Right in the death rattle of 2016, Stardew Valley comes along and sits itself down at the Game of the Year table. It’s a remarkable game, warmly familiar, yet fresh as a daisy. In a year where indie games have stepped up to the plate and hit home runs-a-plenty, Stardew Valley is the one that knocks it out of the park and into a neighbouring city.

The Wolf Among Us on the PS4 is a magnificent re-release that fans should enjoy. If you haven’t played it yet then add the game to your “to-play” list immediately.

God of War: Origins Collection brings two of the best PSP games to a single Blu-ray disc for the PlayStation 3 in stunning HD graphics. This is a must buy for any fan of the God of War series.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth takes the foundations of Remake and expands on them, adding more control to combat, more places to explore, and more ways to dig deeper into the world and the story it tells. Whether in Graphics or Performance Mode, the quality of the experience remains the same: top tier presentation with exceptional gameplay. Rebirth is an early shoe-in for game of the year.

Arguably the modern template for so many self-styled retro shooters, Quake has returned in stunning form. A stellar remaster, Quake not only maintains the essence of id Software's classic 1996 shooter, but it meaningfully iterates upon it too with all new additional content, mod support and crossplay. At a super budget price point, there is no reason to dive into one of the very best 3D shooters of all time.

The First Tree is an exceptional story of loss and regret. The achievement by the game's one developer, David Whele, cannot be understated. The combination of all the elements of this experience creates one of the most memorable games this year. If you enjoy narrative adventure games then The First Tree is more than worth the two-to-three hours it takes to beat it.

A fantasy adventure for the ages. Dragon's Dogma 2 takes everything that made the first game good and expands on it in everyway. The combat is visceral and engaging l. With a massive world to explore you can loose yourself for days exploring and battling all your favorite fantasy monstrosities. Dragon's Dogma 2 is an incredible adventure no one should miss.

Owlboy is a breathtaking masterclass in platforming adventure. If you're even the slightest fan of platforming games, you owe it to yourself to add Owlboy to your collection.

Songbird Symphony is one of the best games I have played this year. It came from no-where and melted my heart. It's a fantastic blend of several genres that is truly unique. It's a fun, easy-going musical adventure with a touching story. The art style and music is to die for and I cannot find any faults with it whatsoever. I want to play it for the first time all over again.

Respawn Entertainment solidifies itself as the best Star Wars developer around. Crafting a big galaxy to explore with an epic story that borrows and explores past Star Wars lore. Jedi Survivor improves on its predecessor and surpasses it in every way.

Killzone 3 is one of the best PS3 exclusives, and with local co-op, brutal melee combat, and an enormously deep multiplayer mode, it's clear that Guerrilla Games really appreciates its fans. Buy this game as soon as you can.

Project Songbird is truly special. While it doesn't push the envelope forward gameplay-wise, it pushes your emotions into overdrive. Anyone who has ever experienced depression, anxiety, imposter syndrome, or questioned their life decisions will find something here. And if you're like me, who experiences these emotions daily, along with some tragedy, you will be completely seen and heard with this game. Project Songbird is truly healing, and I appreciate every moment I have had with it.

The First Berserker: Khazan is greatness from nothingness personified. Neople has done what so many have tried to do in the past. If TFB Khazan is not on your map, then, well, you need a new map. From brutal yet manageable combat to fantastic level and monster designs, Khazan aims high and hits every target it finds.

Skyrim is not perfect, but the flaws don't keep it from being an excellent game. If you measure enjoyment on sure obsession and addiction, Skyrim is easily one of the greatest games of the generation, perhaps of all time. Open-world RPG fans have every reason to be excited; Bethesda truly delivered an extraordinary game.

Eidos Montreal has crafted one of the best superhero games. Their attention to world-building and characterization should be followed by many studios to come. Exciting combat that blends action RPG elements with strategic player commands and breathtaking visuals and animations is something to behold. But what truly sets this title apart is the fantastic writing, not just for the Guardians themselves but for every character you come across. If you weren't a fan of the franchise before, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy might just change your mind.

Brutal Legend offers everything you could ever want in a game. Incredible battles, hilarious dialogue, a compelling story, and awe-inspiring locations.

Final Assault combines stripped-down RTS battle strategy with an amazing miniature representation of World War II, feeling for all the world like a game of army men come-to-life. With tons of options, game modes, and unlockable cosmetics, Final Assault feels like robust console game – and the visuals are undeniably cool. I cannot overstate how much fun I’m having with this game.

Valkyria Chronicles is a must-have for any tactical RPG fan,and even if you’re not a fan of the genre, the story is worth the purchase alone. Valkyria Chronicles is still one of the best tactical RPGs this century.

An enduringly clever inversion of traditional survival genre tropes coupled with a palpably tragic and gut-wrenching experience, This War of Mine: Final Cut offers up 11 bit studios magnum opus in its perfect form. By packing in all of the DLC released to date in addition to the stellar Stories expansions and providing a pin-sharp 4K presentation, This War of Mine: Final Cut is an ageless, horrifying and inventive survival effort that everybody should play without delay. This is as essential as survival games get and its mediation on the desperate plight of civilians during a time of war has never been more resonant.

Far Cry 3 is one of Ubisoft's best games ever and it nails the open world first-person shooter genre on the head. After playing through the crazy story, the addictive gameplay, and lush setting, you may wonder why more developers don't pay this much attention to the little details.

A frenetic, enthralling, and inventive shooter in both single and multiplayer, Titanfall 2 is a spectacular beast of a game that is deserving of a place among the greats of this generation.

This mind-bending visual novel captivates with challenging puzzles and an intelligent story unrivaled in its ambition.

MediEvil finally makes the transition from PS1 to PS4 in a spectacular new remake that fans have been clamoring for. The Tim Burton-esque beauty and clever gameplay has held up incredibly well for a twenty-year-old game but some precarious camera angles and clumsy combat keep the game from perfection.

Blends the complexity of realistic simulation with inviting mechanics and gives just enough leeway to evoke heart-pumping power and intensity in every kind of racing fan.

Valkyria Chronicles offers 25-30 hours of gameplay that features tremendous amounts of replayability. Any PS3 owner that loves RPGs and is expecting developers to continue to offer these exclusive titles on the console should go out and purchase Valkria Chronicles.

Tekken 8 is a fantastic entry in the long-running franchise and a fitting celebration of its 30-year history. With a varied roster packed with unique move sets, the addition of the Heat system and recoverable health gauge, plus a huge variety of modes, Tekken 8 is unmissable for both newcomers and fans alike.

Assault Android Cactus manages to vault beyond its classical inspiration to manifest as a genre effort that expertly marries deep mastery with instantly accessible simplicity. Furthermore, here’s another bit of simplicity for you; Assault Android Cactus is simply one of the best twin-stick shooters ever made.

Probably the best Sonic game ever made, and the perfect celebration of everything Hedgehog for any type of fan. Happy Birthday, Sonic!