A good dose of weirdness in the lore prevents the game being completely one-note, but overall things are spread too thin despite the game only being two or three hours long. This turnip perhaps needed to be left in the ground a little longer. [Issue#24, p.82]

As it’s procedurally generated, some may chafe against the formidable grind, but each floor is bite-size, and you can command your team to do most of the exploring for you. Interspersed with dialogue-driven hangouts in the daytime, this is an incredible quick fix of weak point-targeting battling with RPG character building. It’s just a shame this couldn’t be more definitive. [Issue#24, p.82]

Moonrider rarely feels cheap – the final (final) boss does overdo some unavoidable attacks, but generally bosses have distinct patterns to memorise. As always with retro games, lifespan is an issue and you’ll probably finish this in an afternoon, but there’s replay value in discovering those items and new ways to play. [Issue#24, p.75]

Clearly inspired by real places, Tieng Valley exists firmly in the realm of magical realism, with a god of forgetting looming over the valley while strange flowers whisper echoes of the past. Biking around, recording it is a meditative experience that not only interrogates how you as an outsider choose to remember this ephemeral space, but also asks wider questions about time, history, and memory. It’s a genuine pleasure to explore. The game doesn’t outstay its welcome at about ten hours long, and is absolutely an experience we won’t forget in a hurry. [Issue#24, p.75]

Choppy performance aside, while there’s nothing particularly revolutionary here it’s hard to lament a lack of meaningful changes when beating up bad guys still feels this good. [Issue#24, p.75]

It’s got promise and plenty of atmosphere, but with unlikeable characters, lacklustre story development, and average activity, The Chant hits a bit of a bum note. [Issue#22, p.76]

A lovingly crafted adventure with some delightful clockwork puzzles, but sadly undermined by one particularly clumsy narrative misstep. [Issue#22, p.80]

If you want to take your time teasing out the story while also looking like you came off the cover of JRPG Vogue, then you’re in for a good time. [Issue#22, p.74]

Imaginative and densely populated but also rather samey and sparse at the same time. Technically iffy, but its lock-on gameplay suits the open world playground. [Issue#22, p.70]

An interesting take on the roguelike genre that offers a unique and entertaining way to play the game, but feels geared towards co-op over single-player. [Issue#22, p.81]

Blunt, limited, and lacking deeper features, this remains a curiosity rather than essential. But for diehard fight fans this makes Dimps’ brawler all the more endearing. [Issue#22, p.87]

The return is mostly triumphant, as it feels like the series has never been away. Even more fun than a rubber chicken with a pulley in the middle. [Issue#22, p.78]

Shadows Of Rose isn’t quite a must-play, but it will make you squeal. Some of the series’ most inventive spooks are here, though inevitably in moderation. [Issue#22, p.90]

A competent and substantial rally experience, but not quite the stuff of legend. It’s the best of Kylotonn’s offerings, and a decent swansong for its WRC series. [Issue#22, p.91]

Gungrave anime fans might be able to crowbar some fun out of this, but we strongly recommend that they don’t even try. Destined to become dead and buried. [Issue#22, p.86]

The lean and mean design may be limiting but it feels great when you’re chuntering through masses of monsters. Destined to be a modern cult classic. [Issue#22, p.88]

While there’s not enough here to convince QTE sceptics, there’s life in it yet thanks to a cast you’ll want to root for and some welcome gameplay additions. [Issue#22, p.82]

Beasts Of Maravilla Island is a fun game that needs further polish. Though its photography mechanics feel flawed, there’s an enjoyable adventure here. [Issue#22, p.77]

While there are some highlights in the visuals, sound, and accessibility, this never breaks free of its inspiration to do something interesting and fresh. [Issue#21, p.78]

Tunic can appeal equally to those seeking a solid challenge, and those who want to be able to cruise through the experience. Both will find a great game. [Issue#21, p.94]

