Skylanders: Imaginators is doing nothing the series wasn’t already doing, it’s just doing it in a more overt way. It’s bored with hiding its monetisation behind things like fun and subtlety. Instead of a focus on story and mechanics, Imaginators simply wants you to build a custom creation. When you’re done with that, they want you to make another.

Nier: Automata is brilliant. Its mature storytelling is filled with intrigue and philosophy explored through fascinating character work that delves into the depths of the human experience and the complications inherent in artificial intelligence. Combined with some incredibly tight and fluid gameplay that pulls together a multitude of ideas with ease, it’s made all the more impressive by the multiple endings and massive replayability. Taro and Platinum Games deserve praise for creating a game that values the player’s time with regular rewards, and one that deserves to be experienced.

Super Bomberman R isn’t a bad game when it’s working, and if you can get a few people connected to a single Switch you’ll have a great time. But due to a small online presence and some serious lag issues when connecting devices locally, the game just doesn’t work as it should. Super Bomberman R hasn’t launched with a downloadable title price – it’s a full retail game, with the price to match. If you need your fix, I’d suggest either waiting until you find this in a bargain bin, or dust off your Wii U and grab Bomberman 64 on Virtual Console.

BioWare Montreal’s latest sci-fi RPG is massive, but the quality of its writing and sidequests varies too much for the combat alone to make up for it. Its size and scope delivers on the limitless possibility that a new galaxy should represent, but that complexity has paved the way for bugs that remove you from the experience. Mass Effect: Andromeda occasionally makes good on the legacy of its predecessors, but it never eclipses them.

This game is one that requires you to play with friends in order to extract the fun out of it. In single player, Wildlands is passable, but in multiplayer it shines. While the missions don’t do much in terms of variety, in playing with others, you find yourself expecting the unexpected. But the real hero is the vast open world, providing you with freedom to approach each objective in any way you wish. Yet while the open world giveth, it also taketh away. A lack of density is obvious, and meandering becomes the most frequent activity that you do.

The disappointing Poochy levels and lack of multiplayer aside, I had a lot of fun with Poochy & Yoshi’s Woolly World. That’s coming from someone who has a love hate relationship with platformers that leans more towards the hate side of things. If you’ve never played Yoshi’s Woolly World before, then you’re in for a treat. If you have, then you know what to expect; It’s still the same great game.

Clicks together beautifully like LEGO, but you might be searching for that final elusive brick.

Early on, the wacky art direction and bizarre monsters are enough to keep you going. Loot Rascals is a game with a very distinct visual style, and that inspires a need to explore and see just what else the game has up its sleeves. But for me, the appeal of that quirkiness was far outweighed by how repetitive and luck-dependent the game becomes.

A fantastic contrast to the other slow-paced, open-world launch game you’re playing.

Mario Party: Star Rush is a tight collection of mini games which are fun even in single player. It’s just too bad that the main modes which encapsulate them aren’t entertaining at all. If you can overlook the grind, then it’s worth playing for the mini games. If you can’t, I’d look for a party elsewhere.

For fans of the Dragon Ball franchise I can see this game having some appeal. For everyone else, there are just far too many problems to put up with, and some parts feel unfinished or ill-considered. If you’re curious about this game and the promise of fusion-fury with your favourite Dragon Ball Characters, it could be worth a try. If you’re a franchise newbie that wants a good RPG, look elsewhere.

‘Malicious’ is a fitting name for a game this unforgiving.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has forever changed the franchise – a feat accomplished by looking to the past. Nintendo have captured the sense of wonder, danger, and awe that they created in 1986, and embedded it in a vast, enthralling world.

Halo Wars 2 retains itself as serviceable fun, if only by being unbearably approachable, and enjoyably Halo.

Held back by its own ambition, For Honor isn’t a masterpiece, but delivers where it counts.

The best Dragon Quest game gets bigger, but deserves a better port than this.

