It's quick, it plays smoothly enough, but it's as though watching the notes of a gamer's idea of neat ideas suddenly thrown together and asking "Is this what makes a game great?" It is not.

A frightening return to gameplay elements that made the series great, terrifying antagonists and monsters, perfect setting for a horror game.

It is not your run of the mill city builder and it is hard to market something so different from the norm. That difference is not just a weakness, though, it is also a strength. I can guarantee you that you’ve not played anything like this before and the community - is - figuring it out, slowly. Urban Empire is a breath of fresh air and for that reason alone it is worth checking out.

Pacing issues aside, Rocketbirds 2 provides a fun experience that I wish spent more of its time focusing on the action, instead of mundane and rudimentary puzzling elements. Fans of the original will love this, and those looking for a throw-away action fix could do a lot worse than give Rocketbirds 2: Evolution a shot.

As it stands, 99Vidas is an inspired tribute to beat-em-ups, with its solid aesthetic brought down by gameplay that lacks the diversity or complexity that would otherwise make this a more compelling game.

Siegecraft Commander is a fun game no matter how you play it, but it’s best in VR by virtue of the lack of anything similar for VR. I do wish that some of the issues, both in virtual reality and with a keyboard and mouse, will get ironed out. They’re relative minor and surface-level so hopefully we will get some post-launch updates. At the end of it all, fun, engaging gameplay elements overcome these annoyances to deliver a game that’s good, but held back from being truly great.

The simple graphics and animations leave something to be desired but the graphical style is spot on. Besides, shiny baubles don’t make a game - gameplay does and that is rock solid here.

In the end, no, this isn’t going to be a game that anyone is probably going to rip out 100 hours of, but it’s a lovely little game for killing a few evenings or a weekend.

Ultimately Redie provides a quality enough experience to warrant its own existence. It is an extremely challenging and fun experience. The lack of varying difficulty levels and overall level of challenge may put off some people, but if you have a masochistic streak or enjoy games that employ an almost old-school level of difficulty then Redie is sure to scratch that itch.

Sure, the animations and the scenery are well made, the game is technically solid, and the voice acting is … bearable, but everything that makes a good graphic adventure an adventure is missing here.

Beholder is a fairly unique game of spying, decision making, and disaster avoidance. The story of a secret rebellion uprising against an authoritarian government has been told many times before, but at least government controlled property landlord is a fresh perspective on things. It won’t take you that long to complete, but it doesn’t outstay its welcome, and you’ll have a good time balancing all the things that need doing for those few hours.

It’s a game devoid of all but the most basic gameplay mechanics, humour, and design, and it will most likely take me longer to write this review than it took for me to actually finish the seven levels on offer.

I’m curious to see if Epic Manager is able to find a niche in the market, as I can see more hardcore management enthusiasts being turned off by its cartoony (though charming) visual style and humor, while those more interested in the fantasy elements may be cautious of a game with an emphasis on management instead of exploration or combat. I hope it is able to find its footing though, as it’s great to see developers experimenting with new genres and ideas- especially when they turn out as fun as this one did.

Overall, I'm pleasantly surprised by Space Hulk: Deathwing. From a gameplay perspective, what it does it does in better form than Warhammer 40k: Fire Warrior by leaps and bounds. Space Hulk: Deathwing is another great step into bringing the entirety of the Warhammer franchise into a more mainstream popularity in videogames, and the game does it with a gory sense of style.

Stereo Aereo is rather a fun rose-tinted game that takes a simple, tried and true gameplay style and combines it with catchy tunes that will have you nodding your head as you play along. If you have a bit of spare change burning money in your wallet, you can't say no to a little 80's indulgence.

It’s a game which you’ll enjoy clicking around in for a few hours, although when it comes to the story, you might be left with more questions than answers. You won’t get much satisfaction from solving the puzzles, but the look and general feel of the game might be worth your attention, particularly if you’re a fan of surrealism. It’s certainly not for everyone, but there is certainly an audience out there for Small Radios Big Televisions.

