Crown Of The Sunken King provides Dark Souls 2 with an interesting new environment, three punishing boss fights and a host of tasty new gear. DLC at a good price that’s worth the struggle, Dark Souls 2 just got harder.

Gods Will Be Watching can be frustratingly difficult, but it's also fresh, unique and aesthetically impressive.

Whether you've never played Abe's Oddysee before or you remember the unique breed of puzzle platforming fondly, there's plenty to love about Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty.

Divinity: Original Sin is challenging, rewarding and compelling. It proves that classic isometric RPGs aren't nearly as dead as publishers would have you believe. It has minor flaws, but they'll likely be gone in a few weeks - leaving a fantastic example of the genre.

An excellent conclusion to The Wolf Among Us that solidifies the strong standing of Telltale's noir series.

An over-simplified equivalent of the console Civilization game that doesn't even beat its predecessor.

A decent co-op addition to one of the PS4's best shooters, but not exactly inventive.

A thoroughly engrossing tower defence game with a couple of unique twists of its own.

Sniper Elite 3 is a marked improvement over its predecessor and provides a fun, tactical third-person shooter experience.

Grid Autosport is undeniably a great racing game at its very base and that will appeal to fans of Codemaster’s best efforts, but sadly there just isn’t enough depth of content to draw in those that would consider themselves on the fringe of the racing game genre.

Valiant Hearts: The Great War can be poignant and contemplative, but it does undermine itself by including a cartoonish villain. Superb art direction and a genuine interest in its own subject matter count in the favour of a game that is unremarkable in a mechanical sense.

An often exhilarating and tense fighting game that's let down by flawed grappling mechanics.

A quaint idea with a neat gameplay mechanic but poorly executed.

A poorly structured and mechanically inert oddity that, for the most part, barely qualifies as a traditional videogame. There’s no challenge, no pith, no invention and ultimately no point.

A passable but not detestable story and characters is Watch Dogs biggest criticism, but the fact that it handles an open world the right way - and adds in a genuinely original multiplayer component - more than makes up for it.

Wolfenstein: The New Order does almost everything right, sliding confidently between gung-ho action sequences to gripping, character-driven story moments. If the pacing were only a little tighter, there would be almost nothing to fault it.

Mario Kart 8 does everything that fans would be clamouring for from a sequel, and it is very well designed. But it does feel like Nintendo isn't really trying to bring us something new here; 'more of the same' is always a great thing when it comes to Mario Kart, but it's not enough to sell consoles, sadly.

A fun and admirable collection of multiplayer games that will bring people together. The only issue is that none of the games are compelling enough to ensure that they keep them coming back.

It is a budget RPG and it feels like one, but that's not always a bad thing.

This is the horror game equivalent of one of those Asylum film straight to video releases. That it comes from some of the people responsible for Condemned is just depressing.

A fairly simple RPG, but a throughly pleasant one all the same.

Kirby: Triple Deluxe is a consistently varied and fun platformer that makes smart use of the its 2.5D plane.

The online side of things may not be completely up to par, but World Tour stands as a truly first-rate Nintendo outing. And a must-have for youthful fans of the sport.

Short Peace: Ranko Tsukigime's Longest Day is a serviceable but uninspired sidescroller. It appears bizarre and distinctive, but in reality, is a dull game that offers appalling value for money.

There was no need to sully the name of Rollercoaster Tycoon with this release, but nostalgia aside this is still a sub-par social game with minimal gameplay and a heavy-handed focus on in-app purchases.

More of the same, really - which should make Trials fans very happy.

While the £8.99 monthly subscription charge is hard to justify for any game, this one does a fine job of combining everything we love about the single player experience in a multiplayer environment.

At £15.39 it’d be unfair to criticise Strike Suit Zero too heavily. PS4 gamers might not have the same love for the genre as PC gamers, but if you remember the likes of Rogue Squadron or Descent, this is definitely one for you.

A Crooked Mile is a strong, well-paced entry in The Wolf Among Us series that's missing the technical issues that marred the previous episode.

Whether you're buying it outright or getting it free from PS Plus, Mercenary Kings not only provides something new to get your teeth into, but has plenty of reasons to keep coming back for more.

Battlefield 4 is more problematic than it has ever been, but if you’ve already pledged your allegiance by paying for Battlefield Premium, then Naval Strike is a pretty stunning reward. When it works.

As a sign of things to come, Diablo 3: Reaper Of Souls is a great expansion pack. It adds in some of the key elements fans were looking for, while creating a whole new campaign to playthrough. Highly recommended, but only if you know you'll get the hours from its randomised dungeons.

No, Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends Complete Edition is not a deeply cerebral experience, but in its defence, it never purports to be. If you're not a fan of chopping stuff up, DW8 is unlikely to change your mind but if you enjoy a little hack 'n slash every now and then, you could do a lot worse than Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends Complete Edition. Unless you already have the original Dynasty Warriors 8 version, of course. In which case you're probably better off hanging onto your cash.

MXGP is a surprisingly intense racing game, thanks to the almost superhuman levels of concentration demanded in order to succeed. It's rough around the edges but good fun once you get to grips with its unique racing style.

