The Sims 4: City Living encourages you to be constantly out and doing things. In a word, it is refreshing. It's precisely what I felt was missing from the base game of The Sims 4 and from every expansion since. My only true criticism of it is that it's an expansion. I wish that the base game could've felt as real as City Living does, and I wish I didn't have to spend $40 on top of the $40 for The Sims 4. If you've been holding off on The Sims 4 until That One Expansion, City Living is the one.

It's easily one of the best single-player games on PlayStation 3, or any platform, this year.

Long after you're finished building your automotive empire, you'll still have editable races, online contests and simple cruising sessions at your disposal. It's good for a quick play or for a long stretch.

It's hard to fault such an immersive and well thought out game which expertly melds frenetic twitch-factor action with a variety of logic puzzles.

There have been many different Batman games over the years, but none quite so polished as this one. Batman: Arkham Asylum combines the best elements of the classic Batman mythos with the modern-day interpretation of the hero. The end result is a game that outshines its flaws and is quite simply a blast to play.

EA has done a bang-up job this year and produced yet another "must have" sports game. If you are a golfing enthusiast, picking up Tiger Woods for the Wii is a no-brainer.

This game really has everything you could want, including one of the best if not the best stories of the year, and it'll certainly slake any gamer's thirst for adventure.

In spite of its few faults, Left 4 Dead 2 is a very worthwhile sequel, and any fears you may have about this game merely being an overpriced expansion will melt away as soon as you start playing.

Prince of Persia comes startlingly close to being a perfect game. The visuals are gorgeous, the story is presented exceptionally well, both the combat and platforming are extremely fun, and the game features one of the most moving endings I've experienced since Shadow of the Colossus.

The new additions do much to add new depths of strategy.

As a total game experience, it is enchanting, and sometimes even astounding, if you have a machine that can handle it well.

It just works; it combines a challenging combat system with likeable characters and a unique setting to create a truly excellent game. Covenant is easily a contender for the title of best RPG on the PS2.

The selection of cars and motorcycles is incredibly fun, the graphics are self-evidently gorgeous and the array of gameplay options are both staggering and compelling. It is very rare that a game this polished and well-designed is made in any genre, and Project Gotham Racing 4 demands your attention regardless of your skill level or taste in gaming. There is literally something in this game for everyone.

Metal Gear Solid V: Phantom Pain is a phenomenal game. It is a credit to its quality that some rather substantial flaws do little to drag down the game, and even with them, it's destined to be remembered as one of the best titles this year.

The once-great are still very good, and the newer titles continue pushing the envelope in terms of quality, narrative and how much you can do within a given genre.

The game is simple, it is good, it includes the Orange Box soundtrack, and it's a 10-dollar title that will outlast many 50-dollar games. No more words are necessary; only action is needed.

The Last of Us is a must-play title for any PS3 owner who's not squeamish about violence and depressing subject matter. It has flaws, but they don't detract from the overall experience, and at worst, the game could use a little more interaction.

Red Faction: Guerrilla may not have the name recognition of Halo or Call of Duty, but it has enough depth of play to hold its own against any contenders.

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor is easily one of the best strategy-RPGs on the Nintendo DS and may even be one of the better strategy RPGs ever made.

The Shin Megami Tensei series has proven itself as one of the most consistently well-made RPG franchises in recent memory, and SMT: Strange Journey is no exception. There are few dungeon exploration games that are as solidly well put-together and interesting.

A title that is only limited by two factors, your imagination and the ability of the title to match it.

Eye of the Temple is a rare VR gem that caught me by surprise. Its natural and immersive room-scale movement system, rewarding puzzle sections, and overall scale are excellent. If you own a VR headset and have enough room to play, Eye of the Temple successfully proves the potential of VR.

While there are a couple of small blemishes, Patapon 2 manages to shine in a glorious way. The original game was a triumph, showcasing the fact that we haven't run out of good ideas yet, and the sequel continues to drive the franchise in the right direction.

Almost every addition to The Journey makes it a superior experience to the original Persona 3 , and the addition of The Answer increases that value.

Marvel's Spider-Man does what a lot of good art does, which is examine techniques and concepts that work well, and then blend and refine them to create something unique to itself and possibly greater. I've made this point before: Art and artists have built on and inspired each other since the beginning of time. So yes, I've heard and seen the Spidey/Arkham hot takes, and I ended up not caring at all because at no point did I forget I was playing a Spider-Man experience. I was too busy swinging around in Manhattan, with buildings whipping by as I tailed a police pursuit, thinking about how right it all felt.

The World Ends with You is a game that every RPG fan who owns a DS needs to have.

LBP 2's true worth won't become apparent for many months yet, but even if you pick it up today, the addictive level creation tools and endless amount of developer- and player-created levels make the game well worth your money.

