Deliver Us The Moon nails the feeling of being in space, and the tale being told is interesting enough to keep up gong through to the end. It’s slow and repetitive at times, and the linear nature means we often pass by seemingly perfect opportunities to explore, but I still enjoyed my time with it.

Crash Team Rumble is not the game fans of the bandicoot asked for but is the game we got, and I can say it isn’t that bad. The game in its content is a bit shallow with one main game mode but I hope that will change in the future as it is a games as a service game. I look forward to lobbies full of friends in the future versus randoms but this a fun pick-up-and-play (for a bit) game. We shall see how it’s future holds up.

Them’s Fightin’ Herds is a fighter at it’s core that didn’t wow me. The controls felt like they were made for a fight stick and the controller just got mapped after the fact. The game has an interesting story mode however that at least makes it stand out and is different enough than your standard fighting game fare. Online lobbies are existent but the population is almost not. Hopefully more players will fill them in the future.

ToeJam and Earl: Back in the Groove is a very faithful comeback. However, outside of some lovely looking visuals, things haven’t really kept up with the times. It’s fun in short bursts, but be prepared for things to get a bit too repetitive, a bit too quickly, especially in solo play. The soundtrack, on the other hand, is as brilliant and as funky as it ever was. When all is said and done, die-hard fans of the originals will find the most value here.

The Coma 2: Vicious Sisters is a great horror experience. With hand crafted visuals and a passion for the development this title should give the player a couple hours of gruesome entertainment filled with blood, sweat and tears. It’s great to see a 2D side scrolling title like this. It works well and I hope to see more.

Soundfall can be fun and certainly offers a fresh look on rhythm action games. It doesn’t manage to find the compelling magic though.

Super Perils of Baking is a modern game with an old retro 16-bit soul. Tough platforming with even tougher challenges and secrets await you through these 50 stages. Overall Super Perils of Baking will test your skills and I do recommend it to 2D platforming fans. Gamers looking to get into platforming will find better games but Super Perils of Baking wouldn’t be the worst choice either.

Demon Tier+ is a fun dungeon crawler with some interesting ideas which worked well for me. This gaming style prevents over-grinding to allow you to breeze through, and the dual currency part of the game is interesting. It has a decent amount of challenge to it to keep it interesting too. I recommend this to dungeon crawler fans, as there is a lot to keep you coming back, aiming to get that much further each time.

Supermarket Shriek has enough varied content to keep you entertained for a few hours at a time, and although its control scheme is fairly hit and miss and tends to annoy, this is one kart racer you shouldn’t pass by. It’s outlandish, it’s crazy, and it’s relatively daft, but then, that’s the whole point. This game doesn’t take itself seriously at all, it merely wants you to sit back and enjoy, and despite its faults, it achieves what it set out to accomplish.

Ovivo, despite its technical drawbacks and its habit of frustrating its players, is one of those games that says a great deal without ever uttering a single word. The game’s artistic inkblot-like presentation not only serves its platforming structure remarkably well, but toys wonderfully with the senses. That said, the game’s aforementioned issues do pull it just shy of greatness in the long-run, but even so, it’s one platformer I can comfortably recommend.

Overload is a wonderful throwback that feels more like a true sequel to Descent than that of a spiritual successor. The content-rich gameplay is as constantly hectic as its inspiration’s gameplay, complete with tight and responsive feedback, and a host of varied upgrades and unique weaponry to utilize. That being said, the developer would do well to swiftly address the game’s rather distracting performance issues.

Effie is a decent entry into the third-person action-adventure genre, it features intricately designed levels and lots of satisfying platforming. There is a nice combination of old and new mechanics. The combat can leave a bit to be desired, and there were a few non-game breaking bugs/glitches but overall this is a nice call-back to a classic well-loved genre. Whether you want to get some feelings of nostalgia or you are new to the genre and are curious, Effie is worth a look.

Fans of tough platformers will revel in Through the Nightmares’ challenge, but I found the difficulty spikes a little too overbearing and far too quickly did I find my attention wandering to the next game.

The Valiant recovered from almost making me put my controller down to blossom into a decent entry in the RTS genre, it’s different take on the traditional RTS mechanics could well make it stand out against it competitors, but time will tell if The Valiant can turn into a franchise for THQ Nordic or be a one and done title.

