All in all, as far as hidden objects games go, Sophia the Traveler is pretty decent. It does have a few minor flaws, but you'll soon be warped into the beautifully hand-crafted scenes of Venice, surrounded by amazing sights and sounds as you search hard for people and objects. The large and highly-detailed scenes might seem overwhelming, but these are the ones that will hook you into the game and keep you absorbed until you find every object. Plus, the game does offer a lifeline if you do get truly stuck, however, it is a lot more satisfying when you find something by yourself after spending ages trawling the sprawling scenes.

Vampire The Masquerade: Swansong offers a captivating story with some truly rewarding moments when you figure out the more difficult and obtuse puzzles. The story and lore holds the game together, as without it the game could be quite boring. It's a visually strong game with some flair to the cinematography. It's certainly not for everyone, as the game has no combat and is driven almost entirely by reading and dialogue. However it's sure to be enjoyed by fans of investigative storytelling.

Behind the Secret of Rainy Woods gave me a great reason to jump back into The Good Life, a game that while challenging and sometimes frustrating, was also very enjoyable, not to mention memorable. I had a lot of fun getting back into this game and doing the new quests. While they don't provide any new gameplay aside from extra quests, it at least gives you something extra to do. If you liked The Good Life, then you should think about checking out the DLC.

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons has a very common problem, the gameplay is amazing, but everything that isn't the gameplay isn't as good. There's a clear desire to mix things up, but Double Dragon Gaiden's attempts to innovate come off as half baked. Regardless, the arcade action is incredibly solid, and it's a welcome return to form for the Double Dragon IP. May the Lee Brothers defend New York City forevermore!

Pro Cycling Manager 2023 is only meant for the most dedicated of cycling simulation fans, but the game itself is well-made, with no major issues. However, it can often feel like it was just last year's title from the same franchise, but with some necessary updates and a fresh coat of paint. As such, not all players will be willing to pay full price for some tweaks and a fresh new roster.

Grime isn't necessarily a great game, but it's definitely a memorable game. I can think of a few other games that play like it, but I can't think of any other games that really look like it. The disgusting body horror world was my favorite aspect of the game, which is good, because creating a memorable world is important for a Metroidvania. There's definitely some wrinkles to this Switch port, but Grime remains a satisfying time, sure to appeal to fans of both Soulslikes and Metroidvanias.

Hearts Of Iron IV: Arms Against Tyranny is a solid DLC. Adding a great slice of new content that more than just adds in a couple new focus trees and a crowbarred in mechanic like the previous one. The new focus trees are by and large great even if some feel a tad under cooked. However the arms trade system isn't as powerful as it should be. But the other additions almost make up for that.

It may not be a main SUDA51 title but the collaboration with SWERT doesn't feel as different other than 2.5D perspective, which thankfully works well. The gameplay may need some polishing with input delays but it has that roguelike itch that this addict can't resist. Its a nice starter to keep SUDA51 fans going till Romeo is a Dead Man releases. Now if you excuse me, I'm gonna see what else is in store for me during my stay at Hotel Barcelona.

Deck of Haunts provides a solid deckbuilding roguelite experience combined with horror you inflict. It's fun to come up with ways to prevent intruders from reaching the heart of your haunted house. There are some balance issues and that does make the experience feel repetitive quickly. But for a solid roguelite deckbuilder, Deck of Haunts delivers a successful twist on a familiar formula.

The House Of The Dead Remake is a lot of fun, especially if you can get a two player co-op/competition going. Even if you can only play the single player mode, you get to experience the classic arcade shooter with achievements, new weapons, various difficulties and a new mode to keep things fresh. Unfortunately, the controls leave a lot to be desired, while getting all the unlockables and achievements in the game will test the patience of even the most hardcore fans. It has its moments, but the flaws stand out just as much as the strengths.

OMNO is a relaxing experience for anyone looking to escape for a little while. There's enough to keep players involved without feeling overwhelmed, and there's enough charm to its design to keep it from being repetitive. As a whole, it's a good game to pass the time, but not something you'd come back to time and time again.

Sometimes you need to imagine yourself as what you fear most to know true bliss. Webbed manages to create a fulfilling experience through one basic prospect: swinging around as a spider and going really fast. Barreling through forested areas is its forté, with an enamoring excitability that few games can replicate without outright copying the formula. Though it cannot remain stable throughout—the physics-based puzzles and activities outside of this freeing feeling aren't nearly as enjoyable, and some may travel aimlessly until they stumble upon progression accidentally. Nevertheless, it's an overall memorable homage to a prospect both weird and terrifying, which is generally what makes it worth it.

Rock Climbing? is a fun indie platformer with a rock solid yet also rock hard core gameplay loop. There is no denying that this game isn't for everyone. And there are a few quirks of the gameplay that do undermine it somewhat. But for a quick game to play on and off or to even stream it is great fun for the entry price.

