The multiplayer is a stroke of genius, destined to keep players coming back for more, long after the single-player has faded away from memory. Only the best type of gaming experience can do this.

Recent releases have seen plenty of tweaks, but they merely nudged the gameplay. This year's implementation of a quarterback's cone of vision really changes things by rethinking the foundations of passing the ball.

Packing serious star power, astounding production values, and surprisingly entertaining gameplay, Everything or Nothing delivers on all relevant counts, providing for a rousing escapade that ranks among the best to feature Her Majesty's finest.

They've taken id's gorgeous Doom 3 engine and used it to create vast intricate playgrounds for fast and frantic battles between humans and cybernetic alien invaders. Quake Wars are on!

It's just as good on the GBA as it was in the old days.

If you don't need real world licensing or scenery, if you're willing to power through some gratifying RPG advancement with your duffing, and if you don't mind the cloying kiddie graphics, Super Swing Golf is the definitive fantasy golf game.

While Pandora Tomorrow doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, it maintains and often exceeds its predecessor's exceptionally high standards in playability, atmosphere, level design, and visuals.

Despite its long-ass title, this atmospheric, enhanced skin-crawler is one of the scariest and spookiest things to hit the Xbox.

Mario’s big debut on the Switch is a joy to experience. Its beautifully realized worlds, excellent platforming, admiration for series’ past and new gameplay mechanics make Super Mario Odyssey worthy of the portly plumber’s legacy.

EA has excelled in creating its smartest, deepest hockey game to date.

Stands out in the action-adventure genre by providing well devised combat and level design meshed with a great Buffy story. If you're not familiar with the TV show, you can still have a hell of a good time dusting vampires and kicking demon ass.

Come for the eye candy, stay for the action: if you have a machine that'll take the strain, there's no better way to show it off.

What makes Wardell's game stand out from other recent 4X space empire games is a blend of simplicity and depth.

The gameplay is solid and fun for any skill level, but what's really amazing is just how good this game looks. The faces are scarily accurate.

It's something that is planned in development to the last incoming grenade and Frontline is pretty much perfect in terms of dragging you into the action and delivering nail-biting, hair-pulling gameplay.

Recent releases have seen plenty of tweaks, but they merely nudged the gameplay. This year's implementation of a quarterback's cone of vision really changes things by rethinking the foundations of passing the ball.

If there's one department in which MVP can't be beat, it's player animations. From the plate to the mound and out into center, these guys move with a jaw-dropping grace and fluidity.

The perfect party game, not to mention the best home karaoke product on the market.

Graphically and sonically, the game does wonders for GBA. It’s clear and beautiful to look at – even in quite dimly lit play areas.

Advance Wars 2 doesn't take any hard turns from the formula established in the original... and this is one of those rare cases where an overall lack of innovation is probably a good thing in the end.

It is once again the most solid, realistic, and kick-butt hoops game on the market. Really, the only debate is which version to get. If money's no object, pick it up on 360; it's easily the cream of the crop.

A fantastic game.

In terms of pacing, community, and great gunplay, this is the closest you'll get to a handheld "Counter-Strike." And as far as handheld shooters go, this is as good as it gets.

It's one of those long-term compelling games, perfect for digging in and ranking up, practicing competitively, or just relaxing and letting gravity do its thing. It is as once a sport, a pastime, and one of the finest games you can enjoy at your own pace.

A balm for those left unchallenged and disappointed by "Heroes of Might & Magic IV" and those still thrilled by "Disciples II."

For someone who isn't an adventure gamer, this game was absolutely pleasing. I found it thoroughly enjoyable albeit a little quick to end... but on the whole, this game is good.

The setting is rich, the characters are captivating, the interface is clean and easy to use, and the puzzles are just obtuse enough to be challenging, not frustrating.

Nothing is prettier, nothing plays as deeply, and nothing is so chock-full of value with additional material. The new characters rock, the levels are compelling, and Namco even included a classic to play while it loads.

