What Royal Revolt lacks in strategy, it makes up for in bright visuals and the ability to become more involved in the sweeping battles. It provides a surprising amount of content for a free game, with equally surprising production values to match.

It's a more methodical game than Angry Birds, requiring thoughtful planning and pinpoint timing, but in many ways that also makes it a more enjoyable game than its predecessor.

Limited multiplayer options aside, Lumines Electronic Symphony blends puzzle, rhythm and visuals together in an almost euphoric way. What looks like a humble block-shifting affair at first glance is actually one of the best titles in the PS Vita's launch lineup. Throw in one of the best soundtracks you're ever likely to hear and we have an excellent purchase on our hands.

Doesn't exactly rewrite the book on first-person shooters, but it offers thoroughly enjoyable gameplay, with a low learning curve, set against a strong narrative. Fans of the previous games will find much to love here, and even newcomers will find it a good jumping on point thanks to the intuitive controls.

Although both games are thematically grim at times, we thoroughly recommend Metro Redux to both series newcomers and fans of the original titles.

In summary, The Ratchet & Clank Trilogy collects three games that everyone should play in one affordable bundle. Extras might be few and far between, but Idol Minds has done a great job rendering the titles in HD. It's cross-genre gameplay at its finest, complete with memorable characters, expert level design and one of the best arsenals this side of Borderlands. A highly recommended trip down memory lane.

Still, despite its short length and lack of replayability, time playing The Swapper is most definitely time well spent. The clone-based puzzles are superb, while the addition of a thought-provoking narrative is the cherry on top of what is an excellent puzzle/platformer.

In Starfield, this blend and culmination of ideas sometimes pays off in wonderful ways — but sometimes it falls short, because pushing too far in one direction would mean committing to an idea. Consequences.

On a high note, Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes makes the significant addition of asynchronous multiplayer, which fits the game's strategic turn-based format perfectly.

There is so much to like and discover about Monaco: What's Yours is Mine - just make sure you have some good friends along to share the spoils.

Mankind Divided is neither as revolutionary as Deus Ex was 16 years ago nor The Witcher III and MGSV were just last year. That doesn't change the fact that it's a brilliant Deus Ex, giving you a rich, exciting cyberpunk world, a compelling storyline within it, and the freedom to explore it almost any way you wish...In terms of both stealth and combat it's a big improvement on the last game, while it still has the deep storytelling and lavish background detail we've come to expect. If you're in a mood for a dark, sci-fi conspiracy thriller with some meaty themes, put those mirrored shades on your face and get stuck in.

It isn't a bad story, with plenty of intrigue from its setting and characters. The issue comes in when it tries to take a leap into the realm of allegory, where it never ties itself together thematically in a satisfying way. In that way, Transistor is like a virtual croissant. It is layered and delicious, but there is a lingering airy emptiness to it that makes it hard to fill up on just one.

Everything from the graphics to the gameplay has been amped up significantly and the end result is an excellent sequel. This could easily have attained classic status with a little more refinement, specifically where the level creation mechanic is concerned.

Taken on its own, Asphalt 7 is the best game in the series so far, but it does little to differentiate itself from its predecessors aside from price.

Games of Tic Tactics end in a draw far less often than your average round of Tic-tac-toe, making matches more exciting as players plan out moves and counter-moves.

If Vicarious Visions has proven one thing with Skylanders Swap Force, it's that the toy-to-life genre is showing no signs of becoming another ephemeral fad. The game takes the series to a new creative peak without compromising the level of fun and charm that has helped Skylanders attain the status of global phenomenon.

Project Cars is a game that requires practice, patience and a whole lot of skill. It's not the easiest game to pick up and play, but it's definitely one of the most rewarding when you put in the time and finally nab yourself a podium finish.

Mortal Kombat X is as violent, outrageous and over-the-top as its predecessors, but somewhere hidden behind the brilliant new Fatalities and wince-worthy X-Ray moves is a fighting game with actual depth.

NBA 2K15 builds on the foundations laid down by its predecessors, providing an all-star basketball experience marred only by online issues.

Aside from the audiovisual presentation, the Advance Wars remake plays it considerably safe. That isn't a bad thing in itself, particularly since the foundations of the game mostly hold up. There is still plenty of fun to be had here. But it also means that this package is less interesting than it could have been.

Gravity Rush is one of the most impressive titles to land on the Vita to date. It's rare to see a project with such lofty ambitions executed so well. The bold new mechanics are complemented by an engaging story, striking visuals and atmospheric soundtrack. If you were looking for an excuse to purchase the Sony handheld, look no further than this must-have gem.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Pokemon: Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby don't innovate, but they do a good job of bridging the gap between old and new.

