Rival Megagun plays like a shmup but has the soul of competitive puzzle games like Super Puzzle Fighter II. Undoubtedly fun to play with others, it loses its charm when played against the AI. It's a neat idea that's been imperfectly executed, but still manages to provide a few hours of head-to-head fun.

Certainly not the greatest Trials game ever made, but definitely the most experimental entry in the series that showcases a ton of personality as players return to the gloriously over the top Blood Dragon universe.

A reworked yet subtle combat system, visuals that'll make you think that you've fallen under a Genjutsu spell and a story that has finally reached its climax. This final chapter is purely for the fans.

With a nostalgic vibe and excellent value, Mighty Switch Force 2 is worth a download if you're in the mood for a quick and fun puzzle platformer. It won't be your game of the year, but it might entertain you for a couple hours.

Ninja Gaiden: The Master Collection is a fascinatingly violent time capsule that shows off the best and the worst of Koei Tecmo's fan favourite shinobi. It's as barebones a collection as can be, packing all three games together with a sprinkling of DLC, but it's still a fine showcase of brutal difficulty and white-knuckle thrill power that is inimitable by anything else on the market. Just don't expect anything more than that.

Overall, the DLC isn’t really that impressive - but even though the quest line is mediocre, the new robot creation functionality is sure to appeal to those Fallout fans that got sucked into the Settlement building or those that just love building things in general.

Michonne as a character and excellent action sequences keep this second episode together, though barely. Hopefully Telltale have something much bigger and better planned for the conclusion of this miniseries.

Bridging film and video game, interactive movies are a niche format. However, with most of us having a lot more time on our hands during lockdown, now may be the time to give this hybrid genre more attention. Removing many of the annoyances FMV adventures are associated with, and featuring strong production values, The Complex is a solid entry point, even if it’s far more enjoyable as a choose-your-own adventure experience than film entertainment.

Offworld Trading Company is an enjoyable strategy game for those averse to combat, allowing players to become ruthless capitalists taking over Mars. While it has many excellent elements, it's simply lacking that unique spark that would make it a truly stellar game with hours of replay value.

Life Is Strange 2: Episode 3 still has a problem with pacing and may put off players who aren’t diehard fans of this series. But for those willing to forgive some of its more mundane passages, this episode delivers a pretty compelling denouement and hints at better things to come.

It’s a game for the fans and genre veterans, who will find hours worth of fun in this title with which to consume their lives. Everyone else though, might be happier getting their RPG kicks from a different source.

Spelunky is a well-designed game, ideal for a gamer who loves platformers and variety. However, it is a rogue-like platformer with randomised levels, and gamers looking for constant progress or easy rewards will not find them here.

Pinball FX2’s take on the popular South Park brand is a smorgasbord of fan service. Neither table is an essential buy if you’re a pinball wizard, but they’re competent enough to at least give you a decent chuckle for your buck.

Never before have I experienced such an awful, weird but utterly amazing game. This game really is so bad, it’s good.

There’s a lot of joy to be found in Paper Mario: The Origami King, but its shallow combat and monotonous nature makes for a glib experience that crumples under pressure.

While it’s a hard sale for those that have already played the game to death, even with all the changes, but if you’ve never played it before, it’s an easy recommendation. Pick this game up as it’s chocked full of content that is still well worth your money. It’s no Bloodborne though.

With sumptuous hand-crafted visuals and a throwback LucasArts approach to puzzle-adventure gaming, Trüberbook is a treat for genre fans. Well, in part anyway. It’s a pity that all the goodwill the game generates is drained by an unsatisfying story that doesn’t bother to answer even half of the questions it’s raised.

It's Job Simulator with a coat of nihilistic, irreverent paint. It's fun, funny and indulgently self-aware. It's undoubtedly a must-have for fans, but like the character you play as, it's a disposable clone.

Anno 1800 Sunken Treasures disproportionately delivers on both sides of its title. Players can continue to enjoy the established, structured and intricate gameplay, while also searching the seas for interesting and quirky objects to showcase on their new and vast landmass.

