Samurai Shodown is another worthy entrant into the PC world of beat’em ups. The reasonably short story that plays out is lacklustre, but the action - particularly when playing against others – more than makes up for it. The playing poster isn’t huge, but it does allow for more familiarity with each of the combatants and their skills. With a simple control scheme, some wonderfully vibrant settings and an array of game modes, Samurai Shodown does most things right. Now, if you will excuse me, I’m heading back to the dojo to kick some more ass.

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.

Assassin's Creed Mirage is a wonderful return to what made the original a fan favourite. The stealth mechanics work remarkably well, and although players can go with a more attacking style if they so choose, Mirage has been developed in a way that encourages the slower methodical approach to each scenario. And then as players acquire the extra tools and increased abilities, this leads to different methods of completing the missions. With a gorgeous setting that rivals Assassin's Creed Origins and a wonderful soundtrack that sets the middle eastern tone, Assassin's Creed Mirage is a must play for fans of the series.

Escape Goat 2 is joyfully old-school, feeling very much like a lost NES title. Its soundtrack is even reminiscent of Castlevania’s. It’s also comparable to the recent puzzler Teslagrad, but it’s not quite as frustrating.

If you just like to blow stuff up with high-powered lasers and rockets, this might not be your bag of tea and you may not get a lot out of it. If you get the most satisfaction from playing the market, maximising profit, and running SWOT analyses on potential targets, it won't revolutionise your game. But if you're into storytelling and are willing to read stuff to get the most out of it – which I assume you are since you're reading this – then Legend of the Kestrel Lancers might just be worth a purchase.

The single player mission is a tad on the short side (although I have recently played Borderlands 2 and that has a lengthy main story in comparison) and as was the case with the original Crysis, sort of peters out near the end, but the multiplayer modes make up for it.

Death is forgiving in Hob in that progress isn’t lost in the way of items collected or enemies defeated. However, respawning in Hob takes a long time and the checkpoints can sometimes be inconveniently far away from where you died. Backtracking is usually easy enough since most enemies don’t respawn and sometimes there are shortcuts that can be opened to quickly reach where you had been before. But running through the parts I had already done felt like a chore, especially if my death was less my fault and more to do with Hob’s wonky platforming mechanics.

When they've sorted everything out, Total War: Rome 2 could well be regarded as the best of the series, as when the game plays as intended, the grand scale campaigns and the battles within, are a joy to experience. The simple interface belies the depth of the game as you control your chosen nation in both a civic capacity and as a general on the battlefield.

Some might say that Wolfenstein: The Old Blood doesn’t add enough new to the series given the amount of time between it and the base game, but it’s important to remember that this is an expansion, not a sequel.

If you're someone who likes building a city from the bottom up, being in control of every aspect of the citizens life, then Pharaoh: A New Era will definitely be up your alley, more so if you have an affinity for Ancient Egypt. With more than fifty campaign maps and the sandbox mode, this is a game that will have you playing for days, with each of the missions providing a different challenge. In the end, watching your cities expand to become a flourishing ancient metropolis is enjoyable and rather relaxing, with all your cartoon citizens scampering around the city like tiny worker ants. It can be hard work keeping them and the gods satisfied, but it is well worth it.

Overall Bleach: Rebirth of Souls is exactly what people might expect. A 3D arena fighter with over 30 of Tite Kubo's iconic characters. With an engaging style of combat as well as a great adaptation of the art style into 3D, the only negatives can be some feelings of repetitiveness, and that the game can be a bit resource intensive even for a modern release. If you're a fan of Bleach, of shonen in general, or even just of 3D arena fighters with a ranged cast, then Rebirth of Souls is a fantastic pick-up.

I did have some issues with the game servers early on, but they seem to have been ironed out. And as mentioned, the voice acting and the story mode could have fleshed out a little better. But if you look past those issues, For Honor is a wonderful title. The variation in game modes makes sure that there is something for everyone, and the maps are rotated enough to keep things fresh. The character classes allow you to choose a play style that suits you, whether it is the strength of the Heavy or the speed of the Assassin class. And with controls that are so smooth and optimised, it never seems as though any class or enemy is overpowered. So, if you excuse me, I’m going to don my armour, collect my shield and blade, and head back out to the battlefield... my team needs me.

It adds up to a good game with a few shortcomings. For something with such a high level of customization and management, it's almost difficult to believe that things are as good as they are. A few more missteps would have had this game begging for a UI overhaul, but it's not quite that severe in its current state. Other strategic elements such as the power system end up being little more than busy work, and ultimately add little value to the experience. While I wish there were more themes, or a greater distinction between those themes, I will allow them the opportunity to make additions before judging how that strategy turns out. Most importantly for a simulation with hundreds of tiny people on screen: I didn't run into any performance issues, which surely helped me overcome the negatives. I can only imagine it is like starting an actual theme park, a bit of a grind, a ton of complexity, a large amount of choice, but a good pay off if you nail it.

