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.

Behind some rage-inducing problems Expeditions: Viking is incredibly good. It enhances everything established in Conquistador and brings the setting to real life. Whether players will want to struggle through a sea of crashes and mistimed saves to experience it all is another factor altogether.

The combat feels and plays great, and the change in setting is what the genre really needed.

Hyper Light Drifter is unique, it highlights the issues of a real person in an abstract way. This game plays very smoothly, and offers stunning visuals and rigid difficulty. Hyper Light Drifter is a lot of fun, and it's beautiful too. It’s a memorable experience, and can keep you interested the whole way through.

Astervoid 2000 takes the classic Asteroids game and adds a solid twist to the gameplay that turns it into a fast paced, reflexive arcade game that is a blast to play on the couch with a group of friends.

Little Nightmares is unique and engaging, there is no doubt about it. It stays with you long after you switch it off. It’s definitely an effective horror experience, but it’s an undercooked horror game. If atmosphere and story are enough to keep you pushing through lacklustre gameplay, this is a must-have. If you’re a veteran of the puzzle platformer and purely after a satisfying gameplay experience, best to steer clear.

The Crow’s Eye is excellent platform puzzler with an intriguing story. I can’t consider it being an actual horror title, especially as a psychological terror that the developers, 3D2 Entertainment describes, but as an atmospheric first-person adventure, it has a lot going for it. It can be easily recommended for fans of puzzle-adventure titles shrouded in mystery.

For a port of an older Wii U title, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe feels like a brand new game that everyone can enjoy. Whether this is your first Mario Kart or your eighth, there's enough here to satisfy your thirst for racing.

An amazing emotional experience that trips and stumbles, but shows what Telltale is capable off.

An amazing emotional experience that trips and stumbles, but shows what Telltale is capable off.

A very simple game with little variety in gameplay. Can be decent to kill a few hours.

All in all BULLET SOUL is a great little shooter, it’s challenging and the ghost bullet gimmick indirectly changes how you need to play to earn high scores. The game is solidly put together and any fan of bullet hell shooters will definitely want this in their collection.

A great point and click game on a console, only mildly let down by it’s slightly frustrating control scheme. Full of charm, wit and plenty of humour along the way; The Inner World delivers a fun and interesting story to keep you going.

Beating up blobs is everything you’ve ever dreamed it to be. Not much is unique about Plasma Puncher, but that’s fine when just about everything else is done right.

This DLC continues to deserve the high praise I gave the main game, with a good script, fun characters and interesting missions. I had a lot of fun with it, even though some of the objectives can be difficult.

Nier: Automata is an absolute masterclass in game design. It surpasses expectations time and time again resulting in an experience not to be missed by fans of action titles.

Out of the Park Baseball 18 is a game that is a must for hardcore baseball fans, there’s no doubt about that. But, the most pleasantly surprising aspect of this game is how it can make a fan out of someone who knows very little about baseball like myself. It feels like the ultimate simulator, with immense levels of detail, great matchday visuals, and statistics to make any tactical statistician scream with joy. This game is so immersive that it makes you wonder how they can improve on the game next year - but something makes me think they’ll manage it just fine.

Despite solid fundamental mechanics and satisfying controls, Blue-Collar Astronaut isn’t worth your time or money. While a few of the mission designs are inspired, most are either bland or frustrating, and the game’s attempts at comedy are smirk-worthy at best.

For the price you get a decently designed dating simulator with some witty moments and a good amount of choice. Don’t go in expecting more than that and you’ll be rewarded well.

The game is a fantastic love letter to the genre and offers gamers a trip down memory lane. What will surprise you, though, is how it’s so much more than a cash-grab throwback to a bygone era.

Outlast 2 could well be the scariest horror game I have played to date. There were a few very minor gripes, but the isolation, desolation, and desperation were noticeable throughout. The sense of fear was more impactful than in the first game, and there were parts where I played hiding behind anything I could get my hands on. I went to Temple Gate, and I did not enjoy my stay. And by that statement alone, I have to applaud Red Barrels for creating such a brilliant game.

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.

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!

While the story is a fun and an interactive cinema experience, there are a few issues with the game such as being a little short. But there is a genuine story here that makes up for all the issues, the story makes you think, feel and love. With the story being so great I wish that they would have had something to persuade players to replay the game, but there is no rewards to make the story worth playing through a few times. I hope that there is plans to introduce some kind of DLC that gives us further insight into the story of Scarlett and Finn. My first playthrough will always have a special place in my memories and this title is a highly successful one in my mind.

Whilst Kamio Recoil isn’t broken, the game fundamentally lacks any form of core mechanic that feels polished or gameplay loop that will bring the player into any form of flow. With partly stunted game physics and level design, this is a game that’s passable at best.

