Warp Shift is an impressive puzzle game with absolutely fantastic visuals and sound. The lack of extra content and replay incentives may be disappointing but puzzle fanatics should definitely still pick this clever concoction up.

Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters: Daybreak Special Gigs is a quirky game that'll likely win you over if you have the patience to master its unconventional gameplay. If you do then bustin' will surely make you feel good.

Hood: Outlaws & Legends features an impressive amalgamation of gameplay elements that will have you hooked. However, its overall gameplay loop will start to become monotonous sooner than you'd hope due to its repetitious nature.

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is certainly not a game for everyone. If you love story-heavy experiences and relish details that others may find dull then you'll wholeheartedly embrace it. At the same time, those looking for rewarding strategy combat will likely be disappointed.

Hero must die. again is definitely not the largest JRPG ever made but what's here is unique enough to warrant a playthrough or ten, especially if you want to enjoy something different for a change and have some affection for unconventional Japanese RPGs.

Practical puzzle games don't get much cleverer than A Fold Apart. Although it's a short adventure, it's one that you surely won't forget.

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is a Smashing good time yet it remains a fighter that doesn't really do anything all that special. With that in mind, if you're a fan of the featured franchises then you'll definitely find value in this very silly package.

As a piece of '50s nostalgia, Squad 51 vs. the Flying Saucers fits the bill almost perfectly but as a shoot 'em up, it makes for quite a maddening experience complete with ambiguous visuals that will cause many unexpected failures.

A fresh take on a decades-old formula. Even though it has its problems, it's definitely an enjoyable challenge that any genre enthusiast will be happy to add to their library.

Part Time UFO is the best game I've ever played where you control an alien ship while completing mundane tasks. Okay, that didn't sound like a glowing endorsement but it is a cool little game and it's even more fun when you play it with a chum.

Darius Cozmic Collection Console includes a handful of solid classic 16-bit shoot 'em ups. Although they're not as enjoyable as their arcade counterparts, you surely can't deny that there's a lot of fun to be had shooting up all sorts of space sea creatures here.

Darkwood has an interesting world, a story that can go in different directions depending on your decisions, and a gameplay loop that's exciting at times and tedious at others. Its biggest weakness is how hard it can be to get to where you need to go and for that reason alone; I'm not entirely enthusiastic in recommending Darkwood. However, if you have the patience, why not give it a try?

Laser League is like the world's most flavourful gum. When you start chewing, it tastes great but after about 15 minutes, you'll be happy to spit it out and put something more substantial in your mouth.

While far from challenging, Candleman: The Complete Journey is a pleasant and visually pleasing experience. However, it's a bit too long and simply doesn't do enough to stay interesting from start to finish.

Sonic Origins does an excellent job with its presentation, bonus content, and modernizations of classic games. On the other hand, I wish more games were included even if they didn't get the royal treatment that the 4 titles here did.

Amnesia: Rebirth is a decent horror game yet it suffers from underwhelming and predictable payoffs. It simply isn't as good as its predecessor so if you're going into it expecting something as good as Amnesia was 10 years ago; you're going to be disappointed. Otherwise, it's a good horror game that will scratch whatever itch you have for virtual frights.

Big Hops is a super-cute game that can be a lot of easygoing fun if you enjoy physics-based 3D platforming. However, its mostly empty environments, occasionally annoying glitches, and odd flimsy gameplay segments make it fall flat from time to time.

MX vs ATV All Out certainly isn't for everyone but it does offer a lot of fun for those who enjoy practicing their off-road racing skills. Plus, the amount of content in this massive Anniversary Edition makes it a rather appealing and comprehensive package.

Observer crafts an intriguing and richly detailed futuristic world but it's let down by awful performance issues as well as some drawn-out and tedious segments. If you're into the cyberpunk aesthetic, it's still worth a look just to experience its lovingly created environs. However, unless it gets a patch to fix its problems, you might be better off playing it on a high-end PC.

Earthlock: Festival of Magic is a solid attempt at making retro RPGs fun again. Although it's not as engaging as similar titles from the turn of the century, fans of the genre will enjoy the time that they spend adventuring with Amon and his ragtag group of chums.

