Sludge Life 2 is painfully mediocre. While it has some good concepts, like its themes, its many secrets, and its branching story paths, that isn’t enough to outweigh its large list of negatives. While I did find some fun with this game, overall the head-ache-inducing music, the camera issues, and the lack of direction, really hurt my enjoyment of this title. Furthermore, the crude themes of the game further reduced my enjoyment of this title. Overall, while there is fun to be had in this game, you might be better off looking for something else.

Let’s Revolution! is a fun twist on Minesweeper. With rogue-lite elements and short playtimes, this remains fresh no matter how much you play it. Moreover, the range of heroes helps to add depth to an already interesting experience. My only complaint is that it can be tough to master every hero.

Enclave - HD is a remake that disappointed me. This action-adventure title misses the mark and won't wow modern audiences. With dated graphics and dull audio, this is lacklustre at best. Thankfully, the replay value prevents it from scoring less than 5/10.

I think my main takeaway from Deathwish Enforcers is that arcade games are not meant for me, it is a rare beast that comes along that tags my interest as I just don’t have the nostalgia to help me look beyond what I see as glaring design issues but are rather just features of games of that era. So it’s hard to criticise Deathwish for these design choices when that’s exactly the point they were going for. However, I can’t say I enjoyed my time with the game much but if you’re a fan of games in the style of Metal Slug then this is 100% for you.

The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales is a fantastic indie title. Its surreal story, bizarre puzzles and strange environments were amazing. However, its poor controls were frustrating and held it back. Yet, if you can overcome this issue, you'll enjoy a special Game Pass title.

If you’re worried that this game could give you a headache, then you’re probably right, but you should buy it anyway; you will acclimate, and soon you will find yourself playing it for what feels like 20 minutes only to look out the window and see the sun coming up. I haven’t been this invested in a roguelike since Vampire Survivors, and, like Vampire Survivors, it costs almost no money, and I will probably be playing it forever.

EchoBlade is an old-school adventure title that has some weird mechanics. Can you explore this dank dungeon and survive? I doubt it, as you are missing the sense of sight. Consequently, your demise is likely! Use echolocation to discover your surroundings and kill every foe. Sadly, the combat is slow and clumsy and this undermines an otherwise interesting experience.

VanillaBeast: Retro Knock-Out! is a wonderfully retro boxing experience. If you love Punch-Out then you'll adore this. Thanks to its pixelated graphics and crude story, this will fill you with nostalgia and make you laugh. My only complaints are the challenging fights and the levels of unadulterated smut.

Harmony: The Fall of Reverie is a stunning visual novel. With multiple storylines and 6 aspirations, there is plenty to see and do. Furthermore, aesthetically it is stunning. If you haven't experienced this genre before, then this is a great place to start.

PowerWash Simulator: SpongeBob DLC is a ridiculous and brilliant simulation title. You'll love this colourful and addictive addition to the franchise. Grab your tools, use ladders and scaffolding to climb buildings, and clean every bit of grime. I adored it, but it was far too short!

An emotional story presented in a unique way. Bizarre and fascinating visuals give way to an interesting gameplay mechanic that's never quite used to its fullest.

Evil Wizard(Xbox) is a hilarious Metroidvania that'll push you all the way. With amusing characters and a wicked story, you'll chuckle repeatedly. However, its tough nature may put some gamers off.

Despite straightforward gameplay, DynoPunk is an incredible game. The game’s branching pathways, fantastic story, and extraordinary visuals immersed me in the world of this game. It is tough to fault this game as it is entertaining throughout the entire runtime.

Loop8: Summer of Gods is a JRPG that tries to break the mould. Unfortunately, its convoluted ideas and sheer volume of dialogue make it hard to digest. However, visually it looks amazing and the audio epitomises the genre. Sadly, this isn't a game that I can recommend.

Flat Kingdom Paper's Cut Edition is a zany title that has a unique concept. You must transform to overcome issues and solve every puzzle. Though it was too easy, I enjoyed my time with this interesting game.

Reverie: Sweet as Edition is a fun and straightforward RPG. Furthermore, it has some puzzles and plenty of simple combat. As such, this is a nice entry-level title that can be enjoyed by everyone. Unfortunately, though, it is lacking in replay value and longevity.

Dark Quest 3 is a fantasy rogue-lite title with a Dungeons and Dragons edge. You must pick your heroes, take on each mission, and hope for some luck. Unfortunately, though, it fails to reach its potential, and I was left disappointed.

The Chrono Jotter is a bizarrely fascinating visual novel, with an interesting premise and decent character writing. An emotional story that is held back by a lack of gameplay depth and awful localisation.

Shame Legacy is a stealth horror title that lacks originality. Moreover, the controls aren't great. However, the stage design is wonderful, and the audio is undeniably creepy. If you want a combat-focused affair, then you'll need to look elsewhere. Yet, if you want a slow puzzle title, then this could be right up your street.

In the course of writing this review, I’ve learned that Red Mountain Studio, the developers of this game are a very small team and that might explain some of the oversights, but this is not a fun experience and honestly feels like it could have come out on the PS2.

Deadliest Catch: The Game could have been a fantastic experience. However, this simulation title is unfortunately held back by bugs, glitches, and clumsy controls. Yet, I still enjoyed its moreish action. Once you hire a full crew, the game takes a life of its own. From here, you can enjoy the relaxing sea and the profits that you'll make.

Home Sheep Home: Farmageddon Party Edition is a fun and striking puzzle experience. With wonderful hand-drawn graphics and wholesome audio, this is a lovely game to play. What's more, the addition of multiplayer action makes it baarilliant.

Pirates Outlaws is a challenging rogue-like title with deck-building mechanics. You must complete each run, earn repute, and unlock every pirate. Accordingly, if you do this, you'll open new pathways and more tactical elements. However, a lack of a deep story was irksome.

As I’m sure you can tell, auto-battlers never really appealed to me beyond the absurd likes of TABS or the ramping insanity of Vampire Survivors. Problem being, all of those games have things you can do in them. In TABS, you can take control of any individual unit and feel as though you’re in this absurd fight you’ve engaged, and in Vampire Survivors, you still have to move and make snap decisions even though all of your attacks are automatic. Unless you really love comparing your run against the runs of others online, or just really love opaque challenges, I can think of no reason why I would ever recommend this over either of those games.

Brain Show is an amusing and cliched trivia game. Thanks to the challenging questions, this will push you all the way. Furthermore, the Remote play option is fantastic. However, a lack of a single-player mode and the sarcastic host hold it back.

Homebody is a cruel and gruesome homage to 80s slasher movies. With a creepy antagonist and plenty of cliched characters, this is a blast from the past. Furthermore, the excellent Groundhog Day mechanics and testing puzzles will keep you going. Sadly, though, the controls and fixed camera perspective were not that impressive.

Tour de France 2023 is a realistic cycling simulation title. With tactical choices, plenty of races to undertake, and several specialities to master, this is perfect for lovers of the tour. However, dated graphics and repetitive audio hold it back.

Brave Soldier - Invasion of Cyborgs is a retro run-and-gun experience. With loads of bosses to defeat and an array of power-ups to collect, it'll keep you busy for a short period. Disappointingly though, the lack of longevity and replay value will leave you wanting.