Hired Gun is a game that punches above its weight in that it tries to take on too many things at once and struggles under the sheer weight of the number of ideas it introduces. In many ways it is better than its AAA peers because of its audacity, in other ways it is an example of a game that needed a few features cut.

Darkestville Castle is everything you want from a point and click puzzler. A simple but interesting story line, decent voice acting, and tricky but fun puzzles. The game can be completed in under 10 hours give or take – about standard for a point and click adventure game as you only really play them once, so you don’t want them so long that you lose interest. For those who enjoy point and click adventures, this is definitely a fun one to pick up.

Thankfully, there’s something about the core feel to the gun-play and movement that mostly makes up for things. Everything is snappy, even with the screen chock full of enemies, gunfire and gigantic bosses. Getting a particularly powerful upgrade early on feels like winning the lottery, while teaming up with 3 players online makes the grind far more appetising. It’d have been nice to be able to keep something from each run, and have online loot shared amongst the team, but as it is, Risk of Rain 2 is a great example of the genre.

As I say, When the Past was Around isn’t the longest game, but it also doesn’t need to be. I enjoyed almost every moment of my time with it, and found the story to be genuinely touching, yet bizarre in its presentation. The visuals and music are excellent, and other than a few slight challenges in terms of drawn out puzzles, it’s just a breeze to play. There’s little replay value outside of achievement hunting, but plop yourself down for an evening and play this through and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by it.

Cinders is a stunning game with colorful characters and deep storyline to immerse yourself into a newly constructed version of a beloved fairy-tale. With many paths to take and choices to be made, will you wear the slipper, or throw it all away? The choice is yours.

I really enjoyed Blair Witch, it caught the essence of the franchise and definitely gave me nostalgia from the movies – which now I have to watch again. Visuals look great and it plays well, although being a bit short in length I’d recommend this to any horror or franchise fan. Bloober did a pretty good job and I can’t wait to see what they have in store next.

For such an unlikely pairing, Bridge Constructor: The Walking Dead manages to combine the zombie apocalypse and structural engineering well. An in-game hint system wouldn’t have gone amiss, and it can be a bit fiddly to place things at times, but overall if you’re after a challenging puzzle game – and enjoy the TV show – then this is a great pick up.

If you’re able to power through the annoyances, there’s a lot to like about 7th Sector. It looks and sounds great, the atmosphere is built wonderfully and it feels like there’s always something new to see as you progress. But some obscure puzzles and a lack of an easily parse-able story may well end up putting more people off than not.

Story of a Gladiator has an attractive pixelated presentation and has the cool concept of fighting in the arena. It’s a blast and only overstays its welcome in the later stages when progression stagnates. I recommend jumping in with both sandals.

The return of Kao The Kangaroo after a prolonged hibernation is both a blessing and a curse. Blooming with colour, bolstered by simple pick up and play stylings, and presented as a glittering throwback to the golden age of platformers, all help Kao to blossom beautifully. Yet Kao’s greatest strength is also its greatest weakness, as it fails to bring anything new to a grounded genre formula, nor is it long enough to stay ingrained in the memory as it’s over all too soon. You might think it impolite to ask why of all classic platformers did Kao have to come back after all these years, and even though you might still ponder this upon completion, you may just find that this return was well worth investing time into.

Buildings Have Feelings Too! is an early summer comfort – a relaxing puzzle game, with a little bit of city sim, that is worth playing when approached on its own terms.

Bladed Fury is what I would call a sleeper game. Its art style and fast paced 2D action is what help it stand out the most. Beneath that layer however is a game that is missing a more developed story and upgrading and fighting system to keep things fresh. For a game that can be finished in under 2 hours, if you're looking for something quick and easy to play then Bladed Fury is your game.

Compared to similar games within this genre, Kine has far more levels and side quests to play so it is not really a disadvantage that it somewhat lacks the incentive to replay. For a puzzle game it is excellent but the music unfortunately detracts from the theme rather than enhancing it. It isn’t too challenging and the characters and story line are carefully integrated into each level which motivates the player to continue through to the end and makes it more enjoyable to play.

