Despite the issues thrown my way while playing Mundaun, I kept going because it had me hooked. From the opening moments, it had my attention in a vice-like grip. Some aspects of its gameplay threatened to loosen that grip from time to time, but I soon get over them because I wanted to unravel the mystery at the heart of the game. With multiple endings, there’s reason to return, too. Whether you will or not is questionable, but there’s no denying that your first playthrough of this utterly unique experience will stick with you. Mundaun is far from perfect, but it’s destined to be a horror classic.

Ultimately, if you’re a fan of Slay the Spire, you’ll undoubtedly get a kick out of Pirates Outlaws. It’s a solid entry into the roguelike card-based battler genre, but we just can’t shake the feeling it’s a little too much like its inspirations to really stand out. Still, it’s safe to say that if you’re looking for more Slay the Spire-type action, it’ll do a decent job of scratching that itch.

Despite a repetitive structure and some boring dungeons, Toyko Xanadu‘s action-based combat was effective in keeping my interest. The characters are also generally quite likeable, with their relationships and quirky personalities coming off as genuinely enjoyable.

A great visual style makes Pato Box stand out from the crowd, as does the duck/boxer protagonist. If you’re up for a challenge, with a game that requires you to master the rhythm of each boss fight, then Pato Box will be a champion for you.

The general difficulty of Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection is ultimately what will make players either love or hate it. If you have treasured memories of playing earlier games in the series and yearn for another adventure with Arthur, go to the eStore and buy Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection right now. You’ll likely become besotted with it, you really will. If this will be your first Ghosts ‘n Goblins rodeo, however, be wary before you part with your money. It’s an experience that can feel like heaven or hell depending on your perspective. Put it this way: it makes Dark Souls seem like a walk in the park.

Despite the intense final battles, each level is nothing but a gift to its players.

It's always great to see a videogame try and do something different, and Minit does so with gusto: it takes a tried-and-tested formula and turns it on its head with one very simple mechanic. It makes a standard adventure game into a test of memory, of patience, of skill, and even though it'll frustrate you, it'll have you coming back for "just one minute" time and time again.

If you’re a shoot ’em fan, there’s no better way to play this classic. The visuals may be a little dated, but it’s hard not to be impressed by some of the enemy designs, now rendered in high resolution. And as you make your way through Raiden IV x Mikado Remix‘s impressive array of modes, the remixed soundtrack is sure to pump you up, driving you to perform better than ever before. Needless to say, this classic slice of arcade action remains as entertaining as ever.

Neo Cab is a captivating story-driven game that gives a glimpse at what a world practically run by robots might look like. With a wonderful art style, a fascinating setting and a story that’ll instantly grab you, it’s well worth taking a ride with.

With gorgeous graphics, an amazing story, and very fluid controls, The Walking Dead: A New Frontier is shaping up to be Telltale’s best series yet.

It’s been a while since I’ve been so engrossed in a city building sim, but Project Highrise really is the full package.

Episode 3: Broken Toys continues to improve and is paving the way for one hell of a finale. In spite of its annoying technical issues, players should look past that and see the fantastic piece of work that’s been put together there. Broken Toys isn’t perfect, but its dialogue is superb, its pacing is fluid and its gameplay is fun and engaging.

A macabre adventure about a zombie boy and his human friend, Gloomy Eyes is a single-player game that requires players to switch between two characters. It can be frustrating at times, but its wonderfully creepy art style and some enjoyable puzzles make it a decent way to spend a few hours.

Some will be disappointed that Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition is simply a remaster of one of the best JRPGs of all time rather than a remake, and it’s not the most exhaustive one at that. But still, there’s a great game here, and it’s never looked, sounded or played better. So, while the framerate issues may be irksome, and some aspects of the game aren’t so intuitive by today’s standards, anyone keen on playing – or replaying – a piece of JRPG history would be wise to check Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition out.

A creative take on the top-down shooter genre and, had it had more opportunities for me to run into a room guns blazing, it may have been my new favourite. The hand drawn art style is unlike anything I’ve seen before and I can’t wait to see if the developers create something new with the same idea in mind. If you’re looking for a game that will have you crying with rage one second and laughing in triumph the next, 12 is Better Than 6 is definitely worth a playthrough or two.