Horizon's DLC Frozen Wilds feels like a very natural extension of Zero Dawn. The new snowy location markedly separates it from the rest of the game, and powerful new gear gives you more than enough drive to discover the region's secrets. It's not a dramatic step forward – but if you loved Zero Dawn, then this is a snow-capped version with more addictive, beautiful and barmy adventures in a world you'll happily be buried in for hours. Roll on the sequel!

Beat the Beat: Rhythm Paradise is one of the best mini-game compilations on the Wii, which is quite remarkable considering the competition.

From frustrating beginnings to high-score runs involving nukes and boosts, Luftrausers is a game packed with a surprising amount of depth, infinite replayability, and truly satisfying risk versus reward gameplay.

For us, when it works its magic, it really works. It’s certainly the most exciting Pokémon game in years, and even if it’s a little overambitious – wouldn’t we rather have that experimentation over the same journey we’ve been on many, many times?

While there were a couple of things that didn't quite work for me, the stories that the machine holds, the strong writing, and the novelty of the game itself elevated TR-49 into something that really pulled me in. It's a fascinating puzzle game, and one that I hope doesn't go under the radar.

Hearkening back to the original Dark Souls, the expansion is impressively intricate, challenging and extremely fulfilling.

As a tribute to a franchise's greatest moments, it's almost unparalleled in its breadth and attention to detail, and whether you're a long-time fan or someone who has only skimmed through a few core entries, there's no better way to revisit the series.

Most disappointingly, however, is the lack of GamePad functionality from a first-party Nintendo game.

It's a game that, I think, is newcomer-friendly and a good starting point if you've ever wanted to give the series or the sim racing genre a go. There will obviously be more to like for car fans, but this also comes across as a polished title that's considerate towards newer players. I've enjoyed the hours I've spent with Forza Motorsport, and I can see myself going back and playing some more.

The game's nonsensical internal logic and humor is a lot of what makes McPixel so charming. The downside is that failing a puzzle means repeating it until you get it right.

Watch Dogs 2 is the game we wanted to play the first time around. It's bold, beautiful and tells a story filled with people you care about and missions that are well built, exciting and sometimes hilarious. The hacking options are extensive and enable you to have a lot of fun and be creative with the missions, despite the often serious tone of the story itself. The player choice is immense too, fully putting the player in the driving seat. If the driving itself just had more personality, Watch Dogs 2 would be perfect.

FIFA 16 is undoubtedly an impressive beast of a game that's stuffed with official leagues and licenses, game modes and other little touches that add flavor to the match day experience.

It's not a wholesale reinvention, but rather a confident leap forward from a publisher in tune with its sport. The career mode lacks a bit of personality, but it's still a good frame for what is most important - the racing.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Pokemon: Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby don't innovate, but they do a good job of bridging the gap between old and new.

It is a blending of genre and style that is an unexpected treat, and already one of the year's role-playing game highlights.

That is the dilemma of Minecraft Xbox 360 Edition. What is there is fun, but incomplete; with each purchase there is an investment of trust that Minecraft will grow and evolve on Xbox 360 as it continues to do on PC. Of course, those venturing into Minecraft's world for the first time would never know that pieces of the puzzle are still missing.

With gorgeous visuals and smooth controls, Need for Speed: Most Wanted is a great, if unsurprising, pick for your mobile racing needs.

The abandoned cruise ship setting evokes a sense of fear and isolation that was missing from its predecessor, rivalling early games in the scare stakes.

Expelled! follows a similar blueprint to Overboard!, but ambition in its narrative design helps the game to feel rewarding in a different way. There's more to the story than trying to clear Verity's name. How Verity develops as a character across several playthroughs is the reason why Inkle's latest is able to stand out on its own.

Zoombies: Animales de la Muerte takes the lane-based tower defense of Plants vs Zombies and adds a more action-heavy twist to make it better fit touchscreen devices.

The linear campaign structure is a bit limited compared to the first game's branching missions, but with both American and Japanese campaigns to play through and over 180 missions Sid Meier's Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies will keep strategy players coming back again and again.

For fans who already play and love Terraria on another platform, the iOS port is a decent supplement if you need a fix away from home. But due to control issues and the lack of multiplayer, a supplement for the real thing is all it will be.

Its fascinating story and well-balanced array of puzzles means Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask is probably the best outing in the series since the ground-breaking original, and the new approach to visuals once again reminds you of the system's now forgotten selling point; its terrific 3D screen.

With some truly breathtaking battles, great online play and the promise of free challenges to come, Monster Hunter 3: Ultimate is just what Nintendo's fledging console needs.

The dual-stick shooter impresses from both gameplay and visual standpoints, without bringing anything new to the genre.

Not only does The Stick of Truth capture the show's wicked sense of politically incorrect humor, but it wraps it up in what is actually a pretty fun turn-based role-playing game, making it a must for fans of the series and the fantasy genre.

