Sphere of Influence - Ascension takes you on a more personal journey through the Sengoku Jidai period of Japan. Take control, rise through the ranks and explore an even more detailed game than the original. This standalone expansion improves on the original in almost every way.

Some will be disappointed by The Ashes of Ariandel, for obvious reasons, but I relished jumping back in to a game I adore, with one of the greatest bosses of the series.

While at the shorter end of the scale for Metrovania games, the $9.99 price fits this indie title perfectly. Exile’s End might not be the best sidescroller on the Playstation 4, but it undoubtedly has a difficult charm that should feel right at home for players that grew up in the NES/Amiga era.

Mantis Burn Racing is a fun yet slightly shallow racing game. It's a decent alternative for those who don't feel like getting too investing in a deep racing sim and are just looking for an easy to play arcade racer.

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is hard to recommend as it's so similar to the first, but if you're new to Xenoverse and a fan of Dragon Ball I can heartily endorse this game. If you've played the first, well... It's still good, just not really a must-have.

Despite some rough edges that mar the experience, Driveclub VR is a great racing title that justifies getting back into the seat of a Koenigsegg Agera R as long as you don't mind being motion sick every now and then.

While the lineup of maps and modes is a little on the thin side, RIGS Mechanized Combat League was a multiplayer experience I kept coming back to day after day. It's easily the best one available on PlayStation VR right now.

Setting foot in Croft Manor is an enjoyable afternoon experience, doubly so if you're an early adopter of PlayStation VR. While not integral to the Tomb Raider story, there's something to celebrate if you've already waited this long for the complete experience.

FPS fans, Shadow Warrior 2 is just brilliant, dumb, fun. You won’t regret investing your time and money in o this raunchy and a bit outrageous shooter, believe me.

With an interesting, albeit familiar narrative, great gameplay and some really brutal battles, Gears of War 4 offers exactly what fans of the series have been yearning for: hours upon hours of great, weighty combat.

If you have even a passing interest in rhythm games, this one is essential. Loads of fun, wacky beats to play along to, and it just doesn't get old.

Ride 2 is far from perfect, it has flaws with both the visuals and, more importantly, the AI. However, the AI isn't always bad and it doesn't stop the game from being enjoyable. What helps the game is that it has such a huge roster of bikes, extensive customization options and a variety of tracks and race types to experience.

Atlas Reactor has enough going for it that it is definitely worth trying out if you are in the mood for a tactical turn-based game. As someone who isn’t huge fan of turn-based games, I can’t say Atlas Reactor does anything to convince me that I should play it every day. While there is so much to do in Atlas Reactor, including Ranked PvP, daily contracts and even a poor story mode (essentially more contracts), I simply don’t find the game enjoyable enough to keep going back to. That being said, the game is F2P (to a certain extent) and what you play during that time will be enough to convince you whether or not you’ll want to spend money on it.

While it may not be the timeless classic that the original Valkyrie Profile strived to be so many years ago, Exist Archive takes that inspirational gameplay and infuses it with more modern tropes.

While Scarlet Curiosity is certainly geared towards fans that already know a little bit about the Touhou lineage, those looking for a fun little diversion until Ys VIII reaches North America won’t be disappointed.

Event[0] is an incredibly interesting game. Set on a small but incredibly detailed space ship and featuring an incredibly unique character, in the AI Kaizen. It will test your brains and your empathy, as well as your patience. Will you argue with Kaizen? Will you be friendly? There's so much to do, puzzles to solve and the space to explore.

Syndrome has a foundation in place to be a creepy horror story that focuses on the desolation of outer space and the madness it can bring, but the execution is a few light years behind. It might give players something more to try out for a Halloween-themed gaming binge, but players might also die of boredom long before they succumb to shock.

Forza Horizon offers you a huge world to explore. It gives you as many cars, from supercars to off-road buggies, to race how and when you want. Explore the outback, race along the coast. Forza Horizon 3 is possibly the best racing game in the world, just marred by performance issues on the PC and the dull nature of the create-your-own-race options.

Mystery Chronicle: One Way Heroics is a unique take on the roguelike genre that never looks back. It's a must-have on PlayStation Vita, though of course there's a lot more competition on PlayStation 4 and PC.

