Although fun in small bursts, it doesn’t have quite the same staying power or online community that other games enjoy.

Put simply, Samurai Warriors 4 Empires is the very best this series has to offer. Taking the refined core gameplay of Samurai Warriors 4 and dousing it in the tactics of Nobunaga’s Ambition has worked wonders.

There’s certainly enough here to whet anyone’s appetite, allowing IO to turn present future updates as mini-events, maintaining a constant buzz among fans throughout the year. That said, there are some minor imperfections that bring Hitman down a peg or two.

By and large, The Division lives up to the years of hype and high expectations. At its core, it marries solid cover-based shooting with a loot heavy RPG and an enticingly beautiful setting, but it really comes together when you can team up with friends and take on enemies, whether rebellious AI factions or other agents in the fraught and tense Dark Zone. There are a few foibles, but it’s a game that can easily draw you in and have you playing for hours on end.

SwapQuest has a lot of great things going for it, but the handful of issues are really, really major ones.

Gunscape is aimed at giving players the tools to create their own old school FPS levels and maps, but Blow Fish Studios’ attempt to carve out a little niche is lacking in its execution. What remains is a game that could be of interest while you roam through player-made maps, but will ultimately be left behind as actually playing them will quickly tarnish any glimmer of hope it had.

Despite not winning the Playstation Plus monthly vote, Action Henk’s speedy little adventure is well worth taking a shot at. The challenge of attaining those platinum medals, and in shaving a few tenths off your best times, is a hook that never fails to grab you, and for those with a competitive streak its fun, physics-based gameplay should be a perfect fit.

Its SNES-like art style is greatly appealing, but the core gameplay loop is far too shallow to really recommend it as an alternative to other recent 3DS offerings.

It’s not impossible to overlook Alekhine’s shopping list of shortcomings. There were a few occasions when everything would neatly come together and create something genuinely fun and entertaining. However, the consistency simply isn’t there.

Some elements of the game haven’t aged all that well and the remastering process simply hasn’t addressed them. However, with that still in mind, Twilight Princess HD remains an adventure that deserves revisiting, still offering a great deal for returning fans and newcomer

Either way, Hitman GO: Definitive Edition is well worth the plunge, even at its current asking price. Although the cost has been inflated, you’d be hard-pressed to find a puzzle game of this calibre on PSN or Steam for just over a fiver.

It’s not as exciting and refreshing as two years ago, but that’s not too big a complaint when it’s more co-op defence and liberally borrowed and adapted multiplayer, all slathered in the quirky Plants vs. Zombies universe.

Project X Zone 2 is a videogame for videogame fans. It’s not likely to present you with a huge challenge, nor does it take an immense amount of skill to be any good at it, with the tactical gameplay a far cry from genre greats such as Fire Emblem or Shin Megami Tensei.

Beneath this wildly altered aesthetic, for better or for worse, Ubisoft is still playing it safe. Personally, I found Primal to be far more entertaining than Far Cry 4, but even then it’s hard to overlook the series’ systematic regurgitation of ideas and concepts.

Ultimately EDF4.1 ends up being an addictive game that is full of alien squishing fun on a huge scale, but as a last generation port to PlayStation 4, it ends up being far too expensive. I shall await with bated breath for a true sequel.

Whether a returning fan or simply someone looking for a new roleplaying game to play, Cyber Sleuth caters to both parties. Although those familiar with the brand stand to gain more from this recent revival of the series, the gameplay systems are accessible for just about anyone. Still, despite its overall fun factor, Digimon Story isn’t exactly innovative, while also being hamstrung by a few niggling issues.

Bravely Second is a sequel that is bursting in flavour. It features a world with so much depth, a story which twists and turns in meaningful ways, and clever tweaks to the combat that make the turn-based battles fun. Some sections drag on a little bit and a mild amount of dialogue tries to spoil the broth, but this adventure has had me hooked from beginning to end.

For all its flaws and lacklustre looks, you can tell that Phosphor were really onto something in the way it experimented with superpowers here. Given more time and resources – and without being weighed down by the Heroes license – the studio could have created a truly special comic book adventure.

