Most of what made the original Destiny a good game is still there, but the overhauls and tweaks to the lesser parts have given Destiny the sort of boost it needed.

Although A Link to the Past represents some of the most fabulous game designs you're ever likely to see, it also suffers from some criminally unforgiving sections that today's gamer-on-the-go is likely to scoff at. Not quite the vision of perfection that it once seemed to be.

Diablo III is a fine example of how a game that was primarily built for playing on a PC, can be translated to consoles. The consideration taken by the development team to make sure interfaces were rebuilt is great to see. Diablo III is the best example of the action RPG and until you play it, you simply cannot appreciate just how amazing the experience can be.

A really well written story with best fleshed out character ever seen in the franchise. Wonderful from start to finish.

It's innovate, it's fun and it shows real determination from Nintendo to show exactly what makes the DS stand out from the rest, and for that reason alone you should show your support. DS game of the year? No doubt. Electroplankton is simply an essential DS title.

The defining aspect of FFXI is the huge amount of time that is required to play the game. Couple that with the fact it is dangerously addictive and soon enough you will find yourself firmly ensconced in your chair not wanting to leave to do anything else.

Rayman Origins is one of the best 2D platformers of this generation, a masterpiece of a game. It is a showcase for how they should be done, what can be achieved. Progress is balanced, levels are challenging without being unfair and it looks beautiful.

It has been thirteen years in the making, but Driver has the sequel it always deserved, aside from a restrictive progression model, there is nothing but pure driving and gaming bliss. Even the shifting gimmick works in such a way it adds to the experience rather than hampering it. It is great to be back behind the wheel and back in the directors chair.

Don't miss out on this at any cost. If you need a bit more convincing, just remember: you get to have a threesome.

The most accomplished racing game on the PSP by a mile, and it might just be the second best game on the system across all the genres.

Runner 2 is a wonderful game, one that will last you and age as you want nothing more but to rinse every last bit of enjoyment from a wonderfully crafted experience. Once you beat every level, complete every goal, you’ll be going after those top scores, the closer you get, the harder you want to try.

After ten years Wind Waker is still as magical as it was when it was first released. The Wii U is all of a sudden looking like a console worth considering.

For 1200msp you get an engaging adventure that is lovingly-crafted, full of charm and invention from the very start. There are a few frustrations, but rarely does Insanely feel unbalanced or unforgiving.

A fantastic fighting game package.

Forza Horizon isn't exactly ground breaking, games like Test Drive Unlimited and Burnout Paradise have already tried the open world experience. However Forza Horizon does it better than both and offers up an amazing experience that doesn't stop giving from start to finish, it is simply glorious.

A wonderful game that really tests your gaming skills.

Double Fine have produced some brilliance in Stacking and it is a more than worthy addition to any collection.

For all that, though, Guns Of The Patriots is a magnificently entertaining game.

Bloodborne is a sterling example of what can be achieved with the latest technology while also recalling an older, simpler time, where a game’s actual structure, gameplay, and content took precedence over its potential profitability.

Simply by moving the controls from the face-buttons to the analogue sticks – an idea so simple it’s amazing no-one though of it before – EA have created the best skateboarding title in years and in doing so have redefined the rules of the entire genre. A joy to play and a game which the inevitable sequel will have to go some way to top.

If there's light beyond the fringes of Doom 3 multiplayer, it's the eternal flame of id's past: the perfect emulations of "Ultimate Doom" and "Doom II."

Bulletstorm is the Summer Movie Blockbuster of the videogame world. It is big, brash and bold.

Another step closer to the perfect basketball game, and this year the beards are so life like, you really will want to stroke them.

I was expecting a solid game, one that just gave me more of the same as a follow up to the 2013 release. Yet what we got was a game that improved on the good and cleared away much of the bad, to produce a title that deserves its place among the best Lara Croft games over the previous 20 years.

If you love your retro inspired platformers then you really need to own this.

Stop what you are doing and buy it now.

For 800 MS Points there are few better Xbox Arcade releases out there; make it your own mission to the stars.

Dark Souls II is an ideal refinement, it maintains all of the original game’s qualities, but opens its doors a little to allow a whole new audience to experience it. It is the perfect sequel.

If you own a PSone this is the best thing that has happened to it in years.

If you've played Jet Set Radio already, then you'll be a fool not to get this version, there is no looking through rose tinted retro glasses, it is still an amazing game and one you need to play again.

It's a shame that Nuts & Bolts is so overlooked and undervalued, as it it genuinely brilliant, and shows that Rare does have what it takes to make a classic, even if they misjudge their audiences a little bit.

There's something here for everyone, presented in a familiar and friendly way, and offering big challenges for those willing to give it their attention.

Nicely presented (and there are no load times at all), it's packed with pure playability and has enough 'whimsical' substance to last just as long as the others. Fans of the previous games will relish the new challenges on offer, and anyone new to the series will no doubt have a whale of a time in multiplayer alone.

