What starts off as a unique concept for a platformer doesn't stand up to extended play sessions, but those looking for a small arcade game with a lot of heart poured into it will find a lot to love here. Go! Go! Kokopolo 3D takes everything that was great about retro platformers and gives them a decidedly modern spin, and it works fantastically.

The enemy variety is lacking, but that's easily overlooked by just how engrossing each boss is. With all the DLC present, Nioh: Complete Edition is an excellent way of experiencing Team Ninja's masterpiece for the first time, or just revisiting William Adams for another trek through Japan.

All in all, Mutant Mudds is a charming, challenging, fun, well-crafted game, and we recommend it.

Fantasy Zone itself is a title that was designed from the ground-up to be a short, but intense arcade romp. In this day and age, this wouldn't stand a chance by itself, but such a meaningful re-release, packed with all the features any old fan could want, makes this a thoroughly recommended classic to revisit in 2020, for both old and newer fans of Sega. The addition over its previous 3DS incarnation of an online leaderboard system, and a quality one at that, makes this the definitive way to play Fantasy Zone in this day and age, both on the bigger screen, and on the go. Best enjoyed with a good arcade stick, and auto-fire turned off!

Although Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space doesn't hit the same highs as Save the World or Hit the Road, Skunkape Games has managed to offer up yet another compelling remaster. Purists are bound to baulk at some of the changes, but nothing is to the point where Season Two outright suffers. If nothing else, Beyond Time and Space is a better remaster than its predecessor, which bodes quite well for Sam & Max. Telltale has come a long way since the mid-2000s, but Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space Remastered radiates a sense of style, charm, and ingenuity the studio lost with time.

While The Drifter mostly succeeds as an immersive interactive novel, the experience, although solid and well paced, never quite evolves into something more than a moody two-evening adventure. What’s really a shame with Powerhoof’s creation is that while it’s a finely crafted point-and-click with great art direction and dark atmosphere, its shift from noir character drama and tense thriller to sprawling sci-fi conspiracy pulp is ultimately a disservice to the emotional potential of its arresting opening chapters.

Runner 2 is as good as platforming gets, and the entire product is an excellent value proposition. Moreover, it is FUN with a capital F. That's the highest compliment we can give the game.

Control's combat is repetitive, yet very enjoyable; the story is a mess, yet somehow manages to keep you want to learn more; the graphic engine needs plenty of work, yet the visuals are fantastic. Fascinating masterpiece and disappointing mediocrity, and almost at equal measures, Remedy Entertainment's bizarre piece of software isn't a solid recommendation, yet it remains a one of a kind experience.

New Super Mario Bros. U succeeds in delivering classic 2D Mario gameplay in a more visually appealing and complete package than ever before and is simply a blast to play both alone or with friends.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a reboot, and like all reboots, it will always leave behind some of those fans that so cherish the originals. That said, for all the fans it might annoy, this new title has released to a very positive response to what has, at times over the decades, been a harsh jury of critics in the gaming press, which says a lot. It's easy to see why. While keeping to the core roots of the much-loved Dynasty Warriors 2 to 5, it forges a new path that takes advantage of the power of modern PCs and gameplay that taps into some of the trends of modern gaming. No, the main character here is not going to win any awards, and future games have definitely left a lot of scope to build on, but if Origins is now the template going forward for Dynasty Warriors, it is easy to get excited about the future of the series.

Whether it's down to the sharp, intelligent writing, or fantastic hand-drawn style and animation, Spiritfarer has a charm that could be described as almost Disney-eque… well, maybe that would be true if the first passenger Stella encounters wasn't a chain smoking deer. That charm is without a doubt [i]Spiritfarer[i/]s best asset, and something that many will latch on to consciously or subconsciously when coming to their own judgement on its quality. Yes, it can be slow and repetitive, but that is also part of the point. The 2D take on a life-sim is a path less travelled for the genre, and unique in this instance. It creates an appealing world wherein the developer has gone to great efforts to flesh it out, and make it feel lived in. It all hangs together very nicely, indeed.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is a real triumph when it comes to kart racing and more than holds its own against the hedgehog’s main rival from Nintendo. The CrossWorlds mechanic introduces a strategic play that keeps things fresh, and the dozens of tracks do a sterling job in really providing a challenge, which also looks and sounds great. While there is maybe a bit too much grinding in order to unlock the many rewards on offer for dedicated players, even those who only want to casually commit to Sonic Racing will still get plenty of fun playing in both single-player and online, especially with a whole roadmap of additional tracks and racers being rolled out in the months ahead. Mario Kart World is an excellent game, but so too is Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds.

It successfully compresses the real-time strategy formula into a two-dimensional, side-scrolling game without losing so much strategic depth that it becomes a simple action game.

For fans of classic, turn-based RPGs or newcomers seeking a beautifully crafted adventure, Sea of Stars is an easy recommendation. Its transition to iOS is expertly handled, ensuring that its sincere homage to the past remains as captivating as ever—now with the added convenience of being playable in between calls or internet browsing sessions.

Anyone who enjoyed Super Meat Boy is likely to have a good time with The End is Nigh. Both games are very similar, with the latter being a somewhat more mature and thought-provoking platformer. Ed McMillen knows how to make his games hard and addictive and that has not changed here. Sometimes the unrelenting challenge can lead to fatigue, yet at the same time that sensation of being worn out and battered is extremely fitting considering the portentous atmosphere in the later sections. There really is no other talent like McMillen working in the industry. The man crafts simple and easy to pick up games that are extremely difficult, yet at the same time combine sardonic wit, dark humour, and a foreboding solemness.