Layers of Fear sits somewhere between the pejoratively classified ‘walking simulators’ and a full game experience, as for the most part you are simply wandering around and solving the odd puzzle.

Even as a person whose grasp of fighting games is nowhere near top-tier standard, Street Fighter V is the most fun I’ve had in a fighting game in years.

Where difficulty can be used to make a game more addictive or rewarding, here it manages to sap every ounce of fun out of the experience.

If you’re a fan of Dying Light, then The Following is a near essential expansion.

Tear the anime-patterned wrapper away and what you have is essentially another iteration on the same aging format Omega Force has been peddling for years. In this case it has been slightly altered but not enough to conceal the franchise’s ongoing fatigue as fewer bold ideas are brought to the table.

You already know if you are going to be buying Firewatch, and if you loved Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture or Life Is Strange then this is the game for you. It’s small, short and almost perfectly formed, it’s just the shame the game broke so many times when I was playing it. I’m hoping these problems can be found and fixed very quickly after launch and I would suggest holding off buying the game until a patch has been released, but until then we don’t have much of a choice but to mark an otherwise lovely game down due to the problems encountered.

Cosmic Picnic have created a good game and if you like tough roguelikes then you’ll have some fun with this.

With smart gameplay, gorgeous graphics, and a brilliant story to tell, it looks as though Unravel could be ColdWood’s first breakout hit and a deserving one at that.

The game leaves a good first impression and noticeably improves upon the first game. It could do with some optimisation, which will hopefully come with a day one patch today or soon after launch, but as we head towards our full review, it’s looking like a particularly good follow-up.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is a fitting finale for the game series and for fans of the anime. With a great range of content, a huge roster, and spectacular visuals, this is certain to be a hit with those who have a history with the franchise. Unfortunately for outsiders though it’s likely to remain a beautiful yet incomprehensible brawler.

My experience of Mordheim: City of the Damned is one where knowledge of the source material is both a blessing and a curse. This isn’t a bad game, and despite its flaws there is still fun to be found in the Empire’s official worst city to live in.

With strong gameplay and a healthy amount of unique characters, it’s a game that lives up to the pedigree of its developer.

Unique, divisive, and fiendishly clever, there are bound to be those who love it and those who absolutely hate it. Then there are those, like myself, who fall somewhere in between, able to appreciate Thekla’s achievements but frustrated at how The Witness continues to build a wall around itself, as if guarding a secret from its players.

Lego Marvel’s Avengers is another great entry in the brick-based franchise, and fans of both series, and in particular Lego Marvel Superheroes, will likely lap it up.

Final Fantasy Explorers certainly has the potential to grow into worthy Monster Hunter alternative, but its first attempt is a little way off.

If you like tough games then this is for you, but fans of strategy or tower defence have much better options available to them.

This War Of Mine: The Little Ones is more than a game, and can be considered one of the most effective anti-war tools ever created. This is not a game you play for fun or to unwind, and the addition of children for the console release makes it even more poignant, as the realisation dawns that all over the world people are living through these hellish conditions. This War of Mine: The Little Ones doesn’t just drive home how desperate people get in times of war, but also makes you take note of how lucky so many of us are to live in a more stable place.

Though it lacks some of the nuance and complexity to make the most of some of its ideas, Deserts of Kharak captures the essence of the Homeworld series. Fans of the classic originals will find a familiar form of real time strategy adapted to a new setting, and telling another tale of a lonely carrier fighting through to its destination against the odds.

Resident Evil Zero HD isn’t exactly the most beloved game in the franchise, yet the high quality of the HD upgrade makes it well worth a look for fans of the series. It still features the main issues that the previous version had, but the detail that’s gone into the restoration work is highly commendable and the new Wesker mode is worth unlocking. If only the base game wasn’t more inventory management than surviving a zombie outbreak.

While Hardware Rivals is fun to play in chunks it gets repetitive quickly, and its great visual design isn’t enough to cover the cracks.