If you have people ready to play local multiplayer, then absolutely buy TowerFall: Ascension. If not, avoid. It's as easy as that.

You'll likely know by now whether or not Deception 4 is for you, but there is an intriguing idea here waiting for you to discover if you do.

A quaint stroll through Rapture, but not nearly enough focus in the right areas to make this a must-have BioShock experience.

If you enjoy videogames that aren't afraid to acknowledge what they are, then InFamous: Second Son empowers you with the tools for fun and a gorgeous sandbox environment to unleash them.

The game is an ambitious experiment in fusing two close genres, but instead of creating some ferocious chimera of an RPG, all Nippon Ichi has succeeded in doing is spawning a sad Frankenstein of a game that doesn’t belong here or there.

Luftrausers is a well-designed shooter that will most appeal to high-score chasers. Its lack of direction may mean that its appeal is relatively short-lived for some, however.

Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z is fun 80% of the time and utterly loathesome the other 20%, the difficulty spikes goring what could have been a light, frothy, tongue-in-cheek zombie hack and slasher.

The tiniest slice of why gamers love Metal Gear Solid, but not enough to make up for the high price.

Pac-Man and The Ghostly Adventures is just dull. There’s nothing really terrible about it (apart from the voice acting) but that could be its biggest crime. It’s milquetoast. Or milqueghost.

Final Fantasy X is a rare example of a game where the years that have passed in the series have enhanced its status rather than diminishing it - it's an absolute joy to revisit and even Final Fantasy X-2 is a perfectly able companion.

Yoshi's New Island delivers a solid slice of Nintendo platforming, though fans of the franchise will find little that's truly new here.

A ruthless challenge, excellent gameplay and wonderful design are just some of the things that make Dark Souls 2 a truly superb game and an early contender for game of the year. Don’t be put off by the difficulty.

Titanfall is an accessible, well-balanced and intensely enjoyable multiplayer first-person shooter that successfully delivers on the concept of blending human and mech combat.

The brilliant Dead Nation moves over to PS4 with slightly better graphics, a couple of cool new features and... well, that's it.

In the eight hours or so it will take to complete the main campaign (there are plenty of side quests that will extend your play time significantly), there is enough variety to South Park: The Stick of Truth to ensure that the game is always fun and engaging.

The best game ever running at 60 frames per second at a third of the price of most new games? Oh go on then. Resident Evil 4 hasn’t aged a bit.

Awkward combat, frustrating stealth sections, lack of originality and a hammy story are a few of the many nails in Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow 2's coffin.

The maps are bare and play is inherently repetitive... but this is gripping and impeccably crafted entertainment. If you’ve recently bought a new console, don’t let the basic visuals put you off. You’ll be generously rewarded if you stick with it.

When Thief remembers to be a stealth game, to focus on the kleptomanic joy of cleaning a place out unseen, it's great. Unfortunately, Thief tries to do too many other things and does them badly, preventing a good game from being a great one.

The team behind the original Earth Defence Force games finally deliver the sequel that fans have been waiting for. Others may take some convincing, but EDF 2025 is undeniably good fun.

By combining classic Strider elements with a new Metroidvania structure and speedrun tilt, Strider in 2014 is fresh, relevant and fun.

A game with a laser focus on a select few elements, Memories of Celceta is likely to appeal to only a small audience - but that audience is going to have little to complain about.

It’s impossible to say Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is a bad game; this has all the hallmarks of quality you’d want from a Nintendo game. But it doesn’t have anything new or exceptional to praise either, and that’s more telling of the problems of Nintendo these days than anything else.

The Last of Us: Left Behind doesn't feel as essential as the main game, but that shouldn't detract from the fact that it's a no-brainer for those who loved The Last of Us.

Plenty of depth there for those willing to make the most of it, but too many barriers for those not already predisposed to like it.

The Wolf Among Us Episode Two: Smoke and Mirrors doesn't always live up to the promise of the first episode and is marred by some technical issues. However, The Wolf Among is still an intriguing and stylish murder mystery that has us eager for the next episode.

Dustforce can often be frustrating, but its well-designed levels elicit a sense of flow that can make Dustforce incredibly satisfying. Dustforce will make you angry, but if you're prepared to put the time in to learn its levels, Dustforce will give you something back.

A heroic remastering of the decade old Fable shows the new generation has a lot to live up to. Definitely worth a play to see gaming’s modern heritage at its sharpest and brightest, with extensive remodelling and cleverly integrated new controls and gameplay additions.

Octodad: Dadliest Catch is a game fettered by artifice and a noticeable absence of failure animations suggestions a game unfinished. Send Octodad back to the kitchen, he's not quite done yet.

No, Tomb Raider didn’t really need the facelift - but that doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate it. Stuffed with the same frantic fire(bow) fights, compelling exploration and breathtaking cinematics, this re-re-booted Tomb Raider is every bit as gripping as we remember. And at least we know how to beat the Tomb of Ascension this time.

The standard-bearer for Kickstarter funding does not disappoint, Double Fine providing us a game within a traditional genre that manages to feel both fresh and significant.

