Against some odds, Marathon is a compelling extraction shooter that offers some really satisfying combat. I do think having only one contract at a time slows progression down but there's plenty of other meters to work towards. Solo play has a tension to it which I really enjoy, although the game seems to be built more around squads. With just a few maps available at launch, I only hope that the game evolves and grows over time. I love the aesthetic and, generally speaking, it's doing quite a few things right.

Cinders has a charm to it that I've rarely found in the visual novels I've played. The writing manages to contextualise and add to a familiar story whilst allowing the main character to branch in interesting ways. It's a shame the story doesn't break completely from the source material but there's some intriguing ideas on display, here. The detailed, animated backgrounds help create a lively setting and the music maintains an airy feel. It's a striking effort that largely succeeds.

KARMA: The Dark World is an interesting debut from Chinese dev Pollard Studio, set in an alternate East Germany in which you play among a cast of characters with non-German names. It’s fun enough and graphically sumptuous to boot, just not particularly long. We kinda get why they set it in Europe as opposed to the actual oppressive regime they live under, but a little more effort in that regard would’ve helped.

Steelrising has plenty in common with others in the Souls genre and even though it lacks the polish and variety of the best, the unique setting and some neat gameplay ideas make it worth a look.

Ready or Not isn’t a Fugees tie-in, it’s a SWAT-em-up in a similar vein to Rainbox Six Vegas. Just with rougher edges and glitches a plenty. It purports to put your squad members mental wellbeing front and centre but it only really relates to whether they’re able to join you on your next mission. It’s alright though and we’ll keep dipping in and out for a while.

Whilst I'm not jumping out of my skin, I'm still intrigued by the exploration and puzzles. It's well executed and interesting to play. The visuals hold up nicely and the sound design manages to raise tension when it's needed. The horror tropes it deals in are very traditional but it delivers a change of pace from the usual cultist setting. White Day: A Labyrinth Named School has been a pleasant surprise.

Death's Gambit is enjoyable with some valuable tweaks to combat to supplement some otherwise disappointing melee strikes. Exploration feels rewarding and whilst there doesn't seem to be a huge variety of gear and builds, there's a lot to like about a tough, sincere imitator. Worth considering if you're looking for a challenging effort with a tightly connected world.

Koira is a cute exploratory puzzler with a wordless story in which you find a dog and tackle some lightly ecologically themed encounters. It’s not massively long, but it is fun. Plus that dog is so damn cute.

At times it will bore and reduce you to groans but Agents of Mayhem's loot-driven loop will keep some players compelled. There is a better game under the surface of this and you're always being pushed towards some new gadgets, weaponry or skills. Combat delivers an enjoyable, if repetitive treadmill with plenty of room for experimentation. It's a shame it comes with so many caveats and qualifiers.

Bitmap Bureau continue their streak of bringing quality retro styled games in their unmistakeable, passionate style. Final Vendetta is a great attempt at a new Final Fight style brawler; however, the challenge and lack of modern conveniences will be a put off to some. This one is well worth it if you love an excellent soundtrack (courtesy of the Utah Saints) and thought Streets of Rage 4 was too easy.

For less than the cost of a cup of coffee, you’ll have an hour or so of fun from Hidden Kittens: Kingdom of Cats. It’s short, sweet and cosy and that’s just fine. Don’t expect massive depth as you won’t find it here.

Banner of the Maid is an enjoyable strategy RPG for a low price. The levels feel like they require learning at times rather than simply strategising your way through but completing a mission and its challenge is very rewarding. The 2D artwork and music is also very pleasant. Worth checking out.

Crown Trick is a Rogue-lite, turn based, grid based RPG with a heavy emphasis on luck. The permanent upgrades you can unlock along with your own experience do tip the scales in your favour the more you play and turn it from a harsh game into an enjoyable title.

Techno Banter is more than a bouncer take on Papers, Please. It’s well written and while the plot might feel like it is advancing no matter what you do, you’ll come away feeling glad for having played it. It has the feel of a one and done, but many plotlines will remain untouched if you only play this the once. Additionally, the music is excellent.

