The game still functions well and the tactical gameplay is still solid as ever but retains the annoyances of the old systems.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door looks great on Switch, making it exciting to move from one location to the next, each interesting in its own way. Its writing is brilliant, too, with some genuinely funny jokes that will have you grinning as you play. It's just a shame that its turn-based combat gets old quite fast, and is devoid of challenge.

There’s a hell of a lot to like about Hi-Fi Rush: its sumptuous visuals, its over-the-top characters, its silly humour. When it comes to its gameplay, however, we just wish we liked it more. Between its overly long levels, excessive abundance of rhythm-based events, and bouts of combat that ultimately feel overly chaotic and prescriptive, a lot of potential is squandered. Still, there’s some good fun to be had, even once you’ve completed the game’s campaign. And we’d certainly be up for a sequel with some of the rhythm elements toned down.

There’s no denying Link’s Awakening is a very enjoyable adventure, however. It hits you right in the nostalgia spot if you’ve played before, and even if you haven’t it stands up well against more modern titles. After all, games are still continually being made in the vein of classic Zelda adventures. It’s just a shame it’s let down by such troublesome graphical and performance issues. With an optimisation patch and a price cut, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening would be a must-buy. Until then, it isn’t.

It surprises just as often as it confounds, and that in itself makes this a rather extraordinary experience. It’s also perhaps one of the purest examples of video games as art we’ve seen to date: a piece of art about artists. Does that make for an enjoyable experience? Not always. At times it’s drawn-out, boring, a chore, even, as you obsess over every bit of footage available to you. But are we glad we’ve played it? Absolutely.

Cuphead isn’t so much of a case of style over substance, but rather style over accessibility. The art is simply astonishing, and so too the music, but the gameplay is frequently too frustrating to make Cuphead a totally enjoyable experience. Essentially a boss rush game, its pacing allows for no relief. There are no moments of downtime to come down from the frustration or elation of your battles, it’s just long bouts of tension and stress that, for the most part, outweigh any joy that’s felt.

The tedium of the second half of the game, and the increasing frustration brought on by its level design, checkpoint system and challenging platforming somewhat sour the experience though.

Yeah, Total War: Warhammer is pretty good and a step in the right direction to boot, but I refuse to be dazzled by some stickers when the core game takes only a tiny shuffle forward at best.

While Pentiment doesn't make the best first impression, and the lack of music robs it of atmosphere and character, it's well worth digging into if you're a fan of well-written narrative adventures or games that require you to conduct investigations. You'll soon come to love - or loathe - its cast of characters, and with plenty of fun puzzles to solve, minigames to engage in and meaningful choices to make, it's rewarding in ways that other games in the same genre space rarely ever manage.

Ultimately, we’re left a little conflicted with Bayonetta 3. This is the worst looking and performing Bayonetta yet, with a grander scale that both detracts and adds to the gameplay. We love the fact that we can finally take control of fearsome demons, for example, but we don’t like the fact that the camera struggles when fighting other gargantuan enemies. Add in some other frustrations, and you have a game that sometimes feel like the best the Bayonetta series has to offer, but other times the worst.

Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights‘ combat could still do with some work, not least because the animation is so gorgeous that limiting your physical attacks deprives the game of an extra dose of visual finesse. But this is still a magical outing that will have you hooked until the Blight is nothing but a bad memory.

Metroid: Samus Returns’ amalgamation of some things old and some things new results in a 2D Metroid game that, while at its most evolved, is caught in somewhat of an identity crisis. There are brief flickers of brilliance showing us what this exploratory new take on the series could have been, but it often finds itself carrying the overbearing weight of being a pseudo-authentic remake.

There’s nothing really new or overly exciting to be found in Flynn: Son of Crimson, but its well-executed blend of platforming, combat and light puzzle-solving keeps you occupied from beginning to end. It’s a fairly short, easy-going adventure (though it does have difficulty levels if you want more of a challenge), and one that’s sure to please fans of old-school platformers – just as long as they’re not expecting anything revolutionary.

If you’ve enjoyed stylish adventures like Rime and Journey in the past, you’ll undoubtedly enjoy Jusant. What it lacks in narrative it makes up for in environmental design: this is a world teeming with imagination and signs of life. Ultimately though, your goal here is to simply keep moving upwards. As repetitive as it can get, there’s still a sweet joy to be found in ever edging closer and closer to the top, and puzzling to find the best route to get there is enjoyable enough to keep us playing.

