This is a game primarily for people who want to see everything and try to play as well as possible at all times, until they're sitting enthroned on the defeated beast, all achievements or trophies acquired. Every encounter teaches you new intricacies of the brilliant fighting engine, honing your skills in the process. If that's what you're looking for and thought of the last Devil May Cry as a bit too easy, you should rush out and get this.

Even though authenticity-wise Visual Concepts seems to have maxed out this console generation a couple of games ago and big new additions are scarce, NBA 2K13 sits firmly amongst my favorite games this year. I'm excited to see the makers shed the shackles of the old consoles and lead the way into the new generation next season.

This is the sort experience you don't get every day: an easy-to-like spectacle for the masses with enormous production values, but a story right out of the art-house cinema. Granted, the gameplay side doesn't do as much for this experiment as the story and world design do. But this is a balancing act the fewest of teams could pull off. And even if you have the chops, in this risk-averse day and age you still have to have a healthy dose of irrationality to go through with a game as clever as this one. No wonder Levine's team had exactly what it takes.

At this point, though, you already know, if Killer is Dead is for you. It's shrill, chaotic, stupid and quite simply all sorts of genius. Finally, Suda did that one final step to grow as a game designer, no longer banking solely on the weird.

Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams never ceases to impress. But it's not only pretty. Instead it's a very thoughtfully arranged, challenging platformer that six months after its initial release holds up just as well. This currently is, quite frankly, the jump and run of choice.

Dishonored grants us a first look at the future of free-flowing gameplay in the triple A segment. Even though it stumbles over its own freedoms here and there, it still is an absolute winner of a game.

This is a Director's Cut that actually manages to make the original experience better for a change.

If you are longing for a final goodbye with some of your favourite characters of this series, you won't get a better chance than this... Citadel is Mass Effect 3's 'Lair of the Shadow Broker'.

I'd have to make things up to find anything else that's worthy of complaint about this wonderful game. Gaijin Games has taken the best and most appreciated entry in the Bit.Trip saga and honed it to perfection, small lapses in creativity in the final levels notwithstanding. I honestly don't think there's much room for improvement for a possible part three.

Maybe I already told you too much about The Stanley Parable, maybe I should just tell you that you absolutely have to play this curious little gem of a game. Even though it really is playing you and not the other way around.

2K manages to impress the 14th time in a row. That's not an easy feat to accomplish.

In any case, Fall of the Samurai demonstrates what releasing a good add-on truly means. They could have gone down the cheaper "a little more of everything" road. But instead, Creative Assembly invested their hearts, brains and their uncompromising attention to detail into this, to give this expansion its very own charm and character.

It may not be the action-rpg-messiah that some may have expected, but it easily matches its predecessors... Blizzard's new creation defends the throne with a mix of proven gameplay and tons of features.

Even though Rome 2 really put my PC to the test, the newest Total War game managed to convince me thoroughly. Its battlefields are as tactically deep as they are going to get, prettier than I would have dared to dream about and the new tactical options by land and sea are a welcome twist to this superb and quite welcoming strategy title.

You'll leave with the knowledge that sometimes better tech really does make for a better game. On the PC you read the battles better and more immediately and have an easier time, translating the desired action onto the screen. You really become a better fighter in this incarnation. In a genre where milliseconds can make all the difference, this ultimately makes for a more enjoyable experience in total. Ninja Theory really did go the extra mile for the PC, giving DmC the last little push it needed to become something really special.

Even though it's not quite a perfect collection, it's a dazzling value and a brilliant way to prepare for Halo 5: Guardians.

Between the clever level design, the game's gentle way of teaching you the mechanics and the simple, heart-felt story with it's phenomenal finale, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons should be played by pretty much everyone.

Guacamelee does a brilliant job in blending the highlights of the genre's corner stone titles such as Metroid and Castlevania, while still retaining it's own brand of charm.

It's neither as groundbreaking as the first one nor a compelling a narrative as the Max Payne 2 (…) but it's still the kind of 'Welcome Back'-Party you wouldn't want to miss.

