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.

Dynasty Warriors 9 moves into an open world and suffers because of it. The world itself is lifeless, the hunting gimmicky and missions design repetitive. Wiping out armies single-handedly is still enjoyable however, with plenty of characters to unlock, it's just a shame the game doesn't do more with its obvious potential.

Birthdays the Beginnings is more of a passive experience than a game and some people will love it for it. Others, like me, may find the vague instructions and the lack of interaction a bit tedious and a put off. It’s certainly an interesting curio but will absolutely not be to everyone’s tastes.

Dariusburst: Another Chronicle EX+ doesn't feel like a new game but rather just a cut-down version of the previous one. As such, the mid-range price point doesn't feel like great value for money and given how the game doesn't cater to newcomers very well, the audience it will really appeal to will be better off sticking to its predecessor instead.

Xenoraid hides some good gameplay deep in an initially weak-looking package and it hides it well but fans of the genre who want some cheap, but different, shoot ’em up action may well end up enjoying the game.

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

An interesting take on adding interaction to the visual novel genre which is only partially successful. Whilst the story is engaging and the art design is gorgeous, the RPG elements of the game just come across as frustrating. It is worth a look if you like visual novel games, but doesn’t do enough to bring in a new crowd.

Knowing parody of classic side scrolling brawlers. The joke wears a little thin after a while unfortunately. Something of a stiff challenge that might deter all but the most masochistic gamers.

Alfred Hitchcock - Vertigo is an unexpected adaptation of the 1958 film with a nice line in looming dread throughout. Perhaps a bit QTE heavy for some, but we enjoyed it despite a couple of rough edges. You should watch the film too. That's ace.

The Crew 2 addresses some complaints from the original game, however not to the point where the concerns are completely eradicated. There are some clear improvements such as a larger open world, a better focus and the inclusion of new racing disciplines by air and water. However, the rubber banding AI and lack of multiplayer content keeps the series from hitting its potential.

Omen of Sorrow is an intriguing fighter whose simplistic AI is surprisingly accommodating for newcomers. Fighting is easy enough to grasp but a healthy online community could help providing some impressive bouts. The story and presentation lacks some punch but the varied and nuanced characters help provide some fascinating match-ups. There are some rough edges but there's satisfying combat to pull you through.

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.

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

Foregone is a more linear take on the Metroidvania formula, with plenty of loot and skills to unlock along the way. Once you have all those skills it becomes a lot of fun to run, jump and dash through the attractive environments, defeating enemies with your range of weapons and skills as you go.

Scribblenauts: Showdown is great fun and sure to amuse you and the younger members of your household. This is how you make learning fun. Recommended.

Paradox Soul is another Ratalaika title that offers two platinum trophies for the price of one. A quite simple and straightforward Metroidvania, but for the price you can't complain too hard about the run time.

Biomutant is a bit of a slow burner. It took a while to get its hooks into us, but it sure did. It's not startlingly original and is a bit overburdened by its sheer scope, but we don't feel shortchanged by our forty plus hours playing it. You could do a lot worse.

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.

Windbound presents itself as a serene experience, full of gorgeous locales and charming visuals. Underneath this nomadic glamour, hides a core of rogue-like brutality and the ever-present threat of death, with an inevitable restart to the beginning coming to those who brazenly disregard the dangers. This difficulty will divide many, but with perseverance, the game turns into an experience worth taming, with rewarding exploration, fun seafaring gameplay and a constant sense of rewarding progression.

Fated: The Silent Oath is a very short experience with limited interaction. The ability to nod and shake your head to communicate with characters is fun and the visuals are appealing but in the short running time I struggled to bond with the characters or get invested in the story. Hopefully a second chapter will improve on things as there is a lot of potential.

All things considered, I've had fun with NASCAR Heat 3. The seasons you take part in can feel draining but there's a charm to the career mode with the fake twitter exchanges and the 'I've only got one take to give' video segments. I'm not sure how long my enthusiasm will last but the arcade handling provides an enjoyable time behind the wheel.

Scars Above is a game that struggles to flesh out some of its ideas. Combat can become a fun tangle of status effects but it withholds the arsenal for so long. Environments and enemies can look generic but there are some moments of beauty as the game speeds along. The cast lacks a personality but rewarding scientists for discovery does twist progression in a neat way. It's a shame so much of this doesn't hit harder. Only the atmosphere is truly done well.

