In many ways, Blood Stone is a mediocre title. Graphically, characters look dull and frankly some PS2 and Xbox titles looked better.

On its own Generations isn't going to do much for your experience, but in conjunction with everything else it just makes for a more interesting experience.

Whilst Section 8 may not be revolutionary, it’s a refreshing take on the genre.

Still, for those who take the time to persevere, New ‘n’ Tasty proves to be as delectable a treat as Abe’s original Odyssey all those years ago.

For a 4X strategy title it hits a lot of the sweet spots you want and is a great entry for anyone who wants to give running a star spanning empire a whirl.

In many ways, Blood Stone is a mediocre title. Graphically, characters look dull and frankly some PS2 and Xbox titles looked better.

I appreciate what I saw in my time with Ancestory, but I can’t help but think that with how much it appears to use other popular card games for its foundation, it could have stood to have a bit more variety in key places. It is nonetheless a rather enjoyable time.

Hearts of Iron IV: Together for Victory does something that Paradox has been known for: adds compelling new content to an already brilliant title. The new Commonwealth mechanics give you a reason to explore this time period from a different lens, while the combat improvements make planning and executing battle plans easier than ever. However, the performance issues marring the experience, as well as frustrating AI, make Together for Victory one of the most poorly performing game in Paradox’s library.

Green Day Rock Band is an enjoyable distraction but wholly unnecessary especially when you look at the features announced for Rock Band 3.

A good blend of economics and warfare, Paradox fans and newcomers alike should like it. Those who liked the new trade system in Empire will love this game, as whilst not being perfect, it sure as hell is addictive.

Green Day Rock Band is an enjoyable distraction but wholly unnecessary especially when you look at the features announced for Rock Band 3.

Heroes of Newerth is an intriguing mix of frenetic action and tactical gameplay, showcasing some of the very best aspects of it's still-evolving genre.

Overall there is probably not enough in here to make it worth upgrading if you already own the previous version. The new additions and tweaks are all very welcome and should encourage more people to enjoy what is a solid and fascinating game. That said, if you are a war fanatic, as some of us war gamers tend to be, then you will obviously lap up the new features and get a lot more value out of the game.

Order of War does little to justify a purchase above the likes of CoH or Dawn of War II. The campaign modes are light on depth, and most seasoned players will breeze through before heading back to the heavy-hitters.

White Knight Chronicles is a game that isn’t quite the sum of its parts. The parts actually add up together pretty well on paper, but in reality the MMO and single player Japanese RPG styles don’t merge too well, and what you’re left with is a fun combat system with a cluttered HUD, generic storyline and design and a multiplayer component that is a side-component at best.

All in all I didn't have too many complaints about Bus Driver. It's a simple casual game, but it does what it sets out to do well.

The Guild 2: Pirates of the European Seas does justice to the franchise and certainly shows in the areas it has listened to the community.

An involving game, with interesting varied strategic options and challenges thrown at the player.

Whilst the Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom may not be everyone’s cup of tea it is a quirky and whimsical jaunt through the mind of a man addicted to pies and probably well worth a look for anyone wanting a change from the endless FPS cavalcade.

A game specifically catered to football enthusiasts who are not really on the nitty-gritty of football technicalities. Creativity and the spirit of the football game are the very elements that EA and Tiburion had wonderfully weaved into this All-American game.

If this were a TV show, one watch of this and any TV network would commission a full series – much like any adventure game fan who tries this will almost certainly follow this series throughout its run - provided it sticks to a somewhat regular release schedule.

Axel & Pixel is an enjoyable experience through the brief moments that players are able to experience.

A superb addition to the Xbox Live Arcade library that is full of shoot ‘em ups. It’s a smart purchase for any Geometry Wars fan that is dying to fill their time with a similar title. The controls could’ve been tightened up and the single-player campaign could’ve been longer, but in the long run, Ion Assault is a surprisingly great title for 800 MS Points.

If I had to describe in one word the high point of this game, it would be Atmosphere. This game has it by the mega tonne.

Top marks for creativity, but the occasional flaws, bugs and, to repeat my oxymoron, lack of unnecessary depth, make it look like the game could have done with another 6 months of fine-tuning.

