Wailing Heights is a game with a unique idea that quickly falls into the same old adventure game traps.

If you do have the patience to spend five minutes setting up your turns, and dig the idea of taking a team of mercenaries into battle, then the game’s concept, aesthetics and complexity will give you a challenge that you have a right to brag about for years to come.

DOOM is a must own for veterans of the series, and any FPS fans in general.

While Homefront: The Revolution is a good game when you finally get it to work, it is not a new experience.

Its story and some characters might not feel as fleshed out as they could be, but its main character has a surprising depth and the world here is certainly immersive. Put that alongside some solid puzzling, voice acting and a great style and you’ve got a great little point and click adventure that is not to be missed.

The Banner Saga 2 is a slight improvement on an already excellent game and the wait for the third game in the series is going to be even more painful than it was for the second.

TransOcean 2: Rivals is a decent game that is having some trouble leaving the starting blocks.

Although not diverse in content and lacking a bit in players, it does not shirk in the departments of polish and style. With a low price, Western Press is definitely a game to pick for you and some friends to duel it out in Old West.

In the end, the best thing about Audioshield is the ability to add any song from your personal music library to interact with in an all-encompassing environment, making every other rhythm game obsolete.

With smart writing, an incredibly off-putting atmosphere, and a low enough price and run time to fit into anyone’s schedule, NORTH is a little game that you’ll remember for a long time.

As a standalone game without the VR gimmick, Marble Mountain does a reasonable job, but just doesn't have enough variation to keep it interesting.

Phantasmal does have some great features, but they often feel rough and unpolished.

A lot of what happened was very predictable; it felt like the game was tricking you into thinking your choices meant something, when really, you weren’t doing anything at all.

Battlefleet: Gothic Armada is a competent if slightly laborious first foray into the realms of Warhammer 40,000’s space battles, but there is potential here. As Dawn of War II changed almost all the elements of its precursor for the better, it will be interesting to see what Tindalos would do next were it to return to this franchise.

There is a good measure of fun to be had with Offworld Trading Company, but it’s a bit like ordering a vanilla ice cream dessert and being served pistachio instead – it will be enjoyable but it’s not quite what you wanted.

Overall, Red is for Anguish is a great visual novel.

Some deeper combat, a more engaging story or characters, RPG elements like some skill customization, or deeper puzzles may have made things more memorable, but as is the entire experience just kind of is, like a cool, windless 40 degree day.

Flat Kingdom is a platformer with a neat premise, but the idea of a trinity of characters performing different abilities has been done before, and better. There are ideas here that work, but the issues outweigh the positives. Unfortunately, Flat Kingdom’s biggest sin is that it’s just a bit boring.

There are moments of glory that show what this game could have been with more consistency, but a ton of frustrating deaths is its downfall.

Overall, it is difficult to say who this game is intended for. Perhaps partly to those suffering from inescapable spells of ’80s nostalgia and whose best memories of that era consist of bad dialogue and ill-explained plots? Perhaps the local co-op option will make the game more enjoyable in the long run. For the lone player, the few redeeming qualities include the music and visuals.

iNK Stories Studio has raised the bar in real-world based narrative, and it will be exciting to see what they deliver next.

Obliteracers is meant to be played with friends, and it's meant to be played from the comfort of home. If you're looking for a single player or online experience, you're not going to find much of it there. But if you're looking for something perfect for a gathering of friends, maybe even something to inspire a few drinking games, Obliteracers is a great option to look to.

The game has taken an interesting departure from its predecessor and I found myself slightly preferring the first game. That’s probably just down to my own personal preference in genres so if a deck-building / action-RPG / Rogue-like hybrid appeals to you, Forced Showdown is worth your time and money.

Dark Souls III is still often a frustrating game to play, especially after dying and repeating a section a number of times. But it is when you overcome those difficult scenarios – especially those that involve one of the many boss battles – that Dark Souls III shines through.

The colourful visuals, fun and varied characters, the range of play modes and the collection aspect with the game packs will continue to keep gamers of all ages entertained for hours.

