ECHO is a game with a compelling central idea, a top notch sci-fi plot and some excellent stealth mechanics. It also demands you understand its rules and play it at the pace it dictates. If you can either get on with, or get past, the plot you’ll experience some fantastic gameplay moments.

Fans of the visual novel genre should definitely check out Chaos;Child. There are some pacing issues but the dark tale will eventually take hold of you, helped by its strong presentation and unexpected concepts.

Squareboy Vs Bullies: Arena Edition manages to pull off the scrolling beat-em up style very well. This isn’t going to be a game you'll necessarily remember but it is certainly a game you'll enjoy. It is cheap enough to recommend as something to pass the time with and if you do decide to take the plunge there is enough simple fun to be had here.

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.

Voltron isn't much of a game but it's an amazing VR experience. If you go in expecting eye candy with a small sprinkling of gameplay, you probably won't be disappointed.

Pinball FX 3 is the best pinball game yet although most of the improvements over Zen Pinball 2 happen away from the table. Funny, inventive and ridiculously addictive, this game will keep players entertained for months but while existing players will enjoy having access to their old tables, new players may find it costly to get into.

Save the Ninja Clan may appear to be a Super Meat Boy clone but it offers a personality of its own through the intentional bugs and glitches that add an extra quirk to the already competent 2D platforming.

Twin Robots struggles to elevate itself beyond an average experience. The lack of a narrative and the constant laboratory setting leave something lean and stagnant. Basic by design, there's little to recommend here. Local cooperative play might squeak some extra time out of what's a functional but bland effort.

With its smartly constructed levels and deep customisation options, JYDGE is 10Tons' best twin-stick shooter yet.

Ninja Shodown is a party game with a sense of fun and chaos to it but the truth is that it's just not as much fun to play as it should be.

The Solus Project is an interesting experience, blending on foot exploration with incredibly atmospheric visuals and survival mechanics. This recipe for VR greatness is marred however by its awkward Move controls and diminishing returns. If you are interested in a sci-if sightseeing tour then consider this. However, The Solus Project does end up outstaying its welcome.

INK is a basic but competent platformer with an interesting colour splashing hook to get things going. However, after some time with the game, it is clear that the gimmick alone is not enough to keep things fresh. In the end, Ink just feels like it would be better suited as a mode in another game, rather than one that warrants a price tag alone.

Battle Chasers Nightwar is a great game. It has an excellent art style with some wonderfully detailed characters and environmental features. The combat is interesting and provides a different take on turn based battles. Whilst it isn't a massive game there is more than enough to do with a variety of distractions along the way. Overall this is a very easy game to recommend.

Lightfield is a beautiful looking game that unfortunately falls short. Whilst the movement options give this racer an interesting twist on getting from A to B, they present their own problems with disorientation being an unfortunate by-product. The vast spaces on offer feel underused and the lack of content results in something short-lived and a touch hollow. The premise on paper doesn't translate well to a finished product, sadly.

With its emphasis on attacking play and improved shooting, FIFA 18 will appeal to fans looking for fun rather than just obsessive realism. Add to that heaps of addictive singleplayer gameplay and all the usual Ultimate Team and online modes for the series' core fanbase and this FIFA is not just the best one yet, but probably the most fun too.

Mary Skelter: Nightmares introduces some interesting mechanics to the dungeon RPG formula to separate it from the crowd. The story and characters aren't great but the exploration and party management is fun enough to still make this worth a look.

As striking as RUINER is with its bold visuals and violent gameplay, the effect initially wears off pretty quickly thanks to some very repetitive level design. Stick with it though and the game's varied arsenal and multitude of upgrading options give it some depth and make the core shooting action stand out from the crowd.

End Space is a solid space shooter that combines smart controls with some lovely graphics and is one of the better VR titles out there. There are some concerns with the game's lack of difficulty and content, but we still recommend this to any PSVR-owners looking for a little bit of off-world action.