If you enjoy a good horror mystery there’s definitely a lot of meat here to dig your teeth into provided you have the patience for the places that move a bit more slowly, or require a lot more dig. I think I’ll go play something warm and fuzzy now to chase away the chill.

For a game so concerned with balance, its annoyances are in danger of outweighing its virtues.

Fighting through crowds of enemies is only appealing for so long until a sense of confusion sets; a confusion that asks, “What else does WET offer besides the same fights over and over again?” The answer to that rhetorical question is not much.

It’s perfectly pleasant and enjoyable brand of cartoon violence will probably see a good few hours of your time fly by as you swipe your way through adorable, glowing-eyed samurai enemies.

It's well presented, incorporates some intriguing puzzles and actually involves a good deal of thinking. It's also repetitive, obtuse, and frustrating with game mechanics that seem a little dated.

It's a solid effort from tri-Ace in the end, and a marked improvement on their other titles this generation, but the solid gameplay is let down by its sometimes overwhelming difficulty and a bland story and world-design.

It may however be frustrating for some to play the game, which seems to be predictable and far too quick.

Fans of the first HAWX will no doubt derive a great deal of joy from another hearty dose of solid dogfighting, but then everyone else will feel the same sort of confused indifference towards the story and will quickly grow tired of shooting down wave after wave of jet fighters.

Fans of the first HAWX will no doubt derive a great deal of joy from another hearty dose of solid dogfighting, but then everyone else will feel the same sort of confused indifference towards the story and will quickly grow tired of shooting down wave after wave of jet fighters.

Fans of the first HAWX will no doubt derive a great deal of joy from another hearty dose of solid dogfighting, but then everyone else will feel the same sort of confused indifference towards the story and will quickly grow tired of shooting down wave after wave of jet fighters.

It’s perfectly pleasant and enjoyable brand of cartoon violence will probably see a good few hours of your time fly by as you swipe your way through adorable, glowing-eyed samurai enemies

It’s a solid effort from tri-Ace in the end, and a marked improvement on their other titles this generation, but the solid gameplay is let down by its sometimes overwhelming difficulty and a bland story and world-design.

Darksiders II is worth playing, but Deathinitive Edition is not worth the upgrade.

Fighting through crowds of enemies is only appealing for so long until a sense of confusion sets; a confusion that asks, “What else does WET offer besides the same fights over and over again?” The answer to that rhetorical question is not much.

Overall the game is well done and will be very much enjoyed by fans of the classic X:COM games and anyone who enjoys tactical combats.

Medal of Honor: Airborne is a game that needs time ploughed into it to reap the fill awards. If you’re looking for something that will reinvigorate your experience of WWII FPS’ then look elsewhere. But if you are looking for an excuse to take the same old fight back to the Nazis’ then here is your answer.

All in all Fantasy Wars is a solid game. If you are not a turn based strategy fan give it a miss, Fantasy Wars isn’t going to make any converts but it won’t drive away anyone who enjoys the genre either.

The ground combat is the most enjoyable I've encountered since Relic's Company of Heroes, and playing tactically genuinely pays off. Yet these bouts of entertainment are marred by long periods of trundling tedium, and novices are likely to be baffled by the complex interface and the lack of direction in how the game is supposed to be played.

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Leisure Suit Larry: Wet Dreams Don’t Dry is actually a game you might possibly want to play maybe. In fact, it’s not a bad adventure game at all - with quite fun puzzles, nice cartoony artwork, a decent length (not that that’s important, right ladies?), and there’s no silly mechanics (like paying for taxis and death) to get in the way. Even the jokes aren’t too offensive, with all the characters (especially the women) feeling like weird but relatable people - not just sex objects.

Battlefield 2042 should have been a massive, triumphant return for the series but, as much as it scratches that itch for both small and large scale combat, it brings some unnecessary changes to its core formula while missing the mark with some of its ambitious new features. With enough support, the great first-person shooter underneath might fully surface in a few months’ time, but properly enjoying it at launch requires jumping through several hoops.

Antigraviator is fun while it lasts, but fails to be memorable. The developers are clearly talented and pay attention to detail, but more content and variation would go a long way to make the game long-term entertainment even for players who aren’t big on racing titles. As it stands now, there is a lot to like for enthusiasts of the genre, but the game feels a tad threadbare. It is certainly the beginnings of something great, and should be nourished to reach its potential.