Stone Tales is a good proof of concept with a unique art style, but its gameplay feels undercooked. The imprecise nature of spear throwing, combined with several cheap moments, undermine the experience. But above all else, the game just doesn’t have anything particularly interesting to show off besides the visuals. Short games are one thing and some great experiences come in small packages. If only Stone Tales had a hint of something interesting.

It makes one or two minor stumbles along the way, but The Banner Saga continues to stand tall two years after its original release. Empowered a truly jaw-dropping art direction and the masterful audio work of composer Austin Wintory, Stoic’s plans to expand the franchise are certainly justifiable.

Either way, ACC: India manages to keep the stealth gameplay fun, while the open combat still leaves room for improvement.

Despite my gripes with the game and the struggle to make it through achingly slow opening chapter, the care and detail that went into the game is clear to see, and I know there are JRPG fans that live to appreciate the kind of meticulous detail that this game contains.

Unfortunately, Fat Princess Adventures comes across as something of a missed opportunity. For one thing, it’s a genre shift which will disappoint those who want more of the multiplayer carnage from the original, but while there’s still fun to be had, this is a fairly shallow game which leans too close to the childlike facade of the art style.

It’s simple to just say that Starpoint Gemini 2 isn’t for everyone, but there are fundamental issues that really make this game utterly impenetrable. The presentation is generally of a good standard, and though the performance falters at inconvenient moments, it’s how the game deals with teaching players how things work that’s most disappointing. We’ve seen space simulations that work on consoles, but this particular trade isn’t worth what they’re offering.

Earth Defense Force 2 is a great Vita title, and whether you want something to play for a couple of minutes on a toilet or in-between classes, this is a must have. If you’re looking for a new game that you and your friends can have some fun together in, this is also definitely worth checking out. It’s dumb, silly fun, and even though the lack of a story can kill your motivation to progress sometimes, at the end of the day it’s still way too much fun to just drop into Tokyo and blast away dozens of giant mutant ants from space.

Overall Amplitude’s return is an enjoyable one, though the game’s campaign set-list has just as many tracks that would clear the dancefloor as fill it.

Corpse Party: Blood Drive is sure to upset many fans; it certainly upset me. The shift to 3D visuals completely changed the dynamic of the game, and while gameplay didn’t suffer for it, storytelling and immersion certainly did. If this were a new game separate from the narrative of the previous entries, it could be an excusable attempt at experimentation, but as the anticipated climax to a years-long story of engaging horror and developing characters, it only serves to muddy an otherwise engaging series of indie horror games. Corpse Party: Blood Drive is offensive to fans and a poor representation of the series to newcomers.

While I wasn’t completely sold on the limited inventory space available, the penalties for death, and the initial ease of the game, Steamworld Heist made for a great time. Tactical combat on a 2D plane is hard to make engaging and the occasional urgency of the short levels made for some badass moments where a sharp shot sealed the deal. A competent, if completely different second outing in the SteamWorld universe.

There’s some initial monotony to get past initially, but it’s followed by a rewarding, content-rich game to be explored here and one that will warrant your attention whenever you get a spare few minutes to visit the farm.

Fast Racing Neo isn’t F-Zero, nor is it Wipeout, and it’s definitely not Ikaruga. It is, however, a shining example of futuristic racing that’ll help fill a void in Nintendo’s Wii U catalogue. While its difficulty level may not be as welcoming as most modern gamers are used to, those who persevere will discover a pure racing experience that manages to retain its own identity.

Guns Up! is a fun game in short bursts. The setting up of soldiers and perks before an assault is easy to understand and do, with the action never being too long to get to. It looks and sounds decent too, but Guns Up! doesn’t quite meet its full potential. There needs to be more options available for when selecting which base to attack, also boredom due to repetition sinks in over longer play sessions. Guns Up! is a free to play title and there is no harm in checking it out though. It is one of those games that you can have a quick session on, and with that in mind Guns Up! is worth a go.

Glaring issues with Zodiac: Orcanon Odyssey can be summed up by remarking on just how dull and unfinished it feels.

If played with friends, it will serve up several hours of grin-inducing fun but beyond that very little else.

