All in all, AdvenChewers isn’t a bad distraction, and for a buck there are much worse options out there.

This classic arcade style shooter will keep your thumbs and your senses occupied for many, many hours.

At only $10, it’s worth a plunge for genre fans, but only expect about three hours of gameplay with a startling difficulty spike.

Knack would have been a passable game twenty years ago, but now it just feels tired and uninspired.

Angry Birds Star Wars is a shameless 50 dollar repackaging of a 99 cent iPhone game. There’s little to nothing added in the console release.

Puzzles, strategy, multiplayer, a haunting atmosphere, and a fantastic soundtrack — Super Motherload packs a wealth of material into a small, though somewhat repetitive, package.

By casting the player as a character in the game, and through the use of the Vita camera, this title makes us reevaluate where a game world stops and reality begins.

Super Mario 3D World is a masterclass of game design, and the result of decades of iteration and improvement — which makes its overall brevity that much more painful.

Like the soldiers in the game, XCOM: Enemy Within takes everything introduced in Enemy Unknown, polishes it, enhances it, and redeploys it into the field. It’s stronger, it’s meaner, and it’s awesome.

That said, since AllDrive is so important to the overall experience, multiplayer gamers will likely get a lot more out of it than those who play alone. But, if you’re looking for a racing game that’s rewarding, fun, and visually impressive, then Need for Speed Rivals is the game for you.

It’s not just a nostalgic trip; A Link Between Worlds is an excellent game on its own. That said, this title functions most effectively as fan service to us old heads — the references to the source material are as numerous as they are captivating.

Deadfall Adventures is a game that doesn’t stand out. It has few redeeming qualities, and if you’re a FPS fanatic, there are much better games out there for you to play.

An impeccably crafted panegyric to the platformers we all grew up with, Blood of the Werewolf is hampered by imprecise controls and a dedication to difficulty that, perhaps, goes one step further than it should.

As a game in its own right, it feels short-changed and recycled for the most part – Fans of the series will likely bask in the familiarity of it, but ultimately Nexus is a hollow offering.

Slender: The Arrival wants to be seen as a serious entry into the horror genre, but it fails to put the effort into the gameplay mechanics and artificial intelligence that would merit the honor.

Alien Rage is as bad as you expect, and something that all video game lovers should keep their hard earned dollars away from.

With an excellent collection of game options, enjoyable novelties, and low price point; it’s among some of the best video game choices you could make this year.

Enslaved is as ambitious as it is flawed. Those of you who can put up with mediocre gameplay and a lack of polish will find a touching, rewarding story heightened by top-notch cast performances. Others need not apply.

Ghosts doesn’t leverage the PS4 beyond providing a more visually immersive experience, it stands as a more than capable bridge for the franchise. While the campaign is relatively short at eight hours and at times feels very derivative, the high points really shine and the multiplayer experience continues to set the bar for the genre.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies doesn’t do much to innovate the series, but does a great job at bringing a classic experience to the 3DS.

With new game modes, an enhanced interface, evolving maps, and greatly improved small-scale battles, Battlefield 4 continues the franchise’s trend of setting the standard for the squad-based multiplayer shooter.

You’d be hard-pressed not to enjoy this game for at least a few hours, but go beyond that and it might get tedious.

WWE 2K14 still features some unfortunate issues, but those can be easily ignored as the 30 Years of WrestleMania mode soars past every possible expectation you may have.

The overall polish has improved, and there is more fun to be had in this iteration than any previous. It no longer feels like a forced checklist, instead offering players the freedom to partake, skip, or mix and match as much as they see fit.

Bugs, glitches, game freezes, and other technical issues mar what would have otherwise been a passable, if unsurprising and uninspired Batman game.

If you’re looking for a title which really does something new or exciting with the genre — or if you just plain want a new tower defense game that looks and feels flashy and exciting — hold off on this one until the inevitable Steam deals chop the price by a third or greater.

If you’re itching for a hardcore co-op action experience, then you’ve struck gold with FORCED.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution – Director’s Cut may be overlooked by those who have already played it, but it is a robust experience worthy of a playthrough by its own right.

The game’s bland look and feel only serves to further highlight the abject shallowness of the entire experience.

