It’s fun to furiously trumpet and get to smashin’ stuff as Tembo for a while, but before too long you’re reduced to hoping he makes his way over to a better sequel – or possibly the Virtua Fighter roster.

God of War III Remastered is a must-buy for those that missed out five years ago, but while the game's not full-price, veterans are probably better off waiting for a PS4-native sequel.

Rocket League isn't so great solo, but it's a fantastic multiplayer title that's easy to pick up but surprisingly deep.

Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition, despite its flaws, is definitely worth getting for both old fans and new.

Batman: Arkham Knight is a visual treat. This sets a high standard the gameplay and story largely match, and the result is a closing chapter that's easy to recommend.

Invisible Inc. flawlessly fuses the stealth-based badassery of Splinter Cell with the tactical depth and ever present potential for catastrophic failure of the XCOM series. A beautiful Cyber-Noir turn-based espionage title that will leave you both frustrated and fulfilled.

A Bunnylord, gruesome pixellated deaths, politics by force, and sliding while shooting...After reading that, you already know if Not A Hero is for you.

The Witcher 3 is a triumph. CD Projekt has delivered a world that is epic and textured, and a narrative composed of swelling crescendos and artful asides. This is a studio at the top of its game delivering a title that’s now at the top of the field. Quite simply, The Witcher 3 is unmissable.

Never boring and often exhilarating, The Old Blood is another polished love letter to an older breed of shooter. While not as deep or interesting as The New Order, this standalone expansion provides enough visceral entertainment and interesting story beats to keep players more than engaged for its 6-8 hour running time.

The second act of Broken Age addresses the difficulty concerns of the first, but revisits too many familiar locations, and fails to up the ante or tie things up in a satisfying way.

State of Decay is a fun romp and so is this new-gen re-release. The lack of meaningful changes make it hard to recommend to those that own the older version, but everyone else should dive head-first into its zombie catastrophe scenarios.

Assassins Creed Chronicles: China sees a massive departure from the core gameplay of the franchise, and while it is refreshing to see the game take some risks it never really finds its own identity.

Mortal Kombat X is a mechanically clean and visually grisly release that comes highly recommended for all fans of the fighting genre.

Convoy name-checks some heavy hitting properties, but manages to be more than the sum of its parts.

There is simply no argument to be had. The PC release of GTA V is by far the very best version of the very best Grand Theft Auto game to date.

I Am Bread arrives after a slew of physics-based "comedy" titles, but is nonetheless a winner thanks to compelling play and a shockingly-decent story.

Bloodborne is both perplexing and awe-inspiring, a challenging but rewarding title that will absorb or repel with equal strength.

Unless you're a Final Fantasy diehard, Type-0 should be played in its original form on handheld, or not at all.

Woolfe paints a pretty picture, but the gameplay leaves much to be desired.

Pillars of Eternity demonstrates that a great RPG is as much in our own heads and hearts as it is a developer's vision relayed through a monitor. A must-play for fans of the genre, old and new.

The Sword in the Darkness is the best of Telltale's Game of Thrones episodes yet, and sets up what will no doubt be a dramatic second half of the season.

All components of Three Fourths Home harmonise to produce an entrancing short story that nonetheless could only work as a game.

It's an improvement on episode one, but there's too much inane padding in Out of Time for it to warrant a hearty recommendation.

Hotline Miami 2 boasts a much larger scope than its predecessor but to its detriment the game insists on channelling players through an optimal path. A competent follow-up.

Ori and the Blind Forest is breathtaking in more ways than one: it's dazzlingly beautiful, cleverly designed, and its demanding platforming will test your patience.

Monster Hunt 4 Ultimate is easier to get into than its ancestors, but is just as entertaining.

Xenoverse blurs the line between video game and anime. Despite a few issues, there’s tons of replay value here, and fans can finally fulfill their dream of putting themselves in Dragon Ball.

Homeworld Remastered Collection not only brings two classic games back for longtime fans, it will surely capture a new generation with its unique perspective, brilliant storyline, and engrossing gameplay.

While not as complex or challenging as many stealth games, Republique still manages to provide a unique and interesting game experience, and its strong narrative focus and rewards for exploration make it well worth picking up.

ScreamRide is fun, but it’s not the Daliesque experience it’s so desperately trying to be.

The Deer God has some wonderful ideas and attention-grabbing presentation, but it's mechanically underdeveloped and repetitive.

Travel the universe and meet hordes of interesting alien species, then shoot them repeatedly in the face - with friends.

