Trash is Fun is a wholesome (if brief) experience that just goes to show that recycling can indeed be fun.

Ultimate Solitaire Collection might be a little sterile, but it plays well with a pad in your hands, and there are more features and modes than you could possibly exhaust. By rights, a collection this big should have cut corners somewhere, but Ultimate Solitaire Collection only has a few usability nobbles. It’s a modest triumph, then, and while it might not be the sexiest of purchases, it might be one of your most played when you look back in a year’s time.

Train Valley 2: Community Edition is a superb railway management puzzler. Initially complex, it all begins to come together in the most delightful of ways. When you consider the sheer number of levels, variety in objectives and strength of missions, we’re not sure there’s much that can beat it - especially not at the price.

You may well applaud the basic story setup and retro visuals in Diorama Dungeoncrawl - Master of the Living Castle. But the gameplay loop gets too frustrating at times, more annoying than anything as we are left to repeat levels.

Infinity Strash: DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai is one that you will enjoy a lot. Numb feeling combat aside, the way that our heroes grow and evolve as we go is classic Dragon Quest, whilst the finding of the Bond Memories soon becomes an obsession. The presentation of the story using scenes from the anime will draw you into the narrative more than you may expect and so this is most definitely a game worthy of the Dragon Quest moniker.

Football Manager 2024 Console Edition allows you to create a story of your own, dealing with your destiny across one club or many, all as you get to oversee every last detail.

EA Sports UFC 5 is probably the best iteration EA have made. It embodies the essence of the sport, which makes it easy to recommend for both seasoned fans and newcomers alike.

You have to get over the hurdle that this is clearly Lemmings, but with some annoying barbs. And you need to ignore the rough presentation. Clear all of those, and Jujubos is an ingenious riff on a classic

If you have played them before, and you’ve grown frustrated that 8floor Games never seem to release a coherent, bug-free and ambitious title, then stop the Argo for a moment. Argonauts Agency 1: Golden Fleece is the one.

We can’t help but feel that developers Cosy Computer hit upon a winning formula and then didn’t know what to do with it. Is Pizza Possum a roguelike? An arcade rush game? A campaign? The answer, we suspect, is a little bit of all of them. And that confusion left something of a bad taste in this possum’s mouth.

The technical hiccups and the lack of interaction in Bluey: The Videogame caused our four-player team to scream “awwww” in disappointment. But it’s testament to the game’s authenticity that they often wheeled away and played with something else in the world instead. From the art to the voice-acting to the painstaking recreation of the Bluey house: it’s all exactly as it should be.

We didn’t expect much of SETTRIS and not much is exactly what we have. If you’re spatially aware in terms of visual puzzling, then crack on and make your way through the eighty levels in place here, enjoying the ping of the achievements as you go. If not, this could well be one that turns you away from the get-go.

Brilliantly designed with a different slant on the genre, Wordless has a unique style and some amazing visual storytelling.

Alien Hominid Invasion is animated, anarchic and full of attitude. Sure it’s tough, but more importantly it’s an absolute blast.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is a bit of a mixed bag, but one that I thoroughly enjoyed my time with. "DMZombie" is not quite for me, and the campaign's short length and varying quality are worth noting. However, the linear campaign levels left me quite satisfied and most importantly, the multiplayer suite has been an absolute blast to play.

Thirsty Suitors may not boast the best mechanics or the flashiest gimmicks, but it more than makes up for that by telling a wonderfully evocative, charming and often funny story. In my mind, it achieves exactly what the developers set out to do. And that is something that should be celebrated.

Not for Broadcast: Bits of Your Life is a great piece of DLC for an already well-established universe. The narrative is strong and the writing is very clever. When you consider all the different playthroughs, there is a lot of content to discover and examine in Bits of Your Life.

True Virus is most definitely a solid adventure with some hard puzzles and a lovely art style, but a clumsy UI and lacking story don't ever let it stand out.

Treat it as a warning: if you’re looking for a deep simulation, or something that will keep budding vets glued to a pad then Animal Hospital won’t satisfy. But if you’re the kind of player who gets lost in easy routines, wiling away hours on simple processes, then there’s something inexplicably addictive to Animal Hospital.

