Its story may cut a strange and meek figure against the explosions and grenades and tanks of the boisterous ‘in-crowd’ parading itself around at this time of year, but it’s one nonetheless worth visiting, and one which begs for brains over brawn.

If you've got time to kill, Tropico 4 is perfect. It hasn't changed much since its predecessor, but it's still an excellent simulation – something that's welcome in the era of visuals-conscious FPSs and lacklustre adventure games. A modernised concept, that's perfectly period.

Roadcraft is an excellent addition to Saber’s roster of sim titles. Focusing on construction over driving represents a step forward, showing that this formula can do more, especially when the mechanics and depth are as impressive as they are here.

The combination of strategy and role-playing still stands out from the crowd and the added bonus of so many extra quests, items and units crammed together really adds value to the game.

In all Sorcerer Kings Rivals remains exactly what the original was, a decent game. It lacks the customization and in depth options of its competitors’ but it’s theme and unique qualities make it a fun experience, at least for a while.

Europa Universalis IV has been out for going on seven years, and with that comes the seven-year itch. I’ve been a long time fan of the game since its release and it’s my most played game on Steam by quite some ways. Emperor sees a lot of changes, both in the DLC and the free patch that accompanies it, but despite all this, many of my underlying complaints with the game persist seven years on. If you’re a fan of the franchise, this patch is one of the best, but it’s probably only worth buying if you’re a central European player.

We’re only a week into 2022, but I’m extremely happy to be starting my year off with a game as fun and well put together as Fights in Tight Spaces. Though it occasionally feels like a bit of a grind, the focused gameplay and pleasing visual style make this a great game for players to come back to over and over.

A largely straightforward motorsport management game with a distinct visual style, Golden Lap manages to offer tactical race simulation with off-the-track drama in a minimalist package. It may not satisfy hardcore petrolheads, but for slightly more relaxed race enjoyers, it’s a fine sim experience.

If you like a hack and slash game in the style of "Diablo," then you’ll definitely enjoy Titan Quest. If, on the other hand, you’re looking for a true role-playing experience in which bashing things with a sword, spear, axe, bow, or some other weapon isn’t the only way to achieve your goal, you’re probably better off playing "Oblivion" or waiting for "Neverwinter Nights II."

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.

It feels fresh and unique, and the way the plot and lore slowly collects over the course of the first three episodes leaves me pining for the next two.

It really feels like a lot of effort was put into Starhawk, and that effort has certainly paid off. After dusting off my PS3 to play it, it seems Sony have finally found a new exclusive title to show off and be proud of.

There are small issues with the HD conversion – especially in the menus – but this still feels like one of the more accomplished HD collections this generation.

It's a lot of fun, visually pleasing and nods towards players who've been with SEGA since the dreaded Dreamcast days.

Mafia II is exactly the sequel Mafia fans have been waiting all these years for.

While Armada isn’t big on scale, it is big on fun. It is one of the rare good entries of Games Workshop’s liberally licensed universe, and as such, it is a must-try for any fan of the Warhammer 40,000 universe.

The rhythmic chants of bygone planes is something that easily get your juices flowing.

Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments is more than just an excellent detective adventure, it also absolutely nails the essence of being the pride of Baker Street and in doing so provides an exciting roadmap for where Ukrainian developer Frogwares will take the series next.

There are a lot more intricacies and features we didn’t have the time to go into here, but suffice to say Distant Worlds 2 will keep you interested in its universe for a long time with no shortage of mechanics to learn. If large scale galactic strategy is your idea of fun, you can’t go wrong giving Distant Worlds 2 a chance to shine.

If you're after an old-school brawler it's definitely still worth your consideration – but absolutely keep in mind that this offers frustration as well as fun.

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.

F1 2013 is a dynamic and varied simulation then, and that’s not a compliment that could readily be aimed at too many of its forebears.

Issues with the presentation of the story and the general amount of single player content on offer are slight dings against the experience especially considering SoulCalibur's history of blending RPG elements into its single player campaigns - but even then this is the best reason to return to SoulCalibur's stage of history since the days of the Dreamcast.

All in all, Conquistadors is a pretty solid game – the New World is full of wonder and danger, and there’s just enough RPG in the mix to make you feel like a real explorer, dealing with realistic problems.

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.

Dying Light 2 was my first contact with the series and it can certainly be an exhilarating open-world game. Its gorgeous city, intense chases, fluid parkour, and visceral, meaty combat are well worth experiencing. Although they never completely overshadow its accomplishments, boring gear, repetitive side missions, and a story that never finds its focus do, unfortunately, keep it away from greatness. But, if you keep some of your expectations in check, all these missteps can easily be drowned in an ocean of freshly-cut zombie limbs and peaceful paragliding.

