Overall, I had a decent time with The Shapeshifting Detective. The story and much of the acting is underwhelming, but the core idea is fun and the game is engaging enough. Anyone who enjoys FMV games will probably find some things to like about the game, but it’s a mixed bag that could have been better with some more polished writing and a better cast.

I honestly really like a lot of things about Save Me Mr Tako. It’s got great graphics, tight controls, and a fantastic story. But its unfortunate design missteps make it difficult to recommend to a general audience. Fans of extremely hard, frustrating games will likely be okay with the anguish the game offers, but I don’t see most people even being able to finish this game. I definitely found myself enjoying the game a lot, but the frustration inherent in the experience massively dilutes what could have been an excellent title.

Overall, I liked Call of Cthulhu a fair amount. I enjoyed the story, the atmosphere, and the environments. It’s a walking simulator for the most part, sure, but it’s a solid one. Although I can’t recommend it at launch due to price, fans of story-based gaming experiences will likely find a lot to like about Call of Cthulhu. Just don’t go in thinking it’s a stealth RPG and keep your expectations in check. If you can do that, you’ll likely have a good time.

There’s always something that needs improving, and this is where Cities: Skylines has always shined for me personally. Industries provided enough new content for me to sink a good ten hours of playtime into an old city, and I’m expecting to put in at least ten more by the time this review is up.

Overall, I liked Wenjia. It has really pretty visuals, tight gameplay, and is fun to play. I’m not sure if it justifies a $9 price tag, and it certainly doesn’t do much to really stand out as a must-have title. Still, fans looking for a short 2D platformer will likely find that it fits the bill rather nicely. As it stands, I mostly see this to be a perfectly recommendable game that’s held back only by how short and barebones it is. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I’d probably wait for the inevitable sale to get it for cheaper.

American Wilds brought back the same anxiety-inducing feeling that I had when I first played MudRunner last year. And, that’s a good thing—it wouldn’t be a real Spintires experience otherwise.

Still, if you can overlook the dated game engine, Train Simulator is a charming simulator that anyone can get into, casual or enthusiast. Its biggest hurdle, honestly, is the seemingly never-ending collection of DLC (just look at the Steam Store page). It does feel like Dovetail’s ultimate goal is to lure you into buying more packs. It doesn’t help that the game constantly advertises this content on the main menu and in the loading screens.

Damsel misses the mark in many ways, but really isn't all that bad. It's more of a glaring missed opportunity than anything else.

Soulcalibur VI expands the fighting experience with a brief history lesson surrounding the events of the game. While this does take some time to get used to, it offers some great context while introducing a new method to unlock items. There's a noticeable increase in the game's combat, but offers a familiar experience all-around.

Warriors Orochi 4 performed admirably well in our benchmark test, and it seems Koei Tecmo have learned from lessons past. The magic system and seamless transitions between attacks make for a freshly dynamic gameplay experience. However, as with all Warriors games, it can get repetitive after a while. The visuals and effects are beautiful, but a gigantic cast, lousy officer AI pathing, and tacked on mechanics make it bloated at the same time.

The sheer insanity of Playgrounds‘ on-screen madness truly keeps me motivated to come back to the game again and again. But it’s those few unnecessary, backward changes that keep Playgrounds 2 from becoming a true champion.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, in certain aspects, is a wonder to behold. The crisp animations, fluid movement, solid gunplay, and frantic action that has defined the franchise is here in its full glory. Losing the single-player campaign isn’t a big issue once you’ve tried and tested the different features the game has to offer. Treyarch made this bold decision, and Beenox followed through with creating a PC version from the ground up.

Even just as a racing game in general, it’s an absolute joy to play. No other racer comes close in terms of this level of polish – from the driving model to the freedom of customization, detailed open-world, and all-around gorgeous presentation. I fully agree with the final part of the game’s opening dialogue: Don’t go anywhere, Horizon is here to stay. At ease, ladies and gentlemen. The king has returned to his kingdom.

Problems with the game’s performance and lackluster AI, along with matchmaking issues which I’ve personally experienced mar an otherwise promising outing. In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war and a Tyra-need to polish Space Hulk: Tactics further.

