Shuten Order is a unique and stylish murder mystery visual novel with wild narrative ambition, but its lack of consistent execution, pacing issues, and underwhelming gameplay variety keep it from reaching the heights of its inspirations. It could have been really good if it was about a third as long. Each side branch takes 5-10 hours when about two is the max they should have ran. Mystery fans and visual novel enthusiasts may appreciate the experience, but most players might wish for a more focused, narrow adventure.

It's easy to see the potential in Candylands Journey. The mechanics are enjoyable, the graphical style is beautiful, and the level layouts are full of options to explore the beaten path. In theory, this would be a great game, but the beautiful art gets in the way of the gameplay - literally. When the central challenge in a game is deciding what is and isn't a wall and having to play Where's Waldo? to figure out where enemies lurk, it is hard to call it entertaining. There is a need for more games like Candylands Journey - short, enjoyable experiences to spend an evening with, but it is so painful to see how close Spell Pie was to actually hitting the mark.

Some of the ideas and mysteries in Master Detective Archives: Rain Code are pretty interesting at first, but far too often they fall into the realm of fantastical, which decreases the punch they might have. Further, the amount of deaths and heavy reliance of it really decreases the punch of anything having meaning or interest.

Between the terrible story and characters, and the poor performance on Switch 2, it is really difficult to recommend Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion. That isn’t said with any delight, either, as the level of customisation and depth to combat is something to be admired, but with only a dreary open world to explore, and no space combat to be found, there is a lot left to be desired. Mech-obsessed fans that can hook up for party play will find fleeting enjoyment if mission and loot-based gameplay is sought after. Other interested folk may need to hope Marvelous puts in a lot of post-release work to get this one up to standard, though.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World is the definitive edition of a much-loved original Nintendo Switch game. Performance tweaks make the adventure buttery smooth (niche pun intended) and the Star-Crossed World content has been seamlessly integrated into the base game for excellent cohesion. Those stepping into this Kirby adventure for the first time should certainly consider the Switch 2 edition for the full, optimised experience. There's enough content for existing owners to consider an upgrade – a delicious desert, but it could leave you craving more.

The art style and atmosphere are praiseworthy, especially as a point-and-click game. Cloud Cats' Land appeals so much towards that feeling of relaxation and deep thought that the genre often aims for. It is easy to get pulled into the magical world of cuddly cats and whimsy. However, far too frequently, the player is pulled out of that feeling when the game almost requires them to brute-force puzzles or resort to a video walkthrough. While it is generally not necessary for the genre to have guidance systems, in titles where the puzzles are not based on logic and go against it entirely, help is required. Players will rightfully stop trusting all rules and try everything they can until they find the solution, making the magical puzzles forgettable instead.

It is always comforting to turn on a new Neptunia game for fans of the franchise. It is the same, yet slightly different, and like hanging out with an old friend doing something new. Although Neptunia Game Maker R:Evolution isn't the best introduction to the franchise, it's comfortable and with the warmth and humour that the franchise is known for. The game has some annoying quirks - it sometimes feels repetitive developing new games. More quality of life updates could have made this a fun, simple simulator/action-RPG. However, the simulator aspect sometimes feels like it overstays its welcome.

As a homage to a classic cult anime series, Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening sort of works. The animation has the right feel, and fans of the show and those nostalgic about it will absolutely have a blast with that part. Unfortunately, the gameplay completely disregards that nostalgia this title relies on to appeal to its audience. It doesn't help that the level design is at times a massive disaster. While impressive, the boss fights, anime cutscenes, and campy '80s feel do not save this.

Fans of the golden age of beat 'em ups (yup, that’s the '90s, alright!) are advised to try out Maiden Cops - the more than decent indie homage to the genre. It doesn’t really have enough to convince those who aren’t into brawlers and its “waifu” aesthetic might even deter those who are. If you don’t mind playing as a cute and curvy anime girl (and one not entirely human), Maiden Cops can actually offer plenty of fun.

Rhythm action is a hard thing to get right at the best of times but, Patapon 1+2 Replay is a joyous package. It's great to see the return of such a niche and interesting set of games, and to see them reach new platforms too. With challenging gameplay and a fun sense of style, players would be remiss to miss this unique experience. Get these!

A frustrating case of style over substance, Near-Mage dazzles with its art direction and whimsical Eastern European charm but fails to back it up with compelling storytelling. What begins as something that looks it will turn into a heartfelt journey into a world of wonder, fizzles into a predictable plotline with shallow characters and gameplay that rarely requires more than clicking and walking from A to B. This is undoubtedly a passion project, but passion alone can’t save what can be described as an impressive spell full of sparkle and colour that’s barely potent.

Indie developers should take a good look at Exo-Calibre as it can provide a very helpful lesson: a video game doesn’t always need a high complexity or seemingly endless content to be enjoyable. This shoot ‘em up, which looks, feels and plays as if it came straight from the ‘90s, manages to be one of the finest in the genre. Without introducing a new mechanic, focusing on pleasing a niche hardcore crowd, or having tons of unlockables, Exo-Calibre is simply fun to play - and sometimes that’s all it takes.

Heartworm has a strong atmosphere, greatly enhanced by an excellent use of PS1-style graphics. And that’s it. That’s the only thing good about this indie survival horror experience. A survival horror experience where the only true horror is the boredom that will have to be endured while the protagonist runs around aimlessly (without anything posing any real threat). It's all topped off with occasional not-exactly-that-deep thoughts on life and death.

