I feel torn about House of Ashes. I’ve been overly negative here, but it isn’t by any means a bad game, it just didn’t gel with me in the way that Little Hope, for example, did.

If you love your management games then you will enjoy the different take on the genre in Honey I joined A Cult. Whether you want to get into the nitty-gritty and micro-manage everything, or just do the basics and let your cultists do what they do best, you will be able to spend many hours building a cult that just might one day take over the world.

Lawn Mowing Simulator does no more or less than its title. You will mow lawns on lawn mowers. Although there is a career mode, there’s little urging you to progress, making this a perfect mind-clearing title for those times when you just feel like cruising and bruising the buffalo.

Zombie Killing is always better with friends and Zombie Army 4 doesn’t buck that trend. Don’t buy this if you lack playing partners but if you have some Zombie slaying mates it is a blast.

It's not for everyone, but I feel it's a great introduction to an interesting slice of gaming's lost past and also to the unique arcade-esque fare in which Llamasoft specialises in.

Infliction is nightmarishly scary, but it lacks innovation and relies on some tired and problematic tropes in order to deliver. While it excels in its puzzle design and general atmospheric spookiness, an unsympathetic protagonist and audio problems lead to an overall lacklustre experience.

I found that the best way to approach them was to cheese my way to victory. This left me with the feeling that I was exploiting the AI rather than using skill to overcome adversity. Think long and hard if this is the game for you, but for this reviewer, it isn’t something I will likely never pick up again.

Some sports hit harder than others, but the core of Nintendo Switch Sports is solid, and begs to be played endlessly.

Mafia 2: Definitive Edition is the best way to play one of the most enthralling stories of the past decade. A wonderful upgrade for a wonderful title, don’t miss it.

A great tag fighter that is easy to pick up and play, but offers the depth that should position the title as a potential esports hit. Fans of the franchise or fighters in general shouldn’t hesitate to add Invincible Vs to their collection.

Playing one of these games will always be an individual experience, and it’s always about what you personally find scary. I found Directive 8020 to be one of the stronger entries in the series, because space is terrifying to me. The game is well-paced, has interesting (if archetypal) characters, and includes some new mechanics that make for a less frustrating experience than previous entries. Was the plot groundbreaking? No. It was derivative, but I feel like that’s what these games are supposed to be – and it does try to make some interesting points with the themes it’s exploring, and that’s all I really ask for.

It’s a mouthful of a title and it’s a weird game. It’s Nioh to the core with Final Fantasy nostalgia smeared all over it. Laugh at the dialogue, stay for the great combat system. It’s not perfect by far, but all it takes is a single great thing to make something shine.

Chock full of nostalgia and featuring a track creator that is second-to-none, Hot Wheels Unleashed is a must buy for anyone with a family that wants to race with or against each other.

Story Of Seasons: A Wonderful Life brings some welcome modernisation to an old classic, while at times sticking a little too closely to its roots.

The Switch release of Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath has proven that this game is truly timeless. There is no doubt in my mind that it is cool to be odd.

While I hesitate to use the phrase ‘hidden gem’ before a game has even launched, I will say that Steelrising is a pleasant surprise, an engaging riff on a genre that increasingly feels to have run its course even as it gets reinvented by its originator. While this may seem a trite statement when compared to the bombastic praise which often accompanies a game's launch (and wouldn’t see me quoted on a box), Steelrising is a game I have thoroughly enjoyed playing and hope to see more of from Spiders in the future.

While My Hero: All’s Justice does a great job of putting the player in the climactic battle against Tomura Shigaraki, All for One and the remaining members of The League of Villains, having to trudge through the disappointing Team-Up Missions to access the Archive Battles and the one dimensional combat that reduces controls to spamming a single button makes this game hard to recommend to all but the most die hard MHA fans.

Wizard with a Gun is a solid little game that you can play in small bite-sized chunks where you only do one expedition at a time, or in larger more in-depth sessions. While it does have some flaws, you cannot go wrong if you are a fan of crafting and survival games and want that nervousness that comes with the risk of losing everything if you manage to die.