Aloy’s quest through the post-post-apocalypse is one of pros and cons. Encounters with robotic wildlife are equal parts tactical and reflexive, but fights against humans are awkward, and the camera is unwieldly. The world is lush and gorgeous, but traversing it can be a chore. Horizon Zero Dawn is a breath of fresh air, and a welcome departure from Guerrilla’s previous offerings – but the journey takes some missteps.

Sniper Elite 4 is conflicted and unsettled. Here’s a series that would benefit from Fumito Ueda’s school of thought; design by subtraction – stripping out everything that doesn’t support your primary philosophy. The only part of the game that gets close to doing so, is also the part most won’t pay much attention to.

I like Digimon World: Next Order better than Pokémon Sun and Moon.

Zen Pinball and their latest Star Wars offering is a fascinating blend of old-school gaming with the level of interactivity that can be obtained on a console. Despite the repetitive nature of only needing to hit two buttons, there is definitely room to hone your skills and maximise your high scores as you understand the table layout and improve your reflexes. If you remember the good old days of tilting and yelling at an old pinball table in an arcade parlour, Zen are definitely keeping the spirit alive here.

While it may not be as ground-breaking as the games it draws its inspirations from, this samurai’s tale represents a return to form for the developer. With precise and purposeful combat, foes that demand your respect, and a world of fantastical folklore, Nioh is a fine action RPG worthy of anyone’s attention.

Don’t let the convoluted title fool you. It’s worth the play, even if you’re new to the franchise.

By wiping the slate clean and beginning again, Capcom have gained perspective. With Resident Evil 7, they’ve identified the core tenets of the franchise – the building blocks of terror that captivated and inspired a generation of fans and creators alike. The first-person perspective isn’t Resident Evil, but the feelings it elicits certainly are.

The lack of game modes and other such bells and whistles might put off some people, but I think it’s pretty much moot. Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Future Tone is a pure arcade experience, and to be honest, I think that’s Project DIVA at its best. The massive track list, fantastic music, clever beat maps, and sky-high difficulty ceiling make this one of the best rhythm games available. When you’ve got that, you don’t need a story mode.

The lack of game modes and other such bells and whistles might put off some people, but I think it’s pretty much moot. Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Future Tone is a pure arcade experience, and to be honest, I think that’s Project DIVA at its best. The massive track list, fantastic music, clever beat maps, and sky-high difficulty ceiling make this one of the best rhythm games available. When you’ve got that, you don’t need a story mode.

Easy to use, versatile level-creator with some content-sharing limitations. Solid platformer.

If you can endure the clunky combat that pervades much it – and if I can, you certainly can too – you’ll find a wonderful game in Yakuza 0. It tells a captivating story in its own right, and it’s also a perfect jumping-on point for the series, especially with Yakuza Kiwami, a remake of the first game, due out later this year. If nothing else, do it for the karaoke, hostess clubs, and the chance to make a difference in the life of an up-and-coming dominatrix.

An inscrutable black box, covered in punk-rock graffiti and splattered in blood.

City Living gives us a township full of life that’s easy and fun to explore. With new ways to do jobs and fun interactions with neighbours, this is one expansion any Sims lover should add to their collection.

With heaps of charm and innovation, you’ll be hard-pressed to resist the pull of Gravity Rush 2.

An interesting fresh start for The Walking Dead, but it all feels a bit too familiar.

An interesting fresh start for The Walking Dead, but it all feels a bit too familiar.

Commentators aside, some of what Big Ant did well in the original game gets a bit lost in its second season. buried under the weight of the options and menus. But, you can still smash it like the Big Bash and IPL, if that’s what you’re after. Or, you can go all village green on the game. It’s slow, deliberate, complicated and, without any cynicism, that may be the best thing about Don Bradman Cricket 17.

Not quite the game we need, but certainly the one we deserve.

Not so much a sequel, as the second episode in an epic saga.

An intimidating and mixed VR experience, but could appeal to fans of the ‘whodunnit’ genre.

There's a lot of potential, but it would be much cooler with dragons. And fire.

A jarring contrast between epic beauty and controller destroying frustration.