Eventide 2: Sorcerers Mirror is a decent light puzzle and story game which sticks very much to the formula Artifex Mundi follow with each release. Interestingly though there is some welcome innovation in the form of dialogue choices leading to slightly branching narrative paths. Once again this is easy to recommend to anyone looking for a light puzzle adventure game.

Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony is another great addition to the visual novel series. The characters are well written and despite the formula changing little there are some unique scenarios to figure out.

Hidden Dragon Legend offers a feast of combat action and platforming with a beefy challenge but comes with a host of irritations too.

With an interesting story and a strong sense of exploration, The Coma: Recut's wonderful art and sound design finds itself undercut by some frustration. The chase can feel a little weary at times and the backtracking can be tedious. Still, there's things to admire from this short, sharp shock.

36 Fragments of Midnight is over before it even has chance to begin. With a single run clocking in at anything from six minutes, this isn't a game with any kind of longevity. Whilst it may be a charming 2D platfomer, and isn't actually broken, it is a hard game to recommend with any conviction.

Pankapu is a decent platform game which plays it very traditional. It has a lovely art style and a lot of charm which goes a long way to make this game very enjoyable to play. Whilst I found the story elements of the game mostly missed the mark the platforming was more then enough to keep me engaged.

WRC 7 is an interesting iteration on the previous titles. It doesn't make great strides but the accessible handling provides some simple thrills. The license brings some scenic stages, even if the visuals aren't finely tuned, and I will never get tired of hearing a rally exhaust. It's enjoyable, if lacking in complexity and options.

NeverEnd then is a repetitive game with poor controls and bland graphics. As a dungeon crawler the movement is too slow and your attacks are ineffectual and unresponsive. There is little to recommend here, but on the plus side the game isn't actually broken. Unfortunately this is a powerfully bad game and not something I could suggest you pick up.

I'm amazed these iterations haven't gone stale on me. Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 produces a thoughtful distillation of the sport and makes for a slicker, more engrossing contest. Presentation remains held back by the struggle to maintain licenses. I feel online really shows the engine up when you're bombarded with pace and pressure from all sides. An actual game of two contrasting halves, here.

DreamBreak manages to remain enjoyable for its short running time, just about. The pixel art visuals are well done and the music is great, but the controls and multiple gameplay elements are flawed making it hard to recommend.

Time Recoil takes advantage of a good bullet-time mechanic and some very clever level design but is bogged down by a messy story and a lack of variation. Strategic shoot 'em up fans may enjoy mastering the game but fans of more dynamic action will be left wanting.

Planet of the Eyes presents a colourful world that you whisk through with some responsive platforming and the occasionally clever puzzle. Unfortunately, the pace and light story don't allow things to sit long in the memory and, whilst the time you've spent playing might feel well spent, there's not a lot of value in returning to it.

The Last Day of June needs to be played by as many people as possible as this is a wonderful game with a compelling and emotionally charged story. Whilst not without it's faults there are so many aspects of this game which are just fantastic, from the interesting art style through to the way you grow to love and understand all the characters. If you are in any way interested in narrative driven games you owe it to yourself to play this.

Bleed is a short but sweet arcade shooter that relies on your desire to replay and perfect the game to pad out what is otherwise a very brief experience. Luckily the controls are solid and the boss encounters well designed meaning it holds its end of the bargain up, it's down to you how much time you give it.

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

Still Time is a puzzle platformer in a pixel art style and with the hook of being able to rewind time in order to solve the puzzles. Unfortunately this rewind mechanic doesn't work at all well, sometimes refusing to allow you to rewind at all. This all but renders the game unplayable and isn't something I can recommend.

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

Redout is a very credible challenger to Wipeout's crown and while it doesn't quite usurp the genre's king, it offers some of the fastest racing action on PSN.

Windjammers is a solid port of the original disc-throwing arcade game and while an update to the modes and visuals would have been welcome, this is still a great way to revisit a true Neo Geo classic.

