You've never played anything like Mirror's Edge. It's a genuine original. When it's good - like when you're soaring between two rooftop cranes, pigeons scattering and traffic thrumming below, or dashing between roaming sniper laser sights, breaking into an enormous needle-shaped skyscraper - it's a total rush. And even when it's not quite so good, when you can't work out how to get through a particularly tricky section, the compulsion to keep trying remains strong. [Dec 2008, p.84]

Creator Matt Thorson has achieved a ludicrous standard of gameplay in Towerfall Ascension, one that seduces you instantly and jettisons all thoughts of million-poly character models and full-performance capture from your gaming consciousness.

The big surprise isn't that it serves up another great campaign, but that its take on Modern Warfare's world-conquering multiplayer may be the best yet. With Spec Ops and Survival mode, this is one hell of a package, and sees off the trilogy with a bang: not much has changed, but this is as big and beautiful a game as ever.

Dragon Quest XI: Echoes Of An Elusive Age is one of the finest JRPGs on PS4, and makes a great entry point to one of the most popular series of all time [Issue#154, p.92]

While classic content and damage still feel underwhelming and the formula has been tweaked rather than reworked, this has the best career mode in any racing game. [Issue#154, p.91]

The rejuvination you've waited a decade for: PES gets everything right on the park, and only off-field gripes prevent this top, top player from earning the top, top score. [Nov 2016, p.83]

A worthy sequel to an indie pioneer that delivers countless surprises in a refined package. Not for the easily frustrated, perhaps, but essential for everyone else. [Issue#181, p.87]

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]

It's a great example of how sports games should be done - both as a simulation that teases ever greater skill from all comers, and as a service to fans. [June 2009, p.88]

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]

With limited-time elusive targets being added over time, and user-created hits, Hitman 2 is a platform that should have more to come. What’s here is superb but we’re already asking “what’s next?” [Issue#156, p.80]

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

A short but sweet turn-based nod to the original games that ends up celebrating Lara's heritage even better than Rise of The Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration. [Feb 2017, p.97]

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

Hitman's developed better than expected - but the onus is now on IO to keep adding content throughout the next year. [Issue#130, p.93]

An important, palate-cleansing release in a crowded genre, Doom is essential playing for anyone who registers as a shooter fan. Heed the call of the FPS daddy and get your ass to Mars, pronto.[July 2016, p.78]

Impactful gunplay bolstered by a telekinetic twist, and a mystery you’ll be turning over for a long time afterwards. Welcome to the Oldest House, Director. [Issue#167, p.79]

You need to know the sport to master it - hence no 10/10 this year - but PS3's greatest sports series is on the verge of once more dominating all contemporaries. [June 2016, p.94]

For once, it's a brilliant update of a genuine classic. [Sept 2008, p.104]

Agent 47's chrome dome has been polished until it positively squeaks. [July 2016, p.88]

Stacking is utterly individual and cat-in-clown-shoes crackers. [Spring 2011, p.112]

A brilliant mix of accessible RPG elements, exhilaratingly fluid action and awe-inspiring environments that consistently captivate. Anchored by the charmingly blunt Aloy, Guerrilla crafts an experience that will live long in the memory. [Apr 2017, p.80]

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

Learning is half the fun and even the smallest victory makes you feel like you’re winning with a capital FU.

Places the emphasis back on racing over contrived storylines - and leaves its peers eating its dust in the process. [Aug 2014, p.88]

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

Compelling and respectful in a way few games can match. [Aug 2014, p.90]

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]