A solid end to StarCraft II’s five year journey, although beyond the co-op missions it offers no real clue as to the genre’s future.

There are neat graphical details, with chunks of masonry blown off buildings by grenades or tank rounds, and your tiny soldiers will automatically dive to the ground when a machinegun opens up nearby. The base game also had some excellent DLC, which will hopefully make its way to this rock solid iPad port.

A fantastically imaginative, time-bending puzzle adventure that makes full use of one of the most enjoyably interactive game worlds in a long time.

Another genuinely great PlayStation VR title, that offers innovative gameplay and presentation rather than just tech demo novelty.

A funny and supremely inventive story-driven puzzle game, with a plot based on Greek philosophy that’s delivered with the lightest of touches and a goofy sense of humour.

A relaxing, minimalist and deceptively complex puzzle-style city builder, with surprisingly challenging gameplay if you decide to test yourself against its global leaderboards.

One of the best action games ever made and although this is a competent port it’s still not the definitive remaster fans will have wished for.

One of the best remakes of recent years, both in terms of the amount of thought and effort put into the remastering and how much the original deserves the attention.

An absorbing, tactical three-person co-op game that does well to expand the Rainbow Six gameplay into a more fantastical setting.

Despite all that could have gone wrong this is one of the best remakes this generation, with a triumphant return for old school split screen multiplayer.

It’s no wonder that Lumines Remastered still feels as excitingly addictive as it ever did. A light polishing of features and presentation is very welcome, but it’s the original marriage of gameplay and music that shines the brightest.

A 3D platformer which wears its inspirations on its sleeve but manages to offer enough individual style and unique platforming dynamics to stand on its own.

A superb mix of action and strategy that should be enough to convince everyone that turn-based doesn’t have to mean slow or serious.

By ironing out the last few wrinkles from the original console versions, and adding in a few extra features, Diablo finally feels at home with a gamepad.

More than just XCOM with talking animals, this inventive strategy game has plenty of new ideas of its own – even it’s a little lacking in replayability.

An unexpectedly enhanced version of one of the best action games of the PS2 era, which even now offers better and deeper combat than most modern rivals.

Even if it’s only been a year, time has not been kind to Dark Souls’ sequel and this remaster does little to help the situation – even if it ‘s a hugely engrossing game in its own right.

One of the best Shin Megami Tensei games returns, mixing standard Japanese role-playing with the series’ typically provocative story elements and Persona style gameplay.

So the question is: how good is the new map pack? And without hesitation the answer is: very good indeed.

Each region’s effectively its own puzzle, and even in the training level it’s highly unlikely you’ll be able to complete all the goals, recycle your buildings, and take off in your airship on your first attempt. It’s got a meditative pace, but with so many possibilities to consider at each stage you’ll be glad of that.

It’s spooky rather than scary but with a great script and characters, and some smart puzzles, this is a must-play for anyone who enjoys the kind of stories only video games can tell.

An impressively original horror game whose doom-laden atmosphere and relentless day/night cycle is more terrifying than any jump scare.

A no expense spared celebration of the most enduring shooter series of all time, with everything a Halo fan could wish for and more than enough to entertain everyone else.

This release includes all seven DLC packs, comprising challenge tombs, new weapons, and outfits, making it a real value for money proposition. It’s great rediscovering Lara’s swift journey from ingénue to casual mass murderer, via a whole lot of looted historical relics.

A highly inventive mix of genres that you’d normally think completely incompatible, but the end result is creepy, charming, and wonderfully unpredictable.

The best Lego game so far and one that defies both its simplicity and familiarity for an almost effortlessly entertaining co-op experience.

It's not a real overhaul for the series, but it is the best version so far - and so by extension one of the best portable video games ever made.

A very welcome surprise, that is one of the most enjoyably unique games on Xbox and one of the best rhythm action games in a very long time - as well as having arguably the best cel-shaded graphics ever seen.

Although all the brass and wood are reminiscent of The Room series, puzzles here don’t involve as much physical tinkering, instead offering more cerebral challenges, getting you to unpick written and pictorial clues, connecting props spread across different parts of each room. It also makes imaginative use of your mobile’s accelerometer in a set of conundrums that can be pretty taxing. Fortunately, there’s a hint system, but for anyone who enjoys having their brain teased this will be a delight.

It's not a real overhaul for the series, but it is the best version so far - and so by extension one of the best portable video games ever made.