WWE 2K may have been a B+ franchise for a long time, but WWE 2K19 has shown that its creators have learned from past shortcomings. In many ways, we’re seeing the culmination of half a decade’s worth of trials and tribulations, leading to one of the best offerings in the series. As Roman Reigns would say: “Buh-lee dat!”

The only legitimate complaint I have about Liftoff is that I wish the optimization were a bit better. While performance hasn’t been terrible, it does have some frame drops and stutters. The rendering field seems rather low, too. But that aside, this is an excellent simulator, and the user-generated content and consistent official updates will surely keep it active for the foreseeable future.

It’s still kind of hard to believe that the world of American Truck Simulator has grown by only two states since its initial launch in 2016. But, taking into consideration how meticulously detailed the game’s world is, it’s no wonder why SCS takes their sweet time putting these maps together. That said, I cannot wait to see where American Truck Simulator goes next.

Once it costs money, it’s a more difficult sell – but I’d argue it’s still one of the larger and more impressive bits of XCOM 2 DLC, even if most of its additions are outside of the core game itself. At that point, you should already know if a skirmish mode and some more tactical gubbins are what you’re after. But as a surprising, generous, and sizeable offering, it’s hard not to recommend this as a reason to dive back into the fight against our alien oppressors.

There are some positives. The missions and map environments can be repetitive, but the layout is acceptable — although I would have preferred it if the developers added more collectibles or items in nooks and crannies. These would be a lot better than just interacting with some inactive servitor or flipping a switch. A few tweaks to the skill trees, additional characters, more enemy types from Lovecraft’s universe, and perhaps even a level/map editor would be welcome inclusions to the game as well.

Assassin's Creed Odyssey puts the franchise back on the map as a critical darling. There's no malaka here whatsoever as it just "Greeks" of goodness. The story and characters are engaging and there are tons of activities to do. Greek culture and locations are a wonder to behold. Barring a few caveats, this has been a stellar offering for the franchise.

V-Rally 4 has charmed me enough to mostly overlook its aforementioned quirks and glitches. I’ve still been having a lot of fun throughout all of the different disciplines, even making it hard for me to select a ‘favorite’. They all feel like their own little game in a way, despite being a part of the same package. Thus, I’d recommend picking V-Rally 4 up for any fan of a sim-arcade off-road racer. Even if those graphical issues aren’t addressed, there’s still a solid chance I’ll be playing this game for a good amount of time to come.

Pig Eat Ball is easily one of the best games I’ve played this year. Hell, it’s just a great game in general. Anyone who enjoys zany, creative games will probably find a whole lot to like here. In the end, this is an extremely fun, lengthy, and unique experience, and I’ve never seen anything quite like it before. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go work on getting some more gold medals.

Overall, it’s hard for me to find a reason to not recommend this game. Returning fans of the series will find the new direction of Life Is Strange 2 refreshing, but not unfamiliar. This is also a great jump on point for fans of the genre who may have missed other entries in the Life Is Strange series. Personally, I’m looking forward to future episodes.

Witch Thief has some good ideas and is fun at times, but it's poorly thought-out and extremely frustrating, even considering the bullet hell genre.

I really wish I was exaggerating, but I can say without a doubt that outright avoiding Super Street is pretty much a must. This has no redeeming qualities at all. It’s frankly laughable that the developers were bold enough to launch this at a whopping $50. I find it hard to even justify paying $5 for this. I’ve tried free-to-play mobile racers that have been leaps and bounds more enjoyable than this dumpster fire. So, by all means, take your money and your time elsewhere. Super Street is, at best, shovelware to the fullest degree.

Overall I gave this game an 8/10 because it really was enjoyable but there were 2 things I would love to see added. 1) A bigger version of the pizza mini-game perhaps as an added content. 2) I would have loved to have seen you unlock a bonus chapter or bonus content once you complete the game fully one time.

I consider my gripes with this game to be minor at best. I really didn’t know what to expect when I jumped into 2K19 for the first time, but I’m pleasantly surprised find it so enjoyable. I’m still not quite sure why the series garners so much hype every year, though. I wasn’t pulled in enough to become one of those fans, but I will admit it’s proven to be an overall fun and engaging experience nonetheless.

