The Pikmin series blossoms anew, in a bouquet of fresh gameplay and the best of its roots.
They say time heals all wounds, but free DLC can't hurt either. Dead Kings offers much for those still enamoured by the series, and its offering as a freebie is a fine gesture to anyone left aggrieved by last year's failings. Still, time will tell whether it - or what Ubisoft has planned next - can convince those who have been put off by the series' longer sense of stasis.
Majestic in scope, impressive in detail, Assassin's Creed Shadows honours the beauty of feudal Japan, even if its strongest moments are saved for the personal stories of two protagonists.
Detective Pikachu Returns is a straightforward mystery adventure whose strengths lie in its Pokémon setting and breakout star.
Nintendo serves up another bumper blink-and-you-lose blitz in WarioWare: Move It!, but the package is let down by the need to fumble with often-fussy motion controls.
Like its own hero's dabbling with time travel, Life is Strange: Double Exposure highlights the troubles of trying to revisit old memories, while raising unanswered questions about the future.
Stronger emotional stakes and faster-paced drama promise an explosive climax that ultimately pulls its biggest punch.
Almost a year after its launch and Mario Kart 8 still earns its spot in your Wii U disc drive. Nintendo's racer remains one of the finest games on the company's home console, and this second helping of extras has cemented the game further among the very best of the series. If this pack is the work of the new Nintendo, long may such expansions continue.
A masterly remake that preserves Koholint Island for a new generation.
The Taken King focuses Destiny's story and lets players forge a more memorable experience, lifting the entire game as a result.
Syndicate moves Assassin's Creed forward with a solid new adventure, a beautiful London playground and a renewed sense of fun.
Endings are difficult, but Trespasser shows that BioWare can get them right. The DLC is allowed to tell its own tale while better rounding off Inquisition's own, and at the same time set up story threads for the future. It acts as a fitting farewell to its cast of characters but also a prologue to where the Dragon Age world may head next.
An entertaining slice of Pok'mon sleuthing set within a vibrant version of the series' world.
Deftly written and designed, Forgotton Anne is proof that seemingly small, simple things are well worth treasuring.
Colossal in size, lavish in scope, Odyssey feels like a series landmark and Ubisoft's biggest ever game.
Playtonic tightens up its nostalgic take on platforming and turns its eyes to the future.
A new spin on the series sees Next Level Games serve up character and charm in abundance.
This tale of two brothers marks a more intimate and accomplished return for a studio keen to tackle tough issues with honest characters.
Like its many buried riches, Nintendo's Pikmin series remains a treasure ready to be rediscovered.
Valhalla is another enormous Assassin's Creed saga, lavishly designed, with its sights set on story direction over narrative choice.