With some tweaks under (and over) the hood, I can happily say that building an empire that can stand the test of time has never looked so pretty, nor has been so fun, in Civilization VI.

This is a shallow, simple shooting gallery you would expect from a motion control minigame collection, adding a VR layer to expand it to 180 degree action isn’t enough and even if you are engaged there is no way to compete against yourself, let alone the world. Thoroughly mediocre.

Predictable jump scares, ringing telephones, spooky notes, guys in animal masks humping things and malfunctioning flashlights litter the landscape, and with each new instance, you’re left less and less impressed.

Headmaster is a solid experience for testing out the PS VR’s functionality but at its core, the mechanic isn’t sustainable.

An amazing survival horror experience and my favourite indie game so far this year; you’ll sure as hell see this one on my list of top 5 games of 2016.

Ace Banana in its present state is barely playable with Move controllers.

Final Fantasy fans will appreciate the level of detail and nostalgic cameos both in the narrative and monster designs, but newcomers of the series may be left overwhelmed. That said, the Pokémon-lite aspect of capturing mirages, and training and transforming them to more powerful beings, is addictive fun. While the dialogue is poorly written with often dry humour awkwardly delivered, you can’t help love the adorable chibi character animations.

As ridiculous as it sounds, Titanfall 2 is more down-to-Earth than most AAA shooters. There are still big explosions and unrelenting death, but rather than focusing on those, some sincere moments between Cooper and BT rise to the surface.

Job Simulator has been one of the best and most lasting experiences with the PSVR.

There’s a big sense here that Skylanders played it a bit safe.

The game is very playable from a first person perspective but VR is by no means essential.

2K17 is average at best, worth skipping if you’re a casual wrestling fan. Fans of the sport will find more to enjoy, but I’d have to wager it’ll be through a profound sense of disappointment.

Ridiculously long, unskippable introductions will hamper your enjoyment.

Simple, yet complex puzzles, combined with a GLaDOS-like taskmaster, have you laughing and constantly wanting more.

Battlefield 1 is deeply respectful of shocking, torrid events that occurred more than 100 years ago and irreparably altered the course of history, surprisingly so. The headline multiplayer mode, Operations, encapsulates the essence The Great War; the power play for territory and the desperate bids to reclaim lost ground, and injects it into a game mechanic that incites a genuine sense of achievement arising from the trials and tribulations.

With the current generation and the likes of Forza Horizon 3, F1 2016 and DiRT Rally, WRC 6 sadly falls behind by failing to innovate.

Dragon Quest Builders does and exceptional job of implementing a proven formula from a game that sold so well Microsoft decided to buy it, but it doesn’t stop there. DQB improves on that formula and give players a more well rounded, fuller experience. Its a guided experience but its this structure that makes the game both addictive and rewarding.

Mafia III is consistently inconsistent. An engrossing and mature narrative told between repetitive and boring missions, satisfying gun play against moronic AI enemies all taking place in a beautifully designed city that’s ruined with shitty lighting effects. Throw in numerous game crashes (on Xbox One) and a ridiculous count of reported bugs on PC you have a game that appears to have been built by talented people but QA checked by the work experience kid.

The game itself remains unchanged and while an excellent game in it’s day, COD: MWR often shows its true age with animations looking just a little clunky by today’s standards and a few small missteps that were present in the original which could have, and should have been amended in this new and improved version.

The atmosphere presented by Supermassive is absolutely effective in getting you on edge; jumpy, uncertain of what’s to come next.

The only other time you may need to pull the disc back out is to show off virtual reality to friends or family. That’s it.

This is the best use of PlayStation VR that I’ve seen currently available.

The core game remains excellent in almost every way; if you’re solely a PS4 owner, now is your time to experience the next chapter in Lara’s epic tail.

Visual Concepts continues to set the benchmark for sports titles with NBA 2K17.

The Coalition’s multiplayer offerings make up for an inconsistent campaign in Gears of War 4. Even then, and as much as I hate to admit it, what’s been presented has me eager for more – even though I would have preferred some resolution in this title, thank you very much. Gears fans will love it and newcomers should find enough to get them geared up – pun intended – for more.

While it mightn’t look as crisp and clear as the PC version, console controls are easy to use — after all, we’ve already experienced the franchise on Xbox and PlayStation before. The only thing that really lets consoles down is ridiculously large loading times, which you’ll really feel if you’re relying on deft saves to get out of a tight spot. After playing on Xbox One, I continue to question why Firaxis and 2K didn’t just release XCOM 2 to all platforms at the same time.

Clustertruck has a lot to offer both her quick bursts of play or longer investments.

It’s a good thing that Virginia is such a neatly-packed experience, because I definitely needed to run through it twice to get a firmer grip on the story being told.

FIFA 17 is the biggest stride forward for football this generation. I can’t say it’s reclaimed the crown from PES, and for the players who have made the switch, you’ll still find the controls a little too erratic. But with vastly improved A.I. and more attacking options to complement the defensive backbone, this is the strongest FIFA this generation where it counts.

