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Forza Horizon 2 is another impressive racer from Playground Games. That said, while the original Horizon nailed the single-player and lacked on the multiplayer front, Horizon 2 is the polar opposite to that. If they can nail the two at once in the inevitable sequel, then Horizon will surely take the crown off Motorsport.
Alien: Isolation is a tough, terrifying and ultimate thrilling game that's defiantly old-school in its approach. The result is one of the best survival horror games in recent memory.
Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition is the perfect chance for newcomers to give United Front Games' open-world caper a go. Stuffed to the gills with content, it's a generous package, and one that even those considering a second trip will enjoy.
A throwback to survival horror's heyday, The Evil Within's story is daft and convoluted, featuring a mad scientist who might as well be Krieger from Archer. Frustrating and entertaining in equal measure, The Evil Within falls short of offering any proper scares.
Skylanders: Trap Team is still a fun game, it's bright and breezy and easy to get the kids into. But so much is locked away and what is left is pretty familiar to be honest. The few new ideas are welcome but not enough to differentiate it from its predecessors.
2K Sports and Visual Concepts takes NBA 2K15 to the next level for another year, but stops short of introducing any sweeping changes. The on-court action has been refined and MyCareer is arguably better than ever, making NBA 2K15 another fine basketball game. It's just a shame that the online facet of the game is so poor. Despite this, NBA 2K15 is still well worth checking out.
Fantasia: Music Evolved is a pleasant surprise and one that I'll happily rope family and friends into playing. There are a few niggles, but the gameplay is immensely satisfying and the tracking spot on. When you nail a tricky section and see the explosion of colour and sound that follows you can't help but smile. Give it a whirl, as this has enough Disney magic to pull you in, but perhaps not quite enough content to keep you there forever.
A wonderful throwback to the 90s shooter, Shadow Warrior is a fine remake that doesn't purport to offer anything more than a rip-roaring blast through hordes of demons. Shadow Warrior is bloody, wilfully daft and rather brilliant.
Sunset Overdrive is one of this year's finest games, chock full with refreshing humour, a vibrant sandbox and some of the most fun gameplay mechanics we've experienced in some time. It's a hit, so do yourself a favour and go out and pick up this son of a bitch.
One of the best Call of Duty games in a while, Advanced Warfare is a triumphant effort from Sledgehammer Games, whose storytelling nous and risk-taking in introducing the Exo pays off in spades. It's not the jaw-dropping reinvention that Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was back in 2007, but Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is the shot in the arm the series needed.
Assassin's Creed Unity makes me sad. Boasting moments of excellence, it falls way short of being the new-gen Assassin's Creed game that I wanted. Regrettably, it's no French Revolution. It's still fun, but screw it. Off with its head!
A triumphant return for PES this year, after spending many years rotting away in the lower leagues. While PES 2015 might not match EA and FIFA's spending power in terms of licenses and what not, where it matters, on the pitch, this ageing superstar is getting a recall to the first eleven.
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham sweeps away any doubts we might have had about TT Games' well-established template growing tiresome. It might start a little slow, yet the game is nothing but an absolute pleasure to play throughout. Pow!
Over one year on and Grand Theft Auto V is still a stunning, unmatched achievement. An open-world that's still utterly absorbing, characters that you'll still want to spend time with and enough new stuff to drag you back for more, all conspire to make GTA V on new-gen entirely indispensable. Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.
Dragon Age: Inquisition is the game that Dragon Age II should have been. Set in one of the most diverse and awe-inspiring game worlds in quite some time, Inquisition will have you searching every nook and cranny, spreading your influence as far as you can get it. Let down by a few bugs and some questionable design choices, it's still one of the year's best RPGs. Easily.
Far Cry 4 is Far Cry 3 dialled up to eleven, with more animals, activities, missions and abilities. And while throwing more stuff at the player isn't the perfect recipe for success, I was happy to play a richer, larger version of one of my favourite games in recent years.
Not nearly the new-gen reinvention we were hoping for, WWE 2K15 continues to plod along, delivering the same old well-worn gameplay with only a few minor improvements. It looks wholly authentic and is the best-looking game in the franchise to date, but with less content and few meaningful changes, WWE 2K15 needs to get back in the gym.
Never Alone isn't without its merits. Telling an interesting story of a dying culture, it's a hugely flawed game that manages to conjure warmth in the icy cold.
Lucid has succeeded in bringing Geometry Wars back with an almighty bang. A more than worthy successor to Bizarre Creations' originals, Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions makes the formula work in 3D, while providing the same kind of engaging gameplay that made the previous games so addictive. Finger pain and scorched eyeballs might be side-effects, but screw it. It hurts so good.
Huge fun with friends and enjoyable on your own, Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris is a strong follow-up to Guardian of Light. It might retread a lot of old ground from its predecessor, but it also offers enough twists and interesting puzzles to keep you playing for a good few hours, making it well worth excavating and dusting off.