Graphically astounding and packing some serious online firepower, this is the high-budget handheld hit that you’ve been waiting for.

Chaotic with friends and addictive alone, this will leave you intoxicated by its charm, and with so much to do, it won't outstay its welcome anytime soon.

If you’re fortunate enough to dig your way past the rock-solid opening hours, a never-ending supply of treasure eagerly awaits your discovery.

At times the narrative is incomprehensible and the characters are uninteresting and unlikeable, but it's the mismatch of borrowed gameplay mechanics that really lets The Bureau: XCOM Declassified down. Truly embodying the spirit of the phrase 'jack of all trades, master of none', this is another unfortunate victim of rampant focus testing.

The missions can be repetitive and the levelling system simplistic, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that this is a well-crafted RPG that is sure to keep you entertained for hours on end.

The original release may not be as good as you remember it, but DuckTales: Remastered is an affectionate rendition that will be sure to pluck at your nostalgic heart strings. For those without a reference point, this may feel like a pretty but archaic platformer, but if you can get past the obtrusive cut-scenes, fans of the NES classic shouldn’t think twice about giving this a quack.

This is not a bad game, it’s just a boring one – and we never thought that we’d say that about a release that sees you chasing a tiger on a motorcycle.

Well worth its weight in gold, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 2 continues the recent trend of great Warriors titles.

Solid like a block of ice, and just as unremarkable, Lost Planet 3 is an enjoyable adventure that cobbles together ideas from elsewhere, but doesn’t dig its way beyond the basics.

Do Not Fall is a challenging and thoroughly enjoyable puzzle platformer that will easily swallow hours of your time. It does get a little bit repetitive in places, but it's not hard to fall for the title's quirky presentation and thoughtful design.

Open Me is tough but a ton of fun. Solving the puzzles is an enormously satisfying experience, and the online creation aspect is a brilliant idea. The augmented reality can be a touch finicky in places, but creative design ensures that the title eschews the gimmicky nature of similar releases. Don't be a square and give this one a go.

Saints Row IV does everything in its presidential power to create a sandbox experience that constantly rewards and always surprises – and it succeeds. Despite the reused assets, a few questionable design choices, and the sometimes shaky technical performance, there’s still nothing in gaming quite like mowing down alien scum in a nitrous-charged golf cart, all while blasting Haddaway’s What Is Love from the radio. That’s what makes Saints Row special.

Graphical issues, lazy design, broken mechanics, dull combat, vulgar dialogue, and a loathsome main character are all bundled together in Time and Eternity, resulting in a particularly uncomfortable and unenjoyable JRPG. If you're looking for dynamic battles, gorgeous visuals, and a decent yarn, pick up Tales of Xillia or Ni No Kuni instead. Just trust us on this one.

The Smurfs 2: The Video Game feels like it was made by following a recipe. The level design and boss fights are incredibly formulaic, and downright dull to play. The developer may have attempted to make a decent movie tie-in, but all that it's managed to produce is a dull, repetitive slog through a tedious campaign.

Spartacus Legends lacks the production values required to attain top billing, but its solid fighting mechanics and rewarding RPG elements ensure that it's worth a punt. With no entry price, there are definitely worse ways to spend your time than bathing in the blood of your enemies for the sake of fame and glory – just don't expect a spectacle fit for the emperor himself.

Like a posh restaurant’s reimagining of a classic dish, BreakQuest: Extra Evolution serves up an inventive experience fashioned from familiar ingredients. It’s still a block breaker beneath the batter, but it tastes like nothing else amid psychedelic parallelograms and rainbows in outer-space.

Energetic combat and awe-inspiring settings make Tales of Xillia a highly enjoyable title, and while it's not the best in the series, there's plenty of fun to be had – twice if you dare to play through again as Jude and Milla.

Tekken Revolution is more experimental than Combot, but solid execution on some admittedly controversial ideas ensure that this free-to-play fighter is worth a bash. Franchise fans will feel more frustrated than Devil Jin upon witnessing the watered down gameplay mechanics, but casual combatants may find themselves lured back into the wacky world of the King of Iron Fist Tournament on the back of the digital download’s inherent accessibility and free entry fee.