As an exercise in nostalgia, or an introduction to one of the most seminal fighting games, Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers is great. Its new modes, characters, and features are ultimately disappointing though, making the definitive edition of Street Fighter II less meaningful than it should be.

For newcomers, I’d highly recommend the madcap game, which is packed to the gills with extras and insane details resulting in grisly deaths on the operating table. For returning fans, it might be time to move on and leave poor Bob alone on the operating table.

It’s hard to justify the maps in Uprising, because as a whole they lack several appealing aspects from the first DLC pack, Revolution. Mob of the Dead on the other hand, is going to be an essential add-on for zombie fans. There’s a moment of brilliance present here in Uprising, but it's fleeting.

When it’s hitting the highs you expect from a PC Port, Gears of War Ultimate Edition is simply the best way to experience Delta Squad’s first mission. But its unavoidable lows keep it from being an easy recommendation.

It’s quite possibly the most authentic Star Wars shooter ever made thanks to some amazing visual production values, but with shallow action and very little ambition to do more than necessary. Just like the films.

While Star Fox Zero offers up some exhilarating dogfights with a unique control scheme that actually makes motion controls work, its highest highs are let down all too frequently by repetitive, mundane on-rails segments that sour the freedom that the game gives you in short bursts.

Thief is a game, that despite all its good intentions, will alienate long-time fans. And the cookie-cutter generic gameplay won’t do much to attract new fans either, as this franchise once again slips into the forgotten darkness of the night.

By their very nature, MMO's evovle - but as it stands right now, The Elder Scrolls online isn't a worthwhile investment. If you're an Elder Scrolls fan, you might want to give it a try but I do think you may be a teeny bit disappointed. If you're an MMORPG fan, there are some ideas here that you will certainly like.

Just Cause 3 is genuinely fun most of the time, but it’s the periods where its not that hurt it most. Add to that some mystifying design decisions around progression and upgrades, and you’ve got a game that attempts to go bigger than its predecessors while forgetting some of the elements that made them so good in the first pace. A fun, albeit flawed game.

Batman: Return to Arkham is neither the game that Gotham fanboys deserve or need right now. Not even the dark knight can foil a plot to downgrade the visuals of two video games which defined his legend for a new medium several years ago.

Super Mario Maker is every bit the engrossing, feature rich creation tool that it is on the Wii U, but only if you plan on sharing your creations with a very limited pool of people. Its lack of real course-sharing rips out the heart of what made this title so captivating on the Wii U, making it a clear second best choice.

Buggy, tired and rushed are just some of the examples why Arkham Origins is the weakest title in the Batman trilogy. This isn't the game that Gotham deserves, nor the one that it needs right now.

Devoid of any real personality, Battlefield: Hardline's single-player campaign is cheesier than an 80's pick-up line. It is however saved by a superb multiplayer that is both solid and entertaining.

Worms Revolution Extreme itself, actually, feels rather superfluous and unnecessarily, save for that it’s the first foray for the series on to the Vita. If you really need to play more Worms, Revolution Extreme is a fine way to do that, but there’s an overwhelming sense you’re paying for something you’ve bought numerous times over the past twenty years.

Mad Max is like an old car with high mileage. It’s got some faults, but if you can ignore them, you can enjoy the ride.

The game really never settles on what it is or what it wants to achieve - and with a story that is often confusing (or entirely forgettable),the good bits fail to shine through.

Lords of the Fallen provides players with a solid experience and fun combat system, but it never provides enough reason to care about anything else.It's a shame as the game does have a lot of potential. With a little more polish and tweaks done to the story and balance, Lords of the Fallen could be a great title. Right now though, it isn't.

A cool concept with plenty of opportunities for fun, Grow Up! is well-priced for 4-6 hours of fun. Unfortunately, a wonky camera and small irritations with controls detract from the experience, diminishing my interest in hunting for every last collectible or achievement.

While it's great to have a climactic final battle with Sauron, the rest of the game feels like a watered down version of the original. Add to that some weak storytelling and lack of character development and it ends up feeling like an ill conceived DLC prequel.

