Thank goodness Rayman is back because his would-be usurpers have never seemed more inanely un-entertaining than in this vapid mini-game collection.

One of the worst Pokémon spin-offs ever, as well as one of the most unwarranted sequels. Simplistic, boring and terrible value for money.

A cheerier, more versatile alternative to Trials HD, whose Special Edition manages to make trial-and-error and constant repetition even more fun.

An inspired and genuinely original puzzle game that offers plenty of value for money and one of the best reason so far to get your 3DS online.

The same great Lost Vikings-inspired action platforming as the first game, but now with some of the most amazing 2D graphics ever seen.

Inessential but entertaining prequel campaign that offers a medley of enemies, weapons and set pieces from throughout the trilogy.

An odd mixture of the classic and the inessential, but there's no arguing over the quality of at least three of the maps in this relatively content rich download.

A loving update of what is still a genuinely fun and innovative genre mash-up, as well as a fascinating glimpse at the glory days of British gaming.

A good script and fun characters can't save an otherwise workmanlike Japanese role-player, in this unconvincing 3D remake.

It may look like Zombies but it certainly doesn't play like it, in a portable conversion that copies all the features but delivers none of the fun.

An excellent portable flight sim that will please both series fans and newcomers - until they realise how short and underdeveloped it is.

An interesting attempt at a Professor Layton clone, but one that has neither the charm nor the variety of its more scholarly inspiration.

Going green has never been so entertaining, with the only game this Christmas where brain not brawn will save the world.

Considerably more depth and variety than the original, and with even more stunning visuals - this is as good as smartphone and tablet gaming gets.

There's change at last for the WWE games but relatively little of it is for the better, in a game that is frustrating in terms of both action and wasted potential.

A loving homage to old school shooters but one that refuses to take the steps necessary to become its own game, even with the excellent new co-op modes.

Probably the best Mario Kart ever seen, with a careful balance of the new and familiar and the most complete online service ever from Nintendo.

Still a minor royal in the fighting game pantheon, but a hardworking one that beats Marvel Vs. Capcom in terms of depth - if not accessibility and brand recognition.

The Lord Of The Rings is yet again denied a decent tie-in, with this desperately uninteresting and half broken action role-player.

The cinematic approach makes sense on paper but it means Telltale Games aren't able to play to their strengths and the end result seems doomed to extinction.

A peculiar multimedia bundle that features a near worthless HD update, a paid-for demo and a terrible CGI movie. Fighting game fans can do a lot better.

Inspired at times but also badly inconsistent, this is certainly the best Shinobi game since the Mega Drive era but still not really it's own game.

The loss of London Life leaves a nasty taste in the mouth, but its absence doesn't affect the main game which is probably the best of the series so far.

The aging formula may be getting by purely on charm at this point, but this is still the best Harry Potter game ever made - Lego or not.

Still the least interesting inter-company crossover ever conceived and still just an outdated and unambitious mini-game compendium.

A superbly crafted comeback for one of platform gaming's most overlooked stars, and one of the best-looking 2D games ever made.

The motion controls work well enough but this is an unambitious and needlessly simplistic on-the-rails adventure that does nothing to help Move's cause.

The best original Kinect game this year, and if it wasn't for the vagaries of the controller itself one of the best video games around for the very young.