It is exceedingly rare to have a video game bring up what essentially amounts to existentialism, and raise questions about a player's own life, all with very little dialogue. The emotional engagement for having the two primary characters not talk was stunning, and the inversion of real life pet toys was an interesting irony this played with very well. The setting, atmosphere, and story, were the high marks of the game, and while the actual dungeon crawling is purely average, having the girl back at home that constantly needed taking care of, added a needed sense of tension. Being able to raise deep concepts about duty, life and entertainment, makes this stand far above many other games.

Yet again, Matrix Software have produced a great example of JRPG goodness.

Little Hope is a fantastic horror experience that really shows what Supermassive can do with the Dark Pictures series. Though it's a short experience and it exhibited a crash during review, it's a fantastically crafted thrilling drama with amazing characters who are genuinely fun to interact with. If this kind of game is something that seems interesting, don't pass up on this experience!

More of a refinement with extra bells and whistles over the original DSiWare game, this version of 99Seconds keeps the basic-looking overtone of the concept and adds more of what works.

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon is another quality addition to the series, but it doesn't feel as good as the latest installments because it lacks refinements made to the formula.

Be sure to check out Inazuma Eleven and hope that it sells well enough to get the superior sequel also localised.

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.

One Night Stand is proof that Ratalaika can find talented developers and bring them to the masses. While this isn't some Triple-A juggernaut, for what it is, it's a great addition to the genre. If you like these kinds of titles, you owe it to yourself to see everything that One Night Stand has to offer. For such a short runtime, there's a lot to love here.

Not being content with being one of the most soulless products released under the Warner Bros. label, it is also extremely underwhelming from a technical point of view. Gotham Knights was originally developed as a multi-gen title, but PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions got cancelled. Despite this, the visuals underwhelm and fail to impress and manage to look worse than the last major Batman instalment released seven years prior. Capping at a mere 30fps might be excusable if this boasted the most cutting edge visuals on the market, but it manages to look cheap and dated. For a AAA production from Warner Bros., this should have been a visual tour de force, with top writing talent, and have evolved the gameplay to compete with its contemporaries. Maybe it can be salvaged over time with updates, but currently it's one of the most droll and sloppily designed triple-A products of 2022.

This is jam-packed with mini-games that can be enjoyed both against other players and alone, with enough content even for those with limited hand and/or arm mobility issues. It's the cutest party title known to mankind. This really is a game that everyone can find something to love: no compensation will be given for any arguments that multiplayer conjures up.

It has been said in the past that the most simple of puzzle ideas can oft be the most addictive, and this is most definitely the case with Neves.

Each element of the adventure complements the other perfectly, leaving gamers with a true sense of satisfaction afterwards. Definitely not one to miss out on...

Omega Labyrinth Life was created to appeal to a very specific audience, but that doesn't mean it's a bad game - actually, it's very far from that. Matrix Software clearly understands the Mystery Dungeon formula, and they've pulled out all the stops to deliver an exceptional product. Each of the seven playable characters has their own unique qualities, and partnering them together allows for a lot of tactical options. The subject matter is definitely not going to appeal to everyone, but at least there's an option to skip past the more outrageous content. Just don't expect to find anything resembling "family-friendly" here. All in all, this is highly recommended.

A brilliant remaster that has wiped the dust off the original Spyro trilogy and given it a lease of new life in the hope of introducing Spyro to a new generation of gamers. The Nintendo Switch feels like the most suitable home for a family friendly mascot platformer where so many primary colours are at full bloom, so it is a shame that it has taken such a long time for a port. The low level difficulty will be quite off-putting to seasoned gamers, but charming characters, varied worlds and a number of items to collect will keep younger players entertained for quite some time.

Although this pays homage to industry legends like Dark Souls, as well as The Legend of Zelda series, don't come in Chronos: Before the Ashes looking a worthy successor to these - not even a game that plays like Remnant: From the Ashes, which is actually its sequel. Those who try it out with such expectations will be severely disappointed, especially if in need for something with 100+ hour replay value. You are advised to judge it by its own merits, and discover what is actually a great, immersive ARPG, with simple, yet very good combat, visuals, atmosphere, and story.

