Forza Motorsport 6 is, without a doubt, the best simulation racing game ever made. Not only is it chock full of content, but it's also fine-tuned to near perfection and an absolute blast to play.
With Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, Naughty Dog has delivered another gorgeous, action-packed and memorable epic. Although it's kept from perfection by some pacing issues and a couple of other minor quibbles, it's a jaw dropping game that offers a lot of bang for one's buck. As such, it's something that every PlayStation 4 owner, and self-respecting gamer, should play through at least once.
Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection presents fantastic remasters of three incredible games, and is an absolute no-brainer as a result.
A new physics system allows Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 to feel and play more like its real-life counterpart. Although this change results in a lack of foul calls, it complements a fantastic game that delivers a great-feeling version of interactive soccer and builds upon what was the best soccer title ever made.
Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 is a great breath of fresh air in an otherwise starch genre. Not only is it a humorous treat for the eyes and ears, but it's also a very rich, balanced, and enjoyable game, which packs a hell of a lot of content into its less than 20gb install file.
Until Dawn expertly combines choice-based gaming with horror movie mechanics, delivering a game that will be tough to forget. It's so good, in fact, that it will be hard to overlook when it comes time to name this year's best.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD is a masterful update of an outstanding Wii and GameCube game. Those who've yet to experience this epic quest are in for a treat, while folks who've previously completed it can look forward to doing so again with updated visuals and improved mechanics like second screen support.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D exists as the definitive version of one of gaming's best titles.
If you're looking for a great, retro-styled platformer/Metroidvania game, then you can't go wrong with Shantae and the Pirate's Curse. It stands out above the crowd, thanks to smart and polished gameplay, and is a welcomed addition to the Xbox One's library.
Dishonored 2 had a lot of high expectations to live up to, and it does so admirably. Not only is it a great game in its own right, but it also exists as a fantastic sequel that expands upon its predecessor in multiple memorable ways.
NHL 17 marks another step forward for the already great franchise, and is easily the best hockey game to date.
Shovel Knight is a fantastic game, which deserves all of the praise that it's received since launching last year. Now available on the Xbox One with iconic bonus content, it's even better than before and is a no-brainer of a purchase.
That being said, Firewatch is not a difficult game. So long as you keep an eye on where you're going and don't walk in random directions, you should be fine.
It didn’t take long for the muscle memory to return, however, nor did I have trouble finding a lot of the secret areas I’d so often frequented during the mid-nineties.
What's especially impressive about Hue – outside of its smart puzzle design and interesting take on colour as a tool – is that it doesn't discriminate.
While its basic mechanics and emphasis on story over gameplay won’t be for everyone, it’s a unique ride that mature and intelligent gamers should take, especially if they happen to be a fan of The X-Files or Twin Peaks.
The third episode of Telltale's episodic Game of Thrones series marks a triumphant return to form, and makes us wish that episode four was right around the corner.
Although it features a greater emphasis on defense than we had originally expected, Far Cry 4's Valley of the Yetis DLC ended up being almost exactly what we'd hoped for. It's fun, complementary and affordable, presenting lengthy and memorable gameplay. Not only that, but it's a great excuse to return to last year's best video game.
The Assassin's Creed series' first 'next-gen' only iteration should have launched to much fanfare. However, although Assassin's Creed Unity is a really good game, the coding behind it isn't up to par. The result is an enjoyable experience that is marred by unfortunate technical issues.
Skylanders: Trap Team is full of polish, and expands upon its predecessors' mechanics in interesting ways. It could very easily be the series' best outing thus far.