We. the Revolution is a well written, decent narrative puzzle game that doesn’t shy away from the brutality of 18th century France. The game makes an intriguing habit of forcing you to face your actions head-on, with far reaching consequences that can alter the plot in ways you rarely expect. The only drawback is that it’s very convoluted due to its many systems and its abundance of relationship balancing, ultimately making for a lot of guesswork.

It takes something special for me to love a walking sim and trust me there are some really good ones out there. Arctic Awakening does fine, and I’d hear an argument to include it within top contenders. For me though, what holds it back is the length and the slowness that comes with it. Technical bugs aside, Arctic Awakening is worthy title in the genre however and fans should keep an eye out.

Whilst it would have benefited from some variation as far as its visual design is concerned, it’s easy to like Minesweeper Genius for its relatively straightforward and challenging structure. The game takes the classic Minesweeper formula and introduces some simple yet effective mechanics, which goes hand in glove with its randomly generated content. The end result makes for an experience that’s both fun and gratifying throughout.

The Touryst was a joy to play. It’s fun, calming, and simple. The puzzles can sometimes be tough to figure out, but it is satisfying when you solve it. It’s not long at about 5-7 hours to complete and it’s currently on Gamepass, so if you’re a subscriber give it a go!

Even with some tricky movement and super hard solo road blocks, I enjoyed what I played of AlphaLink. It’s got that old school arcade multiplayer charm, with potential not just for local game nights but even online play. The gunplay is decent enough to counter the movement issues, and there are enough modes to keep things interesting. A good first console outing for Black Hive, and I hope to see the game thrive going forward.

The De Vespe Conspiracy is a great addon to the Greedfall base game. The unravelling of the tangle of lies and mayhem caused was fun to play through. The missions and side quests were interesting and varied enough and it played through like a fun episode. It’s unfortunately too short for my liking and is not likely to bring back old players, but those new to the game would do well to add this to their playthrough.

Daymare: 1998 will push your nostalgia button for horror shooters of days gone and is an enjoyable experience provided you keep your expectations in check. The developers almost certainly could have gone the easy route and built a by-the-books zombie FPS (it was built using Unreal 4) but decided instead to create something uniquely theirs. These choices come together well. I for one appreciated their vision.

Like a popcorn popping Hollywood blockbuster, My Friend Pedro offers a bullet-bonanza ballet that’s hard to ignore thanks to its slick moves, combining a great sense of fast food action gameplay that escalates in challenge as you grow accustomed to the many flourishes it adds throughout. Regrettably the characterisation and story falls short, but in all likelihood these fundamentals won’t matter if you’re looking for an action-packed thrill ride, and boy does My Friend Pedro offer that in spades. If you demand something more in-depth or intricate you won’t find it here, but everyone else will find that My Friend Pedro scratches an impulsive itch that’s able to impress with its penchant for grace and unabashed style.

The Last Door is, at least initially, far too easy for its own good. The solutions to many of the game’s puzzles tend to be borderline insulting for the first half, which doesn’t make for a great first impression. Bear with it though, because despite its simplicity and some issues with its pacing, the game certainly picks up traction later in. That, and its tense and atmospheric story alongside its superb visual and audio design, is truly unlike anything else.

The innovation of creating a world with anime girls who represent older videogame systems is what drew a newcomer like me to the world of Neptunia. Overall, the combat system allowed me to utilize characters who caught my interest and freely experiment with them. While at times I was lost in the story which I’m most likely sure is due to the fact I’m fresh, It didn’t deter me from enjoying Neptunia: Sisters Vs. Sisters like the JRPG it is. I can’t say it’s enough for me to engulf myself in the Nepunia lore, mech, or other past titles, but I do hope more games such as this one will continue to make their appearance on Xbox consoles.

Fans of Super Meat Boy would do well to check out Dungeon Escape. It’s not quite up there in terms of design or feel as that classic, but it’s still a solid title that offers up a good challenge to keep you coming back even after your hundredth death.

While Born of Bread was in my top videogames to look at this year with its great art style, the game overall didn’t match that hype. It was fine and I’d recommend it to those looking to get a younger player into games of this style but hardcore fans of turn based RPG’s could easily miss this one without feeling something was lost. It does nothing downright bad but nothing rememberable either.

