This bite-sized brawler delivers addictive time attack gameplay and satisfying combat for an appropriate price. Though you'll want to engage in short doses to make the most of its limited enemy types, Croixleur Sigma is perfect for pick-up-and-play action and delivers significantly superior value for money than its predecessor.
Sir, You Are Being Hunted brings rock-hard stealth survival to our pleasant pastures and dark satanic mills. Though overly large maps and lengthy backtracking can replace tension with tedium, its unmistakeably British character and unique gameplay fusion wins out, at least for patient players.
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel makes up for some major issues with pacing and level design by simply being a ridiculously fun cooperative romp. A few more months of development could have turned a good game into a great one, but there's still some great bouncy butt-slammin' action to get stuck into here.
Super Ultra Dead Rising 3 Arcade Remix Hyper Edition EX Plus Alpha Review turns Dead Rising 3 down into a royal retro rumble. Fantastic fun with three friends, especially when you've unlocked a few costumes, but ultimately arena DLC in a game that's still crying out for a quality story expansion. For most, though, destroying hordes of zombies as Mayor Haggar will be worth the price of admission.
An intense, aggressive and addictive twinstick shooter. Like fast food, it's tasty, cheap and somewhat recycled, though a deceptive layer of on-the-fly tactics elevates Sixty Second Shooter Prime above its generic genre trappings.
Killer Instinct is a brutal, attractive and responsive fighting game that feels fantastic on the new Xbox One controller. Its unique combo system provides accessible depth, bolstered by balanced characters and a pleasingly forward-thinking business model.
#IDARB is a fun, accessible and utterly bonkers 4v4 team sport that allows onlookers to get involved in crazy and unpredictable ways. It's a local multiplayer revelation, though long-term appeal and value is questionable especially once it returns to £11.99.
Blackguards is a monstrous slab of ruthlessly tough yet massively rewarding strategy that fans of old-school RPGs will find impossible to resist. The more esoteric and chance-based aspects of its mechanics and presentation will put many players off -- not to mention a difficulty curve that makes The Shard look like The Shire -- but chances are you already know where you stand.
SQUIDS Odyssey brings calamari-flinging catapult strategy to the Wii U, where it feels right at home with sharp visuals, plenty of content and an enjoyable challenge. Though the mobile originals are admittedly incredibly cheap, curious Wii U owners should definitely take a look at this definitive console edition.
I absolutely adore Warframe despite its rough edges and questionable economy. Since 'grind' is just another word for 'annihilating hordes of foes as an awesome space ninja,' featuring plentiful surprises, addictive progression, strong co-op, overlapping gameplay systems and gorgeous art design, I can forgive any number of niggling flaws.
Need For Speed: Rivals is an exhilarating thrill ride that's very nearly brilliant. The foundations for fun are present and correct, but last-gen compromises transform AllDrive from a game changer into a nigh-on dealbreaker.
Strider is more than worthy to bear the name: a slick, exacting and breathlessly hectic action-platformer powered by superb combat. Though botched 'MetroidVania' exploration adds tedious bulk rather than value, amplified by a grim lack of colour, arcade aficionados and challenge-seekers will be in their element.
Ground Zeroes is a stealthy sandbox, a playground that lets us get used to and experiment with the slick new Metal Gear mechanics. Its weak storyline and fleeting length are disappointing, but impressive replay value, extra content and undeniable quality will make The Phantom Pain's prologue worth the price of admission for many gamers.
Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare is a fun, fresh and friendly new take on the tired old multiplayer shooter. Newbies will enjoy a safe and relaxing environment to learn the ropes, while the superbly imbalanced classes provide surprising depth for more experienced players. PopCap's genre inexperience shows in the half-baked progression system and unsatisfying hit feedback, but their bumbling and charming personality ultimately wins out.
Peggle 2 is more Peggle, only vastly prettier. Which is absolutely what we want. If you're looking for a shot of colourful fun and orchestral orgasmic peg-busting bliss on Xbox One, you can't go far wrong here.
LEGO Batman 3's irrepressible love for the universe and amazing attention to detail make for an essential DC experience, but the gameplay feels like a step sideways and even backwards for the LEGO series. This was the first time I stopped playing a holiday season LEGO game because I'd had enough, not because I'd collected everything. LEGO Batman 3 will do for now, but it's clear that TT Games needs to start thinking seriously about where to go next.
MXGP is a solid stab at recreating the muddy thrills of motocross that excels on the simulation side of things. One for the fans.
Unmechanical Extended is just as short and sweet as the original; a gentle yet compelling use of four hours that's best enjoyed in a single sitting. I'd recommend it to newcomers, but the disappointing new episode isn't enough to warrant picking up for old hands.
The fact that Final Fantasy: Type-0 HD is enjoyable on PS4 and Xbox One proves how magnificent the PSP original must have been. Its fantastic real-time battle system holds the entire game together, while the ending more than makes up for the confusing mess of jargon that precedes it.
As ridiculously deep and deeply ridiculous as ever, Disgaea 4: A Promise Revisited makes the 2011 original feel like a brand new game and a superb value package.