Phantom Doctrine offers a different approach to the XCOM formula and is unique enough for genre fans to give it a chance. The missions do become repetitive and progress is slow but the ability to fully stealth levels is very welcome and rewarding.

This might look like some proper indie nonsense but this is a whimsical puzzler about a fly trying to complete a bucket list before it dies and, oddly, it's really enjoyable.

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.

I'm still enjoying Train Sim World 3, even if the content can revisit their old DLC packs. The driving remains a relaxing experience and the breadth of routes on offer can give players plenty to work towards. What you get with the standard edition provides a nice mix of passenger and freight journeys whilst the deluxe edition adds steam engines into the mix. They all feel different to operate and have their own challenges. Visually, it's an improvement although not as polished as I'd like. It's a fun package, although I'd love Dovetail Games to finally consolidate all their Train Sim World content under one roof.

Architect Life: A House Design Simulator doesn't dig too deep but there is some challenge to be had from clients and their prospective locations. The career mode has some variety to it, although the homes I built started to homogenise due to the surprisingly limiting tools at my disposal. For a game with architect in the title, you're not given the freedom to truly tinker with angles and materials. It's still a methodical and relaxed time but it pulls some punches.

The Outlast Trials does something a little different with the survival horror genre and gets a lot of good mileage out of its Fallout-meets-Saw aesthetic. It's not always exactly what you'd call fun though and there are questions over the variety of it in its launch form but we grew to like it a lot.

A Gummy's Life has some very clear inspirations and, at times it can be quite brazen. The colourful presentation does well to set it apart and the game modes remain fun, even if the online portion struggles from a lack of interest. The fighting can be tactile and occasionally chaotic and, whilst the AI seems capable, this game feels more engaging with friends. The map variety gives you plenty to work with although the combat lacks a little impact. There's an enjoyable core here with just a few niggles that can potentially be ironed out.

Super XYX is a solid shoot 'em up made by people who clearly love and understand the genre.

Pumpkin Jack is a well done throwback to 3D platformers of yesteryear. Unfortunately it also has some of their bad habits such as on-rails minecart sections and a final boss you'll hate more than our burning disdain for the music of Simply Red.

XIII was fun in 2003 and terrible in 2020 but Microids have delivered on their promise to fix the remake. It might not be one for modern gamers but who cares? We've rather enjoyed playing through XIII's various spy thriller tropes.

In Sound Mind is a solid psychological horror game with an interesting gimmick based around tapes that allows for a variety of environments and puzzles. The story doesn't quite fulfil its potential and the frame rate can be terrible but for fans of first person horror, which is light on scares but with a decent range of puzzles then you'll certainly get something out of this.

Shenmue I & II are still special games with very few, if any, modern equivalents. Certain elements are showing their age and there are some annoying bugs that should hopefully be patched out in time but both fans and possible fans will appreciate the chance to play both these titles in one package.

LEGO Marvel Superheroes 2 is one of the better LEGO games. The range of characters available is staggering and the attention to detail is to be applauded. Whilst the range of actions and movement abilities may cause problems for younger players, the ever present co-op is a wonderful addition to help younger players out.

Speed Limit's tough, and frustrating, gameplay might mean it doesn't flow quite as nicely as we'd like but you have to admire the way it combines a heap of classic gameplay styles into one cohesive title.

Redout 2 delivers where it matters with some of the fastest, most hardcore racing we've seen in a game. The bold visuals add to sense of excitement too. It's just a shame that the difficulty isn't more consistent and that the game is lacking in variation, especially as some of the gameplay modes aren't ready yet and will be patched in later when much of the game's already small community may have drifted elsewhere.

Soulstice has some pacing issues and a dodgy camera but the combat is smooth, challenging and requires skill to master. A few tweaks would make this a fantastic game but even as it is fans of the character action games should definitely give it a chance.

Session's ultra-realistic skating mechanics are spot-on and reward your practice and patience. However, it's set in a world that feels a little dead, empty and cold at times and the structure the game does give you isn't particularly interesting or user-friendly.

It's clear RiMS Racing has some good new ideas and a handling system that's greatly complimented by the DualSense controller. It's a pity the bikes and tracks on offer lack some variety. Repetition sets in with a lengthy career mode but it's clearly an enjoyable ride and customising bikes can be an engrossing, meticulous process. At times, the slim content can feel strung out but there's an impressive foundation to build upon.