This is by no means a revolutionary platformer. The ability to harness the power of day and night is an interesting concept, and it worked well in setting this game apart from others of the like. The beautifully crafted landscapes are an experience all in their own. If you appreciate games for their visual qualities and aren’t put off by the lack of story, it would be worth crash landing and venturing into this world.

A game that isn’t afraid to let players muddle through it on their own is an idea to be lauded, and here there is a core mystery that will provide a compelling enough reason to continue if you can get into the rhythm of the puzzling.

For those who like a bit of fast, hectic scrolling shooter action, Andro Dunos II II is worth a look. Some lovely, detailed visuals help sell the madness, while the abilities on offer to the player are good, if a bit cumbersome to get to grips with. It’s not my favourite example of the genre then, but still a fun evening or two to be had for those interested.

Overall, Kingdoms and Castles provides an engaging blend of city-building and strategic challenges, offering a rewarding experience for players willing to embark on the journey of building, defending, and expanding their realm.

Despite the UI downers, I still found myself rather charmed with Bus Simulator. It does exactly what it says on the tin, and for that I admire it. The act of driving about the city is relaxing, planning routes and getting to know them is oddly fun, and managing the back end of the business can get quite deep. Even if you may not think it’s up your street, hop aboard one day and you might just be surprised.

Pinkman+ is a fun puzzle platformer that has a nice retro style aesthetic. Much like obvious inspiration N+ the challenge is high, but also quite rewarding. That it is also optimised for the new console is a neat touch too.

A strong start to a potential franchise. Excellent environment art, compelling world and story, The Inquisitor just needs a little more polish in other areas.

For those looking for a short and funny Point-and-click/visual novel One-Eyed Lee is a good way to go. Just remember to have multiple saves to avoid getting stuck.

Greedland has lofty goals, and it mostly succeeds. Unfortunately, some poor translation and some other bugs get in the way of this game being the best it can be.

Overall this game really does bring back very fond memories of old school platformers, but after completing episode one of the campaign I started episode two and – even though the comic book style story telling gets you into the mission – I found myself doing the same things over again. The daily Damsel Dash missions are where I found most of my fun, trying to score higher than the person above me on the leader board. The art style and audio in this game is what made it for me, and for their debut big screen game I think Screwtape have really done a good job.

Twincop is a co-op game in the most literal sense of the term. The funky 80’s style, over the top mechanics and fast paced action are well executed and entertaining. Things can get frustrating when repeatedly dying – it’s always the other persons fault – but if you’re after a fun twin stick shooter with a twist, this’ll fit the bill nicely.

Unto the End doesn’t mess about, and that will likely divide opinion on it. I don’t think I’ll eve see the end as it’s just too much of a challenge for me, but I absolutely can see the care and work that has gone into making it, and how well put together it is. If you’re into that other game then this 2D side scroller should be on your radar. Just be prepared to have a proper run of things.

The Wanderer is an interesting look at the Frankenstein story and the visuals are appealing. However, what is here is a little predictable and the binary choices don’t inspire the imagination.

Much like its predecessor, Devious Dungeon 2 provides a simple yet entertaining rogue-lite adventure that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Sadly, a few poor design choices from the first game have carried over, but in the face of its improvements, these niggling flaws are fairly easy to overlook. In summary, if you enjoyed what came before, you’re bound to find some value here.

Rollercoaster management games are few and far between these days but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some great games out there for the category. Luckily Park Beyond is coming out swinging as this is a really fun entry in the management genre. It offers some crazy impossibilities to the theme park rides that make the experience so much fun. Unfortunately the launch hasn’t been the best for me with crashes and technical issues with the AI, however I have the upmost confidence they will be fixed in the near future. You know if this type of game is for you and if it is, Park Beyond isn’t a bad one to take a try on.

Skate City takes game and chill to a new level. Using a left to right skating style, this game adds simplistic controls that anyone can pick up and play. They build upon the controls for the more hardcore when a challenge is wanted. The repetitiveness of the game can be seen as a negative and for that I encourage you to play in small chunks.

It’s always a good day when I get to play a game that was thought to be lost in a forgotten era of gaming. Nostalgia hits hard for me with Enclave HD and although very excited to give it another go, it’s just a port of an old game. Am I happy it is back and playable on current hardware? Absolutely! Do I wish a little more love was done to it? For sure. I’d probably have a hard time convincing someone to give Enclave HD a try if they didn’t play it on original Xbox but for those that did, I think it’s worth the admission price.

