Sclash is a simple fighting game featuring samurai that can beat their opponents with just one hit. Battles are tense and exciting as a result, but disappointing single-player options and a lack of overall depth let it down somewhat.

A massive improvement over its predecessor, The Bridge Curse 2: The Extrication is an absolute treat for horror fans, combining tense exploration, enjoyable puzzles, and some effective scares.

I can’t say that the odd bug has really spoiled my time with Little Kitty, Big City though. Once I started playing, I couldn’t pull myself away. This teeny cat may be the most adorable protagonist of recent years, and engaging in feline shenanigans is every bit as joyful as you’d hope it would be. I’d gladly take more of this: a bigger sequel set in an all-new city please, Double Dagger Studio.

Heading Out doesn't fulfil its true potential. But while its story isn't as gripping as it should be, and its driving mechanics aren't anything special, together, along with an eye-catching black and white comic book visual style, they make for an enjoyable time on the whole.

Harold Halibut stands out for its painstakingly gorgeous stop-motion animation, but as a game it falls short of the mark. If you’re looking for a charming story with plenty of heart, Harold’s shortcomings are absolutely worth pushing through. But those looking for something more engaging would be better to look elsewhere.

Part management sim, part roguelike, Undead Inc. has a few rough edges but it's still a treat for wannabe Umbrella Corp CEOs. Just remember to leave your ethics at the door.

Indika is one of the most surreal games we've ever played. And while it's short, it's easy for us to recommended thanks to its dark and unpredictable story and thoughtful, engaging puzzles.

A Survivors-like with a twist, Swarm Grinder is the type of game that'll have you coming back again and again. With meaningful upgrades and plenty of reason to keep playing, it's an excellent example of the genre — with a few unique twists thrown in too.

If you’re a tennis fan, this is currently the best tennis game available — no doubts about it. At least on console, anyhow. No other tennis game plays as good as TopSpin 2K25, which somewhat makes up for its downfalls. We can only hope that 2K improves this title post-launch, speeding up career progress, making it easier to play against friends online and making MyCareer accessible even when the servers are down. And when the inevitable sequel arrives, we’ll accept a visual boost and some other upgrades, too.

We really wanted to like Tell Me Your Story. It looks lovely, and we love its concept. We’re always keen to get our hands on more cosy games, and those with puzzles are even more welcome. But this one unfortunately misses the mark. More thought needed to go into its puzzle design for them to be an enjoyable, and not frustrating, experience.

Whether you find liminal spaces strangely appealing or unsettlingly eerie, we recommend you give Pools a try. We certainly haven’t played anything quite like it before. It may not be an action-packed experience with complex mechanics – hell, some might not even consider it a game at all – but it’s utterly compelling from beginning to end.

Jack Holmes: Master of Puppets isn’t a game for everyone, then. Thanks to its unpolished nature and how easy death can come, some will bail on it on the early hours. For horror fans with patience and persistence, however, their time will ultimately be rewarded. Its voice acting is bad, its combat is dire, and its story is neither here nor there, but there’s a certain undeniable charm that makes Jack Holmes: Master of Puppets worth it in the end.

Tents and Trees doesn’t reinvent the wheel: I’ve played the same types of puzzles before under a different guise, in puzzle books and on mobile apps (The ‘Charge Up’ puzzles in Puzzle Page, if you’re interested). But none of them have been as elegant and beautifully presented — and downright plentiful — as Tents and Trees. This is the type of thing I can see myself diving into night after night, as a way to unwind (and challenge my brain) before bed. And if you’re a puzzle fan too — particularly of Picross and its ilk — I’m rather certain you’ll love this.

There's a lot to like about Another Crab's Treasure. Its underwater setting and cutesy premise makes this a unique Soulslike, and its accessibility options means this is one of only a few games in the genre that can truly be played by all. But there are bugs and issues galore, stopping this crustacean's adventure from being quite as enjoyable as it should be.

More than just a Soulslike with a protagonist to serve as eye-candy, Stellar Blade has far surpassed our expectations, offering varied gameplay, outstanding visuals, a sublime soundtrack and an engaging story. It's a must-play for action game fans.

Inspired by Turtles in Time, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants certainly plays like a blast from the past. After Shredder's Revenge, you'll likely find its gameplay too basic, however, and it fails to impress in other ways, too.

Despite these issues, it’s hard not to be won over by Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes on the whole, especially if you’re a Suikoden fan. While its story might not have much emotional impact, it’s still pretty engaging. And many will love the fact that this does genuinely feel like a JRPG from the golden age of the genre. It’s not quite the Suikoden successor we were hoping for, but it’s still a worthy game in its own right.

Ultimately, Tales of Kenzera: Zau is a delight from beginning to end, with only the odd frustration along the way. Add in an absolutely sublime soundtrack by Nainita Desai and strong voice acting throughout, and you have a Metroidvania with a unique flavour that absolutely deserves to be played. It’s safe to say that whatever Abubakar Salim does next with Surgent Studios, we’re here for it. Whether it’s another emotional tale from Kenzera or something entirely different, we look forward to welcoming it with open arms.

Is Lunar Axe going to set your world on fire? Absolutely not. This is a budget point and click adventure game, but it’s well worth the asking price. And for fans of the genre, it scratches the puzzle itch more than adequately.

Ultimately, Planet of Lana deserves a spot up there with the greatest hits of the genre. It’s every bit as impressive as the likes of Inside, but stands out due to its colourful visuals and heart-warming story. Sure, there’s not much to do once you’ve completed it unless you’re an achievement/trophy hunter, but it’s an experience that you really shouldn’t miss out on.

Sker Ritual isn’t perfect, then, but for co-op shooter fans, especially those who have dug the Zombie modes in Call of Duty titles in the past, there’s a hell of a lot to like. There’s impressive enemy variety, each map very much has its own theme and unique quirks, and mechanically it’s very rewarding. It’s just a shame that it can feel a little too overwhelming at times, and that there are some technical issues to iron out.

A roguelike strategy game that fuses Minesweeper and turn-based combat, the wonderful Let's Revolution satisfies that "just one more try" scratch that only the best in the genre manage to itch.

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 puzzle-shooter gameplay and bizarre presentation of Children of the Sun make it utterly unique. And while your success in some levels unfortunately relies on trial and error, it doesn't stop it from being a highly rewarding experience on the whole.

Turbo Golf Racing is the most entertaining online multiplayer game we've played for a long while, turning golf into an exhilarating fast-paced sport played with vehicles. Its single-player time trial mode complete with leaderboards proves to be an enjoyable time sink, too.

There’s not a single misstep in Botany Manor. It looks fantastic, and it’s supported by a gorgeous, if sometimes subtle, soundtrack. It’s the puzzles that take the limelight, though: they’re almost flawless in design, requiring just the amount of brainwork to complete. The perfect blend of exploration and puzzle-solving makes Botany Manor an absolute delight — and as thrilled as we were that Arabella got to finish her book, we were gutted that it meant our time with her was over.

Its creepy art style and unsettling atmosphere will immediately draw you into Buckshot Roulette — but it's its quick-and-dirty Russian roulette gameplay that will keep you coming back. It's easy to play, but to succeed you'll need to keep your wits about you, and that makes for a really successful little game.

Minishoot’ Adventures is a game that’s easy to bestow praise upon. It’s easy on the eyes, being clean and colourful, and its soundtrack is a bit of a treat. But most important of all, it’s an absolute joy to play. From the minute you take control of your small ship and discover that it’s a joy to manoeuvre, chances are you’ll be hooked. From then on, you’ll just be focused on exploring the game’s wonderfully crafted world and making your ship mighty.