Slots & Daggers is a great game - through and through. It's addictive enough to keep you coming back for a few nights in a row to keep spinning out the right symbols and getting further and further on the map, unlocking more and more new things. It's also got a great atmosphere, a great jazz beat, and a very accurate and beautiful aesthetic.

I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream is a welcome return to the golden age of point-and-click, despite some shortcomings. Like the characters themselves, the game is flawed and you have to go through quite a bit of agony to get to the end of the game. But at the same time, the game does deliver a truly haunting tale, going places where few other games dare.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure's sense of surprise doesn't hit with the same force as Life is Strange did nine years ago, but it has managed to re-engage me for a few hours to catch up with a character I've long wanted to see, and leave me with a sense of personal enrichment after playing it. A tempting title for anyone in need of a story in the cold autumn nights ahead.

Metal Eden is the most ambitious project from Polish developer Reikon Games, who previously created the small top-down isometric cyberpunk shooter Ruiner. They've done a pretty good job here, but there's definitely room for improvement on the technical side. However, if you can overlook the occasionally uneven graphics, Metal Eden is a good, solid sci-fi action experience.

To a T can probably be classed as a cosy little game with a nice story, but there's nothing new here. Katamari Damacy offers so much more fun, and the only thing that To a T has that makes it even slightly unique is the premise that orients around the T-pose.

If you've been dying for monster trucks and to do tricks and race with them, Monster Jam Showdown fills the need quite well without being directly exciting or revolutionary in any way. It's pretty fun and it's above all stylish and ultimately a perfectly fine racing game with cool vehicles.

While Disney Illusion Island isn't a particularly long game, it is one that feels instantly memorable. Dlala Studios has captured the charm that Disney has been missing for years and offered it up in an interactive medium that never fails to be fun and overflowing with charisma.

X-Out: Resurfaced is faithful to the original in most ways, both good and bad, and does what you would expect from a remake of this type of game. The game mechanics won't blow you away, but it's a classic, difficult shoot 'em up that won't leave fans of the genre dissatisfied.

It's visually pleasing and fun to play in short bursts, but it's not much more than that, and since Hades II is only a week away, this doesn't feel particularly important to check out in the grand scheme of things.

All of the features that Outerloop has incorporated work as intended, and while there is a bit of jank in the movement and exploration, it is a generally well put together game. But it also feels like there could have been much more here, or rather, a grander focus on a few design features and an elimination of others to make for a more refined creative vision. As it is, Dosa Divas is a perfectly acceptable game, but it had the potential to be much more.

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition's recommendation highly relies on your own background and circles. Local 8-player on the same big screen is amazing, the Legend challenges are a piece of video game history, and the selection is an accurate journey through Nintendo's late 80s and early 90s, respecting the flavour and even the glitches and framerate drops of those gems.

If you haven't already purchased this colourful adventure, there's definitely a case for buying it, but for veterans, it's perfectly fine to stick with the version you already have without feeling like you're missing out on anything worth writing home about.

Rebellion has, with Atomfall, made a kind of rebellion against modern gaming storytelling which I appreciate even if at times I felt overwhelmed by all the clues I am asked to follow up. It's familiar in many ways but with a different approach to moving you and the story forward, but this isn't necessarily something that will be appreciated by everyone who instead wants a more clear and structured experience.

Behind all the false benevolence, there's a simple, clever and charming gameplay loop that has entertained me for a couple of nights in a row, and could very well continue to do so.

As a turn-based strategy game, it works well, there are many strategic options and some replay value, as the game has 15 endings that you will experience depending on which missions you choose to take during the campaign. However, it also feels like it never quite hits its stride and there are a few issues with some key mechanics - stealth, for example.

Ultimately, both the concept and the execution are something I neither want to return to nor could ever imagine recommending.

As things are, I'd only recommend this to lovers of the originals for nostalgia and fan service alone, and with a couple of caveats at that. If you're looking for way more intricate and engaging anime stories dealing with the mind, you have a great alternative in the two AI: The Somnium Files games on the same platform. That being said, I now can't help but wanting CiNG's own Kyle Hyde saga (Hotel Dusk and Last Window) to get the Switch HD treatment, just with a bit more care and polish.