If you’ve already played every hole to death on the Vita, then it’s probably not worth the second membership fee, but if this is your first trip to the clubhouse, then get comfortable – you’re going to be sticking around for some time.

With a friend, there’s certainly some mindless fun to be had with Narco Terror, especially during the opening hour or so – but even then the title misfires on a technical level, and shoots blanks when it comes to providing a truly addictive hook. As a single player game, though, this is the epitome of a bad trip, with an explosive difficulty curve that eventually detonates any sense of prior enjoyment into tiny little pieces.

A colourful, addictive, and satisfying platformer, Cloudberry Kingdom is fantastic fun, and only gets more enjoyable when friends are added to the mix. Whether you enjoy quick stints of responsive platforming, or you’re determined to top the competitive online leaderboards, this endless supply of randomly generated content delivers plenty of difficult but delicious value.

PixelJunk Monsters: Ultimate HD serves up a cannon blast of brilliance. At its core is a traditional tower defence game with a gorgeous aesthetic, but its considered gameplay, taxing tactics, and satisfying reward loop will make you dance to the beat of its drum. This will tear through your defences and devour your time like a gluttonous fiend. Don't miss this monstrous hit.

Stealth Inc: A Clone in the Dark sneaks past the usual tactical espionage action tropes, serving up a fast-paced adventure that's enjoyable in short bursts. While the release could have used a little more visual impact, the leaderboard loop is moreish, and there's plenty to do. Keep your viewfinder focused on this one, and don't let it slip you by.

Nostalgia is a powerful thing – but in some cases it can be problematic. The industry has certainly moved on from the days when games such as Painkiller: Hell & Damnation were commonplace, and while it's not unreasonable to look back on these times with fondness, that doesn't mean that this lazy rehash deserves your attention. This is a shining example of corner-cutting, outdated ideas, and, in truth, is a complete waste of your time.

Eiconic has set a solid template for Total Recoil, with ample content and generally enjoyable gameplay. However, it's the flaws and foibles inherited from its smartphone roots that spoil the potential of its upgrade system. Therefore, enhancing weapons, killstreaks, and equipment feels too expensive using the in-game currency, so you may find it a chore to toil and grind through repeated wave attacks.

Tokyo Jungle Mobile gnaws down the PS3 release to its core bones, streamlining the concept to fit the philosophy of a mobile phone game without betraying the ideals of the source material. It's not quite as proficient as the console release, but the changes serve the series well and results in an enticing little action game that's fun to paw at on the road.

A stunning amount of content and a plethora of improved mechanics ensure that Dynasty Warriors 8 takes its rightful place as the ruling lord of Koei's flagship series, despite suffering from some minor recurring issues and poor presentation in places. This is the definitive Dynasty Warriors title, even if it continues to roam the battlefield the only way that it knows how.

Fans of the character Deadpool are certain to find a lot to like here. Sadly, the repetitive combat casts a shadow over the game's humorous treats, which are the real highlight of the package. There's a definite joy to be found in this adaptation – just be prepared to cut through many of layers of mediocrity in order to find it.

Strength of the Sword 3 is a tough game. You’ll flit frequently from God-sent knight to obscenity-hurling peasant, and it won’t always be your fault. It’s certainly an impressive effort from a two-man team, and by no means an average game, but it fails to step away from the pervading notion that it's little more than a series of challenging boss fights.

Pinball Heroes: Complete is a good conversion of a satisfactory game.

Arcania: The Complete Tale tries hard to offer an enthralling adventure, but falls significantly short of the mark. The game is plagued by an array of graphical, sound, and gameplay glitches, serving up something of a technical mess. If you can see past the issues, there are some minor redeeming qualities here, but with better RPGs available, it's not really worth the effort.

With the vastly improved controls and portable-friendly nature of the game, one could argue that the Vita version of Hotline Miami is the definitive offering.

There’s definitely some promise buried deep beneath Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two’s surface drudgery, but this needless PlayStation Vita port fails to uncover it any better than its PS3 counterpart. In fact, the underwhelming adventure actually fares worse on Sony’s pocketable platform, delivering a framerate that flirts with single digits and some pretty inconsequential touch screen features.

