There's a wealth of entertainment to be had with LittleBigPlanet 2 – it's a game like no other and with no equal in terms of the flexibility it offers to gamers.

Rock Band 3 is what we've been wanting since the release of the first Guitar Hero; it's what we've needed. The perfect music game is here, right now.

FIFA 10 is currently the best footie game you can buy but not by as wide a margin as in previous years, and I’m left with the sense that EA should stop adding minor game modes that can surely only have limited appeal and get to grips with some of the oddities which stop a great game being even better.

Dragon Quest XI is already an incredible JRPG, but this massively updated Switch release makes it almost mandatory. With new outfits, new quests, an entirely new 2D mode and a huge range of quality of life improvements, it's easy to consider this the best version of the game to play. The only thing holding it back from earning that title are some unfortunate visual and performance issues. A handy patch can fix the latter, but really the only reason not to prefer this version is if pristine graphics are your highest priority.

The third game in the Forza Horizon series has far exceeded its status as a loud and brash spin-off, becoming a racing title that embodies the best of this generation. Beautiful visuals, pitch perfect gameplay and eternally rewarding, there are few racing games that have ever come close to what Playground Games have achieved with Forza Horizon 3.

A joyful experience, full of humour and character. It manages to walk the fine line between silly base humour and a more intelligent wit too, which is something almost unique in videogames. With a narrative that expands on the original storyline in every conceivable way and so many ways to play, different characters to build and so much cooperative fun to be had, it's hard to see a downside.

Shadow of the Colossus isn't necessarily a game that needed to be remade in such an elaborate fashion, and yet, I'm so glad that it has been. Bluepoint's remake of this sublime and poignant adventure is phenomenal, both managing to stay utterly true to the original and bringing it up to date in glorious fashion.

For the most part Killzone 2 is utterly, mesmerisingly brilliant and polished to perfection: the gunplay is solid, the controls, once tuned to your liking are superbly weighted and intuitive and the action, when good, is relentless. Time will tell whether or not the single player campaign will be held in as high regard as we’d all want it to be, but right here, right now, this is as good as it gets. [single-player review only]

The best way to think of Crusader Kings 3 as a sequel is in terms of its own dynastic gameplay. Sure, Paradox have started from scratch with a new game, but it's still full of scheming, warring amidst an impressive breadth of cultures and religions. Crusader Kings 3 is an heir that has been born from Crusader Kings 2 and its many expansions, including and improving on so much of what made that game great, but it can still grow and improve in its own right.

Split Fiction is an excellent continuation of the split-screen co-op joys that Hazelight has made their own. It takes a little while to get going, both in terms of gameplay and narrative, but once it hits its stride, there's just so many moments that will fill you with joy and delight.

God Of War Collection says you have to slay your way across Athens, cross a desert and climb half way down a mountain to get it.

A fantastic video game, worthy of all the praise it receives. Although there are a couple of minor flaws in its execution (lack of sound-awareness in the poor AI and a relatively cheap final boss stand out) there really isn’t a lot that you could fault with this game. It is certainly one of the best releases this year.

This Resident Evil 2 remake is a phenomenal update of a classic game. It combines the best of the original's narrative and puzzles with the ammo crafting of Resident Evil 3 and the action gameplay of Resident Evil 4 to create a hybrid that still manages to feel like classic Resi. Old fans will enjoy the nostalgic retread of Racoon City in all its newfound glory, whilst newcomers will get to experience one of the finest episodes of the series as it should be. The remake has been more than worth the wait, and the evil of the Umbrella Corporation is back in residence at the top of the survival horror pile once more.

Donkey Kong Bananza is an intoxicating cacophony of brawling, digging and platforming. It's a new style of 3D platformer from Nintendo that, for better and for worse, embraces the destructive chaos of letting players tunnel through and deform the world.

While the original game was a fabulous romp, the Treasure Trove collection is more than worthy of investing some time into. Anyone who already has the original will obtain the upgraded package for free, but if bought separately, each of the three released campaigns should keep you entertained with great platforming that’s full of charm. With more stuff coming in the next year, the Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove is worth its weight in gold.

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.

A wonderful offline experience. I can't even hazard a guess as to how many hours playtime can be wrung out of My Player, and it's topped off nicely with NBA's Greatest. Unfortunately the online portion seems to be riddled with issues, which will frustrate fans looking to take the NBA experience further, so be warned.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the perfect island escape, drawing you in to play day after day. All of the charms of the series' previous games are here, but with gorgeous new graphics, DIY crafting and the eventual ability to remodel your island, you can really create the island settlement of your dreams.

A fantastic release of an already great game. There may just about be enough here for veterans of the original release and its expansion to return to the world of Sanctuary, but for those who’ve yet to experience it the PS4 edition is a truly excellent dungeon-crawling RPG, and the definitive console release, capable of providing hours and hours of gameplay.

For multiplayer aficionados, Overwatch is essential. It’s the kind of game worth sacrificing entire evenings to play and the kind of game you won’t be able to stop thinking about, even when you’re away. Although the lack of a singleplayer component will deter some, there’s more than enough mileage to be had from twelve maps and 21 heroes available.

FIFA 12 represents the biggest step forward for the franchise since '09 invented the fast, free-flowing FIFA we know and love. It still has all of the fluidity and slick presentation that is the trademark of the series but it has added an extra layer of tactical know-how that will require some learning for all FIFA players, no matter how experienced.

Blue Prince is an excellent, intricate, and intriguing puzzle game that will have you thinking about solutions even when not playing it. While there's some minor foibles, coming across a puzzle and scrolling through your notes for an answer from previous runs is very satisfying. Blue Prince is one of the best puzzle game available.

EA Motive have done incredible work with the Dead Space remake to bring a horror classic up to date, injecting true horror back into the genre alongside considered changes and expansions to the original story. It’s hands down one of the best remakes ever made, and it’s like playing Dead Space for the first time all over again. Welcome back, Isaac.

Fallout 3 is a wonderful game for fans of the genre. It's humourous when it wants to be, yet also deep and worryingly tragic when required to be.

Spider-Man 2 is a fantastic sequel, building on the excellent foundations of its forebear while delivering a story that drives these beloved characters forward.

The Final Shape is Destiny 2 back to its best for its grand narrative finale. It's the ultimate space wizards with a machine gun fantasy combined with emotional story beats and characters you truly care for. Despite all the odds, Bungie has crafted the perfect endgame.

Through the highs and lows of a newfound love, Florence is a wonderfully told and emotive story that engages you in such simple, but effective ways.

Microsoft Flight Simulator on Xbox Series X|S is a remarkable achievement, and one which brings the flight simulator experience into your living room with emphatic effect. There’s no sense that this is a cut-back console port, but one that widens the genre’s influence into places it’s never conquered before.