If senpai doesn’t notice you, give Kokurase a call.

Mindless, stupid fun.

The very best, like no one ever was.

The story provides a mature narrative that brings with it a bonding experience that is a joy to share with its memorable characters, and the open world gameplay and combat offer a host of gripping mechanics I am clamouring to return to. Final Fantasy XV is a glorious return for one of gaming’s most beloved series. It’s quality is proof positive that good things take time.

The Last Guardian does show the battle scars of its long and troubled development. It has problems maintaining a stable framerate, and the controls can be stiff and unrelenting. But the game also shares a warming, heartfelt tale of friendship. A tale so strong and confident in its telling, that most of its negative elements fade away.

Episode 4 doesn’t work for any particular goal in of itself - it’s justification is almost entirely self-existent. If anything it’s merely sweeping the paveway for the finale.

A glorious return for the hardcore tactical stealth genre.

Despite being a good, beautifully stylised game, Shu suffers from being too short. The price of $20 is well suited but this is a game you will most likely only play the once before pushing it to the back of your gaming draw. Not only is it going to sit at the back of your mind as a fond memory; sadly you’re not going to bother recommending it to anyone either.

The best Final Fantasy game in years.

Three games for the price of one is a great buy, but be prepared for shoddy looking characters.

Ashes of Ariandel is a competent piece of downloadable content for Dark Souls III. It checks all the right boxes and makes all the right moves. It’s gorgeous, mysterious, but it’s also tame. While it does fill in the gaps around one of the series’ bigger question marks, no amount of mystique can hide the fact that there isn’t a lot on offer here.

Tyranny is a tale about evil, but not as you know it. It sidesteps the predictable tropes of grayscale morality by shifting the spectrum entirely. The first few hours of the game are spent in disgust, but by the end you’ll become numb to your actions; evil becomes banal, terror and violence normalized. You’re not a moustachioed villain, as you so often are in games with morality meters – you’re a bureaucrat. And it’s terrifying.

Sort of like that dream you had once about being a bird, but with more feather collecting and fish.

Does what it sets out to - just don’t expect a revolution, Dance Dance or otherwise.

Xenoverse 2 is best for those who missed the first game, as they are far, far, far too similar. Many of the maps are recycled, and really so is the combat. But your abstinence as a Dragon Ball fan (and aren’t we all) will be dearly compensated with an expanded version. Neither its story nor treadmill-fighting are likely to get you zealing for a year’s training at 500-times Earth’s gravity, but you’ll be up to your Dragon Balls in creative things to do, with an excitable use of the lore. The Xenoverse series may only exist to piggyback the monetary success of western game design, though whether sincere or not, that’s actually the best part of this translation. Like all of these games with steep stories, the depth of your enjoyment will likely depend on the depth of your fandom.

Watch Dogs 2 has created an immersive world, disturbingly close to the real one. It’s still a fictitious San Francisco, but sometimes it’s difficult to tell which bits are made up. With rich, in depth missions, colourful characters, and fun open world gameplay, this might just be the best game I’ve played this year.

In the end, I love this game. While it’s a slow starter plotwise, Dishonored 2 builds up wonderfully to a satisfying conclusion, with plenty of memorable challenges along the way. But more than anything else, it’s fun. It’s a gorgeous, deep, enjoyable piece of work, and I highly recommend it if you like stealth, exploration, or cool steampunk Portugal. See you in the Void.

It might be asking for a lot of faith from gamers without a decent story tying it all together, but the good news is Season One adds up as one of the better Hitman titles in recent years. Episode two, set in Sapienza, was particularly enjoyable and there is a lot of replayable content as you try and unlock different assassination methods or uncover secret collectibles. However I wouldn’t be surprised that playing through all six chapters in one sitting loses it’s impact somewhat.

It’s not Tenchu, but it’s the next best thing.

A fun reason to jump back into Deus Ex, but not necessarily worth dropping coin for the Season Pass.

A fun game that is almost a step in the right direction for the series.

