UFC2 has a lot going for it and if you are a fan of the sport it’s certainly worth the purchase.

I cannot recommend this game highly enough to anyone who loves a good fun game. There are elements for both the kids and adults, and the expansion factor of the additional packs would indicate that this is a title that will be entertaining for quite some time.

With a slate of content planned for the future and constant revisions to ensure that the playing field is as balanced as possible, The Division looks like it’s going to have the legs to retain its player base for the foreseeable future, assuming that Massive sort out the balancing issues in the Dark Zone, of course.

Despite some interesting ideas The Witch and the Hundred Knight ultimately fails to engage. The plot is surprisingly dull despite letting you take a walk on the dark side and the combat soon becomes chore-like as you diligently spam square until your reach the next area.

Replayability is primarily to be found in the exploration of the star system laid out for your quest but I can imagine this would only stay entertaining for a while and only true completionists are likely to keep playing over and over again to uncover all they can.

I expected more from the graphics upgrade after comparing Twilight Princess HD to 2013’s Wind Waker HD, but this version of the game stands to prove that even ten years on, the game holds up well.

It is an odd game… but it is also quite relaxing (well maybe not so much when you take a turn too poorly and bump into a police car).

Overall, Hitman is what you make of it; if you want a fast play through, then chapter one isn’t going to keep you busy for long. However, if you’re curious or meticulous by nature and want to carry out and experience different techniques to assassinate various targets, then you will get a decent amount of playtime from the tutorials and the first mission alone.

Just Cause 3: Sky Fortress is like an explosion: brief and kind of awesome. Not very substantial, but on the other hand: jetpacks.

Cheat, steal, and bribe your way to victory while destroying your friendships in this digital boardgame.

The first episode of The Walking Dead: Michonne is a fun, interesting journey into the psyche of Michonne and how she handles a new violent group of survivors.

Play Assault Android Cactus and revel in its satisfying action, adorable characters, and somehow exciting-yet-calming soundtrack.

The Following is an immensely enjoyable and well-crafted survival horror experience that I implore any fan of the genre to at least check out.

Samurai Warriors 4 Empires is unfortunately a missed opportunity!

Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon has good lessons to learn, but chief among them might be persistence: dungeon crawling is tiresome.

Gravity Rush Remastered is an excellent port of the original Vita exclusive to PS4, with unique gravity-shifting gameplay mechanics that lends to fun aerial exploration - all with a distinctive European comic book aesthetic.

Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare 2 on Xbox One has evolved into a truly enjoyable third person shooter set in this silly universe.

Far Cry Primal is a great diversion in the series that successfully takes you back to a simpler yet equally as dangerous era!

The real star of this one is the director with his running commentary, and the film just supports his wit. If you’re looking to kill a good handful of hours with a solid smile on your face, check this game out!

Having said that, if tower defense games are your cup of tea then this is a great addition as the ability to be on the ground with your troops really does add a sense of personal involvement that is lacking in all the more traditional top down place and sit back style games.

Arslan Warriors of Legend is a car crash that you simply shouldn't even slow down to look at!

Addictive monster-raising mechanics, fun turn-based combat and an intriguing take on cybercrime and hacking makes Digimon: Cyber Sleuth a stellar JRPG.

Assassin's Creed Chronicles Russia is a good attempt at upping the ante of the franchise but it still suffers from the challenges of the former games.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is another solid game in this series!

Unravel isn’t a bad game on any level but it can be frustrating and the margin of error is not very forgiving for some of the puzzles. Nonetheless, it does have its moments of glory which did keep me interested and motivated to finish the game.

Technically Street Fighter V is probably the most accomplished fighting title to date, with the gameplay mechanics standing second to none. The characters are all unique and there’s little overlap of abilities and the content that’s available out of the box, what little that there is, is a solid and thoroughly enjoyable gaming experience… It just currently stands as little more than an impressive demonstration of what’s to come in the following months, which is a little disappointing.

XCOM 2 is hard proof true strategy games are still in high demand, blending satisfying old-school strategic turn-based gameplay with cinematic flourish.

The Little Ones is light on actual children but heavy on despair. An emotional insight into the impacts of war on civilians, but not a substantial expansion on the original release.

