[I]t's a great game – exactly what we expect from Nintendo. But in a way, that's also its problem: anyone with a Wii U would be a fool not to buy it, but so few people have committed to the Wii U, and in order to rectify that, Nintendo needs to woo the unconverted with all-new gaming experiences. And the gaming experience that Tropical Freeze provides may be rich, enjoyable, challenging and frequently hilarious, but it isn't anything conspicuously new.
If you like games that are so big you can immerse yourselves in them for months, The Master Chief Collection offers excellent value. It's an absolute monolith of a package, beautifully presented for the 21st century.
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.
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
This technical tour de force throws you into realistic second world war battles – shame it felt only 70-80% finished at launch
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
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
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
While there are some new aspects, such as a game-world that is more substantial than its predecessors, the third instalment is reassuringly familiar fun
Unquestionably the best-looking Formula One game ever, with incredibly convincing car handling – and you don't have to be Lewis Hamilton to play
Superpowered government agents fight interdimensional invaders in this bizarre but utterly compelling sci-fi blockbuster
A group of magical youngsters do battle on the streets of Tokyo in this endearing, addictive anime-like role-playing game
PS4, Xbox One, PC; CapcomDealing with a deadly virus seems relevant in this remake, which adds a multiplayer mode, though it's not as meaty as Res Evil 2
Offering a unique brand of tongue-in-cheek escapism that should induce a laugh roughly every five minutes, Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a perfect lockdown game. The one unintentionally amusing element is the voice acting, which you can thankfully eliminate by opting to keep the original Japanese dialogue with subtitles. Sega’s Yakuza games have always seemed like a well-kept secret, but they’ve recently been enjoying much more appreciation abroad. If you like the idea of a very Japanese, gangster-themed, interactive comedy soap opera, you’ll absolutely adore it.
Navigate Mono's surreal, gothic world in a bid to free the adults from their TV addiction
Strategy game preserves the structure and jokey vibe of the 2004 classic but adds 2021 slickness and scope
A bonkers collection of epic adventures and side-quests sprinkled with puzzles that fans of the Japanese pop-cultural behemoth have been crying out for
If you somehow missed out on the Borderlands games in their original configurations, then the Handsome Collection is the proverbial no-brainer. It offers the very essence of pure gaming pleasure (as long, that is, as shooting outlandish comic-book characters in the face is something that floats your boat). And not just as a short, sharp burst – thanks to all that DLC, it should keep you occupied for months on end. Combine that extreme meatiness with gameplay that is never anything less than irresistibly addictive, and you've got a recipe for waving goodbye to your social life. You have been warned.