Cut the Rope 2 brings creative new puzzles to the table without losing track of what made the original game so addictive in the first place. With the promise of more worlds on the way, Om Nom fans can happily look to Cut the Rope 2 to help satisfy their appetite for puzzle games.

Icycle: On Thin Ice is a game that is at once both silly and poignant, backed up by solid level design that makes it the perfect game to play during the cold winter months.

Chock-full of content and fresh ideas, Skylanders SuperChargers revitalises the toy-to-life series by seamlessly integrating racing into the mix and cranking up the variety.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker might come at a slower pace than Mario, but it's a platformer that's often just as endearing.

While we would have preferred a greater challenge, Mario and Luigi Dream Team Bros is a hugely entertaining game with a funny script, a pleasing aesthetic and lots of unique and interesting gameplay twists.

Azran Legacy adds the right amount of variety to make this final entry feel as fresh as when the series was first introduced, cementing Professor Layton as one of the finest adventure franchises to grace a Nintendo handheld.

This is not a revolution as far as open-world games go, it's more of a compendium of recognizable elements that have been twisted just enough to make them seem new and different for the uninitiated.

A triumphant return for the series. It may not be the most realistic extreme sports sim out there, but it captures everything fans have loved about the franchise since its 2000 debut, and brings a raft of innovative new features to the table. You won't find a better snowboarding experience elsewhere.

But anti-climatic ending aside, Firewatch is a truly unique experience that packs an emotional punch. Razor-sharp dialogue and exceptional voice acting only stoke its flames and help it burn brighter.

A lack of new levels and the omission of online play definitely damages the title, but the wonderful level design, intuitive controls and addictive gameplay makes it easy to overlook such glaring faults.

Life Is Strange 2 is an entirely new story with an entirely new cast of characters. Its only link to the first game, based on the first episode, is that it takes place in the same universe – but that was perhaps the best direction Dontnod Entertainment could have taken. Starting virtually from scratch has allowed the developer to experiment and push themselves as storytellers, and the result is a more grounded and mature story that has real potential.

The new settings, intriguing characters and a fresh take on familiar faces all combine to make an extremely memorable adventure, especially when you consider the amount of plot turns and twists you go through.

It's not a huge leap forward, and is slightly overshadowed by the launch of next-gen systems, but there's enough content to keep petrolheads busy until the inevitable PS4 sequel.

If you can wrestle through the controls though, Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse is host to imaginative levels, clever camera work and an abundance of Disney charm to keep you happily playing for hours.

It may have problems, but Final Fantasy XV is bursting with personality and it's hard to dislike. Like any true friend, you'll learn to love it despite its flaws.

Hitman GO is far cleverer than it has any right to be, putting a refreshingly unconventional spin on the stealth genre.

The enemy AI is deviously smart, and will not hesitate to take advantage of every trick you can think of and more. That also only means it is all the more satisfying when you finally learn to outsmart it, making Skulls of the Shogun a must for all hardcore armchair generals.

Dungeons of Hinterberg is an absolute delight to experience. It's challenging enough to keep you on your toes, but never so frustrating that it drops the ball on its cosy core. We were hooked from start to finish and can't wait to jump back in for another holiday in Hinterberg.

The first half of Lost Records rewards you for your patience and delivers a pretty devastating cliffhanger ending. We can’t wait to see how Tape 2 plays out, and it’s hard not to urge anyone with an interest to give this one some time. You might just be surprised what you find.

Although Deus Ex GO is a neat little package with great visuals, tricky puzzles and a compact storyline, it's let down by a control system that isn't as tight as its forbearers.

An extremely solid port of the original.

The fact that it is actually possible to earn enough currency to unlock everything makes Chip Chain unique among free-to-play games, to the delight of players. All of it leads back to a satisfying core matching game that will keep players glued to their touchscreens for a long time to come.

