Even with its slow moments and uneven presentation, Dark Auction’s writing and mystery kept us hooked. If you enjoy character‑driven visual novels with a darker edge, then it’s worth a look.

The Ascent's a solid, if somewhat repetitive shooter, propped up by eye-popping environments and a reasonable amount of RPG depth. If you can stomach some grindy mission design and the occasional buggy interaction, then there's explosive fun to be had here.

Swansong's biggest problem is that at times it's perhaps not as clear as it could be about what you're actually meant to be doing or how to bypass certain problems, and you'll find that it's trial and error that gets you through. There's also a couple of technical issues, including one in which we spent ages wandering around trying to solve a puzzle only to reset the game and discover that the solution to the problem hadn't loaded the first time around. Not cool.

If you've any interest in gaming history, or get a warm, nostalgic feeling about having played Duke's adventures in the past, then Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition is well worth your time.

You'll need real perseverance to get the most out of Flame Over, but once you get to grips with the game, it'll grow on you like an out-of-control inferno. Packing plenty of replay value, this is hard to put down once you straddle its early hurdles – and while we're not convinced that everyone will be willing to put the work in, the few that do will be fighting fires for some time.

Even though it can take a little while to truly click, this is a unique and refreshing entry in Square Enix's beloved franchise, and a one that's a prime candidate for an even better sequel.

Torchlight II is an older title that feels its age at times. Nevertheless, it remains a solid example of its genre and will keep you occupied for hours on end. Multiplayer, an expansive upgrade system, and a sea of worthwhile loot make up for the repetitive gameplay.

Volume is a bit of a mixed bag. Underutilised voice performances and some really nasty technical issues stand in the way of the title getting top marks. However, it's difficult for us to deny that the actual minute-to-minute gameplay is damn fun.

Assassin's Creed Mirage sets off in search of its roots, and it finds them — both for better and worse. Undeniably basic in its approach to stealth and combat, it feels oddly dated in terms of design, but it's also a refreshing reminder of the series' original strengths. Ultimately, it's a solid sandbox title, and it successfully scratches the hidden blade itch that was so clearly absent in Odyssey and Valhalla.

Because so much of its content is repurposed from past games, Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is easier to recommend if you're new to the series. That said, this is still an impressively comprehensive anime fighter; the team-based gameplay holds up, the new modes are solid overall, and sheer size of the character roster is hard to ignore.

It’s very cool to see Space Adventure Cobra repurposed in this format, and we daresay The Awakening’s going to breed a fresh generation of franchise fans – especially as it includes tons of original footage from the TV show. While the in-game art style doesn’t quite measure up to the anime and the gameplay has some rough edges to it, there’s a surprisingly good rhythm to the action at times, and some clever use of the eponymous adventurer’s arsenal.

If you’re already a fan of Alan Wake, this is a brilliant experience that provides more juicy tidbits from the beloved property. If you’re new to Alan Wake, though, this is not the right starting point. Wait for the –hopefully – PS5 remaster and then come back to AWE after that.

Online multiplayer is supported and you can play the minigames standalone if you like. Additionally, a raffle mechanic allows you to unlock profile customisation items. But ultimately your enjoyment will come down to how much you want a Mario Party game on your PS5, because right now, this is your only option.

Eternights' great success is that it manages to be more than the sum of its parts. The witty writing papers over the shakier aspects of the storytelling, the slight combat is used sparingly enough that its flaws rarely frustrate, and above all, it's got an undeniable charm despite its rough edges. We're swiping right on this one.

Bladestorm: Nightmare's vast battlefields only become truly welcoming once you're embedded deep within its progression system, but those who are on the lookout for a bit of tactical action will definitely want to test their mettle as a mercenary all the same. While combat's never spectacular, and the game isn't quite as strategic as it perhaps promises to be at first glance, it's still easy to get lost in this historical hack-'em-up's rewarding gameplay loop.

There are still a few niggling mechanical issues present and the boss battles are disappointing, however fans of both Harry Potter and the LEGO games will find something to enjoy here.

Expansions are rare when it comes to fighting games, but Road to Boruto manages to add a reasonable chunk of content to a brawler that's already stuffed with things to do. Most of what's on offer is nothing new, but if you've been looking for an excuse to leap back into CyberConnect 2's super polished title, then this additional adventure is as good a reason as any.