I tried out Cat God Ranch on a whim and was pleasantly surprised. It quickly became one of those games I just needed to get one more round in. There are a lot of different animals in the world and in Cat God Ranch which is where I ultimately fell off. Even when you don’t use most of them in a round, I felt the need to try and mix and match and I was doing more reading and thinking than just playing, which for me, took me out of it a bit. That said, in this newish genre of seeing crazy numbers appear through crazy combos, Cat God Ranch has earned a spot at that table.

Knight’s Retreat is great. If you enjoy chess and puzzle games it’s a no brainer, pick this title up. It’s challenging, and has some brilliant mechanics.

Backbeat is a Sokoban like puzzle game with a heavy focus on building a funky 90’s band. It looks and sounds great but it is not shy to lay on the mechanics in a hot and heavy manner. It definitely got the best of me but puzzle fans should give it a look.

This may indeed be somewhat of a cliché, but this game is the definition of easy to pick up, yet very hard to master. Despite its unforgiving steep difficulty curve, Razed is a fun, vibrant, and engaging speedrunner. The pace of the game is sensational, and its constant introduction of new and interesting mechanics ensures that repetition is kept at bay, throughout.

Addictive and well made, Lornsword Winter Chronicle is a must for strategy lovers. Handles well, looks great and offers a real challenge, so if you’re a fan of he genre I’d highly recommend this title. The 2 player aspect is amazing and a highlight of the game.

Super Pixel Racers offers a fairly diverse and accessible top-down racing experience. There’s a harsh difficulty spike later on in the game that makes it somewhat harder to recommend to the casuals. However, overlooking both that and the already dead online multiplayer, it’s hard not to appreciate the game for its depth, its fast pace, and its simple yet alluring concept.

Wizardry has made its mark in the development of RPG games in inspiring the next generation to kick on. A re-hashing of a text adventure and making it more graphical does sound very appealing but it only works if you make it more inclusive. I understand the older games were tough as they had to be to provide longevity but the new modern gamer may not have the patience for games as tough as this that require a lot of repetition and overcoming of frustration.

Overall, whilst Gummy’s Life won’t quite bring the thrills of Fall Guys, or provide quite the surprising time sink that Human Fall Flat can as you try to perfect actions through wobbly movement, it isn’t a bad game. It takes what we know from Gang Beasts, adds bots, full cross-play functionality and a ton of maps and leaves the rest to the players. It’s not going to keep you occupied for long, but the kids will get a thrill out of it and it’s not bad for a rainy day should you happen to have some friends who are willing to jump in too.

Dustwind for me was a fun trip down memory lane as I enjoyed the original Fallout games. They copied the style nicely but the story was too contrived. A woman forager who was beaten and had her daughter kidnapped that suddenly becomes Rambo is a bit of a stretch. The game was still fun to play through, but some of the niggles that made the old-style games annoying should have really been ironed out.

A ‘roguelite for beginners’ Haunted House has a charm to it, that anyone eager to dip their toes into something different should try. Definitely not for the terminally rogued.

Mask of Mists is a wonderful first-person adventure title considering the size of the team that made it and is appropriately priced on the marketplace. There is also a trial that can allow 30 minutes of gameplay to experience what it’s like before committing to the purchase. The price for both versions are the same, but I would highly recommend getting the newer X|S version with upgraded visuals, lighting, and faster load times.

Pawarumi isn’t going to change the game industry, but it will be there to set a president for other top-down shooters, with its complex and appealing style and great controls this game may be short in longevity but it could last a while for true fans of the genre.

Clearly the best multiplayer outing for the Resident Evil series yet, it is nonetheless held back by some long lobby wait times, lack of ability to non-verbally communicate with team mates and an overpowered Mastermind suite. When things come together the gameplay is fun, though nothing revolutionary, and it even manages to carry over some of the tension found in the main games, so I really hope a solid community builds up going forward.

Moon Raider is a decent throwback to the pixelated games of the 90’s. It is lacking in some departments like the story, but the pixel art is nicely done and the action is familiar and fun for the duration of the experience. The bosses could have been a little more inspired. It took me about 4 hours to play through the game and my recommendation really comes down to the price; if it’s over $10 then I’d say to wait for a sale. If you’re looking for a short distraction with a local co-op option then this might be a game for you.

