All combined, it’s enough to elevate Virginia above PS4’s typical story-led fare, divisive bow-out and all. [December 2016, p74]

When PES 2017 gets things right – and there’s a lot of times when it gets things right – there’s simply no other sports game like it. The glory days are back. [December 2016, p72]

In the end, its linearity, lack of gameplay diversity, and the low latency feel of your in-game actions all conspire to trip this tiny dancer up. Wait for it to become a PlayStation Plus freebie. [November 2016, p78]

Smart subtractions and extremely worthwhile additions make this the best Worms in years. Ignore solo, enlist for multi. The more people, and the more local, the better. [November 2016, p77]

Makes huge strides forward, is held back from total greatness by two things: a story that falls just short of the shading around it, and bugs. [November 2016, p72]

Given time and future updates, the gap between this and the top-tiers could be shortened considerably. Give this a budget buy today, and mark the name for future greatness. [November 2016, p69]

How long that buzz takes to wear off is down to how much respect for ASCII games you really have. [November 2016, p67]

A proper, faithful blast, and it's much better than its release as a stopgap between seasons of the anime might suggest. Who says licensed games suck? [November 2016, p66]

If we had the technology, we’d force all of you to lurch up out of your chairs and go buy this. [November 2016, p64]

If you’re looking for a chill experience, are ok to wait for content patches, and have a high tolerance against repetitive tasks, we say boldly go. But probably only after a price drop. [November 2016, p62]

Like a demolition job, Dangerous Golf starts off with impressive explosions but clouds of dust soon obscure the chaos. [September 2016, p79]

Umbrella Corps is basically its subject matter: an experiment that became a hideous-looking horror that does more harm to the company name than good. [September 2016, p77]

Do the right thing and get spiritual sequel Dying Light, plus all its DLC, instead. [September 2016, p75]

The story is such fun, and its world rendered with such affection for the source material (and for Victoriana, in general), that you can’t help but be swept up in the mystery. [September 2016, p74]

Whether you invested in the Kickstarter campaign, it’s hard to imagine this aggressively inadequate Mega Man “follow-up” leaving anyone satisfied. [September 2016, p73]

Underneath the cute exterior lies a tough-as-nails sim exposing the realities of prison life. If you can see past a few offences, lock your door and lose the key. [September 2016, p72]

Short on runtime, but also the bearer of surprising plot revelations and brand new mechanics. It’s enough to stop this from being just another brick in the wall. [September 2016, p71]

The battles are greatly improved over The Last Hope, but that’s squandered on a predictable journey that’s woefully short, and lacking in artistic direction. [September 2016, p70]

Any good racer offers either a sense of speed or a sense of control, but Carmageddon fails to provide either. [October 2016, p78]

Initially exhilarating, but ultimately deflating, its sensational setup is disappointingly squandered. [October 2016, p77]

It’s so relentlessly odd that you’ll crack the occasional grin, but otherwise this is – by some distance – a series low. [October 2016, p76]

A game of contrasts and challenges, the greatest irony of all is that there’s no dilemma to be had here. Your own Decision Game is simple: Virtue’s Last Reward fans must buy it, no question. [October 2016, p74]

The bait is nostalgia. The victim is your wallet. Wait for that price drop, true believers. [October 2016, p73]

While it great barrier reeks of quality, Abzû is not as breathtaking as it could be. [October 2016, p72]

A lovingly-crafted callback worth answering, despite its truncated length and elementary difficulty. [October 2016, p68]

Sweet, small, but imperfectly formed. It’s the game that teaches you to be angry at leaves – but it’s this fish that needs to go back to school. [August 2016, p78]

Disarmingly simple and consciously limited, Push Me Pull You’s longevity is questionable, but this isn’t designed to be played for days on end. Stick it on when friends and family are round, secure yourself a festive amount of booze and snacks, and you’re all but guaranteed yuks of both kinds. [August 2016, p77]

The last sections of The Magic Circle are some of the best “no WAY!” twists you’re likely to play this year. [August 2016, p.76]

Sure, there are neat ideas here, no question. But problems with Dead Star’s mechanics mean this is one space race that’s only occasionally worth running. [August 2016, p76]

While not an outright disaster, this offshoot leans heavily on the past while misplacing all the elements that make Lee and Clem’s tale so compulsive. [August 2016, p74]

A reboot for the God Of War generation, but one in which the combat sadly lacks the tight flow and impact required to keep up with Kratos and co. Still, it’s an interesting misfire. [August 2016, p73]

Look past the lop-sided multiplayer, and Doom is still one helluva reboot. It’s a must for any modern FPS fan looking to taste the ultra-violence of yesteryear. Your Nana will hate it. [August 2016, p71]

Truly exceptional presentation, oodles of tactical nuance, and a rich universe. Blizzard’s first ever FPS can keep up with the genre big boys and then some. [August 2016, p70]

There’s stunning art direction and addictive platforming, but none of it’s reflective of a reboot that’s risen to new heights. The old edge has been maintained, not honed. [August 2016, p68]

