One of the most relentlessly charming video games ever made and the best Paper Mario since The Thousand-Year Door.

Patients’ stories are hilarious, as are the songs that pepper the game, and the appalling medical advice you offer based on observation of the zodiac. Even more bizarrely, it’s based on the life of real Elizabethan astrologer, Simon Forman, albeit jazzed up considerably for the game.

If you’re not careful you’ll also find yourself learning a lot about the period’s history and the Romans’ divisive final lurch towards Christianity. But don’t let that put you off, as this is a deep and varied strategy game that never lets historical authenticity get in the way of fun.

It may not be the deepest of fighters but it is one of the most entertaining and imaginative, not to mention bug-eyed crazy.

A loving homage to the original X-COM, that’s far more interested in turning up the difficulty than coming up with any new ideas.

Its frequent checkpoints get more spaced out as you progress, but the invention never stops, expanding its simple base mechanisms in increasingly challenging new directions. Its polished, elegantly biological good looks are complemented by deliciously gloopy sound effects in this satisfying and tactile action puzzler.

If you want a 2D Dark Souls it’s hard to imagine FromSoftware doing much better than this, even if it has too few original ideas of its own.

A genuine improvement on the original and so stuffed with content that you’ll need several new Final Fantasy games before another sequel is necessary.

It’s already a miracle the remake works as well as it does but this PS5 remaster is excellent and while the new Intermission DLC isn’t essential it’s still an enjoyable diversion with a fun new character.

Wonderfully presented and impressively imaginative 2D action puzzler, that almost seems too good for DSiWare.

A surprisingly good port of a purposefully old school computer role-player, that proves even the most PC of games can work on consoles.

Although relatively short and easy, Donut Country is an immensely satisfying and warm-hearted game that’s quite unlike anything else available on the App Store, or indeed anywhere.

The best Castlevania game never made and while it adds relatively little to the formula it is the best example of its use in many years.

One of the best ever multiplayer stealth games and one of the most successful attempts yet at the perfect heist game.

Its similarities to Portal will be obvious to everyone and in terms of puzzles this is very much its equal, but in terms of script and characters… not so much.

More complex and yet also more accessible than ever, with an incredibly in-depth simulation of WWII.

Some of the best storytelling so far in the series, and some inspired set pieces, but the chance to refine the gameplay has been sadly missed.

The best arcade racer for years and a magnificent spectacle that makes racing exciting again.

Utterly charming on (literally) every level, it may not offer much in terms of fast action but this is just as imaginative and engrossing as any Super Mario game.

Another visually spectacular Arc System Works fighter that is both surprisingly accessible and full of hidden depth and clever ideas.

There are hints to help prevent mental blocks ending your progress, which given the game’s refusal to explain itself is at least fair, and its puzzles strike an elegant balance between challenge and satisfaction.

A tough, flashy, and surprisingly versatile extraction shooter which houses a magnetic loop of death and loot beneath its occasionally obtuse idiosyncrasies.

A survival game that isn’t out just to punish its players, but to entertain; with an impressive mix of exploration, crafting, and survival horror.

A more flawed experience than its predecessor, with a sense that the formula is already starting to wear thin, but the character-based storytelling with Kratos and his son is handled masterfully well.

An anime-infused arcade racer with a full-blown story, cracking multiplayer, and an OTT driving model that gamifies every part of its tricky, knife edge races.

As twin stick shooters go, Jydge, whose in-game blanket replacement of ‘U’s with ‘Y’s is never adequately addressed, is definitely on the more subtle end. As well as administering hot leaden justice to criminals, you’ll also need to collect evidence, ‘confiscate’ cash, and rescue civilians; whilst doing your best not to let them get on the business end of stray rounds. With sizeable upgrade trees covering your gun, armour, and special weapons – and levels of polish commensurate with its console roots – Jydge is an entertaining, refined and eventually extremely challenging jaunt through an alternative approach to the legal profession.

An excellent update of the classic old beat 'em-up that maintains the iconic two-player mode and adds some welcome new enhancements.

On a phone, the screen can feel a bit cluttered with icons used to crouch, jump, lob grenades, and more, but on a tablet it’s perfect. Controller support is weirdly absent, but there’s very little else wrong with this excellent console conversion.

Don’t let the name or presentation put you off: this is an impressive piece of interactive storytelling that gets more right than most other games with 10 times its budget.

