There’s simply more here than in any game before, and yet quality is never sacrificed for quantity. Personal favourites will persist, but it’s hard to put anything else on top of the pile. Everything you’ve ever wanted a GTA game to be, and a whole lot more. Consistently hilarious, constantly compelling and combining never-before-seen scale and ambition. This is going to make next-gen look bad for a long time to come.

No open world game makes you feel as physically present as Red Dead Redemption 2. It’s a treat to inhabit. The story might feel a bit linear, but you’ll want to see it through, and your own journey awaits besides, over the open plains. [Issue#156, p.78]

The best game on PS3 is now the best thing on PS4. A loving, comprehensive remaster of such quality, it's damn near as essential as oxygen. But it. Yesterday. [Jan 2015, p.91]

Unless you're born without thumbs, eyes or a sense of humour, it's obvious that Uncharted 2 is a 10/10 game after two minutes of the first level...It's the most complete, polished and fun adventure game - and maybe just game - on PS3, and it's absolutely essential. [Nov 2009, p.101]

Beautifully polished and endlessly exciting, Rocksteady's latest take on Batman is finally the hero that PS3 truly deserves. [Dec 2011]

There simply isn't anything else like LBP on any system, anywhere. It's a beautifully elegant and powerful creative tool that puts unlimited potential in the palm of your hand. [Nov 2008, p.92]

It was a world I was gutted to leave, and as such stands among the best that PS3 has to offer. [June 2010, p.107]

When such a talented developer hits these creative, narrative and technical heights, the result is a game that wouldn’t look out of place smuggled into PS4’s launch lineup. The acting is more believable than LA Noire’s hi-tech gurning. There are sneaky set-piece excursions that outdo even Metal Gear Solid 4 at its best. And tying it all together is an utterly mesmerising world instilled with a seamless sense of time and place. This is a work of art in which amazing sights and sounds fuel an emotionally draining, constantly compelling end of days adventure.

Most of the boss fights been given a fresh do-over, with interesting new phases and twists that make them feel a little more special being introduced. These challenge you to think about a fight in ways beyond doing the most damage to your opponent. More than ever, Persona 5’s mechanics are used to further the narrative, whether that’s a high art plagiarist making fake copies of himself to fight you, or smart-aleck Akechi always throwing three bullseyes in a row at the new darts spot in town. It’s bigger, better, more. [Issue#174, p.84]

A refreshed classic that remains as vital as ever thanks to a beautifully crafted port. [Sept 2014, p.99]

A great example of mould-breaking gaming at its best. [June 2011, p.100]

If Half-Life and the original Deus Ex stand as the apotheosis of the narrative-driven shooter, and Bioshock brought the genre to PS3, then Infinite is the latest game to join these hallowed ranks. This is a masterpiece that will be discussed for years to come, and praise doesn’t come much higher than that.

The quality hits you like a tank - the visuals, the set-pieces, the detail. [Christmas 2009, p.100]

Forget any fears you had. Kratos makes a truly triumphant return in what proves to be his best game yet. Every change - the addition of Atreus included - is for the better, while every non-negotiable tradition is perfected. [Issue#149, p.74]

It's so good that it ruins you for other games. Once you've played it you'll be spoiled, expecting everything to be as stylish, immersive and balls-out brilliant as Modern Warfare. Whether you're creeping through a forest at twilight, slotting unsuspecting militia with silenced weapons or pounding war-torn streets as all hell breaks loose around you, it's an experience that never dips below astonishing. [Dec 2007, p.82]

It's a triple lightning strike of character, freedom and sound. [Dec 2008, p.90]

The sort of thing you dreamed about while you ate your tea and watched Star Trek. [Feb 2011, p.107]

It's taken nearly two decades, but SFII finally has a sequel that does it proud. [Mar 2009, p.96]

Guns of the Patriots is almost intimidating in the consistent quality of its ideas, invention, and execution...Even by the series' stratospheric standards, MGS4 is a remarkable high point. [June 2008]

Believable dialogue from rounded characters who behave as you'd expect real people to. [Feb 2013, p.106]

