The core gameplay is solid and the online functionality is excellent, but there is a distinct lack of content compared to other golf games on the market.

MM10 is a glorious return to the hay-day of 8-bit gaming; a fantastic challenge built on the back of some of the most refined mechanics the genre has ever seen.

The Nail the Trick mode is the evolution the game has been waiting for, and it alone is enough to recommend the game.

Even a heinous final boss encounter can’t dampen the mood. Saints Row 4 is a comedy gem; built by creators that are clearly on our side, and totally in love with what they do. It’s pretty easy to love them back.

It's slightly lightweight, sure, but Injustice will slap a grin on your face for a few days and then entice you back with the promise of idiotic multiplayer battles.

Nidhogg is a game to be enjoyed with friends while in the same room together, and it may be the best title you play that way this year.

Skyrim Special Edition on console looks lovely and runs well, and with all the DLC included it's a great option if you aren't fussed about mods. If you are fussed about mods you might be disappointed. Or already have a PC.

Great writing and environment design, combined with an epic story and wide range of player choice, make Tides of Numenera a wonderful RPG. The reliance on text won't be for everyone, but fans of the genre are going to love it.

Smart, engaging, and memorable.

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is beautiful, discomforting, and compelling. It might challenge what you like about games, but challenge is good. You're doing yourself a disservice if you don't try it.

Movement feels smoother with the analogue stick, and that inevitably helps when you're crawling your way through hordes of skeletons.

Jurassic World Evolution 3 feels like the sequel fans have been waiting for. It’s ambitious, dramatic, and far more rewarding to master. The dinosaurs are expressive, the systems deeper, and the parks finally feel alive. It still struggles with micromanagement fatigue and the occasional bug, but the creative freedom makes it easy to forgive. Frontier hasn’t reinvented the park sim, but it’s refined the formula beautifully.

Fieldrunners doesn't do anything to advance to the tower defense genre, but if you're a PSP owner looking for a budget slice of real time strategy goodness, it's just what the doctor ordered.

A brief hit of retro goodness that loses its enchantment all too soon. If you're looking for a demanding blast from the past, Renegade Ops will sort you out for a week or two; just don't expect to be playing it for much longer than that.

If there's one thing Saints Row does brilliantly, though, it's explosions. Cars literally get blown apart and come crashing back down with debris flying all over the place.

Splatoon can be intensely tactical, and its end-of-battle results screen after a close match is genuinely tense. But these moments can't overcome the thinness of Splatoon's package.

Another fine, fine episode that I wish more people were talking about.

Football Manager 2016 is complete misery, heartache, and bouts of pure anger – directed at a bunch of numbers. But I love it.

Considering what's gone into the conversion from Vita to PS4, Unfolded ranks as one of the best remasters released, exhibiting a clear sense of love of the property that simply isn't seen when many older games arrive on new systems.

Trackmania Turbo isn't a showpiece title in the same vein as DriveClub but the bright colours, crisp image quality and incredible sense of speed lend it an arcadey appearance that is impossible not to enjoy.

If you have any fondness for Star Wars you'll find Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy incredibly hard to resist. It's packed to the brim with fun and offers plenty of value despite what seems like a fairly short main story.

I can only tell you that the game isn’t for me, but it might be for you. If it is, it’s probably the best value PSP game ever released. If it isn’t, then it’s a slow, mind-numbing exercise in masochism.

We loved it, but if you're someone who takes games very seriously and are looking for a nigh-on carbon copy of GTA 4 this won't be for you. If the idea of childishly laughing every time your character speaks in a completely inappropriate voice sounds fun, or you just want a game that positively encourages you to mess around, we can't recommend Saints Row 2 enough.

The gun-play is excellent, the production values are top notch and the multiplayer game modes will keep you coming back months down the line. As long as you're not expecting a complete overhaul of the gameplay seen in the original, Vegas 2 will provide plenty of terrorist hunting fun.

