South Park: The Fractured But Whole is an excellent RPG that adds a hefty amount of mechanical depth to improve upon The Stick of Truth. Admittedly, some of the gaming commentary is less effective if the player has experience with the previous instalment. However, there are still plenty of surprises and enough side-splitting moments to make it a must-buy for any fans of South Park, especially if seasoned gamers, too.

Is Final Fantasy VIII Remastered the best way to play it? It really depends on a few things. Being able to bypass most of its questionable design choices certainly makes it more enjoyable than it was, then again that only highlights just how flawed it was in the first place. So, why bother at all? You may as well play it as it was intended, warts and all. This also applies to the revamped visuals; obviously improved in some areas, but the updated HD character models don't go well with the low-res pre-rendered backgrounds.

In spite of an unfortunately stiff script and repetitive gameplay, The Final Station is still one of the most atmospheric and interesting survival titles in the genre. With a genuinely impressive ambience that revels in morbidity, each moment of gameplay is immersive and sombre. Surviving feels like an actual goal as enemies are relentless and ammunition is difficult to come by. Managing the train and keeping passengers alive is stressful, but it's stress that's rewarded and adds to the hostile aesthetic of the world. The last act does lose its way in terms of narrative, and the writing leaves much to be desired, but the moment to moment experiences are conceptually great and make for a memorable journey. The Final Station might be lacking in some departments, but what it does well, it does well.

While new additions such as classes and barricades are nice to have, at six to eight hours long, it is a bit on the short side for the asking price. The physical release of the Banner Saga Trilogy offers greater value for money.

Get ready to defend your keep from merciless enemy waves, or die trying, in an RTS that’s far from a walk in the park. Success requires precise planning and plenty of patience, as maps often last longer than they should and failure lurks around the corner, ready to ruin hours of work. Diplomacy is Not an Option is rough around the edges and certainly not a casual-friendly strategy title, but it’s also tons of fun, with an unappareled feeling of satisfaction when everything goes according to plan.

A must buy. Case closed. There are so many reasons to pick this up. For those who haven't tried the series out, this debut on other consoles add up to a wonderful incentive. It's amazing that even 20 years on, these still hold up. The only thing that lets this collection down is that there is little extra to elevate this remaster, other than just a graphical overhaul. Regardless of this small bump, these remain some of the very best Visual Novels out there and with no end in sight for the series, this glimpse of them arriving on new platforms is very promising.

Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 are technically fantastic, taking the core of a remarkable series and building in all manner of new and intriguing features to keep fans enamoured with what is basically a simple formula rinsed and constantly repeated over the years. The only aspect holding back these first ever direct sequels is the standard of presentation, with only minor upgrades since originally gracing the world over 15 years ago, no matter how much the point is argued. That being said, for the gameplay and story elements alone, this is undoubtedly an essential purchase.

Thunder Force AC is a fantastic classic shoot 'em up, and its inclusion on Switch, along with some added bonuses, is a welcome addition to the SEGA AGES line-up. It is only held back by the lack of the original version, Thunder Force III, of which this one is but a slightly remixed version. Seems like a lost opportunity, but here's hoping the developer won't dare releasing it separately.

The End is Nigh is chock-full of content that any hardcore platformer will enjoy. There are hundreds of tumours to collect, and over a dozen game cartridges to search for, along with nonlinear paths that require some exploration to find. The controls are wonderful, and besides a minor adjustment period, feel precise and responsive. Complete with multiple environments and hundreds of levels, the journey to unite Ash with friends and his favourite video games is a rewarding one that is definitely worth checking out.

Ironcast is a daring title with a concept many would be terrified to touch. The reward is huge, though, as this might be one of the strongest match puzzle games on the market at this point, with depth unlocked thanks to the choice of theme. Every piece of Ironcast works together in a wonderful resonance between style and gameplay, and creates a unique and entertaining experience that fans of the genre will not forget in the near future.

Tight frantic gameplay, accompanied by a thrilling score and an awesome campaign with a tonne of upgrades and collectibles. There is plenty to be positive about with this port, as having DOOM Eternal portable and with gyro controls will please many. It is hard to not notice the downgraded textures and lower performance which set it aside from the sublime PC, Xbox and PlayStation versions, but Panic Button must be commended for putting together such an ambitious project for the Switch, one that runs incredibly competently for downgraded hardware. The price is somewhat of a sticking point given that a superior version can be purchased for much less and is also available physically, whereas the Switch is digital only. These minor issues aside DOOM Eternal is well worth the investment of both time and money and should be a welcome addition to any Nintendo Switch library.