A homage to 1990s survival horror that recognises where improvement is needed, Signalis has its own issues, but it emerges as a mostly gripping adventure. [Issue#21, p.92]

A compelling detective game with multiple threads to pull you through its dark Sardinian streets. Attempts to add horror to the mix, however, often fall flat. [Issue#21, p.91]

An essential purchase if you enjoyed Innocence, and an imperfect but gripping starting point if you missed it. Hopefully not the end of the tale. [Issue#21, p.80]

Fun at times. Improved visuals look the part, but this sequel strays too far from the team-oriented gameplay that made the original so compelling. [Issue#21, p.96]

The Witch’s House may be very small, but so are chilli peppers and they still pack a punch. 7 Solve some puzzles and enjoy a few scares… and a few untimely ends. [Issue#21, p.95]

A delicious stream-of-consciousness journey into geek culture is underpinned by solid combat, but undermined by filler, rough edges, and a void of meaningful cohesion. [Issue#21, p.82]

Gearbox tries to recapture the magic of Tales From The Borderlands, but by abandoning its original motley crew and valuing jokes over story, it offers tame tales only. [Issue#21, p.78]

Don’t expect a successor to Arkham, slavish to the memory of Rocksteady’s games. This 6 isn’t that. It is a good game in its own right, despite some mistakes. [Issue#21, p.74]

The best gunplay in the series struggles in the face of a poor plot. What you do in the campaign is nicely varied enough, but there’s very little substance. [Issue#21, p.84]

Constructing harder builds becomes frustrating owing to the controls. The camera and cursor both are unwieldy at best, verging on nightmarish when you’re 50 bricks deep. There’s no way to view the underside of your work, making top-down builds more guesswork than science. Worst of all is the inability to move multiple bricks simultaneously; you’ll experience pain akin to stepping on a Lego brick upon realising you’ve built something just one grid notch too high. It’s a shame as the concept is strong, a throwback to playing with the bricks as a child. Unfortunately, this is not the videogame realisation of those halcyon days, as it’s hamstrung by finicky systems, and too mechanically inept to achieve the laid-back vibe it aims for. [Issue#21, p.88]

Kamiwaza just isn’t interesting. What was fun in 2006 feels shallow and dated now. Stealth fans might get a kick out of it but with a high price and bare-bones remaster, we’d struggle to recommend this. [Issue#21, p.88]

This sequel’s twist is an ‘eyes closed’ mechanic: if you can’t see it, it can’t see you. Because of that, slowly plodding around the ominous red mist of enemies, your rapidly increasing heartbeat indicating proximity, becomes a simple yet terrifying staple (as do creating distractions, using your torch, and just legging it). As your vision’s frequently limited, the sound design is crucial. Between the lack of music, the almost echo-location function of the heartbeat, and disturbing noises made by the spirits, it evokes the feeling that you are never truly safe. And you aren’t. Lovely! [Issue#21, p.88]

It’s hard to ignore this spin-off’s squandered potential – or the deafening silence of Midgard. While we have great fun mixing and matching a wealth of combat options, we can’t recommend it based on that single verse when this game boasts an epic poem’s price tag. [Issue#21, p.83]

In addition to its cast of quirky characters and whimsy, Moonbury’s colourful pixelated setting is a joy to wander around. If you enjoy a farmer’s life in Stardew Valley, Potion Permit is guaranteed to brew the right remedy. [Issue#21, p.83]

A solid soulslike, with some cool ideas in the combat. Despite a few technical flaws and some less-than-original takes, Asterigos is still worth your time. [Issue#21, p.89]

It’s no PS5 revolution, but it is one of the most finely crafted adventures we’ve ever played, mixing thrilling combat with fab storytelling. [Issue#21, p.68]

Not quite the port we deserve, but fans will be pleased to fill a gap in the saga, while it’s a digestible entry point to entice newcomers into the Trails universe. [Issue#20, p.76]