Paper Mario: Color Splash is the Wii U game you shouldn’t write off. Though it has issues, its fun, funny and looks excellent. If you’re looking for a lighthearted, casual RPG-style experience then look no further, this is the best Paper Mario game in years.

Dead Synchronicity: Tomorrow Comes Today's emphasis on horror and trauma will stick with players long after the (abrupt) end.

For those that are looking for a relaxing game that can be completed at a leisurely pace, this may suit you. Although the game presents more of a structured approach that many players may find preferable to a game like Minecraft, Dragon Quest Builders has a number of flaws that appear to hinder the player. As a result, the game can feel quite drawn-out and boring at times which may prevent players from wanting to stick with it until the end. Nonetheless, it will be very interesting to see what Dragon Quest fans make of it.

Lince Works managed to create an impressive stealth game with Aragami, offering a quality level that can make it compete with better known releases and established franchises. With an engaging story, charming setting and some unique stealth gameplay mechanics, as well as varied scenarios and huge replay value, Aragami is a game that fans of stealth games definitely don't want to miss, especially at such a low price.

Established fans of Psycho-Pass can revel in spending another few hours with their favorite characters and might even be considered a mandatory assignment for those interested in the CID.

A beautiful early example of the narrative driven 'walking simulator' brought to life with stunning graphics and the same intriguingly muddled narrative as its become famous for.

NBA 2K17 is the greatest basketball game ever made, bar none. That said, it's not really accessible at first for newcomers, so keep that in mind; if you intend to venture into the MyCareer mode, be prepared for lots of unnecessary cutscenes, too.

MeiQ hits all of the right marks of a dungeon crawling RPG but fails to capture that sense of challenge, instead opting for light fan service as a substitute.

Unfortunately God Eater 2: Rage Burst just drips of mundanity. Boring combat, characters, environments... It is not a bad game, just not a particularly good one.

With no hand holding whatsoever, Obduction can be a frustrating experience at times, but the desire to learn more about the game's world and events propels things forward.

With a well written (albeit not exactly original) story and a nicely crafted gameplay experience featuring plenty of content, ReCore is the game to get for those looking for an involving action adventure title. Sadly, the experience is a bit lessened by the generally low challenge level, which makes Corebots mechanics almost superfluous, slightly repetitive combat, disappointing boss battles and a variety of technical issues.

Graphics gripes aside, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is more than the sum of its parts. There are a few issues that make it far from flawless, but it’s still a remarkable game that should be in the collection of every gamer.

As a homage to the likes of A Link to the Past and The Wind Waker, Oceanhorn is a brief comfortable experience that can now be enjoyed on the big screen.

This is a multiplayer game, not a single player one. Cruising through the skies against a squadron of human pilots is frantic and enjoyable. Anything else is not worth your time.

At first I was rolling my eyes at a blatant rip off of other fantastic games, but by the end I realized this is a great game in its own right.

While Livelock doesn’t take any exceptional leaps in the twin-stick shooter genre, the blending of familiar concepts from Diablo and Destiny with the hectic action make this a fine cooperative experience.

Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X is another fine handheld entry into the rhythm game series, but in the end I was left wanting more. Still, genre fans can't go wrong with it.

Attack On Titan is definitely the most interesting Omega Force developed hack and slash game, thanks to the unique movement system and combat mechanics which require more than simple button mashing. Sadly, this doesn't prevent the game from becoming repetitive due to uninspired maps and lack of mission variety. The game offers plenty of fun anyway, just don't expect a masterpiece that can still feel fresh after 20 or more hours.

The King of Fighters XIV is a solid entry that’s sure to be played in tournaments for the next couple of years and establishes a foundation for newcomers to pick up a controller and learn what the hype is about.

Beautiful, compelling and strange. There isn't a reason not to try Bound, and although its heavy emotional focus might not be for everyone, its well implemented movement and speed mechanics will surely be enough to keep even the most stone-hearted player entertained.

Although a lot could be improved in Dex, nearly everything is good and solid. With the exception of the hacking, you'll have a lot of fun running and fighting your way across the map, even if you don't always know where you are and where you should be.

