They say every journey starts with a single step, but in the case of Sable, the journey starts with the arduous task of assembling a motorbike. Sable is a game that looks gorgeous and occasionally does gorgeous things, but too often it's a drab and lifeless affair. It’s a game that knows exactly how it makes you want to feel, but it doesn’t quite have the gameplay to pull it off, and that means it’s constantly fighting with itself.

Alone in the Dark is, interestingly, a more communal game than I tend to expect from survival horror. You're frequently running into the other inhabitants of Derceto. I enjoyed talking to them, though the writing isn't especially good, but the game never really delivers on its title and all that company prevents it from ever really getting scary. This is a solid enough retread if you've played through Dead Space and the Resident Evil remakes and want more. But it won't bring many converts to the genre. We'll have to settle for being alone, together, in the dark. Which sorta defeats the entire point when you think about it.

After seven entries, it's clear the Jackbox team knows how to make a fun set of party games. Jackbox 7 keeps it up with an instant classic in Blather 'Round, another solid take on Quiplash, a zany time with Devils and the Details, the unfortunately bugged Champ'd Up, and Talking Points, a game that's really hurt by the current world circumstances. I can't blame Jackbox Games for the pandemic, but two of these games do take a hit from being played over Discord. And the bugs may be a side effect of at-home development, but I can't say for sure. All I can say is Champ'd Up has so much potential and is destined for Twitch fame once its bugs are flattened. So yes, Jackbox 7 is worth buying. But maybe wait for an eventual sale. And for this dumb pandemic to be over.

Ultimately there just isn't enough here, and even for an indie game in a world of huge budgets, I don't think it's unfair to point that out. Pupperazzi is sweet and delivers what it promises, but you need to make your own fun because the game doesn't test you in any meaningful way, and nor does it let you apply your own creativity to it enough. But it lets you take pictures of doggos, and that's all some people will need.

On a personal level, I'm still not truly gripped by everything here, but there are a lot of risky design choices and themes in Vigil. Developer Glass Heart Games should be commended for paying homage to the Dark Souls series while taking it in a slightly different direction.

This Postmortem Edition has given me a new respect for Rivers and his development process, but I still feel the same about Home now as I did years ago. It's a unique little game that is worth a playthrough, but I believe Rivers went on to better things with both of his follow-ups (especially the wonderful Alone With You from 2016).

If you have three friends who love tower defense, or you're desperate for an FPS to play on the go, then you could do worse than Hypercharge: Unboxed. It's just not the shiniest toy in the toybox.

Ultimately, Mario Strikers: Battle League feels like Liverpool’s trophy cabinet this year. An FA Cup and a League Cup are nothing to sniff at, but it feels below par. With no cup final goals and two victories on penalties, they didn’t even underachieve with style. Battle League is very similar. It’s Mario Strikers again, and the football itself is pretty good, but the stuff of legends? Not even close.

I had a great time playing Pax Augusta, and while it’s a niche game for a niche audience, anyone who has fond memories of playing historical city-builders will enjoy this breath of fresh air. A game built with real care and attention in a developer’s spare time, self-taught with YouTube tutorials. The fact the game is half as good as it is an incredible feat of development.

Call of Juarez: Gunslinger’s Switch port is far from ideal, and those still looking for an optimal experience will want to check out the version available on Steam. Yet, for those who aren’t all that concerned with pixel-perfect accuracy and simply want to take their slapstick six-shooter fun on the go, it’s more than worth the asking price of twenty dollars.

Mario Vs Donkey Kong is a capable remake of a game whose identity crisis between platformer and puzzler can't survive the journey from handheld to TV. Enjoyable enough but not that taxing - aside from rare spikes when it becomes too taxing - it's a good recreation that doesn't have the tools to venture into greatness. It will be an impressive enough glow-up for fans of the original, but mixes being straightforward and mildly frustrating into a colourful and charming milkshake (so close I can almost taste it), even if it's a little bit sickly. It's worth occupying a few hours with, but it won't live long in the memory, and underlines why few Mario fans would put this one in the plumber's highlight reel.

Helping the Grumpuses reconnect with each other and overcome their character flaws is a worthwhile experience. I may not have loved catching bugs, but I came away smitten by Beffica Winklesnoot, Chandlo Funkbun, and the rest of the Snaktooth Island Grumpuses.

The best thing that Overpass has going for it is the fact that its niche uniqueness within the racing genre. Not too many racing games feature the complex, raw realness that Overpass offers, setting it apart from other titles. Unfortunately, that is also its biggest downfall, since, for most racing genre fans, it’s just not that much fun. While the game succeeds in its mission to simulate the more complex nature of racing that avid offroad fans will likely enjoy, it doesn’t really have much appeal to the masses, making Overpass a title that is probably worth passing over.

