If you’re an ardent Super Monkey Ball fan then you might want to pick up Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz HD, but you probably won’t be having the best time of your life with it. It’s a shame that Super Monkey Ball Deluxe hasn’t been given the remaster treatment instead, which amalgamated all the levels from the original Super Monkey Ball and its sequel as well as adding in a smattering of original stages for PS2 and Xbox. That was the ultimate Super Monkey Ball game, and it still is. The new additions here detract from the experience rather than enrich it.

Fans of Touken Ranbu will likely enjoy Touken Ranbu Warriors, but those who are also keen gamers will see its obvious flaws. This is a cut-down Warriors experience, for better and for worse. Newcomers may appreciate the more bite-sized maps that you move through in a linear fashion, but others will find them suffocating. And ultimately, the gameplay just feels more repetitive than ever. Still, if you want to follow the story of Touken Ranbu and feel like you’re part of the action, it might be worth a look.

Unless you still love playing retro video games today, you’re likely to find playing Aladdin and The Lion King an arduous experience. Even if you loved the games as a kid, they’re unlikely to live up to your memories. Disney Classic Games: Aladdin and The Lion King is a nicely presented collection with some nice features, but don’t expect to be blown away by the games.

Had there been more variety on offer, a few more random elements to make Death or Treat‘s playthroughs feel more varied, we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this roguelike. It looks great, its Halloween theme is wonderful, and even though its internet parody worlds might be a little tonally dissonant, they still raise a smile. But there needs to be more to keep it feeling interesting, and as it is, slashing through the same enemies in the same environments time and time again just isn’t quite enough.

We’ve come away from Under The Waves with mixed feelings. We’ve very much enjoyed some elements of the game: exploring the ocean is simply wonderful, and the more tense moments set in the eerie underwater facilities have kept us on the edge of our seats. But there are plenty of frustrations, too, and the impact of the experience is ultimately dampened by the fact it all feels like one big advert for a non-profit organisation.

Dynasty Warriors 9 is a game that's just too sparse and too easy for its own good. But what's worse is that it's perhaps the worst performing game I've played on the Xbox One X.

In the grand scheme of things, Shadow Gangs is an accomplished reimagining of a seemingly forgotten series. While its gameplay is rooted in the past, the visuals have modern-day sheen – Shadow Gangs‘ HD sprites really pop out of the screen, and the environments are both varied and detailed. It’s far from perfect, but there’s plenty here to delight any classic Shinobi fan.

It’s surprising to see such little care done [in the console release], thanks to the age of the original PC version.

Tchia has left us slightly cold – and that in itself is disappointing, because we had high hopes for this title. If you’re expecting a Breath of the Wild-style adventure, as trailers and previews (even ours) may have led you to believe, you probably should keep your expectations in check. There is beautiful island fun to be had here, and Tchia’s abilities are wonderful – but by the time you’ve fought your way through its surprisingly drab and disappointing campaign, you’ll unlikely see much reason to return.

With some perseverance and dozens upon dozens of retries, you’ll get the level down eventually, but you have to be determined and willing to go through hell. For a party game, I’m just not sure that many people will be.

Despite its simplicity and lack of content, there’s something strangely addictive and compelling about Super Night Riders, something that draws you to it even though on paper you know it’s not very good.

While Kandagawa Jet Girls is somewhat entertaining on the whole, its gameplay simply doesn’t excite like it should. Your jet ski isn’t particularly fast, even once it’s been upgraded, and combat feels rather passive; you just press a button and the game auto aims for you for the most part. And so, the gameplay found within Kandagawa Jet Girls isn’t broken, or bad – it’s just mildly entertaining. If you’re more interested in the game for its lively chests and ridiculous dialogues then it probably won’t matter to you too much, but those also expecting a solid racing experience alongside them may find themselves disappointed.

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

As far as sci-fi Souls-likes go, Dolmen sits somewhere between Hellpoint and The Surge in terms of quality. It can offer a rewarding experience to Souls-like fans, but it falls short of the bar set by the creators of the genre. Still, for those who have patience and persistence, and like the idea of exploring a new, futuristic setting while engaging in challenging combat, it’s worth checking out.

If you feel that static/simplified tower defence games are a bore… then maybe Infinium Strike is what you’ve been looking for.

Being a live-service game with plenty of content to come post-launch, it’s impossible to say right now whether Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will have legs. There’s certainly the possibility of it getting better in the future, if missions can be made more interesting and loot can lead to more unique builds. At the moment, though, when the campaign is the main focus and there’s limited endgame content, it’s hard to not be disappointed by what’s on offer. This isn’t a bad game by any means, but poor mission variety and some other minor issues really do suck much of the fun out of it.

If you’re a fan of side-scrolling beat ‘em ups, have an open mind when it comes to humour, and don’t mind the odd bout of tedium, you’ll probably like Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn quite a lot; just like me. Technical issues do pull it down a little though; just be aware of them, and its ability to offend, before you buy into it.

Sheepo is a charming game, although its lack of variety in environments means it might outstay its welcome as the end draws near. Its gameplay is enjoyable and easy to pick up, however, and the fact there’s no combat makes this a great starting point for anyone new to the Medtroidvania genre. If you’re looking for a quirky adventure, Sheepo is worth picking up, but just don’t expect too much substance.

It’s a refreshing change from the rest of the first-person shooters and goes to great lengths to ground itself in reality.

With all of the changes and improvements made, Monster Energy Supercross 4 should have been the best game in the series yet. And it still could be with a patch or two. But right now, the issues with the difficulty, AI and physics are notable setbacks. Series veterans who can give Realistic AI a run for their money will find plenty to be happy about, but those who aren’t so capable are likely to find themselves frustrated time and time again. It’s not so much that Monster Energy Supercross 4 is hard, it’s that sometimes it feels like it’s unfair – that the AI doesn’t play by the same rules as you. And that doesn’t lead to a fun racing experience.

For fans of otome games, Bad Apple Wars may feel like a love-it-or-hate-it experience that will mostly depend on how much you’re able to put up with. If you’re able to find aspects of the characters you like, its romance subplots will probably pay off. Yet, even if you can’t, there’s an interesting enough plot that will make its few hours long of a campaign feel justified.

Leviathans offers some nice new features, but does not add enough worthwhile content to Stellaris to recommend purchasing alone or to justify the price tag.

I think I just really wanted Fimbul to prove it had more to offer. It’s not a must play, but it’s a game that, if presented to you as a player or spectator, is worth charging through.

I’m glad that Shenmue 3 exists, and I hope the series continues so fans get the conclusion they deserve. It’s just a shame that it has rooted itself in the past. What’s been delivered is sure to delight those who were eager for Ryo Hazuki’s story to continue, but more could have been done to make the series relevant to gamers who haven’t played the 20 year old originals. Shenmue 3 is both a miracle and a missed opportunity. It’s no doubt a masterpiece for a minority, but most will find it simply mediocre.

A side-scrolling shooter roguelike set in space, Dangerous Galaxy is clearly inspired by the likes of Vampire Survivors and FTL. It's not going to blow you away, but it's a fun way to spend an hour or two, especially considering its super-budget price.

At the very least, it’s made me think twice about swatting any bee that ends up inside the house from now on. Not wasps, though. They can still go right to hell.

Rive is responsive enough that nothing feels like a particular chore. I always felt that I could calculate instantly how far a jump will go and the twin stick shooting does not leave anything to desire.

With its interesting story and a variety of unique ideas Thief of Thieves: Season One is bound to entertain. Just don’t expect it to make a lasting impact on you, because it won’t.