Dungeon Defenders: Awakening has had a buggy start, but the foundations here show signs of greatness, and right now it still makes for a bloody good time with a lot of difficulty to get through, which should only get better as the bugs are ironed out and the content increases.

It’s a shame. Put into a different, more traditional action game structure, West of Dead would be a satisfying RPG flavoured shooter with a truly inspired combination of gameplay mechanics. What’s here offers plenty of great, timing driven moments, but when saddled with conventions of the genre it has chosen to adopt, it quickly becomes an exercise in frustration and simply doesn’t hold up to the scrutiny.

It’s fair to say Battle for Bikini Bottom was hardly a revelation back in 2003 and it’s definitely not one now, even with the cult popularity the original has gained due to the speedrunning community. What it is, however, is a fun time that nobody can knock, no matter how simple it may be. The boss battles may be poor, the jokes may often fall flat, and the ending may be completely anticlimactic, but any faults here are actually faults of the original that this new version has masterfully remade. Rehydrated is a total success in bringing the original back to life and it somehow looks truly beautiful, especially considering the obviously juvenile nature of the source material. It’s not something I would outwardly recommend to everyone but it did make me reconsider my pipeline of games and if I might not just want to throw in a couple of mindless simple ones, in order to relax between the giants.

There are parts of Neversong that hit the right notes, if you will, but they are too few and far between for the unique visuals and music to carry one’s enjoyment, and patience, through to the end.

SnowRunner is certainly not for everyone. Its slow pace, punishing resets and the ask of an methodical approach from the player is one that will not fit everyone’s personality, and the cooperative element is missing some key communication features. But, if you are one of those people that gets turned on by dirty mud deformation and enjoys an element of puzzle solving to their driving, then SnowRunner offers some impressive physics and environmental challenges to overcome, which makes for a thoroughly stimulating and rewarding drive.

Maneater starts as an enjoyable, silly concept, making it fun for a couple of hours. It is a title that reminds me of the show, the Deadliest Catch, but as the game goes on, the missions start to become repetitive, and the underwater colour palette makes me wish I had shark vision. One thing for sure, though, is Maneater could have had potential to be bloody great time if given the change to expand on its potential to be the Jaws of the gaming world, but sadly, it falls short of that. Still, one thing it does good is that it puts a top to my desire to go swimming in the sea for a while.

Speaking from my heart, I maintain that this is, in a number of ways, a compromised version of Saints Row: The Third that the new coat of paint doesn’t really make up for. However, if you were fortunate enough to play the game back when it first came out, especially when it was working fully, this is a very pretty way to look back at it.

One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 includes plenty of content, a lot of similar content where enjoyment is based on how well people gel with the mindlessly over the top, flashy, fun, combo system that is enhanced through the vast unique character move sets, skill selection and Power Rush mechanics. There are some genuine nice additions to the Warriors combat that gets to shine when characters are levelled up, and I hope these get carried to other entries and built upon. As it stands, this is the best Pirate Warriors to date, once it gets going, but it suffers from the repetitive issues and performance that this series is known for, while taking small, incremental steps to improve with each release.

When it’s all said and done, my main quarrel with all of these issues is that they are holding this super concept back from reaching anywhere near its potential and it’s just such a shame to see. Wavey The Rocket has its ups and downs, it’s crests and troughs, if you will, but it is still a good game at its core. There are just a few rough edges that need to be worked on and status quos to break free of. Instead of trying to fit this new idea into an established space, like a wavey peg into a conventionally-shaped hole, I wanted to see it go further, to think bigger!

It looks great, sounds great and plays great, and its appeal is so direct and immediate that whether you have hours to waste or just five minutes, it’ll send happy signals to your brain within seconds and last the duration. At eleven chapters it’s the perfect length, and yet I can’t help but feel that I’d keep playing for as long as it kept throwing me new chapters. Then again, “New Game” is right there. The same thugs will happily line right back up, likely with the added confidence of a higher difficulty setting, and I’ll be just as happy to keep punching them.

Right now, I can say I am stoked to find out where the follow up will go, because any doubt I had initially about this remake has long gone after playing through it. All I am left to say is that Final Fantasy VII Remake is a superb RPG for fans and newcomers, and even with all the changes, it still captures the heart of Final Fantasy VII, a special accomplishment that will make the fans fall in love with the title all over again.

