While it may not be as ground-breaking as the games it draws its inspirations from, this samurai’s tale represents a return to form for the developer. With precise and purposeful combat, foes that demand your respect, and a world of fantastical folklore, Nioh is a fine action RPG worthy of anyone’s attention.

A worthy successor to its elder brother. Compared to what came before, it's a more mature experience - and a more complete game.

While there are still some issues on the bench and in the locker room, on court, where it counts, NBA 2K13 still dominates.

It looks nice, moves at a good clip and you always feel like you’re able to control the car and know exactly when you lose your grip. The Flashback feature feels like something with a lot of promise and we can’t wait to see what the next racing game that rolls out of the garage at Codemasters will be like.

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor takes the combat of the Batman games, the stealth and exploration of the Assassin’s Creed games and combines them into a really fun package.

A truly spectacular game. Of all of the possible results that may have sprung from the circumstances that now surround the development of the Halo franchise, Halo 4 is the most welcome (and surprising) imaginable.

It doesn’t make massive changes, but instead just tweaks a very successful formula and expands on it with a swathe of new content to explore. One of the most impressive things about Final Fantasy XIV is the way it breaks down the casual/hardcore dichotomy, and Stormblood doubles down on that with a wider variety of endgame content for players of all persuasions. A few stumbles aside, the story it tells is great and decidedly Final Fantasy-esque, and takes players through some of the best locations, dungeons, and encounters that this game has seen yet. This is still the best MMORPG on the market, and I’d encourage anyone who’s on the fence to dive in.

More than just DLC. It’s a core part of the Bloodborne experience.

While the competitive future of Injustice 2 is currently unclear, one thing is certain: NetherRealm have created a highly polished fighter. With a campaign mode that blows the competition out of the water, fights that pop, and an extensive customisation system, the Chicago-based studio has done right by the DC license.

You’ll get frustrated, I can guarantee it – but that’s the point. It doesn’t offer tutorials, because the game is confident in your ability to prevail. It’s a treatise on our ability to develop and grow, as we attempt to make sense of the unknown.

A great single player campaign that pays homage to the original, but the multiplayer is forgettable.

There's nothing really special to report in terms of the controls.

This game is superb and although there are some still slight glitches, offers the most comprehensive and realistic football games on the market.

Tough but rewarding.

The very best, like no one ever was.

It might not be the best vertical shooter ever – that honour goes to Ikaruga’s predecessor Radiant Silvergun – but it is easily the best game on Xbox Live Arcade and indeed the Xbox 360 itself. Purchase immediately.

Watching a robbery go down with detached movie-convention-predictability and suddenly realising you have to intervene can freeze you up like Paul Henry spotting a mustache on a lady. It adds the third dimension that makes this game a game. In any case, it's an entertaining variation on screaming, "Don't go in there!" at a flickering screen in the dark.

On top of the single-player, DiRT 3 includes a welcomed split-screen multiplayer for head to head racing. But more welcomed is the large number of mad online party modes to try out.

Pokemon games are getting deeper, more complex and ever more exciting with each iteration. The only thing to do is keep catching em all. It would be rude not to.

A stunning climax to the series, and a worthy send-off to the team at Rocksteady.

All I'm saying is that is does kind of feel a bit like Nintendo are resting on their laurels. All the effort has gone into developing a classic Super Mario Bros. game on a new system, with new controls and new visuals. It can't help but be good because it's SMB.

Forza 6 is the typical exceptional quality we’ve come to expect over the past decade. The racing is smooth and can be tailored to suit anybody’s skill level, and the tracks are designed with meticulous attention to detail.

Levels are fun to play, with a good variety of play mechanics and ever escalating challenge that keeps you pushing for a ridiculously large improvement in your skillbase, only to find an even harder chunk of gameplay around the corner.

It is a solid, well presented title with a hell of a lot going for it.

If you have a 3DS, Fire Emblem Fates is a must-buy; if you don’t, it’s yet another reason, on top of so many others, to get one. Just be sure you do your research, and stick to Birthright unless you’re absolutely ready for the challenge Conquest has to offer.

Someone needs to make the arcade machine version of this.

Like any good platformer, Tearaway is full to the brim with secrets and collectibles

Everyone should try this game, even if you hate cars or football.