An unpolished, but ultimately charming and engaging take on H. P. Lovecraft's most famous creation. A must for psychological horror fans.

Exit the Gungeon is a solid spin-off that is able to deliver a level of enjoyment that matches its predecessor, while also standing tall on its own two feet.

Genesis Alpha One is a game that I love coming back to for both short and long bursts. It’s got an absolute ton of replayability with some really interesting designs and mechanics to boot.

Although Dreamfall Chapters fills in the checklist for an adventure story game, it still leaves some room for improvement. The game is good overall, but just don't expect it to be a dream come true.

Studio Sott has managed to create a short game filled with wonderful characters and atmosphere. This brilliantly realised story reminds me of The Shining but filled with Mr Men. While Hotel Sowls doesn’t innovate the basic point and click formula, it fills it with quality content and a surrealist vibe that really elevates itself. It’s just a bit short.

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.

It's a game that's definitely worth playing, but it could have been so much better than it really is. For all the vibrant pink and yellow, it's the game equivalent of beige.

It’s not going to change the world, but it would certainly interest a tween that wants to get into RPGs.

Pushing out sheer pornography with its visuals while also testing you with fast paced combat, Bright Memory: Infinite teases you like a temptress. It brings you oh so close, then leaves you wanting more.

MXGP3 is a fun game and a good game for any fan of the sport, the career mode is fun however it gets boring a little too quickly, but I'm sure that any fan of the sport, will appreciate the effort that went into making this game.

SCHiM uses shadows in delightfully creative ways, turning ordinary objects into astoundingly helpful tools. This wholesome, vibrant 3D platformer offers an adventure that shouldn’t be missed.

Urban Trial Freestyle 2 is a very good game, with very few negatives, only minor gripes. The graphics look high end for the Nintendo 3DS, and the gameplay and depth to the game was more than I had expected. The ragdoll physics were as amusing as you'd expect, and the track creator was a fantastic addition. When you merge all that together, you get Urban Trial Freestyle 2 - a game that got me using my 3DS again!

A charming, pretty and well made puzzle platformer, Elli is unfortunately short, unambitious and derivative, while offering no incentive to replay it once it’s over.

A good RTS with four different factions with distinct playstyles. If you want a taste of the Warhammer world, this may be a good place to start, though watch out for frantic combat and demanding action!

Oddworld: Soulstorm refines a lot from the previous games, but it comes at the cost of adding in new mechanics that never really click. The core element has improved, and it’s easy to see the franchise continuing to improve going forward, without needless additions. Soulstorm just falls that little short of great this time around, sadly.

Hot Lap Racing has a huge selection of classic and modern cars to drive on some awesome tracks, but the difficult tutorial may scare players off.

The Way has a lot going for it: the world is interesting, the puzzles are testing, and it has a wonderful charm. The movement is precise enough to make the platforming work, and controlling the powers is never an effort. Worth a punt if you’re looking for something a little retro this summer.

While Astria Ascending’s gorgeous world has a basic gameplay loop that can satisfy for a while, it lacks the knowledge to challenge minds or the spirit further. With no strategy in the later battles, a story moving too quickly to be poignant, and severely unlikeable stereotypes as characters, the lessons are forced and the result is grating.

Wonder Boy Collection is a fun group of titles for people who love classic games. The ability to rewind when you die or get hit is helpful to make progress in titles like Wonder Boy, which are known for their difficulty!

Killing Floor 3 does everything you want right, but at the same time, it lacks some of the magic seen in the older games.

Dungeon Souls provides ample fun for those who enjoy roguelikes. It borrows a lot from other games (Rogue Legacy, Spelunky, Nuclear Throne, to name a few), and while it doesn’t do much to differentiate itself, it’s still a fun dungeon-crawling hack ‘n slash adventure for quite a few hours.

Chinatown Detective Agency is a title that anyone who loves taking on the role of a gumshoe in a futuristic, pixelated world will enjoy. With clues, ciphers, and other mysteries to solve, this title will make you use your brain and challenge you.

If you’ve been harkening for something like Limbo, that isn’t Limbo, then take a peek at Monochroma. It’s a little frustrating to start off, but once you’ve got the nuances down then it all starts slotting together. As Nowhere Studio’s first title, I can only see their future games getting better as they go.