Sword Art Online: Lost Song is not a bad title, it’s simply an average one. Fans of the anime will be well served by it’s gentle adventuring and light tone, and the combat may attract those who enjoy the Musou games, but the likelihood will be that it’s not likely to be an experience you’ll remember in a few months time.

Without a single player campaign and only a small selection of effectively interchangeable game modes, Rainbow Six Siege is a game with a fairly limited scope. However, there’s still a solid and very enjoyable tactical shooter at its core, especially when played with friends, and it’s one which will only grow over time as Ubisoft add more maps and content.

Just Cause 3 is a wonderfully constructed open-world, that successfully builds on its predecessor’s legacy with humour and aplomb. The key problem however is that at the moment there are too many technical problems which hamper play. You’ll want to be wild and free, blowing everything to hell in a variety of ways, and so often you can be, but that only serves to emphasize those moments where Just Cause 3 struggles to keep up.

Xenoblade Chronicles X is a genuinely enthralling game. It doesn’t take it easy on you though, and the perseverance and attention required may override the spectacle and beauty found here.

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Bros. sadly falls flat on its face at the final hurdle, but is a light-hearted and hugely enjoyable romp up until that point. There are great nods to both Mario & Luigi RPG and Paper Mario franchises, and the three protagonists make a great team in this 3DS RPG. Questionable decisions around the use of Amiibo and the mini-game side-quests can’t be ignored, but the charm of Paper Jam Bros. can’t be understated.

Typoman’s appeal boils down to whether or not you’re willing to invest in shorter games that are content light, yet have genuinely interesting ideas that are beyond what’s come before. By using words as an aesthetic and gameplay device, it writes its own reasons for why it is unique. My only wishes were that the platforming was tighter and that it had a few more levels. Typoman is over far too quickly for my liking, but this is high praise for what it did in its short time.

Hard West gets a lot of things right, with a number of clever ideas that help to broaden the scope of the standard turn-based formula it draws upon, but a lack of checkpointing and other game design faux pas can spoil the fun.

Phineas and Ferb: Day Of Doofenshmirtz is a fun action-platformer for the Vita that never feels stale. Each mission has a unique moment to it, so you’re never quite sure what to expect next. It looks good and colourful and the writing of the story matches the tone of the cartoon. However the lack of voice acting and Doofenshmirtz, despite being billed as a central part, does take away somewhat from the experience, since the humour would be better with vocal delivery. If you are looking for a good game for the Vita though, that doesn’t take too long to complete, then Day Of Doofenshmirtz could be worth your time.

Playing Superbeat: Xonic is like going to a nightclub and being force fed Haribo Tangfastics whilst hooked up to an intravenous drip of Moutain Dew. It’s really enjoyable if, like me, you like a good thumping dance tune and a bit of K-pop. Superbeat is a welcome addition to the dwindling PlayStation Vita library and one that will keep you entertained for many train journeys to come.

Out of the six episodes, The Ice Dragon stands head and shoulders above the rest. Although this was to be expected, as with most story-driven games, this final installment does a grand job in showing just how cinematic Telltale’s adventure series have grown while passionately adhering to source material.

The core concept of Kromaia Ω is that of a solid 360º shooter which can generate some epic battles, but the combination of frantic shooting, chilled out story and trippy visuals have been done better, most notably in Ubisoft’s Child of Eden. Whilst unremarkable, it remains entertaining and challenging, with the included co-op mode a worthwhile and welcome addition.

Mega Battle is great fun, especially in local multiplayer, and has seen me both laughing and cursing aloud, but with no mini-games or notable campaign to speak of, and without the overblown power-ups I’m used to in Mario games, it’s a game that I’ll have all but forgotten by the time Wimbledon rolls around next year.

Football Manager 2016 may not be a huge overhaul over previous titles but the game feels a lot more accessible for anyone to pick up and play. Sports Interactive continues to show why Football Manager is the most dominant of sports management sim.

Ultimately Kingdom is a game that’s easy to love. Combining exploration, micromanagement and strategy in a way that continually feels personal and intimate is no easy task, but it achieves it by forcing you to do everything yourself.

