Samurai Warriors 5 definitely has its fair share of faults. However, those faults aren't nearly enough to hinder the fact that the game offers a gratifying experience and is an excellent addition to the series.

Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time is a good game but not as good as it should and could have been. A repetitive mission structure and motion controls damper what is otherwise an enjoyable trip down memory lane for fans of the series. Here’s hoping Sly sticks around a little bit longer before once again slipping into the shadows.

As a complete package, The Dishwasher : Dead Samurai is good value at 800 points, and is a nice modern touch on a classic arcade style.

Overall, for those wanting to scratch that point and click itch, you probably already have this game, for everyone else, The Next Big Thing features interesting characters and an interesting story and may be a good excuse to have a break from some twitch game play and simply enjoy the story of the game and flex that brain muscle.

With four fresh maps in which to hunt down your buddies and a rollicking foray into undead ass kicking, Continuum may falter in places but it is still an easy recommend for fans.

Putting aside the uninteresting platforming, Lost Words: Beyond the Page is a lovely coming of age story, and a beautiful recreation of what its like to feel lost, and ultimately find yourself again.

Prison Architect is a surprisingly addictive game at times with minimal longevity.

The game offers tons of different things to do while also bringing 4k resolution and a very well made soundtrack. While it may not be one of the best games in the series, this game is still a big win to me with the addition of 2 more civilizations and more game modes.

Breakout Beyond is an action puzzle game that offers a new twist on an old formula, creating an exciting arcade experience with a modern style. Even if some characteristics of this current version tarnish the vision, the fast paced gameplay and fervor mood keeps you breaking out again and again.

Layers of Fear 2023 delivers an immersive and atmospheric horror experience across five different perspectives and 12+ hours thanks to its stunning visuals and haunting sound design, but its blend of jump scares, basic puzzle-solving and slow exploration probably won’t provide frights that will satisfy most gamers looking for a more interactive, combat-heavy game.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is an absolute treat for fans of the grim, dark future of the 41st Millennium and a superb shooter in its own right.

Mr. Run and Jump is a fantastic 2D platformer whose level design makes the most out of the two actions in its title. The challenges the game presents will be most enjoyable to veterans of the genre, but the solid aesthetics, music and assistance options do enough to also entertain newcomers.

Any keen puzzle gamer will undoubtedly relish the amount of challenge and sense of achievement to be found in The Room. Although the game does tend to become slightly monotonous at times, the overall game design and the level of challenge is enough to keep the average player intrigued.

If you love RTS games (and can stand a few movement/AI issues) then this is a great looking, interesting take on the genre. I still love the paintings that inspired the game and the idea of being able to “live in their world” for a while is pretty appealing in and of itself.

Cheat, steal, and bribe your way to victory while destroying your friendships in this digital boardgame.

Sorcerer King casts a spell on you and keeps you playing.

I was very happy with the experience (well that’s a relative term as their are some dark elements to the story). It’s impressive to see what Indie teams can achieve and the best part is we get games that just wouldn’t be made if the field was only open to the big production houses that have to “play it safe”.

A seaworthy addition to the roguelike deckbuilder genre with a treasure trove of content.

Dead or Alive Last Round is still a great fighter but is slowly starting to show its age, even with the overtly sexualised anime inspired characters.

It’s easy to get muddled in the endless sea of roguelikes, but occasionally, you wander on one that feels really special. Forestrike ticks that box. With a simple premise and a great combination of pick-up-and-play combat and involved strategy, Forestrike makes for a mighty fine martial arts adventure.

MGS Master Collection gives Metal Gear fans the chance to play the original 80s games on modern consoles. With a few neat inclusions, like story books. The collection scratches some itches, whilst bringing subpar quality ports to the modern day.

In the end, the Batman: Arkham VR experience is worth it more for the very hard core fans because it’s such a short romp and others may feel a little robbed.

Overall the storyline is good but sometimes poorly executed, with one example being when a group a survivors have the time to sit down and chat about life (complete with violin-esque music) in the middle of man hunt and impeding zombie attack on their community. In saying that though, the character developments and the evolving relationships between them makes the game genuinely interesting and engaging. And you cannot help but have a concern for their welfare.