Monster Energy Supercross - The Official Videogame 6 doesn't offer anything we haven't seen before. In fact, we've seen almost everything in previous years.

Arzest has repaired its reputation after the horrible Balan Wonderworld and released a charming family game that captures most of the things about Sonic that are worth preserving.

Schim is a nice little puzzle game that is quite relaxing to play. There's no stress and you can explore the surroundings as you wish - and there are often several different things to find. You might miss a little variety in the gameplay and perhaps a little ingenuity in the use of shadows and light, but overall it's a pleasant puzzle game with a good vibe and a nice minimalist visual style. So, if you're looking for a cosy little puzzle game, Schim is a good choice.

I found myself in a bit of a love/hate relationship with Ten Dates. On one hand, my previously noted gripes continue to shine through, yet on the other hand, the part of me that loves a daft rom-com, can't help but have a silly grin plastered over my face while listening to Ryan and Misha put on a masterclass of silly flirting

The first few hours of Meet Your Maker are interesting, fun and challenging, but after a while the magic that draws you in to begin with disappears.

Underdogs failed to impress me beyond the initial joy of tight controls. Sitting inside a robot is cool, but what appears in front of you needs to be more engaging than what you're offered. It's an interesting concept that just gets repetitive in terms of entertainment.

If you are looking for something simple and cute, this might appeal to you and with a low price tag, some may still find it worth it. But since there are so many better alternatives, it was not for me.

If you like Runequest, you might find something to appreciate in this turn-based strategy game. It offers a stable and proven game system with elements of magic. You upgrade your heroes and can tackle many of the missions in different ways. Despite this, there were no gameplay or story-driven surprises. What you see is what you get if you choose to try this game.

As a role-playing game, there are simply a lot of Japanese adventures that are better, but combined with the very open world and the ability to explore as much as you want, as well as Toriyama's lovely design and "straightforward" storytelling, it still makes for a fascinating bit of fun.

Karma: The Dark World may not be a game for everyone, but if you like games like Observer and Layers of Fear and games that try to push the boundaries of how games can be presented, then this is worth a look. Viewed in isolation as a game, it's very simple, but as an experience it's something very unique that we don't see very often.

I'm tempted to call Directive 8020 Supermassive's best game. It probably doesn't surpass the blast that I thought Until Dawn was, as in many ways, it was far more kitschy and downright cheesy, but it worked well as a sort of party horror game. Directive 8020 is a serious sci-fi story. It doesn't surpass its sources of inspiration, but it doesn't pale in comparison either. All the gameplay mechanics Supermassive has worked with before work better here than ever. It's also undoubtedly the game in the series with the most traditional stealth gameplay, and fortunately, the developers show that they know how to do it here too, even if they aren't taking any big risks.

As it is, with its few pitfalls, it isn't quite as refined as I would have hoped, but that doesn't mean there isn't a lot to love and appreciate in worldbuilding, narrative, character design, and presentation. Spitfire Interactive has taken some risks with this game, not all of them have paid off, but there's definitely still a lot of potential and promise with this game all the same.

If you like Castlevania's delightful playability and Bloodborne's gothic design thinking, The Last Faith won't leave you disappointed for a single second.

It is very easy for me to recommend Simon the Sorcerer Origins to all fans of adventure games and of course this series in particular. Its story, humour, and puzzles are worthy of its name, and although I miss certain shortcomings in the final product, it will give you a few hours of fun and nostalgia.

If you adore or simply enjoy Cameron’s sci-fi world, you will appreciate your time in this action-adventure title. But, if you were hoping that you would see the impact and talent of Massive shining through, introducing new, unique, and game changing mechanics and systems, you’ll be sorely disappointed.

NHL 24 is NHL 23 with some, but far too few, great additions. The Exhaust Engine is a welcome addition, but what does it add when almost everything is last year's game, down to using the same intro and cutscenes in career mode.

It's yet another shooter in an already overcrowded genre and despite Carpenter's name and the (at times) beautiful aesthetics, there's nothing here that stands out or makes you react. Fun in small doses? Absolutely. But something you'll be talking about in a year's time? Hardly.

It's packed with profanity that rains down alongside the sarcasm we recognise from the series, featuring a colourful cast of characters that does justice to the Invincible universe in a fighting game that anyone can play regardless of prior experience, and have a right good laugh in the process.

