Another engrossing example of traditional Japanese role-playing, that’s still accessible enough for anyone to enjoy – as long as they’ve played the first one.

The best Pokémon game yet, that expertly combines the best elements of the old games with a mountain of new features and wonderfully odd creatures.

The best Pokémon game yet, that expertly combines the best elements of the old games with a mountain of new features and wonderfully odd creatures.

Every bit as intelligent and daring as its predecessor, and if you’re prepared to be equally creative while playing it then Dishonored 2 offers almost endless rewards.

It’s still lacking a certain je ne sais quoi, but this is a definite improvement on the first game and a serious alternative to GTA V.

The dream of flight becomes reality with PlayStation VR. But the fantasy is a shallow and repetitive one, that you wake up from all too quickly.

BlazBlue goes out in a blaze of glory, and although it lacks new ideas it certainly isn’t short of characters, game modes, or thrilling action.

As a graphical showcase there’s nothing better on PlayStation VR, but in terms of gameplay there are far more entertaining tech demos available – let alone proper games.

One of the most influential video games of all time gets the remaster it deserves, and is still impressively entertaining after all these years.

Either Football Manager needs a complete overhaul or it should stop producing yearly sequels, because this year’s one is the most inconsequential yet.

An awkward mishmash of the innovative and the overly familiar, that in the end represents no clear step forward for the franchise.

Some of the best emulation work ever undertaken, it’s just a pity it’s been wasted on such a miserable collection of decidedly non-classic games.

A much better map than the last two and amongst the best of the season, while still leaving you wanting even more from Hitman’s episodic exploits.

One of the best Western style role-players ever made works better than it ever has before on consoles, but there’s only so much a new coat of paint can do to hide its age.

A superbly crafted 2D adventure that is a near perfect blend of new and old influences, in terms of both gameplay and the stunning visuals and music.

The increased role-playing elements add another interesting angle to an already accomplished franchise, but the cynical attempts to fleece parents’ wallets are hard to defend.

One of the best first person shooters of the generation, with significant improvements in depth and longevity – and even a half decent story mode.

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

Splitting half the content between a mode many players won’t be interested in is an odd decision, but short as it is the new area still has that classic Dark Souls appeal.

An excellent sequel, that manages to evolve the series in terms of both accessibility and complexity, and maintain its place as one of the best strategy games of all time.

The fan service is off the scale, in terms of the number of returning characters and references, but importantly this is also a fun and unique role-player in its own right.

A very different kind of survival horror, that despite a few flaws is both scarier and more thematically interesting than most of its contemporaries.

Two classic games made to look notably worse than they did over five years ago, which is one villainous masterplan even Batman can’t foil.

Utterly charming from the first second, this greatest hits compilation of rhythm action is brimming with old school Nintendo magic.

Daring and provocative, but also poorly written and technically inept. PlayStation VR will no doubt get much better horror games in the future, but this is still a notable first step.

As blatant a clone as you’ve ever seen, but while the PC version was a novel take on Left 4 Dead, the severe price hike on consoles ruins the fun.

The forward momentum from last year’s improvements already seems to be faltering, as the weight of bugs and glitches ruin many of the new features.

Space combat simulators will hopefully become a mainstay of VR in the future, but although this lays the groundwork the experience itself is limited and repetitive.

The First Word War setting feels a little less daring than you might’ve hoped, but as a complete first person shooter package this is one of the best of the generation so far.

A surprisingly successful mash-up between two completely different franchises, whose quiet charms offer a welcome alternative to incessant action and overbearing storytelling.

The best new rhythm action game for years, with a perfect blend of gameplay, music, and a frighteningly oppressive atmosphere.

Rather than being PlayStation VR’s killer app this updated racer lays bare its limitations in embarrassing fashion, at least until the PS4 Pro comes along.

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

Timeless gameplay, visuals and music come together in one of the best shoot ‘em-ups of all time; with the new level and VR options only adding to the immersion.

A rather staid lightgun game, with unexciting action and a lack of genuine horror. But the tech works well and the future potential is obvious.

A horrible waste of a strong narrative, whose politically-charged storytelling is squandered on a dull and horrendously repetitive GTA clone.

It was already a worthy follow-up to the Tomb Raider reboot, but with all the DLC, and some interesting new extras, this is not only a good game but also a great bargain.

A fun, if slightly limited, retro reboot, that proves that first person shooters can work on the PlayStation VR if the developer dares to think a little differently.

Not the most attention grabbing of the PSVR launch titles, but a competent puzzler, that offers a more mellow VR experience.

Nintendo continues to paint over some of the best features of previous Paper Mario games, but the great script just about saves the dull combat.

The story campaign can be a little bland, at least when playing on your own, but otherwise this does a fine job of bringing Gears into the current gen.

For better and worse a very useful introduction to VR gaming, with a wide range of games that demonstrate the potential, and pitfalls, of PlayStation VR.

The best tech demo so far for PlayStation VR, but with some better storytelling it could also have been a good game in its own right.

A slight improvement on the disappointing Bangkok level, but the lack of traditional Hitman thrills don’t make this a mission to remember.

A superb sequel that improves on every aspect of the already excellent originals, and offers one of the most absorbing and unpredictable strategy experiences ever seen.

