Puzzle Craft attempts a different approach to the popular city-building genre, replacing the typical microtransaction model with a satisfying puzzle game.

Once Upon A Monster isn't the most challenging of titles, which is understandable considering its audience, but it's a fun-filled Kinect game brimming with life and full of charm.

Temple Run was by no means the first endless runner on the mobile scene, and its success paved the way for an influx of worthy competitors. With this in mind, Temple Run 2 feels like a trek across well-trodden ground, albeit a scenic one, rather than a substantial expansion of an existing formula.

'The Knife of Dunwall' isn't a bad piece of downloadable content, and is in fact good value for money if you're into collecting everything or playing higher difficulty levels. It's fun at times for the same reasons the main game was.

A few bugs aside, Cart Life is an astounding achievement.

Despite feeling instantly familiar, LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes isn't just more of the same. It improves the core gameplay of the series, adds new features and characters, offers a long, engaging and well-presented story and swaps the hub area for a visually rich and fun-packed Gotham City to explore. There are issues that need addressing in the open world, but this is still the best LEGO game in the franchise so far.

Overall, Transformers: Fall of Cybertron continues the great work of its predecessor and also takes that to new heights. The campaign is visually rich, highly playable and gripping throughout, while the multiplayer offers incentive to come back for more. Most crucially, though, High Moon Studios has again done justice to these much-loved, shapeshifting robots.

The objectives don't change the way levels play too much, but they do offer additional challenges to extend the game's life. The core pinball aspect is tons of fun too, so you'll be looking for reasons to play more of it. It's brought together with an utterly charming art style and cast of furball characters that makes Momonga Pinball Adventures a joy to play on the go.

It may not be the most progressive title of the PS Vita's launch lineup, but it's a worthy addition to its stable.

Even though a watered-down version of the game is available to play for free, Super House of Dead Ninjas on Steam is a great time-waster and comes recommended.

Rotolla is an interesting take on puzzle games, stressing reflexes over strategy. The minimalist art style may stray a bit on the bland side, but once you get going Rotolla's puzzling gameplay will keep you hooked.

Valiant Hearts: The Great War is a superbly titled game. It is a valiant effort at a sincere depiction of war by developers whose hearts were clearly in the right place, telling a gripping story that is still respectful of its source.

Despite the butterfly effect's premise, a ham-fisted story means you won't care about who might live and who might die. It's not enough to save the game from disappointment, and in the end, Until Dawn is its own self-inflicted nightmare.

New Pokémon Snap is a delight, and a big part of that comes from how the Pokémon are brought to life, from the animations to their behaviours and the way they inhabit the world. Each unique creature is afforded their moment to shine, contributing towards making the Lental region a vivid and fulfilling place to explore.

In some regards, LittleBigPlanet 3 isn't the giant leap forward it could have been. The floaty physics that hampered the core platforming in previous games have not been addressed, and it doesn't feel like a significant technological advancement, even with the raw power of the PS4 on its side.

Future Soldier could have ended up a real mess - and some hardcore Ghost Recon fans may still think it is - but the majority of players will find a really engaging game in both single and multiplayer. Ubisoft has managed to simplify some of the tactical aspects of the series and unite them with a broader action focus.

While some could rightly criticize The Unfinished Swan for what it is lacking, sometimes an empty space can still speak volumes. Just spray a dash of paint, and you may see that it isn't all that empty after all.

Rift is another great entry in the NecroDancer series. It may be a more 'traditional' lane-scrolling rhythm title, but how the game incorporates Crypt's elements to create its own spin on the formula is noteworthy.

Alien: Isolation is one of the most faithful video game adaptations you're ever likely to play, coming across as an homage to Alien and a like-for-like recreation of the used future Ridley Scott introduced us to in 1979.

When you aren't bogged down by text, Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney's crossover gameplay is perfectly complementary, providing an experience we wouldn't object to one day revisiting.