You can't go wrong with Demonschool if you're looking for a school experience that's a bit like Persona and a bit like a GBA Fire Emblem game.

If you enjoy playing competitive local multiplayer experiences then 12 Orbits is a must-have game. Its deceptively simple gameplay dynamic and large selection of variations make for an addictive and enjoyable time with friends.

What Remains of Edith Finch is an immersive and memorable experience that succeeds at pulling you into its richly detailed and dreamlike world. However, its short length and relatively high price point ultimately make it a questionable value proposition.

Lego Builder's Journey presents a challenging and attractive puzzler that you'll keep coming back to although you won't be at it long as it'll be over well before you'd hope it would be. Plus, it lacks replay value and hints to help with the more unintuitive puzzles.

Tray Racers! is a delightful racing game that's as silly as it is simple so if you're looking for an online funfest then be sure to check it out and pet Scrump while you're at it. I just hope that its performance issues get sorted out over the coming weeks.

SkateBIRD is a silly little indie game that does quite an impressive job of adapting familiar skateboarding gameplay to a bird-sized world. Completing its missions and finding its collectibles may be rewarding but you'd wish there was much more to it than that.

It may not be the biggest collection of mini-games out there but there's no denying just how much quality is packed within Gigantosaurus: Dino Sports from its hilarious story to its highly entertaining multiplayer shenanigans.

LumbearJack is a casual game that offers a fun-filled albeit super-short campaign that'll make you smile as you play. It may not be even remotely challenging but what you get is an overall satisfying little game that you'll think fondly back on after the end credits roll.

A Pixel Story is a promising retro tale but it fails to live up to the classic games that it's clearly inspired by. You'll likely have fun in its colourful world but don't expect it to last as long as the journey itself.

It may not contain any arcade games but Blizzard Arcade Collection provides a collection of 3 solid old-school gems with plenty of ways to enjoy them. That being said, it still only includes 3 games so its value will be parallel to how much nostalgia you have for these titles.

Heirs of the Kings has a surprisingly engaging story and a slick retro presentation that may just be enough to hold your attention throughout. However, with super-easy difficulty and a lack of strategic elements, it can also verge on unsatisfying at times.

Xeno Crisis is undoubtedly a solid throwback to co-op twin-stick shooters but with so many better options available, it's difficult to wholeheartedly recommend. That being said, you probably won't regret buying it if you're itching for more retro action.

Jump Force features a massive cast of characters but its gameplay is definitely flashier than deep which makes it eventually become incredibly monotonous and tough to enjoy. Hopefully, Arc System Works will make Bandai Namco's next crossover fighter.

Oh...Sir!! The Insult Simulator is an entertaining and original offering that's worth trying out for its novelty value alone. Although insulting both friends and strangers is fun while it lasts, the lack of available put-downs and scenarios means that it gets repetitive very quickly.

Earth Defense Force 5 is an EDF game through and through. Although it doesn't feature anything particularly new and exciting, it still makes for an enjoyable and ridiculous time that's best played with friends.

If you have an affinity for arcade redemption games like I do then Pierhead Arcade is a worthwhile collection. However, just don't expect the games to play even half as smoothly as they do in real life.

It might sound like I'm being overly hard on Omega Strike but I did have a decent time with it. Its ideas and structure are solid yet it's ultimately let down by a lack of variety and a sense of monotony that you'll regularly experience from start to finish.

I know it sounds like I'm really down on Bleed 2 but there is definitely still some fun to be had. Shoot 'em up fans especially should love replaying the boss fights and they can work on perfecting their strategy and achieving an S/SSS rank on every level. However, I have to admit that it definitely didn't live up to the expectations I had after playing the fantastic original.

Although the novelty has unfortunately worn off over the years, VVVVVV is still a fun 2D platformer with a nifty gravity mechanic. In the end, those new to Captain Viridian's adventure might get a kick out of the retro world and innovative albeit frustrating gameplay.

The core gameplay of Little Witch Academia: VR Broom Racing is promising enough that I'd love to see a sequel. As it is, it's a bit too thin on content and could definitely use more gameplay elements to help it compete with similar racers.

Children of Zodiarcs is a noble effort at a fresh take on classic turn-based SRPGs. Although it doesn't quite live up to many of its genre predecessors, there is a solid enough foundation to satisfy strategy RPG fans looking for a new game to add to their collection.

