Google has unleashed a new hardware kit for Hangouts Meet which promises to deliver everything you need on the hardware front when it comes to holding high-quality video meetings via Google’s videoconferencing software – but it isn’t cheap at $1,999 (around £1,500).
For that outlay, you get a hardware kit comprising of four main components: an Asus Chromebox, touchscreen controller, speakermic and a 4K camera.
The Asus Chromebox mini desktop computer provides the engine here, running alongside the touchscreen controller, with Google promising an intuitive interface with the latter.
All the controls you need to easily manage meetings are present, like pinning and muting team members, or controlling the camera.
Speaking of which, the 4K camera has a 120-degree field of view to allow it to take in more folks who are sat around the meeting table, and it automatically detects meeting participants (using machine learning routines), also cropping and zooming people to frame them correctly.
Crisp audio
As for the speakermic unit, this is designed to be able to shrug off background noise, and also get rid of any pesky echo, so theoretically, the end result is a clean audio feed for your meetings.
Meet has also been boosted with new features, and now G Suite Enterprise users can record a meeting straight to Google Drive if they so wish. You can also hold meetings with up to 50 members.
The Hangouts Meet hardware kit is available from today and as mentioned it will set you back $1,999 (around £1,500).
After more than 12 years in hibernation, the Age of Empires series is back for its fourth outing. In August, publisher Microsoft Studios announced that Age of Empires 4 was alive and kicking, and that it was being developed by Relic Entertainment, the team behind Homeworld and Company of Heroes (which is a hell of a lot of pedigree).
This article will tell you everything you need to know about the game, and we’ll update it when new information comes to light, so make sure you check back regularly.
Cut to the chase
What is it? The latest installment to the historical real-time strategy series Age of Empires.
When can I play it? There's no release window just yet but it'll be late 2018 at the earliest
What can I play it on? Windows 10 PC is the only confirmed platform
What is Age of Empires 4?
Age of Empires 4 is the latest installment to the historical real-time strategy series Age of Empires, which began life way back in 1997.
Follow-ups to the original were released in 1999 and 2005, and there’s been a couple of spin-offs during that period, including two Nintendo DS titles and the popular Age of Mythology, which took inspiration from myths and legends rather than history. Aside from those DS games, the series is only on PC.
Age of Empires 4 is the first game in the series developed by Relic Entertainment – all the other Age of Empires games have been made by Ensemble Studios, which folded in 2009. Relic says it wants to “fuse historical context with deep strategic gameplay, and to bring this franchise back to the forefront of gaming and into the hands of its beloved community”.
Age of Empires 4: release date
Unfortunately, no release date has been announced for Age of Empires 4 – not even a rough one. It could be a way off though, because all we’ve seen of the game is a trailer filled with concept art, which suggests development is in its early stages. If we were betting on it, we’d say it won’t be until late next year at the earliest.
What platforms will Age of Empires 4 release on?
So far, all we know is that it’s coming to Windows 10 PC – so bad luck if you’re running an older version (although this could be a good excuse to upgrade). However, with Microsoft Studios as the publisher the door is open for a release on Xbox One, too, although there’s been no word on that front. For the same reason, it’s unlikely to come to other consoles, such as the PS4 or the Nintendo Switch.
Age of Empires 4: trailers
The announcement of the game was marked with a trailer – and it’s still the only one we’ve seen to date. It’s exclusively concept art for the game, depicting large scale battles between various groups. Check it out below:
Age of Empire 4: gameplay features
Previous Age of Empires games have focused on one period of history: Age of Empires 3 chronicled the European colonization of the Americas, for example.
However, judging by the trailer above, Age of Empires 4 could paint with a broader historical picture, with lots of empires from across time returning from previous games in the series.
In the trailer, you can glimpse Native Americans, British Redcoats, Romans and Japanese samurai. It’s possible that this could just be demonstrative of the art style and themes, but we’d be surprised if they didn’t end up featuring in the final game in some capacity.