At least GT Racing 2 doesn't make you wait for repairs like in other mobile racing sims, but the constant downtime that accompanies upgrades gets in the way of an otherwise smooth ride.

Stealth Inc 2 is a remarkably well-crafted and well-paced platformer, and one of the most welcome surprises to arrive on the Wii U this year.

Crush! is a clever puzzle game that isn't afraid to push your reflexes, while being perfectly suited to playing a quick round or two on the go.

F1 2016 gives you even better racing than last year's version, then makes it the centre of a brilliant career mode. The handling, AI and sense of speed have never been better, while the changes to starting and the new practice goals have a major impact on the race weekend. This is an F1 game for F1 fans, but exciting enough to pull in those who'd never normally sit through qualifying. You can't really ask for more than that.

A satisfying blend of high-speed action, chaos, and strategy makes this glorious revival of the F-Zero franchise stand out. Let's hope it won't be another 19 years before we get another game in the series.

For what it is, N++ is great. It's a puzzle game that is equal parts demanding, equal parts destroying. Everything that worked before has been tweaked and tuned, and there's oodles of extra content within and outwith the solo campaign.

PES 2015 lacks FIFA 15's match day flair, instead letting its football do the talking. With exemplary action on the field and a much meatier online mode to get stuck into, football fans are in for a real treat.

The main slight against Antichamber is its personality, or lack of. It's visually interesting but also feels atmospherically empty and austere. If you can embrace that, though, and you have enough patience to crack the obstacles in your way, there may not be a puzzle game this year more rewarding as this one.

Sumo Digital has done a great job paying homage to Sega's legacy, but Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is more than a mere nostalgia fest, creating a polished racer in its own right with enough energy and playability to rival the Mario Kart series.

If it's more surprising, rule-breaking encounters that you're after, then look no further.

FIFA 15 may not be brimming with new ideas and game modes, but it is the most polished and enjoyable version of the football sim yet.

Focusing and doubling down on the right areas while telling a story that often asks thought-provoking and difficult questions, the game provides a memorable time without overstaying its welcome.

Whether it's learning the ropes with Combot, attempting to best a challenging arcade mode, taking on tag teams with friends, or going global with 'World Tekken Federation', the package is always entertaining. Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is undoubtedly one of the deepest and most entertaining fighting games in years, proving that like a well-oiled tag team, both quality and quantity can coexist in perfect harmony.

While it's true that dragon riding promises so much and delivers so little, and antagonist Maarik is somewhat underdeveloped as a villain, 'Dragonborn' is exactly what Skyrim fans have been waiting for since exhausting the main campaign. Solstheim is a fantastic location, packed with interesting landmarks, challenging enemies and a wide variety of quests, and reigniting that initial sense of awe.

Virtual Fighter 5: The Final Showdown shows its age when compared to triple-A contemporary fighters, but it works well as a budget-friendly downloadable release. While the single player modes don't offer a wealth of longevity, there's enough bang for buck value to be found in the online multiplayer to keep the fanbase happy.

The sequel is impressive for its robust drawing suite and shift in focus toward a community art gallery, but casual artists may find the significant bump in quality intimidating, which could hold Draw Something 2 back from being as big of a hit as the original.

Crow Country is one of the best experiences of the year so far, and we think it will be talked about in the same tones as last year's Signalis for its sheer creativity and efforts to reignite passion for the survival-horror genre.

Perhaps the most interesting part of Death Stranding's legacy will be the fascinating and barmy hype train we've all been riding for the last few years. It's certainly been a fun ride, but the destination wasn't worth the wait.

When the whistle blows and the action is go, PES 2013 is easily a match for FIFA, coming closer than ever to wining back its crown.

The Sims 4: Eco Lifestyle is an impressive expansion that emphasises not only green living but also community. The biggest success stems from how the core features come together in a cohesive way to make your neighbourhood feel connected, backed by Evergreen Harbor's memorable world.

The story ekes out slowly and drips darkness and tension as you play hide and seek with a cast of horrors – most notably The Thin Man – leading to a blinding twist which only left us more unsettled yet ready to jump back in for another ride.

Disturbing, thrilling, and absorbing at the same time, Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo is much more than your average horror game. Square Enix has delivered a fantastic tale that deserves to be getting more attention than it currently has.

The extensive RaceNet-powered multiplayer mode, in particular, offers an enormous amount of things to do and players to challenge, which should keep fans on the road until the studio's next hotly-anticipated release. Let's just hope we don't have to wait another five years for GRID 3.

Tiny Troopers 2 is a bigger, and almost better, game than the original. The structure is favored more toward in-app purchases this time around, which sadly interferes with the difficulty balance more than it needs to.

