Halo Wars 2 might be a bit shallow compared to Starcraft 2, but as a strategy game on console it works really well. The controls are easy to understand, it’s action packed and the world is fantastic. For console players looking for a strategy game, Halo Wars 2 is an easy choice.

The Complete First Season of Hitman pays attention to detail, offering great variety and huge re-playability in the process. Despite a few dips in the level design and atrocious voice acting, this is a stealth experience to die for.

It’s hard not to see Nioh as a Dark Souls with Japanese mythology. But as soon as you get used to the mechanics, Nioh has several features that make it unique. Aside from some less inspired stages, and slightly outdated graphics, this is a perfect action game – and one of the best there is in the genre.

Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World won't make a huge impact on the gaming year of 2017, but it's a solid, well-crafted 3DS-remake with great accessibility and variety amongst its colorful levels.

In all its weirdness Yakuza 0 is as charming as the series ever has been. It isn't a game for everyone, but for those who fall for this there will be tons of stuff to do, wonderful settings to visit and well-written characters to meet.

Gravity Rush 2 is a colorful, cheerful and action packed adventure that does not look nor play like anything else. The camera and controls will take some time to get used to and may annoy at times, but overall Gravity Rush 2 is a very polished and enjoyable experience.

Listen, gun and run. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard successfully manages to deliver a horrifying first-person survival experience by grasping series' roots in the murky swamps of rural Louisiana. Finally, Capcom is back on track again.

Although the weapons and the exo-suit elevate the core action of Dead Rising 4, the lack of timer takes away the challenge and the replayability. The current build also has a lot of bugs, unfortunately.

After over seven years it feels surrealistic to finally play The Last Guardian. Has it been worth the wait? No idea – some players will complain about the unpolished controls, the graphics and the bad camera angels. On the other hand the story is beautiful and the world is as stunning as it was in Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. For us, this is one of the best adventures in recent years.

Super Mario Maker For Nintendo 3DS is a good recreation of the Wii U classic, but the lackluster online capabilities makes this conversion severely inferior to its console counterpart.

Not without it's flaws, but Final Fantasy XV is a fantastic comeback for the series and a beautiful love letter to the fans of the series. With a mix of open world, hectic combat and engaging characters – this is the Final Fantasy we have been waiting for.

Pokémon Sun and Moon are the best Pokémon games since Gold and Silver. Game Freak has built a solid ground for the future.

Pokémon Sun and Moon are the best Pokémon games since Gold and Silver. Game Freak has built a solid ground for the future.

Despite the overall feeling of familiarity, Dishonored 2 delivers such an impressive sense of variety and atmosphere that the game sits among the best gaming titles of 2016.

Watch Dogs 2 is everything that Watch Dogs was supposed to be. San Fransisco is the place to be with stunning environments that are hard to not love. On top of that, the story doesn't take itself too seriously and feels a lot better this time.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare is a somewhat odd addition to the Call of Duty franchise. The online multiplayer does not offer any notable improvements, and the zombie mode is a fun romp but nothing more. On the other hand, the game offers an impressive single player campaign that feels fresh and interesting. If you want a great sci-fi game this is the one to get.

If you haven't play Skyrim before, Special Edition is the version to get. It's a lazy remake though that still contains minor but frustrating bugs.

Dragon Quest Builders is a splendid fusion between Minecraft and Dragon Quest. Instead of just roaming a huge world at your own will, you will always have a (mostly) clear goal to work towards and townspeople to pamper. There is still plenty of room for making your own creations, even though it is not on the same grand scale as Minecraft.

Paper Mario: Color Splash is one of those games that works best if you play it a couple of hours each time. The graphical design is as wonderful as ever, and the adventure offers plenty of charming settings. Sadly the gameplay feels a little too monotonous, and the battles aren’t as dynamic as the previous games. 


Civilization is still one of the most addictive series in gaming, and the new installment offers some really interesting additions. The sometimes stupid AI is a bit of a letdown, though.

While the mechanics is pretty much the same as the previous Skylanders games, Imaginators lets you be far more creative. With better gameplay and more colorful graphics, and this is one of the best installments in the series so far.

The multiplayer is as unique as ever, and the addition of a single-player campaign (however brief) helps to pad out the game and give its best ideas more room to breathe. Not everything works—least of all the writing—but if nothing else Respawn proves it’s a studio willing to experiment, to push boundaries in a way Battlefield and Call of Duty largely stopped doing years ago.

Mafia 3 is the definition of a mixed bag. At times it is a great experience with a compelling story, interesting characters and an exciting world to discover. But after a few hours the game falls into a repetitive grind with the same type of mission over and over again. It is still an okay game, but it could have been so much more.

PES 2017 is in many way the game that PES 2016 should have been. It shares the same deep mechanics, but the AI – especially the goalies – is so much better. PES 2017 may be a let down for those who want as many licenses as possible, for everyone else this is one of the best soccer games ever.