That said, it’s unlikely to break history by pitting armies from two eras against each other in the campaign, so expect a story that plays out over an extended timeline. And then perhaps the Romans could clash with the Redcoats in online multiplayer.
In terms of actual gameplay, we wouldn’t expect it to deviate too far from the formula that fans of the series know and love – it would be odd for the developer not to mine that ore of support. So, there will be the usual 4X fare (explore, expand, exploit and exterminate). However, the last Age of Empires game was more than 10 years ago, so we’re expecting some changes in terms of UI and mechanics.
Age of Empires 4: what we’d like to see
A sleeker UI
The Age of Empires games have always had decent UIs – most of the stuff you need is two or at most three clicks away and, generally, if you hover over a button you can find out what it does. But going back to it now, it looks a bit old fashioned, with a large box covering most of the bottom section of the screen, and can be overwhelming at first glance.
If the series is going to attract new players (and the more the merrier) then the UI needs to be sleek and inviting. Age of Empires Online, another spin-off, might perhaps be a good guide: that game had much less on screen at any one time, allowing you to see more of the battlefield. Smaller, contextual menus that only appear when you click on certain elements would work well.
Revamped unit tactics
The Age of Empires games do boast military tactics, and the positioning and stances of your units can turn a battle. But largely, fights are won by the biggest army, and they are over quickly. We’d like to see tactics play a bigger role in battles, and for it to be easier to make small adjustments to groups of units so they do exactly what you want.
There’s hope here: Relic has a lot of pedigree in this field. Imagine Age of Empires with Company of Heroes-style unit movement when you got close to an enemy’s base. That’s not what Relic will be shooting for (this is about clashes of large armies rather than small strike forces, after all), but we’re confident it will be more finessed than anything else we’ve seen from the series so far.
Multiple cities
Age of Empires revels in its smaller scale. You start with a town hall and build out from there, never really expanding beyond a single settlement. Rise of Nations, also published by Microsoft, could be a good yard stick for how the game should expand; in that game you could build multiple cities and combine them into large territories.
If you apply that to Age of Empires then you get multiple hubs of production: one town could focus on food production, and transport the finished product to another nearby town, which is itself churning out military units. Planning out the structure of your empire, rather than just a single city, would add another layer to the game.
Picked up a sweet PS4 deal recently? Then you'll be on the lookout for a super cheap DualShock 4 deal as you'll want to always have one charged or be ready for a bit of local multiplayer.
The PlayStation and the DualShock controller have been best buds for most of the PlayStation brand's lifespan. Sony has changed little since the introduction of the dual analog design in 1997, instead pushing the iconic controller closer to perfection with each console generation.
Over 60 million PlayStation 4 consoles have been sold so far (the Black Friday deals were insane last year), but most bundles only come with one DualShock 4 controller. If you want to play local multiplayer games, you're going to need a second, third or even fourth pad. Having a spare to keep charged when the battery drains on another is super handy too.
Don't bother looking on the high street for controller deals - seriously those prices are not cool. Online is where the action's at and we've tracked down all the cheapest PS4 controller deals. We've picked out the best deals for the various different colors too.
Cheapest PS4 controller deals by color:
We've hand picked out a few more tempting deals for the various color variations below too. Naturally, these cheap PS4 controller prices are correct at time of writing.
More of the best DualShock 4 deals - USA
Gray/Blue DualShock 4: This looks like the same color controller as the one in the Uncharted 4 Special Edition console bundle. This will be your best bet then if you already own a PS4. This has shot up in price in recent weeks and you can save money by opting for a different color. If you've gotta have it though, Amazon is the cheapest today at $64.99.
Urban Camo DualShock 4: This model is a bit of a rare find at most retailers so expect higher prices than most models. Today's best price for the Urban Camo DualShock 4 is $49.50 at Amazon.
Crystal DualShock 4: The clear Crystal DualShock 4 finally has an official US release. We've searched around for the best price and that'll be $64.99 @ GameStop.