NHL 2K10 talks a good game with it’s brilliant TV-style presentation and is almost every bit as comprehensive as its competitor, but when it comes down to the clutch, 2K can’t quite seem to ‘squeeze it’ where it really counts.

A lovely experiment in its own right, Tech Support: Error Unknown is not for the faint of heart. Even at the lowest difficulty, it only comes into its own with an attentive player capable of reading between the lines. Though technical problems exist, they don’t get in the way too much. Recommended for those who’d like to try out something new and different, and don’t have a problem with sticking with the game until it really clicks.

Ubisoft have two game series that will always stick out to me for their debut games: Watch Dogs and Assassin’s Creed. The reason for this is simple: both games had interesting concepts but they weren’t fully realised until the sequel. For Honor is similar in this regard as there are clear things that can be improved with a sequel, however I still believe it is well worth playing. The combat in the game is fantastic, and though the learning curve may be steep, once you get the hang of it you’ll be playing for hours. The first entry in the For Honor series has started strong, I hope a sequel can fill in everything the game currently lacks.

Put simply, if you’re invested in the Paperworld universe, it’s worth exploring its spooky counterpart – even if the day of the dead has long passed.

Hegemony Rome's quick, neat and easy approach to grand strategy puts impressive control in the player's hands.

The Mean Greens is one of the simplest multiplayer games ever with about quarter the depth of the already puddle-thin Star Wars Battlefront, and yet for a quick blast now and again that type of game is totally fine.

Total War: Pharaoh will surely benefit from the shortage of AAA strategy games with real-time battles, but it may play things too safe for the most demanding fans of the series, and given it’s a full-price release, the overall scope lands dangerously close to that of the Total War Saga entries.

The gameplay and graphics plus the historical accuracy of the game make this game a good choice for the right kind of gamer.

Europa Universalis IV has been out for going on seven years, and with that comes the seven-year itch. I’ve been a long time fan of the game since its release and it’s my most played game on Steam by quite some ways. Emperor sees a lot of changes, both in the DLC and the free patch that accompanies it, but despite all this, many of my underlying complaints with the game persist seven years on. If you’re a fan of the franchise, this patch is one of the best, but it’s probably only worth buying if you’re a central European player.

Four expansions in, it finally feels like World of Warcraft is slowing down. Unless you're currently sitting at 85, even pandas aren't going to bring you back into this one.

Fans of the Frogwares titles will be satiated, even with the lack of Creepy Watson shadowing your every move. Inconsistencies and plot, er, 'quirks' aside, this is a pretty solid adventure with some neat ideas and a dog jumping onto a series of wooden pillars.

Krater presents an intriguing world, a new take on character development and clever design but at the same time the design choices to support its interesting mechanics are the negatives.

SEV doesn’t bring anything new to the table but it is a refinement of the genre. It has all the features you’d expect or want from a turn-based space strategy game and it does them all very well.

Defunct combines speed and exploration in a package that’s simplistic but engaging. The gravity functions lack a variety of uses but they’re necessary in nearly every situation, and there’s so many ways to engage with the game the way you want. It doesn’t have all of its screws tightened, but what’s there is packed with replay value.

Surgeon Simulator 2013 is engagingly ludicrous. It’s neither a substitute for actual medical training, nor will it take anywhere near as long to complete, but it’s a good way to find out where you fall between squeamish and remorseless monster. Physician, heal thy self (and stay away from me).

Spintires: MudRunner is a well-thought out and obvious improvement over the original in a number of ways. The physics feel tight and loose where they need to be, the new vehicles are genuinely fun to explore and drive, and the overall look of the game gets down and dirty in the best of ways for an off-road delivery simulator. It can get tedious at times and we wish the game took a few more chances, context, and variety in challenging our driving skills, but exploring and making our own battles through the tough journey from place to place is still a highlight, especially with friends along for the ride. A sketchy damage system and a few less than stellar textures make this game feel less polished than it ought to be at times, but with a healthy mod community and a ton of support and depth behind it, Spintires: MudRunner feels like an off-road trek that will keep on giving.

Despite many glaring flaws, this title provides a sense of impending doom that is thoroughly engrossing from start to finish.