Pokémon Rumble World is a fun, albeit simplistic adventure through the world of this franchise which definitely targets the younger gamer!

Another fun adventure through the LEGO universe with Marvel's Avengers that is a good all-ages game.

Rise of the Tomb Raider on PC is not only stunning a but a true interactive experience!

Nostalgia with a visual upgrade but gameplay stagnation.

Too many role-playing games are let down by average or mediocre combat – Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen isn’t one of them. Unfortunately, role-playing games also demand great stories, and if you’re looking for a stronger main storyline, Dragon Dogma’s might not be up to your standards. Despite this, the hundreds of hours of content on offer, immense replayability and party customisation is amazing and PC owners can finally enjoy Capcom’s RPG gem with all the added visual bells-and-whistles options.

Assassin's Creed Chronicles India is a 2.5 platformer that is all about subterfuge set in this wonderful franchise!

If you have those touches of nostalgia this will see you scratching that itch with a modern visual flair and some new gameplay mechanics to avoid you feeling like it’s simply a fresh coat of paint.

Although King’s Quest Chapter 2 – Rubble Without A Cause is lacking the wonder of the first episode, it did have some nice moments such as old King Graham and his grandchildren plus some very nice graphics as he explores the labyrinth of the Goblins.

In conclusion, Mario Tennis Ultra Smash is well presented on the Nintendo Wii U and evolves the original N64 game into a worthy next-gen version. Sure, it is lacking some replay value but if you’re looking for multiplayer and online fun, this is the perfect game for those short bursts of fun as you “grand” slam your rackets against your Mario opponents, especially in MEGA BATTLE!

Animal Crossing Amiibo Festival is Mario Party but lacking true content!

Despite its flaws, Rainbow Six: Siege has emerged as one of the strongest FPS titles of the year.

Massive open-world JRPG with astounding exploration but some pacing and storyline issues.

Yo-Kai Watch on the 3DS is a fun RPG that targets the younger gamer or those older gamers who want to reminiscence about those classic Gameboy titles!

Mario & Luigi Paper Jam Bros. successfully merges two franchises into one entertaining turn-based JRPG!

Hatoful Boyfriend: Holiday Star is a click your way through several absurd, linear stories about pigeons.

Just Cause 3 is over-the-top, dumb fun, and incredibly beautiful to boot—when it all eventually loads, of course.

Shows traditional challenges found common in retro shoot ‘em up side scrolling games are still a blast to play.

Coast Guard is strongest when it is doing ship operations and after that, it tends to get bogged down in a quagmire of oddity.

New Style Boutique 2 - Fashion Forward is a fun on the 3DS that allows you unleash your inner fashionista!

Whether choosing to play it in random or chronological order, neither of these options make it a compelling story.

So it’s nice to visit the Ol’ West and do some gun slinging… I wouldn’t have thought to make it an isometric turn based game but it works.

Chibi-Robo Zip Lash on the 3DS is a fun arcade game that delivers an enjoyable yet clichéd experience on this console!

Football Manager 2016 makes accessing the more complex features easier: it's both deeper and more user friendly.

The epic conclusion of StarCraft II is a must have game for fans of this diverse and entertaining RTS.

A game with fascinating concepts, but has a hard time taking flight.

Star Wars Battlefront takes Battlefront to the world of Star Wars and gives players an authentic sci-fi experience!

The Crew: Wild Run Edition is the closest thing on the market to a racing MMO and I had more fun with it than with any other racing title this year.

Offering 6-8 hours of fresh content, The Old Hunters exemplifies DLC that actually enriches the sources rather than simply milking fans with lacklustre skins and the like.

Suffice to say, if you love the series you’ve already picked this up anyway, and if you’re on the fence or have spent considerable time away from the franchise, as I had, then rest assured that not only is the entry barrier fairly forgiving for newcomers but the game also offers up enough challenge for veterans and, above all, is immensely fun, and this is coming from someone who doesn’t really get FPS games.

A fantastic game for playing with friends, but not a game for loners.

Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water may start out slow-paced with about a dozen tutorials before the real action begins, but if you stick with the game for long enough to get settled in this is a fun adventure into the unknown. If you’re a fan of horror games but aren’t a fan of cheap jump scares then this is the perfect game for you. Just make sure to leave the lights on.

If you’re looking for something to fill the gap between the inevitable current gen iteration of the Borderlands franchise, albeit with a much stronger focus on characterisation and story, then Tales from the Borderlands will more than satisfy your desire.

Need for Speed on the PS4 goes backs to basics and delivers a sturdy racing game on this console.

WWE 2K16 boasts an insane roster with fine-tuned gaming mechanics that makes this one of the best games in the franchise.

With plenty of characters to try out, this game packs plenty of punch.

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.

The gaming mechanics are almost flawless which gives the player a sturdy control system in this action RPG that successfully teleports you into this post-apocalyptic world as you search for your son and “save” the world. Sure, the story does take a back seat but this is because you create your own character and make your own story and what a story it is. Imagine being the star of I am Legend or Mad Max as you control your destiny in this nuclear devastated world.

All in all, there may not be enough substance for a gamer to really stick around and play the game more than a few times in curiosity.

WRC 5 on the PlayStation 4 is good rally game but is lacking that next-gen feel and look.

There are some changes to the Halo franchise in terms of gameplay but overall 343 Industries have done a decent job to the series through its slight tweaks to gameplay. Sure, the campaign mode is a little dry but nonetheless I still enjoyed it and really wanted more Master Chief areas.

It's good to have this franchise back and Guitar Hero Live successfully tweaks the gameplay by giving gamers a more fulfilling experience.

After the bumpy start to Unity, the latest game in the franchise Assassin's Creed Syndicate successfully addresses the sins and creates a compelling game.

The PC classic and remake successfully transitions to the Xbox One console as players are given the commander's chair in a brilliant space epic.

Tales of Zestiria is not bad nor is it broken but it does not offer the wonder that I once found in JRPGs.

You don’t need an encyclopaedic knowledge of the self-contained mythology of the Minecraft world in order to garner enjoyment from the experience, although admittedly it does help. The quality of the writing and the self-referential humour makes for an experience that the entire family can enjoy.

Overall if you’ve enjoyed the Might and Magic Heroes games before then you won’t be disappointed, if you’ve only tried Kings Bounty before then I’d suggest jumping into Heroes VII it will seem familiar but also a little more “real” in style.

Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer will appeal those love decorating homes and collecting Nintendo’s new amiibo cards, but for the rest of us, it’s a broken home.

In short, Samurai Warriors 4-II is another game in the series that will be lots of fun if you like fighting massive mobs with a cast of different characters including some of your own custom characters.

The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt Hearts of Stone is a fun visit back to the dangerous and exciting world of Geralt of Rivia!

The game may not immediately show its appeal but once you get into the meat of the experience you may find yourself enamoured by this brutal fantasy sport and gaining a newfound appreciation of turn-based strategy games.

Overall FIFA 16 is a very good game, and an improvement on last year’s offering

Activision successfully introduces vehicles into the Skylander universe which I'm guessing its competitors will soon follow!

Konami once again take their franchise to a whole new level that easily makes PES 2016 one of their best attempts at virtual soccer on any console.

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.

The Escapists: The Walking Dead is a fun 8-bit indie puzzle/role-playing/survival simulation hybrid which makes excellent use of the license.

Blues and Bullets gives you the rawness of the emotion that has parallels to L.A. Noire.

Sometimes there are diamonds to be found out in the wastelands. Maybe with a different kind of combat system polish, Skyshine's BEDLAM could be one of those.

If you're already a fan of the original Grandia II, give this newer, sparkly version a go! If you're a newcomer, give it a shot as it doesn't disappoint.

This revamped collection also boasts a handful of key features that include explorer mode which focuses more on story opposed to combat (great for newcomers), the speed run mode which basically times certain parts of the game like how fast you finished a section to the new brutal difficulty level which takes the game to a whole new challenge level.

Rogue Continuum on PC serves as a nice distraction for gamers that harkens back to those classic shooters of the 80's with a modern twist thrown in for fun.

Smite is a great game on the XBox One which proves that MOBA's can successfully make the transition to the console world.