Blue Crystal DualShock 4:This new see through blue DualShock 4 controller is a Walmart-exclusive in the US. So you won't find any other retailers officially selling it outside of places like eBay or Amazon Marketplace. Today though, it's cheapest at $59.86 @ Walmart.
Red Crystal DualShock 4: Like the blue crystal model above, this one's a specific retailer exclusive in the US too. It's more expensive though at $64.99 from Best Buy.
More of the best DualShock 4 deals - UK
Urban Camo DualShock 4: This one is a bit of a rare find at most retailers so expect higher prices than most models. Today's best Urban Camo price is £51.51 @ Amazon
Grey/Blue DualShock 4: This looks like the same colour controller as the one in the Uncharted 4 Special Edition console bundle. This will be your best bet then if you already own a PS4. We've seen this for as low as £45, but sadly the best deal today is a rather untouchable £68 @ Amazon
What's the difference between the original and new V2 DualShock 4 controller?
If you've seen mention of a 'New' or 'V2' DualShock 4 controller while looking for a new pad, let us tell you about the differences. The new/V2 DualShock 4 was released alongside the PS4 Slim and features a few improvements over the original.
Some listings are a bit vague, but the clearest visual indicator to look out for is the new light bar on the DualShock's 4 trackpad. This thin slit wasn't on the original, so just look out for the dimly illuminated blue line on the product listing's image gallery. The original blue/red/gold controllers had black plastic on the back half of the controller, but the V2 versions feature matching colours, albeit a shade darker.
Other improvements include USB functionality, allowing gamers to plug the controller in for lag-free gaming (it simply charged the original), which could give you the edge in online shooters or games like Street Fighter V. You'll also be able to use this enhanced connectivity to use the DualShock 4 on a PC without paying for the bluetooth adapter. The rubber on the analogues has been improved (again) to prevent it wearing away so much too.
Your search for the cheapest Xbox Live Gold deal stops here. Sure, you could just let your membership auto-renew at the full price of $60/£40, but we're certain you'd prefer to save some money with one of these Xbox Live deals.
As with past consoles in the Xbox lineup, the Xbox One also requires an Xbox Live Gold subscription in order to play games online. It's not all bad though, as Microsoft took a note from Sony's similar PlayStation Plus offering and now gives out free games each month to members. You currently get two for the Xbox One and two Xbox 360 games to play on the old console or your Xbox One via its backwards-compatible feature.
You don't get as many free games as Sony's PS Plus service, but Microsoft's Xbox Live service is generally seen as the more stable and reliable network of the two - although Sony's PSN has been fine of late. You'll also get Xbox One Gold member-exclusive discounts in the many sales on the Xbox Live store.
Update: We generally find that CDKeys is one of the cheapest prices to buy a 12-month Xbox Live Gold deal, but technical gremlins sometimes mean the prices don't show up in our comparison chart below. Feel free to check the following CDKeys links though, just to make sure you're getting the best Xbox Live Gold deal. Prices are usually hovering around £32-£36 in the UK and $43-$48 in the US.
You can also get a shorter three-month Xbox Live Gold subscription. However, we don't think this represents as good value as the cost per month works out much higher. If you want to dip your toe into the world of online gaming though, this is a good place to start, and doesn't commit you to a full year. It's worth checking if you could get a free month-long trial directly from your Xbox menu first though.
What are the free Xbox Games with Gold this month?
We've got you covered. Each month we update the list of extensive freebies for the Xbox Live Games with Gold promotion. Why not bookmark the page below to make sure you never miss out?
Microsoft's Paris Games Week presentation has revealed that hit third-person shooter PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds will be coming to the Xbox Game Preview Program on December 12th.
As the word 'preview' implies, this means the game won't arrive on the console in a finished state, but will see frequent updates much as the PC version has seen while in Steam Early Access.
At launch the game will feature the much-anticipated 'vaulting' feature, which will make it easier for players to traverse the environment rather than constantly getting stuck on low walls.