If, like me, you are inexplicably drawn to Goichi "Suda51" Suda's crazy brain, then you should definitely play Romeo is a Dead Man, because there is simply nothing else like it when it comes to the overall gaming experience. The game can be completed in 12-15 hours, depending on how thorough you are and what difficulty level you play on. Romeo is a Dead Man is probably a good place to start if you want to get a taste of this man's twisted world - not because it isn't crazy and absurd, because it is - but because it's the most digestible and well-functioning game he has created.

If you remember the original Rayman and/or are interested in how the gaming industry worked 30 years ago, before it was actually an industry, but was instead driven by passion and enthusiasts who just wanted to make something cool, then Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition is a lovely little package that you can get for less than £18, which is a really good price.

The best way to describe King Arthur: Legion IX is that it's just more Knight's Tale, because there's not enough truly unique and fresh elements to make this game stand out above or beyond its predecessor.

Ubisoft has something very special on their hands here, but if this launch version of XDefiant is even a marginal sign of this game's future, it will not survive. It's free so check it out and play it for a couple of days, but you'll probably go back to Call of Duty or Halo or Overwatch or any other shooter after that because there's a distinct lack of depth here and the fluidity and refined design isn't really an element that makes this game stand out from its competitors.

I rarely had a dull moment in the open world, which is brilliantly designed right down to the smallest 1x1 Lego piece. The activities are varied and thanks to the precise controls, exploring every nook and cranny of Bricklandia is a pure joy. On the other hand, the actual races was a disappointing affair, which more than anything else made me long for the almost 25-year-old Lego Racers.

On one hand, the short and tight nature of the experience, the eccentricity, and the fun movement keeps you entertained and consistently surprised. But at the same time, it comes across as a bit of a one-trick pony, a game that feigns depth and content variation and in reality struggles to be more than what's on the surface.

Everybody's Golf Hot Shots is charming, varied, and fun. The game successfully combines simple, accessible mechanics with depth and strategy, and the many game modes and unlockable items mean that there is always something new to discover.

It's a viral success that says more about us than about itself. We no longer want to arrive. We just want to watch the journey. We want to watch everything go wrong, preferably in real time. And in that way it feels like a game for our time.

As with Evil Dead: The Game, this feels, to me, like wasted potential and an iconic film licence used in the wrong way, for the wrong kind of game.

This is a well made and fun game, with great art and a quality multiplayer offering, but it's held back by overwhelming and demanding crafting, RPG, and progression that takes the sting and thrill out of the broader experience.

I probably had too high hopes for the Monster Energy Supercross series' return. It feels like it could have improved even more than it was, but regardless, what we get is a motocross experience that is simply as good as it was before.

While it's certainly impressive that Frogwares have managed to develop Sherlock Holmes The Awakened in just about a year and under terrible circumstances, the short development cycle is clearly evident in some areas. Ultimately the game feels caught between two worlds - not quite reaching the level of modern cinematic adventures and not being challenging enough to please fans of classic point-and-click games.

Wrath: Aeon of Ruin is still an incredibly solid start for KillPixel, and after a few patches it will surely flourish even more.

Dread Templar is an outrageously fun retro FPS. It's straightforward, simple, thrilling, action-packed, and exciting, and is the perfect sort of game for anyone who is solely looking for an old-school Doom-like title.

There is a hint of imagination that still makes it fairly fun, but at the same time it feels rather visually boring and in the end it is just a fine adventure both as a game and as an experience in VR.

If you like this kind of entertainment, Layers of Fear is one of the best of its kind. I can't remember the last time I've experienced a game with such an intense atmosphere and that was as unpleasant to play as {Layers of Fear}. And in this context, that should be understood in the most positive way.

Despite complaints, the core of Blades of Fire remains hot, with enough individuality and fun in its boss fights to prevent it needing to be reforged. However, it's hard to shake the feeling that if a bit more focus was put on any element of the game, it could have been very good. Its hodgepodge mix of being a combat-focused, story-heavy Soulslike that relies on breaking and making weapons feels like it was an attempt to get as many keywords in as possible without polishing them enough to shine.

At the moment there is very little else that competes with The Great War: Western Front and it is probably the best modern interpretation of trench warfare on the gaming market.