I’m a big fan of competitive shooters and this definitely scratches that itch. This is the first time I’ve played search and destroy only matches. I see a lot of potential in Warface: Breakout, but if My.Games want this title to do well they need to get the Season 1 out soon and fix some of the issues that are currently in the game – feeling like you’re walking in the mud while running, foot steps sounds being hit and miss and time to kill at times feeling unfair.

Aeterna Noctis provides challenging platforming to the metroidvania genre. With a grueling souls like gameplay loop you will have to have to maintain a close eye on your health and be mindful of of where your soul is if you want your skills to progress. I think fans of Hollow Knight will find interest in this game.

All in all Forgone has been super fun for me. Sure, I could nit-pick at some very minor changes but what Big Blue Bubble has made is something awesome and that all platforming fans should give it a look. I think it provides the right amount of challenge for all gamers approaching it.

West of Dead is a beautiful looking cel-shaded game which made me feel like a bad ass cowboy, with a sprinkling of Ghost Rider. I felt some of the hit boxes were off slightly on occasion – I’m don’t think I’m that much of a bad shot… The clever mechanics of cover and using light and dark to “hide” your enemies is a good addition. Rogue-lites can be fun if balanced well and this is a wonderfully put together example.

Nibb Games & Guimaraf Studio have created a superb puzzle platformer in Kinduo. It’s easy enough to blast through a few levels in just a few minutes but that doesn’t stop there being some clever level arrangements or at least some challenge. Exactly the type of indie title I like to see, and well worth checking out.

Double Kick Heroes is a decent rhythm game with plenty of challenge and is considerably tricky to master. It has a fun zombie story line with a nod to Romero’s classics. The metal tracks are decent to listen to if you are a fan of the genre, and it is fun to play along to at the correct difficulty level. It probably would have been easier to play with a makeshift instrument device, but the experience isn’t lessened by playing with a controller.

While Mosaic is on the short side, what’s there is done really rather well. It get’s the message across well, not overstaying it’s welcome or labouring on a point. If you’re in the mood for a one and done experience of an evening, Mosaic will fit the bill nicely.

All in all, Super Destronauts DX -2 is a fun, retro style shooter that will offer those looking for a classic high score challenge plenty to enjoy. Some easy achievements are the icing on the cake, naturally, but this is one game that makes getting that 1000g enjoyable at the same time.

Avowed gets better the more you commit to it, but when there are many RPGs that fly out of the gate with memorable opening gambits, it’s comparatively a bad indictment for Avowed to drone along in an uninteresting way until you plough a handful of hours into it. Don’t allow these negatives to diminish the positives though, Avowed is a strong RPG that will please anybody looking for a good and tasty role-playing steak to tuck into, it just deserved to shine as bright as its beautiful setting, instead of wallowing in middle-tier purgatory.

Saints Row is a new take on the franchise, one that focuses heavily on the RPG aspect of the game. It’s a fun underdog story set in the beautiful Saint Elos about this new version of the Saints. The customization options to make your boss truly your own delivers in such a remarkable fashion. However, it is the number of glitches and bugs that hurt the game’s reputation.

Monster Energy Supercross isn’t the best game that we’ve seen from Milestone, but it’s certainly well worth a visit. Despite some problems with the framerate, and issues with the difficulty of play, there’s hours of fun to be had here. That being said, this is a game that demands perseverance. Lesser patient players may find this more frustrating than it’s worth.

Paperbound Brawlers is a fun, frantic local multiplayer game that just misses the mark due to one of it’s core mechanics difficulty preventing a quick pick up and play approach. More dedicated groups will no doubt find much to enjoy about it though, and the short single player campaign does a good job of preparing you. The visuals are charmingly drawn, and stage design is great – though some make the already difficulty gravitational aspect that much more challenging.

All in all, there’s a lot to like about Greak: Memories of Azur. Combat is fun, traversal is engaging and the tale is told well, with the plight of the characters really sucking you in. There’s a little too much fetch questing going on for my liking, and those respawning enemies can do one, but on the whole this is something worth checking out.

As a newcomer, I didn’t particularly enjoy my time in the realm of Monster Energy Supercross 4. However, this is the same way I felt about all racing games in general. In particular, I would’ve loved it if Supercross 4 held onto newcomers’ hands more throughout the racing process and terminologies instead of having us come in last place every time. Still, I find myself determined to learn how to play and plan to have myself invested in the compound mode in order to learn the right and proper way to race. For long-time players, you may find this to be an enjoyable experience overall as you hop back into a fresh and overall amazing-looking game, but for the newbies out there you’re gonna be in for a rough couple dozen races.

