The fledgling Spanish studio has made Castlevania very much their own and created a beautiful and epic new entry into the series that is capable of engaging both the diehard fans of the series and newcomers alike.

The best way to treat Kiwami is like the 2nd season of a show. It might reuse animations or games, but the budget saved from that allows for a greater focus on the new stuff. It’s both different and comfortable. It’s not the perfect introduction to the franchise, nor the most unique. Nevertheless, if you loved the world of Yakuza 0 and crave more serious crime dramas that let you bowl with your eyepatched rival, Kiwami is a wonderful port for an interesting game. So long as you can forgive minor design hiccups, you’ll be sure to have a blast in Kamurocho.

Trine 2 is a rare and beautifully cut gem of a game, and makes for a wonderful end to a season of extremely strong releases.

But what could easily become an overburdening mess of a structure is cleverly handled by the developer, and Lionheart is engaging as a result.

The fledgling Spanish studio has made Castlevania very much their own and created a beautiful and epic new entry into the series that is capable of engaging both the diehard fans of the series and newcomers alike.

Dead Space 2 is a more than worthy successor to the original, adding plenty of oomph to the series and a solid multiplayer experience to boot. We would have preferred more puzzles and a little less linearity, but that doesn't stop us wanting a third Isaac outing.

Dead Space 2 is a more than worthy successor to the original, adding plenty of oomph to the series and a solid multiplayer experience to boot. We would have preferred more puzzles and a little less linearity, but that doesn't stop us wanting a third Isaac outing.

If you've never played a MOBA before, SMITE is an excellent place to start.

Ultimately, it makes Civilization V a much better game, which is the key thing here.

Combined with The Knife of Dunwall, The Brigmore Witches and the story of Daud is exactly what Dishonored’s DLC needed to be – a fun side-story with an interesting character that adds to the main story but doesn’t take anything away.

Dead Space 2 is a more than worthy successor to the original, adding plenty of oomph to the series and a solid multiplayer experience to boot. We would have preferred more puzzles and a little less linearity, but that doesn't stop us wanting a third Isaac outing.

This is very much the God of War we all know and love, and it's great to finally witness both games on a screen worthy of the series.

While Pop cap haven't changed up too many of the fundamentals that make Bejeweled what it is, they have instead added some modes that feel either superior or wholly unique when compared to other puzzle games on the market.

Despite a bitch-slap of an ending (setting it up for a sequel no doubt), there's some really great moments in this game.

There are some issues but overall this is a unique experience that deserves to be played.

Despite a bitch-slap of an ending (setting it up for a sequel no doubt), there's some really great moments in this game.

M2H and Blackmill Games have executed their concept so well that the most glaring criticism is that there is not more. With such good a foundation as Verdun, it would have been nice to see a greater variety of maps, or perhaps even some different objective based modes. While it should be noted that fans of run and gun in faster-paced shooters may be frustrated with the game’s more methodical pacing, Tanneberg is a satisfying tactical shooter.

To be honest there is very little that Backbreaker does wrong. Its only real drawback is that it is not an official NFL licensed game and misses out on the major draw of taking a team to the Super Bowl.

Splinter Cell: Blacklist isn’t absolutely perfect, but there’s bags of quality content here that’ll keep stealth gamers happy on-and-offline.

If Sleeping Dogs started life as an unloved orphan, it's now an adult that can hold its head high.

Rockstar Leeds has done a great job bringing Team Bondi's L.A. Noire to the PC, which is a thoroughly interesting and at times quite addictive crime thriller. It's easy to get wrapped up in a case and wanting to uncover what really happened; sifting through the false smiles of NPCs and rubbing their nose in our superior detective work.

Grid 2 is a racing game that rewards skill without punishing you for the tiniest mistakes, letting you master a simple system with a forgiving attitude. It may stray too close towards the easy side of the scale at times, and it'll be interesting to see how the game works online (which unfortunately wasn't tested in this review), but its career mode is well worth playing and you won't be satisfied until you've mastered every single corner.

