It's a cleverly-designed puzzler with a bright tone and fantastic music that will appeal to children and adults alike; if this is your first foray into the shape-matching series, though, you're probably better off with the superior value of the original.

With its predecessor containing over four times more puzzles at the exact same price on the eShop, and with its most glaring issue curiously still present in this new release, it's hard to recommend Kids over the original Color Zen.

It's not a tense, open-world survival game and it's not a zany, action-packed zombie kill-a-thon. How To Survive falls somewhere in between the two, and will likely appeal only to die-hard fans of the genre, or anyone willing to spend cash on a cheap thrill or two.

If you're a big fan of the movie and you can take advantage of the multiplayer with your kids, the exploration aspect of How to Train Your Dragon 2 is a soothing, enjoyable romp through a detailed island gameworld accompanied by a triumphant soundtrack. As a retail game, though, it's a steep asking price for a dragon adventure with repetitive minigames and little depth.

The 3DS edition of How to Train Your Dragon 2 is less expensive than its Wii U counterpart, but it's still a tall retail price to ask for a muddy, repetitive adventure.

Van Helsing Sniper Zx100 evokes the creepy aesthetic of Killer7, but while Killer7's unique concepts and quirky style helped it overcome its significant faults, Van Helsing doesn't have the same originality; its charming 3D presentation is delicious icing let down by a fairly flavourless light gun cake.

It's a well-realized, totally engaging experience that will appeal to both the curious and long-term fans alike, and uses its host of versatile, recognizable characters to put across a broad range of styles and techniques.

The frustrating lack of off-TV play aside, 1001 Spikes is a spirited, fun title that exemplifies the creative indie spirit that is permeating the eShop.

A great experience, but not one without its flaws — and absolutely not one for the faint of heart.

The pick-up-and-play nature of 3DS gaming lends itself to the game's quick levels even better than Wii U does, and keeps it from getting boring – if you're a fan of puzzles, electronica, or just want something to relax with after a long day of work, Color Zen is a worthy investment.

A solid début for the GO sub-series, if not a stand-out, it scores a narrow, extra time win in its quest to maintain the standards that fans of outrageous football have come to expect. Well played, Level-5.

A solid début for the GO sub-series, if not a stand-out, it scores a narrow, extra time win in its quest to maintain the standards that fans of outrageous football have come to expect. Well played, Level-5.

Tomodachi Life is perhaps best described as the glorious culmination of the Mii concept that was heralded by the release of the Wii back in 2006, and at long last gives your virtual avatar a life of its own — as well as many humorous and entertaining escapades to enjoy.

Anyone who fancies a good puzzle will enjoy Pushmo World immensely.

Chubbins is a deceptively difficult old-school platformer that's all about managing your angles and learning to bounce at just the right moment.

At its inexpensive asking price, there are worse games in the Wii U's growing library of eShop offerings, but understand that you won't be running with Marshmallow Boy for very long.

A typically rushed movie tie-in, and an unfortunate blemish on an otherwise excellent franchise.

This game does no favours whatsoever to its brand, its players, or other creators who would demonstrate more consideration in making children’s games. A real shame.

Ittle Dew is a top-class puzzle-adventure title that Zelda fans will absolutely adore.

Even without the confounding Tournament scoring issue, Arc Style: Baseball 3D is an average eShop title that's skippable to all except the most die-hard baseball fans.

Despite its flaws and repetitive nature, Grinsia effectively nestles itself into the void that it aims to fill, but it’s up to the player to decide whether or not another throwback is what they’re after.

If you'd like to give your brain some exercise, you can definitely do a lot worse than this.

If you're a first-time player looking for a creative, polished, and thoroughly funky RPG to sink dozens of happy hours into, friendly mechanics and a well-balanced difficulty level make this the perfect place to start.

With intuitive controls and quick portable-friendly stages, Alien on the Run is a title you'll have trouble putting down.

Fit Dance For Wii U really wants to be perceived as a serious piece of fitness software, but it's buried beneath a pile of technical and aesthetic issues that has it struggling to keep up with the competition.

Save your teeth for something sweeter.

At its low price point, Turtle Tale is an entirely functional platforming adventure from a small indie studio that you can breeze through in a day or two.

Five years on, Swords & Soldiers is still an excellent title. It's quite simple compared to most RTS games, but it has just enough depth to make it a highly entertaining experience, especially when it gets ported correctly as it has been in this case.

Squids Odyssey takes a simple concept and crafts an engaging yet not stifling amount of challenge out of it, resulting in a nice balance of haphazard fun and strategic thought.

While Deep Sea Creatures is by no means a bad game, it's definitely not for everyone.

With three games’ worth of content all stuffed on to a single 3DS card, Cut the Rope: Triple Treat is certainly the best entry in the series that you can pick up for the system.

LEGO The Hobbit attempts to take what has arguably become one of he most repetitive franchises in modern gaming and make it feel new again, but unfortunately falls short of hitting its mark every step of the way.

If you appreciate clever puzzle design and want a stress-free game to wind down with after a long day of work, this is for you.