If you missed out on this clever take on the zombie apocalypse the first time around, then OMG HD Zombies is a must buy. The fresh undead types and overhauled visuals will offer something new for seasoned slayers, while the sheer satisfaction of the core gameplay loop will delight newcomers. The leaderboards could have been better implemented, but don't let that put you off this hearty helping of guts and gore.

Iron Galaxy has polished both titles to a contemporary shine. In simple terms, Chronicles of Mystara is the best of the best.

It's just a shame the genre-defining original is such a frustrating title to play on Vita, the second is so impenetrably hard, and the third a little unfocused.

However, through a fondness for the side-scrolling beat-'em-up genre, Southend Interactive has concocted a fun arcade PSN snack, which is even tastier in local and online three-player co-op.

Fuse is a boring game that just so happens to be tolerable with friends. Aside from some idiotic AI, there's nothing necessarily wrong with the shooter – but it fails to ever do anything to justify its existence. If you have a group of buddies willing to commit to the experience, then you may find a glimmer of fun here. Otherwise, expect one long, dreary slog.

For many, Race Driver: GRID redefined the racing genre, and while GRID 2 hits many of the same beats as its predecessor, it never feels like it's trying to make the same impact. Instead, this is a fairly conservative effort that dismisses simulation driving in favour of adrenaline fuelled racing, resulting in an experience that, while fun to play, is a little safe. In the end, the loss of ‘Race Driver’ in the title says it all – this is a good arcade racer, but in a market already saturated with similar titles, it struggles to find a place upon the grid.

The HD Adventures of Rotating Octopus Character isn’t a bad game by any stretch of the imagination. Its quirky name, visuals, and music are a joy to behold, but that was already the case with the original. The standard option can be incredibly frustrating, but the challenge mode does at least take some strides to redeem it. However, there are plenty of Vita games that are far more deserving of your attention.

An assured, touching, and engrossing adventure, The Last of Us represents a watershed moment for the medium. The unlikely bond that blossoms between the title’s two lead characters is both heartrending and poignantly paced – but the release delivers much more than captivating cinematics. This is a meaty slice of survival action that masterfully depicts the horrors of life in a post-pandemic setting.

Fortunately, for all of the game's faults, its futuristic setting is rich and compelling, meaning that while the game won't linger in your memory forever, you definitely won't be forgetting it in a hurry.

Velocity Ultra has found a perfect home on Vita: it plays even better due to the extra inputs, and it's exactly the sort of game that you can whip out for a couple of minutes on a bus or an hour at home. It's a strong display of FuturLab's mastery of the PlayStation download domain – this absolutely belongs on your system.

Call of Juarez: Gunslinger successfully puts the franchise back on track. At a purely mechanical level, the title may feel familiar to other first-person shooters – but its unique setting and novel storytelling methods give it the jolt of originality that it requires.

Complemented by a beautiful watercolour and cel-shaded art style, and cloaked in an aura of innocence, this is an enjoyable adventure, but it's let down by some occassionally mundane gameplay, frame rate issues, and voice dub faults.

There are some neat moments on offer, and the Raid mode is a surprisingly enjoyable addition, but it’s a largely forgetful title, lost in a sea of much more memorable adventures.

Terraria certainly won’t be appreciated by everyone. It requires a lot of time, effort, and patience if you’re to coax everything out of the experience. For those willing, there’s more than enough enjoyable, diverse content here to keep you busy for hours on end, and it can be even more fun with friends – just be prepared to wrap your head around the incredibly awkward user interface first.

Star Trek: The Video Game shows signs of promise, and even manages to deliver a serviceable plot – but buried beneath its palatable dialogue is a calamitous third-person shooter that makes a mockery out of its source material. Fans of the franchise may be able to see past the bugs, but will despise the emphasis on action, while everyone else will be best served elsewhere.

The ideal accompaniment to a short spell on the throne, Men’s Room Mayhem is bursting with charm – but its poor progression system and novelty-driven gameplay means that it ultimately pees on the potty seat. The title definitely scrubs up well, and there’s an unusual allure to its overarching concept – just don’t expect this water closet excursion to come up smelling entirely of roses.

Metro: Last Light really benefits from the fictional source material that serves as its inspiration. The game's world is so fantastically detailed and meticulously crafted that you really feel like you're a part of it – and the psychological horror elements put recent Resident Evil games to shame. The AI issues are inexcusable and the plot could certainly be improved, but this is still one stop that you really shouldn’t miss.