Biped might be just the thing for a couple who are finding the distance trying, or for connecting with a friend you’re missing. Don’t let the pleasant art direction or merry soundtrack fool you, though, it’s childishly charming yet devilishly demanding – those challenge stages don’t take it easy! Make sure not to give up if it turns out to be a little harder than expected. There’s a nifty solo mode to practice in and I’ve found it’s a game that generally rewards mastery in small chunks as one overcomes each of its elegant mechanics. I wonder if that playful creativity is a part of NEXT Studios’ ideation culture or if it was just a fluke, I guess I’ll have to go find out and I can only hope to find more in a similar vein.

For newcomers, Granblue Fantasy Versus is an easy recommendation, and for more serious fans of Arc System Works, they already know about how beautiful their games are right now, and Granblue Fantasy Versus is no different. This is a piece of visual pleasure, with a decent amount of content that offers a compelling gameplay with a varied cast of, if limited at the moment, characters. It might not be Arc System Works’ best fighting game, but it is a welcomed addition to their catalogue that, from what history has shown us about the company, will no doubt improve as a series as time goes on.

Joining the roguelite genre is no easy thing to do, since the field is packed with high quality titles as is, and sadly, Katana Kami isn’t quite on par with the best in the business. That is not to say this game is bad, it supplies a decent attempt at the genre with some unique features of its own. Playing in short sessions works best for most fun with its with fast action that incorporates some decent combat mechanics and out of dungeon concepts that aren’t sadly capitalised to their fullest, nor can the randomised dungeon design keep the repetitiveness away from eventually creeping in. So in the end, there are some shortcomings – I still cannot get over the lack of supporting 1440p resolution – but Katana Kami: A Way of the Samurai Story does about a enough to warrant been a fair entry in the genre.

There’s nothing outright bad about Conglomerate 451. If you want a dungeon crawler with this specific motif and you’re okay with a less than stellar underlying game that for all intents and purposes gets the job done, this should fit that bill. It gets the atmosphere right and there’s plenty to do, and especially for the asking price, what’s on offer here is not unreasonable.

The name might be generic, and sure, the game is not exactly doing anything new for the genre as a whole, but Rebellion has made sure its series got the improvements it required – the level themes, great feeling gun combat, and plenty of content to beat – to take it to the next step to deliver something extremely fun and enjoyable to play, to the point where I feel the series has jumped up a notch from being good fun to a great bit of entertainment.

Ultimately, Super Crush KO is a short burst of fun that is priced well for what you get, but its simple level design and lack of building on the combat system make this a title I grew out of after a few short hours of play.

When all is said and done, SaGa: Scarlet Grace: Ambitions proves why the franchise is often overlooked in favor of its more familiar RPG cousins. The battle system requires much trial and error, and many optional scenarios, party members and outcomes may be skipped over entirely due to the extra challenges they offer for newcomers. Yet there is no denying the dense amount of strategic systems to play around with as well as the massive amounts of replayability thanks to its multiple characters and outcomes. Patient gamers will be rewarded with an RPG experience that is both familiar and fresh at the same time, not to mention another hundred hours to sink into the Switch as it continues to be the ultimate haven for the genre.

The premise for Bee Simulator is good, and I like the idea of doing education through video games in such a uniquely refreshing way, but the execution here has problems. When the game is not asking much from the player, then Bee Simulator ends up being somewhat fun with a great sense of scale, but the controls hamper such an important part of the game that the experience ends up being frustrating. Throw in repetitive tasks and muddy visuals and what you have is a video game that sadly does not deliver on its potential. It is hard to recommend Bee Simulator out right, especially at its asking price, but some of the younger kids might enjoy what Bee Simulator has to offer.

Sublevel Zero Redux has helped remind us that 6DOF gameplay is something that should return in bigger bulk, and fans that enjoy games like Descent will see things here to relish – tight controls, fluid movement and the challenge. The small issues with Sublevel Zero Redux come with its procedurally-generated and roguelite elements, mainly the former, where levels are not as engaging as they could be, and so its down to the punchy, fun combat and the constant supply of improved weapons to keep the game engaging until the end of its multi-campaign, rather than staying after it is over to improve runs.

Mistakes, creature deaths and restarts are likely to happen here to gain the most out of Planet Zoo, but like real life, no one really magically makes a fantastic zoo on their first go, and with the lessons learned from Jurassic Park Evolution, Frontier Developments has made Planet Zoo a better game than its dinosaur filled predecessor, and is by far the best zoo management/builder you can play today.

