Having played numerous RPGs over many years, it’s tough to think of one that is as spellbinding and so moreish as this. A modern day marvel on the Nintendo Switch, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is simply stunning.

Red Dead Redemption 2 takes everything that made the first so spectacular and elevates it to a new level. It boasts an enthralling story, coupled with rock solid gameplay, and is perhaps one of the best games ever made.

Updated for a new generation, yet full of old school charm and nostalgia for long time Mario fans. Super Mario Odyssey is simply one of the most joyous games of all time.

It cannot be overstated that there is something exceptional at work here as masterful storytelling marries wonderfully with interactive experience, the high expectations that have built for this release are met and exceeded with consummate ease.

Persona 5 Royal is a masterpiece. Bold, beautiful and confident in both presentation and execution, developers Atlus once again show us they are at the top of their game.

The Last Of Us Remastered absolutely deserves a place in your PlayStation 4 collection, despite whether you’ve played it before or not. The improvements this remaster brings only helps to show you how much of an incredible, beautiful, emotional and downright amazing game this is.

With an exceptional story, brilliant acting, superb controls and gorgeous level design, God of War is a masterpiece and is easily the best title on the platform to date, and possibly the generation.

Naughty Dog’s bravest, darkest masterpiece to date and one of the greatest games of this generation.

What Supergiant Games have created here is the perfect roguelike; immensely satisfying, even in failure, with an excellently-written array of characters and a compelling story. With variety of events to avoid the gameplay every becoming stale, a myriad of different weapons with markedly varied play styles, and gameplay-altering boons, Hades is an absolute joy to play. Oh, and everyone is hot, EVERYONE.

If you like science fiction Infinite is one of the best stories ever told via a game. Without question it represents one of the most ambitious set of ideas developed for a mainstream multi-million dollar release.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps drastically improves upon its predecessor, with stellar gameplay, visuals and music. A true testament to what the Switch is capable of, this stunning sequel is not to be missed.

Super Mario 3D World is a joy from beginning to end, and is the best game for the Wii U so far.

Persona 4 Golden is so much more than just a mere game, it’s a wonderful experience that grabs you by the beard hairs and drags you in, dominating your spare time and idle thoughts until you have reached that ending.

It’s huge, but Persona 5 never outstays its welcome. If you’re a JRPG fan without a PS4, this is the game that fully justifies the purchase.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is a masterpiece. No other game has ever tried and succeeded to capture a sense of a time and place long gone while also blending social commentary so well. The addition of a multiplayer mode that's a real step up from Rockstar's last effort makes Red Dead Redemption 2 unmissable on PC.

Perfecting the mechanics the franchise established way back in 1999, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a crazy, chaotic joy. With a gargantuan roster of fighters, an amazing adventure mode and more unlockables than would ever have seemed possible, this is a game that packs one heck of a punch.

Dark, sombre and thoughtful, Inside is a brief experience that's satisfying in the questions it creates.

The game is a spellbinding experience that really is a credit to its medium.

It is still enriched with the uniquely mysterious touch of Miyazaki and From Software and that is all that it really needs to be.

You’ll not want it to end, just like you didn’t want your very favourite RPGs of years’ past to end either. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will sit in that list now. There isn’t any higher praise.

Overall, the game is a wonderfully presented experience and the best game that the 3DS has to offer.

Divinity: Original Sin 2 Definitive Edition is, frankly, a better version of an already tremendous game. The fact that console players can finally immerse themselves in this fantasy world is a wonderful thing, the fact that it has been done with so few issues puts that achievement on a completely different level.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Nintendo Switch is a no-brainer for fans and/or Switch owners - easily the best version of Mario Kart released to date on any platform and yet another killer app for Nintendo's fledgling hardware.

Its over dependence on group battles, less interesting boss designs and a slightly more forgettable world let it down, but none of this is so severe that it stops it from becoming another superb entry into one of the best series of games of all time.

