Anthem#9 is a stylish, compact roguelite that somehow works by doing less, but doing it well. No doubt it comes with a bold visual identity and an imaginative gem-chaining combat system. The lack of permanent updates might not be one for people who have become accustomed to the modern roguelite design, but this does mean the game is solely focused on offering a game that is purely about the player’s skill. Although the game’s tutorials and explanations can feel underdeveloped, the satisfaction of mastering its mechanics outweighs the early learning curve. In the end, what I found is that Anthem#9 delivers a surprising amount of depth wrapped in a striking, but simplistic presentation.

Visions of Four Heroes is very much more of the same, but that is not a criticism when the foundation it builds upon is solid. Dynasty Warriors: Origins laid a strong baseline for the series with its refined combat, improved presentation, and more focused storytelling. This DLC chooses to expand that storytelling, one of the strongpoints of the original game. The additional story content offers deeper insight into familiar figures, while the gameplay remains enjoyable taking down 1000s of soldiers in battle. Although it does little to push the formula forward, it successfully delivers more of what already worked, making it a decent expansion for those who enjoyed the main game.

Twinkleby is a decent and relaxing cosy game that delivers charm through its island‑building mechanics. The low‑poly dioramas style gives it a warm personality, and the freedom and ease of decorating islands and adjusting the islands make it inviting for casuals. However, the game is held back by slow unlock pacing in the early hour and frustratingly limited control over villagers, who sometimes wander on their own schedules and ignore the important items they desire, even when placed in front of them. Fans of cosy and casual games will find enjoyment in its gentle pace, making it great to play while listening to a podcast or watching some YouTube videos, but it doesn’t offer enough to be anything more than a cosy pastime, which feels very much like the experience it was created to offer.

Gunfire Reborn offers a solid mix of roguelite progression, creative weapons, and fun hero abilities, making it a good pick for fans of loot-focused first-person shooters. Its low system requirements and co-op gameplay further enhance its accessibility, and it makes for a great Steam Deck experience. However, the highly repetitive level design is a weakness that can’t be ignored. While expansions and seasonal systems add variety, they feel like compensation for the bland environments rather than a true fix. Overall, it’s a good game that is enjoyable, but not without some flaws that stop it short of greatness.

In summary, Out of Time warps into the Survivors-like genre with a mix of chaotic, era-mashing, auto-action, and a gear-based skill system that sparks creative builds. The Tether mechanic encourages co-op play, which is the better way to play the game. Future updates, including new Eras, gear, and modes, should help give the game legs for the long haul. Yet, repetitive missions, and simplistic and mundane map design, and minor hiccups keep it from standing at the top of the genre. For genre fans with time to spare, Out of Time is a fun ride, but it will not stop the clock as a true standout in the genre.

Ultimately, Killing Floor 3 delivers a solid cooperative shooter foundation. It’s fun, frantic, and mechanically good but it needs time to mature through content updates and system refinements to evolve into something great.

Trash Goblin has the basics of a cosy experience, offering a casual, low-stakes loop with charming characters and accessible mechanics. It’s pleasant, undemanding, and occasionally fun, but it rarely stretches beyond those foundations. The lack of failing mechanics keeps things relaxing but also dulls any sense of progression or challenge. As the systems begin to fade and repetition sets in, even the new patch content struggles to reignite that initial enthusiasm, it begins to lose its appeal. There’s enjoyment here, for sure, especially in short bursts, but it’s the kind of game you put down once the novelty wears off or the story wraps up. A fun little distraction, but not a noteworthy one.

RoboCop: Rogue City – Unfinished Business is more of the brutal, authentic RoboCop power fantasy fans loved when it comes to its intense combat. Gunplay is as meaty and over-the-top as before for the series, with the iconic Auto 9 still stealing the show. However, the expansion comes with some uneven pacing and technical issues that weren’t present in the original. It’s one for fans of the first game’s action but be prepared for a few rough edges in its current state.

