The combination of its mechanical perfection and gradual upgrade path is magical, in a game that’s cute, colourful, and savagely addictive.

For a series where graphics are irrelevant concentrating on surface details makes for a below par update.

An excellent expansion to what is not only the best game of the year, but one of the best action games of all-time.

A solid, if strangely incomplete, remake which matches Persona 5 for presentation and has some of the most interesting and varied social link options of the whole series.

One of the best iOS games for several months is a wonderfully disturbing horror story that innovates in terms of everything from visuals and interface to its macabre narrative.

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.

Probably the best single-player experience ever in a fighting game, on top of being an extremely accessible and highly technical multiplayer brawler.

The underlying game is still too reliant on the Ubisoft formula but the new content and Legends mode make Ghost Of Tsushima Director’s Cut a notably better experience than the original at launch.

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

The new 2D fighter from the creators of Guilty Gear trails a blaze of innovative and accessible glory.

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.

One of the best made Metroidvanias of recent years, but despite all the clever inspiration taken from other games it’s a shame it doesn’t have more unique ideas of its own.

Barely changed from the original PS4 versions but that doesn’t change the fact that these are two of the best Dark Souls inspired action role-players of the previous generation.

Another excellent PC to console port, with surprisingly intuitive controls and a wealth of content and options that make this one of the best strategy games ever.

Fans will be arguing about it for decades to come but for now this is a surprisingly daring reinvention of the legendary original, although it’s a shame its biggest flaws were largely avoidable.

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.

Masterful shake-up of not just Dragon Quest but the whole of the Japanese role-playing genre.

The best new Pokémon for a decade and a game of exquisite depth and longevity, with visuals and online options that finally do the series justice.

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.

This generation's best arcade racer in an extra value compendium that really is a slice of driving heaven.

Despite all the controversy Street Fighter V was always a great fighting game, but as unearned as some of the criticism might have been the Arcade Edition silences it once and for all. It’s still not quite the milestone Street Fighter IV was, but it is certainly one of the best one-on-one fighting games of this generation in terms of gameplay, online features, and now – at last – content.

Another classic action game from Platinum that’s so full of ideas it seems fit to burst and yet everything not only works perfectly but is filled with an infectious sense of goofy fun.

The result is a self-propelled investigation that gives you the feeling of making connections and discoveries entirely on your own. It’s hypnotic, and while it has little replay value, other than to marvel at the fact that videos watched early in the game can mean something completely different once you’ve uncovered protagonists’ back stories and true motivations, it’s utterly gripping while it lasts.

A near perfect combination of rallying old and new, that gives precedence to neither and remains accessible to all.

One of the best looking video games ever made and the most accessible Guilty Gear has ever been, with impressively deep combat and memorable characters.

An absurd concept but an inspired turn-based tactics game that, quite unexpectedly, has one of the best scripts of the last 12 months.

A reincarnation of the 2021 Japanese role-player, that addresses every flaw of the original – and even if some issues remain it’s still a very enjoyable alternative to the Persona series.

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.