The Fall is a great story, well told, and it's thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish.

It would have been easy for quite a few things to go wrong with a game like Aegis Defenders, from Kickstarter problems to difficulties mashing together its two types of gameplay, but, with the exception of some small hiccups, everything turned out pretty darned smooth. It’s a game I wouldn’t have a hard time recommending to most, but one that is a must for anyone with the opportunity to play through with a friend.

In all Persona 5 Strikers is a fantastic game that is clearly made with heart, and isn’t just a reskin of the Dynasty Warriors series with Persona characters. This reviewer would look at other examples of this genre shift such as Hyrule Warriors or Fire Emblem Warriors and say that Persona 5 Strikers definitely went above and beyond to tell a Persona story with a fantastic blend of JRPG and Muso game styles that suits it, if not perfectly, pretty close!

Weird West is a gem of a game with a dark, well-crafted world and an intriguing story featuring choices that carry actual weight. It's not perfect – no indie game is – and I've experienced my fair share of bugs while playing it (nothing game-breaking, though). I will definitely be revisiting it in the near future... right after I finish Planescape Torment again.

There’s no story, and no other modes to speak of. Thankfully, the action makes up for it in most places.

In the case of Aggelos, the most memorable thing about it for me will be the music I heard along the way. To me, that makes it a standout and one that I'm going to remember. But for those who aren't as taken in by classic game audio, this game may go by the wayside.

SPRAWL doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it instead pulls together several established and classic design and gameplay elements to deliver a well-rounded package that succeeds in what it wants to do. Combat is enjoyable and hectic, and though the melee system probably could have used a bit more depth, slowing time to line up the perfect headshot never gets old. The Sprawl may be a largely familiar cyberpunk setting, the the narrative set-up is intruding enough to hold interest. For those looking to scratch a twitch-shooter itch that works equally well for short-burst or longer play sessions, SPRAWL offers a package worth looking into.

Land of the Vikings looks like it has delivered the goods when it comes to producing a city builder / gatherer sim game. There is a lot in the game, so players will have a lot to learn, but need not worry because it comes with a wonderful tutorial that can teach the basics. Even if real Vikings were generally described centuries ago as being violent terrorists, the Vikings in this game will be sure to provide a satisfying and enjoyable gaming experience.

In all, Party Animals is a pretty fun game, with multiple maps that each have different gimmicks and can be incredibly entertaining. That being said the controls feel clumsy and take a bit of getting used to. In addition, unless you have a group of friends to play with, Party Animals may get old fairly quickly. To be fair, that is rather par for the course for a game whose focus is multiplayer, so it isn't anything outright against Party Animals. If you're a fan of multiplayer shenanigans or adorable creatures, then this is a game to keep an eye on!

All told, Veilguard is an enjoyable RPG with rich character customization and striking visuals, especially within the cyberpunk-inspired Minrathous. The freedom to shape Rook's backstory and outlook is a welcome touch, yet it is offset by the reduction in meaningful choices and the series signature moral complexity. While Veilguard might not capture the epic scope of Origins or the tightly woven, character driven narrative of Dragon Age II, it is a solid entry that hints at a new direction. If future Dragon Age titles can re-embrace the far-reaching choices and branching narratives that once made the series iconic, they may yet recapture the magic of Thedas. For now, Veilguard is a promising — if somewhat pared down — addition to the Dragon Age legacy, and fans of the series may find it worth exploring.

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.

Room to Grow provides for some wonderfully creative puzzles that will take some time to move through and is well worth it for puzzle fans.

The Stillness of the Wind will not suit everyone. It is a game that is somewhat devoid of excitement. It is probably a closer example of a farming simulator than games such as Harvest Moon or Stardew Valley and their bright colours and fast-growing crops. It is more than that though. It is a game of survival, for both the elderly Talma, and for the animals that she tends. It is a game of loss as well, as we learn about all the family that lived on the farm but have left the nest. The Stillness of the Wind is relaxing though, allowing you to wander about doing your daily tasks however you please, but without goals to aim for, there is often the feel of emptiness which can lead to the game feeling a tad dull.

Blood Bowl 2 may not quite be the long drive into the end zone, but it’s at least good for a few first downs.

I started out expecting Heading Out to purely be a racing title, but it is much more than that. The various interactions you have with strangers you meet along the way are impactful, often leading to an outcome that was not immediately evident. Keeping ahead of Fear whilst maintaining your limited resources and competing against the plethora of opponents that are eager to take you down is an absolute joy. The soundtrack is a highlight though, with a mix of synth-wave and Americana tunes that perfectly complements the game's atmosphere and had me hooked right until the final orchestral score of "Take Me Home". The soundtrack alone is reason enough to buy the game, but combined with the narrative, the stylized black and white visuals and the highway racing, Heading Out is a must buy.