From its sub-par gameplay mechanics to the lazy presentation, the whole package seems best-fit for the bargain bin. If you want a more authentic racing experience, I’d highly recommend playing the NASCAR races in Forza Motorsport 7. They’re just one of many racing disciplines represented in that game, yet it offers a far more impressive experience than that of Heat 3. Otherwise, I can only suggest picking this up on a deep sale, if at all.

There is a noticeable emphasis on the narrative. Although Shadow of the Tomb Raider modifies what we've grown accustomed to within the franchise, the change of pace is welcomed. You'll find pockets of open-world to explore, with tons of side-quests and interactions with NPCs. Don't expect guns-a-blazin', but do expect getting more than you bargained for from this Tomb Raider experience.

If your specs are up to par, I’d definitely recommend picking this up if you enjoy fishing whether virtually or in real life. It has a few rough edges, but this is still an all-around great fishing sim.

Hypergun is an entertaining shooter best enjoyed over short bursts. While there’s a seemingly endless variety of creatable weapons, grinding run after run gets old fast. Like DevTech’s inability to make the perfect superweapon, Hypergun lacks the punch and polish needed to elevate the game to greatness.

Guacamelee! 2 has a few minor issues, but the core is so good and the game improves in all the right ways on its predecessor.

F1 2018 is meant for the core racing enthusiasts first and foremost. If you do happen to like realistic racers but don’t want something as technical, I’d recommend Forza Motorsport 7. Nevertheless, Codemasters provided a great experience, as expected. Perhaps if I give myself time, I’ll grow to enjoy F1 2018 for what it truly is—a genuinely authentic racing sim. But, for now, I feel like I need a nap. My mind’s tired from the constant concentration.

Graveyard Keeper is an undeniably unique game. It just stretches itself too thin. Even the titular role — the actual keeping of a graveyard — often feels secondary to the constant pursuit of new upgrades. Its central, twisted conceit goes a long way to making the grindy experience tolerable, though. Even at its worst, Graveyard Keeper sure to find an audience, as its macabre atmosphere and off-color activities aren’t things you see in games too often.

Barbearian packs surprising depth. For myself, the visual style of the game never really began to settle on its own. But, one thing that did lock me into the experience was the hack’n’slash and Warriors elements, mixed with a killer soundtrack and challenging gameplay. Although the overworld may seem confusingly put together, the satisfaction of completing each level and watching your army grow makes it all worth it. If you’re up for the challenge, then Barbearian has a chaotic, yet rewarding adventure ahead of you.

Even in its current form, Diesel Railcar Simulator offers a pretty charming, hands-on train simulation experience. It’s simple, but rather fun once you get the hang of it. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing how it expands as time goes on.

There’s the shell of a great game here. One that’s bizarre and genuinely interesting. But while We Happy Few‘s aesthetic design colorful worldbuilding are uniformly successful, they’re crushed under the weight of clumsy gameplay and unnecessary systems.

Great game design wise and play ability wise with a cute story to go along with it. It has the right kind of balance of being both easy to play and challenging at the same time. It really makes you think. The sequel is great for those who want to get into the series and you don't need to have played the first to get into it. Overall a solid solid game.

Airheart is a satisfying game to play despite the occasional annoyance of grinding. With a fun world to explore and lots of planes and weapons to use, there’s plenty to enjoy here. If you can overlook some of the annoyances that come with the rogue-lite genre, then you’ll likely have a good time as you grow in power to finally make that catch of a lifetime.

Dead Cells is an excellent, challenging "roguevania" that encourages player experimentation and exploration across its beautiful levels.

Chasm is a retro-infused, Metroidvania style roguelike. Although it brings back many nostalgic feelings with its art style, there is much more to be desired and no real sense of accomplishment once you've completed the game.

Yakuza 0 is a fantastic title for those who enjoy a game with droves of story, brawling, and a little bit of strange humour. I will be continuing playing through towards 100% over these coming weeks, which is the first time I’ve said that about a game in a long, long time.

