Skylanders: Imaginators is doing nothing the series wasn’t already doing, it’s just doing it in a more overt way. It’s bored with hiding its monetisation behind things like fun and subtlety. Instead of a focus on story and mechanics, Imaginators simply wants you to build a custom creation. When you’re done with that, they want you to make another.

An inscrutable black box, covered in punk-rock graffiti and splattered in blood.

State of Decay has everything you could ever imagine in a zombie game, and than some. But, it still plays and feels like an Xbox Live Arcade game. Thankfully, at around $30, it’s priced like one too.

So, WWE 2K16, at least in Career Mode, is horribly frustrating. Everywhere else, it’s just mildly frustrating. You can play single matches, tag team matches, fatal 4-ways, and triple threat matches online, but just remember all fights are extended QTEs, so if you experience any lag, you’re in big trouble.

Rain is a moving yet quiescent exploration of a very real emotion. It manages an unsettling but tranquil tale that wants you to confront your own fears of being alone. It does so with story and gameplay in unison, though it could have told us a lot more by saying a little less.

It will take casual players around seven hours to complete, but there is little reason to come back to the game after the climactic finish, which makes this title difficult to recommend to everyone.

Xenoverse 2 is best for those who missed the first game, as they are far, far, far too similar. Many of the maps are recycled, and really so is the combat. But your abstinence as a Dragon Ball fan (and aren’t we all) will be dearly compensated with an expanded version. Neither its story nor treadmill-fighting are likely to get you zealing for a year’s training at 500-times Earth’s gravity, but you’ll be up to your Dragon Balls in creative things to do, with an excitable use of the lore. The Xenoverse series may only exist to piggyback the monetary success of western game design, though whether sincere or not, that’s actually the best part of this translation. Like all of these games with steep stories, the depth of your enjoyment will likely depend on the depth of your fandom.

There are a bunch of features I have not mentioned; teleports, a well thought out maps, network play, and a storyline that has a fair amount of depth - to name just a few - however there are some aspects you just need to play and experience to understand why I have rated this game reasonably highly. Yes, I liked it, and I was a fool to dismiss it so easily. The game is available now on Steam, and at a very reasonable price given its quality. Check it out.

A worthy experience, thanks in no small part to the sense of urgency that comes from the story being plucked straight from the world's headlines.

It's hard to deny that a coop beat-em-up with loads of visual flair and plenty of replayability (thanks to the various characters and even character builds you can try) represents damn good value for around $16 (it's 800 of Microsoft's mystical Points.) It's frustrating that you can't really find anyone to play with online, but friends / local coop cures that and, let's face it, this sort of game is more fun with friends than strangers anyway.

In the end it's a great PlayStation Vita game that is a bit too simple and a touch too cute to translate perfectly to the bigger Xbox 360 console. But terrorizing a planet has never been this friendly, this upbeat, or this much fun.

Visual novels rarely come as deep and thought provoking as this one.

A competent game, but more of an entertaining distraction than something you will invest much time into.

Valley’s answer to one of its main mysteries doesn’t quite satiate the curiosity it taunts, though it wisely leaves others unsolved.

I still find it refreshing that in a time where so many games assume the "more is more" addage, there are still a lot of thoughtful games out there that take their time to build atmosphere and story, and give players a bit of pondering time, rather than relying on reflexes (or frequent use of the autosave function). Gray Matter is definitely one of these games.

ocket Knight is one of the best downloadable games available and Climax, and Konami deserve all the acclaim they are bound to get from it.

This game pleasantly surprised me: simple in concept, but with an incredible amount of depth to it.

All up, while Tetris itself isn't new by any stretch of the imagination, there are enough other new gameplay variations, as well as multiplayer modes, to make this a solid addition to any gamer's collection – and a must-have for puzzle fans.

Rocksmith is worth checking out for intermediate guitarists, especially if you’re of a generation that recognises a lot of the artists in the track-listing. It’s also worth a shot if you’re an accomplished player, but for complete new-comers to guitar who have never picked one up before, it might pay to get a few of the very basics down with a tutor (or knowledgeable friend) first.

Not an overhaul, but a refinement.