Talisman: Digital Edition offers a very full package, including as it does the main game plus all the expansion packs. If you’re a fan of the boardgame this is a faithful conversion and an excellent way to play more of it, if you’re new to the game this is a good way to play it as the PlayStation 4 automates much to make the experience user friendly.

If you've ever fancied playing the spiritual successor to Strider, this port is the best way to do it and it cleverly adds some quality of life improvements that offset the original's rough difficulty spikes. The price is definitely far too steep for what you get.

Featuring four of the best games in the franchise, Wonder Boy Collection is a solid set of retro titles that should satisfy fans and those looking to experience some classic Sega goodness. However, the decision to restrict a wealth of alternative console ports and some of the best games in the series to the physical edition only is a major sticking point. This makes the digital version harder to recommend. There is nothing wrong with the games you get here of course, but it does feel like a somewhat stingy package that diminishes an otherwise great reason to celebrate a classic franchise.

Wavetale certainly could've used some extra polish but the movement and storytelling shine strongly in a world that is mostly gorgeous to look at. Combat lacks any threat and the platforming can feel incredibly simple. There's not a lot of risks being taken which can result in a game that feels trivial. Despite this, there's more than enough to keep those curious onboard. I do find the personal tale to be engaging and it's nice to see an apocalypse look so bright and optimistic.

If you like buddy cop point and click adventures, then Bear With Me: The Complete Collection makes for a good palette cleanser. It goes a bit overboard on the film Noir style but makes up for it with genuinely well-designed characterisation and locales that get better as you progress further into the episodes.

Monster Truck Championship might not be especially big or clever but the career mode does deliver some fun. There's some nuance to the handling and freestyle events make use of a great trick system. The presentation shows some bright spots with some colourful arenas but the personality really comes from some of the cosmetic options. It can feel a little short-lived but my time behind the wheel has been enjoyable.

Shenmue III is finally here and it's a surreal experience, taking you back to the early 2000s. Fans of the series will feel right at home but its reluctance to change means it won't attract new fans. I'd have liked more plot progression than is here but hopefully this paves the way for the story to finally be finished.

A twelve year old pinball simulation PSP game is an odd choice for a modern port but this collection of tables based on once-popular PlayStation franchises is actually fun to play.

As a museum piece, VASARA Collection is a really interesting release and one that is a real treat for shoot 'em up fans. However, a lot of people will find it repetitive, visually uninspiring and too hard without local co-op buddies to play with.

Despite being a game with consistent quality and performance, Sackboy: A Big Adventure can’t quite escape being run-of-the-mill when compared to its contemporaries. There is still plenty of that LittleBigPlanet charm to be found throughout this lengthy, platforming campaign though. It’s gorgeous to look at, it’s well-designed and the game feel is just right. However, if you are looking for some of that next-gen innovation on par with Astro’s latest, then you may struggle to find it here.

Thumper has some great rhythm action to offer but the start setting and oppressive tone often makes it feel like what Rez might have been like if the Germans had won World War 2.

Drop Duchy's mix of gameplay elements work together well but there's quite a steep learning curve if you want to really get everything out of the game.

Electronauts is a fun musical and visual tool that might be a bit much for beginners and not enough for experienced musicians.

Sisters Royale is a fine shoot 'em up that gets a lot right and is just a few decisions away from being great. It is easy to recommend for fans of the genre though, especially at this low price.

Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy is certainly not straying far from the sharp puzzle design the series is known for. It is a very familiar experience that might wear thin. There's some clever ingenuity on display and I managed to be kept interested by it. Combat still remains an afterthought and it almost feels like an intrusion on the puzzle solving. Cooperative play offers the most fun is but the solo experience is still engaging. At times, pacing can waver but the overall package remains good.

GNOG is an incredibly well presented VR experience with the audio and visuals combining perfectly. It’s easy to get into and enjoyable for the entirety of its short length, though it’s lacking a little in the gameplay department.

Fortune Hunter: Erza's Wheel of Fortune can be quite cosy at times. The game doesn't lean so much on challenge and exploration can feel rewarding. Whilst it's not doing anything new or special, the ability to tinker with gear helps propel some individuality into the hectic combat. Movement and fighting feels good and, whilst the map is expansive, you can traverse it at a swift pace. Sometimes it's a visual treat and, despite the plot not grabbing me, there's enough in the gameplay to keep me interested.