Legion has one of the best stories in the series to date.

There are no framerate drops. No dodgy textures. The integrity of in-game mechanics are polished and hold up to the scrutiny we 2016-based reviewers can place upon them.

It’s a throwback to the way things were, perfectly recreated for today’s audience.

The story is mostly just window dressing for a mission-based grind-‘em-up.

It turns out communism isn’t the only idea that works better in theory than practice.

Just Sing isn’t bad; it’s a good karaoke game marred by presentation problems, or, a half-decent party title.

Yet despite its issues, I’m still playing ReCore. Its narrative, while no great work of prose, is intriguing enough to draw me through. Combat is varied enough to keep me coming back — even when I’m forced to replay the same encounter on occasion due to gang-up attacks. The ability to craft upgrades and collect loot throughout the world scratches that Metroid-style itch that Nintendo itself refuses to do anything about

NHL 16 saved the franchise from utter ruin, but NHL 17 shows you just what developers who love hockey can do when given ample time to work on a product. This year’s result is polished and bursting at the seams with care and love. With more modes than you can shake a stick at and niggling bugs of the past destroyed — I couldn’t find a single glitch over a marathon play session while preparing for this review — this is the best version of NHL to date.

Federation Force isn’t bad — especially when you factor in Blast Ball — but it’s not going to fill the hunger felt by most franchise fans. It doesn’t work as a single-player offering, and those who want to play with friends will need to exert ridiculous levels of willpower and patience to get games in. If you’re willing to give it a go with mates, synch things up ahead of time for the least amount of stress.

Make no mistake, F1 2016 is pretty, but in some areas and not others.

Its gameplay loop means you’ll be able to have an entirely different experience with each playthrough — despite somewhat single-minded races — and a new story to tell with each run. If you’re into the genre or looking for a potential time-sink, jump on in.

I’m a die-hard fan of the game and have loved jumping back in to Resident Evil 4. I have a feeling others who feel the same about the franchise will as well, as will Achievement and Trophy addicts, enticed over reasonable simple lists. For everyone else, it’s a harder sell at $24.95 AUD — while greatly improved over last-gen’s release, it’s still the same game on yet another platform.

The early pace of Hue was leading me to disappointment, but the stellar second act was more than enough reward for that labour. Hue delivers a polished package and a strong platform puzzle game, it isn’t a Braid or Limbo but merely evoking those names can be taken as a sign of quality that Hue most certainly possesses.

Attack on Titan: Wings of Freedom knows exactly what it is. It has perfected the most important elements, seemingly at the cost of other systems. The story closely follows the anime series and adds a little extra, so if you’re a fan you’ll be happy with the accurate retelling. If you’ve never watched the series, this could be a good way to dive into the franchise.

With familiar characters and concepts, upgraded visuals, excellent level design and some new toys to play with, the changes made between the last instalment and this one are welcome improvements without invoking the “if it aint’ broke” rule. Veteran Deus Ex players will likely jump in head first and love every minute they spend in this world. This is certainly one for the fans.

Risk: Urban Assault is a decent game wrapped in a terrible package disrespectful of the player and their time. It throws pointless animations, cutscenes and bloat into a board game that is already well known for being a soul sucking grind. If this was just a board game I’d begrudgingly recommend it to people who really like Risk but as a video game I find it hard to recommend to anybody.

All the usual weapons of lovely overkill are back — and some are even better. My favourites? Airstrikes, Wormageddon, Banana Bomb and the brutal O.M.G. Strike. The 80+ weapons that make up the total of your arsenal will leave a satisfying twitch in your trigger finger.

All things considered, No Man’s Sky is the first game in years to actually justify the use of the word “ambitious”. That’s why I like it.

It’s not without its issues, but Bound presents traditional platforming mechanics with an artistic flair that really sets it apart.

The entire point of Battleship is that you are face to face with your opponent and cannot see their ship layout. Relying on good sportsmanship not to peek is an unnecessary complication. In all honesty, I think this game makes more sense on a portable device or mobile phone, both for convenience and the basic logic of the game itself. Even at around $20 AUD, it doesn’t seem worth the expense for a new mode alone.

If you’re the kind of gamer who typically needs explicit direction or a heavily mechanics-focused game experience, you may think that ABZÛ isn’t for you. Move beyond that and give it a try. Between the rich visuals, orchestral soundtrack and chill playing experience, you’ll find something to like.

After the stellar, story-based content that was “Far Harbour”, “Vault-Tec” simply underwhelms. A handful of fetch quests pad out limited crafting content. While you can go nuts and design a Vault any Overseer would be proud of, the content itself only asks that you explore a couple cave systems and build four experimental machines.

I Am Setsuna is the good kind of nostalgic. It utilises the best elements of the past to its benefit, rather than to excuse an otherwise lacklustre game. And yet, while playing to the nostalgia it also makes sure to do something different to set it apart. The more sombre tone of the story means you’re not going to be adding a chivalrous frog knight to your party here, but the package you get it doesn’t suffer as a result.

