Overall, Hell Is Us has all the makings of an incredible game but is let down by clunky combat, a meandering main quest and lack of direction. However, it must be praised for its environmental storytelling and attention to detail when it comes to art direction and world building. If you don’t need direction and objectives to enjoy a game, this could still be the one for you as curiosity will always be rewarded in Hell is Us.

As a concept, Anger Foot is genius. I loved the city, the gangs, and the oddball humour. Oh, and the soundtrack is a thumping ass-kicker that constantly delivers big beats and funky grooves. However, the concept is restricted by itself. It certainly lives up to its name as you definitely can kick everything with your foot. I just wish I could have let loose, played around with different tactics, and embraced the chaotic absurdity that the developers were channelling with more depth.

Broken Pieces is a compelling mystery title that’s guaranteed to pull you in if you have it within you to overlook the fact that the game is trying to tackle too many genres at once. It’s a testament to Broken Pieces’ ambition though. The time-management and combat mechanics had the potential to add real urgency to an already intriguing tale, but lacked the refinement to truly achieve that goal. Still, I pushed on - rooting for Broken Pieces. It may not be perfect, but Broken Pieces is a promising start for Elsewhere Experience that shows that this indie studio is one that’ll surely make a name for itself in the world of narrative games.

The standout parts of Silt therefore are its artistic and sound design, creating that sense of unknowable and unsettling scale, a world that is home to weird little things and beings with too many teeth than is advisable. Respectably, the game clocks in at about six hours long, though I languished in some levels because the pieces of the puzzle of why the diver was down here were irresistible. I’ve got a theory, and what you’ll find down in the deep must be seen to be believed.

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage comprises two parts and yet I’d argue that the collective release feels like one part of a larger whole. Rage does little to conclude the events of Bloom, instead providing unsatisfying answers while withholding larger mysteries for a sequel that could take years to manifest, and that’s if it’s given the green light. I retain the opinion that there’s something very special about what Don’t Nod has conceived here; I just find myself struggling to find any sense of closure within the events of Rage. I’ll be there day one for a sequel. I just wish my satisfaction regarding this game didn’t rely on another that’s yet to exist.

Abriss is enjoyable primarily due to the destruction, rather than the puzzle elements. In its sandbox joy of blowing things up, it’s a satisfying experience that makes you feel like a kid again, and while a challenge is expected, it felt like I was fighting against the UX more than the puzzles.

All in all the game is straightforward and for the most part is enjoyable as you do feel like you're basically a captain of a Star Trek-style ship. It does unfortunately start to feel a little repetitive as the missions go on, as they tend to just be things like heading to a certain location to pick something up, or heading somewhere to clear the area. But there's a good amount of content in here to keep you entertained, such as unlocking new parts for your ship, recruiting new members, and being able to customise the look of both your crew and ship.

All things considered, Abyssus is a good game with a solid foundation, that could easily be a great game come future patches. Even now, it’s great fun to dive in and blow enemies away, particularly with a squad of friends, even if that does inordinately ramp up the difficulty. At the introductory offer price being offered in the Steam store until August 19, I’d feel more than comfortable recommending it to a friend, and it has the potential to be a staple evening’s enjoyment if it can get over the biggest hurdles discussed in this review.

I don’t see much replay value in Endless Ocean Luminous, nor do I see enough to keep players occupied or interested for the long haul, aside from perhaps the multiplayer offering. If you’re nuts about fish then this is probably a game for you, but if you’re looking for anything more than an artificial aquarium simulator, you might be disappointed by how shallow it is.

As the biggest Metroid Prime game to date yet it’s fallen into the trap that many open-world games succumb to, an overwhelmingly feeling of emptiness. The actual levels themselves are good, look great, but are dragged down by interfering NPCs and linear layouts that defeat the point of a metroidvania entirely.

House of Golf 2 then, is a mighty fine way to play Crazy Golf. It looks lush, it plays smoothly and it gives you a chance to feel like a golfing god. The dopamine rush soon ends after about 8-10 hours, unless you’ve got loads of mates to play with, but you’ll likely thrash them unless you’re drunk. I had a good time and I’ll play again if new courses are added, but after that handful of hours, I’d had my fill.

