2015 has been a great year for games, but it can often be tricky trying to sift through the hundreds of titles available to find the right ones for you. Luckily, we've created our very own Best Games list for 2015, bringing you our shortlist of all the top games across every major platform, from Xbox One to the 3DS across a wide range of genres.
Of course, if you still can't decide which console to buy, then check out our Xbox One vs PS4 article, our Nintendo Wii U review, and New 3DS vs New 3DS XL head-to-head. Then make sure you load up your stocking with one of these great games from 2015.
Fallout 4
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC Buy now from Amazon
It's been seven years in the making, but Bethesda's massive RPG series is finally back. With Fallout 4, Bethesda has produced its most densely-packed wasteland yet, giving you plenty of stuff to do as you wander round the ruins of post-apocalyptic Boston. The story is particularly well done, packing an emotional punch with its brilliant and surprisingly memorable set pieces while giving you plenty of additional quests and locations to explore on the side.
Of course, all this would be nothing without Fallout 4's visceral real-time combat. With hundreds of weapons available to suit your play style, blowing up hordes of radioactive mutants has never felt so satisfying – especially when you can lock on to individual body parts for some spectacularly gruesome finishing moves. Either way, it all adds up to make Fallout 4 one of the most engrossing games of the year. A must-buy for any RPG fan.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PCBuy now from Amazon
Hideo Kojima's magnum opus, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is a masterclass in stealth action. It not only has one of the biggest and most convincing open worlds we've ever seen, but the sheer flexibility it offers is truly phenomenal. Every missions can be tackled in any order, from any angle, and you can change the type of weapons and companions you use completely on the fly. Even how the weather affects how you play, as sand storms will affect visibility, while guard patterns change as the sun goes down.
The story is admittedly rather baffling, but that's par for course with Metal Gear Solid, and Kojima's intentionally made this one the most perplexing yet, even for ardent fans, so don't let that stop you. The only thing you really need to know in Metal Gear Solid V is how to attach a Fulton balloon to captivate soldiers, as this airlifts enemies (and animals) off the battlefield to be put to work in your offshore base, complete with comedy screams and roars as they shoot off into the sky. Like Fallout 4, The Phantom Pain requires a pretty hefty time-sink to really get to the heart of the game, but you certainly won't regret it.
Batman Arkham Knight
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC Buy now from Amazon
Arkham Knight's PC release has been so catastrophic that it could almost have been masterminded by the Joker himself, but to dismiss the game out of contempt for its poor performance issues would be short-sighted, as this is easily the best Batman game ever created and a highly fitting end to Rocksteady's Arkham series. The PS4 version is the most technically proficient out of the three, but Gotham City looks stunning regardless of which platform you pick. This huge, moody city is the perfect playground for our brooding Dark Knight, but it's the tank-like Batmobile you'll probably spend most time racing around in.
This time, it's Scarecrow and the titular Arkham Knight who are out causing trouble on the streets of Gotham, and the main story threads take Batman to some surprisingly dark places. However, while the plot is Rocksteady's best yet, Arkham Knight also does a great job of giving equal screen time to all the other major Batman villains you know and love, as most have their own separate side mission objectives and frequently pop up throughout the game. You don't need to have played any of the other Arkham games either, as Arkham Knight easily stands on its own on its two feet (or should that be wings?) as one of this year's best action titles, regardless of whether you're a Bat fan or not.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC Buy now from Amazon
If you prefer your RPGs to be more Narnia than Neuromancer, The Witcher 3 is the game for you. In this huge story-driven game, you take on the role of Geralt of Rivia, one of the most charismatic RPG heroes of recent years, as you roam the massive world of the Northern Kingdoms. As a witcher, it's your job to track down mythical creatures terrorising the local townsfolk, but that doesn’t mean you can't romance the ladies or help out the odd village warlord along the way.
Combat is divided between sword attacks (steel for humans, silver for monsters) and offensive and defensive magic, offering plenty of choice depending on your play style. You'll need to pay attention, though, as taking your eye off the ball will result in a swift and often embarrassing defeat. However, as with any RPG, there are plenty of skills to upgrade as you progress, so you can develop Geralt in whatever way you see fit. Arguably this year's prettiest RPG, The Witcher 3 will keep you coming back for more for plenty of months to come.
