Everything in Touhou just feels pointless; the story is drab, the combat is flat and and the action elements are uninspired. I understand it's a fan made game but I really struggle to find anything to compliment here. I can even imagine fans of the series struggling to like it, which is pretty much the nail in the coffin. Honest opinion: Avoid this like the plague.

Rezrog captures something special in it’s gameplay and design. Though not flawless in it’s execution there is plenty here to experience and love. If you are looking for a roguelike dungeon crawler you can pick up and play for a few hours or one to sink countless hours into, this is a title for you.

Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles is a stunning and fantastic game. If you visit for the story or the wildlife, you will find yourself staying for all that this title has to offer. With a number of quests and different gameplay mechanics working together to build a world of mystery and wonder. This title is easily one of this years best surprises and I highly recommend it to anyone.

While some people may be looking for a similar experience to Super Meatboy, full of stressful levels that require some serious reflexes and problem solving, OVIVO offers the exact opposite. It’s a relaxing experience that doesn’t really challenge the mind or reflexes, instead it's more like weaving your way through a maze of fantastic artwork. Overall the game has nice simple mechanics and some lovely visuals and audio, however it falls short when it comes to difficulty, replayability, and price.

Infinite Mini Golf is a ton of fun, easy to control and is the best mini golf experience you can have without going to a course.

Combat sequences can be a bit long, The text story is slightly on the dull side. But it really makes up for it's challenging and engaging combat style.

AereA’s priority is to make the player feel totally engaged in a mystical world that has been fully committed to representing the power of music. I found myself astounded at how many mechanical holes this game contains when its visuals are so contrastingly stunning.

While Unbox has some fun moments, I mostly enjoyed it for its mechanics and not because I found myself having all the much fun. I'm sure there are plenty of players who would find more in this title, but I just saw missed potential.

With wonderful writing and art, this game is amazing. There are a few flaws in the mini-games that can be mostly forgiven. I would absolutely recommend giving this dating game a chance. Definitely worth it.

If you want a great story told well, that will last an afternoon, then get Tacoma. It knows what it wants to be, and it does that perfectly.

If you’re looking for a space flight simulator that is an update of the original Elite, then this is perfect. If you’re looking for a well-written interactive story about saving humanity, look somewhere else.

Tekken 7 does just enough right for it to be considered a success. However, hopefully the structure of the game won't be the basic formula going forward.

With a number of unlockables and different ways to improve your chances of survival, there are plenty of ways to play this title. Though the initial learning curve can be somewhat tough to get around it is worth as Nongunz is a satisfying title when you get the hang of it. Of course, it is not a game that will click with everyone but if it does you will absolutely love it.

The story is fun and is one any veteran or newbie of this series will enjoy. The multiplayer adds lots of fun to the title and adds so much more time to the game if you enjoy it. The environments are bland and boring but overall this game is worth picking up just for the story alone.

Aven Colony makes for a prime example of how a game can transcend its genre and be fun whether or not you like other games like it. Showcasing detailed visuals, immersive voice acting, an engaging gameplay loop, and enough content to satisfy most players, this title has the potential to make a lasting impression on many gamers this year. If you enjoy city building games, you owe it to yourself to play Aven Colony.

While the game didn't impress me all that much on the Xbox as is, I can see how the game would perform better in VR. I did enjoy many aspects of Narcosis such as its environment and its unique controls. However, the lack of real tension and linear level design hold the game back too much to not notice.

Scoring any lower would be a bit far for what the game offers and does. It’s like baked beans on toasts: nice and filling, but you wouldn’t call it a proper meal. If you’re into your Rogue type games, looking for something short, snappy and quick. This is a game for you. Personally, this just isn’t my cup of tea with what it does.

Scar of the Doll has several moments throughout that really make you want to keep playing. Whether or not you actually do, however, well be a test of patience.

Serial Cleaner is a fun top down experience that will give you a good fun few hours, collecting all the collectibles and completing all the bonus levels. For anyone that was a fan of Hotline Miami but would have preferred it to be a stealth game this title is for you.