I couldn’t help but feel children would be in the opposite camp, challenged by the colouring-in work they’d be presented but bewildered by phrases thrown around in a real world art school.

Making a new game that’s so much like the original — right down to the borderline excessive load times — was a terrible decision.

I really struggled early on with Monster Hunter Generations, but I’m glad I kept with it. I got an immense amount if satisfaction from its gameplay loop, but it’s worth noting that the pay off is proportional to what you put in.

Prison Architect is an excellent sandbox, a throwback to the days of Bullfrog’s Theme series that forces you to balance an eye for aesthetics with pure functionality. Those who don’t need to be led by the hand to explore the deep systems at play will find an excellent simulation to lose themselves in, with online sharing options providing a huge selection of prisons to explore, tear down and rebuild.

Super Mutant Alien Assault has some good ideas in it, but the balance of quality vs quantity was shifted way too far towards the latter, resulting in a potentially excellent platformer that’s been ruined with unnecessary filler. Give this one a miss unless you’re a huge fan of getting really angry at video games.

7 Days to Die is awful. I’d imagine this is how the PC release initially played back in 2013 as part of Steam Early Access; I’m utterly confused as to why there’s no polish at all on this new console release. There’s no excuse for such a flimsy mess, and I’m quite surprised Telltale Games would permit its name to be associated with such tripe. Avoid the game at all costs.

All things considered, Underground is a true evolution of the MMO, provided those who had a passing interest in it can be bothered jumping back in.

Alone or with a co-op partner, it’s hard to go wrong with Resident Evil 5. It is perfect for franchise fans or those looking to get into the series ahead of Resident Evil 7 and the Resident Evil 2 remake. At the time of writing, it’s a perfect time to delve in as well — this, and other Resident Evil games, are heavily discounted. Just avoid RE6 unless you know what you’re in for.

In 2012, I forgave most of Resident Evil 6‘s failings, and I’m ashamed at my behaviour in doing so. I couldn’t, in good conscience, do that any longer. It’s an already dated game, worse now due to its chaos than ever before.

Overall it feels like an atmospheric step forward for the developer, but a mechanical trip backwards. Until that gets sorted, the red planet can wait.

Playdead has greatly improved how it delivers a story, but hasn’t moved away from ambiguity. The latter three-quarters of Inside cheapens the otherwise refined package, only saved because the studio is the undisputed master of horrific puzzles. Ending aside, it’s definitely worth a look.

Perfect if anime is what you’re into… but otherwise, it’s not worth your time.

The bottom line is that Overwatch is easy to pick up and understand, and amazingly fun to play.

The lack of local multiplayer is Mutants in Manhattan‘s biggest sin.

If you’re aiming for a steeply difficult strategy game that really makes you think ahead, Conquest is the way to go. I’d still recommend playing the Birthright path first, to be honest – the difficulty curve between the two works well, and Nohr’s story works well as an extension of your experience in Hoshido.

Complete with its own twisting narrative, branching mission paths and endings, unique enemy types and – it has to be said again – GORGEOUS landscape, Toussaint is a fitting capping point for the amazing journey that this game has been.

Harmless fun from a mobile game that wants to be a console one instead.

I didn’t think it would be possible, but Umbrella Corps has officially taken the title of “biggest Resident Evil cash-in” away from Operation: Raccoon City. Brief moments of online merriment don’t even come close to saving this muddy, jumpy, bot-filled mess.

Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst is a curious beast. It’s more accessible and enjoyable than Mirror’s Edge, but alarmingly, there’s nothing spectacular nor overly memorable about it. Prettiness aside, it’s still short, has a sparse plot and doesn’t get you excited through its gameplay. It’s fun in spurts, but now I’m finished with the main plot and most of the character-driven side-missions, there’s no desire to go back for more.

Alienation is a must-buy for any fans of twin stick shooters. Featuring fun gameplay, a deep weapons system (for the genre), smooth visuals and plenty of reason to repeat missions it’s certainly worth your $30.00 AUD.

Hitman seems to be having more and more issues with each passing episode — at least on PC — which is a shame considering how much potential it had. Here’s hoping that with three episodes still remaining, Hitman finds its feet again and slays its way into our hearts.

Total War with better battles is better Total War, and Warhammer brings exactly that to the table.

Overall, it’s impressive that the model works – a branching story that acts as ‘either/or, then both’ could feel like a cash-in quite easily. The fact that each version of Fates manages to offer something unique is an impressive feat. I hope it doesn’t become an ongoing trend in the series, but as an experiment with the formula it feels just right.

In all, there’s a surprising amount of content, but it’s only the story mode that’s worth playing.

The game isn’t without its issues, the load times are borderline ridiculous at times and there’s no tutorial so you’ll spend most of the first act scratching your head in confusion. All non-crime solving elements are mind-numbingly boring, but the game overall fills a niche in the gaming world that we don’t see done nearly enough in most games. When you’re bored doing laps on a circuit or shooting foes on the battlefield, take some time out and pick up The Devil’s Daughter. As a crime-solver, it does alright.