I just wished the package included some historical details if only to help bring some context for those who weren’t there for the original releases.

I really don’t know if the time Cris Tales has taken from my life was fully worth it. There were definite ups throughout my adventure, but the frustrations mitigated my excitement somewhat.

While Dex may have a few flaws overall, it is a solid game that is filled with freedom to play how you want as you uncover the secrets of Harbour Prime.

Blades of Fire should be applauded for the new and exciting systems it brings to the Soulslike genre but sadly, the rest of the game is a little below par. A noble attempt, but one that just misses the mark.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are a wonderful foundation for future Pokémon adventures, but what’s been put atop this foundation for now is rather shaky in a number of ways. Poor performance this far into the Switch’s lifecycle doesn’t bode well for GameFreak or the pressure they are put under to meet holiday deadlines, nor does the phenomenal sales success mean they have much incentive to refine what’s here, when such time and resources could be better spent on whatever pair of titles succeeds Scarlet and Violet.

What hurts this 2020 take on a beloved franchise is an inability to stay to course for long enough to whet the appetites of long time fans. The brawling segments are too few and far between, and while the other game modes that pop up are very well designed and executed, you will find yourself longing for fewer of them, so that you can swing your fists for longer.

Minecraft Legends has potential, I don’t know if it will have the same level of longevity as the original Minecraft has had, and while it is very simple to command your mobs to go to a certain place and have them attack whatever is in the area, kids may struggle to adapt to the controlling of the mobs in more nuanced ways that will help get the most out of combat.

Little Hope is a solid spooky story best enjoyed with popcorn and friends. The tension is high, the fear is real, and the mechanics are improved from the previous Dark Pictures instalment. If you’re interested in some witchy goodness and moral judgements, this might be the spooky story for you.

A niche product for a niche audience, Clea 2 feels honest in its design, especially in a genre which can occasionally feel engineered to entice and then exploit influential streamers in service of a sales explosion. Lasting around five to six hours, Clea 2 teeters on the edge of outstaying its welcome, a minor issue in the face of a marketplace awash with bloated titles.

Possessor(s) combines an engaging narrative that will hit you in the feels with solid combat and a huge map for you to explore. Yet another solid entry in the Metroidvania genre.

Tripwire has crafted a fantastically balanced experience that knows when enough is enough and is genuinely funny, something many games aim for but so few succeed in reaching. Maneater is an ideal palate cleanser for those suffering from ‘open-world’ fatigue and, despite its perfect size, still left me wanting more.

This is a game that has a pile of problems, thankfully, the core combat loop is so satisfying that those problems take a backseat to all the brutal fun you are having.

It’s extremely charming, and completely captures the Iyashikei ‘slice-of-life genre, particularly in the personality of the town’s characters and how they interact with one another, yet also beckon you into that same world.

Despite playing it safe too often and the game time running a little short, Shadow Warrior 3 is sure to satisfy those looking for a gory piece of ‘80s inspired action.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are a wonderful foundation for future Pokémon adventures, but what’s been put atop this foundation for now is rather shaky in a number of ways. Poor performance this far into the Switch’s lifecycle doesn’t bode well for GameFreak or the pressure they are put under to meet holiday deadlines, nor does the phenomenal sales success mean they have much incentive to refine what’s here, when such time and resources could be better spent on whatever pair of titles succeeds Scarlet and Violet.

You can’t help but think that A Memoir Blue is on the wrong platform, being best suited for mobile devices, but I’m glad it’s here - it’s a story worth engaging with.

Sand Land is aesthetically beautiful despite its largely brown setting, and clever despite its absurdity. It offers charming characters, engaging customisation systems, and a world that expands on Akira Toriyama’s original vision. It knows what it is and embraces it fully, and that makes it one of the year’s most surprising gems.

