Sometimes it worked; sometimes it didn’t. And it felt downright silly to be flinging the controller all over the place during battle.

Monster Jam: Path to Destruction is a low-budget, niche title that might appeal to those who really love monster trucks, but even that's pushing it.

A decent, entertaining Mini that is a fine way to pass the time.

Given that kids are the primary target audience for Wicked Monster Blast!, the confusing and often difficult nature of the minigames sort of work against it. It's a shame though, since there really is some fun to be had with this game.

There are limitations to all hardware and perhaps we have to wait for the next generation before more strides can be taken in the realm of realism. But when you show no progress whatsoever and you appear content to sit on your laurels, the result is an outdated, unsatisfying simulator that is technically flawed and generally unimpressive.

It works well and is a generally fun concept to spend time with, but with such a thin number of options available within the game, while fun, it’s hard to imagine most people playing it more than a couple of times.

Burly Men at Sea will definitely charm you though. And although it can get repetitive if you try to get all the endings for the game, the stories are all well written and it’s exciting to see what happens next. Lots of color, fun music and sound, and witty writing bring this to a very well rounded game that is likely to please most people.

It’s simple, fast, brutal and great fun in short bursts, without any of the baggage that comes from other games in the genre. Anyone with $3 in their pocket looking for a challenging platform game in the vein of Super Meat Boy would be remiss in not checking this out.

Alteric probably is going to fall by the wayside when it’s all said and done. Which is a bit unfortunate. It has potential and if you give it a chance it’s a good way to kill a few hours with a challenging platformer if you’re into that kind of thing. There are issues with the controls and some of the level design could use improvement. But if you’re willing to work through all that you’ll find a nice little challenging game that is surprisingly fun. Even if it can be fairly frustrating at times.

If you’re hard up for some old school 2D platforming, and willing to put up with some notable shortcomings, Shiny might do the trick, but this is the kind of game that ends up as a PS Plus freebie sooner or later, and it’s probably best to wait until it does.

For the most part, I really did enjoy my time in Dungeon Rushers. The game is funny, has solid combat, a crafting system, and fully customizable skill tree for the whole party. If you’re looking for something you can just jump in and out of, it’s certainly not a bad game and it’s at its best in bite sized gaming.

I enjoyed Through the Woods even though I’m sure there are quite a few people who won’t. This short adventure is driven by a neat narrative and great atmosphere even if the delivery isn’t always perfect and the graphics could use improvement. But the inclusion of Norse lore and interesting creatures made for a game that is very unique in its own right.

Hidden Through Time is a pleasing game of spot-and-find that will give you hours of head-scratching entertainment. With a growing set of online creations and a neat map editor, this is also a promising catalyst for a close-knit community. Even with the slight hiccups it has, the modest price tag for the game is wholly worth it.

When all is said and done, I really had a lot more fun with a game that feels like it could have come out back in 2010 as an online flash game than I did with most modern big releases. By knowing what it wants to be and sticking with it, the development team has crafted a fun game that harkens back to the days of old in a good way. Crash Drive 3 may be nothing more than comfort food, but at the end of the day, what’s wrong with that?

While it may not wholly lean in on its RPG roots enough, Tails of Iron is an indie to squeak about. Its combat is punchy, and the charm of its striking art style is nigh-undeniable. Odd Bug Studio seemingly includes a tease for a follow-up at the game’s end, so I hope Tails of Iron does not end up underrated—it deserves a sequel.

While it can be a downgrade and mimicry of the original 2018 release, Inked: A Tale of Love is a pleasant experience due to its superb artistry and laid-back puzzling. It may only be a few hours long, but it does not outstay its welcome, letting you finish mostly satisfied.

While it can be unclear in its presentation and provides an underwhelming mode, A Gummy’s Life is refreshingly fun, polished party mayhem. It’s a sweet treat of a cross-play party game, offering ample juicy opportunities for hilarity among friends & family.

MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries is an ideal starting point for anyone who wants to get into the mecha game genre. Its technical mechanics are daunting at first, and the management system can be harsh, but there is fun to be had in the destructible environments and PvE mayhem.

While it has its rough edges, Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition is a worthwhile remaster of three classic titles. Its visual overhaul prevents these games from feeling overly dated, and the quality-of-life improvements modernize the experience in a way that meets today’s standards. Sure, its new art style and character models won’t mesh well with everyone, but it may grow on gamers as time goes by. And sure, while these aren’t the “definitive” editions we expected, this is an admirable attempt to introduce three groundbreaking games to a new generation, and I’m glad it exists.

The Jackbox Party Pack 8 is a blast of a bundle. Rather than innovating the formula, this pack bursts with social entertainment that refine the foundations of earlier titles, forming the most consistent pack of games yet.

Death’s Door is an excellent action-adventure gem, balancing solemnity with laughs and moderate difficulty alongside forgiving mechanics. Its combat is pure and satisfying, and the light-RPG elements make progression enjoyable. What I admired most, though, is how all of these elements work in tandem as Death’s Door offers an adventure that feels fresh. From the exquisite environments and discoverable upgrades/collectibles to the delightful characters, you won’t wanna miss out.

Overall, Evil Genius 2: World Domination is a real-time strategy that invites you to be a cartoonish villain, boasting a solid base-building foundation. While the gameplay loop itself can become a bit underwhelming at points, with an unnecessary emphasis on passive currency, the game is appealing for its light-hearted tone and the joy of expanding an evil empire.

Solar Ash has some of the best controls in the adventure platformer genre. Putting you in complete control of a badass, freerunning woman, you’ll skate the beautifully neon and fractured world the game drops you in. Sure, the story is underwhelming and the combat simplistic, but the excellent atmosphere and mechanics are worth taking the running jump.

Developer Techland accumulates all they’ve learned from their action-horror catalog, delivering solidly fun zombie-slaying in this sequel. Its long-winded story may miss the mark in keeping you captivated, but the fun to be had more than makes up for that. And the PS4 version is a great option to play, running at very stable performances and maintaining very acceptable visual fidelity.

While it is not incredibly interactive, République VR is a great PSVR title because it immerses you in the story. It will make you feel attached and connected to the protagonist as she looks up to you in desperate help, and the environments look grander than ever. It may not have the most challenging or groundbreaking stealth action, but République VR is a deftly crafted and timely dystopian thriller.

The Quarry is a wild ride. It manages to be a gleeful concoction of horror clichés and a substantial interactive experience. Your choices feel like they matter, as evidenced by the 186 different character endings. And with a gripping story and superb performances, this is one summer stay you won’t forget.

Totally Accurate Battle Simulator ticks a lot of positive boxes for me — it’s content-rich, it’s cheap, and it’s silly fun, but it’s weighed down by console limitations and wonky controls.

If this were an early access game, I’d probably give it some leeway, but Aquarist isn’t in early access — it’s a full release on PlayStation that overcharges for the buggy mess that it is. It has the potential of being a fun guilty pleasure game, but it’s bogged down by the crazy bad bugs and game halting glitches. Even if it manages to fix the big stuff, it still leaves the unoptimized control scheme, sluggish cursor, and clashing graphics. This is the definition of sleeping with the fishes, something no one wants to do.