IGN

• PC
• 8.7 / 10
• États-Unis

Papers Please is a fantastic idea, beautifully executed. On the surface, stamping passports is the dullest job in the world. Wrapped up in Cold War chic though, it’s more than that from the start, with enough personality soon emerging from the greyness to keep it interesting even after foiling the hundredth attempt to sneak something nasty across the border. It’s not necessarily "fun," especially as you watch your family wither and die in the name of efficient immigration control, but it’s certainly compelling. Very few other games have so perfectly encapsulated just how being trapped in this kind of dehumanising role can be, in the best possible way, and both inside and out of the dreaded grey booth. If only there could be an achievement for reaching the exact moment you turn someone away for no particularly good reason, only to quietly tell yourself that, as ever, you were just following orders.

• PS3
• WIIU
• 7 / 10
• États-Unis

The DuckTales cartoons might not be hot anymore, but DuckTales: Remastered is, in most ways, as good as Capcom’s legendary NES platformer ever was. It comes packing a few twists, some better than others. Refreshed boss fights are a nice touch, but Remastered’s confounding emphasis on its story is disruptive and annoying, even if it comes packing some great voice acting. Like the original, DuckTales: Remastered should be all about the action, not spending a ton of time in menus skipping cutscenes you already watched ten times. Still, DuckTales: Remastered is a worthy purchase for those who have experience with the original and are looking for a nostalgia rush. Just temper your expectations, because DuckTales simply isn’t as good as you probably remember.

• X360
• 8.2 / 10
• États-Unis

• PS3
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

The Tales series has a long history, and some games in particular – think Phantasia, Destiny, or Symphonia – hold a special place in my heart. Xillia isn’t better than any of those entries in my estimation, but it certainly is a worthy addition to the storied Tales franchise. Indeed, it’s no surprise that its sequel was so quickly green-lit and released in Japan (with a western localization coming in 2014). Xillia’s ability to nurture Tales’ traditions while adding its own flavor to the mix is perhaps its greatest strength, and while it suffers from occasionally corny moments and a subpar graphical look, its weaknesses are overwhelmed by its complex systems, fun combat, interesting stories, and a compelling party of characters, not to mention its dueling protagonists. Tales of Xillia is a must-play for Tales fans and JRPG freaks alike.

• PS3
• VITA
• 8.5 / 10
• États-Unis

Dragon’s Crown is about to put Vanillaware on the map. Whether on PlayStation 3 or PS Vita, it’s an enjoyable and deep old-school romp with an incredible amount of charm and an even higher amount of replay value. The experience is virtually identical on PS3 and Vita, but if you absolutely, positively only want to buy one, I’d go for the PlayStation 3 version, as its chaotic action is more readable and better appreciated on the big screen. While it’s puzzling why Dragon’s Crown is only cross-save and not cross-buy or cross-play, that doesn’t reduce its astounding production values and addictive gameplay. It’s incredible that something this good almost never came out, but it was absolutely worth the wait.

• PS3
• PC
• X360
• WIIU
• 7.4 / 10
• États-Unis

As a love letter to platformers past and an open invitation to most hardened gamers out there, Cloudberry Kingdom succeeds admirably. Creative features inspired by classic influences help foster a hyper-addictive experience and thwart potential repetitiveness. While its technically impressive level generator ultimately doesn’t add a great deal, the intense, straight-ahead gameplay demands to be played and replayed for hours on end. It’s a shame the developers couldn’t find a unique and distinctive voice for Cloudberry.

• PS3
• VITA
• 9.2 / 10
• États-Unis

Much like its hero, Stealth Inc. could easily blend into a lineup of samey-feeling puzzle-platformers at a glance, but on closer examination it finds ways to conspicuously impress and entertain. Its stealth and puzzle mechanics are first rate, but its foreboding look and feel are what really set it apart. This is not one you want to miss.

• VITA
• 6.8 / 10
• États-Unis

The Jak and Daxter Collection’s three games are excellent, but if you have the ability to play them on the PS3 (or hell, even the PS2), then that's the way to go. While the PS3 collection is a gorgeous, near-perfect port, while the Vita version is a nearly good enough port plagued by control and performance problems that gum up the works.

