Some legacy issues remain in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty and Update 2.0, and I have had to load a previous save up on a couple of occasions due to various bugs. And the pacing for Phantom Liberty can be a bit questionable as you sit and twiddle your thumbs for the next story mission. But that’s primarily due to the writing and plot being of such a high standard. Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty grabs your attention instantly, and refuses to let go until the conclusion.

After years of having the open world racing scene dominated by Forza Horizon, Ubisoft have certainly found the right gear with The Crew Motorfest. If you’re an adrenaline junkie, this is one not to miss.

Understand what Death and Taxes is trying to do, and it’s a magnitude more fun. This is a toy where you can save or kill whomever you choose, and the mischievous glee comes from what happens next. Ignore all the chatter about rules: they’re there to be ignored, and abiding by them leads down unsatisfying paths. But once you’ve got all that, fun is as inevitable as, well, Death and Taxes.

Revhead is both good and bad, with the scales coming down on the bad side rather firmly. As a mechanic simulator, it works and is fun. But the rest of the game is shockingly bad. I can’t recommend Revhead to anyone who doesn't have actual grease under their fingernails.

Retro in design and gameplay, don’t let that put you off Full Void. This is a game that is supremely addictive, as a brilliantly told tale of machines versus humans plays out. Complete with exciting gameplay that is simple but challenging at the same time, this is one of those that will stay with you long after it finishes.

An investment is needed if you’re going to enjoy Black Skylands. You will need to push past some unorthodox controls not once but twice, as both the on-foot sections and the airship piloting are knotty and need unravelling. But if you persist, and push through the many attached systems, then you will uncover a treasure trove. From the world to the upgrades and story, Black Skylands is a never-ending source of things to do, see and blow up.

If the idea of a no-frills Metroidvania, done well, gets you reaching for a gamepad then Kalinur delivers. But its vanilla-ness doesn’t half become a pain when you’re traipsing through the same parts of the castle, over and over again.

A wonderful new mode that extends the fun beyond the main stories makes Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge – Dimension Shellshock a must buy for those who enjoyed the 2022 turtle based delight. While a couple more characters on the roster and a handful of new story stages wouldn’t have hurt, this is definitely one to pick up if you’re a fan of the heroes in a half shell.

Missing legend aside, NBA2K24 is a worthwhile upgrade for fans of 2K23. 2K’s yearly package is full to the brim with options and modes.

Gastro Force is quite obviously a DOOM clone, but after playing it, you will probably find yourself better off with the originals if you want that retro hit. If the addition of a Y-axis is the best it can do, then that is a clear sign of how poor the rest of the game is.

Agatha Christie – Hercule Poirot: The London Case could possibly be recommended at a discounted price, but even then the technical issues may well put a stop to that.

DREAMERS is a good family-friendly open-world adventure that will - mostly - soar the spirit and put a smile on the face.

I didn't have very high expectations for the experience found in Daymare 1994: Sandcastle. But the game is more than capable of pleasantly surprising, especially with its more linear, tight exploration and improved visuals. There are problems with the dialogue, which feels a bit dated, and the combat system gets a bit bland after the umpteenth fight. But you’ll mostly have a good time with Daymare 1994: Sandcastle

For all its initial promise, Foxes Need to Eat exits out of the mind as quickly as it arrived. Unfortunately, it doesn’t screen-wrap back into the mind afterwards.

We’re in a second golden age of FMV adventures, with studios like Wales Interactive and Flavourworks making some absolute crackers. One of the joys of being in a golden age is that you don’t have to put up with substandard alternatives. Truth is most definitely that.

If you’ve ever wondered what early game builds might be like, play Sapu. It’s the building blocks of a game, but not a game yet. It hasn’t yet coalesced. If you can muddle through the self-sabotaging then you’re better people than us, but we found Sapu to be borderline unplayable.

Our one lingering concern, though, is that it’s on the difficult side for the target demographic. If your Baby Shark fan is less than six-years old, we worry that they might come unstuck, particularly with the ‘sing’ sections of the game. Ours certainly did. Baby Shark: Sing & Swim Party is one for a willing parent to stick a tentative toe in and test, then.

Creepy Tale 3: Ingrid Penance is a very bewitching, rather fascinating adventure. It comes with a unique story and a neat way of using good/evil choice dynamics.

APICO is an eye-opening sim that’s enlightening in regards to beekeeping and the important role bees have in our ecosystem.

Immortals of Aveum should be praised for its original concept, writing, and new world-building. It's a new franchise that is brave; a very different type of FPS. Playing through feels like watching a good Marvel movie - you'll have a good time but will rarely care for it after.

Other than these small issues, Lies of P is an extremely enjoyable game to play through. The feel of the world, the setting, and the combat all seem to have real impact; frankly, these elements are great. The camera and jumping are not quite so good, but in all, Lies of P is an absolute pleasure to take in...If you like a Soulslike, you will like Lies of P. And that pretty much sells it.

For the good - the visuals, audio, navigation of paths and occasional combat moments - there are tens of things in XEL that will hold you back. Bugs and glitches are absolutely rife in this world, and there’s seemingly nothing to stop them popping up on an extremely frequent basis; mostly out of nowhere, springing a surprise just as you think XEL is going to give you a pass.

If you're an FMV fan then you're going to enjoy a lot of what The Isle Tide Hotel has to offer. But just remember - don’t ever leave your room at night.

If you’re a fan of a puzzler, Mirrored Souls will well suit. Should you then also be down for a challenge, this is more than capable of delivering on the promise.

In a genre that is dominated by Cities: Skylines, it’s good to see something new pop up. Especially when it is perhaps a more friendly, simple sim experience like that found here in Urbek City Builder. The systems work perfectly and the control system is great. It’s only the lack of direction and objectives that let this one down.

Mondealy comes in at a perfect price point, especially when you consider the six hour or so adventure you’ll have. And it tells a wonderful story; one that is full of life and great characters.

The setup and strange magical story are to be loved in Tenebris Pictura. The characters are intriguing and the gameplay is good, mixing the travel between planes well. Visually it's all very stunning. But personally, the combat has been hard to get on with.

As a shoot 'em up, Astro Flame Starfighter does what it says on the tin. It is interesting enough, especially in regards the upgrade mechanic, whilst seeing your ship evolve in ways to suit your playstyle is pretty good fun.