The most gripping storytelling a game might ever have produced combined with one of the most basic and boring gameplay I have tried makes for a very strange experience from a critics point of view. But the tears, the stomach ache and the joy supersedes clunky controls and the bad illusion of choice.

Indie game designer Jason Byrne has showed us what storytelling in video games is supposed to be like. The small world in Lone Survivor is full of mysteries, a Twin Peaks-esque atmosphere and the occasional laugh. The only downside is the shooting mechanism which feels misplaced, clumsy and could have been skipped all together.

While lacking somewhat in the new features department, The Wind Waker HD is still a great remake of a already fantastic game. The result is nothing short of stunning and one of the best games ever made.

A brave restart of a game that arguably should've never been made. For a series primarily resting on the solitary player experience, it manages the transition to a multiplayer environment beautifully. There's enough content, races, classes and things to do to keep both new players and old MMO-foxes occupied for a long while, and all of it well realised with the worldbuilding skills of the Final Fantasy teams.

Rain is the latest game out of Sony Japans PlayStation C.A.M.P.-initiative, and it's the one most focused on story-telling. Through a rainy town, an invisible boy searches for a friendly face, an invisible girl. Through narrow alleyways and abandoned factories, the quest to banish loneliness and isolation goes on. A touching, moving and sublime beauty hangs over Rain, and the story delivers quite an impact.

A slight step forward for a franchise that has struggled just behind the competition for almost a full console generation. Better ball and player physics plus improved player graphics for the top tier players brings something extra. Arena atmospheres are also great. Sadly the last PES of a generation is slightly marred by choppy frame rates.

Diablo 3 is an extremely well designed action RPG that really hooks you from the first minute you play. Behind the great gameplay there is a well crafted feedback loop that always has you coming back for more. The console port is expertly made and although the PC version is the premiere version, this is a very good alternative.

The undisputed champ delivers another quality product. It’s a heavy hitting and hard punching game that tilts towards a more arcady experience. The physical game is not the only, but undoubtedly the most entertaining, way to play. Lots of small updates makes it an even more sleek experience off the ice than in previous years.

Puppeteer grabs you from the get-go and refuses to let go, partially thanks to the charm and the graphics, but mainly due to the quality of everything. With it's fantastical graphical style, really solid (and fun) voice-acting and story, it really shines. Puppeteer is easily the most disarmingly charming game since Little Big Planet.

Killzone: Mercenary fills an important void in the PS Vita game library. Finally it has a great exclusive first person shooter.

Europa Universalis IV is the ultimate edition of the series. The interface is better and more welcoming than ever and still the strategy is even deeper and grander than before. Basically everything is improved over the last game and playing sandbox with history has never been this fun.

Almost perfect platform game with crazy humor and not very subtle pop cultural references. Could have been a little less repetitive, but with a couple of friends it has the potential for fantastically fun chaos. Very addictive and cleverly-paced so that you will always feel the need for one more try.

Volition manages to create yet another crazy sandbox game packed to the brim with content and insanity. It doesn’t manage to reach the overall level of its predecessor but has enough peaks to make you disregard the valleys.

Some people may dismiss Duck Tales Remastered simply because they lack nostalgic memories of the NES original. That however, is a big mistake because this is a game that can stand on its own two feet and the developers have only used the nostalgic hook simply because they love Duck Tales. The result is a great platformer that plays and feels just as good as it did in 1989.

Brave New World finally address the somewhat lackluster endgame that has plagued Civ V so far. The changes to trade and the added importance of diplomacy through all stages of the game make this expansion a gamechanger in the most positive way.

Stealth Inc. is packed with great level design and has a nice balance between tactics and reaction speed.

Tales of Xillia doesn't so much innovate as it does refine the stable foundation laid by the previous games, at least not from a gameplay mechanics standpoint. Where it really shines is in the characterization, the world building and the mature, dark story. Choosing to play as either the young care-free Jude Mathis or the supernatural Milla Maxwell determines partially how the story is perceived and told. Tales of Xillia is one of the finest games to come out of Namco's Tales Studio and easily rivals, and in some cases clearly outshines, the competition within the JRPG genre this generation.

A very good sequel in the Mario & Luigi RPG series that offers great variation and solid gameplay. Creative use of the 3DS features makes the game interesting to play for hours and the classic Mario game charm is captured in almost every aspect of this game.