Hand of Fate is a fresh take on the rogue-lite genre that starts off flush with unique ideas, but by the final few hands it's out of trump cards.

Total War: Attila iterates on Total War: Rome II. It represents an interesting diversion for fans of the series, but a lack of of new ideas and polish mean it's unlikely to appeal to a wider audience.

Majora’s Mask for 3DS represents the best execution of the game, boasting impressive graphics and extraordinary gameplay depth.

It's amazing the mileage The Order gets from its incredible presentation and world, but that goodwill is squandered by a title that's middling to poor in most other areas.

A lovingly made puzzle laden parody of fantasy games that injects its own unique personality in between the deliberately laid layers of cliché and trope.

Super Stardust Ultra is basically a prettier and marginally expanded version of Super Stardust HD that can only really be recommended to newcomers.

A tendency to crash every now and then aside, Apotheon is a shining example of the Castlevania genre.

The Escapists is a break out success for Mouldy Toof studios. A must-play for indie gaming fans with a little patience.

The static narratives and roguelike gameplay in Sunless Sea don't always gel together harmoniously, but Failbetter Games has succeeded in delivering a tense and engaging experience and a rich and atmospheric setting.

What’s here works well enough, but it lacks soul, and if there’s any motivation to continue it’s only that you want to see it through - a damning indictment for any game.

The rules and dynamics established by the Exodus Wars tabletop game set Fractured Empire in good stead, but uninspired production and a desperate lack of unit types hold the game back.

Episode 2: The Lost Lords represents a significant improvement in both the writing and production departments at Telltale.

The first episode of Life Is Strange is a mixed bag – the dialogue grates and inspecting items is a bore, but there is promise elsewhere. With the story's foundations laid down, the next episode could be a standout.

Grim Fandango Remastered makes a terrific game widely-available once again, but more could have been done to update this returning classic.

With a stronger protagonist and better combat and RPG systems, Blackguards 2 is a more engaging, more incisive game than the original.

Warlords of Draenor is WoW at its very best, a return to and step beyond form for the behemoth MMO.

Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris is a capable twin stick isometric puzzler best enjoyed cooperatively, some bugs and missing polish notwithstanding.

The world of The Crew is remarkable, but rarely has a great asset been squandered so tragically on a framework of dull grinding and insipid storytelling.

Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are terrific, overlaying several new features on a couple of classic games.

Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are terrific, overlaying several new features on a couple of classic games.

Iron From Ice's weak characters and water-treading story don't get the series off to a great start, but there is hope things will improve.

The Witcher Adventure Game is a truly stunning digital version of the board game, that sadly only highlights how much more fun you and your friends could be having playing the physical version.

The Old City is rich in evocative sets, but it's too eager to impress with its cleverness.

Tales from the Borderlands may be light on gameplay, but it's long on entertainment. An easy recommendation for fans of adventure games and the Borderlands series alike.

Lego Batman 3 justifies its existence by expanding massively on what made its forebears successful. It probably won't hold the attention of mum and dad, but it's a great title for the kids.

Far Cry 4 doesn't have the element of surprise afforded its praised predecessor but does more than enough to live outside its shadow, and thus stands alone as a great game in its own right.

For anyone not yet fatigued by Assassin's Creed's relentless release schedule, Rogue is a fine game in the series, but for those who had their fill of looting and plundering the high seas in Black Flag, this could be one to miss.

Grand Theft Auto V for new-gen is without a doubt the best way to experience one of the biggest releases of the last half decade.

Unity simply isn't ready for release. The majority of its new systems aren't refined enough, and its existing ones are showing their age. It's still intermittently enjoyable, but a serious step down from last year's Black Flag.

Dragon Age: Inquisition is still a brilliant if flawed gem from one of the best storytellers in the genre. The journey is long. The path is fraught with dangers and more than a few missteps, but it’s an epic adventure well worth the undertaking.

It looks like Zelda and plays like Dynasty Warriors. Yep, it does pretty much what it says on the tin.

Advanced Warfare is COD par excellence, a premiere example of the game that's almost a genre unto itself. Its singleplayer is better than most in the franchise, and the multiplayer is probably the best yet.

NBA 2K15 is an astounding title full of modes that should see hoop heads playing compulsively until the next one in a year's time.

Bayonetta 2 is a silky smooth and highly-entertaining brawler that all Wii U owners should have in their collections.

Lords of the Fallen copies, but it does so from great sources in a mostly competent fashion, and adds in a few neat systems of its own.

Beamdog has delivered the definitive Icewind Dale experience.

