If you have happy memories of the character, or if this particular game series was something that didn't catch your eye back then, Gex Trilogy is not a bad purchase.

This is a mixture of a good basic concept that is wasted with technical flaws and greedy microtransaction systems.

If you love, or are very curious about marine life, and if you're looking for a casual water exploration experience (I think it lacks excitement to be called an adventure), this works like a relaxing, occasionally fascinating interactive documentary that will pacify your own mind and body before going to bed.

Curse of the Sea Rats has many fine qualities that make it a good game and if only some of its shortcomings had been cleaned up, it could definitely be a game that should not be missed.

Sure the combat is a bit basic, the narrative middling at best, the enemy AI and actions are awful and highly predictable, the pacing too steady, and there are a fair collection of glitches when you mine and rip apart a wall with your pickaxe, but besides from these issues Return to Moria is good return for form for the usually rather fun The Lord of the Rings video games.

This could easily have become a real hit of the best double-A kind if the game had received just a little more time, a slightly bigger budget and more polish. Unfortunately, the experience is also muddled by bad combat, clumsy directing and several problems of the technical and visual kind. Still, it's not hard to gleam the diamond in the rough here, and hopefully the developers at Reflector will be given more opportunities in the future after their debut, because there is definitely a lot of potential here.

Hotel Barcelona seems strangely ordinary when you consider who is behind the game. That's not to say that it IS ordinary, because it definitely isn't, but I had expected a more crazy game.

What is clear is that the overall experience as The Spirit of the Samurai is satisfying, even beyond having such special artwork. The voice acting is very well done, and the story, which also connects to the present in a way, kept me entertained for a few hours until the end credits.

If you are one of those gamers who have been waiting and waiting and waiting to experience this unanimously acclaimed masterpiece for your PC, you should of course absolutely wait, or refrain from this completely.

The Last Case of Benedict Fox is a better detective-exploration-puzzle-adventure than it is a Metroidvania and if you've decided to give it a go, it must be because you love exploring the environment, finding clues and solving puzzles.

I don't hate I Hate This Place, but I'm disappointed that it didn't end up in a better place, because it definitely has the potential to do so.

Even though I consider myself someone who is good at interpreting art and who loves quirky and mysterious games, Dreams of Another goes over my head.

There are moments and parts of the game that impress and excel, but there are also plenty of areas, mechanics, and features that frustrate or disappoint. It feels limited on content and mechanically lacking at times, but it's still authentically Looney Tunes and that alone will mean that it'll offer up the occasional laugh and giggle as you plug away, score some screamers, shoot some hoops, tee off, and smash some aces. What else can I say except... That's all Folks!

Tales of the Shire does many things right, but there are also fundamental things that it just doesn't quite get right, and that affects the game more than you might think. But if you're looking for a cosy life sim game to play over the summer, or if you just have to own everything with The Lord of the Rings' name on it, then take a look at Tales of the Shire, but be prepared for the fact that life as a hobbit isn't quite as inviting as you might think.

This is a decidedly lazy remaster that has only been given a minor visual boost, and in some places it actually looks worse than the original.

The gunplay, Descendant options, buildcrafting, visuals and graphics, action, cooperative systems, these all work hand-in-hand to make this an promising experience. It's just hampered in so many other places that make me frustrated and tired of playing.

Despite Foamstars looking like an amateur project from Fortnite Creative Mode, I've still had a bunch of fun matches with good friends.

Elrentaro's Wanderings doesn't really have any major problems other than it's a pretty simple adventure moulded in a template we've seen before. It mixes some relationship sims with dungeon crawlers and lots of dialogue sequences between fairly anonymous characters and it chugs along pleasantly without being directly fascinating.

I feel well equipped to state that Mighty Doom is a stain on the series' reputation. Not only that, it reminds us that the mobile market remains a toxic swamp filled with ghosts pretending to be something completely different than they really are.

As it stands, Fort Solis is an atmospheric experience with impressive graphics and a slow, but interesting central narrative. But as a game it falls short on many parameters, with low interactivity, shoddy quick time events and exploration that rarely feels rewarding. I can only imagine that the actual game parts were added mostly as an afterthought, and that's too bad, for what ultimately could have been pretty special just ends up being rather bland.

