Yakuza 5 may no longer be dressed for the part, but like any respectable gangster, it has a good heart beating beneath its unkempt exterior. It's a fitting analogy for a game that's ultimately all about aging, so while time may have been tough on Kiryu and crew, this dense and occasionally oddball adventure still has plenty of strong stories to tell.

Primal Carnage: Extinction feels like a great concept which has just not had enough "shine" put into the end product. Basic menus and average production values could be forgiven if the gameplay was killer, but dinosaurs deserve to be more badass and exciting than this. So while there is some dino fun to be had here, this is a game that will likely be left on the virtual shelf and left to turn extinct.

Zotrix is a decent if unambitious twin-stick shooter with smooth, fluid controls that are well suited to pick up and play sessions. A steep difficulty curve means that you will need patience, while the awful UI makes it a challenge to navigate the title's menus. We'd recommend this if you're desperate for an arcade-inspired blaster, but otherwise leave it in a galaxy far, far away.

Fat Princess Adventures won't be winning any awards for originality, but as a casual co-op game to play over the holiday, it's a solid choice.

The narrative goes to some nightmarish places, but it ends all too abruptly, and technical issues apply the sleeping cap to an already mixed release.

From each individual line of dialogue to every jagged texture, Earth Defense Force 4.1: The Shadow of New Despair is so bad that it's actually pretty bloody good.

While its slow deliberate pace won't be for everyone, if you're looking for shooter that's trying something different, then the impressive destructibility and intense close-quarters battles will almost certainly bring the house down.

While the novelty does wear thin eventually, there's more than enough entertainment on offer here to justify its entry fee.

The campaign may have some low points, but attacking bases and liberating towns is some of the best fun that you'll find on the PS4 this year.

Ellen Page is excellent throughout and the presentation is staggering on the PS4 – it's just best to know what you're getting into before venturing headfirst into the Infraworld.

A questionable camera sours gameplay and many of the mechanics suffer a clunky and unresponsive feel as a result.

This episode is a light, fun romp, and its consistently goofy tone helps to craft the series' identity at long last.

Visually vibrant, with magnificent SNES S-SMP chiptune renditions of John Williams' classic soundtrack, and challenging side-scrolling run-and-gun gameplay, Super Star Wars represents the brightness of the 1992 16-bit era, before the dark times – before the prequel trilogy made Star Wars fans justifiably cynical.

A unique, enjoyable game that could have done with just a dash more substance to go with all that style.

Aside from its necessary graphical shortcomings, Dynasty Warriors 8: Empires is a sublime fit on the Vita. Its methodical structure is a perfect match for portable play, allowing you to jump in and make some progress no matter how much time you decide to dedicate to the cause. Conquering China piece by piece has never been quite so addictive.

Orsinium won't win back any lapsed players with its familiar content, but for those still invested in The Elder Scrolls Online, it provides an interesting new land that's full of dangerous enemies and lengthy questlines. It's perhaps a shame that the expansion doesn't try to tweak or evolve the existing formula, but with so much to see and do, Wrothgar is still a tempting holiday destination for those with an itch for adventure.

Star Wars Battlefront is a good Star Wars game, but an average multiplayer shooter. If you have any love for a galaxy far, far away, you'll get a real kick out of the taking part in its fun, large scale battles, and your reverence for the source material may even be enough to keep you coming back despite its shortcomings. If, on the other hand, you're after the next big shooter to keep you occupied longer term, the limited weaponry and simplified customisation mean that this isn't the game that you're looking for.

Let's Sing 2016 is practically the same game as Now That's What I Call Sing adapted for the North American audience, which means that it's a pretty solid singing game. The wide range of modes makes it fun to play with others, and the songs are varied enough to keep things fresh, whoever you're playing with. All in all, this game certainly isn't rudimental.

Bloodborne: The Old Hunters is much more of the same from what is already an outstanding game.

While it's not the most ambitious remaster, the hilarious jokes, varied gameplay, and stellar voice acting ensure that you'll have a good time.

Game of Thrones: Episode 6 – The Ice Dragon offers an alright ending to a slightly disappointing spin-off overall.

On the face of it, it seems almost garish, with its scantily clad female characters and eyebrow-raising plot, but deep down is a game which encourages you to think tactically and carefully. While it does take some getting into, those persevering will be rewarded with challenging and interesting gameplay, and that sense of achievement which only comes with world domination.

