Compared to others of the adventure genre, Cognition Episode 2 is pretty average. It serves as a solid continuation of the Cognition story, but if anything it offers just a little less than the first installment.

NFS Heat is a great attempt to return to ye old form of previous titles. A strong foundation to build upon.

With as solid a foundation that Housemarque has created here, the potential for a truly boundary breaking game definitely exists but the short length, lack of replayability and immense difficulty spikes dampen the overall experience.

Sunday Gold is a pretty decent turned-based action RPG with an acceptable story that carries the player until the end but there is so much lost potential in it as well. The art of Sunday Gold on the other hand fits its world perfectly and we can see the first legacy of Disco Elysium art style in this game. The gameplay of Sunday Gold is pretty straightforward and fun, something we don’t see much these days. I wished they made or used better music for the game, but it wouldn’t be right to not point out the fantastic job the sound editor of this game did.

Zombi on XBox One is a port and is a clunk port but still has a few moments to shine on this next-gen console

To date, ‘Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector’ is the best digital rendition of the Warhammer 40k table-top miniatures game that I’ve ever played. The amazing attention to detail and unknowing nature of each mission will resonate deeply with 40k fans and be a good starting point for newcomers to the franchise. Personally, I would have loved to have seen more factions engaged in battle but introducing the Sisters of Battle as reinforcements has been a clever way to expand the list of units available without straying away from the deep lore that the game is set in. Although I wouldn’t call ‘Battlesector’ a difficult game, it does pose quite the challenge for players of all skill levels. I recommend this game to anyone who wants to get into Warhammer or is already a fan. Hopefully more units and factions will become available in the future, further adding to enormous amount replay value.

Potion Permit may not be the best life simulation or harvesting game you would play, but experiencing it shouldn’t be empty of pleasure.

Adorable Adventures is a relaxed exploration game that focuses on guiding you through nature using scent-based tracking and simple discovery mechanics. It blends light puzzles, environmental interaction, and optional activities into a steady flow that encourages curiosity over challenge. Overall, it delivers a calm, low-pressure experience built around exploration, collection, and small moments of progression.

It is a exhilarating experience planning a classic fighter game such as After Burner, but the exhilaration is simply too short to justify the 800 points required to buy it.

Nintendo Switch Sports is a silly and lighthearted option for game night, but with a limited roster of sports, its appeal and longevity is restricted. Rather than games such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Mario Party Superstars, and Super Smash Brothers Ultimate, which game nights are usually built around, Nintendo Switch Sports feels more like an intermittent game to play with friends while transitioning to the stronger multiplayer experiences the Switch has to offer.

Cloudbuilt is fun once you get the hang of things. A good challenge for those that do not frustrate easily.

Overall, Mafia II: Definitive Edition tells a story that is gripping and while it may not be largely unique in the span of Mafia lore, it’s one of the best available in video game form. I genuinely cared about Vito and the terrifying criminals that surrounded him. I grew to love their antics and laugh at their quirks, and feel sorry for the situations that they found themselves in. I think it’s a little unfair to class Mafia 2 as an open-world game, because the city does nothing but offer the setting for the story to g from point a to point b. If you’re looking for a city that is brimming with side quests and random activities, you won’t find them here. What you will find is a bittersweet, interesting period piece that looks at time that is not often explored in video games, and it’s a pretty damn memorable one at that.

My relationship with Ubisoft in the past couple of years has been sort of a love-hate situation but Avatar Frontiers of Pandora has broken the cycle and feels like a breath of fresh air.

I wanted to get behind Faith and the story, but it seems that the game world oppression of the big corp that runs the city has permanently leaked into the personalities of the characters.

Let It Die is flawed, but it’s perhaps the best free-to-play game ever made on the PS4. It’s different, daring, and occasionally impossible. But it’s also a must play for fans of the roguelike gene.

State Of Decay's incredible value almost makes up for its technical shortcomings.

WWE 2K16 boasts an insane roster with fine-tuned gaming mechanics that makes this one of the best games in the franchise.

For anyone who wants to be a marine biologist... this is a good casual immersion into the wonderous depths.

Look, let’s be straight here – The Ezio Collection is a fairly lazy port. Minimal effort has been made to improve the games either graphically or mechanically and there’s absolutely no reason to pick this up if you already own the previous gen versions of the games.

