Kevin Spacey might take top billing, but it's the array of powerful PMC tech that's the real star of the show, making the stalest formula in contemporary videogames feel remarkably fresh.

The wackiness never clicks, but the relentless combat momentum certainly does. It won't change the world, but does a very good job of splattering it with mutant blood.

A surprisingly playable stealth endeavour from Cyanide, with a startlingly repulsive lead.

F1 2014 delivers on the racing, but its lack of new features suggests a stagnancy in the series. We're eager to see what 2015 delivers, and if things get booted back into gear.

Evil Within grafts Resident Evil 4's gold standard survival action to a far less forgiving world. That it even comes close to matching Capcom's masterpiece is cause to celebrate. And sweat. And quiver.

The Pre-Sequel! is a brilliant expansion, if not quite a brilliant game in its own right. Come for the Australians, stay for the low-gravity combat sections.

United Front has created a version of Hong Kong packed with things to do and the excellent combat and driving ensure it's always fun. If you've not played it, we're a bit jealous.

It looks and sounds the part, but the table layout can feel a little claustrophobic. [Nov 2014, p.91]

A confident step up from the already impressive first part and a tantalising taste of what's still to come. [Nov 2014, p.90]

Brimming with charm, but it was clearly designed with PC gaming in mind. Playing it with the Xbox One controller instead of a mouse becomes something of an exercise in patience. [Nov 2014, p.87]

There's hidden depth beyond the ugly exterior. [Nov 2014, p.87]

It's packed with strong moments, but the finale feels disjointed. [Nov 2014, p.85]

A game that manages to wrestle some originality out of the point 'n' click genre - with only limited structural problems - while making us laugh in the process, this is an all-too-rare pleasure. [Nov 2014, p.84]

Madden's most impressive showing since the original Xbox days. Now lessons need to be learned from the best sports management sims to lend Connected Careers true longevity. [Nov 2014, p.84]

Unique stealth-horror thriller that combines great pacing and smart design with razor-sharp AI that's unpredictable in all the right ways. It's an arduous undertaking, but it begs to be experienced.

A bit broken, quite derivative and short on narrative appeal - but rich with customisation possibilities and enjoyable at the level of the firefight.

Monolith might not have the basics quite down, but the Nemesis system is the year's most original game mechanic, and makes for a game that feels - and reacts to your play - unlike any of its peers.

While it tries too hard at times, it's difficult to deny D4's zany charm. There's something irresistible about a game where you have literally no idea what's coming next. We're stoked for the next instalment.

A triumph in so many respects that lets itself down with some technical issues and a world that needed more variety in the way it looks. That, however, shouldn't stop you from picking this up and loving it until the end of this console generation. Forza Horizon 2 is an accomplishment, and a showcase for what open-world racers can do.

FIFA is always at its best when the pitch is tilted in the attacking side's favour, and this year's is a peach. It's not the 'true' next-gen FIFA we've been waiting for, but it's as dynamic and thrilling as any entry in the series thus far.

Not quite the epic journey into the unknown we were hoping for, mostly thanks to poor writing and a reliance on XP farming, but a treasure trove of single and multiplayer adventures nonetheless.

Battlefield 4 hasn't been too stable since launch, but this pack helps. Varied maps and a fun new mode - we like. [Oct 2014, p.97]

It may be tough, but Crown of the Sunken King delivers some of the series' best, most intricate level design so far. [Oct 2014, p.96]

A large, open world and plenty of options can't make up for trainwreck technology, bad writing and clumsy combat. [Oct 2014, p.93]

A comprehensive intro to Magic, but Duels is hardly the showcase it needs to be. [Oct 2014, p.92]

More of the same goofy, eccentric zombie-killing action Dead Rising fans love, sprinkled with Capcom callouts. [Sept 2014, p.96]

It might not have much depth, but if you just want to have a good, silly and above all violent old time, Zombie Driver does the trick - and this is by far the best version going. [Sept 2014, p.92]

Occasionally incredible and often frustrating. [Sept 2014, p.91]