Making the macabre sweet and cute whilst challenging players to solve puzzles via two different characters.

Chrono Cross is a strange, wonderful game that was not afraid to take big risks. The port doesn’t exactly cover it in glory but considering the game has been languishing in purgatory for so long it’s nice that it sees the light of day at all. There is little here for people who aren’t already fans of the genre to recommend. But for JRPG fans this is a fascinating time capsule, especially for PAL gamers who didn’t get to experience it first time round.

The game isn't perfect, by any means. But once you rip your first TOW launcher off an APC and start spraying rockets around, you might be prepared to forgive its failings.

The Outlast Trials is a tense and rewarding multiplayer horror game. Though it’s not quite as nerve-shredding as previous Outlast games, especially when playing with others, its primary loop is an addictive one, and it drip-feeds rewards and challenges at just the right place to keep you hooked until you feel you can renter society again.

If you bought Tiger Woods ’13 this annual upgrade isn’t entirely necessary apart from some decent bells and whistles thrown in. The server issues are currently the biggest problem for the game but they’re more likely than not going to be fixed in the near future. If it’s been a while since you dusted off the clubs however you may want to consider pulling them out, because what this game can offer to newcomers is huge. It’s still a solid golf game and that’s exactly what it needs to be.

Essentially, if you enjoyed RoboCop: Rogue City, then grab RoboCop: Rogue City – Unfinished Business, as it’s essentially more of the same but with some tweaks here and there. If you haven’t played the original but you’d like to play a game in which you get to be RoboCop, either is fine, but certainly grab a copy, as it’s a lot of fun!

PC is definitely not my number one choice to experience the new adventures of Geralt. Though the game captures the essence of CD Project Red’s The Witcher series, at the end of the day, it’s just a casual card adventure, not a full-blown RPG, and that will make it difficult to keep up with the experience longer than a short while.

It is a solid step in the right direction. It has actions, it has suspense, and it has solid experiences that bring awe as the bullets are flying. The graphic anomalies take a bit away, but you cannot help but root for this game, and the definite heart felt honor it seems to want to present to the men and women in the military.

Portal Knights is a spiritual successor to Minecraft that thankfully works well and creates an enjoyable experience on the Nintendo Switch.

El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron is one of those increasingly rare artistic achievements in the world of games that shows what can be achieved when its creators are left to make the game they want, as opposed to one dictated by a publisher and a panel of market researchers. Rife with surreal religious symbolism, memorable set pieces, and surprisingly solid combat mechanics, El Shaddai is one cult classic that deserves a second shot at success.

If you’re a Darksiders diehard, consider picking up Daksiders Genesis on a different platform. It’s near unplayable on the Switch, but has the seeming makings of a better outcome, elsewhere.

Emio – The Smiling Man tells a thrilling and engaging story. It’s a visual novel, so don’t expect complex gameplay there – and I’m sure you’ll be satisfied.

A beautifully crafted 3D puzzle game that has a high chance of making you hungry when playing.

Overall Hitman Absolution is a solid addition to the Nintendo Switch library and whilst it may not be for all the die hard Hitman fans there is enough there for portable fans to enjoy. With the announcement as said above Switch 2 owners may want to holdout on purchasing until the free update comes out next year.

Overall A Vampyre Story is a decent game. Some may find it slow paced, some may not see the humour in the conversations, but as a call back to classic adventure games there is little else available.

What is great about the game and the story line especially is that there are awesome villains and none of them seem like a throw away add on to the game. The levels leading up to boss battles are well designed, giving Spider-Man the chance to use his unique abilities. Story line writer Dan Slott really brings a story that is perhaps one of the best in any Spider-Man game yet.

Valley of the Yeti is certainly worth playing for its interesting new ideas and that classic Far Cry feel, but its overly cold approach to its story.

For children of the 80’s there’s a lot of familiarity here and that does mean there’s a lot to love. It is a roguelike so if you get frustrated by dying and having to restart at the beginning, it’s likely not for you. If you like a challenge and your retinas can stand an onslaught of bright neon colours with 80’s references and an environmental message then this might just be your can of 7up… so don your powerglove, put on your acid wash jeans and get ready for some new retro gaming.