One of the most famous Neo Geo shmups, Blazing Star fetches a pretty high price online these days for a full copy, so its inclusion at such a comparatively low price on a digital platform, on a system in which it is actually very playable (unlike the release on smart devices), both at home and on the go, is hard to miss out on for fans of the game itself in particular, or shmups in general, or even Neo Geo far and wide. Even those who already own a physical copy should not find it difficult to consider rebuying. Indeed, if anyone can afford a physical copy of this, then the small price of this digital rerelease, which comes complete with online leader boards for them to show off their skills for the world to see, should not prove too hard to swallow. It is a great classic that deserves to be experienced today just as much as back when it just came out, if not for history's sake, then for its intrinsic quality alone.

ENDER LILLIES: Quietus of the Knights is the definition of sky-high potential gone to waste. At first it will seem like this is a flawless diamond. It is beautiful, it controls like a charm, and the story behind it all is mysterious and dark. The more you play, however, the more you realise that, under the wallpaper-worthy vistas lies something that leans more towards generic than awesome, with combat in particular slowly turning into a repetitive slog. Sadly, this is nothing more an 'okay' metroidvania.

At its heart Super Mario RPG: Remake is a hilarious, beautiful and excellently written 12 to 14 hour RPG experience. Its beautiful music and art style just ooze a unique charm that most Mario games can only dream of. It would be amazing to see a new collab with Square Enix coming from this but as that is definitely a pipedream (pun intended), what we have here is an absolute highlight of 2023.

Sort of a weird game in that it is both undeniably great and a little bit disappointing at the same time. It is a poor spot to jump into for newbies and yet returning veterans might be a disappointed by how much the game repeats itself.

FM24 by its very nature is more of the same and that isn't in itself a criticism. Indeed, Sports Interactive would likely argue this final love letter to 20 years of the series is the culmination and last hurrah of what they have been building up to over the last number of years. Fans returning to the series will either find the presentation a comfort blanket or more of the same, depending on their point of view. Changes to the ageing match engine breathe new life into watching the spectacle play out while the emphasis on the greater power of agents in wheeling and dealing in the transfer market adds a layer of complexity that spices things up. There are also overhauls to set pieces and increased focus on player's individual targets and development. Despite all that though, it does feel like the natural stepping off point of the series to go in a slightly different direction before things get stale and it therefore isn't surprising that FM25 promises a 'new chapter'. It will be exciting to watch where the series goes in the coming years.

This far outstrips the first game in content amount, and the approach to telling a new story that can encapsulate the wider scope is genius. We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie is a fantastic portable game and fits Switch like a glove. This is a hearty recommendation to all gamers and any lovers of the King's tight purple tights.

Nearly eight years later, Super Meat Boy remains a master class in balancing difficulty into engaging level design. The quirk burst level structure holds up incredibly well, allowing players to fail repeatedly without getting discouraged as the goal is always just a few seconds of gameplay away. As more content unlocks by clearing stages with an A+, collecting bandages, and finding Warp Zones, it's incredibly easy to play "just one more level" for hours on end. Unfortunately, the replacement score pales in comparison to Danny Baranowsky's original soundtrack, but the core gameplay is strong enough where this can be overlooked even if longtime fans will surely be disappointed. For anyone who hasn't played Super Meat Boy, though, there's little reason not to give it the chance it more than deserves.

Nothing has changed here - this is still the same fantastic World of Goo that was so loved back on WiiWare, and now comes with the handy feature of including not only motion controls from the Wii version, but touch input from the mobile edition, as well as a great two-player feature and instant access to the atmospheric soundtrack. The core puzzles are as dastardly as ever, and feel just as fresh as they ever did, with numerous ways to solve them…and numerous ways to epically fail! Highly challenging, highly addictive, and, more than ever, leaving a thirst for a true sequel, World of Goo is a must for any Nintendo Switch owner.

This new iteration of Quake II is the definitive approach to remastering a classic. The past melds seamlessly with the present, as not only are the two original expansions resurrected, but the very campaign from Quake II 64 is transposed. The new campaign crafted by the hands of MachineGames is a testament to the fusion of innovation and nostalgia. This revitalization becomes a symphony of rejuvenation, as the past is reborn in the crucible of the present, leaving players to navigate a world that is both familiar and novel, both retro and modern. This is not just a remaster; it's a journey through time, a testament to the power of transformation.

Just Shapes & Beats is an inventive, creative, and memorable experience. It takes a simple concept and does so much with it, causing each level to feel wholly special, even if the lag issue can sometimes dampen the moment. The story mode is a joy to play, and the online mode offers hours of entertainment, as well.

There are 12 hours or so of content in The Curse of the Pharaohs, and while it isn't all good, the pieces that are good, are very good. So good, in fact, that it takes Assassin's Creed Origins and puts it on par - or even ahead! - of Black Flag for best Assassin's Creed game of all time.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon does exactly as hoped and brings a whole new audience to the series with a reinvention of sorts. It plays well, looks great, and has one of the simplest stories to understand fronted by Ichi, the most likeable protagonist so far. It was a bold move in it's radical approach to the combat system that has paid off spectacularly, when partnered with a wealth of sub-quests that never feel forced and always delight. If you are a long time Yakuza fan, take comfort in knowing that even in a new direction this not only holds up, but is the best in the series. For newcomers, go and grab one of the games of the year. Consider this reviewer converted.

Fortnite on Nintendo Switch is a well done port despite its graphical downgrades. It contains the same great Battle Royale gameplay the title is known for, and it's just as addictive and exciting as ever. Collecting materials, swapping out guns, and building forts never gets old, even though you are going to be dying a lot. If you have never played the game before, then this is the perfect time to give it a shot, especially since it's free to play.