If this was a typical five or six episode ordeal like the main Walking Dead series, Give No Shelter would be a welcome down-episode that could be used to develop characters further and build up an impending threat the group will face. Instead, it’s a very brief, underwhelming episode with little character-anything other than a little backstory on Sam.

If this game were still in early access, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it. But with the state it’s in now as a “finished” product, I can’t say it’s worth your time, or your money.

It’s been simplified and given a distinctive Ubisoft sheen, but Trackmania Turbo keeps the franchise at the peak of racing silliness.

Although I do have a few little concerns with Gunscape, the game is still more than adequate and will only get better as the community and developer interaction continues.

As the first episode stands, however, The Descendant is a poor adventure game that fails to engage the player on every front. It is tedious, bland and bizarre. This may be the first part of the game, but it’s a game I wouldn’t recommend anyone to try.

Ultimately, the amount of enjoyment you will get out of Upwards, Lonely Robot hinges solely on how much you like score attack challenges. If that is your thing, you will no doubt get a lot of long-term enjoyment out of the game. For everyone else looking for something a bit more substantial, you may be best off looking elsewhere.

Regardless of a few small issues, Stardew Valley is a successful send-up to Harvest Moon that truly comes from the heart.

I fully understand that games being sold at budget price need to be held to different standards than ones costing five or ten times more, but, at the same time, a game needs to be fun no matter what. Red Risk does have its moments.

Sheltered is a good little game that just becomes bogged down with all the little details.

This game that could've gone so wrong, so easily, is already off to a great start with more content both free and paid set to come over the next year.

The lack of content and forced grind-through make this all feel very much like a game that knows there’s not much there. Once you take into account the bugs as well, some of them significant, you can only conclude that Blood Alloy: Reborn could have used a few more months in Early Access.

In Lego Marvel’s Avengers, the developers have placed the focus squarely on combat then discovering the hidden special items through smashing bricks and puzzle solving holding up the rear. And although I did enjoy my journey through the Lego-themed scenes from the Avengers movies, I can say I didn't quite enjoy myself as much as I have in the past.

Stealth games are meant to be challenging and should feel like a tense, punishing experience. But Alekhine’s Gun is stretch too far and instead punishes you because of its poor mechanics and terrible AI.

And while console gamers have an overabundance of fighting games to choose from, Ninja Storm 4 is one of the few AAA fighting games that has transitioned to PC, so that in itself gets a thumbs up from me.

Today I go on and adventure to find more body bag mang- Oh. I’m dead.

As a shooter, it’s an oddity, a gimmick that may not appeal to people who want to shoot things. As a puzzle game, it’s up there with Portal.

There’s fun to be had here, but I’m still not entirely certain if enjoying it is worth suffering through the shortcomings that never should have been.

Red Hook Studios' Darkest Dungeon is one of the most compelling Lovecraftian video games ever made.

If they had put another year of development toward it, maybe then we would've seen what we were hoping it would be.

You’ll be disappointed if you’re looking for deep mind-bending puzzles or deep, engaging dialogue. I, however, happen to be a big fan of the games that are content letting you move through them, soaking in their world without intensive or demanding “game-y” elements like combat or complicated puzzles.

In Too Deep does well at introducing Michonne as a mentally unstable, seemingly cold-hearted character, but fails to deliver a wholly compelling opening episode.

Sprinter will only take you a couple of hours to complete, and you can go back and try and beat the Gold times for each level, but you may not want to.

It may take you a few attempts to get a handle on the game’s ecosystem and pace, to unlearn what you have learnt from the countless other survival games out there. But once you have, you will find a game that opens up the survival genre for those looking for a more short paced fix.

If you're a horror fan, or even just a fan of storylines that make you think, Layers of Fear should be right up your alley. Though it can be completed in a couple of sittings or less, it's an experience not easily forgotten.

So should you buy Street Fighter V? It depends how invested you are in the series; if you’re a rabid fan, by all means get this now and master the characters while waiting for the updates. If not, or if you’re a casual player, wait until after March for the additional features to be implemented.

The simple controls work equally well whether you’re using a controller or a keyboard allowing the great level design to show through. With each of the levels adding a new hazard of some sort, it allows Unravel to remain fresh throughout.