Soul Calibur V represents a strong return for the series, with battles more hard-hitting and free-flowing than ever before. Long-term fans might bemoan changes to the core mechanics, such as the removal of Critical Finishes and Guard Impact, but it's hard not to view most of its additions as progress.

Wasteland 2 might be daunting to newcomers, then, but its a sequel that successfully captures the strategic depth and black humor of the original...Brian Fargo and his team at InXile have delivered a quintessential role-playing experience with infinite possibilities.

There's never a dull moment in Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. There's a new item at practically every turn, and you can't travel more than a few feet without stumbling upon a side-quest. Players always have one skill or another that they can be honing, and the option to visit the Fateweavers is always there for a change of pace.

A triumphant mix of vintage shooter mechanics and high-octane driving segments. The end result is a title that captures the essence of its genre-defining predecessors while offering fans something new. id's Tech 5 engine ensures that this is the studio's best-look release to date, and the sheer volume of features on offer make it one of the most rewarding.

Players uninterested in collecting all of the stars and going back to earn medals will likely feel that Sleepwalker's Journey is over far too quickly. It is, with levels that are meant to be replayed and mastered rather than offering a lengthy adventure.

Stellar Blade is a hard game to pin down in the end. The combat really sings in its moments and the boss fights are some of the most memorable you’ll encounter in this genre, but it’s bogged down by a bland story, uninteresting characters and the need to make boobs wobble in every second of every cutscene. There’s some fun to be had in there if you can look past its issues, but in an age of games costing £70 or over, whether it’s worth that is entirely questionable.

It isn't perfect and whether or not it surpasses its predecessor is up for debate – this is a story that is different in scope – but Hellblade 2 is one of the standout experiences of the year so far and has been worth the wait.

It provides plenty of bang, bang, boom for your buck, and whether you're a long-time fan or partial to the odd shooter, Black Ops 3 should keep you more than busy until Infinity Ward returns with Ghosts 2, Modern Warfare 4 or whatever the hell it is they're working on next.

Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 is an enormously enjoyable tag-team fighting game, let down by Capcom's poor sense of timing. Releasing the game so soon after the original leaves a sour taste, especially considering that the 12 new characters - the main attraction - could have been added as DLC.

The overall game may fail to hit the same (perhaps unrealistically) lofty highs of one of the best titles on the Switch, but it's impressive how much it manages to feel like a Fire Emblem game and not just a Warriors title with familiar characters thrown in. That is its greatest strength, and the result is an experience where it's easy to warm to and invest in your favourite Fódlan characters all over again.

A bright, colourful and tasty blend of all your favourite multiplayer shooters, it will leave you with a big smile on your face and feeling good inside.

Engage plays confidently and is a highly enjoyable game when you're thrust into battle, the small innovations pushing the strategy and combat into new territory for the series. But it's held back by bland storytelling that fails to provoke much emotion or convey a sense of drive as you canter towards the next destination on the world map. It's a solid Fire Emblem, but lacks the lasting impact to rank as a classic.

After an opening act bogged down by tutorials and dodgily scripted story sequences, Watch Dogs removes the shackles, takes some chances and begins to live up to its own hype...Despite its pacing issues, Watch Dogs manages to tell a worthwhile story that's backed up by some novel new ideas in both single and multiplayer.

Bayonetta Origins is a charming spin-off adventure with unique mechanics, beautiful visuals and an engrossing soundtrack that always suits the mood. It's a triumph on its own merits. While the gameplay develops at a satisfying pace, some fans of the mainline series might find it lacking in some complexity. But with a chance to delve deeper into the Bayonetta world and follow along this coming-of-age tale, it’s hard not to recommend this game to fans of the series and newcomers alike.

The series is in need of some lick and polish, but there's more than enough to put a smile of the faces of comic book fans.

Cottage Living will make a lot of fans happy, and there are plenty of positives in the expansion's attempt to make good on the farming and countryside themes. It's a shame then that a number of aspects hold the pack back from realising its full potential. Henford-on-Bagley is a nice enough world, but errs too much on the safe side to leave a lasting impression.

