A lack of real Vita innovation lets it down somewhat, but that aside this is a perfect pocket-sized JRPG that'll keep you gripped to the screen until your eyes turn square. A must-have for any Persona fan.

A great port of a great game. If you've not played Grimrock before this is a really good way to rectify that.

An incredible, ever-changing blend of dungeon-crawling and tactical puzzles, Hoplite may lack a little longevity but it's impressively entertaining while it lasts.

A brilliantly well put-together labour of love, Kid Tripp will have you gnashing your teeth and screaming with joy.

A gloomy, exciting, and downright brilliant tactical RPG.

Antihero gets mobile board gaming in 2018 off to a really impressive start. It's fun, it's fast, and you're going to lose a good deal of time in its skullduggery and underhand activities.

Super Meat Boy Forever returns in a more suitable format as a mobile endless runner with short challenging levels and strong gameplay.

Short, sweet, and totally addicting, Overboard! is a hilarious murder mystery where you need to do everything in your power to get away with murdering your own husband. It’s a game that doesn’t really take itself too seriously, so you don’t have to feel too bad about your multiple attempts to pin the murder on a poor unfortunate soul.

Steredenn's polish, variety, and thrilling bullet hell makes it a must-play for shmup fans.

If you're interested in story-driven games and cute character art, Burly Men at Sea demands to be played.

A spectacular kick in the teeth of the endless-runner genre, Boson X is a brilliant, twitching wonder.

A brilliant, funny, and wonderfully balanced platformer, Electronic Super Fun: Groove City is well worth your time.

A big and bold racing game that's an awful lot of fun.

Rock-and-roll gameplay to a J-pop beat, LocoRoco is a perfectly rounded handheld puzzler.

A brilliant digital version of a brilliant card game, Magic 2014 is every bit as impressive as its predecessor and adds more to the mix, too.

Beautifully presented and utterly compelling, Async Corp. is one of the best iOS titles you'll play all year.

Bridgy Jones is terrific fun. It's challenging, surprising, and even quite funny. A perfect touchscreen game with loads of content.

A title-winning performance from Full Fat - this is flicking brilliant.

A compelling distillation of everything that's great and good in collectible card gaming, brought to your iPad, for free.

Squad Busters lives up to the hype as a much faster-paced game than some of Supercell's other offerings. It won't draw in any mobile gaming sceptics, but for Supercell fans and existing mobile gamers this is a worthy addition to the developer's catalogue.

Sleek and immaculately-tuned, this racer offers an unparalleled driving experience on iPad.

Bright, colourful, and tons of fun, PinOut is a reimagining of pinball that blows the original out the water.

A love letter to Pokemon past and present, that's also an incredible game in its own right.

Oozing charm and smart design, World of Goo is the best physics puzzler available on iPad.

A love letter to Pokemon past and present, that's also an incredible game in its own right.

The best DSiWare game yet, AiRace combines a great control scheme with pure speed to create a first-class flight.

A perfect game for any Yu-Gi-Oh! fan, but also a great entry point for those interested in Yu-Gi-Oh!, or even popular CCGs in general. In a crowded market, Yu-Gi-Oh! still manages to stand above the crowd.

Big, brash, and beautiful, Anomaly Korea doesn't quite have the wow factor of its predecessor, but it's still well worth a download.

If you're looking for something to sink hundreds of hours into, something with solid story and sublime strategy then you won't go wrong here. It's almost faultless, and might well lead us into an era of quality strategy RPGs on mobile.

Given its resolutely multiplayer stance, we question Dreii's longevity. For now, though, it's a superb, mesmerising creation.

It's one of the best strategy games you'll play on your mobile this year, and serves as a fantastic example of how to do free-to-play right for a core audience, without compromising on artistic vision or gameplay depth.

The most fun you can have destroying civilisation without becoming a government MP, Plague Inc. refines the Pandemic formula into a streamlined combination of strategy and twisted bio-horror.

It's a pity that simultaneous multiplayer didn't make it into the Vita version of Rayman Origins, but that doesn't stop it from being an unforgettable platformer from the mind of Michel Ancel.