Max: The Curse of Brotherhood offers a charming adventure for those looking for a puzzle based platformer that is neither too difficult or condescendingly easy, nor too brief or overly long. The physics engine may throw up the odd problem but the checkpoints are forgiving enough to not cause too much concern.

Toy Odyssey: The Lost and Found is a highly addictive rogue-lite game, though it does have some problems. Depending on your luck the quest system can slow your progress and you will be seeing the same locations over and over, but upgrading your character and the base makes one more go turn into another hour.

Windlands breaks a lot of rules in regards to early days VR movement but it holds up well and lends its way to a fun and engaging experience. This will make for a good test of your stomach if you want to try a more physical game for your new headset.

Melobot – A Last Song is a nice rhythm action puzzler, but rendered all too brief by the fact that you can effectively negate the challenge by choosing the note display without any penalty. The penultimate world being tougher than the final one is also a head scratcher, but that’s partly down to the use of R3 as a main button. Inexcusable when L1 remains unmapped.

A solid roguelike experience, marred by the hangups of the VR platform which have been removed in favour of next generation visual trimmings. The Persistence Enhanced Edition holds up as an atmospheric sci-fi horror title with challenging permadeath mechanics, but repetition takes hold a bit too soon.

core.sys isn’t a Windows system process in this context, more a nice neat little puzzle game with a hacking subtext. Yes, it’s a little brief and ends rather abruptly but its also fun with it. The PS4/PS5 crossbuy is an added bonus so you can double dip for the platinum super quickly if that’s your bag. Otherwise, enjoy this nice little bite-sized effort over a couple of days.

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.

Chenso Club is a game that feels very much the sum of its parts. Whilst 2D platformers with roguelike elements are absolutely nothing new, the presentation does elevate it into a place of its own. Combat is fast, fluid and simple and the platforming is largely forgiving. The flow of a run means you're always close to gaining new gear and using your own health to shop does deliver some tough decisions for players to make. It all comes together to make something enjoyable.

Repetitive gameplay is the only thing holding back Earth’s Dawn but it is a pretty major part of the equation. The missions reward you well and it always feels like you’re making progress, but the lack of variety may be a deal breaker for some.

What Lies in the Multiverse is a fun enough game with some cleverly designed mechanics but it's let down by a weak script translation that makes the major plot beats lack impact. It's good but lacks a little polish.

Breakout: Recharged doesn't do anything new or particularly interesting with this take on the classic bat and ball genre but it is enjoyable enough and certainly addictive. We'd have liked to have seen a bit of eye-candy but we're happy enough with the gameplay to make this a game we can recommend.

Ultimate Fishing Simulator is very much as advertised. Perhaps a little on the dry side for the novice as it does expect a level of familiarity to some of the mechanics. Somehow compulsive to play, if a little rough around the edges. Maybe not so ultimate as more super.

The extra year has done WWE 2K22 a world of good as the game appears more stable and enjoyable. The time in the ring has been simplified although might still appear more complex than some would like. Countering windows seem tricky to get a hold of and there are times when you feel the game is playing for you. Despite this, the wealth of content and gameplay should keep people interested. Not quite a return to form but definitely a step in the right direction.

AngerForce: Reloaded is a very playable, and enjoyable, shoot 'em up with well-considered roguelite elements but is let down by a flawed difficulty curve and some rough loading times.

Runbow offers some solid single and multiplayer 2D platform-racing fun but can be equally frustrating too. This is one to pick up if you've got decent platforming chops or a bunch of buddies who like coming over to play very obscure indie games on a regular basis.

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.

Zero Zero Zero Zero is an uncomplicated game from Ratalaika that provides a solid retro-tinged challenge in a gauntlet of spikes, lazers and a hundred screens of brutal obstacles. This is one to consider if you thought games like N+ and Super Meat Boy were too easy for your liking.

Meet Your Maker is a first-person outpost raider where you get to make your own levels and unleash them on whatever sorry bastards try to take them on. It's a great concept and the execution is pretty solid at launch. It'll only be improved by the promised future content too.