Other tantalising details
However, as confirmed by Eurogamer, it will be some time before the game's other anticipated feature, its desert map, will come to the console version. This is because the map still requires "months of work".
Although the game is being published with Microsoft for this release, a PS4 release hasn't been ruled out. However, as reported by Engadget, a timeframe for this version of the game wasn't forthcoming.
PC fans of the game also have much to look forward to, with a 1.0 release planned for before the end of the year officially bringing the game out of Early Access.
However, this is unlikely to bring an end to the game's frequent updates, as PlayerUnknown himself has confirmed that the plan is to continue to develop and add to the game long into the future.
PUBG has been one of this year's surprise hits, with an estimated 15 million copies sold. The game has also become the most player multiplayer game on Steam, with over 2 million people playing the game simultaneously.
If you've been thinking that Nintendo is having a great year, its latest financial report proves you haven't been wrong.
We've already written about the sales of the new Nintendo Switch console, which have been so outstanding that the device is on track to overtake the lifetime sales of the Wii U within a year.
But the games are selling well, too. The newly released Super Mario Odyssey reached sales of 2 million in just three days, which is a wild improvement over the month it took the critically acclaimed Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to reach 2.7 million sales. In our review, we called Odyssey one of Mario's "most inventive adventures yet."
Nintendo also dropped in some numbers about the SNES Classic Edition. Even with the shortages that followed almost immediately after its release, Nintendo managed to sell more than 2 million units within a month of release. That number is likely to go up much higher now that fresh shipments are starting to go out to GameStop and other stores.
It's not all rainbow roads, however. Super Mario Run is proof that popularity doesn't always mean success, at least for Nintendo. Even though the mobile game has been downloaded 200 million times and 90% of those downloads came from outside Japan, Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima says it has "not yet reached an acceptable profit point."
Free-to-play, all the way
On the bright side, the report goes on to say that Super Mario Run has allowed Nintendo to reach markets it was never able to with its traditional consoles.
Part of the reason for Super Mario Run's "disappointment" may be that Nintendo opted for a fixed price point for unlocking the entirety of the game. Fire Emblem Heroes, Nintendo's next mobile game, instead relied on a free-to-play model and microtransactions for its revenue and so hauled in more cash despite snagging fewer downloads.
Variables such as the respective quality of the games may have played a hand, of course, but it's likely no coincidence that Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp — Nintendo's next planned mobile game — will embrace a free-to-play model as well.
Update:We've rounded up our favorite games from September 2017. Click through to see which titles have topped our list.
2016 is done and dusted from a gaming perspective, but don’t fret - there are enough great titles coming out in 2017 to put your New Year’s resolution of getting outside more or spending less on games in some serious jeopardy.
That being said, we've gone through and compiled the list of the best games coming next year as well as collected the best ones that have already come out (Gravity Rush 2 anyone?).
The reason for this list is two-fold: First and foremost we want to give you a look ahead at the new year of gorgeous games – powered in large part by powerful hardware like the PS4 Pro and Xbox One S. Then, once we start collecting more games that deserve to be called "the best of 2017" we'll group them together by month for your perusing pleasure. Combined, this list should give you a pretty complete overview of where you should spend your free-time next year.
Oh, and in case you missed it, and are interested the best gaming moments of last year, be sure to check out our 2016 Game of the Year Awards.
OK, we've spent time enough living in the past. Our first eagerly-anticipated release is less than a month away, so let's not waste any more time.
Resident Evil 7
What system(s) is it on? PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
The latest entry in Capcom’s survival horror series is a wild departure from its past few predecessors, but in the end that only made it better. Foregoing the guns-blazing action mentality that had come to define the series for better or worse in the past few years, Resident Evil VII came at us with a much more subdued scare tactic. A first-person horror adventure trapped in a musty, rotted house with a family of musty, rotted maniacs? If that doesn't scream nostalgia, I'm not sure what does. Resident Evil 7 was a great return to form for the series and one that's well worth your time.