While frustrating due to it abiding by the limits set by retro racers, Slipstream is still a cool treat for any fan of the classics. It looks, sounds and feels like it came from that era. I’m sure if you were to slap a cover sticker on a Genesis cartridge and ask someone that’s never heard of the game if they’ve ever played this back in the day, they’d probably say yes. That’s how convincing it is.

Despite its difficulty, I’ve been having quite a bit of fun with Horizon Chase Turbo. It certainly does feel like a game from the 80s/90s, as they were known for being quite difficult anyway. The selection of cars and tracks is quite nice, and it’s all wrapped up in a beautiful visual style. So, if you want to take a trip down memory lane at lightning speeds, I’d definitely suggest giving it a try. Just don’t throw your controller at the screen.

The game spends so much time trying to accommodate everything that it can’t get one specific thing perfectly right. But, at the same time, it’s this vehicle-swapping feature that also helps The Crew 2 to stand out and it creates some genuinely fun moments, even if you’re just free roaming.

Ultimately what makes Wreckfest such an enjoyable racer is the destruction and the physics. The cars feel great to drive, the way they take corners, the handbreak turns, the way they handle jumps, it feels fluid and that’s a huge plus. When put together with everything else in the game Wreckfest is a neat destructive racing package.

Antigraviator pushes you to play aggressively and master the tracks, and if you do that, you’ll get a real kick out of this. It may not be an original concept but Cybernetic Walrus has created quite a polished and intense racer and I look forward to seeing how they support it in the months ahead.

Laser League is an excellent example of a game that’s simple to pick up and play but is full of complexities that need to be mastered. This is a classic arcade multiplayer game that everyone should take for a spin because it’s a blast and it’s a bargain. It’s fast, frantic, and incredibly challenging.

Midair is definitely worth a look because it’s free to play and in time could attract a die-hard following. There’s nothing really like Midair around at the moment which is definitely good news for Archetype.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say the AI is broken. It is just stupid, as it always has been. If you could put up with it in the last few Total War games, or maybe didn’t notice, then it is no reason to put you off this title. Despite my complaints about the AI, and some of the campaign mechanics needing some tweaking, I am impressed by this game. The sense of historical authenticity at times has transported me back to this time period, and overall I think this is better than CA’s last historical outing, Total War: Attila.

Frostpunk is no city builder, if that’s what you’re looking for then this is not a game for you. If you are on the other hand wanting to be pushed when it comes to city management, survival, research and moral decisions, that’s where Frost Punk delivers. Be prepared to be stressed when things don’t go your way.

I am blown away by BATTLETECH. It’s a game that I have wanted to play for a while but I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it nearly as much as I have. This is a solid, complete game which has had me utterly absorbed. The size of this game, the enjoyability, and the time it takes to complete justifies the £35 price tag. This is hands down one of the best releases so far this year.

I’m fully aware that this game is multiplayer focused and the single player is more for practice and getting used to the game before playing human opponents, but the AI is terrible, and I would go as far to say laughably awful. If you are only looking to play single player avoid this game, at least for now, as you will be wasting your money.

Deck Nine have finished off Life is Strange in sterling fashion. Saying farewell to Arcadia Bay with Before the Storm is sad, but the best farewells usually are.

An interesting concept which is let down by the resource system and the repetitive nature of the gameplay.

Did you like Life is Strange? Then, whether or not a prequel was strictly necessary, you should absolutely play this.

Survious has done it again. They have managed to create a unique VR experience that is highly engaging, looks great in the Vive, and is incredibly exhilarating to play. The movement system is brilliantly executed offering a unique VR gaming experience that also doubles as solid workout. Be warned though because your arms will ache if you play long enough. Sprint Vector is a must-have game for any VR gaming enthusiast.

I’ve had a thoroughly enjoyable time playing Boxed In but it could do with another game mode of some sort, but at the cheap price of £4.79, it’s well worth the money. Boxed In is challenging and it has me coming back for more to beat my scores. Well worth a look if you have a Vive or Rift.

