It’s not the fact that you’re controlling a perambulatory candle that’s the oddest thing about this game, but that its story is so oddly affecting despite its absurdity.

A perfect accompaniment to the SoulsBorne series, with plenty of unique ideas of its own and some of the best combat of the generation.

Free-to-player Fire Emblem is pretty much exactly what you’d expect, but it’s an entertaining introduction to the real thing.

A perfectly competent platformer, perhaps Yoshi’s best since Super Mario World 2, but one that is far less unique than its visuals suggest.

In an ideal world it all would’ve been included in the main game, but if you can get past that this is a great set of DLC extras.

The ‘80s nostalgia is laid on so thick you could almost choke from it, in this joyless proof that too much nostalgia can be a bad thing.

An excellent reinvention of the Hitman formula that gives existing fans almost everything they want and makes itself highly accessible for newcomers.

A loving homage to PS one era JRPGs, but its small innovations are suffocated beneath a dead weight of clichés and conventions that in most cases were better off left to the past.

The comparisons to Portal are many, and obviously intentional, but this smart and ambitious first person puzzler is no mere clone.

A much more interesting story and lead character than usual for the series, but the weak script and aging combat system fail to make the most of it.

Gorgeous graphics but gormless gameplay leaves you wishing you were playing any of the dozens of other games this indie dud attempts to parody.

An intelligent, thought-provoking, and extremely creepy adventure, that proves that survival horror can be more than just shooting zombies.

An inspired mix of old school Resi game design and modern presentation, and the best VR options so far in a major release.

An interesting test of your VR mettle, but also a reminder that once the novelty wears off VR titles need compelling gameplay as much as any other game.

The most entertaining Yakuza game so far, that’s part gangster epic and part surreal Japanese nightlife simulator.

Not the deepest wilderness survival game in terms of gameplay, but certainly one of the most atmospheric and thought-provoking.

Simple, charming, and considerably improved on the 3DS. Dragon Quest isn’t for everyone but this bridges the gap between retro and modern games very well.

Just as charming as the original, but the improved combat and clever new gravity abilities make for a notably better game.

A notable improvement on the original, although most of the changes are still just doodling in the margins – as the series waits for a more substantial overhaul.

An occasionally biting satire of post-Brexit Britain, that also happens to be one of the best – and shortest – graphic adventures of 2016.

One of the most unlikely remasters of 2016 is also one of the most enjoyable, as long as you like retro shooting, cowboys, and robots.

A little more linear than usual, but Shantae and her friends have never looked or played better in this amusingly silly Metroidvania.

A New Frontier is definitely Telltale’s best attempt at serious drama since The Wolf Among Us, but it still makes mistakes that other series have already learned to avoid.

A partially successful soft reboot, with some of Telltale’s best storytelling – even if many of your decisions still make precious little difference.

The most authentic-looking Warhammer 40K game so far – when it’s working properly – but the action is disappointingly shallow and repetitive.

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.

A real Super Mario game on smartphone might have seemed impossible at one time, but this has all the polish and charm you’d expect of a top flight Nintendo game.

An underwhelming finale to what has been a consistently disappointing season of Batman adventures, with weak storytelling and bland visuals.