Black Flag lacks the spit and polish of prize plunder, but it certainly doesn’t deserve to be cast back into the ocean. This is as much an enjoyable on water excursion as it as an exceptional stealth game, and while not every mission in its protracted campaign will leave you as buoyant as the Jolly Roger, you’ll find more than enough riches here to keep you coming back for more.

At its heart, F1 2013 is a minor update to F1 2012, and while the inclusion of tyre management and tweaks to the handling make for a far smoother racing experience, it feels all too familiar far too quickly.

Superfrog HD tries really hard to be a warm and entertaining re-imagining of the Amiga classic, but there are a few bumps along the road. From a gameplay perspective, jumping is quite floaty and requires a lot of patience to wrap your head around.

Marred only by an engine that’s really starting to show its age, The Wolf Among Us would’ve been interesting enough as a straight up crime thriller, but its literary basis makes it a completely different beast. With a story that’s as disturbing and shocking as it is gripping, Telltale Games’ first episode ends on such a cliff-hanger that we may need to go and buy the anthology of comics to tide us over until episode two.

Newcomers to the franchise may want to delve back into Disgaea's archives before trying their hand at D2 in order to better acquaint themselves with the three main characters, but after a few hours eliminating demons on the battlefield, you'll soon be up to speed with all of the tactical gameplay delights that the series has to offer.

There's a decent game buried somewhere beneath the muck, but scrubbing it off will take monster-like determination.

The players may still look like strange rubber men and the commentators still spout lines that you've already heard hundreds of times before, but FIFA 14 manages to do just enough to keep its lead on the competition.

The narrative and characters are varied, quirky, and interesting, and while the core action does get a little repetitive, the plot and constant dialogue will undoubtedly keep you entertained.

While it's still not quite at the same standard as FIFA, the Heart mechanic is an inspired addition, and if the franchise continues to follow its current trajectory, it could yet topple EA's giant in the years to come.

Skydive: Proximity Flight is fun at first, but it plummets prompter than bungee jumper with the wrong length cord. With little other than a flimsy campaign mode to keep you occupied, the thrill of swooping through a never-ending sequence of coloured rings will soon outstay its welcome, and you’ll quickly be looking elsewhere to get your fix of extreme exhilaration.

While Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX is certainly not the perfect introduction to the series that newcomers may have expected, it does a decent job of recapturing the magic of the original release in glorious high-definition.

Atomic Ninjas is a humorous and intense brawler, but unfortunately its appeal abates when playing alone with bots. The title is therefore heavily dependent on multiplayer – and the size of its online community. It's crying out for a story campaign, but if you can get a few friends together, then you'll definitely be (ninja) roped in by its ridiculous and highly enjoyable combat.

Dragon's Crown's narrative may get burned alive by a winged terror before it manages to even draw its sword, but the title's simple yet incredibly refined gameplay and well-crafted co-op component manage to save the day. The adventure glistens thanks to an astounding art direction that's laced with a magical musical score – but we just wished that there was a little more content to gaze lovingly in disbelief at.

Beyond: Two Souls’ imperfections don’t necessarily add to the title’s appeal, but this is still a game that you should experience irrespective of its flaws. While the plot takes a number of questionable turns, the outrageously ambitious subject matter, coupled with the release’s downright staggering technological achievements, make Quantic Dream’s current generation opus worth examining all the same.

A wet and mild ride through a spirit-infested city, Rain is soaked with smart stealth-lite systems and awe-inducing presentation. The simple puzzles and short running time wash away some of its triumphs, and it certainly won’t leave you streaming like Japan Studio’s most memorable excursions, but the adventure will still linger on your lips like a kiss under a dark cloud.

It's worth enduring the nightmares for a chance to experience this survival horror gem.

Carnivores: Dinosaur Hunter HD has some glaring flaws that refrain it from reaching prize catch status, but its accessible mechanics and decent sense of progression ensure that there's still room for it on the trophy wall – especially if you're a fan of overgrown lizards.

Elminage Original's classic design certainly offers an alternative to more modern dungeon crawlers, but its inability to explain even the simplest of mechanics make it a difficult game to get into. If you've got fond memories of classic RPG titles, then this offers a reasonable way to revisit that nostalgia. It is, however, a title that can only truly be recommended to a very small niche.

A compelling culmination of exact care and attention, Grand Theft Auto V's obsessive attention to detail is matched only by its gripping mission design and clever caricature cast.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is an excellent game, but it's a bit too much for the aging PS3 to handle at times. While it's impressive that Square Enix managed to get the title to run on the ancient hardware at all, it's difficult to justify the monthly fee if you plan to play solely on Sony's console.

Aside from some graphical and interface niggles, Diablo III has made the transition to the PS3 exceptionally well. The addictive loot loop remains intact here, and it's furthered by the addition of an excellent couch co-op mode. With several classes to sample and a seemingly never-ending supply of gear, this is an impressive port of an already outstanding game.

Farming Simulator is nowhere near ripe enough for an unwavering recommendation, but budding agronomists will unearth the seeds of a compelling experience germinating beneath its grubby exterior. The title’s got more warts than an infected potato, but if you’re itching for something a little out of the ordinary, there’s the husk of an enjoyable husbandry excursion here.

Like the bald hero himself, Dragon Fantasy: Book II emerges from the dungeon victorious, boasting of pretty graphics, a glorious soundtrack, and solid gameplay. But its celebration of JRPGs is cursed with unnecessary mechanics and cut short by technical shortcomings. Ogden would have been better off fondly reminiscing about his previous, more enjoyable adventures.

Marred only by occasionally obtuse controls and a slight lack of difficulty, if this is the kind of content we can expect from Sony’s army of indie developers, the future is very bright indeed.

Kutaro's marvellous journey is packed with characters that are anything but wooden, and a narrative that's both self-aware and effortlessly charming, resulting in one of the best exclusive adventures on the PlayStation 3.

While Disney clearly had children in mind when designing Disney Infinity, the toy-infused fantasy worlds are excellent fun for youngsters and adults alike. Despite being held back by a couple of framerate issues and screen freezing problems, this cornucopia of physical and in-game joy still manages to cast a spell over its audience, offering swashbuckling action, magical adventures, and practically limitless creation and customisation options.

Unquestionably the definitive version of Team Ninja’s flamboyant fighter, Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate repurposes the panache of its predecessor – and pops a glazed cherry on top. The gameplay mechanics are still a smidgen shallow, and there may not be enough meaningful content to woo those that have already had their fill with the original release – but franchise fans and curious newcomers will find a competent option here.

KickBeat is definitely on rhythm, and will consume hours of your time with its beat-matching brawling as a consequence.