A stunning title that mixes the best parts of other games, whilst introducing its own ideas.

On a console starved of the genre, Banjo-Kazooie really stands above all the others and for a ten year old N64 game, that’s some achievement.

It's a big-budget, beautifully crafted slice of next-gen promise kept; on many levels it's one of the best first person shooters released in a year of strong rivals, and perhaps even the best PlayStation 3 game released so far.

This is definitive version of one of the best games to come out in an absolute age. There really is no excuse not to own it.

After learning the control regimen, it only takes a few adjustments to drive each model with aplomb - all the way up through the mighty 660-horsepowered Enzo (albeit one that appears to have Colin McRae at the wheel).

Seven years after its first appearance and Okami feels just as fresh now as it did back in 2006.

Puzzle games have always been a highlight on handhelds, and Surge Deluxe carries on this tradition. It’s amazing that despite largely lacking the AAA blockbuster titles, the Vita has become something of an indie paradise. Surge Deluxe is the latest, and one of the best.

Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is a top effort by Namco.

In conclusion, this game has not let the series down. Opinion will differ with the actual story, but with the amount of different options available in the game, that is bound to happen. It just can't be stressed enough that this game will only give half the pleasure if it is played without prior Mass Effect experience.

And although Meat Boy may not be as rare as he once was but there’s no doubting that his long-awaited arrival on a handheld is very well-done.

The themes of Danganronpa aren’t going to be for everyone, but for those who want an exceptional story that gets its hooks in, then you cannot go wrong here.

It can be easy to dismiss a game like De Blob 2, an average Wii exclusive that didn't really make waves in sales and branded as Syfy Kids. However, in doing so, you would be missing out on a game that is a joy to play.

While it’s not the best fighter ever, Tekken 5 is truly something special. It has the style, sound and longevity you want from a fighting game.

A wonderful accompaniment to the early films and a return to form for the franchise overall.

What's important, though, is that Fable is an amazingly well-crafted and polished world that has traded the typical sandbox route of western RPGs for attention to detail and true character development.

The World Ends With You is one of the best games of the year without a doubt. A fantastic plot with an amazing cast of character bring this virtual Shibuya to life in a game you’ll definitely want to see through to the end.

There's plenty of depth and challenge that even the best strategist may find hard to conquer. Controlling a civilization has never been so fun.

If you have never played Beyond Good & Evil, then you owe it to yourself to see why those that had, would go on and on about it. If you have played the game before and loved it, then you will be wanting that teased and rumoured sequel that appeared to be dead in the water. Buy this, show Ubisoft that we are ready for a new game. Regardless of anything, buy it because you know you want to play it again in glorious HD.

What you have here is a game that has that special something, simple to play, but extremely difficult to master. It gets the balance so right, that any frustrations of difficulty are completely eradicated as you want to tackle levels again and again just to get each one perfect. A wonderful addition to the Vita’s impressive Indie library.

Ingenious and designed with the sort of wild creative flair that most developers can only dream of possessing, Gamestyle loves Katamari.

Rainbow Six: Vegas is almost perfect and easily the best iteration in the series. The compelling co-op play, the online multiplayer and everything associated with the single player campaign is completely worth the asking price.

All in all the game is a marked improvement over the first, with the addition of new weapons, a great sound track, and the same brilliant combat.

Dragon’s Crown is an amazing experience and whilst it may be easy to turn your nose up at it, due to the visual style of the characters, to do so you would be denying yourself the chance of playing one the the best side-scrolling beat-em-ups of all time. A game with simplicity, that is also as deep as you want it to be. Open to newcomers and experienced players alike, you need this in your life.

Never Alone is a game that has gone from hardly being on the radar, to something that could quite possibly be a Game of the Year (2014) contender. Those who take a chance on this game will come away knowing they have been part of a unique experience that shows that games can be used as a serious vehicle for story telling.

Toy Soldiers: Cold War is without doubt one of the best games you can purchase on XBL and is a truly great sequel to what was a fantastic game

Casual fans may not need to pick this up over NHL 11, but hockey fans will want to get this, just for the engine improvements alone.

If you are looking for a racer with an edge then Sky Drift is a definite must have purchase for any fan of the genre.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a modern classic, but it isn’t without faults.

A glorious return to form for the series.

The balance achieved between depth and accessibility is highlighted perfectly by online play, and it's online where you'll 'ultimately' reap the rewards this game has to offer.

An RPG in which you can easily lose hours, should it grab you.

All of this adds up to a very feature rich game that deserves praise, it has taken the best bits from board games such as Scrabble, Risk and Boggle and mixed them up into a unique and satisfying experience. At 800 Points it would be more than worth it, however at just 400 Microsoft Points it is an absolute no brainer, go ahead and buy it right now.