Looking forward we wouldn't mind seeing some kind of abilities worked back into the game, whether off-map or unit based (Engineers, for example, don't really do anything engineering). Regardless of the future though, this game is worth getting now, pure and simple.

As the name suggest, expect more enemies, and a harder fight for survival.

Like Way of the Samurai 4 before it, Way of the Samurai 3 isn’t much of a looker and arguably feels a touch dated when it comes to certain elements of its interface.

It’s more of the same, but better, which was to be expected, and I have enjoyed playing it a lot.

A highly worthy adventure for Lara Croft, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider actually breaks out of the shadow of Uncharted by keeping the combat low and the puzzles high. If only the story was a bit better…

Technobabylon is one of the best adventures WadjetEye have ever published, and that’s saying something.

Vermintide is fast, furious fun, and its supporting systems do a great job of dragging you back in for just one more go.

All-in-all, this is the most fun I've had with multiplayer these past few months, and I'd recommend this game to both newcomers and Streets of Rage fanatics alike. Not only is this a heartfelt throwback to the golden years of couch co-op, but it's also an extremely well-balanced and impeccably crafted romp through a city in need of saving.

With a gorgeous soundtrack and its sublime design Escape Goat 2 is the kind of 2D puzzle platformer that made me feel warm and fuzzy inside - like a mug of hot tea with a jam crumpet.

Dragon’s Dogma is a great game that feels unique among fantasy RPGs thanks to its blend of mechanics and influences. Its flaws - repetitive quests and a somewhat aimless structure - don’t block out its enormous strengths. Its core combat is great, and fighting the game’s array of giant beasts is some of the most fun I’ve ever had in an RPG. And this PC version is absolutely the best way to play it.

Fortunately TT Games are not content to rest on their laurels as they've managed to pack in an exciting, thrilling and funny adventure with lots to explore and hours of gameplay to make the whole package feel not only fresh but epic to boot.

Victoria 2 is one of those games where it's easy to expect more from it than it can actually give. Giving its dedication to history, depth, strategy etc... fans can get a bit carried away.

Between the new aircraft, cool new orbitals, and fantastic design of the Strategic Zoom function, there’s a lot here to love for any fan of the mass real-time strategy. It’s a shame that the story still can’t always keep up with the stellar additions to the gameplay and that some of the new ground units get swept up in the sheer way that the game is built, but Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation is still one of the coolest, most smooth, and vast real-time strategies out there.

Nadeo have succeeded in turning people who normally wouldn’t care about breaking records on a track into drivers that do.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 is as much of an odd RPG as its predecessor and makes little to no concessions, leveraging its many strengths and unique traits to make up for the half-baked bits.

Torchlight should hold a vast amount of appeal for many people. If you’ve been weaned on the likes of WoW and want something to take on the road: this is for you; and if you fell in love with Diablo or Titan Quest and want to sample the likely direction in which Diablo III will head: don’t hesitate, just buy. In fact, that holds true for all of you. Stop reading this, and go support one of the best PC games you’ll play this year.

The Witcher 3: Hearts of Stone may skirt the line between DLC and Expansion Pack by merely adding more of what was already in Wild Hunt, but gets away with it by being sizeable and awesome.

Banner Saga 2 may be just the next part of Stoic’s ongoing tale but basically everything has been improved.

Torchlight II is addictive, imagination-fuelled goodness. It never gets boring and its "just five more minutes" value is second to none. It may not have an engaging story but I don't think anyone twatting a zombie pirate called 'One-Eyed Willy' with a giant wrench will miss it.

Not only does Two Point Studios manage to successfully build upon everything Two Point Hospital did right, with Two Point Campus it’s added a whole new level of learning and given its flavour of sim game a more intimate aspect to management that’s endearingly reminiscent of The Sims.

While this is certainly a return to form for the franchise, the game doesn't quite escape the shadow of the original, with the forced narrative aspects sometimes overtaking gameplay. Nevertheless, when judged by its own merits, Amnesia: Rebirth is a quality horror title made by passionate developers out to tell a disturbing story. At the end of the day, I'd recommend this one to any horror fan up for some interactive Cosmic Horror this Halloween season.