Let’s Sing 2024 is a mixed bag; it’s a party that doesn’t reach its full potential, sadly fizzling out before it gets started. It’s a shame because I believe the core of the franchise is still there behind all the new licks of paint, it’s just harder to see when other, less favourable elements catch your eyes instead. But it still bursts with fun, ready to be unpacked at a moment’s notice and, for that reason, it’s a decent game in my eyes.

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is a worthwhile play if you are a fan of Disney, particularly the Disney Parks, as there are plenty of visual nods that are a joy to see. After all, which of us wouldn’t want to platform up Space Mountain, or restore a dilapidated It’s a Small World? But for the casual platforming fan, you won’t find much here that you’ve likely not experienced before. Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is an improvement upon its predecessor, adding depth and nicely updating the controls, and with that, returning fans will find what is, overall, a satisfying experience. The problem is, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is also stuck in the past with its lack of innovation and in today’s market, it’s hard to overlook that.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a fun game to play on your lonesome or with friends, even for an hour or so here and there. Just don't expect it to be a game-changer for the series because in truth, if that moment was ever going to happen, it would have happened many years before now.

The enemy designs were done with care and detail that stunning a cluster of the creatures and then scooting them off a leaf feels like snatching survival from their jaws. And, as more and more inventions and upgrades unlock, the rig is yours to helm and personalise. On a console, I could certainly see Stonefly being a firm favourite for younger children, especially with the multiple save slots, accessible story, colourblind modes and the assist mode that lets you switch on invincibility. There are a few wrinkles, but it's nothing that a helping of elbow grease won't fix.

Like Mario Tennis Aces before it, Super Rush gently caresses its traditional take on the sport it's simulating to a new, better-than-ever standard. But just like that older game, too, its exaggerated extra modes don't stand above the 'basic' experience of simply playing 18 holes as a superpowered plumber.

Loop Hero is exceptional at what it does. It's an addictive game that steals your free time with the same ease as only Minecraft can match. It's perfect for some, but for others it can be a dissatisfying experience as it never feels like you've achieved anything until it's actually over. No little win feels worth it. If you're into roguelikes then this is potentially a great game for you, but it's not for everyone.

Despite all the game's flaws,they've created something new, and it works. There's a world and a concept here that has the potential to deliver something truly epic - and the gameplay itself, when it's at its best, is pretty damn great. There are lessons the team will have learned in making Disintegration, and I hope they get the opportunity to grow as a studio and create a truly special sequel. The potential is there.

Riders Republic’s failures in effectively catering for newcomers - despite its excellent range of accessibility features - are clear for me as a newbie. But anyone experienced with this genre will have a bloody fantastic time here, and it's well worth picking up if you’re into it.

Maneater is in some ways a spiritual successor to Jaws Unleashed, so if you're a die-hard fan of that old cult hit, this is definitely up your creek. The game boasts beautiful environments and a compelling combat system which work really well hand in hand. The story in some ways feels as if it exists just for the sake of it, however - it doesn't seem to add a great deal as the game progresses, other than to explain the origin of the baby bull shark at the start. Maneater makes for an interesting addition to the action-RPG genre, and is one that is sure to capture the imagination of adventurous aquatic gamers, if only for a few hours of undersea fun.

There are some issues with The Witcher: Monster Slayer that will likely hold it back from being a huge success, but there's still a good game in here. Little touches like dialogue options in the quests, or the ability to unlock weapons and outfits that we've seen in other Witcher games are delightful inclusions. It's also less than 2GB according to my phone, so it won't eat much storage space. Sadly, the overall experience is marred by a gesturing towards microtransactions and a tendency for quests to lead you down real-life dead ends.

Playing Clive ‘N’ Wrench certainly isn’t a smooth experience, but perhaps that’s what the quintessential 90s platformer is all about. I oftentimes felt lost and frustrated by the game’s lack of instruction and difficulty that I was forced to take time away, but those inviting 3D worlds just kept drawing me back in. Clive ‘N’ Wrench isn’t just a warp through space and time. It was a journey into my own childhood nostalgia. If you stick around for the journey, you’ll be rewarded for your perseverance. I worry though that Clive ‘N’ Wrench may be too lacking in fluidity and intrigue for those who fail to notice its tributes and inspirations.

