Lovingly crafted and unpretentious, Shadow Warrior 3 is equal parts hilarious and thrilling, thanks in no small part to its exceptionally charismatic protagonist.

Gibbon: Beyond the Trees is a game with a point to make, and it does so decisively. The gibbons’ majestic brachiation is a great foundation for an exhilarating momentum platformer that doubles as a potent insight into the threats faced by a critically endangered species.

It doesn’t make a good first impression, but there’s a lot to like about Chocobo GP. It may not be as finely-tuned as the genre’s king, but there’s a lot more depth and nuance to the game than there first appears, especially in the 64-player tournaments that are the centrepiece. At the very least, its goofy sense of humour, playful jabs at Final Fantasy’s legacy, and the endearing nature of the Chocobo spinoff series create a delightful atmosphere that’s perfect for some kart racing shenanigans.

Despite its shortcomings, I have enjoyed my time with Bright Memory: Infinite for what it is. It’s a slick first-person shooter that’s overflowing with energy and that blends gunplay, melee, and psychic abilities in exciting ways, set against a stunning Chinese mythological backdrop. It just feels like it should be so much more: there’s a foundation here for something great, if it only it was more refined and given the space to fully explore that potential.

That’s Taito Milestones‘ biggest problem: the missed opportunity to do really shed some light on the impact of the games it collects. These are historically significant games, but presented devoid of any of that historic context. Without that, and when almost every game is already available separately (and in an identical form, no less), saving a few bucks on a bulk-buy is the only real reason to pick this up. A collection claiming to be a celebration of the milestones of one of the most important companies in arcade history needs to be more than just a way to pinch pennies.

I just wish it did a better job of fully realising the possibilities of virtual reality. Layers of Fear VR manages to ramp up the terror and intensity thanks to the sensory overload and isolation inherent in the medium, but it’s held back by awkward controls that serve as a constant distraction and detract from the atmosphere that the original game did such a good job of creating. Layers of Fear is a riveting piece of psychological horror, but the VR version falls short.

There’s a great game somewhere in Destruction AllStars. The concept is an original take on the “hero” trend, and could be a nice return for the vehicular combat genre that’s been quiet for a while. Every now and then, when everything clicks into place, you can see that potential on display. Sadly, despite its vibrant cast and unique concept, the lack of content and matchmaking woes prevent it from really delivering on that potential.

That’s the running theme through Don’t Forget Me: fantastic ideas that never get taken to their fullest. It’s a cyberpunk story that dives deep into the timeless question about whether freedom is worth sacrificing for peace and happiness, about whether freedom without peace is truly peace at all, and vice versa. A puzzle system built around navigating people’s memories using keywords turns the storytelling itself into part of the game in a fascinating way. But the full potential of gets lost in the brevity and abruptness of the experience; Don’t Forget Me is a compelling game full of unique ideas, but one that feels a little incomplete.

Saints Row’s dynamic mission design and chaotic vehicular gameplay do wonders for an otherwise mundane open world experience, one that is sorely missing the iconic characters who brought the previous games to life.

Despite its fiddly interface and a farming side of things that’s a bit underwhelming, Staxel’s open-ended nature and creative potential make it an enjoyable outing in blocky rural life.At the very least, it shows the potential in this idea of a life sim block-building game: even if it doesn’t get the balance quite right, creative freedom and the laid-back, satisfying rhythm of farm life go hand-in-hand.

In almost every regard, Ganryu 2 is spectacular: it looks fantastic, builds on the original game in meaningful ways, nails the level and boss design that’s so crucial in an action platformer, and plays like a dream in the moment. But a horrific continue system that feels restrictive even by arcade standards means that actually experiencing all it has to offer requires the patience of a saint, and what should be a surefire hit instead turns into a painful slog.

But as a case study in how well musou action and turn-based strategy can work together, Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires delivers. It’s the best parts of Koei Tecmo’s grand strategy games and the energetic, strategic combat of Dynasty Warriors, rolled together in a way that elevates both sides of the calculation. That’s long been the case for the Empires line, but building off the strong foundation of Dynasty Warriors 9, this one does it better than most.

Like I said, it’s Curse of the Sea Rats’ atmosphere and art style that really carry it: if you can tolerate some less-than-stellar writing, this game delivers on Redwall-esque “rodent fantasy” adventure with a pirate twist. Underneath that is a metroidvania that hits the right foundation but struggles to stand out, and lets some odd design choices and clunkiness get in the way of the exploration that the whole genre is built around. There’s still fun to be found here, but in such a crowded field full of creative twists on the form, Sea Rats struggles to leave a lasting impression.

But if you can deal with that, Deiland: Pocket Planet Edition is a fun little farm sim, one that lacks depth but makes up for in charm and the uniqueness of its setting. Put your favourite comfort show on TV and play this while you’re half-watching, and you’ve got a nice way to unwind and turn your mind off for a spell.