Make no mistake about it, Catherine is a niche title and probably won't be to everybody's taste, but it's also one of the most captivating and absorbing games we've played in quite some time.

While the side-quests can underwhelm and frustrate, the sheer amount of extra content is a welcome addition, making for a more well-rounded role-playing experience and one that well lives up to the Final Fantasy name.

The struggle to portray a vivid world and a sense of place results in the game failing to make much of an emotive impact. Once the credits rolled, there was very little about the experience that stuck with us.

The story is not without its flaws. While there are a lot of different ending variations based on who makes it through the night and some key decisions, the true final chapter of the game ends on a rather abrupt and underwhelming note. But that doesn't change the fact that this is an entertaining and very worthwhile ride, and one that players might want to experience more than once from the beginning to see all of the different ways in which the deadly events at Hackett's Quarry can unfold (including all of the gruesome deaths).

As a near-decade old game, Resident Evil 4 is frequently amazing. As a first time player, there are more than a couple of moments that feel archaic, often frustrating to the point that you may give up playing. See it through to the end, however, and you'll come to realize just what an achievement Resident Evil 4 was for its time, and how well the large majority has held itself together across the last ten years.

Pivvot falls into the same category as games like Super Hexagon - but is just a little more forgiving, and a better experience for it.

Much like TV's Strictly Come Dancing, Just Dance 2014 adopts the same tried and tested formula that has seen it become one of this generation's premiere party games. It doesn't take any risks and fails to innovate, but thanks to its superb soundtrack, hilarious dance routines and much-needed online mode, it's worth dusting off those dancing shoes for one last jive.

OlliOlli achieves exactly what it set out to by providing a stern test of player's reflexes, with a level of playability that will keep them coming back for more punishment. You'll feel the desire to smash your Vita on some of the more taxing courses, but the urge to get back up on that skateboard for yet another attempt will prevent you from going through with it.

Overall, Resident Evil 3's gameplay is solid, fun and thrilling, it's definitely worth playing at some point, but tragically it's all too short lived.

The physics can lead to frustration at times, but Incredipede is so playfully creative that you'll want to push through just to see what form the creature will take next.

Proof that EA hasn't run out of ideas for new creative content just yet.

You'll fall for Alienation's great twitch gameplay, but it's with its RPG-like elements that the hooks really sink in. Alienation has created something that's part twin-stick blaster, part sci-fi dungeon crawler, with all the looting, levelling and upgrading that implies. Limited locations and the repetitive shoot 'em up gameplay might make it a less enticing prospect a few weeks in, but right now it's impossible to resist.

Gears of War: Judgment is not a bad game, but one that very much stands in the shadow of its more illustrious predecessors. It is a bit like going back to a favorite restaurant, only to find that the management has changed and it's just not quite the same anymore...Sure, you'll still have a pretty decent meal, but you'll also leave yearning for days gone by.

The tactical combat and dungeon exploration steal the show, and control fantastically on the touch screen, making Warhammer Quest an easy recommendation for fans of the classic board game and newcomers alike.

Republique Episode 2: Metamorphosis builds on the first episode's foundation for a stronger experience in every respect, with a story build up that is poised to make the wait for episode three feel even longer.

As a simple hack and slash game, ORC: Vengeance is a good fit for mobile. But while it may look the part of a console or PC quality game, it lacks much of the depth and customization of its dungeon crawling contemporaries.

It's the little things that add up to make F1 2013 feel a cut above the previous game. Revised handling, more gameplay modes and the new tyre and rule changes definitely add a lot of depth.

Ultimately, the only real sin committed by All That Remains is that it's a first episode to the second season rather than a sixth episode to the first season.

A severe lack of additional game modes and revolutionary new features means that many of the tweaks will only really be noticeable to hardcore fans. Casual onlookers can rest assured, however, that Madden NFL 12 is one mighty fine football game and worth checking out if you've been on the bench for a few years.

