A visual upgrade to an already great game, Ultimate Edition is a must-have for any shooter fan.

Essentially, if the original Rainbow Six: Vegas didn’t float your boat then this game probably won’t do much for you at all. But for hardcore fans of the original or for others who didn’t get round to playing it, Vegas 2 should definitely be worth checking out.

A solid, engaging, and charming adventure title. Fans of the genre would do well to pick it up and ponder its secrets. Independent developers deserve our continued support, and sometimes that means rewarding them for dusting off old recipes, and cooking them well.

Watch Dogs 2 has created an immersive world, disturbingly close to the real one. It’s still a fictitious San Francisco, but sometimes it’s difficult to tell which bits are made up. With rich, in depth missions, colourful characters, and fun open world gameplay, this might just be the best game I’ve played this year.

A blueprint of how Kinect games should be made. It combines a solid and reliable implementation of the tech with enough gameplay meat to keep you coming back after the novelty wears off.

It’s a worthy step-up from FIFA 15 by fine-tuning small aspects of the game, but not compromising the formula fans have grown to love.

Frustratingly-addictive, with tons of replayability possibilities and some minor issues.

What IS different, and what makes the game worth its purchase price, is the addition of the Singstore.

A surprisingly solid port - given the switch to controller.

Smoke and Mirrors still suffers from the mechanical flaws of the first game, and particularly struggles with frame rate drops around scene changes, but these are minor annoyances in an otherwise top-notch episode that ups the ante for a game that had already gotten off to a great start.

This could be Telltale’s best single episode - of any game.

Innovative in terms of gameplay and most importantly, is pushing the boundaries of what we can expect on the “kiddie-friendly” console in terms of adult subject matter.

With 2K10’s ruthless difficulty and learning curve, casual sports fans might want to grab EA’s friendly and more forgiving Live 10. But all those wanting the full, balls-out NBA experience, 2K10 is the better game to buy.

Project CARS 2 is not for everybody, yet at the same time, it also kind of is. Primarily it wants to be a racing simulator – a goal it certainly attains – while at the same time being approachable enough for the less enthusiastic. The game’s ambition as a serious racer, and it’s desire for you to meet that challenge, nevertheless come across stronger than its acceptance of low level players. You can play Project CARS 2 on the most lenient settings possible, yet you’d also be missing out on the more authentic driving experience the designers chiefly had in mind.

Revelations deserves to be a full, numbered iteration in the series, in recognition of the excellent (and important) part it plays in filling in the Resident Evil story. It's every bit a fully-blown Resident Evil game and is absolutely worthy of a place in any fan's collection.

You don't need to know anything about the characters or the story to enjoy this iteration, and fans of the series will be able to learn a little more about the Professor's past. Those looking for the series to evolve, however, might want to leave this one alone in favour of the upcoming Level 5 / Capcom crossover Professor Layton vs Ace Attorney.

If you’re looking for something deep and significant, something that will eat away 100+ hours of your gaming life and still offer more, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is here and waiting.

It's worth every penny and many more besides - highly recommended.

At around $25 from Xbox Live Store it adds a little bit more to everything that was great about the original game - without bringing anything significantly different to the party.

Hardcore golfing fans (and I do mean hardcore) will probably find this a contender for game of the year, but for everybody else there are more charming, accessible, and fun golfing games on the market.

It looks fantastic, bold and bright, just like the television show. The voice acting is perfect.

So, is it worth buying two years in a row? The answer is probably a bit of a cop-out. No, it’s not. But, this is only because annually released sports sims never are. But – and this is a big “but” – Longshot is different, and it’s an experience worth having. MUT has never been more engaging, while online is packed with modes and runs great. Madden has never been friendlier to new players, and, who knows? Like me, you might learn something new about football.

I forgot how happy I could get while angry.

I can’t help but feeling that, while a good deal of effort has gone into enhancing the essential Viva Piñata experience, the limitation of things I can put in my garden when there is so much on offer really does kill my buzz.

All these tweaks and changes are nice, but it’s the new modes that provide most of the value here.

There are plenty of similarities between the latest and previous incarnations, but PopCap have achieved their brief of introducing innovative ideas while maintaining the classic Bejeweled gameplay we know and love.

Feels like an intern, in that it knows what it wants to be - but it isn't quite sure how to do it yet. From a simple consumer point of view, this isn't THE game. But from an industry standpoint, it's an exciting warning shot to Turismo and Forza.

It's not perfect but, instead of the faults (little things like visual glitches, etc) piling up to become an unbearable thorn in your side, they're more like the eccentricities of a favorite uncle. It's whacky, weird, and wonderful.

Michonne offers an intriguing perspective on the overcooked zombie apocalypse theme.

Delightfully infuriating.

Provides the thinking gamer with a satisfying adventure experience.

One of the top-quality Sonic games, even if it's a bit weirder and a bit patchier. The lack of slickness ends up being a positive - this is a game that'll stick in your memory, and encourage you to keep coming back to it. Like Sonic? You'll like this one.

A thinking man's FIFA, but still lacks that variety and depth.

