Payday 2 is a game that I really enjoy when it’s working right, which is definitely more often than not at this point.

If you can embrace the silliness — and, more importantly, overlook lots and lots and lots of glaring flaws — then you'll find that Mars: War Logs is, in it's own way, more fun than you could ever imagine.

Superfrog HD may not be a great game, but it's certainly an above-average one. If you're in the mood for a platformer and you have a few extra dollars to spend (and you've already flown through the likes of Stealth Inc., Kung Fu Rabbit and Cloudberry Kingdom), then by all means, give it a shot.

There are elements to Charlie Murder that are certainly less unique than others, but as a whole this is one of the better RPG/brawler hybrids that I’ve ever played.

And for that, warts and all, Saints Row IV became my favorite gaming experience of 2013. Cynicism couldn’t hinder that.

Simply put, Divekick is a fighting game that you can — and should! — play even if you're not usually good at fighting games.

So I definitely think Guacamelee! is worth picking up if you haven’t done so yet. If you missed out on the PSN version, or hell, just want to play through the game again, it’s well worth checking out. This remains one of the more impressive independent releases this year, and certainly makes me curious to see what developer Drinkbox Studios is working on next.

While Thunder Wolves nails the action and non-stop devastation of an arcade shooter, control issues and lack of variety may hinder the overall experience.

Definitely check this one out when you get a chance, you won’t be disappointed.

Basically, if you loved DuckTales as a kid, whether it was the NES game or the T.V. show, or both, you should definitely pick this up. And if you never got into the show or game, but have some affinity for retro games, you should still pick this up.

If you’ve grown tired of the same old stuff filling store shelves and hard drive space, then you should really consider Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons for a more unique, emotional ride than you’re likely to see all year.

Oh, and if you're intent on trying ibb & obb as a single-player game, you can do so…but be forewarned that it ups the difficulty from "slightly difficult, and occasionally very challenging" to "insanely, brutally hard".

Dragon's Crown has a lot to offer, from building one of the finest co-op games this generation, to leaving one nagging issue for us critics to nitpick in the lack of cross-play support. It's one of the prettiest games around, the addictive structure of the game compliments how many hours can be sunk in (with friends or on your own), and there's even some PvP stuff for anyone who really wants to put their money where their mouth is. Even the music is charming.

As long as you're up for a challenge, Cloudberry Kingdom is well worth a download.

Instead, I was thinking, "This game is so awesome." That, or silently cursing Curve Studios for making a game that's equal parts insanely addictive and fiendishly difficult. That's a dangerous combination if you ever want to put a game down — though why you'd ever want to put Stealth Inc. down, I don't know.

So basically, Mario & Luigi: Dream Team is worth picking up, but you’ll definitely need some patience to muster through its early hours. I think it compares favorably to early entries in the series, but doesn’t stand up as well against Bowser’s Inside Story if you’d like a direct comparison.

Of course, I can understand why Q-Games might not have wanted to mess around too much with Pixeljunk Monsters. After all, when you've basically attained perfection — at least in some people's eyes — there's not much to be gained by going in and making huge changes.

Actually, I'll just take that a step further: no one should be subjected to Do Not Fall, period. It's a terrible, obnoxious game, and experiencing it for any length of time is sheer torture. Avoid it at all costs, and let us never think of its unspeakable horrors again.

Couple that with Kung Fu Rabbit's bright, visually appealing visuals and a perfectly reasonable price tag of $4.99, and you've got the recipe for a fun game.

It may not look the greatest, but the imagination that went into the game's creation shows in almost every scene. Couple that with an inexpensive price tag (only $6!), and it's easy to say if you’re a fan of the hidden object genre, Voodoo Chronicles is a worthwhile investment.

While Miyamoto and company certainly made us wait quite a bit, I think you’ll agree it was worth it for Pikmin 3. It’s easily one of the best titles on the Wii U, and something that every Nintendo fan should certainly plan to pick up.