At the end of House Of Ashes’ seven or so hour run time, I felt similar to if I’d just watched a low-budget action film - something more akin to Dog Soldiers than the game’s intended influences. It was a good time but I don’t really feel like I need to play it again in order to get everything I’m going to get from it. The game ranks firmly above Man Of Medan, but below Little Hope, and I hope that the next chapter in the series leans back towards the horror aspects rather than the action.

The game’s on-pitch rough and tumble makes it feel as much like Smash Bros. as a ‘proper’ football game, and slapstick animations help sell the bone-crunching tackles and electrified-fence frazzlings. But once you’ve the measure of the Mushroom Kingdom’s idea of a kickabout, the only thing that’ll really have you coming back to this is multiplayer.

Serve yourself a plate of PlateUp! to prevent the pangs of hunger gnawing at your insides, reminding you you missed out on a meal that’s as delicious as it is tough to swallow. Dish up, my fellow chefs, and bon appétit.

I could appreciate the animation, the odd joke, the voice acting from the English dub Pikachu, and just being in the world of Ryme City. It was an extension of the film I enjoyed and it was a place to be with my favourite Pokemon, too. I think if you temper your expectations, Detective Pikachu Returns can be exactly what it wants to be, a delightful journey through the world of Pokemon.

Maquette, in many ways, is a delight. Visually it's stunning, and the puzzles you encounter are often nice little brain teasers - I can imagine playing on a sofa with a significant other would elicit some fun conversations in the same way a murder mystery might. It has its problems and it's not perfect, but, as I said, you should think of Maquette as a rom-com of games. Not the highest form of art and not up for an Oscar nomination, but something you can certainly enjoy on a rainy Sunday afternoon.

My time with Calico left me wanting more, and it’s annoyingly a tale of two halves. I quickly warmed to the delightful characters, but was left feeling shortchanged by the limited storytelling and quests. I had fun running around with a cat on my head, but was underwhelmed by the lack of any needs required to be fulfilled regarding my animal friends. I enjoyed baking sweet treats and decorating my cafe, but quickly discovered I couldn’t expand the premises. I can only hope that devs continue to invest in this world and seize the clear yet missed opportunity for growth.

Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered welcomes you back to Seacrest County in an interesting fashion, and for lovers of the 2010 title who are perhaps looking to redeem this year with the help of some Hot Pursuit nostalgia, then it's certainly worth checking out. With that said, playing this game 10 years on has made me wonder if I'd enjoy this remaster as much as if I was playing the original for the first time in 2020. While the remastered version does include slightly better graphics, DLC and various quality of life updates, I'm still left wondering if this is enough to wow any newcomers or die-hard NFS fans who are more interested in other series entries.

We Create Stuff aimed to replicate old school horror in this game, and in that regard, it's a success. The puzzles click together with satisfaction and nothing feels like it's been left behind in the journey from one tape to the next. However, In Sound Mind does draw from other games and so becomes a pastiche, albeit an exciting one with a cracking soundtrack. Plus, a few frame rate dips and crashes took me out of the environments that had been created with such artistic care. What will stick with me is the utter treat it is to scurry round a horror game that isn't afraid of using the entire colour wheel, subverting conventions of what scary can be, and for that I give In Sound Mind a lot of credit.

There's a good game here - two, indeed - with fascinating stories and enough things to enjoy overall, but only if you're a patient, analytical soul with the perseverance of a merry Sherlock Holmes. Otherwise, Famicom Detective Club is up there with the most frustrating things I've ever done, and I worked in the Civil Service.

There's a good game here - two, indeed - with fascinating stories and enough things to enjoy overall, but only if you're a patient, analytical soul with the perseverance of a merry Sherlock Holmes. Otherwise, Famicom Detective Club is up there with the most frustrating things I've ever done, and I worked in the Civil Service.

Sniper Elite 5 introduces some decent additions to the tried-and-tested formula and impressively improves on the X-ray killcams that the series is famous for. In spite of that, Sniper Elite needs an overhaul into next-gen to really keep the franchise alive in the future.

