Consistently surprising, technically accomplished and instantly likeable, this portable adventure has more good ideas than it seems to know what to do with.

Overwatch is still an excellent title, even this far from launch, but the Switch version is notably inferior in terms of online performance.

A great showcase for the PS Vita and at times as good as WipEout has ever been, despite a few questionable options and graphical issues.

Japanese role-player that massages the usual formula into an unusually nuanced and exciting epic.

Fans of the original will appreciate this challenging but versatile mix of stealth and strategy, but it misses almost every opportunity to update the Commandos formula for the modern era.

No matter what you think of the original games these are an excellent trio of remasters, that will please existing fans and help to create new ones.

Neither rip-off nor bargain, but Treyarch and Activision are clearly playing things safe - despite the excesses of Call Of The Dead.

Viewing this simply as a re-release it's still a hugely enjoyable game, overshadowed only by its own sequel - with its longer, more complex missions, no time limit and multiplayer modes. Since it's getting the New Play Control treatment too it makes this a little harder to recommend... but not much.

Not at all what you’d expect from the makers of Dragon’s Crown, but as well as the expectedly beautiful artwork this has some of the most engaging high school melodrama this side of Persona.

It's Tekken with better graphics, again. And yet it's still hard to dislike a fighter this good.

The Final Fantasy crossover gimmick almost feels like a distraction in what remains a uniquely innovative, but also frustratingly flawed, fighting game.

Not nearly as uninspiring or derivative as it first appears, but instead one of the most engrossing and thoughtful puzzlers of the year.

Monetisation is a touch more forceful than you’ll be used to from Vampire Survivor, but it’s still a well-balanced and involving game.

One of the oldest games to be revamped for the PS Vita's launch, but still an impressive, if frustratingly difficult, third person actioner.

It’s a slow burn and has zero sense of humour, but believable characters, decent voice-acting, and accurate historical detail make for a sturdy if linear game. This is only the first half of book one, so don’t expect any neat resolutions.

Dungeon Master is finally reborn, as a role-playing game that mixes the best conventions of old and new in a refreshingly different kind of first person adventure.

A modern era dungeon adventure with mythical monsters, political corruption, and a slight lack of polish – that’s at least partly compensated for by its charming idiosyncrasies and spirit of invention.

Almost exactly what fans didn’t want from a new Metroid Prime but while it is widely inconsistent the majority of the game is undeniably entertaining.

Proof that first person shooters – and pretty good ones at that – can work with VR, if handled with the right amount of delicacy.

An unsatisfying facsimile of Resident Evil 4 with none of the style or excitement, just more bugbears.

A reliable entry full of variety and worthwhile content, that simultaneously leaves an aroma of staleness that is beginning to taint the whole Call Of Duty franchise.

Probably the most innovative FIFA in years, that leaves the door open for further improvement in the next gen – even if the grim shadow of Ultimate Team is never likely to leave.

With any luck the legion of glitches will be fixed in an update, but even with all that Powernode manages to be engrossing and addictive.

Garden Warfare 3 in all but name, but while it’s not an emphatic improvement on the previous games it’s still a highly enjoyable, family friendly online shooter.

A well-crafted homage to Chrono Trigger, which isn’t scared to add its own ideas – ensuring this is far more than just a nostalgic novelty.

A slightly underwhelming end to the legend of Kazuma Kiryu, but the changes in gameplay and graphics do hold a lot of promise for the future.

An old school computer role-playing game is a rare sight on consoles, but this unofficial predecessor to Fallout is more than just a nostalgia-fuelled curio.

A genuinely different kind of team multiplayer game, with exactly the sort of thoughtful weirdness you’d expect from Double Fine.

Many will argue as to whether it’s a ‘real’ game or not, but Proteus’ ability to stimulate your imagination and your senses makes it a more satisfyingly interactive experience than many.

Clever, funny, and beautiful to look at, but this is a game of two halves and the second one is such a peculiar tonal shift in terms of gameplay that even the story suffers as a result.

A mellow and deeply unusual adventure where you play a man’s shadow adrift in a Dutch city, in a game that defies convention and is all the better for it.

One of the best Tower Defence games of the year, with fast-paced action and deep, addictive strategy.