Hardcore players will breeze through this in no time, while novice players looking to get into the genre will find a decent, yet not overbearing, challenge with good controls, and solid gameplay. A worthy effort from the folks at G.Rev.

And that, to me, is the essence of Hotline Miami: it's a game that does everything so perfectly, it even makes me love stuff I would normally hate. Which means that if we're talking about stuff you'd normally love — extreme violence, extreme difficulty, druggy music — then this right here could end up being your favorite game of all time.

For one thing, it's a 3D platformer/action game on a system that is sorely lacking in such things. For another, it still looks and sounds wonderful; even though I'm hardly a Disney fanboy, the way the whole world pops off the screen still fills me with feelings of fondness for the game, however misguided those feelings may be. That's not enough to make me go in the exact opposite direction and recommend the game unequivocally, but it is enough for me to say that if you go into the game with no expectations whatsoever, you should, at the very least, find it to be passably decent.

Obviously if you played it as a kid, when you replay it now you’ll likely find even more humor since you can fully understand it’s innuendo and obscure references. Plus, it’s always fun to go back to a genre that has been seriously lacking the past couple decades (the point-n-click adventurer, not the softcore-sleazeball genre).

Play it once, and you've basically gotten a taste of everything the game has to offer. Yes, there are a couple of different modes available — one makes the coconuts fall in a maze pattern, another asks you to keep a bouncing ball in the air — but none of them alter the basic formula all that much.

Capsized is a really well balanced run and gun game that can be fun and challenging for many players.

Magic: The Gathering is a fantastic card game, long standing and one of the best. But these games are little more than a enjoyable advertisement for the paper game or Magic Online. So much so that there are obtrusive ads in the game about buying boxes of paper cards and joining the local Magic community.

Apathy is also the only emotion I feel towards R.I.P.D. It’s a rushed, lazy, poorly developed game that barely stands up on its own. Somehow it gets even worse with the license, bringing it into a bad licensed game pantheon alongside E.T.

Fist Puncher is really a standout example of how to do retro right, and is something that certainly deserves more attention.

Unless you're a pool devotee that's been waiting for a chance to play the game on your PS3 or 360, you'll probably only find Pool Nation to be a light trifle of a game, fun for a couple of games here and there — but sometimes, that's really all you want.

What it does is present a complete package that lacks very little for football fans and NCAA Football fans alike, and for many that may just be enough to satisfy the hungry crowd.

It looks great, it sounds great and it plays great. It is, quite simply, just a great game, and a must-have for Vita owners.

All of which leads to the last definitive statement I can make about Farming Simulator: it's perfect for the Vita. Even if the game has its roots on PCs, its structure — the lack of a story or difficult controls to remember, the ability to save your game at any point in time — lends itself extremely well to handheld, on-the-go gaming. Other games obviously make better use of the system's features, but I can't think of many that seem like they were so tailor-made to be played on the Vita.

If you rush to the goal for each level you’ll be done with this in a few hours, give or take a couple hours for your level of skill. But if you’re a big fan of Mario platformers, and have been looking for some amped up difficulty, New Super Luigi U certainly does the trick.

If you see this game on the shelf, don’t touch it, don’t even look at it. You would have much more fun spending your money on a dentist appointment.

All in all, I think Urban Trial Freestyle is worth a look. It won’t top something like Trials HD, but if you keep your expectations in check you’ll have some fun with it.

Storm isn't a game that is going to knock your socks off, but what it does do is provide a nice puzzle game for the fans who like their brand of puzzles a little more laid back and thought-oriented versus time and speed oriented. If you enjoyed games like Braid, there is plenty to love about Storm as it is original, thought provoking, and most of all fun.

Despite not being overjoyed with the cast of the game, there’s little else to complain about with SMT IV. The gameplay mechanics borrow enough from previous entries to feel familiar, but at the same time there’s enough new about the mechanics to make them feel fresh.