Lost in Nightmares is a shining example of what DLC should be; a short but sweet extension to the original story that offers something different from the main game whilst retaining its overall tone.

Dual Destinies won’t convince skeptics, as it’s still more visual novel than game and about as linear as it gets. But after a couple of disappointing spin-offs, it’s the closest the series has come to the greatness of the original trilogy.

It's one of the freshest, boldest and most rewarding entrants in a genre many had left for dead, and anyone pining for a true Silent Hill experience needs to experience what Byrne has to offer. Lone Survivor deserves to be massive, because it might just be the most interesting thing I've played all year.

WWE 2K24 has a game mode for everyone, top creation capabilities, and an engrossing Showcase Mode celebrating 40 years of WrestleMania that will transport you through history.

with solid marks in terms of combat, characterisation and plot, coupled with a first rate graphics engine (a version of Bioware's Aurora engine that's completely unrecognisable from its original incarnation in Neverwinter Nights), a fine orchestral score, high production values and a willingness to tackle adult themes, The Witcher's strengths outweigh its few flaws (long loading times and the aforementioned translation issues) by a considerable margin.

All of Dishonored's famed hallmarks are there: a beautiful world, intriguing political game-playing, and highly replayable levels. Sadly, chief failings are also on show - high levels of trial and error, overpowered abilities, and the feeling that your first run-through is sure to be nothing more than a glorified trial.

It's this purity, balance and tactical depth that make Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown the best in its class.

FAST Racing Neo is a simple game, its roots clearly planted in a simpler time. It's good, honest, fast, arcade fun, priced perfectly to match its ambitions.

Simple, down to earth footballing fun.

Shift 2 is technically very impressive, but like Hot Pursuit, it's the social features surrounding the game that define it as an experience. If you're a serious fan of the genre, know that Shift 2 does several things better than anything else on the market right now, which makes it an essential purchase.

Untitled Goose Game encapsulates the pleasure in poking fun without ever turning nasty. And you're a goose, which is great.

If you're after a tilt-based racing game that mimics the big titles on home consoles, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit is a more complete and accomplished iOS title.

As stunning as the game looks and as enthralled as I was by the story - which really is quite intriguing if you look for all the information - the game's flaws are too hard to ignore. They mostly boil down to how the game seemingly goes out of its way to make things less fun than they should be.

It doesn't try and reinvent the wheel, but Overcooked 2 is still a fantastic and barmy co-op romp that will entertain you and a group of mates for hours on end.

Skylanders Superchargers is another solid entry in a franchise that has done gangbusters for Activision, and fans will enjoy the new vehicle gameplay and adventure-strewn story.

At 800 Microsoft Points ilomilo is ludicrously good value for money.

It’s well executed and breezy, but not without its flaws.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker isn't the most taxing puzzle game in the world, but it's well-paced and enjoyable all the same.

When a game has this much attention to detail, when the script fizzes along with such humour and throws in plot twist after plot twist during the courtroom battles, it's easy to forgive the linearity.

Ghostrunner 2 is bottled mechanical magic, a blisteringly-paced celebration of movement where death is a rite of passage.

Whether you want something to relax with or you want to play competitively for the best part of a day, you can't go wrong with UNO.

After the slight disappointment of the latest Paper Mario entry which did abandon many of the ideals that had made it such a pleasure in the first place, it's a relief to see the same hasn't happened here. If anything, the pieces that make this unique are stronger than ever. If more can be made of these procedures that are now part and parcel of the idea in the future to stop familiarity from setting in, Mario & Luigi could have more life in it still.

It really is a modern take on the Mario Kart formula, done in a way that feels incredibly cool and refreshing. It's a game anyone could pick up and enjoy, yet there's depth here that only the very best players will appreciate.

A superior episode, then, and one that bodes well for the rest of the season.

The best way to play the game on consoles and it's very much worth playing if you're yet to experience it.

Sunset Overdrive has some excellent ideas, but its triumphs are sadly suffocated beneath ultra-repetitive mission design and unsatisfying enemy encounters.