Immersive, challenging, and personable, Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth on Nintendo 3DS is an excellent RPG that balances both difficulty and customisation with a considerable amount of care.

Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate is an acquired taste that long-standing fans of the franchise will happily drink from. The formula for killing monsters and turning them into better gear to take on the bigger monsters is an addictive loop that is only broken up by the mindless and annoying 'egg delivery' quests, and occasional battle control limitations. Whether playing online with a group of friends or in Solo mode, this is a menu-heavy experience that may easily scare away series newcomers who are used to Monster Hunter: World. While Ultimate is not a streamlined experience, beneath the thick and scary exterior is an extremely deep system-based epic adventure.

Ubisoft have created an amazing adventure.

Comparisons with games like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater may be unavoidable, but they are certainly misplaced: OlliOlli is a great game on its own merits.

With original game mechanics and charming aesthetics, it's a pleasure to play.

The King of Fighters '98 looks, sounds and plays as great as ever, but there is no denying that its lack of modes that come as standard in just about every other fighter, including later versions of KOF '98, is a detriment to its broader appeal. That said, this is a faithful arcade port of one of the most prestigious fighting games and adds quality to the Switch's early selection of titles.

For gamers who still pine for the days of polished shoot 'em ups that leave nothing to chance, Wild Guns Reloaded can't be missed. Sure, it doesn't take long to reach the end, but the fun is in overcoming the impossible and doing it with style. The scoring system, while not ridiculously complex, does require players to make a lot of difficult choices. However, if they are willing to put in the work, they will soon discover that this awesome game will never let them down.

For just under a tenner, Octahedron is a mightily impressive package. Its '80s-derived neon-aesthetic is a very cool backdrop for one of the most impressive 2D platforming experiences on offer so far this year. The sense of challenge is very finely-tuned and progressive, being unforgiving while still managing to keep the player coming back for yet another round.

Tower defence games may have lost their popularity somewhat in recent years but PixelJunk Monsters 2 shows why it exploded in the first place. It is insanely addictive and just the right level of challenging, although certain folk may find the frustrating elements a little too much to enjoy. Some will find achieving every perfect rating compulsive, while others will find it wholly off-putting.

Mega Man 11 not only marks a return to form for the franchise, it serves as a natural evolution of Mega Man's foundation, finally allowing the series to progress into the next generation. On an aesthetic and gameplay level, the series has taken some much needed, and welcome, steps. The art style has an appropriate level of charm and polish, while still evoking a more old school aesthetic, while the new Double Gear system pairs wonderfully with the platformer's tight level design. Mega Man 11 is a magnificent blend of old and new, honouring what came before, while never forgetting to look towards the future.

With an ever stronger emphasis on hard decisions to make that will affect how Alvin Junior turns out in the end, and a strong presence of an old returning character from previous seasons, this episode ramps things up to an exploding cliffhanger that leaves what comes next completely in the dark. This makes this possibly the most gripping episode of the final season (so far), and makes the wait for March 26th even harder. However, this update to the Switch version sadly sticks to the forced shift to a 720p resolution in docked mode introduced at the release of the second episode back in September 2018.

Nelly Cootalot: Spoonbeaks Ahoy! HD, makes all the necessary improvements a freeware title from 2007 would need, and is served at a price that's almost nonexistent. It's funny, it has a relaxing pace, and, as a whole, it's perfect for a few hours of old-school, point-and-click fun.

A wonderful puzzler with a marvellous aesthetic. Like a children's anime come to life, Mr. DRILLER DrillLand is utterly charming and delightful. Every attraction looks great, delivering sharp, vibrant, and colourful stages in every attraction. As good as it looks, it plays even better. A simple and addictive core basis that has the heart of a classic matching colour puzzler but adds an exhilarating twist to the proceedings with the drilling mechanics. This should be a no brainer purchase, but there's something that will put off many players. It's called the Atlantic Ocean. For some reason, the asking price is literally double in the US than it is in the EU. A baffling and disappointing decision that will sadly stop this reaching as many homes as it should.

As an expansion for Total War: Three Kingdoms, The Furious Wild is a no brainer to pick up. Adding a ton of content and tens of hours of new gameplay for a mere snip, this DLC is definitely worth the asking price. The Nanman campaign is one that has plenty of drama attached with a host of faction specific missions and events and then best of all, once it is completed it is just the prologue of the adventure to come, with the rest of China to capture and a whole host of 'outsiders' to convert or conquer in the name of the Nanman. Visually impressive and with a lot of creative ideas in the mechanics used to keep the factions interesting -The Furious Wild is an excellent addition to the game.