Chime is a charity game, but far from a charity case. At 400 points you would be forgiven for buying it as your good deed for the year, but what you will actually get it one of the best and most well balanced puzzle games in years.

The levels are so much more diverse, so much more rich, solid, 3 dimensional even, than in the first - the levels just move so much more.

It manages to enlarge its scope from being something which entertains on a functional level to becoming something that emits enchantment and appreciation on a purely 'emotional' level.

A neat little building game, with a side of click-to-zap with laser.

The game is charming, funny, challenging and most of all, it is enjoyable. You would really need to hate games not to enjoy it.

What really stands out about Magic 2013 though, is that whilst it is great entry into the genre for new players, with pop up help and a fine tutorial, it doesn't trade that off by dumbing down the experience for veterans. Literally the only thing missing is the feel of having a physical deck in your hands. We dare you not to become hooked.

The visuals are stunning but not for full-blown 3D acceleration or the resolution, rather the epic and believable world that has been created for you to discover. It won’t take you long to complete ICO if you are semi-intelligent but you won’t feel cheated because it is very much a case of quality over quantity.

And play it you will because when it comes to score attacks, then Pinball tables were the best years ago and Zen Studios are making sure that even in this current digital age of gaming Pinball is leading the way once again.

Whilst the one man team isn’t exactly new, it still impresses when the game in question has the level of polish that Axiom Verge does, it may look extremely retro, but it feels fresh because of the way it plays.

A House Divided manages to build on what the first episode started. It was a strong start, but episode 2 is where the season truly begins. With mystery and intrigue, it feels like no character is exactly who they seem. The coming episodes are going to be very interesting.

An epic piece of gaming.

Technically, the Xbox conversion of Shenmue 2 is a pot-pourri of highs and lows. Visually, it's two notches above its DC brother (AM2 have attached light sources to EVERYTHING - moreso at night, where neon bathes you in its "afterglow") but two notches below what the system is capable of.

A solid test of the player's reflexes mixed with eye-melting visuals make this a title worth more than its weight in Marketplace points.

Modern Warfare 2 offers you more of the same, but with enough new content and options to demonstrate just what a firm foundation Infinity Ward has built.

All the polish, options and new modes are all well and good, but without a precise handling model and intelligent AI, then F1 2012 wouldn't be worth the upgrade, so the fact Codemasters have managed to spend the year getting that aspect right, plus improve all the bells and whistles is just so refreshing to see.

Lollipop Chainsaw reminds us of a time when games weren't trying to be gritty and realistic, when they didn't take themselves seriously, before games were all about making money and sticking to the fundamentals. There isn't any new ground being broken here, but what we do have is a game that will give you more fun than anything else out this year.

Unquestionably if you did not get around to buying Persona 3 earlier this year then this is another opportunity and one not to be wasted.

A fantastic horror experience from beginning to end, leaving you no time to catch your breath.

The handling is excellent whether you are driving or on foot, the dual shock controller and control system sit nicely in your hands and the whole thing feels natural.

A fine entry into the Roguelike genre, just don’t be fooled by its cutesy visuals, this game is brutal.

The game looks and sounds great as well as furthering a genre that seemed destined to be stuck in limbo.

There is no doubt that Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is a must-buy for any PSP owner, and is a very welcome port.

It features playability by the bucket full, a superb main character and some of the most amazing graphical effects seen on any next generation system so far. It pulls you towards it like a moth to a flame and just like a doomed insect you can do nothing but succumb to it.

Rayman Legends is the type of sequel you hope for. More of the same, but improving on the standards set by the original, with tons of new content. It is one of the best 2D platformers you will play this or any other generation.

The near-perfect control and competitive game dynamic makes this one of the most compulsive games I've played.

Helldivers isn’t game that has come out of nowhere, but it is one that has fully exceeded expectations.

Composer Yoko Shimomura (his first Square title since Legend of Mana) creates a very impressive score that alternates between filling you with excitement as you start your next battle to pulling at the heartstrings when some of the game’s more poignant scenes are onscreen.

Link Between Worlds ran the risk of being nothing more than a nostalgic trip down memory lane, revisiting one of the most beloved games in the series, thankfully Nintendo have manage to couple the LTTP memories with some of the best, more unique design seen in the Zelda series in quite a while.

LittleBigPlanet is a must have purchase for a system that needs more AAA titles in its library. As a PlayStation 3 exclusive, it's almost worth buying a system to experience.

Insomniac certainly knows how to deliver a release that caters for all players of differing abilities.

A wonderful strategic game that will test your logic and deduction skills to their fullest.

The best city building game since the heydays of the 90’s when SimCity ruled supreme.

It is one of the finest 3D games ever produced; nay crafted. At last, this is the 'third place'... this truly is the third dimension. History has just been rewritten.