This is a how a traditional JRPG is meant to be. Fans of that genre get exactly what they want but don’t expect any radical improvements on the classic conventions. [jan. 2016 / page 068]

Loeb isn’t a mangod like McRae was but his game has more than enough content to keep hardcore rally fans satisfied. Not the prettiest game but the handling is sublime. [jan. 2016 / page 067]

This atmospheric unique gem of a game could’ve done with a bit less talking but you should definitely check it out if games like Gone Home and Life is Strange tickle your fancy. [jan. 2016 / page 065]

The Witness is an astounding demonstration of how ingenous a ‘simple’ puzzle game can truly be. Game design in its purest and most ingenious form. [jan. 2016 / page 063]

The experience SF5 offers isn’t a completely new one but it will be a living platform for fighting fans for years to come and we can’t wait to see how it unfolds. [jan. 2016 / page 019]

Unravel is a gorgeous tribute to the little things in live. A touching, soft story that’s rarely seen in games.

People who are not into Naruto wont be turned by Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 as this is mostly fanservice, but you’re in for a treat if that’s not a deterrent because this is is the best and prettiest shōnen game yet.

Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon is a decent entry in the franchise but after playing through five or six of these games it starts getting a bit too repetitive to hold our interest.

Superhot’s conversion from gamejam demo to full product was a success in our book. The gameplay could do with a tad more variation but that’s compensated nicely by a nice package of extra modes and options.

When the freshness of a Far Cry in the Stone Age becomes rotten -and luckily that takes quite a few hours- you’ll realise you’re once again routinely finishing off copious amounts of icons on a huge map. With a little extra time and effort Far Cry Primal could’ve been better than part 4, but now it’s an enjoyable spin-off that feels somewhat like a mod.

There is quite a list of conditions you have to meet if you want to fully enjoy LEGO Marvel’s Avengers: you have to be a big fan of LEGO and of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you need a high tolerance for silly humour and it certainly helps if you haven’t played a dozen previous LEGO games (recently). Does all of this apply to you? Have fun with the biggest package of digital LEGO entertainment since LEGO Marvel Super Heroes.

Firewatch doesn’t live up to the high expectations as it’s too unpolished and too plotty to leave any sort of lasting impression. Its best moments are gripping and worth checking out but the overall package is a tad underwhelming.

While Final Fantasy Explorers has more than a couple great ideas, they are too plenty to be fleshed out, which makes the game a fresh experience, but can't keep your attention for more than a few dozen hours. That's not a bad thing of course, but it's not a great thing either. Final Fantasy Explorers manages to just rise above mediocrity, but not by much.

You know those lists with pros and cons that help you make important decisions? In the case of Blade & Soul the beautiful graphics and exciting PvP, and the fact that the game is free to play, would be on the plus side. The negative side is mostly filled by the somewhat uninspired quests and dungeons. Fortunately Blade & Soul has an advantage which helps fill the list in favor of a beautiful score: The unique combat.

Because a few fine features from XCOM: Enemy Unknown/Within didn’t make the cut, and other adjustments make the gameplay different, but not necessarily better, XCOM 2 isn’t the best sequel ever. Nonetheless it offers ridiculously addictive and extremely exciting turn-based tactics, which is unequaled even though the genre is becoming more and more popular lately. Accept no substitutes.

It’s a thrilling race game – the first one to actually make my hands sweat - but it isn’t the most beautiful one out there. You’ll need your best racing skills to complete it, but if you’re not scared by a challenge, DiRT: Rally is the perfect game for you. [feb. 2016 / page 068]

F-Zero GX for the GameCube brought the genre of futuristic racers to perfection, and Shin’en only added to its gameplay with Fast Racing NEO. The ‘wow’ factor is abundantly present – not bad for a download-only game with a price tag of 15 bucks. [feb. 2016 / page 066]