The play modes don't introduce anything broadly new, and the quest mode hasn't been executed to its full potential. However, it's still a decent addition to the collection, and the singleplayer and band modes work seamlessly.

While there was nothing exceptional or innovative about Binary Domain online, what worked was fine - which sums up the entire game. With the fairly significant exception of the voice recognition, what you have is a pretty good shooter.

A mediocre title that fulfils the basic requirements of a console role playing game. At times, it shows promise and it does have enough going for it to keep casual gamers entertained.

Developer Swordfish Studios have delivered a game as blunt, as fun, and in your face as… well, as a sold-out 50 Cent concert.

Well worth a look, especially if you like point & clickers.

Worth the price, worth the time, and worth the last level.

It's hardly a step forward for the franchise and clearly lacks the polish of earlier titles, but if you're into this kind of game and are looking for more pocket action from your favorite characters, it could have been worse.

Although the game isn't ground-breaking, it's well worth that trip down memory lane - especially to anyone who didn't play the Wii version.

Different mechanics, same great Danganronpa storytelling.

Yes, it's pretty rough around the edges and yes, it can be frustrating to interface with. What it is, however, is a very good story with an engaging combat engine, lots of content and a good bias towards action.

Absolutely delightful.

Easy and enjoyable and likely to appeal to casual gamers.

Republique is a decent game with a good premise and unique gameplay, but a disappointing ending.

It’s a shame I can’t recommend this download, as it is entertaining to dabble with while you wait for other people to come online, have a chat with a mate or kill some time between downloads.

If you're looking for a mental gym, Smart As is a good option. It's fun, well put together, and you'll look forward to your daily workout. Frustrations aside, it's well worth a look.

Army of Two is, at heart, a fairly standard action game that is saved from mediocrity by some fun co-operative gameplay. If you don’t have a friend to play through this with, you may as well stop reading right now.

For me, Snowfall will definitely be sticking around on my PC, but more as a feature I’ll dip into from time to time, rather than a permanent installation.

I’m no expert at fighting games. I like them, but I’m terrible at them, and tend to judge them on how well they do when both players are blindfolded. Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite passes that test well, making for a great party game. Most of my issues with the roster comes down to personal preference, but it’s safe to say you shouldn’t pick it up for the story mode alone.

For fans of the Dragon Ball franchise I can see this game having some appeal. For everyone else, there are just far too many problems to put up with, and some parts feel unfinished or ill-considered. If you’re curious about this game and the promise of fusion-fury with your favourite Dragon Ball Characters, it could be worth a try. If you’re a franchise newbie that wants a good RPG, look elsewhere.

Set in an enchanted world of monsters and mysticism, Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom brings together exotic locations, plenty of puzzles, platforms, and a large chunk of bonding between a boy and his big furry muppet monster.

At the end of the day, this certainly is an enjoyable download, and value for money. Honestly though, I can't recommend it to people with PC's. The download is huge and it's not the best introduction to the series. Who does that leave?

Ultimately, PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate HD isn’t for tower defence rookies. While fans of the franchise will be used to its quirks, its unforgiving difficulty will likely put casual players off. I came into this expecting ‘just another tower defence game’ and despite its flaws - some inherent with being a console port - PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate HD was still a pleasant surprise.

If you really enjoyed blasting through Dead Rising 2, and were keen to do so again, maybe you'll be satisfied with what's on offer here. But I find it hard to recommend an expansion pack masquerading as a full release.

But is it worth paying full price for? Not in my books – give this one a rent instead.

While the new flying sections are fine and the characters and cutscenes are good, the game is beset with targeting and camera angle problems, which simply make it feel old. The problems detract greatly from what might have been an engaging addition to Daxter and Jak's adventures.

Bound is an ugly game, but it’s the most powerful, most enchanting kind of ugly. It dares to reject videogames’ obsession with “looking good” and instead focuses on using visual design to complement the core themes and emotional hook of the game.

A jarring contrast between epic beauty and controller destroying frustration.

The simple, bold graphics, tailored for smaller screens, look fine on the living room telly and the soundtrack is not obtrusive or distracting.