A visually busy game, ArcRunner is a good multiplayer Roguelite/3rd person shooter. However in singleplayer the grind can be too much to bear, with unlocks and progress a chore to get to.

Blazing Beaks is a fun, but very tough, game. You need fast reflexes and good decision making if you are going to finish a playthrough of the story mode. I found the quandary of taking an artefact with a penalty for a chance of a better boon later fascinating as it’s based on your confidence in your ability to survive until you can reap the benefits. It’s just a shame that you cannot play the main story online with a friend or play multiplayer online.

If you like this style of game then Rusty Spout will fill that need well. The audio got old pretty quickly, but can be turned off; otherwise, it’s a solid little arcade title that brings a classic game along with a quirky tale to modern players.

Wild Bastards is a solid sequel with a lot of interesting systems. Those systems mainly interact in the static of the 2D screens, and the drama of the real time combat is less engaging than its predecessor. I do love being a flaming skeleton that shoots fireballs from his fingertips though.

If there is one thing I love almost as much as sequels, it’s spiritual successors. Especially if those spiritual successors have turned into a metroidvania. Listen, I had a decent time with Yars Rising but in the end, it has been a bit forgettable. Little things like waiting for loading screens, having to rewatch animations and dialog due to dying, and just okay platforming have soured me just a bit hence my score. I honestly started the game higher than when I ended. I think there is something here however and would absolutely play a sequel to this game if one comes along. Metroidvania enthusiasts should give it a go if they are looking for shorter experience to add to their gamer résumé.

Minit goes to show what a capable developer can do with such a small canvas. This game isn’t going to be for everyone, but those that enjoy quirky adventures should certainly have this on their radar. The minute mechanic, grouped with the solid world design and interesting progression structure, collectively amounts to a worthwhile trek, if indeed a short one.

Windbound is a tough and mean spirited survival adventure. The concept is clever in its simplicity and it makes the game more difficult in other ways from the normal methods. The game is quite basic in its design but makes up for it in its challenge. I would have enjoyed the challenge more if the combat was handled a little better, the camera angles weren’t such a nuisance and the sailing wasn’t so slow and awkward. The pace can feel very slow at first but if you commit enough time to it you can speed things up as you progress and learn to balance survival better.

All in all, REKT! is a fun, arcade style stunt game that is best played locally with others. Solo players have a lot to unlock but the repetition might mean that it’ll take some time to get everything available. Snappy, easy to pick up controls and fun level design mean that even then, it is still fun in short bursts.

Gungrave G.O.R.E is a clever-dumb game that finds ways to turn mindless shooting into an alternative character action model. Sadly, it is brought down by trying to be too smart and muddying its objectives. When it sticks to what makes it enjoyable, it excels.

Brimming with ideas and invention Risen embarrasses most modern RPGs, although it shows its age in its infuriating combat. Nevertheless, it is worth playing for those that can look past that.

Tamarak Trail’s crime is not that it is bad, just that it is not on the same level as other roguelites in its genre, or even its very crowded subgenre.

Weakless is really colourful and vibrant and shows good promise if the team decide to do more work like this. There’s lots going on depending on who you play as which I found great. The contrast in gameplay between the deaf and blind Weavlings forces you to constantly analyse a situation and using them both to overcome obstacles is satisfying and rewarding. Overall my experience was enjoyable, it’s just a shame that it all ended so soon.

Overall, if you’re a fan of the other mechanic simulators and want something you aren’t likely to know about straight away, then Rover Mechanic Simulator is a good shout. It’s not the longest of games with an 8-10 hour playtime, but if you want something to simply play through at leisure, without all the excessive hustle and bustle of most games on the market at present, then this is certainly the tranquil experience you’ll be looking for.

Mercenary Kings will no doubt appeal to those that are fond of the Metal Slug series. However, the gameplay doesn’t prove to be quite as frantic or energetic. This is a game that’s better when playing with others, and the added crafting and looting system certainly helps it to stand out. That being said, players will be enduring some poor design choices and irritating combat mechanics throughout the entirety of play.

Breathedge is an uneven experience: the space exploration/survival is genuinely delightful, but workman-like approach to presentation and the humour drags the experience down, undoing the oppressive atmosphere with dated references and ‘gags’. I would recommend this game to fans of the genre who have exhausted their choices, others will do better to start elsewhere.