Its freshness shows just how stale a lot of the industry is and it's what's needed in an era of grey, modern shooters.

Although not all of its features are as fleshed out as they could be, Humankind does hit several sweet spots, both in terms of combat and management, having enough going on to push you to click that next turn button. While it probably won’t be a “Civ killer” – not that it necessarily aims to be one –, it’s clearly a game that historical 4X strategy fans looking for a different spin on the subgenre’s formula should definitely consider trying out at some point.

After a run-and-pass arcade footballer, then pick up PES. Anything else, then FIFA's ahead by a long shot.

Kane's Wrath is a commendable expansion to an already impressive game.

What Singularity is is a AAA title masked behind a lack of commercialism, which is completely out of style for Activision, and not nearly enough time to polish the game. With another two-three months, Singularity could probably have been the best shooter of the year.

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

I can't help but feel underwhelmed.

It could do with a few more levels, a bonus stage, more bosses, slightly tighter controls and a load more playtesting.

Whether you’ve played past titles in the franchise or not, World of Final Fantasy is a seriously strong JRPG that any fan of the genre should get a kick out of. Emotional, hilarious and deep, it proves yet again that a good RPG is about more than just thwarting a world-ending menace - it’s about the journey and everyone who makes it worthwhile.

Universe At War: Earth Assault is a finely shaped game with some underlying issues to be sure, mainly UI related, but Petroglyph’s brand of cheesy action humour and the great diversity of strategy, especially when playing against other red blooded players, can make war a guilty pleasure again.

This feels like a complete experience, one that is a natural and smart evolution of the first game's mechanics.

One thing’s for certain though, this game is huge.

As with the first game, the real charm of this title will be found in the multiplayer, which is as hectic and rush-fuelled as ever - and now fully integrated into Steam to boot.

Expeditions feels like an exciting new direction for this series that encourages more experimentation on the gameplay side and I am thrilled that this didn’t just feel like Mudrunner or Snowrunner again. I am excited to see where Saber takes the game with its seasonal content, especially after the exciting editions we saw with the Snowrunner seasons.

Child of Light is like a blast from the past, capturing the essence of a classic JRPG from the genre's heyday and refining it with a fresh coat of modern polish. The art design and audio is gorgeous, the combat is simple and fun, with no ultra-complicated busywork to get in the way, and the characters are charming. It's a brief visit, and one that suffers from an occasionally repetitive formula, but the beautiful art, smart battle system and endearing storytelling make it absolutely worth your time.

The story is really picking up gear and I still love how the consequences to the player’s many choices are very unpredictable, but how great it is will depend on the ultimate question: can you lose the Game of Thrones?

It’s good, but it could, and probably should, have been great. The underlying irony of Watch Dogs is the fact that the game itself suffers a bit too much from an identity crisis.

An enjoyable game. But frankly even if it wasn’t for the bugs, the simplicity, the lack of a campaign, and the other minor short-fallings, I’d still be disappointed because when someone like Sid Meier copies a classic genre, I at least expect him to add something new and innovative to the game-play.

I am truly spellbound by the splendor of this game.

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…

SpellForce: Conquest of Eo is a good reason to return to the universe, but it feels far less epic in scale when compared to the previous titles.

Sanctum 2 at the very least improves on every aspect of its clunky predecessor, offering smoother and more enjoyable gameplay and living up to the great promise offered by the premise.

The authenticity and attention to detail in Dragon Rising is to be applauded.

Ghostwire: Tokyo isn’t bad or broken. It’s just a game that’s not particularly ambitious and almost feels at odds with itself, leaving it with a lot of wasted potential. It might yield a couple of interesting online searches if you’re uninitiated in Japanese folklore, and you can pet lots of dogs and cats, but there are ways to go about doing those things without sitting through Akito’s snoozefest of a tale.

It's not perfect, but we highly recommend this title to all FPS fans looking for something fresh to bide the time.

It's funny, it'll push your mind to breaking point but never go over, and is expertly designed and polished to perfection. Well, at least in its puzzle rooms, which are basically the entire game so we won't worry too much about the repeating filler rooms.

With a multiplayer that has as much nuance and depth as each ship you can manage, Armada is well worth your time if you’re a fan of the 40K universe.

Nevertheless for this Dragon Age fan Trespasser was a hugely satisfying end to Inquisition, and the final choice alone will have huge ramifications. Roll on Dragon Age 4.

