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.

From the boxers’ entrances to the lowered house lights, Vivid Games has done a great job of making Real Boxing feel as authentic as possible. Fans of the sport and simulated fighting aficionados alike will get a lot out of this offering, and with a multiplayer mode bringing even more to the ring, this is a knockout port.

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.