With the insight and dedication the makers of NBA 2K9 have applied to their franchise, dunking from my couch has never been more fun, more rewarding or closer to the real thing.

Even if you don't have a 3D telly (and who does?) and despite the issues with the career mode, you still get a game that's enjoyable looks fantastic and plays great.

Etrian Odyssey II Untold: The Fafnir Knight is another solid entry in a great RPG series. More of the same will appeal to old fans, while a deeper, richer story mode and more forgiving difficulty make this a perfect jumping on point for newcomers.

Play it because it’s different, play it because it’s a far cry from anything you’re likely to in the coming months.

Blur may not be a top tier title as such, but it certainly is worthy of being in your online arsenal. The game is pure arcade candy.

Unfortunately, the camera problems from NWN 2 are still here.

If you can get through the first few hours, you'll probably finish it and look back on it with mixed (but mostly pleasant) emotions.

PixelJunk Shooter 2 is the faster, more difficult second half of the original game. But in no way is that a bad thing. There are more frustrations than the first, with a lot of levels demanding multiple replays to avoid some surprise deaths.

The biggest title in the series and a huge step forward from the original - as it should be, with over ten years between them. TTT2's most notable feature - the inclusion of weapons – will split fans down the middle; it's a big change to a traditionally melee series, but hopefully one they can improve upon in future instalments.

As was the case with so many games from the Golden Era, the pros in Pirate’s Curse far outweigh the cons. If the Super Nintendo has a special place in your heart, like it does in mine, this is a game you’ll want to waste no time in picking up. Even if you’re of the misguided opinion that other generations are better (hint: you’re wrong), if you like platforming, pirates, genies, or just good games in general, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is worth your attention.

If you like your RPGs old-school with plenty of Tolkien and Dungeon Master mixed in with sword wielding warrior women and moody elves, then Dragon Age is for you.

If you like your RPGs old-school with plenty of Tolkien and Dungeon Master mixed in with sword wielding warrior women and moody elves, then Dragon Age is for you.

A funny fighting game with the option of a drunk announcer.

No real innovation to speak of, but well worth the purchase price.

If you want a co-operative multiplayer game that will keep you hooked for hours, this is the one for you.

Players looking for a pure stealth game will be disappointed, but everyone else will find in Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena a healthy mix of action, stealth and heavy weapon gameplay.

The tutorial aspects of the game are also a bit thin, with the smallest of introductions to the base concepts, while the more intricate aspects need to be figured out as you play through.

Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is as great today as it was nine years ago. Now it’s back in semi-HD and, best of all, they have saved you hours of fun unlocking every character and scene; now you can play as any team you want from the start, online or off.

Overall, Death of the Outsider ties up the first arc of Dishonored nicely; I have no idea where it’s going to go next, and all I can do is pray that Arkane don’t call it a day, because I adore this series. All other issues seem trivial in the face of it being such a well-crafted piece of art, and my main complaint is that there simply isn't enough of it. I adore this series, and this game. Buy it, play it, and love it.

Not only is SteamWorld Dig a fantastic way to spend a few bucks (and a few hours), but Image & Form have used it to prove they’re a developer worthy of paying close attention to.

For the most part Split/Second: Velocity hits the mark like a cargo ship through your windscreen. It's extreme fun and effortless to get into, like the best weekend party games should be, but may struggle over the longer term.

It's sad, scary, kooky, weird and wonderful: everything that we love about the Fallout universe.

Dragon’s Crown is certainly the most enjoyable Vanillaware game yet. Being part of a larger party - where their previous hack 'n’ slashers had you go it alone - is definitely the difference maker.

The absolute best part of the game, though, is the soundtrack. Hand picked by Pharrell Williams, the list surprisingly contains a large number of tracks produced with beats by Pharrell. If anything’s gonna make you a baller, Public Enemy followed by Missy Elliot and then Busta Rhymes will make you a baller. The only thing missing is the Monstars.

Halo is an experience worth repeating and CEA is the treatment that the original deserved. Highly recommended.

It's a bit on the short side, sure, and the visuals have a tiny hiccup here and there. Everything else about the game is perfect. Seriously, it's exactly right. If you like your action to be intense, dramatic, and totally ridiculous, this could very well be your game of the year.

If I had children I would be playing this game with them (probably in co-op mode). It felt like Labyrinth and The Neverending Story were distilled down into a wonderfully simple adventure game. There’s nothing too heavy and the fairytale-ness of the game is handled so damn well.

Existing fans of the franchise will be head over heels for Birth by Sleep. Everything you love is here with new twists and turns, and this is ironically the longest game in the series. It may even be the best game in the series so far.

The Last Guardian does show the battle scars of its long and troubled development. It has problems maintaining a stable framerate, and the controls can be stiff and unrelenting. But the game also shares a warming, heartfelt tale of friendship. A tale so strong and confident in its telling, that most of its negative elements fade away.

Personally, Pro Evo 2013 feels a bit too much like work. Videogames are meant to be fun and, while I appreciate the finesse and hardcore aptitude required to impress in Pro Evo, I can't help but think that time would be better spent on a pitch mastering the real-life sport.