Fans of adventure games will get a big laugh out of Lair of the Clockwork God. Sadly, the platforming half of the experience is mediocre and unpolished. The experiment of Size Five Games is mostly a success with managing to find a careful balance of platforming and puzzles, but the team needed to refine the experience with tighter quality control. The writing and humour elevate this from being average, to being worth a look towards anyone who enjoys the adventure genre.

As usual, Picross S7 shows the amount of dedication and quality work developer Jupiter put into its Picross S titles. The new touch control function is much appreciated, but this could generally do with a few more features to spice it up a little. However, for anyone enjoying a relaxing day of puzzles, this title comes highly recommended.

With the fantastic theming, all the options and fantastically challenging puzzles, Picross S Namco Legendary Edition is a must-have for puzzle fans and Namco fans alike. A great way to relax while still keeping those little brain cells occupied for a bit, this title is a great little addition to play for relaxing or while travelling.

PC gamers may have been enjoying System Shock 2 for decades, but now it's time for console owners to get in on the fun. There is no escaping the fact that this is a true PC experience. The UI and menu system are intertwined with using a mouse, and try as they might, Nightdive Studios' method works as best as it possibly can. There was a very good reason why BioShock had to streamline a lot of the features from its progenitors. These developers are wizards for making it work at all. Some of the early game may feel a bit floaty and could put off some players, but sticking with it is unbelievably rewarding as the protagonist becomes a cybernetic monstrosity. Sometimes it's better to become one with the machine than to fight it.

NEO: The World Ends with You is a good RPG in its own right, but it does not live up to its predecessor's legacy. Combat eventually opens up to become chaotically fun and the series' sense of style is as fresh as ever, but the story leaves a lot to be desired. Beyond spotty pacing at times, the script lacks the strong character focus that defined the original. There's too much focus on world building and epic plotting instead of the intimacy that made TWEWY compelling to begin with. The fact that Final Remix's A New Day epilogue plays such a foundational role in the narrative doesn't exactly help matters either. NEO: The World Ends with You has a frantic battle system that only gets better, but the story is sure to disappoint.

The Wii edition of Call of Duty: Black Ops is by no means the inferior product many thought it would turn out to be.

Although on a mechanical level, Yo-kai Watch 3 isn't as polished as a Pokémon title, it makes up for this in droves with its flexibility, not to mention its sense of charm and adventure. Great fun.

Meshing together the repeat play appeal of the Roguelike game category with a fun light-hearted take on airborne dogfight warfare, Rogue Aces is a joy to play and comes packed with a great deal of content. Newcomers to the genre will find some turbulence in adapting, and the multiplayer potential of the game's setup both online and off isn't realised at all. But for pure arcade fighter jet action on Switch, few games are more enjoyable.

Blaster Master Zero 3 heavily expects its audience to have played the first two titles in the modern Blaster Master series, so it's hard not to bring them up when writing about the former. Small localisation errors and a couple of obtuse navigation moments aside, it is the most polished title in the series and long-time fans, plus people who grew up with the NES, will appreciate the added challenge. It's never too hard to tackle, however, although it's commitment to being "retro" can be a double-edged sword in some instances, like when a death can be blamed on unintentionally sticking to a wall and then sliding down into an abyss. The gameplay loop is just as fun as it ever was, though, so more of that can't ever be a bad thing. It might get ignored for being the third instalment, or not seeming as fresh as the next retro indie darling that's hot for this week, but it really shouldn't be. This is bona fide retro goodness at its finest. Blaster Master 4Ever!

The main story feels shorter overall due to it being a less grindy affair than ever before, but storytelling benefits greatly from this, because the main game ends up being a more focused and packed experience.

A Boy and His Blob is in the upper echelon of Wii titles in terms of quality and is a must buy for anyone looking for a fantastic gaming experience. An unforgettable experience.

As a brand-new mainline entry that follows the previous iteration after over five years, The King of Fighters XV feels a little "by the numbers" in a similar way to how Dead or Alive 6 didn't push on from DOA5. Everything is too familiar, too safe, and lacking those key elements that truly give the impression of the next proper game in the series. The 3D character models still look a bit out of place, the story mode is awful, and there isn't enough done to ease newcomers in. Solid online modes and a large roster, with the addition of cross-play to look forward to, mean there is plenty to like for series fans, though.

Featuring a total of 32 games across three downloadable packs and separate downloads, Capcom Arcade Stadium is a fantastic way of diving into the studio's gameography. Roughly 30 years of video game history are on display here, featuring a wide variety of titles that highlight Capcom's eclectic and often forward-thinking approach to game design. The implementation of rewind & save states makes virtually any entry accessible, and the ability to speed up gameplay helps the more sluggish inclusions get much needed play time. Not every game in Capcom Arcade Stadium is a classic that's stood the test of the time, but most surprisingly have, and that alone makes the collection worth picking up.