There is the odd flourish of creativity, but it is hard not to feel like it's all been done before, and better. There's still plenty to enjoy, but it doesn't quite carve out its own identity. In short: it's finely crafted, if a bit woolly.

The game covers the events of the comics up through the campsite, with at least two future updates planned adding levels up through the prison and beyond. Fans of the series will surely get a kick out of seeing the comics come to life in The Walking Dead: Assault, but the repetitive level goal might make you feel like a zombie just going through the motions before the game is through.

Who would have thought that a budget digital title would actually outshine some of the big guns of the PS Vita launch lineup? It's the perfect amalgamation of old and new that will please MotorStorm fans and the nostalgia brigade alike.

While Final Fantasy has lost its way in recent years, Theatrhythm is a warm, wonderful reminder of why you fell in love with the series in the first place. While your mileage will depend on your familiarity with the series, in its own right this is a fun and quirky rhythm game full of neat ideas, but for long-time Final Fantasy fans this is nigh-on essential.

Teleglitch is an admirable attempt at making an immersive and challenging roguelike, but various issues considerably bog the experience down. In particular, its insanely high difficulty and repetitive nature make the game dull and unenjoyable. As a result, it's only recommended for masochistic players.

Resources can also be used to open shops, which can upgrade your weapons, magic and skills to help you survive further into the dungeon. Each dungeon run is scored, with your ultimate goal to reach a score of 10,000,000, hence the game's title. It will take dozens upon dozens of attempts to even come close to that score, but each failure is met with the compulsion to try just one more time in this addicting RPG puzzler.

Despite its flaws, Tales of Xillia's excellent characterisation, entertaining battle system and addictive levelling-up and shopping systems ensure that Namco's latest is worth exploring twice over.

The second game Phoenix Wright: Justice for All is the standout of the collection, but all three are fantastic in their own right, and well worth playing for longtime fans and those who haven't tried the series before.

We'll accept that there's some filler and that some of the gameplay's getting long in the tooth, but if TT Games keeps churning out games with this much charm and humour, we'll keep on buying them. As it is, the new combat and puzzle mechanics keep things fresh, while the lure of new stories set around The Force Awakens is hard to resist.

Despite a few minor complaints, largely concerning the bonus content, Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move is an abundant, accessible and entertaining puzzle game that combines Nintendo craftsmanship with a competitive price tag.

Pocket Planes is a free-to-play title, but the intake of both coins and cash come at a fairly consistent rate, allowing a player to progress without actually making an in-app purchase.

It's been a long and painful journey for Square Enix, but the studio has finally delivered an MMORPG that lives up to the Final Fantasy name.

The Wonderful 101 is a great fit for the Wii U, being rich in color and charm and putting the system's unique features to good use. Combat is strategic and rewarding, and some of the mechanics on show are refreshingly innovative.

As a Nintendo game, Mario Golf: World Tour feels uncharacteristically clunky. When the tense thrill of the course takes you, it's a great experience that packs a lot of potential depth, but with confused structures and systems, it takes patience to see the best World Tour has to offer.

Combined with the lack of true innovation, it means that Rock Band 4 only ever achieves Wembley Arena-level greatness - rather than Wembley Stadium-filling excellence. But this is all about pure enjoyment, and after such a long absence and an over-complicated third release, it's a welcome return to form for one of the pioneers of the rhythm action genre.

Infinity Blade 3 offers more of the same for fans, but the constant grinding is showing its age the third time around.

Killzone: Mercenary fulfils many of the broken promises of previous Vita shooters by delivering an experience that replicates the best qualities of its home console predecessors, while taking the series along new avenues.

It's remarkable that a game as lengthy as Dragon's Dogma and with as little plot development manages to hold our interest through to an excellent finale. The combat system is undoubtedly the glue that holds the game together, providing a compelling reason to keep playing.