Though it may require a bit of patience to get to the sweet stuff, Atelier Ryza is a wholesome and addicting experience that RPG fans will gleefully gulp down, even if they’ve never dabbled with the Atelier franchise before. Thanks to the strong visuals and countless gameplay features, now is the best time to jump in on this niche series, which may end up becoming much more recognizable thanks to this latest solid entry.

Overall, Little Big Workshop is a relaxing play for people who enjoy the genre, outside of that it might be a little too off-putting for some people unfamiliar with this type of simulation game, especially with all the number crunching. Aesthetically, it’s very pleasing – I gained enjoyment watching my the little workers do their business around the workshop. For anyone who has a head for numbers or just want to try out a different simulation game, I can recommend giving Little Big Workshop the green light to go ahead with it.

The Angry Birds Movie 2 VR: Under Pressure ignores the traditional Angry Birds gameplay and goes for something that works more suited for playing with friends. The developers have seen what asymmetrical gameplay can deliver through VR and by merging gameplay ideas from other titles on the market gives it a solid foundation. The way the game includes a variety of mechanics that evolve with each level helps bring an impressive amount of challenge to the game, but still remains a fun and hectic cooperative experience with delightful VR thrown in for good measure to bring its own identity of madness and joy.

For better or worse, The Alliance Alive is the very definition of a mid-tier RPG. The visuals and story fall under the line of “good enough” that they don’t necessarily have to aim for greater heights, while the content is practically bursting with customizable features and mechanics that will drive stat-lovers into a joyous frenzy, even though the time it takes to reach to the juicy center is a bit on the long side. It’s an overall solid experience and yet another badge to pin on the Nintendo Switch for its outstanding service of the RPG genre.

GRID, as it stands then, is Codemasters delivering what it does best, exciting and superb racing that anyone can pickup and play, but spoiled by shortcomings to its content and online.

Generally, unless you’re incredibly interested in the spectacular visuals, I can’t recommend Trüberbrook. It feels half-made with large sections being completely disjointed from the plot and rooms, that no doubt took someone a ridiculous amount of time to design, build-out, and paint, having nothing in them, even when it’s abundantly clear that they should have. Perhaps cuts were made to meet a budget or tight Kickstarter deadlines but instead of having a lean 3-4 hour game that shows off what it does best, it drags on for around 6 with a lot of stiff backtracking and filler.

In the end, Fight’N Rage can’t escape its short run-time which is prominent with every Beat ‘Em Up game (they were originally created to serve as short Arcade experiences, after all), but the branching story paths, combo-heavy characters and numerous unlockable extras more than make up a full package filled with incentives to keep playing. As a modern throwback to Arcade classics, Fight ‘N Rage is one of the very best in the business right now.

Torchlight II was a great action RPG back in 2012 and it still remains it to this day. Everything I enjoyed about it still holds true now, and of course, that is also the same with the negatives, plus with the lack of local same Switch cooperative play is a bummer. Still, this is a superb port by Panic Button that the minor niggles should not put you off, because Torchlight II‘s addictive dungeon crawling action is a wonderful fit for the Nintendo Switch, even if you already own Diablo III: Eternal Collection.

For those who enjoyed the storytelling of Zero Escape and other works by Kotaro Uchikoshi, AI: The Somnium Files is a no-brainer purchase, and might just be his most solid game yet. Even if the random bits of humor and cringeworthy risque dialog might prove a detractor for some, the strongest story beats stand out completely unhindered along with the cast of characters and the fascinating near-futuristic setting, not quite as dystopian as other futuristic police stories, but every bit as engaging and thought-provoking.

I went into Ion Fury not expecting much from it, but after finishing the game, I can easily say I bloody loved my time spent with Shelly. Voidpoint has managed to bring to life a retro shooter that takes a beloved style and rigorously craft something so spot-on, so perfectly 90s, but doing so without hampering the experience. The superb and frantic action, well-thought level design and brutal weaponry all play a part in coming together to offer a joyous single player campaign.

They Are Billions' crucible of experimentation and failure molds players into rugged survivalists. The RTS-style resource management and tower defense test the ability to aptly devote time to the bare necessities that will fend off countless hordes of undead. Harder to master console controls may add an extra layer of tension but living another day remains the sweetest of rewards.