In many ways, Darkest Dungeon 2 is an upgrade, but some may think it went too far. When you boil it down to exploring and fighting, it’s a joy even when the enemies are slamming you around. And you will sink many hours into working your way through the various biomes in the hope of surviving this nightmare world.

An original Star Wars story though it is, with electrifying lightsaber action and an adorable droid, as a video game Fallen Order is an experience that never once escapes the shadow of its predecessors.

This is easily the best game in the Mario & Sonic series to date. Unfortunately, all that really means is that your mileage with the game comes down entirely to your own experience with the franchise, as this latest effort just doesn't do enough to tackle the problems inherent in its predecessors, and does precious little to keep players invested and engaged for more than a few dozen hours.

Preservation of games is important, and Aspyr's light-touch remaster delivers, basically, the Xbox game as it was, 16 years ago. Just don't come to this one expecting anything of Halo quality, because what felt mid-tier then, absolutely does now. Stubbs The Zombie is a gas for a few hours, but outside of a local co-op mode starring another zombie called Grubbs, it's unlikely to be something you return to once its hero's rebellion is over.

I wanted to like Death Stranding. I'm a big fan of Kojima's previous games and I enjoy them for the mishmash of ideas they always are, and in theory I've no problem with playing a delivery man (I've put far too many hours into Euro Truck Simulator), but this game drowns its exciting systems and ideas with a messy execution and dragged out campaign. By stretching it out to such a long playtime, you can't escape Death Stranding's weaknesses - repetitive missions, simple combat, and a badly told story.

If you love 1997’s Starship Troopers or the franchise as a whole, you’ll love being able to command your own Mobile Infantry in Terran Command. Whilst this isn’t the strongest strategy game around, it is still an RTS worth a punt, especially if all you want to do is destroy endless waves of bugs. It's an exciting addition to the Starship Troopers franchise which clearly still has its audience so many years after the release of that first movie, and even more since Robert A Heinlein's inspirational novel, which is now a mighty 63 years young. Make Star Wars look positively pipsqueaky.

The port itself is perfectly fine, working well in handheld mode on the Switch. Load times are short and all the game's functions map well to the Joy-Cons. So, if you're looking to play Stranger's Wrath on the move and you've not picked it up on mobile, this is a great option. It's just that, while I'm a big fan of Stranger's Wrath, and I'm looking forward to returning to Oddworld with Soulstorm, as good as a game as this once was, its shine has dimmed over the years.

It’s in these combinations that the fun really begins. In order to unlock more of these abilities, weapons, or upgrades, you’ll spend another resource back in the hub world and they’ll unlock randomly from a flashy gumball machine. Sometimes it’s an ability that will snag you the kills, or get you out of danger quickly, and you’ll soon have your favourites. Go Mecha Ball is an otherwise run-of-the-mill roguelike, which is not a damning implication. It’s a bit ‘by the numbers’ but it makes for an addictive delivery of dopamine, one that will challenge your skills, and sometimes your patience.

Sonic Colors: Ultimate is a good game by the low standards of 3D Sonic titles. The levels are pretty and offer optional routes. The gameplay is functional but not without flaws, yet somehow still enjoyable. Despite issues, I've enjoyed my time with the game, but I doubt I'll be playing it again soon.

It falls short with the combat unfortunately, which is a shame because it’s such a huge part of the game that you can’t really avoid it. Like I alluded to before, the final boss was a slog to get through and not the kind of finale I was hoping for, but it’s clear a lot of love went into the game so I’m trying not to judge it too harshly. I’d still recommend trying it for yourself, but don’t be surprised if the delightful visuals don’t keep you invested till the end credits, it needed a little more.

Call of Duty deserves so much better, and if there’s anything that I’ve learned from Black Ops 7, it's that the annual releases need to come to an end ASAP, so that the developers can have more time to ensure that each new release lives up to the legacy of this series that has been built over the last two decades. Hopefully, the next entry will get the series back on track.

The Almost Gone has that same feeling of exploring fabrications made up to represent familiar surroundings, of having to look beyond the usual ways out to get out; and it has a comparable atmosphere of dread, manifesting an uncomfortable of pressure on the player. The more you play it, the closer you feel to some ominous truth you don't really want to discover - but you have to. So you do. And then all that's left are the empty sets. Tl;dr: this pretty little puzzler sure isn't Monument Valley.

