A decent, fun game, but the excitement is much too short-lived.

His previous foray into videogames left the self professed P.I.M.P. more than a little L.I.M.P. But Swordfish Studios have pumped the lead back into 50 Cent’s pencil with the very respectable Blood on the Sand.

An excellent choice for newcomers to the series; for long-time fans it's a bit like watching a remake of your favourite classic movie: predictable, with no major surprises in store... but certainly no less enjoyable than the original.

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.

Left Behind shares many of the traits that make The Last of Us so good, but as a prequel, it is unable to surprise the player with its parent game's trump card – its plot. Even so, it's an enjoyable companion piece to the best game of last year.

Arctic Edge for the PSP is a capable racer with plenty of spills and thrills for those well versed in the genre.

Some will prefer the gameplay of PES 2011 to its EA Sports counterpart (certainly more players than would have in 2010). However, for casual fans and trainspotters alike, the depth and breadth of leagues in FIFA 2011, combined with its continued high-quality gameplay, will leave PES waiting until 2012 for another shot at the title of top football franchise.

Super Mario Party may not do everything perfectly, but it's easily some of the most fun I've had the Switch since launch. The boards are a bit dull but the overwhelming amount of great new minigames makes up for any short-falls with aplomb.

For Guitar Hero fanatics, Warriors of Rock will be well received, although it may struggle to restore interest for those who stashed their guitars away after World Tour.

Sébastien Loeb Rally Evo is a fantastic rally game with it’s heart in the right place, but occasional technical woes stop it from reaching its full potential.

This could well be a surprise hit for those willing to invest the time. Despite a lack of polish, there's a relatively deep story for fans of mythology.

This latest Trivial Pursuit title is a great take on the classic board game. Although suffering from a few issues, it still has a lot to offer for armchair trivia veterans and casual enthusiasts alike. Ultimately the success of this game will be tied to the frequency and quality of DLC.

Super Mega Baseball is an enjoyable throwback to a time when sports games were for everyone rather than just enthusiasts.

Assassin's Creed III is different to the titles that have come before it. It's an open-world game with strong stealth inclinations, rather than a stealth game set in an open world, and for Ubisoft to manage this delicate evolution without entirely alienating an existing core of stealth gameplay enthusiasts is a remarkable feat.

Dance Central is by no means a perfect game. A disappointing multiplayer and a music selection with no real sense of fun detract from the experience. Even so, as a release title there are hours of entertainment to be had alone or with friends.

Darksiders Genesis is a welcome addition to a solid franchise and does a good job at expanding on the universe. Despite the shift in camera perspective, the game retains its signature blend of combat, puzzles and platforming and is a joy to play. Small issues like a woeful map and occasional bugs get in the way of the action a little, but the addition of co-op and the excellent gameplay more than makes up for any shortfalls. Genesis is a must-play for fans of the series and those looking for some solid action on the Switch.

A charming ‘chill out’ game best suited to younger players. A good candidate for the Christmas stocking.

Same old game, new tracklist… ‘nuff said. If it’s shiny new features you’re after, check out the PS3 version.

SSX's first foray since 2008 is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but the core game is as addictive as it ever was. In lieu of any other serious contenders on the horizon, there's enough of it here to keep the groms happy until the next run.

Rainbow Six Siege delivers on its promise of tension, tactics and teamwork, but it might not be worth AU$70; there are bugs both big and small that need squashing, there's no server browser, and connection errors are too common. There's something else to consider, too: PC players have been abandoning multiplayer-only titles in record time this year.

This latest Trivial Pursuit title is a great take on the classic board game. Although suffering from a few issues, it still has a lot to offer for armchair trivia veterans and casual enthusiasts alike. Ultimately the success of this game will be tied to the frequency and quality of DLC.

When it comes down to it, Lego Pirates of the Caribbean is one of the best in the series. The graphics are great and the subject matter lends itself perfectly to the stylistic slapstick of Lego games.

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

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.

For a title with a famous author's name brandished on its cover like a medal of honour, frankly, Future Soldier's writing stinks. There's little to recommend the singleplayer experience, but ironically, those heading online to the plot-free pleasures of team multiplayer will discover the game's true strengths.

Blackbird Interactive clearly understands what makes Homeworld such an esteemed series, and for the most part Deserts of Kharak delivers. Only a relative lack of content somewhat lessens an otherwise excellent RTS.

His previous foray into videogames left the self professed P.I.M.P. more than a little L.I.M.P. But Swordfish Studios have pumped the lead back into 50 Cent’s pencil with the very respectable Blood on the Sand.

Guacamelee is a solid, well-paced Metroidvania-brawler hybrid with style to burn and a fun spin on a doddery old narrative. It also tries desperately hard to be funny, though, and it falls well short of the mark.