It might lack in inspiration, but makes up for it with its great pace and the hero's joyfully acrobatic movement and controls.

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.

Even though Lightning Returns can seem a bit unfinished at times, it has by far the biggest heart of all the games in this trilogy.

It's not the sort of horror that'll stay with you long beyond the credits, not a quiet and subtle creep fest, but a blunt force shocker. And as such it's effective because it's just so damn drastic.

Technical difficulties aside, Telltale delivers good material, even though it doesn't quite match the previous episode.

Not only is Jazzpunk in and of itself a clever and positively insane experience, it is one of the funniest games of all time.

Short play-time and ill-advised stealth sections aside, you should give the at times hilarious Octodad a chance. You could start with trying out the older free iteration that's available on Young Horses' website. I wouldn't be surprised to see people with a fancy for anarchic humor fork out the full 14 Euros for the proper version, after enjoying this taster.

In the end, it's all right there in the title. There's nothing here to elevate it above mediocrity.

Fable has always been a diamond in the rough. There's as much entertainment to be found here as there are frustrations - nothing about that has changed in the past decade.

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.

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

It sure took its sweet time, but in the end, Blackguards managed to really enthrall me. If the Hamburg-based developer continues in this manner, The Dark Eye fans have a lot to look forward to.

Might & Magic X presents a chance to re-ignite the love of this kind of game as if they hadn't been gone for the last two decades.

I can't say if Broken Age is all that you hoped it would be. I for one found that this first act juggles its serious core story, humor and absurdities splendidly. My backer dollars seem very well invested, indeed.

As much as I appreciate that Irresponsible Games an Daedalic are trying to capture the zeitgeist and the social conflicts of an era, I can't help but be utterly frustrated to see all the promise just go to waste on a startlingly conventional cock-and-bull story.

Even though it follows the series' tradition in terms of core gameplay tenets maybe a bit too closely, Liberation's New Orleans is still well worth a visit.

Its tactics and strategy layers might not be the deepest in the genre. But The Banner Saga is still the sort of adventure that has seasoned warriors burst into sombre campfire song. Sing along, if you dare!

It's a likeable adventure, albeit a very short and easy one that's sparse in animation. Parents might want to try it out with their kid(s), but then again, there's so many more involving, clever and not least prettier games like this, Machinarium for example.

'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.

Ice cream was just so much sweeter in the nineties. Sometimes it hurts seeing your old favorites not having aged that well at all.

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.

This emotional rollercoaster really had me on the edge of my seat.

Maybe the poison is in the dosage. This slightly frustrating and quite hard stealth game for patient players seems like it's more suited for a quick go in between something else than for extended sessions.

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.

Don't Starve can be a real pain. But if you know what you're getting yourself into, you'll not regret answering the call of this cute, but somehow distressingly terrifying wild.

Long story short: In its current state, X Rebirth is just a sad affair.

The Serpent's Curse just feels rushed. The well-researched plot takes its sweet time to truly get going and when it does, it's already over again. So, taken by itself, this first episode feels pretty average. It's up to the second half to pull the chestnuts out of the fire.

The horribly cumbersome interface and the refusal to ever properly explain its more obscure mechanics make Darkout a difficult game to recommend.

It's games like this that make me wish we gave out negative scores.

It's the best form a Gran Turismo can take and could be a fitting conclusion to 15 years of Real Driving Simulation. Now, the only thing that has to happen is for the "Driving" part of this equation to evolve into "Racing".

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

As it stands, Live 14 feels like something they cobbled together in about a year. Not for one second do you get the impression EA has harnessed the three-year time-out in any meaningful way. No wonder Kyrie Irving is making a grumpy face on the box of this.

Eight months after release, Injustice is an accessible but mature fighting game with oodles of content and lots of character.

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.

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.

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.

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 all good and well, but what does it help if the controls are imprecise, glitches abound and the save system gets on your nerves?

After about a dozen of entries in this 'series', many of the games' small mistakes probably should have been avoided. Still, you just can't be mad at this likeable and sizable a package. After satirizing so many pop-cultural icons to perfection, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes is another demonstration in terms of love for detail and knowledge about the brand. I have no idea how they do it.

Planes for tanks, not much else has changed. Enjoy hundreds of lovingly recreated planes, just don't expect a simulation or the plethora of features of its time-tested precursor and you'll find this to be a worthwhile package with a fair business model.

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.

It might not be as timeless as Defender. But now, at launch, Resogun belongs on your hard drive if you appreciate an intense bullet hell and impressive particle effects.

Again, Killzone might not have won all my heart. The unresolved story, uneven pacing and deficits of the AI prevent Shadow Fall from being that unmissable evergreen, Guerrilla undoubtedly were hoping to create. But it won my utmost respect. Contrary to many other launch titles past and present, this actually does feel like a step forward. The devs quite clearly had their minds set to more that just being in stores on day one.

