Those who have played previous Artifex Mundi titles will know if they want this or not depending on their feelings with previous titles, and for those that haven't we recommend picking this one up, especially if or when it goes on sale.

While it lasts, Kitty Powers' Matchmaker is a great time killer that is oddly addicting.

Clicker Heroes styles itself as an idle game in the body of an RPG, but it is really just all of the RPG grind without any of the interesting plot that helps drive you. In the end, the game, if you can call it that, pretty much plays itself. Despite this, it has a surprising amount of depth, though a lot of patience and a great deal of time is needed to uncover it all.

Sublevel Zero Redux is one of the standout shooters in the indie scene. Fusing "six degrees of freedom" shooting with permadeath, procedural generation, and crafting makes for a tense and unpredictable adventure each time you play. The rogue-like elements are enhanced by the tension of a traditional corridor first-person shooter, though it might feel a little simplistic to genre veterans. Some odd design decisions are a little frustrating, especially when they conspire against you in the game's more intense moments. If you can see past the game's hiccups, you will find a compelling and unusual experience that teases you into one last try with every Game Over.

Bloons TD 5 is a game that simply makes you happy to play it. Its quirky monkeys and cartoony setting deliver a tone that’s fun and it makes everything you do in the game similarly enjoyable. The tone is backed up with a huge variety of towers, plenty of which are viable additions to any arsenal, and a set of tracks that are visually interesting and have creative paths which force you to adapt strategies that may have worked fine on previous tracks. While a poor difficulty curve and some lingering quality of life issues related to the game’s previous life as a free to play title keep it from a perfect score, the end result is a game that’s a joy to play and worth time from any fan of the genre or anyone looking for a little happiness in their life.

LEGO Worlds can be a bit hit-or-miss. The game has switched up the series' formula and it is refreshing to be let loose and explore the vast amount of worlds on offer. The freedom that comes with all of the creative tools makes for an enjoyable experience as you explore and the addition of dungeons adds a new layer of challenge that LEGO games have never seen before. With all of this exploration, though, comes regular lag and slow texture pop-in. This causes the long hunt for gold bricks to be an even longer one but it's nothing exceedingly drastic. It's a disappointment that to create your own world you need to first amass a great number of these bricks, meaning that a feeling of repetition will creep in eventually. Despite these issues, hopping into your rocket and soaring through the galaxy for more discoveries can still be a worthwhile adventure.

Shift Happens is a rewarding and challenging puzzler that is especially enjoyable in co-op. The gradual introduction of new and increasingly complex mechanics is done right and you'll feel on top of the world as you grow more adept at utilizing them.

2Dark is a mildly interesting stealth-horror fusion sadly dragged down by some bizarre narrative and visual decisions.

Table Top Racing: World Tour dares to be familiar, which could've been a deathwish. Instead, competitive gameplay, fun cars, adjustable tracks, and an enticing unlock system make the total package something greater than the sum of its common parts. Speeding around colorful tracks launching missiles, dodging oil slicks, and earning coins is something we've seen countless times in the past, but TTR gets most of it right so it still feels like a race worth winning.

Eekeemoo Splinters of the Dark Shard is a game of missed potential. All the workings of an action-adventure game are there, like characters, story, and boss battles, but none of them are fleshed out enough to make the game worthwhile. It's a quick and easy jaunt for those who want only gamerscore, and each chapter is unique in design and colour, but no singular aspect of it feels like it does something special or even particularly well. Without the polish and care it needs, it is only functional, never exceptional.

Torment is a game for anyone who's a fan of a good book, an epic tale, or that simply wants a fresh take on RPGs that consoles have never seen. It may not be a great novel, but it's certainly a very good one.

Ghost Blade HD is exactly what it appears to be: a bullet hell shmup emulating the pinnacle of the genre in the mid-nineties. It's visually chaotic and over before you know it, but this is to be expected from an homage to a much loved niche. Some display customisation options, 2-player local co-op and a slightly easier Easy mode give the more casual gamer a chance to at least see out the game's short campaign, but ultimately Ghost Blade knows and delivers to its core audience: arcade addicts looking for a hit of nostalgia.

