FIFA 17

It introduces you to footballers full of depth and emotion and takes you into brand new worlds only available in the game. Comprehensive innovations in the way players think and move, physically interact with opponents and attack give you control over every moment you spend on the pitch. FIFA 17’s headline feature is The Journey, a story about a prodigious young talent attempting to make a name for himself in the Premier League. It’s a microcosm of everything that’s good and bad about FIFA – peerless presentation surrounding a match engine that’s an improvement on last year, but still needs work – and yet it’s the most fun I’ve had with the series for a good few seasons. Perhaps more importantly, it’s a welcome reminder of the personal stories at the heart of a sport (and a series) that, in recent times, has felt more concerned with its corporate identity. It’s not easy to find ways to surprise people in an annualised game, but this is a very pleasant one.