Rayman Adventures is a funny free snack that looks and sounds beautiful, but also one that makes you long for a real successor to Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends. [feb. 2016 / page 065]

Nuclear Throne sparks the same addiction Spelunky did a few years ago, and does so with big guns, cool secrets and a perfect difficulty. An ideal game for on the go - on the PS Vita. [feb. 2016 / page 064]

You should just walk past Earth Defense Force 2: Invaders from Planet Space if you’re scared of insects or can’t handle technically outdated games. The rest of you should at least try it, I bet you’ll get addicted. [feb. 2016 / page 063]

It’s easy to understand owners of the PS Vita were happy with this game in 2012, but three years later, on the PS4, it doesn’t feel like a full-fledged game. Entertaining and very cute, but not full-fledged. [feb. 2016 / page 062]

I won’t give another Telltale game two pages in our magazine again, until they’ve cleaned up their shit and made some actual technical improvements. The world keeps turning, please try to keep up. [feb. 2016 / page 061]

Wild Run still has some of the same pitfalls The Crew did, but it finally runs smoothly. The technical parts of the game have been improved, and on top of that there’s an abundance of cool new events and other content. [jan. 2016 / page 084]

The franchise hasn’t changed much since 2014, or 2013 for that matter, but there’s a reason actual football clubs still use Football Manager as a scouting tool: its realism. Trading tens of thousands of incredibly realistic footballers will simply never be boring. [jan. 2016, page 082]

Nintendo’s littlest hero misses the mark in his latest adventure. We still love the little bugger but we start to loathe his games. [dec. 2015 / page 068]

Life is Strange is our sleeper hit of the year. A new benchmark for the adventure genre and a must play for everyone that enjoys a good detective story. [dec. 2015 / page 067]

Not the best game Platinum ever made but definitely the most true to the series a Transformers game has ever gotten. A relief after the Michael Bay crap of yesteryear. [dec. 2015 / page 063]

The Beginner’s Guide is as fascinating as The Stanley Parable is hilarious. One of the most intriguing ‘games’ that we’ve played in recent history and an easy recommendation for everyone who likes weird game experiments. [dec. 2015 / page 062]

Its atmospheric horror, improved camera combat, fancy HD graphics and intense story make this the best entry in the classic horror series yet. [dec. 2015 / page 059]

Mario’s latest RPG is well designed, brings back the stuff we liked about the previous games and adds a couple of cool new concepts while it’s at it. That being said, Nintendo could’ve done more with the crossover between the Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi worlds.

The gameplay is solid as a rock; super intense, exciting and porn for the tactical shooter fan. But the game quickly loses its power when you stray among the other game modes, which are limited and lacking good AI. This is what they call: too little content for too much money. [Dec. 2015, p.054]

2015 was a great year for big open world games and Just Cause 3 is the cherry on top of that cake. JC3 isn’t groundbreaking or revolutionary but it’s super enjoyable, pretty and huge. (Both console versions are plagued by technical issues.)

The qualities that make Xenoblade Chronicles X such an impressive and unforgettable game are the same things that make it a slog every now and then: its humongous size, dense flora and fauna, and overwhelming depth. All in all, it's easily one of the best role-playing games of 2015.

It’s not easy to add something to a game as perfect as Bloodborne and The Old Hunters isn’t revolutionary or super original, but it definitely gives the hardcore fans exactly what they need.

Battlefront is more arcade-y than we’ve come to expect from modern day shooters, but the glorious Star Wars magic makes up for its lack of depth. The game is extremely polished, runs as smooth as Hoth’s snowy surface and will warm the hearts of every Star Wars fan out there. However, Battlefront won’t convert you to the light side if you’re not already a fan of Lucas’ space opera.

If you want to take a fresh step into an RTS or a Starcraft game, you can add half a point to the score and this would be the perfect moment to get Legacy of the Void. But if you’ve played all the past parts, this feels more like a DLC with a disappointing story and a too-steep price.

