Verti-Go Home is big, bold and brash and while the exciting presentation may be masking some serious issues around the lack of depth the gameplay has, this is fun, immediate VR title that burns brightly but probably a little briefly too.

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

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

Jedi Academy was always the best Star Wars game until Fallen Order came along but it still stands up today thanks to its brilliant combat and decent story.

Crisis Wing is a classy looking retro shoot 'em up but one that has signs of a few cut corners and can be a little unfair at times.

Evertried is a challenging turn based, roguelite. The skills you can get are generally weak and levelling them up requires a lot of busy work but the basic gameplay is well realised, if a little repetitive.

It's Rocket League but with golf instead of football and that works just fine as a concept and in practice.

Geometry Survivor has a ton of promise and for a short while is quite brilliant. The overall rogue-lite structure isn't rewarding or addictive enough to sustain prolonged play though and ultimately the game loses its charm quickly but if the devs can take a closer look at Vampire Survivors and Brotato then any sequel could end up being essential.

Riddled Corpses EX is back in 2022 and is still a great way to spend a few hours blasting zombies in the face.

Voyage is a nice excursion across a gloriously hand painted landscape that only occasionally lapses into incomprehensible "what the hell do I do next" territory. Excellent music too. That it's developed by two brothers is staggering.

Expand is a decent game and one with a bold, vivid style. Some of the mazes are wonderful to experience and the way the moving pieces just always work together at the right time is very satisfying. I enjoyed my time with it even if it was short lived. It's hard to peg a genre to Expand or even to be totally convinced that it isn't some kind of art installation, but whatever it is doing, it does it well.

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.

Rigid Force Redux is a decent R-Type clone but one that plays it very safe and as such never really does anything to make it stand out.

Gravitar: Recharged is a fine remaster of a classic Atari arcade game, though you’d be forgiven for never having heard of it otherwise. It’s not the deepest game ever, nor does it need to be. Well worth a go due to its cheap price too.

When it comes down to it, I think Garden Life: A Cozy Simulator does what it sets out to do. It's a comfortable game with very little strife or stakes. Growing and maintaining the garden has a simplicity to it and the brief days allow the pacing to largely stay steady. The story mode delivers a structure that does provide a tutorial whilst pushing you gently towards greater goals. I do wish the inventory management has a little smarter but it hasn't dampened my spirits too much. It is a time investment but can be rewarding when the garden really opens up to you.

9 Lives to Defend is a fun cat-themed take on the popular auto-shooter genre and it does a good job but never quite lives up to the 'bullet heaven' tag.

Twogether: Project Indigos Chapter 1 is a pretty decent opening. The premise and puzzles are interesting and, despite the short play time, it has me interested in what comes next. There's a strong, clean look to the puzzle rooms that I really like. Mechanically, it's sound with two distinct characters that combine fairly well. It doesn't develop into something complicated but it does lead to an experience that flows well. It's short but I'm intrigued to see what follows.

Graveyard Keeper is an enjoyable, addictive experience. Without the DLCs keeping a decent supply of materials for all the building and crafting you need to do can be tedious, but when you unlock a new branch of industry or revenue stream the reward is high. Maintaining a graveyard has never been so much fun.

We liked Dead End City a lot. It felt like an actual '80s coin op but with a setting that sets it apart from the usual space shooters. It's not the most exciting shoot 'em up ever but the difficulty is pitched just right and it kept us entertained, and frustrated, right to the end.

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.

Night Lights is a decent 2D puzzle platformer with Metroidvania elements. It just about manages to not overstay its welcome but if you give it the respect due of playing it without a guide, the game's well-balanced level of challenge makes it very satisfying to play through.

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.

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 could be great but ups the ante with an overly aggressive AI implementation that makes the campaign mode a joyless experience in the second half. Coupled with zero use of the Dualsense functions, you’d just as well be playing the original against pro-level players online. It's still a great game but the absurd AI kills it for all but the most hardcore players.

Bridge Constructor is a straight-forward puzzle game that offers a good challenge for anyone looking to exercise some mental muscle.

Collapsed is a solid mix of run and gunning and rogue-lite looting which has a good level of polish to it. There's definitely too much grinding to do but it's a good game to drop in and out of.