The new units, setting, and the story makes for a nice little package that feels fairly priced. If you liked Ancestors Legacy and just wanted a reason to go back to the title, then Saladin’s Conquest is about as good a reason as any. There’s nothing wrong with what’s on show here, however, despite the new things mentioned it does have a “more of the same” feeling to it. That’s not necessarily a bad thing and no one is expected to reinvent the wheel each time - especially if it’s an extension of what’s already there. And what’s there is technically sound, from the AI to the optimization. It’s hard to fault Developer Destructive Creations for wanting to squeeze a bit more capital out of their solid title.

As it is, you've got an above average third person torch-'em-up that's still got issues and will take some getting used to with the old mouse sensitivity issues.

There will be few fans of Naruto that will find much to gripe about in this game. Its story is huge and detailed, the epic battles with the incredible quick time events will dazzle gamers regardless of their opinion of Naruto and anime in general, and the online fights have hidden depth, but those irritating load screens and the mundane aspects of Story Mode put a large pinch on the glories found within each battle.

There will be few fans of Naruto that will find much to gripe about in this game. Its story is huge and detailed, the epic battles with the incredible quick time events will dazzle gamers regardless of their opinion of Naruto and anime in general, and the online fights have hidden depth, but those irritating load screens and the mundane aspects of Story Mode put a large pinch on the glories found within each battle.

Only the serious war-gamer need apply.

But as it stands, Samurai Heroes probably won't change the minds of those adverse to the Dynasty Warriors template.

A solid indie real time strategy that is held back by a few flaws but retains a sense of what it wanted to be. This indie command and conquer could be a strong starting place for Stormcube to expand into the genre in the future.

Definitely worth a play if you like the idea of a Star Trek/Facebook parody game, but don’t expect any longevity from it.

Though it lacks the direction to make itself a pure arcade skateboarding title it has enough humour, self-awareness and interesting gameplay to be worthwhile.

Resonance is undoubtedly a compelling adventure for the majority of the playtime, but it also feels only half of one, and with the rush to the finale even a sequel couldn't fill in the blanks. Most importantly: what the hell was with the mysterious breast-feeding Japanese lady?

It comes away respectful of its inspiration and educational as well, but won’t last long in the memory as a gaming experience.

Overall, Murdered: Soul Suspect is an enjoyable but simplistic mystery adventure which, although it features a well-detailed game world and well-written plot, is far too short for its own good. It's a game which I'd recommend to fans of this genre, but only at sale price.

That's not to say Jet Car Stunts is not a fun game to pick up and play and if you're interested in chasing high-scores and persevering through extremely challenging courses there's a bountiful package on offer here for you. Unfortunately the fussy physics, camera problems and controls that are difficult to entirely master will halt the progress of all but a persistent few.

Zero’s not a bad game. The opening train sequence is one of the coolest parts of the entire series, and while the character swapping mechanic isn’t the deepest gameplay addition, it adds a sense of cooperation missing from the other games. But its poor pacing and excruciating inventory management problems keep its unique additions from having the impact they should. The visual upgrades and improved control options help to make revisiting it a bit easier, but its flaws stand out all the more now, a decade-and-a-half later.

Fans of the game will enjoy this distraction, even with its similarities to Pirate Bay, and with any luck some of the more promising additions will pave the way for further enhancements for what is really a neat, if slightly flawed, little game.

A Plague Tale: Requiem's trump card is the variety of gameplay sequences between which it alternates. At its best, it spices up the original's stealth action-adventure formula with new ways of eliminating foes or holding rats at bay. At its worst, it has you slogging through tedious or frustrating stealth sections. This is a sequel that's bigger, longer, and worth playing if you're invested in Amicia and Hugo's story. But while it successfully avoids repetition, a lack of truly interesting gameplay mechanics alongside disappointing optimization that makes controlling Amicia feel unnecessarily clunky at times hamper the overall experience at launch.

Developers Arachnid games have created a world the is full of charm that is very vivid and fun, the game certainly has issues with its technical state and the horrendously frustrating camera but still provides an enjoyable experience.

Flight has nothing to do with Flight Simulator and the sooner people realise that the better.

