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 hugely disappointing sequel, where the high difficulty, restrictive controls, and randomly-generated levels all contribute to a thoroughly miserable platforming experience.

Whatever your preconceptions may be about a free-to-play gacha game made in China it’s nothing short of stunning, presenting you with a sprawling Zelda-esque open world to explore, the green grass and blue skies looking beautiful thanks to console-grade production values. Even the monetisation isn’t too in-your-face, although it does eventually start to get a bit grindy in the late game. Genshin Impact is easily the most accomplished and alluring Zelda-alike available for mobiles, easily outstripping paid-for rival Oceanhorn and its sequel.

As well as selecting extremely funny idioms from around the world, the way words have been dismantled and rearranged is in itself artistically brilliant, making this a relaxing and amusing joy to play through.

One of the best puzzle games of the last decade and a perfect fit for the Switch, with its mix of tactical puzzle-solving, extreme violence, and charming visuals.

A stunning achievement in open world gameplay but one whose tonal inconsistencies and weak narrative undermines what could have been an all-time classic.

An extraordinarily good port that seems physically impossible given the modest abilities of the Switch but is just as playable and enjoyable as the other console versions.

Temtem still isn’t finished, which is why there’s no score here, but Crema are making good on their promise of constant improvements and additions; so when it does come out of early access next year The Pokémon Company is going to have their most serious rival for a very long time. [Early Access Review]

A surprisingly successful reinvention of the Worms formula that turns the more slow-paced originals into an engagingly silly multiplayer free-for-all.

The potential for an exciting period strategy game is clear but that only makes the buggy mess of unbalanced combat and simplistic tactical decisions all the more frustrating.

It’s hard to know which is more impressive here, the complete lack of shame in how much Ubisoft copies Zelda: Breath Of The Wild or the fact that Immortals suffers the comparison so impressively well.

A dramatic, emotive and affecting interactive drama that shows Dontnod are still the masters of branching narrative and serious-minded storytelling.

One of Destiny 2’s best expansions thus far, providing an assured roadmap for the series to move into. It is just more Destiny though.

So far Shadowlands does not disappoint, with the question of which of the four covenants to soul-bind to being a particularly tricky one, as you get to grips with the endgame content of world quests and dailies. Shadowlands is reminiscent of aspects from earlier expansions, such as Wrath Of The Lich King (even including the grind), but it has a style all of its own and a good sense of momentum that, so far at least, makes it great fun to play. [Review-in-Progress]

If there is a complaint, it’s that the aiming mechanic, where you drag your finger in the direction you want to shoot and then release to fire, is prone to inaccuracy, but honestly it’s just nice to have new levels to play through.

Unfortunately, despite the high quality of the artwork the text amounts to little more than pseudo-philosophical new age gibberish, and without a plot or anything much to say, the experience is disappointingly hollow.

Like Simogo’s classic of interactive fiction, Device 6, this cheerfully plays with the format, exploiting both touchscreen and motion sensing for puzzles that require logical deduction, are never unreasonably abstruse and, above all, make you feel smart for solving them.

The game swiftly adds more suits, and you can buy power ups that let you clear rows, or give you more turns to complete goals, but even though it’s authentic to solitaire, that niggling random factor holds it back.

Samorost 2 is still subject to its genre’s dated trial and error gameplay, but it’s so refined and beautifully presented it’s a pleasure to explore from start to finish.

It also fully recreates one of the best AAA games of the last few years on a phone, and while your handset may get a bit warm during play, in the winter months, and provided you’re near a power outlet, that’s almost comforting.

Entirely wordless, and with no instructions whatsoever, you’re left to figure everything out for yourself, and along with the near-monochromatic colour palette, it’s a process that underscores the pervasive sense of loneliness.

Despite a lack of big ticket new features Football Manager 2021 delivers its best ever matchday experience and the series’ most realistic on-pitch simulation of football.

It’s not the most accessible game around, but this quirky bird-borne aerial combat game is definitely one of the most imaginative games in the Xbox Series X/S launch line-up.

Arguably the definitive version of one of the most famous, and enduring, video games in history, with some very welcome new multiplayer features.

The best Dynasty Warriors style game ever made, which means it’s slightly north of mediocre, with simplistic combat, weak storytelling, and a whole lot of repetition.

Not a standout year for Call Of Duty, as while the campaign offers some fun action and minor innovation Zombies and multiplayer are beginning to feel very tired.

A fantastic remake of one of the most influential games of recent history, with stunning visuals and improved technical features that make it easier and less frustrating to play for everyone.

Although it seems to have all the necessary components to become a compelling looter-slasher Godfall’s fussy mechanics and repetitive design will quickly sap your interest.