Overall, Planet Zoo is a decent zoo simulator that gives the impression of being easy and light-hearted, but goes a little bit too deep into micromanaging and bogs the gameplay down much of the time. Slower pacing, clearer instructions and some randomized landscapes for your own zoos would work wonders and make the game more enjoyable to younger gamers as well. Future updates will probably address some of these issues and also fix the tutorials that sometimes miss that you have already done what you were asked to do and fail to move to the next step.

I think this expansion is for Rise of Industry’s current fanbase and those who are already committed to these patterns of gameplay and unfortunately not for those who enjoy the premises of futurism and dystopianism like myself. That’s why I find it hard to be too overly critical of this expansion and what it has brought to its existing community, as it will doubtless be pleasing to those who are far more invested in tycoon style simulators when it gives them the reason to play more of that which they already enjoy. After all, the DLC stands at a fairly inexpensive investment of £8 which for the soundtrack alone is already enough compensation! Play it again, Johnny.

The fun, humorous storyline, some great dialogue and theatrical accents of the diverse characters, beautifully varied locations and the same great gunplay that Borderlands is renowned for, means that Borderlands 3 becomes another must have title in the series.

This is not a game that I’d recommend for someone that wants a quick way to jump in and create something over a weekend, but, by all accounts, it’s an awesome tool for those that understand the program will give back as much as you’re willing to put in.

For a game designed to introduce people to the genre, Little Big Workshop mostly succeeds. It proves more complicated in places than you’d expect for a beginner friendly title and the smaller scope of the game does constrict its potential. But what we have here is a solid introduction to the simulation genre - one that’s a lot of fun and proves to be quite addictive. It’s a labour of love from Mirage Games and an experience that comes highly recommended.

There’s truly a decent game here with its foundational systems that could be developed into a more well-rounded title. But as it stands this is a £45 game, it is neither fair nor warranted that this game is just okay. Codemaster’s had already promised ahead of its release that Grid (2019) would be receiving a bevy of further racetracks, cars and modes for its player base. Yet with a dwindling interest, this seems too little too late.

Problems aside, Police Stories is fun. It’s not terribly long- the kind of game you could bust out in a weekend if you wanted to- but its bite-sized pieces and simple controls also make it a great game to digest at a more tempered pace.

Rain of Reflections: Chapter 1 proves to be a mixed bag. It’s clear that Lionbite have put a lot of time into the story that holds your interest but this is broken up by dull, immersion-breaking gameplay. With Chapters 2 and 3 still to come, we hope that Lionbite Games will take these points into consideration. As the game stands, however, it’s hard to recommend it above the competition.

Overall, the game provides a fulfilling experience for those wishing to jump into a beautifully designed JRPG world, especially now that it is available for desktop gamers who missed out on its original release. Whilst it doesn’t push the boat out in terms of narrative or its attention to structural design, it rewards those who can appreciate a game for its endearing elements, exploring its roaming hills and bustling towns, as well as laughing alongside its friendly and good-natured companions.

Overall, there’s nothing bad to say about the game as long as your only wish from the series was for more of the same goodness as you had in Trine 1 and Trine 2. Although I feel that I’d like to have learned more about our trio of heroes - how are Amadeus’ triplets turning out, for example? - it is the gameplay, puzzles and atmosphere that drives these games forward. And Trine 4 certainly delivers in that regard! There’s a lot of fun to be had here, especially in the co-op mode, and I cannot recommend it too much.

The decision to make Hex a strategy game was a smart choice, translating John’s famous precision and actions in a way that an FPS game simply couldn’t achieve. Whilst it’s a shame that Bithell Games couldn’t get Keanu Reeves on board with his co-stars, Hex proves to be a fun experience, one which challenges players but is never unfair in its difficulty. It’s a solid adaptation of the franchise and will leave fans satisfied.

Ultimately Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is an excellent throwback to platforming glory years. Despite a few bugs and sound issues present during the earlier sections, the game is simple and stylish, a joy to play. If you are on PC, you owe it to yourself to pick it up — this is the closest you will get to a Nintendo platformer on the system. The level of love Playtonic have squeezed into this game makes Yooka-Laylee stand firmly on its own two feet.

Sword & Souls: Neverseen is a fun RPG-lite game that is simple to play, but the repetition in both the training and the combat makes the game become stale rather quickly. The added challenges to the training do help, but once you get to the highest training level, even that becomes monotonous. It is probably a game that is best played in short bursts, which lends itself to being more of a mobile game. Indeed, the simple nature of the controls, the turn-based combat mechanics, and the animated visuals all point to the same conclusion. But as a PC title, the game is fun but somewhat limited.

You could say that Heave Ho is somewhat visually unappealing, as the scenery and characters have a grainy 1920’s style cinematic look to them (albeit in colour). But this is clearly as intended and works well within the humorous nature of the game. There are birds that fly past and cover you in poop if you’re taking too long, and a llama that walks past and farts, filling the area with a dark fog. Even when players fall to their deaths, an explosion of paint covers their comrades. Heave Ho is a game that doesn’t take itself seriously, and should be played as such, particularly with a group of friends.

