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.

The Rogue Prince of Persia is a really well rounded and finalised experience, which can almost be refreshing in a genre that can go on forever. It also lessens the impact of the game's problems, as they simply don't have time to become major issues. The Rogue Prince of Persia ties all aspects of the genre together into a solid game that will excite fans of roguelites and newcomers alike.

It costs you as much as going to the movies and lasts as long as a TV series episode, but if you were one of those fans, it's probably the best rotoscope drawn experience you can enjoy today in games, and plus it may move you as well, on top of having watercoloured kitties, after all.

Whimside is a small title where, if you're consistent and want to enjoy the classic Pokémon nursery mini-game experience, but with an added twist, it might be for you.

The House of the Dead 2: Remake is a refreshing blast from the past. It proves that old-school game design still has bite and that rail shooters deserve a comeback. The remake could've used more polish, and there are definite issues, but especially in co-op, it's still a fun ride worth trying even for those who didn't experience it the first time around.

Hide the Corpse is something different. A quirky puzzle game that dares to be weird and embraces its macabre sense of humour. The simple but clever concept holds up for several hours of fun, even if the nausea creeps in. The overall package feels a bit half-baked, repeating itself too often, but with a little polish, this indie oddity could evolve into something much bigger. There's plenty of potential in corpse-hiding chaos.

This is just the RTS genre at its absolute best, and while Relic could have done more, they really could, what they have done works well overall, and at a lower price, it's hard not to recommend it.

DC Worlds Collide is a game that does some things right for fans of the DC universe and the gacha genre. It offers a reasonably fun and addictive collecting experience, with a wide range of well-known characters and automated battles that make it accessible to casual players. At the same time, the game has some obvious flaws. The childish graphics, lack of voice acting, automated battle mechanics, and sometimes frustrating monetisation model prevent the game from truly reaching the top tier.

Sword of the Sea is an easy recommendation for anyone who enjoyed Journey, Rime, Abzû, and other related titles. Carried by its visuals, which are beautifully accompanied by Austin Wintory's background music, it offers plenty of gameplay enjoyment and hits all the right emotional high points. However, this easy recommendation also comes with an inherent criticism, because it's also a little too predictable and familiar. We are now familiar with the tried and tested journey towards the monolith story and the crises and setbacks it brings before the ultimate triumph. Giant Squid also has new ideas - particularly the way you move through the world - but at times it feels as if they are remixing elements from other titles a little too much. On the other hand, they do so with great flair and unmistakable talent, which ultimately makes Sword of the Sea one of the best games in the subgenre.

To be completely honest, there is really not much I would change here. Certainly not everyone will fall for a little "cosy management sim", or however you choose to position the style and genre, and in the midst of the early autumn action frenzy, Discounty may tremble a little in the shadow of the big titles that are bursting out of the starting blocks. But I'm happy to argue that this little Danish gem is worth your time and money, because Crinkle Cut Games has really hit on something here.

If you are keen and interested in an action role-playing game about Greek gods and heroes, this is worth keeping an eye on. If you don't mind limited content at first, this is worth a try. However, if you want the full experience, you're better off playing something else while waiting for 1.0. [Early Access Score = 70]

This collection is specifically designed for the most die-hard purists, and I think it's a shame that M2/Konami didn't take the opportunity to build the perfect, definitive Gradius collection. Gradius for the NES should obviously have been included, as should Gradius 4, Gradius V, Gradius Rebirth, and Gradius Gaiden. That didn't happen, and there's nothing wrong with the package we got instead, but it does gnaw at me a little that Konami, after the absolutely fantastic Contra collection, didn't quite hit the bullseye here.

I have no doubt that the more players share their experiences after finishing the game, the more different approaches to their journey and its conclusion will be seen. If you don't mind having to deal with a tense scenario and perhaps facing your own inner demons, Dead Take offers you an all-star cast in their roles and a story that grips you from start to finish.

Right now, Nintendo feels like they're in a bit of a Kinect era with the Nintendo Switch 2. Trying out everything with fancy new tools like mouse controls and Game Chat, but not really knowing how to actually make these features into compelling game mechanics. Drag x Drive is unfortunately an experiment that hasn't nearly gone wild enough, and will be the subject of a tricky quiz question in a few years' time.

Echoes of the End is an ambitious game with some really good ideas and a beautiful presentation, but also with technical issues and design flaws that detract from the experience. I would actually recommend it, but only if you can wait for a few updates.

I enjoyed another playthrough of Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, this time in the new Enhanced edition. This version does not change the game significantly (although the new Performance Mode is cool), but it refines the game and adds new features and a new game mode, and it gives a whole new audience on PlayStation the opportunity to experience this brutal Viking story.

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.

Apart from minor annoyances, A Dream About Parking Lots is a nice little walking sim. In many ways, it's more of a therapeutic experience than a game, and considering what these kinds of games usually cost, the £3.39 you have to pay for it is nothing.

The game without ads became a lot less frustrating. Unfortunately, the analogue stick controls are a tad too slow, but otherwise it's an excellent port, and fortunately there are still touch controls if you're playing handheld.

Grounded 2 strikes me as a very traditional survival game in practice, even if the intuitive design and the enjoyable and memorable world stand out as highlights. This is a game that you will love for a few hours and then steadily lose interest in, unless you're a die-hard survival fan that lives and breathes this genre. [Early Access Score = 70]

I'm not going to complain too much about the fact that 397 hasn't really reached 'final release' in terms of functionality and content. Le Mans Ultimate is basically a really good racing simulator whose online racing portion easily competes with the best of the genre and whose tyre physics, FFB and graphics/sound do the same. If Studio 397 is given time now to continue building, polishing and expanding, I have no doubt that this could become the new ruler of the sim racing genre.

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.

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.

Wheel World is an easy to pick up and enjoyable experience that doesn't require much investment from the player, despite having a fabulous balance of fun gameplay, memorable visuals, and customisable features. For a title that you can see in its entirety over the course of two-to-three days, there's not many reasons why you shouldn't be giving Wheel World a go this summer.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Hinokami Chronicles 2, despite certain limitations, comes to accompany once again the fans of one of the most quality and popular anime of the last decade, which also takes advantage of the synergy with its last arc to call to try it to a larger base of players. If you're a fan of Demon Slayer, you shouldn't miss it.

I was excited to see what The Game Kitchen could do with Ninja Gaiden. Unfortunately, the answer is a bit disappointing. Ragebound is rock solid and feels really good in your hands, but it lacks spark, passion, X-factor, surprises. I could go on. At a time when sharp 2D action games are not exactly in short supply, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a solid revival of a classic series that will probably make the old core happy, but I would start somewhere else, Katana Zero, for example.

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.

There are elements of this expansion that are excellent and true highlights for the future of Destiny 2, but there is so much surrounding them that generates no joy whatsoever.