Sadly, The Red Strings Club will fool some into thinking it follows in the footsteps of classics from WadjetEye Games purely because of its aesthetics. Do not be mistaken, though. This is not a patch on any of that company's releases, nor is it affiliated with it at all. Instead, this takes an intriguing style and theme of the world gone mad for technology, mixes in some extremely random love story between the lead duo of hacker and bartender that bears no relevance to the underlying tale, adds in a heavy dose of some of the most painful attempts at puzzles, and then perfectly tops it all off with an overly wordy script filled with too much padding.

Harmonix still shows that it knows its stuff with rhythm games, as Fuser satisfies with its accessible, but deep controls, accompanied by a thorough campaign, a diverse song library, and engaging online components. However, having a large chunk of songs only available through micro-transactions, and some net-code issues do hamper the overall experience. Still, it is fun to try things like finding out how well the vocals of Never Gonna Give You Up mesh with some Country or Rap tunes.

Nintendo has teamed up with Tecmo Koei for yet another successful venture, this time bringing the world of strategic battling and Pocket Monsters together for what is without doubt the deepest and most impressive Pokémon spin-off so far.

The tactical spin to the CCG model in Faeria ends up working fairly well, if being somewhat simplistic. It achieves some degree of excitement in seeking new cards and new decks without ever fully hitting its complete stride, but the general premise is fun enough to try out even for hardcore fans of the genre. With a respectable single-player mode, and the entire ladder setup, players of both types will have a lot of content to play through. With a fun and a novel twist, this is a decent choice for those looking for something in this genre, but its appeal won't extend much past this.

There are some routes and plotlines in Olympia Soiree that stand amongst the best Idea Factory! has put out, but the price for entry is just too high. There's some beautiful art showcased here, and some memorable moments, and each person in the audience will find a bachelor that fits them… but it's hard going. The deluge of exposition, and dragging slow start makes it a slog to get to these points. This combined with the overly edgy "bad endings" tarnishes the experience as a whole.

Madden NFL 19 is a sublime example of what can be achieved with a sports title. The Real Player Motions generates that feeling of not 'controlling' players, but rather living as the players instead. Seeing how lifelike all the players are within a match, and how they communicate with each other before and during plays, and then watching them seamlessly get into the next play, is freakishly uncanny.

While it may be easy to disregard Blossom Tales as a simple Zelda clone, the amount of charm and effort put into making it wholly unique, while honouring its inspiration, is both admirable and deserving of attention. Its dungeons feature genuinely thought-provoking puzzles, its combat requires a fair amount of strategy, and its story's Princess Bride-like narration lends itself to copious amounts of charismatic story beats. The faux retro graphics won't win over anyone sick of the style and the first impression perhaps relies upon referencing A Link to the Past a bit too much, but Blossom Tales is an incredibly creative and wholesome adventure that knows exactly what it is, even if it isn't entirely original. If nothing else, it's an immensely satisfying scratch for the Switch's 2D action-adventure itch.

Octopath Traveler has many little and big pros. Its 'HD-02' visual style is beautiful; the music is great; the world is very big, non-linear, and full of things to do; the characters can be customised in many different ways; and, finally, the combat is fast, yet tactical, simple, yet deep. Octopath Traveler is great. However, it also has a couple of cons that for many people will be the deciding factor of whether they should play this or not, and these are, the almost non-existent interaction between its eight characters, its somewhat… artificial vibe, and the lack of a decent main plot.

Persona 3 Reload is a great remake, with improved graphics and cutscenes, new gameplay mechanics and fantastic sound. It is disappointing that the game runs only at 30fps on Switch 2, and that there is a quite a bit of stuttering at certain points. However, none of these issues are game breaking, and overall, Persona 3 Reload retells a great story on a modern console. It is definitely worth picking up and playing.

Despite a rather cutesy (albeit gorgeous) exterior, Lock's Quest offers a surprisingly deep real-time strategy experience.

The Last Story definitely deserves to follow in the footsteps of Xenoblade Chronicles, appealing to RPG fans everywhere, tapping into what makes the classics, such as Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy so addictive, namely a strong focus on story with good pacing and a fluid battle mechanic that works almost flawlessly throughout the adventure.