Best Game Moment: Smashing in a 30-yard screamer.

A lean offering with a promising future, developer Faultline Games has achieved that rarest of things; to separate a core feature from a game and allow it to stand on its own two feet and make it equally worthwhile to established veterans and unpractised hands alike.

It's the kind of release that gives us hope that Kinect will finally find its legs and become a more regular part of our gaming lives.

As the landscape of these types of games becomes increasingly bigger, it’s nice to see a game strive so hard for innovation.

Dying Light is a very impressive game that’s clearly had a lot of care and attention put into it.

I'd not visited The Sims 3 since its launch and Late Night has successful reignited my passion for the series. It's a welcome addition the Sims 3 family and one that's executed to the high standards that we've come to expect.

For all its slight foibles, Just Cause 2 is hugely entertaining, and despite the creeping feeling of repetition beginning to set in as you destroy your 500th fuel tank or collect your 1000th item, there's more than enough freedom to pull off ludicrous stunts and experiment with your weapons, vehicles, parachute and grappling hook to make you want to extend your stay in Panau's sandbox paradise indefinitely.

While Torchlight's original faults still stand, the game lends itself wonderfully to the Xbox 360 controller, and we found ourselves preferring the console edition. If you're looking for a hack 'n' slasher to lose a week's worth of nights to, then sit down - you've found it.

The solid base THQ built themselves two years ago has progressed massively, making this game the most complete experience yet.

This is one of the most immersive and fun strategy experiences around, so dig in.

The original Hand of Fate took a lot of different styles of gaming and brought them together successfully to make something really unique. Hand of Fate 2 improves upon nearly every aspect of the original, providing diverse new challenges that help build the world around the Game of Life and Death. The new scenarios, the success checks that come with them, the companions, and new encounters and gear cards all add hundreds of unique touches to the game that make every card flip an experience. Meanwhile, despite a few small flaws combat is as smooth as ever with the new weapons and companion abilities allowing players to find their own preferred way to dispatch the wide array of opponents they come across. Luck is a fickle mistress and this game isn’t shy about stomping out your quests like a merciless tabletop game master in any part of your endeavors. That said, Hand of Fate 2 rewards the determined and stacking the deck in your favor to overcome its challenges makes this quest well worth the effort.

Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor is a strong foray into the Tolkien universe, backed up by popular combat from other major action series, with its own free-running style to boot.

Magicka 2 offers a smoother, more comfortable experience than its predecessor, but that doesn’t mean the series has lost its signature charm.

When summarising most videogames, it's almost always important to thrust the mechanics out front as one of the primary metrics to be judged. Catherine, for the first time that I can recall in a very long while, demands to be reviewed on its narrative and thematic content. It simply cannot be ignored.

Being a gamer who puts story almost equal to gameplay, personally I was kind of annoyed at the tangent the third game seemed to go off on. Gears 2 asked more than a few questions, and whilst Gears 3 answers some of them - mainly relating to the lambent - it leaves other's painfully un-answered.

The remastering of Sam & Max Saves the World is a delightful return to the comedic antics of our crime fighting duo. Some jokes might not land and a lot of puzzles can feel too easy, but the duo’s wit has staying power. Add that with some catchy new tracks and a remastering that makes the game more stylish than less, and you have a proper return to form. If you never had a chance to play Sam and Max Save the World, this is the best way to experience one of Telltale’s first games.

With some of the most nerve-shredding strategy you can engage in and a real embarrassment of riches when it comes to content, Space Hulk Ascension’s niggles aren’t nearly enough to derail it from being both the best Space Hulk title and one of the better turn-based strategy titles available right now.

For both longtime fans of the series and newcomers experiencing the struggle against the nefarious Dr. Wily for the first time, what Capcom have essentially wrought with the Mega Man Legacy Collection is a consummate assembly of the franchise’s 8-bit era outings.