Everything really isn’t for everyone. If it clicks with you, you’ll love experiencing it even if you don’t actually love playing it. As quirky, nerdy and pretentious as it gets but charming too, we’re really glad we gave Everything a chance.

Sword and Fairy: Together Forever is a linear, cutscene heavy RPG so people's mileage may vary. I enjoyed the story and characters despite the clumsy translation and the action combat is decent if unremarkable. Importantly it runs well, with only the odd hiccup, which after the last game wasn't a given.

While it may lack excitement and variety, what you get here is the ultimate Boulder Dash experience and if you're old enough for that to mean anything, this is a one-stop shop for fans of the series.

Hook CE is a nice package comprising one hundred and sixty levels. The first game is definitely the weaker of the two and it shows in that this is very much a game of two halves. It's good though.

Interesting gameplay mechanics and cute retro styled graphics belie a fierce challenge. Sadly Super Weekend Mode is another easy Ratalaika platinum that deserves better than its probable fate of a one and done. A good game with trophies that let the side down.

Disco Dodgeball Remix manages to add some longevity to a game that originally ran short on time. The player progression and the variety of modes help stave off potential boredom. The game's playful colour and style remains compelling after three years. Whilst the online does seem to be hampered by the urgency to get you playing, there's a lot to keep you occupied and it's mostly enjoyable.

Dark Eclipse is a fairly simple strategy game that is improved by being in VR and the free to play aspects aren't too problematic either. This is worth checking out if you want to do something different to the usual space/horror/turret-shooter games on PSVR.

Cookie Cutter is far from perfect but it's a slick and interesting example of a genre that is often presented in a lazy, retro style. There are issues but the game's strengths just about outweigh the negatives.

Dino Frontier offers another short but sweet experience for PSVR. It's a lot of fun to build your town but the lack of difficulty and content makes it feel like the first level of many when in fact it's the only level. One to look out for if the price drops.

Ripples is a well done continuation of The Council storyline, just let down a little by some puzzling plot devices, one leap of logic in particular evoking genuine bafflement from us.

Megadimension Neptunia VIIR offers the same story as the non-VR release from two years ago, but does make some gameplay changes on top of the addition of virtual reality segments. Only the biggest fans should double dip but this is still a good game for those who have yet to experience it.

KeelWorks have done well to deliver such a polished entry into the shoot 'em up genre and we're pleased to see them focus on quality. That said, the game can feel a bit messy and complicated at times.

An almost overwhelming continuation of the episodic graphical adventure with RPG elements. Almost preposterous at times and yet we couldn't divert our gaze.

Terminator: Resistance was a fairly average PS4 game that did enough with the license to appeal to us as fans. Playing through it again in 2021 has been enjoyable enough though and its old-school level design is actually pretty refreshing in this era of open-world titles. It's just a shame that the PS5 facelift and new DLC didn't add anything to the experience but if you want a reason to replay the game, this is it.

Spelunker HD Deluxe brings an awful lot to the table. Using the blueprint of an old favourite, Tozai Games have delivered dozens of levels with some modern visuals. It does look smarter and a little sharper but the old challenge remains. It controls reasonably well but the memory-heavy nature of the levels will put some players off. With few options available to tweak difficulty or add lives, you're left with an authentic, if divisive experience. Multiplayer does allow you to bring friends along for the ride too.

A Little to the Left offers you the chance to clean up someone else's clutter and that's either going to be right up your street or the worst thing you can imagine. If you're in the first camp then this is for you.

Phantom Doctrine offers a different approach to the XCOM formula and is unique enough for genre fans to give it a chance. The missions do become repetitive and progress is slow but the ability to fully stealth levels is very welcome and rewarding.

This might look like some proper indie nonsense but this is a whimsical puzzler about a fly trying to complete a bucket list before it dies and, oddly, it's really enjoyable.

If you're bored of Nex Machina but not bored of the twin-stick shooters with roguelike elements, then Iron Crypticle is worth a look but it doesn't offer anything to advance the genre.