FIFA 17 is in every detail better than FIFA 16. The new game engine gives you a smoother gameplay, Journey is a great way to implement a campaign in a sport game and there is just a ton of things to do. On the pitch, however, PES 2017 is the better game this year – mainly because of better AI and deeper mechanics.

If you haven’t played Bioshock before, this is truly a masterpiece of collection. It includes three great action games, and especially the first two is still outstanding. Howerer, Bioshock: The Collection doesn’t really offer anything new. It would have been more than welcome with more content for those that already have played through the series.

Gears of War 4 has pretty much the same mechanics that we are used to. It sure is entertaining, but at the same time a little too safe. Overall though, it’s still a great game that every Gears of War fan probably will enjoy.

Forza Horizon 3 offers glorious graphics, big variation and clever online implementation. It might not be the perfect racing game, but if you are a fan of the previous games in the series, it’s a no-brainer.

It has been a fact for a couple of years now that EA Sports NHL series is in need of a big renovation. The graphics is starting to look dated, the physics isn't nearly as good as PES or FIFA and the AI is unbalanced – particularly the goalie part. NHL 17 is still a pretty decent game for the hockey fans, but it's hard to not feel a bit disappointed.

With the new World of Warcraft-expansion, Blizzard manages to bring new life to a widely beloved mmorpg that's been on the decline for ages. The Demon Hunter Class, new, intriguing zones and questlines and extended character development possibilities combine to form the greatest WoW-experience to date.

If you are planning to play Metroid Prime: Federation Force alone or even online it leaves a lot to wish for. However, with three friends playing together in the same room it can be pretty great. Just do not expect much of a “Metroid” experience.

Recore is one of those games that sounds better than it is. It’s an interesting fusion of genres, the story is well written and the world is beautiful. But the gameplay gets a bit monotonous after a couple of hours and the level design feels uninspired. Still, with the price tag in mind, its might be worth a closer look if you looking for a solid action adventure game.

After last year’s largely disappointing entry Codemasters amends almost all of the game’s faults with F1 2016. With a great sense of speed and a plethora of options and game modes F1 2016 is one of the most engaging racing experiences ever made.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided gives you truckloads of the great gaming experience already seen in the previous installments and polishes it into near-perfection. Prepare to delve into a thrilling story with lots of possible consequences and outcomes.

Bound is trying to be a unique platformer with deep storytelling. Unfortunately neither of these parts reaches its potential. But Bound is still worth playing – especially for the stunning graphical style and the fantastic setting.

No Man’s Sky is one of the most unique games we have ever reviewed. Sure, it lacks variation, and it can be really frustrating at times. But it’s also a wonderful experience that offers countless hours of exploration, stunning landscapes and a world that never stops surprising us.

Inside is not only one of the best indie games in a long time, it might as well be the best game of 2016, so far. With beautiful design and an interesting story, Playdead manages to deliver a platform adventure that won't leave anyone untouched.

A beautiful, open world and exhilarating parkour action just manage to cover up some irritating shortcomings in Mirror's Edge: Catalyst.

Charismatic characters and a well-made combat system does not prevent Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan from being a complete snoozefest. It is not a good sign when “Find the enemies!” is a common mission in an action game.

Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest is yet another great strategy RPG mashup from Intelligent Systems. Its harder difficulty may scare away casual players but will reward those who really put in the time and effort learning about the mechanics.

The last expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is by far the best one. It manages to bring new and interesting mechanics to the game, as well as some of the most beautifully designed landscapes we have ever seen in this franchise. A must buy.

Keeping with tradition Blizzard plays it safe and sound when they take on the team based shooter. Overwatch bursts with polish and its great characters are a joy to be played by both casuals and hardcores alike.

Total War: Warhammer is a brilliant romance between an iconic tabletop game and one of the best strategy game-series ever made. New gameplay mechanics, epic fantasy battles and great variety makes Total War: Warhammer a highly replayable joyride.

With several more or less notable improvements Project Cars Game of the Year Edition is a better package than the original release. Although the difference is not all that big compared to the original release, the low price point and added content makes Project Cars a great choice for people looking for a demanding and rewarding racing experience.

Flawed AI and quite a bit of repetitiveness can't deny the fact that Homefront: The Revolution is still a fun, thrilling game with lots of good moments in it. The awesome weapons arsenal and great atmosphere urges us to continue liberating the streets of Philadelphia.

After nearly 12 years Doom is back, and what a comeback. The action is both intensive and smooth, the combat mechanic is surprisingly deep and the graphics are fantastic. On the negative side the design starts to feel a bit repetitive towards the end, and the online mode isn’t as balanced as the best games in the genre. But overall, Doom is just pure fun.

Battleborn offers a somewhat unique take on online based shooters by mixing in elements from Moba. The combination makes for some interesting battles where team work is just as important as a good aim. Add a surprisingly robust story mode and you will have plenty of fun ahead of you, even though the game is light on content and could use some polish all around.