Its finely-tuned balance between character classes, collectable loot and level progression are unmatched in the genre, earning the crown in its name.

Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath HD is unlikely to earn the same level of acclaim the original garnered in 2005, but it's a welcome addition to PSN. While you'll find better platforming and first-person shooting elsewhere, the way this one merges the two still makes it feel fresh seven years down the line.

It reaches highs that some Halo recent entries still haven't reached, and due to some unfortunate pacing, some of its biggest lows, too. All in all, its timeless combat ensures that old fans can soundly enjoy it once again, while newcomers can fully appreciate why it's always been so highly regarded.

Be prepared for some huge irritations but buy The Last Guardian despite these. It's the kind of game you won't forget.

The rigid quest structure and age-old combat system feel archaic when measured up against the new kid on the block Guild Wars 2, and the new features that the Mists of Pandaria brings aren't quite enough to recommend it to MMORPG newcomers over the NCsoft title. Blizzard has done plenty right with its latest expansion, but the battle to rule this thriving genre could be about to heat up like never before.

Time Surfer is essentially more Tiny Wings with a rewind feature, which for some fans will be enough, but won't convert anyone who wasn't already fond of the game it's based on to begin with.

It keeps you on edge just enough to pique your curiosity for what the next mystery will bring, and marries that mystery with an eerily beautiful world worth being curious about.

The Sims 4 has worked hard over the last few years to give players more options than ever to customise their Sims, and this pack is a continuation of that direction — with its focus on evolving large parts of the gameplay a refreshing attempt at making a Sim's lifetime more colourful and rounded.

At its best, Fang and their friends' journey is affecting and thought-provoking, and while their time threatens to be cruelly cut short, the time we spent at Volcano High was mostly well-spent.

They say it's impossible to please everyone, but Splinter Cell: Blacklist comes admirably close.

Metro: Last Light rarely feels like a revolutionary shooter experience, but it embraces the traditions of its genre and combines them with trail-blazing visuals and a gripping story.

While Viewfinder will leave you wanting more, it is one of the best and most unique in the genre to come out in some time, with gameplay that never gets old as it repeatedly finds ways to surprise and impress. Whether you're a casual puzzle player or have experience, Viewfinder deserves a spot in the photo album of must-play titles of the year.

Even though the randomly-generated levels can sometimes seem to be unfair in their layout, the intense rush draws you back in, making Boson X an ideal game for mobile masochists.

Lil' Guardsman is charming and novel enough that it's worth playing, but a flawed approach that skirts around aspects of the core idea holds the overall experience back.

Joe Danger 2: The Movie is a very solid sequel that provides more of the same but delivers a more exciting package around the basic mechanics.

The Shivah: Kosher Edition was overlooked by most players upon its initial release in 2006, but adventure game fans would be making a huge mistake to let that happen a second time to this wonderfully written murder mystery.

Of course, that is assuming the second act can satisfactorily tie everything together. Act 1, if played at a relaxed pace while exploring every dialog possibility, is about a three-hour adventure.

With the promise of regular content updates, Carbine's opus has the potential to achieve great things, but whether it realizes this potential largely depends on its success in amassing a community. But for now, WildStar is a massive multiplayer online game done right, blending the traditional with forward-thinking combat, high production values and an engaging world that begs exploration.

Nidhogg is definitely a blast if you have a few friends around, and it's easy to see why it has been hyped up over the last few years.

As such, Battlefield 4 becomes a game about its online and little else. For most, this isn't a bad thing, but when other games are offering the best both on the web and off, we feel the next Battlefield could do better.

While Splatoon isn't quite the revelation some were hoping for, it's stupidly fun. The only concern is longevity, with the brief single-player and only two main modes to play online.

Pacing issues aside, Riptide GP2 is the mobile spiritual successor to Wave Race and Hydro Thunder fans have been hoping for.

Discover University is a generous package with plenty to do and experience, but the biggest appeal lies in the way higher education is integrated with the rest of the game to provide further storytelling opportunities for your Sims. This expansion is another success in what has been a very strong year for the franchise, and is particularly worth considering for players who like to come to The Sims for realism narratives.

True Colors makes an extremely strong case for the best Life Is Strange game yet, with an affecting story that tackles themes such as loss and belonging and featuring the series' most likeable protagonist to date in Alex Chen. The town of Haven Springs is also a standout, and by the end of the game, I was sad that I had to say goodbye to the cast of characters. Hopefully this isn't the last time we see Alex.

Top-notch writing, great characters and the ever-present thrills of the courtroom - this is unmistakably an Ace Attorney game.

One excellent new addition is the option to test weapons in a firing range before games begin. Having gone into many a battle with the wrong gun in the past, this is definitely something we found useful.