I wasn't super impressed by Monster Hunter Stories but I don't think the developers intended for it to be a game-changer.

Darkwood does a great job of showing off its weird, unsettling world, but it struggles to tell players what they have to do. The woods are home to secrets and terrible truths alike. Though it falls short of reaching its full potential, mostly due to questionable controls and cumbersome combat, this horror game is worth the experience on the merits of its haunting atmosphere alone.

Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth's strengths aren't entirely justified by the sheer amount of time it would take to experience them in full, but anyone that's already willing to give it that time - or those who come in with properly calibrated expectations - will find an entertaining saga that's worth seeing through.

I never feel I actually earn my victories in Titanfall Assault, and that’s the reason I’m probably going to stop playing in a few short weeks. Strategies simply devolve into who can drop the most Titans and grunts on the other in the quickest succession, crushing them like a mighty Monty Python foot. I don’t think that is the intention of the developers, but it certainly is, from my experience, how most matches are won and lost.

Knack II has the bones of a good platformer and a hint of charm but it just doesn't execute. I'm not sure what the Knack series attempted to accomplish, but after a sequel, it stands as one of the most missable franchises Sony has ever crafted.

Last Day of June presents a pretty depressing love story in a charming and visually amazing package. While it certainly isn't for everyone, those with a fondness for narrative focused games best enjoyed in on sitting will find an enjoyable, if terribly sad experience.

Fishing Planet is a solid fishing simulator with plenty of depth and variety to its gameplay and mechanics that still make me want to come back for more. But the horrendous menu and UI on console, lackluster presentation, and occasional bugs and hiccups bog down the experience.

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA has its share of flaws but its very satisfying combat more than makes up for it while the fun exploration and good story kept me going through all of it. Ys fans will love this one, and those new to the series are sure to get some enjoyment with the solid fast paced action that might turn them into fans as well. This is definitely a game I would like to have with me to play if I ever get shipwrecked on a deserted island.

Most of the Madden 18 experience is exactly what you expect, but the twist is the new exceptional Longshot mode that proves sports can be an avenue for video game storytelling. Turn off false start, offensive holding, and instant replay; raise catching ability through the roof; and stay away from the slimy Ultimate Team mode. Do that and you'll have a good time with Madden 18.

If you can get friends interested, though, Windjammers makes for an almost no-brainer local purchase. The intensity of the gameplay and sheer attitude the game exhibits is truly a joy.

Distrust is a refreshingly unique take on a familiar horror setting, where both players and survivors alike are gradually worn down by a lack of respite, and victory is a hard-fought push to the finish line. Though it's not quite The Thing as billed, Distrust manages to carve out its own fascinating niche with a devious cycle of madness and decay.

I can only recommend Resident Evil: Revelations to die-hard fans who missed the game on its initial release, or those who just want to experience every chapter of Resident Evil lore. Whilst the game commits no specific new crime, it is a lazily-handeld port of a title that doesn't hold up well to big-screen modern scrutiny, with the ultimate revelation being, how right Capcom were to steer the course of the series in an entirely new direction.

Not every single aspect of Everybody's Golf hits the mark, but so, so much of it does. It gets the most important parts right, and I'm hopeful we'll see some quality-of-life updates and advanced control options before long to help close the gap. Clap Hanz has dreamed up a wonderfully warmhearted game, one I encourage every would-be golfer to consider picking up.

Songbringer is an adventure that is both reminiscent of many other popular titles, but also has a heart of its own. This makes for a juxtaposition of recognisable, rigid structure and a desire for free, rule-breaking indie design. It's an odd mix that I think will turn off as many people as it turns on. But many players will find the cleansing of Ekzera a weird, dizzying challenge, that's curiously familiar yet very unique. For this reason the game is a trip worth considering.

Depending on how you tackle the journey, it can take around 20 to 37 hours to save Altago from danger. Of course, this time range takes the side missions and optional bosses into account. Because of HYDE, Inc.'s involvement with the PC port, this makes Ys Seven's new release the best version of the game. In other words, XSEED has found themselves a great ally.

Pirate Queen's Quest is a fun addition to Half-Genie Hero, and fans like myself will enjoy seeing the story from the other side of the moral thermometer. I'm convinced all Shantae fans will be grabbing this update anyway. But be aware at what you're getting for your money: an opportunity to play through the same game, with a cool new sprite and some very minor alterations.

In some ways it's refreshing to see all of the fluff cut out. There's no lootboxes and the cosmetic options are slim. It's all about the sport, and as long as there's a playerbase there, I'll be hopping in from time to time to see what's up. Sparc has the potential to grow, but it needs all the help it can get from as many installbases it can get its hands on.

There's a clear vision that shines throughout the game. Its combat system encourages a granular knowledge of the different moves and potential combos that stem from each directional stance. But while the appeal will be apparent to the competitive-minded player, Absolver's pointed focus is complex enough to turn others away. The journey from lowly Prospect to Absolver is arduous and challenging, but it's hardly inviting.

Warriors All-Stars is good silly fun as the story never takes itself too seriously, nor do the cameos. But in the process a few huge staples we've come to expect have been stripped.

Ultimately, there may not be all that much that's genuinely new about Rock of Ages 2, but the sheer solidity of what's on offer here affirms that ACE Team have hewn themselves a sequel that nobody asked for, yet will find handily enjoyable anyway.

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle's guts are impressive, but its main event feels like a [good] expansion for a fleshed-out strategy RPG that has more to offer than a great combat system.

Forma.8 is hardly a flawless game, but it’s a damn fine addition to the Nintendo Switch’s library. The last third is almost perfectly executed and the finale genuinely surprised and left me craving more. It took a while to get there, but its closing moments left one hell of an impression.

It's not perfect, but Chicken Wiggle tickles the creative part of my brain that loves drumming up platformer levels when I should be doing actual work. The campaign can be better, a lot better, but the hours I'll spend with this game will not be going back over those levels. I'll be spending them making my own little masterpieces and that's the part this game mostly gets right.

Flip Wars is in some ways less fleshed out than the demo for Fusion Frenzy. Almost every feature, from the blocked out local mode to the disappointing "My Room" option (that's less of a room and more like a statistic menu), is a half measure.

White Day has some good scares and decent puzzles that you have to play hide-and-seek to reach, but it doesn't quite live up to its legends. In 2001, it was probably one of the scariest games in existence, and you can't fault it for not matching modern horror heights, but in any era the backtracking and waiting for the janitor to pass over and over isn't the greatest gameplay experience. Still, this will do the job if you can't wait til Halloween for a six- to eight-hour ride.

While the story mode leaves something to be desired, the survival mechanics of The Long Dark's sandbox make it worthwhile. We have three more episodes of Will's journey to weave a wider story throughout the alternately unforgiving and inviting Canadian terrain. In the meantime, I'll be sitting back with my coffee mug, reflecting on my own small stories within The Long Dark.

And now, this episode's defining choice - one that actually does promise to reverberate through the next two episodes - pits doing the right thing against doing right by the people I care for. And who's not to say that the latter isn't the "right thing" in its own way?

Really, you can’t go wrong with Kiwami. I would have liked it if every aspect of the game had been fully redone, but we don’t see remakes like this come along often. I can deal with a few stumbling blocks when the core quality of what makes Yakuza so unique and engaging remains untouched. At least now more people can have a chance to experience this classic, which is the best thing about Kiwami’s existence.