Crash Bandicoot 4 is a raving success when it comes to producing a sequel worthy of the franchise's original trilogy. Any fan should have no hesitations in picking this up. The content on offer is huge, with tons to collect and aim for in every stage, costumes to unlock, different characters to play as, fresh gameplay that compliments the familiar, and bundles of humour and charm. This is not an easy game, however. Getting to the end is one thing, but be prepared for one of the toughest tasks in modern games if attempting to 100% every level. Despite the performance cutbacks on Switch, it runs and looks well enough, but if portable play doesn't matter to you, it might be wiser to opt for one of the other versions.

The Lord of Terror has never looked so good, with Diablo II: Resurrected taking the original, and improving its look so as to present it to a whole new generation of gamers, or to those who are still in love with the 2000 classic by Blizzard North. There's not much here in the way of additions or changes, which is definitely a wasted opportunity to practically offer the best ARPG ever made, but it's still hard to say no to such a devilishly good remaster. Good job Blizzard. Finally.

Its simple design and perfectly-balanced difficulty level mean that it's sure to resonate with players of all skill levels, and whether it's being chipped away at during morning commutes or digested in its entirety over a weekend, Qbby's tale shows that a minimalistic game can be just as satisfying as a triple-A title.

As one of the highlights in the Nintendo Wii U software library to date, LEGO City Undercover blends together a large, compelling open world to explore with fun, suitably cheesy action sequences that can appeal to both young and old.

Highly recommended to anyone with a passing interest in beat 'em ups, but there is no denying that there is mild disappointment at the absence of new gameplay content, rendering it a hard sell to those that have beaten the game before. Don't like beat' em ups, though? Better off to pass, as the tedium does have a tendency to rear its ugly head before long, and that isn't something even Dragon's Crown can evolve the genre from.

The amount of fun to be had traversing the excellently designed levels with almost telepathic control intuition would be more than enough to recommend this, but ARVORE has gone above and beyond to ensure this one sticks in the memory long after completion. Easter eggs, collectables, multiple routes, and the sheer love shown in replicating the environments gamers would have snuck a quick gaming session into before tucking into Christmas Dinner and class, come together to give a handheld simulation you wish you could make portable and show as many people as possible.

Lego Indiana Jones, while extremely competent, isn't quite as exciting as Lego Star Wars was simply because it feels like we've been here before.

Catherine Classic may not be the definitive way to experience Vincent's journey of self discovery, mainly due to some pesky technical issues, but it is a solid port nonetheless, with a few improvements of its own. Faster loading times, crisper visuals, and dual audio support, elevate the title from beyond just another bog standard PC port. It is unfortunate that English audio clips in when playing in Japanese, but Catherine is so thoughtfully designed, and so well-written that it's easy enough to endure the port's more disappointing qualities in favour of the incredible experience underneath. Catherine Classic is a great alternative to the PS3 original, if flawed.

The main story encourages players to go through stages several times in order to discover all the secrets and collect every possible extra, but on top of that there is the mini-Smash Bros. - aka Kirby Fighters - included for some exhilarating battle fun, as well as the reaction-based musical treat of Dedede's Drum Dash.

Mario Party Superstars is a comeback tour for the series, a love letter to frantic marathon runs and celebrates Mario Party in a truly spectacular way. An impressive package that's stitched together with striking visuals, an upgraded soundtrack and robust online play.

Heave Ho is an insane party game that ramps up the craziness to the maximum. While there is a single-player option, Le Cartel Studio's wacky title is best experienced with a group of people and a sense of humour. Flinging characters across the stage to land in a pit of spikes is as fun as it sounds, while the joy and elation that transpires after eventually reaching the destination helps to make Heave Ho one of the mainstays of party titles. While it doesn't dethrone the Mario Party, Smash Bros, or Mario Kart series, this can safely sit near the top of party games for when such a time to experience the outrageous and whimsical title arises.

There are many times that it is fun to just stop and look around, and the story and characters are a fairly tight package, which is appreciated. Battles are fast, if a bit consistent of spongy enemies. Its mobile roots are obvious, in relation to how equipment, upgrades and other characters work. Overall, there is not a huge sweeping story that will stay with you, but it's a coherent, high quality RPG that is solid across the board.

It's difficult to sing the praises of the core gameplay as much as last year. That's especially the case as the AI isn't as sensible as it was previously, with too many reckless challenges and questionable keeper decisions. PES 2019 underperforms, despite its quality.

PAC-MAN Championship Edition 2 PLUS could have been the definitive version of an already almost perfect game. The damming frame-rate drops are bad enough to affect the game's playability and oftentimes lead to unfair losses. In spite of the technical shortcomings, though, those who manage to adapt or compensate for this unyieldingly flaw will still find that this is a wonderful version of an already beloved arcade classic. The music and sound effects are all distinctively very Pac-Man, but with a techno flair to it that gives it a bit of extra synth-crunch. Anyone who loves the arcade original will love this new take on it, but be warned that it does have some pretty bad chop and would be best to wait till it gets patched.

