Deus Ex The Fall is a rather nice attempt at pushing a Deus Ex experience on touch devices; it works, but not flawlessly. With a less than stellar level design, some annoying bugs, and limited branching, The Fall seems to make the most of less than ideal devices, but do not think for a minute that it can go on par with the real thing on a full-fledged console or PC. Still very nice to play, though, as a point of entry to the series or a quick fix until a real sequel to Human Revolution.

Fruits take some time to grow, like ideas need some time to sprout. Hence Pikmin 3 shows that patience and planning are not only the key to gardening, but also the secret to cultivating new ways of doing it, in an amusing and artful manner.

A rather nice beat'em all with impressive combos and interesting Boss fights. But you'll have to overlook an important amount of technical issues to enjoy it. Or wait for a patch.

Charming, accessible, yet of unforgiving (but not frustrating) challenge, Rogue Legacy is first and foremost of great fun. This blend of rogue-like with permadeath and Metroidvania gameplay is refreshing and well-balanced, and even though it may appear repetitive, it's an addictive game.

Although this adventure around Pi'illo Island feels like a recurring nightmare, Luigi's super powers are imaginative enough to transform this journey into a daydream, without feeling drowsy.

Civilization V keeps getting deeper and refined gameplay with Brave New World ; diplomacy, commerce, tourism, and culture in general are the main focuses of this new extension, and the introduction of the Nations Congress all boost the middle and end game with an enhanced appeal, even though the start of a game remains ever-critical to future success.

Quotation forthcoming.

Quotation forthcoming.

Probably one of the best platforms to enjoy the addictive and singular Hotline Miami. It plays very well thanks to the dual sticks, the touche screen adds targeting options, and the crisp screen of the Vita allows for a perfect rendering of this flashy, pixelated universe. Seeing as it is crossbuy as well (PS3/Vita), it's a no-brainer.

A pain in the ass to play, no real AI, too distant checkpoints, ancient production values, terrible art direction... If vampires are supposed to be cool thanks to recent popular movies and TV Shows, it doesn't show in Dark.

Mario is missing but that doesn't necessarily makes Super Luigi U a bad game. On the contrary, his absence makes some room for Luigi so that he can express a surprisingly hardened personality through diabolically designed levels.

At last, a version of Duels of the Planeswalker that offers free deck crafting with its Sealed Deck mode! That's a hell of a progression for the series, even though it's still far from perfect, since the Sealed Deck mode only offers a handful of different cards and the other pre-constructed decks are far from ambitious or originally conceived.

Company of Heroes 2 doesn't really reinvent its own formula; but it clearly enriches it with several new layers of micro-management. It's a hell of a rich RTS game, but one that doesn't really take care of newcomers; if you were a fan of the original, you'll probably love this sequel, if you're new to the series, well, brace yourself, you'll have to learn the hard way.

High Moon expertly captured the spirit of this crazy character; unfortunately, Deadpool, as a game, isn't nearly as fun as its jokes.

Quotation forthcoming.

This Vita port of the HD Compilation is nicely done, even though the games themselves and their shortcomings remain the same: some camera issues, rigid PS2-era controls, and the like. Still a new way to enjoy 3 classics on the go.

With a cryptic business model, one would prefer the web-based F2P version of Akaneiro, if only it wasn't so dull and forcibly repetitive.

You have but two options : wait for an indie to craft a modernized version, as rich and enticing as The King of Dragon Pass is, or overlook the dated production values of the original in order to enjoy it right here, right now. Sure, this Sim/RPG game isn't for the faint of heart... you need to be a potential king in order to survive it. But here's all the fun.

Even more than the title the expression comes from, Game & Wario suffers from the "Nintendo Land" syndrome : few mini-games, and fewer that are actually really fun. Its main appeal is the best console version of a Pictionary you'll find to date.

You will not be bored a single second in Expeditions : Conquistador, if you're the type of gamer who loves this bland of turn-based strategy, RPG and New World atmosphere. This subtle genre cocktail finds new dynamics with the complexities of the story embedded in all the game's aspects. The story approach is the main innovation of this first title by Logic Artist, and propels it far above any regular indie game.

An atmospheric puzzle / platformer, but with a story as well. With a solid narrative nicely merged with the game mechanics. It might be a little easy for puzzle lovers, but the overall experience really calls for attention.

Nice at first glance, The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing suffers from some really annoying shortcomings that demote it from "nice" to "average".

The Night of the Rabbit looks like a kid oriented game, but the puzzles point it towards the hardcore audience. One may clear them with a little research, but it's clear Daedalic didn't really master its difficulty curve. But in terms of production values and story, it's really good.