Mayhem Brawler on looks only seems like a standard clone of a side-scrolling beat-em-up. But there is more than meets the eye and that is not just because of the supernatural setting. The story variation with the choice system and the comic strip storyline does make it interesting. It really could have done with online co-op mind, as playing this alone is very tough. Even having a block to use didn’t make things much easier, and it’s something you’ll need to get to grips with quickly if you’ve much hope of completing it.

Tesla VS Lovecraft is a game that doesn’t make you wait to get into the action, constantly giving you more and more powerful weapons to deal with the hordes before you. As a power fantasy, it is great, just don’t expect there to be much more than that, going in.

SIMULACRA is a great horror experience. It might not look it off the bat but I thoroughly enjoyed the jump-scares that this game provided. When the story pulls you in you’ll be surprised at how far down the rabbit hole you go. Shock value and great story line await in this title and I hope it gets the attention it deserves.

Knights of Pen & Paper 2 feels more like an extension to Knights of Pen & Paper than that of a true sequel. That’s not necessarily a bad thing when we take into account that the first game is a lot of fun, but, poor design choices from the first game do indeed creep into its follow up. By and large, this is a very safely constructed sequel. That is to say that if you enjoyed the first game, you’ll enjoy this. If not, this is highly unlikely to sway you.

In conclusion, Stonefly is an above average indie title that might be best played on a more portable device encouraging smaller play sessions for grinding minerals. I played on Xbox Series S and had no issues with glitches apart from finding my way out of the intended map a few times. The game would have greatly benefited from an additional polish phase since it feels vastly empty at times and can be annoying to navigate. The lack of a usable map and the finicky fast travel mechanics discourage players from investing the time required to obtain all upgrades in a playthrough. However, not all is loss with this title. It is fairly priced for what it offers with a brief story and the time it takes to finish the game. The standout features that I enjoyed the most were the controls for the combat, the original soundtrack, and the unique art style that I haven’t seen elsewhere.

Overall, if you like dark, dystopian and gritty gameplay experiences, platforming that comes with a difficulty curve that takes some learning, and controls that are simple enough for even gaming casuals to pick up and want something short enough that you can sit through in an evening or two, then White Shadows may be the next game to add to your list. It’s not revolutionary, and there may be better out there, but it’s a good first effort from Monkel.

The Jackbox games have always been a great accompaniment to a party with friends. It is an icebreaker and way for all your friends to get involved and have a laugh. However, some of the games really do only work with people of a specific personality, and its rare everyone is that similar at the party. While I’m not overly keen on Talking Points and The Devils and The Details, I think Quiplash, Champ’d up and Blathers are going to be the main winners here to encourage fans to buy the new pack, making the price of entry worth it – especially if you’ve got a gathering (virtual or otherwise) coming up soon.

I am pleasantly surprised coming out of G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout after playing through the 17 story missions multiple times. Once you gather the controls it’s a simple game with decent visuals and audio that can entertain you for hours. I wish the game offered more than local co-op only but those with friends should be able to enjoy it together cooperatively and competitively.

A solid little platformer made in the image of games almost as old as the Mayan Ruins themselves, but with modernised controls that make it feel refined.

From the number of different elements in battle, the amount of choices in paths and story, the maintenance of your party and making sure you keep a supply of Strixes for survival, Ash of Gods: Redemption is designed for those with a tactical mind. The story is well written and makes you try hard to keep your characters alive to survive the Reaping. But it is quite unforgiving and can be too difficult, which could be quite frustrating for some.

For people that love Stardew Valley and wanted to see it collide with a kaleidoscope of other genres with a Sci-Fi coat of paint are in for a ride. For those that shudder at the sound of the words ‘Stardew Valley’ avoid.

If you were already a fan of the base World War Z then I would have no problem recommending Aftermath to you. Although some aspects of the game could have used a bit more attention, blasting through zeds in the first person was still an enjoyable experience, especially with the addition of friends.

