I’m not done with Starbase Spacetopia (or whatever it’s called, I give up), I still want to nail the perfect base, especially now I’ve fully understood all the games systems, and for the most part, I’m having fun. On top of the campaign and free play mode there’s a perfectly serviceable multiplayer mode too, albeit the current small player base means it takes a while to locate a game. Is it the pinnacle of base management strategy games? No, far from it in fact, but it’s a more than serviceable space station sim that satisfies the itch for galactic domination.

Overall for £30, Taxi Chaos is too limiting to really recommend picking at the minute. Even on sale I could not recommend it unless you are a mega fan of arcade taxi games. The framework is there for a good game and it unfortunately feels incomplete in its current state.

Black Legend presents well in the cinematic trailer but fails to offer an enjoyable gaming experience that promotes repetitive play. Give it a miss.

If you don’t mind the price tag for a portion of a game then there is a decent bit of fun to be had here… maybe treating it as a semi interactive story rather than a puzzle or adventure game as such… otherwise maybe wait till all the parts have been released and see if they offer a “complete” collection.

Not recommended… unless survival horror with a sexual horror twist is your thing.

Your enjoyment of Bravely Default II will largely depend on how much of a fan you are of grinding. With the large glut of epic, innovative JRPGs available in 2021 there are plenty of more streamlined experiences. However if you’re into hardcore old school JRPG’s with brutal difficulty spikes and detailed job systems, Bravely Default II will be exactly what you’re looking for.

For my money, Monster Hunter Rise is the high-water mark of the series. The addition of the Palimutes and Wirebugs have reshaped both combat and exploration for the better – so much so, that going back to older games in the franchise will be almost impossible. While it may not have the narrative focus of Monster Hunter World, Rise expands upon this formula and refines the experience to be both accessible for newcomers, whilst also retaining that deeper level of complexity that drew in hardcore fans from the beginning. I’ve also just got to give props to Capcom for squeezing a fully-fledged Monster Hunter game down onto the Nintendo Switch with nary a compromise to visuals or featureset. I’ve got a feeling Monster Hunter Rise will be in the gaming cultural zeitgeist for a while to come, so I highly recommend you jump on board and come along for the ride.

If you’re a farm-sim aficionado, there’s more titles than ever in the genre, but that doesn’t work in favour for the latest Story of Seasons entry. Compared to its competition, it lacks personality and, most importantly, heart. That’s not to say it’s a lost cause, and with a little finnese and love, Story Of Seasons could easily return as the darling of agricultural simulators, but right now, it’s nowhere near the cream of the crop.

Loop Hero is a textbook example of how a strong singular vision can create something truly incredible. It’s a game that is unlike anything I’ve played before and has occupied every spare thought I’ve had since I began. It’s unique gameplay blends many familiar mechanics from a variety of gameplay genres to create an exceptionally satisfying and compelling experience. The fantastic visuals and audio design masterfully complement the gameplay mechanics to feel like an authentically retro product with modern sensibilities. Do yourself a favour and check this one out.

Sir Lovelot is a refreshingly simplistic platformer that focuses on delivering a tight gameplay experience and not much else. There’s no story to bog things down, no abilities to upgrade or stats to improve – there’s just a neat visual aaesthetic and some exceptionally smooth running and jumping, which feels great and is satisfying to pull off. Fans of ultra-hard platformers may find Sir Lovelot to be a little on the easy side, but for the rest of us, the game does a nice job of offering a challenging experience without being too punishing.

All in all, Monster Truck Championship for the PS5 is pretty much the PS4 version with some slight visual upgrades. It’s a unique title in a world of traditional racers, but has some serious progression and variety shortcomings that reduce its replayability. It does, however, play pretty well albeit unforgivingly, with a solid if not pretty physics engine.

Breathedge is one of those games you can play casually at your own pace and doesn’t require long consecutive amounts of time to play. Sparring 15-20 minutes here and there is all that’s required for a steady progression through the game but still very enjoyable if you’ve got ample time up your sleeve as well. I highly recommend this game to anyone who enjoys easter egg styled dad jokes or wants something oddly rewarding to play at a casual pace.