Initially, I was going to give FBC: Firebreak a 6, marking it as “Fair” on our scale, but patch v1.2 shifted my perspective. It addressed several of my concerns and signals a promising direction for the game’s future. As it stands, FBC: Firebreak feels like a game with potential that hasn’t fully figured itself out yet. While it’s built on a solid co-op PvE formula and benefits from Remedy’s unique universe, it lacks the variety and depth needed to keep players engaged over time. The handful of missions wear thin quickly due to repeated objectives and static structure, and even with Corrupted Items adding some unpredictability, it’s not enough to mask the thin content. The lack of no voice or text chat makes teamwork clunky. Remedy has shown they’re listening with patch v1.2, which improved pacing and progression, but unless future updates bring significantly more content and variety, I can’t see this game having long-term staying power. For now, it feels like a solid foundation that still needs more built on top of it to truly stand out in a crowded genre.

AI Limit delivers a solid but somewhat uneven Soulslike experience, offering engaging combat driven by its attack-focused Sync Rate system and versatile frame abilities. At £29.50, it is an affordable entry into the genre, blending a gritty, anime-inspired sci-fi aesthetic with cryptic world-building. SenseGames’ debut succeeds in capturing the rewarding challenge of Soulslike combat, with solid boss fights (Hunter of Bladers is one of the better ones) pushing players to master mechanics. However, late-game areas can recycle enemy styles. Cramped spaces leading to unavoidable deaths and some collision issues also introduce frustration, occasionally disrupting the flow of the game. Despite those flaws, the lack of a stamina bar and its aggressive combat focus make AI Limit more accessible than traditional Soulslike entries. My 25-hour journey through Arrisa’s mud-soaked world was mostly enjoyable, even if some aspects did not feel as polished. It may not redefine the genre as a whole, but neat mechanical changes offer a worthwhile alternative for fans waiting on the next big hit in the genre.

These remasters maintain all the extra features from the previous collection – the visual improvements, 60fps + mode, photo mode and other tweaks – and ultimately are the best way to play these games, it’s just the quality of games on offer here aren’t quite as consistently good as the first collection. Aspyr have been doing a really good job with these remasters, especially the Legacy Of Kain set released at the back end of last year and shows that they can do an excellent job in bringing these classic titles back for existing fans to enjoy again but with enough modernisation so a new audience can enjoy them without losing the spirit and feel of the original releases. They didn’t really put a foot wrong with this collection – unfortunately, in the case of Angel Of Darkness, Eidos already did that all those years ago.

A year after its PS5 debut, Rise of the Ronin arrives on PC with Team Ninja’s combat prowess at its core—fast, fluid, and deeply satisfying. The story is engaging enough, though its pacing can feel slow at times, while the open world is filled with familiar tropes—plenty of icons, bandits, and the occasional stray cat, but also plenty of that great combat to experience. PC performance is underwhelming, and optimisation could certainly use some work, though there’s hope for future improvements. It’s not a masterpiece, but Rise of the Ronin stands out as a game where the real excitement lies in its combat, not the world it inhabits.

It feels more aimed at Warriors fans than roguelike enthusiasts, and with so many other options in the roguelike genre, Warriors: Abyss ends up being a fun, but flawed experience—an entertaining twist on Warriors gameplay, but not a standout in the roguelike genre.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins lays a solid foundation for the series’ future. It’s a positive step forward, offering the best gameplay and visuals we’ve seen in the franchise so far. The storytelling approach also provides a more in-depth exploration of familiar characters we’ve followed for over 24 years. The developers have done an excellent job enhancing the combat while maintaining most of the core elements that fans love about Dynasty Warriors. Let’s face it, a sequel is inevitable, and the missing features here could easily make their way back in future instalments. If this game is any indication, there’s plenty to be excited about for what comes next.

The gameplay is hindered by basic mechanics and somewhat awkward melee combat, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. However, the game excels in creating a compelling atmosphere, and the gameplay maintains a smooth flow. In the end, Hollowbody provides a nostalgic experience for fans of British survival horror at the price of a large takeaway pizza (£14.20), encapsulating both the triumphs and shortcomings of the genre, making it a worthwhile choice for an engaging evening for fans of horror games that like them with a sprinkle of nostalgia.

It seems that the developers forgot the vibe of Test Drive Unlimited. Instead, the proposition they bring is a game that falls short of its rivals. Maybe a few months of support, patches and content will enhance what is currently a fairly average racing experience.

