All in all, if you hate challenging games, stay away from Spelunky. If you hate charming retro graphics, or the idea of perma-death, don't get Spelunky.

Pikmin 3 isn’t the savior of the Wii U, and the lack of online play is a major bummer, but it’s still an overall satisfying experience, and another win for Miyamoto. It’s cute, it’s tactically deep, and if you can find a local friend to play with, it’ll last you a long, long while.

PixelJunk Shooter is simple, fun, and addicting, but a tad short. Nonetheless, Shooter is quite possibly the best bang for your buck on PSN.

A Crack in Time is easily the best addition to the Ratchet and Clank series so far, doing everything the previous games did right, as well as adding another layer of high quality gameplay features.

DJ Hero 2 takes the logical next step for a music simulator by improving and developing the formula for another successful and enjoyable game

Fight Night Round 4 looks simply amazing; never has a slow-motion blood-squirting smash to the face looked better in high resolution. Combined with a physics engine that may have no competitor and a control scheme that feels natural and responsive, FNR4 quickly fiddles with perfection, but falls short with some abusing AI and some lackluster career options, though EA Canada’s efforts are definitely in the right direction.

Blazblue is easy to learn, but difficult to master, and contains a good overall game balance: which is all you need at it’s core. Ranked lobbies, however, need to be reworked.

As a game, RE5 has its share of faults, but as a port, I have to say that this is one of the best games converted from console to PC I've ever seen.

Saints Row IV is an incredible achievement in the sub-genre of super power action.

Dragon Age: Origins blurs the fine line drawn by most morality games. The immersive, addictive gameplay is a true testament to the hard work put in by Bioware. Every RPG fan should at least give it a shot.

Tomb Raider is the second best Uncharted game behind Uncharted 2. While it gives up a lot of its adventure identity fans have come to know and love, the end result is still a fantastic game that shouldn’t be missed by any action fan. If Crystal Dynamics can inject more adventure elements into a potential sequel, it would be a pretty interesting proposition indeed.

Whilst the game has a steep learning curve that may scare some players off, if you can persevere, earning the skills to do well in Trials HD will make you feel like a rock star.

All in all, NHL 12 is the best iteration of the series, which isn't too surprising considering every new version has improved on the last.

NCAA Football 11 brings substantial improvements to core gameplay and presentation but lacks in improvements and additions to game modes. While it isn't without its issues, it is undoubtedly the best NCAA Football game to date.

To be clear, this is not a classic Devil May Cry game. Combat is not nuanced down to exact tenths of a second, you aren't going to ponder over which ability based unlockables to buy, and there isn't a whole lot of thinking going on in general.

Even if you’ve never played an Assassin’s Creed game before, Black Flag is a great place to start, most notably due to its emphasis on a concise narrative with likeable and engaging characters.

While Dance Central 2 hasn't done anything vastly different to move the genre forward, it is still a solid entry, and has solidified itself as a solid franchise. As long as you don't mind looking a little goofy in front of friends, you really can't go wrong popping this in at a party to liven the mood a bit.

For a first game from a new studio (though the folks at Supergiant Games aren't without industry experience) Bastion is an impressive title. You won't be disappointed.

Joe Danger is an absolute delight. Fast, colourful, playable and fun it delivers on every front.

All in all Max Payne 3 doesn't transcend the third person shooting genre, but it's a damn fine game, and a solid entry in the Max Payne series. If you're not the biggest fan of third person shooters, it won't do anything to sway you, but the highs most definitely weigh out the lows in Max's latest adventure.

All in all, NHL 12 is the best iteration of the series, which isn't too surprising considering every new version has improved on the last.

Shatter mixes classic shooter gameplay with fresh new physics based control mechanics, beautiful graphics, an incredible original soundtrack.

DJ Hero 2 takes the logical next step for a music simulator by improving and developing the formula for another successful and enjoyable game.

Guitar Hero has started to become somewhat stale in recent installments, but this fifth version prsents a refreshing take on the music genre, with its abundance of party play options and all round accessibility.

Whether you’re an action nut, stealth gamer, or somewhere in between, Splinter Cell: Conviction has all the ingredients to take you on an unforgettable thrillride.

Ni No Kuni knows what it is and it never betrays that fact. It’s a JRPG, and in my book, it’s an instant classic.

Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars is incredible - no joke. But, the message needs to be made clear: needing to unlock playable characters is bad. Bad online lobbies are bad. Input delay is bad. If anything keeps TvC from making waves, it'll be these key issues.

A great new direction for the franchise and a great experience alone or with a friend -- purchase recommended.