I can't recommend TMNT Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants to anyone, not even the most dedicated fans. Sure, it can be played through without any pesky bugs, but with a price tag of $30 for a mere hour of so-called "entertainment", it doesn't feel acceptable anywhere.

With more time in the oven and especially co-op, this could have climbed several ratings, but at the moment it's hard to recommend this to anything but die hard fans of Funko Pop. But even for them, the question is whether it is not better to spend the money on some more plastic figures for the collection instead.

We have a hard time recommending Taxi Life: A City Driving Simulator as it stands. There is potential here, but the developers need to get a handle on the AI, because as it is right now, it ruins a big part of the experience of the game.

Cyanide has a decision to make. Either they can deliver a fun and relaxing arcade game or they can give us a console version of Pro Cycling Manager. Because this game is more like a rider who has single-handedly tried to catch a breakaway by running away from the peloton and is now caught in the middle - tongue out of cheek and legs cramping.

Sker Ritual might mark a bold departure from its predecessor, but it's still a solid hoard shooter that is certain to impress Call of Duty Zombies fans.

It wasn't enough that mechanically Fast & Furious: Arcade Edition is an over-the-top yawner, but when gameplay and narrative-wise the game doesn't really have any logic, let alone much sense, I don't know what the creators were thinking.

All the technical mishaps have affected the rating significantly in themselves, but if there had been a more exciting game design alongside them, I would probably have been able to overlook much of it. Unfortunately, a promising premise falls short on several other points, which is a great shame, and the whole thing ends up being a real disappointment.

Ravenbound is a fun game, and a refreshing, if not extreme, take on the hack and slash action genre. Its open world is gorgeous and lore-rich, its combat is lightning fast, and its roguelite elements, whilst not perfect, have some serious potential.

Sure, it's a very cheap game - that can barely even be called a game - but that doesn't make it any more fun. If you know you don't like a slow pace, lots of text, little interactivity, and studying, you're better off choosing something else instead. But if you're one of those hardcore Nintendo fans who buys the console and all its accessories and is happy to pay to flex your skills, then this will be right up your street.

After just three or four sessions with Everybody 1-2 Switch, I'd seen it all and didn't want to go back. I don't know how this happened, but I do know that there are far, far better ways to entertain friends and family on Switch than this.

Redfall is a humongous disappointment, as there are parts of this game that still feature semblances of that Arkane brilliance. The map has potential, there's just nothing to do in it, and the story delivers intrigue at times and shows that the small town America-meets-vampire concept is still very much alive and well. But, this game is an unmitigated disaster at times. It does very little to make you want to keep playing, and even if you do find something to enjoy, the horrible and outright disgraceful performance does everything it can to kill that passion in you.

Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown is not, in my opinion, the game that pushes Forza Horizon off the open world racing throne. It's not exactly close with either its driving feel or visuals, yet still there is a lot of entertaining content to take part in for those who want to venture out on the virtual roads.

Silent Hill: The Short Message falls flat in so many areas. It's not the least bit creepy, it tells its story and treats the subject in an ambiguous way, it doesn't really feel like a game in the series and then there's that damn mobile phone that presents more problems than solutions.

With creators Matt and Trey taking the reins on projects such as Stick of Truth and The Fractured but Whole, it seemed that the dark age of South Park games was behind us, but unfortunately, Snow Day marks a significant step back for the series.

For anyone looking for a glitzy, 90s-inspired Payday (because there is enough of a heisting focus for me to want to compare the two) that doubles down on its first-person action shooter gameplay, then this will give you at least a few hours of fun before you want to devote your time to something with more longevity.

After seven hours and a laugh-inducingly goofy ending, the cosmically mysterious horror remains mostly a jumble of mazes and unfinished game design. The horror-adventure genre is too crowded to make room for Pneumata, and I think we'll forget about this game and wish Deadbolt Interactive better luck next time.

