A well produced puzzle platformer that we want to like but somehow came away from without being too thrilled. Not a bad game, just not distinctive enough to distinguish itself from its peers.

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.

Rym 9000 is a brief but exciting shoot 'em up that may struggle to find an audience because of its eye-melting visuals and high level of challenge but if you can make the adjustments, this is a fun game that is addictive and exciting.

Shanky is not just a nightmare for vegans, it’s a bad dream for anyone. The awful premise mixes with awful gameplay and even worse background music to create an experience with absolutely no meat to it.

Death end re;Quest is half JRPG and half visual novel. The serious tone combined with the usual Compile Heart characters don't gel perfectly but the story is worth seeing through after a slow start and the combat has plenty of interesting ideas.

A polished anime quality remake of a ten year old Xbox 360 game you should consider checking out.

Pode's a fantastic effort. The colourful world that you spark into bloom is well presented with a wonderful soundtrack complimenting the visuals. The platforming works well as you utilise each character's abilities and the pace is nicely maintained from level to level. Sometimes the camera can conspire against you and some puzzles can initially appear obtuse, but there's so much charm to this.

Intruders: Hide and Seek is a decent VR compatible stealth title. The gameplay is overly simple and it's a little light on tension but for its short running time you'll find some enjoyment giving the kidnappers the runaround, trying to find out exactly what their deal is.

Mixups by POWGI combines basic anagram solving gameplay with some easy to obtain platinum trophies and will be remembered for the latter far longer than the former but if you really love anagrams then you'll get something out of this game.

Ultimately, this is a game that leaves us feeling conflicted. The controls and, to some degree, the visuals are enjoyable but this gameplay and concept deserves a better, more substantial game. We like short games, especially on PSVR where it can be uncomfortable to stay in the headset for too long, but this is really a twenty minute game with a couple of minor hurdles that may extend your stay a little. Anyone’s Diary is impressive but it’s just not particularly good.

The King's Bird is another challenging platformer but the ability to fly adds a twist that makes it stand out from other games in the genre. The presentation is superb and although tough, the difficulty curve is pitched well for those willing to learn how to master its mechanics.

Hong Kong Massacre is a competent and well-presented twin stick John Woo 'em up but is hamstrung by a lack of variety and some frustrating gameplay elements.

A challenging slow burner of a puzzle game that you'll end up being hopelessly addicted to.

It’s quite difficult to ascertain what Riot: Civil Unrest wants to be. The dull and uncontrollable action would fit quite well as a simulator with something to say. However, the title is bogged down with gamified elements that suggest that this product was built for entertainment, with its guitar laden soundtrack and high score chasing elements. Unfortunately, it becomes a mess of both worlds that fails to be either thought provoking or an enjoyable gaming experience.

If you're a fan of the series, or the genre, then Ace Combat 7 is the current-gen arcade aerial combat game you've been waiting for. It plays great, it looks great and VR owners are in for a real treat too.

Resident Evil 2 is the closest you'll get to old school Resi whilst modernising the gameplay. The way Scenario B has been handled is disappointing but beyond that you'll find plenty of replayability across the multiple characters and modes. The puzzles and exploration will delight old fans whilst the improved controls are bound to create some new ones.

While we really appreciate the idea of taking an RPG and trimming off all the fat, in doing so Heroes Trials has also accidentally taken out all of the choice cuts too and has left you with the skeleton of a very generic game with nothing in there to make it worth your time or money. One for platinum hunters only.

FutureGrind is a fantastic, addictive stunt-racer that you really need to play.

Genesis Alpha One is one of the few survival titles that blends a real sense of high-stakes urgency while also juggling several gameplay styles in the process. Even though this may seem unwieldy on paper and fraught with challenges in gameplay structure and technical aspects, Radiation Blue have managed to marry together FPS, Management sim, RTS and roguelikes into a unique and compelling experience.

A Fisherman's Tale offers a story driven experience with some light, but original, puzzles. It's a short game which doesn't do quite enough with its core idea but is a worthwhile experience for the right price.

Smoke and Sacrifice does just enough with its exploration and crafting to be enjoyable. The weak combat and some irritating design decisions make the replayability suffer but fans of the genre will enjoy following the story through once.

8-Bit Armies is an enjoyable RTS that will appeal to genre newbies and fans of the old Command and Conquer games but it could do with a bit more variation and the lack of a story takes away from the game's personality a bit.

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.

Smash Hit Plunder is an accessible looting game that sticks to one simple concept, which is smashing everything in sight. It works well for a while but fell a bit flat after repeated play sessions. The asynchronous multiplayer options are a nice addition but you might struggle to find players who want to play this more than once.

