While initially daunting and difficult to get to grips with, Mechwarrior 5: Mercenaries is a great attempt at bringing the Battletech mythos to modern consoles. Get past the seemingly endless menus, deep customisation, and management mechanics. Then you will find a satisfyingly destructive walking tank simulator that provides plenty of bombast and fun gameplay across its expansive forty-hour campaign.

Exile's End feels like a genuine retro classic, right down to the excellent music. However, a reliance on backtracking with no real signposting stops this from becoming a future classic itself.

Super Hydorah isn't aiming to be the greatest shoot 'em up ever. Instead it just wants to be authentic to the spirit of the '80s coin-ops that inspired it and it does that exceptionally well. Fans of classic arcade games will enjoy the old-school visuals and gameplay but the hardcore difficulty will alienate anyone who isn't prepared for it.

Explosionade DX is a solid run and gunner that benefits from having single screen levels. We like it but would have liked to see a bit more invention from the developer, especially given what they've managed previously.

System of Souls is a clever puzzler that does deliver some tricky and smart challenges. There's not much in the way of deceit, allowing players to see the task ahead and worry about execution. It's not mind-bending but there is some frustration on hand when the occasionally erratic physics intervene. As well presented as the levels are, I found the narrative fell flat and there are definitely times where things can feel very sterile. The puzzles are worth seeing although the lack of a level select does mean replaying can feel a bit of a slog.

I enjoyed playing through The Surge 2 more than I did the original. The changes to the combat are for the better, the gentler introduction is appreciated and the variety in equipment and environments is excellent. Unfortunately at release it is marred with technical issues which I'm sure will be patched out, but shows it was rushed out a little too soon.

Gori: Cuddly Carnage has the air of an Insomniac game in some ways, but its lack of refinement and rough edges make for a frustrating journey. He’s cute at least, but the incessant chatter from his talking skateboard gets older quicker than Walter Donovan choosing the wrong Grail. The ugly character design and the mean-spirited upgrades make this a tough game to recommend, let alone play for an extended period. The combat is a bit generic but is fun enough. We just don’t see ourselves replaying this lots to unlock everything.

Syrup and the Ultimate Sweet is just that, sweet. It’s a cute visual novel with absurdly easy trophies. Sure to appeal to genre fans and trophy whores alike.

Song of Horror does a great job of bringing back that classic survival horror feel. Certain mechanics that made sense when the game was episodic make less sense in this full release but it's still an enjoyable nod to a now less than common genre.

Nidhogg 2 does just enough to improve on the original. The new weapons and visuals keep things fresh and the action is gloriously chaotic but outside of a room full of people, the game lacks lasting appeal.

WarDogs: Red's Return is pretty much a canine-focused clone of Final Fight and it hits all the same beats that the '80s beat 'em ups did but it works well enough as a tribute to the genre. The presentation is off-kilter, the plot is overly long and dull and we had a lot of success from just mashing the kick and punch buttons but overall this is a fun fighter which will keep you entertained for an hour or two at least.

Sneaky Bears is a fun, playable and amusing PSVR shooter but is over far too quickly and gives you no reason to come back.

GRAVEL is a refreshing arcade racer that delivers a fun handling model within a package that can't visually hold up. If you can look past that, there's some charm with the cheesy presentation, reckless AI and surreal crash physics. It's a budget title that sadly carries a full price but there's a level of creativity here that makes it stand out from Milestone's licensed work.

Endzone is a deep city builder that works best when you relax with it in survival mode. If you can stomach the ridiculously long tutorial, middling presentation and technical shortcomings, this is an enjoyable game but there are a few better options in this genre on PSN to consider first.

SEUM: Speedrunners from Hell is a well executed platformer with a heavy emphasis on speed and player skill. It has some devious moments but I can't deny the feeling of self-improvement is a gratifying one. Its simple and functional hellscape might bore with time but there is a tricky challenge within the many levels for players to endure and enjoy.

Fascinating. It merges a lot of ideas and caveats that shouldn’t work or would be a barrier to entry but manages to overcome a lot of the potential shortcomings. As a VR experience on its own it won’t leave you too impressed, however as a cooperative VR title with asymmetric gameplay it would be difficult to find a finer example. Just be prepared to encounter unsavoury online types along the way, this game will live and die by its online multiplayer.

Tiny Trax is a racing game that uses VR in a brilliant and clever way. There's not much content here though and the single player campaign can be just too unforgiving which is at odds with the game's cheerful atmosphere.