There are lots of areas that aren't fully detailed and one would hope that Asobo Studios work on beefing up the introductory side of the game ahead of its release on the Xbox One. There are times where the novel-sized instruction manuals of the past really should still exist and this is one of them. Despite this the game is still welcoming and post training you'll have no trouble jumping into any of the game's aircraft and taking to the skies - knowing the basics is enough to have fun but the amount of depth means that there's always something new to discover. Our hope right now is that Asobo and Microsoft manage to improve performance for those of us on lesser rigs and that a patch is forthcoming to help boost the frame rate a little. I can appreciate the game at less than 20fps in low settings but I would love to be truly blown away by it.

The blending of genres, those perfect Moments and the beautiful pace of each game make Blizzard's new IP a must.

Rayman Legends isn’t just an HD upgrade or a game to tide you over before mechs start punching each other or beanie-hatted superpowered hipsters run amok in Seattle. It may include extra levels and a few extra costumes (taken from other Ubisoft properties) but the real value here is its inherent charm, frantic fun and a free-spirited feeling that enlivens one of the quietest periods in the life of a new console.

As I said before, I cannot recommend Shadowbringers more. The story, visuals, music, vocal performances, and gameplay all combine together to create a phenomenal gaming experience. Final Fantasy XIV has only gotten better over time, and after playing Shadowbringers I have simply no idea how they are going to better this expansion in the future. It really and truly is that good.

A wonderful retread into this world for fans of old, an epic new adventure for uninitiated.

It’s surely missing some of the finer details from the PC and console versions, but now thanks to 2K and Firaxis, we can save mankind from alien annihilation, even when on the toilet.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is easily the best handheld Zelda title since the days of the Game Boy Color, as well as being the strongest and most focused entry in the legendary series for easily the last ten years.

Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition earns my absolute highest recommendation. I cannot wait for more people to experience such a joyous celebration of all things Dragon Quest.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a stunning new instalment in the Animal Crossing franchise, hindered only by its lack of immediate content, quality of life issues and missing returning characters and features While future updates will give the game long-term playability, for those already sipping vacation juice on their five-star islands, island life feels pretty mundane right now.

Monster Hunter World: Iceborne is more of one of the best games of this console generation, and for many, that’ll be all the recommendation you’ll need. It’s a tough, punishing battle against incredible odds punctuated by elation and carving your vanquished nemesis into a sword with which to hunt its compatriots - and it’s bloody brilliant.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD is the definitive version of the GameCube classic.

A euphoric, almost religious game, and one that will make you wonder what you've been doing playing other games.

Tadpole Treble is clearly a passion project by the developers BitFinity and this shines through in every aspect. It’s rare that you come across a game with educational undertones that doesn’t instantly come across as one. Moreover one so wonderfully presented as this.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a bold and ambitious sequel and I really did not want to put it down when I was done. You owe to yourself to give it a try.

One of the best Telltale games ever made.

Challenging and enthralling shinobi action with the usual From Software brand of difficulty, quirks and all.

For gamers young, old, and every type in between Rayman Legends is heartily recommended.

Resident Evil 2 is a near perfect remake full of impressive visuals, grotesque designs, sharp gunplay and a simple, effective plot. With only a couple of incredibly minor niggles such as a occasionally wooden scripting and performance taking the smallest amount of shine off an otherwise beautifully polished and restored piece of video game history, Capcom have proven that even an aged classic can meet modern expectations. Here's hoping Resident Evil 3 is in the works.

An excellent port of an already beloved title. A must buy for fans of the genre.

In almost every respect Pillars of Eternity is a true successor to the genre - a perfect introduction for RPG newcomers, and for everyone else, the game they’ve been waiting fifteen years for.

What you get out of Rocksmith 2014 depends heavily on how you treat it. It's important to realise that it is not a complete learning program but rather the ultimate practice tool and is best used to supplement other learning avenues, be they YouTube videos, books, or classes with a tutor.

A rich story, perfect graphical elements, and frustratingly challenging puzzles make There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension a thoroughly worthwhile game.

The only fault one can aim at Dark Souls 3 is its lack of originality, everything else is perfect.

Near-perfect platforming, gorgeous visuals and a joy-filled soundtrack make Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury one of the best Mario titles of all time, and an essential purchase for all Switch owners.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a masterwork in the strategy RPG genre. Everything about it is honed, polished and customizable in such a way that series veterans and new players alike can jump in and find a staggering amount of fun, challenge and charm.