Sporting satisfyingly deep, yet accessible fighting mechanics and a diverse range of gameplay modes, it’s hard to fault Arc System Works' intense entry into the Persona franchise. Persona 4 Arena is a focused and polished brawler that will appeal to both fans of the series and fighting aficionados alike, and has proven to be well worth the wait for European gamers.

Jacob Jones and the Bigfoot Mystery: Episode One - A Bump in the Night sets the scene on an enjoyable world, and introduces some entertaining puzzles in the process. The stiff challenge is well balanced with lots of hints, though the difficulty does feel a little at odds with the child-friendly aesthetic. Nevertheless, the presentation is exquisite throughout, and we're already looking forward to the next instalment in this charming series.

Nun Attack is a brilliant example of an accessible portable title, perfectly suited for quick stints of gameplay whenever you have the time. Although the excessive emphasis on grinding detracts from some of the fun, the game offers a deceptive amount of content for such a low asking price, with multiple RPG elements adding a welcome layer of depth.

Thomas Was Alone is an engrossing puzzle platformer that introduces some believable and appealing characters, but the experience is disappointingly short-lived and lacks challenge. You will finish the core campaign wanting more, so it's nice that there's an additional DLC expansion available – but it's a shame that the add-on isn't included as part of the primary package.

The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct is an appalling, unpolished mess. Gameplay is dull and buggy, there’s very little attempt at a plot, the characters are unlikeable, and bar a couple of interesting mechanics, everything feels rushed and dated. The likenesses and voices are accurate, with Norman Reedus and Michael Rooker reprising their roles as Daryl and Merle respectively, but that isn’t enough to rescue this abomination from the shallow grave of wretchedness that it has dug for itself.

There are certainly enjoyable moments to be found in Zombie Tycoon 2: Brainhov’s Revenge, but they’re buried beneath repetitive gameplay and unnecessarily frustrating mechanics. The multiplayer chaos is just enough to keep you coming back, but things are never quite as well crafted as the charming art direction would lead you to believe.

Dragon’s Dogma isn't for everyone. It’s a time consuming and often brutal title, and its original flaws still remain – but the inclusion of Dark Arisen is just enough to push Capcom’s grand RPG up there with the best that the genre has to offer. You’ll be hard pressed to find a more rewarding, dynamic, and atmospheric adventure on the PS3.

Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is unashamedly stupid, and it's all the better for it. The standalone download takes the core ideas from Ubisoft's relatively recent tropical thriller, and reassembles them in the form of a nostalgic love-in that's packed with sly references and silly jokes. Its campaign may be short, but the title never overstays its welcome as a result. If you're looking for a laugh, then search no further.

Offers a consuming fantasy adventure set in a desperately dark world. It may succumb to repetition in places, but its underlying moral mechanic brings a warped twist to a genre that’s becoming increasingly crowded in the wake of Monster Hunter’s success. The presentation isn’t always as polished as you’d expect from a first-party release, but the perverse art direction makes up for it.

Injustice: Gods Among Us takes the best elements of 2011's excellent Mortal Kombat reboot and fuses them with a faithful superhero setting, resulting in a solid fighting game with a likeable cast. The online multiplayer may not always be consistent, but this is still a heroic effort that's more than fit for the Gods.

While this may only be a very average JRPG at best, despite all of its flaws and framerate issues, Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory is absurdly lovable.

If you liked the original, then you'll probably enjoy Dead Island: Riptide – but this feels more like a big expansion pack than a standalone sequel. Newcomers will be frustrated by the buggy gameplay, while long term fans will be baffled by the unfixed glitches. The game is at its best in co-op, but, despite some decent presentation, it's still not really worth the admission fee.

If you've been searching for an excuse to take a trip down memory lane, look no further than Dragon Fantasy: Book I. Muteki Corporation's retro JRPG love-in offers a lengthy adventure that's a perfect fit for the Vita. Its humour, fast-paced gameplay, and endearing style make it especially difficult to put down – particularly if you can look past the tedious emphasis on grinding.