One of the most compulsively playable strategy games of the year, both online and off...Simplicity is the main ingredient that makes RAA so enjoyable.

While it has its flaws, is by far the best console racer on the planet, and betters its predecessors in nearly every respect.

Arguably the best game you can play on this system. It's a grand open-ended fantasy role-playing game that combines the best of single player RPGs with the best of massively multiplayer online games.

The Sims 2, quite simply, blows "The Sims" away. If you were a fan of the original, you're going to love this....The Sims 2 includes everything from the first game and its expansion packs, and it does it all exponentially better than ever before.

Dishonored 2 puts its money in the right places, offering finely-tuned gameplay that’s as challenging as it is thrilling. For a game all about choice, the decision to add this sneaky genius to your collection is a no-brainer.

A stronger, smarter fighter than it was during its Xbox 360 battle.

Pokémon Sun and Moon are the best “Pokémon” games in years. “Alpha Sapphire” and “Omega Ruby” were great entries in the series, but they were largely re-skinned versions of “X” and “Y.” For the first time in ages (or at last since I uninstalled “Pokémon Go”), “Pokémon” feels like a new, exciting experience. If you’re a fan of the series, you’re going to love “Sun” and “Moon,” and if you’ve been gone for a while, you’ll be happy to come home.

The action is superb, with silky smooth combos, lots of movement options, and intuitive control. The graphics are still tops on the market. The quest is fulfilling and varied.

Where Naughty Dog shines brightest, however, is in its ability to make you feel like you’re discovering your way through what is essentially a linear adventure game. The path is predetermined, the outcome singular, but when you find that one handhold or fling yourself through that one open window, you own it. Uncharted 4’s level design is remarkable, simultaneously holding your hand and letting it go.

Pokémon Sun and Moon are the best “Pokémon” games in years. “Alpha Sapphire” and “Omega Ruby” were great entries in the series, but they were largely re-skinned versions of “X” and “Y.” For the first time in ages (or at last since I uninstalled “Pokémon Go”), “Pokémon” feels like a new, exciting experience. If you’re a fan of the series, you’re going to love “Sun” and “Moon,” and if you’ve been gone for a while, you’ll be happy to come home.

The competition may have a few small details and features over Sega, but no one can touch this gameplay. With subtle but effective tweaks made to all areas of the offensive and defensive games, ESPN NFL is certainly the toughest and most satisfying simulation currently available.

Given the strength of the controls, it's a shame Gaiden falls victim to the classic third-person action game pitfall: the camera. While we've seen many worse examples, it does have issues.

That sense of design pervades Dark Mirror, making it the best shooter yet released for the PSP. Don't be put off by the learning curve, which demands a bit more effort at the front than most action titles. Once Syphon Filter's rhythms are familiar, you'll find depth and replayability in spades.

Customization, handling, presentation, AI, damage, multiplayer: Forza hits the bull's-eye time after time. Although it doesn't have quite the bewildering range of cars as "Gran Turismo 4," Forza is its equal in gameplay, its superior in AI, and adds the online play "GT4" lacked.

For those of you looking for a giant robot game that's distinct, exciting, deep, and eminently customizable, as long as you're willing to play with others, Chromehounds is what you've been waiting for.

That break-the-mold game that longtime players of the franchise have been waiting for. And if you're already a street-rag reader, you have permission and reason to drool - just keep it off the AirFlow controller, please.

With a good selection of single-player game styles, simple yet deep gameplay, and eye-watering speed, it's easily the best puzzler on the DS. It's addictive, well presented, and perfectly suited to portable play.

A solid enough game to overcome its awkward plot device. It doesn't much matter why you're in the situation you're in. What matters are those wonderful moments when you're sitting on a tower overlooking one of the most gorgeous cities you've ever seen in a game, and you know it's all yours to play in.

Majestic Chess actually lives up to its name in not only theme, but quality and originality too.

If tedious leveling up, dull combat, or uninspired player vs. player gaming are your quibbles with today's massively multiplayer offerings, Guild Wars is the cure.

