Peasant Knight is a different take on challenging platformers with your character's constant locomotion acting as one of the obstacles to success. It's a super quick platinum and the overall game is short too but it's so cheap that you can't complain that it doesn't leave much of a lasting impression.

Flame Keeper is very obviously a Switch port shunted to PS5. We’d almost suggest it reeks a little of shovelware in that regard. The core gameplay loop can come over a bit boring if we’re honest, certainly not suited to extended play. The RNG is also harsh on occasions, especially when you end up reliant on it deigning whether you get an extra life on death or not. It’s just OK, but our enthusiasm had run low by the time we beat the final boss.

Cake Invaders takes the classic Missile Command formula, applies it to Japanese people defending German cakes and ramps up the action so much that really it all burns out in an hour unless you're up for some leaderboard action. It's cute, fun and entertaining though and that's good enough for us.

The Valiant doesn't all come together, in my opinion. The depth on offer feels undercut by a repetitive and exhausting campaign. The feedback on offer does a great job of helping you come up with a strategy and using a controller felt relatively hassle free. The narrative might involve a fairly standard holy MacGuffin but the storybook way it was told was enjoyable. I do wish it traded more in variety. A change of pace from the persistent sieges and defence could've kept me engaged. As it is, The Valiant feels like a grind.

Zheros has a heart to its varied, bright visuals and depth to its combat which, sadly seems underutilised. Whilst there’s a plethora of combos to bust out, a preference to mash will easily see the job done. Platforming frustrations and the repetition of combat wears down a decent brawler that can’t quite realise its potential.

For those wanting an Everest to climb, Slime-san delivers plenty of challenge and complexity to master. It lacks some charm, character and the format of the levels seems to stifle any fluency. There's enough here to differentiate itself from the obvious influences but it hosts an aesthetic which I just don't find appealing.

Anoxemia has a great sense of atmosphere with an interesting plot but the whole package seems to lack a little punch. Exploration is fun to partake in and, whilst your objectives rarely stray from collecting things, there’s a certain enjoyment to be had from adventuring deep, down underwater. That might prove enough for some who fancy a shorter, more forgiving experience.

Truth be told, there's a lot to Cross the Moon's story. It's eventful but the lack of really interesting characters stifles my interest. It looks great with photography given a gloomy tone of the underworld. It's a shame the soundtrack can only match it some of the time. The lack player agency also took away whatever minor interactivity this genre tends to roll with. It's not a bad visual novel but I found the wordy script tough to get through.

Necomunda: Underhive Wars has a great verticality to its level design and a varied approach to the campaign. Despite the rather dour environments, the action does have some weight to it that can keep players engaged. Unfortunately, it doesn't feel convenient or streamlined and the learning process can feel steep. Battles require a serious time investment and it isn't helped by a dawdling AI that sometimes wont make the smartest decisions. Those with the patience might enjoy its tactical elements but I found myself somewhat daunted by it.

Republic of Pirates isn't the most deep of experiences. The campaign's rigid structure will show you all the ropes of building your island colonies. The ship combat feels mostly like a sidenote. As a result, it's not complex enough to give you serious control issues. The interface is mostly fine and the basic presentation does sprinkle in some much needed character. It's a leisurely experience with little jeopardy and that might be enough for beginners.

Cold Iron takes the waves out of VR shooters and pits you mano a mano against a variety of enemies in a quick draw contest. It's a little short and the feedback on your shots could be improved but while it lasts it's an enjoyable game that offers some replayability and a well told story.

Honestly, I found parts of Ravensword: Shadowlands charming. It's a game that was low-budget almost a decade ago but the smaller scope resulted in a simple RPG I found surprisingly enjoyable. Technically, it is unpolished and has a tendency to break but playing through it didn't feel like an obligation. The combat lacks depth and the main quest can feel bland. Luckily the uncomplicated nature of it all made this feel rather brisk to play.

A point and clicker which is easy to forget. It looks gorgeous and has a great voice cast but does nothing to stand out from the crowd. If you like your fantasy clichéd and ponderous this could be for you.

Lords of the Fallen is a game I really wanted to like. The seamless transition between worlds is a joy to witness but it wears out its welcome quickly. Combat feels weighty and has plenty of neat twists. Unfortunately, the enemy hordes make engaging with combat feel like a chore. Level design hits some highs but the lows are agonising to traverse and I just left this game feeling frustrated. It's divisive, oppressive and I just can't bring myself to fully recommend it.

Mekabolt is a well meaning but easy platformer you'll be done with in the space of a few hours.

Midnight Deluxe is a relaxed puzzle game that doesn't demand too much of the player but offers an enjoyable challenge.

Harmony’s Odyssey is a fair puzzle game with a variety of challenges to tackle but can be a bit mean spirited, especially on harder difficulty. Perhaps one for a rainy half term day with the kids.

Dakar Desert Rally is an improvement for the series but it still wallows in some of the same problems. Visually, it's stunning with some wonderful views and spectacular weather effects. Unfortunately, the career mode really limits what players can do and drip-feeds content at a relatively slow pace. There's a real lack of modes and the racing is hampered by some poor AI. I never really felt confident with the handling model but at least navigation seems more straight-forward.

Any AK-xolotl fans looking for some couch co-op action will be happy but there might be better rogue-likes out there on PSN for the money.

Late Shift is an interesting mix of game and movie that seems caught between two stalls. Whilst the movie is shot nicely and the plot is enjoyable, operating Matt as a blank canvas stifles some of the acting on offer. It’s an intriguing idea that doesn’t impact as it should. If nothing else, this is an admirable, ambitious curiosity that may pave the way for something better.

Fantasy Friends is a simple enough life simulation game for children that offers up some basic entertainment but does begin to feel like work rather than play and doesn't go far enough in terms of gameplay to warrant its hefty price tag.

Marooners is a party game that has moments of potential but is all too often let down by a general lack of polish and creativity.

Ord. gives you a noun and a couple of verbs and lets your imagination do the rest and, surprisingly, it kind of works but such minimalist gameplay and presentation presents the game with limitations that restrain it too severely.

Punch Club is a unique fighter management game with a great sense of humour and plenty of ’90s style. The gameplay, addictive as it is, becomes punishingly slow and repetitive. They say MMA is a big cause of brain trauma but after many hours with this game, my brain feels like Chuck Liddell has been using it as a speed bag.

Kinduo is a small, forgiving effort that I think new, inexperienced players might enjoy. As short as it is, there's an idea here that doesn't get explored fully. It's cheap, light and short but I do find it difficult to talk about a game that's over so suddenly. It's an okay little thing that maybe doesn't reach for more. At times, this feels like a polished prototype. Sometimes it's nice to blast through the dozens of levels but I'm not feeling challenged in the process. It ends up passing me by, to be honest.

Gravity Heroes is best played with others. Whilst you can tackle the campaign alone, the boss fights seem to be scaled for multiple players. It's also where the game's creativity resides. The controls can take some getting used to but the gravity mechanic does mean thinking about foes from all angles. Combat is fine although a little more variety could have helped with weapons, in particular, being on the small side. It's all presented nicely with some detailed visuals but the remaining modes don't appear to offer much in the way of longevity.

Trails and Traces: The Tomb of Thomas Tew is a point and click adventure game with two easy platinums. It's pretty ugly and the voice acting is very poor but the script is alright and the puzzles, though simple, will keep you reasonably entertained for the short running time.

There isn't much that sticks out about Neonwall apart from how tricky the game gets. Fans of difficult arcade puzzle games might enjoy it but the game's lack of variety, uncomfortable controls and lacklustre presentation is definitely a problem.