A fun mix of roguelike and real-time strategy game, Necrosmith 2 will make you giggle at the sarcastic cat and have you coming back for more, especially if you have a Steam Deck, I suspect.

Luma Island is a nice and cosy game to play either alone or with friends, with plenty to do and discover. However, it can be very grindy, tedious, and doesn’t really provide much of a challenge.

An adorably cute shmup suitable for all skill levels, with a surprising amount of depth and content. A great soundtrack and cute (if basic) visuals make this a fun time.

Perfect for those who like their gaming to be in frantic 10-15 minute windows and oozing with style, PAKO is a title everyone who enjoys indie games should pick up.

Bounty of One may look like other roguelite bullet-hell titles that you have played in the past, but being able to play multiplayer, and making it so that you can only shoot when you aren’t moving makes it challenging!

Grapple Dog is a charming and inventive 2D platformer with a solid foundation that’s not afraid to ramp up the challenge when needed. It still needs some work in the performance and accessibility departments, but fans of the genre should still check it out.

Cruis’n Blast is an excellent return for the series and genre as a whole. The lack of online multiplayer hurts but there is a lot to enjoy for solo players and those who can play locally. Fantastic visuals and track set-pieces make this an engaging, fun time.

SHOOPER NOVA is just plain and simple fun, with an addictive gameplay loop and satisfying visuals. However, don’t expect much else from the main experience.

The Dark Queen of Mortholme is a game unlike any other I’ve played. It has a great story and a loop system that kept me coming back until I got to the end.

Corpse Party (2021) is a super creepy and disturbing game that will keep you on the edge of your seat. You will die a lot and get bad endings so you will have to go back and try to change your actions to change the outcome, but when you figure out what you need to do that just makes it more fulfilling.

This globe-trotting adventure can err on the side of being too simplistic, but with amazing scenery and fun puzzles, it’s a solid update to the classic Carmen formula nonetheless.

Death Squared is an intelligent puzzler that challenges single and multiplayer gamers alike.

Below the Crown is an interesting puzzle game that’s perfect as a side activity, but it’s not something that will hold your focus for a full gaming session.

Full disclosure, this started as a video review, but the program I used managed to mess up the recording. I’ll probably do the rest of the episodes as video reviews, if I can get things running correctly. I’m eagerly awaiting the next episode, titled The Pact, as several of the plots The Enigma began look promising, and incredibly interesting.

Serious Sam Fusion 2017 successfully brings the series up to date and in a unified interface. A great way to revisit Sam’s adventures and experience them in the best possible light.

A very difficult game that can be frustrating at times, but ultimitely does keep you entertained. Worth adjusting the difficulty to make it more playable.

Besiege’s physics-based experimental mayhem is a lot of fun for a low price. If you’ve yet to play this on PC or Xbox, now is the perfect time to get creating!

For people who suffer with high blood pressure, Super One More Jump is not the game for you. This beautiful, 2D, twitch, platformer will provide a severe test of your timing skills along with your patience. For those who are up for the challenge, Super One More Jump offers an addictive and entertaining ride.

A fun game for the fans who want to relive one of the most exciting arcs of the One Piece franchise. Lack of difficulty and appeal to those outside of the fandom and complex mechanics that can be easily forgotten unfortunately limit the player base. However with a variety of game modes that’ll have players coming back for more, this is a must play for the fans.

Another competent puzzler from Artifex Mundi, with improvements in the right places. Puzzles that are demanding yet fair, and a fantastic steampunk aesthetic.

The amount of crafting and exploring so that you can craft, as well as a couple of minor issues, put a damper on an otherwise fantastic world, and fun game experience.

OCO is a puzzler that will keep you coming back for more, with visuals and audio that make the jump well from mobile to PC.

Ninja or Die: Shadow of the Sun is a game full of action using minimal controls; it may seem weird to only jump wherever you want to go but ends up working quite well adding a unique twist to games in the genre.

Finally bringing something new to the LEGO “Franchise” titles, this might scratch that itch that previous games have been missing, with a lot fewer bugs to boot. It doesn’t spell out what happens in the movie, but the ending is certainly a spoiler - just so you’re forewarned.