Technical problems aside, Absolver is a great fighting game. If that's enough for you then although the campaign is over relatively quickly the multiplayer and customisation could keep you going for a long time.

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.

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA is such a well made game. The controls for combat are top notch and all the systems in place for things like fishing, crafting and exploring make this a very easy game to lose hours to.

Whilst the cutesy aesthetic might prove too saccharin for some, Rabi-Ribi delivers excellent exploration and combat over a lengthy first run. It will lend itself beautifully to speed runners whilst the plot and interplay between the main duo offer a surprising amount of charm. This is a pleasant, impressive Metroid homage with some nice quirks.

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

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

Thimbleweed Park feels like a masterclass in making a point and click adventure game. The story is excellent and full of humour and unexpected developments and the puzzles are well thought out and challenging. It feels almost exactly like playing a Lucasfilm Game from yesteryear and this is the highest praise I can give it.

Special Delivery is a VR take on the old arcade game Paperboy and it succeeds in recreating some of that old school gameplay. However, control issues, a serious lack of variation and sluggish pace stop the game from being as fun or exciting as it should be.

Cities: Skylines – PlayStation 4 Edition is a great port of a great game. If you just want to sit down and build a city from scratch then this gives you a lot of control over how you want your city to look and operate. If you want a more guided experience then you may struggle to stay motivated but there's no doubt that watching your city grow and prosper is a worthwhile and rewarding experience.

Mages of Mystralia is a decent action role playing game with an excellent spell crafting mechanic. The presentation and story set this apart from a lot of other indie stuff and make the game feel grander than it actually is. Unfortunately samey combat and plenty of backtracking stop this from being a truly great game.

The Escapists 2 offers you the chance to try your hand at escaping prison. Turns out that's not as easy as it sounds, with lots of trial and error and failed attempts guaranteed. If you can get in the right mindset however you'll have plenty of fun figuring out multiple ways to break out of the ten levels, both in single player and multiplayer. A great sequel.

Comet Crash 2: The Kronkoid Wars offers a unique blend of RTS and tower defence which is fun to play. The single player campaign offers a nice distraction and plays well enough, but it is with the multiplayer that things really brighten up, although you may struggle to find a game online.

Calling Yakuza Kiwami a remaster almost feels unfair. You'd be hard-pressed to recognise it as a PS2 game originally, with the graphical improvements and gameplay additions bringing it on par with the other recent entries in the series. As fans would have come to expect its an intriguing story, with deep, likeable characters, brutal combat and plenty of side stuff to keep you busy.

Sonic Mania isn't only a very good Sonic game. It's a fantastic retro tinged platformer that just about anyone can appreciate. It's beautifully realised, fantastic sounding, passionate and incredibly surprising in so many ways. It not only respects the original games in the franchise, but could well surpass them totally. Mania is a masterclass in retro revival and raises the bar for all who dare challenge it. Get on it fast.

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

While RobotRiot doesn't have any glaring issues, there's a lack of creativity and excitement that would have even been in a problem in the '90s era that it emulates. In 2017 on a PS4 Pro, this just isn't enough.

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.

BLACKHOLE: Complete Edition is a very generous offering and packs in hours of gameplay for a reasonable price. It also lives up to the moniker of hardcore platforming as it is difficult and will put a lot of people off. It is unfortunate though that the game gets bogged down in story which consistently breaks the flow and isn’t as funny as it thinks it is. There is fun to be had here but not that much.

Housemarque take their twin stick expertise over to the run and gun genre and nail it, just as you knew they would. The game's short lifespan and bullet sponge bosses take off a little bit of the shine but the excellent controls and gorgeous presentation make the game a must-buy for arcade connoisseurs.

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.