A first-class Monster Hunter experience! Sure, its Switch roots are showing, and it's not the most sumptuous game to look at on these new platforms, but Monster Hunter Rise more than makes up for that in the gameplay department.

Elite: Dangerous is not yet where it wants to be. But it knows the way and is going there with pace. For now, I couldn't think of a better place to be than its passenger seat.

It combines fighting and stealth in an elegant manner, gives you just enough freedom to make you forget there's actually not all that much of it there. All in all and tonal inconsistencies aside, it's one of the best engineered games out there.

No matter if you just miss the old days or if you are wondering why shoot´em´ups were a big thing back in then: Sine Mora is the way to go.

Rayman Legends is still the same enchanting, cheeky and all-around wonderful platformer, made by people who are absolutely in love with the genre. These guys still can think of something to say where most everyone else is content to endlessly quote the classics.

Take it as an old-fashioned, well-known fable. It might not make the grandest strides to evolve its formula, but for many, many players this will be a very pleasant homecoming, indeed.

I don't usually count myself in the group of people who frequently wished they were younger. But in this particular case I'd give a lot to be able to see this world and its magic through young and unspoiled eyes, to be able to take it all in unfiltered. The influence Studio Ghibli exerts over this is so strong that it single-handedly might make Ni no Kuni that defining game for a young and Japanophile generation, not unlike what those Final Fantasys of old managed to become for us. And because I hold those so dearly, I couldn't think of a bigger compliment. I salute Ni no Kuni.

You will try and fail, just to try again in an instant. Donkey Kong's relentlessly addicting simplicity scratches an itch that the more playful Marios and Raymans just don't.

On paper, the changes might sound subtle, on the pitch though, they really influence your way of play. FIFA 14 wants you to play clever, and the AI, refined controls, better ball physics and richer animation all work in support of that.

This great brawler captivates you with fine graphics, excellent playability and an awesome selection of fighters. (…) That´s just the way we want our portable titles to be. Well done, Capcom!

It is a symbiosis of elements from the old titles and a lot of Uncharted. As such, free-form exploration, puzzles and tombs to raid meet big-screen action and frenzied shootouts. It could be a great way into the future for Lara, one you couldn't really picture before. For now, this really works.

It's a great package that doesn't push technical boundaries. It held up good enough, though, to still be a more than worthwhile buy if you have not experienced I yet. But it's not one of those remasters you want to play again because you "never experienced it like this".

The mix between intriguing storytelling and near-perfect game design elevates Alan Wake to an extraordinarily finely crafted experience. Even if should you shelf it after its 10-15 hours and never take it out again: This one playthrough will be a lasting experience. Alan Wake is something special that enriches the world of gaming.

Like Minecraft, the biggest difference to most triple-A titles lies in Terraria not wanting to tell you a story. It's waiting for you to craft one of your own. Think of a "normal", big action-adventure game as a glass of your favorite beverage. Terraria just gives you a pitcher and a bunch of ingredients to brew one of your own. Some people will prefer a walk to the bar, to get something prepared in advance. Others will happily go ahead and create the drink of a lifetime.

I couldn't wish for more. The faster pace really does wonders for FIFA 13. It might take a while until you get used to it, but that's a couple of hours well invested as you get much more dynamic, tense and unpredictable game of football.

Gearbox has consistently built on the strengths of the first game and managed to capture the sort of gravitational pull that always sucks you in for another go. Sometimes it pays to not change a winning formula all too much.

This series has accompanied us through the better part of this past year, made us afraid, brought us close to tears and made us question why the hell we were even playing something this depressing. The Walking Dead's answer was one of the most striking ones of this generation of games: Clementine! She's that glowing light that pulls you through the harshest of tortures. She's the heart and soul of this remarkable little game. And when the lights go down on episode five, Lee finds the most sincere of words for her – speaking not his, but the players mind. That is, if you can bring yourself to utter them. What is it that he says? You should really find out for yourself.

Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Wii U Edition is the version to get, if you have the luxury of choice and prefer inviting friends to your house to playing online. A few buddies on the same couch playing Tekken Ball and / or the in more than one way appropriately named mushroom mode, is a real winner.

