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.

If you were ever looking for a WWE title where you write the story or spam the online services with b-grade knock offs of Cloud Strife, look no further.

There is no better way to wrap up the last few chapters of Naruto.

While ultimately echochrome ii is a sparse puzzler where you point a light source at a cluster of coloured blocks, it is so lovely, so seamless, and so enjoyable to play (not to mention bloody difficult at times), I'm adamant if you are going to purchase a Move this Christmas, echochrome ii is an absolute must-have.

Players looking for a pure stealth game will be disappointed, but everyone else will find in Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena a healthy mix of action, stealth and heavy weapon gameplay.

Existing fans of the franchise will be head over heels for Birth by Sleep. Everything you love is here with new twists and turns, and this is ironically the longest game in the series. It may even be the best game in the series so far.

As well as being wonderfully constructed, the environment drips with atmosphere.

Tales from the Borderlands got off to a good start last year, and now that Atlas Mugged is finally here, the series has only gotten better.

A surprisingly solid port - given the switch to controller.

Apart from the slight faults in the AI and voice-acting, Ubisoft has done an amazing job in creating a unique gaming experience and a solid new franchise.

Sure, there is still room for improvement with Skate 3 with regards to the customisation and off-board controls, but it looks like the days of the Tony Hawk reign might be finally gone. Whoop!

The atmosphere in Resident Evil is second to none, and it's something that needs to make a comeback.

Despite the size, Smash Bros. feels right at home on the 3DS.

The living, breathing world of Sunset Valley, the town that comes pre-packaged with the game, is a fascinating one.

ocket Knight is one of the best downloadable games available and Climax, and Konami deserve all the acclaim they are bound to get from it.

Bayonetta 2 is bigger, faster, crazier, and prettier than the original, and is very much deserving of your time.

What I like about Borderlands 2 is that the game can be as complicated or straightforward as you like.

If you've been hanging out for some wholesome fun, F1 Race Stars has got it - in bucket loads. Now all we need are some more tracks!

Massive and beautiful. Classic roleplaying at it’s finest

But for all those FIFA fans who are annoyed at the dodgy AI and lack of real control in FIFA ’09 – I think it’s safe to say you won’t be disappointed with this year’s edition. Whether playing single player and pushing your team through tournaments or taking your personal ‘Be a Pro’ player online and making a name for yourself – there are hours upon hours of pure football brilliance here.

Most importantly though, it appears that Bungie are learning how to write and present an excellent single-player story to match the multiplayer prowess of Halo.

Superhot has been talked about a lot since it debuted on Oculus, and for good reason. Now that it’s finally available for PSVR owners, it’s a must have for anyone who wants to play a VR first-person shooter with a twist.

It brings new humour, new methods of interaction, and a much more fleshed-out portrayal of personality for your Sims. In fact, it can be argued that this is the desert-island expansion pack; the pack you'd choose if you could only pick one. If you own the Sims 3 you need to buy Generations.

New players may find all the back story and references from XIII a bit confusing, however with the inclusion of a "beginner's primer" in the menu, there's no reason why longtime fans of the series as well as complete newcomers won't get a brilliant gaming experience out of this title. Two thumbs up!

With its subtle but significant changes to the gameplay, and with the leaderboards providing excellent motivation for just one more go, Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 will last players until their skills plateau. Even those that are loath to get into the fuzzy area of downloadable content and digital rights management owe it to themselves to purchase this game. It’s simply that good.

I am just one reviewer who found it far too pointlessly violent.

Minecraft isn’t for everybody (fortunately, there’s a free demo that you can try), but for those who will hear its call, it’s easily one of the best games available on Xbox One.

There's probably about four people on the planet that won't enjoy this game and 80% of the rest of us that do enjoy it will be very impressed by both what it brings to the genre and how it goes about presenting that gameplay to the player.

The game that finally convinced me to get a Telltale account.

If you’re a fan of Darkstalkers at all, waste no time in picking this up. If you haven’t played the series before, but have any interest in fighting games, you’d do well to consider this as well - this is the definitive Darkstalkers, and you may just find that something special that’s gripped the series’ cult of fans.

Prime is great, Echoes is great, Corruption is great, and in this release gamers have been given a real treat.

The story flows too, as Faith unravels her mystery. Between the chapters, which are all go, are artfully animated cut-scenes, which explain what’s going on.

Persona 4: Dancing All Night is a game for Persona fans, a game for rhythm genre fans, and definitely a game for Persona fans who love rhythm games (like me). Perhaps more importantly, it’s a milestone for rhythm games, pushing the bounds of mastery and player-defined difficulty, and demonstrating that this genre has as much capacity for a deep and compelling narrative as any other.

This is a great game and one that fans of the series will really love. If your style of online play is "small unit combat, up close and personal" then this is easily the best available option. Despite stiff competition, the team at Infinity Ward have delivered yet again.

One of it’s most enjoyable episodes, with some of the best action and choices to date.

The only question you need to ask yourself is: do I need another addiction?

Elika is awesome, as you may have picked up by now in this review. Sadly though, the same cannot be said for the hero of the story.