Gal*Gun Double Peace is certainly a title that’s not for everyone, but if those titulating screenshots get your heart going ‘doki-doki,’ you’re exactly the kind of person that Double Peace was made for.

10 Second Ninja X is an addictive high speed platform game sporting some puzzle game elements which enrich the experience considerably. With its fast paced experience, smooth controls, good amount of content and replay value, 10 Second Ninja X is a game that no fan of platform games should pass on.

For those looking for a narrative journey that’s unlike anything else on the Playstation 4, Abzû offers plenty to experience.

Should you play it? If you already own Street Fighter V, absolutely. Should it convince you to buy Street Fighter V? Err... No.

For those willing to put their life on the line and set foot in the mysterious dungeons, Shiren the Wanderer marks one of the finest entries to date.

Necropolis is an interesting dungeon crawler that sadly fails to live up to its full potential due to a severe lack of content and sense of progression. The game isn't exactly bad, as there are some interesting ideas, but it features so little incentive to play again that most will end up abandoning it after a few runs.

Zombie Night Terror is a great little tactical game, with a distinct art style and direction that makes zombies interesting again. At a low price, offering a good length that offers replay value in side objectives, there's no doubt that this is a game that should be looked at and is worth your time.

Pokémon Go is unlike anything else I've ever played, and for that reason alone I implore you to play it. I'm not sure it will keep the current momentum, but for now it feels really good.

I AM Setsuna is a fine short little experience that brings back nostalgic feelings for the 16-bit era of role playing games, but doesn't do much to explore the twenty years of depth since then.

Zombie Party offers sheer mindless fun. There's utter chaos on screen and a fast paced, action packed top-down shooter, which offers multiple game modes and an extensive amount of customisation. While it's not the best looking game out there, having a few flaws, it's fun.

Umbrella Corp is a game that should have been scrapped, not released. It may have started with the best intentions, but the end result is a game that relies on tired gameplay and a familiar name. Going back to the drawing board would have been better than what was released now.

Inside has a foreboding atmosphere that's second to none, set by the masterful use of lighting, shadows, colors and sound. Although padded at parts (even for a four hour game), it's still able to keep you gripped. The puzzles are somewhat basic for the most part and the ending of the game is one of the worst I've ever encountered, simply not fitting in with the rest of it.

Song of the Deep’s experience stays faithful to the game’s name in more ways than one. The game by Insomniac does indeed feel like a melancholic yet enticing song from a time long gone, awing the listener with its grace and tales of mysteries which may not exist. In the end, it’s the journey which is truly important, and the enjoyment one can get out of it. And there’s plenty to be had in Song of the Deep, despite some issues here and there.

Carmageddon: Max Damage is an ugly, annoying and downright tiresome game. Particularly so when played too much. But it's not without its charms. A strong variety in weapons, vehicles and maps. Crude humour that can work, at times. It's actually good in small doses, but not worth the current entry fee.

7 Days to Die features a very interesting mix of role playing games and survival games mechanics, with customization possibilities and multiplayer features deepening the experience considerably. Sadly, everything is damaged by the horrible interface and menu system, a sub-par presentation, some serious technical issues and a general lack of focus.

A decent game that simply tries too much. Mixing role playing and strategy aspects, though never the best at either, there's a lot to do. The other major issue is simply how ugly it looks outside of the drawn art.

Furi is a short and sweet example of all the things that make flashy boss fights fun, without the mess of having to grind or figure out how to optimize one's equipment. If the premise intrigues you, chances are you'll enjoy Furi greatly.

Smart, simple and loads of fun - there's plenty to enjoy about Planet Robobot, though many gamers will be deterred by the lack of any real challenge.

The Technomancer is a well made action-RPG and the best title released by Spiders so far, thanks to the additional polish and increased size of the game's content. Just don't expect to be able to explore a massive world like those in Fallout 4 or The Witcher 3 or you may be disappointed.

Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness can be loads of fun, but also doesn't really offer anything new. Fans of action JRPGs such as the Tales series will find something to enjoy, but it's definitely not a game for everyone.