There's a reason that shoot 'em ups rarely cross between sub-genres. It's better to be the master of one than a jack of all trades with four. But MACROSS - Shooting Insight - is an interest experiment at mixing four separate shoot 'em up styles and while it doesn't fully work, the game remains playable and reasonably well-balanced.

Painkiller takes the original fan-favourite FPS and turns it into one of those modern squad shooters where there's a lot of fun to be had for a day and then the content dries up fast. It might be worth seeing what support this game gets before you jump in.

ChromaGun VR is a competent and solid puzzle game but some may find it to be a little lacking in variety and excitement and the VR makeover doesn't really justify the additional purchase if you own the original.

Squirrel with a Gun is pretty much exactly what you’d imagine it to be from the title alone. Yes, it’s shallow but it is also a lot of fun with it. Don’t expect a massively polished blockbuster, ‘cause this it aint. As physics-based playgrounds go, this is a good one. It’s fine to be silly and throwaway, which is exactly what this game is. Enjoy, switch off your brain and blow away some Agent Smith-a-likes with your rocket launcher.

The Sinking City shows a real lack of polish but the investigations provide a likeable adventure. I found cases to be engrossing and the politics of Oakmont, whilst well-travelled and strictly Lovecraftian, give the city a sense of place. The combat is cumbersome but those keen on the sleuthing might be encouraged to tolerate it.

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.

Aqua Moto Racing Utopia is a decent arcade racer that with a little push could have been very memorable. As it is every element is a little too tame making it a lot harder to recommend.

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.

Kona VR is an adventure game with survival elements integrated with some success. The story didn't grab me and the VR add-on suffers from technical issues, but exploring the hostile world will entertain fans of the genre.

Ratalaika's latest is a reasonably good puzzle game but we suspect they are targeting trophy hunters over puzzle aficionados.

Narcosis has a tale worth telling but it's all too brief. Failure can stifle your momentum through the detailed, claustrophobic depths. It's a game steeped in atmosphere but combat feels clumsy and the moments of actual horror feel far too fleeting.

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

Snooker 19 does enough to be a snooker game, but not nearly enough to be THE snooker game. A lack of aiming and viewing options mean this may alienate players looking to participate in some relaxed break-building but are instead forced to remember just how poor at snooker they are in real life. And at four times the price of a competing snooker title released in the same week, this doesn't feel like a game we can recommend yet.

Days of Doom is a game that really needs more variety to shine. The pool of enemies is small and I found myself dealing with them in the same compositions. Rewards for runs is a slow trickle of currency that makes crucial upgrades feel so far off. Whilst the art provides a rare bright spot, it feels at odds with the serious premise. Ultimately, what's here runs out of momentum very quickly and can't really entice me back in for one more go.

Danger Zone hints at the delicious chaos we now expect from Three Fields but delivers a strangely vanilla product that actively seems to be tempering any excitement the gameplay delivers.

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.

Seasons after Fall has definite artistic merit even if this comes at the expense of gameplay. The animation and graphics are truly wonderful to look at, and the voice work and music tie everything together but, the repetition in the puzzles and copious amounts of backtracking means, it is not as fun to play as it is to look at.

Parcel Corps is a fun throwback to Sega’s Dreamcast days of yore, being a hybrid with the feel of both Jet Set Radio and Crazy Taxi. It doesn’t lend itself particularly well to extended play sessions though. It is generally engaging enough and a fun playground to mess around in.

Peaky Blinders: Mastermind is a pleasant surprise. Whilst the license isn't used to its fullest potential, the gameplay delivers a satisfying, methodical puzzler with plenty of moving parts to consider. The levels have plenty of life to them and the more complex missions really allow the characters' unique roles to shine. For something that could've felt like a cheap cash-in, Futurlab has developed something compelling and fascinating to play through.

If I would recommend Undead Darlings: No Cure for Love to anyone, they'd have to be onboard with a very slow dungeon crawler. Whilst I do like the writing and some of the relationship building, it requires a fair amount of tedium to get to. Systems seem in place to lead your party into a hasty retreat when weapons break, inventory fills or a boss becomes too steep to beat. Outside of that, I find a game that's charmingly presented with some really nice touches. It's a shame the combat becomes such a time commitment.