Thanks to its genuinely intriguing narrative and collection of quirky characters, there's a lot to love about Promise Mascot Agency, and some players will simply adore it. This open-world adventure pretty much revolves around collecting items, however, and some elements of the game quickly become nothing more than a chore.

Some people will absolutely love Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom, and others will be enraged by it. I sit somewhere in the middle – I really like it, but its flaws have soured my experience with it.

Is Iron Man VR the best VR superhero game out there? No – that honour has to go to Megaton Rainfall. But it’s still up there, and thanks to the Quest 2’s superior tracking, this is a much better experience than it was on PSVR. And so, you’re a Meta Quest 2-owning Marvel fan, you won’t regret stepping into Tony Stark’s iron underpants.

It’s a shame that Gone Home is a bit of a non-starter. It has a lot of potential; the game is genuinely captivating whilst you’re playing it – it’s just unfortunate that it leaves you so disappointed once you’ve reached its conclusion. The human story it tries to tell is relatable, but it’s a story that’s so ordinary it’s barely even worth telling. By all means, play Gone Home for the exploration; for the 90’s nostalgia and for its down-to-Earth quirks, but don’t go into it expecting anything mindblowing. Expect a grounded story about a typical family and you won’t be disappointed, but anything else will leave you feeling rather underwhelmed.

More than being a video game, Kentucky Route Zero is a work of art – in fact it probably belongs in a museum rather than on our PCs or consoles. And just like any piece of art, it’s unlikely to resonate with everyone who experiences it. But if you’ve been waiting for the conclusion of this drawn-out adventure, you’ll be glad to finally have it.

It'll stick with me as a piece of art to admire, but not as a video game to enjoy.

Avid players of F1 2017 would be wise to wait until the inevitable F1 2019 – unless they really must engage in some multiple choice PR interviews between races right now.

Those difficulty spikes are just too unforgiving, and there’s only so many times you can be completely obliterated by the same set of enemies before you have to throw in the towel.

Jackbox Party Pack 4 isn’t completely disappointing – there’s still enough here to warrant a few giggles and it’ll pass an hour or two with a few friends, but it’s not the best that Jackbox has to offer. Go for Party Pack 2 or 3 instead.

Consisting of remakes of the first two games in the series, Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake is a somewhat simpler experience than Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake. You play the first game with just one party member, for example. It's still charming, though, with Dragon Quest 2 being a highlight, but both titles still might feel a little too archaic in ways.

This remake of Dragon Quest 3 remains very old-fashioned; it's at times uncompromising and it's missing some modern quality of life features. For existing fans of the JRPG classic and those who aren't afraid of a challenge, however, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake will no doubt prove to be captivating.

Our only real reservation about Boxes: Lost Fragments is how close it is to The Room. But should we really chastise it for taking heavy inspiration from a classic puzzle game? Whatever the answer, we can’t deny that this is a beautiful, clever puzzle game that’s provided us with a few hours of engaging gameplay. The puzzles here are excellent, and it’s a visual treat.

It’s my least favourite of the Shovel Knight entries, but with the bar raised so high, that doesn’t mean that King of Cards isn’t worth your time. Plus, if you already own Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove you get it included in that for free anyway, so you may as well give it a go. I feel like Shovel Knight: King of Cards is going to be like Marmite: some will love it and others will hate it. Though “hate” might be too strong a word. Rather they just won’t be as enamoured with it as other Shovel Knight releases.

Inertial Drift is a satisfying arcade racer. Its scant multiplayer features mean that it’s best suited for those who like to play by themselves, but at least they’ll find a lot to get stuck into. And even better, its budget price means it won’t break the bank. If you like getting cars sideways and aren’t afraid of trying a new way of doing so, Inertial Drift is well worth investing in.

Lair of the Clockwork God is funny and one of a kind, but it’s also far from perfect. It’s let down somewhat by its random bugs and lack of polish, but if you can look past them, there’s fun to be had here. Dan and Ben continue to be wonderful protagonists – but the mixture of platforming and point-and-click adventuring isn’t going to be for everyone. Like Marmite, you’ll either love it or you’ll hate it.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a genuinely challenging action game with lovely visuals and rewarding fast-paced gameplay. It feels a bit rough in places, though, and often borders on being simply too chaotic for its own good. Assist options mean that anyone can see the journey through to its end, but better balancing or difficulty levels would have been preferred.

The incredible proliferation of options when it comes to routing your way through some of the larger environments is a clear standout.

What you are here for is the titillation, and to pretend otherwise would be a joke. There is more than enough to keep a fan occupied, despite the long wait for events to reach their climax.