Dead Ahead's short bursts of gameplay are well suited to mobile gaming. A few intrusive ads threaten to hold the game back, but don't let that scare you off from the best use of a scooter in gaming.

Simply because it builds on an already fantastic game, Football Manager 2017 is in itself a winner. But a lot of the new features feel a little rough around the edges. The social aspects are repetitive, the improved graphical engine disappointing and there isn't much to tempt those who don't want to sign the next 12-months away to a simulation game.

The time is definitely right to reboot the Assassin's Creed franchise with new characters and settings, but Revelations marks a fitting finale to this magnificent franchise to date.

At times, Volume may fly too close to its Metal Gear Solid roots - creator Mike Bithell has unashamedly noted 1998's stealth 'em up as a distinct source of inspiration - but what it lacks in immediate originality, aesthetically at least, it makes up for in innovative, engaging, and challenging level design.

Control issues aside, Lili is a charming mobile adventure game, and a definite showpiece for smartphone visuals for a while to come.

Uncharted: Golden Abyss might come across a little on the gimmicky side with its use of the Vita hardware, but the series magic is here in spades.

If Far Cry 3 was the dinner entree when it released last year, then Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is an ice cream sundae on top of a slice of chocolate cake for dessert. It goes a bit farther than it needs to for some of its parody, but the game's core is as strong as ever wrapped in a love letter to the '80s vision of cool.

It's easy to feel a little jaded about yet another LEGO game, especially coming so soon after LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes. But that soon fades as you jump into LEGO The Lord of the Rings. This huge, open-world game simply never misses a beat and also breathes new life into the familiar property of The Lord of the Rings.

Give the free levels a try, and you will have a hard time not downloading the additional campaigns right away.

From the tiniest trickle of water to the largest tidal wave, or the smallest grain of sand to the biggest mountain top, every element combines to make From Dust one of the most beautiful and compelling games available on Xbox Live Arcade.

Space Marine 2 is a brutally fun action game that will be best experienced with friends in multiplayer, and while the gameplay and story itself are serviceable and don't do much to innovate the series or genre, fans of Warhammer or anyone looking for an old-school shooter will have a good time turning tyranid swarms into puddles of blood.

A well-presented and engaging horror-themed first-person shooter. The story elements tread a delicate balance between the usual mobster clichés, yet the quality of the writing ensures that the game never becomes overbearing. Its also admirable that the campaign is utterly linear yet also hugely engrossing.

Trials Fusion may not make as far of an evolutionary leap forward as its predecessor, but that doesn't make it any less worthy a successor to the Trials name.

Everyone's experiences in Elite: Dangerous will be unique to them, and it only takes a couple of mesmerising ones to justify the early grind.

For nostalgic fans, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is worth it on iOS just to take one last drive through the city with you wherever you go. But if you actually hope to complete missions and play the story, this is probably the worst version you can get.

Old Skies is an engaging point-and-click. It may not deviate heavily from the genre's formula, but the way the game bakes the time-travel aspects into some of the puzzle-solving provides a number of highs, and Fia's touching story and the twists along the way are worth experiencing.

While it remains to be seen whether or not Ascension's multiplayer mode will receive the backing of a sizeable community, we can safely say that after eight years of making God of War games, Santa Monica Studio still knows how to craft an epic and enjoyable single-player experience unmatched in scale.

If anything justifies the toys-to-life tag, it's LEGO Dimensions, which thanks to its fresh take on the toy portal, brilliantly varied licences and sets that actually need building, has reinvigorated what is still a relatively new genre. Disney and Skylanders may just have to raise their techy-toy game.

Pokemon White Version 2 is unlikely to convert anyone who was previously unconvinced by the installments of old, or ensnare many newcomers from the older demographic, but the series has always had a Marmite quality to it.