Though it lacks the direction to make itself a pure arcade skateboarding title it has enough humour, self-awareness and interesting gameplay to be worthwhile.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is at its best when it encourages you to be patient and focus on discovering its world, taking in the strange shapes of its trees and plants, while uncovering Na’Vi stories and customs. Easily the best way to experience the universe envisioned by James Cameron, it’s also a fun enough take on a FarCry game, albeit not one that refreshes Ubisoft’s tired formula nearly enough. Combat feels loose and, before long, clearing outposts or fighting the same few types of enemies will have you inevitably yearning to head back out in search of new wondrous sights. Exploration alone makes Frontiers of Pandora worth playing – especially if you’re an established fan of the universe – but, much like the RDA’s pollution suffocates the life out of its surroundings, mechanical tedium inevitably and unfortunately drags things down in the long run.

Rogue Trooper is an interesting concept. The science-fiction design it was based on translated decently to the original back in 2006 and it translates better now with everything learned in over a decade. The best parts of the game took players into airships to chase villains across ravines and cities and put them blind into treacherous forests full of snipers. These things made it along well to Rogue Trooper Redux. Unfortunately, bad enemy AI and overly simple controls where actions get caught up in one another keeps Rogue Trooper from being challenging as much as it comes out frustrating at times. Rebellion is developing a pedigree for helping to putting old school projects back together for another more meaningful go. Rogue Trooper Redux isn’t the best they’ve ever done, but it’s most certainly an interesting shooter and one well worth considering if you want to take a modernized revisit to yesteryear.

Jurassic Park: The Game gets the licence utterly perfect, offering a thrilling rollercoaster ride (sometimes literally) of dinosaurs, tension and action, but still wise enough to slow down, let you and the characters catch their collective breath, and unwind with a simple puzzle or two.

It's a decent enough title, but unless you're a hardcore fan, you could easily live a happy life having not played this game.

Jurassic Park: The Game gets the licence utterly perfect, offering a thrilling rollercoaster ride (sometimes literally) of dinosaurs, tension and action, but still wise enough to slow down, let you and the characters catch their collective breath, and unwind with a simple puzzle or two.

Hothead may be pushing their luck, but there's life in the Hero to the Downtrodden yet.

It is good, but the Vietnam setting doesn't fit the template as well as World War II, and I would strongly advise newcomers to play the original Men of War first, otherwise that first mission may well put you off for life.

Should you buy it? Maybe, as it is cheap. Will you be playing it in a month? Probably not, unless you really get into it. Is it good value if purchased and played with friends? Definitely, it’s at its best. Are there enough people playing to sustain it in the long term? Doubtful.

Though it lacks the direction to make itself a pure arcade skateboarding title it has enough humour, self-awareness and interesting gameplay to be worthwhile.

Evil West’s old-school sensibilities aren’t what drags it down, although its linear levels might not appeal to everyone. Its combat feels glorious when it clicks, but it struggles to find its stride, resulting in a fun but rather unremarkable adventure. Fights range from exhilarating to boring and outright frustrating, its story is entirely forgettable and lacks memorable characters, while a lack of polish in terms of smaller details like NPC models and cutscenes makes it hard for it to properly stand out. But if you’re looking for an excuse to brutally execute vampires with an arsenal that looks, sounds, and feels great to use, there’s enough fun to warrant picking up Evil West, as long as you keep its flaws in mind.

Dharma continues Paradox’s trend of iterating and improving the base game, but this expansion feels like it’s only for the most loyal of EU4 players. With changes and improvements to systems that feel a bit dense and additions that feel like content for content’s sake, it’s all starting to feel disappointingly stale. However, what’s present is polished and appears to be balanced well enough for this EU4 super fan. It’s just not a must-have expansion.

As of means of conquest by trade, Patrician IV is a good solid example that will offer merchant gamers something to chew on. If however you like a bit more turbulence as you lift yourself up and forge a seafaring empire then you'll likely find yourself distracted as it can get boring once you realise your convoy captains practically run everything for you, and coin is in abundance.

Dead State is a very fun zombie apocalypse RPG but it’s not quite the hoped-for second coming of Troika.

Right now, Binary Domain is an accomplished and enjoyable shooter that proves excellent combat can make up for shortcomings in other areas.

Valor & Victory is based on the original tabletop board game and for better or worse is meticulously designed for fans of that format. Those familiar with miniature wargaming are sure to find a game capable of scratching that same itch, but if you prefer your WW2 strategy more accessible, Panzer Corps 2 may be more up your aisle.

One for hardcore military history fans only.