Despite clunky combat and an unremarkable story Mirror's Edge Catalyst star still shines thanks to excellent community features.

If you want a brilliantly designed logistical puzzler then so many other games offer so much more.

State of Decay was one of the best Xbox Live Arcade titles to grace the 360 during its ten year life span and arguably one of the console’s best games full stop. This new updated edition is a step in the right direction.

Rain is an interesting but failed experiment. The single mechanic that renders everything invisible when in shelter from the rain is clever and quite endearing, and the way it is implemented creates a unique stealth-driven puzzle game. Yet the game consistently fails to consider its audience. The puzzles and narrative are too simplistic for adults, yet the environment and control mechanics too dull and confusing for children, so it is unclear who the developers are targeting.

Max The Curse of Brotherhood is a mixed bag. It looks fantastic, it can be fun, even exhilarating plus some of the puzzles are totally wicked (in a good way). Sadly though it is unable to be anymore than something reasonably priced to play on your Xbox One over Christmas if you have completed your Xbox One back catalogue from launch day.

Being a budget indie game, at under half the price of a standard release, we can certainly give The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing far more slack than is possible to give to those cold giants at Blizzard, however that being said it is a shame that Neocore have not used their indie freedom to create a game with a touch more originality.

Planet Alpha is a gorgeous trek through an alien world and the strange timey wimey things that afflict it. While the pacing can occasionally feel a little bit off, the slower moments do allow you time to take everything in. The puzzles are the only real challenge throughout and most aren't so obtuse that they become frustrating so it works well. If you are after a striking world to get lost in then maybe this is the one for you.

The story is strong and the characters interesting enough that clicking through all that dialogue isn't likely to put you off.

If you’re a fan of the series and didn’t get to experience it on PS2, you’ll want to pick up Till The End Of Time purely due to it being the series’ highlight. Otherwise, this third entry will be a divisive one, even amongst those who love JRPGs. Its combat is good, but everything else is simply unremarkable, and a basic port only serves to highlight how far game design has come since its release.

An enjoyable game despite somewhat repetitive combat that gets by on it's writing for the most part. A fun level up system and some entertaining skills keep things interesting and as long as you can deal with the fetch quests you will have a good time.

Without gaming staples, every part of the design must be exceptional to keep the attention of the player and while Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs succeeds in many ways, its bloated story and linear, repetitive, environmental design hold this experiment back from being a screaming success.

Unity is not the huge leap forward that a next-gen Assassin’s Creed promised it would be – rather it’s a familiar adventure dressed in exceptional decoration.

So for anyone who bought it, or is intending to buy it as a stopgap before our first true current-gen outing for the series eventually comes along, then you might be find this game as a welcome surprise, as going back to school with Class Zero really has taught us that there’s still plenty of life left in Final Fantasy.

For gamers seeking a slice of arcade-style action, they could certainly do a lot worse than Heavy Bullets. The gameplay is fun, the aesthetics are first-class, and for people who love a challenge, it will certainly provide them with one.

The graphical departure and lovely humour paper over the cracks of a weak plot, but barely. Telltale fans will love it and Marvel fans will appreciate the reasonably faithful translation to the small screen, but for everyone else it would be advisable to wait and see how the next four episodes pan out before committing to another potentially lacklustre series.

STAY has an interesting storyline that is very relatable and can teach individuals about emotional intelligence, human psychology and mental health. The puzzles are quite frustrating at times but this can be simply overlooked once completed and you continue with the original storyline. The soundtrack of the game leaves areas for improvement and the pixel art could have been created at a better quality however this is my personal preference as I set the bar quite high due to the other pixel artists.

The game is great but it’s the same game it was a year ago, and has the same mechanics it had two years ago. The second game proper was due now and it has not arrived. This is filler. Quality filler, but filler nonetheless.

A finale as uneven as the series itself; a few highlights and more meaningful outcomes to earlier choices are offset by Telltale’s usual problems of pacing and gameplay mechanics.

Like Skyrim's VR port, Borderlands 2 VR feels like a curio. It's a fun way to revisit a modern classic, but isn't the best way to actually play the game. As a VR title, it's excellent, but I'd argue if you're looking to get caught up before Borderlands 3, you'll find it more comfortable to do so in the Handsome Collection.

As a pure puzzler though Open Me! delivers and if you like a good head scratch then you could do far worse than trying to poke your way through this set of boxes.

Dead or Alive 6 is a mechanically solid and foundationally sound fighting game. At its core, playing matches with others is a fun and thrilling experience that’s easy to grasp if you’re new to fighters or the series. Its lack of modes, however, coupled with its small roster, and a recently revealed $92 season pass raise a lot of questions as to what ideals drove the game’s development. For those looking for a well-designed core fighter, Dead or Alive 6 is definitely a great buy, whether you’re #Teamjiggle or #Teamnojiggle.

