25. Titanfall
Formats Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC
Developer Respawn Entertainment
In a nutshell The first game from Respawn, founded by former Call of Duty developers, is a hyper-kinetic multiplayer shooter featuring stomping robots and athletic foot-soldiers.
Developer Respawn Entertainment
In a nutshell The first game from Respawn, founded by former Call of Duty developers, is a hyper-kinetic multiplayer shooter featuring stomping robots and athletic foot-soldiers.
Why we like it Much of Titanfall’s appeal comes in movement, with you able to run up walls and leap through windows while on foot, firing on opponent soldiers as you fly. Then the rhythm changes and you have access to the eponymous Titans, hefty mechanical suits that crumple asphalt underfoot and fire volleys of heavy artillery. A boisterous ebb and flow to matches in a bombastic debut.
24. Monument Valley
Format iOS Developer Ustwo
In a nutshell A brilliant, perspective-bending puzzler that has you navigating MC Escher-inspired structures.
Why we like it Monument Valley is stunning to look at and a sheer pleasure to play. You guide your character by interacting with the environment, pulling ladders and twisting cranks with the delightful tactility only a touchscreen can offer.
23. The Banner Saga
Formats PC/Mac Developer Stoic
In a nutshell A beautiful Viking-inspired fantasy epic with tactical turn-based battling, brought to you by a trio of ex-BioWare developers
Why we like it Its gorgeous art style is complimented by a thoughtful narrative allowing you to build relationships with your wandering army as you battle the wicked Dredge. The combat is tough, elegant and rewarding.
22. The Wolf Among Us
Formats Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, iOS Developer Telltale Games
In a nutshell Adventure game maestros Telltale take on Bill Willingham’s excellent Fables series of graphic novels, casting you as Bigby Wolf, the hot-tempered detective investigating a brutal murder in a New York suburb inhabited by exiled fairytale characters.
Why we like it The bleak, violent noir setting is a fabulous subversion of the fairytale ideal, and the twisted mystery that Telltale spin keeps you on the edge of your seat. There’s perhaps not quite as much interaction and influence on the story as you’d like, but what is there is strong and effective.
21. Shovel Knight
Formats PC, 3DS, Wii U Developer Yacht Club Games
In a nutshell A fabulous 8-bit styled 2D platform game in which you play an armour-clad adventurer who uses his sharpened shovel to defeat beasties, destroy obstacles and dig up treasure.
Why we like it Shovel Knight works brilliantly as an homage to 1980s platformers, but also manages to bring its own fresh spin to the equation. And if that wasn’t enough, you can also bounce on your shovel like a pogo stick.
20. Dragon Age: Inquisition
Formats PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PCDeveloper BioWare
In a nutshell Liberate the fantasy land of Thedas as the Inquisitor in this sprawling role-playing-game.
Why we like itExcellent characterisation lies at the heart of Inquisition, with a fascinating and diverse cast of humans, elves, dwarves and bullish Qunari. It can feel a bit aimless at times, perhaps, but this is a world to lose yourself in.
19. Luftrausers
Formats PS Vita, PCDeveloper Vlambeer
In a nutshell Take control of a tooled-up World War II fighter in a hyperactive shoot ‘em up.
Why we like itLuftrausers has a delicious sense of inertia, the planes like heavy stones thrown into a sepia sky aflame with gunfire. You can hoist them back up with a boost, before blasting your enemies with any number of exotic upgrades. The balance between battling gravity and the bad guys is immensely satisfying.
18. Forza Horizon 2
Formats Xbox One, Xbox 360DeveloperPlayground Games
In a nutshell The follow-up to racing hit Forza Horizon takes place at a southern European car festival, with a gorgeous open-world liberally inspired by the roads of Provence, Tuscany and the Cote d’Azur.
Why we like it Horizon’s blend of Forza style simulation, open-world thrills and a thumping soundtrack made it something of a surprise hit, taking the series in a brand new direction. Horizon 2 features a bigger world, dynamic weather and the learning AI system from Forza Motorsport 5 known as Drivatar. But most importantly, Horizon 2 has an infectious love for driving. Few games this year, of any genre, are similarly joyous.
17. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
Format PC DeveloperThe Astronauts
in a nutshell A detective with paranormal powers investigates the disappearance of a young boy in the mysterious Red Creek Valley.
Why we like it There’s a dreamy otherworldliness to The Astronaut’s fascinating puzzler, tasking you with piecing together gruesome crime scenes to track down the missing. The grim scenes are offset by a staggeringly pretty autumnal world, helped along by the superb writing. A bit elusive at times, and not for everyone, but a fascinating debut.
16. Divinity: Original Sin
Formats PCDeveloper Larian Studios
In a nutshellClassically inspired co-operative role-playing game, following two heroes attempting to eradicate the evil Sourcerers.
Why we like it Original Sin is a cracking RPG by any familiar standard, but where it excels is in giving its players flexibility to play around with its systems. There’s even a fully-fledged modding tool. A labour of love from its creators.
15. The Evil Within
Formats PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3Developer Tango Gameworks
In a nutshell Video game horror grandmaster Shinji Mikami returns with a psychological chiller that has grizzled detective Sebastian Castellanos investigating a horrific massacre at a mental asylum.
Why we like it As the man that created the original Resident Evil, when Shinji Mikami says he want to take survival horror back to its roots, fright fans should pay attention. To all intents and purposes this is the game that should have followed Resident Evil 4, with a terrifying, grotesque milieu hosting tense yet flexible gunplay.
14. Middle-Earth:Shadow of Mordor
Formats PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3DeveloperMonolith Productions
In a nutshell Action RPG taking place between the events of Tolkien’s Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings saga in which you play a dark ranger of Gondor named Talion.
Why we like it Against all odds, Monolith’s ambitious game is one of the best Rings games ever made. Its combat and stealth borrow liberally from games such as Assassin’s Creed, but its star turn is the innovative ‘Nemesis’ system, which has Talion making vengeful enemies as he hunts down the orcs that killed his family. Enemies rise through the ranks if they defeat you, and search for retribution if they don’t. A brutal, strangely personal tale.
13. Super Smash Bros for Wii U
Format Wii UDeveloper Nintendo
In a nutshellNintendo’s famous faces, including Mario, Link and Donkey Kong, do battle in this long-standing arena beat ‘em up.
Why we’re excitedThink Mario Kart as a fighting game. Super Smash Bros. always manages to balance breezy accessibility with a deceptively deep combat system. While the 3DS version is good fun, Smash Bros. for Wii U is the series at its very best. A joyfully chaotic visual treat packed with distraction, you won’t find many better local multiplayer experiences. And it’s always a barrel of laughs to watch Princess Peach smack Kirby into orbit with an umbrella.
12. Threes!
Formats iOS/Android Developer Sirvo
In a nutshell Stylish puzzle game where the player must slide numbered tiles around a grid to make addends or multiples of three.
Why we like it Like all the best mobile puzzlers, Threes is simple enough for a quick go on the bus but deep enough for you to lose hours to its smart, hipster-ish charms.
11. Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft
Format PC/iOS Developer Blizzard
In a nutshell Perilously compelling collectible card game based on the Warcraft lore.
Why we like it Hearthstone is treated with the same craft as any other of Blizzard’s expertly constructed games. Supremely balanced decks, constant updates and a fearsomely competitive scene make it the genre king that will likely be a long time unthroned.
10. The Sailor’s Dream
Formats iOS Developer Simogo
In a nutshell Interactive novel from the clever-clogs that brought us Year Walk and Device 6.
Why we like it There are few developers out there that can utilise their games’ host platform as well as Simogo. Sailor’s Dream is another audio-visual treat that spreads out from your device. Though to explain how would be to spoil it. A ghostly exploration of time that captures the loneliness of the open-water.
9. Nidhogg
Formats PC/PS4
Developer Messhof
In a nutshell Mark ‘Messhof’ Essen’s lively, pixelated fencing game has two players waving swords at each other on a 2D plane. It’s kill, be killed or, you know, run away.