Guard Duty feels like a blast from the past. The way it is set up and executed, it certainly feels like an old point and click adventure that has been ported. That is testament to the work and effort that has been put into the game to capture that experience. I’m sure this will be a pickup for fans of point and click games that like to adventure with a fair challenge.

Grim Legends 3: The Dark City is a fitting end to the trilogy. The gorgeous artwork and varying puzzles remain engaging throughout, upheld by a decent story that helps to maintain player immersion. Sadly, issues with poor voice acting and its lack of a steady difficulty curve pulls this down from greatness. Though, even with that in mind, this adventure is well worth a visit.

Hyper Sentinel may well be overly chaotic at the best of times, but there’s no denying that it’s fun, well paced and full of action. There’s a lot of content to work through within and although it does become repetitive before long, it’s still worth its weight in gold. Those that enjoy the roots of this formula will thoroughly enjoy what’s on offer, despite its niggling issues.

After jumping back into the Plants vs. Zombies world, I can safely say this is my favorite way to play the franchise, classic tower-defense style gameplay loop. Not third person shooting or open worlds, just six lanes, some plants and some zombies. An argue can be had to whether we needed this as there are older GOTY editions, but I can’t lie and say I wasn’t excited to earn new achievements for it again. There is a little bit of new content but all in all this is just another repackaging of PvZ which if you’ve never played before … I definitely recommend it.

Whilst it’s slightly let down by its stodgy controls and its dull boss battles, Fimbul has enough going for it to make it a worthwhile investment. The story is simple, but told well enough to keep you in place throughout its short run. Combat, though hectic at points, is satisfying enough to see you through most encounters. It would have been nice to see more from its interesting choice system, but overall, the game gets more right than it gets wrong.

Tennis World Tour 2: Complete Edition is a great next gen version of the original with crisper visuals, vastly superior load times and more things for the player to do. The MOCAP work could be a little better and perhaps some work is needed on the card system (or just scrap it altogether). Tennis World Tour 2 is one of the better tennis games I have played in a while, but it still needs a little work to take Top Spin’s crown.

Pathologic 2, although not as polished as maybe Fallout or Elder Scrolls, still contains all the necessary features for a story driven first player adventure. The games difficulty and time frame can have you sweating under the collar and sometimes become a bit overwhelmed, but you can praise it for its detail to character work and story line.

Torchlight III has come a long way from the original game. The graphics stay true to the series but look a lot more refined. The options for characters have been compacted, but the introduction of relics allows you to mix and match for variety without suffering from choice overload. It stands shoulder to shoulder with games like Diablo as a fair alternative, but I feel playing with friends is a must as you may lose interest just playing solo.

Sea of Thieves offers a stunning world for players to explore and uncover its secrets. It’s fun, often hilarious, and unique. Though, the lack of meaningful structure and its simplistic gameplay really do hurt the experience. The game needs to offer more than cosmetic stature and acquisition if it wants a lengthy lifespan. Still, this is one of the few exclusives that Microsoft can, and should, be proud of.

Although quirky, Visage is a thrill to play as the random events can change your experience with the game each playthrough, but playing it more than once will remove most of the thrill by knowing the jump scares and harder puzzles. I hope SadSquare studio continues to add to this title, as it can benefit from it, and it deserves to be played by the horror genre fans. I managed to solve all puzzles and earn all 27 achievements for 1,000 gamerscore in Visage in roughly 12-15 hours.

Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey is an ambitious game. It’s beautiful, deep, and compelling but suffers from a lack of clear direction on how to navigate and appreciate everything that it contains. There hasn’t been a game quite like it before, which unfortunately doesn’t work in Ancestors favor because more time is spent figuring out it’s mechanics than actually enjoying it.

A Summer with the Shiba Inu is a lovely little game that offers real catharsis. It draws you in with cute characters and holds you with its rather fascinating story. Whilst it does drag occasionally, it is well worth making your way through. There’s a clear level of love and dedication felt throughout Shiba Inu, from the phone interface, to the backgrounds, to the 70000 words it advertises on its page. If you watch the trailer for this and it interests you, it’s hard to go wrong with a purchase.