I'm still enjoying Train Sim World 3, even if the content can revisit their old DLC packs. The driving remains a relaxing experience and the breadth of routes on offer can give players plenty to work towards. What you get with the standard edition provides a nice mix of passenger and freight journeys whilst the deluxe edition adds steam engines into the mix. They all feel different to operate and have their own challenges. Visually, it's an improvement although not as polished as I'd like. It's a fun package, although I'd love Dovetail Games to finally consolidate all their Train Sim World content under one roof.

Architect Life: A House Design Simulator doesn't dig too deep but there is some challenge to be had from clients and their prospective locations. The career mode has some variety to it, although the homes I built started to homogenise due to the surprisingly limiting tools at my disposal. For a game with architect in the title, you're not given the freedom to truly tinker with angles and materials. It's still a methodical and relaxed time but it pulls some punches.

The Outlast Trials does something a little different with the survival horror genre and gets a lot of good mileage out of its Fallout-meets-Saw aesthetic. It's not always exactly what you'd call fun though and there are questions over the variety of it in its launch form but we grew to like it a lot.

A Gummy's Life has some very clear inspirations and, at times it can be quite brazen. The colourful presentation does well to set it apart and the game modes remain fun, even if the online portion struggles from a lack of interest. The fighting can be tactile and occasionally chaotic and, whilst the AI seems capable, this game feels more engaging with friends. The map variety gives you plenty to work with although the combat lacks a little impact. There's an enjoyable core here with just a few niggles that can potentially be ironed out.

Super XYX is a solid shoot 'em up made by people who clearly love and understand the genre.

Pumpkin Jack is a well done throwback to 3D platformers of yesteryear. Unfortunately it also has some of their bad habits such as on-rails minecart sections and a final boss you'll hate more than our burning disdain for the music of Simply Red.

XIII was fun in 2003 and terrible in 2020 but Microids have delivered on their promise to fix the remake. It might not be one for modern gamers but who cares? We've rather enjoyed playing through XIII's various spy thriller tropes.

In Sound Mind is a solid psychological horror game with an interesting gimmick based around tapes that allows for a variety of environments and puzzles. The story doesn't quite fulfil its potential and the frame rate can be terrible but for fans of first person horror, which is light on scares but with a decent range of puzzles then you'll certainly get something out of this.

Shenmue I & II are still special games with very few, if any, modern equivalents. Certain elements are showing their age and there are some annoying bugs that should hopefully be patched out in time but both fans and possible fans will appreciate the chance to play both these titles in one package.

LEGO Marvel Superheroes 2 is one of the better LEGO games. The range of characters available is staggering and the attention to detail is to be applauded. Whilst the range of actions and movement abilities may cause problems for younger players, the ever present co-op is a wonderful addition to help younger players out.

Speed Limit's tough, and frustrating, gameplay might mean it doesn't flow quite as nicely as we'd like but you have to admire the way it combines a heap of classic gameplay styles into one cohesive title.

Redout 2 delivers where it matters with some of the fastest, most hardcore racing we've seen in a game. The bold visuals add to sense of excitement too. It's just a shame that the difficulty isn't more consistent and that the game is lacking in variation, especially as some of the gameplay modes aren't ready yet and will be patched in later when much of the game's already small community may have drifted elsewhere.

Soulstice has some pacing issues and a dodgy camera but the combat is smooth, challenging and requires skill to master. A few tweaks would make this a fantastic game but even as it is fans of the character action games should definitely give it a chance.

Session's ultra-realistic skating mechanics are spot-on and reward your practice and patience. However, it's set in a world that feels a little dead, empty and cold at times and the structure the game does give you isn't particularly interesting or user-friendly.

It's clear RiMS Racing has some good new ideas and a handling system that's greatly complimented by the DualSense controller. It's a pity the bikes and tracks on offer lack some variety. Repetition sets in with a lengthy career mode but it's clearly an enjoyable ride and customising bikes can be an engrossing, meticulous process. At times, the slim content can feel strung out but there's an impressive foundation to build upon.