Joe Danger 2 is one of the few 'smaller' games that manage to be challenging and decidedly indie, whilst looking like they have more money and manpower behind it than Hello Games will probably ever want to throw at a project. It's a throwback to a time where videogames were allowed to have bright blue skyboxes, when dinosaurs and robots were the coolest antagonists you could think of and policeman or firefighter the best job you could ever wish to have. Dish out 1.200 Points for it, be grateful and look forward to whatever Hello Games will invest their considerable talent and passion into next.

Granted, there's no real competition as of yet, but Sonic and Racing All-Stars Transformed on the Wii U easily takes the role of a really, really good Mario Kart game. It is the definitive game of this sort - and not by virtue of being the only one. The plumber will have to give it his best shot to regain his pole position on his own console.

PES Productions demonstrates a deep understanding of how to go about recreating the feel of exiting and modern soccer. Hopefully, next they will show us how good it can look, too. Until then, I´m pretty happy to sink my teeth into this one.

Capcom strays from the well-trodden Street Fighter IV path and finds – thanks to the support of the Iron Fist champions – a marvelous new interpretation of the idea of street-fighting.

Puristic stealth, thinking instead of simply reacting, having a plan and seeing it unfold thanks to near-perfect controls – that's how Mark of the Ninja creates its own little sense of addiction.

Whatever Visual Concepts has in store for the next generation: I can wait. The enhanced defense and the overhauled ball handling will make this year a short one.

Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is perfect. It is. There will still be many philosophical discussions, if it is better than Tekken, Street Fighter or some other fighting-game, but the reason for that is that all these games have reached such a high level of quality and none of them has a clue how to break out to the top.

Let us hope that the next generation of consoles will bring back games enchanting and inventive like this one, marrying the joy of being different to the tradition of good, sturdy game design. Until that day, buy this one!

Who cares that some of the secondary activities are a terribly run-of-the-mill kind of affair? Between the skill tree, the unpredictably busy AI and the chaos nature tends to bring to the encounters you'll live through some of the most dynamic firefights in recent memory. It marries an immaculate stealth model, which couldn't work better if this was a third-person game, to a satisfying gunplay. A combination that will please more player types than Dishonored on the one hand and something like F.E.A.R. on the other ever could.

Nintendo crafts levels like no one else. They take their well-known motifs and themes and don't necessarily surprise you every time, but they always excel at reshaping them in a highly lovable and entertaining fashion. If that´s what you want out of New Super Mario Bros U, this is the best humanly possible result. That this might not be enough for some fans of the franchise speaks volumes about the three decades that princess spent in "another castle".

The Witcher 2 on Xbox 360 is a wonderful, groundbreaking and lasting experience. So good, that a few visual cutbacks can't diminish the joy of playing.

Age of Empires 2 hasn't lost any of its fascination, the Definitive Edition brings it in line with modern gameplay sensibilities and, as an upgrade, is as good as it gets. If you've ever wanted to play Age of Empires from the comfort of your couch, now's your time.

Every puzzle, every piece of dialogue, every punchline and every single one of the sprawlingly hand-drawn backgrounds is pervaded by the charming eccentricities we only got a glimpse at in the first game. Where other second games in a trilogy often fail, this middle-part manages to marry the obligatory cliffhanger-ending in the run-up to Episode three with a whole-heartedly satisfying conclusion of its own.

Super Mario 3D World is not only a fantastic game in and of itself, it's a mandatory buy for any Wii U owner.

It's a shame that some features didn't make the cut, but the next gen versions are still the best iterations of FIFA 14.

Never mind the (rock solid) 30 FPS and the unbearably pretentious cut scenes: This is a wonderfully fresh and exciting racing game and the best Need for Speed in quite a while.

All in all, this is again a wonderful and more lively piece of football, taking steps forward where it counts.

Sure, Tearaway's depth is more an emotional one than of gameplay. But you only need to take one look at that permanently grinning face in the sun to know: In the end, that's what it's all about.