Sable is one of the latest games to get a day one release on Xbox’s Game Pass service so it’s almost impossible to not give it a recommendation for anyone with a subscription, but on the whole, I was somewhat let down. The game has some of the most visually stunning graphics I’ve seen, but the gameplay gets repetitive. Exploring the desolate expanse on your own terms is not as fun as it sounds; however, a compelling series of quests and wonderful writing throughout are just enough to keep you hooked and justify the price of admission if you’re already a Game Pass subscriber.

Guns, Gore & Cannoli 2 is a decent 2D platforming shooter when it wants to be. The game’s main issues sit with its short length, its dull boss encounters and its somewhat lack of evolution when comparing it to its predecessor. Still, its gorgeously detailed and diverse level variation, together with the sheer amount of carnage that players can unleash, collectively delivers a fairly fun experience nonetheless.

Deadly Days isn’t a game that I would be dropping hours of time into or would be playing on week’s end. There are elements that do make the game work such as it’s fasted paced gameplay, a variety of weapons and characters, and a story that involves the zombie virus being spread from a contaminated hamburger. There’s even story progression in the game which actually surprised me. The RNG aspect of the game is a bit frustrating along with the constant micromanagement of my team of survivors. I just feel like aspects like these shouldn’t belong in a Rougelite game. If you wanna a game to kill some time then I would gladly recommend Deadly Days, but if you want something long-lasting this may not be the game for you.

LEGO DC Super-Villains has a lot of fun with its source material, and although it does indeed prove that it’s good to be bad, taking some steps away from its play-it-safe formula would have been much, much better. That said, there’s a plethora of exciting content, depth and replay value on offer here, making this a must have for fans of the series. Just don’t expect this to be LEGO’s defining moment.

Urban Flow is a clean, simple puzzle game that can lead to some frantic multi-tasking. If that appeals then this is must have.

Despite some flaws, I’ve enjoyed my time with Source of Madness, but it’s not a roguelite where I want to start over as soon as I fail. I think the art design and Lovecraft theme help it stand out in a crowded market, and even though it’s filled to the brim with madness it’s nowhere close to being at the top of the mountain.

Kiborg has crunchy combat and a fantastic sense of adventure to its progression system. Anyone looking for a character action game that delights in the absurd should give it a try. That said, you will need to be content to deal with the unfinished nature of some aspects.

After Wave: Downfall will no doubt attract many achievement-hunting players, but Shoot ‘em Up enthusiasts looking for something new and different should also consider picking up the game. The gameplay is fast and fun, it has a unique aquatic setting and viewpoint, and it provides a great challenge to anyone willing to work their way through each of the difficulties.

There is so much negativity surrounding this title, but I don’t care. I have had a good time with it. Does it have faults? Yes it does. But this hasn’t ruined the experience for me. I’ve had fun playing Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. The first boss fight was bluntly rubbish however the second boss fight makes up for it in my opinion. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League feels like it was meant to be DC’s version of Marvel’s Avengers. I feel Rocksteady did a better job in keeping my attention and making missions easier to follow, even if they do have a repetitive nature to them.

Grow: Song of the Evertree feels like a mobile phone time-killing game that has been plucked out spruced up with some gorgeous graphics, added some great orchestral background music, pumped the game full of things to do and gives you free license with how you want to play create your worlds. As with these types of games, some things can get quite repetitive but if you want a stress free pretty looking game then you could easily lose some hours with this game.

Leisure Suit Larry: Wet Dreams Dry Twice is a dedicated addition to the Leisure Suit Larry series using the same tried and tested formula. There is more than enough crudeness, sexual humour, interesting plot twists and fiendishly difficult puzzles for long time fans to enjoy. This game is not for everyone, nor does it want to be; it knows what its fan base wants and aside from a few niggles it delivers something the fans will enjoy.

My experience with The Wild Eight was hit and miss. The story had me gripped but not having a waypoint was something I struggled with. The fact you have 8 characters you can play as with different perks to help you survive is a nice touch and will add to replayability. If you love exploration games this is something you should grab, and at under £25 it’s a fair price.

The Gunk is a perfect example of a developer that can make tired mechanical tropes sing with master craftmanship.

Newt One is a peaceful, colourful and nonviolent game with a meaningful story line and thoughtful characters. Whether playing competitively to achieve level goals or to relax as an escape from the chaos of life, it is left up to the individual to enjoy the game however they choose.

