A vast improvement on the flawed original, with much more variety and a much greater sense of fun.

Animal Crossing finally gets a sequel that moves the franchise forward, in a surprisingly timely release that is perfect for this year in terms of both its gameplay and its philosophy.

One of the best third person actioners of all time manages to make Dante and Kratos look like amateurs.

By ironing out the last few wrinkles from the original console versions, and adding in a few extra features, Diablo finally feels at home with a gamepad.

The Street Fighter of online shooters is an inspired new take on familiar ideas, that proves personality really does go a long way.

A fantastic sequel which succeeds in providing a mechanically deeper role-playing experience, while still being one of the best-written games around.

The best Mario role-player yet is sharply funny, surprisingly deep and endlessly inventive.

A masterpiece in physics-based destruction and one of the most entertaining ways to fall out with friends ever devised.

After a string of disappointing downloadable expansions, for well respected games such as Fable II and Fallout 3, this provides almost everything a Grand Theft Auto IV fan would have been hoping for.

The risk taken with the new defensive system has paid off and all the changes add up to make this the most realistic football experience to date.

A host of new refinements makes this the best FIFA yet and probably the best football game ever.

The best Spider-Man game ever and probably the best use of Venom in any medium outside of comics, with the stunning visuals and slick gameplay overcoming a certain overfamiliarity.

A bad Zelda is still a good game by any other standard but this does frustrating little to improve its standing, beyond making the graphics look even more stunning.

Gorgeous visuals and some sublime visual storytelling, Ori And The Blind Forest might not do much that is genuinely new but almost everything it does attempt is genuinely great.

The iPhone's best game emerges from the shadow of LocoRoco as one of the best portable puzzlers ever.

he name Tetris Effect was well chosen, because you really do feel the game altering your perception, as it and the Tetriminoes become your whole world. You play Tetris Effect but you also get the feeling that it is playing you, the blending of game and gamer reaching a peak in which they seem almost one and the same.

Much more than just another indie Metroidvania, as the intricate level design, gorgeous visuals, and clever item usage conspire to make one of the most entertaining puzzle adventures of the generation.

A fantastic mix of explosive action and thoughtful storytelling, that results in one of the most unpredictable and ambitious action role-players of the modern era.

This is a simulation, and very much not a game, but it’s also the most graphically impressive console experience ever seen and one of the best adverts for Xbox Game Pass so far.

A wordless and atmospheric puzzle game that’s just as ingenious and inventive as Limbo and Inside, but with more substantial gameplay and perfect pacing.

An expertly constructed and intricate roguelite deck builder that draws on the language and concept of poker, before twisting it with an infinity of modifiers, unlocks, and delicately balanced risk and reward.

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.

The Japanese role-player grows up, with a fantastic mix of traditional gameplay and daring plot.

Gorgeously presented and cleverly designed, this impressively realised Metroidvania excels in every area except originality.

It may not be able to claim much originality compared to its predecessor, or Metroidvania games in general, but this is still one of the best examples of its craft this generation.

Still one of the greatest achievements in video game storytelling and while the changes are minor the new roguelike mode and cut levels are interesting and worthwhile additions.

A wonderfully strange and imaginative indie adventure that delights in terms of its visuals, storytelling, and enjoyably unpredictable gameplay.

As much mood piece as video game, but the mix of stark atmosphere and clever puzzles is hard to resist.