There’s a lot holding Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time back from being the leading platforming experience it could be. Its lack of accessibility is a real issue, and it’s still plagued with problems that existed in the original Crash games, like awkward camera angles and imprecise jumping. But it is a beautiful-looking game, and fans of the series will undoubtedly get a serious kick out of being back in control of Crash – even if they will need god-like patience for some of the game’s more trying sections. Its extra content is a let-down though, and the full RRP for a game that most players will be done with in around eight hours leaves a big question mark over whether Crash Bandicoot 4 is a worthwhile purchase.

If you can handle overwrought voice acting, some nasty characters, and thin writing, you’ll enjoy the story. For fans of puzzles, thankfully there is a fast skip button that allows you to skip the overly talky bits and get to the real shining star in Zero Escape: The Nonary Games.

With its sumptuous art and rousing soundtrack, Neva sure is a treat for the eyes and ears. Its story will pull on your heartstrings, too. It's just a shame that its gameplay is basic at best and it often borders on being simply dull.

Spyro Reignited Trilogy is a game best enjoyed in bite-sized sessions, otherwise it soon begins to feel like a chore.

I’m sure some WWII enthusiasts and military logisticians will appreciate the level of optimisable detail of armies and their behavior, but for a general audience, the managerial emphasis is in all the wrong places.

Imagine Link to the Past without the combat and threat: that's sort-of what Pine Hearts feels like. There's a lot to like about this cosy adventure set in a colourful world, but a few issues hold it back from being quite as good as it could have been.

Despite its issues, Command & Conquer Remastered Collection provides an excellent trip down memory lane.

If you’re looking for an atmospheric, beautifully crafted, nuanced and thoughtful narrative experience, The Banner Saga 2 is a contemporary leader in all of those fields.

Superhot isn’t ground-breaking. It’s a fun game with a unique concept and I was fully immersed during my playthrough, but I like to look at the replay value of anything I review, especially when it comes to FPS games. Some people might find it addictive and they might get huge amounts of enjoyment out of playing through the challenges and endless mode, but for me, after playing through some of the after-game content I’m fairly confident that I won’t pick it up again, at least not for a while. Not because it’s a sub-par product but because there’s nothing else for me to gain in playing it.

If you’re looking for a happy go-lucky adventure, this is not it. Framed through the eyes of this young girl, Torn Away lets you experience a distressing, personal slice of an already disturbing period of history. Is it heartwarming? Hardly. But it’s honest, heartfelt and, in a grim enough way, entertaining. When you’re dealing with a topic like this, what more could you ask for?

The Ringed City is a brutally unkind piece of content that shows the series at its best, but also unfortunately its worst.

For a 2D platform game, this level of storytelling is very rare and makes a refreshing change.

A decent collection. It doesn’t try to impress with extra features or fancy padding; it simply puts three games from the past in a simple collection for old fans to enjoy. But without even the slightest of tweaks aside from a resolution boost, Super Mario 64 is painful to play. Sunshine and Galaxy, on the other hand, are a joy to revisit, but they’re still a pretty hard sell when the superior-in-every-way Super Mario Odyssey is much more readily available.

A Plague Tale: Requiem outdoes its predecessor in many ways. Its story, for example, manages to be even more engaging and touching, while numerous gameplay enhancements make it a deeper, more varied affair. It's just a shame that its first quarter isn't better paced, relying too much on you manipulating rats with light, and that its combat sections just aren't fun at all. Add in a myriad of performance issues and bugs, and you have a game that somewhat squanders its phenomenal potential, but is still very much worth playing.

Inspired by classic survival horror games of the '90s, Crow Country's puzzle-laden gameplay is enjoyable on the whole. It's not scary in the slightest, though, and its combat is a bit of a let-down. While fans of the genre might want to check it out, then, it's unlikely to be remembered as a classic itself.

I have to give credit to Hideo Kojima for trying to make something different. For me it didn’t pay off, but I did feel there were moments of brilliance here and there. Death Stranding is an ambitious game, but it’s also one that’s self-indulgent and overwrought. With better pacing and the excising of some of its less flattering content and features, Death Stranding could have been something special. As it is, however, it’s just a slog that ultimately turns around and spits in your face.

The main event of Super Mario Party Jamboree is fine, but it doesn't offer anything truly original. As a package, though, there's plenty to like here, with several modes and ways to play, whether locally or online. The battle royale-like 'Koopathlon' is a real highlight in particular.