The strength of Frogwares previous works is retained within more ambitious, freeform packaging. Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One can be abrasive, both in gameplay terms and in its depiction of an iconic character, but it offers such rich and rewarding depth to its detective drama that it’s much easier to accept.

It’s a shame that the online aspects are so hit and miss, but the new chapter helps to smooth over that complaint. It’s old school and simple, but if you can look past that you’ll definitely have a blast with Doom II on Xbox Live Arcade.

A triumphant return for the series, albeit one slightly spoiled by a ridiculous name change and irksome DRM. Nonetheless, the game manages to be simultaneously slick and expansive, complex yet simple to learn. As I myself discovered, if you're yet to try the series, now is a good time to get involved.

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is very much a superior sequel in so many ways. It’s still a bit of a brick wall to get past in terms of understanding its finer points, but keep hammering away and you will find them.

A lore-breaking spinoff that removes most of what makes the new XCOM special and replaces it with short bouts of repetitive tactical combat and bad writing.

Endless Space may not push any boundaries or possess much 'wow' factor, but it's a very enjoyable 4X strategy game, set in a rich and diverse science-fiction universe that begs exploration.

The hammer is well and truly falling in Batman: The Enemy Within, with everything coming together, twists falling like rain, and everyone’s backs presented ready for stabbing – particularly mine. While it’s not much of a spoiler to say that Episode 4 sees the arrival of The Joker, how that happens and in what form is entirely up to you – and that’s the beauty of what Telltale have crafted. All choices felt important, the opening raid on the SANCTUS facility was action, and I was so enthralled by this episode I almost didn’t notice that Batman wasn’t in it at all (at least he wasn’t for me). On the downside it’s the shortest episode yet at only 70-odd minutes, but I was entertained by all of it and I can’t wait for the finale.

Avowed nails its priorities and delivers a fun adventure full of charm, intrigue, and weighty decisions, but its RPG muscles could’ve used more work.

Kathy Rain is a delightful little adventure game to add to the massive pile of fun adventure games released in the last couple of months.

Despite many glaring flaws, this title provides a sense of impending doom that is thoroughly engrossing from start to finish.

Resident Evil 3’s remake might not be as surprising as REmake 2, but it is still a fun ride. If you loved the way REmake 2 used the survival horror formula, that same formula continues here with a cool multiplayer mode to boot. If you can forgive some tedious boss fights, a somewhat lacking Nemesis, and some monetization in Resistance, it’s got what we love about Resident Evil as a franchise.

Get friends together or good all-round players and Evolve can be a blast, but anything less than that and you’ll be bored in far too short a time. In short: not quite the evolution in multiplayer gaming we hoped for.

If there's any one thing that can be stated about Transformers: War for Cybertron, it's that you should buy this game. The single player campaign is good, and the multiplayer portion is a surprise hit.

The controls, simply, work. These kinds of games have had varying amounts of success on the console this generation, with things like Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 coming close but just not being good enough, but in this case Tropico makes a great case for these once PC-only genres appearing on console.

Cronos: The New Dawn is a remnant of the legacy of survival horror. It takes whispers from two titans of the genre and blends them with its own ideas. It would have benefited hugely from ruthless editing in areas, but remains a masterclass in world building and a perfect balance of tension and release.

Even though there are a lot of improvements shoved into the patch, which is free, if you’re a CK2 fan then this will add subtle new dimensions to your typical game that you’ll appreciate.

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.

Battlestar Galactica: Deadlock is a massive treat for fans of the franchise, but even if this is your first exposure to the universe, it’s well worth your money. It’s a sufficiently deep, extremely fun and good looking turn based space strategy game with fantastic combat and a content-rich campaign.

Star Wars Outlaws fully commits to realizing the open-world scoundrel experience many fans had been dreaming of and walks away unscathed, which is no small feat and reinforces the idea that Massive Entertainment is one of Ubisoft’s best studios at the moment. However, it needed an extra push and bolder swings to leave a big mark on the genre.

The biggest problem Grey Goo has is that it’s far too hard for what it is, which is a fun Command and Conquer-style RTS.

Xenonauts is a faithful modernization of a classic. It retains the features that made X-COM such a tense and memorable game, with base invasions and a gigantic open-ended campaign of depth and freedom. If Firaxis' revamped take on the series felt a little too directed and linear for you, then Xenonauts is likely to delight.

Battle Academy 2 won't be for everyone. It's not a very attractive game, and the presentation can sometimes leave a little to be desired.

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.

The controls for the PC translate quite well from the console, you can tell from the menu it’s a port and not a natively developed game.