The Walking Dead: 400 Days bridges the first and second seasons of Telltales monumental adventure games. While it could have been longer, there's enough new questions raised and well-told personal moments to be worthwhile. Telltale still manages to deliver fantastic stories, and we can't wait to live through season two.

It’s amazing that Nintendo managed to trim a complicated mix of genres such as RTS, Puzzle, Action and Garden Simulation into a welcoming masterpiece – I guess they really must have green thumbs. If you own a Wii U there’s no excuse not to play Pikmin 3.

Luigi’s expansion is as big as a whole new game filled of playful and innovative level design. The significantly higher difficulty level is welcome and feels like atribute to The Lost Levels, and if you’ve ever liked challenging platform games New Super Luigi U is a must have.

Relic may have taken a safe route with Company of Heroes 2 and made it very similar to the earlier games in the series, but that also means that it has the same cinematic and engaging action that made them famous. The campaign fails to deliver anything special but the skirmishes are just as fun as one could have hoped for.

A gritty ultra-violent top down action game that dares to be different and excels at what it does. Tight controls and polished mechanics make this game a joy to play and extremely hard to put down.

The Old Gods offer a significant addition to Crusader Kings and a fun focus on the pagan cultures. While the vikings initially feel slightly overpowered, they have a much harder time ahead of them as the years go by. This is a well crafted expansion and a absolute must have for those interested in playing the Nordic nations.

Grid 2 will speak to fans of the original game, but it doesn’t really do anything brand new or different. But in the end, sometimes we don’t need a revolution, just something that’s bigger, faster and prettier.

The Swapper is an expertly designed puzzle platform game that excels in every area. Although the story is a bit hidden away in log files, it’s well worth going through them to expand the experience. This indie game is rivaling the quality of many of the AAA titles this year so far.

Call of Juarez: Gunslinger lifts the franchise after the failure that was The Cartel. When you find yourself in a duel with sheriff Pat Garrett, you’ll forget everything about Battlefield and Modern Warfare. At least for a while.

The first episode of Jacob Jones’ adventure leaves me wanting more and I’m already waiting for the next part. It’s a great little title that will appeal to any gamer that loves a good puzzle.

Remember Me is a linear action adventure and that works pretty good. The game has a well told story, a great main character and the developers have used colors, lighting and soundtrack in an impressive way to enhance the visuals of the game. However, the game mechanics themselves are decent at best. There are many other developers who do fighting, climbing and running much better.

With The Last of Us, developer Naughty Dog has not only created a modern classic, but also one of the finest gaming experiences of all time. The fact that they set a new bar for interactive storytelling almost seems like a bonus.

Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D is a great port of the popular Wii game that manages to capture what made the game excellent in the first place. Level design is spot on and the game contains loads of content and a high challenge level.

Sanctum 2 brings improved balance between it’s FPS and Tower Defense mechanics, making it one of the most engaging and intensive additions to this hybrid genre.

This PC version of Pinball FX 2 is just as great as the others. Its still one of the best digital pinball games out there with superb physics, great table design and good multiplayer features.

The game really doesn’t do anything new, but the things it does are done extremely well. If you are a fan of Torchlight II and Diablo III, The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing is the next great game in the same genre of games.

Revelations takes the Resident Evil series back to its origin and delivers a true survival horror experience. It´s delightful to see that someone at Capcom still knows exactly what made the series so great in the first place. At a first glance it might not look so impressing, but this game is definitely better than the sum of its parts.

Eador: Masters of the Broken World manages to venture into grand strategy, tactical battles and role-playing and come out on the other side as a deep and satisfying experience. After most initial bugs have been corrected, the game stands as an impressive addition to the turn-based strategy genre. Worth noting though is that it is mostly a visual upgrade of Eador: Genesis.

Deadly Premonition: The Director's Cut has made me think about the things that defines a good or bad game. Sure, the presentation is truly terrible, but beneath the technical flaws I find a game that offers a deep, involving story and tons of weird humor. It's a game unlike any other, in the best way possible.

Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen still has a few of the problems the original release had, but the sheer amount of adventuring and new sadistic areas to traverse more than makes up for the occasionally annoying pawns. In terms of gameplay, it's still a magnificent game, well balanced and an exciting game world to explore with plenty of loot to collect and enemies to slay.