Beyond Good & Evil: 20th Anniversary Edition is certainly the best way to currently play a slice of Ubisoft's past. The remastering is faithful and it has made me realise some aspects that don't quite hold up. The cinematic camera can really land you in trouble and the late game pearl hunt saps the pacing to a crawl. Despite this, there's a lot to like about it. The levels are well designed and intricate and the stealth is competent. The cast of characters have a great charm to them and I'll be interested to see if the sequel follows this blueprint.

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.

Electric space bricklaying is fun. Who knew? Embrace the aesthetic.

As a budget Diablo III clone, Torchlight II delivers a solid chunk of hacky, slashy, looty gameplay and gets better as the game gets harder. However, it doesn't offer any real innovations and seems creatively unambitious even by the standards of a sub-genre that already struggles to break away from its conventions.

Playstation 4 owners can finally rejoice that Destroy All Humans! 2: Reprobed is theirs to own. Despite the ageing hardware, not a great deal of compromise has been shown, aside from the exclusion of multiplayer. Technically, it still holds up with the game's cheeky charm remaining in good form. I enjoyed going back to this and, whilst some design shows its age, the remake does modernise the 2006 game in some smart ways. The world is bright and detailed whilst the missions contain a variety that keeps things feeling relatively fresh.

Whilst this could've ended up another run-of-the-mill combat platformer, Saga of Sins does well with its setting and premise. Using the sins as a backdrop for levels helps keep the platforming varied and gives them license to experiment with a couple of neat tricks. I think the presentation is handled well but the voice acting can fall flat for a couple of characters. Despite this, I enjoyed this medieval morality tale and will be interested in seeing what Bonus Level Entertainment do next.

Lost Grimoires 2: Shard of Mystery is another solid entry into the hidden object genre. The story is maybe a little weaker than in other Artifex Mundi games, but there is a decent range of puzzles and activities on display here. If you’re a fan of the genre, like us, then you’ll be happy to go along with the ride, and despite this being a sequel it is a perfect jumping on point. If, however, you dislike these games this entry will do nothing to change your opinion.

Alfred Hitchcock - Vertigo is an unexpected adaptation of the 1958 film with a nice line in looming dread throughout. Perhaps a bit QTE heavy for some, but we enjoyed it despite a couple of rough edges. You should watch the film too. That's ace.

Read Only Memories: Neurodiver is a good VN that follows on from 2064: Read Only Memories, but worked just as well for us in isolation having not played the first game. As visual novels go, it is one of the better ones we played, due to the decent voice acting and well done plot. It’s not massively long, but that may come as welcome relief to the trophy hunters that want low hanging fruit.

Super Woden GP II is a fair isometric racer that apes Gran Turismo in terms of structure, though the margin of error for winning races is minimal. If you crash, you’re generally out of luck but there’s still plenty of fun to be had.

Dexed is exactly the sort of game you'd expect at this stage of PSVR's development. An on-rails shooter with nods to Rez and Ikaruga where the VR gimmick carries the game. It's too short for sure, but we're suckers for its floaty charms.

Lost Wing is a decent into-the-screen avoid 'em up that looks slick and cultivates a real 'just one more go' addictiveness. Minor niggles around performance and variety spoil the party a little but at this price it is easy to forgive any small failings it has.

Sudden Strike 4 makes a fair attempt at bringing a more realistic real-time strategy game to the PS4. The controls aren't perfect but do a decent job, it's the specific way levels need to be approached that may put off players. If you treat levels as a puzzle that needs to be solved then you'll find a, sometimes frustrating, rewarding experience.

Surf World Series manages to pull together a decent surfing game and looks pretty gorgeous while doing it. It does a lot right and is an easy game to play and chill out with. The way each wave feels different from the last is a huge plus point here, but at the end of the day you’re just riding waves. Treat this game as a palette cleanser between more weighty titles and you could have some fun, but as a title to sink hours into, it can get a bit repetitive.

Foregone is a more linear take on the Metroidvania formula, with plenty of loot and skills to unlock along the way. Once you have all those skills it becomes a lot of fun to run, jump and dash through the attractive environments, defeating enemies with your range of weapons and skills as you go.

El Hijo is a western themed stealth-em-up. Very much a game to concentrate on, but once you hit your stride you'll have fun. The juxtaposition between the two player characters and their interlocking storylines is well done.

A wonderfully relaxing way to spend a few hours but falls down a little in terms of game mechanics. Could well be called an interactive art installation.

Bassmaster Fishing 2022 is a glimpse into the pro bass fishing world. Slightly shonky implementation and other issues mar the experience a little bit but it's a solid fishing game otherwise. We can't stop playing despite that.