Your typical Need for Speed or Forza Motorsport player might find it lacking. But those looking for a game that focuses on the driving experience and the pleasure of shaving fractions of a second from a lap time will lap it up. It still doesn't welcome new players with open arms, but it has an abundance of content that it isn't afraid to give up to you without a fight.

While the new campaign introduced in Vessel of Hatred disappoints, other additions such as the new Spiritborn class and endgame co-op PvE activity Dark Citadel make for a wortwhile expansion overall. In any case, adding a whole new region to explore filled with new dungeons, strongholds, and more, it's essential for devout Diablo 4 fans.

To say Indivisible is a bit of a disappointment is an understatement. It’s not a bad game by any means, but it could have – and should have – given us a much more enjoyable journey than what we’ve ended up with. A bit more time fine-tuning combat and traversal would have gone a hell of a long way in making Indivisible worthwhile. As it is, its sumptuous graphics and excellent writing are let down by maddening gameplay elements – and that’s the most disappointing thing of all.

Tetris never had a story and that has kept us coming back for decades. If a game like this is to be judged on its puzzles alone, then SOLAS 128 is a superb entry into the puzzler genre. Though it is best played on PC, where the controls feel more at home.

The bite-sized nature of each loop means that Gnosia is the perfect game to spend a little time with when you have a modicum of downtime. You could play one or two loops while on your lunch break, for example, or one before you go to bed every night. That way, you’re less likely to get put off by the repetitive roundabout discussions. It’s also perfect for those who want a single-player equivalent to the multiplayer-focused Among Us. It has its flaws, but Gnosia is an inventive and unique title that draws you in and surprises you.

When it released in 2006, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion was an excellent game. Nearly 20 years on, it's still good — but it's certainly showing its age. This remaster makes it look incredible given how old it is, but its antiquated gameplay and numerous bugs still exist.

Wreckfest isn’t overly pretty, but its damage engine is unparalleled; Bugbear just needs to find more ways to add to its ridiculous nature, because that’s where the game really excels.

Victoria 3 does a brilliant job of bringing this era of global politics alive. Its brilliant law systems create a truly enigmatic power struggle that will keep us playing for many hours to come. While there is a lack of flavour for some of the smaller nations and a handful of other problems that stop Victoria 3 being as good as it could be, there’s a vast myriad of strategies available to players, and many ways to plot out a successful campaign. And ultimately, that’s all that we want from a strategy game: the freedom to make credible choices.

The Lion’s Song is certainly a unique story from start to finish. Those that enjoy a relaxing point-and-click are sure find this one to their liking. It requires a bit of patience in those cumbersome moments in the middle, but it’s well worth it for the beautiful art style, harrowing soundtrack, and truly creative take on the point-and-click genre.

Far: Changing Tides isn’t going to be for everyone. But if the idea of a quiet, lonesome adventure about keeping your boat moving forward puts wind in your sails, you’ll love it. There’s a wonderful soundtrack to enjoy, and the puzzles it presents to you are engaging and well thought-out. But sometimes it’s just a little too barren for its own good, and the awkwardness of controlling your ship can get in the way of its serenity.

Despite its questionable likeness to Hidden Folks, there’s no denying that Hidden Through Time makes a nice addition to the genre. Its whimsical and colourful art style is a delight, and the level editor is a nice touch that adds some much-needed longevity.

Considering just the gameplay alone, it’s incredibly fulfilling – and at times, quite tricky.

There’s a lot to like in Fate/Samurai Remnant for Fate fans, or those who simply enjoy action RPGs in general. The story is meaty, and with multiple endings as well as a New Game Plus mode available, some may even jump in for another playthrough or two. It’s a shame the combat isn’t a little more refined and less reliant on giving enemies armour, forcibly making fights more drawn out and challenging than they should be. Those that can look past this issue, however, will get a lot of enjoyment out of this latest effort by Omega Force.

Freedom Planet 2 will surely be enjoyed by Sonic fans wanting some more high-speed 2D platforming antics. It even has a soundtrack that can trade blows with the Blue Blur’s finest. It suffers from the same pitfalls as a typical 2D Sonic game, though, such as enemy placement sometimes feeling punishing. And the deviations from the Sonic formula often work against the game rather than for it, with combat in particular being deeper but also scrappier. Still, this is a solid game, and developer GalaxyTrain should be applauded for trying to build on the Sonic formula rather than simply replicate it.

The Atelier Dusk Trilogy Deluxe Pack is a great package. It’s true that Atelier Ayesha through to Atelier Shallie aren’t exactly the pinnacle of JRPGs, but they’re very solid nonetheless. And here you’re getting them enhanced and with a considerable amount of DLC. The only real downer in the whole affair is Atelier Ayesha‘s performance problems.