Disjunction is a great forced perspective brawler/shooter/stealth-em-up in a not-too-distant future setting. It's difficult at times, but rewarding when you progress.

Shinrai: Broken Beyond Despair is an enjoyable mystery that does a good job rounding out the characters. The narrative is compelling and the conclusion feels well-earned. I don't find the presentation especially engaging with some unappealing backgrounds and a soundtrack that is decent but not memorable. Still, the investigative interludes feel worthwhile and should strike a chord with those up for a good sleuthing.

Raiden V is a very accomplished shoot 'em up that offers a suitable challenge to players of different skill levels but the visuals can obscure the action and death can come very cheaply.

Paw Paw Paw is an enjoyable brawler that manages to offer some persistence in a lengthy campaign. The combat has a depth to it and the enemies are nice and varied. It's a shame they deal so much damage and stun at the bitter end but the arenas do mostly offer you room to escape. The areas are nicely varied with some interesting bosses to tackle. Overall, it's a solid effort.

Kaze and the Wild Masks is a cleverly executed effort that leans perhaps a little too heavily on time-pressured challenges. The controls are responsive and precise which leads to a very tricky game across some diverse stages. With a colourful aesthetic and some charming character designs, it's a shame the ramp up in difficulty comes so soon but it is satisfying to overcome.

Backbone is a fine debut from Egg Nut but hamstrung by a high price and a story that outright gallops to a conclusion, overwhelming any feeling of player agency you've built up by the third act of five. The price makes it difficult to outright recommend, but very much a firm foundation for Egg Nut to build on.

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

Aero The Acro-Bat 2 is a good port of a classic ‘90s platformer with faithful emulation and plenty of extras for fans of the game. It’s very much of its time, but can still be appreciated, with the challenge adapted via save states and any number of cheats to act as training wheels. Despite this reviewer not having played it back when, we still enjoyed ourselves for the most part.

Fans of off-road and muddy racing, and gamers who just like arcade-style motorbike action, are well catered for with this very competent motorsports title. A year's worth of patches have answered many of the issues from the 2018 release and we like seeing all of the DLC included on the disc too.

Murderous Muses is a video based whodunnit based in an art gallery. It’s generally well done but can feel a little unfair and luck based if you don’t manage to successfully piece together a suspect’s case. A wealth of video interviews and collectibles make for plenty of replay value too.

The Sinking City is a good Lovecraftian detective game with uprated PS5 visuals and massively reduced loading times from the PS4 version. Well worth picking up if you fancy something a bit different. Just a shame that haptics are underutilised outside the usual rumble.

Watcher Chronicles is a fairly solid souls clone with a deceptively large world to battle. Story is thin and presentation can be ordinary but the reactive combat is enjoyable to engage with. Some encounters can be busy and not all the bosses are winners but there's a decent core that kept me entertained. As punishing as it can be, the reward and constant challenge kept me focused and the exploration is aided by reliable platforming. Whilst it doesn't do a lot to separate itself from its contemporaries, the execution is sound.

Welcome to Basingstoke is a daft post apocalyptic rogue-like that’s ostensibly set in the north Hampshire town, though it’s just so dark. As in difficult to see. The only time you can play reliably is at night. Never mind that Basingstoke is fifty miles from London, it has tube stations. Given the devs are from London, you’d assume a little familiarity with that. In-game tracking for class unlocks is a bit inconsistent too, as well as the stealth melee kills trophy being broken at the time of writing.

With two good tables and one that we really don't like, this collection of Jurassic Park themed tables represents fairly decent value for money for Pinball FX 3 fans.

With a name like eFootball PES 2021 Season Update, I was expecting last season's game with updated leagues and kits. Cosmetically, it's exactly that but the action on the pitch has seen some interesting changes. The matches are a touch more physical and new animations show that some work has gone into the engine. It plays differently from last year and is compelling to learn. Away from the pitch, things feel largely stationary and it's clear that's where the compromises lie. I enjoy it but it's clear this falls short of feeling like a fully-fledged sequel.

