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Despite creating a macabre atmosphere and delivering some decent puzzles early on, Black Mirror is a somewhat insipid and uninspired adventure game exacerbated by frequent loading screens and shoddy presentation throughout. It belongs at the bottom of a deep loch.
A case of diminishing returns, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 is certainly ambitious in terms of scale and playable character numbers, while the story is entertaining. Yet it fails to deliver anything really new or interesting, making this a case of been there, done that. The first LEGO Marvel game is better.
A sequel that delivers a glut of content, but locks too much of it away, Star Wars Battlefront II is nonetheless a clear labour of love and a robust multiplayer shooter, sadly buried in an over-complicated progression system. To try or to try not, then? If you're prepared to put in the time and effort, then Star Wars Battlefront II can be enormously fun and rewarding, even if it might not necessarily be the game you were looking for.
If you can get past all the issues that The Sims 4 has on consoles, it's a ton of fun. That's a pretty big 'if' though!
CoD's return to World War II seems like its been a long time coming, but nine years on from World at War, Call of Duty: WWII proves that there are still stories to be told based on history's most deadly conflict. It's also proof positive that Call of Duty can still deliver an edge-of-the-seat FPS experience.
A welcome sea change for Assassin's Creed, Origins is not only a hugely ambitious open-world action RPG, but also a game that breathes new life into a series that was in danger of losing its way. Assassin's Creed Origins stands as a genuinely fantastic game and a remarkable achievement.
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is a stellar follow-up to MachineGames' 2014 reboot of the franchise, one with super-satisfying combat and a wacky, engaging story. Sure, it might go a little too far at times, but you'll have a blast with The New Colossus from start to finish, that's a promise.
Last year, we noted that WWE 2K17 was a marginally better game than 2K16 was. We could say the same thing about WWE 2K18. It is marginally better. But given that it recycles the same old gameplay mechanics and doesn't add enough to the tried and tested template, it's hard to really recommend WWE 2K18. Been there, done that. Next year, Yuke's needs to give WWE 2K a firm dropkick directly to its lycra-clad arse.
South Park: The Fractured But Whole is a case of one step forward, two steps back. From a gameplay perspective, it's infinitely better than it was in the previous outing, but as a piece of entertainment, The Fractured But Whole simply doesn't measure up to The Stick of Truth. There's no censorship this time, which is good, but it almost feels like the whole thing got self-censored somewhere along the way.
A solid remaster/remake/whatever-you-want-to-call-it of what was at the time, a pretty fine shooter. Rogue Trooper Redux represents fantastic value for money, even if it hasn't quite managed to stand the test of time.
The Evil Within 2 will certainly hold your attention during its 17 chapters, with flashes of brilliance sandwiched in among the game's various flaws and less memorable sequences. Ultimately, as a sequel, it doesn't quite deliver, but nonetheless, The Evil Within 2 is a survival horror that's just about worth persevering with.
It may only grab your attention for a few short hours, but during that time, Let Them Come proves to be an enjoyable, uncomplicated and gore-laden alien blaster that has a certain 80s/90s sci-fi movie charm. There are far worse ways to spend six quid/eight bucks.
A textbook example of how to make a great sequel, Middle-earth: Shadow of War takes the first game's template and expands upon it in a meaningful and interesting way. The result is a follow-up that's not only a lot bigger, but it's also a lot better. It talks the talk, and yes, it also Orcs the Orc.
Cuphead will go down as a classic, that's for sure, and it's quite possibly the hardest game I've ever played, but you just have to try it. If only for a short-while. Just get out before that blood pressure rises!
Another great Forza Motorsport title that doesn't push the boat out too much, Forza Motorsport 7 remains insanely enjoyable and stupidly addictive. Also, if you're getting an Xbox One X, you'll be wanting to get this in to show off what it can do. It's gorgeous.
NBA 2K18 is yet another astonishingly good basketball game that delivers on the hardwood and in the suite of inviting modes on offer. Resist the urge to shell out for Virtual Currency and you'll be fine. Just focus on the great game at NBA 2K18's core, because it really is at its best this year.
FIFA 18 has come out fighting this year, with an improved game of football, another chapter in its excellent story mode, and more besides. It's still not quite there yet, failing to deliver something as fluid and immediate as it could be. There's ample room for improvement, sure, but FIFA 18 is still a genuinely marvellous footie game.
Project CARS 2 is a great sequel to a strong but flawed first instalment. This time around, the flaws are far fewer, the racing is first class, and there's not much that Slightly Mad Studios hasn't addressed. Whether you're a sim aficionado or novice, Project CARS 2 is a racing game you need.
Dishonored: Death of the Outsider is another masterful entry in the series that in spite of its relatively slender runtime, is still a good few hours of first-person nirvana. Like Dishonored and its sequel before it, this is utterly essential.
With Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 still the bigger and arguably better game, you might wonder why MvC: Infinite exists at all. After extended play, the reason is clear. Fans of the MCU ought to get a kick out of it, while fight fans of all skill levels will find something to like too. Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite is a fun and accessible fighter that still has hidden depths to be mastered. It's good.