Hidden Cats in Spooky Village ramps up the scare factor with buckets of gore and disturbing imagery. Nah, we’re kidding, it’s the same cute cats in folk horror locations and is a solid addition to the hidden cat pantheon that Silesia and Nukearts are excelling at. Some cats can be tough to find due to being really tiny but generally it’s not a huge problem across twelve generous levels.

ScourgeBringer is a tough Rogue-lite with enjoyable movement and combat mechanics. The difficulty does ramp up massively just over half way through but don't let that scare you off as there are powerful accessibility options for those of us who aren't superhuman.

Graceful Explosion Machine is a cerebral shoot 'em up that offers some good action but isn't as exciting, varied or dynamic as its best contemporaries.

I found a fun, brainless quality to Warhammer Chaosbane that I could zone out to. Its inspirations are clear and imitates well without surpassing expectations. I found the story to be too self-serious and the presentation too bland. The loop of combat, loot and levelling always rewarded, though. The base content lacks some variety but the endgame should hopefully provide an enduring quality.

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.

Even for a sport like monster truck racing, Monster Truck Championship feels like the sensible older brother to the Monster Jam series but it delivers some enjoyable racing action mixed in with some fun freestyle stuff. The PS5 upgrade really only comes down to a frame rate boost which is a shame because we'd love to see the developers really push the system further and add some haptics, some more modes and a bit more craziness to what is actually a solid but staid title.

Heal is the sort of classy title that we've come to expect from Jesse Makkonen and it offers an afternoon's worth of gentle puzzling and some stylish atmospherics. It's not quite up there with his Distraint games but Heal is a likeable taste of what this talented developer is capable of.

Styx: Shards of Darkness continues the series with as much enthusiasm as its predecessor, and builds upon what made Master of Shadows work so well - the stealth aspect. The fact that Cyanide Studio didn't pay attention to the negative reports on the combat, and kept the mechanic the same as before is practically the only thing that lets the side down in terms of playability. If you want to have to think about getting from point A to point B, and don't mind getting frustrated at times, then this is easily the best way to spend 15-20 hours.

If you put 40 meter tall monsters in a fully destructible environment and have them duke it out, you're in for a good time no matter what and this party game gets that stuff right. However, to really get the most out of GigaBash, you'll need a sofa full of mates to play it with.

Carrying its heart on its sleeve and fun in short bursts, Retro Highway aims to fill the hole that the lack of Road Rash games has opened over the years. It’s unfortunate however, that it just doesn’t go that extra mile to elevate this to being more than just an entertaining distraction.

NeuroVoider isn’t going to stand out in a sea of retro-flavoured roguelikes but it’s one of the better ones. While the shooting mechanics aren’t perfected, the upgrade system is pretty addictive and makes a fairly ordinary game hard to put down.

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.

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.

Overall then iO is a decent puzzle game offering loads of content, it’s also cross buy with the Vita which is nice. It suffers from some proper hard difficulty spikes and relies a bit too much on trial and error, but at the end of the day it plays a decent puzzle game.

Dirt 5's condensed career feels light on variation but the carnival presentation and slick pacing helps stave off some of the tedium. Whilst there's plenty of vehicles, they don't all feel like winners. The course creation does give you something else to pursue after career is over. I've had fun racing around the well-designed courses but I can't help feel this is compromised and a little narrow in scope. If an arcade racer is what you're after, this works nicely.

Yomawari: Midnight Shadows is a terrifying game with a claustrophobic and oppressive atmosphere. Whilst the moment to moment gameplay may be repetitive the overall style of the game does more than enough to drag you in. If you're looking for a real fright then this could be the game for you.

Out of Ammo is a great example of how to mix RTS and FPS gameplay into a viable package. It may be showing its early VR age now, but the gameplay is still as simple and fun as ever.

Streets of Rogue is derivative and initially uninspiring but somehow comes out addictive and rises above. Just a shame there's no Vita port as it would be a great fit.

Heroes of the Monkey Tavern is retro to a fault. Despite simple graphics, and generic enemy designs, the actual dungeon crawling works really well and there is a great sense of discovery to it. Whilst not without its faults, there is a very enjoyable game.