Muramasa: Rebirth seems to find itself much more at home on the Vita, and can be called an essential title in anyone's collection. It's not without faults, however, as the new localization brings an unwanted focus to the dull story, and the lengthy campaigns can leave the title feeling overall long in the tooth. Despite this, it's more aptly considered Muramasa+; a port that's slightly more recommended than whatever people had to say about the Wii release.

I played through 400 Days on the XBLA release of the game, and it’s worth mentioning that there are a few technical hiccups that persist from the original content. Some slight stuttering and loading hesitation when saving or transitioning from one scene that could clearly go in another direction is often noticeable throughout, and it’s something that I really hope gets ironed out for consoles before Season Two starts.

If you’re still playing Black Ops 2, and let’s face it, you probably are, Vengeance is worth picking up for the multiplayer maps. If you’re primarily a fan of the Zombies mode I’d say you could save your points/money, but this is the strongest collection of multiplayer maps the game has seen since it launched.

I have absolutely nothing positive to say about my experience with Motorbike on PSN, and highly urge everyone to avoid this at all costs. It’s not even worth the time of the download, much less the purchase price.

It’s certainly not an awful experience, but it feels very mindless and prolonged, not offering up enough depth to keep you engaged, which makes the experience suffer considering each battle can take upwards of 30 minutes to complete. It’s better consumed in smaller chunks, and I’d definitely suggest trying before you buy, whether you’re a big fan of the three publishers or not.

Love him or hate him, Deadpool is here, and his video game debut is almost exactly what fans were expecting.

It's far from being a definitive Vita experience, to be sure, but if you're looking for some mostly enjoyable platforming on the go (or if you've just got a nostalgic itch to be scratched), the Jak & Daxter Collection is certainly worth picking up.

It might not be leaps and bounds over the original, but it’s enough of an improvement that I can’t see myself going back to the original Company of Heroes any time soon.

You might think that I'm overreacting, that I should just look at Bugs vs Tanks as some silly little downloadable oddity, that I should put politics aside and just focus on the game play. I mean, inherent ideology aside, what you've got here is essentially Earth Defense Force-lite, but shrunk down to its basic components so that it fits on the 3DS — and God knows I love EDF.

If a top down hack ‘n’ slash action RPG is something you’re into and you’ve got a few extra bucks this is definitely you should look into.

All of the glitches, random crashes and lock ups found here make me wonder how something like this gets approved for release. Don't buy, don't try, just stay away.

I don’t know that I’d put it above other established franchises in the genre just yet, but if you have some affinity for Marvel and its characters along with Diablo clones, there’s certainly worse ways to pass the time than this.

All that said, the game does come with one other serious flaw: its $15 price tag. Considering the game can be had for $3 on PC, you'll have to be a truly dedicated trophy hunter to spring for the game on PS3. That, or a big fan of hidden object games, which has always been an underrepresented genre when it comes to the platform.

On one hand, it's an okay action game with some welcome twists in the combat, but can be dragged down by the monotony of navigating the line-shaped path of the environment. If the rest of the game could find the same identity as the memory remixes, and even some of the Combo Lab ideas, then we wouldn't be left with a lopsided future sleeper hit on our hands.

Quell Memento lures you in with a welcoming face, and stays likable enough (for lack of a better adjective) that you can never get too enraged at it.

While both titles will be a short experience if you’re just looking to blow past the initial playthrough, there’s enough content packed in here via replays to make you feel that this is $15 well spent.

It's no Dead Island, but it's on par with other zombie survival games and can provide you with a nice challenge.

Nevertheless Grid 2 is still a worthy sequel that offers a good and deep racing experience that should please any diehard fan, even if it doesn't give you that OMG face at any time during your experience.

So I'll say this: if you haven't played it, then already grab it immediately, since it's easily one of the Top 10 Vita games, and it has a pretty strong argument as one of the Top 5. (The same goes for people who already have the game for PS3, since it's a Cross-Buy title). And if you have played it? Well, it can't hurt to play it again, and to remind yourself of why it's such an outstanding title.

The game hits all the right notes and proves that Naughty Dog really knows how to design interesting, gorgeous and enjoyable games.

