Fighting monsters, gathering information and carrying out side quests can be a slow process, but then The Witcher 3 isn't a game you'll want to rush. Not only do you care about the characters and want to see how their stories end, but you want to scour every inch of The Witcher 3's glorious game world. It's a world you want to get lost in, a world where fast travel is an afterthought and a world you want to keep exploring in case there's something you've missed.
Project Cars is a game that requires practice, patience and a whole lot of skill. It's not the easiest game to pick up and play, but it's definitely one of the most rewarding when you put in the time and finally nab yourself a podium finish.
Mortal Kombat X is as violent, outrageous and over-the-top as its predecessors, but somewhere hidden behind the brilliant new Fatalities and wince-worthy X-Ray moves is a fighting game with actual depth. It's a giddy, content-heavy brawler that tips its hat to the past, but also lays the foundations for future releases. Judging by the amount of fun we've had playing over launch, its future is looking very bright indeed.
Between the new enemy placements, greater challenge, the improved visuals and all the additional bonus content, Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin is absolutely worth a first look if you're a newcomer to the series - and in the case of returning players, almost certainly worth a second.
It's an essential purchase if you're new to the series and love role-playing games, but a harder sell if you've already explored every nook and cranny of the vast and beautiful game world on a bigger and more capable screen.
I want to keep playing, I want to discover its secrets, I want to fight every monster, try every weapon, discuss theories and explore as many of the community dungeons as possible. To put it bluntly, I want to bleed the game dry.
DmC: Definitive Edition is more than just a HD remaster with better graphics and some DLC thrown in. Representing the best of both worlds, it improves on the original game in almost every way, adding the challenge that long-term fans have been craving, without sacrificing its newfound accessibility.
OlliOlli 2 is a great example of a sequel done right. The developer has been very astute in identifying areas that could be expanded on, tweaked and refined, while leaving the excellent controls, campaign and daily challenges untouched.
As it stands, it's a game that could really benefit from some additional content if it's to evolve into the next must-have multiplayer shooter.
With Dying Light, Techland has most certainly improved on Dead Island's melee-focused, open-world formula, but it still hasn't perfected it. Improved enemies and better navigation mean that while the journey from A to B and back again is more exciting this time around, it's a trip you'll be making far too frequently.
If you can get past the clumsy controls, you'll see why the Resident Evil series is held in such high esteem and how it kickstarted the survival horror genre.
Ubisoft may want us to form crews and connect with fellow racing fans, but as it stands, we'd rather just get behind the wheel, turn up the radio and explore this staggering country by ourselves.
While Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris fails to sparkle in single-player, it really comes alive when two or more players join the mix. Working together to solve puzzles and navigate tombs is good, but selfishly screwing over your friends in pursuit of the best treasure is great.
WWE 2K15 is the equivalent of an upper mid-card wrestler attempting to crack the glass ceiling of the WWE. It's close to achieving its potential, but just comes up short in a few key areas.
This year's games have plucked the best functions and features from Pokemon games past and present, blending them into a package that ticks the right boxes, but doesn't think outside of them.
Far Cry 4 may not be a huge departure from its predecessor, but it does take the familiar open-world formula to a new height of madness.
While the single-player story campaign remains the same, the world in which it takes place is more beautiful than ever, so you'll be astounded by the sights all over again. If, however, you've never visited Los Santos or Blaine County, picking up GTA 5 on new consoles is a no-brainer. This is the definitive version of one of the finest games of the last few years, and one that better lives up to Rockstar's lofty ambitions.
PES 2015 lacks FIFA 15's match day flair, instead letting its football do the talking. With exemplary action on the field and a much meatier online mode to get stuck into, football fans are in for a real treat.
While it's true that Assassin's Creed Unity lacks the polish we would expect from the series by now, it's bolstered by its fantastic location, interesting new mission types and deeper emphasis on customisation. This perhaps isn't the revolutionary release we were hoping for, but Assassin's Creed Unity takes some positive strides forward, delivering another stellar entry in the yearly series.
Sledgehammer Games hasn't reinvented the first-person shooter franchise, but it does give it a shot of adrenaline, making Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare one of the fastest, freshest and most thrilling entries yet.