Gravity Rush 2 was a huge sleeper hit this month. The original – while definitely unique in its premise and art style – didn't reach critical acclaim, but that's a whole different story here. New gravity powers and styles make combat feel fresh and the expanded relationships give us something more to latch onto. There are still a few control problems here, as you might obviously expect from a game that involves manipulating gravity, but overall its charm and beauty far outweigh any lingering issues we might've had.
Yakuza 0
What system(s) is it on? PS4
Yakuza 0 is a game you didn't know you wanted from a series you might've only heard but it's downright amazing. Imagine Grand Theft Auto minus the ludicrous amount of ammunitions and adding in tons of hysterical side quests.
To that end, Yakuza 0 is a deadly serious game about some really adult material that never takes itself too seriously. You'll have just as much fun pummeling people for cash as you will playing any number of the wacky and wonderful mini games you can find throughout the massive game world. Gravity Rush 2 was this month's sleeper pick, but Yakuza 0 is this month's somehow even sleepier sleeper pick.
Horizon: Zero Dawn
What system(s) is it on? PlayStation 4
The newest project from Killzone series developer Guerrilla Games, Horizon: Zero Dawn’s concept is far more unique and engrossing than the forgettable mashup of words that make up its title. (Seriously, we challenge you to leave us a more generic-sounding title in the comments below.)
Thankfully, Horizon's premise was far more original.
An action adventure set in a world overrun with robotic fauna, Horizon casts you as a human hunter named Aloy who uses a mix of stealth, ranged combat, and a little improvisation to fell inorganic beasts and survive in the mecha-wilderness. Not just a unique take on an open world, Horizon pushes what the PS4’s hardware can do from a graphical level. That said, we feel this game deserves a spot in any gamer's PS4 library.
Despite it being eight years since the last game, Halo Wars 2 doesn’t feel like a large step from the original. It looks better and it takes into account everything that’s happened in the Halo story since the first game, but mechanically it is much the same as its predecessor. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though. Everything considered, Halo Wars 2 is enjoyable – if not that innovative.
What system(s) is it on? Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo Switch
As we expected, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was the Nintendo Switch's big launch title and it's certainly done well for itself. With good reviews pretty much across the board it's a must-have title and a great way to start off your relationship with the new Switch console.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild takes the adventuring shenanigans of Link and blows it up onto a sprawling open world where players can explore at their leisure and daring. Even the series’ trademark dungeons can be played in whatever order the player wants, making Breath of the Wild a game that is just as much about maintaining the series' status quo as it is breaking it.
While previous entries in the Legend of Zelda series like Ocarina of Time and Wind Waker have played with the concept of a large explorable map, Breath of the Wild is taking things to ambitious new heights.
What system(s) is it on? PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Given how the original Mass Effect trilogy wrapped up the epic tale of Commander Shepard’s battle for all sentient life with a nice lil’ bow, the next installment in BioWare’s sci-fi series had us intrigued. With essentially a blank slate to tell a new story, Andromeda is set far in the future, 600 years after the events of Mass Effects 1 through 3.
In an expansive, semi open-world environment, players are tasked with exploring new planets with the aid of your own ship, the Tempest, and a customizable six-wheeled space whip called the Nomad. Of course, things don't always go according to plan in the more roguish parts of the galaxy, so you'll also be bringing your allies, laser weaponry, biotic powers, and other abilities both familiar and new to Mass Effect fans along for the ride.
Though it's the latest game in the Mass Effect franchise we're not so sure it's the greatest and you can find out why in ourfull review.
Yooka Laylee
What system(s) is it on? PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Wii U, Nintendo Switch, PC
Sometimes it takes a genre coming back with a vengeance to remind you just how long it's been since you've seen one of its kind. That was the overwhelming feeling playing Yooka-Laylee, the Kickstarted spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie from a group of ex-Rare developers, left us with.