The game then is still exactly the same as it was before – a beautiful, frustrating, perfectly long gem of a platformer with some slight pacing issues. If you’ve got a Vita, and even if you’ve played Limbo before, then you owe it to yourself to download this game and marvel at how good games can actually be, how good they can look.

One of the greatest sports games of all time is back and every bit as good as you remember.

Horizon is a must-play title for any PS4 owner, which boasts a remarkable lead character and a rich, thrilling open world.

The PS Vita execution is as wonderful a game as it has always been - despite some ramerate issues when certain events are triggered or areas entered - but is more at home given the way it plays and the fact it nags at you every moment you’re not playing it - which is reduced if you can take it with you wherever you go.

Tenderly handling the subject of death while portraying it in interesting ways, Edith Finch is a narrative adventure that deserves to be chronicled.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut is a great adaptation of a stunning game for the Wii U hardware, making effective use of the console's distinct features.

Ultimately Nintendo have again produced the goods and delivered another system seller.

A truly brave experiment in game design, which overcomes its erratic elements and occasional repetition with a remarkable piece of storytelling.

Not just one of the greatest Croft games of all time but also one of the best adventure games of all time.

It cannot be stressed enough that this is gaming at its most essential and the genuine emotional power that it carries is exceptional. Do yourself a favour and turn off your phone for a few hours and get lost in the best gaming relationship you’ll likely ever have. Stunning.

The game engine is superb, and it’s easy to forget you’re not playing an actual table which, all told, is the biggest compliment that we can pay Balance of the Force.

An almost perfect sequel, only spoiled by some frustrating bugs.

Dishonored 2 is a great sequel, one that refines the mechanics of the original whilst adding plenty of replay value. It's unfortunate the narrative is lacking but there's plenty to explore and discover in this title.

Still, XCOM: Enemy Within is exactly what Enemy Unknown needed. More maps, more aliens, more equipment... more content.

A treat for all existing owners of the PC original and an absolute must for RPG lovers who only have access to a console.

Not exactly novel but fantastic all the same. There's something here for everyone to love.

Outside of the new social features Pokemon Y and its counterpart do largely stick to the traditional JRPG formula and mechanics that have made the series the global phenomenon it has become.

The definitive version of the Mario Maker concept, for better or worse. Super Mario Maker 2 delivers a charming, easy-to-use, but tool-heavy creative romp with near endless potential future content.

This game is proof that single player not only isn't dead but it can still be enthralling, enticing, and innovative.

With a more fleshed-out endgame, Rise will be one of the best games on the Switch. Until then, I still recommend it to anyone looking for a great action game to get stuck into.

Perhaps the most polished and enjoyable release of any in the series, only let down by a baffling AI and some hopefully resolvable niggling issues.

With a fantastic single-player segment this year's Battlefield feels like a very complete package. The multiplayer adds some impressive new modes and features but at its core its the same old Battlefield experience.

Starcraft II shows that even in the modern era there’s still a place for an isometric RTS.

Diablo 3: Eternal Collection is everything from the last five years squeezed into a portable package. It plays brilliantly whether docked or not, and has more content than you could ever see. This is a game that is a must-play and to have access to it anywhere is almost unbelievable.

Simply put, Owlboy deserves all of the plaudits and awards it will inevitably receive. It may have been almost a decade in the making, but the effort and determination of this small studio oozes from every pixel. It’s not often that a 2D platform game can mesh together with such a wonderful story, but Owlboy hits a sweet spot which is no doubt down to sheer graft more than luck. Let’s hope that we don’t have to wait another ten years for its successor.

Despite some slightly uneven pacing, Night in the Woods is a mature, honest and fun tale of how it feels to be lost in a damaged world. This is the indie game you just have to get your paws on.

Nioh is a very good game of its own right. It doesn't do anything new but it does deliver one of the deepest combat mechanics inside an engaging action-adventure RPG.

Animal Crossing: New Leaf is the best entry in the series yet.

In fact the only criticism one could have is that there just isn’t enough. Even with the extra content, the game can be 100% completed within six to eight hours and still leave you wanting more.