A different take on the choose-your-own-adventure genre, Stories is fantastic breath of fresh air. Though environments will soon become repetitive alongside the general gameplay, there’s no reason why this can’t become a series of it’s own.

A really great game with an amazing, emotional story and beautiful artwork that loses a lot from its short playtime.

Citadel Stormer 2 is an addictive 2D platformer set in a world where AI threatens to take over. With a password system, keep a pen ready!

A very well executed remaster, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster doesn’t completely change the vanilla experience, but it improves enough to give fans the best version of Frank’s debut outing.

A fun MMO centric take on the survival crafting genre that Minecraft made famous. Solo players will still find the experience enjoyable, especially when paired with the unique play on the simplistic art style. While the importance of constantly checking the knowledges section within the menu becomes a bit annoying at times, Boundless remains a fun experience that fans of the genre will enjoy overall.

Roundguard is perfect for a couple of levels here and there, or if you want a longer gaming session. It won’t be for everyone and can be repetitive despite the randomness, but is overall a lot of fun. I’m not a big fan of roguelikes, but it seems if you mix it with Peggle I’m much more likely to enjoy it. And at least there are no unicorns in this.

Despite a few quirky animations, Herald provides an excellent story supplemented by a beautiful art style. This is a small scale point-and-click affair; if you're looking for a bite-sized drama, you've found your game.

An addictive railway management puzzler that will scratch the itch for the logical thinking part of your brain and is very enjoyable whilst doing so. Though, for some, it may become repetitive.

Fun, varied, and imaginative — Roxy is quite a fun arcade game!

If you are looking for an excellent 16-bit fighter game then look no further than Punch Club as it’s a hell of a lot of fun to play and sink some hours into.

A simple-on-the-surface, yet tough to master puzzle platformer that will keep you coming back time and time again to obtain the best medals that you can.

The characters and the overall art style are cutesy, sure. But that shouldn’t deter you from the solid build-em-up that’s underneath it all. A great game to get into the resource strategy genre with, and just as good for those that are au fait with the genre already.

Murky Divers manages to stand apart in an oversaturated genre while still offering everything we love.

The Dragon’s Trap: Wonder Boy is an excellent remake of a beloved classic. The enhanced visuals and superb audio really bring the game into the modern age complementing the excellent design of the original. Unfortunately, inherited design flaws such as some obscure puzzles, imprecise hit detection, and the lack of a hints system do hold the game back. However, these issues do not detract too much from the overall experience. This modern version of a classic game will appeal to a new generation of gamers and also remind longtime fans why they fell in love with the original.

Bar a few niggly control issues, this is a great port of the game. Quirky humour, a lovely soundtrack and a story that keeps you engaged. It’s a little on the easy side, but with six episodes you do get your money’s worth.

I think this is a game that for those liking the overall concept and ideas will be very enjoyable. For anyone not interested in mentally keeping track of things and simply moving counters around on a map, not so much.

Redie is a challenging title. Frustration inducing but by the end becomes rewarding. It certainly catered towards fans of Hotline Miami, it why it caught my attention, but the game itself feels fresh and enjoyable. It isn’t a straight up clone, neither is it an homage, but another action-packed stylish top-down shooter with the same concept.

Mortal Kombat 1 is fantastic, having some minor issues in the story here and there, along with the underwhelming Invasion’s mode, but overall is a great time.

As a player, Fatum Betula hosts fulfilling gameplay, rewarding exploration with an atmosphere of thick nostalgia and childhood fear. As a curator, it is a brief exploration into auteur theory, and that direction is never necessarily important, only context.

Extremely well put together remasters that stay true to the original games. Travis’ brash personality is fun to inhabit and the combat is still extremely satisfying. The series is well worth your time, especially if you missed out on them originally.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is a great Star Wars game that’s true to the lore of the universe. As a first step for the series into the soulslike genre it feels natural, though it also offers a more hardcore game mode for those that want a real challenge.

Once I changed the controls to something more comfortable, I had a blast playing through the well-crafted adventure mode and all the tracks and challenges that reside in it, even if the CPU players had the rubber band effect.

Sporting everything from a new and improved Fibbage to brand new games with new ways to play, it is actually rather impressive that each of these Party Packs continue to feature such fun games. Barring a few technical issues, I only saw minor issues in any of the games and would gladly recommend them all to friends looking for a way to entertain guests.