Lumines has always been a challenging game, and that hasn't changed in this remaster. Despite excluding some modes and tracks from later games in the series, rendering it not quite the supreme title it could have been, Lumines Remastered is a great package that will suit puzzle purists seeking an addictive title to reward skill and dedication.

Fast Fusion is without a doubt the perfect racing title for those looking for something as an alternative to Mario Kart World and the retro-fuelled F-Zero GX. It still doesn’t quite feel as feature-complete as Fast RMX yet, but Shin’en is doing a fantastic job of pumping out free extra content into this Nintendo Switch 2 futuristic, high-octane experience to keep fans coming back for more. For now, though, brace yourselves for stunning visuals, a pumping soundtrack, and some of the most edge-of-your-seat racing ever witnessed.

This is a great hardcore offering in a Wii software line-up that is looking increasingly daft. No dumb controls, no gimmicks, no Keith Chegwin. Just good old-fashioned videogaming goodness.

Simply put, this is one of the best packages on the Wii and something that everyone should at least try out, whether you are a fitness fanatic or not.

Underneath it all is a rhythm game that may not be as challenging as some of its famous console counterparts, but the ability to take it anywhere and play hassle-free more than makes up for this, and the game can get challenging in its own right—although this, like almost everything else in here, is entirely up to the player.

Unforeseen Incidents is a complete breath of fresh air in what is fast becoming an over-crowded genre once more, standing head and shoulders above many other point-and-click adventures available. With its perfect mix of macabre and comical scripting, as well as the highly engaging puzzles and entertaining fetch quests it throws the player's way, the hours really do fly by despite this being one of the longer journeys on the market right now.

FAR: Lone Sails is an emotive trip through a dying, yet beautiful world. It's a journey that doesn't last for long, and whose low replay value makes it hard to come back to it... and yet it's also one that's hard to let go once you start it. Fans of such games are definitely advised to give it a go - oh, and don't wait for a discount because its worthy of its price tag as it is.

The genuinely thought-provoking Ring Battle system, engaging puzzle design, and care given to Olivia's characterisation all make The Origami King the best Paper Mario since the series' Wii outing, but that wasn't a high bar to begin with and the series is still struggling to come up with an engaging gameplay loop in light of the lessened RPG elements. Without experience or levelling, random battles lose their lustre fast.

Episode 3 Lair of the Leviathan is every bit as good as the last two entries, if not better thanks to some much-welcomed tweaks.

The Wizards is generally a good VR action-adventure title. Using some imaginative and intuitive controls to cast spells, it does an excellent job of making the player feel like they are indeed controlling a powerful wizard. The narrator is brilliant, and there are some really special effects and sights to see. However, things are let down slightly by the overall length of the game, which can be polished off in just a few hours. Additionally, many of the landscapes and levels have the habit of merging together due to how similar in style they look to one another, with only small bits of variety. It isn't the cheapest adventure on the market, but certainly one to pick up if a fan of this genre.

Battle Chasers: Nightwar on Nintendo Switch is a highly engrossing experience, which JRPG fans, raised on the likes of Final Fantasy and Suikoden, will savour every minute of. In interactive form, Joe Madureria's universe has been brought to life in a whole new way. Strengthening and upgrading its endearing characters is a very enjoyable process. The world is atmospherically rich and aesthetically gorgeous, and is supported by a great soundtrack and voice acting.

While its story rings a bit hollow, the extravagant imagery and art direction carries the emotional investment. The mouse-style controls are a fun and new way to play this underappreciated and novel title and improve the experience, though it does come at the cost of a spotty frame rate. It's disappointing that it couldn't have been locked down, especially in such a unique game that features a ton of action and quick thinking.

Unlike the recently released PlayStation Classic, SEGA Mega Drive Classics has had the effort put in to ensure that there is enough depth and optimisation to keep all players happy.

For the price-point of this DLC, it is hard to fault the amount of content offered up. This is most definitely the template for The Creative Assembly to continue forward with when it comes to future DLC for Total War: Three Kingdoms. The overarching conflict is an intriguing one, and the presence of the mysterious Yellow Turban faction really freshen things up in the campaign side. On top of the six new factions, the DLC also renews the interest in some of the existing warlords, with the ability to experience them under completely different circumstances than previously. This isn't a DLC for gameplay additions, but the play style adjustments in the campaign to the core gameplay loop do enough to keep things interesting.