Guilty Gear Xrd Revelator will have zero complaints from new and experienced players, but Xrd Sign players who are less bothered about roster updates will find less to enjoy.

Mighty No. 9 was designed to be a spiritual successor to Mega Man. If any of that spirit was ever here, it's long since decayed. The game is incredibly frustrating, suffers from bad design choices throughout and offers only middling enjoyment.

Even after four years, Deadlight could still use some polish to be a truly great experience. Still, this Director's Cut provides the best possible experience if you want to play the game.

A competent collection which vastly improves the two Dead Island games included, adding a third game which can be fun in short bursts. Both Dead Island and Dead Island Riptide never looked better, with a slew of technical enhancements and solid performance which makes revisiting both titles quite enjoyable. Most the gameplay issues, however, haven't been addressed, so those who couldn't stand the original releases won't change their opinions with the remastered releases. Solid games, for sure, but not for everyone.

Mirror's Edge: Catalyst will likely make people feel the same as the original, it'll be a divisive game. The freedom of movement is excellent, vastly improved over the original, but it's let down by a poor story, unrelatable characters and an incredibly annoying combat system, which it forces you into all too frequently. Still an exciting game to explore and look around, it's hard not to recommend Mirror's Edge if you're looking for something different, which it still is

With a few adjustments and improvements, the Sherlock Holmes formula could become the standard for adventure games of the future, as achieving such gameplay variety is no small feat. Highly recommended to fans of the series and adventure games' fans.

Hard Reset Redux is not a bad game, but nor is it something you'll feel particularly satisfied putting an afternoon into. Its dreary setting has been better explored in games like Deus Ex and its combat has been better exploited in Doom. If this year hadn't already been so stellar for amazing releasing, Hard Reset would be more welcome, as it stands, there's a lot better to spend your time on.

I don't think there are any bad Fire Emblem games, and despite that Birthright still manages to be one of the better ones.

Pokémon's younger brother has a lot to learn. Yo-kai Watch is hugely recommended for young teens and kids, but I struggle to imagine any adult 3DS owner finding it to be an essential purchase.

The best grand strategy game out there. The setting is added an excellent level of authenticity with the battle-plan feature, excellent Ai and a world map that is absolutely splendid to look at and watch the war unfold. Combined with a well developed political and infrastructure system, there is so much that can be done in the game, one that will absorb your time and leave you with lost time.

Black Desert Online is the most refreshingly unique MMO around. Introducing many new game mechanics and ways to play in a world that's so exquisitely designed, with characters, building, monsters and even the weather all working together to make the best looking MMO to have ever been released, BDO is only really let down by the game's unwillingness and/or inability to properly explain its mechanics.

A fairy tale that has stood the test of time and shows the true beauty of George Kamitani. If you enjoy games made by Vanillaware, you can't miss this high definition remake.

It's possibly the best One Piece fighter, but one that's still mired in anime arena fighter jank.

Ratchet & Clank is a fantastic game and a strong return of both the franchise and developer Insomniac, who have done an outstanding job. It doesn't concern itself with being a movie tie-in and, as such, it ends up being a true Ratchet & Clank game, one that any fan will have already played and an excellent introduction to make new fans.

Quite possibly the most exciting strategy game to come out in a long time. It's a huge change for such a long running franchise, brings in so many new features that work so well, and looks downright stunning as huge numbers of fantastical creatures create all manners of havok across the battlefield.

If you've been searching for a bombastic single player FPS, then you need not look any further than this new DOOM game. If you want a special multiplayer experience, though, DOOM doesn't deliver as well.

If you've ever wondered what the fuss of MOBAs are, or wanted a little more shooter in your battle arena, Battleborn is perfect for you. It is so different from the competitive shooters on the market at the minute. Once you get through the initial trail and error, you won't look back at all.

Shadwen is a competent and somewhat enjoyable stealth game, but not exactly memorable. While the core experience and some of its mechanics, such as the time manipulation mechanics, are quite well done, the game suffers from a general lack of polish, an average last-gen presentation and a rather limited amount of content. When Shadwen works, however, it works well, so Frozenbyte definitely has a good starting point for a potential sequel.