Ultimately, Rock Band Blitz is a smart and satisfying extension to the Rock Band platform. It should be a no-brainer purchase for Rock Band enthusiasts, but it's also a worthy purchase for anyone who wants an addictive and at times chaotic rhythm title without the fuss of plastic instruments.

'Curse of Naxxramas' is an expansion positioned towards more seasoned players, acting as welcome respite from the climb of the Ranked ladder or the unpredictable gauntlet of the Arena, and rewards with powerful cards you'll keep using long after it's over.

The inclusion of playable villains does just enough to prevent a tried and tested formula from turning stagnant, but with Disney Infinity and Nintendo's Amiibo amping up the competition in the toys-to-life category, future Skylanders titles may have to do more to cement the series' position as market leader.

Just like a trashy novel, Assault Horizon is a decent page turner just as long you try not to think too hard.

The unique anthology style also allows 400 Days to shine on its own, and the brilliantly economic storytelling may even draw some fans to prefer it over the original.

Full of multiple themes that probably shouldn't work, but do. The end result is a solid hack 'n slash title set against jaw-dropping visuals with more than its fair share of eccentricities.

The game isn't as innovative as other recent Mario efforts and not as novel as previous New Super Mario releases. It's still one of the best 3DS games on the market, however, and we strongly suggest saving some of your own coins in order to buy it.

Like a shuffling zombie with its eye on a hunk of meat, Capcom has stayed the path, offering a juiced-up Dead Rising experience that benefits from the next-gen hardware's added horsepower.

Off-field issues remain PES 2014's biggest problem, lacking that one killer game mode needed to overtake its main rival. However, the action on the pitch is the best it's ever been, rivalling and arguably surpassing that of FIFA, and setting up a tasty next-generation battle going forward.

In many ways Abzu looks and feels like a successor to Journey, but while there's mystery and beauty in its underwater world, it's rarely quite as engaging. The simple, predictable gameplay is one barrier, the abstract nature of the story another, creating an experience that's big on audio-visual power and artistry but short on the stuff that made Journey truly magical.

There's plenty to love about Injustice: Gods Among Us, especially if you are a comic book fan. The game combines a compelling story with polished fighting mechanics and some genuine innovation.

Though The Curse doesn't bring much new to the world of puzzle games, it is a substantial collection that will keep players scratching their heads for a long time to come.

The downside is that online matchmaking routinely pairs inexperienced beginners with veterans.

Nintendo Land is a completely unique game unlike anything else available on other consoles, combining the way the Smash Bros. games used Nintendo's history with the innovation of Wii Sports.

Nimble Quest is a fun twist on the classic Snake game, with the random heroes you collect making it a different enough experience each time to keep you coming back.

Labo's best, then, as a collaborative experience, bringing parents and their brood together to flip, fold, tab and, finally, take turns on another fascinating step forward for the ever-unique Nintendo.

Just like Ryu and his never-ending quest to become the world's best brawler, Street Fighter 5 is a work in progress with a long journey ahead of it. And based on this evidence, it's a journey you should most definitely pack your bags for.

As Resident Evil continues to follow the Michael Bay school of thought on tension and Silent Hill struggles to finds its identity, Project Zero is really among the premier survival horror game franchises.

The combo system makes it a unique spin on the Flight Control formula, so that climbing the leaderboards takes some skill along with endurance. However, those who are not particularly competitive with leaderboards may find that the joke wears thin in the time of only a few trips to the bathroom.

The final two cases are undoubtedly a huge cut above the others that take place in Kanai Ward, and it's a shame that the game takes so long before hitting its highs. But stick through to the end, and Rain Code eventually delivers a satisfyingly twisty adventure in spite of its shortcomings – helping to somewhat fill that Danganronpa void.

Sprinkle Islands is much harder than it looks, in part due to occasionally wonky physics, but with greater puzzle variety than its predecessor that shouldn't deter fans.

If they dial back the gorgonzola, the product placement and adjust that cover mechanic, this could have been a perfect game...But, for now, you've got the best-looking game on Xbox One, jam-packed full of familiar faces and top-notch acting, complemented by strong gameplay mechanics and a popcorn-crunching TV series.