We expected big things from Love Kuesuto because the presentation and setup were so intriguing. What we didn’t want was a personality test lacking in personality, and answers that Mystic Meg would have called vague. Love Kuesuto is a curio, then, but not a particularly satisfying one.

The sixty levels on offer in Bob the Elementalist are generous, and the £4.99 price tag is even more so. We’ve put a note in the suggestion box for more than one element per level next time, and no more hidden gems to find, but we otherwise reached the end credits with a smile on our faces. Not bad for a few Bob.

It’s got very few pretensions, but it gets the important stuff - the controls, the levels - right, and it gets them right for long enough that you will reach the end in a single session. If you like your platforming bitesize, then you will regret nothing about picking up Lily in Puzzle World.

You may take a look at Teardown and wonder what all the fuss is about. Those thoughts may not change much after the first hour or two of play. But once Teardown clicks, it clicks like nothing else you’ll have played for a good while.

Someone clearly believes in Yuko and the Akuma Menace. That someone isn’t us, though. The only thing that gave us enjoyment while playing Yuko and the Akuma Menace was working out what the designers were trying to achieve.

Kitten Island is a cheap, brainless frolic. As a platformer, it’s colourful and cute, with the difficulty tucked into hidden parts of the level. There are no complicated mechanics to learn, no surprising levels. For a casual player or someone who wants a vaguely nostalgic workout for their fingers, it will be enough.

Whether it be because Berzerk: Recharged feels fresher than the rest, or whether it is because of the random nature it brings, we feel this is in the upper echelons of all the Recharged games that Atari have pushed out.

No matter how you look at it, Persona 5 Tactica is super rewarding and there’s not a thing to moan about. As a bold new direction for the Persona franchise, I have to applaud the bravery.

No Son of Mine may be pretty good at doing what it does, but it doesn’t quite have enough about it to ensure it stands out from the crowd.

Indoor Kickball provides some brief amusement, but the gimmick soon wears off, all thanks to the underwhelming execution.

Know the beast that you’re getting: ASTROSMASH is a coin-op classic that’s been given a razzle-dazzle visual improvement, four-player co-op, as well as reams of graphical and gameplay options. What it isn’t is a modern shmup with all of the depth and game modes that you might come to expect from the genre. Know these rules of engagement, and ASTROSMASH might surprise you.

As complete novice dancers we always enjoy playing the Just Dance games, and Just Dance 2024 Edition is no exception. It doesn’t come with a whole load in terms of new features, but why change a formula that has worked so well in the past?

Younger games will find much enjoyment in Mineko’s Night Market. The world itself is pleasant to the eye and the whole setup is familiar yet cuts its own path. There is a fair bit of grind though.

Achilles: Legends Untold may well deliver more than you think - especially in terms of enjoyment. The combat and exploration are fun, the loading times are world class, and there is a lot to do. If you like Ancient Greek mythology, or want a new Diablo-styled game, this is one you should be giving a whirl.

Burger Chef Tycoon is a bit like me in the kitchen: there are a few meals that I’m good at, so I make the same thing over and over. Burger Chef Tycoon’s menu is equally narrow. Once you’ve made the few dishes it has to offer, you’re going to want to go elsewhere for the next meal. Would sir like Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?!, perhaps?

Got a hankering to return to your old Super Mario World cartridge? Give Armabilly a shot and it might just satisfy that urge.

In the swapping gun, there is a fantastic idea that begs for a game to be built around it. But Swapshot isn’t slick enough, nor clever enough, to truly get the most out of it.

DESOLATIUM is an unusual, yet enjoyable, point-and-click adventure that is well worth getting your teeth into. The visuals are very impressive, whilst the atmosphere and soundtrack are equally good.

Fusion Paradox is a twin-stick roguelite that is a little rough around the edges, and its ideas don’t always work. But it’s so full of ideas that it’s hard to stay frustrated at it for long. There’s abundant care in the colour-matching mechanics and huge, rewarding dungeons, and that care wins out over the flaws. Shoulder the shotgun and treat yourself to a few runs.

Wildshade: Unicorn Champions isn’t anywhere near the best karting games of the year. It’s too quirky to get close. But if you have younger unicorn fans in the house, then you can be reassured. There are some fantastic accessibility features, and - as long as you keep to Easy difficulty - Wildshade: Unicorn Champions will satisfy your little ones’ fantasies of being elite unicorn riders.

