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.

As a visual novel, Kamikaze Lassplanes doesn't grab me. Once I got past the absurd premise of transforming women into planes that you would pilot, the remainder feels safe within the genre. There's a war going on but there's enough downtime to make you forget until the next shooter section comes into view. I do think the shoot-em-up stages are genuinely decent. Whilst it lacks variety in weapons, the core shooting feels good and the stage design isn't too devious. Unfortunately, it's not turning this into a game I'd recommend.

The Confinement does accomplish what it sets out to do. The movement is consistent and sharp, although the camera movement feels overly sensitive. Even with it reduced to it's most basic level, I have enough to swivel myself into the right positions. The levels are short and easy to understand which does lead to a game that can fly by. The story barely impedes the pacing but I can't say it offered me much intrigue either. It's a fun enough jaunt I feel like it's missing more variety in level design or biomes just to make it feel like more of a journey.

Let Them Come: Onslaught does a fine job with the somewhat oversubscribed Survivors-like genre. Good presentation, addictive gameplay. It's not the best example of the genre but it's a pretty decent one.

Beyond Words takes the classic Scrabble formula and pushes it through a Balatro-esque roguelike structure and it does a decent job with that concept, even if it can drag on a bit and success relies on luck some of the time.

There's a lot of Superheroes for your money in MARVEL MaXimum Collection. They're not all bangers but having thirteen titles to dig through is a lot. The usual quality of life features persist, as do some cheats which will help players get through the more challenging entries. The online play for the arcade titles is welcome, although performance hasn't been great at release. I'm always going to yearn for more archival content but, what they have here has been well preserved.

Crimson Desert is the very definition of a cult classic. It shows lofty ambitions whilst Pearl Abyss are effectively going with what they know. There's some exemplary exploration and world design on display but the quest design feels incredibly basic. It's always bringing some new mechanic or system into view but that dilutes the game's focus. I've had some fun with it but it's been heavily clouded by an incredibly slow start, awkward controls and some truly awful bosses.

Grind Survivors looks and plays pretty good but after a while it just starts to feel like a grind and when that's literally the whole point, you can't help but ask why they've focused so much on that aspect.

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.

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.

Devil Jam is one of the better auto-battling roguelites that we've seen on PSN and it has a bit more personality than most of them too. It's just a little bit too repetitive for its own good.

Toxic Commando feels just like World War Z and that ship sailed a while ago for us. It's an adequate shooter but just lacks excitement. And originality. It's got none of that.

As the final entry to the series, Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered does its best to polish up a game that doesn't always hit the mark. The voice acting remains fantastic and is delivered with all the gravitas I'd come to expect. The pacing can be hit by Raziel's constant need to monologue but the helpful breadcrumb trail should prevent players from getting lost. Above all, it's a nicely put together package with a wealth of cut content and extras.

Vampire Therapist manages to be a thoughtful delve into psychiatry whilst still remaining manageable for newcomers. Sam is a likeable character and the rest of the cast have plenty of energy to bring to the table. I do wish the locales were more varied and two mini-games don't carry any real consequence. The heart of the game is the conversations with clients and they are very well written. It's worth recommending for that insight alone and the peek behind the curtain.

Disco Simulator's approach to management is incredibly simple. Whilst you can tinker with a few facets, the two resources that matter can be easily acquired. Turning a profit requires little effort and reputation does tend to be handed to you. What remains is a game with very few stakes and, as such, I wasn't encouraged to change my gameplan. That led to something that felt tedious pretty quick.

Ship’s Cat is a game of two halves, the first being what you might expect, the second being something else altogether. The fact this is cobbled together by a solo dev and ends up being as impressive as it is, is quite something. Yes, the bugs halt progress a little, but with a patch already submitted to Sony, the prospects for Ship’s Cat are good going forward.

In a genre that is full of Vampire Survivors clones, Centipede Gun offers something a little different and while it can feel a little underdeveloped, we did enjoy it while it lasted.

Hidden Cats in Christmas, while subject to an unfortunate delay slipping to February is another solid hidden cat game. The formula keeps on getting refined by Nukearts, but we fear we’re getting a little fatigued with hidden cat games on the whole. This is still good though and it’s good value.

