At a short runtime, Dawn of Fear feels like a shell of something far grander. Every good aspect feels somewhat cut short in a rush that seems to hamstring any chance of expansion. Whilst the passion for the genre is very evident, the lack of execution and style results in something flat, hollow and just not all that interesting.

Normal Ratalaika service is resumed with this puzzle game with some nice ideas. As is usual for Ratalaika, double value with the Vita port and hence two easy platinums.

It Came From Space and Ate Our Brains is an okay twin-stick shooter with okay gameplay and okay visuals. It's okay. Okay?

There is no doubt Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is a fantastic game, unfortunately the PS4 version is not the best way to play it. The load times along with other technical issues make it difficult to get into at times. It's not broken so you will get enjoyment out of the masses of content, but you'll have to have plenty of patience.

Rugby 20 is a playable effort completely let down by the fact, in over two years of development, very little has changed. Game modes remain slim, rigid and it hamstrings a player who wants to devote more time to it. It's more enjoyable to play and carving together tries has a satisfaction to it, but so much of Rugby 20 feels like a shallow retread.

Journey to the Savage Planet is an excellent and often funny firstperson exploration game. You could call it a Metroidvania game but that’s just lazy. Go out and buy this.

Stranga bring us Red Bow which proves underwhelming. Trophy whores are well served despite that, moreso with the double platinum.

Football, Tactics and Glory is a genuinely interesting mix that takes the fundamentals of football and uses them to make a novel turn-based strategy game. It could be slicker, more rewarding and bit fairer at times and it can feel like a step down from the likes of FIFA but actually it's an interesting evolution for the football management genre and while we personally didn't love it, we do love what it is trying to do.

Game sequels are generally refinements of a formula. Foxyland 2 isn’t, it’s worse. It’s Alien Covenant to the first game’s Prometheus. Almost everything about it is a retrograde step. Avoid.

As a complete package, AO Tennis 2 builds on the first game quite well. The customisation allows for licensing to be circumvented whilst the on-court action is tactical, if a little clunky. It lacks a fluidity and the assisted movement can be unreliable, but there's definite steps taken in the right direction. Presentation lacks some punch but the career mode does offer plenty of reasons to come back. It's a fine effort, if a little compromised.

Untitled Goose Game is a fun enough game but maybe a little on the slight side. Being a nihilistic goose is alright but that’s all there is to this really. Any representation of teletext in games is a good thing though.

10Tons do it again. Another ace rogue-lite that delivers fun gameplay, addictive upgrading mechanics and a strong loot game. Ignore them at your peril.

Woodle Tree 2: Deluxe+ seems like a good, honest attempt at the sandbox platforming genre. Unfortunately, with this there is a laundry list of issues, such as unresponsive controls, poorly thought out content gating and the odd yet substantial glitch brings the game-feel down to a crash landing. A bit more time in the oven and Woodle Tree 2 could have been something interesting, instead, it just ends up feeling as wooden as the lead character.

Heroland is a great localisation of a interesting twist on the JRPG format let down slightly by a few mechanical issues. Yet its pedigree shines through. p.s. Trophy whores need not apply.

Kine is a fantastic musically themed narrative based puzzler. Very good indeed. You need to play this.

Aces of the Multiverse is a thinly spread soccer effort. The fast-paced nature of the game does deliver a great tempo but there's no challenge here. There's charm to be had from the environments and character designs but there's so little content to keep children and adults entertained for long. It works, it has ideas but it all feels like a proof of concept rather than a fully-fledged effort.

Iro Hero is a very challenging shoot 'em up that uses Ikaruga's colour switching gimmick but offers very few ideas of its own and doesn't do a very good job of explaining its intricacies.

ArtPulse isn't really an art tool for VR like the name implies but more of an audio/visual experiment meant for short bursts. The tools don't have enough flexibility for you to get truly creative and my time with it was short lived but I'm sure some people will get some joy playing about with what is here.