There are elements to Curse of the Sea Rats that really shine. It is exciting to progress through the world in Metroidvania-style watching the animations, cooky boss fights, and listening to the music. When it comes to gameplay such as combat and platforming however, the shine wears off. Pervasive loading screens on the Switch, neutered boss fights, and finicky platforming can make it too difficult to enjoy. The world is worthy to be explored, but with better gameplay.

Hearts Of Iron IV: By Blood Alone is a decent expansion. With new trees for nations that sorely needed them and new features, it brings a healthy amount of content to the game. However, I feel that the new peace conference system is still a little messy. And some focus trees aren't as clear as they should be.

Moons Of Darsalon can be a fantastic game at times. Offering a fresh spin on a subgenera that often times feels stale and unenjoyable. However there are times that it can fall prey to the same troubles that other similar games have. With the AI being brain dead to the point that it makes the game unplayable. And the challenges on some levels feeling a step too far too soon. And the decision to include AI-Art when they already had decent artwork made will never stop feeling odd to me.

Jet Kave Adventure is a fine platformer, but it’s rarely more than that. It looks very nice for the most part, and the sense of humour is rather endearing, but the gameplay is fairly basic and often misses the opportunity to take it a couple of extra steps to make it memorable and exciting. It has some genuinely fun moments, though, and may be worth a punt if you’re a big fan of classic platformers.

Long-time Pokemon fans that don't mind the repetitive nature of these games will have a lot to look forward to here. Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl is by no means a bad Pokemon game. It's competently developed, but some of the decisions made prevent this entry in the franchise from standing out. The lack of changes from the original titles further bogs down this otherwise solid addition.

Long-time Pokemon fans that don't mind the repetitive nature of these games will have a lot to look forward to here. Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl is by no means a bad Pokemon game. It's competently developed, but some of the decisions made prevent this entry in the franchise from standing out. The lack of changes from the original titles further bogs down this otherwise solid addition.

Buildings Have Feelings Too! is a unique concept for a management sim game, but unfortunately falls rather flat when it comes to delivery. Whilst the initial tutorial stage is very helpful, it feels like we never progress past the tutorial stage because the whole game is just too linear. The amount of back and forth to fulfil quest requirements is pretty exhausting, and so unfortunately the gameplay just doesn't live up to the fun you'd want a game to deliver. All in all, it's an okay game, but it quickly devolves into boredom.

Mad Adventures is a fun multiplayer platformer. Featuring bright visuals, a toe-tapping soundtrack, and some fun mini-games there is bound to be something fans of the genera are likely to enjoy. Sadly I do feel that in its current state the game lacks variety. And that some aspects of the game need better explaining or rebalancing to make them more worthwhile.

Swordsman VR is a pretty game that offers a slightly different approach to sword fighting in VR. Among the current popular titles, Blade and Sorcery, Hellsplit Arena, Tales of Glory all fail to meet the physical challenge that Swordsman VR brings to the table. Its substantial progression system will keep many gamers engaged until completion. With the addition of personal modifiers and promise of new content and community events in the future, Swordsman VR makes a great addition to a VR library.

Cuddly Forest Friends is a delightfully cozy experience with many adorable moments to be had. The animals are quite charming, the minigames are pretty enjoyable, and combined with the darling cutscenes all make for a snug time. Although, because of the high pricing, lack of difficulty, and repetitive gameplay, I can't recommend it to anyone but younger audiences or casual players.

SUPER Dungeon Muncher is a sold indie-arcade flavoured action game. With great visuals and solid gameplay it is great value for money and then some. It is an easy title to pick up and play, with a wide variety of control schemes to use. Each feeling well designed in their own right. However I feel that how the levels are generated can make some runs harder than they need to be. And that it could prove too repetitive for some gamers.

The Magnificent Trufflepigs is a short and sweet experience. The game successfully fleshes out an entire character and their development within the narrative and allows for players to find themselves in the story. While graphics, sound design, and excellent voice performances were polished, the gameplay and storytelling have more potential to hold player's interests.

Astria Ascending has all the building blocks of what makes great RPGs, but all these separate parts haven't fit perfectly together in the final product. The story and characters have a lot potential but are let down by encumbered pacing and awkward writing. Still, it's a beautiful RPG for those who crave challenging/engaging turn-based combat and eye-catching visuals.

MindSeize will certainly scratch the itch if you’re in the market for a decent Metroidvania game with a focus on challenging combat and enjoyable exploration. While somewhat marred by a clichéd and clumsily-executed story and some occasionally-frustrating gameplay moments, it’s nonetheless a solid offering with beautiful visuals that will appeal to fans of the classics.

Zombies Ate My Neighbors And Ghoul Patrol is a fine combo package of a cult classic of yesteryear. A credible and well spirited effort has brought these two titles to modern systems near perfectly. Any issue that I have are due to the problems inherent in either title; Ghoul Patrol is not as good as Zombies and both suffer from hard to navigate level design at times.