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

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

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

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

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

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

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

With the right friends, Melbits World is a cute and clever exercise in collaboration and coordination that offers more than just a gimmicky control system and some sweet presentation but the very young and the jaded old might not get much from it and solo players aren't catered for at all.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

As a complete package, AO Tennis 2 builds on the first game quite well. The customisation allows for licensing to be circumvented whilst the on-court action is tactical, if a little clunky. It lacks a fluidity and the assisted movement can be unreliable, but there's definite steps taken in the right direction. Presentation lacks some punch but the career mode does offer plenty of reasons to come back. It's a fine effort, if a little compromised.

If you've not got the kind of patience to deal Jedi Outcast's dismal level design and dull first few hours, then you'd be missing out on some of the best combat to grace a Star Wars game ever. Even 17 years later, Jedi Outcast is still a lot of fun to play even if it really tries hard to not be.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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