If you’re prepared to stomach the game’s less appetising sections, you’ll still get a little Joy out of We Happy Few.

Demon's Mirror is basically Slay the Spire, with the addition of tile-matching gameplay. It's a novel idea but ultimately it doesn't quite pull it off, with too many ideas that don't all gel together as well as they should. Still, if you're a deck-building roguelike fan, it's worth a look — but there are definitely better games in the genre.

Ultimately, 100ft Robot Golf provides some solid fun, but it lacks the content necessary to keep golfers on its courses for the long run. [Tested without VR]

Rogue Lords, then, isn’t a roguelike for the masses. And even those keen on the genre might not gel with it. The long-term rewards just aren’t all that rewarding, especially with each run feeling like a slog. And while its unique mechanics separate it from its peers, they also overcomplicate matters. Still, its horror theme is definitely alluring, so roguelike fans who like a bit of darkness might want to give it a go.

Disappointingly, despite the name, Sky to Fly does seem to prefer a leisurely jog to actually sprinting. Even with a fully upgraded air-ship, the gut feeling that you are stuck in second gear never subsides.

If you fondly remember the games and want to revisit them on your fancy modern console, sure, why not? Just bear in mind they might not be as engaging as you remember them to be.

Dakar Desert Rally is a game full of peaks and troughs. Your heart will be racing when you’re hurtling through a desert during a sandstorm in a rally car, but when just a little too much throttle causes you to spin your bike and move from first to last in the middle of a snowy battle, you’ll be beyond frustrated. Still, it captures the essence of the controversial rally pretty well. And those willing to put in the time to master it will find it very rewarding.

If you love all things retro, or are mad for beat ’em ups with high skill ceilings, you might get a good kick out of Slave Zero X. For many, though, tedium is likely to set in pretty quickly, and frustration might be felt regularly too. It’s the type of game that draws you in and makes you want to like it, but then often fights you and pushes you away. We’d certainly be up for a sequel that refines what’s on offer here and expands upon it.

The mechanics and gameplay are well thought out, it’s easy for newcomers to get into and old fans will, probably, be more than happy with the plethora of additions and tweaks over the previous games in the series. Unfortunately, though, to me it still feels like I’m watching some guy on a bike ride.

Ultimately, A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead is everything you’d expect of a game based on the popular film franchise. And if you’re big on stealth or simply don’t mind slow-paced experiences, you might get a real kick out of playing it. For most, though, feelings of tedium, repetition and frustration are likely to creep in pretty quickly, and with little to keep the adventure feeling fresh or unpredictable as you progress, it simply becomes a slog.

If you’re a fan of the Terminator franchise and are after a single-player experience that lets you faithfully enter its world, you won’t be disappointed with Terminator: Resistance. Even its story is pretty good. Just don’t go in expecting a big-budget epic, because that’s not what it is. It’s simply a budget game with a fair amount of soul.

If you’re after a short platforming adventure with a story that will make you think just as much as the odd puzzle, you’d be wise to give Metamorphosis a try. It won’t wow you or set your world on fire, but it is interesting and inventive. It’s quite a laid-back experience too as there’s no combat. Just be prepared for it to somehow feel like it outstays its welcome at times, before hurtling to a conclusion at great speed.

For fighting game fans, The Rumble Fish 2 is worth a try at its budget price. It has a varied roster of characters, multiple single player modes including arcade, time track and survival, and online multiplayer with rollback. It’s an interesting but dated curio that’s not going to take the gaming world by storm, but some will appreciate it nonetheless.

Playing MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries, I couldn’t help but feel like it’s an old game given a fresh lick of paint. There’s just something about it that is firmly rooted in the past. Not that that’s a bad thing per se, but it lacks a certain something to make a must-play title in 2019.

If you’re an RWBY fan, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy RWBY: Arrowfell on the whole, despite some frustrations. We’d say it’s even accessible to newcomers, too, though they might be a little less enamoured with it due to not being familiar with the characters and the world they inhabit. It’s not a bad game by any means, but it soon gets repetitive – and oversights, like no minimap being available, introduce unnecessary frustration.

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.

There’s a good game in Tunche somewhere, just trying to get out. Some will find it if they dig deep, put in the hours and max out the skill trees so that the combat can shine. Most though, will probably give up early on into the journey. This is a wonderfully presented game with a lot to offer, but the roguelike elements suck the fun out of it, turning what could have been a brisk and enjoyable adventure into a drawn-out slog.

Those looking at Grim Guardians: Demon Purge expecting a metroidvania might be disappointed when they realise it’s more of a straightforward platformer, like the original Castlevania games. And while it is derivative of Konami’s classic series, it does just enough to give itself a character of its own. If only its revival mechanic didn’t cause issues in single-player, and it didn’t get a little weird in its later half, then it would be a pretty enjoyable jaunt.

I can see why Microsoft put its faith in Super Lucky’s Tale, making it an Xbox One console exclusive and giving it Xbox One X support at launch. Its cast of oddball characters lends the game real charm and while it’s far from revolutionary, there’s definitely fun to be had here. But the game is so wilfully and bafflingly intent on blocking off said fun that you’ll need all the persistence of a bin-raiding fox to reap Super Lucky’s Tale’s rewards.

TAPE: Unveil the Memories is a decent-looking game, and it has a nice enough soundtrack, too. It’s just a shame that its blend of engaging puzzles and fairly accomplished storytelling are brought down by poor stealth sections that feel out of place. Still, it’s definitely worth a play if you enjoy a sordid tale full of twists of turns. You’ll just need a little patience and persistence to get through some of its encounters.

If you thrive on completing puzzles, you’ll likely get a kick out of working your way through each of Lumote: The Mastermote Chronicles’ levels. But be prepared for plenty of repetition in both puzzle design and the environment around you. For most players, it’s likely boredom is going to set in long before you reach the end.

Taking less than 30 minutes to complete, Catto's Post Office is almost too short to fully recommend. It's a very cute and wholesome experience, though, and for cat lovers and cosy game fans, there's enough here to make you smile.

Final Fantasy Explorers is okay. It’s neither a worthy heir to Phantasy Star Online‘s crown nor is it a successful Final Fantasy title in its own right. I mean, did I even mention the story? Yeah, that wasn’t an accident. If you’re desperate for more hunting then you could do worse, but it’s an easy pass for everyone else.

The best analogy for NBA Playgrounds is that it’s like a leaky ship. The exterior, with its charm and aesthetically pleasing look, hides an interior rife with small missteps and annoyances.

Republique has some great ideas, but it’s just a shame they aren’t developed fully enough to offer the tight experience that the game could have been.

qomp2 isn’t a game for everyone. While it may be a sequel to Pong, it lacks the raw simplicity of the original. And while some may fall in love with its strange premise and unique gameplay, others are likely to simply see it as a source of frustration.

Though I still believe there is plenty of room for improvement, and it’s not the kind of game you’re going to want to sink hours of time into, I have to admit that I’m impressed by the hard work of the developers, artists, designers, and programmers that created Ruckus Rumble as students.

Something a little bit different from Puppet Combo, Christmas Massacre puts the shoe on the other foot, putting you in the position of power in a retro-horror setting. You’re the killer here. You’re the villain. Instead of fighting for your own life, you’re seeking to put an end to others’. It proves to be a challenging and morbidly enjoyable endeavour, even if the the game itself isn’t the most mechanically robust. If you’ve got the stomach for it and enjoy the macabre, Christmas Massacre is definitely worth giving a go. At the very least, it’ll let you release some steam if you get stressed this Christmas.