Ridiculous setting aside, Maidens of a Hollow Dream is really impressive. Every aspect blends together quite nicely, giving players a unique twist on the standard shmup formula. Managing two characters at once is difficult, at first, but learning the intricacies really pays off.

Ivy the Kiwi? isn't the perfect game, but it breaks the mould by being different, and bringing with it some of the gaming styles that haven't been seen since the launch of the DS console.

It is highly satisfying completing a story arc or traversing the world and finding things that you felt that other players might not have stumbled across due to the nature of the open world and its use of way finders. The lack of load times on Xbox Series S is truly impressive given the nature of environments, landscape, and elements that are present on screen. There were a few issues from characters floating in mid-air, bizarre enemy AI, and straight up freezes, although these were far and few between given the scope of it all. Intuitive and varied combat help keep things fresh, even if it does take a fair few hours of gameplay to really get going. Assassin's Creed Valhalla is a thoroughly enjoyable, open-world RPG that is an absolute must for Xbox owners.

The cheerful design and well written humour of Alter Age make it a solid good versus evil RPG. The winning formula includes amusing team member personalities, a well-paced story and a melodious soundtrack, plus the Soul Alter age-switching skill, which remains centre stage - and for good reason. It is exciting to see what new features KEMCO will come up with next.

Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix is packed with hours of fun, much friendly competition, and encouraging new character dynamics who do everything in their power to make sure first place is the only place to be. This is a definite must-have if in search for a new racing simulator, and it's not just for kids either!

For anyone who's looking to experience Cities Skylines and doesn't have access to a PC, this is the version to purchase. It's a thoroughly enjoyable game that really captures the old-school simulator catharsis. It's very addictive and with promises of more patches and potential for more DLC, it's probably going to be the long term leader of the city building genre on consoles for a long time to come. Heartily recommended to all who are interested!

Mighty Switch Force! Hyper Drive Edition is a superb action puzzle title with clever stages that both get the brain working overtime, yet also offer up a thrilling fast-paced platform experience that will keep even the toughest of gamers on the edge of their seats.

The title may not be that imaginative, but everything else about Cat Slide Tiles is high on the creative front. The 'just one more level' mentality makes it addictive, and the Switch's portability means it's simple to play a level while waiting for an appointment or as a form of relaxation before bed. The cat-themed puzzles are not always easy, but they are certainly enjoyable, and definitely deserve a sequel.

Despite entering a crowded genre on the Nintendo Switch, Touhou Spell Bubble stands out above most for a brilliant audio collection, and unique addictive take on the classic Puzzle Bobble system. A lack of online support, bar the downloadable song packs, is a shame, but for local one-on-one, and an enjoyable solo endeavour, this nails that essential feel of "easy to learn, hard to master."

Puddle lacks a tiny bit of personality and features some initially annoying gameplay limitations but manages to hold its own in the long run, past the initial learning period.

Covenant of Solitude has the relaxing feel attributed to most KEMCO titles, alongside the usual twists and at times quite dark events. The customisable main party members adds an enjoyable change to the standard stereotypical lineup. It may lack additional features of newer titles, but that doesn’t diminish the intriguing plot or the joy of exploring the varied dungeons.

Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth2: Sisters Generation is a time capsule of the otaku culture of its time, and an important puzzle piece to understand the evolution of the Neptunia franchise. It took what worked with the previous game and refined it, also daring to change up the story by switching the protagonist - a move that would breathe new life into the entire series moving forward, which has become well-known for twisting a well-known formula by adding something new in each entry. That said, some jokes will come across as outdated to a modern audience, although the core of the franchise is there, and a lot of the comedy still feels spot on, especially for those who were there during the era when this title was released. It is a game that is strongly recommended to revisit for long-time fans, and to be experienced at least once by newcomers, as it is a massive part of the DNA of the Neptuniaverse.

For around the same price as a large extra value meal at McDonald's, Armillo provides a much better value and also doesn't pile on the pounds.