Warhammer: The End Times – Vermintide is a cheap and tasty Left 4 Dead-shaped snack. The center’s filled with smooth and deliciously hard action, and on the outside there’s a refreshing level design. The ideal co-op experience – one that rarely tries anything new, yet due to its excellent finish Vermintide could turn out to last as long as Left 4 Dead itself.

The biggest letdown of Fallout 4 is that by now the engine is almost as retro as the style of the game, because this iteration has the same technical limitations Bethesda-RPG’s have had since 2006. Thankfully the story is more vivid, the customization system that handily cooperates with the building of settlements and the Power Armor is ridiculously expansive, and slightly faster gameplay makes it feel fresh enough. Bethesda-lovers will be engrossed, totally, but this is no revolution.

Crystal Dynamics creates a stunning, raw and exciting adventure that improves itself in all areas. This highly enjoyable game offers more freedom and exploration than its predecessor.

Black Ops III does exactly what’s expected and plays like a charm, but also feels like something we’ve already been playing for 10 years. The campaign also drops some stitches here and there, but the game makes up for that with the high quality production values and the huge and versatile package it offers.

With Anno 2205, Blue Byte takes its city building formula in a different direction, which generally works out very well. The game looks amazing, plays super smooth and seems more accessible to new players. Your journey to the moon is challenging and original, but the optional combat feels weird and lacks depth.

Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns offers plenty of content to make both PvP as well as PvE oriented players happy. Besides this the MMORPG has become more social with the release of this expansion. The only negative worth mentioning is the fact that your character doesn't really 'grow' while experiencing Heart of Thorns. But ah well, I'm sure you'll soon forget this once you're gliding through the jungle.

Star Wars: Uprising is on the brink of being a shameless commercial monstrosity. Still, it’s become a decent clone of Diablo, which, due to the complete lack of challenge, will make you fall asleep sooner rather than later. Zzzztar Warzzzzz… [Sept. 2015, p. 069]

This is quite a good Zelda, especially if you like to team up with other players. If that isn’t exactly your thing, you’d better skip this one. [Sept. 2015, p. 068]

WRC 5 is like a sundae, but instead of having delicious chocolate sauce on top of it, there’s five day old gravy from your mother in law’s meatballs. [Sept. 2015, p. 067]

Tony Hawk is simply unplayable, looks awful and is infested with bugs. An outright tragic ending to a legendary franchise. [Sept. 2015, p. 066]

We're happy to conclude Renowned Explorers is indeed exactly as fun as it looks. There’s a very small learning curve, yet the game offers enough depth to keep it fun for a long time. [Sept. 2015, p. 065]

Nathan Drake breathes Adventure with a capital ‘A’. That’s why the collection is a must-have for anyone who’s never played the original games before. A godly trio on just one disc. [Sept. 2015, p. 064]

Need for Speed listened to its fans, and that’s why this game deserves to call itself a reboot of the franchise. There’s a few minor flaws, but especially in its multiplayer, this Need for Speed is the first fun one to come out in years.

On principle Halo 5: Guardians’ grade should be historically low due to the fact that 343 Industries left out the splitscreen co-op, but that would be unjust. Because its single player campaign has been improved from that of Halo 4 –although not narratively-, the multiplayer has been modernized (more than the single player) and the new Spartan skills are almost all great additions. Halo 5: Guardians is a great shooter, but once again not one of the greatest entries in the Halo saga.

Ubisoft clearly learned their lesson after last year’s debacle and Syndicate is a better game for it. However, it’s still more of a known quantity and your mileage will entirely depend on your hunger for more Assassin’s Creed.

