The biggest achievement here is managing to reach out to new or lapsed players, while still piling on new intricacy for long term fans. For them, this is a compelling tangle of improved, impassioned football strategy, bursting with detailed dealings, sumptuous stats and days out in Shrewsbury. And it's never been a better time to step into the dugout for rookie gaffers.

Playing Viking detective was not something I expected to do during Valhalla, but it is a game that --while following much of its traditional template-- is capable of surprise.

It’s still a great RPG too, with a compelling swords and sorcery narrative, plus a sprawling, reactive world to explore.

It's definitely worth a try thanks to the great exploration and fluid combat systems, just make sure you have plenty of patience on hand.

While the quirky details aren't as well formed compared to its predecessor, Desperate Struggle's broad strokes are still joyously insane. Far from perfect, infuriating at times, but uproarious and unforgettable all the same.

This is one of the most compelling, enjoyable episodic games around. It is a shame about the technical problems, but that's not to say it's not pristine in many ways. A clever interface, a vibrant art style and a simple, atmospheric soundtrack compliment what is a wonderful, harrowing, human story.

Some of the best multiplayer action money can buy. In fact, it's a testament to how good the multiplayer mode is that this title scores as high as it does, given that Killzone 3's campaign plot is undercooked to the point that it's actually still bleeding.

Wargroove is a very enjoyable game but one which still feels rough around the edges.

It's refinement rather than revolution for F1 2011, then. But Codemasters have made a plethora of improvements under the bonnet, polishing an engine that should prove a fantastic basis for the planned yearly iterations of their F1 franchise.

It still has more charm and character than most and –despite the hiccups- provides a challenging, fun and satisfying puzzle experience for players young, old -and everything in between.

As my board like to say: we are pleased with the progress being made.

You will recognise the beats, but Chloe and Nadine make their own fresh and thrilling impact on the familiar. You could not imagine a more fitting finale.

For now, Sapienza is a fabulously strong episode, and one of the series’ greatest hits.

While Hogwarts Legacy makes what seems a genuine effort of inclusion, much of it is muddled.

DJ Hero is an exciting and brilliantly realised package, and while it may not offer the fantastic co-op experience of some of its contemporaries, its slick gameplay and fantastic presentation make it a must-have title in an overcrowded genre.

In the end, that's what'll keep you playing, trying to discover the hidden death-dealing methods, like throwing a group of enemies up into the air and using the flare gun to set them all on fire. That's a freebie, use the knowledge wisely.

This is a game with plenty to recommend it, and even if a lot of its best aspects are holdovers from its predecessor, the game's engrossing new story, gargantuan new map and plethora of new quests combine to form an experience that will appeal to most core gamers.

It is brilliant stuff, always thrilling and constantly rewarding. There’s perhaps a lack of alternative modes, providing a straightforward parade of levels that perhaps look slim in the light of, say, Geometry Wars 2’s jam-packed fairground. But Resogun knits a timeless brand of skill-based arcade gameplay with a few neat tricks that we haven’t seen before.

Perhaps doesn't feel quite as fresh as its predecessor in certain ways, but in others it kicks everything up a notch. It's certainly a better game, just for those of us who played the last game to death, there's not quite as much here to wow us. But the campaign is by far the best of the three, and even with the reused Activities and slightly familiar feel, Saints Row remains one of gaming's best, most enjoyable and most ludicrous playgrounds. It's not big, it's not clever, but it sure is a huge amount of fun.

In an age of downloadable content and add-ons, of game updates and expansions through online changes, it's just disappointing to see the game not support players who have already played Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon's story in any way other than a few small changes. For those players, it really is the definition of the oft-used review phrase "just keep at it, and eventually it gets really good."

What I've taken away from my time with NFL 11 is a new appreciation for the sport itself. It's genuinely exhilarating stuff.

There are still problems when it comes to balancing realism with spectacle, but Madden NFL 16 manages to get the mix mostly right. Certainly, when compared to previous releases, there's a far greater sense that what you're playing tallies with what you see on Sundays.

It's a game that shows there are a few tricks even Mario hasn't learned quite yet. The plumber is back at something approaching his very best, and that's something audiences – and Nintendo, with a new console to sell – will be particularly delighted about.

Telling Lies feels more like a jigsaw puzzle, with you hunting among scattered pieces. But while it can have its moments of exasperation, there are few things as satisfying as revealing the full picture.

BioShock: The Collection is just one iconic, influential game and its two excellent sequels packed together in one box. These kinds of games come around rarely, and if you’ve not played any of them, you absolutely should.

A game that is a masterclass in stimulating the senses throughout. But its greatest achievement is making Kinect seem indispensable, allowing you to take centre stage and feel part of Eden's glittering landscape. An evolution of sorts, borne from the endeavour of creation.

While there perhaps isn’t a huge amount of headline features to shout about in FIFA 18, its nip and tucks make for the most-rounded and compelling FIFA in a good few years. Both on and off the pitch.

One of the best looking games released all year and in terms of sheer specatacle, there are few titles that can match it. This is a fast-paced, high-octane and resolutely hard-core shooter, which makes no concessions to casual gamers. It also happens to be one of the best games of 2010.