Lovish's compact levels and responsive controls certainly scratch an itch. Whilst the 8-bit aesthetics aren't new, the execution is well done. The pace is kept up really well and the variety is strong. It's a shame the lives don't manifest into an actual failure state but there's enough danger in the levels to consider already. The story shows some heart, although it is thin. Despite that, it's a game full of ideas and ingenuity.

Romeo is a Dead Man has the style and swagger of a much better game. The combat is nothing you've not seen before, the level design is uninspired, dated and often frustrating, and the story isn't as funny or clever as it thinks it is. But, still, there's fun to be had and the game can be compelling. It just needs to get out of its own way more often than not.

JDM: Japanese Drift Master doesn't quite go the whole hog with an homage to Japanese tuner culture. The handling feels solid, even if there is a lack of feedback. The selection of cars is pretty strong and the world is decently sized. The story is something that passed me by but the manga presentation does give it some flavour. If anything, it also shows up the rest of the gameplay by reverting a more familiar, but polished look. That said, it's bright and delivers a fun open-world racer.

I think Dark Auction does pull some punches. Whilst it aims to ask difficult questions about a post-war generation, it approaches it softly or prefers to avoid the bigger picture. It can feel like a backdrop when the whole cast have familial ties to a failed dictatorship. Despite that, the investigative nature of each auction is well done and it's presented in a smart, stylish way. Digging into the past of the other bidders is a methodical process that can be rewarding.

A fair amount of content for a fair price. That's all you can ask for with a DLC and it's nice to see World War Z still getting content six years after its release.

Fighting Force is still fun, in a dated and clunky kind of way. Fighting Force 2 is still awful, in every way.

Cats Around Us: Giant Cat is another Silesia hidden cat game, but rather slim pickings. Fleshed out a little bit by the jigsaw puzzles you have to do to unlock three out of four levels, but this is generally a weaker entry into the sneaky feline pantheon.

Tonally, BrokenLore: UNFOLLOW doesn't quite land. I'm always wary about bullying storylines and they can pull punches that make the abuse seem a little hokey. Anne is not the most reliable narrator so it can be hard to trust her words. The social media aspect is decently attempted but the inclusion of a real influencer can make the ending feel very contradictory. It's a visually stunning game but it lacks a cohesion from chapter to chapter and the chase scenes can lead to some early frustration.

Street Racer Collection packages four ports from the much travelled Street Racer series. For the most part, it does a solid job of conveying how the game tried to compete and change things up in a developing genre. In terms of the game selection, having two 16-bit efforts leads to a lot of content duplication and the controls aren't uniform across them. The DOS and portable versions at least feel like separate games and offer a glimpse into a series progressing over time. I had fun with it and you do get plenty of options to tinker with the experience.

Dark Atlas: Infernum has most of it's horror implied rather than seen. Whilst I do enjoy the implications, the game itself lacks a connection to the world at large. Natalia is a suitably distressed mother but the English voice acting is a touch overdone. Crucially, the checkpoints aren't best placed and, if you take intended experience of having monsters accompany you, that may lead to a lot of repetition.

Hidden Cats in Istanbul is another solid hidden cat game, though very much hewing to the same template as the last one set in Rio. It’s still good though.

Kill It With Fire 2 is more of the same, following on from 2021’s FPS puzzle game. But by trying to iterate, we fear the premise has been stretched too far. We still had fun to some extent, but when there’s plenty of other more fun games to play at the moment, this doesn’t engage as the dev probably hopes it would.

Project Motor Racing clearly wants to emulate the likes of Project Cars but simply doesn't have the breadth of content or options to live up to that expectation. It's tricky handling model can be a handful on controller and I just don't quite get the oomph from the throttle that I'd like. That said, I did enjoy trying to figure that out. It's surprisingly tense and sharp to require that much focus behind the wheel. The career mode lacks some flexibility and, on the technical side, there's a lack of polish that can make things look and feel dated.