Persona 5 Strikers is not a typical spin off; it is a full-fledged sequel filled with real characters, a gripping story, and an addicting gameplay loop. And though it is a different genre than its antecedent, the love and personality poured into this game puts it on par with the best follow ups I’ve ever played. Since Atlus creates a new set of heroes for every mainline Persona entry, this could be the last time we see Joker. I hope not. Persona 5 Strikers made me relive my love for Persona 5 and the Phantom Thieves, and I never want to see them go.

I wanted to enjoy Glyph more than I did. The framework is there: fluid gameplay, beautiful art style, and with over one hundred levels, the game will keep a determined gamer entertained for many hours. But the developers set an unreasonably high bar for progression; one that required me to put the game down multiple times out of exasperation. Newer gamers: beware, but for seasoned players looking for a real challenge, Glyph could be your next rage-inducing favorite.

If you missed this game on the previous consoles, now is the perfect time to buy as it contains everything plus RTX and more importantly, it is a fantastic story that draws you in and drives you on. If you are a fan of The X-Files or similar genre shows, material… I have no doubt you will enjoy this. An exceptional job from the whole team!

While not a new game, The Nioh Collection provides excellent value for money and literally hundreds of hours of gameplay. If you like a challenging RPG in the same vein of Demon Souls, then The Nioh Collection is a must play experience that works a treat on the PlayStation 5, including its next-gen use of Dualsense.

Overall, I enjoyed Little Nightmares II almost more than I did the first game. If you're a fan of the first game or even have a mild interest in the series, I can't recommend both games enough.

I would thoroughly recommend this game/s to anyone! You really don’t have to be a long time fan of Mario to enjoy this… it’s easy to get into, it’s not overly detailed in story (3D world you are basically trying to save fairy like creatures from Bowser, in Bowser’s Fury you are essentially trying to save Bowser). It’s bright, colourful and just full of fun and laughter. It’s what Nintendo are known for and what they do oh so well! An easy choice to add to your collection, or to start your collection with!

There are some good ideas here and some very nice visuals… but it just lacks some polish and I suspect many people will be lured to the game simply because of the use of Atlantis in the title with the expectation that they could explore the legendary city… unfortunately they will have to look elsewhere to get their mythological travel fix. Not really one I’d recommend unless it’s on deep discount and you just really want another quick puzzle game.

Hitman 3 takes the formula in new directions, and will continually surprise you without stepping too far outside the known boundaries.

What The Pillar: Puzzle Escape lacks in length, it makes up for in creativity and easily a fun experience for younger gamers. Players will get to explore a unique open world map as they search for clues and complete simple puzzles to progress to the next level. Older players won’t find any real value in this game and are better off investing their time in something a bit more challenging. However, parents who want to help their children’s creative problem solving and memory skills should look into this game as an educational and development tool to stimulate young minds.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse Earthblood. Satisfying but not filling. Have a go at it, you will enjoy wolfing out, and each level…you know what to expect.

Regardless of how tough the platforming can be, I savored every moment in this world. Even after dying dozens of times, I was still motivated to progress to see what new kinds of wonders awaited me if I could just make it to the next platform. The amount of mystery, content, and challenge ROBI Studios packs into a $20 package is quite impressive and left me hungry for more even after the game’s conclusion. Blue Fire emulates the successes of definitive 2D and 3D games and is perfect for anyone with an appetite for a stimulating platformer or action-adventure complete with a gorgeous and enthralling world to explore.

As a debut from a team of just three people, Disjunction does so much right, and offers up way more narrative than anyone should expect from a team this size. The gameplay it does it have can be frustrating at times, but it’s solid. There’s a good foundation here. They just need to expand on it.

Encodya, is a charming point and click adventure, that harkens back to the glory days of the Genre. While Grim Fandango this is not, people who love the genre, will love Encodya.

The Medium boasts an engaging narrative plus clever gaming dynamics and while it starts slow, the ending builds to an impressive crescendo of unexpected surprises. So if you like to be surprised, don’t keep reading the reviews or watching Youtube videos because this is one game that must be experienced without coming in with any prior knowledge as you twist your way through of both the land of the living and… the dead!

Subverting my expectations, Olija has earned its place as one of the most haunting, and surprising games I’ve played in quite some time. I cannot recommend this game enough.

Sword of the Necromancer is a gem of a game. While visually it can look a little repetitive, the game is honestly a ton of fun. I think this one may be a game people remember for a long time.