EA Sports WRC is probably the best there is. Begin to understand the need to be fast but cautious and any fan of the World Rally Championships should look to get behind the wheel of this one at the earliest of opportunities.

Pirates on Target is a budget puzzler that doesn’t aim high, but hits the bullseye in terms of smart, elegant brainteasers. While it might lure you in with easier geometric challenges, there’s always an absolute beast of a puzzle just around the corn-arrrr.

The Invincible is going to split opinion; not everyone is going to love this game, although many others will. It's a story-driven adventure where narrative is the driving force so should you be looking for a thoughtful adventure in a brave new world and don't mind the slow pace brought on by the game mechanics, then The Invincible will deliver you to the stars.

As it stands, it’s threadbare, slightly charmless and reversing a lot of the previous games’ good work. There may be a positive future for Let’s Sing, but that future might seem a long way off while playing Let’s Sing 2024.

There’s a red-pill, blue-pill choice with Jumanji: Wild Adventures. If you’re a solo, older player who loves the series and wants to immerse themselves in the world of Jumanji, you might find this to be too simplistic and ramshackle. Take that red pill and eject out. But if you’re a family **of Jumanji fans, and have two or more players to dance-fight with? Take the blue pill and have a cracking time.

The Crown of Wu feels like a game that could have done with a little bit more love, a bit more polishing - only then may it have had enough to overcome any drawbacks. As it is, The Crown of Wu isn’t good enough to hold a candle to either Monkey or that Xbox 360 classic, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West.

It may have a penguin on the cover, but The Super Penguboy is a lame duck. He comes with a jetpack that barely works and a gun that’s more effective at sending him to his doom. You could buy this shoddy little morsel for 2000G and the cheap £4.99 price, but you’d have to wonder if you were giving up a little fragment of your soul.

Think of Valthirian Arc: Hero School Story 2 as a perfect companion piece to the upcoming Baldur’s Gate III. Where that game promises to be an all-absorbing relationship, Valthirian Arc: Hero School Story 2 is a shallow bit on the side. You might be thankful for it.

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is a very good game stuffed full to bursting with visceral melee combat and great gunplay. The enemies are evil, which always helps with motivation, and the co-op works very well. If you can avoid the costly suits, all will be golden.

There may not be much new in terms of mechanics from the original game to this one, but Horror Tale 2: Samantha knows what it wants, delivers its goals brilliantly and provides some great escape room vibes.

Dead Island 2: Haus is definitely on the short side, completable in less than three hours. There are a few secrets to uncover but even those will not push the length of it up by anything meaningful. But, as with the main game, if smashing thousands of zombies into bloody pulps is your thing, then Haus has it in spades.

Endless Dungeon might not be a game for everyone, and it may not convert you to become a roguelike faithful, but it is a fun experience - especially when enjoyed with friends.

Warm Snow will go a long way towards curing you of any roguelike phobia. In fact, you’ll have a blast running around and slicing things up. If you like a roguelike this is an easy sell, but even if you don’t, I urge you to give Warm Snow a try - there is something special about it that will just keep you playing.

The Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 on Xbox Series X|S is one compilation you cannot miss out on.

There is a lot of potential in a game adaptation of A Christmas Carol, and Ebenezer and the Invisible World makes a valiant effort. But this pudding needed to sing in the copper a little longer.

You could almost call DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing plain. But it’s also not mired in monetisation, nor is it overly fiddly, demanding understanding of pit crew or upgrades. It slots in nicely, then: more challenging and deep than PAW Patrol Grand Prix, but without the unnecessary bells and whistles of the free-to-play kart games. Plus you can’t go wrong with a character roster that includes Shrek and Donkey.

What we have here in Alphadia I & II is very much business as usual for KEMCO. The same JRPG cliches are here as always, even down to the “will they-won’t they” romance between the two main characters in the first game. And while familiarity can breed contempt, in this case it is more like settling down and slipping on a comfy pair of slippers, before taking in a couple of great stories.