Edge of Eternity is tough to recommend—which is a real shame, because the potential and ambition here is clear. There’s some entertainment to be found in its combat system and the sense of wonder in its more impressive zones, but it’s held back by a lack of substance once the sense of wonder starts to wear off and a woeful story.

That’s not to say Breathedge doesn’t have its moments. It can be genuinely funny when it lets itself, and once you reach the point where the survival aspects start to open up and oxygen management becomes less of a pain, it even starts to get a little fun. But the journey to that point is too long and too laborious, and as soon as Breathedge finds its groove, it cuts away to a particularly unsatisfying end.

Despite its shortcomings and the missed opportunity to do more with its roguelite concept, The Dragoness: Command of the Flame is still worthwhile for anyone looking for a slightly different take on the tactical RPG. I can’t tell you if it’ll hit the spot for a Might and Magic fan, but as someone with no background in them—and, therefore, no burden of expectations—I’ve enjoyed my time with it well enough. Whether or not it lives up to its inspirations, it’s still a nice introduction to an interesting niche.

Unfortunately, a cute and thoughtful story isn’t enough to distract from Sword of the Necromancer‘s other struggles. There’s a competent action RPG in there, but it’s lost beneath a misguided attempt at a roguelike experience that misses most of what makes roguelikes exciting. Even something as unique as a system of reviving slain enemies to fight alongside you gets lost in the narrow constraints of the game’s other systems, resulting in a largely forgettable experience.

Martha is Dead is a remarkable game, in the story that it tells, the way it tells it, and the ideas it explores in the process—a potent, powerful exploration of some of the darkest corners of human existence. It’s deliberately uncomfortable and confronting, but that’s part of what makes it work, and it’s underscored by a genuine sense of empathy, humanity, and a call for the world to be a better place. But, at least for now, game-breaking bugs and technical struggles that go far beyond mild inconvenience mean the Xbox One version should be a last resort.

Despite its impeccable art direction, New Tales from The Borderlands is ripped apart by its subpar, glacially paced narrative and miserably unlikeable ensemble.

Tasomachi: Behind the Twilight may be an “unpolished” game, but that lack of polish is exactly what makes it such an interesting and enjoyable game to explore. The lack of finesse doesn’t break the game or detract from the experience, but it does add so much to the atmosphere and character of the world. It’s a nice, relaxing way to enjoy the collect-them-all nature of classic 3D platformers, but more than that, it’s a wonderful, mysterious place that’s easy to get lost in—not in spite of its rough edges, but because of them.

This isn’t to say it’s not a fun game, it’s just a very generic one, with a standard premise (kid gets sucked into a videogame) and a basic fantasy world. It’s a stock-standard action platformer—nothing more, nothing less—and if you enjoy the genre’s no-nonsense fun and you’re not concerned at a lack of bells and whistles, you’ll like this one too. On the other hand, if you’re coming in expecting a metroidvania because the game’s own description calls it such, prepare to be a little disappointed.

With its vibrant art style, playful atmosphere, plenty of cleverly-designed levels to solve, and some interesting, if uneven, new ideas at play, Drawn to Life: Two Realms is an enjoyable game, but it never quite manages to capture the magic of its predecessors.

Gensou SkyDrift is easily one of the more unique kart racers I’ve played, if a little rough around the edges. Unbalanced spells, aggressive rubber-banding, and a relative lack of game modes are frequent sources of frustration, but it’s also so full of clever ideas and the inherent charm of the Touhou property that it’s hard to get too mad at it. And hey, if it’s a choice between a polished game and an interesting one, I’ll choose the latter every time.

Marchen Forest: Mylne and the Forest Gift is a diamond in the rough, and as long as you’re prepared to put up with a bit of frustration, there’s something special here. It’s a surreal twist on the “Alchemist in training” tale popularised by Atelier, full of cute, sometimes creepy characters, quirky humour, and a story that is, by turns, both bizarre and grounded in humanity. If you can look past its rough edges, there’s a lot to like about Marchen Forest.

Project Starship X is something unique in a genre that, for better and worse, tends to stick to the tried and true. Its roguelike elements add a fun, fresh twist on the shoot-’em-up formula, adding an unpredictable twist and a sense of chaos that goes hand in hand with its over-the-top presentation. The random aspect can sometimes be cause for frustration, but for the most part, it makes for a game that continually throws up new challenges and expects you to be ready for anything.

That final level aside, The Pillar: Puzzle Escape is a great way to just shut out the world and unwind for a few hours. Its colourful world, soothing music, and puzzles that, for the most part, manage to be satisfying without being overly taxing make for a chill, relaxing game.

Pacing issues aside, Hitman 3 is still a worthy conclusion to the World of Assassination trilogy, and one that still manages to keep a few surprises in store despite the inevitability of its end. A more serious tone means there isn’t quite so much of the playful humour that Hitman 2 relished in, but Hitman 3 makes up for that with some of the most intricate and detailed locations the series has seen, leaving the door wide open to all sorts of creative assassination setups. That’s what Agent 47 does best, after all.