Overall, Sairento VR is a solid VR game, it may not have the polish of some AAA VR titles but that’s to be expected as Mixed Realms are a tiny indie studio which is probably why bugs have slipped through the net. This is a game that will challenge your VR skills, the weapons respond well and the movement is excellent which is a huge plus in VR. Despite its flaws, Sairento VR is definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for some fast-paced VR action.

This expansion is an opportunity to delve into a somewhat refreshed Total War: Rome 2 that I’m sure some will relish. But no matter how many overhauls take place, it’s a game that can’t entirely rid itself of that 2013 launch baggage.

Jade Dragon takes a slightly different approach from prior area-and-culture focused expansions for Crusader Kings 2, putting much more emphasis on off-stage activities than making new realms playable. That means the bulk of this DLC takes place through menu interactions, but I think Paradox has done a good job fashioning an engaging system out of this restriction. China is both a major threat, and a source of great (potential) personal power for those rulers within its influence. If you have little interest in playing an eastern-located realm, or lack any of the DLCs mentioned towards the start of this review, Jade Dragon is less compelling (those Casus Belli are nice, but won’t justify the purchase on their own). Otherwise, this expansion does a fine job re-igniting interest in an area of the Crusader Kings 2 map outside the usual western Europe feudal suspects.

The original game impressed me so much in 1999. I loved it to bits. But I can’t help but feel a little disappointed with the outcome of Outcast – Second Contact. A complete rework of the original game would be worth the asking price ($30), but it’s just not been given the full makeover it truly deserves. That said, I would love for Appeal to be given the opportunity to create a sequel and revisit this fantastic world.

Football Manager is an annual series that really only has to worry about competing with itself. Aside from a few pipe dream projects on Steam, there are really no other football management titles around. Despite not all the feature changes being an unqualified success, Football Manager 2018 is still to be recommended as an absurdly detailed simulation title. To this day, it has a propensity for generating narratives rivaled only by the Paradox grand strategy games. But if you do already own Football Manager 2017 I’d regard the yearly upgrade as gently desirable rather than an urgent necessity.

With its quirky cartoony graphics and cheerful audio, the sheer horror of what you are doing is completely lost as you play. We all know dropping an air-conditioning unit on a pedestrian or dropping electrical cables into swimming pools is not the done thing in polite society, but Death Coming manages to keep you thinking and engaged with this strange cartoon world. Well worth the asking price of £4.99.

I played through the campaign once, and then played through bits of a second campaign to see the other timeline changes. I still haven’t done all of the bonus Enigma Code missions that send you back through previous stages with new enemy layouts and new things to find. I’ve played about 15 hours, and despite some weaknesses and minor complaints, I enjoyed pretty much all of them. Wanna shoot, stab, and otherwise viciously maim Nazis for a good cause, while enjoying some really good characters? Wolfenstein 2, ladies and gentlemen.

Simply put, if you have Everspace and want to experience the game in a new way then the Everspace Encounters DLC is well worth the asking price of £6.99. If you have not picked up Everspace yet then make sure you pick up the DLC at the same time. Even after playing the core game I have sunk a load more hours into the DLC thanks to the new challenges. Rockfish has made an already great space shooter even better with some great new missions, along with NPCs that add some real flavour to the experience. This is a very solid piece of DLC.

In a lot of ways, it’s a game made for a specific audience. I’m part of that audience, and while there’s a bunch of stuff I wish was different, or better tuned, or more coherent (and maybe was a few chapters shorter, as the real climax of the game takes place a little way before the end) I had a bloody good time. It’s not for everyone – certainly not for those expecting a deep horror experience – but it scratches my Resident Evil 4 itch in a stylish and pleasing way.

There’s a fairly familiar (albeit shorter) list of things in FIFA 18 to sigh about and wish EA would use some of their ample resources to fix, even if you ignore my paranoid suspicions about bouts of idiocy from otherwise competent virtual footballers. But I must admit that this installment’s renewed emphasis on tricky defending and darting midfielders getting on the end of crosses makes it a fair bit more engaging than FIFA 17 felt on launch. It’s building on where that game left off at the end of its life-span, so if you’re already appreciative of the FIFA ‘feel’, and can cope with more involved defensive duties, you’ll find it suitably inviting. I complain, but another several hundred hours in FIFA 18 inevitably await.