Overall, The August Before offers a quick, yet impactful look at the changes that come with teenage life, the pain that comes with heartbreak and moving on, but most importantly, the strength and excitement of moving on.

There's a fun game in Moving Out, and I'm sure there's an audience who will get hours of multiplayer, physics-based enjoyment out of it - but for me there are better games that scratch the exact same itch. A lack of charm and humour and some dodgy physics really hold back a game that could have been a lot more enjoyable.

The close-knit community and setting made the grief feel all the more suffocating and as the player, you try your hardest to inject hope back into the world. Whether that means bringing fading relationships back to life, giving someone a purpose again or just being the quiet presence that somebody needs. Despite my issues, I believe Closer the Distance is a title that should be experienced for yourself as your story may turn out different to mine.

Let’s Sing Presents ABBA is an injection of joy best enjoyed in small doses. Thanks to its mass appeal, it’s a game that I can see having longevity in my collection as I pull it out at parties for many years to come, even if it’s not one I’ll be running back to often as a solo player - much to the relief of my neighbours, I’m sure. I’d like to see the song selection expanded, but the game’s ‘difficulty’ is accessible enough to be enjoyed by seasoned sopranos and inebriated dancing queens alike.

Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss is an interesting AA detective game, with fun investigation mechanics and a gripping premise, but quickly falls apart in the second half of the story. It’s disappointing, because there are occasional sparks of ingenuity in some of the game’s later chapters, and it’s a shame to see the final quality so inconsistent.

It’s always frustrating marking a game down due to very simple, but easily fixable flaws. Arctic Awakening has been receiving frequent patches during the review period, so it’s entirely likely that a lot of these bugs have been squashed. Nevertheless, this was still my experience of the game after playing through to completion. I enjoyed the narrative, and quite liked seeing the mystery unravel over the course of the story. I just found it to be a frustrating experience on the technical side.

Perhaps this isn't the best the genre has to offer, then, but it's one for members of the otome armada who fancy a bit of a change from more extraordinary stories surrounding relatable matters of the heart.

Destroy All Humans! 2 - Reprobed is sure to be a nostalgic blast from the past for any fans of the original game and series, although given its buggy state, it might be worth waiting to see if a patch can add some much-needed fixes before you dive in - it’s not currently the love letter it aims to be.

While it is far from perfect and lacks the punch, fluidity and excitement that the classic Fight Night series had, Undisputed is a welcomed return to boxing games and will please a lot of fans.

Overall, this is a comprehensive, complete-feeling package in terms of its original inclusions, that gives you two very excellent games from the earliest days of a gaming giant - games that will bring a smile to your face whether you played them at the time or not. And alongside those, a curio that might pique the interest of some, but is probably best left in the past; and 'Definitive' versions of varying results.

Where the likes of Dying Light offers slick parkour and Resident Evil gives us smart survival horror gameplay, Dead Island 2 has nothing of substance to balance out the endless waves of flesh munchers. It’ll undoubtedly satisfy your bloodlust, but it won’t be long before you’re craving something a bit meatier.

Overall though, it feels like a patchwork of things the team wanted to make work but didn't finalise. It's like the hotel recreation itself - odd, but promising, and then as we delve deeper and deeper we realise that the enigmatic engineering has its weaknesses and its parts that aren't done yet. This isn't to detract from the fear that I felt, nor from the stomach-churning sense of dread whenever Du'Met turned his head like a hawk realising he might have heard someone breathe. I only wish the nausea wasn't from indigestion after an overstuffed and underdone game.

For those who savour competition and putting their skills to the test, there’s a lot to love here in Midnight Fight Express. Its pounding electric soundtrack pulls you straight into the red mist of the action and it even creates a gif of your most successful combos at the end of the level to share on social media. You might find though, once you return to the main menu, blood and bruises smoothed away, you’re as exhausted as Babyface feels.