A perfectly pitched pint-sized adventure well worth picking up – it’s got all the mini critters you can throw and a teeny-tiny world you’ll want to get lost in. [Issue#20, p.80]

Card mechanics can falter, but it’s worth weaving a unique path through this poignant coming-of-age narrative. Sombre and beautiful, this is a triumph. [Issue#20, p.90]

While lacklustre in some areas, Spiders leverages Steelrising’s daft premise for a 8 wonderful action adventure in a Paris steeped in history and robotics. [Issue#20, p.66]

Despite the intergalactic trappings, the bulk of the game is a surprisingly prosaic bartending experience. Don’t expect more than that, and Startenders might surprise you. [Issue#20, p.74]

When it all lines up perfectly, Soulstice can be wonderfully satisfying. Unfortunately, some strange design decisions and camera issues stop it hitting SSS-rank. [Issue#20, p.84]

Serious skaters will appreciate the impressive commitment to realism, but a serious lack of polish stops Session from sticking the landing for a wider audience. [Issue#20, p.82]

Laugh-out-loud funny, with easily-digestible absurdist puzzles that remain somehow easy to understand, it’s a classic (if a little repetitive). [Issue#20, p.78]

More fantastical situations are a plus, but its lofty ambitions get in the way, feeling less tight than the first game. Worth playing, but you’ll have a tougher time. [Issue#20, p.79]

Playing like an interactive theatre experience, we’re won over by the huge heart of this production, even if the set doesn’t half wobble. [Issue#20, p.91]

The same great core experience and slick presentation we’re used to, with a number of welcome changes. A superb basketball game. Alley-oops, they did it again. [Issue#20, p.70]

The story may not tempt you back, but the formidable soundtrack and combat will. This is the Doom/Guitar Hero mash-up we didn’t know we wanted. [Issue#20, p.83]

The platforming leaves more to be desired, but Little Orpheus is a vibrant adventure through dazzlingly dangerous worlds. Ivan is keeping true to his namesake. [Issue#20, p.71]

A sim-like approach leads to a great feeling of learned mastery. Repetition isn’t a problem until you get invested in the story, which takes a bit too long to play out. [Issue#20, p.89]

On the pitch, this is most cerebral FIFA outing since the its PS5 debut. Off it, even the non-FUT modes feel like they’ve been shown some pre-season TLC. [Issue#20, p.72]

Diofield has all the elements that should make it a great tactics RPG, but it squanders them on a bland story, simple combat, and unengaging characters. [Issue#20, p.86]

It’s not quite a reshuffle, then, but The Beasts Of Burden deals a good hand. [Issue#20, p.88]

Delivering humorous fourth-wall-breaking moments, a soundtrack filled with tunes you’ll find yourself humming for days, brilliant level locations, and a surprisingly compelling story, River City Girls Zero takes us back to the good old days of a beat-’em-up rather excellently. [Issue#20, p.88]

The generational change hasn’t been felt since PS4, and the PS5 jump is marginal. It’s still awkwardly presented, quirky with glitches, and fighting between simulation and arcade play. Madden 23 never feels comfortable in its own skin, but hopefully Coach, wherever he is, can take solace in what his legacy built. [Issue#20, p.88]

Almost ten years on from its original release, All-Star Battle may well be the definitive JJBA game to play if you want to feast on all the series has to offer. From tweaking taunt animations to an in-depth glossary and illustration archive, it’s as much a fan package as a fighter. Though that’s almost a shame, as we yearn for something truly new to challenge this upgraded enemy Stand user from our past. [Issue#20, p.75]

Without spoiling much, this is the best bit. From there it gets quite meta, and plays with some other card-based gameplay that ironically loses most of its bite by the end. Yet when it works, gaming the game has rarely felt more rewarding and chilling at the same time. [Issue#20, p.75]