When taken as a whole, Resistance2 comes exceptionally close to attaining gaming perfection. Only minor graphical shortcomings and a weak story hold back this title from an even higher score.

Bionic Commando Rearmed is easily a strong enough title to go for $30 on the PSP, and it's definitely a worthy PlayStation Network/Live Arcade title at $10. The graphics overhaul, improved boss battles, hacking mini-game, new weapons and bionic arm abilities, multiplayer support and additional content will provide immense replay value.

Final Fantasy XVI is by no means a perfect game, but it is an exceptionally good one. The engaging plot, beautiful visuals, and enjoyable gameplay all combine to create something that feels special. It can occasionally be a little long for its own good, and the combat system is slow to get going, but once it hits all the right marks, it knocks them out of the park. I left Final Fantasy XV disappointed by how unfinished it felt, but Final Fantasy XVI is a true rarity these days: a fully finished game that is satisfying from start to finish.

Donkey Kong Country Returns is undeniable proof that Retro's prowess isn't limited to sci-fi first-person shooters.

EA Canada has done a stellar job in taking the Bond license and creating an experience that is right up there with watching the multi-million dollar budget movies.

Bionic Commando Rearmed is easily a strong enough title to go for $30 on the PSP, and it's definitely a worthy PlayStation Network/Live Arcade title at $10. The graphics overhaul, improved boss battles, hacking mini-game, new weapons and bionic arm abilities, multiplayer support and additional content will provide immense replay value.

Just like saying you wouldn't date Cindy Crawford because of her mole, refusing to play Crisis Core based on these small issues amounts to simply being overly nitpicky.

Overall, I would recommend Carol Vorderman's Sudoku without a moment's hesitation to any PSP owner who likes, is interested in or would like to know about Sudoku. The transportation of this puzzle genre to a handheld system borders on flawless, and experienced players will really appreciate the depth of the options that are presented.

All in all, Supernatural may be my favorite expansion so far for The Sims 3. It gives enough options so that you really try something new, though it does border on having too many options. While it doesn't add as many new gameplay mechanics as some other expansions, the additions are interesting and well crafted. No two people look for the same thing out of The Sims, but for me, if you're only going to buy one Sims 3 expansion, it should be this one.

The quality is further reflected in the silky-smooth online play and detailed options that let you choose how much updating you want.

The series' best effort in years.

Persona 5 Royal does what it set out to do: Make Persona 5 a better and more rounded experience with more content. It mitigates a lot of the minor flaws but doesn't get all of them right. For the story, there are plenty of unskippable or slow areas with extensive hand-holding. Royal is an even easier experience than P5, including the Platinum Trophy, which is probably one of the easiest ones I've achieved to date. Those minor gripes aside, it's still an incredibly mesmerizing game that sucks you in and immerses you in an all-around great experience. I'm not sure I'm OK with the $60 price, though. A paid update to the original game would've been the better move here. With that being said, if you love Persona 5, you'll love P5 Royal. If you haven't played it yet, what are you waiting for?

If Bioshock has one notable flaw, it lies in the game's difficulty level, or lack thereof. On the normal difficulty level, it's just a bit too easy. It is still fun, but once you start getting a solid number of plasmids, you can tear through every Splicer in your way as if they were nothing.

Even with its few faults, this title serves as a shining example of its genre, and I wish game companies would make more of this type of game.

The sense of speed is upped a couple notches, the tracks are much more interesting, with alternate routes and lots of ramps, Crashbreaker races are immensely fun, traffic checking adds more wreckage and destruction (which is a good thing), the huge, multi-tiered crash stages are a big step up, and once again, even more speed.

Ultimately, Zombie Uprising is a perfect metaphor for Saints Row 2 itself. Like the mini-game, everything in Saints Row 2 is over-the-top. There are quite possibly no other games that can come close to the sheer number of explosions, bullets, murder, and vulgarity on tap here. And you know what? We wouldn't have it any other way.

Neves has a simplistic elegance that is incredibly elusive in the gaming industry.

Overall, Borderlands 2 takes what wasn't broken and builds on it, but it does so in a way that feels very much like the original game. At the same time, the gameplay is different enough to not feel like a retread, as practically every area of the gameplay has been tweaked to some extent.

Most Wanted's biggest strength is that it feels like a cohesive whole, rather than some amalgamation of a reboot tacked on to another game's engine. The gameplay emphasizes as little downtime as possible, which is a good thing as it's an absolute blast whether or not cops are involved. It's not a reboot as much as it is a reimagining of the original game, taking the bits that worked and wrapping them in a completely new package. Surprisingly enough, it does so in a way that works, and the new Most Wanted ranks up there with the original.