A mostly successful mix of the best of classic and modern era Resident Evil, with some of the most enjoyably unique co-op options of any recent game.

The splendidly named Dread Nautical is a turn-based roguelike set on a spooky, zombie-infested 1930s cruise liner. Choosing one of four survivors, you spend action points to move, pick things up, and attack, either melee or ranged depending on what makeshift weapons you’ve managed to purloin.

This co-op tale of two delinquent young girls feels particularly at home on the Switch, in what is one of the best story-based games of recent years.

An extremely successful attempt to reproduce Dota style action strategy on consoles, with a game that's considerably more accessible than its inspirations.

Codemasters’ best Formula One game so far adds an excellent story mode, along with a raft of new tweaks and options to make it more accessible.

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.

Watching paint dry really can be entertaining, in this relentlessly cheerful mix of platformer and interactive colouring book.

An excellent port of Capcom's gloriously insane crossover fighter. It may not have the depth of Street Fighter but in the short term at least it's just as entertaining.

A fantastic balancing act between old and new, creating a Japanese role-player that’s full of charm, innovative ideas, and clever nods to the past.

Video game and cultural references abound in its playfully inventive courses, which jauntily switch from portrait to landscape in a game that revels in its continual ability to surprise.

A bizarre mix of weighty subject matter and cartoon presentation that somehow works perfectly in portraying a morally complex world and its characters.

A great Switch port that packs in an incredible amount of content and comes with relatively few technical issues.

One of the best sci-fi strategy games ever made, with an impressive amount of storytelling variety and accessible controls.

Punishingly and infuriatingly hard, but also the best retro-inspired platform puzzler for years, and a very successful port to the 3DS.

An arrestingly surreal triumph that blends point ‘n’ click and text adventures with a unique style of storytelling and gameplay that was well worth the extremely long wait.

Ported from a PC game, Antihero has you building and running a thieves’ guild in Olde England. Taking turns with a computer or human foe, your job is to earn gold and lanterns, the two currencies you need to upgrade your thievery HQ and recruit new ne’er-do-wells to do your bidding. Splitting your time between scouting new premises, occupying useful buildings, burglary and assassination, you grow your criminal empire whilst craftily side-lining the opposition. The game’s multiple interlocking systems supplying a complex set of tactical options to exploit in your quest for infamy.

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.

The best Nintendo sports title for several years and although it offers little in terms of innovation it’s certainly not short of content or addictive fun.

It’s not perfect but The Walking Dead is one of the most important advances in interactive fiction for a generation, with some of the most memorable characters of any video game.

Another inspired descent into bullet hell from the masters at Cave, and one that has both an unusual amount of tactical depth and yet remains surprisingly accessible.

The best and most versatile Jurassic World Evolution title yet, even if it’s only a compsognathus sized step up from its predecessor, rather than a brachiosaurus length stride.

If your ball-like warlock slips between the flippers he falls, taking damage equivalent to his height up the tower. You can recharge health with heart containers, and by getting him through the exit in time, but progress is cemented with the treasure and XP you earn, which permanently unlocks new skills, helping you get even higher next go. All of which is enjoyably addictive.

An energetic, platforming brawler with a mischievous glint in its eye, featuring a unique blend of feral cyberpunk and old school arcade action.

The best theme park sim of the modern era, even if a few underdeveloped elements mean it’s not quite the ultimate roller coaster ride yet.

A thoroughly entertaining and highly playable Metroidvania, that goes beyond being a simple retro homage and offers some memorable gameplay twists and storytelling surprises.

It can be a little inconsistent in terms of both actions and puzzles but late entry or not this is one of the funniest and best-presented adventures of the year.

The premier MMA title that will appeal to all fight fans, whether you like the sport or not.

At last, a Soulslike manages to do things at least a little differently to Dark Souls, with some clever new features that take advantage of the more cartoonish setting.

An essential addition for any Monster World fan that offers a mountain of genuinely new content that includes some of the game’s best monsters.

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

A highly successful return for the long dormant sci-fi simulation series, and what it lacks in accessibility it makes up for in terms of satisfyingly tactical action.

The end result is certainly the best of the series, with the sense of scale and superb presentation overcoming most concerns over repetition and depth.