Why we like it It is a pitch-perfect blend of slapstick hilarity and competitive precision. The controls are devilishly simple, but its tactics and pace make for a deep and curiously compelling game.
8. Far Cry 4
Formats PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PCDeveloper Ubisoft
In a nutshell Fight oppression in the Himalayas in this high-end open-world shooter.
Why we’re excitedGorgeous, enormous and wonderfully silly, Far Cry 4 is at its best when it isn’t taking itself too seriously. Hang-gliding, getting eaten by tigers, riding elephants, all wrapped up in Ubisoft’s tried-and-tested open world. One that is stuffed with gainful distraction.
7. 80 Days
Formats iOSDeveloper Inkle Studios
In a nutshell An interactive novel reimagining Phileas Fogg’s trip around the globe. You play as loyal valet Passepartout, choosing routes and actions as you go.
Why we like it Inkle’s script for 80 Days apparently stretches to 500,000 words, charting a mind-boggling array of possible narratives. It pulls the wonderful trick of tailoring the story to you at almost every turn, rather than funnelling you towards set choices. Brilliantly written and slickly presented too.
6. Destiny
Formats PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 DeveloperBungie
In a nutshell The creators of Halo return with this hugely ambitious hybrid of sci-fi shooting and online role-playing.
Why we like it While Destiny remains a tricky game to get a handle on, its boisterous shooting, thrilling raids and compulsive loop of risk and reward mark it as one of the year’s best. Destiny is thriving thus far, and as it does will continue to grow.
5. Bayonetta 2
Format Wii UDeveloper Platinum Games
In a nutshellPlatinum’s angel-slaying Umbra witch returns in this follow-up to one of the best —and most bonkers — action games ever made.
Why we like it While this sequel perhaps doesn’t match its predecessor for breathless invention, its focus on deep, responsive combat makes it one of the finest action games ever made. Plus you eat angels using a dragon formed of magical hair extensions while perched upside down on a harrier jet, so it is not exactly conservative.
4. Dark Souls II
Formats Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PCDeveloper From Software
In a nutshell The follow-up to From Software’s cult champion, Dark Souls II pitches you into the oppressive fantasy world of Drangleic and has a jolly old time making you suffer.
Why we like it Dark Souls hefty combat and constant threat is a work of twisted genius, challenging and rewarding you. There’s much talk of it being mercilessly hard, with you tip-toeing through the bleak land, shield raised and heart pumping, but the demon battling is always fair. Progression is hard-earned and few games are as satisfying in success.
3. This War of Mine
Formats PC/MacDeveloper 11-bit Studios
In a nutshell A harrowing survival game inspired by the Siege of Sarajevo that focusses on the terrible experiences for war-time civilians.
Why we like it Most war-based video games have you playing the heroes on the frontline, but This War of Mine looks at those just trying to survive in the wreckage. You must lead a group of bedraggled survivors, scavenging for what you can. The hardest part comes when you encounter other groups, leaving you with awful moral quandaries. Help? Rob? Kill? Flee? This War of Mine asks you to make some of the toughest decisions you will ever face in a video game.
2. Mario Kart 8
Formats Wii UDeveloper Nintendo
In a nutshell It’s Mario Kart! Nintendo’s famous mascot and his chums race around twisting, gravity defying tracks throwing shells and banana peel at each other.
Why we like it Mario Kart 8 is probably the best Mario Kart yet. Which is no mean feat. The tracks are ingenious, while the racing is pliant and satisfying. Looks stunning too, with each character and vehicle brimming with life and detail.
1. Alien Isolation
Formats PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PCDeveloper Creative Assembly
In a nutshell Amanda Ripley, daughter of Ellen, explores the abandoned USS Sulaco starship in this spiritual sequel to Ridley Scott’s original Alien.
Why we like it Creative Assembly has taken the route we have long-waited for in a video game adaptation of Alien: make the xenomorph the horrifying, near-invincible star. The starship lights flicker and strobes, casting long shadows in terrifying shapes. And most of the time you are unarmed and completely helpless against the alien stalking you from the air vents. Survival-horror in the most literal sense.
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