Strainium Immortaly is a well-crafted crawl through some truly grimy sludge. The aesthetic and writing is laid on thick and might be off-putting, but the game itself holds up. There's a compulsion to this with the challenge inviting further runs. I don't agree with the restrictive nature of your shots but it does force you to consider positioning in an interesting way. It's tough with some runs feeling done before they start but there's plenty of options to tweak your dungeon.

Cardpocalypse is an excellent card battler suitable for all ages. Think of it as a non-sweary South Park crossed with Hearthstone and you'd be part of the way there. Very much recommended.

Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition is a rich collection of the role-playing classic. There are hundreds of hours of fun at your disposal but it's saddled with technical issues that are impossible to ignore. Vigilant players will need to save often and have high tolerance for such problems. It stays faithful to the original assets in a way purists might enjoy but some more quality of life and graphical improvements would've been welcomed. As a newcomer, I rate this highly but veterans won't find much new here.

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 bolt out of the blue, Avicii Invector is both a brilliant rhythm action experience and a fitting tribute to the late Tim Bergling. For the price of a greatest-hits album, Avicii Invector is a brilliant way to experience a deep cut of the discography, while also offering plenty of replay value in the form of further difficulty modes and an immensely playable experience in single or multiplayer.

Foxyland is a Ratalaika-by-numbers effort that hits a difficulty wall almost as soon as you unlock a platinum. Sloppy controls and occasionally ridiculous level design don't help matters. Crossbuy on both PS4 and Vita makes for a great value proposition despite the caveats.

As expected, Harmonix's take on VR-powered rhythm action has a lot going for it thanks to smart gameplay and very accurate controls. All of which makes Audica a game that could be a party favourite as well as a single-player obsession.

Simulacra is millennial angst by way of a mobile phone that is the window to a mystery that soon unravels. A faithful port but feels a bit like shovelware.

Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts has some genuinely great sniping and exploration undermined by equally frequent technical hiccups. They've managed create a sharp, visually striking environment but the very ground you walk on can snag and frustrate you. When it works, you have a tense, patient experience but you need to be willing to overlook so many flaws.

This is not the Terminator game you have been waiting for. However, in a world that has subjected the license to countless sloppy video game adaptations, Terminator: Resistance shines among them as a beacon of hope. Teyon won't win any awards for this, but there is a clear love for the Terminator franchise and plenty of effort to back it up. Which is more than can be said about most licensed games, past and present.

Yaga is a wonderfully evocative action RPG set to a Slavic mythological theme and bafflingly catchy Balkan techno beats.

Fallen Order is the best Star Wars game for a long time, mixing sophisticated combat with some great presentation. If it was more linear and focused it'd be an undeniable classic but some tedious puzzle-solving and fiddly navigation take some of the shine off of the overall package.

Nacos: Rise of the Cartels is a simpler XCOM. To a degree the simplification is to its detriment, but I still had fun with the lighter tactical elements, even if I missed some of the depth of its inspiration.

Sparklite is, for the most part, successful at being an accessible, enjoyable roguelite. It falters in terms of pacing and, whilst the tale can sometimes feel brisk, the final area really forces you to hunker down for the last challenge. It's a fun ride that stalls towards the end but there's a good sense of progression as slice and save towards the big upgrades.

VR Ping Pong Pro isn't the leap from the first game that you'd hope for. The environments are very nice and the inclusion of online multiplayer is a good move, though it's dead already. Much like the first game however, the simple act of playing an approximation of table tennis in VR is enjoyable. There's not enough content to keep you hooked but you'll return to it every now and again for a light knock about.

Bee Simulator is a fun game for kids and adults alike, not so much a simulator as a sandbox in Central Park with a variety of minigames. Yes, the main quest is too short and the races are probably the worst thing about the game but this is a solid effort due to the sheer scope of activities on offer.

Need For Speed Heat takes the series back to its roots which means night time racing, angry cops and plenty of car customisation and is all the better for it.

Football Game is a narrative driven game which you'lll probably finish in a single sitting. Coupled with a noir graphical style the package adds to the sense of foreboding. A fair offer with Vita included.