If you can overlook a few big problems, or just can’t afford to upgrade your PC, the console port of Sacred 2: Fallen Angel still provides a solid action RPG with top notch visuals and a truly epic soundtrack thanks to Blind Guardian.

Early on, the wacky art direction and bizarre monsters are enough to keep you going. Loot Rascals is a game with a very distinct visual style, and that inspires a need to explore and see just what else the game has up its sleeves. But for me, the appeal of that quirkiness was far outweighed by how repetitive and luck-dependent the game becomes.

Buttery smooth and arresting visuals, but light on substance.

Overall WWE '12 is a solid game, but far from perfect with a dozen graphical glitches and camera issues holding it back.

It's worth renting or borrowing the game if you aren’t into the One Piece phenomenon. If you’re a massive fanm it’s a must buy - especially given the fact you won’t see this particular One Piece adventure anywhere else.

With video games being blamed for stunting imaginations in young minds, it’s refreshing to see a game that promotes a creative spark.

If only this innovative ending summary could have been attached to a better game. The Walking Dead: Season One was a bonafide masterpiece, and we’ve somehow gone from that, to something I wish would just stay dead.

Fans of Stan Lee's genius can expect a wealth of funny and informative one-liners (recorded by the man himself) as he swings and pummels his way through Manhattan.

Tomodachi Life is undoubtedly a strange and hilarious game, but there's little to keep you around once the quirky humour starts losing impact.

Its multi-player options will appeal to the hardcore co-op zombie crowd and its disaggregated gameplay elements set it apart from its peers. If you're addicted to zombie titles, and you want something with a little more depth, then it might be worth a rental. But unfortunately it just doesn't live up to its own hype.

Pain is one of the more original titles to hit the download services. But while it’s not just a bland tech demo for rag doll physics or the ‘Havok’ physics engine, it does come close.

A good, solid game. Looks good, plays good, is good. But, if you've bought any racing game in the last few years, any game at all, Mad Riders probably doesn't offer anything you haven't got already.

Overall it is hard to recommend for Smackdown! Vs. Raw fans under the age of 27; short of The Rock, HHH, Shaun Michaels, Stone Cold, and Hulk Hogan, most of these wrestlers have been dead or out of the spotlight for years. For anyone with a taste for some classic WWF you can't get any better than this – game wise, anyway.

In the end the high difficulty will drive away casual gamers so trying the demo first is a must. But between the tough bosses and fast gameplay, this is a worthy successor to the NES original.

Did it engross me? Yes it did. Did it frustrate me? Yes, it did that too. Did I want to keep playing? Of course, but only because I wanted to see what happened next, not because I wanted to keep playing. Unfortunately, even for a console title that's as over-the-top as Asura's Wrath, that's an inescapable flaw.

I couldn’t recommend a purchase of Lords of the Fallen. However, if you are a fan of the masochistic hack-and-slash action RPG genre and wouldn’t mind a change of scenery, or always wanted to try a Souls title but found their barrier to entry a bit daunting, this might be worth a hire to blitz through the campaign one or two times with a few different builds.

A daring idea that is pulled off brilliantly and beautifully for hours of prison breaking fun.

Save your money for next year’s Street Fighter V.

A solid, meaty title. It has hours of gameplay, satisfying character trees, and a wealth of online role playing experiences to churn through. It’s safe and secure. It serves up the classic habitual MMORPG experience, albeit with a “Tamriel Twist”. And for many gamers, this will be fine. But Bethesda have created an example - not an evolution - of the genre.

It’s not Tenchu, but it’s the next best thing.

While some gamers may disapprove of the lack of a story-driven campaign, I believe that Unit 13 is exactly what Vita owners want while on the go. It delivers instant action, without the time consuming clutter of cut-scenes. Furthermore, the game features plenty of customisation and is challenging enough to be replayed over and over in an effort to best a highscore or simply try a different character.