Serial Cleaner is a fun little game which offers something that’s both similar to other indie titles on the market and thematically unique for the stealth genre. Its difficulty and slight release content are offset by a number of options, a great premise, and some uniquely engaging gameplay.

Ultimately, poor combat fails to sour the strong level and encounter design here that meshes beautifully with well-thought-out controls and plenty of mechanical variety. An impressive sequel, but perhaps lacking the purity of its predecessor.

Sometimes, it's nice to play a game that doesn't ask too much of you, one that allows you to relax and simply enjoy being in its world. If you can forgive its technical hiccups and learn to adapt to its loose controls, you'll have a whale of a time.

PlayStation Move has struggled to find defining software that justifies its existence, but Sorcery represents the most ambitious attempt yet. Its seamless integration of natural motion controls makes it the best example of Move's potential to date, and while the campaign lacks replay value, it's still worth experiencing if you want to put Sony's underutilised wand to use.

It's an engaging and compelling narrative with more twists in the tail than we could count, and it's the visual novel side of things which supports that with a set of robust features and mechanics. You'll be able to scan scenes for clues and people to talk to via a cursor, while an inventory allows you to tailor a conversation to a specific piece of evidence. Meanwhile, investigations give you the chance to get to the bottom of a certain point in a case and Max Mode varies your responses to people of interest on an increasingly ludicrous scale.

There are already better two-dimensional blob-based puzzlers on Vita, but Puddle is not entirely without merit. The title's impressive variety and evolving mechanics ensure that it's an experience worth dipping your toes into, even if its many difficulty spikes and inefficient communication will make you want to liquidate the expensive platform you're playing it on.

Pepper Grinder's look is also really sprightly (pun intended): its pixel art is simple and well-executed, with occasionally characterful animations, and the whole thing's backed by a funky soundtrack. This might not be the most substantial of platformers, but it's a spirited entry.

It's not a long game, but there are different routes to explore, and multiple difficulty settings with online leaderboards to entice you back. As with the main game, though, it's the jump scares that are the real stars here – and they help this likeable launch title live up to its name.

When you're in the thick of a match, using a baseball bat to smack a worm into the water, blowing up a cluster of enemies with a well-placed sheep, or expertly crossing the map with a ninja rope, only to botch the landing and start a chain reaction of mines and exploding barrels, all the rough edges erode away. Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Edition is a warts-and-all revival of a game that, 25 years later, still has it where it counts, and there aren't too many titles that can make that claim.

Despite a few minor flaws and weak Move implementation, this technically impressive action/adventure title is definitely a welcomed addition to the PSN library.

Moss is sublime throughout, but it’s so good that you’ll wish there was more of it. Much more of it. Clocking in at just a few hours, the game feels like the prologue for a much bigger adventure, and it’ll leave you yearning for more. As a virtual reality experience, only minor technological limitations detract from its lush fantasy world and cunning use of the medium. There's no doubt that Polyarc's built the foundations for something truly special here; it now needs to write a few more chapters in Quill’s tale.

There are some excellent levels in Trials Rising, though performance hiccups do generally detract from the overall bombast. A comprehensive campaign paves the way for a smoother learning curve than ever before, but protracted load times and lousy cosmetics will generally disappoint. The physics are still phenomenal, and the series has retained its addictive quality, but it can occasionally feel like a game looking for answers to questions that didn’t necessarily exist to begin with.

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is a CRPG worthy of its grimdark sci-fi setting, offering players engaging tactical turn-based combat and an immersive adventure. It lacks polish, and we encountered some frustrating bugs, but deep class customisation and an exploration of the setting like nothing before means there's plenty to recommend for fans who are willing to take the plunge.

Crossy Road Castle is a really fun and addictive game, in our opinion best enjoyed solo as the multiplayer doesn’t add a lot in terms of goals for the individual and instead detracting from the action. Whimsical and cutesy, the aesthetic of Crossy Road Castle is such that it really adds to the overall enjoyment of the game, with its simple but compelling gameplay.

Cat Quest is a decent little game that we’d definitely recommend, with a charmingly cute presentation and a solid combat system that together form an overall enjoyable experience. Although you will definitely feel the pangs of repetition, there's just about enough here to keep you engaged until you reach the title's satisfying conclusion. If you’re a big RPG fan or you’re a cat purr-son, then Cat Quest is going to be right up your alley.

