I came out of Wulverblade feeling broadly positive. The historical aspects add a lot of context. Combat can be simple but frustrating as you charge through Caledonia's woodland. Some curious design choices undermine battle but it does provide something different. It's worth a look if you want a little more substance to your beat 'em ups.

Withering Rooms is a fair 2.5D roguelite exploration game that we found interesting enough at the outset, but it didn’t really get its claws particularly deep into us. It’s very much a game to while away a wet afternoon with, but if it’s sunny out you’ll find something more fun to do, like fixing your Flymo for example.

If you're a massive fan of the original Rage of The Dragons Neo Geo title, then this is a great way to revisit it but if you're not, the brutal difficulty might leave you feeling like you've wasted your money.

Semispheres is an elegant mix of stealth and puzzle solving that doesn’t overstay its welcome. The levels are short and well-designed and will give your brain a decent workout without dragging out the experience. You might ultimately want more variation and length from the game but for us the game’s bite-sized levels work great.

If Spellbreak gets continued support it could be a contender but for now this fairly limited F2P battle royale game isn't bad.

The Flame in the Flood is an enjoyable game and the survival and crafting elements work really well together. The random aspects add a degree of difficulty which can spike in unexpected ways. Happily though the wonderfully realised river helps the game rise above it’s flaws.

Enigmatis: The Ghosts of Maple Creek will appeal to more casual gamers, the low difficulty and simple controls make this easy to play. As a hidden object game this wont be for everyone, however it does what it does really well and it’s hard to knock it for that.

Guard Duty is a faithful recreation of a golden-era point and click adventure on Vita and PS4. Yes, it’s brief but it’s definitely worth playing.

WWE 2K23 doesn't move the needle much from last year but it does at least stay the course. With a massive roster of talent and a wealth of modes, fans should be happy enough. The presentation remains top notch with Showcase and MyRise being enjoyable modes to plough through. Problems do persist with pacing and multi-person scraps can descend into chaos. Compared to other fighting games, it's a clunky experience but, within the realm of wrestling games, this is an acceptable step forward.

A very Japanese brawler with lashings of fan service which will either draw people to the game or put them off. Get past the lewdness though and there is a decent game to uncover with enjoyable combat and a compelling anime story.

Helvetii is a decent indie effort and combines decent presentation and gameplay but it does drag a bit and the roguelike aspects aren't balanced all that well. With faster progression and better upgrade options this could have been better but for now it'll keep fans of the genre busy for a while.

The changes have certainly made Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed a more fluid experience. It doesn't bring a lot of challenge but the new visuals have given plenty of life to the environments, even if they're mostly grim and dark. The control changes feel natural. The backtracking in the middle can slightly dampen the pace but, on the whole, I found the experience to be straight-forward. The presentation shines as a wander through some of Disney's vintage heyday but behind the nostalgia is a competent platformer.

Sumatra: Fate of Yandi is a decently-written tale that paces itself rather well. I rarely felt bogged down and my objectives were always clear. Adventure games can sometimes feel the need to overcomplicate but Cloak and Dagger Games have managed to show restraint and care. There are minor irritations like the sparse use of sound. Whilst primitive, the visuals do take time to show some colour and atmosphere. There's a good package here which fans will enjoy.

This hack and slasher might not be 10tons' best game but it is still a solid rogue-lite that offers some tight, tactical dungeon-crawling but some might find it a little too slow and repetitive.

Gnomdom is a nice cosy little puzzle game with a fun setting. Family friendly puzzles and nice presentation make this an easy game to recommend.

Katana Kami: A Way of the Samurai Story is fairly likeable. Despite the small shell, there's depth to uncover and a lot of systems to engage with. Combat is interesting and you always seem to have a goal to work towards. Unfortunately, I feel the dungeon's repetitiveness can outstay its welcome but the online aspects and post-game content does try to give players something else to dig into.

In spite of its occasionally obtuse moments, Machinarium has enough charm in its presentation to win me over. There are some clever puzzles in this package with plenty of assistance on offer to provide enough direction. Sometimes the execution is a bit off and having a controller as a substitute for a mouse can lead to awkward moments, but it’s a strong effort that’s worth a look.

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.

An accomplished love letter to the ‘80s in action game form which is only slightly hamstrung by a few issues that stop it being an instant classic.

Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is a solidly crafted search action game. The map seems dense with plenty to discover whilst also doing a great job of directing players to the main path. The assortment of new combat moves and movement options make from some tricky manoeuvres. Late game, my execution would fail me but success was worth the frustration. Character progression could be handled smoother but, on the whole, I enjoyed this game.

Bouncy Bullets is the latest Ratalaika release. This time we have a puzzle platformer with light shooting. As per usual, it's a crossbuy with both PS4 and Vita versions included, the latter port being not quite so fluid due to control scheme issues. Overall though, great value and good fun over its eighty four levels.

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.

Dogurai is inspired by Game Boy action platformers in every way and does a good job of recreating both the presentation and the gameplay. It's short but very replayable and at a low price.

The core gameplay of Pool Nation is sound and offers a good set of modes for pool fans. It's slick, well-presented and enjoyable to play too. A little playtesting and maybe a few upgrades over its six year old PC version might have gone a long way though.

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.

Once Upon a Jester is certainly worth playing. Whilst the interactivity is light, the humour and writing do a wonderful job of creating a heart-warming story. It's twee, cheeky but tactfully performed. The on-stage stuff can hinder the pacing but, even within those segments, there's a playful tone that can produce some smiles.

Save Koch is a fair strategy game where you attempt to save the embattled crime boss. It does feel arbitrarily hard and we couldn’t get over the sense that you’re doomed to fail after one bad choice. Your mileage may vary of course, but we struggled with this aspect in particular. We didn’t manage to save Koch in at least a dozen tries. Perhaps you’ll manage it.

Lost Ruins has a lot of mechanics under the hood for you to play with but they aren't all implemented in the most enjoyable way. Exploring and playing with a variety of possible loadouts is where the fun is and although the campaign isn't that long the different difficulties, multiple endings and unlockable game modes give you plenty more content if you want it.

Has a steep learning curve that should keep fans involved. It retains some of the technical woes of Milestone's previous work but the racing is involved and competitive. The track editor is a welcome inclusion that should extend the life of what is probably going to become a yearly product.

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.

Through sheer weight of volume alone, Atari Flashback Classics Vol.1 creates some enjoyable gameplay moments even if the quality of games on offer is pretty low. As a games compilation this has limited value but as a history lesson it delivers a comprehensive look at the first generation of gaming.

SturmFront feels like an '80s arcade game but with more balanced gameplay and better presentation. It's a tad short and we'd have liked to see a co-op option but it's also a lot of fun and that's what really counts.

Edna & Harvey - The Breakout: Anniversary Edition is a remaster of a 2008 game with a fresh new look, but very much a PC point and click adventure of the era. A few bugs don't help any.

Golf With Your Friends is a mixed bag. To run with the golf analogy, some clubs are great, others are going to leave you gasping in exasperation. It's better with friends, but sadly the moribund online means this is a local only affair. The three new courses are generally good barring Volcano.

Andro Dunos II is the sequel we never expected but it does a great job of looking and playing exactly like an early '90s arcade game. Shoot 'em up fans should give it a go and fans of the original will not be disappointed.

Bishoujo Battle Cyber Panic is basically a Qix clone but that's fine with us. It's pretty short but packs in a reasonable challenge and plays well, even if maybe at the end there is less scope for tactics and big scoring.

Operation Babel: New Tokyo Legacy continues where Operation Abyss left off with a few improvements. The menus could have used some work but speeding up the battles and allowing more character customisation are great additions that make this a must buy for fans of the last game.

Townsmen: A Kingdom Rebuilt is a good mobile conversion that needs a couple of kinks ironed out, but an accomplished post-THQ Nordic acquisition release from HandyGames.

The Wizards offers a slight change of pace from the wave based shooters PSVR is flooded with. You're still taking out waves of enemies as they run towards you but this time you're using gestures to conjure spells and it works very well. It's quite short and even then the constant battles do become repetitive but the spell upgrades do give a decent incentive to replay levels.

Rubber Bandits is a well-made brawler that does feel a little light on modes. Heists are fun and frantic and carry a good flow throughout. Combat feels weighty and the destructible environments make for plenty of chaos. Online play can feel a little sketchy at times but the matches I have been involved with have come with a nice brand of mayhem.