Pawarumi is a solid shoot ’em up in both challenge and its creative design. The sci-fi Aztec-infused presentation is refreshing, while taking inspiration from Ikaruga and throwing in their own inventive twist on the formula helps give Pawarumi its own flavour. It might be too hard for the casual fan, since there is no way to continue on death – it is key to learn Pawarumi‘s distinct Trinity Mechanic system to survive, but spending time doing so is rewarding. Pawarumi doesn’t have the final polish and tightly knitted gameplay that Treasure’s black and white gem does that could have pushed it to the kings of the genre – this comes with experience crafting games in the genre, which Treasure has mountains of – but shoot ’em up fans will have a blast as they try chase down the world champions on the leaderboard.

It might not be the best version of Slay the Spire, but it’s the only one you can take on the go at the moment, being ensnared in its fun, rewarding gameplay, which can lead to missing a bus stop or two on the way to work without feeling all that bad about it.

In the end, Mini-Mech Mayhem‘s charming aesthetic might win kids over, but whether or not they’ll have the patience for the tedious controls and length of matches is another thing entirely. The concept of a strategy game playing out on a virtual board is an intriguing one, but like many PSVR experiments, this one fails to execute its ambitious concepts effectively, much less create an alternative experience to traditional console-based strategy games played with a controller.

In the end, Trover Saves The Universe is an adequate-playing videogame that is defined by its style of humor. If anyone reading is on the fence, the best thing to do would be to check out Rick and Morty, as it is the easiest (and cheapest) way to determine if that type of comedy is appealing to the individual or not, the same way the recent South Park games also rely on the writing and wit of its source material. For fans of the series, this game is an absolute no-brainer and is just about the funniest videogame released in a long while.

Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth might not be the best RPG on the Nintendo 3DS, but it is a fitting sayonara for what could be debatable as one of Nintendo’s best handheld systems.

In the end, I can’t help but feel Warhammer: Chaosbane suffers from being a budget action RPG, taking shortcuts to save cost, which has caused the game to succumb to the issue of being rather unoriginal, uninspiring and repetitive. When games such as Path of Exile and Diablo III can keep hold of their players with great gameplay loops, Warhammer: Chaosbane trips over trying to do this, with only the Warhammer licence helping it offer some sort of original design. Things can change with updates, and maybe this will happen to Warhammer: Chaosbane, but right now, while the game isn’t bad, it just doesn’t do anything great in any category, leaving it to be a rather run-of-the-mill dungeon crawler that will probably make you bored soon after it ends with its recurring level and enemy designs.

Undead Horde may not be the most beautiful or impressive game in the market, but it surely is as fun as hell, difficult at times, but silly in others.

Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark is an easy recommendation for anyone who loves playing Japanese tactical role-playing games. It has no shame in displaying its inspiration on its sleeve, mainly because it takes that inspiration and wears it proud, refining the gameplay with its own spin on it. With many difficulty options featured here that opens up the genre to many people, there really is no reason to not check out Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark, and with a lovely 32-bit throwback presentation, there is a tasty meal here that is full of heart and love for the genre.

Close to the Sun is one game I can still recommend for anyone who enjoys these slower type of adventure games. It won’t be the best atmospheric game you have come across, and I feel it’s a title that only needs to be played once, but that doesn’t stop the game from offering a fascinating setting and dazzling atmosphere.

Shakedown: Hawaii energizes its open-world satire with the transparent and ruthless cynicism of modern commerce. Its antihero’s flagrant and invincible dishonesty would go beyond parody if it weren’t kept in check by the player’s underhanded complicity. I want the money numbers to go higher, too. And I’ll destroy or ruin anyone in Shakedown: Hawaii’s lush pixel paradise to see it through.

Saints Row: The Third was a sacred moment in time where lunatics reimagined the animus of an open-world crime game. It enabled players to thunderously lead a prestigious gang of miscreants and also turn themselves into a toilet. Eight years later Saints Row: The Third’s glut of Content is more difficult to digest, but its outrageous ambience is (mostly) still so sweet.

If anyone enjoys cooperative player vs environment games like Left 4 Dead, Strange Brigade or Warhammer: Vermintide, then World War Z is for you. It’s not the greatest of the bunch, but it scratches the same itch as the above games while bringing a little something of its own with the swarm mechanic.

The Caligula Effect Overdose could have been so much more, I would never say no to more games bringing unique ideas to the Persona formula, but this game doesn’t deliver on that and is instead filled with repetitive and undeveloped systems. It can entertain and be fun, but I feel that The Caligula Effect Overdose truly is a game for the serious hardcore fans of the genre that like the idea of a less developed Persona title.