While many of the main gameplay mechanics remain like the original, many smaller changes have been made to improve the overall gameplay experience. The UI is wonderful and the varied faction mechanics allow for a good amount of replay ability. There are plenty of joyous empire building moments to be had in Endless Space 2 and it also contains a good level of strategic depth especially in multiplayer.

While in truth, it’s possible that some might tire of its regimented systems and board game esque beats, the fact remains that Renowned Explorers still stands as one of the best surprises of the year so far that wannabe adventurers of any age can enjoy.

Field of Glory II is a testament to the sheer wealth of consideration and ingenuity that Slitherine and Byzantine games have put into hybridizing a tabletop and digital strategy experience. The game’s battles feature a depth that will invite new players to explore and learn while making veteran strategy gamers work overtime to wring success from its turn-based battlefields. Learning the rules can be overwhelming, but putting them successfully into action against an enemy force feels great. Some sound elements could be better and it’s a shame that the vast number of factions aren’t utilized a little further, but with creative modes like the map editor, we may very well see some fantastic user-generated campaigns down the line. All-in-all, Field of Glory II lives up to its legacy and delivers a sheer technical depth that will keep tactical minds engaged from start to finish.

With its genre-fusing game play and cheeky yet surreal take on ancient history it really is one of a kind.

In mechanics though, the game soars, offering awesome new takes on systems that made the original TTT title a must-have PS2 classic whilst also adding a modern flair and polish that makes it a stellar example that fighting games don't have to all be about gaining extended revenue through costume and character DLC - it can be about packing in a great suite of impressive features from the word go.

As it is, Deathtrap approaches the qualitative apex of its craft and niggles aside, sets a splendid example of how to marry two genres together to make a superlative whole.

In many ways, Prison Architect feels like the ‘Theme Prison’ game from Bullfrog’s golden years that we never actually got.

As uninspiring as it is, Heroes Over Europe does deliver adequate multiplayer features that are found in a majority of other similar titles.

Silence is a beautiful game that combines emotional themes with breath-taking art and music. It works fantastically as a cinematic experience and takes its players on a concise yet fun adventure, integrating puzzles along the way. Daedelic have done an excellent job exploring the space between life and death, touching on dark and abstract feelings in a delicate and thoughtful way.

Street Fighter V is mechanically one of the best titles in the genre and possibly the best in this storied series, but it’s also lacking in single-player content to the extent that in places it feels unfinished. Multiplayer battling has practically endless scope on or offline in a game of this tactical depth, but I still can’t help but feel that doesn’t excuse the lack of solo activities or how key training features such as trials are missing for the first month after launch.

Since I never played the earlier games, I can’t make the call as to whether or not this game was worth waiting 11 years for. Saying that, I’ve been waiting since I saw the game at GamesCom last year to get my hands on it, and it was definitely worth it.

Yes – the campaign is probably the weakest element of the game on balance, and one needs to look towards future Spartan Ops episodes to see what will become of that mode, but taken as a package this is a game that Halo fans, including this Halo fan, can seriously enjoy. Plus, it looks amazing.

Dance Central is not perfect, but at its core there is plenty of enthralling entertainment to be found.

A decent addition to Shogun 2's content library, although we still think a slightly missed opportunity to do something truly special.

There’s no single feature that will revolutionise Beyond Earth’s fairly conventional approach to strategy, but as a complete package this expansion does a great job of fleshing out the game’s mechanics and giving it a sense of identity that previously was sorely missing.

It’s a shame that Focus haven’t done more to ease people wanting to jump in to AirLand Battle who’ve bought the original game, but in all honesty this is worth the money, even if Focus don’t follow the same DLC plan they did before.

Really, it costs nothing to give the game a go, so if you're a PC Gamer who likes shooters and wants to try something truly different, you owe it to yourself to drop onto Auraxis. You won't regret it.

Not only does Little Nightmares 2 live up to its name, but it also improves on nearly every aspect of the first game. Players may run into a few frustrating hiccups along the way, but exploring this horrific world with Mono and Six is immensely satisfying. At the end of the day, I'd recommend this one to any fan of surreal horror stories with emotional twists, though you might have trouble sleeping when it's all said and done.

