A seriously satisfying narrative puzzle game with a perfectly dark ending, there's a lot to like about Things Too Ugly. Go in knowing as little as possible, and you're going to have a whale of a time as you uncover the mysteries of your new employer, Terebro Inc. The only problem? You can't save, so you need to play it all in one sitting.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins is essentially a reboot of the series, retelling the familiar story from a more personal perspective with a new amnesiac protagonist. The good news is that it works, with the narrative being more engaging than ever. But it's the gameplay that truly impresses, with multiple changes to the combat system resulting in this being the most dynamic and rewarding Dynasty Warriors game to date.

Despite the introduction of multiple difficulty levels, then, some might find themselves becoming frustrated with Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana. But fans of the series and those who don’t mind a challenge will still get lots of fun out of it. It’s a meaningful update of a classic, and while it might not hit the same notes as one of the most recent entries in the series, spending more time with the red-haired Adol remains a treat.

There are some issues with the pacing of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and the combat isn't great, but neither of these prevent it from being an exhilarating adventure on the whole. Perfectly capturing the essence of the films, this is an absolute treat for Indiana Jones fans.

The Cabin Factory shakes things up enough that it's a cut above your average anomaly game. And while it could run smoother, at this budget price you really can't go wrong.

Perfectly capturing the feeling (and look) of a classic animated movie, Stars in the Trash is a short but delightful game that puts you in control of a mischievous cat. There's an enjoyable adventure to be had, but I've had just as much fun 'catting around', knocking stuff off and being a furry little nuisance. This really is a wonderful little treat.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind combines beat 'em up action with arcade-style shooting, but neither element is particularly impressive. And so, this is an experience that only the most ardent and patient Power Rangers fans are likely to love.

A zany pachinko-inspired roguelike, I just can't get enough of Ballionaire. It's colourful, it's fast-paced, and it's incredibly moreish. Despite its simple concept, it feels infinitely deep thanks to the amount of different triggers you can place on your board, and I'm not sure I'll ever get bored of playing.

Fairy Tail 2 wastes no time in throwing players into the action, perhaps at the expense of being welcoming to newcomers. Those who have played the first game, however, will probably love this sequel, even though its new combat system becomes a little repetitive during extended playing sessions.

One of the most original horror games I've played, Among Ashes presents a game within a game which quickly draws you in and keeps you captivated until the credits roll. Considering this is the work of a solo developer, it's hugely impressive and deserves a place amongst 2024's highlights.

Based on the popular graphic novel series, Dog Man: Mission Impawsible puts players in control of the part-human, part-dog superhero along with his friends. This puzzle-platformer lacks level-to-level variety, however, making it a bit of a slog despite the acquisition of some nifty gadgets along the way.

Fantasian Neo Dimension is a great JRPG that gracefully blends old-school sensibilities with some fresh new ideas and features. There are some issues here and there, such as awkward controls, but overall this is a gripping adventure and a must-play for those who fondly remember the Final Fantasy games of the 90s.

Smoothcade is simple, perhaps to a fault, but if you're looking for an easy-to-pick-up arcade game to play in short bursts, it's hard to be too disappointed with what's on offer here. It's bold, colourful and costs as much as a couple of cups of coffee — what more could you ask for, really?

Super Rolling Heroes Deluxe is a simple game with a simple premise: roll a spherical alien down a hill to hit a gem at the bottom while avoiding troublesome obstacles. It's challenging by default, especially if you also try to meet optional speed and destruction targets as you go, but thanks to being able to drop down to an easier difficulty level it remains fun for all.

Neon Blood will likely grab you from the outset thanks to its interesting premise and attractive visual style. Unfortunately, poor localisation, unrewarding combat and some other issues pull the whole experience down.

I really wanted more from Critter Café, but without any real narrative and no strong sense of purpose or progression, I quickly got bored of my time with the game. Running the café isn’t very fulfilling, and while completing the puzzles to rescue the critters is fun enough, if I want puzzles there are much better options out there. That’s not to say this is a bad game: it is cute, and there is fun to be had — it could just have been so much better.

With multiple endings to discover, Threshold may be short, but chances are you might return to it multiple times. And with its PS1-inspired visuals, it’s truly atmospheric. So, if you’re after a game that genuinely keeps you on your toes, definitely keep Threshold in mind. Ultimately, the question is: what’s more important to you — doing a good job or uncovering the truth?

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.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard was probably never going to win over all Dragon Age fans, and by being more streamlined than ever, it's those who were hoping that it would go back to the series' roots that will be most disappointed. For those who love a good action RPG with stunning visuals, however, there's a lot to like here.

Access Denied: Escape has a few missteps, with some of its puzzles not being very clear and its hint system not always helpful. But for its absolute bargain price, it's hard to begrudge those too much: if you're a puzzle fan, you'll undoubtedly get a big kick out of making your way through this bite-sized puzzle adventure.

The Metal Slug series is back, though not as you know it. Metal Slug Tactics swaps the series' run-and-gun shooter antics for turn-based battles, and adds in some roguelike elements to boot. It's just a shame that while there are some neat ideas here, it's not all that entertaining overall.

While Planet Coaster 2 is undoubtedly the best park-building sim currently available (and a worthwhile improvement on its predecessor), it's held back by some frustrations, particularly on console where its controls can be fiddly. Still, there's plenty of fun to be had here, and building a waterpark is an undeniable joy.

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.

It's a shame that there isn't a little bit more depth when it comes to exploration, but thanks to its stunning visuals, enjoyable humour and fun combat, it's hard to not be won over by LEGO Horizon Adventures. It's light-hearted entertainment for all the family, and a brilliant way to introduce younger players to the world of Horizon.

Tetris Forever isn't just for Tetris fans: it's for anyone interested in preserving the history of video games. Digital Eclipse is going from strength to strength with its Gold Master series, and Tetris Forever might just be the best yet — not least because of the brilliant new game, Tetris Time Warp, bundled within it.

If you enjoy puzzle games, then, particularly ones with dark themes of crime and murder, you’re going to love The Rise of the Golden Idol. Few other games let you lead the charge of your own investigations in quite the same way, and trust me when I say that finding the correct answer feels like a serious victory.

A run and gun shooter where you need to kill enemies as you collect items to open a level's exit, all against the clock, Speedollama is fast-paced and fun. The action can get rather repetitive quite quickly though, and there are some other issues that also bring it down a little.

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.