Stuck with a novelty look and feel that would attract younger players – who won't actually have a chance at many of the questions – this is one for battle hardened quizzers with short attention spans only.

Primarily a game for fans, Lost Song obviously won't appeal to everyone, but those who do enjoy the source material will certainly appreciate its colourful and inviting world that's packed with things to do.

Mega Coin Squad's decent in multiplayer, but it's over all too quickly when playing alone.

If you're in the market for a fulfilling, well-paced puzzler on the PS4, look no further than this one.

WWE 2K16 definitely makes some strides in the right direction, but with Showcase mode becoming a little stale and Career Mode somehow taking a step back, it's clear that 2K is very much still getting to grips with the series.

As fun as often as it is frustrating, Poncho is a hard game to recommend, even to 16-bit platformer super fans. You may be able to get some enjoyment out of it, and it certainly has an oddball charm, but ultimately, it fails to impress where it counts.

While Ghosts may have bitten the bullet, Black Ops III reloads the franchise into a new, brighter era.

Fallout 4 is a masterclass in open world design. Consistently engrossing and absolutely stuffed with intricacies, it's a title that'll keep you enthralled for hours at a time as you gradually unravel its desolate yet hopeful post-apocalyptic portrayal of Boston. Although it's let down by some disappointing frame rate issues, it's not enough to detract from what's otherwise one of the most atmospheric and beautifully brutal games on the PS4.

Need for Speed's got many of the parts required of a great racer, but it's lacking a mechanic to assemble them and apply a lick of paint.

Minecraft: Story Mode has, again, failed to impress. A miniscule run-time paired with a plethora of uninteresting events helped to make this one of the weakest episodes we've seen from Telltale in a long, long time. We're now two episodes in, and we're still not finding a whole lot to like.

It's not only a great addition to the Vita's library – it's one of the best rhythm games on the platform.

Sadly, those looking for their MX vs. ATV fix are much better off waiting for Rainbow Studios to develop a new installment in this series specifically for the PS4.

This very decent Deathinitive Edition includes all of the DLC and commendably improves the assets and lighting effects, but it gets slightly cut down by our scythe of criticism for minor glitches and framerate woes.

For fans of the main game, this add-on is nigh on essential – and for everyone else, it deserves your attention at the very least.

Just Dance 2016 is great fun for people of all ages, and is an excellent game among friends.

Overall, the Jackbox Party Pack 2 is a great addition to any gaming collection – especially as the festive season beckons.

This dreary visual novel is packed with poor puzzles and even poorer prose, and it deserves feeding to the beast from the east as a consequence.

A Telltale Borderlands game sounds very strange on paper, but this series, and the finale in particular, illustrate exactly why this pairing has worked. The finale sets itself up for a second season, and we very much hope that we get one.

Not only does it have an impressive combat system and interesting quests, it features a reactive world that you can truly leave your mark on. Add in a winning sense of humour, well thought-out gameplay systems, and a charming aesthetic, and you're left with an RPG that would be a sin to miss.

While there's little to recommend upgrading from the PlayStation 3 version of the game, BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma Extend is a confident execution of a title that knows its strengths.

There's no kidding that Guitar Hero Live is a very fun game, it just feels like it cares more about the money than it does about the fans.

With its action taking place on a playing field, the scope and structure of Blood Bowl 2 initially feels smaller in scale than you tend to expect from most turn-based strategy games.

NOW That's What I Call Sing is a solid buy for anyone in need of a karaoke game on the PS4.

Dating back to January of this year, Max's adventure has been quite a ride. After a couple of episodes that were pretty shaky, the French developer righted itself and delivered three consecutive home runs that absolutely blew us away, and this has culminated in a finale that delivers on everything that we could have possibly dreamed of.

The core gameplay loop is solid and it's built upon a sound structure, but familiarity and filler lessen the appeal of this open world outing. Vastly improved performance and all around impressive presentation mean that London's most definitely not burning – but there may be a little panic in the offices at Ubisoft.

With an intriguing core concept and solid presentation, SkyScrappers isn't an especially bad game – just a ludicrously overpriced one. If, by chance, you can afford to snag a copy, then you're in for a fun little tussle – just don't expect it to be one that'll keep on giving.

Ultimately, Hearts of Stone sets the standard for what we should expect from premium content, and not just because of its price tag. This is DLC that puts many retail releases to shame.