A tad more exposition and fewer levels would’ve resulted in a higher score for Volume but somehow this modern stealth gem still managed to steal our hearts (sorry). [Oct. 2015, p. 065]

After years of mismanagement and poor sportsmanship, PES is finally able to compete with FIFA again. Best football game of the year? Too early to tell, but a contender it is. [Oct. 2015, p. 063]

An old school RTS in modern trappings that’s addictive as all hell. Highly recommendable for everyone who’ve ever enjoyed a realtime strategy game. [Oct 2015, p. 061]

Lara Croft: GO is a game that uses its own limitations for good and doesn’t hold off on vibe and lore. A truly enjoyable puzzle game with a great sense of style. [Oct. 2015, p. 055]

It’s official! Gears of War is still a classic. The gameplay still holds up and the same can be said for the graphics. A must-have for collectors. [Oct. 2015, p. 054]

Not every game benefits from having more content, Evoland 2 is a prime example of that. The concept remains fun and you get a ton of RPG for a small price but Evoland 2 doesn’t measure up to the first entry. [Oct. 2015, p.051]

We tried really hard to enjoy The Swindle but it just wouldn’t click. The game seems off-balance and the lack of abilities in the early stages make it a cumbersome experience. [Sept. 2015, p. 069]

The most fun we’ve had on a touch screen in recent history. [Sept. 2015, p. 069]

The Magic Circle is meta as all hell and it works in fascinating ways. Its gameplay and graphics are far from groundbreaking but it’s an interesting experience nonetheless. [Sept 2015, p. 068]

A fleshed out premium platformer without nasty in-app purchases with great boss battles and well built puzzles. [Sept. 2015, p. 066]

Fan of old-school action platformers? Then Luckslinger is probably the game for you. [Sept. 2015, p. 067]

Rare Replay is a super extensive, well made and above all timeless ode to Rare’s body of work. The only bummer is the lack of GoldenEye and Donkey Kong game. [Sept. 2015, p. 062]

The king is dead, long live the king! King’s Quest - A Knight To Remember is a funny, heartwarming, nostalgic and well written adventure. Episode two can’t come soon enough.[Sept. 2015, p. 060]

This should’ve been an even lower score, as The Devil’s Third is the most middling, archaic and ugly action game Itagaki has made in recent history but we’re forced to admit we had a tiny bit of fun playing it. [Sept. 2015, p.058]

FIFA 16 is the football simulation of the year and delivers a great complete package of football. You'll have to give it time though, to hone your skills and get better. If you don't, FIFA 16 can get slow, boring and even frustrating, but if you do, you're in for an exciting and deep football experience.

The Taken King is truly Destiny 2.0. Practically everything has been revised and improved, making this the unmissable Bungie title that Destiny should’ve been a year ago.

Forza 6 is a proper sequel to Forza 5 with some fun new content, but the game really only excels in its presentation rather than with its physics. A recommended get for the petrol heads, but don't expect Project CARS' realism .

Super Mario Maker is the most accessible and fun to use level editor yet and there’s more than enough to do if you’re not the creative type.

Mad Max manages to translate the vibe of the movies perfectly, but, unfortunately, that makes for a monotonous game. A bit like last year’s Shadow of Mordor.

Until Dawn has a smart, layered and well-told story that’s exciting, fun to play and gets real scary at times. Developer Supermassive Games claimed a spot on our list of favorite storytellers and restored our faith in the 'interactive movie’-genre.

Kojima's last addition to his legendary Metal Gear franchise is the greatest game he's ever produced. An undeniable pinnacle of the franchise and for video games in general.

Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture is not for everyone but it's so unique and daring, and so good at what it does, that you simply have to be made of concrete to not be touched by the story it tells.