A no-thrills PlayStation 4 port that has most of what you’d want from PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds but in a much uglier, watered down package.

Featuring a high degree of polish and a scattering of secrets and collectibles in each level, it may not be particularly original, and its cut scenes outstay their welcome, but this relatively short and highly entertaining game certainly does not.

Top Spin 4 wins this year's tennis trophy but this more arcade style alternative is still a valid alternative with some great gimmicks.

Not necessarily an essential experience, but despite the repetitive elements the game’s co-op thrills and winning humour ensure entertainment for both new fans and old.

It often feels a little undercooked but the emphasis on teamplay and some very unusual characters offers an enjoyable alternative to other online multiplayer games.

Simpler, shallower but more accessible, this will divide fans but should engage the less committed.

Unsophisticated and sloppily made but there’s a heart of gold beneath the game’s erratic exterior, as it successfully skewers some of gaming’s more pompous franchises.

A welcome return for one of gaming’s greatest puzzle franchises, and while it’s not quite the best in the series it certainly has the most content.

On consoles it's merely good, but with a full complement of 64 players this is the best, and biggest, that Battlefield has ever been.

It takes just under three hours to get through and we have to say we thoroughly enjoyed it, even if it does come across as slightly inconsequential.

Still an object lesson in how to make a kids' game, even with added complexity and some confusing puzzles.

It may not be a great game but even card-carrying metal haters will get drawn into this gutsy homage.

The concept is clearly not going to appeal to anyone with an age in double digits but the game makes much better and more varied use of Kinect than almost any other title so far released.

A rare, honest-to-goodness video game comedy that will delight Rick and Morty fans but also features some imaginative use of VR.

A parkour and puzzle game that is not quite as action-packed as its marketing suggests but still represents a superior VR experience, that wouldn’t be nearly as captivating on a flat screen.

Probably the best portable football game there’s ever been, but it’s not really FIFA 18 and the limited online options drastically limit its appeal.

Possibly the best looking game of all time, mixed with not quite there combat but a great multiplayer.

It’s a little too zealous in its old school approach, but this is still a great computer role-playing game and a welcome, if unofficial, part of the Fallout family.

The fact that we can still be surprised by such a long-running series is one of the best things we can say about the game and its DLC.

Clever, funny, and thought-provoking, but even without the weight of expectations this is a surprisingly insubstantial and ephemeral experience.

Probably the best Kirby game ever and one of the most visually arresting video games of the year (if it had actually been released in Europe that is).

A perfectly competent platformer, perhaps Yoshi’s best since Super Mario World 2, but one that is far less unique than its visuals suggest.

One of the oldest and most influential video games of all-time remains surprisingly entertaining thanks to this loving and option-filled remake.

Mice seem to have got at the game modes and vehicle selection but despite the paucity of options this is still one of the most original and fun racers on any format.

A far less ambitious sequel than the last two years and most of the headline changes are negative, especially changing your manager into a role-playing character.

A reasonable port of the PC original, and certainly the best SimCity clone on consoles, but missing features and awkward controls narrow its scope and appeal.

A noble effort to recreate one of the PS Vita’s best games on a home console, but the end result never feels quite as elegant or organic as the original.

It’s not the most accessible game around, but this quirky bird-borne aerial combat game is definitely one of the most imaginative games in the Xbox Series X/S launch line-up.

A mostly successful remake that reimagines Fatal Frame 2 for the modern day, and while it can veer a little too much into action territory it’s still an impressively horrifying video game.

One of the most visually distinctive games of the year, that proves you don’t need realism or gore to be scary – in this enjoyable mix of stealth, puzzle-solving, and surreal horror.

Life Is Strange gets a major upgrade in terms of visuals and dialogue, but even with all-new characters the same charm and emotional heart shines through.

Less a prequel and more a rerun, but this remains one of the most fully-featured and best presented Japanese role-players on the App Store.

It's nostalgia first and game second but you'd have to really hate Ghostbusters to not enjoy this tie-in.

A clever and hugely enjoyable online team game, even at this early stage in its career -although it feels more like a rival to Rocket League than EA Sports FC.