Lost Judgment is a bittersweet event. The story aims for a mature tone but is too often a macabre, morbid misfire that strays too far from the balance between silly and serious that the series is famed for. It's not a poorly developed title, though; the outrageously brilliant combat and sandbox distractions are clear evidence of that. It just struggles to tell the sort of meaningful, believable and sensitively weighted story that players have come to expect from this talented team.

Nicalis brings one of the toughest and addictive gaming experiences from almost every other format to Nintendo Switch, and the transition is seamless. With dastardly levels of difficulty, a quirky aesthetic, and an absolutely sublime soundtrack that has definitely stood the test of time, the major drawback comes from how short the experience is. Once accustomed to overcoming the challenges faced, there is not much left to do after rescuing everyone. Hopefully, an expanded successor is on the way.

For those that already own this game on the 3DS, it's pretty tough whether or not to recommend the game to them. If they do want to play through a new challenge though, the Infernal difficulty offers a true hardcore experience. However, to those who don't own a 3DS, this is their chance to pick up the definitive version of the game.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered isn’t a reinvention. It’s just a time capsule with a fresh coat of vibrant high-quality paint. Under the hood? It is pretty much the same beloved sandbox RPG of the early 2000s, with few of its issues fixed for this new update. Fans are advised to go straight for the purchase as long as they have a capable system. The rest are advised to wait for a price drop, some bug fixes, or preferably both.

For long-time fans of the franchise, this is an easy recommendation. For newcomers, it’s perhaps best approached with measured expectations and a bit of patience. Either way, Mega Man Star Force: Legacy Collection stands as a worthwhile addition to the Nintendo Switch library and a fitting second life for a trilogy that never got the attention it deserved.

A handful of issues, some much more annoying than others, do not negate how solid of an action RPG Middle-earth: Shadow of War is. A tremendous achievement for the team at Monolith Productions, this is an exciting, if not sometimes slow, and too often unfair, title that manages to be as impressively fun as it is big.

Despite some technical issues, Layers of Fear: Legacy manages to weave together an incredibly intimate, and tense, family drama that can scare just as effortlessly it can intrigue. Each new setting and puzzle reveals a piece of the overarching narrative through an eerie atmosphere that blends perfectly with the haunting score. There's never a dull moment as each chapter has its own defined feel to distinguish it from the rest of the game. Scares come fast, but almost always psychologically, slowly raising the tension as the story comes to a close. Layers of Fear: Legacy may stutter at times, but it's easily one of the best horror titles on the market.

JYDGE is an interesting title that keeps things simple. Many elements that might be expected of shooters nowadays (large maps, amazing graphics, gun and character selection options) are missing, but it's much preferred to them being bolted on needlessly. It requires the thought process of figuring the perfect strategy, whilst simultaneously allowing players to run and shoot at anything that moves. Death is also common, but is that really such a bad thing? JYDGE knows what it wants to be, and it delivers it well.

Slime-san is a blast through and through. From its normally tight and fun controls, the fantastic atmosphere built by its unique visuals and fun music, there is very little it does wrong - some of those things could be put down to player error. The bite-sized levels and variety of modes, power-ups, plus the amount of content, means that not only is this perfect for those wanting quick retry-based, semi-rogue-like levels, but also those who want a host of varied and interesting content - it really offers bang for your buck, so its thoroughly recommendable to those who enjoy the genre.

Easily on par with its predecessors in the main Yakuza franchise, but (and this will be hard to believe) in many ways this actually stands above them. In particular, Judgment contains the best story in the franchise to date. Yagami's tale is a captivating one, filled with imaginative twists and utterly surprising moments, told with the signature Yakuza style, flawlessly juggling comedy with drama, containing many three-dimensional characters that are easy to connect to. Best of all, there's more to this than just the story. The gameplay is massively fun, and there is a positively absurd amount of things to do. For Yakuza fans this is a must buy. For those new to the franchise, this is the perfect opportunity to jump in.

Despite its cartoony graphics, this game is a surprisingly solid city builder. There is enough here that fans of the various genres this takes from will find it enjoyable as they craft their ever-growing city and automation empire. Programming the robots is oddly satisfying as is watching them roll around and taking care of the smaller tasks. A couple of small bugs and some pacing issues prevent it from being truly great, but those remotely interested in the genre will definitely have a lot of fun with this one.