Cumulatively, you end up with a title brimming with nostalgia and good ideas, but controls that hold the affair back.

The original release may not be as good as you remember it, but DuckTales: Remastered is an affectionate rendition that will be sure to pluck at your nostalgic heart strings. For those without a reference point, this may feel like a pretty but archaic platformer, but if you can get past the obtrusive cut-scenes, fans of the NES classic shouldn’t think twice about giving this a quack.

In Tanta We Trust is a DLC better than the game it's based on, but that's more because it strips the Forspoken experience of its open world busywork than anything else. An expansion that focuses more on combat, the single open area is a condensed version of what the base title offers, turning it into a more tightly packed undertaking that gets you in amongst the action much faster. It's more Forspoken, but a better version of it.

The story’s ridiculous, but it’s not to be taken seriously, and it’s the kind of thing you can play with friends just to experience all of the silly outcomes. We were howling with laughter when we attempted to tape up one of the girl’s ripped dresses. If that sounds like something you’d also enjoy, then fill your boots.

There is nothing brand new to look forward to in the title, but Afterlife VR effectively takes a blender to a number of horror tropes and settings, delivering a sufficiently worthwhile experience.

Repelling Viking invaders alongside your neighbours – figuratively in solo play or literally in multiplayer – taps into an old-school nostalgia that's enjoyable in short bursts. The game's lack of ideas make it frustrating in long stretches, though, and although the cross-platform functionality between PS3 and Vita is neat, solo players might want to give this game a miss.

In the end, Unepic would probably be a better adventure game. This twenty hour or so unabashedly old school RPG is frequently broken up by conversations between characters and these interactions are amusing enough to make the often finicky platforming and combat sections worth persevering with.

Destroy All Humans is a good attempt to bring back the cult classic in 2020, but it misses the mark in a few key areas. While there are some nice improvements to the core gameplay, they don't do enough to rescue the old fashioned mission design and difficulty spikes. It's a shame, because there's some fun to be found here -- you just have to put up with quite a lot of PS2 era baggage. Fans will be delighted, but this remake is hardly out of this world.

Look, it’s a fun game, filled with flashing lights and so much digital detritus you'll need a shower after one run. But the thing is, you’ve played this before – not in this form in 4K on this particular format, but Tempest is Tempest and Tempest 4000 doesn’t really try to be anything else. Which is fine, but we just wonder whether hidden messages to Chuck E. Cheese founder Nolan Bushnell and a few extra visualiser effects are enough here. Minter’s schtick, for as much as we love it, feels like it’s outstayed its welcome for the first real time. Maybe Atari’s lawyers would have been better off keeping this particular project locked down?

If you're hungry for a quick slice of narrative, one that's well-acted and has some smart dialogue to explore, along with a few secrets to uncover, Open Roads will feed that craving. In an age where walking simulators can be derided, though, it's a bit pedestrian in some regards, with a visual identity that doesn't cohere as it could, and some plotting that feels less than inspired. It's hard to escape the sense that the story of how this game was made will be told in detail at some point down the line, and that it might just be the most compelling part of Open Roads' legacy.

There’s an absolute treasure trove of licensed content, spanning both men’s and women’s teams, with only the lucrative Indian Premier League the notable omission. However, a robust creation suite means fans will be able to create any missing players or clubs and share them online, which should plug any small gaps that do exist...The biggest downside, then, is just the underlying lack of budget: cricket is popular enough, but it’s not baseball, and it’s clear that Big Ant Studios just didn’t have the resources to nail key gameplay mechanics, like fielding, which feels flat and unrealistic due to the limited selection of animation cycles in its library.

It might lack some polish, but Journey to the Savage Planet is an enjoyable jaunt across a strange, open-ended landscape. This is a game you play in order to explore its intriguing environment and interact with the wildlife -- combat is fairly dull, attempts at humour rarely land, and the story almost feels like an afterthought at times. If you're looking for an easy-going sci-fi action game, this just about does enough to satisfy.

Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion is an enjoyable sail along the high seas that is ultimately hampered by being rough around the edges. The battle system and story are an enjoyable experience, but absurdly long load times, frame rate stuttering, a clunky menu system, and a poorly developed upgrade system hamper the experience. It's still an entertaining experience, and fans of the show will likely love it, but those looking for an incredible RPG experience here might be left a little disappointed in its squandered potential.

It masterfully hits the target in terms of its characters, story, and setting, lulling you into a misplaced belief you're playing something really special. Unfortunately, once the grind of taking over territory kicks in, and the lack of originality in much of its mission design is laid bare, it almost completely ruins the experience. It's fortunate then, that the excellent gunplay, the occasional enjoyable story mission, and the spot-on presentation provides just enough of an incentive to see things through to its bloody conclusion.

Episode Aigis is one for the super fans. Its worthwhile story beats are rare and buried beneath a lot of all-too-familiar dungeon crawling, and it's undeniably expensive in terms of asking price. At best, it's an intriguing but flawed epilogue; at worst, it's a completely unnecessary addition to a fantastic game.

This is a retro RPG down to its very core, and if you aren’t prepared to accept its charmingly archaic quirks, you probably won’t relish your time with it. However, if you are willing to embrace its idiosyncrasies – some amiable, some aggravating - you’ll find a veritable wealth of content to explore.

Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada attempts to shake things up with a bigger emphasis on RPG elements and a more personal story, but it doesn't always hit the mark. Seeing events unfold from the perspective of just a few characters does make for an interesting and engaging narrative, but the pacing is bogged down by boring filler missions. Likewise, chopping huge historical battles into bite-sized chunks adds depth to each scenario, but the epic scale and the thrill of thriving battlefields are lost in the process. Spirit of Sanada certainly isn't a bad game, but it is one of the weaker Warriors titles on PS4.

Radial-G: Racing Revolved is one of a disappointingly small number of PlayStation VR racers thus far. Until there are more to pick from, this makes the game at least worth a cursory glance, especially thanks to a relatively reasonable price. Unfortunately down the road, when there are options in this field, there won’t be much to recommend. The title doesn’t necessarily do anything poorly, but it doesn’t do anything overwhelmingly well either.

Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is an old school survival horror game for better and worse. It's charmingly old school, and for people who grew up on a healthy diet of Resident Evil and Silent Hill back on the original PlayStation like we did, there'll be something nostalgic to the control foibles and camera issues. But there's no getting away from the fact that this is a game that feels older than it is, and the leaden pace will be off-putting to many.

The appeal here is building up a public transport empire, and you’ll be surprised at how quickly the time passes as you begin to expand routes and increase your fleet. It’s an acquired taste, for sure, but impressive how a game designed to replicate a real-life job can be so oddly relaxing when you’re behind the wheel.

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is enjoyable enough without its performance troubles, but with them, they’re a major drag on the overall game. Wait for them to be ironed out in post-launch patches and you’ll find a decent, if formulaic experience.

While Metro: Exodus delivers on its promise of deep and meaningful combat situations that let you approach encounters from any angle you can think of, its technical shortcomings are simply unforgivable. Combine that with a plot that doesn’t answer its most intriguing questions and you’ve got an experience that will please at times, but will also disappoint those looking for something meaningful outside of the distribution of bullets.

It's just a real shame, then, that once you’re done with the story, there’s not much more to see unless you've got the urge to catch 'em all or run with the big dogs online.

Everybody's Golf: Hot Shots is a decent attempt to bring back the franchise PlayStation fans know and love, but there are a few rough edges that prevent it from being anything more. While the core gameplay remains fun and accessible most of the time, inconsistent technical performance interferes with some of the fundamentals, and a general lack of polish across physics and visuals get in the way. There's absolutely still fun to be had in this cheerful title, but it's a fair way from the series' best.

Berserk and the Band of the Hawk's fate is to be branded as yet another not-so-great initial effort from Omega Force. While the release does get a decent amount right – the story mode is nicely done in places and the fundamental combat mechanics are super satisfying – it stumbles on several fronts. Again, we're left with a Warriors game that's begging for a much improved sequel. Fans of Berserk will enjoy bathing in the blood for a good few hours, but it's hard to ignore the cracks at this sword's core.

Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet is easily the most polished Sword Art Online game to date, but it's also one of the least imaginative. A strange union of third-person shooting and role-playing action, it offers up quite a unique mix of gameplay and a progression loop that's really quite addictive, but the overall package rarely thrills. By stepping away from Kirito and the gang, the story definitely benefits, but it's not enough to inject life into a game that often feels bland and monotonous. Fatal Bullet's still a solid anime-based title, but unless you love to grind, you'll likely lose interest.

If you're the kind of person who appreciates tailored Vita titles, then you'll more than get your money's worth here. It's just a shame that the studio fails to cut the foray off before it gets stale.

Trivial Pursuit Live! is an amusing, original adaptation of the original board game. Its terrible online mode, visual slowdown, and lack of variations let down what is otherwise great fun with friends. For the right people, under the right circumstances, you won't see a single problem. For everybody else, this is one to buy later down the line.

That said, there's still lots of fun to be had. The game is rough around the edges, but the core gameplay is solid and it shines in multiplayer. If you're looking for something different, this is worth a try -- just don't expect to be building masterpieces.

Black Desert is rougher than a badger's behind, and the simple combat won't blow anyone's skirt up, but the game does have upsides. The world is fleshed out and fun to explore, the side activities are more amusing than the campaign, and the character creation is superb. This is the sort of game that will undoubtedly appeal to a small subset of people who are more than happy to accept the uglier technical issues as the admission price to a well realised world full of things to do.

Fans of the character Deadpool are certain to find a lot to like here. Sadly, the repetitive combat casts a shadow over the game's humorous treats, which are the real highlight of the package. There's a definite joy to be found in this adaptation – just be prepared to cut through many of layers of mediocrity in order to find it.

Sisters Royale: Five Sisters Under Fire doesn’t reinvent the shmup rulebook, but it leverages some interesting wrinkles first introduced by the Castle of Shikigami series to excellent effect. The presentation – aside from its epilepsy-inducing patterns – leaves a lot to be desired, but the unique gameplay attributes of its protagonists makes for a surprisingly replayable arcade affair.

For its asking price, Episode Gladiolus is a decent little distraction, but a distinct lack of substance keeps it from being an essential addition to Final Fantasy XV. Combat doesn't have the same spice without the usual party members, and although the DLC ends with an enjoyable boss fight, it's not quite enough to make this a memorable test of strength.

Rogue Trooper is still fun, and boasts a sense of freedom that even many modern shooters don’t possess. The polished visuals do a good job bringing a ten-year-old game to new consoles, but the overall feel may be too creaky and old-fashioned for some.

Garden Simulator is low risk, low reward, but highly addictive. We spent hours before we even realised it, and found the experience to be thoroughly relaxing; exactly what the small plot of the game sets out to achieve. While it’s nice to potter around your small garden and admire your crops, it does feel somewhat tedious after a while. Tasks tend to be repeated in some form or another, and there’s no variation in season or weather. Every day is the same. It feels like a trick has been missed with this, and that so much more could have been done by adding this in, along with some garden pests.

Despite its flaws, New Little King's Story is far from a bad game – but it certainly could have done with more polish before its coronation. If you can overlook its problems this is still a fun, often addictive, real-time strategy game that doesn't take itself too seriously and is pretty unique in the marketplace, but every issue is a gentle nudge that reminds you that this could have been a far more royal affair.

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands retains the inherently entertaining shootin' and lootin' gameplay that the Borderlands series is known for, but you're frequently held back from enjoying it because of repetitive missions, tedious busywork, oodles of padding, and the game's relentless need to be funny. It's characters won't shut up, frequently stopping you playing so it can perform another inane comedy routine that limply, embarrassingly fizzles out like a deflating corpse, farting decomposition gases to the tune of "Ta-dah!"

Until Dawn drags a contemporary classic into a new generation, and its interactive teen slasher silliness more than holds up today. With vastly enhanced graphics and minor gameplay tweaks, this is still a highly recommended game. The problem is it costs three times as much as its nine-year-old predecessor, and doesn’t have an upgrade path. For all of its grisly glamour, that makes this remake a tough sell – especially when it runs at half the frame rate of its predecessor when played using PS5 backwards compatibility.

Lake is the perfect pallet cleanser after a heavier title. It's refreshing to not have to worry about an end of the world prophecy, or an out of control god hell-bent on destruction. However, it's also that simplistic nature that holds it back from a first-class stamp.

