Endless grind, very slow progression, and an abysmal battle system, are the major knocks against what would otherwise be an average experience. The story itself is unique, but hardly goes into depth instead relying far more on shock-value of events occurring rather than actual meaning. Unfortunate, really, as the plot serves up a huge potential for some interesting questions, or dialogue - things that are completely missing.

Stay Cool, Kobayashi-san!: A River City Ransom Story is a mundane beat 'em up that's held aloft by a couple clever ideas. The combat is fun at first, but the doldrums set in long before completing the first of potentially many play-throughs. Some fights, particularly the finale, definitely could've used a few tweaks. Still, figuring out the fastest route to the end is really cool. It gives the adventure a tinge of replay-value. However, unless you "have" to play every game in the River City Ransom canon, then this won't catch your interest.

Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate II shine beautifully on the Nintendo Switch thanks to some excellent optimisation on the console and a brilliant control scheme. It can seem convoluted initially, but this is nevertheless inspired stuff from Beamdog, who has pioneered a new way of playing isometric RPGs with a gamepad. Everything about the Enhanced Editions is slickly presented, even if the games themselves show their age in their outdated mechanics. Still, this is worth playing for the RPG fanatic and provides a stellar history lesson on the forefather of modern role-playing games.

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 current price tag is insanely high for what's on offer. The new levels can be smashed through in a few hours, and the low difficulty means there's little replayability in aiming for high-scores and rankings on each stage. Nostalgia and an 8-bit classic simply aren't worth the price of admission. That being said, it's fun. Somewhat. If it had included some others from Bubble Bobble history like Rainbow Islands, it would have been more appetizing.

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.

If not a fan of the Macintosh/NES Shadowgate, this won't convince you otherwise, as it's the same, below average (yes, fellow nostalgic friend) game. Now, if a fan, or think that this is for you, and don't mind playing something with early '80s visuals, you are advised to play the original, which is somewhere out there on the web (and completely free), as the "improved" visuals of this remaster actually lack that special retro magic, and the few additions aren't worth the price of admission.

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.

Dusk Diver struggles to make a memorable impact due to its story and gameplay failings. This is not helped by its technical issues. Nevertheless, despite its blandness, there is some charisma beneath the surface thanks to a memorable supporting cast and a clear sense of passion in its world's conception. It's difficult to recommend it, but for those who do give it a go, there is a noteworthy personality here that keeps things ticking.

Black Desert successfully ticks all the requisite boxes expected from an MMORPG, but it doesn't really push the envelope forward in any meaningful way. While there are a number of jarring performance issues that tarnish the overall experience, it can still deliver an enjoyable, if slightly hollow, time-filler when consumed in small doses. However Pearl Abyss has failed to sidestep the common concerns that tend to plague the genre as a whole. It just feels like a lot of needless, repetitive busy time, designed to prolong user engagement and drive micro-transactions which ultimately, leads to an unavoidable feeling of ennui.

Ultimately, WWE 2K20 is the same old story of good ideas and bad execution. Having both female and male main characters in the MyCareer story mode is great. When presented alongside the "Four Horsewomen" mode/documentary, it shows 2K's commitment towards inclusivity. However, this is frequently undone by a plethora of bugs and glitches. In just a short amount of play-time, you're guaranteed to run into any number of them. Even if you can inexplicably manage to look past these problems, you're treated to original content that's also pretty flawed. Wrestling fans deserve better.

Super Wiloo Demake is a game that begs the question: "who is this for? Children should avoid it, lest they be turned off to platformers forever. Platform enthusiasts should turn away for the same reason. So who does that leave, trophy hunters? Might want to pick up My Name is Mayo instead - at least it has some humour. This is some of the worst Ratalaika has put out there, and that's saying something.

Trailmakers is right on the cusp of being something great. There are a lot of tools here, and pieces that can be used to build anything imaginable. The focus is on creativity, and this is for anyone that liked building their own LEGO original creations, rather than following the instructions. If everything about this was as good as the customization, this would be an easy recommendation for just about everyone. Unfortunately, what exactly they let you do with your toys is less exciting, and the "game" part of the game needed a bit more work. It has the feel of building a top of the line, brand new Ferrari, and then only being able to race it around the local supermarket parking lot. With a bit more work, this could've been exceptional, but for now it feels stuck in neutral.

It's completely understandable why Neo Cab wouldn't be for everyone. A completely unique experience of this kind could alienate, and make it difficult to justify taking a punt without an in-depth examination of what to expect. Take the chance however, and an immersive, fascinating commentary on the evils of technology interspersed with a murder-mystery novel, are delivered. If excellent pacing and a character driven narrative are the major plus points when handing over the cash, sit back, strap in, and enjoy the journey. With the multiple endings on offer, and only a few hours needed to go from start to finish, the Switch feels like the perfect place to meet new people, embroil yourself in their lives, and appreciate the highs and lows of cyberpunk couriering.

Twin-stick shooter Drive to Hell is great at being good. It doesn't do anything wrong, but it doesn't do something special either. It's enjoyable, and has a charming (albeit amateurish), 16-bit-era look, but one can easily find something much better, and with a higher replay value, with just a few more coins.