While I’ve been on the verge of giving the game the people’s elbow, especially sitting through the long load times and when I lost a match because I couldn’t tag back into a tag team match; it’s a ‘tag’ team match, and I couldn’t figure out how to ‘tag’. It’s in the bloody stupid title. But, I’m going to keep playing. I love all the bluster, all the blood, and I want to eventually get a win by submission.

A solid sequel with minor improvements to a successful formula.

Skyrim is still a great game that everyone should play, but it could’ve used more than a paint job.

Overly familiar multiplayer, but tells a compelling story.

A party game through and through, despite the lack of multiplayer.

Functionary and solid.

The first Batman relationship simulator.

I’ve had an absolute blast with Civilization VI. I found it easy to approach, and loved how deep I could choose to go with it. The number of options to completely customize my civilization, and how drastically different each play could be thanks to the randomly generated maps made each match a challenge.

Half Dragon Quest, half Minecraft, all delightful.

One of the best Skylanders games to date thanks to the deep character creation tool.

Ultimately Hustle Kings VR lacks a lot of polish. The fact that there’s a banner advert for LittleBigPlanet 3 in the background of one of the levels is a perfect example of how this title looks like a rushed effort to be in the VR line-up. Once the novelty of being able to look around wears off, you’re stuck with essentially the exact same experience that the franchise delivered back on the PS3.

Not for the weak stomached, but a well thought-out shooter for early adopters of Playstation VR.

Impossibly cool, but also impossible.

Titanfall 2 is designed just well enough, and with enough layers so to not be entirely derivative. Hero simulations are so vastly abundant in this industry - so if you’re going to play one, you might as well choose from those who do it the best.

It’s a diamond in the rough, though, and this jankiness is a mild distraction at worst. The appeal of Mafia III is the stories it tells – both the textual narrative, and the multitude of emergent ones that come from simply existing in a place as rich and complex as New Bordeaux. It certainly has its flaws, but in balancing the over-the-top action of a crime game with a pointed look at real-life racism, and in its fantastic re-creation of the ‘60s American South, Mafia III has achieved something special.

Worth the price, worth the time, and worth the last level.

Battlefield 1 is not the enlightened superior rescuing us from sci-fi boredom. Its refreshment is largely skin deep, and none of the new additions change that; not the horses, not the trains, not the blimps, not the bayonets. Change the guns and skins to a modern flavour and you’d never know the difference.

Boring at best, sickness-inducing at worst.

Arkham VR is an amazing, adrenaline filled first person experience for anyone who’s wanted to be the Caped Crusader. It would be a discredit to pass this off as a tech demo, but it’s not exactly a game as such either. It’s an experience. And despite it being a short-lived one, it’s certainly one you won’t forget in a hurry.

An engaging and atmospheric Lovecraftian adventure, as challenging as it is addictive. A must-play.

A gleefully gritty, gruesome, and grand continuation of the franchise.

FIFA 17 feels like an evolution, rather than a marginal update.

All of the changes made in this version are improvements. The only thing left to do is get rid of those damn coins!

Not an overhaul, but a refinement.

You don’t often play an 80+ hour game that earns every second of the time it demands.

Absolutely nails the core gameplay.

Children of Arkham is a less theatric, but more disruptive story to Batman’s lore.

Slightly better than being run over by a tractor.

The games are probably a bit too young to be considered retro or nostalgic, (Infinite is only three years old), but they do bring with them a lot of fond memories. If you’ve never played them before, the series feels fresh and new.

Solid core systems, but poor presentation and technical issues hold it back.

Visual novels rarely come as deep and thought provoking as this one.

A charming, fun old-school-style action-platformer that’s about twice as long as it should have been.

An epic and gorgeous drive through Oz scenery, and the best driving game this year.

Other M is no longer the worst Metroid game.

New content that’s less like busywork, and more like meaningful progression.

Deep and rewarding.

A unique sandbox experience once you get into it and figure out how to play.

All the depth of 2D King of Fighters, none of the beauty.

F1 2016 is a real upgrade on its predecessors, and hints at a promising future.