The recent absence of the cartoon platformer is what initially makes Yooka-Laylee such a novel game. You play as Yooka, and Laylee sits on your shoulders, allowing you to perform special moves and providing a second character to bounce witty dialogue off. It's a formula we haven't seen in some time, but it's one we're all the more excited to come back to all these years later.
Prey
What system(s) is it on? PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
From the ashes of the cancelled-before-its-time Prey 2, Arkane Studio’s revival of the Prey franchise is, well, some interesting branding. With little direct resemblance to the original Prey to be a reboot, nor anything really to do with its scrapped sequel, Prey is more of a re-imagining of the series’s original concept - though we question what constitutes a series when only one entry ever saw the light of day, but we digress. What now stands in Prey 2’s place is something wild, intriguing, and plenty ambitious enough to be whatever it wants to call itself.
Aboard a research vessel floating in space to study a mysterious alien life form, players will have to use their wits and resources to survive as a breach puts them - and possibly the entire Earth - in danger.
We've given the game a "play it now" recommendation in our full review, praising its often surprisingly deep story, incredible atmosphere and open-ended approach which offers something to both casual and hardcore gamers.
Marvel ain’t the only superhero property throwing down this coming year. NetherRealm Studios’ 2013 brawler Injustice: Gods Among Us is getting a sequel in 2017, returning to the DC Comics universe to knock some serious heads. With classic standbys like Batman, The Flash, and Wonder Woman going toe-to-toe with new additions like Gorilla Grodd and Blue Beetle, Injustice 2 is looking to be a from-the-pages slugfest both fighting game fans and comic aficionados alike can really enjoy.
To that end, Injustice 2’s tagline of “Every Battle Defines You” isn’t just a dramatic piece of marketing text. Each time you step into the ring with one of the DC’s finest, that character walks away with new loot that enhances their skills, traits, or overall ability until you have a suped-up Superman tuned exactly to your tastes.
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is the game we've waited over 20 years to play – it's the not-quite-remastered remake of the game many of us loved growing up. It wasn't something we ever thought would happen considering that the game's original development studio, Naughty Dog, is deep in development of The Last of Us Part 2 and Uncharted 4 DLC, so we're thankful another developer, Vicarious Visions, was there to pick up the slack. Call us suckers for PlayStation-era nostalgia (guilty as charged) but with a year like 2016 in the recent past, it'll be nice to have something to bring us back to the good ol' days.
What system(s) can I play it on? PS4, Xbox One and PC
Tekken is up there as one of the best fighting game franchises out there and Tekken 7 is a worthy addition to the series. As ever you'll find an exciting roster of fighters and incredible depth when it comes to controls and tactics.
One problem wth Tekken 7 is that it can be somewhat inaccessible if you're new to the series. Bearing that in mind, we've put together a tips and tricks guide to help you get started.
Arms
What system(s) can I play it on? Nintendo Switch
Tekken 7 isn't the only worthwhile fighting game to have come out in June 2017. While Xbox One and PS4 got the latest Tekken, Nintendo kept itself in the fight by releasing the new and Nintendo Switch exclusive Arms.
Arms is a single and online multiplayer fighting game that's quite unlike anything else on the market right now thanks to its colorful characters with telescopic (and interchangeable) 'arms'.
As you'd expect, a new IP means learning new skills and we've got a tips and tricks guide to get you off to a good start.
Splatoon 2
What system(s) can I play it on? Nintendo Switch
Being Nintendo's first real stab at an online shooter, the original Splatoon was a bit of a surprise hit for the Wii U. This time around, however, we were ready and waiting for the sequel on the Nintendo Switch.
Splatoon 2 didn't disappoint, improving on the original in nearly every way while bringing more of the same paint-based fun. Nintendo has really pushed Splatoon 2's online play through competitions at various shows such as E3. If you want to be capable of a stage-worthy performance, you definitely need our tips and tricks guide.
