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]

It’s not often that games are genuinely too short, but Neurodiver is over before any of its ideas or characters can develop, making it oddly dissatisfying. [Issue#42, p.96]

The game’s still visually gorgeous, but interesting characters and stories are sidelined to oblivion. No wonder the druids are so hacked off. [Issue#2, p.76]

All style and no substance. Atomic Heart’s world looks the part but is undermined by poor mechanics and some of the worst writing in gaming history. [Issue#26, p.84]

A witty script and likeable performances make this VR dystopia worth getting immersed in. Out of the oppressive grind emerges a narrative with heart. [Issue#27, p.76]

Starts promisingly, but becomes frustrating the further you progress. Are you prepared to spend dozens of hours and untold reserves of patience for a good story? [Issue#16, p.129]

Unfortunately, the attempt to touch on darker themes is also rather ham-fisted, but the concept of exploring the mental effects of being the chosen hero and pressures such a role entails is really intriguing. All in all, Minute Of Islands is promising but a bit muddled. [Issue#3, p.135]

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]

A short but sweet dive with interesting fishy hooks. Even so, with limited choice and story it all ends up a bit too surface-level to be truly great. [Issue#16, p.150]

Perhaps the idea could have been developed a bit further, but C-Smash VRS works wonderfully in PSVR2. Sometimes a simple idea well executed is all you need. [Issue#30, p.98]

Ultimately, though, this is powered by joy. It’s a largely forgiving experience, bolstered by innocence, optimism, and some genuinely funny jokes. It all feels as vibrant as it looks. While it’s geared towards a younger audience, it can (and should) be enjoyed by fans of all ages. Not the best day ever, but Purple Lamp has scored a sweet victory nonetheless. [Issue#25, p.83]

COH3 plays out not with a bang, nor a whimper, but with an indifferent shrug. There’s very little spark for something with so many explosions. [Issue#29, p.88]

Skate City offers the standard suite of skill-based skate challenges, though more alluring is the thoughtful presentation surrounding it all. Want to enjoy the serener side of skateboarding? Tail slide into this. [Issue#2, p.83]

Wholly uninspired and painfully dull, this is a shambolic effort that squanders the potential of its solid FPS foundations through dated design and technical issues. [Issue#32, p.81]

It’s a shame that despite a story about finding balance, Yomi doesn’t manage to achieve that itself, being a handsome cinematic homage on an indie budget, but sadly lacking the smooth and satisfying swordplay to back it up. [Issue#15, p.78]

Comes in swinging and establishes both a narrative universe and unique style of detective activity that shine alone but make an almost dazzling combination. [Issue#27, p.77]

Awkwardly plotted core cases and an underserved open world detract from interesting characters and a handful of side-cases that show promise. [Issue#9, p.80]

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]

Cris Tales uses tried-and-tested activity and story tropes, but can’t manage to imbue them with anything interesting – though not for a lack of trying. [Issue#5, p.88]

The gap between what Lightfall promised to deliver, and what it has actually provided, is unacceptably wide. There’s plenty to do, but you’ve done most of it before. [Issue#26, p.78]

An enjoyable Age Of Sigmar campaign, nicely presented and newcomer-friendly, but convoluted controls hamper yet another RTS game on console. [Issue#36, p.80]

Repetitive survival horror that feels like a life sentence, The Callisto Protocol is as bereft of life as the harsh conditions of the moon on which it’s set. [Issue#23, p.70]

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]

There’s an extra layer of complexity behind events such as judo that the quick and clear tutorials don’t let on about. This means it’s a game that welcomes people of all ages and skill levels, and allows them to play together. That’s the hashtag Olympic spirit! [Issue#4, p.77]

A decent update that has a love/hate approach to difficulty. The art style can undermine the gameplay, and on harder settings it feels unfair rather than unforgiving. [Issue#3, p.138]

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]

The story holds everything together. The post-Episode-III setup ensures this Vader is menacing yet tragic, and the journey into Mustafar’s lost temples delivers a fantastical spectacle. [Issue#4, p.88]

The core experience is superb, but the same is true of the now significantly cheaper NBA 2K23. Unless the latest rosters are important to you, buy that instead. [Issue#33, p.77]