RoboDunk is surprisingly compelling. Despite the toy-like appearance of the robots themselves, the sport shows enough depth to be engaging. The controls are consistent, rules are easy to grasp and the progression is very propulsive. I do find some hazards and opposition frustrating but there's a steady climb to each run. They also feel quick, even if they can contain over a dozen contests. I keep coming back and that's a testament to how well put together this is.

Riddled Corpses EX may not score highly for originality but if you stick with it there's a very addictive and satisfying game here.

Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride is another hidden object puzzle game from Artifex Mundi. If you’ve played any before then you know exactly what to expect here as not a lot has changed. If you haven’t then if you can get over playing a game that would not look out of place on your phone on your PS4 then you can gain some enjoyment out of the sedate gameplay and light puzzles.

Milanoir is a very challenging ultraviolent homage to classic Italian crime movies of the '70s that deserves to be played. This with couch-based multiplayer makes for an entertaining package.

Gardener's Path is a fair little puzzle game that'll nicely tax your grey matter across its sixty levels. Great value too with the PS4 & PS5 versions bundled.

While the years haven't been kind to the graphical fidelity, Star Wars Episode I: Racer still stands up well as a fun sideshow to the more traditional war games set in the series. The quality of life improvements to the PS4 port makes the game a more enjoyable racer to play overall, but the lacking difficulty and replay value makes this a shortlived experience. If you enjoyed the game back in the nineties and fancy a double dip, it will surprise you just how easy it feels now, but if you didn't enjoy the game then this port will do little to change your mind.

Great little puzzle game with Vita crossbuy for a great value package. You'll be playing well after the last trophy has unlocked.

Vasilisa and Baba Yaga is a clever retelling of a Russian folktale. Whilst it doesn't reach far with its levels of interactivity, it does do enough to justify making this a game. Combat, stealth and the other activities aren't complex but they help give the narrative some extra stakes. There's a great sense of dread in this game from the gloomy soundtrack and particularly jagged visuals. I love the bedtime story approach to the narration. I think a younger audience would really enjoy it, so long as reading subtitles aren't a problem.

Taken as an interactive adventure, Robinson: The Journey is a stunning way to enjoy your PSVR headset. The world it creates is beautiful and the level of immersion is unparalleled. The gameplay isn’t nearly as exciting but is still a good adventure game but that’s not what they are selling you here. This is straight up eye candy.

This curious collection of Space Invaders titles brings together the reasonably well-known, and well-liked, Space Invaders Extreme with two fairly obscure other titles but we're left scratching our heads as to why Taito didn't include games from the original arcade series or better games like Infinity Gene. Instead you've got a decent game and two others that no-one asked for but die hard Space Invaders fans should get something from this compilation.

As a solid puzzle platformer title with an innovative dimension shifting mechanic, World Splitter almost has everything it needs to be a new Indie darling. However, overly simple presentation and occasionally frustrating moments hamper things somewhat.

MotoGP 20's promise of smarter AI hasn't really materialised but the handling model feels tough and rewarding to master. It's a little too tail happy and understanding braking requires plenty of practice. On the whole, it rides well which leads to some compelling time on track. I would've loved to have seen more imagination taken with the historical content and online modes. It's a package that, whilst good, can feel a little stale.

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.

XEL might not excel in terms of performance and general stability and the less said about the bugs like getting caught on scenery or simply falling through it, the better. But somehow it remains fun. We’re glad we persevered; we’d recommend you do so too. Though we still hope for a patch that resolves the issues we’ve outlined. It might look like a game from two generations ago, but there’s a lemony charm emanating despite everything. Take a chance, but perhaps wait on a sale as £15.49 ($20) is a bit much in its current state.

Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories presents and interesting plot that is accompanied by some smart and clever visuals. Whilst it does pay homages to old RPGs of the past, the strictly narrative experience helps keep focus on the charming characters and themes. It's a lovely, well-paced effort that manages to feel cohesive and complete. The writing can be pun-heavy and the aesthetic might be tough to adjust to but I warmed to the tale.

Zool comes with plenty of limitations just because of its 16-bit roots but this is a respectful port that tweaks the original experience in positive ways.

A contemporary port of an ancient iOS game that's aged pretty well. League of Evil is cracking value and addictive with it.

The Land Beneath Us is a fair tactical rogue-like that you might dismiss on looks alone, but stick with it and you’ll be rewarded by an intriguing combat system. We just wish we could save mid-run.