Blasters of the Universe asks you to weave your head through a barrage of bullets. It works great on a technical level and the gun customisation is a strong point, but at only four levels it's over too quickly and despite being 'bullet hell' it doesn't feel too different to what you've probably played already.

Eventide: Slavic Fable is another solid entry into the light adventuring genre which Artifex Mundi have made their own.The puzzles veer more towards logic puzzles rather than hidden object ones which should be borne in mind. Although there may be nothing too challenging here this is a game which is as much about the story being told as it is the limited gameplay.

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.

The Walking Vegetables is a fairly average twin-stick shooter that is elevated by a great selection of weapons and upgrades but is let down by tired visuals and samey gameplay.

NBA Playgrounds is fun, frantic and friendly. The scoring system can seem a little unbalanced and there are some curious omissions that stick out in an otherwise well-realised product. It’s thin on modes and online multiplayer seems somewhat half-baked but it feels fundamentally enjoyable. There’s a nice sense of progression as you acquire new cards and improve existing ones. If you fancy a new jam, this will provide.

If you want to get your supercross/motocross hit, then this game is the way to do it with its officially-licensed riders and tracks but it barely improves on last year's effort which itself was more of an evolution than a revolution.

Despite the occasional clashes in tone, Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers does a good job of showing how to manage a group of strong personalities. The humour's not my cup of tea with a heavy reliance on references but there's enough minutia from the dating to keep someone interested. The presentation is colourful and, whilst some characters can be somewhat cartoonish, the voice acting gives them plenty of life.

A Little Lily Princess takes an old children's novel and breathes some new life into it. With a colourful and polished aesthetic, the cast of characters are interesting and diverse. It does take opportunities to sidestep from the source material but the main narrative rigidly stays the course. Whilst I'm not entirely won over by the stat-building nature, the events and paths this can lead to do give the story some new ground to cover.

Remote Life is an admirable release from a solo developer but has some issues around visual clarity and level design that hold it back a little. However, if you can treat it more as a survival horror game than a pure shoot 'em up, the game's creepy atmosphere and memorable enemies make it well worth checking out.

Big Ant Studios have continued to make a comprehensive cricket sim without especially making great strides over previous efforts. The customisation is extensive and the content on offer covers almost everywhere in the cricketing universe. The sport itself plays well but the presentation lacks a little, especially when it comes to atmosphere. Load times seem to suffer but, for fans, Cricket 19 offers more than enough to keep them happy for a while.

Battlezone is one of those refreshingly old school titles. One that takes you back to the glory days of simplistic game design with a satisfying pay off. This may not have been enough for some on its own but VR makes the whole game that little bit sweeter. If you can bring a friend and conquer the steep learning curve then there is a good time to be had.

Mining Mechs is a simple digging/exploration game where you dig to earn money so that you can dig some more. Beyond that, there's not much else to the game but if you're looking for a relaxing time, this game should fit the bill.

Assassin's Creed Mirage is a nice reminder of what this series can do well. Movement through the densely populated cities can feel kinetic and slick whilst stealth is straight-forward and easy to plan. Combat is serviceable, if a little clumsy when multiple enemies arrive. There's a sense of nostalgia I get from what is ostensibly a more complete and considered take on the series' first steps. I wish the story had more weight to it but the actors do a good job of delivering what they're given. It's not a stellar example of the genre but a rather solid one.

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.

The story of Tetris might actually be more engaging than the game itself but this interactive documentary gives you plenty of both.

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.

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

Othercide brings some great ideas to the table to differentiate it from similar titles. Unfortunately what content is here gets repetetive quite quickly. It does have its moments, such as the boss battles, so fans of the genre should give it a try.

Concept Destruction is a bite-sized throwback to days of yore that leaves us wondering what might've been had the developer had more resources to flesh it out.

We've always been suckers for a mini-game compendium and Carnival Games VR has a couple of bangers. It's not all good but with this much variety on offer, you're sure to find something you like here.

Void Point have sought to recreate the Duke Nukem 3D experience that many loved and for most parts, they have succeeded. Ion Fury is a nostalgically familiar and lovingly crafted trip down memory lane for all those 90’s shooter fans that love quipping heroes and as little story as possible. However, the game suffers due to shaky performance in places and samey action throughout.