Fans of the brutal sport will find a decent and enjoyable game if they look hard enough. An excellent stand-up game is marred by a weak ground game. There's little little of substance beyond the polish, leaving THQ's UFC 3 as an undisputedly better game.

There’s a decent game at the very core of G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout , but it’s buried underneath annoying controls, a bizarre focus on co-op play instead of multiplayer, and missions that feel like an endlessly repetitive grind. Still, it’s dedicated to its source material and it has its moments, but it doesn’t do much else to stand out from the pack. And now you know, because knowing is half the battle.

MotoGP 13 is a fast and light racer that’ll please plenty of purists with its solid take on the sport. Newcomers on the other hand, might be left out in last place once the race has finished.

GT Sport isn't for people who want to take racing seriously; it's for people who want to take GT Sport seriously. Superb driving mechanics and pretty graphics do little to hide just how little there is on offer. It asks too much and gives too little.

A neat racing title with awesome air time and addictive cornering. It just feels like something is lacking though - like a little added polish really would have improved on the mobile game. It remains a really good mobile game, though it's a little less successful on the larger consoles.

Despite being the prettiest game on the Wii U that has plenty of charm, poor gameplay design and frequently unnecessary spikes in difficulty make this a game that will only appeal to the most die hard of Platinum fans. Not so wonderful, after all.

If you can get past its frequently frustrating controls, there's some decent zombie-shooting fun to be had in Arizona Sunshine.

Days Gone has moments where it reveals its brilliance, but they’re buried under a litany of uninteresting and repetitive missions and numerous technical issues.

A faithful remake that takes an average collect-a-thon of a bygone era and never really does much to improve it aside from some added content and spruced up visuals, Battle for Bikini Bottom is let down by its monotonous gameplay and loose controls.

Beyond the resolution increase, improved audio mix and middling VR, there’s really not much to this remaster. The exclusion of the first game also makes recommending last gen’s collection easier.

Despite collecting three of Mario’s most well-known games, Super Mario 3D All Stars doesn’t justify their porting onto the Switch. With minimal improvements, few features that truly make it feel like an “Anniversary celebration” and some bafflingly lazy design choices, 3D All Stars feels like more like a quick cash grab.

Despite solving the issues of frequent crashes at launch, Electioneering can't fix the issue that it just doesn't add enough value for money. A fun DLC, but only adds a small amount of new gameplay that might not keep new or old fans entertained for long.

Filthy Lucre is far from being perfect, but it still manages to be a fun game. If you can overlook its flaws, such as poor AI or odd design choices, you’ll find some enjoyment, particularly if you’re a fan of the stealth genre.

FlatOut 4: Total Insanity is a fun, nitro-boosted jaunt down memory lane. But while it's good in small does, its lack of variety - in spite a plethora of game modes - and uneven and sometimes frustrating racing experience leaves it running out of gas. Die hard franchise stalwarts should definitely have a look, but newcomers may find it tiring.

Beneath the frustrating design decisions and pacing issues, there’s a solid game to be played in Citizens Of Earth. It’s a game that wears its Earthbound influence proudly, dipping into a well of nostalgia.

That’s You! definitely can be fun, but it just doesn’t have the longer-term appeal that the simpler, but more outrageous games from Jackbox have. Still, as an early look at what’s in store for future PlayLink games, That’s You! Is an able demonstration of party potential.

Funcom has delivered an above-average open world survival game that lives up to the mythos created by Robert E Howard. It fits in perfectly with the rest of the lore. However, while it is a fun game, it lacks a lot of polish, but if you can look beyond the flawed exterior, Conan Exiles will deliver hours of enjoyment.

I mean…it’s Worms. If you feel like paying full price for this latest entry because you happen to have a filthy love for watching the little fellas massacre each other then you’re sorted. If you’re wondering if you should stick to any of the other 20-odd Worms games that you already own, then Worms W.M.D isn’t going to change your mind easily.

Onrush is the perfect game to play after a long day at work. It’s fast, it’s fun and somewhat cathartic as well. Unfortunately the lack of content and a cooperative multiplayer focus that’s never fully realized will leave you rushing to play something else after a few sessions.