CastleStorm is proof that ZEN Studios can do more than exciting Pinball games. The amount of fun you can have here largely outweighs the minor gripes and annoyances you will come across while playing.

Men's Room Mayhem may not be the greatest mobile game ever, but it's a decent diversion if you've got a few minutes to kill, and by that low standard, it's probably worth checking out.

It’s certainly not awful, and when it calls back to the retro style of the classics that preceded it I think it does a better job than most. But the combat design coupled with the clunky control interface really brings the experience down.

Is it a little rough around the edges right now? You bet. But with a virtually non-existent entry cost and some solid foundation to back it up, Dust 514 is worth checking out.

A decent enough job, particularly for strategy and match-3 fans, but not something essential by any stretch of the imagination.

There’s charm oozing out of every single corner (across both screens!), and even if you’re not a long-time fan there’s a good chance this will be the entry that draws you in.

All in all, this is definitely something that all 3DS owners should consider picking up. Even if you played the heck out of Donkey Kong Country Returns on the Wii, I think you’ll find that this definitely warrants the double dip.

Fuse may not go down in history as a memorable classic as compared to other Insomniac franchises, but it should find its audience.

Metro: Last Light improves on a lot of what 2033 left behind.

I strongly suggest saving your cash for something else, as this is very below average.

Here's the thing, though: as difficult as Life of Pixel may be, it never ceases to be fun — and I say this as someone who generally shies away from overly challenging games.

All in all I found myself really impressed by what Call of Juarez: Gunslinger brought to the table. It took a series name fouled by a recent entry and essentially turned it into a respectable property once again, without completely abandoning the setting or tone found in earlier titles.

The game is grim, gruesome, and if you can get by the fact the game is now over a decade old, it is quite engaging. One thing is for sure, if this is your first time meeting Agent York, this is the version to play for sure.

So, if you're an RTS-loving Vita owner, bad news: Zombie Tycoon 2 is most definitely not the game you're looking for. But there is a sliver of hope — the original Zombie Tycoon is available as a PSP Mini for about one-third the price, and it's significantly better in almost every way. If you absolutely must have a strategy game on your Vita, then — at least for now (until/unless History Legends of War: Patton gets released on this side of the Atlantic) — that is a much better option by far.

That said, if you’ve already played through the first game and liked it, Zeno Clash 2 is worth the $20 merely to find out what wackiness happens next in Ghat’s completely kooky and often awkward adventure.

The dead-zone issues on the Wii U version are unfortunate, but I find myself willing to trade that for the GamePad functionality alone. The MiiVerse features aren't exciting, but scrawling a Game Over message to taunt other players with isn't a bad addition either.

The additional content provided by the Dark Arisen add-on is significant enough that fans shouldn’t feel the sting of re-purchasing the core game, as the new content and worthwhile additions made to the core game are well worth the asking price.

Now, if Telltale Games could get a few more licenses for even more popular characters, we could get a really fantastic series of games. Maybe in Poker Night 3 would see Peter Griffin from Family Guy taking on Ryu from Street Fighter in a rousing game of 7 card stud. One can dream.

It’s certainly different from what we’ve come to expect out of Mario vs. Donkey Kong, but if you’re interested in a Nintendo themed puzzle game with some actual challenge, look no further than Minis on the Move.

It's a good solo game, but I strongly suggest plaything with friends for a richer experience.

Overall, other than maybe a rental or picking up one day in a bargain bin, there is very little I can say to recommend this mediocre attempt with a big budget license.

All of which is to say: buy Thomas Was Alone. Buy it for yourself. Buy it for your friends. Buy it for random strangers on the street. It's seriously that good.

It's a pack where you should't skip any titles, but at the same time it won't make anyone download the Arcade app. Try out the demos offered to see if you want add these to the collection.

Theoretically Monaco: What’s Yours is Mine is a great game. In actuality, your mileage may vary.