Runic Games take you on a wondrous mysterious journey through fantastic environments making HOB well worth your time.

Some lingering series quirks persist, but other smart lessons from the first game have been applied to Total War: Warhammer 2. Another four mechanically diverse factions, each pursuing a singular campaign goal on a richly detailed map, make this a powerful sequel.

Those who come across Bastard’s Wound as new players, people who’ve perhaps picked up the game and DLC as a bundle, should find it to be of similar quality to the other distinct areas in the Tiers. It was also released alongside a free update that expands the ending with a new path of alignment, which people coming to the game late will benefit from as well. Judged in a vacuum though, especially taking the $15 price tag into account, this expansion feels a bit too conservative. Coming to it as a new player, the similarity to the rest of the game will be a boon. For someone returning just for the DLC, the familiarity is welcome, but tinged with some disappointment.

While Battlestar Galactica: Deadlock has its share of minor problems, they don’t significantly detract from some engaging tactical encounters within a universe of familiar sights, sounds, and Cylons.

Let’s face it: if you played Life is Strange then you’ve probably bought this already, and if you haven’t, then you should play that first. If you’re one of the few Life is Strange players who haven’t picked this up yet, I’d definitely recommend waiting until we see how the rest of it turns out. What’s here is good and fine, but this episode feels like a prequel episode (no pun intended) that’s building up to whatever’s going to happen.

Their overall objectives may not be radically different from the equally pillage-happy Chaos and Beastmen, but an engaging roster, a smart twist on quests in the form of beast hunts, and a pair of Lords with a lot of thematic character mean Norsca and Wintertooth still stand out. This may prove to be the final major addition to the original Total War: Warhammer; if so, it’s a sign-off with real factional flair.

A faithful genre piece, Aven Colony takes the socio-economic juggling of settlement building games like Tropico and Banished, transports it to space, and establishes a pretty successful outpost.

Like Spec Ops: The Line and Alpha Protocol, Get Even is a flawed game whose strengths dwarf the mechanical weaknesses. Expect it to start popping up on podcasts or in long-form articles in the next few months, accompanied by the ever-present caveat “well, the combat bits aren’t particularly good” and then praise for almost everything else. It’s probably going to pick up 6/10 type scores in most places that aren’t here, and I can completely understand why. The shortcomings are easy to point out, but Get Even delivers a complex, non-linear narrative full of clever misdirection, shifting truths, and conflicted characters in a way few other games can match.

Yonder’s world is an impressive and stylish creation. The variety of environments (both geological and natural) squeezed into its compact island make for an enjoyable, exploratory romp for as long as that novelty keeps its hold. But once the main 4-5 hour quest is done, you’ve seen the extend of what the game has to offer. That wouldn’t automatically be a problem, except the crafting and farm ownership aspects are too superficial to act as a compelling reason to return. As a result, this is a short and undeniably sweet title which lacks the depth of its contemporaries.

There will be plenty of players loving the Diablo 3 Necromancer, and at the end of the day, if the majority people still playing Diablo 3 are happy with what’s included then that’s what matters. The Necromancer is reasonably enjoyable and, if you’re satisfied with Diablo 3 and all you want is a new class, then you can probably come to terms with the $15 price.

As far as VR games go, Star Trek Bridge Crew is really solid, and hopefully over time Ubisoft expand the game’s content. There’s still so much more of Trek that could be explored. Star Trek Bridge Crew is must-buy for Star Trek fans with VR headsets, and, although it’s a little pricey, I think the experience is worth all the gold-pressed latinum you can muster.

Its issues and occasional shortcomings didn’t hugely detract from my enjoyment, and instead just left me with a longing sense of “what if”. Tokyo 42 is still a good game. It’s just one that comes close enough to being a great one that its flaws sting a little bit more than they probably should.

Rockfish’s take on the space shooter is certainly different, and it’s a refreshing change for the genre. It’s not about exploring the vastness of space in an open world (though jumping into the unknown is certainly still a factor), it’s quite simply an arcade shooter. It’s also a great looking game with an easy to grasp flight model and a mystery waiting to be uncovered. If you enjoy action space sims or rogue-like games such as FTL then you’ll enjoy this. Even if you don’t, there’s a high chance you’ll still enjoy this. Everspace is a cracking game.