With throwback games being all the rage in independent development, many developers have chosen to go the 8/16-bit, pixelated, "ain't this cute?" route to tap into nostalgia while bringing along more modern systems and mechanics. Chime Sharp goes the opposite route; it may look like a modern game, but it feels like an older game in the best ways possible. With its highly accessible gameplay style and a difficult-to-master level of play, Chime Sharp is an easy endorsement for virtually all gamers.

For Honor's learning curve can be punishing at first, but if you're willing to stay the course and invest some time into understanding the nuances of its deep combat system, you will begin to appreciate how exciting and truly addictive the "Art of Battle" can be.

Riptide GP: Renegade is a masterclass in how to take a good concept and execute it well. While nothing the game does is exceptional in any way, its faults are few and minimal.

The central concept is as mindlessly addictive as ever, while the audiovisual update is pleasing to the eyes and ears. Unfortunately the game is let down by being too short and too easy, while some unnecessary platforming gimmicks frustrate more often than they entertain.

A fun stroll through a computer that can be quite challenging at times. The story is engaging and the different characters that you meet along the way are both interesting and original (even if they were inspired by past games). There's a good mix of platforming and questing aspects here, with collectibles and challenge rooms to keep you playing long after the story has finished.

Creative Assembly has taken the groundwork set out by Ensemble’s Halo Wars and improved on some of the areas that were lacking in the original, all while still keeping the game accessible and easily playable using a controller. It feels as if the campaign has been released in an unfinished state, but it still offers a decent amount of action and a compelling story. The relatively low number of missions, the unsatisfying conclusion and the fact that 343 Industries and Creative Assembly have already announced that campaign DLC will be coming in the near future can't help but leave a bitter taste in the mouth. The new Blitz mode adds a different approach to the RTS combat to which we have become accustomed, and the shorter, more action-oriented, matches give newcomers and veterans alike something into which to sink their teeth.

Minimal story, frustrating design, and a revival of all the bad things of which survival horror washed its hands years ago — these all crop up in Vaccine and combine to have the game miss its mark. Instead of a love letter to bygone scares, what we get is a tiresome endeavor for anyone but the most diehard fans for old school horror. What's worse, even such fans might be turned away by Vaccine's blatant ripping off of Capcom's renowned franchise.

Zombie Vikings takes an interesting premise and a beautiful art style and squanders them alongside a bulk of other issues. Bugs that should've long ago been patched out before migrating to Xbox, a sense of humor that only induces cringe, and a campaign that overstays its welcome and rewards button-mashing come together to form something fittingly brainless. Minimal simple pleasures might be found here if you and a few friends are looking for just another co-op game, but even then there must be others you haven't yet played that more often reward you in nearly every way.

The game is held back by poor balancing that renders the silenced pistol the most effective weapon, the truly awful AI that seems to actively try to not detect you even if you run in front of them, and a lack of worthwhile activities to play outside of the main campaign.

In a sea of ID@Xbox games, Typoman: Revised stands on its own thanks to its solid gameplay and unique use of words and puzzles. The platforming simply feels good and the usage of letters, words and antonyms add another layer to it.

The brightest spot in the whole game is Lola's flaming pink hair.

What's there in the game is quite good, the issue is that there isn't very much of it. Once you've had your fill of the challenges in the main game, there's nothing else to do except speed run those same levels again. That on top of a complete and utter lack of production value of any kind leaves the game feeling more like a prototype of a cool idea than a full game.

Exploring the facility and discovering the nuances of the plot are certainly the highlights of this game, but the lack of direction is a double-edged sword, giving players the opportunity to discover as much as they can but often leaving them unsure of what exactly they are supposed to be doing. The survival elements of this survival-horror also aren't as fully realised as they could have been and only appear during the short second half of the story. With a length of only one to two hours, it’s easy to finish a single playthrough in one sitting and still have plenty of time to go back in for more, but once you have discovered what secrets are lurking in the basement, there is very little to entice you back other than finishing up any missed achievements, of course.

The heart of MX Nitro is fast, fluid, and exciting. Many levels provide a tough but fair challenge with a physics model on which you can rely — crucial to the game's merits. Unfortunately, it's bogged down by some strange design decisions, lackluster customization, and sparse online modes that ultimately add up to something uneven. Getting on the bike and trying again and again can be fun for a while, but eventually you may find it's best to put it back in the garage and find something that doesn't break your spirit as much as your avatar's body.