If EA had any ambition with Fuse to get a new yearly incremental shooter, it needs to think again: Fuse has everything it needs... to make it an average and unmemorable TPS. There's nothing setting it aside of the mass of generic games from this genre.

There's no denying it: The Last of Us hits almost every nail on the head. Its storytelling, its gameplay, its characters, and their journey in this bleak but almost sadly beautiful world that saw the downfall of the human civilization doesn't ever really try to shortcut its way to genuine emotions, opting, on the contrary, for the hard but humanely faithful path. The ambivalence of the human soul, the spot on portrayal of conflicting morals and the tragedy of impossible choices are all beautifully written and played. Plus, the multiplayer is far from being a gimmick; quite the contrary, in fact. It's very much a coherent and enticing experience on its own, with a brilliant meta-game idea, and a unique, multiplayer take on survival.

There's a lot of revelations in this episode of Cognition. I've been caught off guard and enticed right up until the end of it. It's enough to overlook the still weak production values, and the easy gameplay. Can't wait for the conclusion of this story!

The devs from Cardboard Games confirm their narrative talent with this second chapter.

New Leaf isn't just about adding more activities and items in a green fashion, it's about empowering the player with the ability to model the town through its aspirations. And with the wider opening provided by the possibility to visit other cities through dreams, there are even more reasons to express ones creativity and discover the richness of Animal Crossing.

The story of Nilin lasts maybe 10 hours, but will endure past the end credits. There are some shortcomings in terms of gameplay, indeed, but its storytelling, brilliant art direction, and impeccable, yet frightening vision of the future will most definitely remain branded in your memory for years to come.

GRID 2 offers an excellent feeling of speed within all its furious races. It is visually stunning, the gameplay is both accessible and subtle, the career and multiplayer modes are long and interesting... In short, despite the lack of cockpit view and tuning options, what we have here is a great racing game, with an almost perfect arcade/simulation compromise.

Cryptic uses Star Trek Online success to fuel its Neverwinter, a D&D Free to Play MMO that is as comprehensive as it is nice to play. But its balancing issues make it far to easy! With some corrections in that regard, and some additional Dungeon Master tools in their content creation system, Cryptic could produce one of the most interesting free-to-play games; let's hope they do.

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity will not be the one to up the series. This first episode of Mystery Dungeon running on the 3DS simplified its gameplay so much that it's become even duller than previous episodes, making it the weakest of an already not-so-great saga.

Just as the name says, Stick Tennis perfectly sticks to its motto "easy to play, hard to master". Hence the gameplay is cleverly adapted to the touch interface, but its depth is limited by the lack of control over the movement.

Family Tennis 3D lacks polishing and too many core features to be worthy of its models, but it's been inspired just enough to offer a gameplay full of fun, carried by a cute design.

Behind its low end graphics, this indie game proves to be one of the most realistic tennis simulation ever created. The seemingly simple gameplay offers an astonishing amount of depth, combined with a very elaborate AI and a complete career mode. With the compelling online tournaments and its huge modding options, a virtual tennis life is really awaiting.

Reus might be seen as a god-game if you consider accounting management specialists are gods. Pretty, poetic, green, even slightly educative, Reus hides a super complex puzzle game behind its planetary beauty. You'll try to help humans to grow civilizations, but as one learns from real life, they will most certainly bring chaos in all your planing ; and this is what's the game is all about.

Quotation forthcoming.

Gunslinger wipes away the disappointment of the previous Call of Juarez. The affordable price of this shooter makes up for its short adventure and its shortcomings: mainly a poor AI and the lack of multiplayer. Its overall good storytelling, and the fitting cel shading of its visuals make up for those as well.

Paved with good intentions, this new FPS from 4A Games comes up short in terms of gameplay (mostly because of a poor AI). That's too bad because its atmosphere and story are rich and interesting. It's a good experience if you're able to pace yourself like the game needs you to in order to shine; to help you there, it's also a shame that the "Ranger" difficulty mode has to be purchased as a DLC.

Rooted in good intentions, but poorly executed.

Stardrive boasts a no-compromise approach to 4X strategy that is interesting enough. Its relatively simple in terms of management mechanics, but still requires the player to pay attention, since every element has a major impact on his game. On the contrary, the deep customization system of the ships needs to be studied meticulously to be handled with efficiency, on a per-case basis, because the economy doesn't really allow massive aramadas. All these make for a solid basis of a game but a lot still requires refinement (AI, interface, graphics optimisation...).