Death Road to Canada may look like a generic indie game but it's surprisingly unique in its decision-based campaign. It's too bad that the gameplay relies so much on repetition and luck because it would have provided a much more satisfying experience if it didn't.

Nobody Saves the World does exploration and variety exceptionally well. At the same time, its heavy flow of rewards with very little challenge involved often makes it feel like you're mindlessly and unskillfully pressing buttons just to get another quick dopamine hit.

Shift Happens is an enjoyable cooperative 2D puzzle platformer but it's unfortunately hindered by a limited solo experience as well as many irritating gameplay flaws. All of that being said, it's easy to see that it has a lot of potential to be a worthwhile game.

Gunbird is a classic arcade shoot 'em up that's full of fun times but that fun doesn't last long at all. Here's hoping Zerodiv release the superior sequel sometime soon.

SteamWorld Quest may feature a charming cast of characters and an enjoyable battle system but its overall lack of variety and drab dungeons make it a tough game to universally recommend. If you want a top-notch RPG then play SteamWorld Heist instead.

Butcher is a fun, addictive riff on a classic genre with an uncompromising approach that makes it feel both rewarding and frustrating. You're unlikely to get much mileage out of it unless you like a lot of repetition and a torturous level of challenge but if you're attracted by its over-the-top retro aesthetic, it's definitely worth checking out.

Reloaded is a significant step back from last year's Sky Force Anniversary. The added need to grind is a huge pain although the core gameplay is still generally enjoyable and the upgrade system is just as rewarding.

God Eater 3's core gameplay is spot-on for exciting combat yet its missions are too one-note for it to remain engaging for more than a few hours. As a result, its campaign can feel like a chore and even playing online multiplayer ends up being all too samey.

Your enjoyment of Astronite will almost entirely rely on your patience for retreading the same paths again and again while taking unfair damage from hazards that blend in with the scenery and enemies that shoot much further than you can. Good grief!

Loot Rascals is a delightful yet frustrating experience. If it were a TV show then I'd watch it but as a game, it simply doesn't live up to other roguelikes. That being said, I'm looking forward to Hollow Ponds' future titles as they're clearly capable developers.

Another Code: Recollection is laidback storytelling with likeable characters, the odd puzzle, and a little sci-fi sprinkled in for good measure. I'm glad that I got to play through these lesser-known adventure games all of these years after their initial release although they certainly don't do much to stand out from the crowd.

If you've ever wanted to ride a roller coaster in virtual reality then RollerCoaster Tycoon Joyride is sure to satisfy. It may not be a fully realised experience but what's here still provides creative fun and exciting thrills.

Ancient Amuletor may be light on content but it's also a heck of a lot of fun. It might be worth waiting for more stages and characters to be included but this is one game that PlayStation VR owners should definitely keep on their radar.

Nidhogg 2 is definitely a step up from the original game but it's just not enough of one to make it feel like a sequel. Instead, it merely comes across as a reskinned game with a few extra weapons.

I enjoyed my time with The House of the Dead: Remake but it's certainly not as fun as the classic games. It does a lot of things exceptionally well while failing at others so it ends up feeling more like a fan-made adaptation than a true remake.

I thoroughly enjoyed John Wick Hex's truly clever gameplay concepts but the fashion in which it executes them could use a lot of fine-tuning in order for it to reach the heights of the top-notch film franchise that it's based on.

I had a solid time with CRYMACHINA overall but it certainly doesn't live up to similar action RPGs that offer much more impactful stories and consistently engaging gameplay. The characters are delightful, though, so you may want to check it out just for the tea parties.

Prinny 1 & 2: Exploded and Reloaded contains a couple PSP games that are pretty fun and undeniably challenging. However, their clunky controls lead to much frustration so make sure you have plenty of patience in your pouch before you dive in.

Creeping Terror provides an impressively engaging campaign for a 2D horror game. Although the easy difficulty makes it a lot less scary, what's here is still a solid enough experience to delight gamers looking for a memorable creepy adventure.

Alphadia Genesis 2 may be worth playing for its impressively nuanced story as well as its rewarding end-game challenges but besides that, it can be quite a tedious experience with a battle system and dungeon designs that generally work against it.