A solid third entry for the franchise that executes its mechanics very well. Sadly the lack of multiplayer modes at launch is disappointing but a great game that should please many.

It's got a few kinks to work out - both in technical terms and in the way some elements are implemented, but we'd happily recommend this to both Sim fans and newcomers to the franchise. In fact, this will probably work better on new comers, as it provides an easy introduction to the simulation aspect, whilst providing them something fun to do.

Spintires: MudRunner is a well-thought out and obvious improvement over the original in a number of ways. The physics feel tight and loose where they need to be, the new vehicles are genuinely fun to explore and drive, and the overall look of the game gets down and dirty in the best of ways for an off-road delivery simulator. It can get tedious at times and we wish the game took a few more chances, context, and variety in challenging our driving skills, but exploring and making our own battles through the tough journey from place to place is still a highlight, especially with friends along for the ride. A sketchy damage system and a few less than stellar textures make this game feel less polished than it ought to be at times, but with a healthy mod community and a ton of support and depth behind it, Spintires: MudRunner feels like an off-road trek that will keep on giving.

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.

A success in its simply-stated goals, and worthy of a play for anybody looking to zone out and relax for a while.

Star Renegades had me enamored from the opening cutscene and sunk its claws deep with its tactically-sound combat, incredible aesthetic, pulse-pounding soundtrack, great story elements, and superb writing. I wish that its meta progression elements were more significant and that it didn’t insist on being yet another rogue-lite, but I still felt compelled - even after some really sour defeats - to come back and fight the good fight against the Imperium...Put simply, Star Renegades is one of the best indie game experiences I’ve had all year. Full stop.

What it loses in realism it makes up for with variety and a strong presentation.

It's terrific fun and ably demonstrates an exciting new genre for console gamers.

Game of Thrones is really beginning to kick in to high gear as things start to possibly look up for the Forresters in Sons of Winter, but most importantly the characters start to get much-needed shots in the arm.

Strong driving feel with more natural, slightly chaotic traffic systems.

Insanely Twisted? Maybe not, but it's definitely entertaining enough to be worthy of the name Ultimately Excellent Shadow Planet: a fantastic adventure for anyone enticed by the thrill of exploration.

Ultimately, we can’t help but feel that you’ll play through the rather short campaign, and while you’ll probably have a great time doing it, you’ll shrug your shoulders and either give multiplayer a quick blast, and/or go back to Call of Duty or something.

There’s no reason any new player to the Worms franchise wouldn’t get a quick kick out of this one, but it’s difficult to recommend the game to series veterans who can get a cleaner experience from the entries they currently own.

Batman Season 2 is off to an excellent start. The Enigma is a decent size for a Telltale game, clocking in at around 2 hours 30 minutes, and it honestly feels like an epic Batman movie. And it’s only the first episode of a five-episode season. It has more gameplay than most Telltale episodes too, with something to do every few seconds, meaning it feels like you’re in the movie rather than just watching it and doing a QTE occasionally. It looks good too, with excellent voice acting and very good (and unpredictable) writing throughout. Honestly, I can’t think of anything too bad to say about it. It’s one of the best first episodes Telltale has ever done, and if The Enemy Within stays this good we could be looking at Telltale’s best game. Let’s hope the usual Episode 2 quality drop-off doesn’t happen…

If there's any one thing that can be stated about Transformers: War for Cybertron, it's that you should buy this game. The single player campaign is good, and the multiplayer portion is a surprise hit.

The authenticity and attention to detail in Dragon Rising is to be applauded.

We Were Here Forever gives no quarter in its cooperative puzzling, fully trusting players to get on with it and work together. At its peak, the wondrous structure of this game is simply sublime, and perhaps the most invested I’ve felt in a co-op game since Portal 2. It doesn’t always hit those highs, and matchmaking was personally hit and miss, but We Were Here Forever generally dazzles.

The acceleration, the speed and the presence of distractions and the actual destruction of my enemies are lovable on screen.

With so many games on the horizon, the series is threatening to mimic sports franchises on an action-adventure level; the addictive same-old repackaged and resold back to you year-on-year. Mirage might promise a fresh oasis from afar, but get closer and it’s the same formula, drier and less quenching than before.

Should you buy Spec Ops: The Line? Well, it's the usual yes and no. Yes if you enjoy the setting and like the idea of a descent into the madness of a buried city, but no if you're fed up of cover-based, Unreal 3 engine-powered shooters. If you get it, you can force your way through the carnage to get to the more interesting nuggets of non-shooting. You won't be disappointed if you do stump up the cash, but neither will you be fisting the air with glee at having made an inspired purchase. It's alright, basically.