Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2‘s campaign is an impressive reminder that when the franchise is firing on all cylinders, it’s still a force to be reckoned with... even if its politics remain a bit muddled. [Campaign review score = 80]

Gotham Knights is a lacklustre entry into the Batman mythos that feels like a major step back from what has come before. Whether it's the monotonous combat, subpar 30fps on console, lack of co-op incentives and strain it puts on the single-player experience or the fact that Gotham is dull and slow to explore, nothing justifies its existence. While its story might offer the occasional glimpse of something that could have been, it gives me no great pleasure in saying that Gotham Knights is my biggest disappointment of the year.

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hopes doesn't quite live up to the high expectations set by its predecessor but its turn-based combat advances in a modern and fitting way, with a terrific orchestral soundtrack and fun new addition in Sparks that fans of the first game will still enjoy. It's good but it could have been great.

With a sizable single-player campaign, enhanced multiplayer modes, as well as an expanded arsenal of whimsical weapons, Nintendo has yet again proven why Splatoon is now one of its most valuable properties. Its core mechanics remain brilliant, only elevated by the superb soundtrack that helps keep things fresh. While nothing revolutionary, Splatoon 3 refines everything that players love about the series for what is its best entry yet.

The Last of Us Part 1 is still one of the best games of the last decade and an absolute must-play for newcomers. For anyone making the unforgettable journey with Joel and Ellie for the very first time, this is a five-star experience. Despite that, due to a lack of incentives – aside from the graphical glow-up – as well as a steep price of entry, it's hard to justify a second (or even third) purchase for returning players.

Torn between two identities, Saints Row is a misjudged attempt at reinventing the series, instead ushering in a lack of mission variety and a tired narrative that fails to light up what could have been a genuine competitor in the absence of a new Grand Theft Auto. Those even looking for mindless fun will struggle to find anything here, even if Criminal Ventures and co-op play offer glimpses at what could have been. Back to the drawing board.

Elden Ring's engaging combat, mythology and dynamite orchestral soundtrack goes a long way to overshadow an aggressive open world that punishes exploration from the beaten path. Fans of the Souls genre are in for a treat, while newcomers will need to persist to reap the benefits.

Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection offers up two amazing games that have aged gracefully, helping them to shine better than ever before. Newcomers are in for a treat, though returning players have little reason to rush out and buy it again.

Horizon Forbidden West is Guerrilla's best game to date, taking Aloy to new heights with a blockbuster release that meets the high standards set by PlayStation in recent years. While it's totally worth fans jumping in on day one, it's perhaps better to wait a few weeks until all the bugs are ironed out.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land switches up its traditional 2D side-scrolling gameplay to open 3D environments for an enjoyable platformer that poses little challenge and at times can feel underwhelming, even if its side-content is of a high quality.

Nintendo Switch Sports has brought back everything we loved about Wii Sports and given it a refresh fit for 2022. Old favourites like tennis and bowling are back, while new games have also been added to the mix including badminton and football. This game is really fun to play.

Sniper Elite 5 features the same great stealth combat that fans of the series have come to adore, even if its story and all guns blazing approach leave a lot to be desired. A few new upgrades like Axis Invasion mode and enhanced weapon customisation are welcome additions, making killing Nazis still damn fun.

GTA V is at its best when leaning into the cinematic blockbusters that it takes inspiration from, while at its worst when trying to be controversial for the sake of it. Thankfully, its striking open world and variety of missions – most notably, Heists – help the Rockstar game hold up remarkably well in 2022.

Mario Strikers: Battle League's hectic gameplay remains as fun as it was 15 years prior, however, its barebones package does very little else to justify its return, ultimately being another blight on the Mario sports catalogue for Switch.

Live A Live is a gorgeous JRPG that isn't afraid to take risks, providing plenty of interesting themes and, for the most part, engaging combat. Fans new and old will find something to enjoy here, even if the endpoint is nothing to write home about.