Aside from its new Battleground modes and Warden class, the bulk of Morrowind is essentially just more Elder Scrolls Online with little new added to the formula. If you enjoy the base game, you'll have no reason to dislike it but if you feel ESO gets boring and samey after a while, you won't find anything in Vvardenfell that will change your mind.

I eventually enjoyed Ancestors Legacy but I wanted to quit many times within my first 20 hours and that's not a good sign. Simply put, most missions are just way too slow. If the developers sped up battles, unit production, and movement speed; it would alleviate the tedium a great deal. In the end, I highly recommend playing Ancestors Legacy on PC and reading a guide before you get started.

Tiny Barbarian DX is a decent take on retro 2D action games. Plus, you can play it with a friend. However, the frustration factor is high and its linear campaign will make you wish there was more than just traversing from point A to point B.

If Super Meat Boy is Edmund McMillen's gold medal then The End Is Nigh receives a bronze at best. With repetitive gameplay and unintuitive progression, you won't be missing out on much by not playing this 2D platformer.

The high level of difficulty makes it hard for me to recommend Deadcore to anyone but first-person platformer fanatics. It's technically competent and brings a few good ideas to the table but its frustrating aspects make me more likely to recommend it to my enemies rather than my friends.

One Piece: World Seeker features impressively rewarding exploration that'll have you immersed in its beautiful and expansive world. That being said, the combat falls flat and tedium will rear its ugly head much sooner than you'd expect.

The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered offers a promising RPG formula that's unfortunately weighed down by frequent frustrations and unnecessary tedium. Thankfully, The Alliance Alive was born from this which is a vastly superior experience.

Pop-Up Pilgrims is a super-challenging VR game that's sure to reward perfectionists who love to strategize. However, its unreasonably sensitive mechanics will frequently make you feel like brutally bashing your headset in.

Although Mask of Truth is certainly a better game than Mask of Deception, it unfortunately retains many of its flaws. That being said, fans of the previous game will have a wonderful time finally seeing the conclusion to this two-part adventure.

Jurassic World Aftermath Collection is a solid VR game that's tense without being scary and somewhat enjoyable without offering anything particularly unique in its gameplay formula. In short, it'll provide thrills for anyone who's too scared to play a VR horror game.

Old-school beat 'em up fans will surely have some fun with Stay Cool, Kobayashi-San! but its repetitive and random nature definitely makes it an ultimately tedious and frustrating experience.

Silent Hope is a challenging dungeon crawler with familiar sights from Rune Factory sprinkled in and there's definitely some fun to be had for those looking for a more action-packed adventure that's set in the same universe. However, the unbalanced heroes and mandatory grinding will certainly put off many players.

Project Nimbus: Code Mirai is a noble attempt at crafting a new mech combat game. However, even though the combat can be exhilarating, it's far too short and unvaried to even come close to genre classics.

If Terminator 2D: NO FATE released back in the day, it would have been a huge step up from the light gun games but it still wouldn't manage to reach the heights of run 'n' gun classics and considering this was made decades later, why even bother?

Danger Zone takes a mode that's been around for 15 years and manages to make a somewhat enjoyable game out of it. However, the bare-bones amount of variety and content will make gamers wonder if the full version will ever arrive.

Baldo The guardian owls is the sort of game that you'd dig out of a bargain bin but that's not necessarily a bad thing because some of my fondest gaming memories came from such bins. In other words, it may be clunky but you'll still appreciate what it has to offer.

The Escapists 2 has an undeniably solid premise for a game and features a downright charming visual style and soundtrack but the monotony of its restrictive gameplay will probably make you feel like a prisoner yourself whenever you play it.

Soul Hackers 2 offers a contrast of colourful and lively towns and characters with dull and dark dungeons that seem to go on forever. Optimizing your party can be quite enjoyable but the inconsistent demon recruiting system takes away from the fun of the grind. Overall, Soul Hackers 2 failed to keep my attention but it definitely has some noteworthy qualities.

There's certainly some fun to be had in EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 but don't expect it to offer much noteworthy when you compare it to the previous couple of entries in the series. Playing it did make me excited for WORLD BROTHERS 2, though.