As it is, you’re merely left with a badly scraped old junker. Combat may offer passing pleasures, but in every other respect, this is more devolution than revolution. [August 2016, p66]

Severed is an unusual game that remains compulsively fascinating, making full use of PS Vita’s strengths – feeling like it couldn’t exist anywhere else – to craft a quietly moving tale. [July 2016, p77]

The randomness can grate, leaving you facing a boss with your starter weapon, or having an enemy at the entrance of a room take your last sliver of health. [July 2016, p74]

Even the odd spiteful stage can’t dull the boisterous appeal, and for every frustrated ragequit it inspires, there’s an hour or more of big dumb grins in this flamboyant bundle of unabashed fun. [July 2016, p73]

Throw in Dark Souls-like player invasions, and the best co-op this side of Diablo III, and Alienation is a loot-tastic, bughunt safari that should not be missed. [July 2016, p72]

Has aged remarkably well, and is polished enough to draw in curious newbies. Veterans should be well chuffed with all the DLC thrown in. [July 2016, p71]

Only buy into this with a dedicated online crew, or watch your enthusiasm for Battleborn die in its infancy. [July 2016, p70]

Not flawless, but easily the brightest jewel in the PlayStation 4 crown. Deserving of a place in your gaming museum. [July 2016, p66]

It’s a world that feels remote, hostile and bloody mysterious, and you’ll want to persist in order to unthaw its buried secrets. [June 2016, p78]

The occasional flat gag notwithstanding, DotT’s long awaited PlayStation appearance is sublime. [June 2016, p77]

This remaster retains and showcases Heavy Rain’s best assets (we’re so sorry). Some wobbles, however, have also made the jump to PS4. [June 2016, p76]

Two games deep and two systems later, the grappling simply still isn’t as much fun as slugging it out, especially for those who have a more casual interest in MMA. [June 2016, p75]

To immerse yourself in the inky swirl of its spectacle is to realise that’s it’s not just a Dark Souls III side dish. It’s a main course all on its own. [June 2016, p74]

This is a game for those unafraid of a steep challenge (or investing in a good driving wheel setup). [June 2016, p73]

Dark Souls III is all-consuming, it’ll drive you up the wall, and the sense of accomplishment you’ll get when everything clicks and you go on to finish that final boss... well, it’s simply beyond compare [June 2016, p70]

A near-perfect fusion of old and new, video game and animated film. Nostalgiaholics will love the return visit, newcomers will get hooked on what will hopefully become a launch pad into a whole new series. [June 2016, p68]

Controls could’ve been tighter, given the high-stakes nature of things. Otherwise, this randomising, very replayable experience is hard to put down. [April 2016, p78]

Endearing, gorgeous platformer that tugs on the heartstrings early, but ultimately winds up feeling mechanically threadbare. [April 2016, p77]

Dares to ask us how we deal with mistakes. It’s a shame the answer it provides is flat and unfulfilling. [April 2016, p76]

Riotous fun to begin with. But when the difficulty ramps up faster than a halfpipe, frustration creeps in due to loose controls and mechanics. [April 2016, p75]

Don’t look at its brevity with a frown: Gone Home is a hugely important game with something meaningful to say. [April 2016, p74]

Inclusive, streamlined, faster than ever, and looks radiant on Unreal Engine 4. Street Fighter V has no challengers. [April 2016, p72]

Played as intended, with three mates in one room, Screencheat is the most fun you can have in a local multiplayer setting. Worth owning, just to have on your HDD for parties. [April 2016, p71]

It’s the game hardly anybody played, remade in such a way as to demand every respectable gamer's attention. Take the plunge. [April 2016, p70]

A best-in-class puzzler that in no way caters to the lowest common denominator. Punishingly difficult. Extremely rewarding. [April 2016, p68]

Think of Arslan as a fast-food joint’s seasonal range: a few flourishes make it more appealing than the standard menu, but it still ain’t top-tier chow. [May 2016, p78]

Overflowing with new content, offers much more for soloists, and is just as hilarious as ever. Garden Warfare 2 is not to be underestimated. [May 2016, p77]

This is a welcome return to its predecessor’s winning formula, with an extra helping of blood and guts. [May 2016, p76]

Ultimately, we found Sheltered to be engaging, purely due to its brutal difficulty. It’s quite a shame then that its brand of survival is far too often mundane. [May 2016, p74]

While engaging modes shake things up when it all gets a bit shallow, think twice if you’re looking for a fighter with depth. But as a series send-off for obsessives? It’s a knockout. [May 2016, p75]

The dearly departed P.T. finally has some notable competition as your chief nightmare provider. [May 2016, p74]

Intelligent mechanics, intense gameplay, well thought-out mission structure and plotlines are all winners in our book. Bring on the endgame antics! [May 2016, p70]

For every idea that’s been given care and thought, there’s one that is far past the realm of cliché. This is less a diminishing return and more a warning that the series is flirting dangerously close with creative extinction. [May 2016, p66]