Mechanically, The Last Of Us Part II is a masterpiece that’s as joyous to play as they come, but it’s let down by its messy structure, leaving us pining for the journey of the first game. [Issue#177, p.135]

It's more of the same - and at almost double the length of the first game, that's quite a lot more of the same - but it's the same widescreen awesomeness that you loved the first time around. [May 2007, p.96]

Refreshingly different. [March 2013, p.108]

Whether you’re a series fan, a JRPG evangelist or a total turn-based newcomer, this is an essential play. Persona 5 is packed with stuff to do, expertly put together and exquisite to the last pixel. An unabashed masterpiece. [Issue#134]

It's equally confusing and brilliant. [Feb 2010, p.106]

I've never encountered a game that so completely captivated my attention for this long. I've clocked 180 hours in total and I'm still playing. [May 2007, p.78]

Naughty Dog's victory lap is a celebration of its past, present and future, with clever pacing and thrilling set-pieces surpassing expectations in its most exhilarating Uncharted to date. No PS4 should be without this. [June 2016, p.74]

Not a lot of games – almost no games, in fact – manage to establish the kind of white-hot emotional connection between player, cast and setting that Mass Effect 3 somehow conjures. That's the reason this story of Earth, the galaxy and Shepard's last stand is so harrowing, and why people will be talking about it for years to come.

I love this game, I really do, but I can't give it the score I want in its current state. That would be unfair to anyone forking out £40 for a something that might work. It might not. The most amazing game of the year is in there somewhere. I really hope Bethesda can get it out.

The game is inches away from scoring 10/10, and it's only the familiarity of the core gameplay that makes it feel less than the very, very best. But it's definitely the biggest, and if this is the finale, then God of War III gives Playstation's toughest hero the send-off he deserves. [Mar 2010, p.97]

For the second time in succession, Naughty Dog has created a game that can claim to not only be the best on PS3, but also one of the best in gaming history...A visual, technical and narrative tour de force that takes the sky-high expectations of an entire community and blows them out the back of a jumbo jet, replacing them with more show-stopping moments than you could hope to find in a dozen other games combined. [Dec 2011]

Don't expect a transformative HD remaster. [Oct 2015, p.88]

It offers unparalleled player agency when dealing with From's wonderful third-person combat. [May 2015, p.79]

With its mass of finely-tuned additions, it's bigger and more satisfying than you'd ever imagine. [May 2010, p.104]

It's masterful, and practically unique - which is just about the best way to describe the game as a whole. [Nov 2017, p.88]

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a surprising failure as an open-world video game, but within its beautifully lit world of monsters lies a much more traditional story-driven RPG of immense quality.

Even old Demon’s Souls hats will find plenty new to marvel at in this faithful and stunning recreation that showcases just why PS5 is so impressive. [Issue#183, p.83]

You’ll feel lost, and you’ll definitely feel frustrated. But if you didn’t, the moment of controller-dropping revelation and last-gasp victory wouldn’t feel so precious. A brave and singular RPG. [Issue#154, p.78]

An absolute rock monster. [Jan 2008, p.94]

It's one of the few games you'll genuinely reflect on after completion, and an object lesson in how less can be more when it comes to crafting narrative and eliciting investment. This is a game about which I would change nothing, and I can't remember having said that too many times before.

Enduring masterpieces. [Nov 2011, p.108]

Distilled gaming awesomeness beamed from the arcade that time forgot. [Feb 2011, p.97]

The seamless integration of its previous content is a massive boon for Rock Band 2 that gives it depth "Guitar Hero" can't offer yet. [Christmas 2008, p.112]

Full of simple-to-grasp tools, all with huge potential - and you could easily lose more time to LBP2 than any other game released in 2011. [Jan 2011, p.104]

Few puzzles offer the complexity and design smarts that are on show here. [June 2014, p.88]

Closing your eyes and softly whispering Space Oddity: brilliant. [Christmas 2010]

This not only plays the best on-the-pitch football of any FIFA title, but it has an incredibly smart and compelling way of tying it all together, too. Brilliant, again. [Oct 2009, p.98]