Does Back From Hell “redeem” the initial disappointing release? In my eyes, absolutely. Like a medieval sinner turned to a life of holy demon-slaying knighthood, it claws its way back into the light over a pile of steaming gore-matted corpses. And if that’s not metal, I don’t know what is.

Although playable in single-player, it’s hard to recommend KeyWe as a solo experience. This has been very much designed with co-op play in mind, so unless you have someone to play with, don’t bother picking it up. It’s a commendable concept and fun can be had in short bursts, but ultimately the tasks given to these adorable kiwi birds boil down to nothing but repetitive busywork.

It may not adhere strictly to canon but Reigns: The Witcher is an endlessly entertaining new way to experience the Geraltoverse. Just don't be surprised when death comes for you again, and again, and again.

If you’re in the market for an action-packed 2D side-scroller on PC, you really should check out Bladed Fury. It looks wonderful, plays well, and has plenty of content for its humble price.

Ultimately, there’s a lot to love in The Sims 4: High School Years. It feels as though the Sims community has been waiting a long time to finally be able to accompany their teenage Sims to school – and we think it’s been worth the wait. Provided you’ve not been affected by a bug, this is a fantastic, well-rounded expansion, bringing a beautiful new neighbourhood, plenty of new items and a whole new experience to The Sims 4. All the stress of high school, without ever stepping outside of your front door. Ah, bliss.

Absolutely heaving with personality, it's clear a lot of heart and soul has gone into making Date Everything. Its characters are beautifully brought to life, but trying to meet everyone (which you'll want to do) can feel a bit of a slog.

A story that keeps you on the edge of your seat is hugely important to point and click adventures such as The Raven Remastered. And thanks to its clever writing and mostly believable voice acting, it manages to accomplish that. It’s not quite up there with the likes of the original Broken Sword, but it deserves to be remembered as a cult classic. Control issues aside, The Raven Remastered is one of the best point and click style adventures available right now, and its presence on Switch is very much welcome.

With a fairly short running time, at least Greak: Memories of Azur doesn’t require much commitment to see it through. I just can’t help but feel that if your companions were computer-controlled and actually assisted you in combat, or at least tried to keep out of the way of your enemies rather than simply standing motionless, my review would be much more glowing. As it is, for every few minutes of joy I had with Greak: Memories of Azur, I generally had another filled with some level of frustration. Ultimately that lead to a great deal of disappointment, which is a real shame.

Foretales is a wonderful example of how creative the card-based genre can be. Marrying a gripping narrative with gameplay that really makes you feel in charge of your own destiny, this is an engaging and fulfilling experience that we whole-heartedly recommend. It can take a little while to fully get your bearings, what with so many different cards in play at any one time, but it’s absolutely worth sticking with.

With a gorgeous visual design – even on Nintendo Switch, it’s a striking-looking game – an enjoyable gameplay loop, fantastic audio design, and a lively cast of characters, there’s plenty to like in Starlink: Battle for Atlas.

In the end Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns might not be perfect, but it’s still a wonderful game in many ways. There’s tonnes of stuff to do on your farm, what feels like a million side quests, and even adorable postmen to woo if that’s something you’re interested in *wink*. It’s a shame that it does get quite repetitive, there’s no huge overarching goal, and the tutorial made me want to punch Uncle Frank in the face, but all of the good surely outweighs these minor points. The game design is gorgeous, the dialogue and story are very well written, and overall the game is just really great fun.

The palatable fantasy-based story, gorgeous hand-painted still locations and good balance of fun, albeit easy, puzzle types may not be everybody’s cup of tea but those willing to give it a taste may find themselves being pleasantly surprised.

It doesn’t quite reach the lofty heights of The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker or The Shapeshifting Detective, but its episodic format, coupled with excellent performances and quality writing, means that Dark Nights with Poe and Munro is well worth tuning in for.