In the end, Rain is a beautifully crafted game on the PlayStation 3 which proves that sometimes less is more. It is well narrated and features some sturdy gameplay that I could happily recommend to all gamers who want something a little different. Given that, Rain is also an emotional experience that successfully draws the player into this dream like world of rain.

Is this a title worth getting? I’d say yes most definitely if you are a fan. If you are not then you certainly will need to make sure that you are ready for a massive game where you will not have any idea who most of the characters are. Having said that the entire title is pretty well rounded off, and the character development is interesting enough to keep you playing, but not so hard it will put you off.

Overall The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing is a solid action rpg with a few issues that are too be expected on a first try such as a lack of a replay option, quirky animations and sometimes rough combat.

FIFA is still a fun game to play and at times can still be addictive as anything. You just can’t help but wish for those two or three major signings that would take it to the next level.

LEGO The Hobbit is a fun game with a sturdy gaming engine but it definitely doesn't give this genre anything new.

The death scene taunts can get a bit tiring (when you die frequently… especially if it’s from a fiddly jump) but overall there’s a lot of charm on offer here and an interesting story. Worth a look and a bit of fun.

For those looking for a fast paced, chaotic (CHAOS) cheesy b-movie style action game, Stranger of Paradise has a lot to offer. For Final Fantasy fans, it may miss the mark of what they love most about the series.

Romeo is a Deadman is destined to be a cult classic. It’s a stylish and quirky action-horror adventure that is as funny as it is downright disturbing at times. The combat is solid and strategic, while the level design is smart yet straightforward, and it was clearly a labour of love for everyone involved. But what I really love about Romeo is Dead is that it’s not afraid to throw ideas at the wall and keep what sticks, and there’s a certain attitude that runs through the entire thing that is utterly captivating. It doesn’t care if you like it. It doesn’t care if you don’t get it. It does its own thing, it does it well, and that makes it Punk as Fuck.

Slightly unpolished, but a strange and enjoyable blast from Japan's (fictional) past.

Just Cause 3: Sky Fortress is like an explosion: brief and kind of awesome. Not very substantial, but on the other hand: jetpacks.

Ultimately, I liked Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness and that is not something I expected from the outset.

A pleasant little distraction to while away some time. Worth a look if you like the idea of peaceful city building, if you don’t mind not having a grand finale to work towards.

IXION is a game packed with good ideas and great execution which is a rare combo these days. The gameplay is rather innovative for a city-building title and the story is no short of a well-made Sci-Fi movie. IXION is a must-play for city-building lovers!

Ultimately this is a collection for those who enjoy a bit of retro gaming. If you are looking for deep strategy and high fidelity graphics and sound… well any disappointment is on you for looking at a collection of classic arcade games to find that. But for those of us who grew up with arcades as a large part of our world of entertainment… this might just cause the odd pang of sentimentality. How many of the games you like will likely determine how good the value is… as I said, I’m a big fan of The New Zealand Story so it’s a pretty good collection just for that one (though liking a few more of the games does help to justify the pricetag).

I quite enjoyed Terminator 2D: No Fate. Having been a big fan of the ’90s Terminator 2 game, this was a touch of nostalgia mixed with a modern twist (almost like someone went back in time and altered the original game). I’m not entirely sure it’s worth the price tag… even with the different difficulty settings and the occasional points where you can choose how to proceed… it’s still mostly the same basic game. That’s not to say it isn’t worth getting… just maybe wait for a sale, unless you are a super fan and just want all the T2 goodness you can get… in which case, go for it.

Apex Construct is heavily flawed, with a fun and fairly precise shooting mechanic unfortunately not enough to make up for the dismal movement controls and derivative narrative.

Dungeon of Naheulbeuk: Amulet of Chaos is a value-priced game that packs serious quality for its price point. If you’re looking for a challenging tactical RPG that doesn’t take itself too seriously, you’ll probably get plenty of mileage out of this game.

It’s not a bad collection by any stretch, and Rayman fans are bound to have some fun with the package, but I can’t get past that sinking feeling that Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition is a rush job that, had it been given a little more time, could have been something truly special.

Overall DQM: The Dark Prince is a fine and serviceable game that would be a perfect pick up for any Dragon Quest fan.

If you’re new to the game then this is the definitive version, even if it still possesses the design flaws the original had, but make sure you come into Patapon knowing full well what you’re getting yourself into.