Nubla 2 may have been the result of a collaboration between a game developer and modern art museum, but the gameplay is anything but artistic. Wonderful aesthetics and an engaging narrative aside, Nubla 2 is a short and frustrating adventure, thanks in no small part to poor platforming mechanics and snail-like pacing.

Pic-a-Pix Pieces is a well made Picross game that offers a large amount of solid gameplay at a very fair price and is well worth picking up if you're a fan of puzzle games.

Razed's colourful block worlds might not turn many heads but the challenging, short levels are engrossing to try, try and try again. There's frustration along the way but the consistent controls mean failure is usually down to you. It's by no means masochistic and the time constraints do keep you under some pressure to succeed.

A bonkers conclusion to a genuinely different stab at the adventure game. Recommended.

Guns 'n' Stories: Bulletproof is an enjoyable PSVR wave shooter that offers humour and chaos in equal measure and that sets it apart from the dozens of slightly similar games that are out there on PSN. Superhot VR remains the best the genre has to offer but this is in a respectable second place position.

Scintillatron 4096 wears its arcade influences on its sleeves but has more than enough of its own identity to carve out its own path. It may not be the most spectacular or exciting example of a twin-stick shoot 'em up but it is one of the smartest and offers its own type of fun if you're willing to give it a go.

Super Life of Pixel may be another retro indie platformer, but it does have heart. It presents a cool recreation of some classic graphical styles from yesteryear gaming platforms, with some slick chiptune audio to go with it. Sadly, the gameplay doesn't quite match up to the presentation. Despite this, there is still plenty to enjoy if you fancy a trip down memory lane, just expect a challenge if you do pick this one up.

It's incredibly shallow and relies on one (admittedly enjoyable) gimmick but The VideoKid is a fun, addictive pick up and play arcade game. However, a few poor design decisions spoil the fun more than they should.

Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden is a great stealth tactics game with a wonderful setting. The high difficulty may put some off but it's an experience worth having.

Even after four years of early access limbo, Subnautica remains as one of the quintessential examples of its genre. The uniquely beautiful and terrifying world is fantastic to explore, while the goal based narrative keeps things interesting beyond the usual plate spinning mechanics of other survival games.

EDF is back and as mad as ever. The changes from the previous game are relatively subtle and the grind is certainly still present but no series delivers the sort of insane moments that this one does and EDF5 does it better than ever.

Override: Mech City Brawl has a nice, clean aesthetic with arenas that are fun to stomp around. The campaign offers a nice sense of progression but, once you strip that away, you're left with a fighter that's a little too slow and clunky for my tastes. It's simple to grasp but I feel it lacks a fluidity and immediacy other mech games can offer.

Desert Child is utterly unique. It blends the moreish action of hoverbike racing with an amazing DOS inspired aesthetic. It’s a short and sweet racing RPG that plays incredibly well in short bursts. Well worth picking up if you fancy a modernised retro title that does something different.

Jagged Alliance: Rage! is a solid tactical game once you get your head around its systems. It's a little buggy and far from a smooth experience but when everything goes to plan and you clear out a map it can be fun.

With the right friends, Melbits World is a cute and clever exercise in collaboration and coordination that offers more than just a gimmicky control system and some sweet presentation but the very young and the jaded old might not get much from it and solo players aren't catered for at all.

Whilst GUNGRAVE VR U.N feels a little better to play then GUNGRAVE VR it is also half the length. The side scrolling gameplay allows for more hectic encounters and there is a fun arcade quality to it but it still feels outdated and isn't the best fit for VR.

GUNGRAVE VR offers a short, outdated shooter that doesn't gain much from being in VR. There is a little arcade fun to be had but the price is far too high for what's on offer.

Arca's Path is a bit different to all those turret shooters and horror games that you've been using your PSVR headset for but we really appreciated its calm aesthetic, excellent controllers and well thought out gameplay.

Rival Megagun takes an age-old genre, adds a few twists and a bit of charm and ends up being a game that works well as an arcade-style shoot 'em up, a potentially popular online title and a potential party game favourite.

Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics is a worthy addition to the turn based strategy genre and well worth your time.

Game Tengoku is a far cry from the sort of beautiful, complex and detailed shoot 'em ups that represent the best in the genre but it's a well-considered port of one of the funniest, and most original, '90s arcade shooters and should be enjoyed with a smile as was clearly intended by the developers.

Darksiders III is a slight change of pace for the series which succeeds in certain areas whilst failing quite badly in others. The camera is terrible and there are plenty of bugs, but the combat is rewarding and exploring areas with new abilities will keep more forgiving players entertained.