What DICE have done is create what is arguably the most faithful and graphically coherent representation of the Star Wars universe we’ve ever seen. However, while that alone is incredibly alluring, there’s currently not enough variety to the multiplayer modes, weaponry or the single player content compared with other entries in the series and within the FPS genre.

Lasting anywhere between five and seven hours, The Room Three is well worth the £3.99 asking price. Even as the fifth chapter draws to a climactic end, the game beckons you to its clutches once more with alternate endings to unlock.

An incredibly fun RTS game that deserves to find an audience to help popularise its multiplayer mode. The campaign is a decent length and draws you in with its fun story, though there are a few dips.

We’re not likely to find out exactly what troubles the team at Prope faced on Rodea’s rocky road to market. The end product is evidence enough to suggest that something went wrong along the way, and it’s a real shame. With a little more refinement and even the lightest of facelifts, Rodea could easily have been a Nintendo exclusive worth owning.

This beautiful wrapper isn’t enough to cover up Poncho’s fundamental flaws. It’s a lovely experiment and although it works well in some parts, an overall sense of cohesion is missing. Being able to move along the z-axis is a clever feature yet Poncho uses this as a crutch, failing to flesh out other essential areas of the game. In short, there’s certainly something special here yet, sadly, only a minority will succeed in finding it.

Although somewhat far fetched, Coast Guard’s storyline can be rather captivating and adds a refreshing layer to the game. However, it gives the impression that it doesn’t really know what it wants to be, without the depth to a full ship simluator and with some lacking gameplay during the investigations.

If you can muster a dedicated group to play FORCED then, chances are, you’ll have a good time of it. Although the core gameplay isn’t robust enough for most tastes, there’s fun to be had in co-ordinating a team of powerful gladiators, cleaving through wave after wave of enemies. Lacking a progressive sense of dynamism, however, this fun factor soon deteriorates while never manifesting at all if you happen to be playing on your own.

Need For Speed feels like a plucky contender, that is close to greatness but tragically falters at number of key moments.

Fallout 4 is hugely ambitious and without a doubt one of the best games this year. It’s not without its flaws, but very few games made me care more about what I was picking up, how to use it, what choices I made, and even the communities I’d founded. By streamlining some mechanics, Bethesda has made room for other more complex ideas. If you can forgive a few technical imperfections, of which there aren’t as many as prior instalments, Fallout 4 exceeds all expectations.

Rise of the Tomb Raider is an action-packed tour-de-force that, while derivative at times, is a fantastic romp from beginning to end. This sequel learns some of the lessons of its predecessor by making the game more like a recognisable Tomb Raider game, while at the same time implementing some new features and impressive visual design. While not quite the globetrotting adventure some were hoping for, Rise of the Tomb Raider is well worth playing.

From the big marquee features to the small touches and hidden modes, Black Ops 3 features an awful lot of content, and every aspect of it is designed with cooperative play in mind. It can feel a bit disjointed in places, but it’s a broad and expansive game with plenty to enjoy, especially so when playing with friends.

Whether you want to pick up the main game on the cheap, grab the generous and expansive season pass of DLC or dabble with Bikes, it’s never been a better time to jump into Driveclub and get racing.

Just Dance 2016 is a one trick pony and if you have beers and friends, or children who need to be entertained, it’s a great way to spend a few hours. As a solo game it’s a bit dull and you do start to notice that the tracking of your dancing is dubious to say the least.

Regrettably, similarities to the original board game and exceptionally rare moments of fun can’t save Space Hulk’s voyage onto Vita. Although somewhat functional it’s nowhere near the level of quality fans will have been expecting, especially given how long the port has been in development. In short, it feels utterly passionless and rushed with no real consideration for those who might actually buy it.

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 Record Breaker is a fantastic handheld RPG with a deep combat system, characters that you care about, and a well-delivered story. Returning fans will also find plenty to enjoy here too, whether it’s the new difficulty settings, voice-acting, or the fresh story arc. As such, Devil Survivor 2 takes its place amongst the best the Nintendo 3DS has to offer.

