The best Xbox One, PS4 and PC games of 2015: from The Witcher 3 and Star Wars: Battlefront to Mad Max

It’s been a brilliant year for games – here are our favourite titles from the last 12 months
Highlight: The Witcher 3 is one of the best games of 2015
Bandai Namco
Talal Musa24 December 2015

From shooters to racers and chillers to RPGs - 2015 has been an undeniably great year for gaming.

But with so many games vying for your attention, how do you know if you’ve missed any of the year’s best offerings?

Thankfully, we've done the job for you. Scroll down to take a look at our essential games of 2015.

Rainbow Six: Siege (Xbox One, PS4, PC)

A controversial choice as it lacks a solo campaign mode, this special-forces-themed multiplayer title still serves up plenty of thrilling moments.

By far the best game mode is Terrorist Hunt – where you work as a team to either disarm a bomb, save a hostage or clear an area of hostiles. It's helped along by clever level design that allows for multiple ways to complete objectives - from abseiling from the roof, to sneaking in through sewers.

Add its stunning looks into the mix, and it's a must have title.

The Witcher 3 (Xbox One, PS4, PC)

Quite simply a masterpiece. You play as Geralt of Rivia, a Witcher possessed with superhuman powers on a mission to find a lost friend.

What is particularly amazing is how every side quest – no matter how small - feels connected to the main story, and you'll find yourself exploring tiny villages ang big, bustling cities in search of them.

Console owners get a very decent looking game, but it's on the PC where The Witcher shines - all the way up to 4K resolution. And you don't need to break the bank to run the game on its highest settings, with an Nvidia 980Ti card more than capable of doing the job admirably.

Mad Max (Xbox One, PS4, PC)

Mad Max may not strictly be a film tie-in, but it serves as a wonderful accompaniment to Mad Max: Fury Road.

You play as Max who's beaten, left for dead and had his beloved car stolen. It may not feature Tom Hardy, but the road warrior remains incredibly charismatic. Great vehicle combat and a brutal Batman: Arkham-inspired combat system ensures the gameplay matches its stunning, post-apocalyptic world.

Best PS4 and Xbox One games 2015 - in pictures

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Star Wars: Battlefront (Xbox One, PS4, PC)

Although not without its flaws, there's no denying just how much Battlefront captures the character of the original Star Wars trilogy.

Those after Battlefield-style gameplay depth may be slightly disappointed, and vehicle combat isn't as fun as it could have been, but Battlefront is still a must-have for fans of the series. EA have also recently added the Battle of Jakku - making for some welcome level variation.

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (Xbox One, PS4, PC)

Simply a must-play title for both Metal Gear fans and newbies alike.

We won't go into the plot too much as there are plenty of spoilers, but the game sees you take control of Big Boss - voiced by Kiefer Sutherland. Set mainly in an open-world Afghanistan and Anglo-Zaire region, Hideo Kojima's masterpiece gives you free rein to tackle missions how you like.

Stunning visuals, thanks to the FoxEngine, mean that current-gen console owners are in for a real visual spectacle. But, those who are yet to upgrade from Xbox 360 / PS3 won't be short changed – the title still looks stunning on both.

Destiny: The Taken King (Xbox One, PS4)

Some were left slightly disappointed by the storyline in the original Destiny - which involved nothing more than wiping out waves of bullet-sponge foes and hours of grinding.

But The Taken King vastly improved the Destiny experience, adding personality to characters, tweaking dialogue and refining how enemies take damage.

Most of all, TTK gave Bungie fans hope their constantly-evolving FPS-MMORPG is starting to shape up into the Halo-beater they were promised all along.

Fallout 4 (Xbox One, PS4, PC)

An incredible open world, stunning looks and amazing quests make Fallout 4 an unforgettable experience.

Despite a host of bugs and glitches, gameplay is as addictive as ever, with a tweaked V.A.T.S. system making for some gloriously gruesome deaths. There's also a cool buddy system, with faithful hound Dogmeat making for a welcome (if not entirely useful), companion as you explore the wasteland.

It's best enjoyed when you have plenty of time to veer off the main quest – rush through and you'll regret it.

Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number(PS4, PC)

Don't let its colourful, top-down style fool you – Hotline Miami 2 is one of the most violent and gruesome games released this year.

Following in its predecessor's footsteps, you're given a variety of weapons and have to fight your way through different levels – testing timing and precision.

But it's the soundtrack that steals the show, even bettering the one on the last game. Definitely worth trying if you're after a completely unique experience.

Rise of the Tomb Raider(Xbox One)

While not quite having the wow factor of its predecessor, Rise of the Tomb Raider still delivers some amazing moments.

Graphically, it looks incredible on the whole, bar a few larger areas causing frame-rate slowdown. Gameplay is much more of the same, but combat has been redesigned to give Lara more freedom to engage enemies how she likes - whether this be clambering around tree branches or hiding in bushes.

Staple weapons such as the ice-axe and bow make a return, along with new additions, such as a combat knife and the ability to add booby traps on fallen enemies.

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