My Style Studio: Hair Salon might have worked as a free, mildly competent flash game to distract kids with for a few minutes. Instead, it releases on Wii U as a lazy port of an already uninspired game, failing to add anything of substance.

If you don't see yourself getting a Wii U in the near future and desperately want to see what the fuss is all about, this is still a good investment, but otherwise it's probably best to just pick up the original titles or wait for the combo pack.

Zombie Panic in Wonderland DX is a well-presented, difficult game with solid gameplay. Unfortunately the experience isn't as lasting or as engaging as perhaps it could be, and given that it's almost identical to its WiiWare predecessor, the audience for this title is small and niche.

It doesn’t take long to get an encompassing look at what Woah Dave has to offer, and while it does what it does in a commendable fashion, it’s not redefining the genre or reinventing the wheel — and that’s absolutely okay.

Though it takes some getting used to, partly due to a baffling map system, the psychological horror of Lone Survivor can extend far beyond the confines of the television screen.

This is also one of the most fiendish titles on Wii U, constantly challenging your reactions and puzzle-solving abilities. If you're up for the challenge, then this is a must-buy on the eShop.

Despite its light and colourful exterior, The Legend of Dark Witch manages to be an entertaining platformer that can be difficult enough to hold the attention of even the more serious gamers out there.

Overall, Just Dance 2015 is much like its predecessors, but in the struggle to do something ‘new’ with the game, Ubisoft has added a lot of features that are not really worth your bother.

With a relatively small asking price and a unique premise, Cosmophony is a game that should at least be experienced by anyone who rates gameplay above all other aspects.

Learning how to make games is an incredibly fun experience, and one that we suggest any fan of the medium at least take a crack at, but even the $1.99 price tag of Arrow Time U is too high to justify paying for what feels like a failed homework assignment in game design.

This is a game that depends on one’s personal tastes, but it’s hard to deny there’s potential here; it would certainly be pleasing to see more ideas from Arachnid Games’s notebook in the future.

Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2 was released less than 12 months after the first in the series, and it absolutely shows. While there's still a solid platformer in here, it's a bare-bones attempt which underwhelms for the sole reason that it could have been so much more.

The improved upgrades, enhanced Toy Box experience and Marvel franchise make this year’s game an enticing proposition. Provided parents are willing to say “no” now and again to children’s pestering for more figures, it also offers good value on the Wii U.

If you're absolutely starved for something to play for an hour or two and have gone through all the other options, Turtle Tale might suffice; otherwise, there are better options out there.

Don't let the generic title fool you — Ninja Battle Heroes is a nice surprise on the already-robust 3DS eShop.

Those who enjoy utterly dominating a gaming experience and showing off their high scores will likely be content in the challenge alone — others, however, might find their time spent with the game shorter.

Whether or not you’re a platforming fan, and whether or not you’ve played any of the previous titles in this series, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is an exceptionally well-crafted game that should not be ignored.

The use of a physical controller as opposed to an iOS touch-screen makes Paper Monsters Recut the definitive edition of the game; though Paper Monsters Recut does unfortunately falter a bit technically, this lovingly crafted platformer is a fine addition to the eShop.

If you enjoy equestrian events, wait for a better game to come along. This one will never clear the rail.

At any rate, the value of the game is certainly a high point — considering the amount of content it has packed under its tiny hood, its low price should be an immediate draw to fans of its fun brand of pick-up-and-play puzzle-platforming.

Even for fans of the equestrian world, Horse Vet 3D offers too little to justify a recommendation.

With other, much better hidden object games already available on the 3DS eShop, it’s safe to say that this one should be left buried.

Overall Tenkai Knights: Brave Battle feels half-baked.

Bayonetta is is a must buy for any action gaming fans. It's fast, intense and ridiculous, all with an entertaining story and a protagonist that is forever subverting and playing with her audience. It's pure Platinum Games, too, which means it'll likely be adored by its converts and ignored by too many...Brilliant, brash and impossible to ignore.

The GamePad’s iffy microphone input slightly hinders the experience, but these are fairly minor niggles given the target audience and the fact that it’s not designed as a competitive game.

There's really not much to say about Red Riding Hood, other than that there are many better options for parents out there to keep their kids entertained. With a length shorter than a children's television show and production values that would be found in a free browser game, it's impossible to recommend Red Riding Hood.

Nintendo’s handheld is a lifesaver for anyone looking to kill time on public transport or in some bleak waiting room — in the right hands KORG DSN-12 has staggering potential as a time-sink.

Cooking Mama 5 isn’t the deepest or freshest experience around — it’s an iterative rather than innovative entry in a series whose core concept of stylus-based cooking gameplay remains the same as ever — but for the right audience it’s a whole lot of fun.