Riders Republic is exactly the game it is trying to be, with a modern take on early 2000s xtreme sports games that works in terms of everything except the corporate-mandated ambience.

With excellent pixel art, Bomb Chicken is an engaging puzzle platformer with its own very distinct personality.

A great sequel to what is still probably the best Tower Defense game around, and a shining example of how to do free-to-play properly.

A welcome return to MonkeyIsland and a promising first episode to a new season of graphic adventuring.

An essential purchase for any Monster Hunter fan, that also happens to be one of Capcom’s best ever PC ports.

Easily the best real-time strategy on a console, and a fast-paced, accessible wargame that every Xbox owner should try and experience.

Low on innovation but high on spectacle, as the cumulation of the last several years of Need For Speed games the first entry on the next gen is already one of the best.

One of the most acclaimed games of the '80s gets the modern makeover it deserves, with an experience that still feels as daringly ambitious now as it ever did.

Tool around, explore, and try to reach lofty areas you spot from ground level. Taking out surveillance drones and signal boxes could be seen as using your hoverboard to dismantle the tools of oppression, but then you also have to destroy fire hydrants, so maybe things aren’t that straightforward, in this piece of interactive entertainment that’s as much toy as formalised game.

By the end of the 30+ hour campaign you begin to realise that the worst thing about Gears Tactics is that it’s a Gears Of War game. The gameplay and controls work very well but the repetition and lack of strategic control becomes more of a problem the longer the game goes on. As an introduction to the genre it works very well, and we hope it’ll get more people interested in turn-based action, but we doubt it’ll do the same for Gears Of War itself.

The world’s least realistic golf game is a tour de force in manic invention that values variety, invention, and surrealist humour above all.

A significant advancement on Pokémon Sword and Shield and while it’s not hard to see how it could be improved further this is the most ambitious and entertaining Pokémon has been in a long while.

The bizarrely structured and frequently uninteresting story campaign threatens to undermine the multiplayer, but this is still easily the best Halo has been for over a decade.

The changes to the tactics system are likely to prove controversial but this is undeniably the most accessible and realistic Football Manager ever made.

The whole package absolutely shames most other downloadable expansions (including the earlier Red Dead ones) and as silly and shallow as it all is it's just as unmissable as the main game itself.

Earn XP to level up, unlocking new creatures, equipment, heroes, and bigger maps. While finding a decent weapon early on can make a big difference, the randomness isn’t too brutal, and the game gets more interesting as you progress, with more characters and larger levels forcing you to make judicious use of each hero’s skills to survive.

A significant advancement on Pokémon Sword and Shield and while it’s not hard to see how it could be improved further this is the most ambitious and entertaining Pokémon has been in a long while.

One of the best offline multiplayer games of recent years, and proof that shouting at people sitting next to you is still one of gaming’s greatest pleasures.

It feels more like a restatement of the original game than a full-blown sequel, but while its effect on the Wii U’s fortunes may be limited the fact remains there’s nothing quite like Pikmin.

One of the best massively multiplayer offline games of recent years, although like any party game its attractions are fairly fleeting.

A fan-pleasing sequel that makes effective use of its new open world structure and some welcome nuance in the storytelling and character customisation.

A highly enjoyable action romp, with a winning sense of humour and a hugely entertaining range of unusually varied weapons.

Neither nerdish simulator nor abstract arcade game, Shift 2 proves that compromises don't have to be boring - as long as they have autolog.

A rare chance to play a thoroughbred visual novel, with a multi-layered plot that explores everything from Japanese pop culture to the ripple effect of everyday decisions.

While it never forges its own identity, or escapes the shadow of Left 4 Dead, Back 4 Blood provides a great cover act, that captures all of the original series’ magic.

The improvements are slight, but this is still the best FIFA has been in several years – in terms of gameplay as well as just presentation.

A hugely effective interactive story that shows that video games don’t need big budgets or extreme violence to tell an emotional tale.

There are still some pacing issues, but this is the best version of Lumines yet and an artful mix of music, graphics, and puzzle gameplay.

The light touch of the writing offsets the slightly melancholy content, and its Emerald Isle setting makes for a welcome break from the usual Americana, fantasy violence, and crime fighting.

A dark and comical action adventure with excellent combat mechanics, sharp writing, and a memorable cast of characters.

There’s a lot of downtime at the start, but another shock ending does little to dilute what is the best piece of interactive storytelling so far this year.

A welcome return to health for the Theme Hospital concept, with a fine mix of engrossing strategy and sardonic humour.