An outstanding reinvention of Samurai Cinema and a stunning adventure in its own right, Trek to Yomi is a rare joy and one that shouldn't be missed.

A great approach to fitness that feels fresh and easy to fit into a busy schedule. Could have more variation in on-screen places and characters to help escapism.

In the end, Destroy All Humans! seems like the perfect palate cleanser in between games like The Last of Us: Part 2 and the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077. It isn't going to win any game of the year awards, but then again, it isn't trying too. It is simply here to make jokes, give players a power fantasy that involves invading wise-cracking aliens and allow people to live in their favourite b-grade invasion flick. By those goals, Destroy All Humans! is a resounding success and people looking for a light-hearted bit of fun should look no further.

Crypto's return is a fun one, but hardly essential. Some dated humour and repetitive missions hold the game back from greatness but there is still certainly fun to be had in this B-grade Sci/Fi comedy adventure.

With challenging controls and a confusing narrative, Little Nightmares III will be best enjoyed by those familiar with the previous entries over newer players to the franchise.

Contracts is a signal to the world that the Sniper Ghost Warrior franchise is no longer content on being a niche title. It is coming for the stealth big boys.

Tiny Garden is a cute game that encourages players to make a short experience their own through experimentation, optimisation, and customisation.

Some interesting ideas combined with a relatively short run time makes Chronos good for one or two playthroughs that will genuinely make you appreciate its successor even more.

If I were to describe how the game feels to me, it would be “death by a thousand paper cuts”. Each of the things wrong with the game is a very minor annoyance in what is a good game, but it’s enough to make the player come away feeling disappointed and like it wasn’t worth their time. It’s hard to think about the future when you are regretting your past.

Sonic Frontiers is a solid core experience stretched far too thin, proving that sometimes more is less.

It may not be the horror story I was hoping for, but if the worst thing I have to say about this is that I’m not going to have nightmares tonight, then I’d say we’re doing pretty good.

It’s not the best LEGO game, nor is it the best Horizon game, but there’s definitely a charm to the combination of the two. Even when they’re not at their best, these are two IPs that shine, and I’d happily jump into some co-op for this game any day.

If you like Starship Troopers and enjoy RTS games then you will have a lot of fun with Starship Troopers: Terran Command. The development team at The Artistocrats have taken the time to craft a game that is a wonderful blend of the film and novel universe that makes for a fun journey through the world of Kwalasha.

Haunted House takes a classic, and brings it into the modern age, by introducing stealthy elements to a Roguelite. It almost pulls it off too, if not for its repetitive room design and a few too many bugs which pull players out of the game a little too quickly.

Stuck in the past, Saints Row 3 still offers a lot of fun, you just have to look past some pretty dated humour to find it.

From its more balanced challenge to the wider array of missions to conquer, Gravitar Recharged makes an underappreciated arcade game far more enjoyable for modern-day players.

Two top-tier, nostalgic adventure games that will delight both old and new Tomb Raider fans…and a third game that won’t do any of that.

The big factor that will make or break Contra: Operation Galuga is how you feel about the game structure. Eight stages might not sound like much, but this is a game all about replaying – something which is no doubt a tradition for the series.

While No Straight Roads‘ floaty combat occasionally frustrates, its strong sense of self is commendable. Terrific art direction and musical composition add flourish to a game that otherwise may have been too easy to miss out on.

Ty’s return doesn’t bring anything new to the table, but it doesn’t have to. This is a warm reminder of just how much fun classic 3D platformers were and is the perfect game for anyone with fond memories of the genre.

With just enough tweaks to stand out as its own distinct entity, RKT hits all the notes you want from this type of game without falling into the pitfalls so many world changing, convoluted stories do.

Despite some minor design flaws and an excess of information and systems thrown at the player, Code Vein II is a respectable entry in the Soulslike genre that will keep fans happy and perhaps even bring some new ones in.