Fitness Boxing 2 isn’t a bad way to keep your body energised, but the few improvements it has loaded into its gloves can’t hide its flawed punching technique or its disappointing lack of beats to bounce around to between uppercuts.

Alone With You boasts a charming retro audiovisual aesthetic and some really strong character work, all underpinned by an intriguing central mystery. Unfortunately, getting to these moments involves repetitive, uninventive gameplay that can be a slog to get through.

The minimalist art design is beautiful, and its characters are wonderfully expressive and emotive despite their simplicity. There’s an elegance to Pode, that belies its imperfect platforming and frequent frustrations.

Little Hope is a fun way to burn a couple of hours by yourself and a fantastic way to spend a night with friends but is let down by a disappointing conclusion, some uninspired performances, and general pacing issues.

Bite the Bullet is a game of great ideas that are hamstrung by terrible controls, performance issues, and a flow of combat that’s at odds with the very gimmick that makes it stand out from the pack. All of that makes for an experience that bits off far more than it’s capable of chewing.

There’s no other game like Where The Water Tastes Like Wine, even if it does lose the plot when it celebrates the art of stories and the power that they possess.

Catalyst isn’t as good as it should be. It’s maddening, because there’s so much potential here for it to be a good game, but so many odd design decisions result in an experience that’s actually less than the sum of its parts.

Deadpool could have been a lighter take on superheroes in an age of gaming dominated by dark and gritty vigilantes, but it completely wastes that opportunity.

Saviours of Uldum offers up some interesting new mechanics and cards but rather than cleaning up the dirty patches prefers to make what was already clean shine even more.

Just Cause 4 may be a maniacal sandbox full of explosions and action, but it’s a world that feels dull, repetitive and hollow inside as it missed the mark on being the perfect vehicle for some much-needed Christmas Catharsis.

InnerSpace wears its inspirations on its sleeve, and manages to replicate the tranquil atmosphere it’s clearly aiming for. Its flight is enjoyable, with breath-taking views and colourful planets to poke around in. But it’s progression and overall narrative really buckle under the weight, making the crumbling Inverse a wasted space for this otherwise relaxing exploration title.

Vambrace is a successful evolution of the mechanics that made Darkest Dungeon such a hit, but despite its beautiful art style and interesting setting, the repetitive gameplay and lack of meaningful achievements make the experience for more tiresome than challenging.

Alan Wake makes his official debut in Control in full force, delivering a very large helping of lore and storytelling that goes down great with the overall game experience. If only he had a brought a small side of new gameplay mechanics as well, because the formula remains pretty much the same.

Difficulty spikes, lingering wait times and a weak story filled with flat characters prevents Code Name S.T.E.A.M. from realizing its potential. While still fun and rewarding at times, it just doesn't capture the imagination or hold my attention for long.

Star Wars Battlefront II is a gorgeous, incredibly fun shooter that builds on its roots with a host of new content, welcome gameplay tweaks and a fun single-player campaign. But all of its improvements are overshadowed by the Star Destroyer of crooked business decisions and terrible progression, making it a hard sell right now.

If you love choose-your-own-adventure games, Hidden Agenda is compelling enough to make for an evening’s entertainment, especially given its price – but it feels more a glimpse of what could be enabled by mobile-connected games in the future, than a showcase of them at the moment.

The historical strategy game’s enjoyable combat is let down by some frustrating bugs, and a tutorial that rushes through itself. In the end, Numantia really does feel like it needs one or two more rounds of good polish. Still, if you’re a fan of hex-based combat and you’re willing to push through all those issues, there’s a good game lying beneath.

The second episode of Minecraft Story mode isn't near as charming as the first. Thought it features some genuine character development, its poorer writing and direction leave it feeling flat.

It's a decent enough collection of minigames, though most of its value comes in the fact that it's bundled with a Wii Remote Plus. Still, casual as it is, it's a great way for groups of friends or family to play together.

There is a lot wrong in this last installment for FFXIII. Fans of the franchise will need to play it to enjoy all the nods to past characters, yet it is not worth playing for those who aren't already huge FF or JRPG fans.