Ultimately, AI Limit does not have the scope or impact that titles such as Elden Ring and Bloodborne have but it still manages to hold its own in the soulslike genre thanks to its unique combat system and engaging environment. However, I still believe that such an environment and story is wasted on occasion and AI Limit could have benefited from straying away from the soulslike genre to explore a more RPG-focused narrative.

This mileage will vary depending on your skill level, but regardless, it would have been nice for Telmari’s arrows to have a secondary skill, especially as Telmari won’t hurt a creature. It’s a game for the most patient among us and one that will go down well with speedrunners. It’s reminiscent of old-school platformers in both the best ways and the worst - simple to pick up, difficult to master. While I enjoyed my time with Telmari, it isn’t a game that will stand out in memory outside of its genuinely lovely visual design and early levels.

I really wanted Far Cry 6 to be more than the previous games. A shake up of the formula that accounted for the violence of its setting. You're leading a revolution, starting a vicious civil war between entrenched factions, this is something open world games can reflect so well as areas of its land change based on your actions. But, disappointingly, it not only does little with its premise but is a poor version of things Far Cry has done well in the past.

It’s taken ansdor four years to develop Slipstream to this point, and they should be proud of their achievement in and of itself, regardless of the competition or the words and score on this page. If you’re reading this now, congratulations, and I hope this is a sign of more to come.

Personally I’m a sucker for a game like this, and I’ve enjoyed it plenty enough to keep on pushing for all achievements and to see that pesky third ending. Your mileage will vary - newcomers will most likely be miffed by the whole thing, and purists dismayed that their bullets keep missing. But arcade-goers of the late 1990s who want a gory little slice of exhumed nostalgia might feel satisfied enough with what’s on show. Remake offers plenty to chew on - it’s a shame it doesn’t go down smooth.

There are some really nice ideas in The Crush House, but ultimately it’s unable to tie any of it together in a meaningful way. Fans of dating sims will probably get a real kick out of the first few seasons of the game, but before long the crushing repetition sets in and you find yourself sinking to new lows to satisfy an ever-dwindling audience of perverts. I guess it’s a lot more like reality TV than I gave it credit for, actually.

Yes, Cartman is funny. Kyle is stuck up. Stan is the mediator. And Kenny, is, well, Kenny. You can’t fault the cut scenes which act like clips from the show and are the game’s redeeming feature, but it’s surrounded by recycled and uninspiring gameplay that might have worked on the PlayStation 3, but roguelike battlers, particularly ones involving cards, have come so far. As a South Park fan, I was disappointed. As a roguelike fan, it stung a bit more. The huge potential just falls flat and while it might be redeemed with your mates and a six-pack of beer, it’s unlikely it has legs to keep you returning.

I’m finding it apt to compare Killing Floor 3 to Payday 3’s launch, which is another series I absolutely adore. Fans will remember Payday 3 launched with a lot of problems, many of which seem to have been repeated here. Tripwire Interactive has a long road ahead to persuade fans that making the jump to the third game will be worth it. And I truly believe there’s an excellent foundation here to turn it into something great, but I’m not convinced this is what that game is right now.

What starts as a colurful and fun arcade racer ends up being a bit too ‘by the numbers’ and spoils itself with no dynamic difficulty, or options to make things a bit more exciting. It’s not a bad game, but it is a bit forgettable. Arcade racing is hard to pull off and Horizon Chase 2 almost gets there but neglects to remember that you still need some highs and lows to make for a great experience.

What frustrates me the most, is I really wanted to love Star Overdrive. I wrote about it for a little news story, highlighting how good it looked - honestly, the visual design is simply lush. The trailers sold me on a joyous adventure balancing combat and exploration, and I ended up wishing for more, and feeling sadly disappointed.

Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings game doesn’t reinvent the cosy formula, despite several promising glimmers of originality. Any sign of promise is, unfortunately, cancelled out by mediocrity and an experience that is dominated by untapped potential. The game, despite these issues, has undeniable charm but it’s difficult to claim that it’ll resonate and land with the masses.

Irreverence works when you yourself have that playful perspective too, not just as a set of jigsaw pieces that actually don’t make any sort of picture at all.

While the game does what it says on the tin, it doesn't add a wealth of new experiences or features to set it aside from previous Zombie Army titles…A few hours into the game... you do sadly get the impression that you've seen everything Zombie Army 4: Dead War has to offer.