Probably the best ever use of the Jurassic Park licence in a video game, marred by repetition and exploitable systems.

Skyrim is back yet again, with a graphical makeover and new user generated content, but at full price even fans of brazen commercial cynicism will find their eyebrows quietly reaching for the sky.

One of the most daring marriages of narrative and action game ever seen, and yet still the end result never fully satisfies as either a game or story.

A few unfortunate backsteps make the first native PlayStation 4 entry something of a disappointment, but Trails Of Cold Steel is still one of the best old school JRPGs around.

As puzzles get more involved you can deploy power-ups (purchased using in-game currency) to help extend the time limit or automatically turn all pie pieces the same colour, in this engaging and well-designed puzzler.

An excellent remake of a game that represents one of the logical extremes of Japanese role-players, and yet remains surprisingly endearing despite its flaws.

It still seems bizarre there’s no console version but if you must play a PlayStation 2 era GTA game on a touchscreen then this is a good as you can ever imagining it working.

Solve puzzles, find and plug in carbon eating machines, and recover seedlings that flourish on nutrients tucked away in secret areas. There may only be 14 plants to recover but getting all the nutrients in each level is a much bigger task. Although Doomsday Vault’s been out for over a year it’s just been updated to add four extra pyramid-themed levels and a spruced up seed vault with a viewing platform to stand and survey your crops.

A mostly successful experiment at turning one of the world’s biggest studios into an indie developer, with the end result being a charming love letter to the best of Japanese role-playing.

A vast improvement on the first game, but still only a partial vindication for motion controls.

Despite playing the nostalgia card it’s newer players that will get the most from this streamlined sequel, although even they will be disappointed by the workmanlike script.

One of the best multiplayer experiences of the year, but the cost of entry and the lack of content make it a harder sell then it should be.

Adding a true open world to the Monster Hunter formula works just as well as you’d expect, even if this sequel is still a long way from perfecting the concept.

Its attempted revolution of turn-based tactics isn't quite as practical as it first seems but this is still an impressively fun, and funny, strategy game.

Remaking Metal Gear without its creator seems foolhardy but this is as good an effort as could be imagined, without completely redesigning the original game.

Episode 4 is a definite step forward though and the hints about what will happen in the fifth and final episode suggests it may be the most politically charged of all.

A superior Mario Kart clone and certainly the best Sega has ever produced, especially in terms of the teary-eyed nostalgia inspired by its endless retro cameos.

An improvement on the first game but despite the joyful carnage this is still a pretty shallow sandbox.

Pacing problems and a lack of variety take their toll, but in its best most moments this is the most successful big budget survival horror in a decade.

Probably the best Harvest Moon game ever with a successfully odd mix of farming and dungeon crawling.

Another great movie tie-in from the creators of Toy Story 3 and one of the best Mario Kart clones for years.

Still gaming’s most realistic crime drama, as well as being the natural heir to both Shenmue and Streets Of Rage – even if this entry shows little real innovation.

An innovative combination of voice-controlled mechanics, combined with simple puzzles and an engaging story, that is short enough to not outstay its welcome.

An unusual mixture of influences, that builds a pleasingly unique strategy role-player out of otherwise very familiar components.

A daringly complex ode to the works of Philip K. Dick, and although the mix of survival horror and existential storytelling doesn’t always work it’s never less than gripping.

The aging formula may be getting by purely on charm at this point, but this is still the best Harry Potter game ever made - Lego or not.

It spends too much time recreating the genius of Metroid rather than adding to it, but this is still one of the best examples of the genre in recent years.

Still the best boxing sim around but the justification for this new sequel is pretty thin, despite a number of minor improvements.

Conversation is witty and naturalistic, even if Taylor’s habit of sending alerts for every single phrase he utters can rapidly become an irritant rather than a draw.

All the fun of the original squeezed into an all-action and generally more enjoyable expansion.

It captures the soul of Jet Set Radio perfectly but with only a limited attempt to evolve the formula for modern times this feels uncomfortably trapped in the early 2000s.

It's as gritty as a corporate luncheon, but this is a worthwhile, if lightweight, alternative to FIFA 12 - even if it still doesn't fulfil the potential of the concept.