Survios made Alien: Rogue Incursion because they could, and what they made is an amazing action horror VR game that perfectly distributes the captivating fun with moments of trepidation. Solid controls mixed with well rounded gameplay mechanics generates an extremely satisfying time under the helm of a VR headset. The explementary graphical fidelity and immersive audio design greatly boost your experience and solidifies Alien: Rogue Incursion as a certified VR classic.

tealth Inc 2 A Game of Clones ... send in the clones in this frustrating yet fun indie puzzle-platformer!

Visually, Starlink: Battle for Atlas is beautifully presented on the Nintendo Switch from its high quality cut-scenes to detailed in-game graphics from the diverse planets which are a true joy to visit. The visual detail on these planets is quite impressive and more importantly, they do look different and do look alien in origin. There’s also some great special effects employed from sun-flares to massive dust-storms that just makes the whole experience a very immersive one and the frame rate is very stable on the Switch.

A well-written narrative puzzle adventure that shines through the darkness with its great graphics, fun puzzles, and interesting story telling.

In conclusion, Fat Princess: Fistful of Cake is a fun game on the PSP and although I would not recommend it to owners of the PS3 version, unless you’re a die hard fan but for owners of the PSP who've never played it, this is definitely one of the better releases for 2010 thanks to its very quirky gameplay and a fun storyline.

It took me quite a few hours to get my head around it, especially at the start when I was trying to fight and learn the gaming mechanics at the same time. However, if you can move past this initial frustration phase, Resonance of Fate features some great gaming moments and an interesting story with three very likeable characters.

I Am Setsuna is a little too shallow at times to truly stand out as a worthy successor to its precursors but, if you have a hankering for a throwback to Square’s golden age of RPGs but with a current generation sheen applied, it’s worth giving the game a look even if it doesn’t quite manage to reinvent the wheel.

The Tale of Bistun is not perfect, but it is original. The romantic story with masterfully incorporated symbolism and plot twists along with the exotic art style makes the game a sensational experience; it is short and does not overstay its welcome as well.

Tides of Tomorrow set out to overhaul the choice-based games genre with it's Story-Link feature and, while promising, it is a relatively shallow mechanic. Still, the original wrinkle it adds on top of a solid, albeit flawed single-player choice-based game is a welcome addition to the genre.

Both Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir and Famicom Detective Club: The Girl Who Stands Behind are fascinating remaster projects. They both tell deep, interesting stories and they both look and sound like state-of-the-art visual novels, but both games play like a clunky edutainment adventure game you might find on a primary school computer. Despite the ceaseless issues that I have with the clunky gameplay, I enjoyed my time with both The Missing Heir and The Girl Who Stands Behind. The narratives are compelling enough for me to brush aside some archaic gameplay flaws, and both games have a tremendous aesthetic that hooked me from the start.

If you’ve ever enjoyed Inkle’s games in the past, I think you’ll find something to like about Pendragon. Its flat art style, delightful music, and surprising tactical depth mix well to spin a tale that you’ll remember long after you put it down. However if you’re looking for your next tactical challenge, this won’t be fore you. Pendragon is definitely more about the journey, and oh what a journey it is.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 is a superb remake that outshines the original in almost every way.

The Escapists is easily one of the most original games in a long time that successfully recreates a prison environment.

Where the Water Tastes Like Wine is an adventure game that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of adventure. Roam the United States countryside, meet interesting folks and swap tall tales until sunrise.

Epoch 2 is a very well made game on the iOS that is easily one of the most impressive out there. Best of all, the controls are very sturdy.

An iterative entry in the long running series that doesn’t bring much new to the table over the previous game, but is still an enjoyable romp, nonetheless.

In conclusion, Def Jam Rapstar is a fun game and if you are into rap and hip hop, than this is a must have karaoke game.

EA should be commended on another fun Sims adventure with great gameplay and graphics. My one wish for this franchise is to make The Sims franchise online which would combine all the elements of the games into one mega social experience. Nonetheless, The Sims 3 Supernatural is a must have game to all fans of this series!