Remnant: From the Ashes is more than just a Dark Souls clone or a simple third-person shooter. It’s the lovechild of the many games, mixed with aspects of Gears of War, Fallout, The Division, and its own brand of weird. The number of games I’ve kept playing after my time with it for a review can probably be counted on two hands, and I’m happy that Remnant is going to be joining their ranks. Despite a shallow store, some repetitive environments, and a few occasionally frustrating glitches, this is a game well worth your time.

Warlocks 2 is a fun but flawed game, one that comes with a good amount of charm and the dialogue will certainly make you laugh. It proves to be a lot more of an enjoyable experience with others, with action elements feeling more balanced across a party of players. Overall it’s not an experience which ever truly pulls you in, and ends up leaving you wanting more. If you’re playing as a group, you could do a lot worse than Warlocks 2 but for anyone playing alone, you’re better off looking elsewhere.

The Sojourn is a great game - its puzzles are challenging, yet rarely frustrate, creating a layered experience which builds upon the central mechanics of the light and dark states. Its environments also offer you something gorgeous to look at while you’re contemplating a solution. It does less well in terms of the narrative, which is a little too simplistic in terms of its themes. Also, the puzzles/environment don’t really feel heavily related to the plot at all. But the narrative isn’t in your face, and is quite easy to disregard if you’re not interested. In the end, puzzles are what matter most in these games, and I would definitely recommend The Sojourn to any puzzler fans out there.

This reviewer cannot deny that despite obvious flaws and frankly boring interludes in Metal Wolf Chaos XD’s gameplay, it is a game that will be remembered fondly.

I happen to be a big fan of FMV games, so I’m always happy to see another entry join the genre’s catalog. It may be unfortunate that too much of the game is focused on its least interesting parts, but the story is able to bring up questions of happiness, work, friendship, and mental health that I give it credit for trying to tackle. Your time is probably best spent elsewhere, but here’s to hoping the crew over at Superstring can learn from their mistakes and come back for a stronger sophomore effort.

For the most part, it was a compelling experience. What made it even more interesting, was knowing that the plot behind the Man of Medan is inspired by a real ship that went missing sometime in the 1940's although a specific date is hard to pin down. It may not be a game for everyone, but for fans of Supermassive's previous work it is definitely worth a look.

‘Faith’ is a great episode, possibly my favourite of Life is Strange 2, and undoubtedly one of the most thematically strong. There are a number of great choices, and the only sequence which felt a little unnecessary, was the hospital section at the beginning, which for me only waylaid getting to the important parts of the episode. But in general the discussion of faith, parenthood, and Christianity is precise, prompting the player as to where they want to place their faith, while at the same time, questioning whether repentance, and forgiveness as a concept, are achievable.

Did I enjoy The Church in the Darkness? I did the first couple playthroughs. By the third, I was starting to feel like I was just going through the motions. I think it's one of those games where if you do a playthrough once every now and then, it can definitely be worth the time. It has a visually appealing art-style that reminds me of a stylistic early 2000's game, and the audio, though it does eventually become repetitive, really does sell the Walkers as convincing cult leaders. It's a fun game, but it's a short ride for individual playthroughs and if you're farming for multiple endings, it's going to show its imperfections really fast.

Winds of Magic is decent, but I feel like it unfortunately represents a step away from what makes the Vermintide series truly special.

The multiplayer focus makes it difficult to form an emotional attachment, detracting from what could have been a uniquely unnerving experience. In the current state this game is worth trying if you’ve got a few friends on board, but I’d love to see a more thorough exploration of the mechanics in a well-crafted, single-player story.

It might have been too much to expect incredibly new and diverse mechanics so soon after the release of the base game. Instead Eight Princes represents a few little changes and a nice dose of added re-playability. I think that in time we will receive DLC that does significantly change things and offer new and incredibly fresh mechanics, but Eight Princes isn’t that. I would however recommend it if you enjoyed the campaign experience of the original game.

I expected better from Wolfenstein: Youngblood. After loving the last three outings, I had every right to assume that, despite being something different, Youngblood was going to be a well made experiment to switch things up. I was expecting a gripping narrative, a likeable cast, and thrilling gameplay. What I got was pure disappointment on every level. The one positive I can give Wolfenstein: Youngblood is that the more open map designs (it is co-developed by Arkane Studios, of Dishonored fame) are a welcome addition to the series. Beyond that, I can only say I'm thankful that this retails at $29.99 instead of full price but even that lessens the disappointment only little.

Night Call is not something to pick up if you’re looking for something actively “game-y,” but it’s one that I’d recommend to anyone willing to spend a few dark nights simply enjoying the ride.

Once you’re past the steep learning curve, Automachef has a lot to offer. As you’re solving problems, not puzzles, there’s different ways to approach a task, which gives a fair amount of replayability. The chance to share player-made content with a budding community and bolster your options with modding capabilities means that this game could have some staying power - assuming that the initial difficulty spikes don’t spoil any appetites.