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.

Crates falling from the sky can aid your toaster with temporary power-ups like baguettes and bagels, with new bread attacks unlocking the more crates you collect. The downside is that Toast Time's 45 levels can go by rather quickly, but with more power-ups and costumes to unlock it makes for an excellent excuse to keep playing this quirky gem of a game.

While puzzles are almost non-existent, that's fine since the momentum of the adventure isn't interrupted. It's also only an hour long, and at this stage after just one act, it's tough to predict if the subsequent pay-off will be worth the initial investment.

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.