It's firmly rooted in the tradition of Bizarre Creations' glorious Project Gotham series, the best arcade racers there ever were. What more could you want from this?

In the here and now,Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams is not only the best-looking platformer, gameplay-wise it's also one of the best of its kind. It's a modern game in the best of senses, and it's cheap, coming at a price tag that is hugely allowance-compatible. Fans of platforming: If you don't buy this, what the hell do you want?

Ditch the podcasts or netflix for some games that seem to want you to enjoy in parallel to the experience. If you don't focus on The Talos Principle alone, you'll never experience that sublime moment, where some puzzles seem to solve themselves, because you instinctively get this world's inner workings and use its tools with machine-like efficiency.

The fresh new skills are great, as is the loot. Adventure mode's just heavenly, and the new classes have exceeded my expectations. As soon as Blizzard integrates a ladder and gets the PVP straightened out, the competition will be done for years to come.

I can look at it from any angle I want. I can detract that SEGA fan bonus, I can play this with people who have no idea what a Dreamcast is and this still is the pinnacle of what this sub-genre has to offer. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed reaches new heights, challengingly smiling down on Mario Kart.

The camera does its part in making some sequences a tad bit annoying, but that's just a small irritation in a game where everything else is so absolutely spot on. The whole game world feels like a gigantic box of toys come to life, bustling with charm and lovable characters.

If you liked Dishonored, but always thought it could have done with a more interesting protagonist and a dash more mystery, you're not only right, but also in luck: The Brigmore Witches delivers just that!

As a sequel, Legend of Grimrock 2 parties like it's 1991 and itself is a Beholder: bigger, better and basically the same game… I guess not that much has changed since then when it comes to sequels. Anyway, for every one of you dungeon crawlers out there, this one is a dream come true.

Ivory King is permeated by a strange sort of sad relief that this journey has ultimately come to a definitive end. At the same time, this last DLC gives you countless compelling reasons to really savour this goodbye.

A sterling example for an effective and utterly successful overhaul of a proven and compelling concept, rather than a fundamental shake-up. This might not be a system-seller some people might have hoped for. But those who already own a Wii U can and should look forward to many, many hours perfectly tuned Nintendo entertainment.

This impressive console port is a great fit for those who are new to the series and to co-op fans alike.

Journey is not the kind of game that you finish once and then shelve it forever. Here you play for the enjoyment of playing itself, not to reach a certain goal.

It simply is the most trek-like game on the most trek-like device. This extraordinary gauntlet feels right at home on the iPad.

Catherine is a truly unique beast. Funny, dramatic and disarmingly honest – for anyone who has ever stood as a crossroads in his life it would be a huge mistake to miss out on this one. You yearn for more clever games? Vote with your wallet.

It's been a while since I have laughed this hard at and with a game. From the light-hearted start to the furious finale, I spent 80 percent of LEGO City Undercover either with a smile on my lips or a big laugh in my throat. In many ways, there not being a second license on top of the LEGO brand seems to have freed up a lot of the humor that was previously untouched upon, in spite of the other LEGO games being pretty funny in their own right. But here, instead of taking on just one or a couple of films as a basis, TT Fusion just did whatever they felt like. Sometimes dryly humorous, sometimes more absurd, sometimes just incredible even – this is pure bliss on a disc.

If you open your eyes, ears and brain for Antichamber, Alexander Bruce' mufti-dimensional labyrinth is a sublime experience without compare.

Everybody should have experienced this interesting and somewhat plausible vision of a possible future and it comes as no surprise that this well done Director's Cut is the version of choice for that.

140 is the scientific definition of a platformer. It is cold, brutal, elegant and beautiful in a mathematic way.

The Last Story combines the best we can expect from modern gaming-luxuries with elements we know and love from the 16-bit-days and Japanese RPGs. This includes likeable characters, a well thought-out combat-system and a story that will keep you at the edge of your seat hour after hour.

If you own the original, this is not an essential buy, let alone a reason to get a Wii U. It is basically the same fantastic game that crowned one of the best years of the GameCube's run. If you're new to this particular iteration, though, by all means, get this. I kind of envy you, because I will never be able to experience it with that set of fresh eyes again. Don't let this chance pass you by.