The bottom line is that Fossil Fighters takes the formula established by games like Spectrobes and Pokemon and improves on it in nearly every way.

Much as was the case with World of Tanks, World of Warships does a lot of things really well. Its gameplay is easy to get into but allows for a fair amount of depth in how you approach each battle

Simply put, this is one of the best golf games ever made, and there's absolutely no reason to pass it up.

Simply put, this is one of the best golf games ever made, and there's absolutely no reason to pass it up.

In a game genre that is normally filled with complex and difficult-to-learn games, Sins of a Solar Empire manages to find some good, solid middle ground. The title successfully delivers a real-time space strategy that offers 4X and RTS fans an experience that is both detailed and easy to learn.

The sense of speed is upped a couple notches, the tracks are much more interesting, with alternate routes and lots of ramps, Crashbreaker races are immensely fun, traffic checking adds more wreckage and destruction (which is a good thing), the huge, multi-tiered crash stages are a big step up, and once again, even more speed.

It’s truly amazing to see these more impressive graphical representations maximizing this system’s potential.

It's so well put together that the flaws that do stand out are minor, and while they do add up, they are generally forgotten about once you actually get into the game. It has definitely seized the top spot in its genre.

Just a fantastic strategy game that no fan of the genre should pass up. It is refreshing to see a title that can challenge your mind while entertaining you to no end.

It has nearly everything you could want from an action game: highly accurate controls, a plethora of well-designed enemies, smart AI, sharp visuals, a wide assortment of useful and unique weapons, brutally visceral combat, and, of course, ninjas.

I didn't have significant expectations going into playing Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. It is fundamentally the same "type" of game as its predecessor. However, a lot of care has been taken to improve the areas where its predecessor faltered and to reinforce the areas where it had done well. It results in the kind of open-world RPG experience that reminds me of the glory days of Oblivion and Morrowind. As a result, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II sets a high bar for what modern games of the genre should be.

Dollars aside, Guitar Hero II is a sequel that improves upon its predecessor in every conceivable way, and the Xbox 360 version sweetens the pot with additional songs and light online functionality.

Bioshock will undoubtedly become one of the classic games that define this generation of gaming.

It is a good game that is well thought-out, plays well (assuming you take the time to learn the game) and is a very satisfying experience.

There are times when I want to play a racing game that requires a wheel and incredibly nuanced changes to my car's setup. GRID Legends provides a counterpoint to that style, and it's a ball of fun that never feels like it loses focus on being a competitive racing game. It's a racing game that isn't afraid to become a spectacle, while at the same time managing to take itself seriously in the areas that matter. The story mode is the flashiest, but the game remains just as compelling in any other mode. GRID Legends is a great excuse to have some automotive fun.

Doom Eternal is a hellishly frantic shooter that puts me closer to heart attack levels than I care to admit — and I love every second of it.

In the end, Gears of War 2 achieves exactly what it sets out to do: make a better Gears of War. It's an accomplishment worthy of praise, but knowing what Epic is capable of, we really wish they would have pushed the envelope a bit more on the campaign mode.

Dual Strike presents a slick invitation to turn-based neophytes without making the party boring for experienced strategists.

Given the care and attention lavished upon the competitive and cooperative multiplayer in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, it's clear that Infinity Ward sees the future of the Modern Warfare series in that particular component. What that means is you'll end up with a game that doesn't show much in the single-player experience, but once you take it online, it's going to be difficult to put down.

I found very little not to like about Transformers: Fall of Cybertron, which is superior to its predecessor in every way. It still felt a bit short, but it looks better, it plays better and it even feels better.

Of all the iterations of Kratos I've seen over the lifetime of the God of War series, Old Man Kratos is probably my favorite. His newest adventure might not have quite the same wall-to-wall bombast as the ones that came before, but he's added a new dimension to his personality. He can only stay Old Testament-angry for so long, and the table is definitely set for more installments. There's more to explore now in this new corner of mythology, and it'll be compelling to see if he burns everything to the ground or finds an even higher place to go.

A stunning achievement in modern gaming. It is entirely in 2D and uses only three buttons, but it is one of the best games available on the PSP.

The PC version may not have any new content, but it hits the platform in an extremely polished way. It won't change your mind about the game if you've already played it on another platform, but it certainly cements itself as a fantastic version of an entertaining game.

Games normally don't make that kind of mark on us anymore, but nearly every game included in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection does.

With changes in button configuration and new features, the learning curve is a bit steeper. There is a way to convert back to the controls for Madden 05 controls, but the new button set can be advantageous, especially the X button for the "new" running ability.

To top it all off, the online portion of the game has been vastly improved, and EA has addressed almost all of the complaints that were raised about the original NFSU, from the ability to reset the race, create private or password-protected rooms, to several different modes for online play.