Some minor gameplay issues aside, Republique does a notable job of taking an innovative idea and crafting an ethically-charged, politically driven story that most triple-A titles fail to grasp in their storytelling.

Overall, Imprint-X will satisfy that itch for anyone who craves a quirky puzzler. What it lacks in variety and moxie, it certainly makes up for with an impressive retro aesthetic and a soundtrack that deserves to be listened to outside the realms of your computer speakers. The story may be gratuitous, but skipping past it will soon reveal what the game is really all about.

Dirt 5 immediately feels like a classic off-road romp of explosive proportions. Customisation options fizzled too soon for my taste, but this is still a solid title for any arcade-sim race fan.

It may not be the remake the world was crying out for, but solid platforming and some hard hitting combat make up for a few false steps along the way.

In the end, Magicka 2 almost feels like two different games. If you choose to play through the game on your own, you will regularly become frustrated at the game’s control scheme, its random difficulty spikes and overwhelming and unfair nature. On the other hand, if you team up with friends, you’ll get a far more enjoyable experience that doesn’t fix all the game’s problems, but does make them easier to deal with.

Zanki Zero: Last Beginning has a riveting and intriguing story; it’s a shame then that the rest of the game feels like a series of afterthoughts thrown in at random intervals in the game’s development, and both the story and gameplay feel like they stop the other getting much momentum.

Death's Gambit takes a slightly less punishing approach to progress than other games in it's sub-genre and is all the better for it. While the vast majority of world building and gameplay concepts are a loving pastiche of Dark Souls, Death's Gambit's balanced challenge, sense of humour and unique visuals allow it to stand on it's own feet and earn a rightful place in the game collections of those souls who are drawn to the fire of the first flame and others who simply enjoy a challenging adventure, laden with mystery.

If you’re desperate for some Warhammer strategy then this may do you, otherwise you’d be best to look elsewhere.

Despite clear identity issues, Mugsters is an enjoyable puzzle game that lets the player take the reins to complete each level how they like. Its distinct visual style and adept sound design also deserve recognition, despite jarring with the gameplay.

So there we have it, a Battlefield game with weak single player and solid if underwhelming multiplayer - absolutely no one saw this coming.

It’s just a shame that a promising start has once again been squandered at the penultimate point, leaving a great deal of damage control to be done in the finale.

Jackbox Party Pack 6 is an enjoyable set of party games, albeit one that probably needs an audience at 16-35 years old to get the most out of it. It doesn’t have the raw humour or appeal that, say, Party Packs 2 and 3 embody, but it’s still a solid title in its own right.

The single-player game is entertaining enough and full of replayability but the structure and narrative suggest it was an afterthought when the idea of a multiplayer only title, or the challenge of learning the game in an online arena, was deigned unreasonable.

A flawed experiment, Steep is revolutionary in the most laid-back fashion and full of those charming Ubisoft follies.

The Crimewave Edition does too little to Payday 2 to make it a really worthwhile update.

An engrossing, frightening experience and may well be Supermassive’s greatest game to date.

Saints Row IV: Re-Elected is crude, violent, vulgar, offensive, and extremely fun to play. It is absolutely over-the-top in all of the right ways and is sure to provide you with countless hours of hilarious, explosive action. Grab yourself a copy and kill some aliens, blow some stuff up, and save the whole damn planet.

Ambitious in both scale and scope but sadly is just too much for the console hardware it will be mostly played on.

Despite some technical issues here and there, Sports Interactive have managed to retain the feel of Football Manager on the Switch.

Loot Rascals sugar-coated visuals may be what catch your eye but sinking your teeth into it reveals the real treat. Bursting with sweet personality and sour gameplay mechanics, this innovative roguelike adventure may not be to everyone's palette but is an experience worth tasting at the very least.

Disappointing design choices makes Alwa’s Awakening difficult to recommend.

Ultimately, it will always be remembered as “the sequel to Tales of Xillia”, rather than as an event in its own right.

Given the source material One Piece: Pirate Warriors 2 is likely to be avoided by most as they have no connection already in place and the genre is ten-a-penny on the current generation of consoles. This would be a mistake. The story is lively and full of interesting characters even if it’s basic in its plotting and execution.

A lot of co-op games these days are not 'truly' co-op but two solo players playing together, this is not one of those games. Even though it is short and not very difficult, Covert truly excels at being a co-op adventure like no other on the medium. It is a game where both players depend on each other heavily and things cannot be accomplished alone. It will only last you a few hours but they will be entertaining. I can see a lot of VR fans loving the game and what it achieves, we certainly did.