• PC
• VITA
• PS4
• PS3
• XONE
• SWITCH
• 9 / 10
• États-Unis

Rogue Legacy is one of my favourite games of 2013 so far. It’s a hugely compelling mix of 2D action-platforming and Roguelike game design, with excellent pixel art and just the right level of challenge. It’s the wildly inventive traits system, however – and the fact that it’s meaningful – that really elevates Rogue Legacy. This is a game with a genuinely unique hook, and the gameplay stones to back it up. Clever, creative, and addictive as hell.

• PC
• 7.3 / 10
• États-Unis

I'm very pleased to see a good new RPG in this classic isometric style, and its The Dead Man's Switch story has some well-told twists while it lasts, and the light tactical combat has enough depth to make it a worthwhile adventure. But the bite-sized scope and limited choices available make me more interested to see what Shadowrun Returns will be a year from now, after the community has used the included mod tools to build on it, than in what it is today.

• PC
• 9.4 / 10
• États-Unis

Dota 2 deserves its intimidating reputation, and it probably won’t suit you if you’re looking to play casually. There’s a huge time investment before you can even enjoy a game, let alone feel competent at it. But once you start to learn its secrets, there’s a wild and exciting variety of play here that’s unmatched, even by its peers. It’s a challenge of knowledge as well as reflexes, and success is a rush. The fact that it’s completely and totally free to play in the way we wish all free-to-play games could be isn’t just one of the most generous propositions anywhere in gaming, it creates a level playing field where skill and cooperation is paramount. May the best team win.

• X360
• PC
• PS3
• 4.5 / 10
• États-Unis

R.I.P.D. refuses to let itself be a fun co-op shooter. Whether it’s failing to explain how to win, use abilities, or find out how many lives I have left, or just making it hard to find someone to play with, it holds itself back at every turn. While this isn't among the worst movie video game tie-ins, it certainly doesn’t buck the trend of mediocrity. It’s simply… not arresting.

• IOS
• 4.9 / 10
• États-Unis

While several recent console games have been successfully translated to touch controls on iPhone and iPad, Sine Mora is not one of them. Unsatisfying and unresponsive virtual buttons handicap what is otherwise one of the best 2D shooters in recent years.

• WIIU
• 8.8 / 10
• États-Unis

Pikmin 3 is a delight. There’s nothing else like its gentle combination of exploration, strategy and discovery, and it made me feel both empathy and responsibility for virtual creatures that most games would treat as disposable fodder. It transported me like few other games can, giving the feeling of being a stranger in a strange (but oddly familiar) world. It's over too soon, but it leaves a lasting impression.

• X360
• PS3
• 8.7 / 10
• États-Unis

Dynasty Warriors 8 is the most satisfying and complete Warriors game yet, dethroning the excellent Warriors Orochi 3. It’s at once familiar and fresh, instantly recognisable at its core yet subtly transformed by intelligent additions and a series of small but noticeable tweaks. Wider changes may come in future instalments, but if this is the last we see of Dynasty Warriors in its current form, then it’s a hell of a way to bow out.

• IOS
• 8.7 / 10
• États-Unis

Like the beloved original, Plants vs Zombies 2's gameplay never stands still – it’s always evolving, layering in fresh plants and new twists. No matter how you play, the gameplay is founded on the tension between your game plan and the fact that you’ll almost never have enough sun or space to fully execute said game plan. But that’s the point: when things invariably go wrong, the fun is in scrambling to adapt and emerging battered but victorious. Plants vs. Zombies 2 sometimes forgets that with its overblown Power Up system. Even so, it’s an excellent – if overly safe – sequel, and as beautifully presented as it is absorbing to play.

• X360
• PS3
• 5.3 / 10
• États-Unis

I applaud the developers for choosing to create a more focused brawler rather than trying to replicate the movie’s plot. But, due to Pacific Rim: The Video Game’s boring, repetitive, simplistic combat and a lackluster amount of content, it’s hard to recommend this to anyone other than passionate fans of the film. Save your ten bucks and go see the movie again instead.

• 3DS
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

Mario and Luigi Dream Team has great moments, but they’re almost always confined to its psychedelic dream sections, which teem with imagination and invention. Consequently I always found myself enjoying these sections far more than its overworld exploration, turn-based combat, and more traditional RPG elements. It's an uneven experience, but occasionally it grasps greatness, making it a worthy addition to an already distinguished series.