LISA: The Joyful is not a game I would recommend just jumping into without either playing the previous game in the series or at least reading up on as it is disturbing enough, without being confusing too. I find it lacks a lot of structure as I understand some of the character development and the struggles of Buddy’s situation but without any backstory or assisting narrative, it’s not easy to connect with what is happening. The battle system in the game is quite fun and I enjoy the different moves you can use and some of the animations of the enemies are delightfully kooky.

Farewell Northfeels like a deeply personal experience, and I really appreciated what it was doing. Some might find the ‘dog turns the grey world back to colour’ to be a bit on the nose, but those people clearly have coal in the place where their heart should be.

All in all, The Ascent is a lot of fun at times, but there’s just something about it that doesn’t quite stick for me. Combat is fast, with the three height system technically offering up more options for arenas, but I found this aspect to be generally underused. Initially complex looking, the upgrades and skill trees are simple to follow, albeit underwhelming in use. But there’s no denying just how pretty it all is, and as a next gen showpiece it delivers here. I just can’t see myself being drawn back to it long in the long term.

I had a good time with Mr. Run and Jump, with the feel of the movement and inputs coming across really well. It’s challenging, but rarely unfair. The retro neon visuals also really drew me in. The levels can feel a bit overlong, though thankfully when you die you don’t get set too far back. One for those looking for something to dip in and out of.

TT Isle of Man will no doubt impress those that can forgive its lack of content and bond with its hardcore mechanics. This is certainly one of Kylotonn’s better efforts, but it doesn’t come without fault, namely rendering and camera issues. With that to the side, this is a decent racing game, but it’s far from on par with the best.

Liberté in theory is where Hades meets the French Revolution. However, this is not as fast and varied as Hades and it is only very loosely based on the French Revolution. Although deckbuilding and using cards as skills in combat is not a new idea, the way it has been delivered is still different and fresh. The combat separated from the bizarre plot is enjoyable but it just needed more variation to keep it interesting.

DragoDino is a cute and colorful collect-a-thon adventure that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The price-tag is well set and there’s no denying that you’re getting your money’s worth. Though issues with its punishing death penalty, lengthy loading screens and somewhat repetitive gameplay, will inevitably test your patience in the long run.

Little Droid was an okay, short experience once I got over a small rage-inducing death cycle that I got myself into. Is it tough? Yes. But is it rewarding? Eh. I am very mediocre on Little Droid and there are only certain gaming enthusiasts I can recommend this to and those are players who want to play all the metroidvanias and those who love a “retro-hard” game. If you aren’t in those camps, this one is likely a pass.

Dungeon Rushers doesn’t do much to break the mold, but it certainly does enough to justify its generous price tag and a recommendation. Though with that said, if it’s gameplay depth that you seek, look elsewhere. The game does indeed become repetitive before its conclusion and there’s a few technical issues within, however, if you can overlook that, there’s heaps of challenging and endearing content to get through.

The Hong Kong Massacre hits all the right mechanical and visual notes and should be considered one of the best in its genre. Great controls, superb style and a cracking soundtrack. However, it has two glaring bugs that detract from the overall quality.

Necro Story made some bold decisions on ways to make the game challenging. The soul-catching mechanic is particularly interesting and adds a unique twist to the gameplay. The variety of characters with random perks and the comical undertone of the story provides a refreshing take on the dark fantasy genre. However, the game’s lack of clear explanations for certain mechanics, like the different coloured souls and plot direction can be frustrating. If you enjoy a mix of real-time and turn-based combat with a spooky humourous story there is plenty of content to be had here.

I was totally underwhelmed with the single player part of Asteroids, until I stumbled upon challenges. Short sharp specific focused game mode. These were exciting, with the fact I had a goal to work toward made playing it more enjoyable.

Cuisineer is a cute, comfy social sim with some Action RPG added in there. That said, this might be one of the most transparent versions of the genre, which does not feel rewarding to unlock new content.

Slave Zero X did not grip me with the story, however, the simplistic game mechanics were a nice change of pace. You move along the area from left to right, you can hack and slash your way through the enemies, there are various enemy types each with its unique attack pattern and weapons. As you can see from the video above the graphics are very “retro” but the developers, Poppy Works have added camera shifts as you move along the levels. This gives this 2D game more visual depth. I personally found some bosses very tricky to beat, add the fact they have no health meter, some battles can be are very frustrating. I did find myself on more than one occasion stuck trying to manoeuvre to the next section. The above “issues” did not take away the fact I did have a blast playing Slave Zero X.

