A great sequel that is just as surreal and imaginative as the original and manages to be both a silly comedy platformer and a surprisingly affecting character study of regret and lost love.

A successful blend of Zelda and twin-stick bullet hell shooter, which sounds like a terrible mix but brings some welcome novelty to both styles of play.

Some useful improvements to the already solid current gen versions, although the loss of some game modes means it’s not the ultimate edition it could’ve been.

It's not really a sequel but this is certainly a superior version of what is already the best new fighting game franchise of the current generation.

A relative low point in Zelda history but still a hugely addictive and superbly well designed adventure.

It may have little in common with the earlier McRae games but this is still a varied and exciting racer.

A significant improvement on the reboot and while there are still a few flaws the core combat is some of the best in any first person shooter this generation.

It won’t win over Diablo III haters but this is a competent expansion that will renew the addiction for fans and help to earn new ones.

The consistently surprising offspring of Harvest Moon and Pikmin will make a royalist out of anyone.

Pro Evolution Soccer is finally back to its best, in what is undoubtedly one of the greatest sports games of all-time.

A superbly crafted comeback for one of platform gaming's most overlooked stars, and one of the best-looking 2D games ever made.

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 distinguished iOS release that manages to replicate almost all the features of the home consoles originals, both good and bad.

A thoroughly entertaining mix of Dark Souls and Zelda that has few genuinely new ideas but still manages to enthral with a unique charm of its own.

The Mass Effect trilogy’s classic status is well deserved and while these remasters can’t iron out every problem, this is still a hugely entertaining and forward-thinking trio of action role-players.

Some of the most fearless and idiosyncratic storytelling ever seen in a video game, married to one of the most viciously entertaining shooters of the generation.

A bright and breezy revamp which builds on OlliOlli’s established mechanics with an abundance of personality and reverence for skateboarding culture.

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.

One of the best puzzle games of the last decade and a perfect fit for the Switch, with its mix of tactical puzzle-solving, extreme violence, and charming visuals.

A fun roguelike beat ’em-up that manages to expand the genre beyond its arcade roots, with relatively deep combat, excellent animation, and four very different playable characters.

Still one of the most original and entertaining video games there’s ever been, with a surreal sense of humour that permeates every corner of the gameplay and presentation.

The best Bit.Trip game so far and one of the best ever blends of retro and modern aesthetics, in terms of both presentation and gameplay.

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.

Treasure are at the top of their game in this endlessly inventive master class in on-the-rails shooting.

Indie gaming sires another 2D classic, with a platformer that offers more freedom and intrigue than almost anything else on Xbox Live Arcade - or beyond.

Star Wars and pinball fans are equally well served here, with what are arguably better tables than the actual real machines.

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

A charming and imaginative spin on The Legend Of Zelda that is filled with cleverly original ideas and a deceptively serious script that packs a real punch.

A taut, characterful headrush of an expansion that completes Cyberpunk 2077’s redemption and re-establishes it as one of the great open world adventures of the generation.

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.

Just a mishmash of cliches with enemies that could have walked in from any other shooter and a plot that simply joins the dots from one contrived set piece to another...You've not only seen it all before you've seen it a dozen times before.

Pretentious and restrictive, but also one of the most spectacular visual and aural experiences on the PS3.

As good as Diablo is ever likely to be when playing with a joypad, but even the new local co-op options are subject to necessary but debilitating compromises.

The ‘Plus’ additions are minor but this is still a touching, and highly playable, labour of love by fans that understand Sonic The Hedgehog better than Sega themselves.

At the end of each 10-level world your view pans back to reveal the monochromatic artwork you were exploring in a beautiful final flourish, leaving you to admire the developer’s handiwork and your own dexterity. It’s a masterpiece of minimalist puzzle design.

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.

A wonderfully refined sequel that takes everything that was great about the original and expands and improves upon it, making for a much more accessible experience for everyone.

An excellent follow-up that expands and improves on the original in unexpected and innovative ways. Plus, it has magic-wielding dinosaurs.

An excellent sequel to one of indie gaming’s most enduring stars, that changes just enough to keep things interesting without losing the magic of the original.

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.

A maximum effort compilation that includes some of the best crossover fighters ever made, with Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 remaining an all-time classic.

A hilarious parody of point ‘n’ click adventures and video games in general, whose jokes are as inspired and imaginative as its puzzles.

A flawed superhero adventure even when it was first released, but the passage of time and a superior follow-up makes this a difficult recommendation at such a high price.

An impressive port of the PS3 original that improves some elements, even if it leaves out multiplayer.

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 best PixelJunk game yet and an inspired mix of Thrust style exploration and elemental puzzles.

A fantastic open world role-player, with a mountain of content and interesting diversions – although the unengaging storytelling remains its main weakness.

A revamp of Lumines which, in the spirit of Tetris Effect, amplifies its puzzling core with slick visuals, fun new mechanics, and one of the best soundtracks of the year.

A shamefully shoddy port of the 360 version, but still a superbly designed action game underneath.

The same old Ratchet & Clank as always: unsettled, fractured, gorgeous and varied to a fault.

The landmark script and puzzles override the bland artwork as the classic graphic adventure returns.