There’s no question Sunset Overdrive lives up to the hype. It takes a while to adjust to the style of play it demands but once you do, you discover the pure joy that comes from playing a brilliant game. Flitting about the tippy-top of Sunset City, alternating between grinds and wall-runs to blow away hordes of hilarious enemies is a thrill you won’t soon forget.

A good game made great, Sleeping Dogs Definitive Edition is a flavoursome and entertaining open world action game that can be recommended practically without qualification.

Boasting some clever innovations and generally smooth execution, Civilization: Beyond Earth is a sure bet for fans of the long-running series.

Beautifully presented and expertly executed, The Legend of Grimrock 2 is everything that made the first game great, only now there is even more of it. Wonderful puzzles and plenty of variety will keep eager adventurers entertained until the very end.

Driveclub is incredibly well put together but slightly bland, and is hampered by a lack of distinct personality.

Skylanders: Trap Team is packed full of clever ideas and sharp design. It's well presented and well executed, but be warned: if you let your guard down, it'll also crit your credit card for massive damage.

The Evil Within is a fine example of classic survival horror, but it's held back a little by some stiff characterisation and flat story beats.

Super Smash Bros. makes the leap to 3DS with aplomb. Its deep, addictive combat makes it the best fighting game on the system.

While the game play additions do mix it up slightly, the game often feels like a huge expansion rather than a stand-alone release.

Shadow of Mordor is the single best Lord of the Rings adaptation to date, and one of the very best third-person action games in many years.

Alien: Isolation expertly captures the look and feel of the Alien universe, and The Creative Assembly's AI-controlled nemesis is an inspired move that will inform the survival horror genre, but the game is held back by some poor characterisation and storytelling.

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is a compelling interactive novella that draws players in with its beautifully atmospheric setting. The slow burn narrative doesn’t quite land the final emotional punch it’s aiming for, but it more than satisfies on every other level.

If you can handle the rough and ready and are focused squarely on making your own content, there’s something in here for you. If not, ignore Infinity 2.0 and hope Avalanche iron out the kinks for next year’s release.

Building off Super Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc's absurdist murder mystery base, Danganronpa 2 marries the series' strong crime-solving mechanics with a bizarre, hilarious dayglo nightmare well beyond the craziness of the original.

In Wasteland 2, InXile has a classical RPG that will vindicate its early supporters on Kickstarter.

Horizon 2 is a wheel that has not so much been reinvented as polished to perfection. Whilst comparable to other open-world racers such as Burnout Paradise and Test Drive Unlimited, it takes the genre to a new level.

Is it the best game to release on the new generation of consoles? Most likely. But does it live up to the hype of its many, many ‘Best of E3’ awards? Close, but not quite.

No game does zombie carnage as well as Dead Rising, but tired storytelling, repetition, and technical shortcoming hamper the experience. What's left is a bland game that leans too heavily on its impressive central combat mechanic.

The Sims 4 is a visual and mechanical upgrade, but it's missing many of the things Sims fans are used to.

With around five hours of content and a more engaging story, inFamous: First Light is easy to recommend to players familiar with the universe. New players should consider starting elsewhere.

PixelJunk and Flower fans will find much to like in Hohokum, a psychedelic yet meditative game with loosely-defined goals but great imagination.

Diablo III: Reaper of Souls Ultimate Evil Edition is a genre-defining experience on consoles. It's a must for console-owning fans of the franchise, and a highly recommended entry point for anyone interested in the action-RPG genre.

When it's not broken for local players, WildStar is an assured and busy sci-fi MMO that will win over players with its underdog pluck and aesthetic charm.

Gods Will Be Watching shows a lot of thematic and gameplay dynamical promise, but the whole package let down by its lack of polish and consequence.

Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty is an excellent example of how to remake a game. A must for returning fans and newcomers alike.

The Last of Us Remastered is a better-looking, better performing version of an already incredible game. As such, those who haven't played the original version should buy immediately, and those that have probably should as well.

Ratchet & Clank Trilogy is a largely successful port of the much-loved action platformer. Looking on them in 2014, though, the flaws are more apparent, and the a couple of design decisions don't translate to the Vita all that well.

Magic 2015 is a step backwards for the Planeswalkers series, and could potentially prove a costly misstep for Stainless Games given the recent, celebrated arrival of Blizzard in the CCG genre.

Sniper Elite III sees the franchise creep closer to excellence. It doesn't quite get there, but nonetheless this is a solid title that has arrived in a particularly lean month.

After much fanfare, EA Sports UFC taps out disappointingly early.