On the one hand, there's a simple charm in this and all the elements, however unoriginal, work just fine. But Khazan's journey also feels very monotonous. Despite the new elements that are introduced during the game, it feels mostly without finesse and never anything more than just okay. Now, The First Berserker: Khazan does capture the very essence of an action role-playing game and doesn't try to be much more than that. For me it's a bit too simple but if that's what you're looking for and have been longing for, there are definitely reasons to give it a chance.

Sassy Chap Games did not succeed here, because the good stories are overshadowed by boredom when you go from one room to another just to talk to another character in your house. You have to be more than usually fond of short stories and quirky characters to stay interested in Date Everything! for any length of time.

Escape Simulator 2 is a well-built, solid, and fun game that suffers from a flawed hint system and a difficulty curve that is far too steep.

If you are a newcomer to gaming and open-world games, then Outbound is a reasonable first recommendation for you to play. It's simplistic, low-stakes, cosy camping fun with accessible puzzles and foraging elements that are even better experienced as a multiplayer game.

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.

I have mixed feelings about AEW: Fight Forever. It's really fun to play and it's top-notch arcade wrestling when everything works in the ring, but unfortunately that doesn't always mean it's not pretty devoid of content.

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

That "make or break" statement from the developers really made it seem like we were going to see something very special, which we haven't. Some prettier animations and smarter quarterbacks don't save this from being an okay game at best.

I found myself pretty torn on Tomb Raider I-III Remastered. It combines three classic PS1 games in one package and these now look and play even better than they ever have done before. On the other hand though, its archaic features such as manual saves, awkward camera, and hard to master controls, I can see presenting a barrier to entry for newcomers.

Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections does a half-hearted job of celebrating both Naruto's 20th anniversary as an anime and 15 years of the Ninja Storm series.

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.

I would have loved to have enjoyed my time with Raccoo Venture more than I did, because we need good old platform games like we saw in the 1990s, but Raccoo Venture never quite gets there.

I would have liked to see Afterimage get at least six more months in the oven before being released to the world and my recommendation is to wait and see what the developers decide to do with the title. Because more work is clearly needed here to really do the game's potential justice and bring it to the finish line.

There is untapped potential here, there is some repetition and although parts are charming, I can't really say that I feel particularly entertained after a few hours of World of Goo 2, as if anything it feels a bit old.

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.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is still one of the finest 2D platformers in recent memory, so there's still that going for this upgrade and pack, but at the same time, if you can save yourself close to £20 and simply buy the base game and leave it at that, I wouldn't discourage doing so, as Meetup in Bellabel Park and the Nintendo Switch 2 Upgrade is simply not must-have content.

I applaud the insistent focus on combat, but En Garde! deserves more; a plot, environments waiting to be explored, real progression. None of that is here, so while the game's core is well-designed and robust, it's a bit too slim an experience to get a wholehearted recommendation from me.

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.

Daemon x Machina: Titanic Scion entertains when it works. The real fun comes when you flip the online switch. The three-player co-op throws you all into the jaws of death with shiny steel buttcheeks, comparing wannabe-mech builds that are either brilliantly clever or laughably stupid. Unfortunately, too many issues pile up, so I treat the game the same way it teaches me to treat armour and upgrades: I'll swap to a better dance partner as soon as one comes along.

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.

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.

Code Vein II pales in comparison to many others. If you've experienced the best in the genre, this simply feels several levels below. It's not just about the enormous strengths of those games, but unfortunately more about the weaknesses of this game and the fact that the areas that needed to be more polished unfortunately aren't.

Mafia: The Old Country is a perfectly decent action game. It's clear that the ambition was to offer some kind of hybrid between linear and open world gameplay. The developers wanted to tighten up the experience to make it engaging, well-directed, and grandiose, but even though I personally worship open worlds, I would have preferred to see them lean even more towards streamlining this. In an action game of this kind, which is also quite short, I simply think that there should have been more variety and a significantly higher tempo to make it feel more engaging in the end.

It's clear that the developers have put time and passion into creating a cosy adventure that doesn't hold your hand too much, and that puts a lot of emphasis on providing a tranquil environment to relax in. In other words, there is potential, and if you like games like Harvest Moon, Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley and Graveyard Keeper, it might be worth checking out One Lonely Outpost.

The core of Crash Team Rumble is a lot of fun with an engaging concept, cool-looking levels, thrilling score-chases and heart-pounding chaos unfolding on the screen. The problem is that this isn't enough when there's no depth or variety in there to keep it engaging for more than an hour or two.

It’s fun to kill a few hours and hack your way through the underworld but it is hardly something I will return to.

As it stands right now, the game is one that does act as a solid introduction to Warhammer Age of Sigmar, the RTS genre, or both. A great look, decent battles, and plenty of customisation make the Realm of Beasts inviting despite it not being the perfect holiday destination.

It's simple to pick up and understand, has interesting mechanics and systems, and a vibrant and colourful world. Just don't expect to be blown away by what Tequila Works has built here, because it's, all in all, a very predictable and familiar title buffed with a League of Legends polish.