At its best, Ghost Recon Breakpoint is a taut and tactical shooter that works brilliantly in co-op and is genuinely enjoyable to play but at its heart this is just another sandbox shooter and one that doesn't meet the technical standards we're used to from Ubisoft.

Delta Squad is an uninspiring indie twin stick shooter that outstays its welcome well before the final trophy is unlocked. Another poor Ratalaika release.

Door Kickers: Action Squad may look like just another retro-styled 2D shooter but the game's tactical gameplay really elevates it beyond the usual indie efforts.

Close to the Sun is a well-made narrative experience that's saddled slightly by inconsistent pacing. The acting is spot on but some of the earlier sub-plots tend to quietly slip away in favour of something games have readily explored. It's a very guided effort but there's a level of polish and artwork that helps make the Helios a believable venue for disaster.

Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Editions are fantastic games that put a lot of modern equivalents to shame. The graphics are massively dated and the controls are compromised compared to the PC but the content shines through and boy is there a lot of it.

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.

Just Ignore Them may be trying to be a psychologically charged horror point-n-click title, but the only truly terrifying thing about this game is that it will steal two hours of your life that you will never get back. Cute pixel visuals betray the theme, haphazard puzzle solving frustrates and even clumsier dialogue makes for a bad time all-round.

If strategy games seem boring or scare you off with all their micro-management nonsense, then this strategic city-builder might be the game to win you over. It's polished, deep, accessible, addictive and it will challenge your character more than any game we've played in years.

With the mixture of risk vs reward gameplay, a dark setting and some inspired mechanics, Mistover has a lot going for it on paper. However, in a bid to introduce stress into a turn-based RPG Roguelike, the game feels like too much of a self-prescribed slog that fails to maintain interest shortly into the adventure.

Generic presentation and paper-thin gameplay mean that you'll be bored of this tired, retro run and gunner even before you nab the trivially easy platinum trophy.

Whether The Fisherman – Fishing Planet is worth your money over the free-to-play effort is something that will vary from person to person. There is a comprehensive fishing simulation on offer here but it's saddled by a confusing menu interface and isn't hugely accommodating for new players. It's rich in content with a relaxed atmosphere and plenty of depth. Hopefully, with time, the price tag starts to justify itself.

Outer Wilds is an exquisitely crafted planet hopping mystery adventure you’ll delight in playing. The seemingly sparse solar system isn’t at all as your journey will take you from one end to another. Even if your current exploration comes to nothing, you can have another go once the loop begins anew. As we mentioned, it is possible to get a bit stuck, but the in-game hints are sufficient you’ll find yourself on track again soon enough.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III is more of the same and that's not a bad thing. People who have yet to sample the delights of the series should start at the beginning but fans of the series, and JRPG genre, are sure to be drawn back in to Rean's tale before eagerly awaiting part four.

I can't fault No Pest Productions for trying with Driven Out. It's a very harsh and deliberate test beneath a gorgeous world. I some ways it's refined and delivers consistent combat with a varied cast of enemies. Sadly, I couldn't find a foothold. Amid the frustration, there is reward but you really, really have to work for it. A touch more guidance would've been nice and, once it's done, you realise how short the experience can be. Still, I wouldn't dissuade anyone from giving it a look. Just know what you're getting into.

Jackbox Party Pack 6 is a little bit light on new ideas and is hard to recommend over some of the earlier ones but, as ever, offers some great party game fun if you've got a good group to play with.

Stellatum ends up being a very dynamic and surprising deep hybrid of twin-stick and vertically-scrolling shoot 'em ups but it does take a while to get into gear and those early hours may put off some players before the action ramps up. Stick with it though because there's a very good game in here.

BDSM is an average twin-stick shooter that will find fans who get its sense of humour but lacks the excitement and flair of the best games in this genre.

Monkey King: Hero is Back is a good action adventure based on the successful CG movie made in conjunction with the movie's producers. High production values are tempered slightly by sloppy execution.

The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors is a great side-scrolling brawler. Being an arcade style title it's quite short but the desire to hit the leaderboards with a 1 Credit Clear has kept me dipping back in every now and then.