Like it or not, Madden NFL 18 is still by far the best American Football game on the PlayStation 4, but if you fancy something a little sillier then Mutant Football League is not a bad shout at all. It plays similarly to the iconic EA series, but its aggressive playbook and irreverent sense of humour make it a fun alternative for a few downs – just don’t expect the appeal to last long into overtime.

Younger gamers might forgive an under four-hour main game and a non-existent difficulty curve, but unfortunately, the tasks necessary for a Platinum only shallowly extend the game's length. Even a Vending Machine purchase of a CRT television to make enemies more powerful didn't noticeably increase the gentle difficulty. Timing each Butt Bounce is fun, but boss encounters are overly simple, plus collecting Utsu-cans and four rocket ship parts feels like busy work.

The core arcade fighting, with its persistent clothing damage and blend of vivid 2D and 3D visuals, makes it a compelling curio for fighting game faithfuls. But the package as a whole falls short of expectations, and will either need major updates or a chunky price drop moving forwards.

As with its competitor Skylanders, it’ll cost you a fortune to get the most out of the game – but if you’ve already invested in this franchise, there’s no reason to hesitate over assembling those Avengers.

Fantasy Hero: Unsigned Legacy can be a bit repetitive and includes a lacklustre story, but its short running time means that it never truly overstays its welcome.

Suicide Guy is not the disaster we feared it would be, and in places it’s actually rather funny. The title’s randomness stops its campaign from getting stale, and there are actually some cunning puzzles here that are fun to solve. Despite all of that, though, it’s quite a disposable game that’s fun while it lasts but will be quickly forgotten.

Datura holds very little challenge and has technical issues, but even in the face of these problems it's a title that is worth experiencing for its distorted narrative alone. It may not be an entirely great game, but it is at the least a push in a different direction and a breath of fresh air that makes you think – and for that, as more and more games fall victim to conformity, it deserves praise.

For existing fans, this no-frills remaster is the best way to experience the 2010 game on modern consoles, but in 2021, much of the title simply doesn't hold up. Without the benefit of nostalgia, Alan Wake doesn't work as horror because it's not scary, as a thriller because long stretches of the game are fantastically boring, or as an action game because the combat is uninspired and repetitive. There's an interesting central mystery here, but like Alan Wake himself, you'll have to go through hell to find it.

Zombie Vikings is a charmingly designed beat-'em-up, but it's ultimately a fairly shallow one. It's fine for a multiplayer laugh, and even single player has its moments thanks to the humorous plot, but it's only likely to amuse you once, before you leave it on your hard drive waiting to rot.

Tell-tale signs of the game's cheap production value can be found throughout Heavy Fire: Afghanistan but, even with its shortcomings, the game does a good job of recreating the intensity of battling enemy combatants in modern day Afghanistan by putting you in the boots of one very brave Army soldier, light gun style.

If you're prepared to stick to its well-crafted online modes and endure its over-sensitive handling the fun just about outweighs the moments of frustration brought about by questionable course design and the poorly implemented rewind mechanic.

Whatever your preconceptions, Short Peace: Ranko Tsukigime's Longest Day will surprise you, and continue to surprise you even after the credits begin to roll. However, while often humorous and delightful, the game portion of this package is a very short experience, consisting of only nine stages and taking roughly just over an hour to complete.

WRC 3: FIA World Rally Championship has more than enough content to keep you busy with its 83 tracks, 50 drivers, and 37 cars. But, despite being the official game of the World Rally Championship, it has many issues that strip away its authenticity – the most problematic of which being poor track feedback. The title's more than competent as a casual off-road racer, but unfortunately for developer Milestone, Codemasters already has that genre locked up with its exceptional DiRT series.

YouTubers Life OMG is an agreeable video-making tycoon game wrapped up in a few fundamental problems. The main gameplay loop is compelling, and it's a pleasure to watch as your subscriber tally and bank account start to soar. However, some poor presentation, a clumsy camera, and a couple of other small issues stop it from being the viral hit it wants to be. Those looking for a casual management sim to tackle may find some enjoyment here, but it's hard to recommend it to anyone else.