While Perception isn't consistently great, it does do certain things very well and is worth a play by anyone looking for an interesting experience. By taking away one of the most important senses most people have, Perception gives players the feeling of being thrust into the unknown and absolute darkness.

A unique premise and heavy interplay of gameplay and narrative elevates Black The Fall above its rather stock standard game mechanics.

Dynasty Feud is definitely worth picking up as one of those must have party games. The single player may leave you wanting more very quickly but if you can look past this then you’ll have a group game that will keep your friends coming back for revenge, round after round.

Next Jump is a great, but flawed game. There's good, tactical fun to be had if you can overlook some poor design.

Although you’re given a solid level of control over individual squads, you have little control over the game as a whole. Nothing about the game reaches out to the player and pulls them into an immersive WWII experience.

Now some of you might wonder why I would score another amazing DLC so highly, well I literally just said it. The DLC was just amazing, no faults and it was fun to play it and I’ve played it twice now.

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.

Dragon Quest Heroes 2 is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, but it doesn’t feel like a big enough leap. There are minor gameplay improvements that result in a more unique and refined experience, but at it’s core the game is still struggling to pull itself away from the Dynasty Warriors series.

Being rather positive of the game, it manages to stick the landing thereabouts with the narrative told and its escape room like puzzles. Even with the complaints of spoon force feeding, it gives the player enough leeway to think about world. With the abstract take working well, just not as fully realised as some might expect.

Friday the 13th: The Game is the closest you are ever going to get to being in a Friday The 13th movie. It's so realistic that I had goosebumps every time I saw Jason. However if you are playing alone it can get a little boring at times, and that makes me wish that there was a decent single player mode But with its authenticity this is the best Friday The 13th game that we may ever have and it will make every fan very happy.

This is a love letter to classic twin-stick shooters. With input from one of the kings of the genre in Eugene Jarvis, there was almost no way this could fail. It’s a fast-paced, colourful, and bullet-rich affair that will have you coming back for more again and again.

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is bittersweet. Having the unmissable marsupial back is a great throwback the 3D platformers of the late 90s, but for all of the nostalgia, the trilogy highlights some of the genre's weakest elements. A must play for original fans, and one new players should take with a pinch of salt.

Reservoir Dogs: Bloody Days is a top-down shooter that excels at the minimum. The replayability may be lacking, but it's definitely worth at least one playthrough.

Despite some design missteps, Pinstripe is worth your time if you're a fan of games that bring the feels.

Honestly, if this was a slightly longer experience this could easily top my expectations of what a gold standard of VNs should be. But, when factoring the length and cost, as well as the main demographic. This is a fanservice game through and through. For better or worse.

A much better and well rounded version in comparison to A New Customer Arrives! but this serves to rectify the complaints and deliver in some sections as opposed to other. Overall, an easy recommendation for someone wanting to dabble into VNs. One of the best VNs I read this year? Maybe, considering I’m planning on reviewing 18+ more. We’ll see. A review of the lewd may follow.

Cladun Returns: This is Sengoku is a fun and enjoyable game. It has little to no faults, it looks gorgeous, it also has a huge replay value with Co-op, and trying to beat your best times in dungeons. If you enjoyed games like The Binding Of Isaac then you will love this. While it may not be as difficult, it is still as fun.

The game encapsulates the frustration and confusion that I have often heard Kafka’s work draws upon. Unfortunately, these things work about as well in a videogame as a dollop of jam does in a classic novel. I’d avoid unless you really like the author.

This is a spin off that simply shouldn't be. It tries to take on too many ideas without forming an interesting and engaging core. With boring characters and a story that requires more cutscenes than gameplay, this game really exemplifies why show, don't tell is still true.

Krai Mira: Extended Cut is an interesting title that looks to deliver a game that feels similar in nature to the games of yesteryear. Though it ticks a number of boxes of this goal it falls short on a number of others. As it stands however, Krai Mira: Extended Cut is a lightweight take of the classic post-apocalyptic RPG formula but is just that.