Sword and Soldiers 2: Shawarmageddon is an enjoyable, strategic effort. The campaign can provide the occasional spike in difficulty but the array of options at your disposal give players plenty to consider. Presentation is simple, if a little forgettable. The campaign offers a handful of hours but the multiplayer might provide some longevity for what is a decent effort.

I Am The Hero isn't the best scrolling beat 'em up ever but it is well-presented, fun to play and gives you another reason to dust off the Vita too. We like it.

Despite what many would say, Fallout 76 could have worked on paper. What could have been a brilliant coop adventure in the Fallout world however, has turned into a wasteland of poorly executed ideas and flat, dated mechanics. Ironically, despite the a multiplayer focus, the wastelands of Fallout has never felt as barren or lonely as this.

The Spyro Reignited Trilogy offers three enjoyable 3D platformers in one package. As someone who didn't play the original games I had a lot of fun, the minor tweaks to gameplay and the huge graphical overhaul bringing the games up to a modern standard and the desire to get 100% level completion being as powerful as ever.

Timber Tennis Versus suffers greatly from a bare-bones approach to the sport. The ultra simplified controls and lack of content left me bored fairly quickly. There's a nice rhythm to the rallies but your lack of any real influence means you're hoping for a power-up to finish the job for you. Whilst there's balls and heroes to work towards, they offer only cosmetic changes to a game that badly needs some variety to its gameplay. It's a weak, short-lived experience.

The main game Mutant Football League: Dynasty Edition is just fine, but Dynasty mode is a fumbled snap returned for a touchdown.

Road Redemption's combat offers options and the roguelite structure helps give the game a little more life, despite the limited tracks and environments. The physics present some wonky moments and some events are too short for their own good. Still, the upgrades always manage to give you something to chase, even if it's a slow, frustrating start.

Wingdiver The Shooter offers some good EDF fan service and reasonably good shoot 'em up action but is a little too short and lacking in polish to truly recommend.

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.

Déraciné is a slow build with little in the way of VR gimmicks or challenge but come its conclusion I was satisfied with how the tale played out.

Shadow of Loot Box has some interesting ideas but the gameplay is unpolished and repetitive making it difficult for even the better jokes to land.

Tetris Effect offers sublime presentation and a powerful VR experience but it is still just Tetris on a gameplay level and so may not wow everybody.

theHunter: Call of the Wild 2019 Edition is an accomplished addition to the hunting genre, steeped in such realism that you'll have your work cut out for you if you want to find your quarry.

8 to Glory is a unique bull riding title but one that offers little more than eight seconds of gameplay. Real life fans won't appreciate the basic rhythm action game mechanics and everyone else will be wondering where the rest of the game is.

GRIP comes together nicely. There's a bounty of content on hand which, providing you can deal with the frustrations of competition, prove fruitful and rewarding. The core racing keeps me going through a campaign that can border on exhausting. There's a lot of trial and error involved but it's compelling enough with a solid presentation to keep my foot in the door.

Air Missions: HIND can be awkward to play and looks fairly basic but there's fun to be had here for patient gamers or fans of the genre.

Nickelodeon Kart Racers is a disappointing misstep. It handles fine with some mildly interesting track designs. Sadly, it struggles to really, really lean into the cartoons' individuality. This is a simple ride that won't offer much in the way of challenge and, overall, it lacks some care and attention that could've provided something more compelling.

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.

A safe kids licence that will be sure to delight the younger members of your household. Platforming by numbers otherwise. Add a point to our score if they're already a fan.

Drone Striker is the kind of on-rails shooter that you can enjoy without having to use too much brain power but this is a title that you can happily buy or ignore and neither is the wrong decision.

Jackbox Party Pack 5 is likely going to be one of our staple party games from now on and is a great addition to the series.

A fantastic 16bit style rally game with deceptive depth. Brilliant fun.

Happy Games' Aces of the Luftwaffe sequel massively improves on the original by improving every aspect of the game and while there are better vertically-scrolling shoot 'em ups out there, this is a good example of the genre.

Assassin's Creed Odyssey offers a lot of content for your money. You will be doing the same climbing, killing and looting throughout the game but when it's so much fun to do you can't complain too hard.

Zen's continued support for Pinball FX3 is admirable and this collection of four tables from yesteryear is a welcome addition to their already ridiculously large stable of tables and is definitely a release for the old-school pinball fans out there but while this is a fun collection, Williams' best is yet to come.

Few developers could make them as good as Capcom back in the day and The Capcom Beat ‘Em Up Bundle offers a healthy slice of stellar examples to prove it. It may be yet another retro collection, however the selection of obscure titles offset the usual fatigue. There is plenty in here to enjoy if you are a fan of the genre.