A very well executed translation of the Persona world in the versus fighting genre. Arc System Works delivers a rich and beautiful game, all the while staying as true as possible to Atlus' franchise.

Fez may not be as polished as its pairs, the Limbos and the Braids, but it's the indie gem we were expecting it to be. It's an ode to 8bit clichés for sure, but also a puzzler that will appeal to all the thinkers and explorers alike, filled with cuteness, an awesome soundtrack and atmosphere, and quite a load of secrets to uncover.

Zeno Clash II is really a twin brother to the first one: same peculiar art direction, same slightly below average production values, same gameplay ideas. Its unique world remains its strongest asset, by far, but its bugs and gameplay shortcomings will quickly get on the nerves of those who aren't mesmerized by its universe.

I really thought that Blood Dragon would quickly become too much, but I'm surprised that it was able to make me laugh all the way through this heavily deformed and 80's enriched Far Cry 3. It goes in all directions, and at great length, to charm all over-the top, punchline riddled, references fans. A smart and refreshing stand-alone take.

Soul Sacrifice is not a kind of chimera born simply from Monster Hunter and Demon's Souls influences, because Keiji Inafune breathed a real soul into it by integrating the concept of sacrifice with the narrative, the gameplay system and the multiplayer philosophy.

Mars War Logs isn't free of shortcomings, and not all of them can be explained by the low budget of the studio. Some are design mistakes, or skewed ideas. But its basics are pretty solid, and this RPG, as well as its universe, are ambitious and realistic. Its shortcomings should really be overlooked, for a sequel with more means would probably be even more enjoyable.

Don't Starve is brilliantly titled. This rich and smart rogue-like defies you to explore and survive an equally cruel and alluring randomly generated world, but I suspect that the "Don't Starve" advice isn't for your character but for yourself: the game is so enticing and brilliant that those playing it will soon find themselves skipping the real life meals to continue playing.

Quotation forthcoming.

Quotation forthcoming.

Completely aimed at eSport, Shootmania offers a gameplay that will not please everyone. The weapon system will be hated by many, loved by some, who will praise that skills is everything in this FPS. A good title but aimed at a niche market.

God Mode tries to find some kind of Painkiller gameplay, but it can't really make it. It is to much repetitive and limited. The whole experience would deserve some refinements... like changing this damn "standing still" sensation.

If you liked Dead Island, then you are sure to love Riptide: it's the same! All the elements are back: the survivors of the first game (plus a new one), the tropical atmosphere, the gameplay (more melee-oriented)... but also this problem of redundancy that you'll feel very quickly after a few battles and missions. A good game for all the fans of the first one, but they will pay the full price of a new episode to play an add-on.

Who would say no to more background for Dishonored ? Especially if it's about taking control of a character as interesting as Daud, master assassin... There is not so much new stuff in The Knife of Dunwall, but more difficult levels that stealth fans will love.

This Sacred spinoff is basically a hack'n slash game. Its easiness makes it a short game, but it is not too expensive and still quite pleasant to play, with family or friends on the same screen.

Do not tell me that true fans of DC Comics would get their money's worth with Injustice. And fighting game lovers either. Love does not mean accepting everything, and we can't be enthusiasts about the pitiful appearance that the Mortal Kombat studio gave to Superman, Wonder Woman and their pals. Yes, the gameplay basics from MK and the being-a-superhero feeling remains cool, as do the destructible stages, but the script and the presentation of the story mode, the stiffness of the animations and the poor art design do not allow Injustice to be mentioned within the good-fighting-games list of this generation.

With LEGO City Undercover: The Chase Begins, the 3DS was not far from getting its "GTA for children", with humor and a ton of things to collect. But the city is a bit small, and the graphics are limited... The game is quite easy but the formula is still really cool for the kids.

Quotation forthcoming.

Defiance lands on Earth with a significant number of flaws: Pay to Win PvP, average graphics, repetitive gameplay... But the base looks solid for a brighter future, especially if you decided to watch the Defiance TV series and if you are hooked by this universe.

Rather than dying out while burning only through its ardent fans' hearts, Fire Emblem's flame spread by letting the players decide the temperature of the challenge, without cooling down its blazing gameplay. On the contrary, it even flared up with the intensified support system, the inflamming bonds created between the warriors and the warm wireless options, although just missing online battles to shine forever.

Dead or Alive 5 + is an excellent port. This PS Vita version offers superb graphics and the gameplay is identical to the PS3/Xbox 360 versions.

Quotation forthcoming.

For those who love pixel art, point'n click adventures and puzzle games, Finding Teddy is like a trip to Wonderland. It is short, but this beautiful mix works perfectly.

