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.