NeuroVoider shines much brighter in multiplayer. The gameplay stays the same but the difficulty doesn't seem to scale as much and you can now blast through the enemy forces two, three, or four times as fast. The action gets a lot crazier and it can be hard to keep track of things at all times but the simplistic gameplay means you'll have a lot more fun if you play it with some pals. Unfortunately, those pals better be offline ones because NeuroVoider lacks online play.

The Surge is one of those games that shows a lot of promise but the experience itself just doesn't live up to its potential. You may have some fun within the first 5 hours or so but everything after that slowly evolves into nothing more than a tedious grind.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League but only in bursts and that's not enough to make me widely recommend it. If it took these fleeting moments of enjoyment and really ran with them, it could have been a great game.

The Knight Witch is a beautiful game that holds a lot of promise with its blend of twin-stick shooting and Metroidvania exploration. I just wish that its gameplay was finer-tuned to not be as clunky and disconnected as it currently is.

Troll and I has the potential to be a must-play adventure but its lack of fine-tuning makes it an often haphazard experience that'll test your patience more than it provides enjoyment. Here's hoping the developers retool it down the road or perhaps learn from their mistakes and create a more refined sequel because they definitely have a winning formula on their hands.

Tengai is a worthwhile successor to Samurai Aces and is decent enough for any shoot 'em up fan to happily add it to their digital collection. I just wish it did more to set itself apart in such a crowded genre.

"I'll take interactive game shows for 100, Alex." "This video game is intuitive and can be a lot of fun yet its glitches will make you laugh and occasionally become frustrated." "What is Jeopardy! PlayShow?" "Correct."

Ankora: Lost Days is a colourful survival adventure game where you'll explore a new planet and use your smarts and tools to unblock obstacles in your path. If you're looking for a simplistic adventure with a fun twist on other games in the genre then pick this up but just don't expect a ton of depth when it comes to gameplay and anticipate getting a little lost on occasion, too.

Trek to Yomi is an undoubtedly beautiful game that will constantly make you want to take screenshots. It's just too bad that its gameplay is as simplistic and repetitive as it is because it ends up feeling like a chore to play after a while.

If RiftStar Raiders had a local multiplayer component, more accessible online matchmaking, and well-scaled difficulty then it would be a fantastic twin-stick space shooter. However, it suffers drastically from these shortcomings so download it with caution.

Samurai Aces is a solid debut shmup from one of the most notable developers in the genre. It may be a bit too simplistic for some gamers' tastes but what's here does a good job of showcasing Psikyo's humble origins.

Even though I usually enjoy any SaGa game that I play, Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered left me more annoyed than fulfilled. With that in mind, it does have redeeming qualities thanks to its great cast of characters and nifty party growth mechanics.

Flywrench is best compared to some of the other games that were developed at the start of the indie gaming boom a decade ago. Unlike titles like Super Meat Boy and VVVVVV, I wasn't able to get the same sort of twitchy satisfaction from Flywrench mostly due to its emphasis on momentum. There's still fun to be had with Flywrench but a lot of it depends on how forgiving you are of its difficult color-changing, momentum-maintaining mechanics.

Spooky Spirit Shooting Gallery is certainly a very fun game but that fun has a rather short lifespan so just like with an actual carnival game, you'll play it for a bit before moving on to more substantial sources of entertainment.

Bubsy: Paws on Fire is a passable runner that will keep fans of the genre busy for a few hours yet it fails to live up to the far better runners that Choice Provisions have crafted in the past.

Cladun Returns: This is Sengoku! is a fun and basic dungeon-crawling action RPG that's best enjoyed in short sessions. The repetitive gameplay and frequent annoyances hinder the experience but it's still an overall rewarding adventure.

There's a lot of good in Thea: The Awakening. Nearly every bit of text is voiced, it's cool being able to grow your group of people, handling combat head-on or simply selecting to auto-resolve is implemented well, and there's a great deal of customization. However, it's rather short with only a single primary objective and there's no substantial reason to replay it.

Giga Wrecker Alt. is an exceptionally unique game that expertly combines action and puzzles. However, the fact that its gameplay simply doesn't accommodate for what it's trying to accomplish makes it an often irritating and disjointed experience.