The strategy is in depth, the shooting is solid, and the combined blend of the two is executed with charm and finesse.

True Colors is the best game in the series since Before the Storm, and it will satisfy your narrative craving for a time.

This console version benefits from improved lighting not seen in the original release that gives the environments a more natural look, but sadly the framerate never quite feels smooth enough.

This console version benefits from improved lighting not seen in the original release that gives the environments a more natural look, but sadly the framerate never quite feels smooth enough.

Just Cause 2 is a gorgeous, fun, rollercoaster of a game. It's far from perfect, but its best qualities shine through, leaving the lacklustre gunplay as more of a mildly unpleasant aftertaste than a meal ruining disaster. It's a game that begs to be messed around with, for you to discover new ways to use the tools at your disposal and to take it all in the light-hearted way the developer intended.

Rage is a technical powerhouse, and if you can overlook the bits that don't quite work, you'll find one of the most exciting shooters we've had in years.

Overlord is an entertaining game that should keep you smiling for its duration, but certain control complexities and a distinct lack of evil keep it from being a truly great next-gen adventure.

The only bad thing to say about the game is that it's so entertaining that you want to be able to do more. As a multiplayer game it's an incredible amount of fun, but lone players who can't access Xbox Live will feel a little short changed.

It's no surprise, in my opinion, that Metal Gear Solid 4 and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker went to considerate efforts to emulate Big Boss's original adventure - but neither manage to capture what made Metal Gear Solid 3 so special.

Minor gripes aside, Homecourt is a deliciously addictive baller and a commendable next-gen Street effort on EA's part.

This quest line is the biggest yet and keeps you hooked right to the end. While the dungeons are not as big or as maze-like as the previous expansions, the chance to really explore Cyrodiil really makes this quest much more effective and allows for a greater appreciation of the graphical tweaks and new locations.

Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate's Booty is an affirming example of the right time, the right place and, crucially, the right content.

Reigns: Her Majesty manages to defy a lot of your expectations, and will keep adding more surprising cards into its deck as you play.

The strength of Star Fox's aesthetic counts for a lot, as it distracts you from the rather simplistic rail shooter that lies underneath. Juxtaposed with the recent resurrection of Ocarina of Time, Star Fox 64 3D is no masterpiece. All the same, it's one of the best-looking games on the platform, and a respectful restoration that will please the fans.

Artoon has suffered from trying to be a bit too clever with the dual screen system.

A slow start and and a shifting tone give way to a strong central relationship and some tough choices. The road ahead intrigues.

Gran Turismo 6 ends up feeling stubborn to adapt to modernity. Its myriad landscapes are barren and unexciting, while the music sounds like it’s been ripped straight from a Ron Jeremy compilation VHS.

It's a bit ropey in places, especially during multiplayer games, but the single-player campaign is simple fun and the online play is surprisingly entertaining and thorough.

A more inclusive and competent game than its already accomplished predecessor, and anyone with a taste for intricate combat and a combo meter will find themselves right at home.

Maybe the visions in Sifu lie in the traumatised mind of the main character, who remains more elusive than any of his foes. The game’s tagline ponders, “Is one life enough to know kung fu?” But, in the fractured figure of its hero, a deeper realisation occurs. It may not be enough to know yourself.

It's a shame the story is so strangely paced, but you hardly need it. Fortress Assaults are great set pieces, and there's a lot of fun to be had with the upgraded Nemesis System alone.

Put simply, if you love Fallout 3, Broken Steel is an essential purchase.

PES fans disappointed by last year's PSP game should be a lot happier with PES 6. Until a handheld is released with a full complement of buttons it's unlikely that we'll receive a 100% accurate console to handheld port, but PES 6 plays a great game of football in its own right.

WWE 2K23 isn't a revolution, but a welcome evolution to the series with just enough new features that are sure to please WWE fans and newcomers alike.