A big bonus to Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing Transformed is that up to ten players race against each other online, either in arena game modes or your usual races.

There are still a few little quirks, and likely still some balancing and other changes required, but it's clear that this is a great World of Warcraft expansion, and that the team behind the game are still focused on giving WoW players what they want. Recommended.

Despite the challenging learning curve, Midnight Club: Los Angeles succeeds in exactly the way it should: taking you to heights of adrenaline that are simply unparalleled.

Colt is a great lead character. He's funny, angry, and an absurdly remorseless killer. The perfect lead for Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon.

As far as strategy games go Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 is the current cream of the crop. The three separate campaigns provide over 15 hours worth of game play not counting the endless skirmishes and multiplayer matches available.

The relationship between Lee and Clementine is handled extremely well throughout the game.

Being compared to a game as universally loved as LBP sets some pretty high expectations, but I have to say: ModNation Racers effortlessly meets (and sometimes exceeds) them.

It’s worth the nightmares it leaves you with.

So, a few control and camea issues aside, and putting aside also the lack of replayability (this is a a game you'll probably play through twice at the most) Enslaved: Odyssey to the West is a solidly written, very entertaining, occasionally heart-racing adventure.

Halo Wars is the most accessible traditional RTS game we've ever tested - it works, and works well.

Motorstorm 2 gives us the one feature that the original failed to deliver. The game is fun. No more repeated crashes into the side of a cliff because all of the terrain looks identical and you have no idea which way is forward anymore. No more frustratingly difficult AI that is always directly behind you no matter how well you’ve been driving.

The melding of Conviction’s third person shooter elements and more traditional Splinter Cell gameplay are more than the sum of their parts here. No doubt about it, this is the definitive Splinter Cell experience. I’d even go as far as to say it’s the best stealth game of this console generation. Sorry, Kojima.

Tekken 7 is a culmination of many things. It’s decades worth of unabashed soap-opera storytelling. It’s years of mechanical complexity, honed to a keen edge. It’s a celebration of the clutch moments that make fighting games what they are. Tekken 7 is the pinnacle of the franchise, and one of the best fighting games on the market.

There are legitimately scary moments in Last Light, to the point it’s almost one part survival horror to three parts first person shooter.

Catherine has a niche market in fans of brutally difficult puzzle titles, RPG - Persona fans - may want to rent before buying it due to its high difficulty.

For real FIFA fans, you’ll want this latest update not just for all of the new content, but also for the finer adjustments and improved goalkeeper AI. For more casual fans however, there might not be enough glaringly obvious updates from last year’s edition to do a Mexican wave for.

If this is to be the Vita’s swansong, it’s a fantastic one.

It’s an interesting, stripped down version that still has a lot of fun packed in. This comes with the proviso of playing alongside decent players, of course.

Ultimately if you're into tower defense games and have a hankering to play one on your DSi, this is a no-brainer.

It's an essential purchase for any PSP owner and represents an unmatched value on the system.

It’s cute, it’s gorgeous, it’s addictive, and most importantly, it’s fun.

More nostalgic than your nanna’s box of baby photos.

Saints Row IV is like the ultimate virtual stress-ball. After a hard day of work - or study, or sleeping - nothing quite beats dressing up as a pink and green bunny-rabbit and running around town with a gun that makes people spontaneously break into dance (it’s called the Dubstep gun).

NBA 2K8 is superior to last year's game in almost every way, which is no mean feat.

Skyrim is still a great game that everyone should play, but it could’ve used more than a paint job.

Football games have never been better than Madden 15.

World Adventures brings an intriguing addition to the Sims game mechanic, some beautiful new locations and tons of great new material.

All considering, I must admit this game is not for everyone. A prospect which saddens me, but one I must unfortunately accept. I play games for all kinds of reasons, not just for fun, and Hellblade is not fun – it’s emotionally brutal. An emotional inferno, worth your suffering.

Even without a multiplayer option, it is well worth the download… and with Torchlight 2 on the not-too-distant horizon, a good lead-in to what looks to be an excellent sequel.

A really enjoyable play. The Hong Kong setting gives a new thematic twist for the series that feels well fleshed-out and interesting, and the increasingly strange mystery you get caught up in makes for a great experience...Definitely one for newbs and phreaks alike.

There’s a careful balance between sticking to a series’ roots at the risk of getting stale, and pushing boundaries at the risk of straying from what made the series great to start with – but that’s a tightrope Kirby’s been walking effortlessly for 25 years.

Okay, so it's short and a bit repetitive, but you do get to blow a hell of a lot of stuff up.

A promising new IP where the game is fun and the flaws are quickly forgotten.

The most grim episode yet, for better or worse.

I never wanted a sequel to Tearaway, nor did I want a remaster. What we've got with Unfolded is something that's somewhere in the middle, and somehow achieves more than a typical sequel or remaster ever could. It's a fresh take on the same ideas that made Tearaway so good, and even if the different hardware means it doesn't capture that feeling of "holding a world in your hand" as well as the Vita game, Unfolded is still a must-play for anyone with a PS4, regardless of whether or not you've played the original.