Sokomania 2: Cool Job is a competent, playable little puzzler that, at its low price point, could provide the player with a few minutes of diversion.

Jewel Match provides a classic, basic match-three experience, but it’s hard to recommend it over the sea of other, similar titles out there; especially when it lacks any real elements that provide a unique twist or make it aesthetically pop.

The vehicles and racers have never handled better, the collection of courses is possibly the best yet, while replayability through Ghost Races or — primarily — online races and Tournaments is almost endless. A few design oddities aside, this joins the list of must-have Nintendo games on the Wii U; it’s an accomplished effort that pushes the franchise forward.

Beyond its educational value, though, Parking Star 3D is like real-life parking: stressful, tedious, and makes you regret not using public transport instead.

While it's probably not a top tier download title, Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails is still an entertaining and fun game, with big, challenging levels that all have plenty to do.

Beenox sure is trying to do well by the character, but it's becoming evident that the studio needs a rest from being the only one churning out Spider-Man titles on a sort-of-annual basis.

Gamers who already played Moon on the DS won't find anything different here, but for everyone else Moon Chronicles is easy to recommend.

It offers a lot of content and will be enjoyed by anyone who has a love for classic platform games, but there are rough edges which should have been dealt with before release.

Its unique blend of psychic gameplay and surreal visuals won't appeal to everyone, but if you want to spend a free afternoon with something completely different then it's well worth a look.

Picross e4 offers very little new from its predecessors.

With plenty of educational titles for the DS, 3DS, Wii and mobile platforms, gamers of all ages are advised not to waste their money on garbage like this.

Abyss is a small game with limited appeal: tight, difficult controls, a grainy aesthetic, and not much variety in gameplay outside “get to the end of the level.”

All in all, Return to Ravenhearst will scare even the most enthusiastic hidden object fan away before the game is finished – and that's not because of the spooky story, either.

With more polish, Hometown Story could have been a worthy successor to Harvest Moon, but sadly the final product doesn't come close to matching the highs of that famous franchise.

For children dead-set on becoming vets when they grow up, Me & My Furry Patients 3D is worth a try, but for kids who just want cute animal fun, you're better off sticking with Nintendogs.

Sound combines with art and writing for the creative triple treat. Piano is at the forefront of most of the game’s soundtrack, with an orchestral accompaniment providing a robust lift; perfect for this manner of presentation.

Kirby Triple Deluxe is a pleasant package that doesn’t push the envelope very far.

Mario Golf: World Tour delivers, most notably right out of the box, a lengthy and involving experience.

At 200 points, Sea Battle is a good deal for those desperate for something new to play on their aging DSi, but once you get past the nostalgia factor of its source material Battleship is a shallow, luck-based board game remembered best by children for its fun plastic game pieces and tactile feel, that Sea Battle's low-budget presentation doesn't come anywhere close to replacing.

Smash Cat Heroes is a hack-and-slash game distilled down to the bare essentials: flashy attacks, waves of enemies, a combo system, and plenty of kittens.

Everything works, but with lifeless aesthetics and barely any reward for playing, kids will find this dull and slow-paced while adults would only view it as lacking and simplistic.

Boxzle had the potential to be a fun little puzzler, but the lack of variety, poor presentation and frustrating gameplay make this a game to skip.

Atlantic Quest is a well-made game that has the unfortunate fate of existing in an all-too-often explored genre.

No beating around the mulberry bush with this one: My First Songs is nothing more than a glorified karaoke machine.

With a hands-down fantastic soundtrack, a boat-load of charm, and a genuinely insightful celebration of the game development process, there's the ghost of a very good game buried somewhere inside. But confusing design choices, recurring glitches, and boredom that sets in far too quickly make it tough to recommend.

On paper, Flowerworks is an intriguing 2D action-puzzler spin on the Pikmin aesthetic; the dialogue text even blooms onscreen letter by letter, the same way it does in Pikmin.

With fun characters, unique and engaging combat, a cute central conceit, and an irrepressibly cool soundtrack, Conception II is a bundle of JRPG joy.

There's no mystery about this one: it's just not worth playing.

Those looking for straight-up, no-frills Texas Hold ‘Em can find it in Governor of Poker. Those looking for engaging goals and atmosphere, however, likely will not; the constant tug-of-war on the tables to build the funds to buy the next non-interactive building feels more like a chore than a real accomplishment.

Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate – Deluxe Edition is as problematic as its title is long

My Exotic Farm is a functional, cute farm management sim; at an affordable $4.99 price point it's also decent value. But beneath the kid-friendly exterior, it's nothing more than an empty test of your micromanagement and grinding skills.

Pure Chess on the 3DS is a thoroughly competent piece of software, which in some respects stands out on the system's eShop.

For all its charm, there's no escaping the fact that Nintendo Pocket Football Club will be compared to rival titles in this genre, and in that regard it falls short.

If you’re beginning to get burnt out on Animal Crossing and you’re seeking something similar that also manages to feel fresh, Magical World is the perfect way to start a new life once again.

Big aviation fans, and/or those who want a demanding challenge and have the patience to endure starting from square one, may find blue skies here and should definitely try the demo.