Despite the rocky start from its initial release in 2011, it looks like Bulletstorm is back on track with an overall decent remastering that fixes a lot, but leaves a little something to be desired. Still, this is definitely a title I had fun going back to and indeed, will have fun replaying again.

A reliance on meta-jokes and pop-culture references, alongside irrational puzzle design leave this point and click adventure falling short of its true potential. Fans of the genre will likely find enjoyment here though, if only due to the obvious inspirations behind the game.

TheHunter: Call of the Wild is a game that will appeal to those who have a genuine passion for hunting, but due to the general lack of content, a poor UI and the horrendous movement speed, I don't think those outside of the hunting world will enjoy it.

Relying too much on nostalgia, StarCore does nothing new, interesting or out of the ordinary. Most will probably be bored but there will be a few players that’ll get a kick out of the game.

Lion Quest’s ingenuity isn’t enough to garner a gold medal, but varied gameplay provides a few hours of challenging entertainment.

With miserable gameplay, terrible story, and utterly unfunny jokes, Narco Road’s idiotic antics destroy everything the main game managed to accomplish.

Although the first title grabbed my attention more than the second, Danganronpa 1.2 Reload are a pair of games that engulf you quite effectively into their worlds. These two titles come highly recommended.

A challenging, sometimes punishing platformer that blends a unique hook and fun movement with clever level design that is well worth a look. Don’t let the innocent appearance fool you.

Aliens Go Home Run is a cracking little arcade inspired title. Mixing elements of Breakout, Galaxian and Baseball, it provides a familiar concept, but one that does something a little bit different. It’s a game that you can pick up and play right away, but will take forever to become an expert in.

Overall, a solid and enjoyable game with somewhat a somewhat interesting art style. Which, at the same time, is nothing to scream about. Simple but effective, just what I like. For those who like a challenge or looking to experience a few dozen hours suffering quietly as you watch all your well laid plans come to fruition (before shortly failing), then this is most certainly worth a buy.

Overall, the game is a tough and harsh grind. I am not entirely sure who would enjoy this game more, or what type of player would sink the most hours into this title. I suppose the game is worth a 7/10! Nothing special but nothing bad either!

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.

A wonderfully executed arcade game, slow yet quick paced, keeps you on your toes. An enjoyable point and click.

Kona is a story based game worth telling, combining aspects such as narrative world-building and free-flowing gameplay. This title cannot be overlooked.

Somewhere in there, is a decent game. I am a massive fan of this style of game despite what I had to say about Hatred. I just hope you can find the diamond that’s hiding in this particular goat anus.

Trulon: The Shadow Engine, made by Kyy Games and published by Headup Games, is a single player casually paced RPG. For those new to the genre as well as those with loads of experience, this is a game that has interesting lore and simple game mechanics. Being laid back gives it an edge on some other RPGs currently on the market, as it is easily approachable. Perhaps Trulon: The Shadow Engine will be my gateway game of sorts to exploring other card-based RPG games.

A nice little real time tactical game that takes cues from The Lost Vikings and brings it up to date, let down by a frustrating control scheme and some odd choices that have made their way to the final game.

They Shall Not Pass is a good start to making that season pass feel like it was worth the money, though I doubt it will pull many people into buying the full game.

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.

Dystoria is a great love letter to retro videogames and sci-fi movies from the 1980s. Its six-axis controls are easy to learn yet hard to master, while it’s physics-bending levels are a great way to reinvigorate a classic puzzler.

Some slight technical issues occasionally hamper what is a solid Mass Effect entry. Fun, dynamic combat, some great missions and an interesting new setting provide an enjoyable place to get lost and spend some time in. It does sometimes feel like a “Mass Effect Greatest Hits” but there are worse things to be.

Nitro is a challenging and fun motorcycle game that doesn’t really do much wrong, the difficulty curve and lack of bike customization being the main standouts. It’s a really solid title that is well worth considering.

At its best, Yooka-Laylee reminds me why I fell in love with colourful platformers, it's a love letter to childhood nostalgia. At its worst, Yooka-Laylee reminds me why we moved away from platforming games: odd design choices and occasional bugs sour the experience.

Overall, it may be a pain to have to collect each type of brick that you want to use, but you’ll learn things. I do like this game, and I’m not big on open sandboxes. Or, perhaps I like it because of that.

FlatOut 4 is a well-made and well-presented racing game that does a lot to escape the level of 'mediocre' that falls among other racers. With modes like beer pong, survival and time trail to choose from, FlatOut 4 is a great experience from start to finish.