A charming and beautiful minimalistic puzzle platform game that offers both a gripping and amusing story through its great narration.

The single player campaign in Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon may be fairly short, but it still rivals many retail titles in quality. It throws you back to a time when neon, cyborgs, lasers and synthesizers were the coolest things in the world. You may not play it several times over and over, but you’ll definitely enjoy the ride while it lasts.

The cities themselves may feel a bit more bland than in the first game but the actual motion of them is top notch. Cities in Motion 2 boasts a deep and satisfying simulation of the woes of managing public transit. Not without its problems but nevertheless one of the top players in its genre.

Metro: Last Light is a clear improvement from its predecessor and offers a very atmospheric shooting experience that borders on the survival horror genre.

DrinkBox Studios moves away from alien blobs and attempts to reinvigorate the classic MetroidVania concept, but with Luchadores, pop culture references and an immense amount of humor. With a insanely complex melee mechanic, well-crafted platforming and a clear understanding of the concept at hand, Guacamelee! manages to wrestle to the top of the food chain.

Wins with simplicity. Strategically challenging without losing pace. Lack of variation and a bit to stupid AI brings down the grade, but it's still one of the more charming games I have played in a long time.

Dead or Alive 5 Plus is one of the best fighting games for the Vita and everyone who is interested in the genre should check it out as soon as possible.

Fire Emblem: Awakening manages to be a game for both the die-hard fans of the series as well as a great introduction for new players. A couple of flaws in the story and presentation keeps it away from magnificence, but it’s still a worthy addition to any 3DS library.

NetherRealms uses their Mortal Kombat engine very well to create a game that doesn’t feel like a simple license job. There are lots of winks for the comic enthusiast with this great party fighter, but the seasoned fighter veterans may find it a bit shallow.

A clever, great looking and very genuine experience that belongs among the very best downloadable games ever created.

Iron Galaxy Studios resurrects two of the most beautifully crafted 2D fighting games ever, and does so with grace. Night Warriors and Darkstalkers 3 are still unforgiving and difficult to learn, but well worth the time investment. Solid netcode and lots of extras sets the bar high for HD conversions.

Luigi’s Mansion 2 is an incredibly charming game that despite some issues with online play and a bit of repetitiveness manages to offer a very good experience.

March of the Eagles lacks the depth of its grander siblings like Crusader Kings and Europa Universalis, but it compensates for that well by being a swift and easily accessible grand war game. The AI is good enough for the moment, although the game really shines in its cutthroat multiplayer.

This is truly not a game for everyone. But if you got the patience and commitment that’s required of you to get past the first seven hours of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, this will be an insanely addictive and rewarding game, especially if you go on hunts with friends. It still has a lot of flaws, but the core gameplay is awesome enough to compensate for these.

Bioshock Infinite is a magical experience on every level. Despite a few glitches and a couple of issues with pacing in the later parts, this game is already a clear candidate for game of the year.

Heart of the Swarm is a superb evolution of one of the best strategy games on the planet. The campaign has a great distinct Zerg feel all over it and the changes made to the multiplayer are likely to breath new life into an already huge and thriving community.

As a whole this HD collection offers fantastic value. It’s a great way for the fans of the series to relive the games and if you’re a fan of the genre and never played these games, this collection is a must buy although it isn't a trilogy per se.

End Game is a worthy ending to the Battlefield 3 expansions. It offers some of the series' best maps to date and makes the game feel fresh 16 months after launch. Battlefield 4 may be on its way, but End Game will keep Battlefield 3 alive for a long time to come.

Star Wars Pinball offers three of the best digital pinball tables I have ever tested. Great sense of detail, good sound effects and a clear love for the source material.

With truly epic boss battles, a well told captivating story and an easy way to understand the fighting system for newcomers, this may very well be the best way to experience Naruto in animated form. Though it requires you to have some knowledge about the Naruto Universe and that you really care about the story, Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 will be one heck of a ride if you fulfill these criteria.

A fantastic city simulation that meets all expectations. So perfectly balanced it makes it easy to pick up and enjoy, but proves to be very difficult to master. Funny, addictive and with great options for both co-operative and competitive online play - Sim City is a clear candidate for Game of the Year.

What could have been a beautiful marriage between Kojima Productions and Platinum Games ends up disappointing in some respects, but Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance still manages to impress and overwhelm from a sheer technical and gameplay perspective. Raiden finally gets his revenge and manages to stand on his own as a solid character.