Those with the patience to traipse back and forth and push themselves through the more frustrating sections of Conscript may well end up having a rewarding experience with it on the whole. It’s certainly got some good ideas, and is altogether rather unique. For many though, these issues are likely to prove to be too much of an obstacle; it’s never good when making headway in a game feels like a chore, after all.

Cute and colourful, the music-based puzzles of Tempopo are both challenging and chill, letting you tackle them entirely at your own pace. But with a bit of a disconnect between its childlike visuals and difficulty level, I'm just not entirely sure who Tempopo is for. And as fun as each level is when your solution all comes together, getting there can be a bit of a repetitive drag.

9 Years of Shadows isn't the biggest Metroidvania game, but what it lacks in length it makes up for in other ways. Its visuals are sublime, for one, and its gameplay is fantastic, too. Add in a soundtrack which includes pieces by Michiru Yamane, and you're onto a winner.

Neversong did nothing but impress as I made my way through its weird and wonderful world. There’s nothing quite like it, but if you’re a fan of games like Night in the Woods or Limbo, then Neversong fits into a similar category.

Superliminal is fun. It may not be challenging, and it might not have a deeper message behind it, but it’s a hell of a ride – and on many levels it’s a technical masterpiece. Actually that description makes it sound like a Marvel film, so I guess that means I can recommend it to pretty much anyone unless you’re Martin Scorsese or Francis Ford Coppola.

Thus far, Song of Horror is a tense, chilling horror outing that deserves to be experienced by any serious horror fan.

Launching at a budget price, I truly am glad that Onimusha: Warlords has found its way onto current gen-consoles and PC. While its visual presentation isn't going to impress you, its new soundtrack proves to be a rousing affair. But most importantly, its gameplay still has hooks. Carefully balancing atmospheric exploration, strategic combat and brain-teasing puzzles, Onimusha: Warlords never feels like a chore to play. It doesn't stretch itself too thin, and I appreciate that now more than ever.

Insurgency was made by someone who’d experienced warfare for people who wanted to get as close to experiencing it as they dared.

The combat may be slightly repetitive, but you’ll be too busy enjoying the story and saving the world to care.

Monster Energy Supercross 3 is yet another great Supercross racing experience by Milestone. It’s a shame that the developer has trimmed content from the career mode rather than add to it or give it more meaning, but improvements elsewhere make an impact. Thanks to improved physics, the usual graphical tweaks and the introduction of dedicated servers, Monster Energy Supercross 3 is the best entry in the series to date.

DARQ may be short, but it’s the perfect length to ensure it never outstays its welcome. It uses clever puzzles and a fantastic atmosphere to draw you in, then challenges you just the right amount to keep you invested. The inclusion of the DLC makes the Complete Edition the best way to play, and if you enjoy a mind-bending and physics-twisting puzzler, you’ll love everything DARQ has to offer.

Casting players as Sushi-bot, your goal in Rolling Hills: Make Sushi Make Friends is to run the best sushi restaurant you possibly can. This is a thoroughly cosy and relaxing sim where stresses are kept to a minimum — and while it may be simple, we've enjoyed every moment we've spent with it.

A triumphant return to form for a series that has gone off the track in recent years. With its nail-biting police chases and electrifying sense of speed, Need for Speed Heat is the most exciting and tense arcade racing game we’ve had the pleasure of playing in years. It proves that there’s life in the old dog yet, even in a world in which Forza Horizon exists, and we’re very glad of that.

God, I want another Chrono Trigger so much and I Am Setsuna comes as close as any attempt possibly could, but, of course, it’s only an echo.

I applaud Gears for Breakfast for their ideas and vision, as A Hat in Time is in many ways truly original. I’m just really disappointed it wasn’t better executed in terms of technical finesse.

Ring of Pain probably isn’t something you’ll sit and play for hours at a time. It’s the sort of thing you’ll enjoy a few rounds of before turning it off, more than likely feeling defeated. But it won’t be long before you’re itching to jump back in and try again. There’s something infectious about its simplicity; it’s a roguelike dungeon crawler like no other, and despite the lack of action or actual dungeon-crawling, it’s huge amounts of fun. Even when you’re exploding left, right and centre.