Ritual: Crown of Horns is an enjoyable twin-stick shooter, with not much variety, but plenty of challenge - something that may or may not annoy some, due to how it's all executed. Moreover, while the occult gets mixed with a Wild West setting in here, in terms of presentation and atmosphere, Draw Distance's creation is underwhelming at best.

Return of the Obra Dinn is without a doubt a thinking man/woman's piece of crumpet. It is someone that you can take out on a date and have a riveting conversation with, but then scratch your head about some of the things they've said afterwards. There's not a lot of replay value here and a lot of the fun is over whence all discoveries have been made and confirmed. That said, it is a, mostly, to-the-point adventure, and it is because of this focus that Return of the Obra Dinn works so well. It's certainly not going to be for everyone, and may even sound boring to some, but as long as there's no expectation for split second thrills (beyond that of what is depicted in the memories, which can be thrilling), you will find an excellent puzzle experience with a more than shipshape presentation.

This remains a great action choice even on Switch, and the only version that can be undocked from the TV and taken on the go to be enjoyed anywhere at any time, which makes fitting a full chapter in a gamer's day schedule more practical.

Anyone looking for an anime brawler will find this one to be a very good one. It is not to be played for its highly-compressed retelling of a former story, nor its short length; but for mindless action and fighting it delivers fairly well. The combat is fun with enough to it to stay fairly interesting for the ten or so hours it takes to beat, just be warned there isn't some great adventure to partake in here.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare refreshes the formula by rooting itself more firmly in realism and adopting a grittier approach to both combat and to its Campaign's story. The gameplay is the smooth experience expected from the franchise and results in some fun, memorable Campaign moments and a handful of enjoyable multiplayer ones. The Spec Ops mode is a bit of a mess but could easily be fixed with a patch, while the majority of the current multiplayer maps leach the enjoyment from the classic CoD formula. Ultimately, this is a steady-as-she-goes experience that walks a good walk but fails to capture a truly elegant stride.

Gravity Ghost Deluxe Edition is an art piece that is enjoyable for what it is. Playing it is honestly the weakest part of the whole thing, though it does manage to be fun from time to time. The creative display on work here is a clear winner, even if not every idea feels like it works in the end product. As a whole, this isn't a must-play, but for fans of something a little different, it is a decent jaunt around the universe.

The Outer Worlds is a thinking-man's Fallout 4. While Bethesda failed to push its venerable RPG series into a more thoughtful direction, Obsidian Entertainment thankfully is still around to show them how it is done. Conceptually, the idea of a dystopian space system that is ruled by a board of monopolies could not have been executed more deftly.

Deck13 addressed every single issue that held The Surge back in The Surge 2. It is not even necessary to have played the first, since the sequel has almost no connections to it outside of its gameplay mechanics and systems. The idea of Dark Souls but "sci-fi" is not exactly a great idea, but Deck13 truly made the most out of what is possible. Realistically, there would be much more guns than there are and probably hacking would have been more present in the gameplay, but since this "sub-genre" relies so heavily on melee combat, it is unavoidable. Finally, there's someone other than From Software who has nailed it.

The original Puyo Puyo Arcade release arrive intact with plenty of Ages feature boosts, and plays as solidly now as it ever has, with online play, save states, and worldwide leaderboards aplenty. The base Head to Head mode remains as addictive as ever, but lacks compelling content outside of that structure, and those looking for more feature-rich Puyo Puyo goodness may wish to consider other entries in the series on the eShop.

There are some really great ideas here, but weighed down by simple problems. As it is, it freezes, the menu hangs, and the absolute precision needed for nearly every move (and an oddly complex control scheme) makes the game get in the way of itself far more than it ever should. Far too often a string of precise moves is screwed up because of a wrong button or missing a ledge by minuscule amounts. There is clear heart and effort in here, and those with a high tolerance for difficulty will enjoy it immensely, but the average player will be put off by what is required of them. A revamp on the control system and some a bit more focus on the plot could easily launch OUTBUDDIES' points higher.

Though it still has a ways to go, Chikara: Action Arcade Wrestling is a worthwhile pick-up for wrestling fans. Matches are raucously entertaining, and there's enough variety to keep fans occupied for hours upon hours. The CAW feature is brilliantly implemented. Once you get the hang of it, the potential is boundless. Some issues, particularly the AI, still need to be sorted out, but the developer is really keen on delivering consistent updates and fixes.

An all-around solid good title that would be a fantastic gift for young children. Unfortunately, the story mode is very hit-and-miss.

Valfaris is a near-perfect 2D action platformer with an excellent sense of style in every aspect. Its industrial sci-fi setting is like Doom on steroids, and its breakneck soundtrack does a great job of tying the whole experience together. While it is weakened somewhat by difficulty imbalances in some sections - particularly in later levels - it nevertheless stands apart in the tide of indie platformers by virtue of its rock-solid personality, beautiful world and graphics, and great mechanics.