Ridiculous Fishing may have a strange premise, but give it half an hour and it blossoms into one of the most innovative, well-balanced, and addictive games of the year.

A top quality blend of tactics and role-playing, with enough customisation options for enormous replay value.

A thrilling celebration of Mario's jump, packed with imagination and sharp level layouts. One of the best auto runners around.

A well constructed piece of adventure gaming, The Journey Down: Episode One is worth checking out even if you're not a point-and-click sort of person.

Heroes of Ruin is a landmark 3DS release, providing true online gaming that will keep you entertained from start to finish.

Donut County is simply stunning. It smashes together smart gameplay, simple controls, a ridiculous storyline, and a gorgeous soundtrack, creating a masterpiece of an easy-going puzzler. If you're looking for something with tons of depth and hours of gameplay, you won't find it here. But what you will find is one of the finest puzzle games you may ever play, and an experience that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

Light Byte is a fantastic colour-matching game that increases in complexity and fun as you play.

A mash up of old concepts in a brand new way. Even if the idea of a puzzle RPG makes you balk, you need to give this one a go.

A finely honed, deeply stylish 2D platformer that streamlines without dumbing down.

It might take a while to learn even the basics, but True Skate is a game about precision and practice that offers the greatest rewards to those who put in the hard work.

Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit is another chapter in an already fantastic game, with some quality of life improvements, new characters, and some new features added along the way. If you are a fan of Animal Crossing style games, this is one for you.

An incredibly slick kart racer that marks a new high point for iOS kart racers and stands as another exemplary console conversion.

A brilliant, funny, addictive game, Slamjet Stadium is fun on your own and spectacular with friends.

A wonderful adaptation of a brilliant board game. If you're into the hobby, then you should pick this one up right away.

I went into Wuthering Waves fully expecting to write it off, thinking it would be a pale imitation of the big one, but it just isn’t. It pains me to say, but it is better. Comparing it to another feels like an insult, Wuthering Waves is just really fun in and of itself. I will be playing more of this, and I wholeheartedly recommend everyone give it a spin. The gameplay is incredibly fun, it looks beautiful, and you don’t need to drop a penny to win. Also, you can pet and feed at least one cat. Probably should have led with that and saved myself the time.

Miniatures is a fantastic game for those looking for something heartfelt and emotional. It's a short but bittersweet experience that will play on your mind for days to come.

A harsh and unforgiving twitch tapper, Brutal Loop can't quite dig its nails in to make you keep playing.

A contemplative puzzle game that evolves the original with extra levels and high-definition graphics, despite the lack of any new gameplay elements.

A brilliant port of a brilliant game. VVVVVV on iOS is well worth a first, second, or third download.

Metrico is a beautiful, imaginative, and ingenious puzzle game with an original idea at its heart and some seriously sharp brainteasers.

A wonderfully violent and perfectly challenging shooter.

Her Story is a bold experiment in interactive storytelling, resulting in one of the best detective games ever made.

Pine Hearts has a good story, fun quests and lots of funny characters. It feels long and vast on mobile - creating something that's well worth sinking your time into.

Twee and delightful, Kumo Lumo is a gorgeous game that shows how simple doesn't have to mean bland.

The best Pokemon game so far. Combines the addictive elements of the originals with the latest graphics to great effect. Just don't mention the Pokewalker.

A zany adventure with heart, humour, and a truly unique concept. If you missed this peerless cult classic on DS, do not let it pass you by again.

Alphabear 2 is every bit as endearing and entertaining as its predecessor, but it's got a few new ideas too.

Stormbound has a depth that's easier to grasp than more fast-paced games. It's still just as easy to pick up, but you're going to want to push into it and find out more of what it has to offer. If the other games in the genre are a little too hectic for you, then I urge you to check out Stormbound. It's fresh, it's fun, and it'll have you playing for hours on end.

A great sequel that recaptures all of the magic that made the original game so addictive.

A laser-sharp, amazingly entertaining action game that's got a lot going on.

Fast and furious, Reckless Racing 2 raises the bar for iOS racing games through a combination of deft handling, gorgeous looks, and addictive gameplay.

A game about being a king with king and human problems on his shoulders that you need to solve carefully, thoughtfully, and creatively while working with limited information.