Max: The Curse of Brotherhood offers a charming adventure for those looking for a puzzle based platformer that is neither too difficult or condescendingly easy, nor too brief or overly long. The physics engine may throw up the odd problem but the checkpoints are forgiving enough to not cause too much concern.

Toy Odyssey: The Lost and Found is a highly addictive rogue-lite game, though it does have some problems. Depending on your luck the quest system can slow your progress and you will be seeing the same locations over and over, but upgrading your character and the base makes one more go turn into another hour.

Windlands breaks a lot of rules in regards to early days VR movement but it holds up well and lends its way to a fun and engaging experience. This will make for a good test of your stomach if you want to try a more physical game for your new headset.

Melobot – A Last Song is a nice rhythm action puzzler, but rendered all too brief by the fact that you can effectively negate the challenge by choosing the note display without any penalty. The penultimate world being tougher than the final one is also a head scratcher, but that’s partly down to the use of R3 as a main button. Inexcusable when L1 remains unmapped.

A solid roguelike experience, marred by the hangups of the VR platform which have been removed in favour of next generation visual trimmings. The Persistence Enhanced Edition holds up as an atmospheric sci-fi horror title with challenging permadeath mechanics, but repetition takes hold a bit too soon.

core.sys isn’t a Windows system process in this context, more a nice neat little puzzle game with a hacking subtext. Yes, it’s a little brief and ends rather abruptly but its also fun with it. The PS4/PS5 crossbuy is an added bonus so you can double dip for the platinum super quickly if that’s your bag. Otherwise, enjoy this nice little bite-sized effort over a couple of days.

GreedFall is the very definition of a decent action RPG. It does nothing drastically wrong but doesn't blow you away either. What it does manage is to be an enjoyable experience which is sometimes all you need.

Chenso Club is a game that feels very much the sum of its parts. Whilst 2D platformers with roguelike elements are absolutely nothing new, the presentation does elevate it into a place of its own. Combat is fast, fluid and simple and the platforming is largely forgiving. The flow of a run means you're always close to gaining new gear and using your own health to shop does deliver some tough decisions for players to make. It all comes together to make something enjoyable.

Repetitive gameplay is the only thing holding back Earth’s Dawn but it is a pretty major part of the equation. The missions reward you well and it always feels like you’re making progress, but the lack of variety may be a deal breaker for some.

What Lies in the Multiverse is a fun enough game with some cleverly designed mechanics but it's let down by a weak script translation that makes the major plot beats lack impact. It's good but lacks a little polish.

Breakout: Recharged doesn't do anything new or particularly interesting with this take on the classic bat and ball genre but it is enjoyable enough and certainly addictive. We'd have liked to have seen a bit of eye-candy but we're happy enough with the gameplay to make this a game we can recommend.

Ultimate Fishing Simulator is very much as advertised. Perhaps a little on the dry side for the novice as it does expect a level of familiarity to some of the mechanics. Somehow compulsive to play, if a little rough around the edges. Maybe not so ultimate as more super.

The extra year has done WWE 2K22 a world of good as the game appears more stable and enjoyable. The time in the ring has been simplified although might still appear more complex than some would like. Countering windows seem tricky to get a hold of and there are times when you feel the game is playing for you. Despite this, the wealth of content and gameplay should keep people interested. Not quite a return to form but definitely a step in the right direction.

AngerForce: Reloaded is a very playable, and enjoyable, shoot 'em up with well-considered roguelite elements but is let down by a flawed difficulty curve and some rough loading times.

Runbow offers some solid single and multiplayer 2D platform-racing fun but can be equally frustrating too. This is one to pick up if you've got decent platforming chops or a bunch of buddies who like coming over to play very obscure indie games on a regular basis.

Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth closes out the visual novel's story for those who played Mask of Deception. I wouldn't recommend you start with this title but for those who are already invested know that this is a great continuation with some minor improvements.

Zero Zero Zero Zero is an uncomplicated game from Ratalaika that provides a solid retro-tinged challenge in a gauntlet of spikes, lazers and a hundred screens of brutal obstacles. This is one to consider if you thought games like N+ and Super Meat Boy were too easy for your liking.

Meet Your Maker is a first-person outpost raider where you get to make your own levels and unleash them on whatever sorry bastards try to take them on. It's a great concept and the execution is pretty solid at launch. It'll only be improved by the promised future content too.