While WWE 2K18 does hit enough right notes for a recommendation, it still leaves something to be desired. As much as I like the style of these newer games, I miss being able to be as nonsensical as the older ones would allow. All in all, it's a toss-up for me.

Earthlock: Festival of Magic shows that the JRPGs aren’t games of a bygone era. It’s got it’s issues, but it’s still a fun game if you’re a fan of the genre. Hopefully, the developers will have the funds and resources in the future to deliver a more fleshed out experience, but for now, this game is just fine.

Spellspire is a game that knows what it is, and doesn’t aim for the stars. It’s a more than enjoyable experience worth the price tag. Those looking for a fun little game to play during downtime, or even something to distract the kids, can’t go far wrong here.

If you can look past the missed opportunity that is the lack of motion controls, and the fairly simplistic gameplay, you’ll probably find a title that is entertaining in short bursts. Don’t expect it to light your world on fire, though.

The platforming is dull, the puzzles are insultingly simple or totally unexplained and the game lacks enough character to be memorable or stand on its own. Unless you're really desperate, I would suggest you look elsewhere.

Undungeon is a great game with tons of unique innovative designs that I have never experienced. If the staggeringly large amount of text doesn't scare you off, and a sci-fi story is something you're interested in, I definitely recommend it.

Overall I enjoyed my time with Rust, it may need a few updates and features to really stand out, but even at this level the game is a strong contender in the survival game genre.

Even with its many imperfections, SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated ultimately succeeds as an attempt to spruce up a 17-year old game. It doesn’t stand alongside the 3D platforming greats, but it’s a fantastic, humour-filled tribute to a beloved show. People less familiar with the yellow sea sponge’s exploits will find it harder to overlook the creaky, PlayStation 2-era quirks. It looks better, but that doesn’t mean it plays better than it did 17 years ago.

A competent sequel that adds some neat touches, but doesn't fix enough of the first game's problems.

A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead is a great first attempt into the videogame sphere, with unique innovations and ideas that are a no-brainer for those intrigued considering the low entry fee.

Though there might not be much to it, what Toy Odyssey does do is very well polished and extremely well done. The game play flows well, the art style looks amazing, and they’re complimented by gorgeous graphics with an amazing soundtrack. Digital Smash has obviously put a lot of care and effort into Toy Odyssey and a developer we should all be keeping a close eye on for the future.

I don’t know what’s left to say. If this was maybe at least half its cost I could easily forgive its misgivings, alas this isn’t a 7. Yeah I’m kinda gutted it isn’t better.

I would argue that Eventide 2 is one of, if not, the best Artifex Mundi games available on Xbox at this point. I truly hope that future titles share Eventide 2's trend of improving on previous games. Honestly though, you'll have to have played the previous titles to appreciate the changes this title has made.

Jumanji Wild Adventures is an entertaining action-adventure title that is faithful to the movies it’s based on. It has some issues but is still entertaining to play, even when you aren’t a kid.

Still Joking had a lot of potential in its plot, but the 400,000 words did little to introduce us to it and bring it to life, settling instead for short, inorganic quips, rushed ideas, and clichés.

Toads on the Bayou is a challenging game with a fun voodoo-inspired story, great look, and fun characters. I was only able to play a small part on PC, so I hope it gets fixed!

Needlessly complex controls dragging down a robust system, a storyline uninterested in upping the ante to wacky hijinks or otherwise, and a world that fails to acknowledge your existence, Shredders performs self-sabotage by seemingly not performing at all.

I enjoyed my time with BIOMUTANT and I can’t wait to replay the game and see how it will play out if I make just a few minor changes to some of the decisions I made throughout the game.

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.

A great driving game, a poor racing game. Has some technical issues involving controller support and their idea of multiplayer is somewhat unusual for this genre. A game I would happily spend more time with, but can’t recommend highly in its current state.

Copycat has visual charm and enjoyable cat-based gameplay, but with a short runtime and poorly executed story, it isn’t worth your time, especially if you love cats.

Park Beyond is a spectacle to behold with some great ideas, but the glitter and lights don’t quite hide the shaky foundations that desperately need some repairs.

You’ll have a blast however you approach it.

Fairy Tail is a rushed spinoff that rarely has an ounce of the energy shown in its source material. It’s more ambitious than many other anime games, but the execution is severely lacking. So much so that, if Fairy Tail was just another cookie-cutter arena fighter instead, it probably would have been a better game.

