The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth isn't a game for everyone, with its crude settings and heavy use of religious iconography. However, it's just about as close to a perfect game as we've seen all year.
Shovel Knight combines everything that was great about some of the best games from the NES era, and turns those beloved mechanics into something fresh. It's a brilliant 2D action-platformer, which simply demands your attention.
Battlefield 4 isn't a massive step forward for the series, but it is a refinement of everything that makes it great. Despite a bland campaign, the game still stands out as one of the most feature rich and intense multiplayer FPS games on the market.
Divinity: Original Sin is a modern take on the old school RPG mechanics, offering a level of freedom that many of us had long since forgotten. Fans of the genre should consider this a must-play.
Dark Souls II is absolutely devious and won't hesitate to punish you for your mistakes, but the feeling of accomplishment that comes from making progress is unmatched by anything else on the market. It's not a game that will cater to every player's wants, but if you're the type who enjoys a challenge, this is absolutely a must play.
Diablo III: Reaper of Souls ended up being just what I needed: A high-quality expansion that would compel me to return to (and enjoy) Diablo III again.
Super Time Force is an absolutely insane ride drenched with humor and pop culture references. It may be silly, but it's one of the best games available on the Xbox One right now, and is absolutely deserving of your attention
This War of Mine is a depressing look into how civilians caught in the midst of a war have to survive. It's hard, remorseless and soul-crushingly depressing, but it's also a must play game.
Civilization: Beyond Earth is decidedly deserving of carrying the weight of the franchise in a new direction, but it's simply lacking enough variety for it to become the new standard bearer.
XCOM: Enemy Within is the definitive XCOM experience. There's enough here to keep veterans of the series engaged for another playthrough and it's a perfect launching point for newcomers to experience what may be the best turn-based strategy game on the market right now.
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate may very well be the best Monster Hunter yet. Everything that's been done before has been polished to near perfection, the bar has been lowered to make things more accessible, and there's enough new content here to keep gamers coming back for more. There's really no excuse not to pick this one up.
Tropico 5 stands as the perfect place for newcomers to the franchise to hone their craft, but veteran rulers may not find enough here to demand an upgrade.
Tower of Guns won't keep you occupied for hours on end, but if you're a gamer looking for a quick fix of intense action you'll be hard pressed to find a better title.
Those who've visited Resident Evil's iconic mansion countless times over the last twenty years will be safe to pass on this remaster. However, if you're interested in going through it for the first time, then Resident Evil HD is the version to buy.
Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions isn't a perfect representation of the formula, but at the end of the day, it's still a lot of fun.
Metro Redux is a perfect launching point for newcomers, while returning fans will love seeing how well the games have been remastered.
Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition brings everything we love about the game to current-gen consoles, and the addition of couch co-op makes for a very tempting buy. However, unless you're purchasing it strictly for some local co-op, you'll probably be better served with the PC version.
Wasteland 2 is exactly what fans of the franchise were hoping to get: a well polished, old-school RPG. Minor issues aside, this should be considered a must play for fans of the genre, and for newcomers who are trying to see what all of the fuss was about.
If The Crown of the Sunken King is any indication of what we can expect from the next two pieces of Dark Souls II DLC, then fans are in for a real treat.
Killer Instinct has the potential to be a top fighting game, but a lack of features and variety of characters hold it back from being something outstanding. Still, with the base game being free, there's no excuse for anyone not to at least try it out.