Fast Striker is a reasonably credible arcade-style shoot 'em up that should have some appeal to fans of the genre but this is a port of an old indie game and as such probably won't turn too many heads or attract new fans to this style of game.

Valthirian Arc: Hero School Story offers a shallow but addictive gameplay loop. Every element, from the RPG to the management to the action, is overly simple making it easy to play for short sessions but lacking much in the way of depth.

I'm surprised by how much I'm enjoying this. The simpler approach to Fire Pro Wrestling World allows you to get on with fighting and the rules of engagement seem a lot clearer than its contemporaries. Fighting Road adds a long career mode and there's plenty of reasons and ways to battle, even if I do miss some match types not being catered for.

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

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.

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.

8-Bit Armies does well to tackle the control and interface issues that have marred the genre's translation to consoles. There's some good quality of life considerations that make the bread and butter gameplay enjoyable, if lacking in options. There's plenty of online and offline content but the lack of variety between the factions could lead to a stale, short-lived experience.

Splody wears its heart on its sleeve and it shows. It is by far the most derivative clone of Bomberman to exist since the 90’s and lacks any sense of uniqueness or personality of its own. It lives up to the pitch of being a cheaper alternative to a main Bomberman game, but sometimes being cheaper is simply not enough. This is one of those occasions.

Mega Man 11 updates the old formula ever so slightly and is a decent addition to the series. The Double Gear System is incredibly useful and the more modern graphics look great but the levels feel overly long. The music merely being okay is the biggest sin however.

Dakar 18's execution is terrible. The considered navigation system finds itself undermined by a co-driver I have no faith in. Handling is stiff and the world around you is struggling to keep itself in focus. There are moments of fun to be had when you barrel through dunes and palm trees but they remain moments. It operates on a very thin line and, all too often, that line breaks.

Candleman's got plenty of big ideas and they're executed well. The simple platforming coupled with some interesting mechanics do result in a tight experience. The inclusion of the DLC does offer you more bang for your buck but it does undercut the pacing of the original story. Still, there's a beautifully crafted game here with a lot of charm.

The fact that you could probably port Jack N' Jill to an original GameBoy pretty easily is probably a cause for concern but it would be a very good game for that format. Whether or not that's what you want on a PS4 in 2018 is another matter though.

As someone coming back to the game eighteen months after release I have to say, if A Walk in the Park made me look back on The Surge fondly, then The Good, The Bad And The Augmented reminded me of the less appealing aspects of the base game.

Blind on PSVR is at times elegant and at others a clumsy stumble. Tiny Bull Studios weaves an intriguing narrative while also using VR in a new and interesting way. However, there are times when the puzzling gets a bit too arduous due to cryptic direction and poor pacing. There are worse VR games on PS4, however many will not find much to see here overall.

When it comes to modes and features, FIFA 19 merely tweaks the formula rather than going full on Tinkerman with it but if you want an almost perfect simulation of football, EA deliver once again.

If you're not put off by the game's stark minimalism and brainbusting puzzles, then Salary Man's unique charms may well be right up your alley but gamers looking for a puzzle game with a more casual appeal, and perhaps more of a sense of fun, might want to look elsewhere.

Shadowboxing with a plastic helmet on might not sound all that enjoyable but Creed's simulation of the sweet science makes it one of the most compelling boxing games ever.

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.

This Is the Police 2 takes the first game and develops certain aspects whilst adding tactical battles to break up the daily routine. The story and presentation are strong but it falls into a similar gameplay loop to the first game, for better or worse.

Spider-Man is very much a blockbuster on PS4 as Homecoming was on the big screen. The game captures the web-head brilliantly and services fans with by far the best example of Spidey related shenanigans yet.

Stay takes an interesting idea and does some good things with it but there's not a lot of gameplay here and what's there can sometimes be awful which means that this game is a very mixed bag. Some of you will love it, some of you will hate it.

Super Mutant Alien Assault is a short-lived arcade shooter that offers up some interesting weaponry and a big challenge but not a whole lot else.

My Brother Rabbit is sure to warm your cockles with nostalgia for classic point and click adventures as the nights draw in. The gameplay is something of a relic but what this game does, it does very well.

Downward Spiral is a zero gravity space adventure that mixes the worst bits of Dead Space, Descent and every walking simulator ever but somehow remains intriguing and relatively tough to put down.

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.

Punch Line is a well paced visual novel with light interactive elements. The subject matter may offend some but it doesn't take itself seriously and is more enjoyable for it.