In a world littered with indie games trying hard to be nostalgic and missing the mark, it is nice to play a game that truly captures that 16-bit experience.

So here I sit, fingers raw from playing. Rocksmith 2014 has done something I didn’t think was possible after its predecessor failed at the same task – it has made me want to learn the guitar and bass.

While I’m surprised that Just Dance 2014 continues the tradition of not letting us import our old tracks, it offers plenty of new features to make the series innovative instead of iterative.

Goodbye Deponia has some great things going for it: the gorgeous staged scenes set against hand-painted backdrops are Daedalic’s trademark, and they seem to have pulled it off again here.

Pokemon X & Y set a new standard for Pokemon games to come.

Pokemon X & Y set a new standard for Pokemon games to come.

Sonic Lost World is a wonderful addition to the Sonic legacy and one of the best exclusive titles on the Wii U. It harks back to the classic days of gaming that got me into video games in the first place, a time when developers aimed to challenge players rather than guide their hand through a movie experience.

It fails as a 2D sidescroller, it fails as a 3D platformer, and on a system that has no short supply of absolutely amazing examples of both of those genres, Sonic Lost World is absolutely inexcusable.

If you’re trying to figure out what it is that makes The Inner World so satisfying, you’re really not going to be able to pick any one thing. The story, graphics, and gameplay are all okay, but it’s the sum of the parts that synthesizes The Inner World into the charming gem that it is.

It fills a niche that I’m sure will have a following, but it is not for everyone, least of all casual strategy gamers such as myself.

Even if you don’t have any other versions on other platforms, SWAP Force on 3DS is a decent 3rd person 3D platformer. Just don’t expect a 3DS interpretation of the console SWAP Force game – it stands on it’s own pedestal, and it can fit your toy collection inside a pocket.

I don’t think there are any weaknesses in the story or its delivery – the plot is fairly simple, as is the combat. I think Vicarious Visions does this series proud in carrying out a new and challenging role – take a genre-defining product and bring some freshness to it while maintaining the consistency and imagination of new characters balanced with the old.

Prime World is free to play on Steam, so if you’ve got time to burn and are looking for a game that tries to shake up the MOBA genre, then give Prime World a shot.

Cavemania is a gorgeous, fun, and addictive game that should probably be on your phone, but doesn’t quite hit the high mark in terms of free-to-play iOS games quite the way Real Racing 3 or Pixel People has.

While Quantic Dream tackles subjects usually only handled within the realm of film, it lacks the grace, subtlety, and class of its celluloid counterparts to do it properly. Technically, it’s a triumph, with some of the best looking graphics and facial capture I’ve ever seen in a video game, but if you’re going to put so much emphasis on the story, it better be damn good, and honestly, it just isn’t.

If you’ve never tried Port Royale or Patrician, but are looking to explore a truly engaging “period piece” that will provide hours of entertainment, take Rise of Venice for a spin. As the latest offering from Kalypso and Gaming Minds, the game succeeds at re-creating an age out of mind through the very modernity of its design, and the presentation is as slick as any other new release you’ll find out right now.

Rune Factory 4 is a game that you could easily dive into for twenty minutes or two hours at a time, and it seemingly never ends. There’s always one more thing you can do to improve your station in the town, or the town’s station in the world.

Ultimately, Shadowrun Returns is a great game that does an excellent job of not only drawing players into the Shadowrun world, but doing so while delivering an option-laden classic RPG experience.

The storyline used to merge the two is slightly clumsy, but that can only be expected when combining two relatively disparate franchises. What I didn’t expect, though, was for the merge to be treated as a zero-sum game; where Unmasked expanded the depth and breadth of DC content, it has responded by limiting the scope and difficulty of the core Scribblenauts experience.

The experience of playing Rain felt like it should have culminated in an emotional and poignant ending, but the abstruse storytelling only acted as a roadblock to a sought-after moment of epiphany – it borders on pretentiousness. But where the narrative and gameplay are let-downs, the impressive art style and outstanding soundtrack are a treat for the senses.

Skydive: Proximity Flight may be lacking all the bells and whistles of more popular arcade titles, and at times I did want a little more variety, or maybe even just a missile launcher or two. But that’s not what this game is about. What you have here is a fairly realistic and engaging simulator of an experience that most of us will never try due to an overriding sense of self-preservation. And maybe that’s enough.