Despite some glitches, this is a very polished game that is drop dead gorgeous and it actually offers a great game beneath the beautiful surface.

The reinvention of the franchise succeeds in almost every aspect of the game, so much so that it actually tops the Uncharted series among the great adventure games for this console generation. I hope to see you again soon, Lara.

How do you improve something that's already close to perfection? With surgical precision would be the response from Atlus. Persona 4: The Golden adds a few new story lines and characters while still maintaining the charm and balance of the original PlayStation 2 release. Easily one of the finest role-playing games of any hardware generation.

All the expansions for Max Payne 3 has been really good, but this one is without a doubt the best in the bunch. The final pain is upon us and it has never felt this good.

By no means is Ni no Kuni a perfect match of Studio Ghibli’s design and character sensibilities and Level 5′s ability to craft deep and meaningful RPG systems, but it’s a close enough match that any flaws to either side are easily ignored. With as much charm, humor and as many quirks as can be packed onto a disc, Ni no Kuni will satisfy even the most disheartened and cynical role-playing fans and, possibly, people not into role-playing games at all.

It's hard to know where to place Anarchy Reigns. Character action? Multiplayer fighting game? In all essence it's a bit of both and it's utterly brilliant in its sheer insanity. With a short campaign that manages to out-weird Konami and a chaotic, beginner-friendly yet deep multiplayer, Anarchy Reigns delivers on most of its promises.

Baldur's Gate is still among the finest RPG's out there and this is truly an enhanced version of the original. It still has flaws but overall it is a big improvement and the developers has made the game available to a whole new generation of players.

The first Zone of the Enders serves more like an introduction to the mythology. The real meat of this collection is the gorgeous and fast-paced Zone of the Enders: 2nd Runner. Complete with all the additional content only previously available in the original limited special edition release, it's still a treat to play. And of course, there's that demo disc of Metal Gear Rising: Revengance.

Grasshopper Manufacture and Digital Extremes once again team up and deliver a twisted variation of a classic game-mechanism. Black Knight Sword is their take on the 2D-platforming hack-and-slash games of yesteryear, and despite a few balancing issues it comes out as a solid experience. For fans of absurdism, this is a must-have.

A terrific and terrifying launch title that actually tries to make use of the new hardware in a meaningful way, while also keeping high production values. I recommend all new Wii U owners to take a look at Zombie U.

The Wii U edition doesn't have any new features that makes it much better than others, but just enough to make an already great game even better on this new console.

Overall, Painful Memories is more of the same thing that we've gotten from the other expansions. But this time, Rockstar Games seems to have hit their second stride and the maps are inspired, well made and a blast to play. Those in doubt won't be convinced by this, but fans of the game will have plenty of fun with Max's painful memories.

There's something about Solstheim. The island was the peak of my Morrowind experience ten years ago and now Dragonborn introduces it as the high point of Skyrim. A must-buy for any fan of the series.

Sonic & All-Stars Racing: Transformed for the PS Vita might not be quite as good as its siblings on home consoles, but it comes really close.

An expansion that manifests Gearbox as the masters of DLC. Mr Tourge is a character you love to hate and the campaign is of near perfect length and filled with all the main games strengths and more.

A really good game that becomes fantastic with GamePad. It almost feels like the whole game was designed only for this way of playing Batman: Arkham City.

Primordia follows the path set by recent indie adventures and combines a well written story with an old-school presentation. Ridiculous pixel hunting occasionally obscures the better parts of the gameplay but interesting events and characters keep the game coming out on top of any technical problems.

New Super Mario Bros. U may not revolutionize the genre and doesn't show us what flashy stuff the new console has to offer. But the playful level design, well balanced difficulty level and flawless control are more than enough to make this into one of the best games in the genre. This is 2D-plattforming at its finest, and a must buy for anyone who owns a Wii U.

The obvious choice for problem-solvers of all ages with decent English skills, and the best Professor Layton game so far.

It's often discussed if video games can be an art form, and there are a lot of arguments both for and against. Okami HD is a strong argument that games at least have come a long way by giving a simply magical experience in every way.

A polished version of last year's game with an excellent new mode based on the WWE-side of the classic Monday Night Wars. Sadly the gameplay is a bit too reversal heavy and the contact engine is still a bit iffy but otherwise a positive case of not fixing what isn't broke.