A beautiful, colourful, and bitingly satirical sci-fi Metroidvania that also has a welcome respect for your spare time.

An excellent return to form for the Dragon Age series, and the biggest and most ambitious Western role-player since the new generation began.

A fun, fairly brief campaign that offers plenty of memorable scenarios and a suite of improvements that turn The Division 2 into a true contender for the looter shooter throne.

An adult video game that is neither exploitative nor pretentious, but instead weaves a fun yet incisive tale about all too human characters.

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

A little more linear than usual, but Shantae and her friends have never looked or played better in this amusingly silly Metroidvania.

A highly successful reboot of one of SNK’s most unfairly forgotten franchise, that takes its rightful place as one of the generation’s best fighters.

The overall experience though is hypnotically beautiful, both visually and in terms of its almost transcendent ability to make you think and care about its virtual world. Forget the labels of it being an indie game or download, this is a great work of imagination and well worth the wait.

Far more than just the best Batman game, this is a top notch mix of action, stealth and storytelling.

A clever spin on the MOBA genre that strips away the complications and nerdy presentation to create a fast-paced but deceptively complex action strategy game.

The question of how important originality is to any new game is largely a question of personal taste, but Hollow Knight offers some compelling mitigation for its lack of innovation: the gorgeous presentation and the insanely low asking price. There’s no question that Hollow Knight is hugely enjoyable and great value for money. But if its gameplay had been as imaginative as its visuals it could have been a genuine classic.

It’s not quite the same calibre as Mario Kart World, but those disappointed by Nintendo’s racer will find Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds an ideal alternative, thanks to its heart-pumping action and unique ideas that make it more than just a carbon copy.

One of the best marriages of gameplay, graphics and music ever seen on a portable and a triumphant return to the roots of rhythm action.

One of the best smartphone games of the year, with stunning cartoon visuals and gameplay that's as easy to control as it is to become addicted to.

Zelda does definitely work as a co-op multiplayer game, assuming you can find suitably competent allies, in this fun and charming spin-off.

A stylish and brilliantly designed blend of first person shooter and platformer, which nails the compelling and addictive chase for the perfect run.

By far the best Skyrim expansion so far, and although the dragon-riding is disappointing, having a whole new world (or at least island) to explore is almost as good.

The concept may sound absurd but the experience of playing Papers, Please shines a light not on the game’s hapless victims but on the player’s own sense of decency.

The game may never live down the notoriety of its designer but this is still one of the most entertaining and imaginative indie games of the last decade.

An impressively well balanced shooter that manages to deliver a diverse and innovative feature set that should please almost everyone.

A great finale to the World of Assassination trilogy and the perfect time to end the reboot era, as the once revolutionary formula begins to show its age.

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

A wonderfully assured first episode, in what has the potential to outdo both Telltale Games and Quantic Dream in terms of successful video game storytelling.

A surprise new champion for the PS Vita and a cleverly designed mix of skateboarding and 2D platforming that will appeal to everyone.

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.

Almost the perfect portable download, with a great gimmick exploited with skilful level design and gorgeous visuals and 3D effects.

A fun and funny 2D platformer whose infectious sense of humour comes through clearly in the visuals, the script, and the gameplay.

Another excellent remake, in the vein of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, this retains the glorious character of the original games, while adding a coat of modern polish and a smattering of new content.

Generously-sized expansion, which despite increasingly rough edges has some of the best missions yet.

Excellent platform/shooter hybrid, whose engrossing narrative and well-realised game world deserves to be appreciated by a much wider audience.

Judgment doesn’t reinvent the wheel when it comes to either Gears or third person shooters in general, but with just a small change in perspective it does help to reframe it as something identifiably different. It is still the same game underneath, and we probably didn’t need four of them in six years, but arguably Judgment does more to justify itself than either of the two direct sequels.

The best 2D shooter for several years and a fantastic homage to the genre, with some of the best pixel art graphics of the year.

Hugely successful update which may lack realism, but is loaded with charm and surprising depth.

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

The original game remains the best entry in the series but Jamboree TV on its own adds little of value and isn’t worth the upgrade.

A definite improvement on the original, and despite some still notable flaws this is a wonderfully varied playground for motorsport fans of every kind.

A strangely successful mix of genres that plays both a mean pinball and a highly competent game of Metroidvania, and all wrapped up in some utterly charming presentation.