With Dynasty Warriors 7 Empires, we will again beat up Chinese soldiers, 1 Vs. 100, over the hours. In addition to the impressive selection of characters and stories, the new way of creating heroes is quite nice. They have also added a small amount of strategy (alliances, diplomacy...), but it is quite limited, unlike the battle arenas, which are larger than ever. Graphically, it is the equivalent to a game at the end of the Xbox life... yes, the first one. Finally, no major changes to the series: the fans will be pleased, the others, those who moved on to something else a long time ago, will remain unmoved.

Though its basic game design idea (trying to reach the bottom of a well as fast as possible) may be nice in theory, its execution in Splash or Crash is terminally ill by design. Its prohibitive price for only 10 look-alike levels, the possibility to choose, right from the get-go, an indestructible ball, and the lack of precision of the 3DS stick combined with the absence of a gyro-based control option make it absolutely worthless.

We'd have hoped that if a third iteration in the series was done, it was with the overall goal of surpassing the quality of the two average previous games. But the Devil's Cartel ends-up being a sub-par TPS, bugged, limited, uninspired and even lazy in its game design.

This is, by far, the most otaku game I've ever come across. So much so, that its blend of pervy silliness and fan service for hikikomori lovers can run on one's nerves pretty quickly. And since this RPG hasn't got much else for itself than its busty manga babes and pseudo games system (in truth, a pretty empty one) when you factor in that it's ugly, poorly produced, and has frame-rate issues as well as the dullest plot ever, I don't see how it could appeal to anyone.

With HarmoKnight, Game Freak delivers a very nice rhythm platformer. Its only real shortcoming may reside in the lack of identity of its jazz, rock or samba tracks; none of them really stands out.

It's hard to accept that such a title can exist in 2013. It's probably the best candidate for worst game of the year.

To sum-up LEGO City Undercover to a simple GTA with bricks would be a shame. Full of satire fore previous Telltale LEGO games and rich without any franchise to support it, City Undercover is able to charm with extensive content, no violence, and several layers of subtext for all to enjoy. It's a trans-generational game, and a good one at that.

Monster Hunter 3 on 3DS is certainly a good opportunity to dive into the enchanting world of this Capcom license. The 3DS / Wii U connectivity is a good addition, but this 2009 game still suffers sometimes from archaic level design and gameplay.

To reinvent one's masterpiece without betraying its spirit nor fall into redundancy is one thing. Going as far as to pull the rug out from underneath all narrative FPS's and emotion merchants who planned to come in the coming months is another. But anyway, that wouldn't be the first impudence of BioShock Infinite. Not to fly up to Columbia and explore such a beautifully written journey would be a crime; not to meet the most alive NPC ever that is Elizabeth would be a shame.

Beautiful, efficient, but burdened with a poor story, this GoW: Judgment lacks innovation for sure, but also its more vivid casting and its new multiplayer mode don't really cohere with small teams and arenas. It still remains a high quality TPS, though, but not one that will make memories.

The solo may not be revolutionary, but it remains solid; the production values are spotless, Battle.net was revised for added comfort, and it supports a multiplayer that could very well be described as a dangerous time-consuming wormhole you won't be able to escape. There's no denying it: StarCraft 2 remains the mother of all STR games.

Luigi's Mansion 2 doesn't just bring back to life the original, it transcends it. Deeper gameplay, smart puzzles, and a parody-filled tone meet a carefully structured mission-based progression that make it perfect for nomad play, while its multiplayer offers yet another take on ghost cleaning.

Don't trust its cartoony looks, Sly Cooper isn't just for kids. Behind its mask, our beloved animal thief hides a delightful sense of humor. It also boasts a ton of tricks to play with in terms of gameplay, despite its stealth nature slowly conceding territory to the more action-y aspects of its gameplay. In the end, the adventure is full of variety and fun, and may very well be the most refined and rich episode of the series - it most certainly is one of the best 3D platformers out there these days.

Fuel Overdose is a clear take on a classic, old-school, top-down racer with weapons games that were much more common in the 90's. Its nostalgic approach is enriched with very neat ideas like the grappling hook or remote mines, but it's also visible in terms of production values. Despite its visual shortcomings, little bugs and imperfections, it's typically the kind of little indy game that could become a dear and memorable experience, if only it didn't lack a local multiplayer, or players in its online multiplayer.

The clear proselytism of the game may shock some, but let's not get angry for so little. Especially since Driftmoon is a little RPG Adventure game rather nice and funny, with playability and gameplay ideas that may very well inspire bigger productions. Don't expect any challenge, though. Amen.