It's downright glorious in its focus on local multiplayer. Cramming your room with seven friends and playing this until dawn like it was the mid-2000's is just the best reminder of why I love video games.

In any case, MGR is unique. It's singular in its development, its flair and its understanding of action. It's like a good, old bottle of wine that you just know you'll never enjoy like this again. Savor every drop of it.

All in all, Daedalic have crafted an excellent adventure that does justice to the series, topping it all off in a satisfying manner. It even leaves quite a bit of room for interpretation in the end.

No matter if you're a fan of the series, delighted about the new possibilities or if you've never heard of EDF. It's almost impossible to not have a massive blast with this.

As long as you're not totally put off by the art design, there's no reason to not play The Cat Lady. It is not only one of the best games of the year, it's one of the best horror adventures out there.

Everything there was minus the bugs. That has to be enough for one step up the score-ladder. Yes, but only because New Vegas doesn´t reduce itself to just more stuff, but also offers a high level of storytelling that even in RPGs can´t be found that often.

'Just one more dungeon!' – this is the sort of addictive game that gets a reviewer in trouble for not getting the article done in time.

It's a brilliant add-on, going in with a master surgeon's precision to subtly tweak and change the mechanics for maximum impact. More than ever, this is a Civ, where you want to preserve peace, all the while showing the rest of the world that your way of life is the best one.

It's the small insanities that elevate D4 to something truly special.

Wasteland 2 doesn't tell its grander story as thrillingly as its smaller ones, but Fargo's team hasn't forgotten a thing about designing RPGs. inXile delivers an utterly expansive, cozy and wonderfully deep apocalyptic adventure you kind of want to thank them for.

Doom remained young at heart. (...) Doom´s speed, the simple but highly energetic movement, its wicked and labyrinthine levels are something that no Call of Duty, no Halo, no Killzone, not even a RAGE can offer.

Telltale's nuanced characters are the reason that, as the Forresters mourn their lost lords, you feel right there, standing alongside them. I almost don't want to return to a TV Westeros, where these stalwart Stark bannermen don't exist.

At its price Mighty Switch Force is a real bargain and a must-have for every 3DS owner. Great visuals, flawless design and exiting stages.

This is the rare case of an archetypical PC game that hasn't lost any appeal in it's translation to console. Colour me impressed.

In the end, it's almost more down to the things 4A did to improve the gameplay that make this pleasantly different pair of shooters stand out in their Redux iteration.

Blizzard's team has done about everything right with Hearthstone. They took tried and tested pieces from other card games, found clever mechanisms to take away their weak spots and other frustrations and offer a strong and addictive free-to-play experience.

Torchlight 2 is the distillate of everything I have always liked about Diablo as a series. People who came to love Blizzard's hack and slash with its second iteration, Torchlight 2 might well be a better choice than Blizzard's own sequel.

Eight separate Storylines would be extraordinary for every singleplayer-game. Add to that the excellent dialogue and you have some real competition for World of Warcraft. Not bad for an MMO that young.

Even in writing this review I had to pause numerous times to play OlliOlli for just one more go.

It's the only RPG you'll need this winter and finally a worthy heir to Origins, last generation's best role-playing game.

Quarrel! is one of those games that comes from out of nowhere but instantly will keep you playing through a whole day without warning. It doesn´t matter if you compete against the AI or other players, Quarrel! turns out to be an intelligent and highly motivating challenge.

Undeniable technical difficulties aside, with a price tag of only 20 bucks nobody should miss out on State of Decay. It's easily one of the most complex and elaborately designed XBLA title to ever grace that service, so clever and mature I'm struggling to name another open world game that has felt this fresh in the last three years since Red Dead Redemption rode along.

Once again, it's quite beautiful how all the mechanics just snap into place like in a well-oiled machine. The new features integrate so seamlessly into the campaign that you'd be forgiven for thinking they had always be there. Most impressively, through this, XCOM gains breadth and depth without losing any of that infectious accessibility that made the main game such a hit.