games(TM)

It's hard to understand why the game exists. Did Gaiman desperately want to attach himself to an ugly, boring puzzle game? Did the Odd Gentleman really think this was the best way to display his work? It's more of a mystery than the actual story of Wayward Manor itself.

Rise Of The Dark Spark feels rushed: a mess of half-baked ideas and sloppy execution that's put Transformers on the same track as the Spider-Man games, approaching the point of no return. We can't be certain as to why Activision seems so intent with steering these wonderful properties so deeply into the dirt, but we hope it realises the value in the brands before it's too late. passable co-operative mode aside, there's very little to recommend out of Rise Of The Dark Spark.

Considering the scope of its predecessors and how far the genre has come since the series' inception a decade ago, that's as unnecessary as it is unwelcome. Still, there's potential here and approached with the right mindset and a group of friends there's some fun to be had. Streamline your expectations, in other words, and you're more likely to view Sacred 3 as slick rather than shallow.

There's a good game at EA Sports UFC's core, it's just a shame that it's not as seamless in its delivery as we'd hoped it would be. Fingers crossed that that changes in the inevitable sequel.

Always Sometimes Monsters again shows up that 'game' is a word whose time is done. There is nothing playful about this experience – it's a mixture of repetitive tasks that riddle your fingers with despair and increasingly-depressing plots. This then is a 'life failure' simulator, like Cliff Harris's sandbox Kudos 2. Like that, it's compelling, enlightening and moving – but hard to call 'fun'.

It's a shame that poor execution lets Entwined down so badly. The themes being explored here have the potential to be touching and are, unquestionably, underrepresented in videogames. Hopefully PixelOpus can learn from its mistakes and deliver something next time that better blends its interactive elements with these themes.

Just like the technical artifice in which it's set, though, it never quite feels like home.

Super Time Force is a quirky mix of good, old-fashioned shooting fun, blended with more than a pinch of thinking power – but it proves to be a perfect combination.

2014 will have better games, stronger ideas and more visually impressive spectacles, but none of this stops Watch Dogs from being another very fine offering from Ubisoft Montreal, a studio that has a commitment to both quality and narrative that should always be admired.

While the great entries to the Sim City series, the Civilizations of the world, even Ubisoft's Anno series and Galactic Civilizations II all give more back the more you put into it, Tropico 5 is unable to do that. And a lack of longevity in a game that should last so very long is just, ultimately, disappointing.

Ignore the discordance within its narrative and get your way past the incredibly dull opening stretch: Wolfenstein is a brawny, gratifying shooter experience – the likes of which you probably haven't played in some time. Consider it a history lesson.

Whatever caused it, our save was irrevocably corrupted and any chance of playing Bound By Flames beyond our review went down the pan with it. Not that this should be the death knell for your purchase decision too, you probably won't encounter the same game-breaking problem and maybe you haven't experienced the worlds of Westeros, Tamriel and the Northern Kingdoms. Good for you. Not only are you more likely to enjoy all the talking between every fight but there are four seasons of compelling HBO drama and several weeks of exhaustive, back to back playtime across two chart-topping video game franchises, once you're done.

Matched with an attractive sepia tone and a thumping soundtrack, Luftrausers is an enthralling and time-sapping trial of nerve and persistence. It's certainly a game much more suited for pocket gaming and the Vita release will likely prove to be the essential version, but whatever your chosen flavour there's a quality to the design that'll shine through on any platform.

But subjectively it boils down to just how much use you will find yourself getting out of these new additions. The Crusader requires a reroll, bounties reuse locations and the addition of randomised dungeons might genuinely be a case of too little, too late. This is a superlative effort from Blizzard, but is it enough to change your mind if you've already decided against the instalment? Sadly, that's not a question we can answer for you.

As a pack-in for the console, this would have been far easier to forgive, but at full price and with no proper multiplayer, it's a tough sell. Rare's game looks stunning and is enjoyably tame, but lacks in true winner's grit and star quality. Maybe next season.

It might not appeal to everyone, but Ether One is an exceptional example of what can be done with simple game design. It has a quality not commonly seen in smaller indie titles, and the courage to do things a little differently.

All of which makes us a little suspicious. Are we being suckered with the sweet stuff now, only to be hit with expensive expansions later? Perhaps, but we'll revise our view if and when Blizzard introduces the CCG equivalent of WOW's 'Sparkle Pony'. For now, Hearthstone is very much a triumph, and with a mobile client rolling out there's a sense that we're at the beginning of a phenomenon rather than in the midst of one. Yet again, Blizzard seems to have played its cards absolutely right.

None of Mario Golf World Tour's changes are revolutionary – ten years away has brought surprisingly few new ideas – but the core gameplay is as fun and attractive as ever, so if you're looking for a golf game for the 3DS this will do just fine.

This isn't TT's fault by any means, but it does make for a game that has to wrangle a sloppy a story, awkwardly transitioning from Ian Holm's older Bilbo as narrator, before those duties are passed onto Christopher Lee's Saruman for reasons that aren't entirely clear. It's not the best Lego game by any means, mostly due to the lacklustre licence at its core. However, Lego The Hobbit still demonstrates TT Games' willingness to experiment with the series' popular design and it makes some strides here to shake-up the formula in exciting new ways. If you love The Hobbit then you'll find the world absolutely crammed with things to do and see, but those that were disappointed by Jackson's second Middle- earth trilogy might not want to be reminded of the cinematic misfire.

Crucially, with this wealth of content and a more robust online system, it doesn't just herald this as the ultimate Trials game, but also one that'll have fans hooked for a long time to come.