While the awkwardness of the campaign mode’s storyline is unfortunate, the game more than justifies its cost in terms of inventive mechanics, a refreshing setting and a well-thought-out realtime tactical system – all without the looming threat of microtransactions and booster-pack expenditures that so often are matched up with any card-based game.

Fans of the JRPG genre who are looking for a challenge and aren’t bothered by the facepalm-worthy tropes will be delighted with the experience. This game won’t do much to capture anyone who isn’t already interested in the series with its very confusing mechanics and foreign gameplay structure.

It’s casual in that it’s a fighting game that doesn’t require the memorization of combos.

This is a breakthrough in what interactivity can accomplish with little aid from more traditional storytelling mechanics – its resulting importance to this medium is no exaggeration.

Unlike many other repackaging efforts, Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD ReMIX does just enough positively, while leaning on its own greatness to create a worthwhile addition to one’s video game collection.

It’s hours of mindless, bloody, expletive-filled fun in an action-packed fantasy world illustrated with gorgeous graphics, a good variety of unlocks, and enough challenges to make completionists feel as if they got their money’s worth.

If you’re craving pinball on the go, it’s tough to beat the paltry $6.99 price tag. But for most, this is not the platform you’re looking for – and that’s no Jedi mind trick.

Unfortunately for Konami, Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 doesn’t have the benefit of coming at a highly reduced price tag. Konami is working against a stream of influence and licensing deficiencies, but has failed to work what it does have into a good product. Unless you are dying to play two soccer games, or have the burning desire to customize, Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 is best left on the shelves.

Piranha has long promised that “community warfare” will address this lack of endgame, but that feature has been delayed so often that it’s hard to be sure if it’s ever coming out. It’s a bit of a shame that there’s so little reason to keep at MechWarrior Online. The matches themselves are fun–and as it is free-to-play, there’s no barrier to entry–but without any form of metagame it’s hard to stay engaged.

FIFA 14 is a beautiful send-off to the waning current generation of gaming, and a perfect example of what has become the most authentic and entertaining sports game around.

At any rate, if you have any interest in hockey games whatsoever, then you probably already own this, but if you don’t, go out and get a copy – you’ll have an absolute blast.

If you’re willing to power through some unfortunate pacing, you’ll still get to experience a fantastic and wondrous adventure of epic proportions, upscaled for the modern era.

At its core, Rome II is not a bad game, but it does feel horribly rushed.

While a little bit simple in terms of art, Foul Play is a polished little Final Fight style title that was really a blast to play.

If anything, Lost Planet 3 shows that the series has had a rough run, and while it has made some improvements, it continues to fall short of the potential that fans know it has.

I can’t imagine the pressure behind the scenes, but everything that Rockstar has attempted with Grand Theft Auto V gels together perfectly. As we look forward to the next-generation launches in just a few months, it’s pretty awesome to see the best game of this entire generation cap it off.

The DOA series has always looked great, and the hidden depth is still there. Whether this is a must buy for you depends on if you already have the original game.

If you like hiking through the mountains for hours, a high-powered rifle cradled in your arms, then watching your screen go crimson as a sniper arcs three rounds into your head from like four klicks away, then this is truly the ideal game for you.

One Piece: Pirate Warriors 2 is a fun game that slowly loses its luster as the time in-game passes.

As it stands, this very likely is the best PC fighting game available, period – and doubly so for the money. And not only that, but buying the game gives you access to the Skullgirls Beta, so you can test out changes in advance of their going live in the game proper.

If you’re on the hunt for a new puzzle game to challenge you, this one’s at the very least worth a look.

The Wonderful 101 is difficult to master, but the fact that it’s difficult to learn is what will hamper the progress of many would-be adventurers looking to join the battle against the GEATHJERK.

Clearly, Lord of Shadows wants to feel “cinematic” but it goes too far by sacrificing gameplay on the altar of visual splendor.

Played with one’s thinking cap on, A Machine for Pigs is sure to horrify even when it doesn’t frighten.