Guacamelee! is a fiery adventure for fans of platformers with a bit of a kick. While the level design can be a bit finicky, it's the combat that's the real star of the show, making us wish that there was a little more of it. Still, the title may not be flawless, but it's entirely deserving of its place upon the great gaming menu, alongside the classics that so clearly inspired it.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 offers a comprehensive golfing experience for enthusiast swingers that don't fancy braving the unpredictable weather. However, while there are a number of refinements included as part of the package, it's difficult to justify the asking price if you already own last year's entry. There's no doubt that this is the best instalment in the franchise yet, but the ongoing debate regarding the necessity of annual updates rolls on.

BioShock Infinite is a sublime shooter set in a magical world. While the campaign’s final third never quite lives up to its breathtaking opening, there’s more than enough intrigue imprisoned within Columbia’s curious suspended districts to keep you compelled from the beginning right through to the very end.

Darkstalkers Resurrection is a solid package, shining a well-deserved spotlight on the dusty franchise, and allowing old fans and newcomers alike to spend quality time with the unforgettable cast.

Hungry Giraffe is clearly a product of a talented team’s passion. The cutesy visuals, adorable sound effects, and addictive gameplay are a joy to experience, and while it’s a shame that micro-transactions are present, the title’s such a bargain that you may not mind kicking the developer a little bit of extra cash.

Jeremy McGrath's Offroad has raced into a genre saturated with more competent competitors, and it pulls up in last place as a result. While the game doesn't necessarily do anything offensive, it's still a subpar experience with a major identity crisis. If you're looking for an enjoyable offroad racer, there are much better options on the PS3. Don't waste your time with this cheaper sub-standard alternative.

Life of Pixel is a likeable precision platformer with a fantastic visual style. Its gameplay is hampered by occasional areas of poor design, and the lack of leaderboards is a particularly prominent oversight, but if you're looking for a charming, challenging, and cheap title, then this is a solid choice.

Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time is a decent adventure with some memorable moments, but it’s hampered by repetition and a lack of desire to build upon the foundations of previous entries in the franchise. There’s still enough animal magic to make this platformer worth playing, but it’s more of a petty thief than a notorious armed robber.

Ratloop Asia's greatest achievement with Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken is the successful combination of diverse 2D gameplay, dark story tones, atmospheric visual settings, and imaginative audio work. This delightful handheld port will surprise Vita gamers who wrongly anticipate a generic platformer or shooter.

Despite solid gameplay mechanics, Germinator is let down tremendously by poor presentation and a tacky, annoying art style. It’s a game better suited to the burgeoning mobile market, making the asking price seem a little too steep for what you’re getting – especially since there’s no cross-buy option.

BIT.TRIP Presents: Runner 2 - Future Legend of Rhythm Alien is a game packed with many highs and few lows. While downloadable titles are renowned for their limited staying power, we can see ourselves sprinting back to this one for more. Yes, it can be frustrating at times, but it’s been a long while since we’ve felt a true sense of accomplishment for getting things right.

WRC Powerslide is a visually attractive experiment with an unclear purpose.

Tomb Raider is an exceptional game. Break-neck set pieces and quality combat help make the action exceedingly enjoyable, even if it does stray from the themes of the narrative at times. Impressive visuals and a lively environment brimming with distractions will encourage you to explore, while a solid if unspectacular multiplayer component provides some replayability. Nathan Drake may want to watch his back, because the queen of adventure's gunning for his crown.

Irrespective of its title, God of War: Ascension is not the colossal step forward for Kratos that was promised – but a surprisingly refreshing online component and some of the most spectacular set-pieces in the series make the adventure worth traversing all the same.

Urban Trial Freestyle may have taken a lot of inspiration from Trials Evolution, but it only emulates the bare minimum. Yes, there is a bike, and, yes, there are obstacles to navigate, but any soul or innovation is left at the starting line. This is a cold, sterile replication of a successful franchise, and a testament to the fact that fun cannot be imitated in such an uninspired way.

Aliens: Colonial Marines is a failure. It’s buggy, not a great deal of fun, and filled with unlikeable characters that desperately attempt to further a plot that you'll promptly lose interest in.

Dynasty Warriors 7: Empires is close to being the perfect mix of role playing and hack and slash gameplay. Despite some recurring flaws, the newest entry in the series proves to be one of the most endearing and complete Warriors titles to date. Fans shouldn’t think twice about picking this up, and newcomers might just discover a series that’s been overlooked for far too long.

