For those that already have invested heavily in Skylanders, this is a no-brainer and must have. For anyone new to the franchise, the games charm and ability to satisfy gamers of all ages and skill set make this something you should look into.

Forza: Horizon turns away from the down-in-the-weeds realism of previous versions to provide a more approachable ride. It's chock full of things to do and races to run, but even just driving through the spectacular countryside provides hours of enjoyment. While it's not strong in innovation in the genre, it does a respectable job of maintaining the status quo.

Ravaged delivers some of this year's best online vehicular carnage that's set perfectly to the backdrop of an engrossing and atmospheric post-apocalyptic world.

It might have taken them a few months but Sony has finally found a title to sell their new handheld system. LittleBigPlanet is more than just the best game available for the Vita, it is the best entry in the LBP series to date. It should be mandatory to have this game if you own a Vita!

Samurai G could have been about anything -- Godzilla, grandmothers, ghosts or even gangsters. Unfortunately, UFO Interactive decided to make this particular samurai money hungry. Samurai G is an action game full of gold collecting, but the concept gets old far too quickly. If only there was an online leaderboard or a check point system!

Finally, BF3 gets some DLC emphasizes everything that makes the series great. With a focus on maps and new game modes that enhance both the team-based and vehicle gameplay, this pack does exactly what every DLC release should do: makes the base game better. This should pull those who have drifted away from the game in recent months back into the battle!

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure isn't a bad fighting game, but it may be too weird for its own good. The 22 characters are hard to relate to and the action is often chaotic for no reason. Worse yet, the game is too expensive for the amount of content. If you can get over some of the imperfections you'll find a good looking fighting game with a lot of memorable characters!

Zombie Driver HD plays out like a cross between Grand Theft Auto 2 and Choplifter. Players race around the city picking up survivors and avoiding the zombie hordes. It's a fun game with a surprising amount of content for ten dollars. On the other hand, the missions become a bit tedious by the end. Zombie Driver HD is worth a look!

007 Legends attempts to be a big, brassy tribute to 50 years of James Bond, but it ends up a little too ambitious for its own good, with a story that is more spectacle than substance and some new ideas that don't work together as well as they should. The multiplayer, however, is better than ever, and that alone should make this a must have for any 007 fan's collection.

Worms Revolution isn't a bad game, but it's not the best Worms experience on the Xbox Live Arcade. There are a few good ideas, along with some funky physics and water that acts a lot more like The Blob. You may still get some fun out of the multiplayer mode, but Worms fans are better off sticking with Armageddon!

Port Royale 3 is an often frustrating experience as a result from its lack of in-game communication regarding both gameplay mechanics and mission objectives. Add a confusing controller setup and lackluster graphics, Port Royale 3 is a hard recommendation to even gamers that enjoy real-time strategy and city expansion gameplay. The few moments that do offer genuine entertainment are simply not enough to even recommend Port Royale 3 to longtime series fans.

Giant Sparrow delivers one of the most unique games of the year. Sadly, The Unfinished Swan is a little too easy for its own good. Players can easily blow through the game in a couple hours. Still, the game's story is strong enough to keep you engaged from beginning to end. You've never seen anything like The Unfinished Swan before!

Happy Wars is a simple multiplayer action game for the Xbox Live Arcade. While it is ripe with problems, it's also a free game that is worth checking out. You won't find anything original here, but the fast-paced action is both chaotic and addictive.

Dishonored mixes the dystopic worlds of Rapture and City 17 with the assassination-for-a-cause gameplay of Hitman and Assassin's Creed to create an experience that actually feels more original than it probably should have. Both the setting and the gameplay work well and had Dishonored been better in a few more areas it could have been a contender for one of the best games of the year.

Oozi: Earth Adventure is an enjoyable adventure that really conjures up memories of classic platformers from the 8-bit and 16-bit days. It is simple and accessible which is a nice change of pace in today's market. Unfortunately however, that fact may turn the more "diehard" gamers off. Don't expect incredible depth here, just simple fun that can be enjoyed by gamers of all ages.

You might not know it from the box, but Dead or Alive 5 is one of the most baffling games of the year. It's full of weird editing, ninja clones and large breasted women. And that doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of what makes this game so incomprehensible. Thankfully the solid gameplay and gorgeous graphics make up for the often disjointed story telling!

As a Saturn game, NiGHTS into Dreams under-delivered. Sixteen years later it's easy to see why, but that shouldn't keep you from playing through this bizarre dreamscape. Just be ready for some frustrating boss fights and linear flying stages!

Think there are already too many ninja games on the market? Think again, because Mark of the Ninja is one of this year's best games. With a lengthy campaign, stylish graphics, responsive gameplay and a surprise ending, Klei's newest action game is a must-own. Even if you're normally not into stealth games, Mark of the Ninja is well worth your time!

XCOM: Enemy Unknown is an expertly crafted strategy game that improves on the original in every way. It's a cinematic treat that is accessible enough for gamers of all experience. Best of all, it's not a bore. With more than 70 missions and a competitive two-player mode, XCOM is a high water mark for 2012!

Double Dragon: Neon is either another must-own game from WayForward or the worst game of the year; it all depends on who you ask. Despite the lack of online play and a few repetitive moments, I was won over by Neon's charm. The 1980s are alive and well in WayForward's newest game!

It's not the grand reinvention of the dungeon crawler, but Torchlight 2 is a great deal of fun in a nice cheap package.

This is yet another Capcom collection that pits two similar fighting games together for one cheap price. The good news is that both Marvel vs. Capcom and Marvel Super Heroes are great games that hold up well. Unfortunately, the bad news is that you're going to get stomped online. With its creative use of filtering and goals to complete, Marvel vs. Capcom Origins is a must-buy for anybody with an interest in fighting games!

Unmechanical provides players with addictive and mind-perplexing puzzles, in addition to both a charming and atmospheric presentation. Stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack combine for one of the best looking and sounding independent games in recent history. Unfortunately, the gameplay experience of Unmechanical suffers from the lack of a proper narrative and details on the game's setting and characters.

Argul's Tomb adds one new quest, three new dungeons, and takes less than three hours to complete. The quality is what you'd expect, but ultimately it's not worth the cost; that is, unless you pre-ordered Darksiders II and get Argul's Tomb for free.

With absolute minimal issues with gameplay, the deepest roster in any title to date, updated career and pro modes, and some of the most accurate player models, FIFA 13 is the best soccer game to date. If this were the World Cup, FIFA 13 would be hoisting the trophy.

Dark Souls makes me sad and I don't mean because of its grueling difficulty.. Don't get me wrong, the game itself is an awesome experience but there are some serious, yet simple, roadblocks to overcome in order to enjoy it on the PC and quite frankly, that is unacceptable in today's day and age. PC gamers deserve better than this and this experience could easily have been much, much better.

Hearthfire is an inexpensive add-on to the critically acclaimed Skyrim, and it provides its value for new and old players alike, but in different ways. The customization options will give characters an even deeper attachment to the game world, and establish a perfect retreat for those who have a hard time keeping track of every arcane enchanter and forge. More customization options would help to set each abode apart from the next, but Hearthfire rewards us with what we all want: more Skyrim.

The battle system in Growlanser: Wayfarer of Time isn't really at fault here, it's the numbers game behind it that seems to be rigged in the computer's favor that makes playing this game a chore. The slow story pacing will also require a lot of patience from prospective gamers.