Earth Defense Force 6 distinguishes itself as the most compelling entry in the series, successfully drawing me back into its captivating gameplay loop, a feat that previous titles had failed to achieve. Although this could easily be labelled EDF 5.5 due to asset re-usage and limited changes, the game ultimately delivers more of what fans cherish about the franchise, and new people coming in will find this all fresh and gain the best experience. If you never have been a fan, then this release will not alter your perception. Those in search of a radical change to the series may also be disappointed; however, there is hope that future instalments will introduce a fresh array of classes and features, as EDF 6 currently represents the apex of gameplay content available in the series.

Despite the shortcomings in interaction and gameplay complexity, Still Wakes the Deep has an appeal through its linear, but high-quality set pieces and engaging storytelling. The game’s ability to draw players in and keep them invested in the unfolding narrative is a testament to The Chinese Room’s proficiency in creating immersive experiences. By focusing on the development of compelling characters, a wonderful and personalised environment with the oil rig that is mysteriously engulfed in unknown biological matter, combining it with an appealing plot helps succeed in delivering an entertaining game. Players will find themselves engrossed in the eerie atmosphere and suspenseful moments that Still Wakes the Deep has to offer, even with the limitations of its linear structure and simple gameplay. Plus the game’s splendid visuals are a bonus that adds to the overall atmospheric setting.

Astor: Blade of the Monolith has a certain charm and fun element to it, but the game’s simplistic combat and repetitive foes take away from the overall excitement. I would like there to be more reasons to use powers against foes, but the variety of enemies is not big enough to support this. Although it provides enjoyable moments, vibrant visuals, and an intriguing setting, it falls short of being truly remarkable or memorable, yet there is a game that can be enjoyed even if it does not leave a lasting impression.

The story is told and then it ends, but it makes you feel like there should be more, leaving not a craving for another entry but slight disappointment that your curiosity isn’t fully satiated.

Alone in the Dark is a game that gets 60% right, and the rest is a mixture of poor or frustrating gameplay mechanics.

Ereban: Shadow Legacy is a lot like Aragami. And I need more of that, it’s just a kickass concept. But it needs some tough love and design direction if it ever wants its players to really be a part of the world they’re creating or to feel like an Ereban.

As it stands, this surprisingly good and dark, bloody horror experience is a refreshing entry to play with friends for a few hours that will surely leave a lasting impression or induce many nightmares for days to come.

Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II is a sequel that decides to change a few elements to offer a more streamlined, less frustrating and generally overall better experience than the previous entries in the series. But there is a negative that comes with making the game easier to play and changing the investigation elements to be side-scrolling. While I enjoy this change, the lack of variety in the environments means it can become dreary during the slowly-paced elements between the interesting and climatic parts of each chapter. That said, the main element, the visual novel storytelling, brings a compelling horror tale that blends twists on Japanese folklore with a modernised setting to offer a strong atmospheric story with twists and turns to the end. Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II is a game for visual novel fans who enjoy tales about the supernatural with adult themes.

Captain Velvet Meteor: The Jump+ Dimensions is a game that will not waste your time and is a decent, easy-to-understand tactical title that appeals to a wide range of players. It could do with more objective variety and increased hero count in the game’s battles, but this could easily be expanded on in a sequel. It’s all about imagination and that can go many places for a game like this. As for our hero’s first adventure, it’s a solid and different experience that makes it a worthwhile play for anyone looking for some unadulterated tactical fun.

Turnip Boy Robs a Bank is a thin vertical slice of these genres wrapped in layers of farcical humour, designed to deliver on a bite-size evening or two of amusement. It does that exceedingly well.

Cookie Cutter stays true to the tried and tested metroidvania recipe. It does not try to do anything different in that respect, meaning fans of the genre know exactly what to be expecting with the game’s level design and progression. Where Cookie Cutter does stand out is more with its eccentric and loud visual design and fluid animation. Combat is a lot of fun due to how smooth it is. There have been a few melee-focused metroidvanias in the past and Cookie Cutter is a welcome addition to that group, bringing with it a violent and bloody adventure that is full of hi-octane encounters and great platforming controls that make up for the lack of innovation, varied environments and slight frustrations it brings to the genre.

For what it is worth for fans, RoboCop: Rogue City is a brilliant RoboCop game, but only a decent first-person shooter.