The only short comings of the game are the lack of situational music and ambient background noise. This didn’t dampen my spirits too much however as the core gameplay and story had me too immersed to miss it very much. Just that the experience would have been complete with just a little more icing on the cake. Greak is a fairly affordable game on Steam also, so if you’re in the market for a game like Ori without the price tag before sales. Pickup Greak, it’s a wonderfully cute game perfect for winding down after work or ignoring the stresses of Covid lockdowns.

Outcast: A New Beginning is an entertaining open-world romp that reveals in its campy charm with fun traversal mechanics, fun customisation options, and plenty to see and do. It may be a little rough around the edges, but if you can overlook its foibles, there’s plenty of fun to be had.

The long awaited reunion of Max and Chloe brings some of the series best scenes, but they forgot to build a compelling game around them.

In conclusion, SEGA have created a fun sports game that works well as a single-player game and even as a party game. With a plethora of SEGA and Nintendo references, this game will definitely bring a smile to your face as you compete in a variety of winter sporting events.

Royalty & Legacy went from an underwhelming reveal to a Royal surprise. It's a more than fine pack for any Medieval Fantasy, swordfighting lover like myself. It's world is gorgeous and full of lore, and clear love and passion went in to it. It is not a must, but a welcome addition, and what it provides it does well.

Destiny Rise of Iron is a worthy addition to the world of Destiny with some fun tweaks, improvements and great multi-player shooter mechanics.

The game may not immediately show its appeal but once you get into the meat of the experience you may find yourself enamoured by this brutal fantasy sport and gaining a newfound appreciation of turn-based strategy games.

In conclusion, I thoroughly enjoyed Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock and the minor tweaks in the game definitely makes it a fun experience. The quest mode is a blast to play and with its mythological heavy metal inspired story, it's definitely a great incentive to get players to finish the title.

At the end of the day, Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter is an interesting sequel to the original game, although it seems to be lacking that oomph factor.

Binary Domain is an enjoyable yet ultimately forgettable game as it does nothing to further the squad based shooter genre. It contains an interesting story, decent in-game mechanics but at times it feels a little too polished and stiff which makes it a tad unrealistic. The combat is fun and delivers an engaging system for players to finish this title, especially with the robotic gibs. Needless to say, it's quite refreshing to play something that is not based on another faux war or distant alien planet.

In the end, Dungeon Siege III is an interesting game and works on most of its basic levels. It may not change the genre dramatically but it still provides a sturdy gaming engine with a relatively interesting story. It's a shame that the multiplayer aspect of the game is severely hampered by its limitations but as a single-player, Dungeon Siege III thankfully works.

In conclusion, the version of Blood Bowl we played was rather impressive, however if you despise American Football but love the universe, we do suggest you take a look at the game due to the Warhammer references and items.

Disney Art Academy lets younger gamers become a virtual artist with their favourite worlds!

Steep is a fun game that offers players some great ways to tackle extreme winter sports. With four different ways to play plus online multiplayer inclusion, if features relatively sturdy gaming mechanics and lots of modes to help immerse you into this realistic and enjoyable title. Sure some of the controls are a little clunky at times but overall, the gameplay, graphics and audio comes together well.

A fun and lighthearted couch co-op multiplayer game with a simple, but appealing home renovation gameplay formula fine-tuned for party chaos!

It’s not something I’d classify as an essential PSVR title, but the sheer charm of the world and its characters make exploring Pandora and experience I enjoyed far more than I first expected.

All’s Justice delivers fast, explosive 3v3 battles where every character feels distinct and full of personality. The game mixes intense combat with exploration, missions, and collectibles, giving fans a lot to dive into. Despite a few rough spots, it stands as a polished, content-rich experience that celebrates everything My Hero Academia has to offer.

Megaton Rainfall gives you the entire planet to take care of and, while it can be an overwhelming responsibility at times, it’s one that I find myself stepping up to time and time again.

Until Dawn Rush of Blood is one of the PlayStation VR highlights and successfully takes the tried and tested rail shooter and transforms it into an over the top game that almost makes it like you are there. Add in lots of collectibles to be found and some different paths the replay value is quite decent. Great graphics and controls, Until Dawn Rush of Blood is a must have VR game for your PlayStation VR!