Neighbours Back From Hell is a remake that no-one asked for but ended up being a pleasant surprise. An accessible puzzler with engaging stealth elements that likes a laugh and doesn't drag on. That's how we like them.

Demon's Tier+ is a cleverly designed twin-stick shooting rogue-like that isn't perfect but is compelling and addictive once you understand its clever upgrade system.

Exit the Gungeon is an enjoyable, run based rogue-lite. Things can get busy on the screen but runs are short enough and rewards plentiful enough that you'll get a feel for it as you have just one more go.

Super Soccer Blast is the best budget football game on the system and one that offers some old-school footballing fun for those of us who remember the pre-FIFA days fondly but a lack of finish, and some technical issues, spoil the party a little.

Monark has some good ideas and systems in place but the low budget presentation and enforced grinding stop this from being more than an interesting experience.

Beyond a Steel Sky is a modern sequel to a classic point and click and although the mechanics and systems have been updated that original feel is still present. That's great news for fans whilst those who didn't enjoy the genre's more obscure puzzles or slower paced gameplay will find similar troubles here. Lucky for me, I'm a fan.

I find the horror falls flat but Amnesia: The Bunker delivers a surprisingly open experience full of experimentation. It's freeing to be given the opportunity to blow a door wide open or circumvent challenges in an ingenious way. It visually shows its age and I feel the storytelling is bland but the atmosphere remains taught and tense. The monster doesn't quite hold a threat but the ticking time pressures and compromised nature of your tools did make for an interesting game. It's short but there's definitely room to replay with a different approach.

XPOSED isn’t much more complex or complicated than its spiritual grandaddy, the mighty Qix. Thankfully, it doesn’t need to be. It just offers some old-school arcade action that has the power to frustrate you but never pushes it too far.

It's not big and it's not clever but if VR is going to be mainly used for this type of shooting gallery game, we're glad to see it being used for games like Shooty Fruity that put the fun first and have one or two good ideas that we've not seen before.

As an utterly original take on both the Dungeon Crawler and Pinball genre’s, Creature in the Well is a fascinating adventure with stark visuals and soundtrack to match. A few minor details such as the sparse story and repetition do not take away from what is a unique experience, but these aspects may leave you wanting more than what is on offer.

Powerhoof have managed to tweak and refine a game that executes on an intriguing premise. It can be a little hard to follow but, with a group of friends, it’s difficult not to buy into the chaos. The hard turns are what this game seems to deliver well and, whilst the AI can provide some capable sparring partners, this game is best served in the company of others.

Statik offers an immersive experience with some very tricky puzzles. It’s not particularly long but its lack of hand holding makes it all the more rewarding when you make progress.

Alone in the Dark is a surprisingly competent effort that looks back at its own legacy more than towards where the genre has gone. There's less of a focus on combat and survival with the mystery of Derceto taking up the majority of my attention. The performances from Comer and Harbour add some gravitas to a tale that can occasionally stray into theatrics but there's a solid sense of atmosphere and good foundation for whatever comes next. I do wonder about longevity with the two campaigns sadly mirroring one another. Combat, whilst not front and centre, does seem to lack menace. I'd still recommend it, for anyone curious.

For its price Manual Samuel is a short but fun experience that won’t outstay its welcome. Some scenes can become a little repetitive but the novelty will carry you through the majority of the game and the humour will take you the rest of the way.

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.

Bus Simulator 21 remains relaxed in its driving but a few key tweaks to the mission structure makes for a more flowing experience. The new buses give you plenty to new toys to tinker with and the new locations show a touch more life to the city. It's still got some rough edges but I had an enjoyable time. The flow of the campaign is greatly improved and makes for a much smoother ride.

Mutazione is an intriguing adventure with a soap opera plot and may well end up being your game of the year but if you need your games to offer more than a bit of wandering around and a lot of pressing X to advance conversations then this might not be for you.

Zapling Bygone is a fun enough metroidvania that somehow left us feeling a little underwhelmed. The open ended approach was initially welcome but also meant we found it hard to maintain our focus. It's good but not great.

The fundamental golf experience is still aptly covered in The Golf Club 2019. The new courses and licensing give the game an authenticity welcome to the series. Veterans might want more from the core elements as physics, swing mechanics and the tools at your disposal remain too similar to previous titles. That said, the new career mode and character customisation might be enough to keep players coming back. Newcomers will probably find this a more acceptable starting point as the series starts to take on a more complete shape.

Omen of Sorrow is an intriguing fighter whose simplistic AI is surprisingly accommodating for newcomers. Fighting is easy enough to grasp but a healthy online community could help providing some impressive bouts. The story and presentation lacks some punch but the varied and nuanced characters help provide some fascinating match-ups. There are some rough edges but there's satisfying combat to pull you through.