Ignoring leaks and datamines, the return to Switch feels like a revival and if this is supposed to be the B-Team’s game, I think I know what games I’ll be more interested in moving on. But that said, for a Monster Hunter game, the core game is only just better than World at launch but is open about stopping you from progressing further until a later date.

Styx: Shards of Darkness is a surprisingly old-school and well-crafted stealth game, providing a welcome sneaky outlet in a world so often focused on open combat. With good gameplay, great production values, and a plot that never gets in the way of the action, Styx: Shards of Darkness should definitely be part of every stealth fan’s library.

A worthwhile DLC that gives this already deep survival title more content to play around with. These may be hostile worlds, but now your survivors can relax, and let the robots make things a little bit safer.

In all, I’m happy with the DLC, just annoyed that it is so short. It’s fun to use the mechs and it’s interesting to learn more about Medici’s past for a lore hound like me.

There is little not to love about this short and inexpensive title. From great voice acting, an intriguing story, and a free chapter to explore before you commit, if you like what you see (or hear), there is little reason not to explore it.

With a distinct sense of humour and a few secrets hidden beneath its cutesy demeanor, Wuppo will surprise any player that hasn’t seen it in action before. This sense of surprise is consistent throughout and is only made that much better when bosses are introduced. Interesting areas with bizarre characters and tons of items to play with, Wuppo will keep you busy for a remarkable amount of time.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a fun addition to the series and for the Switch. It has fun gameplay and great humour, but feels repetitive at times and quite long.

The forced perspective game mechanic alone makes Superliminal an essential buy for those looking for a new first-person puzzler. Both mind-bogglingly clever and hilarious use of environmental storytelling, the potential to be a classic is limited by its short play time and unnecessary exposition.

A direct continuation of a classic series that acts like it’s still the early 2000s, for better or worse! For returning fans this is precisely what you wanted. It’s possible for newcomers to enjoy but you should probably play the originals first.

Despite some missteps with its gameplay, Indygo is a deeply immersive, realistic, and nuanced depiction of depression.

A fantastic arcade throwback, Streets of Rage 4 remains faithful to the classic series, whilst adding its own fresh twist.

Considering my expectations weren’t high, the game sat rather well with me and scratched my FF Advance Tactics itch which wasn’t satisfied with my gander at Blazing Souls: Accelate on the PSP. Whilst the game doesn’t have really any truly unique selling points, it maintains itself as being a rather solid SRPG with the music and graphics to match these expectations.

Holdfast: Nations At War is a solid, fun experience for those looking for a different kind of multiplayer game.

Flat Kingdom Paper’s Cut Edition is a 2D platformer with a unique gameplay twist that makes the game feel new. Along with a vibrant papercraft look and a great soundtrack, this is a title worth checking out.

Easy enough for newcomers to just pick up and play, and providing just enough fun and familiar challenge for veterans of the genre.

Although Underhero will forever be one of my favourite games, the ending worlds do drag on a bit. Despite that, I recommend basically everyone try it, as it will definitely put a smile on your face.

The Top Racer Collection is a fun racing collection if you enjoy racing games from the ‘90s. The game is vibrant and crisp, and with a banging soundtrack, you will love it!

Asteroids Minesweeper is a fun proof of concept that is worth the asking price.

I can’t comment on the general and RTS side of gameplay because I haven’t really experienced any of it. Progression however is painfully slow and could most certainly use with an increase in order to get the ball rolling for new players. Graphics could definitely be improved, it feels slightly dated and the pictures displayed on the store page show a greater graphical superiority when compared to actual gameplay.

Hivebusters is a safe but rewarding package that gives you more of what you love about Gears 5. The characters are strong, the campaign is solid, and gameplay is exactly what is expected. If you are a fan of Gears 5, then this expansion is a no brainer and is easily another reason to get Game Pass.

Despite some minor issues and some disorienting audio, I appreciated the metanarrative and surrealism of [I] doesn’t exist. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys story-rich games.

JETRUNNER lets you live out your speed demon dreams, but it can be lacking for those looking for a little more.

After a bumpy start, I started to have a lot of fun with Slain. Once you get into a groove, it's hard for anything to stop you. Generous amounts of metal, blood, and headbanging give this game a unique feel, one that is hard to give up. Slain: Back From Hell is well worth a try.