El Paso, Elsewhere is one of those games that will have you smiling from ear to ear, all whilst ensuring your action vibes are jumping. It's a clever game that does so much with so little. It helps that it is as cool as hell too, whilst the slow-mo action never gets old.

The condition NHL 24 is in right now makes it feel like a beta test for a full release that is some months off. It’s extremely disappointing.

There is probably a good game in here somewhere, but it feels like Stray Souls needed more time in development to iron out the bugs and hone the mechanics.

Microids and OSome Studio have achieved the improbable in The Smurfs 2: The Prisoner of the Green Stone. They’ve made a platformer that’s smurfing ace, a Super Mario Sunshine-like 3D adventure that both kids and adults can enjoy. The best licensed kids game of the year? You better smurfing believe it.

RollerCoaster Tycoon Adventures Deluxe is a shadow of the game it originated from, despite being a decent entry level park simulator on its own merits.

Whether you are new to the Alliance of the Free Cities or a frequent visitor, My Time at Sandrock is a highly playable game. The storyline flows at a decent pace, there is always somewhere to explore or a new gadget to build that keeps you wanting to return. Expect the odd frustration - whether that’s a minor bug, or the sheer amount of time spent talking to the residents. However, you’ll certainly never get bored with your life as a Sandrock builder.

The Sisters 2: Road to Fame alternates between being awkward to navigate and fundamentally broken, which aren’t the best two outcomes in the world. We could make excuses for it and say the minigames are fine, but ‘fine’ isn’t going to make us cough up £33.49.

Alan Wake 2 is the magnum opus of horror games, but not simply because it delivers some scares. Oozing with creative flair, it confidently flaunts unconventional and even experimental methods of storytelling, which makes it very special indeed.

Treat Sonic Superstars as another 2D Sonic adventure and it’s fine. Treat it as anything more, like it was advertised, and you will be disappointed.

I really wanted to like Hellboy Web of Wyrd, from the announcement trailer reveal, it looked amazing. Technically that is still true - it does looks amazing. Yet sadly it doesn’t have the substance to back up the fantastic style. Maybe hardcore fans will find more joy, but Web of Wyrd feels tricky to recommend to even the most dedicated fans.

There’s no doubt that Builder Simulator is a true sim game; the creativity and imagination are where the game really sings. With all the tools at your disposal, it’ll be up to you to make of it what you will.

FINIS is a very short experience, yet the price tag manages to justify the content. But it must be said, once you’ve been ‘evaluated’ there’s a chance you’ll be done with FINIS, left to leave it on the shelf forevermore.

If you are yet to play a Slenderman game but are a fan of all things horror, Slender: The Arrival on Xbox Series X|S is the version to step into.

The mechanics in Torn Away are so varied that a couple could have been lost along the way without affecting things; like the first person sections. But it’s the story's emotional beats which shine, absolutely spot on whilst the main characters are wonderful and tragic.

It may not have been the Transformers game that I wanted, but TRANSFORMERS: EARTHSPARK – Expedition surprised me at how much of a decent open world title it is. A few more playable Autobots next time around would be much appreciated.

Frustrating combat and a world that expects you to be familiar with the franchise aside, Ghostrunner 2 has a good amount of fun provided you can keep up with the fast pace and the many button presses required to stay alive.

A near masterpiece that should be played by anyone and everyone. If you’re after a narrative, it nails it. If you’re looking for a serene game to kick back with for an evening or two, equally so. And if you just want to go up, there’s not a better game to do it with than with Jusant.

Rogue City offers a true RoboCop experience, immersive gameplay, and a story that keeps players engaged. The attention to detail and faithful recreation of the iconic character makes this a must-play for fans of the franchise and newcomers alike. I can happily ignore the niggles because Teyon have remembered the most important thing for licensed games - authenticity and fun gameplay.

A Perfect Day is a very original experience, especially in terms of gameplay and the structure of the narrative. But it is also original in terms of allowing westerners to play a game from a different cultural standpoint.

Truck Driver: The American Dream needs a few patches to get up to speed. This American dream is far from being fully realised.

Hero Survival may not be as good as Vampire Survivors (there, I’ve said it) but it is a competent stab at the formula. If you fancy something a little bit different, then you could do a lot worse than to take this for a spin.