The Long Dark manages to fine-tune its survival aspects over a long development into something very compelling. With some great audio and visual work, the basic act of living alone out in a frigid, desolate landscape becomes an intriguing undertaking. I'm saddened the new narrative content falls flat, though. The pacing feels inconsistent with the objectives devolving into an elongated, brutal fetch quest. I'm growing into it but the real fun is in the sandbox rather than the tailor-made adventure.

Neptune Flux is a short and not so sweet package. While it has decent storytelling and a premise that interests, for an open world title it simply feels too claustrophobic. There is some fun to discovering deep sea detritus and the puzzles surrounding them, but unfortunately whether it is because of the murky visuals or the extremely short playtime, there is just not much to see here.

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

I found Pressure Overdrive to be a fun little jaunt with plenty for shoot-em-up fans to be engrossed by. It's not especially enduring but the upgrade system and the pressure mechanic at least offer something a little different. The story is a touch thread-bare but the action kept me entertained for a few hours.

CastleStorm VR’s gameplay is simple and has that one more go ethic that will appeal to some gamers. For those who haven’t played it on the previous generation, there is a fun and varied real time strategy meets Angry Birds formula that proves basic yet satisfying. However, if you have given CastleStorm a go before, then the PSVR implementation doesn’t really bring anything to the table and hardly warrants a double dip. Especially considering that the VR version commands the same price as the definitive.

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

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.

Smashbox Arena is one of those games that wouldn't really be acceptable outside of the VR market and the PSVR headset doesn't really add enough to make it worthwhile but it also has moments where the battles are exciting enough to keep you interested.

Infinite Minigolf is a good stab at crazy golf in a virtual world. The online options elevate it and VR owners will enjoy the visuals but for a game with potentially endless content you may get bored of the simplistic gameplay after a while.

Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun has made the leap from PC to PS4 and has not only survived the fall but killed a guard on the way down. The controls take a little getting used to but the characters, level design and strategy-stealth gameplay will reward you plenty for putting in the effort.

Theseus offers a different perspective to your usual PSVR games and the immersion and well designed visuals are its strength. The gameplay is its weakness however, with basic exploration, simple combat and rudimentary stealth. Very, very short as well.

Super Cloudbuilt is a fantastic remaster of the unsung 2014 original. It not only brings the blistering pace and gorgeous visual aesthetic to the consoles for the first time, but ends up being reinvigorated with the addition of more challenges and levels to sink your teeth into. If you missed Cloudbuilt the first time round and love high speed platforming then you can do no wrong.

City building games don't usually find their way onto consoles and rarely are they as well-executed as Aven Colony.

The Girl and the Robot feels like a small, basic package that does very little to establish something worthwhile. The puzzles are simple enough to grasp and navigating the two companions can feel enjoyable and rewarding. It's a shame it's hamstrung by combat which struggles to feel responsive or satisfying.

Unbox: Newbies Adventure is a cute and somewhat original concept wrapped in technical issues that make it hard to recommend. While it can be occasionally fun; Unwieldy movement, infuriating combat and glaring graphical foibles make it a less than stellar package.

Lost Grimoires: Stolen Kingdom is another hidden object game and follows the same template laid down in other Artifex Mundi games. Where this game stands out from the crowd though is in the variety of puzzles on display and an interesting alchemy minigame.

SUPERHOT VR has some issues with tracking and repetition but manages to make you feel so bad ass that it's easy forgive. There is plenty of content to interact with if you decide to do so, just make sure you have a big enough play space to do the game justice.

Deadcore is a game built for speed runners, but people lusting after the fastest times will likely be hampered by the controls on the PlayStation 4. It is also a very hard game to learn and get good at, this imposing difficulty will likely put many people off. However for £6.49 this is priced well and will offer some diversion, just don’t expect to be playing this for months to come.

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

As far as racing games for kids go, Cars 3: Driven to Win is surprisingly good. It looks good, handles well and has enough content to keep you and your young 'uns entertained for a long time.

Island Flight Simulator doesn't do very much and what it does it doesn't do very well.