Its technical faults and lack of innovation are frustrating, but the game underneath is as enthralling and compulsive as anything Bethesda has ever made.

An excellent ending to an inconsistent but enjoyable season of sharp comedy and surprisingly affecting drama.

Another perfectly crafted adventure that puts to shame most other retail games at five times its price.

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

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).

An excellent remaster of three of the PlayStation 3’s best looking games, but none of them have aged quite as gracefully as you might expect.

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

An excellent new version of the smash hit multiplayer game, that takes a simple premise and turns it into one of the best competitive arcade games of the generation.

An excellent expansion that focuses on a fascinating period in history, and helps to make the perfect toe-dipping experience for strategy newcomers.

An inconsistent but highly enjoyable season of sharp comedy and surprisingly affecting drama, that has plenty to teach more serious dramas.

Whether Nintendo intendeds to reuse it for the inevitable Mario Kart 9 is impossible to say, but perhaps there might be some hint as to their future plans once the Booster Pass finally ends. Knowing Nintendo, they’ll more likely keep their secrets to the last moment but it really doesn’t matter because combined with all this DLC it’s difficult to imagine how anything could better Mario Kart 8.

The most significant update for Football Manager since its revival, with a suite of options to suit everyone from dedicated veterans to complete newbies.

The best boxing sim ever gets even better, with stunning graphics and immersive, if controversial, controls.

One of the most impressive indie titles of the year and arguably the most cinematic and accessible 2D shooter of the modern era.

A wonderfully weird console strategy game that’s inspired by the past but forges its own very distinct legend, with beautiful visuals and deep but accessible gameplay.

A stunning work of imagination, with a collection of high quality boss battles to rival any other in gaming – and a difficultly level that’s equally hard to beat.

An impressive mix of game styles, and some of the most rewarding speed runs in recent memory, but that only increases the speed at which levels start to blur into each other.

One of the best retro homages of recent years, that cleverly combines the best elements of older 2D games with plenty of new ideas of its own.

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

The old style Tomb Raider is never coming back, but this is a more satisfying compromise than the reboot and an impressive technical feat.

The best version of Harvest Moon, or indeed any farming sim, ever made – even if it doesn’t move the concept on quite as far as you’d hope.

Superb mix of role-playing, puzzle and strategy action, wrapped up in a very palatable fantasy package.

Warhammer’s fantasy elements add colour to Total War’s already impressive framework, with a strategy game that is both deep and tactical but also fun and attractive.

The best multiformat Wii U game so far, even if the improvements are mostly minor and the underlying game still lacks personality.

A superb remake of two flawed but still interesting entries in the Final Fantasy canon – and certainly far better games than any of the last three.

More accessible and more immediate than ever before, whether it’s a hit or not Monster Hunter 4 is definitely the best of the series so far.

The video game equivalent of a concept album, and a hugely successful mix of visual, music and gameplay influences.

An odd couple crossover that is not only a loving homage to Star Wars but, more importantly, the best Angry Birds game so far.

The refurbished virtual doll house doesn't look that new, but its voyeuristic charm is greatly increased.

Not only one of the best WiiWare games ever, but an inspired 2D action puzzler to put even LocoRoco and Rolando in the shade.

The coronavirus has made its themes more relevant than ever and while there are many odd decisions, in terms of plot and game design, the overall experience remains strangely engrossing.

It could do with a few more ancillary options, and a more interesting backstory, but in terms of online gameplay Titanfall is now the game to beat this gen.

The most entertaining Yakuza game so far and a fine debut on PC, with a game that’s part gangster epic and part surreal Japanese nightlife simulator.

Don't let its low price or simple visuals fool you, this is the most demonically addictive game of the year and it takes no prisoners.

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.

Tribes: Ascend is not just an excellent first person shooter in its own right but it's a well-orchestrated revival of a franchise that has never got the recognition it deserves. Whether it'll be more lucky this time we couldn't say but just give this a go and you won't have lost anything, literally.

The best really has been saved for last – assuming you find Tiny Tina funny – but even if you don’t this fantasy-themed romp is a great way to say goodbye to Borderlands 2.

An excellent remake that does all it can to bring the classic original into the modern era, while maintaining the same nuanced levels of psychological horror.

The definitive portable version of Minecraft, with almost all the features of the current gen home console editions combined with the convenience of the Nintendo Switch.

One of the best Japanese role-players of the generation and a gloriously beautiful game by any standard, both visually and emotionally.

Still the best looking fighting game around, and although this isn’t a full sequel its new features and extra fighters still make it a welcome update.

A superior example of the visual novel, with some of the most compelling storytelling of the generation, even if it’s not very interactive.

A cleverly constructed narrative adventure that explores serious issues of morality without ever being preachy, and still allowing for an intricately designed, non-linear gaming experience.

It's a technical tour de force for the PSP, but also one sequel to many for a series that is in dire need of a reboot - or perhaps simply a rest.

You'll either love or loathe the rote learning and rock hard difficultly in this next gen Kikstart.

A highly competent 2D platformer, but one so utterly devoid of any new ideas it’s really only for the nostalgic and those desperate to play something new(-ish) on the Switch.

An excellent follow-up to Mario Kart 8 that takes the series into exciting new directions, although the open world element is surprisingly undercooked and almost irrelevant.