Turtles In Time, in both its original arcade and SNES forms, is the biggest draw here, but the package pulls together multiplayer and single-player games from arcade, SNES, Mega Drive, NES, and Game Boy. While some have aged better than others (the first NES game is still a toughie, and the final Game Boy one an underrated gem), all are lovingly presented and easier to enjoy than ever. It’s retro bliss. [Issue#20, p.75]

A short, sweet season of story let down by the choice of form. We respect the experimental interpolation, though perhaps they should’ve played this piece straight. [Issue#19, p.87]

As much as we love the skeleton, the way it’s been built upon here feels like a missed opportunity. The chance to incorporate Part II’s stellar gameplay evolutions into the original heart-wrenching story was there; had Naughty Dog taken it, it could have been a game-changer. Instead, this feels like an obligatory reshoot. Yes, it’s visually stunning (one of PS5’s best), and yes, things have been changed. But the end result? Too familiar. Neat extras are here, like a speedrun mode, behind the scenes videos, and commentary tracks – but we’d hoped for something bolder. [Issue#19, p.74]

Thymesia makes us feel like the soulslike genre is completely played out already. A poor and needless Bloodborne substitute. No substance, little style. [Issue#19, p.81]

Despite some glaring issues, Sword And Fairy: Together Forever’s likeable cast and fun story makes this action RPG a good entry point into Chinese wuxia fantasy. [Issue#19, p.78]

A stylish sequel that strikes out on its own and wobbles along in its fashionable shoes. 7 Approachable for devil summoners new to Shin Megami Tensei. [Issue#19, p.84]

he character creator still shines, but frustrating mission design and a disappointing plot make this reboot difficult to recommend. Far more sinner than saint. [Issue#19, p.92]

A score-driven game that’s stylish in every way, this is perfect for the competitive, jumpsuit-and-gun-loving beast desperate to skate its way out of you. [Issue#19, p.86]

The concept of a melee-focused battle royale has promise but in such a competitive genre Rumbleverse pulls too many punches to survive in the ring for long. [Issue#19, p.98]

A fun brawler that’s peppered with enjoyable over-the-top action sequences and deeply edgy and cheesy writing, which you’ll either love or absolutely hate. [Issue#19, p.97]

Dusk Diver 2 offers the idea of cool systems and a fun combat system, but never really delivers on it, despite some wonderful waifus and husbandos. [Issue#19, p.90]

While Digimon Survive is an underwhelming Rookie in the SRPG genre, if the developers continue to evolve the series, a future title could become a Champion. [Issue#19, p.88]

There’s some enjoyable fast-food gaming in here, but it’s buried beneath a painfully unfunny script and unambitious mission design. This ET should go home. [Issue#19, p.80]

Charming presentation and snappy golf action. But the roguelike structure can hinder more than help, making fresh runs more gruelling than interesting. [Issue#19, p.91]

Masterfully blends two disparate genres without making many sacrifices. This quirky management-roguelike hybrid has the makings of a cult classic. [Issue#19, p.96]

Two Point Studios delivers for its second title, adding the perfect mix of challenge, humour, 8 and customisation to campus. A truly joyful experience at the University Of U. [Issue#18, p.82]

Deeper and more surprising than you might expect, yet not quite as tightly designed as you might hope. Still, Time On Frog Island flies, because you’re having fun. [Issue#18, p.74]

Stray makes the most of its choice of protagonist early on, really allowing you to do all the things a typical cat would do, though it eventually loses sight of that in favour of spotlighting the short story. That’s no cause for hissing, though it does leave the overall experience feeling somewhat like two kittens from different litters forced together. The combination works better than it should, but we’re ultimately left wondering what could’ve resulted if either half of the game had been given enough space to stand alone. [Issue#18, p.70]

An already strong formula has been honed into a deep and delightful farming sim. Ironically not genre pioneering, but it’ll still put you in a good mood. [Issue#18, p.87]