If you’re a supercross fan, it’s very easy to recommend Monster Energy Supercross 5. As ever, if you own one of its recent predecessors, it doesn’t really offer much that’s genuinely new. But improvements across the board, from handling to career features, make this the pinnacle of the series; it’s a must-have for ardent fans of the sport, and great for those looking for a way-in.

88 Heroes has a great idea behind it, and it has huge amounts of charm thanks to its beautiful pixel art graphics and retro soundtrack. Unfortunately though, the gameplay can soon begin to wear itself thin when you find yourself making your way through the same level for the nth time.

As long as you go into Tandem: A Tale of Shadows not expecting a riveting tale or a high level of polish, chances are you’ll have an enjoyable time with it. As puzzles games go, it doesn’t feel entirely original – Shady Part of Me offered a somewhat similar experience earlier in the year – but there’s enough here to keep those who like to put their thinking caps on entertained for a fair while.

With a simple but cute art style that’s hard not to love, and an enjoyable gameplay loop that sees you hacking and slashing your way through a range of well-designed enemies, there’s plenty to like about Conan Chop Chop. If you dig roguelikes and enjoy being challenged to improve yourself with each subsequent run, it’s well worth jumping into.

Whether you’re a fan of Strider or a keen retro gamer who’s happiest when jumping into an obscure and hard-to-find title, Cannon Dancer – Osman is definitely worthy of your time and money. Thanks to its electrifying action and strong visual design, it’s a blast from the past that’s genuinely entertaining from beginning to end.

A solid entry into the Recharged series, Berzerk: Recharged is a simple little twin-stick shooter that offers a fun distraction for a short amount of time. Its gameplay loop isn’t quite as compelling as the likes of Caverns of Mars or Quantum Recharged, but it’s yet again a faithful and enjoyable reboot of an Atari classic, and a worthwhile addition to anyone’s library.

Its title may be a mouthful, but Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian is an excellent entry into the long-running Atelier series. Series fans will love the wealth of familiar faces that pop up, and JRPG fans will love its tight story, its fun combat and its varied gameplay.

Layered with enough depth and intricacy for genre veterans, but loaded with fantastic tutorials and information for newcomers, this game welcomes all types of players. A formula that has been bettered, through and through, Expeditions: Viking is an absolute joy.

Borealys Games, the developer of Mages of Mystralia, has really created something special here in my eyes, and it deserves to be played; if not for its spell designing system that truly is extensive, then just for the sheer joy of a hearty and extremely enjoyable unadulterated adventure.

It’s the sort of plot with so many layers, so many questions and so few definitive answers that it’s likely to keep you up at night.

Gord isn’t the deepest of city builders, and its campaign can sometimes feel like an extended tutorial, but nevertheless, it provides an engaging mix of city building and exploration. With its sanity system and pesky Horrors that need to be dealt with, there’s not much else like this around. Jump into its Custom Scenario mode with both feet, and you’ll likely a find a game that will eat up hours of your time.

This title isn’t for the new gamer. It’s for someone with experience and knowledge; someone who is willing to put in work to reach the conclusion. If you’re looking for an easy game where you can simply hack and slash your way to victory, Resolutiion isn’t for you. But if you’re up for a challenging adventure to call your own, this could be it. As unforgiving as it is, Resolutiion is beautiful, fun and intriguing – and getting to grips with its mesmerising world is a reward in itself.

Bugs aside, though, we’ve thoroughly enjoyed our time with Mail Time. This is a cute, whimsical adventure that anyone who likes cosy, relaxing games will enjoy. The silly dialogue won’t be to everyone’s tastes, but we still reckon it’ll raise a smile or two even from the sternest of faces. Leave action and violence aside for a bit, and Mail Time is the ideal chilled-out experience to spend a couple of hours with.

Phoenix Point’s blend of combat, research management and global exploration is thoroughly compelling, even if the factions can be a little trying. Whether you’ve got fond memories of Julian Gollop’s original game or not, he and his team have taken old school strategy and dragged it kicking, screaming and gurgling into the modern day.

