Sekiro is the fabulous culmination of From Software’s modus operandi, honed relentlessly since 2009. While it plays like its predecessors, it also feels different and fresh.
Impressive graphics and an innovative story mode make for faultless gameplay in the latest instalment of this series, but its hyper-sexualised characters feel out of touch
This technical tour de force throws you into realistic second world war battles – shame it felt only 70-80% finished at launch
Assassination missions that reward subterfuge – such as wearing a giant flamingo suit or loosening a racing driver's wheel – make this a surprisingly creative sequel
Aardman's painterly primer illuminates the war with sensitivity and poignancy while putting story at the frontline
Outgunned by FIFA's club licensing deals and star power, PES starts a new season still on the back foot
This year's official Formula One game is the closest yet to the real racing driver experience. You'll even need to brush up on your TV interview technique
Beautiful, fantastical and feelgood, this Studio Ghibli collaboration is a timely counterpoint to the idea that games are gun-centric, violent and nihilistic
Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue is a meaty and highly distinctive package which should delight cartoon-obsessed youngsters and those who live to play Japanese RPGs. But, despite the Disney involvement, it doesn’t feel likely to challenge the mainstream. In certain respects – albeit in the grand tradition of Japanese RPGs – it’s so complex as to be baffling.
A coherent single-player campaign and excellent online options bring this Xbox stalwart right back into the battle
The traditional PES v Fifa rivalry is back – and Konami has produced its best football simulation since the glory days of PlayStation 2
With its open-world environment and emphasis on crafting, this is an interesting sequel, marred by glitches and frame rate issues
Gearbox Software's latest game is a hilarious good time, but still has a few flaws.
There has never been a better way to confront, or indulge, your inner assassin.
Whether by accident, design or an emotive response to criticism of Far Cry 4, Ubisoft, via Primal, has given the franchise a huge new shot of vitality and freshness.
3DS title provides nice, if non-archetypal, way for devotees to re-enter the universe while they await forthcoming XV and VII instalments
Blood Bowl 2 is definitely one for the board game devotees who prefer to play online rather than solo.
Once you overcome the initial frustration engendered by Super Mario Maker's refusal to give you all its tools at once, it provides a wondrously moreish experience that will enthral a generation of tinkerers.
However, such considerations are minor, and there's an awful lot of pleasure to be had from Volume. Its uncluttered gameplay emphasises the puzzle-solving aspect of stealth, the level design is brilliant, the gadgets are sometimes clever enough to make you chuckle out loud and the whole experience is both surprisingly meaty and absorbing to the point of distraction. It may not be as wildly inventive as Thomas Was Alone, but it's a wonderful homage to what constitutes the very essence of stealth games.
Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition is something of a guilty pleasure – it's an archetypal mix of the sublime and ridiculous. It's great fun and offers plenty for those who played the original. And if you've never played a Devil May Cry game before? You, too, will find its considerable charms difficult to resist.