At the very least, Rusty's Real Deal Baseball is worth downloading. You can decide for yourself how much money you want to spend on it.

Young Justice: Legacy is downright offensive.

To put it bluntly, I am in the Movie is almost entirely useless software.

Skater Cat's concept of speeding up by grabbing cats which you reward with treats is quite a nice idea, but unfortunately the overall package is fairly dull.

Also, what is likely the strongest selling point of the game, the Sanrio license itself, doesn’t feel put to use as widely as it could have. Characters are fully mute and do almost nothing to convey their personalities. Fans wanting to know more about the characters will also find nothing here.

Aptly named and well worth the wait, Yumi's Odd Odyssey is an absolute joy.

Once again, Lola has showed up to offer a solid learning tool for children just getting familiarized with the alphabet. Sporting colourful and friendly visuals, great voice talent and accessible learning exercises, Lola's ABC Party is a pretty happening place to be for kids ages 3-7.

It’s a shame, because Pure Chess is otherwise a well-made title with a lot of visual sheen behind it, and one in which it is fun to learn or practice chess. If your interest only extends to the latter, then Pure Chess is potentially a worthwhile investment, although you may be able to achieve the same goals with cheaper alternatives elsewhere.

The fact that Cypronia took the opportunity to create a 100% AR-based game is laudable in itself, and it works well enough that those who are heavily into the technology or big into building and sharing levels might want to consider laying down $4.99 to fish in this pond. Unfortunately, a few of the choices made in the game modes take some of the fun out of the overall experience and leaves it rather flat in some areas.

With a straightforward and entertaining tutorial, a varied single-player quest and a wealth of on- and offline multiplayer modes, however, Cube Tactics is well worth its small asking price.

An utterly charming, enjoyable experience to satisfy fans of both franchises; it's a crossover that, when experienced, seems entirely natural.

If the phrase "soccer RPG" has you the least bit intrigued, lace up your cleats and grab your stylus — Inazuma Eleven's masterful mix of lighthearted storytelling and over-the-top soccer is fun, fresh, and surprisingly deep.

The biggest problem with Yoshi’s New Island is that it feels stripped of the style, substance, and ingenuity that once made the series such treasured property.

Like so many puzzle titles, repetition does become an issue over prolonged periods of time, but the portable nature of the host platform makes this ideal short-burst entertainment.

When it comes to traditional hidden object play, Vacation Adventures: Park Ranger does a good job of keeping things manageable and uncomplicated, offering wonderful scenes that might even make you feel a bit bad to see them so cluttered.

With lots of short stages, it’s a great pick-up-and-play title, making it a positive purchase for 3DS owners who take their system with them on the go.

If you’re looking for something new, this is the perfect time to pick up your hammer, start a fire, and get crafting.

Mysterious Cities of Gold: Secret Paths does nothing special, but it's — for the most part — a well constructed and enjoyable adventure.

A unique and genuinely fun puzzle game with some decidedly rough edges, BLOK DROP U is a brief but engaging experience that will appeal to indie-lovers and puzzle fans in spite of its flaws — and it's easier to forgive those flaws when it costs less than a latte.

While a few extra puzzle elements could have been employed, as well as a bit of customization with music and some multiplayer options, Tappingo’s price tag makes it easy to recommend to anyone who thinks they’d enjoy its brand of pixel puzzling.

Fans of the The LEGO Movie and previous LEGO games are sure to enjoy this one as well, but don't seek it out expecting anything that you haven't already seen.

The fact that Quell Reflect takes the “ice” mechanic and creates an experience of it that doesn't make you want to shatter your 3DS against the wall is a testament to the care creator Fallen Tree Games took in the level design and ambience.

Whether or not you're willing to pay for some extra features, Steel Diver: Sub Wars features a highly enjoyable online multiplayer mode; that's something, perhaps, that the 3DS has missed so far. Since it's free, you have no excuse not to check it out — perhaps you'll even like it so much that you'll spend some money.

AeternoBlade isn't a bad game, it's just bland and occasionally frustrating.

Spot the Differences is a disappointing game. With its lack of content and premium price point — $9.99 is completely unreasonable for a product with one mode that can be found for free elsewhere — we don't recommend Spot the Differences to anyone other than fans of good photography. Even then, there are cheaper alternatives.

Taken on its own merits, though, free from comparison to the earlier versions, it's hard to see Retro City Rampage DX as anything less than a deranged masterpiece.

My Farm can be credited with at least being a functional piece of software on the Wii U. Nevertheless, that by itself isn't enough to make this a game you'll actually want to play.

Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON'T KNOW! for 3DS is less playable than its Wii U counterpart, and its cut corners show everywhere; it’s not the game that Adventure Time fans deserve or should expect from a developer like WayForward.

This is still a very good game and a worthy addition to any LEGO fan’s collection, but the series’ seams are definitely starting to show.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze utilises the Wii U’s graphical capabilities beautifully, with levels both stunning in design and looks, and impressive set-pieces that never skip a frame and can test any gamer’s skills. As a single player experience it is near flawless, but the precision of the level design can lead the often fun multiplayer into moments of chaos.