In terms of gameplay mechanics, there are undoubtedly better rhythm games out there than Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory. Being able to use any of three buttons just feels a bit slapdash. And as fantastic as the Kingdom Hearts’ soundtrack is, much of it doesn’t feel particularly suited to rhythm play. As such, you should probably think twice before jumping in if you’re simply after a new rhythm game. But if you’re a fan of the Kingdom Hearts franchise, its issues are easily overlooked, making it much more of an interesting prospect.

Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake successfully builds on the original game, adding new mechanics that enhance the gameplay and more. It's just a shame that its inventive camera-based combat can be frustrating at times, and its stealth sections can feel a little trial and error.

Persona 5 Tactica is yet another brilliant outing for the Phantom Thieves. We haven’t enjoyed it quite as much as the original Persona 5 or Persona 5 Strikers, but its combat, which is relatively fast-paced and exciting for the genre, has won us over. This is a must-have for anyone that wants to spend more time with Joker and co. And while it’s undoubtedly better to be familiar with the exploits of the Phantom Thieves, it remains welcoming to tactical role-playing fans on the whole.

A refreshingly unique take on the platforming genre that introduces a duo of instantly likeable characters and a colourful game world where the simple act of moving through it is a reward in itself.

You’ll get the most that Layers of Fear can offer you when you’re brave enough to delve into all of its nooks and crannies.

At the moment, with its fantastic gameplay but a serious lack of content, Street Fighter 5 is a solid 7/10; a good game that is a great for fans of the genre but can’t be recommended to all. Hopefully though, in a year’s time when the promised features have been added and the roster of fighters has been increased in number, it’ll be worthy of a 9/10. Until then however, those looking for single player fighting thrills should look elsewhere to get their kicks, whilst those wanting to just play online will definitely enjoy Street Fighter 5, but may find its repetition of stages and fighters slightly irksome.

It’s an incredibly mediocre offering that tries but ultimately fails to revitalise the struggling genre.

There’s a charming story and intricate systems that help make it one of the best entries to date. I can’t think of a better way to help celebrate 20 years of this long-running series.

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night has had me hooked like no other game released this year. Koji Igarashi and those who have worked with him have proved that there’s still life in the old Metroidvania formula and delivered a modern-day classic. It perhaps loses a little something without the iconic Dracula as the big-bad, but the gameplay surpasses that of any previous Castlevania games created with the same mould. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night looks great, has a brilliant soundtrack and is overwhelmingly gratifying to play. If only it had a little more polish, then it’d be pretty much perfect.

Wattam isn’t without its flaws; in particular, the more characters you gather, the harder it is to quickly switch between them. But even when your journey’s done, there’s more than enough here to draw you back in, whether you’re tackling the game in co-op mode, hunting for those few elusive characters you’ve missed or just diving into this daft and wonderfully charming world.

It’s entertaining while it lasts, and developer Mighty Yell has absolutely nailed the 90s cartoon aesthetic. But The Big Con is devoid of much real substance. Had there been more narrative, better character development and more engaging missions, this could have been something special. As it is, it feels like an underdeveloped concept that falls short of its promises.

As far as motorsport management games go, F1 Manager 22 is a cracking first effort from Frontier Developments with just some minor issues that will hopefully be addressed in future updates. There’s a lot to get your head around, but for those who put in the time and effort to learn every aspect, this will be wondrously rewarding.

Colourful, ridiculous and great fun, we’ve had a whale pigeon of a time with Headbangers: Rhythm Royale. Giving a musical twist the battle royale genre works surprisingly well, making a multiplayer game that’s more accessible than most – even if you’re not super competitive. We do wish there was a way to play locally – this would make an excellent local party game – but the inclusion of bots means the game can stay alive even if its playerbase dwindles. We hope it doesn’t, though.

It’s safe to say that we’ve been bowled over by The Last Faith on the whole. We’ve been lost at times, pouring over the map in the hope of finding a clue as to where we should go next, but it’s rarely dampened our enthusiasm to play. And thanks to many weapons, skills and other items to discover, time spent exploring never feels wasted anyway. While this is a game that doesn’t really offer anything original or ground breaking, then, it remains engaging nonetheless.