Pix The Cat offers some truly frenetic gameplay and finds modest success in being the Snake/Pac-Man crossover as which it's billed. Sometimes the game presents itself as too busy to allow for focus on what you're actually meant to be doing, and when you are focusing, the controls don't always respond how you'd want.

Considering the combination of the two genres that make up the game, Crypt Of The NecroDancer will certainly not be for everyone. With a great and varied soundtrack, there's at least one choice to suit your tastes. The gratifying gameplay offers a real feeling that it is the player's skill that has persevered over all obstacles and there are plenty of modes to occupy your time. The punishing difficulty may put off newcomers to the genre, but those who enjoy rhythm games or roguelikes may well find a new obsession here... just be ready to die a lot.

Very little player interaction is involved, but conversation options can allow players to shape the characters so that it feels like they are creating their own story. Unfortunately, that feeling is short lived when all choices lead to the same story conclusion and characters are left underdeveloped. The puzzles that are intended to add extra gameplay end up falling flat because they're too easy. The result is an experience that is satisfactory for a single playthrough but becomes repetitive and boring across multiple playthroughs, which is something that the achievements encourage.

Aqua Kitty is a fun shoot-em-up that presents a fair challenge with a decent soundtrack, but it won't hold your attention in the long run.

What works in Pixel Heroes is a successful blending of that classic, turn-based RPG gameplay with a modern, rogue-like twist. The shoddy UI, lack of a "stash" feature, and general lack of polish hold it back from being a resounding recommendation, but those who look back fondly on the realms of Alefgard and Corneria should definitely check it out.

Candleman is a great platformer with beautifully rendered graphics and wonderful attention to detail.

Whilst initially amusing, killing the bad guy soon starts to feel like a chore. The killing is originally hilarious, becomes annoying in the middle and seems to pick up again towards the end. The deaths and the animations are amusing, as are the bonus levels, and the story of each bad guy is funny and unique. Unfortunately, the game is let down by some jerky controls and the fact that, essentially, you are just doing the same thing over and over.

TowerFall Ascension is an addictive archery-based multiplayer death-match with a simple concept and competent design. An absence of gameplay differences between characters is frustrating and the solo campaign mode is far too insubstantial, but the versus arena is engagingly chaotic, if short-lived. Online multiplayer would have elevated this game to another level, but local play is still a lot of fun if you and your friends like to duke it out once in a while.

Doodle God: Ultimate Edition is the most complete version of the title to be released to date but compared to some of it predecessors that are available on other formats, not much has changed.

No one said survival would be easy, but since it's still a game, it should ultimately be more fun than it is.

The Sun and Moon has great mechanics and very creative level design, but the game is hamstrung by a brutal difficulty curve. When the game is so difficult you need to stop playing, it better have something else to back it up like a story; The Sun and Moon doesn't have that.

While the game sorely lacks a decent story to match its competitors, METRICO+ is still a decent puzzle platformer at its core. Fans of Braid will feel at home with its complexity and innovation, often requiring a similar level of spatial awareness and movement conservation to get through a stage. It manages to balance on the fine line between being too simple and too difficult, only occasionally driving players to frustration due to a lack of contextual instructions.

While the novelty is good for a few laughs, once that wears off, I Am Bread is a loaf of sourdough that's nine parts frustrating and one part fun.

Hunter's Legacy is an action-adventure game that offers a story that has been told over and over in many forms without offering much that is different. With different locations to explore and teleporters to help you get around, the game feels quite large. Ultimately, though, you'll end up annoyed, potentially lost and feeling defeated on a number of different occasions whilst playing it; this lets the game down. The appearance of the game is one of its strongest points, but while it is fun in parts and generally an enjoyable experience, Hunter's Legacy just isn't quite the cat's pyjamas.

While the graphic style and music add to the entertainment, the crazy grind required to claim all of the achievements takes a lot of the fun out of it, as does having no online play ability.

With competent, if simple, hack and slash action, a short but varied story mode and a decent amount of outside content to encourage replaying, it's a game that fans of the show or the genre may find enjoyable. However, if you're just looking for a quality game to spend some time with, RWBY shouldn't be your first or second choice thanks to a total lack of character development that leaves half the game's heart simply gone and enemy design that would be worthy of a low score.

