An unusual mixture of influences, that builds a pleasingly unique strategy role-player out of otherwise very familiar components.

More a new episode than a full-blown sequel, but the clever blend of strategic, tactical, and moral decision-making is as compelling as ever.

Old school to a fault, the worst thing about this Japanese role-player is it doesn’t seem to have any idea just how clichéd and outdated it really is.

Considering it’s half broken and patently unfinished this doesn’t deserve to be called a video game at all, just an unpromising work in progress.

A highly successful remake that fixes the technical and design flaws of the original and turns it into one of the year’s best looking action role-players.

Much like the film, this is more a testament to what worked before than a genuinely new experience, but it makes the best of its voice cast and an obvious love for Star Wars.

A successful conclusion to one of the most underrated storytelling franchises in gaming, even if some of the presentational changes are too ambitious for their own good.

Visually though this is one of the most impressive games of the year, with the subtle animation and sparing use of colour telling you all you need to know about the situation without a word of dialogue. Inside isn’t a fun video game, but it is a clever and intelligent one. And despite how long it’s been since Limbo it’s telling that nobody has managed to perfect that formula as well as Playdead.

A bad idea poorly realised, it’s hard to argue that Kick Off has any place in the modern world and this badly made revival seems to prove it.

It feels more like an indie team’s first prototype than a new entry in a blockbuster franchise, but the truth is there have still been a lot worse Resident Evil games than this.

A crossover between Persona and Fire Emblem proves to be just as peculiar as it sounds, but this is a surprisingly fun mash-up for Japanese role-playing fans.

As an homage to Mega Man this is almost a complete failure, especially given the only successful elements are those that have the least to do with the original games.

The best of the Fire Emblem Fates trilogy and one of the best portable strategy games ever made, with a perfect blend of the best elements of the first two chapters.

A superb mix of action and strategy that should be enough to convince everyone that turn-based doesn’t have to mean slow or serious.

Full of imagination and great ideas, but Kirby seems destined to repeat the same mistakes forever – with zero challenge and aimless, unfocused game design.

Still the best looking fighting game around, and although this isn’t a full sequel its new features and extra fighters still make it a welcome update.

A better game than the original, but it still suffers from many of the same problems – with desperately uninteresting storytelling and combat.

Not quite as good as the previous two maps, with the more serious atmosphere lessening the fun, but still a more than welcome addition to the episodic series.

As good a remaster as Dead Island fans could hope for, since nothing but a complete remake could solve the game’s deep-rooted gameplay and structural issues.

An excellent send-off for Geralt and The Witcher 3, and although the jokes don’t always hit home the stunning visuals and breadth of content do.

One of Platinum’s worst games so far, with dull and repetitive action that doesn’t do the heroes in a half-shell any justice at all.

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

A loving tribute to isometric adventures of the Spectrum era, that does just enough to ensure new fans can enjoy it as well.

The best and worst of Fallout in one giant-sized new expansion, with better storytelling than the main game but even worse graphics.

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.

If you want a 2D Dark Souls it’s hard to imagine From Software doing much better than this, even if it has too few original ideas of its own.

Lots of interestingly odd ideas but although the basic stealth action more or less works the escort element and poor AI ruins a potentially promising premise.

The co-op action can be fun, but the rest of the game is just as dull and miserable as life in occupied America is portrayed.