If you were gaming back in the 1990s, RedRaptor is an easy sell. For others, prepare yourself for a stiff challenge and more bullets than you can shake a spaceship at…

If you’re a sucker for these puzzle games, or you’re one of those people who supposedly thinks about the Roman Empire four times a day, then buy The Myth Seekers: The Legacy of Vulkan. It will get you ordering a toga before the week’s out.

By slapping a machine gun on the front of a paper plane (aerodynamics be damned), Paper Dash - Ghost Hunt manages to add an extra, slightly more strategic layer to its well-worn template.

At the very least, Survivor: Castaway Island takes a punt, and delivers a minigame party collection that attempts something different. The survival and subterfuge stuff may repeat too much and buffers the action with boredom, but we’re glad Magic Pockets tried something new. If they can get the balance right in a sequel, a season two, then they might just be onto something.

Regardless of its rudimentary combat or the lack of a map, Lil Gator Game is simply a delight, thanks to strong writing, worthwhile collectibles, thoughtful exploration, and rewarding sidequests. Lil Gator Game is certainly an easy recommend for younger gamers, but it might also strike a chord in those who long for an imagination-filled afternoon in the park.

With a bit more time, a bit more sparkle, DreamWorks Trolls Remix Rescue would have shone.

Stick all the indie platformers in the world into a blender, then pour out a tiny espresso cup and you’d have Betomis. It’s playable, forgettable and every bit a three out of five.

Skull Island: Rise of Kong is an empty series of valleys where it’s easier to get lost than killed. We wanted the kind of bad that is stupid, ridiculous and embarrassing - we might have had fun with that. Dull-bad, though? That’s the worst.

There is a lot to like about Lords of the Fallen. The scope and scale of the two worlds is impressive, whilst the combat is fast and frantic. Even the exploration side of things, while tricky, is rewarding when you manage it.

Skautfold: Usurper is a game that will do a lot to endear itself to your gaming heart. It looks great, it plays very well and the challenge is all too real, but the rewards are there if you can learn how to risk it all on the Guard bar.

There isn’t a bad game in this compilation, but there isn’t exactly a great one either; there’s nothing stand out that would cause you to buy the VISCO Collection.

Paintball 3 - Candy Match Factory conjures up creative and engaging match-3 gameplay that will hook you in for hours.

Bud Spencer & Terence Hill - Slaps and Beans 2 feels like there is an in-joke going on, and I have no idea what it is. The story is absolutely ridiculous, but it feels like this is a deliberate choice. From there, it’s a mixed bag - the action on offer in the main part of the game is dull and repetitive, the mini games are a lot better, and the rest is pretty forgettable, to be honest.

You will love the chance to explore the world of Kona II: Brume. The story feels more beefed up, and I love how it tells a good tale with a heady mixture of different genres, moving from thriller to horror.

The Gap is a lovely, thoughtful game that has a fascinating story. Travelling through various memories and timelines is brilliant and never feels dull.

At every turn, I was left almost breathless by the beauty and ingenuity in COCOON. It’s a staggeringly brilliant game with which words cannot really do justice.

If you want a period correct, hard to control FPS game, then Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition is exactly the game for you.

We’ve hate-played games before, but hate is a strong word in the case of Royal Roads 3. It’s more that we persisted in a state of bored disbelief. Surely something interesting is going to happen. Surely we’re going to end up somewhere less brown, rather than more. It’s almost impressive that no, it makes no attempt to do anything of the sort.

Haunted House does a lot of roguelite things right, without straying too far from the formula. But with secret rooms and basements, a healthy dose of collectibles and plenty of stuff to do in the endgame, it is a fun addition to the genre. However, several frustrating bugs really do diminish the enjoyment and these cannot be ignored.

It all leaves Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 - Turbocharged to be seen as a decent alternative to its predecessor. If you want to blast around with your favourite Hot Wheels vehicles, this is as good as you're going to get. But if it's a massive racing overhaul you were expecting, you'll be left disappointed. More of the same will have to do you.

Treachery in Beatdown City: Ultra Remix is not one of the better fighting games out there, and with a price tag of £24.99, it’s hard to even recommend it as a little cheap fun. All in all, you’ll be best off looking elsewhere.