If nothing else, Hannah has a confident style. I love the Dutch angles and the big, intimidating world. She controls well enough but the restrictive camera really impedes the platforming. That said, it's not a difficult game but it will frustrate. The puzzles will lightly jog your memory but nothing felt especially taxing. I wish the story was better presented. Finding segments out of order or missing them entirely can make gaining a complete narrative difficult to achieve. For all the ambition, it lacks polish and care.

Once Upon a Jester is certainly worth playing. Whilst the interactivity is light, the humour and writing do a wonderful job of creating a heart-warming story. It's twee, cheeky but tactfully performed. The on-stage stuff can hinder the pacing but, even within those segments, there's a playful tone that can produce some smiles.

While this is the shoot 'em up port we most wanted to see (alongside Gradius V at least), it's also such a straight, unambitious port that it doesn't really do justice to such a beloved game. Sure, the original magic is still there but they've done very little to enhance or modernise it, beyond a quick and dirty upscale.

You can certainly see some variety in locales and enemy design but the combat becomes very stale. Twins of the Sun's loose melee swings don't really pack a punch. It's not a difficult game but certainly feels better playing as a duo. The wave-based encounters draw a lot of attention to those flying solo, even if the game is very lenient with health pick-ups. This is competent but it lacks a tighter feel.

Halls of Torment is pretty good and this DLC is an affordable way to add some more content. The new level and characters aren't the best though.

Republic of Pirates isn't the most deep of experiences. The campaign's rigid structure will show you all the ropes of building your island colonies. The ship combat feels mostly like a sidenote. As a result, it's not complex enough to give you serious control issues. The interface is mostly fine and the basic presentation does sprinkle in some much needed character. It's a leisurely experience with little jeopardy and that might be enough for beginners.

Painkiller takes the original fan-favourite FPS and turns it into one of those modern squad shooters where there's a lot of fun to be had for a day and then the content dries up fast. It might be worth seeing what support this game gets before you jump in.

Xenotilt is cool and impressive but it doesn't explain itself very well and the visuals can sometimes overwhelm the gameplay.

I do think Forgive Me Father 2 nails the atmospheric presentation. I don't care much for the Priest's gruff narration but the visuals are impressively stylised. The music helps reinforce it and the gunplay is solid. The campaign has a steady pace that rarely lets up and multiple endings and difficulty settings allow for plenty of return visits. I do wish movement was sharper but the arsenal shows a good variety of weapons.

Gnomdom is a nice cosy little puzzle game with a fun setting. Family friendly puzzles and nice presentation make this an easy game to recommend.

Platypus Reclayed is an unexpected remaster that has worked wonders with the original game's visual style and, following a patch, now offers up some enjoyable shooting too.

UBOAT really offers something tactical and tense. There's a lot to think about and the campaigns are long and varied. Unfortunately, it's curtailed by a console port that struggles to stay ship shape. Even if the technical bother eventually gets ironed out, the controls feel too much of a handful. Putting the time in does reap some rewards but I sense this is a game much more at home on mouse and keyboard.

Ship Graveyard Simulator 2 manages to depict the intricate workflow of scrapping a ship. It's a slow, gradual process that requires an awful lot of time from you. Contracts and valuable cargo do help establish a routine and success can be monetarily lucrative. Unfortunately, it moves too slowly and feels too much like work to really maintain my focus. It's repetitious and doesn't deliver many surprises.

Two decades on, the Sonic Wings series needed a shot in the arm but this isn't it. With it's bland gameplay and drab visuals, there aren't many reasons to recommend this flawed shoot 'em up.

Cats & Seek: Kyoto is another hidden cat game from Silesia Games, developed by noobzilla. It’s cute to a tee and for a tiny bit more than a mcdonalds milkshake, will keep you amused for ninety minutes at a push across its two levels. So rather sparse, even for a hidden cat game. At least you get a jukebox and a jigsaw into the bargain.

Gloomy Eyes expands on the VR movie of the same name by using the same assets to loosely follow the same plot beats. The camera and movement throughout the pre-rendered landscape aren't the most streamlined but there's still fun to be had. The narration is a highlight.

King of Meat has a lot of charm and confidence to it and some of the humour is on point, but this mix of platforming and combat never really impresses in either area and the whole thing has a 'free to play' energy despite having a £25 price tag.