The way in which its story unravels alongside Caleb and Madeleine's motivations will fascinate you throughout the game and potentially even have you asking what's right and wrong as you progress towards the end.

Dead Effect 2 is a game with big aspirations that simply doesn’t reach the heights for which it shoots. Every neat premise is compromised by shoddy balancing, uninspired combat or strange design decisions. While there is a ton of content with 20 story missions and a bunch of additional game modes, none of it is as fun as it could have been.

Unfortunately the game just gets annoying and repetitive after a while, ultimately falling short in keeping you engaged for any significant time.

While it looks like a low budget throwaway, the game's best features mostly come in how it sounds. The memorable music and legitimately unsettling EVP recordings go far to prove its legitimacy as a tool for scaring. If you've never played a horror game, don't start here as the game requires a few too many concessions from the player. If you're a genre veteran looking for something atmospheric, retro-inspired, and adding its own unique gameplay mechanics, Sylvio is worth the trip. It's a candlelit ghost story that leaves you not breathless or horrified, but disquieted, which is perhaps the most effective horror of all.

As a horror game, Nevermind is a bit mediocre. While there's a well-built uneasy atmosphere throughout the main levels, the lack of danger does remove a lot of the potential for being scared.

The game is slow-paced and simple, a strategy title much in keeping with checkers. Although not the same game, it's fun in the same way; it's simple yet surprisingly hard from time to time as you adjust to new opposing skills. Unfortunately the campaign can become monotonous, while multiplayer lacks online capability and much purpose. Overall, the game is no more than average in any way.

Rise and Shine is a game that fans of the genre and those looking for a quick experience will enjoy.

To this day Halo Wars remains the most accessible RTS game to have ever been released on a console, and while it may lack the depth of some of its PC brethren, as an introduction to the genre it is still at the top of its class.

This poor excuse for a dungeon crawler doesn't even have enough entertainment value to fall into the "so bad it's good" category. It's a masterclass in lazy design, from the abominable graphics and abysmal soundtrack through to the gameplay that is laughably unbalanced in your favour. Bugs and frame-rate drops are the final nails in the coffin.

If shoot 'em ups are your thing, you're probably going to like this game, but to love it, you're going to have to enjoy the variety of other genres thrown into the mix. The schmup gameplay itself has solid mechanics, but sometimes the side content can be made a tedious thanks to a menu system that wasn't optimized for consoles and some functions that require more waiting than playing.

Deathtrap is a masterpiece in the tower defense genre to which many developers should look for years to come. It requires strategy and skill in equal measure in ways that few tower defense games can demand.

While fun for a little while, Bridge Constuctor Stunts ultimately falls short. The game has a simple premise that ends up being a little too complicated at times. What starts off as enjoyable ends up getting repetitive and a bit boring. The actual look and sound of the game is bright, bubbly and upbeat and it's just a shame that the rest of the game doesn't match this. This game is not going to wow you and will only offer a flipping amount of fun for a short while; only the true architects out there will be able to fully appreciate the game.

While the game isn't perfect -- side activities can be dull and there are a few frustrating bugs -- Stardew Valley will no doubt remain a staple in my rotation for months to come. It's a game that fully succeeds in its premise and for that it is worthy of your time.

Fortunately for players old and new, Clem remains a crucial part of the story while Javi has given the series a fantastic new protagonist. If "Ties That Bind" is any indication of the level of acting, pacing, and writing to be seen this season, fans can rest assured that The Walking Dead will remain high atop their must-play lists.

If "Ties That Bind" is any indication of the level of acting, pacing, and writing to be seen this season, fans can rest assured that The Walking Dead will remain high atop their must-play lists.

Blizzard Mountain's map may be small compared to the warmer parts of Australia, but there are enough new races and activities that are included to keep fans of the game busy. Forza Horizon 3 was already the pinnacle of racing games; the stunning new environment, refreshingly challenging handling and difficult weather conditions just highlight that fact even further. It is an essential purchase for anyone looking to expand their Forza Horizon 3 experience.

If you look past the frustration, though, Feist is a commendable title for someone who is after a simple story and simple gameplay.

