Rupturing quality and oozing tension, this is stealth gaming of the highest calibre, full of imagination and augmented by an excellent two-way Trust system that leaves you pondering every choice you make and then having to deal with the consequences. [Nov 2006, p.8]

Spectacular if spotty, this wrestler fulfills more than it frustrates. [Issue#225, p.88]

An essential buy for any Xbox fight fan. [Aug 2015, p.82]

Tired and lacking ideas, this is the most disappointing CoD in years that follows, not leads. [Christmas 2018, p.72]

Heaven for the fans, tough love for the rest. [Oct 2009, p.86]

It’s the realisation of a vision Rocksteady has been working towards since 2009. Now that gaming tech has finally caught up, we’ve been given the swansong the Dark Knight deserves.

It's not as technically demanding as Street Fighter IV, and feels like a more free-flowing, mobile, nimble fighter in comparison. [Issue#66, p.99]

There's a massive amount to say about GHWT, from the factoid videos teaching you the real guitar, and the vastly improved backdrop for gigs, to the superb way you can play as a band. This is a vastly entertaining package and a must buy for music lovers and GH fans.

Tight, fun and fast-paced racing action that just about anyone can enjoy. [Nov 2008, p.89]

It's fortunate the series can now rest on the safety net of online play and character customization because, without it this would be a slender, anorexic package - a tad ironic, when you consider just how much attention Namco has lavished on its buxom babes.

As a street-legal version of a purebred racer, Horizon is something that anybody with an interest in cars can pick up quickly and play for ages. And if you don't like cars already, well, it might just persuade you.

Egypt and star Bayek make this a promising forebear to a new age of Creed.

Simply a must-have puzzle game. [Sept 2010, p.101]

Enormous, handsome and in love with the subtleties of world design, storytelling and class-based combat. The finest Dragon Age yet, and the most accomplished RPG so far on Xbox One.

It’s a familiar template that The Outer Worlds builds itself around, but the depth and wit within its universe invites you ever-deeper. There’s social commentary and late-stage capitalism gallows humour all over the place, but it’s the richness of its imagined future that really holds the attention. [Issue#184, p.84]

Wildly chaotic but obscenely enjoyable. [Mar 2011, p.91]

Codemasters have created their best racing game - and possibly the best F1 game ever. [Nov 2016, p.86]

The genre's star might be fading ever so slightly, and this game is no revolution, but it does deliver great music and a more refined band experience.

The greatest triumph is that it'll make you laugh and go 'wow' for the entire seven hours and then some. [Oct 2006, p.8]

Its enhanced framerate, more responsive controls and extra gameplay modes mean it's the most complete gridiron experience on the console. It's just...didn't we play this last year? [Oct 2007, p.94]

This year’s PES has improved its game in all the right areas of the pitch, resulting in a pulsating, best-in-class football sim – although there’s room for improvement presentation-wise.

Generous almost to excess, Battleblock Theater is one of Xbox Live Arcade's masterworks, and a reminder that genuine, bona fide imagination is possible even in the twilight of a console generation.

There's a lot of fisticuffs packed in, with a massive 114 fighters from the world of UFC to choose from, as well as the ability to create your own brawler (though the customisation options are more serious than THQ's WWE games - you won't be fighting in a zombie mask).

Mixing tense action sequences and clever character development with thoughtful scripting and meaningful dialogue, Cry Wolf is a spectacular end to an excellent series.

Even when we're note marvelling at this marriage of plastic blocks and Death Stars, there's something incredible going on in this game, and it's all in the little details. [Oct 2006, p.68]

At 800 MP, Forces of Nature is hard to resist. Epic's final and most dramatic dose of Season Pass content turns out to be its most conciliatory, a club sandwich of new and warmed-over jollies that belongs on every menu.

A beautiful, bleak puzzle game that any newcomer willing to look death in the eye should pick up. [Feb 2015, p.82]

F.E.A.R. is a good-looking FPS with great sound and amazing gunfights, but it lacks variety – sharing Condemned’s bent for basements, air vents, abandoned factories, offices and so on, and the identikit enemies don’t help.

Trine 2 is a vivid and stunning game that spins the colour wheel on nature. It's completely absorbing as a single-player experience and bawdy puzzle fun with company. Just remember to turn on the unlimited mode and get stuck in.

Still struggles with technical problems, but the gameplay is tight, tense and tactical. [Dec 2018, p.80]

It has a solid, unrelenting challenge that will remind veteran gamers of years gone by when games made no apologies for being so stupidly, frustratingly, agonisingly tough.

Much more than the sum of its parts, Life is Strange is equally absorbing forcing us into impossible choices or capturing the joy of the mundane. It's not perfect, but you won't forget it in a hurry.

This exceptional tactical stealth game gives new life to what was a tiring genre. [Nov 2017, p.80]

A refreshing alternative to the darker platformers of the last few years.