The single player campaign is a decent five to six hour haul, and considering most PSVR players will struggle to play solidly for more than a couple of hours, it feels longer than that overall. It’s well balanced too with moments of intense, nail-biting shooting, broken up with quiet sections where you can just survey your alien environment. Farpoint does an admirable job of delivering a sense of scale, and character models and animations are some of the better I’ve seen in the PSVR space to date. The game also includes some co-op levels where you can team up with another player online to wipe out waves of aliens together (thankfully there is friendly fire). For those who aren’t sure about which version of Farpoint to buy, I would strongly suggest you get the Aim Controller bundle. There’s around a $50 price difference, but I can’t help but feel that Farpoint is saved by the use of a proper gun controller.

Twang the Fox is good fun. It's highly accessible and does a great job in adding variation to the gameplay, despite the basic mechanics.

The wide variety of exercises will ensure you don't get bored. Recommended for the fitness enthusiast in your life.

A fantastic app for anyone who wants get a bit more active.

Despite its flaws, Get Even is still a very worthwhile experience. The game’s narrative is a little predictable, but it’s told well. It builds tension unlike anything else, and uses jump scares sparingly to give maximum effect. It’s a great game, with unfortunate quirks holding it back – which will hopefully get patched out.

The dearth of content and poorly implemented online systems make Driveclub feel incomplete. Coupled with the fact that PlayStation Plus members get a reduced-content, but fully featured, version of the game with their subscriptions, there’s little reason to buy the full game.

Viewed as a standalone title, Silent Hill: Homecoming is extremely competent, but as a sequel, it falls short of progressing the series in any meaningful way.

Guitar Hero on the DS is an ambitious idea which could’ve easily failed but here we are with those ambitions fulfilled. Rock on, Vicarious Visions; let’s hear an encore soon.

Some way of teaching the players its mechanics were really required (even if it was just pages of text with pretty pictures, just something... anything). Unfortunately Nuclear Dawn has none of this and is instead a confusing game that isn't all that much fun to play.

The main reason I would buy Meteos Wars is if a mate or two already own it.

Apart from the difficulty, this is a solid purchase if you’re looking for a boxing sim on the go that has really stayed true to the spirit of the DS. This is the sort of game that, if it had come out during the handheld’s infancy, game journos would have been praising for its use of the touch screen.

This is definitely a must for any ice hockey fan or anyone who enjoyed Speedball back in the 80’s.

It will leave you wondering how cool a Prince of Persia that was designed around the capabilities of the platform might have been, though.

Three games for the price of one is a great buy, but be prepared for shoddy looking characters.

Both the simple controller and the easy-to-understand gameplay mean that anyone can have fun with the game.

There's a decent amount of content on hand here, but it soon felt like a bit of a chore to get through it all.

It's not the most original idea for a game and there may be some technical issues to be worked out. But, from the all the unlockables, the endless mixture of clothes, rewards, weapons, mods, and kill phases like 'Let me spray you with my awesome', Gotham City Impostors has plenty of awesome to go round.

You’re not going to find an incredible game here but what you do get is slickly presented game with a whole lot of laughs along the way.

Pretty light on content but it's (nearly) a launch title so it does its job well enough, particularly when it comes to demonstrating the value-add of the 3D depth.

But considering the speed of your movements, the hardware still does an admirable job of tracking your Ninja gymnastics.

It’s size and scope elicits feelings of wonder and irrelevance in equal measure, creating metaphors from calculus and code. Those feelings are savagely curtailed by oppressive systems that transform it into something smaller: a videogame.

Even in plain old two dimensions, first-person coastering is edge-of-your-seat stuff. I can only imagine what it would be like with virtual reality.

With a bit more polish, and a few much needed scenes, this game could be amazing.

Hellgate: London presents a wonderful story set against an artfully designed world but never goes that extra mile to separate it from the masses.

f you like, you can also customise your darts; I was pleasantly surprised to be able to add purple skulls to my dart 'feathers'.

In the end the high difficulty will drive away casual gamers so trying the demo first is a must. But between the tough bosses and fast gameplay, this is a worthy successor to the NES original.

Armageddon can't help but feel like a poor cousin to the top games in the genre. It shines brightest when it's doing its own thing, but when it tries to fall in line with genre tropes, it comes up short.

One of the best things about Crackdown is that it wastes no time in throwing players deep into the action.

While it's probably best suited to fans of the franchise, the game's gorgeous animal antics are guaranteed to generate warm fuzzies in all but the coldest of hearts.