The Surge does a lot of things well, and has some pleasant and unique twists on the usual conventions of this relatively young genre. The problem is that it gets a lot of the basics and balance painfully wrong, resulting in an experience that’s a little dull, repeatedly infuriating, and frustrated by poor design decisions. It doesn’t do enough wrong to make it an outright bad game, but it’s one that should be approached with caution even by ardent fans of the genre.

Endless Space 2 bolsters Amplitude’s reputation for superb, unique 4X faction design. The interwoven narrative and management mechanics produce a universe within which its easy to lose yourself, but some lingering bugs suggest the game may have launched prematurely.

BattleZone VR is not the cheapest VR title around, but if you’re looking for a decent arcade shooter that isn’t just a shooting gallery then it’s worth the time and money.

Arkane’s tale of wrench-wielding, audio log sleuthing, and human hubris wears its videogame heritage on its bright red space suit sleeve. Until such time that System Shock 3 may challenge it, Prey is the worthy follow up to System Shock 2 in everything but name.

The fact that it's not as breathtaking as its predecessor shouldn't really stop horror fans from picking up this creepy run-and-hide simulator.

Relic reinvent Dawn of War once again, retaining many RTS staples and borrowing a little from their MOBA genre-cousins. It’s not a flawless mix, and the multiplayer contents are a bit lean; but distinctive factions, a solid campaign, and largely compatible mechanics give Dawn of War 3 a strong base of operations.

It takes a while to find its voice and stretches a three song soundtrack to near breaking point, but this first episode demonstrates a willingness to take a stand-alone Guardians of the Galaxy plot in intriguing directions. Most importantly: it pulls off just enough jokes.

In tandem, the (free) Banks 1.5 update and Utopia contribute a splendid set of features and mechanical changes to Stellaris. Taken alone, Utopia is more the luxury trimmings to Banks’ essentials, but it’s a fine package of unique species specialisation and mega-engineering all the same.

I really liked Thimbleweed Park. I loved its little references, I loved its knowing winks, and I loved the way it successfully feels like a game that’s timewarped out of the early 90s. Do you wistfully think back to those years and those games? Then you should definitely play this. It might not rank up there with the absolute best, but it captures the essence of the adventures of yesteryear and provides a sharp, witty, and genuinely puzzling experience.

Any player in search of a real platforming challenge should be playing Rain World. It can be brutal at times and it has its quirks, but it will keep you coming back. Plus, it has a Slugcat.

Familiar strengths and themes combine with FromSoftware’s apparently endless capacity for creative fantasy design in a finale of suitable grandeur and pathos.

In the end, NieR: Automata reflects what’s in your heart, and it’s possibly the most playable introduction to the glorious madness of Yoko Taro there is. Whether that’s worth something to you I couldn’t possibly say, but it’s left quite a mark on me.

VR Sports is aiming for the Wii Sports audience, and while most of the sports are okay, it’s let down by some quirks due to the way the mechanics work with the VR kit. It’s also not that visually impressive compared to other titles we have seen. Fortunately, the game is pretty cheap at the moment and it might be fine for some family fun – and it does at least offer a wide selection of sports in one package.

Thoughtful, bold (in colour and execution), and with absolute faith in its players to handle being cast into the glorious unknown, Future Unfolding is a rare delight. If these words inspired any desire to play it whatsoever, then do so; before you learn too much else about it.

This hopefully isn’t the last we’ll see of Eidos Montreal’s Deus Ex, but if it is then A Criminal Past at least serves as a compact summary of their tenure at the helm. Nothing too radical here, just a well constructed prison level for Adam Jensen to be let loose upon.

Sometimes exceptional, always ambitious, but periodically falling short of its aims, Torment: Tides of Numenera is testament to the tribulations of following a universally established creative triumph. Well worth playing, nonetheless.

It executes its executions exquisitely, and I’m not yet at the point where I’m getting tired of it.