Trials at its finest: simply to play it is to have a blast, and you can’t ask for more than that.

One of the best exploration games ever, thanks to a small but perfectly crafted setting. [Issue#179, p.85]

Far Cry 2 is this year's equivalent of Assassin's Creed... when it comes to enveloping the player in exotic sights and sounds, Ubisoft has absolutely nailed it. [Issue # 40]

FIFA 07 is fantastic. The reworked gameplay feels so right and its Xbox Live support is amazing. [Nov 2006, p.66]

Those worried that World War II has been done to death, fear not. Treyarch's willingness to push the boundaries has uncovered a side to the war few developers even knew existed, and we'll be damned if it doesn't make for one hell of a game to boot.

Exploding with multiplayer fun! [Oct 2007, p.98]

An absolutely beautiful recreation of a magnificently designed racer. [Issue#180, p.81]

By turns breathless, brilliant and fist-chewingly demanding, Velocity 2X might allow its tempo to drop too often, but it approaches excellence often enough to recommend - you might just fall in love.

Crysis 2 skates on the thin ice of its own excellence. There are weaknesses, that might - if the mode-swapping suitplay hadn't been so strong - have dragged the game down. But the story and combat [are] strong enough to carry you through, and if you've got the stomach for competitive multiplayer, the Nanosuit will bring a new world of sneaky, high-jumping tactics to your online game. [Apr 2011, p.84 MC]

A Rare collection without GoldenEye is like the Louvre without the Mona Lisa, true, but it gives us room to appreciate the Raphaels, Michelangelos and, er, just pick this up, okay? [Oct 2015, p.77]

There’s always something to do on your plot of land, and it’ll be a long time before you encounter every species of Piñata and see everything this bright colourful world has to offer.

A winning tribute to TV's crassest kids, wrapped up in a fresh and fun RPG shell.

The cruelty of the levels can be frustrating, but you'll keep coming back. The infinite lives and near-instant reloading of checkpoints means stress always loses out to the classic "one-more-go" syndrome.

The passion that BG&E inspires makes it too easy to gloss over the flaws - it'll take you a while to get used to the hyper-sensitive camera, the acting is choppy, and Jade's fighting style is uninspired. But this is a game in which killing comes second to the story, puzzles, the world, and the characters - it's 10-15 hours of genuinely compelling pleasure.

A great story mode and superb presentation, but gameplay clearly lags behind PES. [Dec 2016, p.70]

The best way to experience gaming's most loved, if not best, shooter series. [Dec 2016, p.76]

The aliens don't quite cut it, but Prey offers one of gaming's best settings in years. [July 2017, p.73]

Gears 5 is definitely a success story... it’s just not quite on the same Xbox tier of insta-classic territory as the original Gears Of War. Though combat is satisfying, there’s the nagging doubt it hasn’t evolved enough over the past 13 years – a point hammered home if you play Remedy’s recent Control. Still, despite some overly safe online modes, that refreshed, never-bolder campaign makes Kait’s story a tour of duty you should definitely sign up for. [Issue#183, p.69]

Hitting a difficulty sweet spot, Top Spin 4 is deep enough to let you spend hours mastering the perfect volley, but won't turn its nose up at you if you don't fancy anything more than an occasional late-night session of backhanding with Federer.

It's very much one of the year's best shooters, but for all Frostbite 2's volcanic achievements, it's more a triumph of consolidation, blending elements from past games and popular competitors, than a triumph in its own right.

Improves on the original in almost every way. [July 2010, p.90]

The strongest aspect of ACIII is the more mature moral tone.

An ambient platforming essential. [July 2011, p.102]

A cover shooter sequel with more wild imagination than we dared expect. [Dec 2016, p.67]

Citadel feels fresh compared to the tired 'haunted house' missions of recent DLC packs, and deserves to be filed alongside Kasumi's Stolen Memory and Lair of the Shadow Broker as one of the best expansions to the Mass Effect universe, as well as a fitting full stop for the trilogy.

The slavish devotion to co-op can cause Halo 5 as much grief as reward, but when it works with rather than against its teamwork mechanics the result is an epic, high-octane shooter. [Christmas 2015, p.55]

Each world is packed with mysterious treasures and treacheries just waiting to be discovered, and learning how to use them to shape the world to your benefit is enormously satisfying. [Jan 2015, p.89]

Rewarding and engrossing, it's a fine F1 game. Fix that framerate and it's perfect. [Nov 2017, p.76]

NBA 2K7 doesn't have the looks, but its solid on-court action puts you at the heart of the match rather than on the sidelines, with quick-fire tactics that you'd expect to see on ESPN. [Dec 2006, p.88]

This is old-school style gaming, sticking proudly with the DMC staple. Nevertheless, Capcom has got the balance right this time. "Devil May Cry 3" was undoubtedly the pinnacle of the series, despite becoming insanely difficult far too quickly. Here it's a much slower incline rather than a sharp spike.

