Rocksmith 2014 many improvements on its predecessor see the franchise elevated from a decent diversion to a great tool for budding strummers and shredders. There’s a ton of quality content to get through, but best of all it’s presented in an appealing and addicting manner that takes much of the pain from practice

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is essential gaming for anyone who has ever dreamed of running up the Jolly Roger and taking whatever they can carry from His Majesty’s holds.

The sixth Pokémon generation’s leap into three dimensions is a godsend, maintaining a recognisable experience while giving the aesthetic experience much-needed depth and dynamism. Even with this new presentation, though, the seventeen-year-old core remains the same – a trusty old heart that doesn’t really need to change.

The sixth Pokémon generation’s leap into three dimensions is a godsend, maintaining a recognisable experience while giving the aesthetic experience much-needed depth and dynamism. Even with this new presentation, though, the seventeen-year-old core remains the same – a trusty old heart that doesn’t really need to change.

In its desire to to be stewards worthy of the prestigious Arkham series, Warner Bros Montreal has played it too close. Arkham Origins is well executed and sure to keep fans satisfied, but it doesn't dare to bring enough new ideas to warrant higher praise.

For gamers looking for something intellectual about their medium, in their medium, The Stanley Parable is the only choice available – and thankfully, it’s a good one.

Swap Force is another winning entry in the Skylanders series, proving once again that games aimed at children can provide fun for those that detest them. Deep pockets will be required to get the most out of the game, but even the vanilla version still represents value for money.

With its compelling storytelling, rich characterisations, and engaging player choices, The Wolf Among Us succeeds in spite of its gameplay short comings, and looks to be another genre-defining title from the team at Telltale Games.

When it's not busy pandering, titillating, and falling back on fantasy clichés, Dragon's Crown is a sound, nostalgia-tinged experience.

F1 2013 is a great game – the best of the series thus far, in fact. For racing fans without last year's game, its acquisition is a no-brainer. However, those with F1 2012 are encouraged to try before buying. There are few changes on last year's formula and Classic Mode's potential vastly outweighs its offering this time around.

Beyond: Two Souls is unquestionably an important release, but excellent performances by Willem Dafoe and Ellen Page belie a structurally unsound narrative and truly benign gameplay.

With its extensive licenses, bold and complex yet accessible gameplay, unparalleled online offerings, excellent tutorials, and clean presentation, FIFA 14 may only be a small step up from last year's game, but it remains a fantastic offering overall.

This is no incremental update. The AI, the animations and collision detection are dramatically improved and the detail given to player faces is genuinely impressive. The only thing holding NBA 2K14 back it seems is Visual Concepts compulsion to change their control scheme annually.

PES 2014 is a solid title whose lively presentation and animation improvements are offset by slower, heavier gameplay. Not a bad game by any measure, it nonetheless counteracts some of the improvements made in last year's excellent PES 2013.

Rain won't tax players the way other puzzle-platformers might, but what it lacks in challenge it more makes up for in atmosphere and story. An aching, moody title, it will nonetheless charm those who brave its inclement climes.

A gleefully tongue-in-cheek throwback to shooters of yore, Shadow Warrior offers fantastic melee combat and a truly beautiful world to discover and then slaughter in.

This is no slap-dash conversion. The transition to consoles has been managed with extreme care and respect – so much so, that as we speak, playing with friends on the sofa is the best way to experience Diablo III.

Grand Theft Auto V is the pinnacle of the franchise and of gaming in 2013. A ridiculously ambitious title that wrings absolutely everything out of the aging seventh-gen consoles, it's a spectacular triumph in every conceivable way. Rejoice, for Rockstar North has done it again.

Puppeteer is a delightful platformer whose attractive patchwork visuals and fairytale-style story are complemented by great voice acting, clever presentation, and a neat gameplay twist.

The Wonderful 101 shows that Platinum's mischievous streak and fondness for over-the-top action remains undiminished. It's an enjoyably bonkers title that makes good use of the Wii U's touchscreen and as such, is a bright spot in that console's slowly-expanding library.

Killzone: Mercenary resembles its console counterparts gunplay-wise, but its story is dull and difficulty spikes and other shenanigans sour the experience.

Grand in ambition but focused in execution, A Machine For Pigs is a terrific slice of Victorian industrial horror that will stay with you even as you try to sleep with the lights on.

Outlast gets the visuals and sound right, has some great mechanics, and will provoke feelings of dread and horror in even the most jaded gamer. It's cat-and-mouse sequences are a repetitive dirge, but elsewhere this is a strong first offering.

Even Killer is Dead's hyper-cel shaded aesthetic can't cover over a flawed, deeply misogynistic title.

Rayman Legends isn’t just good, it’s utterly terrific on practically every level. That such a title was once confined to Nintendo’s sickly hardware seems abhorrent, although it’s the sort of rare game that would sell a console. An exquisite offering, it exudes polish and should appeal to everything sentient within 50 yards of the TV.

Space Hulk is remarkably faithful to the source material, something that works for and against it in equal measure. Altogether the game shows potential but feels undercooked.

Despite feeling like an expansion to Saints Row: The Third, the ridiculous story missions and the excellently-implemented superpowers make Saints Row IV an enormous amount of fun.

If the Lost Planet series still had any devotees, they'd probably be disappointed by this third installment's padded and passionless offering.