If you're the type who loves exploring every corner of a game world and leisurely moving through a slightly cluttered game world, this could be a great way to pass the time.

Essentially, don't expect to find a revamped or a completely new Phantom Abyss experience with this 1.0 update, because that isn't what this is. Instead, what you'll find is simply an upgrade and slight improvement to various aspects and parts of the entire framework that constitutes what Team WIBY created in the first place. If you've never played Phantom Abyss before, now is the perfect time to check it out, and likewise if you haven't played since early in the EA launch, there's a reason to return to it again. But, if you've been routinely playing this game for the past 18 months, you'll likely be a little disappointed that the 1.0 debut didn't come with a bit more meat on its bones, if you will.

I would describe Fairy Tail 2 as a game that does what it's supposed to do without showing off too much. Because all the systems fulfil their purpose. The characters feel elaborate without shining, the graphics are appealing without adding anything new, and the music and setting lull you into classic Japanese role-playing that sticks to the framework to the letter. However, there is nothing special that grabs your interest, but most of it feels well done without reaching further emotionally.

Minecraft Legends has a lot of good fundamentals, but usually doesn't take them all the way to the finish line. Defeating large enemy bases is incredibly satisfying and fun, but the lack of options to build your own large bases is disappointing.

Commandos: Origins is a great game in a genre that sorely needs one. With a difficulty that'll challenge even the most tactical minds, combined with refreshing visuals and characters that are fun to play, what you get is a satisfying,, rewarding experience that has you reloading save after save, believing the next strategy you try will be the winning one. The difficulty may cause the odd frustration here and there, and you may wish for a bit more besides a satisfying gameplay loop, but overall this is a win for the fans of RTS games out there.

My concerns about this game turned out to be unfounded, which, as a Roiland enthusiast, I'm very happy about. As I said, even though the Rick and Morty creator isn't involved in running Squanch Games, he left his DNA behind, and it clearly still permeates the game development over there. And that's something you either love or hate. I like it, and I like High on Life 2.

Star Trek in game format has often not been synonymous with quality and unfortunately this time it is not a hit either. The story is interesting and the characters are generally colourful and well written. However, it is hard to give these characters more life and we have to deal with the stiff animations and the weak voice acting unfortunately.

Purple Lamp has created one of, if not the best, SpongeBob SquarePants video games to date, and if you're a fan of the series, it's worth giving this one a look because it will undoubtedly give you a few laughs and fill you with tons of warm nostalgia.

Akimbot promises to be a noteworthy addition to the action and platformer genre. It not only honours the legacy of classic titles but also reminds us why we fell in love with these games in the first place, while offering a modern twist—which would be a disservice to label it as merely a clone.

The team behind Tides of Tomorrow made a name for themselves with the brilliant Road 96 and Road 96: Mile 0 - both of which were great stories. Tides of Tomorrow is no different, and the game had no trouble keeping me hooked during the 11-13 hours it took to complete. DigixArt are good at telling compelling stories, and they do so again with this game; this time, they spice it all up with this 'asynchronous multiplayer' mechanic, which is certainly a nice gimmick - and which makes the game one of the freshest narrative adventure games we've seen in a long time.

Undisputed is exactly the boxing game I've been waiting for, for over 13 years. It looks fantastic with realistic damage and plays well thanks to the excellent and complex controls. Unfortunately there are some minor issues with repetition in animations and commentary, but if you can look past this, I see no reason not to dust off your boxing gloves and punch someone in the face.

The Knightling is a fine action-adventure game with some strong ideas and elements. There's plenty of charisma and quality at the heart of this game, and it's broad and packed enough to keep you engaged until the credits roll. But, and despite its immediately noticeable similarities in gameplay, don't expect a game of nearly the same mechanical depth nor technical refinement as that of a Zelda project, as The Knightling doesn't have the same attention to detail as the series that to this day stands out as one of, if not the best in the genre.

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is a massive achievement by A44, let's not forget that. This is a relatively small team that has spent years realising a game that in almost every way competes far outside the team's normal weight class. In that sense, it's amazing that there aren't more compromises or failed design attempts, because there are very few things you can point to that really don't work here. It's not for everyone, but for me this has been solid summer entertainment, and for that reason it's pretty easy to recommend to anyone with a penchant for this formula, as long as you can overlook the jank.