It's not my favourite genre but there is at least something to Crown Wars: The Black Prince. Being able to tackle missions at my own pace was refreshing, although I was still learning from failure. As tough as battles can be, there's a balance to the units and a definite preferred way of playing with strength in numbers being emphasised. The technical hitches are a problem but regular autosaves does mitigate any lost progress. Unfortunately, the pacing can be hammered by an early grind and a game that is not always the best at explaining its systems.

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

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.

The core gameplay loop of Hood: Outlaws & Legends is fun, violent and competitive but currently this feels like a game mode that should exist in a much more fleshed-out title. The challenge now is for them to keep the community interested while new content is added. If they can manage that, Hood may well go on to be a popular online title.

This Is the Police is an intriguing story with a decent simulation game to back it up. There is a lot of game here which unfortunately can’t keep things interesting for its whole length. It’s well presented and if it gets its hooks in you then it will keep you occupied for a long time.

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.

Shadow Warrior 3 is a short but action-packed FPS with some of the most fun combat we've seen in a while. It's got all the action and most of the gore of the Doom games but without the constant looking for switches and doors. It's just a good time from start to end.

Probably the only sky pirate fishing twin stick shooter you'll ever play. Airheart offers an interesting scenario and a reasonably good, but not remarkable, game.

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.

Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water is a different beast to the original games from a few generations ago which isn't necessarily a bad thing but the repetitive locations and enemies combined with the dragged out levels turn what could have been a spooky adventure into a tedious one.

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.

There is an awful lot going right in Vertical Drop Heroes HD. As a roguelike, it works really well and the gameplay loop is both rewarding and enjoyable. Vertical Drop Heroes HD is a game which is easy to recommend.

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.

Beholder: Complete Edition initially impresses with its strong style and theme. The challenge and multiple choices, although welcome, require you to repeat the same actions to get to those interesting moments and if you want to succeed the game forces your hand to play a certain way. A great concept that stutters slightly on the execution.

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.

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.

Skully is a case of lovely concept but fails a little in terms of execution. A wayward camera and overly idiosyncratic movement for Skully himself mar an otherwise fun journey.

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

We Were Here won't wow you on any sort of technical level but its co-op only puzzle solving gameplay is interesting and worth checking out if you have the right friend to play with.

Dust & Neon is a twin-stick shooting rogue-lite that comes close to being good but it's just a bit too stilted and lacks the addictiveness that we expect from the genre.

Exile's End feels like a genuine retro classic, right down to the excellent music. However, a reliance on backtracking with no real signposting stops this from becoming a future classic itself.

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

Alone in the Dark is a surprisingly competent effort that looks back at its own legacy more than towards where the genre has gone. There's less of a focus on combat and survival with the mystery of Derceto taking up the majority of my attention. The performances from Comer and Harbour add some gravitas to a tale that can occasionally stray into theatrics but there's a solid sense of atmosphere and good foundation for whatever comes next. I do wonder about longevity with the two campaigns sadly mirroring one another. Combat, whilst not front and centre, does seem to lack menace. I'd still recommend it, for anyone curious.

Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition is a rich collection of the role-playing classic. There are hundreds of hours of fun at your disposal but it's saddled with technical issues that are impossible to ignore. Vigilant players will need to save often and have high tolerance for such problems. It stays faithful to the original assets in a way purists might enjoy but some more quality of life and graphical improvements would've been welcomed. As a newcomer, I rate this highly but veterans won't find much new here.

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.

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.

NASCAR Heat 5's racing remains compelling and customisable. The visuals aren't perfect but they've retained a wonderful style and character. It's a shame the new additions like testing sessions feel so slight and career mode has stayed largely the same. Some of the technical hitches become more noticeable as time goes on but, if you're after some new NASCAR, this will suffice.

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.

West of Dead has a lot of charm, confidence and potential but is currently a bit too flawed to recommend. However, a few patches down the line this one might end up being your huckleberry.

For all the good ideas, Trailblazers doesn't gel cohesively. The twisty, narrow nature of the courses do lend the game to a topsy-turvy time. Against the ruthless AI, it's difficult to enjoy but, amongst friends there's a decent party game under the hood. It's colourful and vibrant with a fair amount of personality but there's a nagging feeling that this game can't quite come together.