Total War: Three Kingdoms - A World Betrayed is another fascinating addition to the main campaign for those who are still obsessed with this wonderful strategy title. Adding an important part of the story, and introducing some fan-favourite characters and scenarios, The Creative Assembly has once again vindicated this DLC approach. The new faction mechanics for Lu Bu and Sun Ce give an additional strategic dimension, and as with the previous DLC, the existing characters have new situations in this warring China, meaning there is an added incentive to replay the campaign with them numerous times over. This is a no brainer for owners of the game to buy this addition.

Children of Morta is a wonderful rogue-like ARPG, with a lot of deep layers in terms of gameplay mechanics, that does a terrific job of acting as an underlay to the simple, but dark, atmospheric story. Everything intertwines together splendidly, and seeing how each character can help to buff up their family members via their shared abilities, both in each characters unique skill trees, or the household's base stat upgrades, there are plenty of moving pieces here that all contribute towards the family's mission to end the Corruption. No run is ever wasted, with each failed attempt still rewarding the family with some positive enhancements for the next run, until that eventual stage boss is defeated. For those who are looking for a new rogue-like to jump into, this should definitely not be missed.

Fight' N Rage has really done its research in ensuring it presents itself as a warm love letter to an adored genre. It also takes the time to give gameplay and combat mechanics real depth. Add to this multiple gameplay modes and a wealth of unlocks and found here is a title standing on the shoulders of giants to make a case for plenty more new additions to the genre. Mutant Mayhem indeed.

Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II is even less of a visual novel than its predecessors and leans in more heavily with the adventure game mechanics like inventory and key item collecting. It is also more streamlined than before and the story is not as compelling as it was the first time. The lack of urgency diminishes the stakes and the puzzles are far too easy to feel any sense of dread or mystery. At worst, Death Mark II can feel boring. Its best aspects lie in its audio and visual departments, whereas the story and gameplay are merely serviceable.

From a gameplay standpoint, Wide Ocean Big Jacket is an extremely simple game - with 'game' put between the biggest quote marks imaginable. As an experience, though, this is something else entirely. Turnfollow's tiny adventure is basically a funny, and occasionally very sweet, slice-of-life tale of four people enjoying themselves in the woods, while also dealing with some serious matters, but not in a very serious way. It's not a narrative-driven game. It is vacation in video game form - and only the good parts are included.

The series on the whole is a great throwback to the older Mana Khemia series. Ayesha is the weakest entry, graphically, story and gameplay wise, but things improve drastically with Escha and Logy, with a serious, "cool" factor to Logy, with the series coming to a very refined closure with Shallie. For JRPG fans that have any interest in those, they are a great pickup together. While not quite "traditional" RPG quests, they are very similar to the JRPGs that really first started getting popular in the West many years ago.

The Pikmin series is top notch and these HD ports are a great reminder of that for anyone who has played them before, and a wonderful primer to the series for anyone that hasn't. It's startling how well a lot of the artistic decisions that were made in the GameCube era still translate to now, like a soundtrack that is absolutely bang on, and character designs and animations that are infinitely charming. Whether or not the time limit in Pikmin or, conversely, the unlimited time, gauntlet-like puzzle caves and score chasing from Pikmin 2 is the preferred way to go, they're both excellent titles that play just as well now as they ever did. Plus Nintendo has included the New Play Control options for both titles, which updated them with pointer control on the Wii, as an added bonus.

Spewing larger-than-life encounter after larger-than-life encounter The Ancient Gods - Part One can get a bit on the repetitive side, but it's easy to forgive it for this minor misstep, since more DOOM Eternal is never a bad thing. Don't let the low level count fool you. The three available maps are fairly large, and the high challenge will manage to keep you on your toes, especially due to how some new demons affect the battlefield. As a whole, and while a bit more variety would be more than welcome, the first DLC is very enjoyable, looks great, carries some new, and pretty neat tunes, and finally leads the narrative down a pretty intriguing path. Can't wait for Part Two!

A new hope is here, as Star Wars video games finally get the long-awaited return to form they deserve. The creators clearly care about the source material, and have produced a story and a setting that will hopefully continue being explored. There are some teething issues here, but there is much more promise. Respawn has created the first step on what could be a very bright future.

The Lara Croft Collection is not to be overlooked. This bundle encompasses one great and one decent arcade action adventure, of which twin-stick shooter and score attack fans will find plenty of enjoyment. Although both games are worth experiencing in multiplayer if possible, Guardian of Light, at the very least, deserves playing even solo, and is a reminder of what Tomb Raider is all about, captured expertly in a style that is positively different, yet respectfully reminiscent of the classic series. Technical issues remain, but it's just a joy to have these ported to a modern platform. Now, with things quiet on the Lara Croft front, surely, it's time for that long overdue third game in this mini-series.