While we would have liked to see these games celebrated a little more, this compilation does offer up seven rather unique and different Neo Geo titles that should appeal to existing fans and retro gamers. However, if you're unfamiliar with Neo Geo games as a whole, you might find these titles to be a bit too challenging.

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.

Weird West has a lot of interesting systems working under the hood to let you play as you like. With this comes a certain amount of jank which undermines the immersion somewhat but the multiple character stories and many choices still make it worth playing.

More a bunch of extra levels rather than a true sequel to Reed Remastered, Reed 2 is still worth checking out.

Loopindex is a fun little puzzle game. It's not massively long or hugely challenging. But it's just fine being what it is. Yes, the loop mechanic feels a bit underused, but there's plenty to get on with otherwise.

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

It’s an unashamed Zelda clone but this one certainly flatters. It takes what it needs from Nintendo’s franchise whilst refining on key aspects. You might tire of the block and switch puzzles but the game packs a brief length with plenty of exploration. The dungeon bosses provide ample challenge for those wanting it. If you’re after a quick fix, this might be for you.

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

Spellforce: Conquest of Eo did provide me with a cheaper introduction to a genre I rarely venture into. I enjoyed it, although it clearly falters when explaining mechanics and information to the player. Whilst I didn't care much for the premise, the writing associated with the quests can occasionally be smart. Exploration feels gratifying and turns can feel very active with plenty of decisions to make. Combat feels fine but loading in and out of it can stifle the pacing. Overall, it's a good effort but definitely has a couple of missteps.

Super Cane Magic Zero is an utterly daft game with a surprising amount of depth. Some minor technical issues and oversights get in the way of the fun, but overall this is an enjoyable adventure to play when you have a few friends over.

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

Wild Dogs offers up some very credible Contra-style run and gunning and does a decent job with it but it's a little too long and a bit too tricky for its own good.

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.

Spells & Secrets has a lot of content to discover but it's all a bit too slow, grindy and cumbersome to be essential. It can be fun though and while the combat doesn't always land, the puzzles are pretty entertaining.

Blazing Chrome does a really good impression of a Contra game but 32 years later, Contra is still king and that probably says as much about the granddaddy of run and gun games as it does about this very capable, but not quite as good, upstart. It will definitely have its fans though.

Killing Time: Resurrected is a fantastic upgrade to an underrated first-person shooter. There's a great sense of place in the level design and a cheeky sense of character with the enemy sprites. The story, whilst a little goofy is told well by some solid acting and the visual upgrades give it a greater sense of clarity. The key hunting can really damage the momentum and I do find the combat a touch easy. Still, I can appreciate the ideas on offer and the execution can feel ahead of its time.

AEW: Fight Forever is a fascinating combination of ideas. It definitely feels like their first rodeo with the limited customisation options and presentation. On the flip-side, the grappling has a fluidity and pace which I found enjoyable. You can see the focus on the in-ring product and that's where the polish lies. The career mode is short but fairly replayable with little charming touches throughout. Perhaps it's fitting this feels so scrappy and, on a budget price tag, it becomes a little easier to recommend.

Super Mega Space Blaster Special Turbo is a surprisingly fun shoot 'em up with more depth than you'd expect for a game at this low price.

This portable version offers a surprisingly full package, if in a bit of a lower quality wrapper. It has all the elements which make Farming Simulator strangely addictive. The slow pace and sense of accomplishment when you bring in a full field of crops. It also remains a very grind intensive game. How much enjoyment you’ll get out of this incremental progress will dictate how much you enjoy this type of game but we rather liked it.

Whilst the presentation is stale, the driving of WRC Generations remains as engaging as ever. The new hybrid engines gave me something else to consider whilst adhering to the pace notes but the handling remained steady and reliable. The diverse locations provide a showcase or rallies present and past and, whilst the historical content has been featured before, it's now under one roof. I do wish they pushed the boat out for their final outing with the license but what's here is a solid product.

A fun if short platform brawler. Vita cross-buy makes this worth considering if you have one.

Observer: System Redux creates a miserable vision of the future that will appeal to sci-fi and horror fans. The game is essentially just an evolved point and clicker but it sucks you in and at the very least does a good job of showing off some clever PS5 tech.