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.

Aside from some decent presentation, Curse of the Sea Rats doesn't do much to innovate the crowded metroidvania genre but it's a solid example of the genre and provides a degree of fun to go with some of the frustration.

A beautiful 2.5D sci-fi platformer you'll feel compelled to unravel the mysteries of. Tight gameplay and the gorgeous setting make for a game we recommend without hesitation.

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.

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.

An interesting take on the usual arcade shoot 'em up but ultimately one that isn't as satisfying or rewarding as it should be.

Gods Will Fall has some strong ideas but the randomness doesn't add to the fun, it adds to the tedium. Harsh punishment and weak rewards makes it hard to recommend, despite the enjoyble boss fights and Bloodlust mechanic.

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.

The House of the Dead: Remake is a faithful port of a classic light gun game. The graphics have been improved a lot and there is plenty of replay value for what is ultimately a short arcade experience. Unfortunately none of the controller options come close to how it was originally meant to be played.

Fighting Force is still fun, in a dated and clunky kind of way. Fighting Force 2 is still awful, in every way.

Groundhog Day: Like Father Like Son is an enjoyable return to Punxsutawney in game form. The repetition is both an interesting concept and a bit of a pain, but you will appreciate it, and the VR shenanigans, as the scenarios develop.

Ghost Blade HD comes close to being a very good shoot ’em up but visual issues and a lack of ambition hold it back. That said, there aren’t many bullet hell shooters on the PS4 and this isn’t a bad option if you fancy sacrificing your thumbs and retinas to the cause.

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.

Poison Control is a fun ARPG as you descend through the circles of hell. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and neither should you. Get to it dood.

Blue Rider is the latest example of a sub-sub-genre of shoot ’em up that has never really worked. With its overly long, samey levels, it all starts to feel like a chore pretty quickly but there is a level of challenge here and some arcade fans may get something out of it. But, with better options out there, this is a game that is tough to recommend.

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

A brilliant spiritual successor to the Burnout series that we want to play instead of anything else. Worth 'working at home' for.

Tiebreak: Official Game of the ATP and WTA is an unfortunate mix. The license brings with it some decently rendered players and venues but it also lacks a presentational flourish to do it justice. The tennis is uncomplicated but I miss having better feedback and precision. The career mode can feel slim and there's very little to do away from the court. If the tennis was more compelling, I'd find it easier to recommend. As it is, I find it lacking.

Terminator: Resistance was a fairly average PS4 game that did enough with the license to appeal to us as fans. Playing through it again in 2021 has been enjoyable enough though and its old-school level design is actually pretty refreshing in this era of open-world titles. It's just a shame that the PS5 facelift and new DLC didn't add anything to the experience but if you want a reason to replay the game, this is it.

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

Small Radios Big Televisions is bold in so far as it offers very little gameplay and is surprisingly repetitive for a game that will last you two hours. There's merit here from an artistic point of view but the game is a victim of its own narrow viewpoint and the fact that artsy non-games aren't exactly rare these days.

Spellspire takes the core gameplay of Letter Quest but doesn’t build on it. Everything is fine here but it’s repetitive and lacks a real challenge for large chunks of time. But word game fans will likely enjoy it just fine.

Xenon Valkyrie+ is an ok game and I've found myself going back for one more go, hoping for a better run, which is always a plus for these rogue-lites. Unfortunately the high level of difficulty ends up just being frustrating. As a quick pick up and play game you'll find fun here for a bit, but in the end it never really does enough to stand out in the crowded rogue-lite genre.

Ninjin: Clash of Carrots is a superb looking game that has an initially fun gameplay loop with the mixture of bullet hell mechanics and scrolling beat-em-ups. Unfortunately, the cracks appear when you hit the midway point and realise that there are no more tricks left and all that is left is repetition and unspent potential.

The Station is an atmospheric mystery adventure set on a space station. However, the game is disappointingly slight and over just as it starts to get interesting.

Torchlight III continues the series' cheap and cheerful take on the action RPG stylings of the Diablo series but comes up short on its combat, looting and storytelling. There's fun to be had here, especially in co-op, but nothing about the game stands out apart from some pretty, but messy, visuals.