Even if you don't have a top-of-the-line gaming rig, this is a superb title that is so good (even on medium detail settings) that you just might postpone that eBay sale so that you can play it through a second time.

Paradise would have received an even higher score had they included legacy Burnout crash-mode events for those devoted to them.

All in all, World of Tanks is a ruthlessly addictive game.

The game is really advanced and can beat the pants off of "FIFA" any day.

The dungeon can keep you occupied for ages, so there is really no end to the game, yet one thing to note is that there is no new game.

One of Madden's weak points has always been its commentary, and after fifteen years, it still needs work.

It may lack multiplayer or online play, which many, including myself, were hoping for, but the single player campaign clearly makes up for this.

With its copious amounts of content and impressive new locale, Fallout 3: Point Lookout provides a definitive reason to head back into the Fallout universe yet again.

Aside from the minor visual issues, there is little to criticize about Darksiders II. The game is packed with content, is visually striking and features some brilliant level design. It expands on the mythology of the franchise, giving players a world that is both bigger and better than the original.

Essentially, the game punishes you for not giving up. You're better off starting from scratch with a new band. It's a relatively minor quibble, but as a potential passion and motivator of budding real-world musicians, Rock Band should be more tolerant of those players who refuse to give in to the tough songs even on the higher difficulty settings.

I only have a few complaints about it; camera movement and first person x and y speeds were a bit slow for my liking.

GoldenEye 007 is the best Bond game in years, and Wii owners should not hesitate to pick it up.

The most enjoyable gaming experience I've had this year. The story was one of the best ever, and the acting is top-notch.

It isn't a perfect game by any means, as there are a few things that it could improve on, specifically in the graphics and damage departments. Nevertheless, all of the title's new features and positive traits outweigh the few negatives and make this the racing game to have.

There's so much more to do, and it sounds, looks, and plays so well (even better than before), I may never need another RTS. Relic, keep the expansions coming.

Dave the Diver is a massive game but looks like it isn't. Its campaign takes well over 20 hours with an addicting gameplay mix of action, RPG, and restaurant management while constantly introducing new and fun gameplay mechanics. It keeps switching things up and always gives you exciting activities to engage in while delivering a gripping story. Get this title on your radar because Dave the Diver is a delight to play.

The single-player experience is worth the price of admission alone and must be seen to be believed.

An engaging narrative that actually inspires an urge to read all the text, fun and evolving combat, and a smooth coat of presentational polish make Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time a compelling package.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is easily the definitive version of the game. Almost every gameplay change is an improvement that makes the game more fun to play, and the addition of the new storyline means that even returning players have plenty of fresh encounters to experience. At its core, it is still the same game but polished and improved enough that I found the entire experience to be a delight. It's a must-have for fans of the franchise, and even those who prefer the more plot-heavy Persona titles will find a lot to enjoy in Vengeance.

The core gameplay is similar, but the new camouflage and stamina additions require strategic adjustments that perfectly fit the deliberate, tactical feel of the game. It's a beautifully crafted game from every angle.

If you can handle slight annoyances every now and then and can stomach a prologue sequence that makes the beginning of "Kingdom Hearts 2" seem brisk and concise, Suikoden V is most certainly one of the best RPGs on the PlayStation 2, bar none.

From the superb visual design to the enchanting audio soundtrack, this futuristic period piece is a delight to play and accomplishes a rare feat for a video game: It leaves you with plenty of weighty existential questions to think about.

Ultimately, Starfield is a very enjoyable game that takes the overall formula that Bethesda established in games like Skyrim and Fallout 4 and expands upon it. It is familiar in the ways that feel comfortable, but the game feels like an exciting new experience. It's unfair to compare it to games like No Man's Sky given the vast difference in scope, but at the same time, I wish that the ways the ships are handled didn't feel so compartmentalized with the reliance upon menu-driven fast-travel. Starfield really tries to be many things all at once, and although there are varying levels of success to that end, the game is a downright joy to play.

I love the fact that the arrows actually stick to enemies when you shoot them. It is extremely clear when you face a boss; looking at the side on which you fire, you can see how many times he has been hit.

One of those rare games that can engage you for hours each day while never getting old.

The 1.6 patch adds some good new features to Metal: Hellsinger, and the Dream of the Beast DLC adds some good news songs and additional ways to tweak how you play. My hope is that this is just the beginning, as the developers continue to court and work with metal singers from various bands to add new music that's only found in the game. At the very least, it cracks open a few doors for ways to allow for new content, and it's done in a way that can be used in a mix-and-match fashion with all of the game's existing levels and content. At an asking price of just $3.99, the DLC adds new content into an already fantastic game.