I can't really recommend Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury enough. Whether you've played the original game before or not, the addition of online multiplayer is a big win, while Bowser's Fury is a testament to just how pure a Mario game can be while still feeling fresh and exciting. Put simply; this is an essential game for Mario fans.

Inertial Drift is a conceptually stunning driving game with unique drifting mechanics that are easy to pick up but hard master. With plenty of cars, tracks and modes to contend with, there's more to this indie title than meets the eye.

Manifold Garden is a fantastic puzzle game with a distinctive style. It adds challenge and new elements gradually, using colour within puzzle solutions in a way that keep things fresh. Highly recommended for puzzle game fans.

Pokémon Pokopia is almost exactly as cosy as we hoped. It's more active and goal-oriented than Animal Crossing, but there's still a laid-back, charming atmosphere to rebuilding the world and making it a new home for yourself and all the other Pokémon left behind.

Thank Goodness You're Here! is essentially and interactive saucy postcard from the 1980's which has clearly been made with a lot of a love and great attention to detail. Sadly the gameplay is also from the 1980's, you just run, jump and punch, but the many jokes and asides keep you thoroughly entertained while you do so.

Forza Horizon 6 is another excellent entry in an excellent series, from an excellent developer. Part of me wants more than that, but I've no idea how that would work.

At times spiritual, transcendental and zen-like, at others excruciating, heart-poundingly tense and eye-wateringly immersive, Tetris Effect is game of the year material and essential on PlayStation VR.

You should absolutely get Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade. It’s easy to be critical and nitpick, but it’s worth remembering we’re looking at the DLC for one of the best and most-loved games of the PS4. The PS5 upgrade for Intergrade looks and feels incredible, and the chance to play as Yuffie is warmly received, especially when she completely changes the tone to something more light-hearted. However, the DLC isn’t quite perfect and, despite the filler, it feels very short for its price, especially if you’re not interested in the side missions.

With the Switch’s delightful dual abilities, Three Houses fittingly bookends the series’ triumphant run on the 3DS and becomes the first big-screen outing in over a decade. It also surpasses them all. A masterpiece of strategy, story-telling and intertwining relationships, Three Houses deserves to make Intelligent Systems a household name.

There is a lot to like about FIFA 11 and fans of the series will no doubt fawn over the multitude of minor improvements. It would be dishonest to ignore the, mostly minor, flaws that are definitely present though. Not that those flaws will spoil many people's enjoyment of the game, they just give the franchise room to improve next year.

The release of Stormblood only cements what some players have known for a very long time; Final Fantasy XIV is a phenomenal MMORPG. The structural changes to combat and PvP, as well as the two new classes, introduce plenty for both veterans and newcomers to sink their teeth into, while the emotionally charged central campaign is easily amongst the best the franchise has offered in years.

It's obvious how much time Eidos Montreal has spent on Deus Ex: Human Revolution and behind the wonderful design is a solid game with a plot that will keep you guessing. This is a quality product in the same class as Dead Space 2 and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood and I'm sure it will be in many of the 2011 awards lists.

The best way to sum up L.A. Noire is that it suffers from Assassin's Creed syndrome. You'll certainly get a lot of enjoyment out of it. There's something new and refreshing about a witty, intelligent game that requires a little bit more thinking than the norm. However, it's a bit repetitive and kind of loses its way after the halfway point.

From crisp visuals and flawless performance to the bevy of control options available, it’s a beast of a package. Combining all of that with the ultimate thrill of having Okami on the go thanks to the portability of the Switch, this is a no-brainer grab for anyone who calls themselves a fan of action-adventure games.

Ball X Pit carries the spirit of an arcade classic, while imbuing it with modern roguelike ideas. It’s immediately one of the best indie games of the year.

Despite repeating huge chunks of Death Stranding 1, almost beat for beat, Kojima pulls it out of the bag in the end. The core gameplay loop remains satisfying enough to get you through to the good stuff, but I can't help but feel disappointed just how similar this game is to its predecessor.

Perhaps the most striking thing about Dishonored is the way the later stages of the game change, depending on how you've approached earlier missions. If you go through killing everyone and blowing things up, you'll invoke a lot of chaos in the game world and later missions will be darker and more difficult to navigate stealthily.

Conflicts aside, I can't help but think that everyone should have this collection, but maybe that's just me.

Naturally, those that didn't really get on with the first Dead Space will find that little (literally) has changed save for the location and a richer sense of characterisation, but for those of us that adored Clarke's first adventure this sequel represents everything we could have wished for: it's bigger, better and more beautiful but without straying from the core principles that mapped out the former.

Synth Riders might not unseat the VR rhythm action king, as it doesn't feel quite as satisfying as nailing an extended Beat Saber set, but it's one of the strongest alternatives. If you're looking for something different to musical Jedi training, this is definitely a contender.

Taking Media Molecule's creative ethos to new heights, Dreams is a PlayStation essential. Booting the game up each time and having no idea what awaits is an intoxicating feeling. A remedy, forcing me from the rut of my predictable gaming habits to explore an inner creativity I’m often too lazy or wound up to let free.

It's actually pretty damned impossible to fault Tools of Destruction on any level: this is the epitome of platforming excellence.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+ 2 is a labour of love and an ode to the series’ glory days. Every inch of the game has been perfectly restored and updated for modern consoles and it's an absolute delight to play from start to finish. This is a must-buy for skateboarders, gamers and everyone else in between.

This game is a league above in terms of design quality, direction and production. The stealth-based gameplay might not appeal to some but it is the core that this series was built on and to see it return to that form is a joyous thing.

It's true that the 360 versions run cleaner, with quicker load times and there's no force feedback for Dual Shock 3 owners, but it's still absolutely worth the money for PS3-only gamers.

Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is a work of genius. I'm planning to immediately replay it, simply because I don't want it to be over yet. The story is absolutely captivating, the world is filled to the brim with detail, and the characters and their motivations are remarkably well thought out. It made me laugh at absurd moment, made me gasp with the twists in the story, and I've developed an attachment to the main character's partner, Kim Kitsuragi, and his endless patience with me shooting finger guns at him as much as possible. Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is a masterwork and you are doing yourself a disservice if you miss it.

Horizon: Zero Dawn is a bit of a slow burn, but there's more to Guerrilla Games' latest than just its staggeringly pretty graphics. The story surprises as it takes several twists and turns and explores the past, but the games beating heart is with its excellently tense and engaging robotic monster hunting.

The dilemma over whether to purchase the game comes down to your willingness to knuckle down and learn how to play a basketball game. It will take work but you won't find a better virtual outlet for your passion once you do.