A nice Sokoban-a-like from Ratalaika. Good value with the Vita version bundled in.

As with most reboots, there's a sense of compromise running throughout GRID. The fundamentals are there. Racing feels fantastic and action-packed with a great emphasis on presenting the races as genuine occasions. Unfortunately, you see where the icing has been spread thin. The career mode can feel repetitive and lacking in variety. As a racer, it's sound but it feels like an appetiser.

For better or worse, Ghostbusters: The Video Game Remastered is still the best example of proton slinging in the gaming medium. Terminal Velocity and co have preserved the unique mechanics of spectre combat and improved the in-game visuals to a suitable degree. However, the same can not be said for cutscenes, certain audio moments and the incredibly dated tropes. If you accept that this is a decade old title and fancy some time with Peter, Ray, Egon and Winston then there is still a lovable and endearing game to find underneath it all. Bustin’ still feels good, but your mileage will vary.

We didn't think we'd end up enjoying a F2P Monster Hunter clone ever so the fact we do is a credit to Dauntless' enjoyable combat and thriving online player base.

One Night Stand isn't a great showing, a Ratalaika game worth swerving, straightforward trophies or not.

An excellent puzzle platformer with great level design and stunningly realised concept. Recommended.

Playtonic Games attempt to catch a second flash of retro magic in a bottle with Yooka-Laylee and The Impossible Lair. The 2.5D action may seem like a step back considering the origins of the Chamelon-Bat duo, but at the heart of the Impossible Lair is a distinct thread of innovation, a rare feat for the often-attempted platforming genre.

Tropico 6 is an incredibly enjoyable management sim with a lot of charm and a great sense of humour. It's not too different from the rest of the series but you'll still find yourself playing it for hours on end.

If you've not got the kind of patience to deal Jedi Outcast's dismal level design and dull first few hours, then you'd be missing out on some of the best combat to grace a Star Wars game ever. Even 17 years later, Jedi Outcast is still a lot of fun to play even if it really tries hard to not be.

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.

Inferno 2 does a good job of taking a mobile gaming favourite and making it feel like a substantial console shooter. It's fun to play and quite exciting but concerns over the lack of difficulty and variety do take the shine off a bit but for this price, we're not complaining.

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.

Habroxia is a cross-buy shoot 'em up that has a couple of good ideas but is hampered by being too easy and visually bland. There's definitely some fun to be had while it lasts but that isn't very long at all.

Bus Simulator takes the bus driving experience and presents it warts and all. At times, it's relaxing and satisfying to have a smooth journey, at others, it's a drudge to be caught in traffic. The career operates at a slow pace and, whilst short, your objectives all become very similar. Technically, the game struggles to stay smooth but there's a novel multiplayer on display that might provide longevity for fans.

The additions to the Master League don't carry much of an impact but the representation of the sport has a more methodical change of pace. The new camera angles make a difference and inclusion of every European nation does dramatically bolster the player and team counts. I'm enjoying this a lot more with the opposition more willing to chase lost causes, misplace passes and generally feel a touch more human. I really, really like how this plays.

From the hyperkinetic pop soundtrack to the breakneck gameplay speed, Sayonara Wild Hearts is one hell of a rollercoaster ride. The undeniable visual flare, immense style and uncompromising frame rate hides a clear message underneath it all that many can relate to. Wild Hearts never die and Sayonara Wild Hearts should stand for years to come as a shining example of how to bring music alive into the gaming medium. It’s nothing short of fantastic.

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.

Utawarerumono: ZAN is a great hack and slash introduction to the greater Utawarerumono storyline. Perhaps not one for series purists given it retreads a previous game's plotline.

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.

It's not making any sweeping changes but NASCAR Heat 4 manages to make the social aspects of the career more influential. Transitions from night to day compliment the already brilliant visuals, even if the small stutters remain present. Racing online and offline is still competitive, fun and the options make the package feel accessible.

Groundhog Day: Like Father Like Son is an enjoyable return to Punxsutawney in game form. The repetition is both an interesting concept and a bit of a pain, but you will appreciate it, and the VR shenanigans, as the scenarios develop.