As a brief VR experience filled with short bursts of play, you could do a whole lot worse, but anyone besides hardcore fans of sorcery and snooty accents expecting a longer-lasting and/or immersive experience should perhaps look elsewhere.

Overall, Devotion may prove disappointing for anyone hoping for the next big Indie Horror game, as the moments where the game forgets itself and tries to adhere to traditional horror tend to be the weakest points. Instead, Devotion should be praised for conveying a tragic story that emphasizes the far more effective approach of psychological horror, with long moments of dread and discomfort that tend to have a more lasting impression than the brief startling of a ghost popping around the corner.

Whilst I cannot recommend anybody stick around for the story that I could honestly scarcely tell was trying to be funny, serious, or sarcastic, in general I highly endorse The Textorcist. Its compelling and testing gameplay, great art style (especially the hellishly stylistic demons), sweet soundtrack, and awesome theme make for a great title.

All in all, The Mage’s Tale is an ambitious title that incorporates a lot of neat features that would prove charming in a perfect VR environment, but instead demonstrates the infancy of the technology when so much of it fails to register properly. There are still fun moments to be had during the instances where everything works, but an uneven control scheme results in an uneven experience regardless of intentions.

Just a month ago my game of the year 2018 was Celeste – a 2D platformer that will stay with me forever because of both the mechanics and the story and especially of the way they build a narrative together. Klaus instead feels more like the game was built simply as a convenient way to tell the story, or the story was built to make sense of the game – they don’t seem to really connect or work together to create something more meaningful than the sum of their parts.

This is still the same game as the PS2 original, and much of the gameplay still holds up, minus some cheap one-hit death puzzles that prove extra frustrating since they occur during some unskippable cutscenes. While the experimental combination of Survival Horror and Capcom-style Action proved more successful with its sequels, Onimusha: Warlords is still an entertaining prototype that is worth a revisit for fans and a first look for newcomers.

Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden also brings in oodles of personality and an intriguing world through its exploration parts and charming characters that banter with each other through humorous dialogue. The game’s only let down is its focus on delivering more of a role-playing game, which has taken away the replayability that rival games in the genre have going for them, thanks to the use of random generation, but that shouldn’t be too much of a negative on a game that offers a great first playthrough experience.

Overall, Hinter’s Legacy: Purrfect Edition is a fun metroidvania game to pass the time. The addition of the mini-map and some tweaks make it feel like a good addition to the Nintendo Switch catalogue. Hinter’s Legacy: Purrfect Edition has issues, but still, it’s something that could become an improved adventure if Lienzo’s team keep expanding Ikki’s world in a sequel.

In the end, 428: Shibuya Scramble is yet another top notch Visual Novel, a genre that has exploded onto the console scene seemingly overnight and shows no signs of slowing down. The frustration to find the necessary keyword or decision in order to advance the story is a minor inconvenience given the entertaining source material, and the unpredictable story and quirky cast will undoubtedly inspire players to stay dedicated in shaping their individual stories to reach their destinations.

A bit more polish and refinement could have elevated this up from being a fun, violent game of American football to something a bit more exciting and special.

The multiplayer aspect is a bit of a mess, there’s not enough meat on its bones to really keep me interested and then, even if it did, it would all be over too fast. The quick-play style it boasts is definitely a plus but on the other hand, if I only had a few minutes to play a game like this I could never see myself popping on Flat Heroes over N++. And because of that, I unfortunately just cannot recommend it, when the clearly superior title is available on all the same platforms, including the Switch.

No two ways about it, Tetris Effect is a masterpiece, the kind of visually and audibly resplendence that one could immediately point towards the next critic who poses the age-old annoying question of whether videogames are “art”. It also makes for the best VR experience on the PSVR since Resident Evil 7, and is an absolute must-have with or without the extra hardware.

When it comes down to it, My Hero One’s Justice is filled with a decent amount of content and some really pretty visual effects, but also lacks longevity in other areas: the roster is a bit small, battles mainly consist of button-mashing and dashing, and the network battle is especially unpolished, leaving no option to train or play other modes while waiting for a match. As is the case with most anime fighters, the fans will likely be the most receptive to the game’s features, while those less-inclined may find a functional fighter that fizzles out in the fun factor a little too quickly.

