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.