I used to be a fan and casual player of Magic: The Gathering many years ago, and that experience was very valuable in playing Nowhere Prophet. For those who enjoy card-based battlers like Yu-Gi-Oh or Gwent then this is a decent game which incorporates an interesting storyline, a simple well-executed survival element, and a refreshing take on the card-battling genre. It stays in the sweet zone of complexity to not scare off newcomers and shouldn’t bore the hardcore card battlers. I thought this game was a bit too difficult when I first played but I managed to get to grips with the elements in short time, making the journey that bit easier.

As a standalone game for fans of the series that don’t already own Warriors Orochi 4, the Ultimate version would be the best option to procure as the added content makes the original a little redundant. As for DLC this a very pricey in comparison to other DLC and could be a tough sell. But if you enjoy this hack’n’slash series then it is very fun to play and worth picking up. For hardcore fans, the extra chapters, characters and infinity game mode may be enough to persuade you to add it on.

Mulaka is stunning in its design and detail, but lacking in its gameplay execution, more specifically its combat mechanics. The problem with delayed control feedback certainly doesn’t help. However, if you can overlook these faults, Mulaka offers up a remarkable journey that boasts distinction, meaning, and ambiguity.

Perhaps the main flaw here is that it can get super tough very quickly. Even on the opening set of levels it was super hard to collect all ten flags, so when it came to later levels I struggled to unlock them due to a lack of flags. Overall though, I enjoyed my time with Spooky Chase quite a bit. I might have got so frustrated that I had to laugh at times, but it kept me coming back for one more go regardless.

It’s a shame to see that issues with the framerate and the daft character animations are still yet to be resolved, however, with that in mind, Ripples presents the best and most balanced episode in the series so far. I’ll credit the voice acting too, which sees a notable improvement throughout. The mansion is as stunning as always and the story that’s set within remains intriguing, exciting and fairly well paced.

Overall, if you’re someone who has only found their way to the underrated world of Kingdoms of Amalur with this remastered package, then the Fatesworn DLC will be a nice way to seal off the adventure and is well worth a look, although maybe consider a sale given the price point. If you’re simply wanting to return after having already enjoyed everything on offer, then this isn’t a bad adventure by any means and with a nicely rounded off story come the end, this is a good way to completely end your time with one of the finest RPG tales of its day. Graphically it hasn’t aged well, even in remastered fashion but it’s a decent tale all the same.

Overall, Daymare 1994: Sandcastle is in a unique position in that it isn’t a game I would recommend to people over the likes of the aforementioned Resident Evil games, as it doesn’t do enough to feel unique in its own way, but instead I would recommend it to someone who wants more of those same experiences. Maybe in the future, we can see something to make the series become more of its own but for now, Daymare is a great option to delve into if you want more Resident Evil whilst you wait for more Resident Evil.

Bendy and the Ink Machine is a pretty good action-horror, and although it can sometimes seem a little bland, you cannot knock it for its originality. There’s a couple of technical and design issues to iron out, but overall, the fresh and distinct look, together with some good scares, will undoubtedly keep your heart racing throughout.

Endzone – A World Apart is one of the most comprehensive base-building survival management sims I’ve seen. There is a lot to do here, it just might be too much for some.

Aesthetically a wonderful little title that has lots of features in there that I wanted to play of. Sadly, As Far As The Eye is hindered by a counter-intuitive controller scheme.

Techno Banter is a wonderful little title with tons of Berlin charm. Part text adventure, part Papers, Please, and a handy dousing of EDM.

Overall, 35MM is a dark and gritty experience that tells the tale of abandonment and isolation perfectly. It doesn’t always showcase the best visuals when it comes to animal or human modelling but if you want a game that can set a believable and creepy tone whilst showcasing the worst possible scenario, and you have 4-5 hours spare, then this is a game that you should really be looking to add to your collection. What you will find here isn’t game-changing, but it is a fantastic adventure that is well worth the once over at least.

Knock on the Coffin Lid is a solid entry in the roguelite deckbuilder category. Anyone sick of the other big contenders will have plenty of things to do. Those looking for a bit more story than usually found will get the most out of it.

