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.