When Vikings Attack is a great cross play-title for both the PS3 and the Vita. The structure may be simple and the campaign is a bit repetitive, but the brilliant multiplayer compensates more than enough for this.

Sumo Digital has managed to create a cart racer that steps out of the shadow of Mario Kart and proudly stands beside it as an equal. The character gallery might not be as strong and sometimes the difficulty is almost too high, but Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is without a doubt the best cart racer of the year and one of the best additions to the genre of all times.

A beautiful and engaging game that mixes storytelling and gamesmanship with great success. All of the bad parts of Far Cry 2 has been polished away, without losing the parts that made it so addictive. Sadly the story gets a tad bit to exploitative and the plot's sense of urgency gets lost in an open world setting.

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale comes out like a true underdog and knocks it out of the park. SuperBot Entertainment manages to silence all those who have doubted them and delivers a great experience with tons of content and enjoyment. This is a game not just for fans of PlayStation, but for fans of great games, period.

Despite a few bugs the game plays so intense it at times feels like it's playing in your mind and not on your screen. It will make you feel really badass one second, only to disgust you with its over-the-top violence in the next. A few strange design choices interrupt the flow but all in all, Hotline Miami is a special experience not to be missed.

Football Manager 2013 is more polished than ever – its surface as well as its core. The right things are highlighted, which facilitates gameplay considerably. New games modes, such as the streamlined FM Classic, make for more fast-paced play, suited for those with too little time on their hands to immerse themselves head over heels in the game. That, on the other hand, is the way it should be played, isn't it?

Twisted Dreams is the ultimate mash up between modern game design and old school platformer. The common usage of power-ups is left behind when everything is unlocked from the very beginning. Instead it's your way of playing that has to evolve in sync with the gradually higher difficulty on later levels.

Fans of Pokémon already knows what to expect from this game, and it has as usual the same high quality standard we are spoiled with. The lack of new regions or a lot more Pokémon's makes the game feel a little bit too familiar with the previous one, so much that I would call this an extremely well done expansion rather than a new game.

Fans of Pokémon already knows what to expect from this game, and it has as usual the same high quality standard we are spoiled with. The lack of new regions or a lot more Pokémon's makes the game feel a little bit too familiar with the previous one, so much that I would call this an extremely well done expansion rather than a new game.

If you like the earlier games in the series, you probably already bought this one. But If you haven't played them, you should begin with this one since it's the best dancing game out there. But Harmonix has to look up, since Just Dance is closing in on them and could very well take their spot next year.

Treyarch is striving to give the players even more content than before, which results in a campaign and a zombie mode that gives you a lot of replay value. The best of the best is their "Take Ten" concept in multiplayer, which sets a new standard for a genre that already has evolved so much in recent years. Battlefield is for the first time not the king of the hill – Call of Duty is.

World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria is a huge expansion to an already huge game. With more and increasingly diverse content, Blizzard shows that the venerable game can still amaze and capture players, both hardcore and casual. While the engine is showing its age, this is a fresh new World of Warcraft, inviting us to yet again fight for what is ours.

Aside from the confusing user interface and the quite ridiculous Jay-Z branding, there are no failures in NBA 2K13. Sure it's not very welcoming to new players and takes a while to get in to, but there is no doubt that EA hesitates to bring out a basketball game of their own when this simply beautiful, realistic and deep simulation of basketball is the competition.

Halo 4 is a nice fresh start for a series that has lost some of its shine in later years. 343 Industries has really put everything they got into making a stunningly beautiful sequel, packed with high quality content in all kinds of shapes and forms.

After a very disappointing sidestep with Revelations, Ubisoft now releases the best game in the entire series. The script, the environment – basically everything is spectacular. Some irritating bugs are the only aspect that stands in the way of a perfect score.

It's hard to find negative things to write about Forza Horizon. It certainly is a different experience compared to Forza Motorsport 4, but that doesn't mean it's not as good. The spotless presentation and the enormous amount of things to do makes this one of the finest racing games I've ever played.

War of the Roses takes on the genre of multiplayer war-games with a new and exciting setting. The game manages to capture frantic melee-battles of the 15th century very well and the combat feels solid and deep. Lots of weapons and armor make up for a lack of game modes and maps, but hopefully there will be more content added to this already interesting title.