As expected, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is a spectacular action adventure, with some of the best and most impressive effects in the gaming history. At the same time it’s a little too safe game and we have seen the formula before. Still: the best parts are, as always, jaw-dropping good.

On a visual level Star Fox Zero looks great, and it has several really interesting ideas. Sadly the controller scheme is so frustrating that it ruins almost everything. And that’s really is too bad because it would have been a great nostalgic trip for fans of Lylat Wars/Star Fox 64.

Stunning graphics, fluid gameplay and high-adrenaline action make the 2016 reboot of Ratchet & Clank shine, despite lack of depth and interesting side-objectives.

Dirt Rally has finally arrived to console, and it’s still a fantastic game that no racing fans should miss. Sure, the lack of content is a let down, but the feeling of driving a rally car will definitely make you come back for more. One of the best rally games ever made.

With a faster combat mechanic than ever, better visuals and the same challenging gameplay as before, Dark Souls 3 delivers an adventure that will hook you up for many, many hours. It might not be as good as Bloodborne, mainly because some technical flaws, and a little less appealing world – but it’s close enough.

Great narrative and phenomenal action aside, Quantum Break truly brings the cinematic experience into videogames. The many junction choices will make you come back for more, even after completing the game.

Hyrule Warriors Legends lacks the visuals of it’s Wii U counterpart but instead offers a lot more content. However, it’s rather unplayable on a normal Nintendo 3DS and should have been released as a New Nintendo 3DS exclusive.

Trackmania Turbo is a magnificent and challenging arcade racer that offers tons of content, both for single- and multiplayer. Add a great track editor and you will have plenty to do, even if you just want to try other people’s creations. There are some problems with the progression system and the controls could be a bit tighter, but if you do not mind a challenge Trackmania Turbo is the best arcade racer since Burnout Paradise.

It’s easy to describe Salt and Sanctuary as a Dark Souls in 2D. Ska Studio have taken the best parts from the Souls series and added a bit of Metroidvania. And, yes – it works fantastically well. It’s challenging, rewarding and easy to get addicted to. As a warm-up before the Dark Souls 3 launch, its a must-buy.

Day of the Tentacle Remastered is in every way a reminder of where the adventure genre was in the early 90’s. It has a pretty shallow story, badly written dialogue and underdeveloped characters. Surely the remastered will probably make fans of the original happy, but for anyone else this is more a proof of how much story telling and puzzle design has progressed since.

The Division is an immersive online action game that delivers an interesting story, impressive environments and great gunplay. The main question is how fun it will be in a month or two, but we have faith in Massive's long-term plans.

We will have to wait and see if Hitman's episodic format will turn out to be a successful approach. Right now the experience seems somewhat abrupt. But what´s really important here is that the gameplay is a step in the right direction with a creativity, freedom and fair difficulty comparable to some of the series' greatest moments.

A lot of fun the first time around, but the novelty quickly turns into frustration. The expansions at least add some sort of value, although we wish the missions had better structure.

Clubs and spears instead of firearms, and mammoths instead of cars. Far Cry Primal is a well-made and interesting take on the Far Cry formula, but in the end it just is not as good as the third and fourth installment.

The Witness is not a game you want to rush through. The tempo is, at least compared to most games today, really slow0paced and you will frequently get stuck. But as soon as you start to understand the structure, one of the smartest designed worlds ever starts to unfold. It perhaps isn’t for everyone, but for those who take the time, it will be one of the strongest experiences of the year.

Firewatch is an odd game, not only because it’s an indie title with no combat whatsoever. The world is so beautiful and the first hour is pure gaming magic. But in the end the story feels a bit flat. However, the artwork alone makes it worth playing.

Xcom 2 is not going to leave anyone let down. It’s hard as ever, and at the same time it is better balanced and smarter designed than Xcom: Enemy Unknown. Firaxis is starting to master the concept, and we can’t wait to see what they have in the expansion pipe for this one.

The Lego concept is starting to go on auto pilot, and Lego Avengers does very little to change that. It’s charming and fun, but the puzzle design and the combat system both could been way better. For Lego fans it’s probably better to check out Lego Movie Videogame or Lego The Hobbit, even if this is still a good game.

You can’t do a review of Street Fighter V and not mention the lack of content for those who not want to play online. And yes, it’s a shame – but at the same time Street Fighter V is as entertaining and deep as ever. With more content in the future this is probably going to be the best installment in the series so far.

Unravel is a bit of a slow starter, but as the adventure unfolds it’s easy to get totally lost in the beautiful scenery and the stunning graphics. It’s a game that's going to make you feel warm and joyful, and for that we can overlook some of the lesser parts, like the puzzle design.

Garden Warfare 2 is pretty much more of the same – and it’s totally fine when it’s this good. The concept is easy to learn for everyone, and at the same time hard to master for those who want to go all in To sum up: if you liked the first one you will most certainly love this too.