The Casting of Frank Stone takes Supermassive’s tried-and-true storytelling and mixes it with Dead by Daylight’s lore to tell a chilling, gruesome tale that’s highly replayable and accessible to non-DBD players.

Unless you’re a die-hard point and click aficionado, it’s difficult to recommend this adventure. One thing is for certain though: It’s not worth its RRP of £24.99.

Bridge Constructor is a title that tries to port the popular genre over to console, unfortunately, poorly designed controls and a lack of tutorials mean the experience falls short. Players are never properly introduced to the game's physics, which makes the experience far more frustrating than it ever needs to be.

Zombasite might be a little hard to wrap your head around but the blend of action RPG and Civilization-style strategy works really well. A little rough around the edges but the game underneath is a gem worth digging for.

Tennis in the Face is not going to amaze or disappoint players, it’s a serviceable physics-based puzzle game designed to provide a short, but challenging experience.

A Pizza Delivery is a flawed but enjoyable narrative adventure, with a lot of heart and soul underneath its rough exterior.

Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars is full of fanservice and anime girls with big boobs, but not much more. Insanely long visual novel talk segments, and the story is so silly there’s not much motivation to keep playing.

A fun little bullet hell that has a ton of replay value and a charming visual appeal. Quite an approachable entry for those daunted by other shoot ‘em ups with a scoring system that rewards skill.

An engaging experience to sink one’s teeth into, Swansong may have its faults, but it offers a blood-curdling plot and amazing characters that simply can’t be found anywhere else.

I loved Hammerwatch II's fighting and gameplay, but the lacklustre narrative, unrewarding sidequests, and uninformative quests and world traversal leave much to be desired.

While separate from the Batman Arkham games timeline, Gotham Knights proves there is room on the block for a second AAA Batman franchise in the gaming world. The only question is, who will you choose to play as?

Atomic Owl is a roguelike title set in a neon-filled world that, while looking nice, was frustrating to play, making it feel unfair.

Soundfall is a fun rhythm game featuring a ton of songs in multiple different genres and a Free Play mode where you upload your own music to challenge, with the option to play with up to four players.

Mineko’s Night Market is one of the most sweet and whimsical games that I have played, plus it has cats! It is full of personality and has a lot of different activities you can do to keep you coming back for more.

It seems harsh but Freeze Me is ironically dull, repetitive beyond repute, as well as clunky in both camera movement and basic character manoeuvring. I genuinely hope that the Barcelona-based developer takes the criticism onboard to go back to the drawing board with simple, satisfying gameplay. For now, there’s little to recommend.

With some quite tricky puzzles, Ever Forward is a rather challenging puzzler. The luscious graphics and lovely soundtrack definitely help the experience, but I’d have liked a bit more game. The pacing is a touch on the slow side too, so not one for the impatient.

A fantastic addition to the Saints Row catalogue, though it’s marred by a bunch of glitches and bugs that keep it just shy of excellence.

Explore the titular island in Paleo Pines as you embark on a quest to collect all of the numerous dinos and variants in a fun exploration-focused title that leaves its life simulator aspects behind — oftentimes, for the better.

A charming title that doesn’t overstay its welcome; Little Witch Nobeta is a fun, if occasionally repetitive, journey of discovery. Well utilised mechanics and some epic boss fights make this a good choice for veterans of the Souls-like genre and newcomers alike.

The Caligula Effect 2 is a game that deserved a better budget than it got. It’s combat system is amazing and engaging, but everything else about it could be better.

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

Submarines, Bionts, Dystopia and shooty shoots, what’s not to love? Buy this, slap on your cowboy hat, and stick some Linda Ronstadt on as you drive “every kind of rig that’s ever been made” in the deep blue.

Deadbeat Heroes is a solid brawler with good humour and a well-directed art style. While the execution of some of the combat elements interrupt the flow of said combat it is still a fun game to play. With a small degree of tweaking to the combat mechanics, this title could go from being an average brawler to an amazing one. The developers are supporting the game and recently released a patch in direct response to player feedback, so my fingers are crossed that they will continue to support the game and make Deadbeat Heroes a title worth remembering.

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.

Immortals of Aveum’s greatest flaw is missing the target in marketing. It may not be the best FPS adventure, but it has a very enjoyable narrative and great (albeit few) full-fledged spell-flinging fights that I couldn’t get enough of.