The best band tie-in to date. [June 2009, p.79]

The closest any racer has come to completely simulating its target sport. [Nov 2018, p.94]

Civilization Revolution is currently the best strategy game available on the console. It has the controls, it has the pedigree, it has the depth, it has the multiplayer and most of all it has the accessibility. [July 2008, p.80]

Yooka-Laylee smartly ditches 3D to instead focus on perfecting 2D platforming. [Issue#184, p.77]

Excellent single-player offering for those who aren't usually into fighting games. [Christmas 2018, p.74]

A unique survival strategy story that really knows how to rack up the tension. [Issue#184, p.81]

Despite the blatantly rushed execution, it's impossible not to love The Walking Dead Episode 2. This is thought-provoking, clever, and genuinely grown-up entertainment. Heart-rending decisions and spectacular pacing make this one of the most intense gaming experiences we've ever had.

Codemasters has tweaked the driving physics to work surprisingly well with a stock Xbox 360 controller.

Original, beautiful, and one of a kind.

While it's never going to be as surprising or novel as Codies' first stab at Formula One, for a seasonal update there's a remarkable number of tweaks and changes, all of which are for the better. What's more, the game has become one of the most substantial and compelling multiplayer racing offerings around and, with the addition of co-op at whatever diffi culty you choose, is more inclusive for all skill levels than the majority of online racers.

This is b-ball for the hardcore. You know it!

One of the series' highest points. [June 2014, p.90]

A masterful continuation of a captivating tale - powerful, sad and deeply involving. [Sept 2016, p.85]

Perfectly balanced fights in a small package, we just wish there were more stages. [October 2018, p.83]

A compelling argument not just for Criterion's continued stewardship of Need for Speed - assuming Hot Pursuit left you in any doubt on that front - but for the reproduction of those inescapable, irresistible online features across rival genres.

Bloodstained: ROTN is a deceptively hard game (that’s a good thing), so careful exploration of each room and a considered approach to each encounter is required in order to reach the next big boss with enough health and magic points. [Issue#180, p.85]

Still awesome online. [Aug 2009, p.94]

The only downside is that at £100, it's asking you to put your wallet on the line for an experience that offers the same thrills as GH, but still represents a big gamble if you didn't get on with that series. It's just a fraction too expensive for our liking.

An early contender for game of the year. It really is that spectacular. While the hand of Epic is evident, as the team that did the bulk of the work this catapults People Can Fly onto our list of the most exciting shooter devs on the Xbox 360. Brilliant writing, unparalleled production values and thunderous action: this deserves to be number one with a bullet.

Fallout: New Vegas does betray the age of its engine every now and then, but it also shows why it has aged so well, powering the same tasty mix of great gameplay, endless side-quests and a world to get lost in.

A glorious example of how much fun there is to be had when you let rip with both barrels. Screw reality - ridiculous overblown madness like this is exactly why video games are so great. Thanks for justifying our pastime, Volition.

Perfectly evokes the brilliant point-and-clicks of old, from the puzzles to the one-liners. [June 2017, p.77]

4A Games can't turn back time, but it's done everything to ensure that both Metro games feel comparable to today's standards. Beautiful, compelling and distinctly original, Redux is a must.

Beautifully made if somewhat linear. Fun to play through even though the town is quiet. [Aug 2018, p.82]

Much more than the sum of its parts, but unfortunately said parts are only an okay FPS and an okay RPG, both fairly no-frills and functional. It's a roast dinner without gravy followed by an apple pie without custard. Nothing's wrong, but you can't shake the nagging feeling that something's missing. Borderlands is a good time, but it should have been a great time.

Madden 11 is without a doubt the best American football game on the Xbox 360. [Issue#65, p.85]

Smart alterations to the throwing and catching game shake up the Madden formula enough to pass the taste test, without necessarily adding any new ingredients. [Nov 2015, p.84]

FIFA 14 represents a difficult step forward for a very popular franchise, but a successful one nonetheless. The changes have such a significant effect, that returning fans may find them off-putting through the first five to ten games. But those that embrace them will be rewarded with perhaps the most satisfying, engaging FIFA yet.

The definitive version of an already excellent fighting game, Ultra Street Fighter is the pinnacle of Capcom's tinkering with the title, and shows just how far one game can go with a little bit of love from its fans. That said, we're ready for Street Fighter 5 now, please.

A faithful upgrade of a handheld classic.

Haunting, amazing, but not for everybody.

A stylish shooter that subverts and surprises at every turn. A little glitchy, though. [Issue#182, p.79]

Let's put it in football terms: PES = modern, continental manager. FIFA = Mike Bassett. Like Liverpool, FIFA has talent, but it could be a long road back to contention.

Rogue Legacy mixes up genres and, through some inspired design choices, brings out the best in both. A deep and challenging game designed for small sessions and maximum satisfaction.