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 should be an instant buy for long time fans of the series, and warrants a deep look from everyone else. I’d love to see a bit longer of a gap between this and the (hopefully) inevitable Xenoverse 3 than the year between the first and second titles to really hammer out some of the game’s issues, but until then we’ve still been left with a fighting game that does enough well, and enough different from its competitors, to stand worthy as it is.

I can find myself warming up to Transport Fever. Still, I find it hard to recommend the game to anyone but hardcore transportation sim fans, and even then only if you are a bit of a glutton for punishment. If that description fits, you’ll find a fairly capable simulation that you’ll likely enjoy for a couple of weeks.

Despite the immense annoyance at the decision to include hidden platforms as a requirement for progression, I loved Candle. Introducing point-and-click adventure game elements into platformers is sure to benefit both genres and as a point-and-click adventure geek, I have rarely enjoyed a platformer more than I did this one. It’s by no means perfect, but I can’t wait for the sequel. Please, Teku Studios, just make sure I can see where I’m going.

Watch Dogs still has quite a way to go before it becomes a 'must buy' series, but in the short term it's at least on an upswing. With a more likeable protagonist, a city filled with more content to do outside of the main story, and an addicting albeit simplistic co-op system, you may at least want to consider picking up Watch Dogs 2. Especially if you can find it on sale.

Maize, despite its problems, is certainly one of the most unique games I’ve played over the past year. I completed it in just under three hours, though players who want to find all the collectibles, each with their own humorous description, will certainly spend longer time on it. The jokes don’t land as often as they should and the gameplay is very straightforward, but for those looking for something weird, Maize is certainly a game worth your attention.

Headlander occupies a space of being a game which is a great deal of fun to play to completion over a weekend. While some of the game mechanics are fairly unique, it’s not trying to do anything complex. Anyone who’s played this type of game before will feel right at home from the early going, and although some sections are difficult, they shouldn’t have any trouble progressing through the game at a good pace. It’s a shame some of the story sections and dialogue aren’t funnier, but that doesn’t stop Headlander being a game well worth your time.

All in all, Super Dungeon Bros is either a case of developer blindness or a product rushed through development with far too little time spent on QA and balancing. The aesthetics are polished and professional-looking, and the gameplay elements are all there, but the responsiveness of the controls, gameplay balance, difficulty and level design are so poorly done that it’ll take some serious patching to whip this title into shape.

If you’re looking for a deep sim, this game isn’t going to be quite deep enough to satiate your hunger. If you’re looking for constant guided goals and challenges, you’ll run out soon enough. Where Planet Coaster’s long-term legs are going to reside is with the people like me that simply enjoy the thrill of the build. It’s easy to sink hours into, even if you’re just trying to design a building or tweak some scenery. Quite simply, it’s the sequel that RollerCoaster Tycoon games of yore really deserve.

Killing Floor 2, for better or worse, is much like its predecessor. The strong gameplay system is elevated by both its visuals and audio, with the guns being a particular highlight. There are some kinks to be ironed out here and there, but at the end of the day, Killing Floor 2 is a satisfying cooperative shooter that is so simple, so easy to play, that it’s difficult to not come back for more.

Dishonored 2 may not rank as one of my personal favorites of the year, but it does build greatly upon everything the original put in place. Characters, lore, gameplay, settings... literally everything has been improved upon. The replayability is once again very high, but alas it still suffers from being on the short side if you're not one to plan the perfect approach. Dishonored 2 may not be the best adventure title ever, but it certainly is one of the most interesting.

The way Football Manager has changed means a better game for everyone. You are able to do everything you need to do to run your team successfully much quicker than you’ve been able to before. The improvements to the match engine make actually watching the games fairly entertaining. Clunky elements like the conversation and press conference systems remain, but fans of the series have learned to accept these for what they are now. There are certainly more improvements to be made to Football Manager, but what we have got right now is rather good indeed.