If complex, entertaining battles float your boat, and you can tolerate the lack of diversions or deviations, then you’ll be in your nostalgic element with God Wars: Future Past.

Forget about the Cthulhu in its title; you don’t need to be a fan of Lovecraft to enjoy this accomplished point and clicker. Gibbous – A Cthulhu Adventure will tickle your funny bones with its dialogue and won’t leave you flummoxed when faced with its puzzles. And because of that it’s fun from beginning to end. It isn’t groundbreaking in any way, but did anyone expect it to be? It’s just yet another very good entry into a genre that remains ever popular.

It’s hard to wholeheartedly recommend MotoGP 23 to anyone but devout fans of the sport, especially with Nine Season 2009 gone without anything to replace it. It’s a solid racing game with some decent updates, but it’s not the most generous when it comes to content and it fails to cater to newcomers without basically taking control off of them. Ultimately, it may be out of date now, but most are better off sticking with MotoGP 22 for another year.

While Rondo of Blood is entertaining enough, the lack of extras and the inferior version of Symphony of the Night being included in this package is sure to disappoint.

Back 4 Blood isn’t a bad game. But it could have been so much better. Its difficulty needs balancing, as does the amount of enemies thrown at you at any one time. Ultimately, most levels simply have too much going on to be enjoyable – and each Act would have benefitted from being substantially shorter. Get a competent group of friends together and you might have some fun, but chances are zombie fatigue is going to set in long before you reach the end of the campaign.

Hilarious and unabashedly silly, Earth Must Die is undoubtedly the best game yet from Size Five Games. Brilliantly written, beautifully animated and with an enviable voice cast, there's so much to love here if you're a fan of point-and-click adventure games.

Perhaps both the best and worst LEGO game available on Xbox One.

For any Samurai Warriors veteran, Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada will feel like a pair of comfy old slippers – easy to slide into, and once you’re in their warm embrace you won’t want to part company with them until they’ve become a little too sweaty and overbearing.

God Eater 3 isn’t for everyone. Some will find it too easy, its story is passable, its controls take some getting to… I could go on. Thanks to its engaging fast-paced combat and considerable character development options, however, it’s well worth working through its flaws.

For those who already own Mortal Shell on either Xbox One or PS4, this enhanced edition arrives as a free update or upgrade path, and it’s a very good reason to return to it. For those who haven’t yet journeyed into its grim world, however, there’s never been a better time, especially on PS5. This isn’t simply Mortal Shell with the resolution and framerate uncapped; the visuals have been dramatically improved while still ensuring a consistent 60fps experience, and DualSense support has been implemented with care. With Mortal Shell: Enhanced Edition, developer Cold Symmetry has really given its game a chance to shine.

If you’re a fan of pop music, you’re going to get a big kick out of Invector: Rhythm Galaxy. Its uneven difficulty might prove to be an obstacle for some players, but if you’re willing to persevere – or don’t mind playing on its ultra-easy ‘Casual’ mode – there’s a lot of content here to enjoy. Being able to play more than 30 songs straight away is a real boon, and the chance to unlock more by playing Campaign mode is a very welcome incentive. Is it quite as good as Avicii: Invector? Inexplicably, perhaps not – but we welcome the new range of songs with open arms.

WRC Generations is a good rally game. A great one, even. But a lack of innovation and genuinely new content makes it the least essential entry in the series for some time. If you’re an ardent rally fan, by all means pick it up; you won’t be disappointed. At least not too much, anyway. But those with only a casual interest in the sport might want to stick with WRC 10 until this last official WRC effort from KT Racing goes on sale.

Soul Hackers 2 is yet another stellar JRPG from Atlus. It may take many of its themes and gameplay elements from other JRPGs within the company’s umbrella, but it somehow still manages to feel unique thanks to its fresh setting and characters. Whether or not you’re familiar with its predecessor or the Shin Megami Tensei games in general, this is a must-have if you want to conquer dungeons while exploring an intriguing vision of our future.