As a smaller scale God game Reus still manages to pack in the complexity, even if the resource management ends up feeling a little too much like maths. With a decent art style and presentation Reus is a welcome addition to the PS catalogue.

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.

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.

I, AI is a shoot 'em up with a touch of class to it and one that is easy to get into and play. It doesn't do anything particularly original and it does get a bit repetitive but what it does, it does well.

Soul Hackers 2 is an enjoyable JRPG which will feel familiar to fans of the Shin Megami Tensei series. It does do its own thing in many areas which is fine, but the dungeons are very simple and repetitive and the side content feels like padding although the rewards are worth it. It's not the next Atlus classic but it's a fun game nonetheless that may be a more forgiving entry point to the series.

Don't Touch This Button! is a short but enjoyable puzzle game. The puzzles start out simple but the difficulty increases at a steady pace without ever getting too taxing and the lack of variety in the visuals is easy to overlook thanks to the cheap price.

Yars: Recharged certainly improves on the original Yar's Revenge in every single category and we certainly enjoyed it but it does drag on a bit and suffers from a lack of variation after a while.

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

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

The Serpent Rogue is a clever little title that has plenty of polish. Whilst it can be a little tricky to gain a foothold, I found plenty to discover and do within what is admittedly a small world. There's some nice ideas on display and the presentation helps keep things relaxed and charming. Completing objectives feels rewarding and discovering new recipes can sometimes feel essential. This will not be to everyone's tastes but I enjoyed most of my time with it.

Truth be told, Moons of Madness got out of the blocks slowly, for me. The initial exploration struggled to hold my attention and the usual Lovecraftian story beats had started to wear me down. Thankfully, there is an execution on hand here to deliver more than just the usual blueprint of science leading to unknown consequences. The cast deliver great performances and the visuals look polished and flourish in spots. Once the pace picks up, it accelerates well to a satisfying conclusion. It's a good effort with some smart writing and puzzles that won't halt your progress too much.

A good retro-styled puzzle game across multiple themed levels. Great fun and better yet if you have a Vita too.

After spending twenty six years stewing in a dark vault, Dice's lost 16-Bit shooter now gets the airing it deserves. Ultracore is a worthy run'n'gun retro experience with some great visuals, music and gameplay. Yet, some aging aspects of the game do get in the way of a good time and demonstrate reasons why this game was lost for so long in the first place. While it can frustrate, it is still one i would recommend to play if you grew up with the Mega Drive.

G-Darius remains a true late '90s classic and old school, or just old, shoot 'em up fans will enjoy revisiting it but newer players might not enjoy brute-forcing their way through the game's excessively difficult later levels.

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.

Daggerhood offers a solid, challenging platformer that is slightly undermined by an easy platinum. You'll have played around a tenth of the game by the time you've unlocked all the trophies which is a shame as although not up there with the greats of the genre it has some good ideas and provides interesting new obstacles to overcome as you progress.

Jagged Alliance 3 is a game long since thought lost to development hell, but thanks to Haemimont Games and THQ Nordic, it’s here. Very much a game out of time but none the worse for it for fans of the genre. It can be damned tough but when you get into a groove it’s fun. Not having the ability to toggle chance to hit is something we could do without though.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania breathes new life into the franchise by combining classic stages with a modernised visual appearance. However, the remade physics don’t quite live up to the originals and this may put off purists. If you can get over the small niggles, then there is a ton of content to enjoy and newer players should have a blast as this is the most accessible Super Monkey Ball experience yet.

Blood Bowl III is a welcome return by the licence after eight years away. Unforgivingly harsh on beginners to the series perhaps, but fans of Warhammer's take on gridiron will be well catered for here. Those new to the series but familiar with the Madden games might struggle to start with but once you find your feet, you'll have fun too.

Aeterna Noctis is a very tough metroidvania with incredibly intricate platforming sections. The fair checkpoints even out the challenge a little but plenty of design decisions work against the player in ways that are harder to overcome than the difficulty.

NASCAR Fire Evolution winds up being a very enjoyable blitz through the often scoffed world of saloon car racing. Whilst it does keep things simple and rarely strays into a simulation, I’m kept engrossed with a solid driving engine and enough modes to keep casual and die-hard fans satisfied.