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Platforms: Xbox One (PC and PS4 in 2016) Buy now from Amazon
Crystal Dynamics' 2013 Tomb Raider reboot was an exceptional way to bring Lara Croft into the 21st century and now she's taking on her biggest adventure yet in Rise of the Tomb Raider as she travels from the snowy mountains of Siberia to London, Syria and back again. With multiple weapons at her disposal, including her trusty bow, Lara must stop the evil Trinity organisation from reaching the mysterious Divine Source, a sort of Holy Grail-esque item that promises eternal life to anyone who finds it.
While the basic combat will be familiar to anyone who played the 2013 reboot, Crystal Dynamics has expanded several of its key gameplay systems. Crafting items from animals now plays a much larger role, for instance, and the appearance of actual tombs (along with extended swimming sections) will no doubt please returning fans who were disappointed by their absence in the 2013 Tomb Raider. PC and PS4 owners will have to wait until next year to get their slice of Tomb Raider pie, but those with an Xbox One should snap this up right away.
Halo 5: Guardians
Platforms: Xbox One Buy now from Amazon
Halo is synonymous with Xbox, and with the Master Chief Collection pulling together all four of the main games together late last year, Halo 5: Guardians is finally here to take players to the next level of Halo goodness. This time you play as both the Master Chief and Jameson Locke, a new character who's been tasked with tracking down the Chief after he goes AWOL to rescue his AI companion Cortana.
The single-player campaign is only part of Halo's appeal, though, as it's the multiplayer that will keep players coming back for many more hours to come. Easily the best and smoothest Halo multiplayer so far (running at a silky smooth 60fps), Guardians is the pinnacle of Xbox One first-person shooters. The Warzone mode is particularly brilliant, as this sees 24 players battling it out on massive maps that are four times larger than any previous Halo multiplayer map. If you own an Xbox One and like first-person shooters, Halo 5 is an absolute no-brainer.
Xenoblade Chronicles X
Platforms: Wii U Buy now from Amazon
The Wii's Xenoblade Chronicles was one of the best JPRGs of recent years, eschewing much of the complex frippery that had begun to characterise the genre and swapping it for huge, jaw-droppingly beautiful vistas and a thoughtful, well-executed story. It was so good, in fact, that Nintendo released it again on the 3DS earlier this year, but now Monolith Soft is about to unleash Xenoblade Chronicles X, an even bigger JPRG that makes the lush environments of its predecessor look positively barren by comparison.
After warring aliens force mankind to flee Earth, the last pocket of humanity winds up crash-landing on the planet Mira, an achingly beautiful world full of 200ft space dinosaurs, savage wildlife and towering landscapes. It's your job to try and carve out a place in this strange new planet, charting unknown lands, fighting off monsters and generally trying to survive as you dodge the aliens who caused you to leave Earth in the first place. Its real-time combat is a superb, and you even get your very own flying mech robot to play with halfway through the game, giving you a more level playing field against Mira's oversized fauna. It's easily the best game on Wii U this year, making it a must-buy for Nintendo fans.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D
Platforms: 3DS Buy now from Amazon
Majora's Mask is one of the best Legend of Zelda games ever made, and this 3D remake of the N64 classic brings the game to life in a way you never thought possible. With three days to save the world from getting crushed by a giant moon, Link must venture out into the strange land of Termina to solve its mysteries, travelling to each of its four corners to defeat the evil monsters plaguing its sacred temples.
What sets Majora's Mask apart from other Zelda games is its unique three-day cycle. You can probably only tackle one main dungeon over the course of this period, but luckily Link brought his trusty time-travelling ocarina with him, so you can relive those 72 hours over and over again until you make your way to the final boss. However, while your dungeon progress stays with you, the lives of Termina's villagers are constantly reset, so the old bomb shop manager you saved in one cycle, for instance, won't remember your courageous deed in the next. This gives Majora's Mask a distinctly personal yet melancholy tone, as it's one of the few Zelda games that places as much emphasis on its sidequests as it does its main dungeons. It might not be quite the same stone-cold hit as Ocarina of Time, but Majora's Mask is still an essential part of any 3DS owner's library.