Let’s Fish! Hooked On is less lobster thermidor and more fish fingers. The angling adventure’s heart’s in the right place, but its monotonous gameplay and lacklustre presentation leave a lot to be desired. Pop this one back in the water, and let it swim a long way away.

There’s a wealth of entertaining content that’ll keep you coming back for more, and, even if you get frustrated, you’re frequently showered with in-game achievements, which provides the necessary encouragement for one more go.

While Orgarhythm's overall idea is great, all too often the positives are hidden in the mix by flaws that make it much more of a hassle than it should be. There are moments of excellence that occasionally blare out front and centre and hint at what could have been, but that quality is sadly not as consistent throughout as its stomping drum beats.

A solid game with sparks of excellence, but difficulty niggles and occasionally obtuse controls let it down.

This is a generic brawler that feels like it was rushed to market, and is a huge disappointment considering it's a sequel to an already lacklustre game.

Zombie Driver HD has many of the components of a decent downloadable game, but repetitive missions and clunky controls make this more of a messy car crash than an exhilarating death ride. You may harvest some entertainment out of the dodgy dialogue and straightforward Slaughter mode, but just don’t expect the novelty to last anywhere near as long as your average Hallowe’en slasher flick.

If you have to give Sumioni: Demon Arts something, it’s that it’s a beautifully flawed game. The bold art direction makes way for occasionally uninspiring backdrops, repetitive gameplay, and irritating music. The nonsensical story provides characters you don’t care about and a world you must save that you know nothing of. The developers clearly thought that the art style and touch screen controls were enough to make up for the issues, but they're not. This is a let down on nearly every level.

This is a confused product that’s too complicated for non-musicians, and far too basic for proper producers.

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is a masterpiece, lovingly crafted by both teams at Level-5 and Studio Ghibli. It's bursting with so much character, humour, strength, and sorrow that it's impossible to put down. The lively animation and whimsical design is flawless, with memorable characters that will stay with you throughout your entire gaming career. The narrative may not seem particularly groundbreaking at first, but this is an adventure that's unlike any other.

As it stands, this sequel simply continues what the original started, taking no real risks and reaping no real rewards.

Gun Commando is a neat idea, but it falls apart in the final stages. The nostalgic presentation is a strong lure, but the sloppy controls and relentless difficulty let it down. It may be an accurate representation of the genre that it's attempting to celebrate, but times have changed.

The Cave may not be enough to restore adventure games to their former glory, but its clever storytelling, even smarter puzzles, and enchanting art style make it an escapade absolutely worth taking. Despite the occasionally tedious platforming, this is a satisfying experience – and one that you won't forget in a hurry.

Whether or not you get much out of Beats Slider will depend upon your tolerance for sliding puzzles, but there's some great music here to encourage your investment regardless. In many ways it's the perfect title for PlayStation Mobile: simple, disposable, and smart. And at less than the price of a Kinder Surprise, it's hard to really complain either way.

There's a likeable premise lurking within Haunt the House: Terrortown, but the game is far too obtuse to take advantage of it. Some players may have fun exploring the tiny title, but the developer needs to ensure that its future releases boast better communication and more content, or risk scaring consumers away.

escapeVektor is an addictive title, and a great choice if you're in the market for a new PlayStation Vita puzzler. The accessible mechanics, smart pacing, and intriguing narrative make it a compelling option, even if it can get a touch frustrating towards the end.

Uncharted: Fight for Fortune is a stopgap title that's designed to bolster the PlayStation Vita's limited line-up, and it's a decent idea when taken on its own merits. Unfortunately, the slow pacing and stripped back presentation make it an acquired taste, and a somewhat strange addition to Naughty Dog's otherwise flamboyant franchise.

Panic! isn't a bad game, but its imprecise touch controls hold it back. There's definitely a decent premise here – but, much like its subject material, the puzzler's best ideas are obscured beneath several layers of sticky, murky matter.

Fuel Tiracas is a solid amalgamation of a number of traditional titles, and is utterly addictive in short bursts. The novelty does wear off eventually, but for the grand sum of £0.40/$0.49, this is well worth adding to your PlayStation Mobile collection.