With this being EA's sixth add-on to the game, fresh ideas are beginning to look thin on the ground with concepts from previous packs re-emerging. That said, Sims fanatics will always be hungry for new content, so there's no reason why this won't be another roaring success.

Immortals of Aveum is the perfect example of a mid-tier experience. There’s some good ideas in there – and some things are executed well – but with so many others not feeling quite right, enjoyment will really vary person to person. We hope Ascendant Studios gets the chance to have a second shot at casting a spell on the genre. If given the space to jettison some tropes and really focus on their concept, there could be something really special here.

While there's good fun to be had in co-op mode, and players who like their shooters chock full of zombies won't be disappointed, this feels likes a somewhat limited package on the whole.

Like most party games, Wii Party U is a hit-and-miss affair. It features a wide selection of fun, albeit overly familiar mini-games, which are complemented by a decent number of unique and innovative multiplayer experiences. It's hampered by a few frustrating design choices, and the thrills are largely short-lived, but it's still a worthy addition to any party over the festive period.

While it's pretty to look at, The Gods: Rebellion offers an inconvenient control layout and relies too heavily on lengthy arena battles. At moments it shines, but those moments are few and far between.

Games like HeartGold and SoulSilver, and the more recent Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, won over fans because they elevated the originals – either by adding engaging new features and areas, or by reimagining their visual style in order to capture the way players felt their beloved childhood games used to look. Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl struggle on both these counts, meaning they can only really be recommended to die-hard fans of the originals. Luckily for any newer fans of the series, there are plenty of other, much better, Pokémon games to dig into.

A very familiar experience, but it's also one that is well-presented, well-designed, and, most importantly, enjoyable to play.

Games like HeartGold and SoulSilver, and the more recent Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, won over fans because they elevated the originals – either by adding engaging new features and areas, or by reimagining their visual style in order to capture the way players felt their beloved childhood games used to look. Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl struggle on both these counts, meaning they can only really be recommended to die-hard fans of the originals. Luckily for any newer fans of the series, there are plenty of other, much better, Pokémon games to dig into.

Loot Hero is a short experience, with it possible to reach the dragon in under 10 minutes, but the difficulty increases each playthrough to encourage you to charge through it all again.

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.

Feed Me Oil 2 is a fun and charming puzzle game that won't leave you stuck scratching your head over a solution for hours.

The developers have crafted a competent third-person shooter in most respects, but the awkward integration of key elements from the XCOM strategy games, such as an in-depth squad system, result in a somewhat disjointed offering.

Kinect Sports: Season Two is a case of one step forward and one step back. Games such as darts, golf, baseball and skiing are intuitive, responsive and make wonderful motion-controlled mini-games, while American football and tennis are poorly executed and offer little in the way of enjoyment.

As it stands, the Steam copy of Dungeon Hearts fails to fulfil its potential. It's visually charming if a bit bland, and the core mechanics are a solid base for what should be an enjoyable game, but it ends up being little more than a decent distraction.

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 comes as no surprise that Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games is another colourful, fun and accessible package offering plenty of family-friendly kicks. While it hardly deserves a gold medal for design and presentation, Wii owners will get some festive thrills out of this one.

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.

The upside is that the rebalanced difficulty makes Trials Frontier the perfect entry point for new players, but series veterans will have to keep waiting to get their full Trials fix on a smartphone.

If not for the unfortunate shot restrictions Pangolin would be a hard puzzle game to put down. As it stands, you'll want to take long breaks between play sessions, but it's still a journey worth taking.

If you have the space and are already a Nike+ convert, Nike+ Kinect Training is a fantastic workout supplement, offering a diverse range of exercises, online functionality and a number of unique features. Unfortunately, occasional Kinect sensor issues ensure that while Nike+ Kinect Training is better than most fitness games on the market, it's still not a patch on getting out and joining a class, or simply going for a run.

Noble Nutlings is a solid first effort for Boomlagoon, offering fun, fast-paced courses and a wide-eyed cast of squirrels that we likely haven't seen the last of.

The slim amount of content is more tolerable for an iOS game though, giving leaderboard chasers an action-packed shooter that is fairly unique among smartphone and tablet games.

If you already own the original on PS3 or Xbox 360 there's not an abundance to write home about. If you don't, Crimewave Edition is still worth your time, but it's far from the perfect score.

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.

While the game should be commended for its engaging plot and compelling narrative, more intuitive puzzles would have made Zellner's investigation far more enjoyable.

While The Dark Knight Rises doesn't quite live up to its cinematic namesake, Gameloft deserve credit for capturing the feel of the Arkham titles if not the depth and challenge. It's very true to the film without being a classic in its own right, so the so-called Nolanites will no doubt find something to appreciate here.

Clumsy Cat should seem instantly familiar to any cat owner. As the loving household pet, your goal is to go through the house and wreck as much of the house as possible before your owners return home.

Chronicles: China is a valiant attempt at expanding such offerings, but it doesn't hit the bar of quality or originality that its genre peers have already set.