Hidden Cats in Spooky Village ramps up the scare factor with buckets of gore and disturbing imagery. Nah, we’re kidding, it’s the same cute cats in folk horror locations and is a solid addition to the hidden cat pantheon that Silesia and Nukearts are excelling at. Some cats can be tough to find due to being really tiny but generally it’s not a huge problem across twelve generous levels.

ScourgeBringer is a tough Rogue-lite with enjoyable movement and combat mechanics. The difficulty does ramp up massively just over half way through but don't let that scare you off as there are powerful accessibility options for those of us who aren't superhuman.

Graceful Explosion Machine is a cerebral shoot 'em up that offers some good action but isn't as exciting, varied or dynamic as its best contemporaries.

I found a fun, brainless quality to Warhammer Chaosbane that I could zone out to. Its inspirations are clear and imitates well without surpassing expectations. I found the story to be too self-serious and the presentation too bland. The loop of combat, loot and levelling always rewarded, though. The base content lacks some variety but the endgame should hopefully provide an enduring quality.

Tokyo 42 is a brave stab at bringing some Syndicate-style action to the modern consoles. It has moments where the great graphics and stealth gameplay come together to create some good times but the stealth mechanics aren't always that reliable and therefore the gaming can become inconsistent.

Even for a sport like monster truck racing, Monster Truck Championship feels like the sensible older brother to the Monster Jam series but it delivers some enjoyable racing action mixed in with some fun freestyle stuff. The PS5 upgrade really only comes down to a frame rate boost which is a shame because we'd love to see the developers really push the system further and add some haptics, some more modes and a bit more craziness to what is actually a solid but staid title.

Heal is the sort of classy title that we've come to expect from Jesse Makkonen and it offers an afternoon's worth of gentle puzzling and some stylish atmospherics. It's not quite up there with his Distraint games but Heal is a likeable taste of what this talented developer is capable of.

Styx: Shards of Darkness continues the series with as much enthusiasm as its predecessor, and builds upon what made Master of Shadows work so well - the stealth aspect. The fact that Cyanide Studio didn't pay attention to the negative reports on the combat, and kept the mechanic the same as before is practically the only thing that lets the side down in terms of playability. If you want to have to think about getting from point A to point B, and don't mind getting frustrated at times, then this is easily the best way to spend 15-20 hours.

If you put 40 meter tall monsters in a fully destructible environment and have them duke it out, you're in for a good time no matter what and this party game gets that stuff right. However, to really get the most out of GigaBash, you'll need a sofa full of mates to play it with.

Carrying its heart on its sleeve and fun in short bursts, Retro Highway aims to fill the hole that the lack of Road Rash games has opened over the years. It’s unfortunate however, that it just doesn’t go that extra mile to elevate this to being more than just an entertaining distraction.

NeuroVoider isn’t going to stand out in a sea of retro-flavoured roguelikes but it’s one of the better ones. While the shooting mechanics aren’t perfected, the upgrade system is pretty addictive and makes a fairly ordinary game hard to put down.

Grim Legends 2: Song of the Dark Swan is an enjoyable outing in the hidden object genre. It does nothing that you won't have seen in every other Artifex Mundi game but it is one of the better ones with a nice art style and wide range of puzzle types.

Dark Arcana: Carnival is another solid hidden object game. Whilst there is a lack of puzzle variety here the story is interesting and kept me engaged throughout. I don’t think this is going to do anything to draw new players in, but if you’re already a fan then you will likely enjoy this.

Overall then iO is a decent puzzle game offering loads of content, it’s also cross buy with the Vita which is nice. It suffers from some proper hard difficulty spikes and relies a bit too much on trial and error, but at the end of the day it plays a decent puzzle game.

Dirt 5's condensed career feels light on variation but the carnival presentation and slick pacing helps stave off some of the tedium. Whilst there's plenty of vehicles, they don't all feel like winners. The course creation does give you something else to pursue after career is over. I've had fun racing around the well-designed courses but I can't help feel this is compromised and a little narrow in scope. If an arcade racer is what you're after, this works nicely.