Warriors Orochi 4 doesn’t do much to advance the Orochi spin-off, but it does bring a return to the old formula, something fans will no doubt enjoy after Dynasty Warriors 9‘s misstep. It has the biggest cast of characters yet, a fresh story involving the legendary Greek gods and fun hack-and-slash gameplay. The issue is that it’s a very familiar core, even with the new magic mechanics, it isn’t another to shake that “it’s another one” vibe. With less modes than the previous entry and some changes that feel like the development was short on budget, Warriors Orochi 4 will give fans a fun past time hacking down hundreds of thousands of enemies, but this fails to become the best Warriors game to date.

Overall, Disgaea 1 Complete is a sufficient reminder of what made the series such a cult hit that continues even today, but the recent release of the more feature-filled and modernized Disgaea 5 puts it at stiff competition. For anyone looking for a fix after 5, or is hankering to go through the series’ roots either for the first time or the fourth time, there’s still plenty to love in this classic re-release.

Red Dead Redemption 2 will most likely be looked upon as a another title that pushed what can be done in an open world, and be marked as one the developer’s most crowning achievements in their long history making video games.

Fishing Sim World is a relaxing experience and is enjoyable in short bursts, but turns into a game that I grew bored with the longer I stuck with it. This is a title clearly aimed for the angling enthusiast, and that’s fine, but improvements can be made to make it a better fishing experience.

CrossCode is a fantastic package that sits as one of 2018’s best indie games. In a year that launched Celeste, Dead Cells and Into the Breach, it’s no easy award to give, but CrossCode achieves this thanks to its great action RPG gameplay set in a believable MMORPG world, beautiful visuals, additive, responsive and challenging combat, smart dungeon design and some wonderful music. It’s a complete package that is bold enough to take the clichés of the genre and run with its own spin on them, and it isn’t going to burn holes in anyone’s pockets with its nicely priced £14.99, which gives players a lot of bang for their buck, top quality bang at that.

Velocity 2X fits perfectly on the switch and is a top tier indie game on that platform, it refreshing to play a game that isn’t procedurally generated and you can really feel the passion that went into it’s making, from it’s engaging gameplay and stellar level design this game shows us all exactly what arcade shooter games can be.

Mega Man 11 proves that the Blue Bomber hasn’t lost his touch, and that the games can still prove entertaining even during a time where there is no shortage of 2D successors. We can only hope that it won’t take nearly as long for future entries, including a hopeful return of Mega Man X.

Grammar and graphical issues aside, Detention is still a game that is easily digestible, but will still leave a lingering aftertaste once its tragic tale reaches its course. The bar for storytelling in videogames continues to be set higher with every new title, be it Indie or Triple A, and the horror genre continues to innovate in new and exciting ways.

This game is addictive, all thanks to the challenge it offers and the extremely satisfying combat that blends hack-and-slash elements with a weighty feel, so no matter if I was with friends or random people online, I was ecstatic by the overwhelming moments it kept sending my way. I can say that Warhammer: Vermintide 2 is THE cooperative game to play in 2018 on Xbox One or PC (no cross platform play available).

No thrills is quite a good description when speaking about V-Rally 4 overall. There is nothing exceptional or bad with the game, it’s just okay, a racing game that can be enjoyable, but has some irksome design choices and a lack of polish. It’s more surprising that the name returned in 2018, but it’s an uninspired sequel with an sterile career mode. At least the tracks featured are good, its visuals are decent enough – at times can set some lovely landscape shots – and the handling, once become accustom to it, is enough to bring some arcade racing fun to the table, if only the song selection was much better, because I am still having nightmares about “the weight of the world”.

Strange Brigade is a solid recommendation for anyone looking to dig into some old school third-person shooting wrapped in that Left 4 Dead campaign style with an added bit of 1930s distinct flavour. Strange Brigade isn’t a stand out title, it’s most likely not going to be on any Game of the Year lists, but a game doesn’t have to be innovative if it can capture something fun, and Strange Brigade does that. Not only is it a decent looking title that isn’t too demanding to run on a PC, but it takes its theme and runs with it confidently, offering a bloody good time with friends blasting through an Egyptian themed world that I don’t think I’ve been able to do in that setting since Serious Sam 3: BFE.

Overall, SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy suffers the same problem that many of the most recent fighting games have: barebones content. The character selection is small, with more characters planned to be added via DLC, but the brief story mode and unsatisfying combat put a permanent hamper on the experience regardless of increased roster. There just isn’t much here in the way of fun or fanservice, and the Switch version runs at a shoddier framerate to add insult to injury. The fun little nods and imagery do not make up the overall price tag, and the neutered controls feel far more unconventional then streamlined. Everyone should just put their clothes back on and sober up, because the mood just isn’t there this time.