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.

One of the biggest gripes of Ninja Gaiden on the Xbox – which was solved in a later remake on the PS3 – was the camera: it didn’t have analog stick control. Although in Ninja Gaiden 2 you can, it’s a constant struggle against the camera as it tries to retain the default angle.

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

Most gamers can expect over 80 hours of gametime, fantastic characters and voice-acting and some of the best graphics seen on a Nintendo handheld. Whether you buy this for your home console or your New 3DS, it’s one of the better JRPGs to have launched in the last few years.

But this is one instance where, despite the glitches, I genuinely didn't care. New Vegas is just way too much fun. It's got everything in a game that I love, from a huge open world to explore, interesting characters to meet, challenging critters to fight, an awesome environment, great soundtrack and bloody mayhem.

Players looking for a pure stealth game will be disappointed, but everyone else will find in Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena a healthy mix of action, stealth and heavy weapon gameplay.

An interactive discussion of the darkled human spirit.

If you're at all interested in sports, have a Wii and have mates over for multiplayer sessions (which is where NBA Jam truly shines) you just have to get this. Highly recommended - bring on Cricket Jam or Rugby League Jam!

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

It might not be the best vertical shooter ever – that honour goes to Ikaruga’s predecessor Radiant Silvergun – but it is easily the best game on Xbox Live Arcade and indeed the Xbox 360 itself. Purchase immediately.

An essential purchase for any Tower Defense fan or anyone who just likes good games. It has that "Crimson Skies" feel, eloquently executing a combination of presentation and gameplay that outweighs the sum of its parts.

Who's That Flying? raises the bar for what minis are capable of.

Telltale have proved yet again that they’re the big dog when it comes to licensed adventure games and emotionally-charged, gripping, character-driven narratives.

A very nicely delivered RPG with loads of content to explore, plenty of replayability and genuine options to choose in the branching dialogue.

If you're hankering for some classic Arkanoid-style action, but would like a game that adds a little depth and removes the end-level frustration, you've found it. And at just $5.95 / 15 MB, there's no excuse not to get it.

Dead Space is also surprisingly long for a shoot-em up, taking over 10 hours to complete. Although parts of it seemed repetitive (often you’ll find yourself trekking through identical corridor after corridor) the combat sequences were varied and enjoyable thanks to the need for different techniques to get through them.

DeathSpank is fun to play, funny to watch and it allows a second player to jump in at any time and assist by playing sparkles the incredibly camp magical elf. What's not to love?

The most fun you can have with yourself.

Point-for-point, The Evil Within 2 is a better game than its predecessor. But what defines it – and elevates it – is its ambitious design. Taking a horror game into an open world setting could have been a disaster, but Tango Gameworks pull it off with aplomb.

Bioware has produced an RPG hybrid that gels really well with its setting and series. Hardcore fans of Mass Effect or even the RPG genre will not be disappointed.

So should you buy it? If you like Halo, it's a resounding yes - this is the best Halo ever (even if it is - by far - the hardest). If you like multiplayer first-person shooters, it's an "almost definitely" (fans of realistic shooters need not apply). If you want the world's most polished single player experience? A less enthusiastic response is appropriate.

But if you're looking for a modern Sonic game which stays faithful to its roots, is fun to play and is a worthy title on its own merits, look no further. Finally, Sonic Colors is that game we've been waiting for.

It's the perfect start to what I can only hope is a series, with all of the fundamental components executed very well indeed. With a few additions (most importantly, some way to share your work) this could even become a tool for teachers to leverage or the basis of a new online community.

SWAP Force marks the point at which Skylanders really finds its groove; it’s still super approachable for all levels of gamer (the hard difficulty will challenge even the very best out there, believe me) and finally worthwhile for those of us that like something with a bit of meat on it.

Minor flaws aside, FEZ is a great game that's hard not to recommend. At least, it'll offer a few hours of fun puzzle platforming; at most, it'll give you a fresh outlook on our three dimensional world and open your mind to what more there could be.

Deeply beautiful and emotional, but falls prey to the elements it’s critiquing.

Spore is one of those titles that jumps genres with ease, while not dipping too far into any one genre, leaving players with a very diverse gameplay experience, and odds are, there will be a lot more content such as monsters and vehicles to expand on the huge worlds already available.

Even if you never go online, SFxT is a fantastic fighter and one that adds enough to a familiar formula to be well worth the investment - even if you have all of the other versions of Street Fighter. And at the end of the day, that's what really matters. If you like portable pugilism, it's a must-own.

If you like your RPGs old-school with plenty of Tolkien and Dungeon Master mixed in with sword wielding warrior women and moody elves, then Dragon Age is for you.

If you like your RPGs old-school with plenty of Tolkien and Dungeon Master mixed in with sword wielding warrior women and moody elves, then Dragon Age is for you.

If you like your RPGs old-school with plenty of Tolkien and Dungeon Master mixed in with sword wielding warrior women and moody elves, then Dragon Age is for you.