The formulaic plot, and some immersion-breaking moments don’t take away too much from this being quite a fun adventure, with a ton to do and return to.

Desperados III is a great stealth tactic game with great graphics, music, voice acting, characters and story but can feel like a rehash of previous games made by the same developers.

For those wanting a game where stealth is the focal point, and not a subclass you choose, Aragami is most definitely for you.

In its 3-4 hour playtime, GRIS won’t change the way you think about platformers, but with such a beautiful hand-painted art style and haunting score, it’s an exquisite mini masterpiece that heals the soul.

Senran Kagura Burst Re:Newal is a well made and polished remake that offers plenty of content for players to enjoy.

It’s fun and frantic, and has plenty of replayability. It just happens to sound poor and look dated.

Shenmue I & II brings the Dreamcast classics to a new audience as well as those nostalgic for the old days. They are still fun, exciting games even with a few quirks due to their age and are well worth playing in 2018.

Mothmen 1966 is a unique-looking and suspenseful visual novel that lets the players make decisions that will affect the story's outcome and what will happen to this cast of characters.

Buddy Simulator is an innovative indie adventure set in an RPG world with some clever meta moments. It could use some quality-of-life improvements and bug squashing, but still hits the mark from start to finish.

WHALIEN - Unexpected Guests is a fun, 3D puzzle platformer, full of crazy characters and vibrant visuals that will make you smile. The game is quite short, but the puzzles are enjoyable and never frustrating. Plus who doesn’t enjoy a plethora of whale puns?

A great stylized game with a fun and ridiculous plot. You get to be a buff boxing duck who destroys things, what more do you need to know? I definitely recommend this game, especially if you're a fan of the kind of weird.

A fantastic example of world building done right, but a real test of patience even for veteran strategy gamers.

Kukoos: Lost Pets is a fun and charming 3D platformer with a ton of charm and weirdness that can’t be found in other titans of the genre. So while its story and performance could use some work, everything else that it gets right more than makes up for it.

RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Complete Edition is a great remaster that made me remember a lot about RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 and I am looking forward to spending even more time in that great classic game.

Skyrim is still a great place to get lost in and the visual upgrade is welcome. It perhaps doesn’t go as far as it should and it’s a shame no other aspect of the game got looked at but it’s still well worth your time.

Crown Gambit offers an interesting world and detailed plot, but the actual combat takes a while to get to the point where you want to focus on it.

Robo Legend is an RPG mixed with a twin-stick shooter that has you choosing if you want to be the hero of the story or the villain. With multiple endings, it's nice to see a game where your choices make a difference!

A wonderfully surreal RPG, with some interesting thematic depth to match.

Reindeer Story is a nice game that can be surprisingly naughty in terms of difficulty and writing.

A super fun 2D action-platformer with a unique twist on a classic story. Even for someone who plays a lot of games like this I was still challenged and really enjoyed the unique addition of being able to parry and disarm the enemies instead of just killing.

A good remaster of a decent game, worth a look even if you’re not super interested in the Akiba franchise.

A unique, technically impressive and mechanically sound addition to the metroidvania subgenre. Hollow Knight is a great challenge, not lacking in any of the quality expected of similar, yet higher profile titles.

Fabledom is a great city builder, adding some much needed variety into the genre. It does have its flaws, but none are even close to being game-ruining.

Dungeon Drafters is sure to appeal to fans of RPGs and deck-building card games. With a fun grid-type battle mechanic, tons of cards/spells to collect, and different classes to use, this game will keep you busy for a long time!

An absolutely amazing feat of crafted creativity, and accompanied by a stunning and complimentary score. For those looking for a quirky and methodical movie-length point & click adventure, Papetura is definitely one for the wishlist!

I enjoyed my time with Dungeons 3 - Complete Collection and look forward to jumping back into the game and spending another 20 hours or so just enjoying the game.

You would never know that this is the first game from Billy Goat Entertainment, from how well polished and written it is. Very funny and filled with pop culture references, it makes you hopeful for the post-Brexit future.

Let’s Cook Together 2 is a game that is fun to play solo or with others; the controls are easy to learn. The game is wholesome and challenging at the same time.