Being better than the other Sonic Boom games really isn’t a compliment, as this dull, ugly platformer continues to sully the memory of Sega’s once great mascot.

A fantastically well designed and presented roguelike, that makes your heroes’ mental health just as important as their physical well-being.

The stuff that is genuinely new is very good, but there’s so little of it that the sense of déjà vu, in a game that is already so repetitious, becomes overwhelming.

The Journey is an almost unqualified success, but in terms of on-pitch action FIFA 17 is comfortably outclassed by PES 2017.

A great 2D shooter in its own right, but the customisability and four-player options make it one that even non-fans can enjoy.

Some may dismiss it as just another pretentious walking sim, but this innovative Lynchian drama is one of the best story-based games of the year.

Telltale Games continue to be a formidable supervillain, and manage to turn Batman into the one thing he should never be: boring.

Easily the best Battlefront DLC so far, although it’s still only scratching the surface of what can be done in the Star Wars universe.

A colossal achievement in puzzle gaming, with a very cleverly conceived setting and story, but the lack of variety and reward becomes stifling.

The best Forza Horizon so far, and thanks to its huge open world and infectious sense of fun one of the best arcade racers of the current gen.

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.

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.

An unexpectedly brave attempt to once again rewrite the rules on Pac-Man, resulting in another near-classic arcade experience.

More a refinement than a revolution, but this builds on the achievements of last year’s game to ensure one of the finest sports games ever created.

What could have been a competent third person take on Metroid Prime is brought low by needless technical and design mistakes.

A highly peculiar social game that seems to revel in the mundanity of its gameplay, despite some intriguing ideas and visuals.

The latest episode in gaming’s most endearing soap opera has some minor script problems, but it’s still a joy to catch up with old friends and new enemies.

Beautiful animation and an authentic Nordic feel enhance an already impressively distinct 2D action adventure.

A true successor to Myst, with puzzles as ingenious as they are uncompromisingly obscure. Although the experience is hampered by serious technical problems.

Its goals are noble enough, but this low tech shooter takes its realism too seriously – as the drudgery and unfairness of trench warfare is made all too real.

An inspired adaptation of the old Fighting Fantasy gamebooks, that’s also one of the most unique and fun roguelikes of recent years.

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.

A co-op Metroid seemed like a bad idea from the start, but while Federation Force has its moments they’re overshadowed by sloppy implementation and bland design.

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

The comparisons to Portal are many, and obviously intentional, but this smart and ambitious first person puzzler is no mere clone.

A worthy follow-up to Limbo, that challenges in terms of both its fiendish puzzles and its harrowing storytelling.

A successful soft reboot for the venerable fighting game series, and a great jumping on point for those dissatisfied by Street Fighter V.

An impressively complex action role-player, where every problem has multiple solutions, but it’s not always quite as smart as it thinks it is.

Some of the new features could’ve done with pruning, but Ubisoft’s willingness to nurture indie style experiments continues to bear fruit.

A fantastically strange and unique first person adventure that manages to make touchscreen controls seem fresh and interesting again.

Another disappointing port of one of the Wii’s best games, although still a clever and entertaining mix of Pikmin and The Settlers.

A stunning technical achievement and a mesmerisingly addictive one, even after you realise how simplistic and repetitive it really is.

The visual look of the game is novel and fun, but underneath it is a shallow and only intermittently enjoyable dungeon crawler.

Still a little unpolished in places, but with its huge variety of locations and gameplay elements this already stands toe-to-toe with both Terraria and Minecraft.

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

A disappointingly direct copy of Journey that offers an incredible audio and visual treat, but lacks the deeper meaning of the original.

A disappointing start to what should be a potential rich concept, with an overfamiliar storyline and bland presentation.

More than just a tech demo, but still far from a defining VR experience – especially given the plain visuals and unfocused story and gameplay.

One of the best hacking-themed video games ever, and a clever puzzler with some surprisingly successful storytelling elements.

Beautiful presentation and an intriguing open world environment, but the misjudged difficultly level is just too punishing – even with co-op.

What starts as a fine homage to Super Metroid and ‘70s style sci-fi ends as a disappointing waste of both story and gameplay potential.

Without virtual reality support to increase the novelty this this would-be walking sim proves a disappointingly bland experience.

The best Lemmings game since the Amiga days, except with flesh-eating zombies instead of mindless mammals.

An inspired mix of real science, sandbox gameplay, and space simulation – that is both a lot more entertaining and a lot more accessible than you’d expect.

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.

Whatever controversy there might be about the movie, there can be little argument that this spiritless cash-in is one of the worst video games of 2016.

An interesting attempt to cross Dark Souls with a roguelike, but it’s not a very well mixed cocktail and the ingredients really needed to be chosen with more care.

The best Monster Hunter yet, with some useful improvements in terms of combat variety and accessibility for new players – even if it still falls short of the series’ full potential.

The best Kinect-only game ever, and if nothing else that proves that an inspired developer can make a great game with even the most unpromising of hardware.

A different take on the usual Metroidvania formula, but while the story and setting are charming the puzzles are rarely anything other than frustrating.

A great simulation game that works impressively well on consoles. Although at times it almost feels like a psychology study of the player rather than the inmates.

Another failed attempt to revive a franchise whose time seems long since passed, especially given how frustrating and unrewarding this reboot is to play.

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