Disney Infinity successfully takes the Skylanders premise to a whole new level and seriously improves the gameplay. More importantly, players can actually relate better to the characters due to the big name Disney names that grace this title. Right from the get go, players will find themselves entertained but just be warned that if you're a collector, this game may get expensive. Recommended!

More unique events, more little plot threads to pull on and a greater variety of hazards, would all go a long way to elevate the climb. For now though, Insurmountable is a fun, if simple little experience, that’s perfect for those who want something chill to fill an hour or two.

Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory is a nostalgic trip down memory lane while also offering a well-crafted rhythm game that is absolutely addicting.

Ancestors Legacy is a fun and content-packed historical RTS with great tactical squad-based combat and engaging single-player campaigns.

Crisol: Theater of Idols is a unique blend of action and puzzles that has enough potential to keep the player engaged until the very end, but lacks enough narrative and gameplay depth to be remembered for long.

If you are a fan of racing games or the GRID franchise, this would be a great addition to your library!

Moving Out is a home-grown indie effort that quite literally embodies the best of couch co-op. If you’re a fan of multiplayer experiences like Overcooked and Tools Up, this is a game to pick up – especially if you have a group of friends or family to join in the entertaining chaos.

Now the end is near the gimmick of time traveling is pushed into the background a little bit, as this episode is more about storytelling and conversation. That means there is not a lot of gameplay action, which makes this episode feel more passive. Thankfully Max’ detective work pushes you to the edge of your chair, as she unravels shocking truths.

Overall Trials of Mana 3-D Remake is essentially that a remake, for fans of Secret of Mana I would suggest playing the original version of Trials of Mana which can be found in the Collection of Mana for Nintendo Switch. For anyone who has not played a Mana game before then you really can not go wrong with this version, Square Enix have really done a good job at breathing new life into a 25 year old game whilst keeping to its roots as a 16 bit Classic.

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is an incredibly atmospheric and legitimately unsettling experience brought low by clunky, often infuriating combat and trial-and-error stealth sections. As such, it’s difficult to recommend to anyone but existing fans of the series. However, for those who can push through its more irksome elements, there’s a fantastically macabre tale that will haunt you long after the credits roll.

From a visual and story point of view, the Layers of fear masterpiece edition is indeed a masterpiece, but it is a game, and sadly the entire gameplay side of things is extremely disappointing and turns what could have been a very impressive and cutting edge psychological horror title up there with the likes of Silent Hill, into nothing more than another boring and generic indie horror, so short that even the $30 its in the PlayStation store for is a stretch.

Final words? Ghostbusters the video game definitely recreates the franchise perfectly and everything from the story to music and characters makes you feel like you are part of this supernatural world.

The gameplay has been dumbed down a little from the PC game but it still works with the Wii controllers. Definitely a fun racing experience!

WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 is still the best wrestling series available and features everything fan girls and boys need for their home console experience. The action is fun, the control system is improved but best of all, it's all that customisation that is given to the player that makes this game so competent. It's a good all rounder game!

Watch Dogs: Legion has an enormous amount of replay value and a very compelling storyline with unexpected twists along the way, especially for those who want something thought provoking and gritty.

Forgive Me Father is a frantic and fun horror FPS packed full of twisted enemies, inventive weapons and just enough mystery to keep you hooked.

With the lack of originality or innovation both in gameplay and storytelling, in a year packed with great indies such as Dredge and Cocoon, I’m afraid Undying leaves the table empty-handed.

Bloomtown: A Different Story is a turn-based JRPG where bartering your soul with Satan is the least of your worries. The games’ quirky characters and unconventional story are a highlight and pull you in instantly. Sadly, the inquisitiveness and allure drop rather quickly due to an overabundance of mechanics and inconvenient design making Bloomtown wilt away.

It’s fun enough and the visuals are lovely. If you want to feel like you are playing an old retro Rugrats game, go with the 8-bit option… otherwise for a more cartoon feel stick with HD. Don’t expect a long game (and therefore maybe wait for a sale)… but there’s a touch of nostalgia to be had (if there was voice then it would have hit the feels more though). Take it or leave it really… if you are a huge fan, grab it for your collection. If you enjoyed the show but prefer longer gaming experiences… maybe give it a miss.