It’s not the best Halo game I’ve ever played, but it is good, delivering most of the Halo essentials without compromise.

Niggling flaws aside, Vermintide is easily one of the most surprising games to launch this year. Although there’s a clear lack of originality, Fatshark has done a brilliant job in throwing together a patchwork of borrowed designs with its own previous work on games like War of the Roses. It’s got the makings of a sleeper hit and hopefully, with a few more refinements, can grow into the next multiplayer must-have.

Technically it is a well crafted game without any bugs in sight. The look SUTD Game Lab has gone for with it stands out well, and works in the context of the game’s setting. The soundwork is also very well done. The majority of puzzles are decent too, but it is the ones that take ages to get past, even though you know the solution, because of timing that remove a lot of goodwill for One Upon Light. There were points where fun wasn’t being had because of them. At the same time One Upon Light feels very mechanical.

It’s tougher to recommend BlazBlue: Chronophantasma Extend to those wishing to get more out of it than a solid fighting game experience. However, the two new characters that join the growing cast are great additions and the conversion to the next-gen consoles is almost completely successful. If you’re not intimidated by the competitive scene or if the massively convoluted plot doesn’t faze you; BlazBlue: Chronophantasma Extend is a good choice for scratching that pugilistic itch.

An in-depth and thoughtful RPG that offers console gamers an experience normally reserved for PC gamers. It’s pace and mechanics may take some getting used to and there are a few mild technical issues, but for those willing to put the time and effort in there are countless hours of questing and combat here that should enthral any RPG fan.

Jackbox Party Pack 2 still offers one of the best multiplayer experiences I’ve ever had on a console.

Wasteland 2 is an excellent game, but at the same time does nothing particularly new or ground-breaking within the RPG genre. It’s easy to see why PC gamers have become so enamoured with it, yet it’s hard to imagine Wasteland garnering the same appeal on consoles. Despite inXile’s valiant effort in bringing the game to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, it never feels quite at home.

Syndicate comes off as another Assassin’s Creed game with a handful of improvements. London is beautiful if a bit laborious to travel around, and the missions are repetitive, but this doesn’t make Syndicate bad by any stretch of the imagination. It’s still a good game, it just hasn’t made a significant step up over the previous instalment.

It may have the character, control and theme down to a tee, but the dungeon design is nowhere near as tight as those from the main franchise.

It has its weaknesses and flaws as a game, but this is a deeply impactful game that shouldn’t be missed.

WRC 5 is a new beginning for the series, and when viewed in that light, Kylotonn’s efforts come out quite well. There’s several issues, both big and small that detract from the game as a whole, but underneath it all there’s a rallying game that’s just a good bit of fun. When it’s just you and your co-pilot racing through a forest, barely making it through a series of tight twists and turns, that’s really what matter.

Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden does a serviceable job of bringing a number of the iconic characters to Nintendo’s diminutive handheld, and fans in particular will find plenty to enjoy here with a serviceable amount of content in a well-presented package. However, the base challenge is set too low, and while the grading system adds difficulty, followers of Arc System Works’ other game series may want to look elsewhere for a serious handheld fighter.

Guitar Hero Live is exactly what the franchise needed after its five-year hiatus, and I’d go as far to say it’s what the whole genre needed. Although naysayers will lament the lack of more instruments or complain about the non-permanence of extra songs, for many, Live will become the quintessential party game and is already set to be a permanent fixture in my sitting room.

Those looking for a spooky adventure for Halloween can certainly find one in Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water. Taking photos of ghosts while trying to keep dry is enthralling, while Mount Hikami’s forests and shrines are among some of the spookiest locales in the franchise.

By focusing on a smaller concentration of characters on-screen, it has a slightly more tactile, RPG feel. Combined with some inventive gameplay features and that charming Dragon Quest aesthetic, Heroes succeeds in creating its own identity. It may fall short of greatness yet serves as an ideal solution for those eagerly awaiting the series’ next mainline instalment.

While I didn’t really engage with the characters and narrative as much this time around, the action and sheer wealth of content more than made up for it.