Lloyd Coombes
Madden 21 takes a few shots down field but ultimately plays it safe - and in some ways, too safe.
This quest for revenge might not challenge your expectations, but there’s no denying the amount of fun to be had off the coast of Japan.
Elite Dangerous is for a very specific type of player. If you're a fan of open-ended universes where you make your own fun, filled to the brim with nuanced customisation and a supportive community, you'll find a lot to love.
The Last of Us Part 2 didn’t need to exist. The first game was close to perfect and wrapped up on such an apt note that I don't think many would have been clamouring for a sequel. And yet, I’m so glad that Naughty Dog took the risk. The Last of Us Part 2 is PlayStation's new high watermark, and the developer’s best work yet. Forget the leaks, delays, and drama: if you can stomach its unwavering commitment to violence and desperation, it’s likely to be the best thing you'll play all year.
Liberated is a striking stealth-action comic book come to life, even if it is a little bit derivative.
Your mileage may vary based on how well you enjoyed Gwent in The Witcher 3, but if you’ve been looking for a fresh perspective on Andrzej Sapkowski’s dense world and lore then we can’t recommend it enough.
It offers almost everything I could have asked for, like a masterful conductor and the world’s best symphony orchestra adding elements to your favourite song that you didn’t even know it needed.
With a refined matchmaking system (and rewards to go with it), as well as a balanced set of character classes and improved monster control, it could be a sleeper hit for many. For now, though, it feels like a missed opportunity. The fact it's bundled with a fantastic 5-star game in the form of Resident Evil 3 Remake, certainly helps. But as a standalone product, it's a fun but ultimately flawed experience; albeit one we hope improves in time.
Just as the 1999 original was a more action-focused Resident Evil game that arguably helped pivot the franchise towards the iconic fourth instalment, this 2020 reimagining feels like last year’s game in many ways, only sped up and thirstier for zombie blood. It treads the line between tension and action impressively, and Nemesis cements his legacy as one of the series’ most enduring creatures.
By placing the Doomslayer, and by extension, the player, into the centre of a blood-spattered heavy metal symphony and encouraging them to conduct with a chainsaw, id and Bethesda have conjured a game of the year contender.
A fun, fairly brief campaign that offers plenty of memorable scenarios and a suite of improvements that turn The Division 2 into a true contender for the looter shooter throne.
Even a decade on, both still feel so unique, so special, so Platinum, that it’s hard not to be excited for whatever the studio is working on next.
Hunt: Showdown is a terrifying experience that is unlike anything else you'll find
The highest praise we can give Two Point Hospital is that it feels impossible not to have fun with it.
A barbed look at today's society that lacks an end-product of sorts, Mosaic is a short experience that seems content with telling us what's wrong with our lives without really going any further than that. There's a vital message trapped within the game somewhere, but it never quite gets out, and the experience ends up being depressing rather than entertaining. That might have been what the developer was going for, but ultimately, it doesn't make for a particularly interesting video game.
Whichever way you play, Vertex Pop has done it again. Not unlike Karen's various food treats that power-up her move set, Super Crush KO offers short-term satisfaction but it's very sweet while it lasts. Despite the compactness of the experience, it looks great and plays even better – so what are you waiting for? Go forth and save your kitty.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is a beautiful monster, with the best bits of multiple games stapled together to make a fun, if occasionally frustrating, action game in the Star Wars universe.
It's the best Pokemon generation in years
Death Stranding is undoubtedly the game of the year, in that it’s the game we needed at this moment. In these uncertain times, it can be reassuring to see how one man can make a difference, and how society can find itself in communication. There are arguably scarier threats than BTs in today’s world - so be a dear and leave a ladder.
Football Manager 2020 brings back the glory days with one of the best outings in the series' history