Kinectimals is a Kinect game made right and even though it has been designed for children, the developers have added enough Kinect content to impress even adults.

Toukiden Kiwami is a fun game on the PlayStation 4 with some great gameplay that really sets itself apart for what is available on the console at the moment with games like this.

The only downside of Unmechanical is that it's quite a linear experience and it's a little too short. However for the price, it's definitely worth investigating if you're looking for a a fun yet sometimes frustrating puzzler. Recommended!

All in all, Lost Winds is a very enjoyable game and something that allows you to escape the chaos of the real word.

In the end, Resident Evil Revelations is one of the best Resident Evil releases for the home console that offers players around 10 hours of addictive and adrenaline pumping moments in the campaign mode.

Dying Light is an enjoyable yet clichéd zombie game that successfully injects Parkour into its mechanics.

At the end of the day if you are a Queen fan than this is the game for you.

It’s fun at the time, yet ultimately forgettable and the links to the Star Fox universe are tentative at best.

Disney Speedstorm is a unique take on the Kart racing genre. Attempting to be free to play in the hopes to gain favour. Riddled with microtransactions and lacking in spirit, the game unfortunately falls a bit flat.

It is cute and unique (with a very quirky script) but it still needs more tweaking from the developers. I personally would wait for further updates before I jump back into this game (and die multiple times over again), but if you are willing to keep in mind that it is still a ‘work in progress’, then give it a go because overall it is still a fun game to play.

Overall, it’s a visually striking game and I was quite mesmerized by the world you get to play in. Because the story really didn’t grab me I wasn’t super fussed about the disparity in the music options and instead took it as a chance to enjoy some tracks I am familiar with along with possibly finding some new artists to do a deep dive into later (which may be somewhat the intent of the variety on offer). If you like rhythm games and don’t mind a broad range of songs then you may just enjoy jumping in your ship and boosting your way around the neon tracks of Invector: Rhythm Galaxy.

Overall, not surprisingly there is a lot here for fans of the series, but there is also an excellent story driven fighting game for fans of the genre.

I would happily recommend the game though, it really is a great mix of XCOM and HOMM and with that touch of humour thrown in it makes for quite the fun play experience. You can either play it as a pick up and go game or thrown in some serious hours just advancing through the game. It’s a decent price point too, not too high for something that has a decent amount of play time available.

Overall I had a lot of fun with Phantom Doctrine… I’ve been a big fan of the X-Com games since enemy unknown and I thoroughly enjoyed Silent Storm. The Cold War, espionage theme of Phantom Doctrine helps to make it stand out a bit and is a great story line. If you like turn based strategy games I would highly recommend Phantom Doctrine… now excuse me I just have to jet to a (redacted) in (redacted) and talk to my handler.

An endearingly goofy take on the Point-and-Click genre that revels in breaking the fourth wall with a stiff upper lip.

LEGO Batman 3 Beyond Gotham is the biggest and best LEGO DC Comics games to date!

At the end of the day, Gran Turismo on the PSP could be considered Gran Turismo light in some aspects, however if you're looking at a racing simulation with real-world cars and decent gameplay, than this is one title you should investigate.

Princess Peach Showtime is a nice break away from our favourite plumber and his brother and while I enjoyed this as an older gamer, it definitely does have a more younger gamer appeal. Even so, it’s quite a clever premise and if you’re looking for something a little different, check out the demo via the Nintendo store and if you like it, Princess Peach Showtime might be the fun you’re looking for.

Worms 4 is a competent entry that makes for an enjoyable handheld experience and one that fans both old and new will find more than enough to hold their interest.

If you’re looking for an engaging tabletop RPG experience on the PlayStation 4, then Pathfinder: Kingmaker Definitive Edition is indeed that game with intuitive turn-based mechanics in a classic archetype setting. Definitely great value for money, especially in a world where we need to stay home at the moment due to COVID-19.