In the end the Old Hunters expansion is just as an essential purchase as Bloodborne itself.

While the game does not offer anything new in terms of gameplay, Hitman 3 features the best levels in any Hitman game to date.

Minor inconveniences aside, Injustice 2 surpasses not only its predecessor but most fighting games on the market today. Boasting a vibrant roster of characters, plenty of replayability and some of the smoothest gameplay we’ve ever seen from the genre, it makes for a superb beat-em-up whether you’re a button basher or a combo king. To think, we would never have been treated to such a well-made fighter if not for the marriage of seemingly unrelated franchises all those years ago.

A brilliant port and a brilliant game. There aren't any real issues with the game whatsoever and nothing that would put you off purchasing it. If you are a fan of the series or even interested in the Civilization series, it is a must buy!

This is a great game in it's own right but it is a transportive one for this lifelong fan. Returning to Midgar, reliving the adventures of Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, and Barret, takes me back to a moment where all I can remember is the magic of discovering this world and reliving the emotional swells of this epic story. With a tear in my eye and a smile on my face, I finally came home.

The PlayStation Vita for too long has relied on spin-offs and ports from its older brother but with focus continuously shifting towards directly downloading from the PlayStation Network, small developers are now getting the chance to flex their creative muscles. Considering that the game is basically one big homage to the Metroid-Vania sub-genre, DrinkBox Studios have reinvented a classic style of gameplay and given it a much needed, high definition polish.

Despite some battery and bug issues, Old School Runescape's port makes it clear that the classic game belongs on mobile devices.

A fantastic fighting game for newcomers and fans of the genre alike, filled with knowing nods to the fans of the show. Dragon Ball FighterZ is a genuine delight to play and to watch.

It’s heartening to see a crossover of a more niche mobile title onto the PC platform, especially one which brings such atmosphere and creativity to the fore.

Despite lacklustre side activities, Marvel's Spider-Man's story and core gameplay mechanics represents a new benchmark for all superhero titles, and is a must play for all PS4 owners.

The remarkable thing here is that Crystal Dynamics have rebooted the Tomb Raider series, told an origin story of how the globe-trotting archaeological action figure came to be, all wrapped up in a contemporised package delivering examples of all that is good about games today, all whilst making it feel like a Lara Croft game.

A must buy for any racing fan or car nut.

Tearaway is a game for anyone other than the douchiest dudebro, a game for anyone that is able to sit back and enjoy a game for the sheer fun of it. In many ways, it’s a game that Nintendo would be proud to have on any of their systems, and if that’s not a compliment I don’t know what is.

For those unfamiliar with baseball MLB 13: The Show is probably a curiosity at most. The fact that the game is also PlayStation exclusive further segregates its European audience so that it occupies a limited niche at best. Still, for those looking for a baseball game there is nothing better on the market.

There is something near perfect at work here as gameplay, story, visuals, controls and audio all compliment and enhance each other. It feels like a cliche, or lazy writing, to call Hotline Miami a ‘pure’ gaming experience but that is very much what it is.

Despite its rather lacklustre story, and irritating platforming mechanics, Doom Eternal takes all the best elements from its prequel, polishes, refines and adds a mixture of new strategy, combat and gunplay elements to produce one of the most enjoyable FPS on the market today.

The Reaper of Souls expansion provides a great amount of content, changes and balancing that significantly improves and extends the original Diablo III experience.

PES 2016 is a fantastic sports game that every avid football enthusiast should own.

It’s a phenomenal multiplayer experience coupled with a surprisingly varied and downright exciting campaign. Respawn have improved on the original’s excellent multiplayer aspects, moved across to multiple formats and nailed the single-player experience, as a result Titanfall 2 is an absolute must buy.

Wolfenstein II is not a subtle game, nor is it for the faint of heart. Watching comrades getting decapitated as Mick Gordon’s hyperactive electronic metal shreds in the background is not easy, but neither should it be. If anything, it amplifies the rare moments of quiet reflection on board Eva’s Hammer and drives home how important friends and family are in the face of adversity. In turn cartoonish and visceral, there’s an eerie prescience about Wolfenstein II’s narrative that feels uncomfortably close to home, but as an experience it’s nothing less than essential.