Serial Cleaner brings some strong design and '70s style to the unpleasant business of cleaning up murder scenes. The game gives you all the information you need to successfully sneak your way through the many levels and if you feel like making things more difficult you can tackle the challenges. Stealth fans should check it out.

Whilst Toby: The Secret Mine takes significant leads from Limbo it does enough to stand out in it’s own right. The platforming is enjoyable and tight but the trial and error puzzles stop this from scoring higher.

If you're a fan of platformers that require skill and precision and want to test yourself against others then Speedrunners is the game for you, whether it's over the internet or on the same television. If you're strictly single player then you probably won't get much out of it however.

Cryptark may be yet another roguelike game, it may also be yet another independently developed twin stick shooter, but it melds both genres together into a compelling package and runs with it. The challenge may be steep, however give Cryptark your time and there is plenty here to enjoy, especially if you love the genre.

Whilst I don't doubt this game's authenticity, I found Hunting Simulator to be a frustrating experience. A substantial campaign does make each prey feel unique with their own behaviours and the environments are well rendered. Sadly, getting to the shot requires so much time investment for a reward that doesn't feel too fulfilling. It's one for the enthusiasts. Novice hunters may have better luck elsewhere.

There is almost nothing to recommend with Valkyria Revolution as it fails to hit the mark in every aspect having, for some reason, changed pretty much everything which made the first game great. What you're left with is a very forgettable action RPG which frustrates with an overly long and dull story and simplistic and clumsy combat.

Dark Rose Valkyrie succeeds with a decent story and a cast of likable characters but unfortunately the gameplay part of it is slow, overly complicated and underdeveloped.

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.

Micro Machines World Tour does just enough to live up to the brand but not much else.

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

Arizona Sunshine offers an enjoyable slice of zombie shooting action that left us relatively satisfied. The basic gameplay and dated graphics make the price tag sting a little though.

Ancient Amuletor is a fun VR shooter/tower defence hybrid. Unfortunately it’s incredibly short on content and variety at only four levels. Online co-op could enhance the experience if you can find a game but in single player you’ll see all the game has to offer in one session with only higher difficulty levels hoping to tempt you back in.

Whilst the story is compelling with plenty of facets to dig into, the pacing and combat felt a little tiresome. Great characters and presentation become mired in an experience that could’ve been tighter. Get Even is worth a look for a strong, narrative adventure with some interesting hooks, if you can stomach the uneven pacing.

I Want To Be Human has a cocky swagger about it which screams of rebellion and teenage angst. Whilst it has a striking visual style the gameplay suffers for this. It is also dogged by poor controls and a reliance on frustratingly difficult platforming sections which means this is a hard game to recommend, even at the low price point.

An unashamedly retro platform shooter with a harsh difficulty curve, Blasting Agent: Ultimate Edition manages to play a solid game. Whilst this isn’t going to set the world alight, if you can get over some substantial difficulty spikes, it is strangely addictive and also cheaper than the price of a decent coffee.

The masters of twin-stick shooting are back and Nex Machina is as polished in both presentation and gameplay as you’d expect. It is a little lacking in content and variety but what’s here is of the very highest level the genre has to offer.

The whole idea of playing as a blind person could be interesting but navigating the house just feels frustrating given that you’ll spend a vast portion of your time looking at a silent black screen. With a weak story and unsuccessful horror elements Perception is probably best left in the dark.

VR has been around for a while now and just being in VR isn’t enough. Like any other kart racer we want interesting levels, tight controls and fun power ups. VR Karts doesn’t deliver any of that. The VR is welcome but without it, there would be literally no reason to own this.

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.

Enigmatis 2: The Mists of Ravenwood is another solid hidden object game and one I thoroughly enjoyed. It takes gentle steps to vary up the puzzles and definitely feels like one of the better games by Artifex Mundi. This is a very easy game to enjoy and the mildly spooky detective story kept my interest throughout.