Clustertruck lives up to its name by offering a suitably chaotic puzzle platformer that will test your patience as well as your dexterity. Whilst it can frustrate, it doesn’t dwell on your failure long enough to truly let it fester. Success feels rewarding although the random elements force you to react rather than memorise. It’s worth checking out if you’re after a real challenge that should keep you occupied for weeks, maybe even months.

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

For a game sold old, it doesn't stand out against the contemporaries of the genre. Granted, visual novels tend to stay in their lane. Never 7: The End of Infinity proposes an interesting premise and manages to deliver a story that is engaging whilst managing to juggle the teen tribulations with genuine peril. I think the sci-fi element does help quicken the game's pace and the new art assets, whilst simple, do provide a colourful backdrop.

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.

Ruffy and the Riverside is a thoughtful homage to 3D platformers. The bright visuals and chirpy soundtrack give the game plenty of life. The swap mechanic is interesting but it doesn't quite fulfil its potential. There are moments where it's used to great effect but the puzzles are predominantly simple. That does lead to a campaign that's breezy and takes you through some varied locales. I enjoyed it but it definitely seems to be aimed at youngsters.

After spending thirty years in the dark, Clockwork Aquario finally gets released to the public, thanks to ININ games. With solid spritework, excellent music and a satisfying game loop, this is a solid nineties arcade platformer. However, the limited game length and offering may leave a fair amount to be desired. This is one of those that love game preservation and classic Sega titles while others may find this game forgettable compared to their other thirty year old favourites.

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

RetroMachina is a solid action puzzle game with vividly realised enemy designs, a great mind-control mechanic and beautiful art. A technical issue halted our playthrough prematurely, we just hope a patch resolves it.

HyperParasite is a twin-stick shooter with plenty of variation, style and humour but some might find it a little frustrating due to its strict roguelike mechanics.

I think Woodhill Interactive have done well with Orten Was the Case. Whilst it is a small town tale, the time loop allows proceedings to reveal a decent narrative. The puzzles and objectives mostly avoid wild jumps of logic whilst allowing a player's own hindsight to cut corners and streamline each attempt. The presentation won't be too everyone's taste but I kind of liked the exaggerated, grotty characters and detailed surroundings. It's a shame the movement can feel occasionally clumsy and checkpoints aren't always well placed.

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

Rune Factory 4 Special is an updated version of a 2012 3DS game and while it's a faithful recreation, it's let down by some clunky mechanics and the fact it's better suited to mobile play rather than sat on a couch.

Terminator: Resistance’s Annihilation DLC is a solid four-hour expansion to the main campaign. While it retains some of the foibles that kept the original experience from reaching a higher score, there is a lot to like about what this content brings both in the narrative and action. For Terminator fans that want to experience every piece of lore associated with the first two movies, this is a treat. However, if you found yourself burned out by the main game, then you may want to give this a miss as it is mostly more of the same.

Pawarumi's shoot 'em up gameplay gets a lot right and its presentation is top notch but its colour-switching gimmick is less than intuitive at times and detracts a little from what has the potential to be a really great game. Thankfully though that's not enough to spoil the game and this is a game we're happy to recommend to shoot 'em up fans.

Wintermoor Tactics Club is a shorter, gentler strategy game with likeable characters and an enjoyable story.

Inertial Drift is very much inspired by the anime / manga with the very similar name, but falls down a little in execution. The difficulty in story mode feels out of sync with other modes. Not that you can adjust difficulty. Maybe you'll dig it, but we didn't particularly.

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

Spirit of the North: Enhanced Edition is a pretty puzzle platformer, perhaps not revolutionary but for an indie game it's a good debut on PS5 from Infuse Studio. We just wish it used the Dualsense functions at all as it feels like a missed opportunity.

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.

While seemingly built for trophy hunters, Barry the Bunny is a charming, well made, yet unremarkable 2D platforming adventure. The game is decently polished and plays well enough, but not to the point where it will leave a lasting impression.

Stellatum's classy, upgrade-heavy take on the classic vertically-scrolling shoot 'em up was good in 2019 and is still enjoyable today. The improved visuals and haptics are welcome but we'd have liked to have seen some tweaks to the gameplay too.