Richard & Alice both have their stories to tell in a dying world covered in snow. But the story is too obviously trying too hard to bring forth emotions, and the point & click gameplay is far from being perfect. This clearly undermines the global experience.

The Showdown Effect requires some time to be tamed, but its gore action, thrilling pace and voluntarily stupid tone will probably help you forget the tears of your initial failures. Then, you'll be one more to psychology torture the noobs and veto their right to existence. It's a game that's designed for short bursts of action, a few games at a time before your brain melts down.

Before it unwillingly became a fantastic rant against always-online DRM, and forced social cooperation, SimCity was supposed to be the shining new star of the city builders genre. Instead, Maxis and EA delivered a very pretty screen saver one can build as he likes. Miniaturized both in terms of zones to play with and gameplay mechanics, this SimCity is really fun for 10 hours, the time you need to build a full city and watch it like the pretty ant farm it is, before you simply abandon it before the very eyes of other players who were relying on its resources. It may still remain fun when played privately among friends with a decent strategy, which they need to polish even before laying their first piece of concrete on the ground, but in the end, we'd wager the game itself will be forgotten in a year's time. Its disastrous launch and unreliable servers? Maybe less so.

In a genre where almost everything seems to have been invented already, Rise of the Blobs manages to introduce a refreshing puzzle game concept even though it's reminiscent of things like Tetris and Puyo Puyo. And it's free.

A real gem for fans of the Konoha ninja, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 is rich, well-crafted, fun to play and as worthy of the series as ever.

God of War Ascension is surprisingly efficient and polished, both in solo and multiplayer. This new chapter of the story of Kratos is as interesting to discover as it is fun to play, thanks to smartly revised combat elements, and the multiplayer is far from being a bulletpoint added on the packshot for marketing reasons: it's fun and rich, even though it may lack a little more content to really capture in the long run.

Mercury Steam continues to demonstrate its talent in this new contribution to its Lords of Shadow reboot of the Castlevania series. Beautifully transposed to 2,5D gameplay, this 3DS title brings back together demanding platforming and deep combat mechanics, in an accessible mix that only lacks a little more puzzles and, for old-timers, challenge.

If 2012 wasn't necessarily an unforgettable year in terms of releases for smartphones and tablets, 2013 starts very well with Year Walk. This enticing journey into Swedish myths and legends offers stunning visuals and sound, with puzzles, riddles, exploration and secrets to discover. It's a little short, but comes with a bonus free app explaining what the original legends and characters from Swedish folklore are. Definitely a fresh experience on iOS.

With its 3DS version of Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing, Sumo Digital had good intentions: offering the same game in portable form. But technically, this version had too many obstacles to overcome, clearly.

Crysis 3's campaign disappoints; its story isn't compelling, the storytelling itself doesn't help it, the level design remains an ordinary one, the difficulty is not well-balanced, and overall, there's no real risk taken creatively at any point in it. It's a game of appearances without substance; visually strong, but that's it. The multiplayer kind of saves the deal, most notably thanks to the Hunter mode.

This is the reboot we were waiting for. Beautiful, clever, expertly paced, it's a superb blend of action, exploration and puzzle.

Despite a slow start, this DLC offers an alternative vision and storyline that translates in the gameplay as well, and will undoubtedly please Assassin's Creed III's fans. Too bad, though, that it's fragmented in three episodes - in terms of price, it's best to opt for the season pass.

Impire is not the Dungeon Keeper clone you might have come to expect. It's a micro-management squad based game, kind of clunky and repetitive, but still well-written and funny. If you have time to enjoy the solo campaign, why not, but waiting for a Steam promotion wouldn't be ill-advised.

This may very well be the best brutal action game for slicing, ninjas, cyborg and WTF lovers.

A disaster worthy of the Nostromo if you allow me to reference.

Proteus is an experience for people who are stressed, anxious, nervous, the depressed... It's a little expensive, but the remedy works.

This 17-Bit game is a love letter of strategy fans, and manages successfully to bring turn-based strategy in the hands of all. Its accessibility, its quality, its balanced, deep yet simple gameplay, everything was designed to go straight to what matters, while polishing the details. With its cross-platform multiplayer and a very nice, funny atmosphere, it may very well be the perfect entry point to a genre that is more often than not perceived as dull and complicated.

There are so many shitty comics adaptations that it's almost impossible not to like Walkind Dead: Assault. It's elegant, easy to play, and visually truthful to the comics.

Picross e2 on the 3DS is still a brilliant game, but doesn't really push the envelope whatsoever, and still charges a price that seems a little high compared to other good puzzles games on several devices.

Quotation forthcoming.