Marooners is a title that fits perfectly on the Nintendo Switch as a quick and easy way to get more of the party/mini-game action that you love. Marooners is unlikely to replace other party game staples such as Mario Party, but it’s good enough for what it is, especially for younger gamers.

For all my issues with Saints Row, I keep telling myself 'at least it's fun, and the reason people play these games is not for the characters, or the story, or the weak social viewpoint the game puts forward, but the fun'. It's become a mantra. Like a little train going up a mountain: At least it's fun. at least it's fun, at least it's fun. The further I got through the game, the less I felt that was true.

The developers of One-Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows did a valiant job of translating the franchise into a video game, but the final product just isn't fun.

Even if I’m not quite ready to take Employee of the Month away from Battle for Bikini Bottom, we have the makings of something amazing here. Nickelodeon needs to recognise this potential, and sets its sights higher with the next SpongeBob game.

There is a fun time to be had here, but ultimately Pokemon Pokopia doesn't explore the Pokemon side of its world and offers building quests that are mostly rigid and repetitive. As ever with Pokemon, there is enough charm to see it through, and the mechanics aren't shallow, even if they're used in aid of the same few tasks over and over again.

It’s by no means the most thrilling or inventive puzzle game you’ll ever play, but those with an appreciation for the genre may get what they bargained for.

If you happen to be craving a new isometric puzzle-platformer then this could make for an alright distraction, but you have many other better options out there. Retro Machina is a game that takes too much inspiration from the past, which may sadly lead to it being forgotten in the future.

I’m overwhelmingly charmed by Peridot, despite its shortcomings. I still like to check in on my adult dots, even though there’s nothing left to do with them now but breed, and I love taking pictures of them next to my cats to post on my social media. The charm of Peridot’s cute creatures will bring a lot of curious players in the door, and if Niantic can build out the pet sim features some more they may even stick around. The tech is impressive and it feels like a platform that can grow and grow, but the cost of breeding is a deal breaker for me. I’ll be watching Peridot with much interest, but for now, I won’t be playing it.

Iceborne is absolutely a worthy addition to Monster Hunter World, but the PC version still needs some touching up. This is definitely a "your mileage will vary" situation, so proceed with caution if you just can't wait for patches.

Delete After Reading is short but sweet and plays around with some interesting ideas in terms of how interactive an interactive fiction experience can be. While the puzzles aren’t anything groundbreaking, the way they’re presented keeps things feeling very fresh. Overall, the game is a fun time, the perfect way to introduce a kiddo to adventure games or waste away an afternoon trying something new.

Twelve Minutes is a good adventure game, but its puzzle design makes it feel— mature, cinematic presentation aside—like something of a relic. If it was released in 1995, you'd be ringing up the LucasArts hint line for help and getting scolded by your parents for running up a massive phone bill. But it has its charms, and the way the story is gradually peeled back, growing more disturbing with each loop, is effectively done. There's a huge amount of emotion, drama, and conflict squeezed into this tiny, dingy three-room apartment. But also a lot of frustration as you struggle to determine precisely the correct sequence of events to let you move the story forward and finally get some closure.

The problem is that everything in Layers of Fear (2023) seems to be taking cues from the first game, not the second. The Writer's frame story and both pieces of DLC share the first game's approach to ubiquitous, weak voice acting, and both pieces of DLC return to the unpleasant mansion setting. Layers of Fear 2 should have been an evolution for the series that informed what Bloober and Anshar Studios built here, but that isn't the case. Maybe it's fitting, after all, that this collection shares the first game's name.

Had the gameplay been tuned up a bit more I could see myself recommending this, but unfortunately, Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection is one game that feels like it came back from the dead a little too soon.

Fittingly for a game where our hero hears multiple voices in her head, Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is confused about who it is, what it wants, and where it's going. Is it an indie game eager to be unique in the marketplace, or another triple-A hit with the usual trimmings? Is it a peaceful puzzle game, or a mini soulslike? Is it an inwardly reflective tale about the demons of trauma, or a very literal tale of gods and monsters? Is it even a game, or is it an interactive art piece?

Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars features a striking and quirky tabletop style with delightful gameplay that doesn’t overcomplicate things. While the storyline won’t necessarily grip you, it’s told in a fun and interactive way and this is an easygoing pick up and play title that you can enjoy at your own pace. You won’t be challenged when going card-to-card against your enemies, but you can still find the thrill of a frustrating hand if you delve into the minigame.