Prey is another win for Arkane Studios and Bethesda. It may not have much to do with the original or the promising cancelled sequel, but it is a fine attempt at keeping the name alive. Sadly, the difficulty can be a barrier to enjoyment and often places you in situations where you are ill equipped to survive. Some may adore the challenge, others may find themselves too frustrated to continue. Otherwise Prey is a worthy followup, even if it isn’t what could have been.

This port of Age of Empires II has lots of content and plays nicely on the PS5 but it's quite repetitive and frustrating too.

.hack//G.U. Last Recode is a generous package with the three original PS2 episodes plus a new closing chapter. The modern improvements help make it more palatable for today's tastes but there is no doubt that this still looks and plays like an old game. How much of a negative that is will depend on the player.

The Inner World is a thoroughly enjoyable adventure game. The art style is distinct and the story is both funny and engaging. The puzzles are typical to the genre but the hint system will allow everyone to see the end of it. Some minor technical issues are the only things that stop this from scoring higher.

Enigmatis 3: The Shadow of Karkhala is another solid entry in the hidden object genre. Once again it offers enjoyable puzzling with an engaging story and gorgeous highly detailed 2D scenes. This wraps the Enigmatis series up in a satisfying conclusion and remains accessible to new players. Whilst not without some flaws, this is easy to recommend to anyone looking for a casual few hours of puzzling.

Call of the Sea is a case of great plot, beautiful surroundings, mixed puzzles. Some puzzles require such leaps of logic that you may struggle to progress. Despite that, this is worthy.

Little has changed between the previous generation and now. UMVC3 returns in a warts and all package that provides all of the characters, special moves and matchups that keep the series being as chaotic and fun as ever. Fans of the series will be right at home of course, particularly those that circumvent the drama of long distance by duking it out on the sofa. However if you weren’t interested in the series before then this release will do little to change that, Newcomers may want to wait for the fresh unplundered Marvel Vs Capcom: Infinite.

There is something about Quest of Dungeons which works really well. With a tight gameplay loop there is a lot to like here. Although the enemy AI can be a little simplistic the combat has a fair bit of depth to it and makes the Quest of Dungeons a fun game to play.

Hardcore platformer fans may want something a bit more taxing but this pacey-but-gentle game is a joy to play through.

Rick Henderson's classic shoot 'em gameplay and neat 16-bit visuals give it some instant appeal and the perks and weapon upgrades keep it interesting. The randomly generated levels lack character and may mean that the game won't linger long in the memory but it'll definitely keep you entertained in the short term at least.

Relicta is a beautiful physics based puzzler with sweary Indian ladies. It’s fine but prone to arbitrary puzzle solutions halting your progress altogether.

Tannenberg is a solid and tactical multiplayer shooter with a keen eye for historical accuracy. Lower budget production values aside, M2H have done an excellent job of recreating the realism of being entrenched in the Eastern Front and the constant danger of being caught in No Man's Land.

Kandagawa Jet Girls is a good jetski racing game. We’re not really the target audience for the overtly sexualised schoolgirls though, but if you are you’re well catered for. Add 10% if it rings your bell. Anyone else, hit start and get straight to racing.

Whilst it's not exactly robust, I did enjoy piecing together a story in Times & Galaxy. Opportunities to press a subject can feel limited but the writing is rich enough to convey a full picture. The assignments can inject some surrealism into the mundane and the structure allows for a lot of potential with future playthroughs. The chit-chat with your colleagues can feel realistic and understandable. It can lay the wackiness on quite thick but I found it to be charming and funny.

Oure is a mixed bag of a game. The overall experience of playing it is a tug of war between beautiful dreamy vistas and frustrating controls and camera issues. If you're willing to just go with the flow and get used to these issues there is a lot to like here, but if you get frustrated by imprecise controls this isn't for you.

Heroes of Hammerwatch is a clever and compelling rogue-lite with a steep learning curve and crack-like addictiveness but it is one of the least beginner-friendly games we've ever seen. As ever, basic playtesting should pick up things like that but, if you can stick with it, prepare to lose days, weeks and probably months.