Donuts 'n' Justice is a great little side scrolling shooter with a daft ending. See it through on normal difficulty even if you opt for the easy platinum trophy otherwise.

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.

Sonic origins is a solid retro remaster collection stacked with some of the best platformers from gaming’s history. The return of Sonic 3 and Knuckles is amazing and the versions of Sonic 1, 2 and CD are as good as they were on mobile. However, some areas of the games have been altered in ways that are not as welcome, especially when considering audio and level structures which have seen changes that are questionable to say the least. To someone coming fresh off the movies, wanting to see where the series started, this collection will be essential. For the fans that have stuck with the franchise, there are some modes and improvements that are worth experiencing. Overall though, these are not quite the definitive experiences that you may be expecting.

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.

Platypus Reclayed is an unexpected remaster that has worked wonders with the original game's visual style and, following a patch, now offers up some enjoyable shooting too.

Pixel Ripped 1995 is a great idea with you playing a game within a game. It's a little over reliant on gimmicks and references and the games themselves are a little on the weak side but there are some excellent set pieces and the three hour story is worth a look.

Space Mercenary Defense Force is the latest auto-shooting survivors-like to hit PSN and while it offers up a reasonably challenging, and original, take on the genre, it's not the most reliable game technically. We liked it but could have loved it if it was a bit more finished.

Thy Sword is a platform/hack and slasher that offers up some classic arcade style action with good game mechanics and a well-pitched level of challenge.

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.

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered is a carefully crafted repackaging of Lara Croft's most loved early adventures. With warts and all, it has been genuinely enjoyable to dissect the decisions that shaped these games. There's several options to smooth over some of the bumps. I think the modern control scheme, despite some compromises is certainly capable. Including the expansion packs makes this a great value proposition. It still doesn't escape the shackles of time but this is probably the best way to experience classic Tomb Raider.

There's a lot going on with Backpack Hero. The Resident Evil 4 inventory system paired with some tricky turn-based combat makes for a fun and original concept. It doesn't feel quite ready for consoles though and is weighed down by a cumbersome story mode, although a very welcome quick mode cuts out a lot of the faff if you just want to pack and fight.

A Year of Springs is a collection of surprisingly well-written visual novels that handle a very personal subject in a provocative way. The tales of friendships, doubts and acceptance are nice to see play out. At times, it's mundane and everyday and the conflicts are small but being able to show those internal conflicts are very effective. It ends up feeling surprisingly wholesome and enjoyable.

As with Volume 1, this is a weighty compilation that packs in fifty titles from Atari’s past. The quality of many of the games is questionable but as a history lesson in ’80s gaming, this is worth a look. Even if many of the games will only be fired up once.

This bizarre mix of point and click, visual novel mystery solving and old-school shoot 'em up blasting really shouldn't work but it does thanks to some clever and engaging writing. It might not be the best visual novel on the market and the shoot 'em up aspects are fairly average but together it all comes together into one memorable package.

Deiland is a charming farming game that somehow gets away its lack of action and excitement by lulling you into a state of total relaxation.

World War Z's a competent, fun squad-based shooter that really showcases the swarms very well. There's a swift pacing to the missions which can snag when playing alone. As a multiplayer effort, it finds its footing more confidently. The progression should help keep players involved although I'd love to have more episodes to play through.

DOOM: The Dark Ages doesn't hit the same heights as its predecessors. It lacks a vibrant colour palette and verticality but it does deliver on compelling combat. The shield is a versatile tool that can really pin enemies down and defend you against an onslaught. That core is exciting and tricky to master but it can also feel familiar. It's a shame the Atlan and Dragon interludes don't provide much substance. They offer the occasional spectacle and scale but most of your battles are on the ground level. I've enjoyed it and it does provide something markedly different but I recognise this as the weakest of the modern trilogy.

Party Golf’s basic gameplay and presentation may not look like much but give the game a chance and there’s a brilliant little party game here for you to bring out the next time you have friends over. The game doesn’t have much to offer for the rest of the time though.

So Many Me executes well on some clever ideas. The platforming is tricky and tight. Whilst there’s not a lot of time to the package, what’s here is engaging. Sometimes it frustrates and demands intense dexterity but the charming visuals work as a calming influence. Definitely worth recommending if you’re after a compelling platformer with plenty of character.