While the brick breaker genre is about as old as gaming itself, Twin Breaker: A Sacred Symbols Adventure still brings fresh ideas to the fold, making it an enjoyable, challenging time. That there is so much time and effort invested in the story in commendable, though I didn’t get as invested in that as it seems Colin would like players to be. There are plenty of levels to try and best, with high score challenges, a new game+ mode, and several alternate modes as well to supplement the 3 hour or so main game. Fans of Colin, and Sacred Symbols especially, will enjoy the various references dotted though out as well.

Unbound is bigger than the first game, but not necessarily better. I thoroughly enjoyed the thought provoking story, as well as the intriguing individual character stories. However, the dated visuals and the filler combat mechanics pull this otherwise well rounded experience just short of greatness. That said, the plot is worth the price of admission alone.

I was skeptical about Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions as it had some high bars to hit. I think for the most part the fun factor made an appearance, but I don’t know how long the legs are on this game, only time will tell. For the most part I don’t find the replay-ability high after a couple dozen hours but again, time and content updates could drive me back to it from time to time. I think for the price it’s a fun time and Harry Potter fans should feel at home on the pitch here.

Despite that some aspects of the game are either overwhelming, or, not wholly refined, My Time at Portia is a solid addition to the life simulation genre. There’s heaps of gameplay depth to soak up and enjoy, with no shortage of variation present to keep things fresh and entertaining. Whilst it pales in comparison to the likes of Animal Crossing, it certainly offers plenty of distinction and gets enough right to stand in a spotlight entirely of its own.

de Blob 2 suffers from repetitive gameplay and wonky camera issues. However, if you can overlook these niggling problems, there’s a surprisingly lengthy and endearing platforming experience within. It’s not a groundbreaking game, but it is accessible, and will surely be appreciated by fans of the genre and newcomers alike.

2064: Read Only Memories offers up an excellent story that’s set within an intriguing world. The game is held back by some poor design choices and overly simplistic puzzle logic, but for those that seek nothing more than a decent plot, this has you covered.

When all things are considered, Sniper Elite: Resistance is a commendable entry in the Sniper Elite franchise, granting us more insights into Harry Hawker by shining the protagonist spotlight on him, which gives us a respectable reprieve from wearing the militaristic boots of Karl Fairburne. Most of what the series has established is present and accounted for, and although there are various new locations to be in awe of, and navigational options to test out, Resistance fails to truly push the envelope in exciting directions despite shifting the focus onto a new hero and a new story. If you loved previous Sniper Elite games, Resistance has got all the bang you could want from its particular buck, but Resistance is a day late and a nickel short as far as exciting and explosive new features are concerned. The bugs and garish seventh-generation character textures don’t help either, but thankfully Resistance is gratifying enough due to its strategic essences, even though it could – and should – have been so much more.

Though it may not be quite as thought-provoking as the games that inspired it, Somerville is a promising effort from a new studio, capably evoking its themes and happenings through its visual storytelling, in a way that makes you ponder and feel for the characters and their situations. Unfortunately, Somerville can’t remove itself from the shadow of Playdead’s works, so it is inevitably stuck in the position of inferiority, because it doesn’t do much we haven’t seen before. Having said that, it is a worthwhile adventure that may start slow, but picks up momentum the more you play and is backed up by decent puzzles and some pulse-quickening and heart-thumping drama. All told Somerville is a pleasant slice of thought-provoking adventuring.

If you love Metroidvania games, Moolander is very similar to those such as Ori and is packed with quality content. The gameplay at times feels as if this was intended to be a mobile game, well that’s because that is how Moo Lander started out in 2013. This game has been in development for years and the love from the developers shows in their product they’ve made together. Moo Lander was inspired heavily by Ori and plays much like it with a simpler design from a significantly smaller group. The story is engrossing and cooky enough to entertain those looking for a simple singleplayer story. There are multiplayer elements with Moo Lander such as couch coop game modes and PvE & PvP, but the story is the key part for this indie developed game.

SOMA isn’t an excellent example of horror, but instead shines its brightest through its story telling. That’s not to say that it isn’t scary, on the contrary it’s very unnerving and full of unsettling sights and choices, it’s just not up to scratch when those aspects try to go hand in hand.