It’s a polished game, but it’s polished for 2012. It’s a solid RPG, and if you want a very well fleshed-out fantasy world, you’ll find joy here.

The Gex Trilogy bundles up a trio of middling to good platformers together and places them on modern platforms, with the perk of playing them with modern features like rewind, screen ratio adjustments and more. For fans of the games in their day, there’s some nostalgic fun to be found here, but if you’re new to the IP and are considering picking them up, well, in the immortal (and well-worn) words of Gex himself – Fuhgeddaboutit

There is quite frankly an overwhelming amount of content in Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate – while those upgrading from the base game may find it difficult to justify the cost outside of Infinity Mode, there’s no question that anybody tossing up between the base Orochi 4 and Ultimate at this point should absolutely go with the latter.

Mario Golf: Super Rush offers enjoyable mechanics for multiplayer matches but does nothing but disappoint those who want to go it alone.

While it loses some of its sheen, this port of everyone’s favourite banana republic nation-building sim has everything you will find on the other platforms, giving you the ability to control everything in your island nation no matter where you are.

Serious Sam Siberian Mayhem won’t scratch the itch for something new, but if you’re craving a fix of some chaotic FPS goodness, it certainly hits the spot without overstaying its welcome.

I can absolutely tell that there are kids who will fall in love with it, and adults who are going to enjoy the nostalgic trip back to the occasionally surrealist world of Bikini Bottom.

Whether you’re a veteran of the series or a newcomer, Company Of Heroes 3 offers a captivating gameplay experience that will keep you strategizing, adapting, and immersed in the chaos of war.

TRON: Catalyst shows tie-in games don't have to be rushed out the door. They can instead offer some fantastic action combined with a story that feels appropriate, yet also important in its own small way.

The mystery at the core of this tale is an emotional and intriguing rollercoaster that will have you guessing right up until the very end. Even with such fantastical ideas and unending twists, the game still remains grounded and coherent all the way through.

Star Overdrive may take inspiration from Zelda, but it is by no means a clone. A cracking sense of style, awesome hoverboard and some genuinely entertaining puzzles make this an adventure worth having.

Eternal Strands has some excellent ideas that are only in need of a few layers of polish, that would make the game a must-play. This is a fantastic starting point and I’m eager to see what Yellow Brick Games does next.

Scars Above is AA game design at its absolute best. A tight Sci/fi adventure that is perfectly paced and entertaining from start to finish. Proof positive that a smaller, tighter scope is often a wiser road to success in the world of video games.

This version of Sherlock feels human, his methods of deduction are satisfying, and his cases are certainly intriguing enough to make aspiring detectives want to solve them all.

If you’re a true crime fan, this is going to be the one for you, while also showing you the dangers of letting a true crime obsession go too far. Sometimes, I guess we all need a reminder that going to an exact replica of a place where gruesome murders happened is a terrible idea, even if it is in the name of ‘art’.

While I believe the story could have been delivered more smoothly, there is no faulting the effort gone into voicing all conversations and making sure that the simple gameplay loop remains engaging for many hours. There’s an amateurish, almost cobbled-together feel about Cloudpunk in general, which luckily connects with its aesthetic, coming together in a nice, shiny, pixelated indie pie.

With Twin Breaker, the team at Lillymo, along with Moriarty and Maldenado, have constructed a wonderful take on a time-honoured genre that has been woefully underserved in recent years.

The Callisto Protocol reaches for what Dead Space once achieved, and falls dishearteningly short. It re-creates all of the brutality and tension that drained the blood from our faces whilst playing Dead Space, but once you then find yourself actively fighting for your life, leaves you quickly frustrated and let down. 

AO Tennis 2 is a deep and rewarding simulation that offers much for the hardcore tennis fan. An initial difficulty wall will likely put a few players off, but for those that persist there is a rewarding and deep game of tennis to be found.

A different, more approachable form of rhythm game with a 70s back-drop and a style to behold. An interpretive experience suited for the rhythm-curious and the niche enthusiast alike.

