The unlikely hero of Remedy Entertainment’s out-there action adventure took some seriously weird goings-on in her stride, while sporting some of the coolest supernatural abilities of the year. Don't mess with Jesse.

Death Stranding’s resilient delivery man was well and truly put through the wringer in Hideo Kojima’s mesmerising sci-fi epic – and as a result there were few closer bonds forged between player and protagonist in 2019.

The plucky star of Pixelopus’ PS4 exclusive provided a refreshing counterpoint to 2019’s no-nonsense action heroes, cleaning up pollution, reforming bullies and creating magical street art along the way.

Days Gone’s world-weary hero might not have cracked too many smiles, but his dogged resourcefulness in the field and steely composure in the face of overwhelming odds won Deek a devoted following.

Bloodborne creator Hidetaka Miyazaki returned with a stunning new adventure – and a memorable new hero. Slowly mastering Wolf’s moveset was one of 2019’s most satisfying – albeit gruelling – experiences.

Respawn’s break-out battle royale hit featured fantastic character design across the board, but versatile scrapper Wraith was arguably the standout, perfectly straddling the easy-to-learn/hard-to-master divide. 

Gaming's most famous marsupial refused to put his feet up after his triumphant return to action in 2017’s N. Sane Trilogy. This classy update of the vintage kart racer delighted fans and newcomers alike.

Capcom’s supremely polished survival horror remake made an early bid for 2019’s game of the year crown, offering a terrifying trip down memory lane with series mainstays Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield. It was great to be back in Raccoon City.

Sir Dan returned from the grave to liberate Gallowmere from the clutches of evil sorcerer Zarok in this update of the ghoulish PS one adventure, providing a nostalgic treat for veteran gamers, and a riotously fun history lesson for youngsters.

Fans have been checking their watches for 11 long years since Dante’s last mainline outing, but the latest entry in Capcom’s action series was worth the wait, delivering breathless combat, extraordinary visuals and outrageous set pieces.

Fans had waited a long time to pick up Sora’s keyblade and return to the fray, and the epic third entry in Square Enix’s action RPG Disney crossover didn’t disappoint, serving up wide-eyed adventure with emotional punch.

Nearly 20 years on from his last outing, gamers finally got to continue the saga of Ryo Hazuki this year. The cult-favourite Shenmue series picked up where it left off, delivering crunchy combat, a moving story and an array of eccentric mini-games.