The synergy between audio and visual in Bit. Trip Presents Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien greatly redeems a game that can become as tedious as its title.

Age of Empires II: HD will scratch a nostalgic itch for some, but Hidden Path's update doesn't go far enough to bring new audiences to the series.

With a huge singpleplayer campaign, and shrewd changes to multiplayer, StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm has something to offer every RTS fan.

BioShock is the most important new intellectual property of this hardware generation. Like its predecessor, it is an experience that could only ever be achieved in a videogame, one that demonstrates the true power of this medium to engage and inspire us, and in doing so it soars far above so many other games, clipped and blinkered as they are by their lowly, merely filmic aspirations. Irrational's achievements in BioShock Infinite dignify the medium.

SimCity looks and sounds beautiful, and contains many great development ideas, but the always-online requirement has hurt the game. It also needs some patching.

New series guardian Sanzaru Games has taken great care to emulate the gameplay of prior Sly Cooper titles, which gives Thieves in Time an overly familiar but comfortable feel. A polished experience, it nonetheless won't challenge adults, and its one-dimensional characters aren't likely to captivate.

While there have been refinements, the core Gears machinery whirs on through another solid singleplayer campaign. More has been altered in the game's multiplayer component, but it's finally a case of diminishing returns for the cornerstone franchise.

It may not look the best these days, but this revamped Darkstalkers collection plays like a dream and boasts excellent netcode to boot. Throw in a great tutorial system and it's a winner, particularly at arcade title prices.

Crysis 3 looks stunning and ticks all the right boxes, but the game doesn't do enough to distinguish itself in order to earn the higher marks.

Thanks to top-notch mechanics and the deep well that is Greek mythology, Ascension is a winner. It may not be the absolute best God of War game, but it's certainly worthy of the moniker.

As if it weren't clear by the title, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance indulges the ridiculous. This entry into the now-hallowed franchise is one of the very best.

Lara's return is a triumphant one, providing gamers with a visually breathtaking adventure around a well-realised island setting that harbours some dark secrets. Some more challenging puzzles and platforming would have been welcome, but as it stands, Tomb Raider is a thrilling reboot of a legendary franchise.

The games industry is full of serious business FPS games and RPGs that blend together in stale genericism. Ni No Kuni sets out to be a unique experience, a beautiful adventure that can be played instead of just watched. While in no way perfect, it achieves its goal admirably.

New Super Mario Bros. U is hardly a groundbreaking release. But it is a beautifully-presented demonstration of the franchise's fundamentals, with just enough extra content to hold back accusations of creative bankruptcy.

It has combat in both its campaign and competitive modes that feels extremely appropriate, and there’s a generous amount of very “Aliens” content here. Just expect the plotting and atmosphere to feel slightly stale throughout.

Dead Space 3 is an enjoyable action game, but it's unlikely to make a lasting impression.

The Cave clings to some genre tropes that we could do without in 2013, but the game is redeemed by its wicked sense of humour and wonderful presentation. A must for puzzle fans.

The franchise's tight combat mechanics and deep move sets are present and accounted for, bolstered by a decent story and new platforming mechanics. There are some flaws, but DmC is so consistently good that it's hard to imagine anyone being disappointed with Ninja Theory's series reboot.

The very definition of shovelware, Transformers Prime is a woefully undernourished release that damages both the Wii U and Transformers brands. A budget downloadable than a full title, it's debatable if Prime should have even seen a release on handhelds, let alone Nintendo's flagship console.

There is still joy to be found in Ratchet and Clank's trademark weapons and humour, but Q-Force's lack of focus ultimately proves its undoing.

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is a fantastic racer. The tracks and racers are great, and the controls – small jet niggles aside – are excellent.

A must for Skyrim fans.

Let's forget about the game that pits favourite iconic video game characters such as plumbers and Pokemon for a minute and focus on what this is. PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale stands on its own two feet to show that it, too, has a place in this world.

While unlikely to be the game that sells millions of gamers on the Wii U as a system, ZombiU is a strong game and its purchase a no-brainer for those who own the console already.

Add Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse to the list of licensed games that fail to deliver an experience that challenges, entertains and stands apart from its source material.

At times, Hitman: Absolution shines: a perfectly planned and executed assassination provides genuine player satisfaction, an overheard conversation at a train station makes the player feel part of a larger world, or a moment of frantic improvisation when discovered to evade pursuers or silence a witness can be generally thrilling. It's just a shame then that a hefty chunk of the game is padded out with material that isn't nearly as enjoyable.

Far Cry 3 makes some impressive changes to reinvent the franchise and create an experience that is not afraid to address thematic issues many other games shy away from. Watching Jason both grow as an individual and succumb to the madness that infects the Rook islands adds significant weight to the actions Far Cry 3 asks players to undertake. Ubisoft asks us to consider whether we're just as mad as the rest of the Rook Island natives. There's still room for other games to execute more deftly on these same themes, but for now, Far Cry 3's journey is easily compelling and even easier to recommend.

However, while LittleBigPlanet Karting's polish makes it a solid racer, it is nonetheless flawed and inessential. Despite heavy handling, few corners require anything close to deceleration let alone braking to negotiate, and it's the weapons rather than crashes that significantly alter a final placing anyway. That makes it perfect as a party game as experienced players aren't hugely advantaged, but it also sucks the drama from even the closest finishes, and those seeking a balanced, competitive racer should look elsewhere.