The mix of influences seems like they should work very well, but the limitations will frustrate both shooter fans and Minecraft addicts.

As a spiritual successor to Guardian Heroes this somehow manages to copy all of the flaws and leave out half of the positives, but it's still a fun beat 'em-up all the same.

Another inspired mix of Metroidvania and traditional puzzler, and certainly one of the best games on the 3DS's eShop.

As fascinatingly addictive as its premise is perversely mundane, but whatever the setting this is one of the best new puzzle games of the year.

A good value compilation for what remains a stunningly ambitious mix of interactive storytelling, compelling action, and sci-fi spectacle.

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

Somehow this manages to be the best superhero team-up game of the year, even though its management style is fairly simplistic.

Such an old school role-player that most of its influences predate video games, and although an acquired taste it's clearly a refined one as well.

A minor effort from Suda51 and Digital Reality, but with some clever presentation and a peculiar atmosphere that enhances some fairly ordinary action.

This is not a perfect game, and it never has been, but Persona 4 has always been our favourite Japanese role-player and this is the definitive version of it.

One of the most interesting things to happen to both massively multiplayer online games and shooters in years, and already a hugely enjoyable game in its own right.

More a re-release than an enhancement, but still a fascinating reminder of how engaging a good role-player can be even without modern graphics.

A Fisher Price version of Earth Defense Force could have been fun, but this doesn't even try to offer any lasting entertainment, let alone value for money.

An extremely successful attempt to reproduce Dota style action strategy on consoles, with a game that's considerably more accessible than its inspirations.

Still a fantastically well-designed action adventure, but this is easily the worst version of the best superhero game ever made.

More accessible and better value than the PC original, and with the same beautiful 2D visuals – Trine 2 sets the Wii U's eShop off to an excellent start.

Grand Theft Auto and a touchscreen device continues to be the worst team-up since Cannon and Ball, but if you've only come for the nostalgia some of the magic is still there.

The most disappointing Mass Effect 3 download so far, which once again emphasizes overfamiliar action instead of meaningful storytelling.

By far the best Skyrim expansion so far, and although the dragon-riding is disappointing, having a whole new world (or at least island) to explore is almost as good.

A horrible disappointment that not only fails to capture the magic of its predecessors but seems oblivious to what made them popular in the first place.

A flawed mix of shooter and Tower Defense, but a far great failure as an anniversary celebration – since it seems certain to decrease the chances of there ever being another.

The story mode has some technical issues but overall this is an impressive effort for a launch game, with the GamePad adding some genuine value to the experience.

Not only is this is very clearly FIFA 12, not 13, but it's not even a very good version of last year's game – with missing features, pointless additions, and flawed visuals.

The best version of Tekken Tag Tournament 2 so far, although by such a small margin it still doesn't excuse the game's conservative attitude to the fighting game genre.

Not the best version of Mass Effect 3, but also not the worst – indeed it's only the lack of the other games and their DLC that makes this difficult to recommend.

It looks and sounds the part, and it's definitely a better game than The Power Of 2, but this disappointing 2D platformer isn't half the game Castle Of Illusion was.

The Wii U adds nothing to the experience, but neither does it take away from what is one of the year's most feature-packed and enthralling epics.

Certainly not the worst HD collection so far but considering only one of the games was ever any good it's unlikely to be enough to garner many new fans.