If you are a sucker for an interactive trip down memory lane, especially one with pleasing aesthetics and entertaining writing, then Super Rad Raygun might be the game for you. If you’re looking for a quality platformer with good level design, interesting enemies, and solid gameplay on the other hand, look somewhere else. The developers may be able to whip the title into shape with patches in the future, but until then I can only recommend it to those with nerves of steel.

My time with Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence- Ascension may have been confusing at times, and I still don’t feel like I’ve entirely mastered everything it has to offer, but I did have a good deal of fun playing. The game could certainly benefit from a little life being blown into its cold, clinical presentation, but from storming castles to forging alliances and maintaining roads, I always felt like I was part of a larger living picture, and that’s a cool feeling to have.

Exploring the island of Xanadu is engaging in many ways. When you’re not finding loot or battling enemies, the cartoony visuals bring the island to life. For the intimate setting the locations are surprisingly varied, and considering this is a 2005 game it holds up pretty well. The aesthetic lends to the game’s sense of humor, whimsy and charm. It’s not every game where you have an adorable young sidekick pack you a lunch before you leave the village.

There’s comfort to be found in Cossacks 3. Despite its problems, it manages to replicate what made RTS’ of yore enjoyable with its vast armies and settlement building. Unfortunately, questionable UI choices, a lack of variety and poor AI result in an experience that leaves a lot to be desired.

With 2.5 hours under the belt, I can say the ending was sudden, surprising , and not fulfilling by any means. It did not strike a chord that rang in success or failure. In fact, thanks to the stiff animation of the scene, I actually blurted out a laugh. The setting, the lore behind it, they’re ultimately squandered as far as horror goes, or even as adventure. What Through The Woods ultimately boils down to, is a couple hour walking simulator with an interesting narrative trying to be played out by the most unlikeable character I’ve ever seen in a game.

On the whole, Jackbox Party Pack 3 has a stronger collection of games than each of its predecessors, making it the best one to buy if you’ve never tried them before. It’s just a shame that you can’t buy the majority of games from previous packs separately as add-ons.

My heart is screaming to love Clockwork Empires. Its premise, its setting - it is so uniquely fresh and daring that it should have amounted to something extraordinary. I’m struggling to even like it, let alone love it. No, I do like it, but it is a crying shame that it lacks the polish it deserves. As it stands, the interface throws up too much of an obstacle for Clockwork Empires to shine as it might have.

For a single-player rally enthusiast, WRC 6 may be a little too arcadeish, but for those looking for a fun split-screen game to play with their friends or family, this is a safe, and very visually pleasing, bet.

While not everything has panned out as brilliantly as I had hoped, I have to say this is the most fun I’ve had with a Civilization game since III (I know - heresy).

Crazy Machines 3 is unapologetically a puzzle game about fixing, creating and customizing crazy machines. In that regard the game is solid. For puzzle aficionados maybe that’s all they need. However, in a year where we got The Witness and Steven’s Sausage Roll, Crazy Machines 3 does little to stand out from the competition and even its own series. Much like Peter Griffin and his failed breakfast contraption you might ask “What’s the point?”

Since picking the game up, I've already sunk over 40 hours into it and I don't see that stopping any time soon. We are back to what Battlefield is all about, and it's never been better as far as the multiplayer is concerned. It is the stuff dreams are made of, the very thing that Battlefield 1942 strived to be all those years ago but was limited by hardware at the time. It may not be the single player experience some people may be looking for, but for the multiplayer massive-scale shooter fan, this belongs in your library of games. It has crawled through the mud, bludgeoned previous entries, and taken its rightful place as my favorite Battlefield game to date.

Mafia III does most things right, though. It is an enjoyable game, one that has probably the best licensed soundtracks for a game outside of a music-based game. The combat and cover mechanics work really and the cut-scenes allow the story to progress smoothly in the wonderfully presented city of New Bordeaux.