Corpse Party: Blood Drive is more scary in execution than anything. Veterans of the series may be happy to see the continuation of its plot, but the game offers little to bring in any new fans. Those looking for a good scare would be better pointed in another direction, as the promises of previous games are not lived up to in this new iteration of the series.

There is a neat little game here, hidden in the shadows, but sadly, it doesn't shine quite brightly enough.

All in all, you're left with a visually appealing visual novel that doesn't really have a strong enough protagonist to carry it.

For a $5 price of admission, Three Fourths Home is a must buy for those looking for a unique experience. After three playthroughs, we're still thinking about the Meyers family and have questions that we want answered. Those looking for an actual game to play, though, should know that this may not be an experience for them.

Minecraft: Story Mode - Episode 1: Order of the Stone is a lacklustre start to Telltale's latest series.

Get through the typically humdrum opening hours and you'll find an addictive RPG with a tale well worth telling.

A surprisingly solid racing game, WRC 5's biggest undoing is its evident lack of budget. Kylotonn Games has put its priorities in the right place, delivering a slick handling model that captures the spontaneous nature of the sport well, but the presentation is fairly poor across the board - and the frame rate issues really detract from the responsiveness of the driving.

Toto Temple Deluxe is a recommended multiplayer game that deserves a look. This is fast, fun, squeal-inducing action for all of the family/herd.

Zombie Vikings is a charmingly designed beat-'em-up, but it's ultimately a fairly shallow one. It's fine for a multiplayer laugh, and even single player has its moments thanks to the humorous plot, but it's only likely to amuse you once, before you leave it on your hard drive waiting to rot.

Thief Town is a great effort from Glass Knuckle Games, with fun, simple multiplayer that has more depth than you might think. If there was a little more to see and do, this would be much easier to recommend, but it will be a little too sparse for some. For others, though, this will be a great little title to put on when friends come over, and that feels like where Thief Town belongs.

Super Meat Boy is an exercise in patience. You may in fact deplore it in the first one or two hours due to its unforgiving gameplay and level design, but if you take the time to consume much of what it has to offer, you may just acquire a taste for it.

Rubbing shoulders with its cruddy combat and occasionally criminal controls is a release with a strong sense of humour and some razor-sharp writing. It's just a shame that this escapade fails to ever elevate itself beyond the properties that its parodying, serving up a sloppy first-person shooter that should have been so much more.

Fighting game players who are fans of Dengeki Bunko's work will surely enjoy the title and its bonus content – especially with like-minded friends on hand. However, once these extras have been exhausted and it comes down to the gameplay, a single fact remains: there are many better fighters on the PS3.

Even if you're not a fan of Warriors-style gameplay, we'd still heartily recommend Dragon Quest Heroes to anyone on the lookout for a joyous jaunt in a lovingly made fantasy world.

As such, this is a game for everyone who has ever enjoyed that sweet, sweet feeling of swiping loot from under the corpses of hundreds of enemies – and thanks to this Vita edition, you can do it in style on the bus.

Packed full of the charm and character that you'd expect from the series, Persona 4 Dancing All Night is a thoroughly entertaining rhythm game that could warm even the coldest heart.

While its setlist does underwhelm in some areas, and the online multiplayer mode is not ready yet, Rock Band 4 still feels like the music platform that Harmonix set out to make.

With so few games in this genre available on the PS4, it fills the void adequately, providing an engaging experience that'll likely take up much of your time if you can get past the problems.

Transformers Devastation is a great example of how to take a licensed property and turn it into a quality title. While the game is a little on the short side, it's strong from start to finish.

Pumped BMX + doesn't really do anything particularly wrong, but it lacks that je ne sais quoi needed to keep its wheels going around. You'll happily bunny hop into this one for a few short sessions, but once you're done, you'll likely find yourself leaving this bicycle out to rust.

While the simplistic combat won't hold everyone's interest, a lengthy story mode and countless unlockables ensure that there's plenty to see and do before your cosmo burns out.

Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection is probably the best PS4 remaster thus far – and the system's had more than enough of them to give that statement weight.

Die-hard fans yearning for some Pro Skater action will find that, despite all of its problems, there's still some enjoyment to be had here – even if it should have been so much more.

Our multilayer story really is the perfect analogy for what kind of game Bombing Busters is. Nothing about it is memorable, but if you're not paying attention to the details, you may just enjoy yourself with this Bomberman duplicate. Of course, that doesn't mean that it's anywhere near the echelon of the classic maze-based strategy game, but that doesn't stop it from being fun to play.