A fantastic score-based game that can be let down by its controls when aiming for the highest scores. All the same completely absorbing and the perfect PS Vita game.

The emotionally affecting narrative steals the show and highlights Stoic's skill for storytelling, while combat is more commendable than spectacular.

Dr Luigi is a solid example of the Tetris-like puzzler, but doesn't do anywhere near enough to justify the price of admission.

A good attempt at bringing a handheld game to a home console, although one let down by the same problems that affected the original. Not a bad game, but one with untapped potential.

Expertly balanced and mechanically brilliant, you can't do much better than Nidhogg when it comes to local multiplayer. There are concerns about Nidhogg's online mode, but Nidhogg's best played in person in any case.

Don't Starve is an incredibly satisfying survival-exploration game that understands how to foster the joy of discovery.

The party atmosphere was always going to suffer by not being on a big TV in the lounge, but Mario Party: Island Tour fails more miserably than we had imagined. For only the most hardcore fans of the series.

Without any real ambition or challenging design powering it, Halo: Spartan Assault is bland, unremarkable and far too safe given the potential of a twin-stick shooter spin-off.

Superbly designed with a compelling world and narrative to explore.

Bravely Default matches all the cosy warmth of traditional themes and familiar role-playing customisation systems with fresh concepts and interesting twists that use many of the 3DS most underused used features. The game provides the JRPG genre with a much-needed shot in the arm.

It’s just more of the same, but isn’t that what we all wanted? The whole thing is executed with real style and class, and deserves to be huge.

Funny, intriguing and effortlessly charming, Broken Sword 5: The Serpents Curse is an old fashioned point and click romp that feels like a breath of fresh, Parisian air.

If you haven't bought Gran Turismo 5 then - unsurprisingly - this is the one you should opt for if you have any interest. However with Gran Turismo 6, much like a dying swan, the PS3 won't be making an elaborate splash but, instead, quietly fading out of existence.

Not nearly next-gen in any aspect and not even all that fun to play.

A fairly barebones fighter, but an entertaining one all the same. In time, it could be an excellent Xbox One exclusive.

An enjoyable - if ignorable - single-player campaign with some fantastic graphics coupled to an excellent multiplayer mode.

Sure, the series may have taken a few missteps in the past few years, but this does show that somewhere, away from the Star Wars character cameos, unbalanced, ludicrous custom fighters and overblown story modes written by the writers of some children’s cartoon - the soul still burns.

It's a Greek myth that best describes the experience of playing Crytek's Rome-em-up: that of Sisyphus. Ryse: Son of Rome's hack and slash action does offer some fun, but the repetitive nature of its combat will eventually grind you down.

Contrast is a picturesque, romanticized vision of 1920s Paris that masquerades as a graceful platformer, falling flat on its face at pivotal moments.

Technically impressive, but limited on new ideas. Drivatar is the closest to innovation Forza 5 comes, but needs more depth to be worthwhile.

Tearaway uses the PS Vita's features without feeling gimmicky, and is an exceptional example of originality in the genre.

This is a game you need to own a Wii U for. There’s enough new that it shouldn’t be seen as a rehash of past glories, and there is a wealth of variety crammed into the game.

LocoCycle makes a welcome effort to provide the player with enough variety to keep things interesting, but there’s so little depth to its systems and such a lack of consequence to everything that you do...As a result, LocoCycle rarely manages to rise above passable.

Dead Rising 3 is more of the same, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t compulsive, time-absorbing and – most of all – fun...At best it’s an unoriginal concept well-executed, at worst it’s an Xbox 360 game hastily ported over to Xbox One. Ignore the technical limits, however, and you’re in for a good time.

Zombie Studios has certainly got the visuals and rampant multiplayer matches down, but the entry price is too high for most players to pay if they want to succeed.

An odd mix of the familiar and the radical – one which, despite not having the makings of a classic Zelda adventure, does more than enough to cement itself as a masterful quest in its own right.

It's quirky, it's weird and it's dark - Stick It To The Man is also brilliant and its effortless combination of bizarre humour and tricky puzzles is infectious.

This is a traditional Ratchet & Clank game that sticks to the humour, imaginative weaponry and gadgets what has served the series so well over the years. It might be short on new ideas but this still feels fresh and it's a lot of fun.

Burial at Sea is a game that struggles with Bioshock’s legacy and while, generally speaking, it’s unfair to judge a game for what it is not, when you have a game that borrows as heavily from its predecessor as Burial at Sea does, it’s impossible not to be disappointed by what is an inferior imitation.

It's a mixed bag for Call Of Duty: Ghosts as the brilliant, balanced multiplayer and thrilling Extinctions mode makes up for an unusually flat single-player outing and wasted Squads mode.

The single-player component is an uninspired yet enjoyable enough aside, while the multiplayer component - however great it may be - hasn't really enhanced the series in any tangible way. Great fun, of course, but more of the same. Good news for Battlefield fans, if nothing else.

Ubisoft needs to dial it down. It has the gameplay, it just needs to present it in a fashion that doesn't spoil an otherwise completely absorbing set of characters, locations and gameplay tools.

WWE 2K14 excels in terms of fan service and is generous with content, but the game at its core is severely lacking.