PopCap Games' best game and probably the best ever Tower Defence – and it works just as well as you'd hope on the Xbox 360.

More realistic than ever, but not necessarily a better game as a result of it - especially as the frontline features and options have seen little change.

The charming mix of Minecraft and Dragon Quest works even better the second time round, with a smart sequel that address the flaws of the original while adding plenty of new features of its own.

A scary, atmospheric, and cleverly designed survival horror, whose photorealistic visuals and superb sound design help overcome some occasional frustrations.

Despite its many and obvious influences this is an impressively unique vision that offers excellent value for money and one of the best surprises on the 3DS’s eShop.

A surprisingly fitting end to Nintendo's legacy on the DS, with one of the best ever uses of the touchscreen and the best Kirby game since Epic Yarn.

A significant improvement on the last game and one of the best Soulslikes of recent years, with excellent use of procedural generation and so much variety it’s almost impossible to see everything.

A successful resurrection of the iconic retro franchise, that wallows in justifiable nostalgia but still tries to keep at least one foot in the present.

A host of new features and gameplay improvements blend well and make the game more realistic and fun – and they save you time faffing around doing tasks that used to feel more like chores.

An excellent remake, with exceptionally good graphics, that borrows just enough from the later games to keep things interesting for new fans and old.

It’s relatively short but Cuphead’s long-awaited DLC does not disappoint, with some incredibly well orchestrated boss battles that look more amazing than ever.

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.

An excellent conversion of the original iOS hit, and a wonderfully disturbing horror story that innovates in terms of everything from visuals and interface to its macabre narrative.

One of the most influential video games of all time gets the remaster it deserves, and is still impressively entertaining after all these years.

Moving beyond a mere homage to Dungeon Master this is one of the best dungeon crawlers of recent years, even if the puzzle balance still isn’t quite right.

More a re-release than an enhancement, but still a fascinating reminder of how engaging a good role-player can be even without modern graphics.

One of the best offline multiplayer games of the year, and proof that shouting at people sitting next to you is still one of gaming’s greatest pleasures.

The highest carat of Sega's golden oldies returns (again) to prove that the blue skies are still the best.

One of the best Switch ports so far, both technically and in terms of how handheld mode enhances and compliments the original gameplay.

It’s extremely short, but this is one of those rarities that is actually free, with no advertising or microtransactions, just a hugely offbeat and entertaining few minutes’ worth of non-gaming.

A major update to the intricately plotted and highly detailed RPG, that gives players more of what they loved in the original release and the same amount of what they didn’t.

It’s been enhanced on practically every level from the original, and while its text-only conversations tend to go on a bit tool long, and the jaunty tune it plays when you die quickly becomes mildly enraging, it’s a compelling game whose crafting recipes and research build into a significant array of construction options. You’ll also upgrade your spacesuit, making you faster, stronger and harder to kill; its role-playing elements prove as addictive as ever and it features cross-platform saves for those who also own it on Steam.

Minimalist gaming at its finest, with graphics and presentation out of the Stone Age but evocative sci-fi action that's tense, tactical and instantly addictive.

The PSP's most cheerful game returns with an interesting, if very difficult, new take on the original.

A significant improvement on the last generation of Pro Evo games, and for the first time in years PES is more entertaining than the new FIFA.

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.

Only masochists will appreciate all of the new features, but they do help to round out what was always an unfairly pilloried and already highly competent action game.

Shovel Knight’s first spin-off is just as good as his mainline games, with a clever take on tile-matching puzzlers that offers an enjoyably unique challenge.