I really struggle to get into a flow state with Extinction Rifts. The ingredients are there with short and sharp levels that challenge your ability to remember and react. Unfortunately, there's just enough downtime between encounters to make maintaining a combo tricky. Aesthetically, it's got some colour but lacks style and bombast. There's a solid idea here but it's not polished or truly focused.

If you remember Puzzle Quest, or just like tile-matching games, this is the definitive way to experience the game.

While it was interesting to play such a rare shoot 'em up, Mamorukun ReCursed! feels a bit clunky, quite dated and not actually all that impressive. It's a capable enough game but not the best example of the genre.

Aside from the graphics, which are nice and cartoony, everything else about this roguelike auto-battler is a little off. The tweaks they've made to the usual formula just feel like a barrier to fun but when you get past all of that, there's some entertainment on offer here.

Welcome to Basingstoke is a daft post apocalyptic rogue-like that’s ostensibly set in the north Hampshire town, though it’s just so dark. As in difficult to see. The only time you can play reliably is at night. Never mind that Basingstoke is fifty miles from London, it has tube stations. Given the devs are from London, you’d assume a little familiarity with that. In-game tracking for class unlocks is a bit inconsistent too, as well as the stealth melee kills trophy being broken at the time of writing.

Hirogami offers a lovely aesthetic and soundtrack that the platforming can't quite match. It's full of ideas with each animal form having a great sense of purpose but switching between isn't always snappy. The fixed perspective can make judging depth tricky and the necessity for hitting level goals can present some players with a late roadblock. At times, it's wonderful but it's not firing on all cylinders.

For a small developer and a small price tag, Pic-A-Block delivers dozens of brain teasing slide-puzzles. It's not deep but it can make you feel occasionally clever. I would've liked a few more options around colour palettes and undoing moves but it's fine and functional. I find the music relaxing and, provided you're playing in short bursts, it's not going to outstay it's welcome.

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.

Rally Arcade Classics presents a solid handling model coupled with some bite-sized action that can feel rewarding. The chase to complete the tour mode can devolve into a grind and it's a pity there aren't more rally locations. It definitely has issues that hamper the flow, for example the not-so-quick restarts. Despite this, it's compelling enough to bring me back. The vehicles offer a decent selection whilst trying their best to stay within the arcade confines. It mostly succeeds but the star-based structure can lead to some repetition.

9 Lives to Defend is a fun cat-themed take on the popular auto-shooter genre and it does a good job but never quite lives up to the 'bullet heaven' tag.

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.

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.

Cyber Clutch: Hot Import Nights is a very slim package. Whilst the car count is high, the track variety is not and the campaign will whisk you through them in short order. Whilst the racing can be competitive, it lacks some excitement. Handling is mostly fine but some of the narrower sections can really pinball vehicles around. The aesthetics are there but the lack of fidelity makes for a muddy, harsh appearance. Even the vehicle tinkering underwhelms.

Flame Keeper is very obviously a Switch port shunted to PS5. We’d almost suggest it reeks a little of shovelware in that regard. The core gameplay loop can come over a bit boring if we’re honest, certainly not suited to extended play. The RNG is also harsh on occasions, especially when you end up reliant on it deigning whether you get an extra life on death or not. It’s just OK, but our enthusiasm had run low by the time we beat the final boss.

I want to like Wuchang: Fallen Feathers but the myriad of frustrations pile up. The world design is clever, if occasionally hard to read. Whilst the emphasis on dodging makes for an aggressive play style, I always felt mobility was hampered by the lack of invincibility frames and enemies that really indulge in long attack strings. The skill tree allows for some free-wheeling experimentation and the way magic is handled interests me. There's some intriguing ideas on display but the execution doesn't gel for me.

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.

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.

Secret Paws – Cozy Offices is a another hidden cat game, this time with a shift to three dimensions in that you can rotate the camera to get a different angle on proceedings. Some cats are a bit too well hidden but as long as you’re not liberally abusing the hint function, you’ll be OK and not have to wait for the cooldown.

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.