Thanks to its stunning visuals, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers certainly makes a good first impression. Its gameplay is what will keep you hooked in the long-run, though, even if it is perhaps a little too derivative of the early Souls games by FromSoftware. Still, being able to freely respec your character here is a fantastic touch, allowing you to experiment if a boss is proving to be a tough cookie to crack.

Princess Peach: Showtime! feels like a safe release from Nintendo, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing: it’s fun, it’s inventive, and it looks wonderful. Its quirky level designs and Peach’s range of fancy costumes will no doubt put a smile on your face but ultimately, there’s little more here than that — a pretty, if shallow, Nintendo adventure that’s best played in 30-minute bursts.

For someone like me who lost interest in the Shining series long ago, Shining Resonance Refrain is an absolute delight. Although it doesn’t resemble anything like the strategy RPGs and dungeon crawlers I first fell in love with back in the 90s, Shining Resonance Refrain is a charmingly sweet JRPG with an engaging combat system that hides hundreds of tricks up its sleeves.

The variety on offer in The Jackbox Party Pack 5 is excellent. While it’s a departure from some of the Jackbox classics – Fibbage, Quiplash, Drawful – it’s a fantastic and inventive range of new titles, all rounded off with another solid entry of the much-loved You Don’t Know Jack.

Inspired by Silent Hill, Hollowbody will feel familiar to anyone that has played an entry in Konami's celebrated horror series. In any case, this is a seriously unsettling survival horror game with some fun puzzles, and its unique setting makes it feel somewhat fresh.

While it’s missing some quality of life features that would have been appreciated, and the games included are a bit samey on the whole, Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection is easy to recommend to Mega Man fans, and also those keen to see what the Battle Network series is all about. The combat system at the core of these titles is still engaging and original, and while you might tire of the random battles, chances are you’ll battle on to see Lan save the day time and time again. Throw in some welcome extras, and you can’t really lose.

With its wealth of content, more refined and expanded gameplay, and clearly prettier visuals, Attack on Titan 2 is undoubtedly a worthy follow up to the original game.

For hack-and-slash fans looking for something a little bit different, there’s a hell of a lot to like about Lysfanga: The Time Shift Warrior. Its puzzle-like nature adds another dimension to the action, making you think before you charge headfirst into combat. It’s just a shame that the story isn’t a little more engaging, and that even with new mechanics and elements being added frequently, it still becomes a little repetitive after a while.

Some bits are not needed, there’s a lot of filler, and a lot that gets repetitive, but I still had a lot of fun with it.

Playing against the CPU is bound to lose its appeal eventually, which leaves Puyo Puyo Champion‘s local and online multiplayer modes being the main draw. But for not much more than the price of a couple of coffees, that shouldn’t be much of an issue.

Few Rogue-like games have grabbed my attention quite like HyperParasite has. Its unique premise is a lot of fun, and the sheer wealth of characters available means that the game can feel like a totally different experience from one moment to the next. Unlocking all characters means there’s always something to work towards; add to that the game’s tongue-in-cheek 80s atmosphere and bombastic soundtrack, and there’s plenty of reason to keep jumping back in. It’s just a shame that HyperParasite‘s unforgiving nature means most of its players won’t ever fully experience what the game has to offer.

If you enjoy getting lost in a great story based around realistic characters, then you shouldn’t hesitate to play Arcade Spirits. Its story throws enough twists and turns to keep you captivated for its six to eight-hour runtime, and it’s hard not to get invested. It’s a shame the voice acting is inconsistent, but it’s not enough of a bugbear to ruin what is otherwise an excellent visual novel.

Existing fans of the Windjammers series will absolutely love Windjammers 2 – no doubt about it. Newcomers willing to put the effort in to learn its mechanics will find a lot to enjoy, too. It’s just a shame that its single-player offerings are so slight, and the AI isn’t much fun to go up against. Multiplayer is the highlight here, and if you do plan on playing against friends, family and/or strangers, you’ll get way more than your money’s worth.