Star Ocean: The Last Hope is an ambitious but flawed game. Exploring planets can be thrilling, but spending time with some of the characters will wear on the nerves. The combat can at times be deep and strategic, but it happens so frequently that the pleasurable aspects of it are often dulled. The graphical remaster looks great, but the presentation of cut scenes and the voice acting are bargain basement, especially compared to something like Persona 5. For those interested in Star Ocean as a franchise, the discount on this remaster could make it worth your while. For people looking for a great JRPG though, 2017 has seen a slew of great current and remastered games to make Star Ocean: The Last Hope essential.

Overall, besides the fun powers and intriguing world-building, I have to admit that Outriders isn’t anything special to me as it doesn’t do much to differentiate itself from other titans of the looter shooter genre. However, if you like sick powers and loot, then Outriders was made for you.

The Mage’s Tale may very well be the most ambitious Oculus Rift title to date. Despite its handful of quirks, it’s a legitimate dungeon crawler embracing a VR body…versus the other way around. The game is fun, clever, and surprisingly quite polished. Moreover, it’s one of the few Rift Experiences with legitimate game length, also a wonderful example on how to use the Touch controllers to near-perfection. What minor quirks are there (in puzzle difficulty, environmental interaction, potion making system) do not seriously hamper overall experience.

DoA 6 offers fast and frantic fighting gameplay wrapped up in its signature sex appeal to deliver a solid entry in the series - but it lacks single-player and online content to match its contemporaries in the genre and truly shine.

The real star of this one is the director with his running commentary, and the film just supports his wit. If you’re looking to kill a good handful of hours with a solid smile on your face, check this game out!

The Invincible is a beautiful, mesmerising and contemplative adventure that fans of retrofuturism and hard sci fi wont want to miss.

Sure, we’ve seen it all before but it’s not about that, it’s about allowing other people to experience the Just Dance phenomenon and even though the controls are not totally accurate in how it tracks your dancing, the fun and entertainment factor of the title more than makes up for this short-fall. All in all, it’s an enjoyable game for people of all ages as they dance to their hearts content, backed by some of the world’s hottest singers and bands.

In the end, Goldeneye 007: Reloaded mirrors some of the best aspects of the N64 game and re-imagines them for the PlayStation 3 from its sturdy gaming engine to Bond-esq graphics.

If you are sensitive to political correctness, easily triggered, uncomfortable with coarse language, or some political and racial overtones as was common at the time, you may want to give this one a miss. But for everyone else, give it a play, it’s actually really fun.

A suite of changes make many improvements to the formula employed by Codemasters on an annual basis. A divisive handling model may turn players away, however.

Soulstice is very much a mixed bag of a hack-and-slash RPG. While it sports excellent properties like nice visuals and designs, an interesting premise, and excellent voice acting, it still lacks gameplay optimization.

This is a very professional and well done title, and the end of the day, it is still a brain training game. It is not pushing any boundaries. Everything that it sets out to do, is done well and as Nintendo has shown this sort of game works with the hand held.

There’s not much to Light Fall beyond the unique platforming mechanics, and you won’t find a Super Meat Boy level of challenge, but it’s a neat little game that’s worth picking up if you’re looking for something of a gaming palate cleanser.

Screencheat on XBox is a game that harkens back to those classic days of LAN gaming!

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds airdrops onto PlayStation 4 as a technically messy port, but its brand of tense and tactical battle royale gameplay remains addictive as ever.

Wield a sword/dagger/spear etc of your own construction in this entertaining action adventure with a captivating story.

Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite is a serviceable, albeit disappointing fighting game release. Solid enough gameplay mechanics and flair dampened by a terrible main story mode, unappealing character designs and a lack of general polish.

If you like a bit of fantasy story telling and gaming then this is a great option. Skyrim on anything but PSVR is probably still some way off so this is a nice little way to scratch that spell casting itch.

Pokémon Scarlet is just a ton of fun. The gameplay is engaging, the battling is satisfying, and catching the ‘Mons scattered throughout a vast open world is addicting. It’s a shame the presentation doesn’t hold up it’s end of the bargain, BUT, if you can get past that like I did, I think Scarlet is a real gem.

Dragon Ball Fusions is a fun adventure in this popular franchise that gives players a new adventure to embark on with lots of cameos, fun storytelling and good (although repetitive) combat mechanics. Sure, there’s a bit of grinding when it comes to leveling up and collecting energy to access new areas but the gameplay works well on the 3DS with that enjoyable Dragon Ball humour. Best of all, the game gives something to both newcomers and fans!