As a said earlier, I loved the Tomb Raider reboot a couple of years back and must admit I had been looking forward to doing some more treasure hunting as everyone's favourite English heroine. Rise of the Tomb Raider hasn't let me down. Although there aren't too many differences in the gameplay, the story has been written so well that it makes the game feel fresh despite the similarities.

It is a strange game, one that, despite its flaws, will remain on my mind for a little while longer.

Playing American Truck Simulator is really like taking on an extra job, although it never feels that way. The progress you make is slow, but that makes it all the more rewarding when you save up enough money for those nice new tyres you wanted. It might be worth waiting for some more areas to be added, but if you’ve ever dreamt of a great American road trip, American Truck Simulator is just about as good as it gets without doing the real thing.

It’s just not funny, original, or adrenaline-fueled as it needs to be to stand out among a crowded indie pack.

Ultimately, Arslan: The Warriors of Legend is a game that - as far as gameplay is concerned - seems to accept what it is and just do it well. Combat is fluid and well animated if just as repetitive as we've come to expect from Koei Tecmo.

All things considered, XCOM 2 really is a great game.

Everytime I think about Fullblast, I come back to a lack of variety. Little change in enemy type, repetitive levels, repeating music and the bland gameplay all evoke this. The best games in this genre are the opposite of that, with changes in nearly every level that make the game worth playing. Nothing of that sort is found here.

The narrative is over the top in its environmentalist messages that are laid out in text form and hit you over the head like a frying pan. The soundtrack doesn't quite know its place, and the art is passing, but fails when there's nothing to look at but the backgrounds. These sorts of things interrupt the tone, but in situations where the game's parts all work together - which is most of the time - The Aquatic Adventures of the Last Human is a subtle and solemn exploration of a new, but old world.

In the end, it’s just some weird design decisions and the abstract nature of a surrealist game mixed with the obtuse nature of classic adventure games that let Between Me and the Night down. There is certainly some promise here, but it’s just far too frustrating to play, and the lack of a mid-level save is crazy in a modern game.

When all is said and done, Starward Rogue is a solid title and may be worth roguelike fans’ attention if they stumble upon it.

The Bug Butcher is an addictive game for all the right reasons, and one that should be on everyone’s radar.

Homeworld: Deserts Kharak not only sets a new standard for RTS games, it proves that there is a lot more the genre has to offer yet.

As a strategy game, Death by Game Show is incredibly simple and not very fun to play. Combined with the repetition of arcade games, it becomes a tiresome puzzle game. Add in the aesthetic, and you have a game that I would not recommend.

I don’t know how much Gemini: Heroes Reborn ties into the television show, but it’s hard to recommend to anyone except the most die hard fan.

Conflicks: Revolutionary Space Battles is a strange game with an even stranger gameplay system. It meshes together in weird, uneven ways, yet it fundamentally functions well and has more than enough charm to carry it through its messes. I don’t know if I’ll play it again, but I don’t regret playing it in the time I did.

Its outer layer may appear light and fluffy, but its innards are serious and in-depth, and anyone who enjoys exploration and adventure with a light smattering of combat should definitely investigate this game.

There's simply too much luck and not enough player influence to get a whole lot out of it.

Yes there is a relatively steep learning curve, but for completionists who want to train themselves on something new, Futuridium EP Deluxe has a lot to offer.

Age of Steel: Recharge isn’t a game that you’re going to keep coming back to for months, but it’s one you’ll enjoy a couple of hours with. While I wouldn’t have minded a bit more depth, it’s functional, polished (aside from a few grammar issues) and fun.

Cityconomy: Service for your City is a game that runs far worse than it should considering its looks.

If you go into it looking for a game that doesn't give you an easy go of it and expects you to concentrate and really invest in the challenge, then you will find a satisfying and genuinely exciting game here. If you go in expecting tons of flash and colourful presentation then you may be sorely disappointed.

Hatoful Boyfriend: Holiday Star is a game that is made just for fans of the first one and does not stand on its own.

The gadgets and the fully destructible environments allow for a non-linear experience, giving the gamers a chance to plan their movements prior to rushing – often slowly - into combat. And although I found the multiplayer modes often finished in a flurry of bullets, the fact that teams benefit from working together is to be encouraged.

