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Bungie has proven that it's not a one-trick pony - but we can all look forward to some of its repetition issues being fixed in the inevitable follow-up.
Horizon 2 is a wheel that has not so much been reinvented as polished to perfection. Whilst comparable to other open-world racers such as Burnout Paradise and Test Drive Unlimited, it takes the genre to a new level.
In Wasteland 2, InXile has a classical RPG that will vindicate its early supporters on Kickstarter.
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is a compelling interactive novella that draws players in with its beautifully atmospheric setting. The slow burn narrative doesn't quite land the final emotional punch it's aiming for, but it more than satisfies on every other level.
Alien: Isolation expertly captures the look and feel of the Alien universe, and The Creative Assembly's AI-controlled nemesis is an inspired move that will inform the survival horror genre, but the game is held back by some poor characterisation and storytelling.
Shadow of Mordor is the single best Lord of the Rings adaptation to date, and one of the very best third-person action games in many years. By taking some well-known mechanics and adding their own special twist with the Nemesis system, what Monolith has created is much more than the sum of its few borrowed parts.
Borderlands the Pre-Sequel is everything you should expect from a Borderlands game. While the gameplay additions mix it up slightly, it often feels like a huge expansion rather than a stand-alone release. The quality is fantastic, the comedy is hilarious. There's more loot than you can wave a Dahl shotgun at, plus all the pulse-pounding bullet-spewing carnage you could hope for, but 2K Australia pulls back at the precipice of brilliance.
Super Smash Bros. makes the leap to 3DS with aplomb. Its deep, addictive combat makes it the best fighting game on the system.
The Evil Within is a fine example of classic survival horror, but it's held back a little by some stiff characterisation and flat story beats.
Skylanders: Trap Team is packed full of clever ideas and sharp design. It's well presented and well executed, but be warned: if you let your guard down, it'll also crit your credit card for massive damage.
Driveclub is incredibly well put together but slightly bland, and is hampered by a lack of distinct personality.
Beautifully presented and expertly executed, The Legend of Grimrock 2 is everything that made the first game great, only now there is even more of it. Wonderful puzzles and plenty of variety will keep eager adventurers entertained until the very end.
Boasting some clever innovations and generally smooth execution, Civilization: Beyond Earth is a sure bet for fans of the long-running series.
A good game made great, Sleeping Dogs Definitive Edition is a flavoursome and entertaining open world action game that can be recommended practically without qualification.
As an Xbox One exclusive Sunset Overdrive is a real coup for Microsoft, a must-buy for anyone with the system, and for those without as good a reason as any to consider acquiring one.
Lords of the Fallen copies, but it does so from great sources in a mostly competent fashion, and adds in a few neat systems of its own.
Bayonetta 2 is a silky smooth and highly-entertaining brawler that all Wii U owners should have in their collections.
NBA 2K15 is an astounding title full of modes that should see hoop heads playing compulsively until the next one in a year's time.
Advanced Warfare is COD par excellence, a premiere example of the game that's almost a genre unto itself. Its singleplayer is better than most in the franchise, and the multiplayer is probably the best yet.
The Master Chief Collection is a dazzling package, but the current issues around its online modes prevent us from issuing an unequivocal recommendation for the time being.