Lords of Fallen is a solid Souls-like that goes beyond being just another genre copycat. Its combat feels fluid and has plenty of depth due to its nine starting classes and its dual-world concept literally helps to add another dimension to its combat and exploration.

All the action is very entertaining, once again, but there are moments when you feel that it becomes a little too streamlined and simple to lose some of the entertainment value that was there last time.

On one hand, it's so simple and easy to pick up and play, with such a wonderful presentation, great cooperative support, and a great degree of charm that it becomes very, very easy to love. But at the same time the gameplay often feels too predictable, the customisation systems disappoint, and even after acquiring every Gold and Red Brick available I still cannot figure out who this game is aimed at. With the recent remaster and even the relative recency of the original PS4 launch, it's hard to point a finger at this game and call it a must-play, especially since compared to pretty much every other Lego game available it lacks in almost every metric.

It's beautiful, smart, meditative, and sometimes quite brutal. But it's a journey well worth taking, a sound-sensitive dance between shadows and death that offers a strangely polished experience that richly rewards the tactical and patient.

So long story short, Super Meat Boy 3D comes across as a game that doesn't evolve the series but rather takes it down a different path it doesn't need to explore. The theme, the tone, the style, it all still comes across as authentically Super Meat Boy, but the gameplay has a slightly uncomfortable edge where it doesn't quite feel right for one reason or another. Super Meat Boy may be back but this isn't the character in top form.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the production value here, and at times it offers an atmospheric and visually appealing experience, but unfortunately, the gaming experience itself suffers over time, partly due to a lack of detail that detracts from the overall impression.

Yes, at times you'll probably need some air if you don't want to lose your head completely. But Airhead is still worth all the hardship.

But all in all, for a small scale and short atmospheric horror adventure, Out of Sight actually works quite well and stands out for its unique premise. The Gang's attention to detail and refined gameplay are some of the highlights in this unsettling story that will engage horror aficionados who are less inclined to enjoy loud and 'cheap' jumpscares.

With all of these points combined, the main thing to note is that while there are a lot of similarities between Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm and Exercise and Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer, this game also feels like a significant step forward in almost every conceivable metric. It's tighter, more responsive, has a deeper list of game modes, looks better, and still delivers the engaging and rewarding fitness activities that we expect from the franchise.

For me, there's just not quite "enough" here to call this an ambitious sequel, and the lack of distractions from the otherwise solid loop made the loop a bit monotonous in the long run.

Synduality: Echo of Ada tries to break into a crowded market with new ideas, but it doesn't feel like it's been baking in the oven long enough. It doesn't take long before it starts to feel repetitive and the enemies feel mostly dull. Bandai Namco will need to update the live service game regularly to keep players interested. The foundation is there, with responsive and fun mecha action, but unfortunately it doesn't go all the way as problems quickly start to pile up.

When you look at it as a standalone game, the Until Dawn Remake has a lot going for it. Its 4K graphics and improved lighting, seamless scene-to-gameplay action thanks to the PS5’s SSD, the usage of the DualSense’s full immersive suite of features, the enhanced audio profile, the tweaked camera angle, and the reworked scenes too all make this a quality horror experience and reaffirm Until Dawn as Supermassive’s best project so far.

One thing is for sure, and that is that the strategy-minded gamer will find many hours of gameplay in Company of Heroes 3, and if you don't have access to a PC to play on, the console version is a fine second choice.

Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is a remaster of one of the craziest games ever made and the fact that it's potentially reaching out to new gamers who will get an experience they've never had before can only be a positive thing - and as I said, it's priced very reasonably.

Reliving those childhood afternoons in the new guise of Carmen Sandiego has been like unlocking a good memory of an old friend who I thought was lost forever, but thanks to television we have her back as a character, and thanks to Gameloft as the ideal educational entertainment to share with the family.

NHL 26 is a step in the right direction, absolutely, but I can't get over all the little problems that pop up during the games. It's also sad to see that the Franchise mode has exactly zero development. That the career mode has changed, however, must be seen as a godsend.

Ascendant Studios' debut title is filled with greatness. Gorgeous visuals, a fun and intriguing story with memorable characters, engaging and thrilling combat and well balanced puzzles make up what's easily a must-play game.