Doctor Who: The Lonely Assassins is a small but highly engaging tale that proves you can do Who without shoehorning every enemy into the mix. If you’re a Doctor Who fan, especially if the Weeping Angels are your monster of choice, Doctor Who: The Lonely Assassins is well worth your time.

Some may find it repetitive, but those who like the idea of going on a strange and spooky safari through an abandoned wildlife park will love Penko Park. It’s a short and sweet experience brought to life with a cast of creative critters – and hunting them down to shoot them (with your camera of course) is nothing but a joy. If you like Pokémon Snap, this one is for you.

All it does is force me to admit that we can all sometimes become prisoners to our own nostalgia.

There's a lot to like about Remnant: From the Ashes. Its character and world design is mostly excellent, and it's really atmospheric when played alone. Its core mechanics work well, too. But additional polish and tweaks are needed to really make it great.

Standing back and admiring your city, knowing that you were responsible for its virtual prosperity, is immensely satisfying. Niche interest it may be, but if you favour construction over destruction, then Cities: Skylines offers a solid foundation for your future metropolis.

PHOGS’ greatest weapon is just how freakin’ adorable it is. Once you’ve seen those two happy doggo faces, there’s no going back. The environments are wonderful, too; the game’s quirky art style never fails to put a smile on your face. The gameplay itself, however, doesn’t always quite live up to those same heady heights. There are some terrific and unique puzzles, but not all levels have been created equally, and some of them outstay their welcome. This double-headed doggo adventure has plenty to offer, but you’re best off playing in short bursts.

Playing Company of Heroes 3 is a great experience if you like dynamic, tough, tactical RTS games that revolve around utilising the terrain to your advantage. But if you’re expecting a major evolution from the previous games in the series, you’ll likely come away disappointed. If you’re a fan of WWII strategy and somehow haven’t dived into the series yet, you’ll have a great time. But otherwise, you may as well stick with the original Company of Heroes.

Was it really necessary to remake Like a Dragon: Ishin!? It’s questionable, but we’re glad it’s finally available in the west in some form. It’s not the best Like a Dragon game – in fact, it might come quite low in the pile – but a good time can be had with it nonetheless. Its world might not be all that attractive, and its story a slow-burner, but it has the usual charm and a bucketload of interesting activities to carry it.

Beautiful and charming, Tiny Bookshop is a game for literature lovers, tasking you with selling and recommending books to the residents of the fictional town of Bookstonbury. Its charm wears thin rather quickly though, and a lack of variety and depth will likely see you getting bored in a matter of hours.

I’ll no doubt be sinking many hours into FIFA 19 in the months to come, but I do wish the effort put into the game by EA Sports hadn’t been spent on the modes I’m not really keen on.

What was once great then, is now simply good on the balance of things.

River City Girls‘ semi-open world does it no favours, and neither does the abundance of pointless items you can buy or its recruitment system. Even its RPG elements are unnecessary. If it was a simple side-scrolling beat ’em up with stages, I think I’d enjoy it a hell of a lot more. Regardless, there is a lot here to like despite some frustrations, so if you fancy walking some streets while pummelling goons, it’s certainly worth a look. Especially if you have someone at hand to play it with you.

Despite its frustrations, you’re likely to get sucked into Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon‘s gameplay loop. With an adventure mode, a daily challenge and a versus mode, there’s plenty to go at, too. Even if you do die frequently, you’ll probably want to jump straight back in, each time vying to get just that bit further. And the assistive options are a nice touch, even if they do disable trophies and achievements.

Sonic x Shadow Generations essentially bundles up a remaster of the original game with a new Shadow-led sequel. Though while taking control of Shadow is fun thanks to his range of new abilities, and there's a new Sonic Frontiers-inspired hub world to explore, it's basically more of the same, complete with highs and lows.

If Trine 3 left you disappointed and you’re aching for yet another 2.5D Trine experience, you’ll undoubtedly love Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince. You won’t be surprised by it in any way, but you’ll lap it up from beginning to end. If you were hoping that there’d be something new introduced to the formula to shake things up a little and keep it interesting, however, you might be disappointed. Trine 4 returns to the safety of its roots, and feels unimaginative and unadventurous because of it.