Ruffy and the Riverside is a thoughtful homage to 3D platformers. The bright visuals and chirpy soundtrack give the game plenty of life. The swap mechanic is interesting but it doesn't quite fulfil its potential. There are moments where it's used to great effect but the puzzles are predominantly simple. That does lead to a campaign that's breezy and takes you through some varied locales. I enjoyed it but it definitely seems to be aimed at youngsters.

Drug Dealer Simulator is surprisingly interesting take on the licit substance machine. It's a repetitive treadmill that takes place in an ugly and empty city. It makes a rotten first impression with its humour but it does abate to reveal a weirdly considered experience. I do think it wears out its welcome but it has left an impression on me. It feels like a rough draft of something more refined. Hopefully the sequel can provide that.

Stunt Flyer is an unimpressive port of a 2011 Pilotwings homage that lacks the charm and excitement of the original but, once you relax into it, it can be oddly compelling.

Wizard of Legend 2 is a disappointing sequel. Whilst the visuals have seen an upgrade, it produces cluttered scenes that can really obscure the action in combat. The spell and relic counts are reduced and, whilst there is still some build diversity, it's not as strong as it could've been. A lack of environments makes the repletion sink in sooner and, despite the prospect of wild combinations, I struggle to persist with it.

This is another interesting collection of Irem coin-op curios but, again, we're not convinced three arcade games and a home port should command a £20 price tag.

Exo-Calibre is a functional but unimpressive shoot 'em up that doesn't really offer much in terms of longevity, creativity or presentation. We were able to finish the game on our first attempt which suggests an issue with its balance too.

At times, Star Overdrive's hoverboarding exploration can be exhilarating. Unfortunately, it's hampered by on-foot traversal that simply doesn't hold up. Platforming can be clumsy and punishing for a game that really pushes for leniency in other tasks. Combat can be simple but also lacks a consequence for failure. Even the wistful soundtrack is undercut by the rock accompaniment of combat. It's a really frustrating mix that comes up short.

ANTRO is a slightly cliched concept with somewhat shoddy implementation. Additionally, puzzles are simplistic and the platforming is generally uninspiring. The music is quite good though.

For all that Carrier Deck likes to bombard you with, it's a game about simple tasks. There is always an imminent threat and, whilst missions are short, there's little time to mull and process between waves. The cursor moves a little too slow for my liking and that does compound the time pressures. It's got a lovely manual feel but objectives do tend to stay with accepting incoming friendlies whilst combating enemy dangers. It's a busy game but I'm just not compelled by it.

Keeper's Toll is a cheap but decent attempt at the Survivors-like genre and while its limited scope might actually be a benefit, they've over-thought the controls a bit and the upgrading mechanics aren't as much fun as we're used to.

Vasilisa and Baba Yaga is a clever retelling of a Russian folktale. Whilst it doesn't reach far with its levels of interactivity, it does do enough to justify making this a game. Combat, stealth and the other activities aren't complex but they help give the narrative some extra stakes. There's a great sense of dread in this game from the gloomy soundtrack and particularly jagged visuals. I love the bedtime story approach to the narration. I think a younger audience would really enjoy it, so long as reading subtitles aren't a problem.

Submersed 2: The Hive maintains the underwater setting and the shark-centric stealth of the original. In many ways, it improves over the first game by providing more feedback and tightening up some of the atmosphere. The environments are compact but the dumb AI of the enemies makes them decidedly unthreatening. It's thoroughly rough around the edges and, whilst it's not a good game, it's a solid step forward for developers Main Loop.

Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is a solidly crafted search action game. The map seems dense with plenty to discover whilst also doing a great job of directing players to the main path. The assortment of new combat moves and movement options make from some tricky manoeuvres. Late game, my execution would fail me but success was worth the frustration. Character progression could be handled smoother but, on the whole, I enjoyed this game.

Hidden Cat Outlaws is yet another hidden cat game, even if the cats aren’t all that hidden. It’s still worth your time though as the slight changes to mechanics from the last hidden cat game released by Silesia Games keeps it feeling fresh.

Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade feels a little undercooked. The core combat is simple but fun to experiment with. Unfortunately, the game lacks a diversity in stage design and can become repetitive very quickly. The narrative's not really the carrot to dangle over repeated playthroughs and, even if runs are quick, I tired of them. It's a short commitment but I saw all I needed to see very early.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate is a prime example of why there’s never been a roguelike based on the Turtles IP. Repetition breeds familiarity and ultimately contempt. Don’t play this unless you’re a massive TMNT fan. Everyone else, play a decent roguelike instead of this. Like Hades for example.

Knight’s Night! is a nice lo-fi platformer from eastasiasoft that isn’t quite the rinse you might expect. A nice difficulty curve that ramps up is part of the reason. It’s just a shame that the collectibles are merely window dressing as they have no effect on your progress. It’s not the most deep, but that’s just fine too.

This port of Age of Empires II has lots of content and plays nicely on the PS5 but it's quite repetitive and frustrating too.

I cannot gel with Blades of Fire. Whilst the combat feels decent, the smithing and weapon durability make for a complicated marriage. Weapons seem to break just often enough and the rinse and repeat grated on me. Locations are packed with enemies and some dungeons can be difficult to navigate through. I think Adso and Aran's relationship is very forced and, whilst they do flesh out the world effectively, the combat banter feels a little out of place. Over the course of a long journey, all these niggles add up.

DOOM: The Dark Ages doesn't hit the same heights as its predecessors. It lacks a vibrant colour palette and verticality but it does deliver on compelling combat. The shield is a versatile tool that can really pin enemies down and defend you against an onslaught. That core is exciting and tricky to master but it can also feel familiar. It's a shame the Atlan and Dragon interludes don't provide much substance. They offer the occasional spectacle and scale but most of your battles are on the ground level. I've enjoyed it and it does provide something markedly different but I recognise this as the weakest of the modern trilogy.

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.

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.

NanoApostle manages to pack a lot in six boss fights. The skill system is really well considered and does a solid job of rewarding you as you make the smallest of progress. There's a flexibility and forgiveness on offer that can make a challenging game more manageable. It's a shame the story can feel so distant because there is a little intrigue in Anita's tale. It's a short effort but the bosses feel memorable and varied.

In a genre where the best games are almost perfect and the worst ones are absolutely awful, Submarine Survivors sits comfortably in the top half of it. The gameplay is solid, the upgrading mechanics are plentiful and varied and it'll keep you hooked for a while. But it does end up being a bit of a grind too. We like it but it could definitely do with having the difficulty smoothed out a bit.

Vinebound: Tangled Together has an intriguing twist on the survivors genre but it's quick to run out of ideas. The small number of stages and upgrades leads to a stagnant sense of progression and the power fantasy doesn't quite materialise. The tether is handled well with it's length impacting attack frequency and being your main focus for weaponry. The presentation is cute and clean, although the hordes of enemies can make it difficult to read.

ANNIE gets a few things right and just as many wrong. But if you want The Last of Us distilled down into a six hour top-down twin-stick shooter, this should scratch that itch.

As remakes go, Amerzone: The Explorer's Legacy refines the visuals and operates at a steady pace whilst maintaining the old point-and-click ethos. The puzzles follow a sensible logic and there's enough hints on offer to prevent getting stuck. At times, it can look unpolished and player movement can feel antiquated, but I enjoyed playing through this. I really like how the narrative slowly unravels as you uncover more clues. That methodical approach really shines.

Steredenn is a shoot 'em that is simultaneously a bit plain in terms of the levels and enemy designs but then overly fussy with a lot of weapon choices to juggle, weak upgrades and a control-system that doesn't always feel that intuitive. It's still quite good fun but it tries to be clever in all the wrong areas.

Shadow of the Orient has a solid, reliable approach to its platforming that almost works out. Level design can be occasionally smart, although the final act relies too much on gauntlets. It's not masochistic but my room for error dwindled and led to irritation. For anyone skilled enough, this game is very short and I don't think it does anything too special. I felt frustrated by the later challenges and some of the relentless stage hazards.

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.

Sociable Soccer '25 can be a lot of fun and we really are enjoying playing it. But compared to the original Sensible World of Soccer this feels like when they take your favourite childhood film and remake it for modern audiences. We don't want all this extra faff when just having a regular transfer market and a normal league structure would have been so much better.