In turning a text adventure into a world map, Simogo has resurrected a long-dead genre with style and confidence. Great presentation and brilliant puzzles complete a stellar package.

A colourful, charming and immensely playable puzzler that’s perfectly suited to the touchscreen.

A harrowing and often tragic exploration of life in a war. This is a must buy.

With its cracking fighting mechanics and excellent multiplayer options, Bleach: Dark Souls lives up to the very high standards of the beat-'em up series on DS.

I Dig It Expeditions offers a bit of exploration, a touch of puzzle play, and more than its fair share of fun.

A fast-paced, gorgeous endless space-racer that showcases everything that's good about mobile gaming.

The natty storyline will make you grin, while the perfectly pitched gameplay and glorious multiplayer mode will make you sing: a near-perfect light-hearted and innovative music title for the PSP.

If you've not played The Witness before, then this mobile port is as good a place as any to experience it. But if you've already finished it elsewhere, some of the sparkle is definitely going to be missing on a second playthrough. Coming to The Witness fresh though is one of the most beguiling gaming experiences you can have. And that's something pretty special.

With sharp design, plenty of content, and elegant presentation, Lara Croft GO is one of the best puzzle games of the year.

While it's not quite as devastatingly original as Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks is still an utterly essential purchase and comfortably ranks as the undisputed DS event of the year.

100 Trials takes the roguelike concept, mixes in a slab of puzzling brilliance, and lets it simmer into something wonderful.

Despite some control work-arounds and dated visuals, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remains a truly exceptional RPG and one of the best Star Wars games ever released on any platform.

Spooky Express is a very well-designed puzzler that's perfect for Halloween. It's got fun and challenging puzzles, great music, and even comic book elements to add a bit of story.

An absolutely stunning racing game that feels like it was always meant to end up on mobile.

With some essential new features, the best football management sim on mobile just got even better.

Guardian Tales is a charming breath of fresh air for fans of 8-bit games and JRPGs of old. The free-to-play gacha game, while chock-full of complicated currencies to figure out, doesn’t really make you feel like you need to pay to win. It invites players to enter into a fun and quirky world to get away from it all, which is a more-than-welcome distraction from the seriousness of life.

Legend of the Skyfish is a veritable tribute to the 2D adventure genre while trying something new.

Squirmee and the Puzzling Tree's tricky puzzles, novel controls, and distinctive ideas ensure that it firmly sits near the top of the iPhone puzzle tree.

Where Shadows Slumber mixes light and darkness in some intelligent and incredibly engaging ways.

A fantastic set of new cards that refreshes the tactical possibilities and welcomes new players.

Monster Hunter Generations is the most complete game in the series yet, and the best one at that. If you have friends or family you can hunt with regularly, this is an absolute essential for 3DS.

Luigi's spooky Switch debut revels in the details whilst stealthily expanding his horizons. Scarily good fun.

Dawncaster is a roguelike deck-builder that you can play offline with a convenient portrait mode orientation. The depth of strategy here is impressive, with plenty of replayability that makes it worth the premium price.

Enigmatic and inviting, challenging and intuitive, Kiwanuka truly is a game of alchemy.

Experience an emotional story following several brave souls during WWI as you navigate and solve problems while avoiding rendering spots.

A hard, fraught stomp through some very dark corners. Warhammer Quest 2 is pretty much a must buy.

A vital and powerful exploration of language, power, and control. Grayout might be infuriating, but you have to play it.

Shows its roots as a tabletop game, but also demonstrates what makes Magic the world's most popular collectible card game.

A rich and engaging midcore RPG experience that drips with quality from every pore.

Shogun manages to combine amazing graphics with demanding and addictive gameplay to create one of the finest 2D shooters available on the iPhone right now. Add in iPad and iCade support, and you've got an epic blaster that is sure to please arcade aficionados.

A brilliant, breathtaking, and brief adventure, Monument Valley is every bit as good as it looks.

Magnetic Billiards packs an original gameplay concept, tweaked to near-perfection, and steeped in character. This is what indie gaming should be.

A bright, bold, and rather brilliant gamebook, Appointment with F.E.A.R. is a step in an interesting new direction.