If Turtles are your thing, you might want to put aside the concerns for the bugs and pull down the demo from Xbox Live. It is more than playable, just don’t expect to have a smooth ride. On the other hand, the story is light but so is the source material – it would have been nice to see episodic content come out for an otherwise compelling realization of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Pokémon Rumble U is designed to keep you locked in and coming back for more. It’s a harmless diversion with a built in sense of accomplishment that I may not fully endorse (I’m not about to hunt down all 18 of the NFC figurines), but I certainly can appreciate the fun here.

This is your imagination come to life. In a holiday season filled with sequels, heists, and all the action games you can imagine, Puppeteer is different…and different is good.

In summary, if you’re looking for a game that will make you laugh, cry, dance, and then snap your keyboard in two, Electronic Super Joy might fit the bill.

There may not be another game out this year that can provide as much limitless fun as Disgaea D2. Many fans of the original still play it religiously 10 years after it’s release. With the triumphant work done by Nippon Ichi America, Disgaea D2 is well on it’s way to still being as fun and as rewarding as it is today at it’s ten year anniversary mark.

It’s a bummer, but that’s what happens to most video games as they age: they’re never as good as we once remembered.

Red Barrels have done a fantastic job combining an intensely disquieting setting, a unique visual look, and an incredibly effective camera gimmick to ensure that nobody escapes Mount Massive without a few nightmares.

While the pure combat in Killzone: Mercenary is well-executed, the freedom of choice never comes to fruition, and it smacks of lost opportunity. Thankfully, its absence has no impact on the entertaining multiplayer modes which are worth returning to again and again.

While I’m not sure the harcore end-game will translate with the console audience, there is no doubt that Diablo III is the new couch co-op king.

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by how well it turned out. For only $10, you’ll get plenty of gameplay for the money spent.

Full Control has taken a board game and brought it to the PC, staying true to the source material all while breathing considerable life into the actual gameplay experience itself. With a bit more time, and much more content, I’d be recommending this one to any turn-based tactics fan straightaway.

Still, for any PC gaming Middle-earth fan, I think this is a title worth checking out at the very least. Sure, there may not be much story here, but being able to (potentially, with paid DLC) play over 36 characters from Middle-earth and have them fight against each other is definitely entertaining. For people looking for the next big MOBA title to catch on, this probably isn’t the title for you.

Whether you’re a rabid fan of platforming games or you’ve grown disillusioned with them over the years, Rayman Legends has the charm and gameplay to leave you enthralled.

Killer Is Dead is a competent, and oftentimes superb, action title that is held back by an overly obtuse plot and a dating minigame that did more to turn me off from the game entirely.

But in the end, The Bureau is a completely different game that stands on its own. While they didn’t make the next game of the year, 2K Marin has crafted their own XCOM adventure. It’s one that features some lifeless characters and a nonsensical story, but also some of the best squad-based third person shooting you’re going to see all year.

Freak Tower is a polished and fun tower game that has some unique and bizarre extras. The game plays how it should and feels very well put together. It can be rewarding if you are willing to play it over a long period of time in short spurts, but the slow pacing and pay to win feel hold it back from being something great.

If the technical issues can be ironed out, the Vita version of The Walking Dead could indeed be awarded as the definitive one. But even in its current state, this version of the lauded title can stand proudly beside the rest.

The problem is, it’s not original.

If sneaking is your speed, you can rest easy – Sam Fisher is back, and Splinter Cell: Blacklist is among the very best stealth titles you’ll play this generation.

With all of the great changes and smart moves made this year by EA Sports, Madden NFL 25 is a surprising success in nearly every facet of sports gaming. While there are still small issues that need to be worked out, Madden 25 is a vast improvement over the lackluster entries in the series over the past few years.

In the end, those who enjoyed Dishonored will probably get a kick out of The Brigmore Witches, and those who got what they needed out of the main game have few new experiences to find here.

All in all, Star Conflict is a decent multiplayer experience which, aside from the outstanding aesthetics, doesn’t quite break any boundaries or deliver anything great. I’m glad this is free-to-play, as it is completely worth it. Spending money on it? Not a chance.

Trust me, if you’re a fan of 2D fighters, you will absolutely love Divekick. This one’s made for you.

What Disney Infinity ultimately represents is the potential of a fantastic platform. It’s incredibly rough around the edges, and it will make your wallet beg for mercy, but there is a massive wealth of content for Disney to cull from.