It’s an alright Pokemon clone but why would you go for a clone if you can just play the original? [Jul 2015, p.072]

Though refreshing and well-polished Invisible Inc. is equally unforgiving and a bit bland in its presentation. [Jul 2015, p.070]

FFX is still one of the best oldschool JRPG’s ever made. If you haven’t play this one you should totally pick up this bundle. [Jul 2015, p.067]

The only truly shocking thing about this Carmageddon reincarnation is the fact that they charge 25 bucks for it. This monstrosity is about as fun as getting run over by a car. [Jul 2015, p.066]

The core gameplay is refreshing and enjoyable but limited in weird ways. [Jul 2015, p.065]

KSP is bloody fantastic! The possibilities are endless and the feeling you get after a successful mission is the best ever. You should probably buy this video game. [Jul 2015, p.063]

Double Fine clearly had huge plans for Massive Chalice but unfortunately not all areas received as much love and care as the bigger picture, causing certain other areas to feel a bit lackluster and thin. [Aug 2015, p.081]

HotS is great piece of fanservice that’s wrapped in accessible, polished MOBA trappings. [Aug 2015, p.081]

A fine mobile port but the Vita is still the preferred platform for JRPGs. [Aug 2015, p.083]

Race the Sun is a randomly generated thrill ride that keeps pushing you harder and gets better every time you play. [Aug 2015, p.082]

A refreshing and challenging concept that’s bound to keep you entertained for a bit. [Aug 2015, p.084]

Supposedly Kholat is six hours long but we couldn’t tell because we stopped playing after two. [Aug 2015, p.084]

The console version of the game has two disadvantages for a hardened PC gamer: not enough room to bind abilities on a controller and a lack of typed communication. Fortunately, the game has amazing quests and three stories you'll all want to check, regardless of platform.

Her Story is one of those games that makes you wonder why it took so long for someone to actually make it. A unique experience that’s bound to keep you thinking for days after you’ve finished it.

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island is the better platformer still, but Woolly World is a great runner-up when it comes to its pure fun.

Project CARS turned out to be an awesome hardcore simulator but the sheer mountain of options and settings might scare off the casual set. The real car freaks won’t mind and are likely to play this one with huge grins on their faces.

Mortal Kombat X’s foundation is rock solid and it’s an absolute joy to play. Unfortunately it lacks diverse single-player content and its deplorable DLC makes the whole package feel a bit cheap.

Bloodborne is a true sight to be seen and a real joy to play. It isn’t as comprehensive as its predecessors but it’s still an easy recommendation to anyone that’s ever enjoyed a Souls games.

Hardline is an enjoyable Battlefield spin-off that's easy to recommend to the hardcore Battlefield set but has a few too many flaws to transcend the franchise.

Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number is one of those rare sequels like DOOM 2, Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metroid Prime 2 that seems identical to its predecessor, but manages to be a different beast entirely. It’s harder, more story-driven and even more subversive, and seems to specifically made to destroy the expectations of those who have mastered the first game. It might not be as pure and focused as Hotline Miami 1, but it’s everything we wanted from a sequel and way, way more.

The Bright Lord pushes Shadow of Mordor to a new difficulty level and gives you cool abilities, like summoning Orcs and the power of The One Ring, to conquer the strongest evil presence we have met since the game was released. The satisfaction of claiming an enormous battlefield is big, but the story is lackluster, preventing The Bright Lord from being a crucial chapter of the Shadow of Mordor story.

The highs in Evolve are really high, it’s a beautifully polished game that offers a really cool unique multiplayer experience. Unfortunately those highs are completely dependent on the people you play with, making it hard to recommend to solo players.

With The Lost Lords Telltale takes the Game of Thrones series one step closer to a perfect score. The separate storylines, but also the overarching plot manage to realize their huge potential much more. In addition, the feeling that your choices really mean something and the rapid changes of perspective also contribute to the suspense. And when plot and suspense are put together so well, it’s not that hard to forgive the developer for the lack of technical progression.

Life is Strange’s first episode has great characters and atmosphere but the story isn't very gripping yet. It has definitely made us curious for the next couple of episodes though.

The good news is that both Alex the Action-fan, Susan the Stealth-lover and Gareth the Graphics-geek are going to enjoy Dying Light. The bad news is that Steven the Story-freak won’t be joining them.