Hand of Fate comes so close to being something really special – an unexpected concoction of genres and ideas that meshes together superbly to create a really fun experience that's both involving and rewarding, at least in short bursts. But, unfortunately, its potential is cut short by a lack of options and awkward third-person game segments that should really know better.

There’s clearly been a lot of love invested into Broken Sword 5: The Serpent’s Curse – Episode 1, and it will take franchise fans on a trip down memory lane as a result.

Madden NFL 21 has all the same problems as its PS4 predecessor, because it’s basically the same game. The presentation has taken a half-step forward owing to the increase of hardware power, but it’s many yards behind the standard now set by FIFA 21 and NBA 2K21. The increased loading times improve the flow of modes like Ultimate Team, and the gameplay is marginally more authentic thanks to the implementation Next Gen Stats, but an ageing Franchise mode and some tired animations mean this is hardly the improvement fans anticipated.

If you’ve a hankering for a fun Japanese RPG, then The Longest Five Minutes is a decent option. Battles can be a little lopsided, but with an intriguing story and a unique structure, these are five minutes worth experiencing for fans of the genre.

Super Neptunia RPG is a fun but ultimately fairly average spin-off. Neptune and her friends are as funny and endearing as ever, but the story does them a disservice by bogging them down in needlessly long and boring conversations. If you’re a fan of the Neptunia series then you’ll certainly enjoy seeing all the familiar faces and the world in its gorgeous new 2D form, but for everyone else, this is a run-of-the-mill JRPG.

There's a kernel of a fantastic tactical role playing game in Miasma Chronicles, but it lacks polish in a few key areas, and while the lore and the characters are endearing in their own right the overarching fiction that binds it all together disappoints.

Kitty Powers' Matchmaker is a frequently enjoyable dating sim that nails its charmingly campy tone while providing a refreshing change of pace for those who fancy making love not war. It comes close to being a keeper, but the high cost of this version over its mobile counterparts and a gameplay loop that struggles to keep it up for more than a couple of hours means that Kitty Powers' Matchmaker just isn't quite relationship material.

It's easy to see why some would outright dismiss LEGO City Undercover purely on the basis of it being a LEGO game. The formula has gotten a bit too stale over the years, so if you're looking for something fresh in the LEGO universe, Chase McCain's adventure won't satisfy you. But if you're still interested in some brick hunting and cop action - and you can look past some awful load times - then LEGO City Undercover will serve you nicely. Its charm, humour, and open world nature was, for the most part, enough to win us over.

When you've just taken an entire team apart with a perfectly paced counter-attack, FIFA 20 feels as satisfying as ever. But for everything that it gets right on the pitch, this year's instalment seriously struggles to make a case for itself at launch. Ultimate Team hits new heights but it is, as always, undermined by pay to win microtransactions, and Volta is fun but it's definitely not the headline act that EA wants it to be. Meanwhile, Career Mode has seen a bunch of improvements, but a shocking number of bugs currently cripple the experience. It's a good job FIFA still plays well, because as a package, it's robust but frustratingly shoddy. Our advice? Wait for FIFA 20 to be patched before tying your laces.

If you're looking for a decent, but not overly demanding action RPG, you could do a lot worse than That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: Isekai Chronicles. It's a pleasant anime-based adventure, topped off with enjoyable action — but you'll need to endure some serious repetition along the way.

Life of Pixel is a likeable precision platformer with a fantastic visual style. Its gameplay is hampered by occasional areas of poor design, and the lack of leaderboards is a particularly prominent oversight, but if you're looking for a charming, challenging, and cheap title, then this is a solid choice.

Senran Kagura Peach Beach Splash can be a romp in more ways than one. It’s a decent third-person shooter with fast-paced, vertical gameplay, and there are some quirks here and there that make it stand out in its market. However, its single-player content can get noticeably repetitive and one-note amid a lot of the fluff that you’ll unlock. If there’s one thing the game owns with style and confidence, it’s the overall presentation. We’re pretty sure it’s the most important part anyways.

Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault has some interesting ideas, but repetition and poor level design let the single-player campaign down. The innovative multiplayer mode represents the mini-adventure's strongest asset, but it's unlikely to hold your attention for very long. PlayStation's most enduring duo have seen better days, but this is still a likeable celebration of a fantastic franchise.