Stasis is a point-and-click adventure that fans of science fiction horror will want to check out, especially if Stasis: Bone Totem was enjoyed. These games can be played in any order, but Stasis’ focused setting and shorter length make it the more appealing place to start. It will shock in most places, but its twisted plot will keep everyone engaged to the end. It has been adapted well for Nintendo Switch, despite some minor issues. Just make sure to go into Stasis for the story before anything else and prepare to think about it for a while afterwards.

Heretic + Hexen by Nightdive Studios is an easy recommendation for collectors or newcomers to these super old and once popular titles. Ideal for someone who loves old school Doom “clones,” or simply players who want to relive the beginning of the Serpent Riders saga once more, as well as the new campaigns that were created for this re-release.

Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution does a great job of feeling exactly like a Game Boy Advance game that holds up in the modern day. Despite limiting itself to the capabilities of a previous console, its presentation is incredibly charming even when not played in the modern style, and the game design on display is strong enough that Shantae Advance might actually surpass some of Shantae’s other recent outings. While some of its action-centric areas can get a little confusing to explore, and it never goes quite as cinematic in its set pieces as other games, the overall package is strong and series fans will not be disappointed.

Drag x Drive is a smart way of putting the Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con to good use with clever, fluid mouse control in a futuristic wheelchair basketball setting. With a unique setup and a fairly steep learning curve, it may not appeal to everyone, though. Once controls become second nature, there is satisfying competitive fun to be had. Drag x Drive does offer good value for the asking price, however there is a lingering feeling of needing more to flesh-out the overall experience.

The Sinking City had a great idea, but it was ultimately poorly executed. The remaster was a chance to address its main flaws: combat playability, mission structure, and level design. However, only the graphics got attention when they never needed them. The revamped visuals do admittedly look very good and make Oakmont feel more immersive, but they were a misplaced priority when everything else was unbelievably poorly tuned.

Is This Seat Taken? is a charming logic puzzle game that can be beaten in just a few hours. The entirety of its playtime is enjoyable, with a touching little story and great difficulty curve that builds up to some real challenge towards the end. With no real penalty for taking it slow, though, the game can still be beaten and the story experienced even by non-puzzle fans.

Shadow Labyrinth isn’t an awful game. It is fairly competent on a technical level and provides a lot of weapons and abilities to unlock. Unfortunately, it is lengthy and the way it is paced means the majority of it ends up dull and repetitive. The strength of its story and the occasional high points in gameplay prevent it from being terrible, but in a genre as oversaturated as search-action, this is just not good enough.

The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is one of the grandest pieces of literature ever written, and it has quality to its quantity. However, at times, the quality suffers as a result, and it could have benefited from a couple of additional editing rounds to weed out certain aspects. Some routes are terrible compared to the general quality of the game. At the end of the day, fans of the Danganronpa and Zero Escape franchises have a game that is on the must-buy list and will last a very long time. It comes strongly recommended to visual novel fans in general, and even to non-gamers who are into heavier pieces of literature.

Many indie titles have a formal understanding of retro pixel-bit graphics, chiptune soundtracks, and Metroidvania design, but few of them successfully build a nuanced and complete template around said formula. Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is one of those rare occasions. For whatever design quibbles may lightly diminish the end result, Pocket Trap has nevertheless crafted one of this year’s best games.

Pokémon Friends offers a charming set of puzzles that do ramp up nicely in difficulty. It's a hop-on game that's ideal for younger players and compelling enough to grip the older lot. There is a good variety of challenges in the base release, but a shame that extras are tied to fairly expensive DLC.

Despite the story shortcomings, there is a lot to like about Frontier Hunter: Erza’s Wheel of Fortune. The gameplay shines above the rest of its shortcomings, and the diverse upgrade paths for various characters through crafting, loot, and equippable skills really helps make the game feel fresh and exciting throughout a fairly lengthy adventure. Even a year or so after its release Frontier Hunter is worth checking out, despite the absolute deluge of other titles available in the genre.

A substantial lack of instructions and in game help, coupled with a poor story, makes Tamagotchi Plaza's value for money and enjoyment level on the low side. It has the potential to be quite innovative if it expands on the game's premise and uses all of the Nintendo Switch’s technology capabilities. Overall, Tamagotchi Plaza fails on a basic level that casts a large shadow on any future instalments. It is extremely different to the original egg-shaped Tamagotchi, and needs more substance to be worth more than a cursory glance considering the physical and digital price tag.

DLCs are often targeted at those wanting to expand the core game. Ashes of Elrant, though, is largely more of the same. Problems in Chained Echoes' main quest, like the grind of battle, lack of player progression or questionable ending, are not addressed in the slightest. Those looking for a story-adjacent experience will be interested, but anyone after something new is going to want to pass.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound brings the 2D series into the modern age with respect. A diverse range of levels constantly introduces fresh ideas to stave off repetition, and the focus on satisfying momentum-based gameplay that rewards mastering of abilities is the perfect match for ninja hack and slash platforming. Speedrun goals, collectibles and unlockable harder stages mean this is a game that will keep being returned to long after the main quest is over.

Shadow Labyrinth's strengths lie in its bold reinvention of Pac-Man as a cosmic horror tale, with tight combat and a richly detailed world. The UGSF connections are a treat for Namco fans, nostalgic callbacks without pandering. It’s a love letter to Namco’s arcade roots, twisted into a dark, ambitious epic that swings for the fences. For those craving a fresh take on a classic or just need a solid Metroidvania, it’s a haunting journey worth taking. While Bomberman's grimdark reinvention was a huge misfire, it's surprising just how much Shadow Labyrinth works as a strange and twisted take on such a cartoony concept.