The world is elaborate, the sense of speed is dizzying, and the customization could cost you a job or a girlfriend. But you'll still have Brooke to keep you company.

The game's end sequence, to put it mildly, is an eight-car pileup. Fans of the series will recognize it as a poorly veiled swipe of a sequence in the original Halo, a challenge highlighted by a series of goofy circumstances and improbable level design meant to create an explosive end. The end result, however, is fairly absurd, as the whole shebang reeks of game developers wracking their brains to come up with the cleverest, most exciting finish, and shattering the fourth wall in the process.

Doom 3 won't win prizes for originality, but for low-key storytelling combined with all-out action and immense atmosphere, it's deserving of any shooter fan's time.

Tremendous fun. It doesn't innovate so much as it refines and ties together a couple of different elements into a satisfying whole.

Original, gripping, and outstandingly produced, Shadow of the Colossus is not to be missed.

Just about the only bad thing about Madden NFL 2004 is the bar that it sets. EA Sports has one hell of a challenge waiting in the wings, trying to improve on a masterful title like this.

Sam and Max's return is both a funny, well-written return to form and a real testimony to the episodic format in general. Culture Shock shows remarkable sympathy for the strengths of the original game, and has a polished, streamlined presentation that nails its feel.

All the best bits you'll see in commercials for the game -- bits likely to make viewers think, "Wow, that looks cool, I gotta have it!" -- aren't merely climactic moments of one-off boss battles... they represent the vast bulk of the gameplay experience.

Stands out in the action-adventure genre by providing well devised combat and level design meshed with a great Buffy story. If you're not familiar with the TV show, you can still have a hell of a good time dusting vampires and kicking demon ass.

Everything a fan could have hoped for. More stuff, more variation, and more satisfaction. Sure, it's essentially Katamari Damacy: The Remix, but this is one case where the alternate version equals and in many cases exceeds the original.

Few strategy games this year have offered so much in the way of enjoyable story and gameplay.

Weird, funny, immensely playable, and has that nigh-unclassifiable thing we can only call charm.

The gameplay itself is fascinating and not mindlessly repetitve.

There are few better multiplayer games in existence, and no better ones on Xbox Live Arcade. If your gaming habits ever include playing with others, online or off, Worms is utterly essential.

A demanding and gratifying shooter that brings a new level of seriousness to the Ghost Recon franchise. And, perhaps more importantly, restores it to the good graces of PC owners. Provided they've got the horsepower.

It's a cracking title, which makes excellent use of its 3D premise for genuine gameplay improvement. Its rendering of battlefields is superb and strategical, and ranks up there as one of the most enjoyable RTS titles we've been fortunate enough to play this year.

Needless to say, the story is strong, contains all the typical Bioware twists, turns and quality writing, and fans of power-D&D will have a lot to crow about.

Dreamfall is a masterpiece of storytelling, and almost lives up to its illustrious predecessor.

It looks better than the original, offers satisfying (if slightly short-lived) single-player action, and is an excellent multiplayer game.

Even above and beyond its top multiplayer action, SSB:M's chief asset is its tremendously varied gameplay.

Bear in mind, if you're addicted to racking up your gamerscore, you might find F.E.A.R. a touch frustrating...F.E.A.R. makes you work for its accolades. But even so, this is an excellent port of a great game.

Vastly improved over the original, and even the All-Stars version. [Import]

Shadow of the Colossus for the PS4 is every bit as gorgeous, memorable and tremendous as it was when it debuted for the PS2 more than a decade ago. It’s a graphically stunning piece of art with a narrative that drives you forward with a sense of wonder despite its vagueness.

Whether you sit down for three minutes or three hours, there is little to dislike here. Just be careful when playing -- it's quite easy to get a bit carried away with the stylus. It any game is going to test the durability of your DS's touch screen, this is it.

Madden 2005 is a benchmark in football simulations, because for the first time, it implements a realistic, versatile, hard-hitting defensive game that will pin you to the chair like a 300lb tackle.

