Video game and cultural references abound in its playfully inventive courses, which jauntily switch from portrait to landscape in a game that revels in its continual ability to surprise.

A surprise new champion for the PS Vita and a cleverly designed mix of skateboarding and 2D platforming that will appeal to everyone.

A useful expansion that unlike most doesn’t ignore the failings of the original, although even with the improvements Beyond Earth still isn’t as engrossing as the real Civilization.

Series and genre fans are well provided for but it's a shame the technical achievements aren't in service of a more adventurous game.

A fascinating cosy experiment, packed with memorable characters and sharp writing, but which occasionally stumbles in the execution.

Business as usual with a mediocre single-player campaign and one of the best multiplayer experiences in all gaming – although one severely compromised by playing it on the Xbox 360.

A Western style Final Fantasy Tactics with tons of content but lacking in polish and accessibility.

Neither rip-off nor bargain, but Treyarch and Activision are clearly playing things safe - despite the excesses of Call Of The Dead.

The frustrating thing is we have a feeling Dragon Age II is going to be criticised most for its gameplay changes than its storytelling failings. You might not like the new direction but it works as BioWare intended. But the story you carve with your new combat skills doesn't always seem worthy of such risky innovation.

Japanese role-player that massages the usual formula into an unusually nuanced and exciting epic.

The source material already had its problems, but this disappointing remake manages to make Resident Evil 3 seem even less inspired than it did originally.

Yet another entirely unnecessary sequel to a classic game that should never have got any follow-ups at all. But if you want even more of the same old thing there are few small sparks of imagination here and there.

A daring experiment in minimalist gameplay and storytelling, although that doesn't forgive the repetition and high price tag.

A seemingly impossible port is carried off surprisingly gracefully, with the old school shooter action working very well as a handheld game.

Loud, brash, brightly coloured tracks with a rousing selection of cars and racing styles in a game that’s much more about fun than serious simulation.

It may lack the scares of its big brother but this proves an impressively progressive lightgun game that works very well with PlayStation Move.

Temtem already does several fundamental things better than its inspiration and clearly has the potential to be the very best, like no one ever was. [Early Access review]

A visual novel set in the world of Roadwarden that offers some degree of choice, but whose real charm comes from its straightforward prose and troubled, authentic-seeming characters.

The most baffling Nintendo release of recent years, with a quasi-remake of one of the GameCube’s worst games, that seems specifically designed to irritate and confuse would-be players.

Still an object lesson in how to make a kids' game, even with added complexity and some confusing puzzles.

It’s noticeably harder precision aiming sniper rifles, giving shorter range fully automatic guns an advantage, but its roster of 10 legends unlocks more quickly than it did on PC and console, and matches have the requisite speed and tension. A solid start.

An effective tech demo but it struggles to be anything else, not least because for the majority of the time it’s just a fairly vanilla climbing simulator.

A successful soft reboot for the venerable fighting game series, and a great jumping on point for those dissatisfied by Street Fighter V.

A much more interesting story and lead character than usual for the series, but the weak script and aging combat system fail to make the most of it.

An unexpectedly involved space combat simulator that manages to replicate the thrills of the 90s X-Wing and TIE Fighter games with surprising clarity – and an excellent VR mode.

It looks and plays just like the PS3 games, but alas this is just as pedestrian in terms of innovation.

The video game equivalent of a concept album, and a hugely successful mix of visual, music, and gameplay influences.

A charmingly offbeat exploration and object finding game which is at least as much about its characters and their stories as it is the mechanics of your search.