Atelier Firis makes huge strides forward with its lively open world, but it also takes several steps backwards in other areas. Reintroducing the time limit forces you to play the game at breakneck speed, which means that much of the world is ignored until over 20 hours into the game. Once you break away from the time limit, however, you'll discover a brilliantly diverse world that you can get lost in for countless hours, where you'll be free to properly enjoy what is ultimately a solid, but neglected battle system.

For everything The Quarry does right, it has just as many glaring issues or niggling problems to bring it right back down to Earth. Supermassive Games has been trying to better Until Dawn for seven years now, and at this point, it looks like it's never, ever going to happen. The Quarry is just a bit dull, and that's the exact opposite of what these types of titles strive to be.

Contra Anniversary Collection is a pleasant shoot down memory lane, but the duplicate games are frustrating additions, taking up slots that could’ve been filled by more unique titles. As is, half of the roster are repeats, and that’s a bit of a shame. Compared to the Castlevania Anniversary Collection, which offered eight distinctive experiences that epitomised the early years of the series, it’s a disappointing line up, especially considering the absence of the underrated, long-awaited Nintendo DS sequel; Contra 4. However, these are very good games and it remains enjoyable to explore the history of such an iconic series and compare the tweaks to each version, whether graphical or story based. The games that we are given are all (mostly) stellar retro shooters and it’s cool to have them easily accessible in one place. If you haven’t experienced the Contra series before, then this isn’t a bad pl ace to report for duty.

Fans of 3D platformers will likely have a decent time with it, particularly if they enjoyed the original, but there are enough frustrations that hold this game back from being an easy recommendation.

Sonic Colors: Ultimate is the best version of an okay game. It's certainly among the hedgehog's better outings since his Genesis heyday, but it suffers from typically frustrating controls and level design. The Wisps provide variety and replay value, and the remaster adds some fun new features in addition to the visual enhancements. This 11-year-old Sonic title is one worth experiencing, but just be aware of its rough edges before you spin dash into the action.

If you can stomach its disappointingly dull quests, Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is a solid enough action RPG. Some pretty visuals and a cosy JRPG vibe do a lot to mask its flaws.

Shantae: Risky's Revenge is a solid game.

Sketching the true horrors of mental illness, Neverending Nightmares succeeds in creating an unnerving atmosphere that will keep you forever on the edge of your seat. It's let down by a lack of environments and varied gameplay, but it still stands as a chilling experience that those with an interest in the genre should check out.

For all its style and silliness, Dead or Alive 5 is a fairly conventional game. The ridiculous story mode is an enjoyable distraction for an afternoon – but it's not enough to keep you hooked. Unless, you're a fan of the fighting mechanics in general – which, aside from a few minor tweaks, are largely unchanged – there's not a lot to get excited about here. Well, certainly not from a pure gameplay perspective anyway.

We're also pleased that Sony has released it digitally in the west at a reduced price point; while it might indicate a lack of faith in Tokyo Jungle's commercial potential (which is a fair point - this is the kind of quirky game that would sink at physical retail), it means that it should reach as wide an audience as possible - and it certainly deserves to. It's definitely not lacking in bite.

We’re sorry that we ever doubted that Vertigo could pull off a Metro VR game. The Dutch devs have masterfully captured the essence of this cult series, and amplified its best traits with myriad VR specific mechanics. While we had some issues with its story and would have liked a tad more setting variety, its highs are so high we’d happily go through it all again. With the visuals, the atmosphere, and the controls all melting into the experience, Metro Awakening is easily one of the most immersive VR games we’ve ever played.

Sparc is a good PlayStation VR game with all the core mechanics to be a sleeper hit; the gameplay is enjoyable and requires a lot of skill. Unfortunately, with very little single player content, the title is pinning all of its success on its small but active online community – and it's hard to predict how long the release's servers will remain occupied.

We fail to see how The Division 2: Warlords of New York is supposed to rejuvenate the looter shooter's playerbase. New York might be so much more interesting to explore while the missions themselves are smartly designed, but what you're actually doing there remains very much the same. Coupled with a copious amount of bugs and glitches, this is an expansion the vast majority of players can very safely skip.

With five worlds, each with five sub-levels consisting of between one and four stages, as well as a plethora of secrets to find, there’s enough here to keep any FPS fanatic entertained for hours. Each stage quickly becomes a repetitious dance which somehow never becomes dull, and reaching its end is euphoric and rewarding. Project Warlock is great; a pastiche of brutally tough and charmingly gritty 90s first-person shooters, with only a few quality of life improvements to be made.

If you’ve been looking for a more modern take on Touhou, Radiant Silvergun, or any of the many other bullet hell shooters on the market, CYGNI: All Guns Blazing ticks the box. It’s fast, it’s frantic, and it looks frankly unbelievable at times. And considering it’s being flogged at half the price of most other modern PS5 titles, it represents relatively reasonable value for money, too.

FIFA 21 on PS5 is a surprisingly significant next-gen upgrade. Simply put, this is the best that virtual football has ever looked on PlayStation, and a slew of immersion-enhancing features make it the best version of FIFA in years.

SuperBot Entertainment has meticulously merged three generations of platform lore into a four-player brawler that's both approachable and cunningly complex.

The Swords of Ditto is a great little indie adventure, perfect for quick stints of surprisingly tense gameplay. Although some slight technical issues are a bit of a pain, they're not enough to detract from what is otherwise a delightfully charming experience. Tight and tidy, this is an addictive time sink that's well worth a look -- especially if you bring someone along for the ride.

It doesn't have the flair or the polish of a heavyweight like Final Fantasy XIV Online: A Realm Reborn, but it's certainly worth trying if you're looking for seemingly never ending adventures on PS4 – with or without friends.

While not all that unique or different, it is still an experience that strategy RPG fans will appreciate – localisation issues and all.

The core of Deceive Inc. is good; deducing who might be an opponent while trying to blend in is a tense, fun experience. It's in need of some updates before it reaches its full potential — adjustable text size would be nice, and it's going to need a wider variety of maps and modes going forward. It's a solid starting point with a great premise; hopefully it can evolve into something really worthwhile.

It might not end up matching the influence of Limbo or the perfectly-judged arc of Inside, but Planet of Lana is a welcome addition to the side-scroller genre on PlayStation regardless. It looks amazing, sounds great, and tells a nice succinct story.

Atomfall commits to embodying everything it means to be British, and it comes out the other side all the better for it. The mystery at the heart of the alternate 1960s setting is gripping, forever teasing clues and solutions to a way out of its rural quarantine zone. Its combat systems and mechanics let the experience down, but Rebellion’s latest peaks when it makes you the countryside’s Inspector Gadget with a bunch of Leads to pursue and villagefolk to suspect.

Overall, this is a remarkable digital board game that combines an engaging lore with likeable scenarios and fascinating mechanics.

As a title to play over a weekend – or between other games with more substance – it can't really be knocked, but don't expect to be feeling light fingered forever.

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.

SNK 40th Anniversary Collection is essential for game historians and recommended for anyone that wants to experience some old-school charm without the annoying difficulty gates. The titles themselves are hit and miss, but the good outweighs the bad by a healthy amount.

Poor voice acting and obnoxious back tracking let it down – but this is still on the right side of the law as far as we’re concerned.