[Games are] about delivering a world that you want to invest your time in, full of characters you can have an emotional connection with, and Assassin's Creed II does that almost perfectly. [Dec 2009, p.102]

Delightful. [May 2010, p.110]

Borderlands 2 is a top-class FPS that perfectly captures that 'shooting things is fun' rush into an endless cycle. The game it most reminds me of is Doom: it recreates that lost-in-the-moment, circle-strafing intensity perfectly, so that you never get bored of it...If you're tired of brown military shooters and crying out for something different, then get involved – this is one of the most imaginative and rewarding blasters of the year.

Massively replayable. [Apr 2008, p.92]

By sticking to classic Final Fantasy elements – an expansive world, and a deftly-told story that weaves in themes – Shadowbringers is one of the best MMO expansions we’ve ever played. The main drawback is that you have to play through the previous ones to access this new content, or pay extra for a story skip. But with all side-quests in Shadowbringers syncing to your player level, and a New Game+ allowing you to replay old quests on the horizon, this might be something we’ll see further in Final Fantasy XIV’s future. [Issue#165, p.92]

Like the Mega Drive Maddens of the early '90s, it's a game absolutely worth learning a new sport for. [May 2010, p.108]

Melancholy and masterful, the PS2 great deserve this remake. The stripped-down premise will put some off, but it remains a Playstation titan. [Feb 2018, p.87]

Visually it's so far ahead of anything else out there it shatters your expectations...This is a PS3 showing what it's truly capable of and delivering a landmark piece of explosive entertainment you can't afford to miss. [Feb 2009, p.88]

A brilliant must-buy. [Jan 2010, p.104]

Building on Towerfall's sublime movement mechanics, this nails the flow of leaping through levels. A story peppered with endearingly earnest characters, makes this fantastic adventure a triumph. [March 2018, p.92]

The whole game is a class act. The fighting is sophisticated but arcade-addictive, the visuals are stylish, and the Lara-like exploration is smartly done. Plus the DC heritage feels all-encompassing like a big blanket. Arkham Asylum is comfortably the best comic book game that PlayStation's ever had, and is up there with the system's best actioners, full stop. [Sept 2009, p.95]

Certain standout moments play unlike any other game. Your first play-through may frustrate but the emotional aftermath hammers home the depth of the achievement. It's the nightmare cousin of Journey. [Oct 2016, p.78]

Level design is so good – so intricate, yet always presenting the right level of challenge – that you take for granted how effortlessly it pulls off each chapter’s musical finale. Racing through a crumbling castle in sync with a gibberish version of Ram Jam’s Black Betty has no right to be this thrilling.

By the end you’ll be exhausted. Relieved. And itching for more. In those dark rooms and corridors, Resident Evil 2 provides a challenge and then some. [Issue#159, p.87]

Uncompromising in its challenge, this supremely balanced slasher destroys your fingers and delights your soul with its unrivalled sense of triumph through trial.

Embrace it like a comfortable pair of shoes. [Jan 2014, p.84]

Though nothing groundbreaking, this version provides a collection of nice-to-have additions which boost an already great game, making it the one to go for (unless you’re a graphics snob). [Issue#184, p.89]

Unquestionably one of PS3's finest sports games - but also one of the most impenetrable to newbies. [Dec 2011, p.103]

The addition of Reaper of Souls content makes this an essential upgrade for veterans, while the power of PS4 ensures it's smoother than a dolphin's back. [Oct 2014, p.87]

Blizzard's addictive and tactical team-based shooter is essential - the character-switching mechanic sweetens the genre. Group up with friends to avoid clueless carnage and enjoy the true game. [Aug 2016, p.82]

Far Cry 3's real triumph is blending so many elements into a cohesive whole without any feeling extraneous or tacked-on. Every element works and has its place, and contributes to a narrative that may not be class-leading but certainly exceeds expectations. It also possesses the perfect balance between steadily empowering you, yet never allowing you to feel overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of what's on offer – something even a game as great as Arkham City couldn't manage.