Blackwood Crossing is a mature take on the process of grief and is certainly worth playing despite its flaws. It does not strive for a happy ending where there can’t be one, but instead presents an acceptance of what loss does to an individual and to a family, permanently. The grieving emotions of abandonment, guilt and confusion are wrapped artfully in a surreal world of rabbits and haunted potting sheds. It’s a game that can be completed in an evening, but only if you want to spend it struggling slowly through uncanny landscapes, and crying.

Agent 47’s exploits may not have aged well but his past experiences are as devilishly violent and ingenious as they always were. That is why they are timeless and that is why you should own this.

Far Cry New Dawn does everything you'd expect from a Far Cry title. However, it failed to deliver the same level of polish and enjoyment its predecessor enjoyed, and while it’s still packed with buckets of fun, I couldn't help shake the feeling that I’ve done all this before.

Just Dance 2014 on the Xbox One is exactly the game you might expect it to be. There is more content than most people will likely use and as a core experience it doesn't offer much to sell non-fans on the wonder of Kinect, but if you fancy some fresh beats to dance to on your shiny new console, it works well without drastically altering a winning formula for Ubisoft.

Runbow's unique concept combined with it's stylish execution make for a frantic, fun and beautifully intuitive party game that features a surprising amount for a solo player to enjoy too.

Toukiden isn’t quite up there in terms of attractive aesthetics as Monster Hunter but, on a system that’s always in need of new games, it certainly does the job.

What should have been a ramp up in excitement for the finale descends into dull, familiar tropes with bizarre characterisation.

A solid entry but it’s getting a bit tiresome now.

Might & Magic X - Legacy has the potential to be a fantastic and challenging party-based RPG in the style of old games from the genre. It is more focused on exploration and combat than it is on story. There are some weak presentation issues that hold it back a little and unfortunately, intolerable performance issues that are a fatal blow.

As a fan of the anime and manga series, I found enjoyable immersion in Fairy Tail for the PS4 and recommend any fans to give it a chance. Other than this fan service, though, there is little to compel a player to continue in this game past the first few hours due to the repetitiveness of battles, missions, and story tropes.

Whether or not The Elder Scrolls Online is for you depends on what you are looking for. It is not a conversion of the single player series that many might have hoped for.

RAD's mix of randomized abilities, enemy variation and busy landscapes make for a middling rogue-like. These elements combined with difficulty that's too often mitigated with ranged attacks keep RAD from being truly radical, but there's definitely fun to be had.

A polished and at times enjoyable stealth adventure, let down by uninspired level design and basic AI.

It’s just potentially too hardcore for the curious, despite the multitude of pick-and-mix routines and athletics tests masquerading as minigames.

The Detail is a valiant effort to bring gritty police drama to PC. Aside from some dialogue issues, the tone is flawless while the story offers up plenty of intrigue to keep any wannabe sleuth entertained for a few hours.

A staggering amount of gameplay customisation options, and adrenaline-pumping combat make it easy to forgive and forget some of its few shortcomings.

Tokyo 42, despite its faults, is a fun game to play but ultimately feels like a massive missed opportunity.

Given the game outlay plus the cost to play online, what’s unavailable is shocking. The community will have moved on before it’s sorted. For that reason, and everything underlying it, what we have here is a potentially excellent game dragged down to the level of the mud you race in.

It's more great Dark Souls content, but this expansion offers few unique aspects to the tried and true formula. An additional PVP matchmaking system is a nice touch, but it could do with a bit more polish.

While still a bit rough around the edges, Morbid: The Seven Acolytes is a solid entry with excellent developer support that shows great potential.

A vital entry for fans who missed out the first time, Assassin’s Creed Rogue Remastered boasts an excellent story and beautifully upgraded 4K visuals, but feels extremely dated next to Origins.

Even with its lightweight platforming and puzzles, Pinstripe remains an enjoyable and touching romp through Hell.

BOOR is a darkly beautiful game with plenty of interesting puzzles to keep you engaged, but the lack of narrative progression lets it down.

Zombi defies the Wii U gamepad's supposed limitations and reanimates into its own impressive beast.

Hohokum tries to be all things to all gamers, attempting to fit inside both the ‘game’ camp and the interactive art collective. That it succeeds, somewhat, is a compliment to the developers and the artist, but this attempt is also what holds Hohokum back from real greatness in either distinction.

If this Dracula seeks eternal rest then as much as we’d love to see him stay alive for one more adventure, perhaps it’s about time a stake was put through his heart.

Run The Fan is a challenging and fun pick up and play puzzle game that is more about planning your next move than anything else. If you like puzzle games that test your wit and ability to execute difficult maneuvers under pressure, then this is a great game for you.

