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.