Runic Rampage serves as a smooth hack and slash title for those looking for a goofy, low-spec adventure.

For fans of the series and newcomers alike, Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse is a quintessential JRPG experience, and one that only has some very minor issues.

MotoGP 17 is, all in all, the choice motorcycle racer for fans. Unfortunately, this is due to a lack of options rather than anything else.

There’s definitely fun to be had in Lock’s Quest, it’s just unfortunately locked behind a wall of frustrating control issues.

The connecting of cards was rather fluid and the explosions worked like they said they would. I was a little confused on the points system, but I didn’t care enough to investigate further. Other then that the game ran great. Which is terrible simply because I can’t give a worse rating. That’s really all I looked forward to which may sound petty, but remember kids! I’m not the one who made Didgery. I’m just the sucker who has to talk about it.

A competent if uninspiring roguelite platformer that provides a fun, challenging time with lots of things to unlock. Satisfying combat and challenging enemy AI makes the moment to moment gameplay worth a look.

Dark Train has broken the mold when it comes to puzzle games and created a very dark and engaging experience, despite not having a storyline. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a puzzle game that does not hold your hand.

Hurting wrists may be a similar problem to baking in real life, but that shouldn’t be the case for games. Needs more depth of gameplay before it’s ready to be served as an exceptional game, and not as a good one.

If it isn’t clear by now, my feelings are mixed on this title. On one hand, it doesn’t do much more than the previous titles. Although when previously used ideas show up, they are executed well. While it doesn’t have the best animation it could, it has decent voice acting (compared to other Artifex Mundi games). I’m not one to oversimplify things, but I think it’s fair to say that Grim Legends 2 is one of the better Artifex Mundi games while not quite being the best it could be. I would suggest this to gamers looking to introduce non-gamers to some easy to play games or fans of casual puzzle games.

A frustrating, hard to control climbing game that feels ultimately shallow and impractically designed.

While Unit 4 has some really neat ideas, it barely misses the mark and will probably only attract nostalgia from diehard retro fans. In its current state, all the polish in the world wouldn't address the key issues I have with this title. To put it simply, this game's co-op isn't a big enough change from the retro titles it draws inspiration from.

Valkyrie Drive -Bhikkhuni- hopes the abundance of cheap titillation will distract you from the uninspired repetitive brawling. There isn’t anything wrong with the game per se but it doesn’t do anything you can’t find done better elsewhere and that’s a shame.

A game with lofty ambitions but none of the polish to reach them.

Although the game could use a bit of polish around its UI framework, a ton of thought was put into countless popular culture references and cubed graphics. If you’re looking for a gorefest though, this isn’t the place to find one.

Get Even is a memorable experience and a well-delivered psychological thriller. Music and audio design stand as its high point, alongside the visuals and gameplay creating an immersive atmosphere. It truly is The Farm 51’s best title to date, and Bandai Namco was right to give them the extra time needed to complete it.

Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2 may be more of the same, but it's still, undoubtedly, an exciting and intense fighter through and through.

In summary, Project Nimbus is a solid air and mecha combat game in its present form that makes you feel like a badass gundam pilot at its peak and like the protagonist in a bad anime at its lows. Depending on what gameplay and story changes the developers make as it nears completion, it could go either way. But for now this is definitely something to keep an eye on.

Ultimately, the bland, dreary combat sinks the entirety of the experience and it’s with a heavy heart that I must warn you to avoid this title if you have any choice in the matter. Pixel Heroes: Byte & Magic is a swing and a woeful miss.

NBA Playgrounds is a really fun and quirky title. The lack of online play at launch is a big omission and although the game lacks replayability, the arcade aesthetics, easy to use controls and whirlwind gameplay make this game extremely enjoyable in short bursts. I found the game better on handheld rather than playing off a TV, due to its ‘on the move’ vibe, and in that respect, it's undoubtedly a nice game to just unwind with and enjoy for what it is.