Despite its good points, there are a few key factors that leave Deliver Us Mars in a state of being very good rather than great.

It's entertaining in glimpses, no doubt about it, but from combat to meta upgrades, from static storytelling to a slightly half-baked daily gameplay loop, it's not like Eternal Strands offers a lot, but it also manages to telegraph pretty clearly to the player that it also fails to fully realise the ideas that are here. This isn't a disaster, but it is, unfortunately, an example of a game that fumbles with priorities, and it shows.

Scars Above is an entertaining yet familiar action adventure that while having its flaws, is bolstered by enough engaging gameplay elements and tropes that it makes you want to get to the end of its relatively short story.

If you're into puzzles, writing down all the details in a notebook to remember everything, and love these kinds of adventures, we would definitely recommend it. And even though it has its pros and cons, it's a game that delivers what it promises, in a short period of time, for people who don't want stories that last over 40 hours.

It's a relic worth checking out, but for those who just played the sequel, it might be a bit of a shock. The game works, but today's players have better options.

I do think Synced has potential. Its premise is unique and interesting, its characters are fun to play as and the gunplay remains solid for the most part. However, as of right now it does appear to be quite bare bones. You are getting the game for free, so there's bonus points for that, but those points are immediately countered by the rampant monetisation that hits you right off the bat.

To sum up, I think it's a good game that I believe can entertain both fans of the series and fans of the genre, even if it needed some fine-tuning here and there. Above all, it's a game that reminds us why Cobra is still such an iconic and timeless hero - even if I personally prefer him in anime format. So now it's simply time for another rewatch.

While Ride 6 doesn't take any huge steps forward compared to what we saw in the fifth instalment, all the additions are on the positive side. The Career has more options, you can now ride on gravel, there's a plethora of motorcycles and tracks, and overall it's a great motorcycle experience.

As it stands, at least on Switch, it's hard to recommended Herdling, as the issues simply make some parts of the game actually unplayable, at least if you, like me, regard not having to restart a game from scratch to get past a bug as a fundamental ask from a video game. Still, if you're lucky enough to avoid these issues you will find that Herdling has charm and a simple premise that's ideal for those looking to fill a couple or a few nights with a new video game.

Harold Halibut is a lovely treat of a game. Short, sweet, packed with individuality and amazing characters made even more loveable by impressive voice performances, it is a game forged from pure passion.

Supermassive Games has maintained the style and atmosphere that the series is known for, and they should be commended for that, but they have also played it safe. Apart from the addition of co-op, there is nothing significantly new in Little Nightmares 3. This may sound reassuring to fans of the series, and if you are one of them, you can safely dive in. But there is a lack of evolution. There is a lack of development in the universe, not because they have to reveal a whole lot, but because it should be expanded more.

Escape from Ever After is a nice little Paper Mario-inspired role-playing game. The game's strongest points are the well-written dialogues, the good humour, the nice puzzles - and half of the combat system. The other half, the defensive part, quickly becomes frustrating, which unfortunately affects the entire game. I had a hard time enjoying it when it sometimes felt like rolling a dice to determine whether or not I would be hit by the enemy's attack. It simply seems unfair and frustrating.

WrestleQuest is definitely the most unique game of the year for me. But I would also like to highlight it a little extra because it succeeds so well in everything it does. In true role-playing spirit, there is a lot to see and discover, and in true wrestling spirit, you take what happens in and outside the ring and make it feel like a natural part of the experience. There is certainly no shortage of well-crafted indie games, and even if WrestleQuest doesn't quite measure up to the very best, its humour, charm and above all unique concept is something that should really be rewarded.

If you're looking to keep a cute digital critter, you can't do much better than Weyrdlets. The design of the creatures blends that perfect mix of dopey and cute to make you feel like the worst person in the world when you aren't chucking treats and toys at your pet. On the other hand, as a game the overall experience falls quite short, with a slowness to it that could turn you off depending on how attached you become to your pet.

Europa is a nice little indie gem, that hopefully gets a few more updates on the Switch. Zee's adventure offers the player adventure and great small puzzles. And considering the game only lasts for a few hours, it's a surprisingly varied experience, too.