By all means, add Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection to your library with haste if you want yet more hardcore platforming action. Even faster if the mere mention of Mega Man has your nostalgia senses tingling. Unless you’re a fan though, be cautious and know what you’re getting yourself into. There’s fun to be had here, sure, but it’s found in pockets among huge swathes of frustration.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a good game but not a great one. Its campaign is very linear and feels balanced around multiplayer, which is disappointing if you're planning on playing solo. Needless to say, it's more rewarding when played in co-op, and additional multiplayer modes add to the fun. But however you play, performance issues might frustrate.

With its ridiculous story, unique visuals and brilliant soundtrack, there's a lot to like about Skate Story. Its gameplay is the weakest link here, though, with fiddly controls and other issues introducing a level of frustration that might push some players away.

This is a game with a long, arcing story that takes some awkward, colourful teens through their turbulent teenage years with a fun and vibrant world to explore, charming characters to befriend and a turn-based combat system with a surprising amount of depth once you look beneath the surface.

DATE A LIVE: Rio Reincarnation is a good visual novel with everything you might want: an intriguing story, tonnes of different endings, a great art style and cute anime girls. And considering it packs in three games in one, it’s a bit of a bargain for fans of the genre.

After several hours with Fall Guys over the course of a few evenings, we’ve already seen everything the game has to offer. The desire to jump back in is already waning. It’s a fun little game while it lasts – but the question is, just how long will it last? There’s no denying it’s one of the most accessible battle royale games out there; even if you’re not a fan of competitive multiplayer, Fall Guys is easy to jump into and get a kick out of. But it’s a kick that is more than likely short-lived.

Cat Quest 3's selling point is also one of its biggest detractors, depending how you feel about the series: it's simply more of the same. It looks fantastic, and exploring its cutesy world is a joy, but the addition of sailing a ship isn't enough to make this stand out from its predecessors.

By trying to diversify the experience that Aaero delivers, Mad Fellows has created a game that’s certainly different, but often feels like a game of two parts, and unfortunately one of those isn’t that impressive at all.

The puzzles in The Turing Test are all impressive and smartly designed. Some offer relatively simple solutions while others truly test your mental mettle.

I was pretty disappointed with Nidhogg 2. After a few hours of playing I don’t see myself going back to it any time soon. The weapon changes and graphic changes were enough to turn me off. Although the game can be fun to play for a few minutes at a time, all of the extra additions were just a little too much. I’ll stick to playing the original, I think.

Even despite its downfalls – its repetitive gameplay loop, its dense narrative and its lack of worthwhile adventuring – there’s something that makes Kingdom Hearts 3 difficult to resist.

Honestly, there's a hell of a lot to like about Dragon's Crown Pro, but hardly any of it is unique to this PlayStation 4 remaster. If you've already played Dragon's Crown to exhaustion on PlayStation 3 or PlayStation Vita, you won't find anything here that'll get your juices flowing.

Clever puzzles, a decent story and beautiful pixel graphics make up Alwa’s Legacy‘s strengths. But there’s little here that makes it stand out from a sea of more superior games in the genre. If you enjoy classic Metroidvania-style platforming, Alwa’s Legacy is worth a play – but don’t expect an experience that will blow you away.

The gameplay feels a little too one-dimensional at this moment and really required an added twist. But Roads sets up some intriguing plot points which I’m really excited to see unfold in later episodes of Life is Strange 2.

Offering a lengthy adventure that you’ll need to play through twice if you want the full picture, Scarlet Nexus is entertaining enough. Due to numerous issues with its gameplay, however, it’s a game that’s carried by its story. It’s a shame really, because the world created here is genuinely interesting and unique; I’d certainly like to see more Scarlet Nexus games in the future, and will definitely check out the anime when it arrives on Netflix. But there were times throughout my adventure where the combat was irritating rather than fun, and traipsing through an environment just felt like a chore rather than an exciting foray into the unknown.

It serves as a great example of substance over style, but Downwell is perhaps just too one-dimensional to offer the same degree of longevity that other similar titles may offer.

Ultimately, while Arise: A Simple Story has some wonderful ideas, it’s let down by unenjoyable gameplay.

Visage goes far beyond cheap jump scares and will chill you to the bone if you give it half a chance. It might never completely shed its inspiration, but it spins it in enough clever (and unsettling) ways to keep you hooked. If you’re a fan of horror, you won’t regret stepping into Visage‘s suburban haunted house – even if your character might.

Colourful and over-the-top, Revenge of the Savage Planet captures much of the same space-faring japes that made us love Journey to the Savage Planet. Its humour doesn't hit quite in the same way, though, and a few annoyances with combat left us a little frustrated.