While there’s certainly a cathartic sense of enjoyment to be found in making light work of tens of thousands of zombies using the large and crazy array of weapons that are available in Dead Rising 4, the removal of campaign co-op, psychopaths being replaced by forgettable maniacs, and the lack of any challenge due to the removal of the in-game timer really highlight that the gameplay that is on offer is shallow. If you liked Dead Rising 3, you’ll no doubt find some sense of enjoyment in Dead Rising 4. For everyone else, it’s not going to convince you otherwise.

It’s an ambitious passion project that I wish I could love, but Steep's reach ultimately exceeds its grasp.

The game is quick and easy to jump into, pretty to look at whilst you fly through the air and knock out enemies, and offers a lot of replayability, even with the limited number of levels that are on offer.

The online pursuits and chases are genuinely good fun, more fun than possibly any other part of the title to date. Ultimately, splitting the difference between the highs and lows of the new content leaves the expansion feeling a little middle of the road.

The puzzles challenge players without being overcomplicated and the game manages to mix humour and decent gameplay that will appeal to most players, even if some of the British humour will be lost on players from other regions.

The title's cheesy dialogue is light and fun and matches the game's simple graphic style very nicely. While the whole experience is fun, especially in Versus mode, the game could have used more content seeing as all six chapters of Story mode can be finished in an hour or two.

If you've played Baseball Riot, or frankly any one of the hundreds of similar games on the smartphone market, you've already played Tennis in the Face. The bland design means that it doesn't stand out from the crowd, but the stages are competently built.

Telltale's debut with the Dark Knight wraps up with an episode that leaves me with an odd mix of disappointment and hope.

A lot of love and attention has gone into the game's distinctive hand drawn art style but it comes at the cost of the game's length. Despite a promising start, the game ends at just two hours. Most characters are not developed, important events are glossed over and the story ends abruptly.

It is a bare bones game that only just scratches the surface in its gameplay.

The game's early era mechanics will be a joy to nostalgically-driven gamers while also making enough concessions to contemporary players that remove most (but not all) frustrations. If you don't mind the pixelized art and a few gripes that come with it, it's well worth it to saddle up for Westerado.

The developer wanted to make a game for fans and newcomers alike and they made many changes to the typical Final Fantasy formula. The result is a game that is not like what you would expect, but for those who want to find something to love here, there's something to find.

All things considered, it's a decent point-and-click title although the asking price seems way off the mark for a game that's only five hours long, which doesn't offer enough time to flesh out the story and characters.

Underwhelming RPG elements and character customisation, poor loading times and a map screen that now seems to have a mind of its own do hold back the game from being something great. Those with a penchant for a tightly woven narrative and tactical thinking will enjoy the experience, but it is difficult to overlook some of the more glaringly obvious problems.

Bucking the curse of the middle episode, Enigmatis 2: The Mists of Ravenwood offers another solid storyline with plenty of supernatural tendencies, setting the scene nicely for the final part of the trilogy.

Furi is a frantic boss-rush of punishing difficulty and it certainly lives up to its name. I was left trembling with anger and adrenaline on more than one occasion. None of your defeats feel unfair, however, ensuring that you are tempted to come back and try again.

The detailed missions, versatile powers, and atmospheric storytelling will keep you coming back for multiple playthroughs if only to learn more about the world, play with the powers, and find every last thing to either steal or kill/subdue. Simply put, Dishonored 2 is a must play for stealth fans and an easy recommendation for most gamers.

If the game worked smoothly, it would be easy to recommend purchasing the game. As it stands, I would recommend waiting for an update before taking the plunge.

Earth's Dawn is a solid little title with a few minor niggles that hold it back from being a great title.

We have seen plenty of other re-releases with DLC, extras for those who search for them and even new modes, but Darksiders Warmastered Edition is only an upgrade in its simplest form. It's a game that feels slightly dated with its gameplay but it is still enjoyable whether you're a returning player or a new one.

Watch_Dogs 2 definitely improves on its predecessor in almost every way.

"Guardian of Gotham" is some of Telltale's best writing to date. It masterfully paces several dangling story threads into one tightly delivered penultimate episode while also seeming to build the greater Bat-verse for future seasons. It's exciting and uniquely theirs at this point. It's just a shame this episode also comes with the worst performance issues the season has seen so far.

Sadly, poor handling, catch-up AI, framerate drops and a general lack of polish to all aspects of the game render what could have been a success into a middling arcade racer that is less than the sum of its parts.