I find it hard to see Mia and the Dragon Princess as one of Wales Interactive's best works. Compared to the simpler and more well thought out Ten Dates, this game feels like a step in the wrong direction in a multitude of ways.

The foundation and the ideas you have here are absolutely good, but the execution is a little too simple.

It definitely needed a little more time in the oven because we are really talking about half baked here.

It's a shame, really, because the period is interesting, and the idea of following a female knight through plague-ridden Italy could easily have been the starting point for something really exciting. But in its current form, 1348: Ex Voto is difficult to recommend. Perhaps some patches could improve the experience in the long run, but as the game stands right now, I simply didn't have much fun with it.

As much as I like Metro 2033 and as much as I wanted La Quimera to be a "new Crysis" or a "new Killzone", there's no getting away from the fact that in my world this is more like an asset dump in the Unreal engine, crammed with poor design choices, useless enemies, generic gameplay and a lousy story.

Tamagotchi Plaza is definitely not worth your time, and even those who really love Tamagotchis won't find anything to enjoy here... unfortunately.

Peak of Combat should really have been named "Peak of Greed" because it is without a doubt one of the most disgusting games in terms of pay-to-play I've come across in the last 10 years.

With stiff competition from The Lord of the Rings: Gollum and Skull island: The Rise of Kong, this qualifies for the worst game of 2023 category.

If there was one thing I never thought I'd write about Leslie Benzie's first self-directed game, it was that it would be perceived as unimaginative and generic. At least I thought that originality and attitude would be present here, even if it looked unfinished beforehand. That didn't happen, and it's easy to see that MindsEye was not only released about six months too early, but that it also resembles a ten-year-old GTA copy with most of its elements being undercooked.

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is shocking at times. The gameplay is flat and repetitive, the stealth poorly implemented, the narrative dull, the progression nonexistent, the character models ugly, the bugs plentiful, the list goes on. This is a game that feels like it belongs in the 2000s with how its super linear design and limited gameplay mechanics work in practice.

Parts of Flashback 2 seem to be copied directly from Shadow Complex from 2009 while other parts are reminiscent of everything else that has been done in this genre in the last ten years.

It's simply impossible to find a single part of Skull Island: Rise of Kong that doesn't border on record-breaking, which is why I'm forced to hand out our very lowest rating. This is by far the worst game of the year, without any doubt whatsoever.

I would definitely recommend Romancelvania if you like the genre and have a wry sense of humour, because it's all very silly. It's a fun mix of two genres that I haven't seen before, and it's great to experience this melting pot of different game design.

Ultimately, this is a compact single-player strategy experience. It manages with its cooperative warfare mechanism to stand out a bit from its competitors. The user interface, graphics, and music are polished and make the experience shine.

Seeker My Shadow lacks direction and general focus, which cripples the fun core idea into a confusing game that quickly turns uninteresting.

It's not particularly immersive or hard to put down, and it's not overly pretty, either. But that said, it's an enjoyable and light-hearted Hades copy for up to four players that nicely frames and captures the right kind of Turtles atmosphere and is just challenging enough for those who like the roguelike approach.

For those who want an easy-to-play, entertaining and Contra-like action game, Wild Dogs feels like a natural choice. The game is as classic as it gets, both in appearance and game mechanics.

I would actually like to be able to recommend Strayed Lights, but it's a bit difficult to do so, unless you really enjoy games that are just a little bit like Journey. And that's a bit of a shame, because there are some really good ideas here that, given a little more time in the oven, could have helped create a really exciting and different adventure.

Army of Ruin is an incredibly pleasant surprise, and along with Dredge is one of the best indie games of the year for me. While it can be argued that this is more like Vampire Survivors in a revamped guise, the visuals do wonders to keep the playability fresh, and with a superb focus on the game mechanics, it offers an adventure that can stand alongside its competitors without shame.

Only Up is a great example of the creativity that lies within the depths of Steam. This isn't a hugely ingenious title that is doing something we've never seen before. It just offers demanding and intricate platforming in such a rudimentary and well thought out manner that it stands out among the rest.

If you're already hooked on this type of game and feel the need for something new and challenging to sink your teeth into, there's a lot to discover in Sea Horizon, but it won't attract any new fans to the genre.

Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara might look like a game aimed at children, but it's not - the difficulty level is simply too high. It's more a game for those who are big fans of the first Crash Bandicoot and of Pandemonium and Klonoa, in which case Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara might be some light summer entertainment for you.

Super Space Club is the perfect game for anyone looking to fill 30 minutes here and there. It's very easy to get into, it's entertaining and fun, and has enough variety so that it doesn't feel repetitive.

Ride 5 is a step forward for the series and it is currently the best game on the current console generation in the motorcycle racing sports sub-genre.

Enchanted Portals has some superficial features that make you raise your eyebrows but what really counts; what's there under the surface, it doesn't measure up at all.

Akaoni Studio has managed to produce a title that is simple but closed in its proposal. In which only an easily ignorable defect in tone slightly weakens a game that has a good rhythm and makes you have a good time.

The game is good for what it is and if you were a fan of Punch-Out!! in the good old days, this might be something to check out.

Considering how much pure rubbish is actually released for our mobiles, it's really nice to see how the pattern is sometimes broken with a real quality game, which this is. It's highly recommended.

It does lack some of the finer subtleties and intricacies that make a game special, but considering this is a project tailored to younger folk, there really isn't much that The Grinch: Christmas Adventures is doing wrong.

Jumanji: Wild Adventures is a great bit of fun for a few friends or a family. Incredibly easy to pick up and play with unique characters and varied levels, there's a lot to like, but there are a few areas in which it stumbles.

Forza Customs is not something you should spend time on. I like puzzle games and I like tuning and styling cars in various racing games, but this was just thrown together to make a lot of money from forced microtransactions and has nothing to do with Forza.

The important thing for me is to warn you properly so that you don't end up paying for this horrible rubbish. Because this is, along with Skull Island: Rise of Kong and Lord of the Rings: Gollum, the worst game of the year.

Worldless is a slightly mysterious game and it's not easy to get started. I usually like simple and abstract games where there is room to interpret your own narrative - but this was almost too much of a good thing.

Aside from some clunky controls and annoying speech, I still had quite a bit of fun with Tourist Trap. However, it didn't take much more than two hours to complete and I can feel that's a bit on the small side.

If you haven't played Ark before, I don't think you'll be disappointed when picking it up now. For fans of the original like myself, the biggest downside about Ark: Survival Ascended may be that buying this game is basically becoming a required investment if you want to keep enjoying Ark. Because as I understand it, Studio Wildcard is working actively to phase out the original game, having already shut down its official servers. This leaves players with no option but to upgrade. However, after overcoming the hurdle of paying again for a rework, there's not much holding you back from enjoying a prettier and better version of an already highly likeable game.

I can imagine that this is a good gateway to puzzle gaming for younger folk. For me personally, this feels far too easy and this could have done with a few more difficult puzzles.

This was not a game in the first place. It was a scam, and the fact that Fntastic announced they were shutting down their operations just four days after the launch says it all. [Early Access Score = 20]

I can't say that I feel that Beyond Doors is an experience I will carry with me for a long time. In many ways, it doesn't feel like much more than a shrug of the shoulders, but it's a pretty harmless and light-hearted pastime that lasts for around two hours if you feel like doing some puzzles.

It is a shame that Ubisoft has chosen to use the surely costly Invincible licence in this way. The setup doesn't fit Invincible and its characters, the game mechanics are so automated that it never even feels like I'm participating as a player and the story is ridiculously thin and uninteresting.

At the end of the day, there's nothing really wrong with NBA Infinite and the ambition level is high, but microtransactions and tough game controls mean that my rating stays at a weak six.

The Mobius Machine is a fine 2D action-adventure that doesn't go too far wrong, but doesn't take many chances either. The gaming world is vast and there are many challenges out there - and the high level of difficulty and punishing nature of the game may not be for everyone.