Mordheim: City of the Damned had the potential to be an interesting and challenging game. The progression system is deep and filled with interesting choices and options, and the Warhammer Fantasy Universe provides sturdy groundwork to create your own tale on top of. But the gameplay is monotonous, the technical issues are annoying and the game is among the most frustrating I’ve played in some time.

The game’s low price point also means that for fans of the genre its purchase is a no-brainer. For anyone else, this game won’t convert you.

There are the makings of a decent game in here. When I wasn’t getting slaughtered, I found myself enjoying roaming the forests and fields.

Being a simple office worker in a private security firm / robotic takeover is a fairly original premise, but it’s not one that can make up for some pretty standard gameplay.

Valhalla Hills is all in all, a strong little RTS, with enough going on under the surface to satisfy most fans of the genre.

The game is just too complex for its own good which is a shame as there is fun lurking just around the corner. Fix combat, explain things a little better and chip away some of the needless aspects and Thea: The Awakening would be a much better game.

Planet Diver is a strange yet enjoyable take on vertical scrollers. What it lacks for in depth, it makes up for in its style and construction. It likely won’t last you long, but for those curious, Planet Diver is a curiosity worth playing.

As a multiplayer game, Star Wars Battlefront works really well, making it simpler to get into than the grittier Battlefield series.

The short version: if you liked Worms, definitely check this game out. If you’ve never tried Worms, this is a little bit more accessible. And if you didn’t like Worms, this is unlikely to convert you to the genre.

If you don’t mind discovering a game under your own steam, Hard West is a truly unique title that you can really sink your teeth into. With some 10 hours of gameplay, it’s perhaps a little short but what is there is interesting enough to give another try on a higher difficulty level after you see the credits scroll by.

Despite recently leaving early access, Clandestine is a game that isn't quite where it needs to be. As it stands, it isn't worth its asking price. The gameplay shows glimpses of what could be, before promptly shattering those glimpses with yet another death caused by glitches, another death caused by being stuck in cover and another death caused by poor gunplay.

Chronoclysm is truly a nostalgic experience, for good or bad. The combat is fun, but is a little minimalistic.

ROOT is one of those games that seems like it was made by a very passionate and energetic developer who was excited to get his project out there, but it never got refined.

As it stands, the frantic racing, the quasi-randomly generated track, and the joy of bumping your friend off into the darkness of space in the middle of a turn are almost enough to make you forgive the game its bugs and lack of polish. Almost.

It’s just Starcraft, with some new additions here and there, but that’s all we were expecting, and it’s great.

Heroes of Normandie makes a difficult transition from board game to video game, and because of this it looks and plays a lot like a board game.

Just go play this game, because it deserves a look, and it will be interesting to see what Jon Oldblood’s mind gives us in the future.

I had extremely high expectations for Fallout 4. I was so concerned that Fallout 4 might not live up to them that I nearly ran back to Fallout 3 and forget about the whole thing. Fallout 4 does not just live up to the expectations, it surpasses it.

The old System Shock was not the easiest game to get immersed in and that was mostly due to its controls. The overhaul makes the game infinitely more enjoyable simply by virtue of no longer needing to struggle with these.

Had the game been only slightly more welcoming in a few areas this could have been a really great experience, rather than just a reminder of the games I used to love.

There is a lot to like about Anno 2205. I love the new global economy which, combined with the overall goal of colonizing the moon and achieving endless cheap energy to renew the planet, really drives things forward. The streamlining of the interface has paid off but the same cannot be said about the simplification of trade and the lack of competition on local maps.

The game reminds me vaguely of a kind of Mount and Blade in space, which should be good news for those of you looking for a sci-fi game with those elements, because in my eyes they are hard to really find. But I know that Ceres is not going to be for everyone and I highly suggest you see if you can get your hands on a demo before you go ahead and purchase it.

The instances where Coast Guard works well can be fun, just not fun enough to justify the mediocrity or frustration of the rest of the game.

It is an outstanding creation I highly encourage anyone to go out and buy this game.