Overruled!'s core premise isn't a bad one at all, and developer Dlala Studios clearly has good intentions behind it. However, almost every aspect of the game fails to impress, and the title is ultimately best avoided because of it - especially given the release's desolate online servers, and lack of any meaningful single-player experience.

Rather than a reforged sword, 4-II is more of a secondary blade – and its edge is just as sharp.

With so much content on offer, both old and new, alongside its many accessibility options, it's still hard not to recommend FIFA to footy fans of all ages and skill levels.

PES 2016, while not being perfect, feels true to its title - it's an evolution.

A five month development cycle has resulted in a focussed and succinct sci-fi action adventure, which sets a fast pace to flow through its bright pixel art presentation, and waft along to its atmospheric chiptunes.

When you come right down to it, NHL 16 is an improvement over last year's release in virtually every department. Unfortunately, that isn't exactly saying a lot.

Beyond Eyes is an incredibly admirable game. Its aim of simulating the experience of being blind is buoyed by a clever central conceit, and genuinely breathtaking presentation. Unfortunately, an exceedingly frustrating pace combined with a lackluster story means that the title ultimately buckles under the weight of its own ambition.

Fat City would be pretty competent if the gameplay wasn't so vapid. The puzzles would be clever if abilities didn't serve as win buttons. And the story would be interesting if it didn't cease to exist after the first 15 seconds. Sadly, despite some fleeting positives, all of these issues combine to make a puzzler that's far from meaty.

Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance is arguably the most complete package in the series. Despite an unnecessarily long campaign that's home to some surprising difficulty spikes, it's still an excellent strategy venture that will give you plenty of bang for your buck.

The Taken King lights the way forward for the sci-fi shooter, and while it's not the brightest of glows, it's clear that Destiny's darkest days are over.

The plot is compelling, the presentation is generally very good, and the conclusion is outstanding. But all of these achievements will be tempered if you're looking for the kind of scares that defined Amnesia: The Dark Descent.

Dialogue between characters can often feel a tad overzealous considering the game's light-hearted approach to comedy, making it hard to recommend to anyone unable to stomach an inoffensive, self-aware fantasy romp of this fashion.

Take a bit of time to learn its systems, and this will grow on you like an out-of-control inferno. Just remember to have a bit of patience, or you will get burned.

If you can get past its sometimes underwhelming level design, Leo's Fortune has plenty in its favour. Its captivating storyline, beautiful art design, and satisfying controls will keep you glued to your screen – just don't expect to be there for long.

As you wander the desert on the lookout for pieces of scrap, your enjoyment will feel like it's on a downward trajectory the longer that you play. As a result, you'll try to spend as much time as you can racing across its beautifully realised wasteland, while avoiding anything that pulls you from behind the wheel.

Knock Knock isn't quite a nightmare, but with a little more focus, it could have been a dream to play.

In terms of its story, the fifth instalment in the series may leave some fans wanting more, but overall, the release proves to be a fitting, brutally brilliant finale to Hideo Kojima's beloved saga.

Despite everything that Dishonored still does right, the Definitive Edition is a lacklustre port.

A pleasure to play, the game gives heartfelt emotion as well as frivolity throughout, earning its status as one of the best visual novels that the Vita has to offer.

This is a basic game that's fun in short bursts, but soon gets repetitive and is unlikely to hold the attention of anyone who's also playing through a more substantial release. But if you've a hankering for a redneck-style blast of manic fishy fun, Dynamite Fishing - World Games delivers an affordable, explosive good time - especially if you're competing with pals. Just don't try this at your local boating lake.

STFU is one of the best indie releases on PS4.

All in all, it seems as though Madden as a series won't be deflating any time soon.

Grow Home is a gorgeous title which acts as yet another example that not all games need to be hours upon hours long. Its unique climbing mechanics make for a tense and often terrifying time, while its endearing story grounds the entire experience. There are some niggling control issues, but the stunning presentation and subtle soundtrack round things out, ultimately making for a satisfying and adorable game.

Overall, this is a remarkable digital board game that combines an engaging lore with likeable scenarios and fascinating mechanics.

Overall, VVVVVV is a very enjoyable and addictive puzzle platformer with enough variety to keep it feeling fresh from start to finish. It's just a shame that the adventure appears to end as quickly as it begins.