Graphically, MotoGP is amazing. In terms of difficulty, this game will challenge even the most elite of console racers.

It's light years past any other music game, yet is accessible enough to make anyone feel like a living room superstar. KISS was dead wrong: God didn't give rock 'n' roll to you. Harmonix did.

The world is elaborate, the sense of speed is dizzying, and the customization could cost you a job or a girlfriend. But you'll still have Brooke to keep you company.

Great game, but a bit off from perfect. One of the things that irks me most is the race creation options. Getting to choose from only 4 similar governments is not enough.

It's worth mentioning that WarioWare: Twisted is best on the original Game Boy Advance because of its one-piece architecture, but you won't be disappointed regardless of which Nintendo handheld you play it on.

A letter-perfect blend of two genres -- role-playing and real-time strategy -- that satisfy a wide audience of gamers.

Its setting is superb, its gameplay tense and convincing, and it boasts what are definitely the best fill-your-pants moments in a PC game for quite some time. It's hard to see how it could have turned out better.

It looks fantastic, drawing on the power of artwork instead of graphics hardware. There's nothing here that you couldn't do on the Gamecube, which is why Twilight Princess will also be released for the Gamecube. But the visuals hold their own against any next-gen system.

Despite all the murder and mayhem, one of the biggest aspects of Saints Row isn't how many thugs you can cap, but the deep level of customization.

Any game that excels while using a morally incorrigible theme, rather than solely relying on that theme to sell, deserves our praise and is definitely worth checking out.

An amusing, engrossing and addictive play. The missions represent around 20-30 hours of entertaining gaming.

For the first time, you can now hear cars on other parts of the racetrack...It's an effect that puts you bang into the environment and sends a real tingle up and down your spine.

We're disappointed that Resistance isn't a 1080p wonder. But it's a wonder for totally different reasons -- how many launch games exist that are worth playing six months down the road? Resistance is definitely in that elite camp, and with the strong multiplayer element, we're betting that it will maintain a presence for a lot longer than that.

By adding more stuff for you to admire and kill, and more places and ways to do it, Dark Crusade gives the already lively Warhammer RTS universe even more life, personality, blood, and meat. It's a gory, giddy delight, with more depth and gameplay than ever.

With unparalleled visuals, a deep franchise mode, and tons of new and improved features, "Madden" is facing a 4th and very, very long this year.

So perfectly constructed, so deliciously immersive and downright elegant, that demands for more seem crass. It might not be the very best shooter out there, but it's the more visually stunning and successfully atmospheric than any game we've had the pleasure to play.

The gameplay is solid and fun for any skill level, but what's really amazing is just how good this game looks. The faces are scarily accurate.

Climax has created a game which is not only addictive and playable, but keeps you constantly cooing over its lovingly crafted details that so many other rally games leave by the trackside.

Another improvement is in the deliberate simplicity of the interface which is designed to keep the screen as uncluttered as possible and to issue commands with the minimum amount of keystrokes.

Regardless of whether you're online or off, split-screen or undivided, the game looks fantastic.

It takes the best of "Jedi Knight" and superpowers it with well thought out Force powers, excellent level design, fiendish and boggling puzzles and simply magnificent lightsaber fights.

As long as you know the rules of engagement, Rainbow Six 3 is a rewarding game with a lot of tactical depth hiding beneath all the incredible sights and sounds.

As a single player game it can become pretty infuriating having to put up with the computer AI.

Really the only place Forza Horizon 3 skids out is in its lack of ingenuity. It’s packed, over delivering on what was already plenty of content in the previous game, but it comes up a little short in terms of innovation. Racing through a gorgeous field, foliage crumpling under your tires, the sun gleaming off your dented roof – it’s a sight, but one that I recall seeing countless times in Forza Horizon 2. Much of what you do in Forza Horizon 3, you have likely done before. Still, it’s never looked this good, been this big or done its job with as much confidence.

This is almost certainly the best release in the history of the NHL series and one of the most authentic action-oriented sports games currently on the market.