Playing Shadow Warrior 2 was like hand-delivering a gift to 14-year-old self. Maybe I should think that’s a bad thing, but I don’t. Despite a few flaws with pacing and level design, there are few games that have made me feel as much of an unstoppable god of death as I did in my time here.

With a good balance of a quality campaign, multiplayer, and cooperative modes, there’s something for just about everyone to enjoy.

I really wanted to like Giant Machines 2017. I really, really did. It’s unfortunate that a game that can make me feel like I’m entering a darned megazord one minute can so completely turn me off the next.

The frequent deaths will turn off many, and it will take a lot of time to properly master the game. But for those who persevere, GoNNER is a rewarding, challenging experience that is a blast to play.

I find myself thinking that maybe I’ll play Lichtspeer again at some point in the future, but after the short time I’ve spent with it, I feel I’ve experienced all there is.

Anyone looking purely for tension and scares could, and should, check this out. Anyone hoping for scares - and - a captivating plot will likely be disappointed.

In terms of sheer number of game modes, FIFA is unmatched, and The Journey alone is enough to warrant a badge of recommendation. Hopefully future iterations of the game won’t just be rehashing the same story told this year. The PC version of the game is having technical issues at the moment, but if these can be ironed out, then the online modes are a great deal of fun too.

Virginia is a really, really cool little piece of media as long as you know what you’re getting yourself into.

The Metronomicon comes together in a neat package which rhythm game fans will certainly get a deal of enjoyment out of. The soundtrack is varied, with highlights being songs from the likes of Perturbator, however it’s likely you will dislike just as many songs as you do like. Bringing in the RPG elements makes this game stand out from other rhythm games, and there’s enough here to keep you going through the end of the game and beyond.

If you don’t mind aging a couple of years from playing a game, then be sure to check this one out. You’ll fall in love, and then develop that love-hate kind of relationship with a game that has you talking about it for years to come.

Bear With Me Episode One is short to a fault, lacking the length it needs to make it feel more than just a demo for a game that has yet to be released. Yet its charming atmosphere and characters make me want to find out exactly what is happening in Paper City. For now, wait and see where the future adventures of Amber and Ted take them before trying out this black and white world.

Zombie City Defense 2 is a great attempt to bridge the gap between hardcore real-time strategy games and more casual tower defense games. The intense, combat focused gameplay combined with the revolutionary resource harvesting mechanic make this a game that would entertain both RTS veterans and newcomers alike. Unfortunately, its relatively short playtime and lack of gameplay growth in the latter parts of the campaign keep it from being a “must have” game for strategy fans.

For the short few hours Talent Not Included lasts, I was entertained. You can easily finish it in an evening and the price tag might be a little steep for its length, but perhaps if you share it with a friend it will become worth it.

All things considered, I did enjoy Grow Up but it doesn't seem to have grown up much at all.

Shiny isn’t going to melt your face with novelty or depth, but it is an example of the kind of platformer I’d like to see more of. One that doesn’t run any longer than it needs to, asks a price to match, brings enough ingenuity to keep things engaging, but never pushes so far that it loses sight of the foundation that makes it great.

It’s a very enjoyable and at times challenging experience that never feels unfair. At times, you’ll be faced with a puzzle that looks impossible, but as soon as you figure out its design, you’ll think yourself silly for not having seen it immediately.

The sound cue that plays when an enemy charges towards you should be enough for you to know to jump over it. You will die a lot, but you’ll always know what killed you, and you’ll always know it’s your own fault for not being fast enough. That’s what makes completing a particularly hard level all the more satisfying. You’ll slowly unlock new colour schemes which simply swap the colour palette.

I can see how doing “more” than competitor Farming Simulator would be a goal to attract players, but it’s destroying the game. Farm Expert needs to do less, and do what it does better.

Black Sand Drift clearly wants to stand out in the crowd. Its atypical visual, musical style, overly complex plot, and high level of difficulty makes it feel like the developers tried to squeeze too many ideas into one game. And while I admire their ambition, I feel that they stumbled in the execution.