Yakuza Kiwami 2 might not be the game to start with, but for old fans it’s a lovely trip down memory lane, and for the newcomers who have discovered the series through Yakuza 0, this title will be a true delight for you, as you get to experience how brilliant Yakuza can be when it’s at the top of its game. There have been three Yakuza games released across various platforms this year, but it’s this remake that shines as the best example of the series to date.

Retro-styled Indie games are all too common these days, almost as much as fan-made Sonic games. Freedom Planet, however, manages to be a cut above both categories while still eliciting those same feelings of nostalgia that too many games rely heavily on, not to mention some of the most refined and entertaining 2D gameplay seen in any generation. The Switch port is also as perfect as it can be, with no slowdown or load times of any kind even in handheld mode.

There is much to experience here, from its great characters and solid storytelling that brings a captivating plot with two of the series biggest and best characters. It also makes strides to bring improvement to the brutal combat, while offering an eccentric presentation and over-the-top humour to keep people engaged in the wonderful and freaky world of Yakuza until its end.

Mothergunship is hectic, fast and feels very 90s, and if that is something that tickles your fancy, then there is no wrong in picking up Mothergunship and having a blast with its bullet-hell, roguelike, insane gun crafting blend of action until you become sick of it, at that point, hours will have passed and many robots will have gave their life for your frantic enjoyment.

As sparse as the extra options are as well as the inclusion of a couple of legitimately awful titles, both of the Mega Man X Legacy Collections pay adequate tribute to one of the premiere 2D action franchises of all-time, which itself spun off a legendary franchise. One can only hope that Capcom will continue to give the Blue Bomber and his distant predecessor more love, both with additional updates to the existing collection as well as some long overdue sequels.

It’s not an awful game by any means, it’s just a fine JRPG, but with a predictable story and repeated backtracking, this is a game that is lacking any spark to be anything other than a local school orchestra rather than being the London symphony.

Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor – Martyr is mostly a good title that comes with some innovative ideas, but falls short in other areas regarding its performance and level design. Warhammer 40k fans will get a kick out of it, and its long life through random missions means content is in hundreds of hours for people who enjoy working towards the highest achievements. Others will eventually grow bored of the repetition, but will easily have gained enough hours out of the title to not be short changed.

Fox n Forests isn’t for everyone – it feels more like a game development experiment that resulted in a nice bite-size nostalgia trip and was released just for fun. Those without 16-bit nostalgia, or an aversion to super weird fox/bird relationships, bad English, or puns, may not really enjoy it at all. Personally, I found it both charming and entertaining, but lacking in key game design areas, which I still guess was the point all along, ironically.

Simply put, everything in Ys VIII feels real good. The controls are tight, the action is blazingly-fast, and a lot can be accomplished without succumbing to the usual grindy affair of most RPGs. As a middle-ground RPG, Lacrimosa of Dana carries a hefty amount of content and a ton of addictive gameplay as well as challenge. Anyone looking for the polar opposite of the genre’s turn-based gameplay need not look further, as the Ys series remains the undisputed champ of the thinking man’s button masher.

If you are looking for a charming and damn right silly plot, and you don’t mind paying a little more for your puzzle action to have it on the Switch, then I feel you will certainly find a lot to like with Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido and its captivating bizarre world of sushi eating puzzle combat.

Overall, BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle is another solid fighter from the newly crowned king of fighters, but it is also a disappointingly smaller package than what fans expect from the publisher. By comparison, Dragon Ball FighterZ and Guilty Gear Xrd are longer-lasting alternatives, but for players have grown tired of both, this would be the next logical game to move to next.

Underneath it all there’s genuinely something interesting here – it just needed to be more focussed, polished, moulded into a vision instead of left as a loose idea. The gameplay and story need working on heavily in their own way. I’d definitely come back to check on a sequel but it would be out of wary curiosity, not excitement. Still, I think a lot can be done in this space and hope to see something special come from it in the future.

This is another strong narrative release for Dontnot Entertainment, it’s just a shame that it is in a genre that has to be more than that, so Vampyr, while I can recommend, just don’t expect it to hit the superb heights of action RPG classics of the last few years.