Fantastic gameplay, vistas and multiplayer modes, with a story that’s on the cusp of being an epic.

The learning curve is steep, and it can be hard to keep up with all the made-up words if you're new to the series, but it's all worth it in the end. This is a fun world to inhabit, and the narrative weaved throughout is deeply satisfying. Not afraid of a little complexity? Then get this game.

If you think you'll get a giddy thrill when the game's visuals change to look like a Gameboy, a Virtual Boy or the sounds switch to something clearly inspired by Tetris, Pix'n Love Rush is a must-buy.

One of the best 2D platformers with a tonne of replayability, now in a portable shell.

There's not much new here. But if you have a decent PC and have a desire to check this one out, you can rest easy in the knowledge that it's a pretty decent conversion.

Destiny 2 is a long list of refinements. Tweaks and tightenings to the gameplay loop, and quality of life improvements that cater to the player – instead of making them subservient to mechanical whimsy. It still has its rough patches, but it realises – and raises up – the systems of its predecessor.

Still one of the most charming, innovative RPGs of last generation, despite the rough edges.

Bloodborne lends heavily from its forebears, but transforms the combat into a fast-paced dance of death. It rewards aggression rather than hanging back and waiting for opportunities to present themselves. While some technical, design, and pacing issues mar parts of the experience, Bloodborne is the freshest playing entry in a genre that has very narrow gameplay constraints.

Okami is beautiful to witness and plays like a true classic.

Titanfall is just so full of things. The world is beautiful and detailed, the maps are detailed and confusing, the giant robots have plenty of places to hide. Take your time to drink it all in as the bullets zing around and into you.

I sat down and played this game from start to finish in one evening and didn’t skip a single cutscene (I didn’t even notice I wasn’t skipping them until near the end). The entire time I was engrossed in the game and having genuine fun and it went by quite quickly, a duck blur, if you will.

If you like loot-em-ups, and you like the idea of having one in your pocket, you'll be hard pressed to find anything better than this.

Levels are fun to play, with a good variety of play mechanics and ever escalating challenge that keeps you pushing for a ridiculously large improvement in your skillbase, only to find an even harder chunk of gameplay around the corner.

It's challenging the original idea of what Ghost Recon is, providing a new experience, and a new way to tell the tale of a new Ghost team. It works well, with a lengthy campaign and a very deep multiplayer experience. The gameplay is tight and the title's only flaws are some AI quirks and its quality control ,with frame rate drops, bugs in animation, and scripted sequences which can let it down at times.

While Street Fighter 3: Online Edition is the least beginner-friendly of the series, that's precisely why it's favoured among the series' biggest fans. The parrying, super moves and timing make this a challenging and surprisingly addictive game.

Yes, it’s disappointing to see so many bugs, but at the end of the day you’re here for the dopamine reaction that hits when you see those legendary drops, and there are absolutely no issues with that part of the game whatsoever.

Saints Row IV combines irreverence, comedic genius, and fantastic characterisation with one of the most bizarre and ridiculous storylines you’ll see all year. As a total experience, its got the goods.

Taken as a whole, as an experience rather than a series of discrete mechanics, this is a game that – if you let it – will draw you into its world…and then let you run loose in it. It feels refreshing enough to breathe new life into this crowded genre, and if you’re an RPG fan – even a casual one – then this should definitely be on your ‘must play’ list.

What matters most with Mortal Kombat (and, indeed, any fighting game) is the fighting engine. It's good. It's fun, it's tight and it rewards skill.

FIFA 11 is big. It's packed to the brim with virtual football action, all of it bigger and better in some way than last year's version.

If you can deal with the fact that you can't play it with your friends, there's no reason to hesitate.

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.

Still the best sports simulation out there, until the PS4 version.

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

It feels like this was the game Kojima knew he should have reluctantly made from the beginning - having finally kicked the habit of falling into cinematic gluttony to tell his stories. He’s made a game that utilises more fully what a game should, with all the learning curves that come with trying something new. Metal Gear Solid 5 is the best stealth game I’ve ever played, it’s just not the best open-world one.

Dark Soul's weakest aspect lies in failing to draw the player into something deeper, other than just leveling up and managing to stay in one piece after crossing swords with a Black Knight.

Being compared to a game as universally loved as LBP sets some pretty high expectations, but I have to say: ModNation Racers effortlessly meets (and sometimes exceeds) them.

Overall, Team Ninja has done a great job making Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate worth the double dip with additional modes including team play, and a ‘new’ training mode. The additional features make this the game Dead or Alive 5 should have been.

All of this has me very eagerly waiting for the next episode, and wishing it wasn’t six weeks away. But the thing behind most of that anticipation is the thing I can’t talk about - one hell of a cliffhanger ending, that I never saw coming.

Baseball is a sport like no other. It looks to its past as much to its future. MLB The Show 17 embraces both. From an introductory video sticky-sweet with nostalgia, to various flashy quick-game options, short challenges, and custom controls. It is a game for fans of the past and present. A game that allows easy access for those who haven’t played a baseball game in a while. Or, even for those who have never played one before.