It’s nice to play a Pokémon game that feels like it was made with love. Pokémon Legends: Arceus sure is not perfect, but it’s a loving attempt to take the series in a different direction, and it mostly nails it.

An expansive, beautiful and engrossing new adventure that deepens the series' lore while doubling down on what made the original such a classic. A masterclass in meaningful open-world design, where exploration and curiosity is encouraged and rewarded.

Grapple Dog does play a little on the nostalgia bone, but everything it sets out to do it accomplishes enjoyably, with a well animated lick of paint, an upbeat if slightly repetitive soundtrack and a little dash of humour. It’s an adventure that has plenty of content, with some later levels offering a healthy challenge and holding plenty of secrets that should appeal to older players, but some of it follows a road that’s too often been walked down, meaning it doesn’t quite innovate as much as it could have.

A blast from the past that appeals even in the modern age, It’s easy to be grateful that this experience has not been lost to the sands of time.

A challenging brawler that punishes recklessness and demands perfection, Sifu’s genre-leading combat and roguelike mechanics blend together to create an early Game of the Year contender.

It’s hard not to be impressed, despite the lack of multiplayer features, with OlliOlli World's wonderful take on skateboarding and its creative storytelling.

Dying Light 2 Stay Human could have been one of the highlights of the year, but a disappointing story, some frustrating design choices and performance issues mean it doesn’t cash in on its potential.

Wanderer does a lot of great things, but is held back primarily by the ageing hardware but also some uneven design choices.

While it's not overly surprising to see PlayStation migrate two of its biggest last gen titles to the PS5 and slap a new entry fee on the front, it's also not an overly exciting end product. There's merit in playing these beloved and bombastic blockbuster hits in an eye-searing new fidelity but the weight of this package isn't quite worth the gold.

While it does not dramatically change the radical dinosaur that is Serious Sam 4, it does provide more unbridled carnage that defines the series – just now with a distinctly Russian flavour. Blasting enemies with dual-wielded AK-47’s and joking about vodka define the experience, and while it may not appeal to everyone, I know a lot of us will get a kick out of it.

Constantly forcing you to balance risk with reward, Extraction is a difficult and tense co-op experience that scratches the tactical itch but lacks any long-term staying power.

A welcome return by Drinbox Studios, in a title that manages to entertain on various fronts. It's an action RPG definitely worth diving into a dungeon for, with a lot more exploration needed for those looking for every secret.

It’s nice to be able to play God of War on PC. Being able to push this game to its limits is awesome, and it makes the world and its inhabitants feel a lot more natural and fluid. It may not be perfect, but I would gladly argue that this is the best way to experience God of War.

Monster Hunter Rise is a big step forward for the Monster Hunter series, both in terms of its design and the quality of its PC port. The port is nothing groundbreaking, but the MH team has done themselves proud with this, and I’m just glad to be able to play this game at a high framerate.

If a challenge is what you’re after, you’ll find it within Aeterna Noctis. There’s still plenty to appreciate and enjoy if that’s up your alley, but it doesn’t do enough to allow its concept to stand out from the competition.

A short, sharp 3D action-adventure that keeps things simple in a gorgeous world and makes a great case for Game Pass as a delivery vehicle for bingeable and low-investment experiences.

A simple, yet enjoyable puzzle platformer, Scarf is a beautiful title that plays around with the tried and true tale of the hero defeating evil.

Icarus boldly stakes its claim amongst giants in the field and swiftly proves to be a worthy contender. Everything I saw in the lead up to the release of Icarus made it seem too good to be true, but my faith and patience was rewarded many times over when I finally got to drop planetside for the first time, and the time after that, and the time after that. Icarus is going up on my list of favourite things to come out of New Zealand, alongside pavlova and Lord of the Rings.

UnMetal puts a parody spin on the older Metal Gear games, while also being a competent mid-80s stealth title. Its reliance on its humour in both gameplay and writing will make it a chore for some, but a joy for others.

Halo Infinite's campaign closes a few doors and opens some others, and even if the open-world stylings could be better integrated into the overarching gameplay design, it's a title that pays homage to the past while looking to the future. The refined and addictive multiplayer is a certifiable breath of fresh air, even if the menacing wind of microtransactions blows simultaneously.

Heavenly Bodies deploys a fantastical movement system and clever puzzle design in service of a decent enough time on your own but probably deserves to be experienced with a friend.

A masterful, methodical journey through the shadows of Edo Japan – brilliantly polished and perfectly paced, my only real sadness is that there was not more of it.

The Smurfs: Mission Vileaf is a bright and colourful adventure suitable for all ages and skill levels. As a platformer, the areas have fun designs and provide a good variety of interactive elements to keep the game feeling fresh. While the crafting mechanics in the game miss the mark, Mission Vileaf is still enjoyable to play and is sure to warm any Smurfy player’s heart.

A disappointing revisit to something fondly remembered, Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition struggles to remind you of what made these games so memorable in the first place.

Built by veterans of the genre, Beyond a Steel Sky may not be a revolutionary adventure game, but its clever writing and intriguing story make it a solid entry.

Solar Ash will go down as an absolute triumph of form and function, a storytelling masterclass amongst a perfectly crafted visual and audible feast. They left it to the last moment to drop right near the top of my best of 2021, but Heart Machine should be proud of their accomplishments across the board.

A fun pick up and play experience that is unfortunately held back by its inability to truly innovate on its predecessors and take advantage of the Switch's hardware.

Monster Crown is chock-a-block full of monsters and retro charm but you might want to wait for some of the bugs to be squashed first.