The Spectrum Retreat’s greatest achievement is how engaging, challenging and unnerving the whole experience can be. The drawback however, and the bane of most puzzle games, is that there really isn’t much longevity to it. That said, Dan Smith’s debut project is certainly a game that any fan of the genre should try out, and for his first attempt, Dan shows a great deal of promise for his future in game development.

As one of the few exclusively next-gen games for the Series consoles, Bright Memory is a bit of mixed bag. It runs excellently, with super smooth frame rates and crisp, 4K visuals and some lovely looking (if slightly over-done) effect’s work. The combat is fast and satisfying, and the extra powers can make the whole presentation look like Doom X Crysis on some kind of strong drugs. That it is so short, the character models look decidedly 00’s arcade era, and some bug and glitches rear their heads means it’s not the must play new title it could have been though. Here’s hoping the full fat Bright Memory: Infinite can use this test bed to launch a truly kick ass, next-gen shooter.

Solid puzzle game, with a lovely ink style. Howl is a short, bite sized bit of fun.

This first person shooter was a lovely surprise for me. Controls were tight, visually this game appealed to the retro gamer in me and easy achievements is always a bonus. If you need a game that is just fun without the pressure of mind bending difficulties this is it.

AO Tennis 2 is a greatly improved second instalment to the franchise. Trying to overshoot your hits is a satisfying experience. Career mode is the best part of the game, building your character to be a dominant force and trying to get that world number 1 ranking and winning all 4 Grand Slams. If you are a tennis fan, I would recommend buying this game as you’re unlikely to be disappointed. It’s a shame more big tennis players didn’t put their name into the hat, but with the brilliant editor and the ability to publish your creations this can be overlooked.

Whilst Spirit Roots is not a bad title, it’s also not a title that will give you anything you haven’t seen or got already from any other title in the genre. It’s nice to look at and it might take you a few hours to push through all of the levels, but if you’re looking for anything more than the basics, you won’t find it here. The price point does shine a large positive with this title one of the cheaper new releases on the store, but with numerous other titles on the horizon, there should have been something a little more to Spirit Roots to ensure it stood out as a game you must play.

I’m being a little unfair perhaps; clearly I struggled with the difficulty where others may just revel in it. If you’re of the puzzling mind, I would imagine that you’d get right along with Lake Ridden. The roughly 4 hour run time is just the right length to not over do things or start repeating puzzles too often. The atmosphere is finely tuned to where you’re never quite sure if something may just pop up behind you and the visuals and audio do a great job of sucking you in to the world. The story is quite engaging, though it’s a shame that some of the filler is locked behind those harder box puzzles.

Edge of Sanity has some solid moments and its tributes to HP Lovecraft fiction. It is moodily lit and well designed. There just wasn’t enough to keep me fully committed.

Don’t be put off from the talky interview-centric tenets of Wayward Strand and you will be nicely pampered by a gentle pleasant game of discovery. Speaking to elderlies and hearing them wax lyrical about their relationships with each other does induce some mild entertainment, and the pace is equally as leisurely. There are a few ailments that hold Wayward Strand back from sound bed rest, such as an unnecessarily strict save system, overly-simplistic visuals and its rote minimalistic nature. Yet, Wayward Strand is still a nice and lightly-paced adventure worth undertaking.

If you’re after a good challenge, Hayfever may be up your alley. While the early stages show off it’s unique concept well, unfortunately, the sharp difficulty curve soon brings more frustration than fun.

Clunky Hero is a beautiful mix of platforming and Metroidvania-like action. The mechanics and controls feel fun to play, and the visual style really suits the style the developers are going for. Add in Monty Python-esque jokes and we’ve got a bit of a winner here.

Override 2: Super Mech League changes the formula for the story mode from its predecessor in a way that isn’t my favorite. That doesn’t take away from the stunning visuals this 3D brawler gives us. Unfortunately it seems Override 2: Super Mech League was banking on online play and I had a tough time finding opponents. Luckily bot matches can supplement our need to finish sponsor tasks but ultimately the game could use a bit more life.