Best Game Moment: Smashing in a 30-yard screamer.

Strange Brigade is enormous amounts of fun whether you’re playing in co-op or single-player, and you’ll more than get your money’s worth from it.

Metro: Last Light is a hugely atmospheric FPS that has corrected all the real flaws of its predecessor and improved on them to such a degree that they’re actually superb – stealth and shooting are now things to enjoy rather than avoid, and can compete with the best in the genre.

In many ways Shardlight is a typical WadjetEye adventure game - low-res graphics, common sense puzzle solutions, wildly imaginative, well written and hugely entertaining.

A fantastic RPG that superbly mixes player choice and great combat to something bigger than the sum of its parts.

A bold take on the long-forgotten FMV adventure genre, Her Story might be old-fashioned and light on what some might describe as traditional gameplay, but its sophisticated narrative and entertainingly novel take on detective work both allow it to soar far beyond the zenith of its seemingly outmoded remit.

Ultimately, We Were Here Together is a must-play for fans of both co-op adventures and challenging puzzles. There are a few minor issues here and there (especially where the online matchmaking is concerned), but this new entry serves as a delightful cherry on top of an already impressive franchise cake. If you can find a likeminded friend willing to go on this adventure with you, I’d recommend doing so as soon as possible. One the other hand, if you’re still not convinced, I’d suggest picking up the original We Were Here, which is currently free on Steam.

There are a whole lot of things I want to try over the next few months playing Stronghold Kingdoms, and it's gotten its teeth into me such that I'm ploughing a little time into it at least three times a day and not feeling cheated for any of the money I've spent. For a free-to-play title at the very least, that has to be mission accomplished.

Amnesia: The Bunker continues Frictional Games’ smart evolution of the series with an intense survival horror/immersive sim cocktail that almost balances its ideas perfectly.

The decision to let Criterion tackle the Need for Speed franchise has paid off massively. They've produced one of the simplest, yet endlessly engrossing racers of the generation, which is all down to their superb ability to balance how each race plays out.

The fact that, at the time of writing, Magicka had surpassed 150,000 sales, is just a testament to how fun and addictive the core game really is. Now that most of the major hiccups out of the way, this is definitely a must-buy game, but it really needs to be experienced to get how much fun it is.

The reality is, Life is Strange is a really charming enjoyable experience with a great deal of character depth and an intriguing, if not entirely original, story.

It's a lovingly crafted sandbox experience with enough direction and personality that you'll want to help those little guys to the bitter end. If shooting things is more your game, however, we'd suggest checking out the demo first.

There's a lot about Marvel vs Capcom 3 that's disappointing, but in the end there's too much in here that's good to make me really want to be really hard on it.

There's a lot about Marvel vs Capcom 3 that's disappointing, but in the end there's too much in here that's good to make me really want to be really hard on it.

As was the case with its predecessor, Frostpunk 2's city-building and society management layers aren't particularly deep on their own but fuse into a cohesive whole that grips you soon after you arrive in its frozen wasteland…Although it's a bit harder to care as deeply about the people whose lives you're responsible for, Frostpunk 2's crises sent me scrambling for makeshift backup plans while its tamer moments encouraged me to stop and ponder about the path I chose for the city; and, when all was said and done, I couldn't help but also wonder where the series might go next.

Although Resident Evil 4 is a superb remake, it still exists in the shadow of what made the original so important. However, the parry system stands out as the most welcome change to the largely familiar proceedings. At its core, the game remains the same stupendous spectacle of action horror it always was, but with arguably even higher intensity.

For all its slight foibles, Just Cause 2 is hugely entertaining, and despite the creeping feeling of repetition beginning to set in as you destroy your 500th fuel tank or collect your 1000th item, there's more than enough freedom to pull off ludicrous stunts and experiment with your weapons, vehicles, parachute and grappling hook to make you want to extend your stay in Panau's sandbox paradise indefinitely.

I Am Alive is brutal; gripping; captivating; depressing; miserable; and almost always utterly brilliant. An unforgettable game that reminds you why we all love this medium.