Creatures of Ava isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea. If you are looking for a more relaxed gaming experience with a bit of adventuring and exploration involved then this might be something that you’ll enjoy. If you want something with a bit more depth and serious, perhaps look elsewhere. Of course if you are after a game where you get to hug the wild life… maybe give it a look.

Overall Phoenotopia is a very beautiful looking game that does well at hiding its punishing difficulty, whilst people who are looking for a Zelda 2 style game may be attracted to this title, the more causal amongst us will find it very difficult to enjoy the later aspects of the game where in truth the game gets easier.

There is no semblance of a tutorial or anything to ease you into this multi-faceted game. After hours of play, I stumbled upon HELP which all players should read to get the most out of Adventure Bar Story. Even after these failings, Adventure Bar Story is an enjoyable, quirky fantasy romp that only the Japanese can deliver.

The Splatters turns out to be an interesting past time experiment in goo enshrouded physics. Played in short bouts it can be fun, but players may find loss of interest over time.

For all the faults that I’ve outlined above, the gameplay itself is adequate, unrefined, and needing polish, but adequate, nonetheless. Where it fell down most for me was in the story. The Stargate universe is full of potential, an almost limitless number of worlds all full of storytelling possibilities, so for that potential to not be realised, is disappointing.

What other game can make clubbing baby seals so much wicked fun? Even with a maddening camera that jumps around a bit, the game is a blast and a half to play.

Overally it’s a decent effort. It’s not overly expensive so it won’t break the bank and it’s a nice walk down memory lane for those of us who grew up on Adventure games (but with mouse clicking instead of Parser commands.

All in all, despite being waaaay overpriced, Call of the Beastmen is a welcome addition to Total War: Warhammer and provides healthy clues the game has plenty of room to grow and improve more as time goes on.

Like any good theme park, Rollercoaster Tycoon 3: Complete Edition has some ups and downs, but the depth of gameplay and wealth of content make it well worth the price of admission. This was my first experience with the series in many, many years but it’s refreshing to see that it still holds up quite well. It’s a crash course in capitalism with addictive elements, but the complicated toolkit and sluggish controls may be off-putting. Despite some minor setbacks, the price is right- Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 is a bargain on Switch, and a gem to play if you’ve got the time and patience.

Go Mecha Ball’s splash of creativity, colorful world, and addicting gameplay will make you pull the plunger over and over to obtain that perfect run. Help Cat Rascal and her crew escape by flipping triggers, bouncing off of enemies, and boosting to victory.

A good, if flawed, F1-themed arcade racer that's mired by a host of smaller issues.

Killer is Dead Nightmare Edition is definitely up there with one of the weirdest but fun games that I have played on the PC.

It can be a bit of fun taking down a throng of enemy in one giant sweep… but the enjoyment is pretty limited… even if you are interested in collecting all the images and costumes and little bits and pieces… you’d have to be a fan of the series I think to really call this one a must have. If you want to just have a bit of pick up and play titillation then this is probably just the thing for you.

In conclusion, Wolfenstein is a sturdy game with some very impressive graphics, however in terms of offering the gaming community something new, it's unfortunately lacking in this department.

Minecraft Legends is an RTS-lite Minecraft experience that feels like Pikmin at times. While not the most difficult strategy game on the market, it will suit those gamers who love the Minecraft universe and will give you enough incentive and enjoyment to keep playing in the end. Once it’s all done and as the maps are procedurally created, you can start again for a slightly different experience.

In conclusion, Spectrobes: Origins is a good attempt at moving the franchise to the console world and works on most levels. The unfortunate aspect of the game is that the RPG aspect seems too contrived and does not add to the genre anything new.

In the end Dead Island as noted has a few rough spots, but the bombastic game experiences bring this one home.

This is a classic don't judge a book by it's cover, Fallen Earth has a lot of good content going for it, so get past the tutorial and don't make the choice just on that....things open up after the tutorial levels.

Payday 2 Crimewave Edition boasts countless new features such as the Crime.Net feature that allows for seamless and riveting gameplay sequences.

Little Hope is a chilling experience with enough nail-biting tension, horrible monsters and lovable characters to mark it as one of the better horror experiences this year.