The Broken Isles, New Dungeons, PVP "Honor Leveling", and World Quests offer more than enough to sate hungry fans on the next leg of the journey of World of Warcraft.

Tadpole Treble is a game for children, specifically for the child that still exists in everyone. It uses music as a mechanic in a way that I haven’t really seen before. The excellent soundtrack, fun gameplay, and great level editor makes Tadpole Treble a game for the “kidult” in all of us.

The game mechanics all work remarkably well, from hacking (despite it being a little repetitive after going through the same process dozens of times) to the cover system, to the various forms of combat, resulting in a game that has a poignant narrative whilst still being enjoyable to play.

Looking beyond the aesthetics, fans of the genre will find a pretty deep business simulation that is worth exploring. The challenge increases along with the height of your tower and stays challenging right until the very end, though there will be some quiet, less exciting times somewhere along the way.

My relationship with the faction was positive, I had visited their cities and towns, but - for some reason - this one port just smashed my ship into smithereens before I could do anything and I respawned at my previous stop sans some of my cargo and money (the punishment for dying), cursing the fact that there’s no way to save your game.

The most obvious and most visible addition is that of fixed stationary guns, sentry guns, tanks, helicopters, mechs and rocket league race cars on the map.

A mobile-game-depth “me too” game that is beautiful and serviceable but ultimately uninteresting...There are games out there that are more Master of Orion than this Master of Orion.

I know it may sound like I really hated I Am Weapon: Revival, but that’s not really accurate. The game isn’t so bad that it’ll make you throw down your controller in frustration, rather it's just bad enough that when you do stop playing, there’s little in the game to compel you to pick it back up again.

In the end, No Man's Sky is an addicting grind fest of a game that can successfully lure players looking for a relaxing experience of discovery further and further into the vast unknown. It's not action packed, nor is it story intensive. At times it is an intriguing push forward, at others it is a slow burn of slow travel. No Man's Sky certainly isn't for everyone.

I like the concept quite a bit, and there are a few other games out there that prove it can be done extremely well, but there are just too many issue here holding back the things the game does well for it to be an easy recommend.

Abzu gives off the feeling that it was originally devised as a way of teaching gamers about marine conservation, but it does so in an enjoyable and relaxing way.

Unfortunately at this stage, there are only two game modes - story and endless - and they pretty much play out the same. But Super Mutant Alien Assault has an addictive quality that has leaves you wanting to play just one more game in order to reach the next stage or gain the next upgrade.

Little King’s Story is a great game trapped inside a poor port. The gameplay is fun and genuinely challenging, the art style is cute and enjoyable and the story brings on a satisfying wave of nostalgia. However, imprecise controls, insufficient tutorials and a lack of keyboard support really hurts what should be a great game. Basically, I am recommending Little King’s Story with a huge caveat: if you don’t have a gamepad, don’t bother.

A competently silly, physics based puzzler. Its wonderfully simple dreamlike aesthetic and solid physics make it a joy to play for the majority of the time. The longevity of the experience is somewhat lacking and puts it at risk of becoming frustrating over longer play sessions. But taken in bitesize chunks with friends, it stands on it’s own two legs as a wonderfully stupid party game.

Overcooked is a real treat of a game, which also lends itself to extra DLC further down the line, as there are plenty of unexplored environments and recipes to master. It’s incredibly simple to learn, as there are only two or three buttons you need to press, but it’s going to take a lot of coordination to make it to the end. If you have got a few friends and a weekend to kill, Overcooked is one of the best experiences you will have this year.

I want to be clear that I really enjoyed This Is the Police; the story is very well done, your choices feel as if they have real weight in the game, and the dispatch sections are a great twist on traditional strategy puzzle games. However, This Is the Police’s major problem is its casual use of racism in the story and dialogue.