Homefront: The Revolution is a disappointment no matter how you slice it. Maybe Deep Silver Dambuster can improve it over time and when that happens, the game could be worth a purchase in a sale; as it is, though, it simply cannot be recommended with many better options available for gamers.

With its excellent side-scrolling platforming based experience, smooth battle system, intriguing narrative style, excellent graphics and high replay value, Shadow of the Beast is definitely a quality product. The lack of originality and somewhat unresponsive controls will be issues for some, but the well designed experience makes it easy to get past them.

Offworld Trading Company is by no means a bad game, it’s just difficult to recommend against the existing titans of the genres it borrows from. Still, if you really like the premise you could pick it up during a sale.

With Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, Naughty Dog have created their very best game and one of the best titles of this entire generation. If you own a PlayStation 4, you simply need to play it and if you don't, this is certainly a good reason to purchase the console.

SEGA has put together a simple, heartfelt tribute to the original Valkyria Chronicles that feels at home on the Playstation 4. Being able to command the Edelweiss one more time has given me a longing to play through the other two PSP-exclusive entries if they can be given the same treatment. A new Valkyria Chronicles has been a long time coming and having the entire series on one platform would be a dream if given the same high-definition makeover.

Ashes of the Singularity is a beautiful game, but that's sadly the best that can be said. It's just shallow. It will offer some enjoyment, but the game just doesn't hit what it wants to be and stumbles too much along the way with even the basics, even punishing you for doing what the developers tell you to do.

There are few titles more deserving of being called one of the truly essential experiences for the Vita than Severed. If you own the latest PlayStation handheld, do yourself a favor and pick this up: you won't regret it.

Confirms all the issues that have emerged in the previous episodes. With very little character development for secondary characters and villains, uneven pacing and short total play time, The Walking Dead Michonne fails to become a truly compelling experience.

Have you played Hyrule Warriors on Wii U? Do you own a Wii U? If the answer to either of those questions is "Yes" then you shouldn't bother with Hyrule Warriors Legends.

Sapienza proves that environment and variety are key to Hitman’s new style, and it’ll be worth following so long as that lasts.

With a frenetic gameplay experience, a vast array of customization features, engaging online multiplayer, a good amount of content and very solid performance, Alienation is one of the best shooter games released this year on all formats.

Battlefleet Gothic is a mixed bag. The slow pace hinders a game that should be all about letting you jump in to epic space battles but as you develop, leveling up ships and customising your fleet to what you want, it does prove itself to be a strong contender.

Firaxis managed to improve upon the already great Enemy Unknown in almost every way, with the exception of multiplayer. Unfortunately, the shockingly bad performance prevents XCOM 2 from reaching the status of a true masterpiece.

MXGP2 is a fun game, with plenty to see and do. Obviously, fans of Motocross will get the most out of it, but there are way worse driving simulations out there.

Star Fox Guard is a decent game, but exciting? Definitely not. It's hard to recommend because although it's not bad, it's hardly exciting when you're alone.

Star Fox Zero is great. It’s loads of fun, even more fun with friends, and I can’t help but recommend it. Another Wii U essential? Well, it might not be for everyone but Star Fox fans will adore it.

With the clunky interface and gameplay, combined with the price and lack of content, it's impossible to recommend Life in Bunker now. Does it have potential? Most certainly, but for now, it's unrealised potential.

Adam Venture is a good attempt at an exploration puzzle game. Although it isn't perfect, there is a lot to like within the game. Whether this can be improved in the future is yet to be seen, but for now there is enough to enjoy, although maybe not for the price tag on release.

With its interesting fairy tale feel and engaging mix old and modern gameplay mechanics, Stories: The Path Of Destinies is a love letter to action role playing games of years past. The unique narrative style, the choices system and smooth battle system are quite engaging during the first playthroughs, but the limited amount of content eventually makes the game feel a little repetitive. Even with its issues, however, Stories: The Path Of Destinies is a game that's very well worth the time of action role playing game fans

One of the best Zelda games, even if it hasn’t aged amazingly. Returning players and those new to Twilight Princess are sure to adore this, though the HD remaster doesn’t hide its age.