If you can't get enough of the original, you'll love this. If you've never played the original, but like music-centred games, you'll love this too. If you wanted the developers to make strides with the gameplay and are expecting a true sequel, and not what feels like an expansion, you might be disappointed.

High production values and a superb art style can only take a game so far, and the gameplay on offer here, while fun, can't take it that step further.

Final Fantasy XV is about adventure and excitement. There are oddities, and it's not the FF you're used to, but it's a good time with some good boys, and has an unexpected emotional resonance to it. Sometimes it seems like it shouldn't work, but it does.

It just plays a really nice round of golf and for the first time in ages poses a real challenge.

With a smart learning curve - it's still throwing new ideas at you well over 30 levels in - and an absolute barrel-load of content, I could call Hitman GO the surprise of the year. I'd only be doing that for hyperbole purposes, though. It's still pretty damn good.

Don't get me started on the ending. This pretty much nailed the coffin shut on the game's fate as a good but not stunning title. You'll have to experience it for yourself, but it simply didn't deliver what it should have. It left me wanting more, which Ubisoft may well see as job done, but gamers don't buy games with the hope that they're completed within the next few years; they want a conclusion straight away.

The Civilization series is one of the biggest names in strategy for a very good reason, and Beyond Earth adds some wonderful ideas on top of all that, but the underlying systems have remained largely untouched.

F1 Manager 2024 is certainly the best game in the series to date thanks to the small improvements on last year's game, but with few significant changes and how hit and miss the new mentality system currently are, while it might be a good game in its own right, it's not a sizeable upgrade on 2023's iteration.

Jagged Alliance 3 is a worthy successor to the franchise that brings modern graphics and characters to life in engaging turn-based tactical combat. Its world is well-built and its supporting elements add much. But the game remains rough around the edges here and there, with a fairly standard storyline and a learning curve that could be more accessible.

Assassin's Creed Origins has vastly improved combat and an astoundingly beautiful world to explore, but it felt a little afraid of going all in with its new direction.

Having been playing the series since its early heydays in the 90s, I can honestly say I haven't had this much fun with a football game in decades.

If you own a Wii you owe it to yourself to give LostWinds a whirl, even though you'll be finished before you've really began.

Most importantly, DS owners in general who are looking for something a little different will find Revenant Wings loads of fun. It's perfect for a medium length commute, never gets too complicated and has an excellent learning curve.

Super Scribblenauts hones the feature that had already worked so well in the last title and then continues to offer lacklustre puzzles with solutions that end up being weighed down by real-world logic.

It’s not quite that I had forgotten how good it was—more that I needed the intervening years to realise it.

It’s not a bad game, and it’s worth playing for the plot and setting alone. But it’s not a great RPG, and that’s a problem, because it’s an RPG. Somehow, it amounts to less than the sum of its parts.

Easily one of the better mobile games in recent memory, Shadowblade is a shining beacon and a stinging lesson to other developers. This is the bar. Now you try and raise it.

I've considered myself a Call of Duty fan for many years, and I've held a deep-seated distrust of Treyarch since Call of Duty 3. No longer.

As fun as Midnight Club L.A. is, it wouldn't be nearly as impressive if it weren't for the incredible visuals on display.

Wings of Ruin may not make a hardened hunter of you, but nor does it want to. It would rather bring you along for its own wondrous ride.

Bar this niggle, Pinball Fantasies on PSP is as good as it possibly could be. At £3.99 it's definitely worth a download if you're after a commute killer. Hell, at that price, it's worth a download just for nostalgia's sake.

Madden 08 may not be the best football game ever made but it's certainly the best since 05 and a solid addition to any football fan's library.

FIFA 14 iOS isn't a great game. Save your time with EA's football franchise for on home consoles, the way it's meant to be played.

If you've never played the PS2 Prince of Persia trilogy before, this is the perfect opportunity to do so. If you have, play it again; reliving the experience in HD is a glorious reminder of just what great games these are.