Motocross fans are likely to be pleased, but those not into the extreme sport might not find it as enjoyable.

Space Adventure Cobra — The Awakening is a fun action platforming game that does a great job of recreating the original series that everyone can enjoy.

Although a few issues can mar the overall enjoyment, CRYMACHINA is nevertheless an enjoyable tale of reincarnated humans and their struggle to define what it is to be a “real human”. Slick, responsive combat and a fantastic musical score make this a title you shouldn’t overlook.

Farming Simulator 17’s odd mix of authenticity and not-quite simulation is curious. The core gameplay loop is by its very nature extremely repetitive but if you have an interest in farming you’ve probably already bought into the idea. It’s certainly not a bad game but it’s definitely an acquired taste.

A full and entertaining experience in its own right, Tomb Raider Reloaded is fun, free, and challenging in all of the right places. A few visual errors, steep difficulty spikes, and high amounts of ads might scare some off, but the roguelite underneath is an absolute joy to play.

G.I. JOE: Wrath of Cobra is the 2D arcade beat-'em-up game your inner child wanted. Who doesn’t want to feel like they are in an episode of a cartoon with their friends?

A comedic and utterly bizarre adventure game backed with passion and love for the genre and the craft, with some important options missing letting down a near perfect game.

As the “final chapter” in the SAO gameverse, Last Recollection is a disappointing end to a subpar series of games. A tight, fun combat system aside, this is one for die-hard fans only.

Despite enjoying my time with Galaxy of Pen and Paper I can’t really recommend a game that corroded my save file twice in under 20 hours. Every time I load a save I have to cross my fingers and hope it works, and while I typically enjoy rolling dice, loading a game is definitely an exception.

A deep, intriguing story that gets buried under bland, repetitive gameplay.

It does its job well as a Gundam-style mech shooter, but it just doesn’t do quite enough to keep me going back in for more action. The majority of levels are just “go here, shoot this, follow that”, which unfortunately gets very repetitive after a couple of hours. There’s a lot you can do with customisation, though.

It’s got a few rough edges, but nothing too unbearable. It’s definitely worth getting your paws on this one and I’d recommend it bear claws I had an ursome experience playing it. One fur the wishlist of anybody who wants a good point-and-click to paws the time.

Weakless is a very short game with very easy puzzles. It is set in a beautiful world with good but repetitive music. It has unique characters that forces players to play as both a blind and a deaf character which I found to be very different and fun.

An enjoyable time capsule of a game that can unfortunately feel a bit unfair due to its age combined with some quirky controls. Non-stop retro action with great pixel art and two stunning soundtracks that is worth your time if it’s something that appeals.

Startup Panic is fun for its first few hours, but tails off quickly. It’s cute art and music will keep you interested, but once you stop playing you are unlikely to return to this office.

Within the Blade is full of action and stealth, just like what you would expect a ninja to be good at. Unfortunately some of the levels become quite repetitive, but the game offers a unique weapon crafting feature that you don’t usually see in games like this.

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.

An excellent core concept but lacklustre execution. Still enjoyable for those that love simulators and dinosaurs but should probably be missed by those that are unsure.

A fun and by-the-book metroidvania, Ebenezer and the Invisible World brings my favourite Christmas story to videogames, but perhaps sticks too closely to its genre and avoids innovating a tad much.

GRAVEN manages to recreate the 90s action game, but that comes with the same issues that those games did.

A simple, if endearing, game that’s far from purr-fect, but cat lovers will get some enjoyment out of Cat Rescue Story, if even only for an hour or two.

Parcel Corps is entertaining enough, but it’s let down by just how repetitive the tasks and tricks are.

Monster Energy Supercross 25 - The Official Video Game works mechanically and has a sense of style, but there’s nothing to keep you playing past a certain point.

EDENS ZERO is an addictive adaptation that will get you hooked on the story, even if you haven’t read it yet. If you look past the fanservice and repetitive combat, you’ll find a real gem of a storyline here.

Adorable Adventures has enough cute, charming boars to live up to its name, and while it’s a short, wholesome title, it will be too light on gameplay for some.

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl may be basic on the surface, but the exhilarating gameplay and edge of your seat action more than makes up for its lack of content by providing players with a fun platform fighter that rewards those who take the time to learn its surprisingly complex combat mechanics. I just wish online multiplayer was more active (come find me online and let’s fight! I main CatDog).