An accomplished shoot-em-up with rogue-lite elements and an addictive core gameplay loop.

We really like Son of Scoregasm. It's one of the best twin-stick shooters on PSN and has some excellently designed gameplay mechanics. Unfortunately, the game's difficulty eventually leads to frustration and spoils the party a little.

The Surge adds some new elements to the Souls formula that for the most part work well. It fails to live up to its inspiration in the design department, with samey environments and a lack of enemy variety but the combat holds your interest to its conclusion.

Ray's The Dead is a well written zombie horde 'em up in the vein of Stubbs The Zombie, but just let down a little by frustrating combat. It's good but not great.

Pop-up Pilgrims may not be the best showcase of VR technology but there is no doubt that the aesthetic style benefits from the perspective. It is not only gorgeous to look at, but beneath the graphics is a simple yet genuinely inventive game with some great ideas.

There's definitely a sense that a couple of decisions here were the difference between a good game and a great one but we found ourselves enjoying Shinorubi more and more over time.

In a genre where the best games are almost perfect and the worst ones are absolutely awful, Submarine Survivors sits comfortably in the top half of it. The gameplay is solid, the upgrading mechanics are plentiful and varied and it'll keep you hooked for a while. But it does end up being a bit of a grind too. We like it but it could definitely do with having the difficulty smoothed out a bit.

King of Meat has a lot of charm and confidence to it and some of the humour is on point, but this mix of platforming and combat never really impresses in either area and the whole thing has a 'free to play' energy despite having a £25 price tag.

Gloomy Eyes expands on the VR movie of the same name by using the same assets to loosely follow the same plot beats. The camera and movement throughout the pre-rendered landscape aren't the most streamlined but there's still fun to be had. The narration is a highlight.

This is the Jackbox team doing exactly what they always do but if you can get a few players involved, a good time is pretty much guaranteed.

Let Them Come: Onslaught does a fine job with the somewhat oversubscribed Survivors-like genre. Good presentation, addictive gameplay. It's not the best example of the genre but it's a pretty decent one.

Touhou: New World is a fun enough ARPG with shooter elements thrown into the mix. It’s a fun game to dip into from time to time. Not hugely deep but this is also reflected in the budget price. It’s definitely worth a look.

Ed-O: Zombie Uprising can, at its best, be an addictive and compelling rogue-lite hack and slasher but it's let down by mediocre presentation, mixed performance and hellish difficulty spikes.

Pacer delivers a fairly accomplished attempt at a futuristic racer. Whilst I do wish the campaign had some difficulty options, the racing has a good aesthetic and handles responsively. The ease at which you can switch load-outs is a lovely touch and the presentation manages to realise a very corporate super-future. I do wonder if the online options are enough to keep veterans interested but what R8 studios have achieved here is admirable.

What MotoGP 22 lacks in excitement, it makes up in nostalgia. The Nine campaign really helps comprehensively tell the tale of the 2009 season and the remainder of the package is solidly done. It's not inspiring or ground-breaking but it does take small forward steps. There's a sense that these games are trundling along but the core remains decent, if not particularly inspiring.

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.

John Wick Hex is an unexpected take on an action franchise but it mostly works. With a bigger budget you can imagine the possiblities, but what we have got really does put you in the headspace of Baba Yaga.

Hidden Cat Outlaws is yet another hidden cat game, even if the cats aren’t all that hidden. It’s still worth your time though as the slight changes to mechanics from the last hidden cat game released by Silesia Games keeps it feeling fresh.

9 Monkeys of Shaolin plays well, but plays it that bit too safe. Its almost generic, lacking any real character of its own. It's alright though, better suited to short play sessions rather than hours of extended gameplay.

Cannibal Cuisine is an enjoyable spin on the whole Overcooked style of party gaming. It's a bit basic in terms of gameplay and presentation but its simplicity makes it a good choice for random co-op larks.

It's an interesting concept that's perhaps undercut by a lack of modes and content on release. The core of deduction and the heist motif works wonders. I also enjoy the vibrant locales and light-hearted tone but it's clear the package is slim. For a cheap price tag, not many will complain and I did enjoy the tense gameplay that leads to a lot of second guessing. There is a strong hook here. All that's missing is the bait.