The best new Football Manager in several years, and although the improvements are still minor they create a more nuanced and realistic experience than ever before.

A wonderful mix of cutting edge technology and nuanced storytelling that instantly becomes one of the best games for PlayStation VR.

It's not really Ridge Racer, but whether you consider it a reboot or a spin-off this is the best arcade racer since Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit.

Only a minor improvement on the last game, but still a hugely accomplished space strategy game – with an almost infinite range of customisation options.

One of the best-looking 2D shooters of recent years is remastered for the current gen, and offers a fun way in for gamers new to the genre.

Time has worn some holes in each games’ reputation, but these are still three of the most ambitious and daring action games of modern times.

One of the best remakes ever, not because of its loving recreation of the original Half-Life but because it dares to change and improve it.

A loving and genuinely funny homage to old school role-playing-games and the people that play them.

A competent remaster of one of Sonic’s better mainline outings comes bundled with an even better Shadow-centric adventure, that makes up for its short length with fantastic levels, tight controls, and fun new powers.

A successful blend of Need For Speed and Burnout that lacks a little in personality, but certainly not in terms of content or online action.

Indie gaming at its retro-loving best, with some of the most cunningly-designed and purposefully infuriating 2D gameplay ever seen.

Another excellent PC-to-Switch port that revives the Theme Hospital with a heavy dose of humour and impressively involved business management.

The mash-up between 2D shooter and roguelike works surprisingly well, with a game filled to bursting with imaginative weapons and winning presentation.

Gorgeously presented and cleverly designed, this impressively realised Metroidvania excels in every area except originality.

One of the best WarioWare games ever, as long as you’re playing with other people, with some of the most interesting use of motion controls since the Wii era.

Still one of the most beautiful video games ever created, not to mention the best Zelda game that never was.

Although frequently frustrating – this is a game you will find yourself loudly shouting at – it’s also fabulously clever and addictive, with one more go an almost foregone conclusion as you once again impale/lacerate your stickman in pursuit of that final collectible.

An imaginative and perfectly presented platform puzzler that works just as well on a home console as it did on PSP.

The worldless storytelling is as compelling as ever and the purposefully frustrating control system still seems an excitingly daring experiment – now softened by an optional co-op mode.

A highly successful remake that fixes the technical and design flaws of the original and turns it into one of the year’s best looking action role-players.

A solid sequel to one of the best roguelike games of recent years, that personalises the conflict against Lovecraftian madness while adding to the original’s compelling turn-based battles.

Another unapologetically old school role-player that gives its audience exactly what it wants and adds some fun pirate-themed exploration for everyone.

You wouldn’t know to look at it though, its graphics looking hilariously ropey by today’s standards, but playing it reveals a game that is still in a class of its own. Without a central story or campaign to anchor you, once you’ve completed the grossly insufficient tutorial you’re left to do practically anything you like in a world that contains well over a decade’s worth of gameplay for newcomers.

One of the best arcade games of recent years is now available on Switch and it’s just as ugly and joyfully addictive as ever – especially with the new co-op mode.

A great cinematic action adventure, with one of gaming’s great lead performances, although its Tomb Raider DNA seems fragmented and even degenerative in parts.

BioWare really has saved the best till last with a downloadable expansion that not only justifies the expense but your faith in the Mass Effect franchise.

An excellent mix of turn-based dungeon crawler, roguelike, and card game whose perfectly balanced combat will have you constantly coming back for more.

A colourful new puzzle idea used to its full potential in terms of gameplay and, surprisingly, storytelling.

A dazzling new future racer that manages to outdo WipEout in terms of handling and graphics, while taking full advantage of VR’s potential.

A hugely entertaining open world puzzler where simply getting from A to B is more entertaining than most games in their entirety.

Indie gaming at its retro-loving best, with some of the most cunningly-designed and purposefully infuriating 2D gameplay ever seen.

A far better game than it will probably be given credit for, and a good sequel that tries to add depth to the gameplay and even more variety to the characters.

An absorbing mix of tabletop inspirations and sci-fi storytelling, that makes for one of the most unique and well-written games of the year.

One of the best Final Fantasy games ever made, elevated by its innovative battle system but let down by weak storytelling and focusing on the wrong protagonists.

Highbrow parody or the best lightsabre game never made? Suda51's deconstructionist classic manages to be both.

Steven Spielberg returns with an improved and enlarged version of what is now much more than virtual Jenga.