Puppeteer may not be perfect, but it's easy to forgive any minor gameplay transgressions when you have a title as beautiful and entertaining as this. Overshadowed though it may turn out to be, Puppeteer is worthy of a standing ovation.

Joe Danger Infinity doesn't take the series to new heights, but the old daredevil still has plenty of life left in him.

Avowed is full of consequential player choices, meaningful side content and rewarding exploration all backed up by slick movement and some of the best combat in a first-person action RPG. It might not reinvent the genre, but Obsidian has achieved everything they set out to by creating a super fun adventure worth your time.

But Sleeping Dogs has to rank as one the pleasant surprises of this year. While the campaign is relatively short, there is loads to do and the missions, story and presentation come together to make a pretty solid package. And you always have the option to jump in a car, flick on the radio and cruise around Hong Kong looking for trouble, before it finds you.

Company of Heroes 2 is a worthy sequel to a classic RTS, honoring its roots and handling its subject matter with the utmost respect. There are times when it will feel very familiar to series veterans, but sticking to your guns is no bad thing when they have never let you down in the past.

Sadly, the touchscreen controls are a bit lacking for the iOS port, making the paddle a little more sluggish than felt natural. The control issues are unfortunate, because Wizorb is otherwise a ridiculously charming evolution of the Breakout formula.

Even so, find some good friends to play with, and RAD Soldiers is a very well done and balanced strategy game on the go.

Touchgrind Skate 2 is a hard game to get into, with unconventional controls that lend themselves to an unforgiving learning curve. But the reward for overcoming those initial trials is high, and worth all the hardships along the way.

Smash Hit is perfect as a quick pick up game anytime, and satisfying in a way that still doesn't lose its impact after weeks of repeated playthroughs.

Even though the courtroom minigames can sometimes become a distraction, it is the strength of the writing – cleverly balancing drama, horror and humor – which immediately pulls you back into its intriguing web of mysteries and makes it difficult to put your Vita down.

Skylanders Giants is a worthy sequel and recommendable to anyone who was a fan of the original. To have the best time, you should ideally begin with new Skylanders instead of breezing past half the campaign with your existing characters, but thankfully the novelty of the toys hasn't worn off and the actual game behind the grand concept still remains a blast.

For all of its drawbacks, when the whistle blows and the game kicks off, PES 2012 offers a satisfying, unpredictable and utterly enjoyable game of virtual football.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive neither deviates from or significantly alters the principles the series is built upon, making it a fan-pleasing edition to the fold.

That said, with heists, race editors and much more still to come, GTA Online has enormous potential, and we wouldn't bet against Rockstar from tapping into every last drop.

A hugely enjoyable hack and slash title, with an incredibly satisfying combat system, memorable boss battles and an entertaining narrative.

A hugely enjoyable open-world adventure which shouldn't fail to raise a smile. It would be criminal to ignore it.

Whether it's the best occult or not is another matter. As a package, Werewolves is a shade above Vampires by 2022 standards – with supporting content like the world and accompanying lore fleshing out the occult beyond the core gameplay. But we'd also argue that a vampire Sim, by itself, has more engaging interactions with other Sims and weaknesses that have greater impact on everyday moments.

The Plucky Squire is bursting with so much joy and celebration of the medium that you can’t help but adore every minute you spend holding the controller.

It's a blast, no matter how easy. Kirby Triple Deluxe, like its namesake, has the fine-tuned ability to suck you right in, no matter who you are.

Mario Party Superstars is the strongest outing for the long-running franchise since at least the early GameCube days. It doesn't take many risks and admittedly lacks imagination, but this party leans on nostalgia and understands why these games are so popular among longtime fans. It's a well-executed and highly enjoyable return to the series' roots while remaining largely accessible to first-time players.

If you're prepared to put in the hours and make those fingers bleed, Rocksmith is the perfect learning tool, hitting all of the right notes and striking a chord with rock fans.