Is it all a bit pointless? Perhaps, that would certainly be a potential criticism of the game at the time of writing, and given that there are no survival mechanics whatsoever (you don't need food or water yourself), experiencing this alien world with friends might help to give the game a bit of a spark. However, you could also turn it around and say that Lightyear Frontier is truly one of the most relaxing games I've played in years. Does the fact that there's nothing to push you beyond just getting your hands on enough resources to craft the next thing you need affect your motivation? Maybe, but for now, this is both beautiful to look at, enjoyable to listen to and really well put together [Early Access Score = 80]

Anglerfish is definitely not for everyone. The game is a bit masochistic at times, and if you believe that games should be fun all the time, well, you should look for other experiences.

If I judge it on the premise that you get a really cool and fun trip into virtual reality, this is in many ways absolutely fantastic, but as a game it is rather something that stops at being good.

Blood Strike is a decent battle royale that's good enough to kill a few hours here and there.

Ario is not in a state where it is ready to be put up for sale and therefore cannot be recommended in any way.

Sure, if you like visual novels where sensual topics are dealt with quickly and soullessly, there might be some joy to be found here, but there are certainly (not that I know anything about it...) better and cheaper solutions if you're willing to do a little research and aren't afraid of a potentially embarrassing web history.

Manor Lords is a fantastically assembled city builder for those of you with some patience and an interest in history. It's more reminiscent of The Settlers and Banished than something like SimCity, yet at the same time, it has battles in certain situations that bring to mind Total War, all while still being something all on its own. [Early Access Score = 80]

No Rest for the Wicked is a diamond in the rough that just needs to have a few unsharp facets polished so that it can shine as it deserves. [Early Access Score = 80]

I can't help but feel as though Hauntii is missing something else to fill some of the gaps and to help pry your eyes away from the more conflicting areas. There's a charm to this game, you can feel it while playing, but it never quite comes out in practice and while I do see brilliance in some areas of this indie project, it also never quite managed to hook me along the way.

After all these years of development and polishing, there is no doubt that Natural Motion has produced one of the most well-made mobile games I have tried in years.

It's almost hard to do Selaco justice with words, and even at this early stage the game is packed with content, which certainly makes you dream of what's to come when they finally leave Early Access sometime next year. [Early Access Score = 90]

I like the quirky charm of the game and the puzzles are something I always personally enjoy. As so often, this works very well in VR. However, the game itself feels a bit too stripped down and doesn't really do much new for the format itself.

Solitaire for Windows was one of the most played games for many years, and before social media and online shopping it supposedly hampered productivity at many in an office. I doubt Royal Card Clash will achieve the same effect, but if you're looking for some simple entertainment for your commute or holiday, it's definitely worth a download.

The car physics are clearly impressive and I absolutely believe that iRacing will be able to make really impressive things out of this system in the future, especially with how realistically the chassis moves. However, as it stands, Exocross is not a very fun game.

Eden Genesis promises to be a standout title in the precision platformer genre. With an engaging narrative, solid performance, and challenges that will test even the most skilled players, this game has the potential to become an immersive and rewarding experience for those seeking a true challenge.

Considering it's their first project, I'm curious to see what they might do in the future, with a bit more experience and money. Unfortunately, the music is repetitive and the gameplay doesn't captivate me.

Even without being the prettiest or most technically polished game, Guayota has that halo of pride and ambition to carve a niche for itself in this summer's crowded calendar.

Castlevania Dominus Collection does most things right, and it's hard to ask for more for the price it costs.

After the misstep with New Gundam Breaker, I'm glad Bandai Namco got the Breaker series back on its feet. It's no masterpiece, but the combat system (albeit repetitive) is excellent and you can sit and build Gunpla for hours.

If I could wish, I would like the game controls to feel a little tighter, just like I felt when I played Crash Bandicoot 4. Both Niko and Luna move a little too slowly for my taste and their jumping animations are so detailed that it sometimes feels like they are floating in the air rather than relating to real gravity. However, this is only a trifle in the context and nothing that bothers much in a game that I think pays tribute to old classics from this specific genre in the best possible way.

Redacted definitely manages to entertain, but it doesn't quite reach the same level as Hades or Dead Cells. That said, it's not a bad game and I think many can appreciate the developer's new direction. But for me personally, there was more to be desired.