The worst thing, though, is that Knack is sabotaging itself with its weak technical make-up. And between this being unfit as a showcase title for the new hardware and not being all that entertaining to play, you really have to ask yourself if Knack has a right to exist at all.

I'm hard pressed to name a racing game in recent memory that I found this engaging. Rivals is a very mature design of wonderfully open and cleverly connected arcade racing, even though the current gen versions leave quite a bit room for improvement, from a technical standpoint.

If you want to show off your new console's next-gen graphics, this entertaining romp is the game to get. It looks absolutely stunning in its effects and even the lush design of its world. Still, in the not-too-distant future we'll get games that look this good while offering considerably more depth than Ryse's beautiful, but ultimately shallow puddle of a brawler. And that are considerably more exciting.

Forza 5 isn't a fluke. It's the product of almost a decade of refinement, evolution and an unbelievable amount of experience on Turn 10's part. In essence, this is a game without any real weaknesses.

This is, essentially, this generation's Beyond Good & Evil. A charismatic, engaging and refreshingly peculiar game that's among the most beautiful of recent years.

There's a solid game somewhere in here, but it's one that continually trips over itself and the big name game of old it's filling in for. All in all, it's a bitter reunion for Panzer Dragoon fans.

If you only know the 'Tycoon'-moniker from those railroading games and expect to find something with complex mechanics and systems to mull over, this is not the game for you. It's a light-hearted and a bit shallow simulation for the whole family. And as such, it succeeds.

As I caught a glimpse of the one and only, the legendary and immortal Tom Savini in this, I cried a little, and those weren't tears of joy. That was three minutes into the intro and it was all downhill from there.

Killer Instinct still has it, no doubt about it. On the other hand, six or eight characters respectively is an almost shamefully small amount of content. This is not a debut, but the third game in a series that only brings one new character to the table. So to me, this is clearly a game of two sides, as it even stays pretty basic when it comes to game modes. Still, I do like what's there, but even at those 20 bucks it's a bit meager, especially compared to everything else that came out on current gen in recent years.

It offers scant few new ideas, but it's a great balance of fighting and puzzling and its humorous story still offers a really breezy diversion for as long as it lasts.

Rather a beautiful short-story than a novel of a game, this is an adventure with a lot of character.

It might be more of an ugly duckling than the console versions were, but this is still the zombie-survival game we've been waiting for all these years. It's not perfect, and sure as hell not an ageless beauty, but in breadth and depth utterly fresh and fully engaging. One of the most pleasant surprises of the year.

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.

Granted, gameplay-wise it's just more of the same in different drapes, and it is kind of short as well. But yet again, Irrational manages to surprise you in a manner that's worth the entry fee alone. But you can't shake the feeling that, ultimately, this DLC will be judged by how its second episode will fill in the gaps that this episode's narrative so tantalizingly leaves.

This is a seasoned series delivering sure fire quality. It might not be for you, but if it is, you'll go happily and satisfied into this new round. In the end, it is what you expected: Call of Duty. Love it or hate it. This game doesn't care.

Battlefield 4 is a safe bet – as long as you don't expect much more than a well-done extension of what came before.

It took Ubisoft some time and Assassin's Creed 4 hasn't totally freed itself from all its past sins, but the fourth numbered entry in the series managed to capture me from start to finish, thoroughly entertaining me, wrapping me up in the engaging, often truly joyful proceedings.

As an old pen and paper enthusiast, I got the feeling that this would have been a better fit as an expansive campaign for the 'real' Dark Eye. That's where it could have been something really special, something with more staying power than this okay, but ultimately forgettable RPG.

It is a well done, if familiar game. In all its homogeneity with respect to its predecessors, though, Arkham Origins lacks surprise and spark. You'll constantly feel one step ahead of the game.

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.

Remaining issues and a lack of innovation aside, Dual Destinies and its witty writing manage to fully captivate you and glue you to the screen.

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

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.

It might not be the same rush as the original, but it's solid enough to be a welcome stopgap until the next Trials rides along.

Even though Pokemon X is undoubtedly the strongest entry in the series yet, after 14 years of playing with a basically unchanged formula, I kind of expected something more.

The guys and gals at 5Th Cell really know their DC. There is a lot to explore and try out, the sheer number of characters and comic-trivia in this makes for some very interesting and fun experimentation. You will feel like you have had your fill sooner rather than later, though, and move on to something else.

It isn't perfect, Sonic never was. But if you accept it for what it is, you'll find this to be a very fresh new take on the famous hedgehog.

It's been a while since I really had to struggle to get to the end of a game because it was that much of a let-down. Had I not had to review Montague's Mount, it would not have lasted ten minutes on my hard drive.