With an enjoyable campaign and zombies mode, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare is still a worthwhile purchase, although your mileage may vary when it comes to the game's competitive multiplayer. The campaign in particular is well-acted with moments of levity and gravity. However, while these are still good games to play, the now ordinary gameplay may feel a bit stale, particularly for those who have kept up with the series' annual releases for the past decade. After a particularly good year for the first person shooter, Call Of Duty is not a particular stand-out, a far cry from the series must-buy status at its height.

While it's a fun for a while, the game soon becomes frustrating and repetitive.

The graphical upgrade is impressive and you won't struggle to enjoy the view as you dive straight back into the game. A lot of the bugs and glitches that were experienced in the original are back, but with nothing game breaking here, can we forgive the expected problems from Bethesda? Possibly. Did Skyrim need a remaster? Probably not. Are we all going to buy it anyway? Probably.

Super Dungeon Bros is not the first Games with Gold title this year that seems to have been rushed to release, unfortunately. It's broken in many ways and boring in several others. To the former, those issues can be resolved and the studio at the helm seems intent on doing so, but even if those blemishes are addressed, what shall remain will still be a mostly forgettable freebie that can serve some purpose as a couch co-op game. With better options for sale even in its own genre, it's more likely that SDB will sit in your digital library without a chance of ever actually taking up hard drive space.

Titanfall 2 is everything for which you could possibly wish to find in a sequel, answering all of the negatives of its predecessor. While short in length, the campaign is an exhilarating ride that showcases everything that made the first game feel so refreshing, and the refined multiplayer will keep you consumed for months to come. This title is a must own for any first-person shooter fan.

While Gas Guzzlers Extreme attempts to fill a niche that is seriously lacking in today's marketplace, it falls short of success due to performance issues and a complete lack of multiplayer capability.

Saturday Morning RPG's welcome nostalgia trip to the eighties provides five fun episodes and two bonus modes for its players to sink their teeth into. Although its combat eventually grows tiresome and its quests verge on lackluster, the well-written dialogue, outstanding music, constant infusions of humor, and nonstop pop culture nods keep it from feeling like it overstays its welcome.

If you're aching for a throwback to Belmont's heyday and don't care about your achievement ratio, give Slain a shot, but otherwise, give it a pass and catch some z's.

As a strategy game, it offers enough depth and complexity to stand out from the crowd. As an RPG, it's simply burdened by too much complexity to reward the player. Sadly, thanks to a story that is difficult to appreciate and a heavy focus on run-of-the-mill missions, the gameplay becomes repetitive far too quickly as there are not enough interesting story missions to breathe life into the experience.

Battlefield 1’s campaign provides an emotional and thought provoking look at the horrors of World War 1, while at the same time providing varied gameplay and an interesting cast of characters to help make this the best Battlefield single-player experience in a long while. The multiplayer remains as strong as ever.

"New World Order" is a slower episode that promises a lot of worthwhile story moments soon, but fails to provide many of its own. Character interactions are the best that they've been so far, but everything else is missing the drama that it needs to deliver a worthwhile standalone episode.

The new Painted World looks gorgeous at times and exploration feels rewarding as you discover more shortcuts and pathways. The multiplayer arena seems unusual at first, but it is an interesting take on the game's PvP.

Whilst Dirt Rally is aimed at the drivers, WRC 6 is definitely for the fans. The game wants to bring the thrill, the sensation and the enjoyment of rallying to all of the fans of the sport regardless of their driving ability. It wants all players to be able to compete in this season's events and to feel a part of the motorsport, and WRC 6 has achieved this surprisingly well.

The Bug Butcher is a fun arcade title that has the player exterminating bugs at an increasingly frenetic pace until all bugs have been destroyed. The easy-to-operate game mechanic and variety of difficulties that are available make it fun for all skill levels, but the challenging achievement list and buggy saving could squash some players' enthusiasm like...well, like a bug.

It's a boring, aesthetically nauseating slog through puzzles that more often annoy than challenge.

REUS presents the world as if the almighty was an accountant. It is as much a game about crunching numbers as it is about creating a paradise for humanity, but its beautiful setting helps to mask how logic-driven it really is. It's both confusing and addictive in equal measure and manages to find a great balance between continuously providing a challenge and not overwhelming players.