Infinium Strike doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it’s got solid enough gameplay to remain entertaining. It’s not going to keep you busy for weeks and it leaves a fair amount to be desired in the presentation department, but the short 10 mission campaign and a serviceable arcade mode make for a fun way to burn a few evenings or a long weekend.

Zombie Night Terror is challenging, and most importantly, fun. There are some frustrations with selecting the right zombie, and it becomes annoying when you have nearly completed a level only to discover you don’t have the right resources to complete it.

Poly Bridge is a game beautiful in its simplicity, doing everything a good physics-based puzzle game should do.

Fans of both the Star Wars movies and the Lego series of games will not be disappointed and those looking for a fun, easy to play title, should definitely consider this game.

If the game had come with more variation it might have made things a little different but in its current form, Pac-Man 256 just doesn't have enough new material to keep it entertaining for very long. Then again, for five bucks, you probably can't expect much more.

Duskers starts out with a unique premise, and despite the grainy old-school visuals, audio and text-based interface, is quite enjoyable.

All in all, if you are looking for a game to kill some idle minutes at your desk, you should definitely pick up Crush Your Enemies for PC, but if you’re hungering for an in-depth RTS game you should probably look elsewhere.

Inside isn’t as impressive in terms of the physics based puzzles as Limbo was six years ago, but it doesn’t make them any less enjoyable now.

If you are looking for a 2D side-scroller then there are better ones out there. But few manage to do it with quite as much nostalgic charm as this.

It is a shame, then, that this is such a clunky, ugly mess of a game. It is rare enough that an English version of a Romance of the Three Kingdoms comes to Western shores by any other way than import and it makes me sad that – this – will be the first experience with the series for new players.

The Technomancer is yet another valiant attempt at an ambitious RPG, but there are other recent games out there which have done it so much better.

Survival games seem to be a dime dozen recently, but The Solus Project is doing enough differently to earn its place in gamers’ libraries.

Space Run Galaxy takes the core idea of resource management and creates an enjoyable game that requires fast hands and a quick mind. While the online aspects of the game feels a bit uninspired and the speed of gameplay can be prohibitive to some players, it is a great game for anyone looking to play a new kind of RTS.

The price won't hurt your wallet and at $7.99, you owe it to yourself to at least try it if you're itching for a point and click adventure.

Brigador does a lot of things right, but there are a handful of things which prevent it from being great.

And although some further variation in the side missions and challenges would have been appreciated, in the end, Mirror’s Edge Catalyst is simply one of those games that is better than the sum of its parts.

Between story missions and replayable challenge rooms the game’s longevity certainly has legs, and if those don’t do it for you, it’s got a lot of regular human legs you can spend your time with too.

Pool Nation VR is a polished, fun game that does what every good early entry for a new device should do- showcases what it does that those coming before it couldn’t and does it well. Here’s to hoping that there are more like it to come. [Tested with Vive]

This type of game is one from a bygone era, and although The Way does its best to bring it back from the past, there are just too many problems to make it a good modern game.

Well Blizzard, it looks like you have a fantastic new IP on your hands because Overwatch comes just shy of perfection with addicting enough gameplay to ensure people stay hooked in the same way they stay hooked on your other long standing games.

Whether you’re new to Hard Reset or have played the previous versions, there’s plenty to be enjoyed in Redux.

Frantic gameplay keeps you on the edge of your seat though, and the storyline is engaging enough to give you the motivation to start another mission. The true heroes of the game, however, are the comprehensive boss fights which add flavor where it is needed most.

Sins of the Demon looks like a standard RPG Maker game, but the well-designed gameplay and the immersive story prove that it is anything but.

Total War: Warhammer seems like what the Total War franchise should have been all along, and after playing it I’m not sure I want to go back to the real-world Europe or Asia again anytime soon. Above all else, I don’t think I can stand losing the personality the battles have adopted. While it’s cool to see real historical figures and eras, games here just seem so much more alive. Total War: Warhammer has become the best of both of its worlds.