#IDARB already earns a spot as one of the Xbox One's premier party games based on its frantic multiplayer matches, striking a fine balance between skill-based competition and playful silliness.

Nintendo has produced a game which is occasionally elating, often frustrating, but which definitely feels like nothing we've tried before. Assuming you're willing to overlook its flaws, ARMS could be a welcome addition to your growing collection of Switch games.

Like the prequel trilogy itself, Angry Birds Star Wars II just isn't as interesting as what came before it, and seems to have forgotten much of what made the series popular in the first place.

The game is pure destructive fun, but that purity comes at a cost. There is no score, leaderboard, or even a level star system, which may turn off some players who want a record of their gaming accomplishments.

Bombcats may have a more cuddly appearance than the developer's past titles, but the impeccable design behind its puzzles stands out as some of Radiangames's best work yet.

Fans of the original will still probably be willing to look past Tokyo Jungle Mobile's awkward controls and less involved combat, and if they do they will find much of the same addicting survival gameplay intact hiding underneath.

It controls well, with Sonic reacting smoothly to the tilt controls.

Quantum Conundrum is a fun and thought-provoking take on the physics-based puzzler. It's quirky and challenging with enough depth to its mechanics to keep players persevering when the going gets tough. If lateral thinking is your thing, you can't go far wrong with this one.

Jack Lumber evolves the slashing formula of titles like Fruit Ninja by adding a bit of finesse. Similarly to the food-slashing game, logs will fly onto the screen and it's your job to hack them into pieces.

It's a game capable of delivering real moments of magic, but is too often marred by inconsistent Kinect controls that can turn those feelings of joy into frustration.

The campaign's story is interesting, and even heartbreaking, but it's weighed down by repetitive gameplay and lurks in the shadow of the great moon that is Modern Warfare Remastered...Then there's the multiplayer, which is the same great stuff that you always wanted with some new, tasty additions, but isn't anywhere near as good as that on offer over in WWI with Battlefield 1.

Soul Sacrifice is undoubtedly one of the deepest and most interesting games available for Sony's handheld. The dark fantasy style and slightly repetitive missions might put some people off, but if you're looking to invest a lot of time into a game and don't mind sacrificing your social life, Keiji Inafune's latest is just the game for you.

Dead Trigger 2 already had amazing visuals, and with the refinements to the controls it now plays almost as good as it looks. There is still some tedious grinding and repeated missions, but overall this is a mobile first-person shooter done right.

Crimson Desert's sandbox playground and beautifully crafted world do a lot of the heavy lifting to just about overshadow its confusing elements, generic story, and boring characters. What's here is an overwhelming amount of content and the bones of an amazing game that has to be respected for its ambitions.

Marvel fans and those looking for a challenge after Infinity Blade will want to pick up Avengers Initiative for its comic book story and fantastic cinematic visuals.

Strider is admirably true to the game that Capcom released on arcades in 1989 and will delight those who still hold a candle for the original, with its unaltered core gameplay and polished production values. With these qualities on side, it's easy to overlook the game's shortcomings and deem it worthy of the Strider name.

Cronos: The New Dawn feels like the first step into a universe we’d love to see expanded upon and is simply a must for any survival horror fan to try. It’s not perfect, but you’ll find plenty to challenge and keep you on edge from start to finish.

Elevated by its stop-motion-inspired animation style, South of Midnight is an enthralling experience that avoids open-world bloat to tell a deeply touching tale.

Another strong Kinect title let down by a lack of longevity and a few minor issues. Certainly, the short play time is offset by the inclusion of Fruit Ninja Kinect and the budget price, while occasional control issues are easily overlooked with a little patience. For the most part, Twisted Pixel has crafted another wonderfully outrageous video game, which plays well and offers a great deal of entertainment, however short-lived that may be.