The Deluxe Edition of Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden on the Switch is far from the perfect port. The reduction in visual fidelity not only makes the game harder to enjoy, but makes sections of it tougher to complete. With that said, the underlying gameplay stands alongside the best tactical strategy games the Nintendo Switch has to offer, and the bundled Seed of Evil DLC is a welcome addition.

With so little gameplay and almost no visual flair, the combination of broadly described ideas and impetus on the player to find their own story just don't come together. It's like the bare bones of a game without any of the meat.

With effective visuals, a moving story, and a powerful message, Through the Darkest of Times is a must for anyone who enjoys historical and interactive story-based games.

A divisive entry in a lauded series, which manages to succeed despite encumbering its open-world design and interesting upbeat narrative with lacklustre combat and poor UI.

Whilst lacking in the depth that some other management simulations offer, Pro Cycling Manager still does a good job of transferring the technical world of pro cycling into a competent if unremarkable game.

A triumph of hype and tech over engaging gameplay. The latter is short-lived with No Man's Sky.

A fun start, but there's a lot here to build on.

The simple but captivating visual and audio design combined with the thoughtful level structure makes Jump King one of the toughest but most entertaining games I have played all year.

The Enigma provides a promising start to this new season of Telltale’s Batman story. The episode wraps up the opening act in a satisfying manner, whilst still leaving enough intriguing questions to ponder for the next. Who are the members of The Pact? What are their goals? How will your chosen alliances affect the events to come? The major alliance choices will hopefully be the basis for some interesting deviation in the narrative of the upcoming episodes. Well, as much deviation an episodic Telltale game can offer, at least.

The two-three hours spent with this third and closing episode in the mini-series offshoot from the third game proper, and the similar amount of time spent playing the first and second episodes, has been well spent when in the moment. That is it’s been intriguing and different enough to warrant playing and if you chose to do so you’d find yourself moving onwards pretty quickly to get to the next bit.

Nindroids gave the impression that Ninjago could play host to a fresher style of Lego play, a playground to burst through some of the baggage that the Lego games have picked up over the years. Instead Shadow of Ronin feels like a step back - the potential’s been dropped, and franchise cash-in territory entered.

Lost Ember is a visually stunning game with a breathtaking world to explore. These features, as well as its beautiful soundtrack and engrossing narrative, make it a must-play indie - but its constant performance issues really hold it back. It is worth fighting through them, but be aware that your immersion will consistently be broken.

Styx: Master Of Shadows showed some potential. Styx himself is an interesting character and the game’s use of amber allows the player to be creative in their approach to each mission, but unfortunately these ideas have been thrown into a game which lacks the enjoyment to appreciate them.

Without a doubt, this first-person dungeon crawler is designed to appeal to a small, dedicated, niche group of Vita owners with a fondness for Japanese anime naughtiness and the patience of a saint. But for the majority, Demon Gaze provides too little reward for far too much hard work.

Fable Fortune brings pride back to Albion and has the potential to provide meaningful competition to the juggernaut that is Hearthstone.

More a disappointing rocky hole than a glorious crystal cavern.

Arguably this may result in a more watered down experience than PC gamers are used to, but it rarely hinders the gamer in any way. Yes, It does not have the extreme finicky depth of Frozen Synapse, yet it does not really need it.

Small innovations keep Lego Jurassic World interesting - for all ages.

If you’re looking for something with that “just one more go” mentality and are willing to overlook its flaws, then grab a broom and be prepared to get swept away.

Bright, colourful and completely insane. No Straight Roads is like nothing I have played in recent memory and I enjoyed my time with it. It may be a bit much for some and at times it has a few performance issues but overall if you are into weird games, brawlers or rhythm games, give it a shot you might like it. Let's rock!

DuckTales: Remastered is a renovated and revitalised golden child which when all is said and done shows its age regardless of the effort imparted to hide such truths.

Despite some balance issues and long play times, Blood Bowl 2 is a bloody yet engaging sports strategy sim.

A thoroughly competent but somewhat clinical racer that's fully licensed and looks the part.

Fractured Mask hits the ground running from the very start. Its main story elements march along to a respectable beat to deliver an entertaining third chapter.

My Hero One's Justice is packed with things to do and looks good while doing them. The battles themselves are fun and frenetic with the characters playing well against each other. This is probably the best arena battle game to date from any anime. Plus Ultra.

All we can say is that if you enjoyed The Walking Dead then you really owe it to yourself to check this out. While that game is a lot more polished and certainly more emotionally involving, Cognition doesn't fall too far short and certainly has much more impressive puzzle design.