A classically styled CRPG that is welcoming to newcomers without dumbing things down, Disciples: Domination has both the gameplay and the story to keep fantasy fans enthralled for the entirety of its 40+ hour runtime.

Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy has so much personality, and if you’re familiar with the series or this style of game, I think you’ll have a lot of fun. The upbeat, quirky sense of humour is a real selling point for me, and though I found the gameplay loop a little repetitive, I was laughing and smiling all the way through it.

If you’re after a game where the challenge is turned up to 11, then Ghosts ’n Goblins Resurrection is more than ready to take you on. For everyone else? Unless you’re ready for the frustration, then you might want to stay away.

Dead Season is a short zombie romp through a tactical lens. It walks the line between tactical and accessible and doesn’t feel like it nails either side of the coin, so in the end, it comes off feeling a bit toothless.

While there are missteps in the narrative, Miasma Chronicles is a solid enough game that can scratch both the RPG and tactical turn-based combat itch, with some solid ideas that aim to tweak the genre in ways that keep the combat fresh.

A well-scribbled note in the margins of the Borderlands universe, that should elicit a chortle or two from anyone still drawing breath.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated seems directly targeted at those with a real nostalgia for the original game. Improved visuals and audio aside, it’s hard to recommend to a new audience when the platforming genre has had some truly outstanding remakes these past few years, let alone new entries.

Aggressively average and ultimately forgettable, Chains of Freedom is neither bad nor good, it just is.

NBA 2K24 is the definitive NBA 2K playing experience, crushed under the weight of excessive monetisation attempts.

NBA 2K21 is the best that basketball simulations have ever been, yet the game buckles under the weight of intense microtransactions designed to bleed you dry.

Bubble Bobble 4 retains lots of things you loved about the series, but didn’t add a whole lot more. It’s over in the blink of an eye and its asking price isn’t justified.

Exit the Gungeon is not so much a full sequel, but rather the port of a mobile/tablet arcade title. As such, it is a simpler and more direct spin-off that relies on randomised weaponry and character-specific elevator runs to provide both challenge and variety for players.

If you’ve got a rainy afternoon and not much to do, Kill It With Fire will slot in nicely for a few hours of entertainment, although there may not be a high degree of replayability if the combat system doesn’t suit your tastes.

Winter Burrow gives players with a beautiful world to explore, but doesn't do enough with it to keep players coming back.

I wish I could sing the praises of this game, but the flaws were a little too frequent to ignore. The narrative is strong but the delivery of it often flounders, despite the convincing voice acting of some of the cast. Some puzzles fit right into the world and add to the immersion, while some feel like banging your head against a wall as you endure them. The environments are often stunning, but the shine is taken away when travelling through them reveals pop-in and an overuse of invisible walls. It feels like a game that’s almost there, and I wish it had stuck the landing.

Gorn is the perfect way to release pent up frustrations or to just have a bit of a laugh and some fun. While there is not much more to the game it is not necessarily a bad thing. Gorn knows what it is and doesn’t try to be anything else by shoehorning in unnecessary mechanics.

The Ascent opens impressively and displays a solid core, which regrettably starts to sour early, especially if you play on your own. Load times, illegible text and repetitive structure mean that the console experience is lacking.

There is a solid game at its base, and players will find plenty of variety and visual punch to satisfy a fun, casual tryst. Ultimately, the game passes, but it does not excel in whatever it was setting out to achieve.

What you see is what you get with Sam’s fourth adventure. There are no surprises here but there is comfort to be found in decimating wave after wave of alien nasties while cracking bad one-liners.

JETT reaches for the stars, and it is tantalising to watch it do so. It’s a shame that the camera cuts away just as it looks like it’s going to get there.

Exoprimal has some indefinable quality that makes me believe it will be around for a good long while and I couldn’t be happier. The combination of inventive exosuits, tight combat and a bonkers concept does more than enough to paper over a myriad of issues that would normally put me off.