A thrilling parkour shooter that’s short but oh so sweet, it’s FPS action distilled into an instinctive, simple, yet compelling experience. We can’t wait for the sequel. [Issue#18, p.80]

A superior collection to the first Arcade Stadium, this is an excellent way to revisit 8 your youth and/or discover quality games that you never knew existed. [Issue#18, p.91]

Full of love for the characters, and crunchy to play, you owe it to yourself to give this a go – though the monetisation methods are off-putting. [Issue#18, p.89]

A straightforward remaster of two literally straightforward platformers, retaining the childlike wonder and charm, making it a dream for anyone to visit. [Issue#18, p.74]

Hell Pie has some fun mechanics marred by pre-juvenile humour and platforming that always feels a little bit off. It’ll be fun for some, but not worth sinning for. [Issue#18, p.86]

In terms of visuals and tone, Frogun is a delightful tribute to PS1-era platformers, but a clunky core mechanic makes this upbeat adventure fall flat. [Issue#18, p.78]

Delivers on its premise with breezy presentation and a variety of neatly rewarding puzzles. Not ground-breaking, but definitely an entertaining piece of escapism. [Issue#18, p.81]

A well-crafted survival story that conveys an important message. Emotive music and distinctive visuals blend with strong gameplay for a memorable experience. [Issue#18, p.75]

An impressive solo debut that gives triple-A shooters a run for their money, even if all the gimmicks quickly give way to reveal a rather short-lived affair. [Issue#18, p.90]

A must-play for any brawler fan, this levels up retro fun to new chaotic heights. With lots of love for ’80s TMNT, it’s a feast for the eyes and for the fingers. [Issue#17, p.72]

Whether you’re interested in this little corner of Elder Scrolls lore or not, there’s plenty 8 here to hold your interest and refuse to let go. You can Breton it. [Issue#17, p.68]

A good choice if you enjoy an occasional slice of the retro-styled cake; just be aware that this game bites back. Hard. Stock up on patience, souldier. [Issue#17, p.90]

This trilogy showcases why Shadowrun’s worth remembering. However, narrative ambitions are held back by ageing, limited presentation and mechanics. [Issue#17, p.82]

First-person and 3D audio is a great mix, with solid ray-tracing support enhancing some terrifying moments. It’s a shame VR doesn’t benefit from the upgrade. [Issue#17, p.77]

Despite the PS5 upgrades improving Resi 3 the most, it still doesn’t create an all-time horror great. Blockbuster zombie blasting is still a good time, though. [Issue#17, p.76]

Still the best survival horror, on PS5 ray-tracing and 3D audio add a lot to the atmosphere (though high performance mode is a little iffy). [Issue#17, p.75]

Great conversions wrapped up in a ‘basic at best, annoying at worst’ wrapper. The core games are still top-tier, but the package lacks the Mania love. [Issue#17, p.91]

A familiar yet brilliant, career mode. However, supercars and F1 Life ‘content’ are throwaway, making this a less attractive proposition than F1 2021. [Issue#17, p.78]

A masterclass in onboarding new players to fighting games, its basic archetypes and 8 simpler package than Guilty Gear may struggle to win hearts. [Issue#17, p.84]

So tasty you’ll want to gobble it up in one go (though of course it doesn’t go down without a fight), this long-awaited expansion is Cuphead at its dizzying best. [Issue#17, p.81]

While these segments are fun, they don’t seem entirely necessary. Repeating this process several times in the first half does become formulaic, yet the intriguing story makes it all compelling. The genre combination feels forced but given the narrative’s this good, Yurukill still gets our recommendation. [Issue#17, p.89]

The story keeps you guessing, and the twisty plot is the main highlight. From the moment you meet Zed, you’re drawn into a heart-wrenching and humorous tale, and the strong narrative and whimsical characters will draw you to stick it out to the end. But you need to get through an awful lot of battles, and with a combat system that takes too long to show its good side, the Complete package may be too much. [Issue#17, p.89]