Dream Home Decorator isn't for everyone, but those who enjoy renovating homes will be impressed by a generous variety of items and an engaging new career, even if the amount of new gameplay is on the slight side. It's a shame that the pack has launched with a troubling amount of bugs, and anyone considering making the purchase at this moment in time should keep that in mind.

Infamous: Second Son looks great and plays well enough, but ultimately, the combat, world and story never proves gripping enough to come back for more.

Even though you can play with a couple of guitars co-operatively, it doesn't offer the same group-based action that makes Rock Band 4 such a party favorite, but it does provide something that's radically different to anything that has come before.

Proteus is very much a niche title. Without any real objective or storytelling hook, the open-ended nature will no doubt bore some. That said, its attempts at emergent gameplay are commendable and worth experiencing if this type of game appeals to you.

Consume Me offers an inventive take on narrative design in gaming. In how it blends mechanics and story, it uses the power of the medium to create something that's uniquely engaging and empathetic, and leaves a lasting impact that helps to cement it as one of the year's best indies.

With gorgeous visuals, great presentation, intuitive controls and deep game modes, Madden NFL 15 is undoubtedly the MVP of American football games.

Football Manager has always been more than a game, but it is also more than a football product. It's both of these things in equal measure and updates of this quality will ensure that its legacy remains strong within the sport and among its fan base.

There's no getting away from the fact The Division is the best open-world that Ubisoft has ever created, while the gameplay is consistently entertaining and cohesive. The deep RPG elements and tactical gunplay just add to that. Plus, the fact you can get so much enjoyment out of being a solo player, with that experience heightened by buddying up, is quite a feat.

Despite its name change Stealth Inc is very much still a bastard, though in the best of ways. It is brutally challenging, but never unfair.

In the end, Burial at Sea finishes on a much stronger, series-apt note than the one it began on, and it's impressive how Irrational Games drops curtains on its universe with something truly unexpected but wholly fitting.

The game can become a bit of a grind as more challenging missions may require multiple attempts, but the core swinging mechanic remains fun throughout. Knights of the Round Cable captures the feel of an easy to learn, difficult to master game with controls perfectly suited for touch devices.

Creative Assembly's award-winning strategy now comes in a brand new flavor, and it bears all the hallmarks of a franchise rejuvenated.

The remaster wants to remind you of what it was like to play Oblivion in 2006, but some changes make it lose sight of this and it feels just enough like a different experience to be jarring. At the same time, this version does not commit the other way and retains some of Oblivion's notable flaws – resulting in a game that's caught in the middle and does not quite work either as a remaster or as a remake.

Mt. Komorebi is a wonderful world that we cannot get enough of. Backed by a generous number of activities and features that come together in a satisfying way, it's a place that we're sure we will return to time and time again. Snowy Escape is a stellar expansion, and arguably the best since Seasons.

At its core, Thomas Was Alone is a celebration of the differences between people, and as a celebration its puzzles are far more concerned with offering a hurdle to overcome rather than obstacles to fail. It's a subtle difference, but an important one.

An enjoyable and laid back puzzle game that's easy to grasp but tricky to master. It's a little on the plain side and lacking in variety, but the addition of new puzzle types combined with the promise of user-generated content, should pull players back for more.

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed on iOS may suffer compared to versions of the game on other systems, but for kart racers on a smartphone it's one of the best games in town.

The number of cars has also been greatly reduced, clocking in around the 200 mark. As only a casual petrolhead, this isn't something that bothered me personally, but it's unlikely to be well received by hardcore fans.

Hitman: Absolution does have a few flaws, but these certainly don't take away from what is a polished and in-depth package that turns killing into a fine art. Hitman purists may decry the latest title, but in our opinion the balance between stealth and action is just right. Most importantly, you feel that you always have the freedom to bring death in any way you choose. The world is your oyster; now go kill in it.

Just when you might have expected the original Toys-to-Life franchise to be running out of steam, Activision has brought it back, revitalised and exciting. Imaginators might just be the best Skylanders yet.