All in all, this still remains a far better effort for the LEGO titles than what we’ve seen on 3DS, or any handheld before. Clearly building the game from the ground up with a unique scenario is the way to go.

It doesn’t make a lot of significant changes to Far Cry 3, outside of streamlining some of the light RPG concepts in favor of something even more action-oriented. And it does a really great job of capturing that kitschy, hyper-stylized wave of 80’s nostalgia that few manage to get outside of the recent Hotline Miami.

Truth is, regardless of the game’s quality, I’m starting a second playthrough immediately after submitting this review. As bad as it may be on technical and artistic levels, there’s a certain broke and busted charm that makes Dead Island: Riptide almost endearing. Even the Romero downer ending backed by Chamillionaire’s raps couldn’t shake the smile I had after finishing the grind through nearly seventeen hundred ghouls.

There’s enough to God Mode that it can stand apart from similar shooters in the same vein, and there’s certainly not a lot of games like it available on Xbox Live Arcade. But with online play being a huge focus, and with most players not going the route of system link for co-op, the online side needs a bit more attention before I could justify recommending God Mode to anyone. Provided something can be done to fix these problems, it’s worth the $10 asking price. But until then, buy at your own risk.

Here's what it ultimately comes down to, I guess: Draw Slasher is a fun game, and I'd encourage you to play it, but only if you're paying the lowest price possible. If you do literally all your mobile gaming on your Vita, then by all means, buy it and enjoy. If you have an iDevice, though…you might want to think about just how much Trophies mean to you, and make your decision from there.

Soul Hackers may as well be a new game, considering its incredibly limited release. At this rate, it's almost worth playing just to enjoy a blast from the past that you never had, but also to promote the localization of such titles; this one an ambitious experiment in party management, hinged on the consequences of the relationships with your party rather than the benefits alone. I'd find it hard not to recommend to anyone interested in an RPG with a twist, with the caveat that it may be a tough egg to crack at the start.

I definitely feel like Uprising is a piece of DLC that’s worth your money, if for no other reason than the Mob of the Dead mode.

Injustice: Gods Among Us can easily be called one of the best, if not THE BEST, fighting games of 2013. With its addictive story mode and fantastic fighting engine, it is an experience to behold. Fans of Mortal Kombat or any fighting game in general will find something to like here.

If you love grinding through monster after monster in the quest for more XP (and better all the skills and weapons better XP will bring you). If you don't mind reading the same lines over and over again (believe me: what's funny the first time you read it is a lot less so the twentieth). If you have the patience to buy fifty healing herbs one by one by one. If your heart goes pitter-patter upon hearing 8-bit music with the slightest bit of airy static in the background. If that describes you, then you need to get on this game immediately — and if it doesn't, then you'll probably be better off looking elsewhere.

It's not groundbreaking, or disastrous, but Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory is a mediocre experience that will only appeal to a small

Defiance can still get its hooks in you in the addictive way that most MMO’s do, but there’s a point where frustration with the various issues will continue to build, and make you put the game up for good. Once those issues are fixed, assuming they will be, then I imagine we’ll have a decent experience on our hands, especially for console gamers that don’t get a lot of MMO love. But until then, I’d suggest saving your time and money for something that actually works and feels complete.

Considering it has no competition… Let's Fish! Hooked On is surely the best fishing game available for the PlayStation Vita and fans of the genre (like myself) may enjoy it for a little while. Even with the Vita's bells and whistles however it fails to live up to the Sega-style arcade fishing games of old.

If you’ve been jonesing for more armadillo rolling, Grock-bashing, tower defense fun, you’ll definitely enjoy Dillon’s Rolling Western: The Last Ranger.

However you choose to play Machinarium, puzzling it out on your own or with a walkthrough in hand, the important thing is that you do play it. It's a feast for the senses and a treat for your brain, and there's nothing else on the Vita like it.

All in all this is a Ninja Gaiden fan's redemption of sort, but for those looking for something new and exhilarating, you may want to pass altogether as this Ninja is starting to show his age, and a bit of a limp.