DC’s Justice League Cosmic Chaos was surprisingly a game I enjoyed and wanted to play repeatedly. I was going through a very big gaming funk, not knowing what to play, and jumping between games, which could hold my attention span for long. Then I started playing DCJLCC and was slowly sucked into a fun world, with many things to do. If I was bored playing the main storyline, I could farm some shells and coins to upgrade my superhero, find a dungeon, find some gadgets, even explore Happy Harbour, and find comic books hidden around the land to unlock my favourite superhero costume.

Overall, whilst the general release of a Project Zero game onto modern consoles feels exciting, the long-beloved classic is no longer the same fright mongering experience we know the series for back on the original Xbox. Besides a few creepy images of certain ghosts, there is nothing that really causes much of a jump let alone a true scare, and whilst the story has the potential to be one of true Japanese horror, the horrible pacing and repetitive nature ensure that the Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water goes down as an underwhelming return for what used to be one of the greatest series in horror gaming.

If you’re up for a fantastic yarn and gorgeous sights, Mafia: The Old Country is outstanding, meaning you’ll be totally sold by its presentation. The moments, the story and the characters are top-notch, and there’s not much to criticize on that front. However, The Old Country is old-fashioned with forced and bland stealth sections, predictable gunplay, and a lack of newness when it comes to the game’s mechanics—also the knife fights are unexciting and rote. You can have a blast with The Old Country if gameplay isn’t your utmost concern, but if it is, you may need to absolve it of its sins, because while the gunplay is functional and enjoyable enough, it lacks nuance and weapon variety. Altogether, The Old Country is definitely worth taking in, but when gameplay is king, you may feel underwhelmed that it spends more time focusing on its visual and storytelling qualities than it does on crafting a sophisticated playable experience.

This was a fun, short, nostalgia-based trip for me and it really was a see what you get type situation. I can see the Carmen Sandiego games I played as a kid, reimagined for a 2025 audience and this game fits that mold. Were the cases super hard for me? No. Did I expect them to be? No. For the younger audience however, this game poses some good critical thinking skills and closer to the end of the game, even some strategy. The options of a campaign and random “trimmed down” cases this one provides a fair bit of replay value if you are in the mood to collect clues and piece them together whenever otherwise you can get through the game under 10 hours, I’d imagine with the content available at launch.

Hidden Through Time 2: Discovery Is almost everything you want from a hidden object game. I think a hint system would have been the final piece to include to ease frustration on some levels but as its not restrictive and you can just play on and come back to it later its fine. These games are fun to just jump on and relax and it’s something the family can join in on.

Overall, if you found yourself a fan of Deliver Us The Moon and wanted more, Deliver Us Mars will no doubt have you feeling thrilled. If you’ve yet to play that however then this is still a perfectly enjoyable title in its own right too, and whilst the opening hour can feel like it’s dragging a little, the story soon picks up and feels compelling enough to get you through to find out just what’s been going on. There are noticeable improvements here too and whilst there is still some stiffness and clunkiness to work around, Deliver Us Mars is a game well worth a look if you want something memorable.

Wax Heads was a unique experience that definitely lived up to the cozy promise. It may not be difficult, and it may not be my style, but I enjoyed the actual gameplay elements. I believe this one is a see it and you’ll know type of game.

Conarium is certainly one for the fans of H.P. Lovecraft, despite the fact that it’s less of a traditional horror, and more of a puzzler with elements of suspense present. That said, the game does a wonderful job at presenting a dark and eerie story that follows in the footsteps of its source material, complete with a great setting and several nods to its inspirations. Unfortunately, however, its slow pace and its short length holds it back quite a bit.

Hammerwatch 2 made some bold decisions on ways to make the game challenging. I am sure there are those out there who enjoy this kind of challenge but the lack of direction is something that really soured my experience of the game. If this is up your street then there is plenty of content to be had as it boasts tons of quests and the combat is great if you are not going round in circles killing the same respawning enemies.

Come for the striking art style and stay for the engaging gameplay, that’s my cliched tagline for the undoubtably original Inked: A Tale of Love. It’s a relatively short game (about three to four hours), and doesn’t offer much replayability since there aren’t any achievements, but the game stays fresh throughout by introducing new mechanics in each of the beautifully drawn levels and by featuring a fun hidden object mechanic. If you don’t mind not earning achievements and enjoy puzzle games then this is worth a look.