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.

Super Bomberman R is very much a Bomberman game. It does little new for the franchise but excels in what the franchise is known for, which is being a fantastically moreish multiplayer free-for-all that always begs for one more go.

Porting an obscure 1991 console shoot 'em up may seem like an odd choice but we were more than happy to play through Gynoug for the first time, if only to see its unique take on the horizontally-scrolling shoot 'em up genre. It may be more of a museum piece than a relevant game but Gynoug is well worth a look for shoot 'em up fans and retro gamers alike.

Street Outlaws: The List is greater than the sum of its parts. On the face of it, this game is a throwback to TV show licences done on the cheap. Yet it's somehow fun despite its obvious flaws.

Fans will certainly enjoy what Battlestar Galactica: Deadlock has to offer. Despite the slight offering, there's a faithfulness to the source material that's appreciated. The tough race against time that is the campaign will keep players enthralled for hours. It's hard to justify the price, particularly with the lack of multiplayer, but what's here is executed well.

The Golf Club 2 builds on the original's interesting blueprint and adds more social integration whilst delivering an impressive engine. The improved feedback ensures more precision and a steeper learning curve. The technical issues and server problems undermine the excellent golf on show. It's not perfect but it does improve on its predecessor and provides a sound golf simulator.

Dig or Die is a Terraria-a-like that lacks refinement but somehow proves compelling enough to continue with. It could do a better job of introducing new players to this sort of game though.

Typoman is a game that looks a bit like Limbo but just isn’t as good. It does do some very interesting things with word puzzles, but the short running time and the way the later puzzles tail off in quality stop this being a true gem.

It's not exactly deep or varied but Horizon Chase 2 pretty much injects high-speed racing fun directly into your veins and it's a treat for the eyes too.

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

Mr. Run and Jump is a lot of fun in the right circumstances but if you’re longer in the tooth like us you might struggle. Though if you’re a veteran of VVVVVV and other challenge gauntlet type games, this is right in your wheelhouse. We liked it but our kid did more as he has the patience to replay a level over and again.

Double Pug Switch is a fine auto-runner with some fun mechanics. We just hope for your sake you get further than the brick wall we found ourselves hitting.

Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness is a stylish and well written visual novel which uses the interesting concept of the anime well. Little variety in the artwork, no animation at all and the two characters' stories being a little too similar stop it from attracting non-genre fans however.

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.

As a remaster, Hitman HD Enhanced Collection does deliver the best looking edition of these games to consoles but there's a sense the price is hard to justify. If either of these titles are missing from your Hitman collection, it's worth a look. I've had fun and found myself nostalgic re-examining these two titles. I can't deny it's a difficult package to recommend to veterans unless they really, really want to see a sharper image.

Within the Blade is a great indie ninja game with a few rough edges. Just a few minor tweaks could elevate it, as it is in its current state it's a scrappy but likeable game.

Headmaster is silly, repetitive and simplistic. It’s also possibly the most fun you can have with your PSVR headset, at least in short bursts. A party game that anyone can play, it takes a chance that the core concept is strong enough and pulls it off.

F1 2019 had the potential to finally bolster a career mode showing its age. Unfortunately, they make only a fleeting appearance with the real meat coming in their own standalone season. Driver transfers at least give the grid a sense of fluency and the on-track action remains solid. It looks great and polished but there's some missteps that make the new additions feel somewhat undercut.

Whilst it can degenerate into a box-ticking exercise, combat in Override 2: Super Mech League excels when against other human players. The action holds plenty of weight and the unpredictability does make each fight feel like a challenge. Against bots, that element feels completely removed and more routine. Presentation is handled well with some varied and colourful arenas that always add options to combat. There's a more complete game here that should keep players more engaged.

You have to admire the scale and scope of Outbuddies DX, a Metroidvania that is packed full of gameplay mechanics and ideas. It's arguably too slow, too long and a little bit unfriendly in terms of its clumsy interface, controls and map design but your patience is rewarded especially if you enjoy exploration, platforming and big boss battles.

Gunborg: Dark Matters takes all the stuff we like from a good metroidvania game (shooting and platforming) and takes out all the unnecessary sprawl which makes this game a tight, focused affair with good mechanics and generous checkpointing. It's a little let down by some rogue difficulty spikes but other than that, this is an impressive debut effort from an indie studio we'll be watching with interest.