Greedfall is an ambitious RPG with several unique mechanical hooks, character builds and combat encounters that unfortunately buckles under the weight of a bloated and tedious narrative that often turns everything into a repetitive chore.

Doki Doki Universe is enjoyable for the first hour. After that, it becomes unbearably repetitive.

There’s a terrific experience to be had in The Outer Worlds, but blurry visuals, subpar resolutions and haphazard functionality make it an adventure that’s done justice on any platform but the Nintendo Switch.

Agents of Mayhem is a fun game, but it’s also lacking in what we’ve come to expect from the makers of one of the funniest franchises since Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto 3 stole our hearts nearly two decades ago.

A competent remaster that gives a decade-old game a suitable level of spit-and-polish, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’s campaign reveals a significant graphical overhaul but its corridor-shooter structure and worn animation give its age away. Nostalgic fans of the series might get a kick, but the barebones remaster isn’t a fantastic value proposition for anybody else.

Detective Pikachu, as a character, is really quite special - but the game itself is unfortunately just not very much fun to play.

It's the exact same game that you've been playing for years on end now, dressed up in the mighty Marvel manner of fan service that made the films such a big success.

Though there are some annoyances, Tetris Ultimate preserves the core gameplay that has kept people hooked for three decades. Unfortunately, it does very little to differentiate itself from the norm.

Mr Shifty makes an incredibly strong first impression with its unique teleporting twist on top-down brawling action. But it’s a game that overstays its welcome, with a dry well of ideas that struggle to evolve past their basic premise.

Lord of Magna has all the ingredients for a fun and different strategy RPG but its inconsistent pacing, predictable battles and lacklustre customization options hold it back from being anything more than a pretty average game.

Farpoint makes the act of shooting feel exhilarating and accurate with the new Aim Controller, but just about everything else in this first-person shooter fails to live up to the billing PlayStation VR desperately need. A trite, boring shooter wrapped up with some poor decision designs and frequent bugs that’s just incredibly disappointing.

A solid and dedicated start right out of the gate, Monster Energy Supercross struggles to maintain its momentum across the entire race as technical issues and a bland road to Supercross glory hamper its progress.

Solstice Chronicles M.I.A is a competent shooter, with its dynamic threat level leading to tense, frightening moments. The constant dread forces an engaging and tactical risk vs reward style of play - but the often awkward controls and derivative story let it down.

Chronos: Before the Ashes is an interesting collection of ideas, but dead average implementation, aging visuals, and flawed gameplay make for an underwhelming package that barely rises above being just fine at best.

Long-time fans of the franchise will likely be disappointed by a watered-down entry that doesn’t come close to capturing the creative spirit of the original games. In fact, it doesn’t even bother. On the other hand, newcomers with no expectations should appreciate Showdown as a colourful, cute, low-effort party game that’s more diverse than most.

Yo-Kai Watch 2 is quite literally a case of more of the same, albeit with a minor sprinkling of new ideas and some brand new annoyances to go with the package. It’s still massively likable and perfect for kids, but it’s not to shy to hide its lack of originality this time around behind a curtain of fetch quests and endearing characters.

Atomic Ninjas may be a little flawed, but I gladly recommend this colourful and quirky indie brawler to anyone with access to the PSN library. As a cross-play and cross-buy title, it makes a worthy addition to both the PS3 and PS Vita. However, it might be too much of a niche title for some gamers.

Stranger Things 3: The Game is a great adaption of the series that maintains the mystery of the series but unfortunately misses a lot of potential the unique setting provides.

At its core, For Honor is a stunningly great game with exhilarating combat the likes of which are hardly seen. But it’s crippled by online issues that reduce its core multiplayer to a frustrating mess.

It's quite simple. If you loved the first game, you'll appreciate the changes, like a more structured take on base building and community management. There are fantastic systems, hampered by repetitive and shallow gameplay that ultimately feels pointless. State of Decay 2's scale and lower price don't quite make up for its lack of polish.

It’s difficult to adequately explain or describe Hohokum. It’ll fill you with a child-like sense of wonderment with its abstract exploration, but as a game, its definitely a case of style over substance.