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.

Gone Home is not only an important game in its own right, but is absolutely vital to the advancement of how we approach narrative in games, as well as the subjects we tackle.

Just don’t pick this up hoping to graduate from the campaign to a major and thriving online community – for all practical purposes, consider this to be a singleplayer game first and foremost. And a damn good one at that.

Through its old-school gameplay, snappy soundtrack, authentic dialogue, and unlockable art, DuckTales: Remastered is a faithful tribute, and a remaster done right.

This game was built as an homage to the history of gaming. Sure it’s derivative. Sure it leans heavily on shallow and easy humor. Sure it borrows unrelentingly and unabashedly from any source Volition could pry into the product. Somehow all of that comes together to create a game that is fun, hilarious, addictive, and demands that you find every single collectable possible.

But while 4-player co-op has certainly been done before, there’s no question that Payday 2 brings something unique to the table. Gameplay is often heart-poundingly intense, whether from the anxiety of fearing detection in a stealth mission, the will to survive an aggressive assault in an attack mission, or just the rush that comes from making it out alive and much richer.

Cloudberry Kingdom is a terrific gauntlet romp through classic gaming’s hallowed halls.

It’s a light, 2D arcade shooter that’s great for killing some time if you’re waiting for your wife to get ready, but if you’re looking for immersive gameplay and a deeper level of engagement, or beautiful, eye-catching graphics, you’ll be better off looking somewhere else.

Mario & Luigi: Dream Team could have been one of the best RPGs on the 3DS; instead, it sadly overstays its welcome.

Dragon’s Crown is a fun game, and the charm evident in previous Vanillaware games translates well into HD. The action is fast and furious, and it’s a game that can be played in multiple sessions or short bursts.

Pick up Spelunky if you’re a fan of actiony roguelike games, supremely challenging platformers, or if you’re simply a gaming masochist who finds themselves griping about how too damn easy games are nowadays.