Ronin combines style with tactical gameplay to make an enjoyable quest for revenge. Its reliance on trial and error as opposed to careful planning is a little disappointing but the satisfaction of dispatching an entire room of armed goons makes up for it.

As a cheap and cheerful shoot 'em up, Laserpitium is perfectly serviceable and offers some fun thrills for fans of the genre. It's far from perfect but, at this price point, it feels like a bargain.

Offering an odd mix between an MMO and a more standard RPG Sword Art Online is game of two sides. It tells a decent story and offers decent combat but sometimes feels like these two sides are competing with each other.

Xenon Valkyrie+ makes its way to PS4 with little in the way of changes. What you do get is an enjoyable 2D rogue-lite that's not overly reliant on luck which ensures that as long as you're paying attention you'll get used to the loose controls and make progress.

Almost There: The Platformer's simplicity becomes one of its greatest strengths. The controls allow for precision and the level design keeps things easy to grasp but hard to master. The challenge manages to seem within reach whilst offering you dozens of levels to tackle. Unfortunately, the momentum of early progress is hampered by a steep challenge but there's an execution and focus here which leads to something enjoyable.

Avenging Spirit remains one of 1991's more interesting and original coin-op titles and so we're more than happy to see it get a new lease of life on the PS5. If you're not a retro gaming fan then this probably won't be for you but for everyone else getting closer to death, this is one of the more fun arcade ports on PSN.

Radical Rabbit Stew is a fine puzzle game that only occasionally resorts to cheap shots. The fact that you could tear through all the levels in an evening is very much a good thing. We'll pass on the speedruns though.

Rush Rover is a classy, well-considered twin-stick shooter with some good upgrading elements. It's short-lived and lacks clarity at times but is a cheap and fun way to fill an evening, if nothing more.

Missile Command: Recharge is a good update of the coin-op classic and its 2020 remake. The new challenge mode gives it bit of lasting appeal and the new presentation gives it a fresh coat of paint. It's not the most dynamic and exciting of shoot 'em ups but it still offers a substantial challenge to veteran arcade fans.

NASCAR Heat 5's racing remains compelling and customisable. The visuals aren't perfect but they've retained a wonderful style and character. It's a shame the new additions like testing sessions feel so slight and career mode has stayed largely the same. Some of the technical hitches become more noticeable as time goes on but, if you're after some new NASCAR, this will suffice.

Despite some issues, Magical Drop VI continues to offer fun, casual puzzling entertainment to fans of the series.

All things considered, I've had fun with NASCAR Heat 3. The seasons you take part in can feel draining but there's a charm to the career mode with the fake twitter exchanges and the 'I've only got one take to give' video segments. I'm not sure how long my enthusiasm will last but the arcade handling provides an enjoyable time behind the wheel.

I've got mixed feelings about Train Life: A Railway Simulator. On the one hand, the big map and company management aspects give players an awful lot to do for a budget price. There's a big treadmill to run and the day-to-day journey has a relaxed quality about it. Unfortunately the world does look a tad lifeless and sometimes GPS guidance can fail you. Operating machinery is comfortable with a simplified control scheme and a lenient approach to the rules of the rails. It deals in scale rather than authenticity but there's plenty to admire here.

NBA 2K22's basketball feels more refined than last season. The revamped stamina meter leads to a more tactical team game and shooting is consistent and reliable. It looks as sharp and well-presented as ever and those wanting some quality time on the court will be well served. Unfortunately, the familiar encroachment of microtransactions dominate the MyCareer and MyTeam modes. The old problems with judging your performance also still persist.

A Hole New World is a fair crack at the modern retro indie game template that we have seen plenty of times before. The visuals and sound are authentic, however the imposed difficulty due to game length rears its ugly head again and takes away from the overall experience. Recommended, but be prepared for some frustration.

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.

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.

Flat Kingdom is a cute puzzle platformer that might be a little sedate some gamers but it rewards your time with some nice looking levels and a few memorable boss battles.

Scheming Through The Zombie Apocalypse: The Beginning is a well voiced animal populated zombie apocalypse with limited gameplay beats. A promising enough intro to an ongoing story anyway. Maybe a little on the short side.

We've seen this type of shoot 'em up a few times from this developer but this is the best one yet. It might work better as an introduction to the bullet-hell genre but genre veterans should give this game a go too, mainly because it's just a lot of fun to play.

Battle Chef Brigade is a beautiful game with an interesting premise which requires skill, planning and time management to succeed. The cookery can get a little repetitive but there is plenty to get your teeth into.

Slipstream is a beautiful tribute to the classic arcade racing genre. It looks great and plays well. So if you're a fan of this sort of thing, you can't go wrong.