While it won’t change your life it is full of surprises, and clever too. [April 2013, p78]

Infinifactory sounds like paying Earth money to play as the most under-paid drone in the shittiest vocation ever, but you’d be surprised by how much job satisfaction there is to be had here. [February 2015, p77]

A serviceable attempt at polishing up an antique. Controls are still wonky. Visual presentation is more up and down than that pesky zombie who just won’t die. [February 2015, p76]

It’s gaming’s equivalent of the earnest-but-terrible B-movie; its manifold flaws made enjoyable and riotously funny by its good intentions. [February 2015, p75]

Yes, it’s punishing. But it’s the good, sexy kind of punishment. [February 2015, p74]

Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India does little to curry favour from fans left unimpressed by the last game. [February 2015, p72]

An irresistible, toe-tapping experience that is well deserving of the Kickstarter love that brought it into modern times. Off the hook local multiplayer, too. [February 2015, p71]

Looks gorgeous, rewards driving out of your comfort zone, has pleasing physics and sense of velocity... but needlessly online-only, pumped full of irritating live-action pap, and runs out of fuel early. [January 2015, p77]

While the episode does provide a conclusion to Max’s bittersweet story, its splintered things apart more than tied them all together. [January 2015, p75]

The strides made in-ring make this an essential play, but [the] missed [outside ring] opportunities sting harder than a Big Show turnbuckle chop. [January 2015, p74]

Unusually for an RPG, this is a game led more by its systems than its storytelling. Its intricate yet accessible mechanics make it a unique modern classic. [January 2015, p73]

Its blend of brutality and sentimentality won’t be for everyone, but this is a dense, absorbing game. [January 2015, p72]

More accessible than Rock Band 4, and there are odd endorphins to be had from actors praising your efforts. It’s the tight-fisted nature of DLC that holds this back from greatness. [January 2015, p71]

Basically, Battlefront is like the second Death Star in Return of the Jedi. It’s as visually impressive as it is, well, kinda barebones. That said, it is not to be underestimated. Diehard Star Wars fans should still stay on target, because it has the potential to set your world on fire. [January 2015, p69]

Feral Ghoul ugly in many ways, but beneath its iffy exterior beats the heart of one helluva great RPG. Get past the graphics deficiency, and the sheer thrill of Fallout 4’s combat, crafting options, and exploring will hold your attention for months. [January 2015, p64]

Folks who have a single-minded, fashionable dislike of the series will recognise a handful of meaningful changes to the formula, but nothing that will keep them jacked in for long. Being in the middle-ground of the love-hate CoD spectrum, we’ll happily play this for months. [January 2015, p62]

Still hilarious. Still addictive. But while the toy/game mechanics are cleverer than competition, far too much extra investment is required to make Dimensions as satisfying and features-full as ye olde TT LEGO games. [Christmas 2015, p76]

Don't let your natural wariness of licensed games steer you clear, because there's more than meets the eye here. [Christmas 2015, p75]

This Hawk has had its wings clipped to the point where it resembles an ugly-looking, flightless dodo that deserves its own extinction. [Christmas 2015, p74]

Flawless game design and endless replay value mean that Super Meat Boy! more than holds its own on PlayStation in 2015. [Christmas 2015, p73]

This is the prettiest and most polished Omega Force game to date. [Christmas 2015, p72]

Uncharted: TNDC is one for the ages. Yes, the gameplay and visual wow-factor have faded in a few spots, but the inimitable charm of Nate and co., plus some of the best story-telling in gaming, make this a must-have. [Christmas 2015, p71]

This is a year in which FIFA switches down a gear in terms of pure speed, yet provides marathons' worth of value, if you have the stamina for it. [Christmas 2015, p68]

Aside from a few isolated visual bugs we spotted, Syndicate seems to fix the technical bugbears that haunted Unity. Its likeable dual protagonists and fascinating setting are offset by little mechanical evolution and a few unfortunate cuts (co-op mainly). [Christmas 2015, p67]

Go in expecting a “next-gen” evolution of Rock Band 3, and you'll wind up booing. Expect a slick, party-in-a-box, and you'll be wolf -whistling. [Christmas 2015, p65]

It feels like Game Of Thrones has finally got going in this, the penultimate instalment. [November 2015, p79]

The environment’s naturalism and splendour make the core of the game feel more exotic than it really is. [November 2015, p79]

The game’s dystopian, drowned burg a pleasure to explore. It’s just a pity the engine is a little bit of a shambles. [November 2015, p78]

It looks lovely and the frantic combat is delightfully nuanced, but be warned: it’s brutal. [November 2015, p78]

LIS has built a series of pivotal plot-forks based on seemingly innocuous actions, but the isolated nature of this heartbreaking scene makes me fear it’ll be forgotten when the series draws to a close. [November 2015, p74]

QUBE packs a remarkable amount of variety into its three-hour campaign. [November 2015, p74]