River City Girls is clearly the result of a love and passion for the Kunio-Kun franchise and its fanbase. Wayforward has done a great job of translating the classic beat-em-up franchise for the modern audience. While also providing a funny, great looking and audibly awesome game that all beat-em-up fans should try at least once.

Post War Dreams is a 2.5D run and gun shooter which doesn't do much but manages to do all of it badly. Aside from some okay graphics, there's nothing here for the developer to be proud of.

Distraint belies its mobile roots by offering up a very memorable story for PS4 and Vita gamers. The gameplay may be simple and the puzzling is a tad generic but we'll remember this game for a little longer than the usual 'indie game about feelings' stuff that indie devs like to put out all the time.

A nice relaxing parkour styled 2d platformer with excellent traversal mechanics. Very zen and tranquil.

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.

A wonderful Cornish themed adventure and a journey into the fertile imagination of a loony kid.

WRC 8 is an accomplished effort with a career mode that now feels more complete. The content on offer is substantial with plenty to sink hours into. The presentation might look a little dry but the audio works well with the detail of the environments being complimented by a dynamic weather system. It's really starting to feel like a series getting better with age and rally fans should feel right at home.

Remnant: From the Ashes is an addictive loot shooter, especially in multiplayer. The bosses are a let down and exploring for the sake of exploring is dull but when you're blasting enemies with your range of weaponry and are rewarded with new gear or upgrade materials you just want to keep playing.

If you look in the dictionary of terms for palette cleanser, then Newt One would likely appear in the definition. The game features no stakes, violence or compelling storylines but makes up for that with a relaxing, fun gameplay loop and attractive low poly visuals.

Whipseey and the Lost Atlas tries very hard to emulate some of that Nintendo charm, however, the game is unable to reach that echelon. What results is a short Kirby clone with some merit, yet not enough to warrant anything other than passing interest.

There's a bright and cheery look to Roarr! Jurassic Edition but beyond the surface, it's a little flat. Your moveset doesn't provide a lot of depth and there's not much to look forward to beyond score chasing. Co-op with friends certainly does liven the mood but technical issues like inputs dropping brought more frustration. For all the good the presentation does, the action itself feels a little stale.

Legend of the Skyfish is a nicely presented puzzle/adventure title with some decent level design that doesn't overstay its welcome but it may be a little too short and easy to represent good value for money, even at its cheap asking price.

Despite being made in 2019, Pacific Wings is objectively worse than some of the worst shoot 'em ups made in the early '80s. Which is the only interesting thing about this joyless but mercifully short excuse for a game.

Control is a very enjoyable game but not without flaws. The technical issues are a shame but the combat and exploration are certainly entertaining enough to keep you playing through to its conclusion.

Wreckfest does a good job of mixing racing and damage dealing but doesn't quite live up to the FlatOut heritage and that's mainly because of it favouring realism over fun at times. However, the racing action is very good and the demolition derby events are as good as any of the Demolition Derby games of the past.

Mekabolt is a well meaning but easy platformer you'll be done with in the space of a few hours.

Subdivision Infinity DX is a solid and fun space shooter for those who have been missing an arcade-style skirmish in the stars. however, It is let down a bit by a non-committal story, slightly off graphics and a grating soundtrack.

Redeemer: Enhanced Edition's an enjoyable effort with an admittedly short tail. Combat feels weighty with plenty of opportunities at hand. There's a swift pacing to proceedings and, whilst the waves of enemies can feel relentless, the encounters have a variety that keeps it from growing cold. It's a pity there isn't much after the credits roll and the environments devolve into industrial hallways. Still, it's worth a look.

Another speedy yet charming double platinum trophy haul from Ratalaika. It's a phrase we're in danger of overusing, but better than a one and done.

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.

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.

The Angry Birds Movie 2 VR: Under Pressure is a fun cooperative VR title. Without others to play with the controls are a bit cumbersome and the challenge very high, but with other players working together to take care of specific jobs this is one of the few games that makes VR sociable.