Human: Fall Flat is elegant in its gameplay and boasts delightful graphics. No matter how frustrated I got at not being able to solve puzzles, I kept at it because of just how enjoyable it was. The soundtrack that accompanies Human: Fall Flat works wonders also, and I loved how bright and vibrant the game was from start to finish.

Though I personally don't enjoy roguelikes, ToME is a marvellous game with bundles of class and race options that give the game an astounding amount of replay value. Coupled with the amazingly interesting lore and map design, ToME draws you in time and again.

A surprisingly deep, emotionally engaging tale for a game that lets you fornicate with a toaster.

It’s slow moving, but that’s mainly because you’re trying to conserve fuel. If you’re awful at resource management, then you’ll find The Long Journey Home takes longer than it should. There’s quite a bit to do and see, and kill, but if you want a time sink then this will be right up your alley.

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.

A charming title with a breathtakingly good interface, Endless Space 2 is a clear improvement over its predecessor.

A rather solid game, good gameplay which kept me on my toes and thinking at all times. Alright gunfights that were often over rather quickly and occasionally featured twitching AI whom I wasn’t sure if they were still alive or not and good use of a low-budget and his own skills. I predict great things for this developer as long as he doesn’t get greedy! Much better than their previous game! Well done Polygon Art!

Great 2.5D take on the world of Teslagrad, with a fun puzzle dynamic and plenty of head-scratchers within. Well worth a look in if you’re after a modern take on the early Zelda games.

Mr Shifty is a hectic brawler that is enjoyable in short bursts. You can happily power through a few stages and feel like a badass while you’re doing it. It is, however, a short experience, but there are enough challenges, variety and enjoyment to be had. In contrast to Hotline Miami’s brutal difficulty, you’d think Mr Shifty would be Hotline-lite, but you’d be far from wrong as it can stand tall as being one of best top-down brawlers.

Forts is a simple, fun game, has a nice sense of humour and is guaranteed to get your brain whirling as you figure out the best way to build your base, defend your weapons while also pelting the enemy with bullets and bombs. Unfortunately you’ll probably complete it with minimal fuss, but the developers do claim Forts has been made with modding in mind. Whether this will lead to the community making this game bigger and better will have to be seen.

Day of Infamy is not a game that will tear down the hegemony of Battlefield or Call of Duty, but like other realistic shooter out there, it provides an alternative FPS experience.

The Caligula Effect has the potential to become a bit of a sleeper hit for the hardcore Vita enthusiasts out there. It reaches a really nice rhythmic cadence with its rock-solid gameplay, complemented by a clever, well-written narrative. A few technical hiccups try to rain on its parade, but overall it’s an endearing, touching and surprisingly deep RPG with a ton of character and a bucketload of heart.

Excellent. If you're a fan of rally and want an accessible game, go out and buy it. If you want DiRT Rally's level of simulation with more to do, go out and buy it.

This is a very strange game that will require some lateral thinking and a lot of hunting around. The nature of the surreal world makes some of the puzzles harder than they ought to be, and you might find yourself playing “hunt the object” more than you’d like, but nonetheless, this is an enjoyable game and if you want something a bit off-the-wall then I’d recommend giving it a try.

An engaging yet flawed chapter satisfyingly closes off the season and sets the stage for Clementine's next adventure.

Forgiving it may be. This isn’t your typical “easy” shmup/bullet hell. For its price, this is worth it with the available content and replayability. A definite permanent install my portable laptop for its endless mode.

Injustice 2 is a fantastic fighting game with great visuals that is a lot of fun to play casually but with enough depth to master. The new Multiverse mode will keep you playing for a long time while you build the perfect Batman.

t's a shame about the game’s issues later in the campaign, because there’s a lot to like in One Dog Story. The art design is great, the story is interesting, and the combat is satisfying; but poor design and technical issues hold the game back from its full potential.

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.

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.

Portals Knights manages to capture the best qualities of the building of Minecraft while also maintaining a combat style that can be as difficult as Dark Souls if you're not prepared. Be ready to spend many, many hours in this charming game.

