Like many of its big stars, the WWE series shows its age more with each passing year, but the latest model proves there are still a few cans of whoop-ass left in the tank.

When played alone, Need for Speed: Most Wanted feels too large and too empty, a game devoid of compelling content and one that doesn't provide enough reasons to play. When played online, however, it is instantly transformed into a far more vibrant, manic and exciting place to be.

Most gamers should find many solid hours of entertainment in this title, and most racing game fans will probably wish they could live in it.

A clear attempt to cash in on 49 years of Bond goodwill and the gaming ignorance of many of the Christmas-present-buying public, 007 Legends is a game that belongs in the previous generation, but even then it would have been tough to recommend.

Doom 3 BFG is great value, considering everything that is included. But as a stand-alone HD remake of Doom 3, it's slightly disappointing, despite the inclusion of a whole new mission. Just a little more polish would have made this a must-have just for Doom 3 itself. Thankfully its two predecessors are along to provide some added value.

Levels are broader and more varied, small alterations have been made to force the player to put more thought into how they craft their experiences, and there's some genuine emotional content being experimented with. The whole enterprise does end up feeling a bit too earnest, a bit too forced, a bit too cornball. Despite that, though, there's a maturity of vision to Halo 4, one that manifests itself, in small ways, in the narrative and in the ways you interact with that narrative.

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.

It's a cynical release, devoid of entertainment, that should be avoided at all costs.

Not only is Hotline a shoe-in for Indie of the Year, it represents a masterful, artistic achievement that generates equal parts frustration, enjoyment and addiction, and therefore comes highly recommended.

While it might not be revolutionary, there is a surprising amount of new content and old fashioned fun to be had inside the cartridge, which is all one could hope for from a mid-generation Pokémon release.

In fairness, the fairytale nature of The Unfinished Swan's story strongly suggests that this is a game aimed at a younger audience, and when considered in that light, it does well to introduce the basics of the puzzle genre at a level that children will easily pick up. Unlike the best children's stories, however, there isn't much going on beneath the surface, and those intrigued by the game's unique premise will be left wishing there was more to it than just a few clever ideas.

XCOM can be a cruel, vindictive mistress, but she is one that can be tamed. With an investment of time and patience, players can gain access to a true tactical masterpiece, unlike anything we've seen in the past decade.

Mists of Pandaria has a lot to offer players. Its tone and style are a drastic departure from the super-serious-business of previous expansions. And that is commendable.

Captain Scarlett and her Pirate's Booty is what downloadable content ought to be: expansive and apart. It's instantly recognisable, but it experiments with many of the gameplay mechanics players are familiar with. It introduces carefully conceived and thoroughly realised new non-player characters, and provides an encapsulated encounter that any fan of Borderlands 2 would do very well to consider.

Given the game's simplicity, one can rightly wonder why this title carries a recommended retail price typical of a game stamped with the Nintendo brand. Beat the Beat: Rhythm Paradise makes one thing glaringly obvious: it's time for the Wii U.

More attention to actual gameplay would have elevated Hell Yeah! beyond a mere distraction, and as such it's difficult to see it as a break-out success, and even harder to recommend to platform fanatics looking for something new.

As a survival horror game, Resident Evil 6 fails on almost every count. As an action game, it could be considered mediocre, and as a combination of the two it's little more than acceptable. If the main Resident Evil series continues along this path many long term survival horror fans will eventually tune out, and those who are keen on fast paced action may be interested to see what the series has in store next time round.

It doesn't need a hokey in-game marketplace where players can trade credits for uniforms in order to be better; such insecurity only cheapens the whole thing. FIFA 13 is a triumph when viewed on its core merits; its ability to excite and drive the player to new levels of skill and enjoyment through the age-old medium of football.

But in most other respects this is an incredibly assured first-person adventure that grants a dozen hours of top-notch escapism in a brilliantly fleshed-out world, and practically demands an immediate replay so that all its delights may be sampled.

In spite of a lack of competition, Visual Concepts hasn't eased off the brakes. Every year the developer continues to deliver. NBA 2K13 isn't just the best basketball game of the year, it's the best sports game of the year.

Less of a distinct entry in the Tekken series, Tag Tournament 2 is more like a DVD Collector's Edition Boxset - everything the series has produced previously has almost been rolled into one convenient package for fans to sink their teeth into while they await Tekken 7. With nearly five dozen characters to master, a huge range of character customisation options available, a customisable soundtrack and a seemingly endless army of foes waiting online, Tekken Tag Tournament 2 will keep fight-fans busy for a long while to come.

F1 2012 is a must-play for Formula 1 enthusiasts who also count themselves among the ranks of racing game fans. The feature set is simply too rich, the attention to detail too great to turn it down. More casual racing fans will have a harder time justifying a purchase. It's a steep learning curve, and quite an investment of time to function at high levels. Either way, it is certainly an achievement.

It's the closest the Vita has to an 'essential release', a game that encourages its audience to build and create as if there was nothing to stop them while providing the perfect example of what that kind of mentality can produce.

A handful of smaller gripes such as the awful soundtrack, lacklustre menu and pre-game presentations, and – in the review build we received – constant replays that couldn't be switched off don't really diminish the experience too much. Fans squabble over the best football title with the passion they usually reserve for supporting their respective teams, but there is room for both PES and FIFA in the marketplace, as both serve very different audiences. That said, this is undoubtedly the best PES yet, but Konami's big problem will be getting people to give it an honest try.

Guild Wars 2 is the first new MMO in a long time to offer a compelling and enjoyable gameplay experience, that doesn't leave the player alone and trying hard to make friends. As with any MMO, it's a complete waste of time. A joyful, well crafted, and highly entertaining waste of a whole lot of time, and one that is highly recommended.

It's a game for gamers, and a stark reminder that often the best games aren't those that set out to redefine the medium, or seek dour creative legitimacy, but those that set out to entertain, to make us laugh, to surprise us, and make such an impression that we'll return to them for years to come.

If developer Crispy's! goal was to create a highly evolved form of Tamagotchi – albeit with less poop - it has succeeded.

Total War Battles: Shogun may have very little in common with its hugely respected relatives back in the Total War stable, but it represents a cheap foray into a new market for the team at The Creative Assembly, and there's nothing wrong with that at all.