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
What system(s) can I play it on? PlayStation 4
And they thought it was all over! Yes, we thought the Uncharted series had come to an end after Naughty Dog told us that Nathan Drake's story had been told but we have to admit we were glad we were wrong. Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is a standalone spin-off starring the Nadine and Chloe from the main series.
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle took us by surprise but it's absolutely a stand out game from August 2017.
Nintendo's Mario and Ubisoft's Rabbid rabbits doesn't seem like a combination that should work but we promise it really does.
This is a turn-based tactical game and it's incredibly fun to play thanks to gameplay that's satisfyingly complex and deep without being overly difficult. It's a lovely game to look at with fantastic level and character design – overall it's just a charming experience.
With this partnership, Nintendo has managed to secure another successful exclusive for the Switch. With our tips and tricks guide you can ensure your first foray into the game is equally as successful.
Destiny 2
What system(s) can I play it on? PS4, Xbox One and PC
Destiny 2 is the hotly anticipated sequel to the massively successful online multiplayer shooter Destiny. Created by Bungie, this game improves upon the original with an excellent single-player campaign and a much improved sense of accessibility.
We said you should play it now in our review and if you decide that's exactly what you're going to do, we have a tips and tricks guide that's perfect for easing you in.
FIFA 18
What can I play it on? PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC
It comes around every year and every year we look forward to it. Yes, it's the football sim FIFA. As per the historical trend, the latest installment of FIFA brings in some incremental performance and graphics improvements. It also brings the second season of the series' cinematic story mode The Journey, suggesting it was a game mode experiment that EA considers a success.
We said it was a "Play it Now" title in our FIFA 18 review and if that's advice you've decided to follow, you can play it well with the guidance of our tips and tricks guide.
Super Mario Odyssey
What system(s) can I play it on? Nintendo Switch
Super Mario Odyssey was one of the most highly-anticipated games for the Nintendo Switch this year and it hasn't disappointed. Receiving widespread critical acclaim, this game is a sandbox 3D adventure that puts the super into Super Mario.
We called it one of Mario's finest adventures to date in our review and recommended that you play it now. If that's something you decide to do, you can also check out our tips and tricks guide.
Assassin's Creed Origins
What system(s) can I play it on? Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC
After a year away, Assassin's Creed returned refreshed and rejuvenated with Origins. This is different to any Assassin's Creed game we've seen before thanks to its addition of RPG mechanics and a new combat system. Far from ruining the series, it's reinvigorated it and this is one of the best releases we've seen in recent memory. Plus, running around ancient Egypt is massive amounts of fun.
In our review we recommended that you play it now.
Call of Duty is returning at the end of this year and this time it's going back in time to WW2. A more historical approach worked for Battlefield 1 and there's great potential here.
After Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare disappointed fans and Activision it looks like this next installment is going to give the series a much-needed shake-up. Call of Duty WW2 will feature a single player story campaign, multiplayer, and a multiplayer mode with a story element so there should be something for everyone.
Expectations are high for this ambitious new game and we hope that when the game is released on November 3 it meets them.
What systems is it on? PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC
Star Wars fans have a lot to look forward to this year, and one of the things we're most excited about is the new addition to the Star Wars Battlefront series from EA DICE, Star Wars Battlefront 2.
Though the first game in the series really captured the atmosphere of the Star Wars universe, it was lacking in other areas. This time around it looks like DICE is really taking criticism on board and making some much-needed improvements.
First off, we're getting a single-player campaign mode that will put players in the shoes of Iden Versio, a member of the Imperial Forces elite ops unit called Inferno Squad and occupy the time between the sixth film of the franchise, Return of the Jedi, and the seventh film, The Force Awakens.
Excitingly, the sequel will also expand beyond the original trilogy and explore characters, locations and events from the new films and prequel trilogy too.
That means that in addition to characters like Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Han Solo and Boba Fett, players will get to take control of characters such as Rey, Kyrlo Ren, Yoda and Darth Maul.
Taking all of this together, we're looking forward to a game that should be bigger, deeper and hopefully better.