A mature, aesthetically splendid debut that charms effortlessly by virtue of its poetry-driven narrative, quaint artistry, and subtle humour. Occasionally obscurity aside, Milkmaid of the Milkyway is a stellar little gem.

As with the first one, Emily is Away Too is a wonderfully crafted narrative experience that echoes what it was like to be a teenager in the mid-2000s. For such a simple concept, the level of detail really makes this game a fantastic narrative experience. If you like short narrative experiences, I can’t recommend this enough.

Deceit is a game of deception and co-operation. A concept excellent on paper. In practice though, it does fall flat on itself. It has a problematic community which can be tough on new players. If Deceit allowed friends to play together it could make for a great party game. Unfortunately, this is not the vision of the developers. They'd rather see strangers forced to work together in dire situations.

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.

Overall, it is another solid indie game that is great for someone that is just looking for something to play something to play or to maybe burn away a little stress or a few hours. Customisable weapons, easy to play and honestly? Rather fun! Skipchaser!

Rime is a triumph of storytelling and game design. The beautiful hand crafted world is a joy to explore and the puzzles are fun to complete. Stunning visuals and a stellar score, combined with a deeply personal and emotional story create a truly unforgettable experience that will resonate with players for years to come.

A fairly solid attempt, the changes to multiplayer bring out a large mix of good and bad responses from me. In the end I believe that they have pushed away from the original DoWs a bit too much. They still need to return to their roots! I am sure they will do it eventually.

Prey truly is more than the sum of its parts. Don’t let its immediate familiarity or obvious influences fool you, because when you look under the hood, it’s not just Dishonored set in space.

Shiness: The Lightning Kingdom is a reach too far for a small indie studio to handle and it shows. While the game plays well and looks fantastic, the lack of a decent story shows that the developers were under tight budget and time restraints. If they would have had more time and money I believe that Shiness could had easily been a better game. While Shiness has some positives like the overall design and the combat, the lack of a compelling story ruined the experience.

The Sexy Brutale is a delectable slice of murder and mystery. The exquisite art design, twisted puzzles, and excellent audio design combines to create a truly memorable experience. The unique setting and thoughtful tale will remain in the memory long after the case has been closed.

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.

Playground have managed to extract the awesomeness stored in the collective hive-mind of every “big-kid” out there that wants to be able to play with their Hot Wheels sets without strange glances from onlookers. It’s a fun outing for the series as a whole and something I hope to see more of down the line.

The pros just barely outweigh the cons for me in this puzzle game. Since the puzzles are less than impressive and the animations seem to have taken a step back, it's only because the addition of the alchemy minigame and the extra easy completion that I would recommend this game. Without a doubt, this is one of the most forgettable Artifex Mundi titles.

A fun, simple game, let down by misguided design decisions.

All in all, Akiba’s Beat is a solid game that presents itself very well. Despite a couple of flaws here and there, the title offers a lot in the way of content and entertainment value. Whether it’s the interesting visuals, the great use of music, or the well-constructed story, it’s not hard to see how this game beats out the competition.

Adventure on Clover Island is a good starting point, and shows that the team have the ability to make something great. Unfortunately, most gamers decide games on a price=hours basis, and that’s something Skylar & Plux doesn’t deliver. However, if you’re up for a strong platformer that has a great script to waste some time on, it’s a definite recommendation.

This one is fairly straight forward, since it is clearly built for a particular audience. Fans of oldschool 2D run-n-gun games will probably enjoy this game. While the difficulty may turn off some casual gamers, most people will know what they're getting into when they just look at the screenshots. If shooting bad guys and tons of gore is your thing, this one's got you covered.

For want of a better term, What Remains of Edith Finch is a playable family tree. Hidden revelations and unpredictable tragedies complement what is an unnerving but somehow warming experience.

Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 is a serviceable open-world first person shooter with some great sniping mechanics, yet it's low production values and lack of polish completely ruin what could be a very enjoyable experience.