On a personal note, this reviewer has a new favourite of all time: see ya later, Ocarina... we had some good times.... [RDD is] NZGamer.com's first ever, and eminently deserving, ten out of ten. Play it until the credits roll. And then keep on going.

Tomb Raider earns its score for daring to go big and then executing on that goal with considerable aplomb in every important area. It looks great, plays well, and is fun from beginning to end. Even more than that, it does all of those things with more skill and finesse than almost any other game before it.

There’s no hyperbole when I say that Dragon Age: Inquisition is the best RPG I’ve played in a long time. Hell, it’s the best game of any genre I’ve played in a long time. It’s a shoo-in for Game of the Year in my books, a masterclass in game design that deserves a spot in everyone’s game library.

A truly spectacular game. Of all of the possible results that may have sprung from the circumstances that now surround the development of the Halo franchise, Halo 4 is the most welcome (and surprising) imaginable.

A beautiful, expertly realised world.

It's not perfect, but given the equipment available today, it's as close as anyone is likely to get. Grand Theft Auto IV is Rockstar North's magnum opus and it is absolutely essential. That’s all one needs to know.

You’ll get frustrated, I can guarantee it – but that’s the point. It doesn’t offer tutorials, because the game is confident in your ability to prevail. It’s a treatise on our ability to develop and grow, as we attempt to make sense of the unknown.

Halo 3 is essential. An Xbox 360 without a copy of the game is like a human without a heart.

Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE is a must-buy for anyone with a Wii U, and I’d say is even worth buying a Wii U for. It’s not just a killer app for the console (well, the latest in a long line of killer apps), but a smart, beautiful, funny, thought-provoking, brilliant game – the sort of game we’ll be talking about for years to come.

The game is breathtakingly simple, polished to perfection, and tonnes of fun - by yourself or with friends. The only reason it’s not getting a perfect 10 is because I miss the story elements, and some of the bosses were just far too easy to overcome.

As it stands now, I can’t recommend Tales from the Borderlands highly enough. It’s a masterpiece of the same calibre as The Walking Dead, it’s one of the best games I’ve played all year (also, one of the best games I’ve played ever), and it might just be Telltale’s magnum opus.

San Andreas is vast and sprawling and so much fun to explore. There are thousands of things to do and hundreds of missions, so this will not be a quick playthrough.

It's the best game on the 3DS and it justifies the purchase of the system all by itself.

An epic masterpiece worth saving your gold doubloons for.

Graphically Uncharted is almost entirely phenomenal. Not just good, great or awesome but truly and utterly incredible. The metallic surfaces and the jungle stand out as being more amazing looking that actual, real things.

Bravo, Blizzard, Bravo.

The very best, like no one ever was.

What should really sweeten the deal for PS4 owners is the Remastered version of The Last of Us also includes the follow-up downloadable content, such as Ellie’s prequel chapter titled Left Behind. Which easily adds another two or three hours to the length of gameplay and expands on the riveting character developments.

Galaxy really is as good as you have been hearing; if you are a Nintendo fan, this is simply essential.

The comparisons to Uncharted can’t be ignored and, while it might appear a ‘safe move’ by Naughty Dog on the surface, their new franchise undoubtedly pushes the boundaries in a welcome new direction. They have put their well-polished engine to excellent use and put the emphasis on compelling characters to showcase what this talented studio can really deliver.

Bang for buck? Check. Killer gameplay? Check. Loads of options? Check. Story, sound, presentation? All awesome. It even has a "casual" difficulty level. What's not to like? Screw 2010 - StarCraft II is the best RTS game released in YEARS and one of the best games on PC full stop. If you like gaming at all, you owe it to yourself to check this out. The ultimate RTS has arrived.

Even Catwoman's playable missions, which I initially considered to be a cheap selling gimmick, add a lot of value to this game. Her titillating character plays in a completely different manner to the Caped Crusader's and the change in tempo works well.

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.

It's a bit on the short side, sure, and the visuals have a tiny hiccup here and there. Everything else about the game is perfect. Seriously, it's exactly right. If you like your action to be intense, dramatic, and totally ridiculous, this could very well be your game of the year.

Jaw-droppingly beautiful...If you are into hotting up rice-rockets, drag racing supercharged yank-tanks, or delicately carving through the twists in a finely tuned Italian thoroughbred, you'll find Forza 4 to be the best console racing title around.

Its incredible controls and even gameplay really elevate the franchise to new levels.

An excellent game with an almost Grindhouse film aesthetic to it.

A stunning climax to the series, and a worthy send-off to the team at Rocksteady.