Every frame is stunningly composed, the voice actors as fitting as they are talented. On PC, even the tech has come a long way since The Walking Dead, which helps to get totally wrapped-up in this extraordinary murder mystery. This close to the release of Beyond: Two Souls, there's also something to be said about characters that are believable and relatable, without having to bank on star power and performance capture.

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.

Connoisseurs of "fine humor" and fans of the Angry Nerd need not think twice about spending those 14 Euros. Go get it! It's a surprisingly solid, profanity-filled and feces-fixated chaos of a game. Hard, but fair, you'll find yourself flinging obscenities at the screen on a regular basis.

Ultima Forever is not only an act of treason for this series. It's an act of treason for every single good concept the family of free-to-play games knows. It's so bad, it's saddening, unbelievably boring and empty and technically just on a level that in no way justifies it's shameful performance.

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.

Beyond: Two Souls is an interesting experience I don't regret making. But still, there are too many problems to forgive – structurally, story-wise and in character. Even people who didn't mind the issues with Cage's earlier games, Fahrenheit and Heavy Rain, will have a hard time turning a blind eye to Beyond's shortcomings.

So again, there's a solid engine at work under the hood of this one, but it still gives you lots of opportunity to get really angry at it at the same time.

It's a well-realized trip back to the good ol' times.

Rise of Venice is conservative in the best sense of the word. It's a classic simulation, German through and through, brimming with detail, depth but still accessible to players new to the genre.

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

If you are new to the series you should think hard, if you really need the whole package. Even though I'd recommend the first Kingdom Hearts to anyone, this particular edition is one for the fans, really.

It's almost tragic, really. Because, awful loading times and some smaller technical quibbles aside, on the field, this PES looks and feels just plain excellent.

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.

Its fresh looks and swashbuckling attitude ultimately don't change the fact that this is a game better enjoyed in small dosages. I love endless combo series as much as the next guy, but Foul Play's fighting engine and general run of play are a tad bit too simple to merit longer sessions. That said, this is one hell of a likeable game, if this sort of brawler floats your boat.

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.

That's FFXIV in a nutshell: a technically very stable, functionally well thought-out and at times even brave MMO. It's just a shame that so much of your time is wasted on bread-and-butter adventuring. Still, this world is not only new, but also enticing enough that you don't always have to follow a higher calling to enjoy yourself.

In terms of playability, then, The Puppeteer is a disappointment, too much in love with its own design. Had it not strangled the experience with an unbearably high number of cut-scenes, Sony might have actually had the chance to develop the core gameplay in a way to make this adventure worthwhile. It's a game with skewed priorities. It looks great, has loads of personality, but this close to Rayman Legends, which married its elements so perfectly, I cannot recommend Kutaro's tale wholeheartedly.

The fifth game in the series combines the delusions of grandeur facilitated by the most detailed open world to date to super-solid shooting and driving mechanics. Previous lengths have been traded in for a consistently captivating narrative which not only holds everything together, but really makes this game seem more than the sum of its parts. The only remaining question is: Where will – or can –the series go from here? I am looking forward to finding out.

A Machine for Pigs is like a fully automated haunted house ride suffering a power outage. The carnies sure do their best to keep the tension up, banging against the girders from the outside and shooing some freak show attraction through the corridors every once in a while. The ride's boss even throws sinister letters over the paper mâché wall for you to read. Well-written as they are, you even like the story that they were going to tell you. But you just can't help but hope that somebody would finally find the god damned breaker box to get this whole thing going for real.

Some troubles aside, in the here and now, I'll leave this one with the most glowing of compliments. Outlast's not particularly original, but its extremely effective brand of horror makes for a haunted mansion experience that's all too easy to recommend. It's almost as if this one was shoving the finger into all of the horror has-beens' faces: "Look, if you dare, what only ten people can do!" I for one can't imagine they'd like what they'd see.

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

It's a short and very solid piece of jump and run entertainment, combining a pretty homage to the genre and its own forebear with loving nods to later games in platform history.

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.

The Wii U version reaches hitherto unknown heights which I would never have expected from a direct sequel, let alone in this genre. Which is why I might as well just say it: Rayman Legends is the best 2D platformer of all time. Take that and stick it on the wall Ubisoft Montpellier, you earned it.

If you have been waiting for a good honest FPS on the Vita, this is it. In fact, there aren't many ways in which Killzone's debut on Sony's starving handheld could have been much better.

There are times when I felt I was putting more time into planning my endeavors than into the killing of monsters. And that's by no means a bad thing, quite the contrary. Dragon's Crown is bursting with means to tinker with and develop your characters and each of them is quite exciting and well executed.

It's competent enough, efficient as a means to fill the day and not totally devoid of fun, but you'll never be in it with all your heart. It's time to quit and leave EDN III. This time, maybe once and for all.