In a year that has given us not one but three Mario-themed RPGs, I was ready to be underwhelmed by Brothership. Yet thanks to captivating combat, varied platforming and well-judged difficulty, Brothership not only lives up to my childhood nostalgia for this series, but improves upon it. It is an inviting serving of sun-soaked delight at the beginning of a gloomy November.
This voyeuristic life simulator depicts Arthur’s lonely life in his unassuming flat as he gets dragged into danger – but you’ll get the biggest thrills just from washing his dishes
Stunning Icelandic landscapes merge with nightmarish hallucinations in this big-budget battle sequel
For those who wished that God of War Ragnarok offered a bit more challenge or that Bayonetta had a bit more weight to its combat, this slick sci-fi slasher is the perfect tonic, offering both the perfect entry point into the Souls-like genre and a refreshing refinement of the well-worn character action formula. It may lack the naval gazing intelligence of the excellent Nier Automata, but when you’re having this much fun, it’s hard to care.
Kids will enjoy the pomp and colour, but Princess Peach's long-awaited star turn is disappointingly shallow
Credit to the developers for combining a tightly authored narrative arc with a compelling and wide-ranging new combat system that somehow satisfies everyone – almost
This fourth adaptation of DC's least-likely heroes combines an inspired storyline with some very pedestrian combat
Humanity’s invention and weirdness makes it the perfect tonic to an increasingly risk-averse industry, offering a welcome return to the kind of eccentric oddities that endeared millions to PlayStation in the first place.
This cutesy origin tale replaces the guns and sex appeal of the original action series with fairies and cuddly toys
This colourful multiplayer platformer was largely ignored when it first came out in 2011 – is it worth a second look?
This wonderfully weird creature-hunter has an unending supply of memorably unhinged, massive foes; it may not be an all-timer but it's fun while you're fighting
Three musicians pick up the emotional and practical pieces after their singer dies in this comforting and warm game of fiendish headscratchers with a phenomenal soundtrack
One man and his dog traverse the English countryside after an alien invasion in this haunting, wordless game: a masterclass in foreboding sound design and minimal storytelling
Technical problems and an evident lack of development time take the shine off this ambitious new outing for the world-conquering critters
Where many western games yearn to be seen as the height of sophistication, craving the critical kudos of an HBO drama, Bayonetta 3 stands defiant in its absurdity. Like its predecessors, this is destined to go down as a cult classic – a dizzying dance of demon-dicing delight. Its crude, whiplash-inducing narrative means it certainly won’t be for everyone, but the best things in life rarely are.
Nintendo's deft touch is missing from this crossover game from Ubisoft that fails as a Mario outing but succeeds as a turn-based battler
Seven beautifully unpredictable genre stories, each designed by a different manga artist, are playfully rendered in this novel remake
Mixing the colour palette of 80s comic books with post-apocalyptic bloodlust, movement in this fluid game feels sublime. Until you get shot in the head
This grainy, gore-soaked katana caper slowly morphs into a compelling meditation on vengeance
Overgrown theme parks feature in this kid-friendly, cinematic romp through a cutesy wasteland