We may have a two-horse race on our hands once again, but the thoroughbred in the lead shows no signs of slowing down. [Nov 2011, p.93]

A glorious, funny, occasionally touching and often maddening tribute to the 8-bit platformer. [July 2015, p.87]

The map is smaller than Oblivion's but it's more tightly packed with action and rounded characters. [Christmas 2008, p.90]

A game I love like a brother. [Apr 2014, p.87]

Lord knows how long the San Diego boys can continue trumping themselves year after year, but for now their golden touch shows no sign of fading. [June 2011, p.106]

A polished labour of love, Velocity 2X is addictive in both its top-down and platforming sections and visually astonishing to boot. A truly triumphant must-have title. [Oct 2014, p.86]

A creative, compelling experience. [May 2009, p.100]

Once you've fallen into the arms of The Show, no other sports game you own will ever feel quite the same again. [May 2009, p.106]

A stopgap sequel. [Dec 2010]

Accessibly strategic and addictive. [Dec 2009, p.108]

While the game's temple design is never quite as consistently expansive or ambitious as a Legend Of Zelda, Okami's art, sturdy combat and inventive noodle-teasers have aged as gracefully as Jeff Bridges distinguished chin fur.

Making one of gmaing's most complex action RPGs accessible was a tough ask, but Capcom has pulled it off in style. Offline it's a challenge, online it's your new co-op obsession. MHW is already one of the year's must-have releases. [March 2018, p.76]

Rarely has a game balanced comedy so well. [Christmas 2015, p.94]

Hearts of Stone may not make any significant improvements to The Witcher 3's core gameplay, but it succeeds largely on the quality of its engrossing narrative.

A truly artistic and brilliant piece of design. [Oct 2011, p.112]

Sekiro rewards mastery of its core systems (and perhaps a tiny bit of luck), making you excited to see the next enemy and test your mettle. Everything from environments to battles encourages creative thinking, making it an intensely personal and satisfying experience. Even if you die a lot. [Issue#161, p.79]

It makes you feel more of a baller than wearing shades indoors. [Dec 2012, p.110]

There’s nothing scaled-down about this family-friendly PS VR adventure. A delightful romp for both PS VR veterans and the pint-sized adventurers in the family. [Issue#155, p.78]

The really exciting thing is the appearance of the new event types. [Oct 2009, p.120]

It's not all chatter and romance. [July 2011, p.100]

With every element of Xcom's complex yet utterly accessible systems – from meaningful combat tactics, to budget balancing, to life-or-death diplomatic decisions – feeding directly into every other aspect of the game, this is as compelling a world as any in recent memory.

For keen players, this expansion does what it’s supposed to – it doesn’t just add more space and monsters, it introduces new mechanics and nuances. Tough going for casual hunters, though. [Issue#167, p.84]

Demon's Souls is difficult. Really, really difficult. [JPN Import; July 2009, p.100]

A remarkable update of a classic videogame, Rez Infinite is a perfect fit for PS VR. The astonishing new Area X is worth the cost of entry alone. Utterly essential. [Dec 2016, p.86]

Respawn could have settled for big dumb fun, but Titanfall 2's eclectic, standout campaign and honed multiplayer make for a smart and unusual shooter. A total rush from beginning to end. [Christmas 2016, p.84]

Dark Souls III rarely innovates, but it experiments within the Souls parameters to grotesque and glorious effect. Another Game of The Year contender, then. [June 2016, p.81]

Essential. [Christmas 2010]

Tetris Effect and PS VR go together like ham and eggs. It’s the perfect pairing of tech and game design. Don’t have a headset? You can still join in but you’re missing out on the definitive way to play. [Issue#157, p.92]

"Quotation Forthcoming"

A curious hybrid: a stealthy shooter with RPG-like exploration and storytelling. It's not as direct as a sci-fi COD, nor as expansive or open as Fallout. Instead, it's somewhere in the middle. But that's also what makes the series special, and Human Revolution does the Deus Ex name proud, providing an absorbing world to investigate and a satisfying freedom to play by your own rules. [Sept 2011, p.100]