My hands actually hurt from gripping the Switch but I couldn’t stop, and when I finally landed on the other side of one of the many gauntlets that Celeste wears like a medal, I felt both relief and curiosity as to what it would throw at me next. It’s a rewarding experience and a game that I’m honoured to issue a perfect score.

Antigraviator has decent track design, a good sense of speed and is fun without throwing unwanted distractions into the gameplay that I feel fans of the genre will certainly find some joy to be had trying to best their fastest boost chain, even if its content isn’t stacked as other available options on PC.

It is greatly designed – yes, it has its flaws, but it’s built around a fantastic and incredibly fun core that is unlike anything else out there and I hope to see more DLC, or even a sequel, in the future.

In the end, Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection is a respectable package that will doubtlessly tug at the heartstrings of longtime fans, but falls a bit short of being a truly complete package. In addition to the spotty netcode and bland interface, there is also some notable versions of these games that are missing.

Longtime fans have no reason at all to ignore this latest (and possibly greatest) entry in the series, and players itching for a polished platformer with a gorgeous presentation and a whole lot of charm have even less reason to miss out. As long as the community continues to vote with their dollars, Wayforward will continue to grant the wishes of old-school gamers everywhere.

Hellblade Senua’s Sacrifice is a hauntingly beautiful journey through the madness of a warrior’s suffering to find her true love. The story is art, the graphics are engrossing and it’s truly everything it was advertised to be. Ninja Theory provided a gaming experience that is a rarity these days in the gaming world and it is not to be missed.

Truly, Penny-Punching Princess feels more like an indie experiment than a full-fledged game and that’s totally fine. It’s fun at it’s core and the feeling of repetition can be kept at bay by playing in small bursts, making it perfect for its target consoles – the Switch and the Vita. With that said, I simply can’t recommend this title at the current price of almost a full triple-A game. I mean, there are a bunch of incredible games on the e-shop that aren’t even half the price.

Warhammer: Vermintide 2 knows what made its predecessor an enjoyable time and brings along a sequel with a focus on improving what came before it. It doesn’t go crazy to try reinvent itself or the genre, but smartly delivers a better game with tweaks to the formula that alter areas that were previously weak – improved loot systems, more varied levels and fleshed out character development.

Regardless of just how many improvements and additions Final Fantasy XV will undergo in the next year or so, the game is far from perfect and hardly the entry that unifies the fanbase, be they long devoted fans or burnt out from the past entries. What the game is, however, is a flawed but still fun masterpiece that looks and plays like no other Action/RPG hybrid out there and is still worth a cursory glance, if not a full commitment.

The Mad Ones is, at times, a compelling first step on this journey. However, whilst the episode excels in offering customization it is also quite regressive. Any attempt at a compelling narrative was lost under the weight of the other systems at play. I do hope this balance is righted in future episodes. If so a special game may evolve from this rocky starting point.

There are incredible things going on in Kingdom Come: Deliverance that it’s a shame I have to score it lower than I would like, due to the issues with bugs and glitches that soil the experience. If those problems eventually get fixed, then look at this score with an additional point, but for the meantime, those problems can cause a loss of progression, which isn’t a good thing.

Without a doubt, the PSVR needs more games like Moss; its use of VR prioritizes long-lasting immersion over cheap gimmicks that end as soon as they begin, and it also shows how VR tech can be used to create a more personal engagement between the player and the character (waifu simulators notwithstanding).

The game is seriously addicting thanks to the gratifying mechanics and simple, fun premise that it’s built on. I can see myself jumping online almost daily to claw my way through the ranks but I do worry that the long wait times for matches will only get worse if High Horse Entertainment don’t manage to pull in some more players. I wish them all the best and hope to see Disc Jam continue to be supported by them for the foreseeable future.

Mulaka is not a perfect game, but it makes sure to show the uniqueness of the Tarahumara culture and demonstrate that Mexican culture can be interesting. Mulaka follows an entertaining story, with a good formula for its controls and mechanics, and while it may have some flaws, it isn’t anything that should spoil the overall experience. The sound and visuals match each other, letting the player become hypnotized in Mulaka‘s world until the game ends, which takes around 6-8 hours (depending if you want all the collectibles or not). Mulaka is a fun little game that I say is worth your time for anyone into action/adventure games.

A basic platformer with the same old clichéd mobility tools and a pretty underwhelming world to be a part of just isn’t enough to make its mark these days, making Shu feel a little played out. It’s by no means a bad game, but hardly a good one either; it falls quite neatly into the comfortable, average middle-ground.