While I didn’t love my time with Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince, I appreciate the simplicity of its gameplay, with it undoubtedly offering fun in accessible bursts. Unlike richer, more immersive RPGs, there aren't any complex mechanics to get to grips with – you just get stuck in, the controls intuitive regardless of knowledge. This title won’t win awards, nor will it spark debates over the genre’s unique innovations, but it’ll offer some a means to while away the hours, lost in a sea of colourful monsters, which is sometimes all we ever really need.

Did we really, really, really need a cat taming minigame? And you already told me the story of Athia at the start of the game. Why am I now ‘learning’ it again at the end of the game, strolling from point to point, pressing triangle for exposition. It’s a gorgeous game, but God if it’s not like a minorly insipid make-up artist’s Instagram grid. Loads of things to look at but no actual meaning in any of them.

As a narrative-heavy game that settles you in the director’s seat to drive these characters towards their respective resolutions, it feels like INTERIOR/NIGHT forgot to finish the story. I mean it genuinely, this game just stops. I sat in the main menu for about 20 minutes trying to work out if I had fenced myself into an abrupt ending or if there was a giant “continue” button in my blind spot. I went back to what I thought were pivotal decisions and chose the opposite to see if that would change the paths, and it didn’t.

Once the game ended I felt underwhelmed. For something that looks this gorgeous and has such a confident sense of style, that feeling doesn’t translate to the actual gameplay. All I could think about were the missed chances of having this cute shadow frog interact more with the world or have an emotional connection through its adventure, rather than just constantly chasing an ever-changing endpoint that never really satisfies.

If you liked the original, then this mesmeric remake is gorgeous and suspenseful, and I imagine it’s ideal after the Fatal Frame series has lain dormant for so long. On the other hand, if your palette for horror has been spoiled with more modern hits in the genre, Maiden of Black Water’s atmosphere rises to the surface while its other dated aspects pull it back down

In spite of the fact that the adorable art-style (which looks like it was plucked straight out of a children’s book) is a treat on the eyes, and the accompanying music - although rather repetitive - is very pleasant, Minabo: A walk through life isn’t a game I find relaxing, but just rather boring. While other social simulator games like The Sims give players full control over their characters’ personalities and what they do with their lives, Minabo just sees every vegetable plod along at a painfully leisurely pace, achieving very little other than interacting with their brethren in the most basic ways and sprouting children from the ground. Despite being inoffensive for a short period of time, this isn’t the engaging new cosy game that you’ve been waiting for.

Funko Fusion feels like it was put together by a committee who didn’t understand the brief. Or fun. And the worst thing? I actually like Funko Pops. I have quite a few displayed around my flat. I was desperately hoping this would be a hit and give us another great action game to lose hours to. This could have been amazing, it could have been the proper mash-up of pop culture it first appeared to be. Instead it’s a vapid, forgettable release that has no idea who it’s for.

I desperately want to be able to recommend this game to fans of the genre, and when it worked properly, it felt wonderful to play. Even now, I kind of miss the world within this game because it evokes a great sense of place and time through genuinely lush pixel visuals. In the state that it’s currently in, I can’t do this. There were too many moments when I walked away from the game in frustration, not because of my skill level, but because the controls of the Sandfox weren’t responsive enough, or traipsing back through old areas created tedium.

As I came to the end of my time in Tamagotchi Plaza, it became an insipid place to roam - an existential nightmare where everyone is constantly happy, living in a cycle of benign pleasantries. The constant repetition only serving to chip away at my sanity, much like when I owned my first Tamagotchi as a kid, hearing it chirrup for attention until I shoved it in a drawer to die.

The biggest crime here is, oddly, the faithfulness to the source material. On paper it makes sense and it does evoke the same feelings as the films, but it makes for a very frustrating experience that ends up being a bitter disappointment. When the worst part of your shooter is the shooting, then something went badly wrong.

Buried underneath the messy narrative and the mundane gameplay, there's a good game in here, somewhere. But for the most part, The Medium is a game that I'm very happy to put behind me and never think about again. For any fans of horror, I would firmly recommend you give this game a miss.