In conclusion Harvey’s New Eyes is a strange little adventure that does not take itself too seriously. Although the game does have some minor sticking points, it has not lost its charm and is an overall enjoyable journey. As it is not necessary to have experienced its predecessor, it is an uncomplicated adventure which can be enjoyable for a wide audience. Its great to see some older games be brought to consoles and given a new lease on life. If you are looking for a simple and entertaining adventure Harvey’s New Eyes will still do the trick.

There’s a lot to like about Vambrace: Cold Soul. From the gorgeous art work, through the brilliant world building and atmosphere to the deeply involved systems at play, there’s clearly been some love poured into this game. The difficulty – especially early on – and the obscure nature of some elements of the HUD are the main snags in an otherwise brilliant bit of software. If you’ve got the time (and patience), there’s a brilliant experience to be had here.

I really enjoy the unique concept on offer here, with interesting and engaging FMV scenes that keep you hooked and actively wanting to find out what happens next. While the mini game sections are on the bland side,they are short enough – with enough variety – to not detract in any sort of major way.

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.

It is clear that an enormous amount of effort has gone into the creation of Whipseey and the Lost Atlas, but the very basic menu, absence of save points and lack of character development could be seen as a slight weakness compared to similar games within this genre. But for those who enjoy playing something that requires careful timing and accuracy to complete, I would almost certainly recommend giving this game a go, especially given the very reasonable price point, for an evening or two of light-hearted entertainment.

Even if you’re not an ardent follow of the sport, MXGP 2019 still provides a fun, though challenging, racing experience. Great visuals, some fun, responsive handling and great track design more than make up for the difficulty and constant droning of engines.

Despite a few odd technical issues, Wreckfest is really rather fun to play. The sheer carnage on display as you smash and crash with your fellow racers is quite the sight, especially in the destruction derby style modes. Those looking for a racer with a little extra edge will no doubt find it here.

I have spent nigh-on 20 hours with the game, and my goodness, I cant wait to get back into it. There are a few small niggles, but the mix of difficulty with easy replayability and easy access makes this game worth trying out for anyone that enjoys some fun and a challenge.

The Vasara Collection will appeal to the scrolling shoot em up fans as it combines both the old-style games and a modern re-imagining of the original games. It is far too difficult for anyone who is not experienced in this genre of games, and it can get old and frustrating fast after repeatedly dying in the game. But for those who like this style of game and like a hardcore challenge then this collection is packaged nicely just for you.

RAD is actually quite a fun game to play, the different mutations keep the game interesting and, as the game doesn’t give you much about the story, a lot of things are a mystery, and enjoyable to discover. The long loading screens when you start or when you die do ruin the games flow a little bit, but there is enough content, and it is challenging enough, to keep you interested for a while.

Throughout its 5 hour run time, Aritana just throws hurdle after hurdle between you and any enjoyment you may get out of it. Somewhere in there is a fun, retro-style action platformer, and at points it comes through. But, the technical issues, and outdated controls and aesthetics are just too prevalent to look past.

The Forbidden Arts is a beautiful, vibrant and fun game for the whole family. Side scrolling action at its best, it also brings a tiny bit of nostalgia along for the ride. Challenging puzzles make this game addictive, while great design keeps you looking at the screen.

In the end, anyone with even a modicum of ability and patience will breeze through Gravity Duck in about an hour. While there are a couple of trickier levels, you’ll likely blitz through most on your first try. With no incentive at all to replay levels (no time attack/hidden items etc) and the full 1000G gained in half the time it takes to clear the game, I can’t really recommend it to anyone outside of achievement hunters.

Ancestors Legacy is a game of historical greatness, featuring real battles from times gone by, easy to grasp controls and some great stories. It has its bumps, but is a title that you will keep coming back to. Whether you’re a Viking lover or a Polish shield bearer, there is a faction for you. I’d liked to have seen some element of multiplayer through the campaign – as it is, though, there’s a pretty great RTS here for console players to get stuck in to.

Super Wiloo Demake is a fun platformer, primarily aimed at younger or more inexperienced players. There are enough levels, costumes and challenge to maintain some interest. But if you’re a more competent gamer, you will likely storm through the game in a few hours. Great if you’re after some easy achievements, but not so much if you’re after something to keep you going for a while.

Exception doesn’t hold back when it comes to the core gameplay. The responsive, smooth controls allow you to really sail through stages at somewhat breathtaking speed. It can get a little much if played for too long (and that soundtrack is… a bit much) but in short bursts, there’s a fun arcade platformer here.

You don’t have to be an old fart to enjoy retro and this just proves it here. A blast from the past remade for this generation, and is as fun to play as it is to look at. Beautiful visuals and a mad soundtrack, this game will be fun for old and new.

Ultimately, I feel that the yearly model for releases is perhaps starting to become outdated. Of course, the moment to moment gameplay is still as solid as ever, and fans will no doubt find enjoyment here. But, in the age of live service games, something like Madden seems a natural fit. I’m not saying what’s here is bad, as such, it just feels like the value proposition is getting lower each time.

Sagebrush offers a short, yet captivating and somewhat glib story that (I imagine) accurately portrays the mindset of people who find themselves within a religious cult. Easily, and best, played in a single sitting, it’ll keep your attention throughout. Some outdated UI and gameplay mechanics bring the package down, but the story will help you get through these hurdles.

Must Dash seems to have a framework of a decent game, and it’s clear that multiplayer is the way to go here; though there is just not enough content for this to remain appealing. With no interesting single-player options, no online multiplayer and very little content, you will be hard pushed inviting friends over to play this for more than a couple of goes before your amigos say “I would love to stay and play more, but I really must dash”.

It was a struggle to play this game for multiple reasons. It’s weird story and awkward gameplay just haven’t aged anywhere near well enough to hold up. If you’ve always been curious, and didn’t live in Japan in 2004, then you might find some worth here; but somehow I doubt the wait will have been worth it.

The Church In The Darkness is a nice change to the contemporary games of today and strives to open the mind of religion and cultism in a top-view, open world environment with stealth mechanics and multi narrative story scripts. Looks great and plays great, albeit not being the longest game ever. It appeals to a different nature and pushes for originality.

Pilot Sports is a good bit of fun, but could have featured more. At $19.99, you’re still getting a decent deal here, but I’d happily pay that bit extra for more content (a larger world, online multiplayer and leader boards). Achievement hunters will likely lap up Pilot Sports, as just there are just 14 to round up for the full 1000G.

These niggles aside, Bear With Me still managed to keep me hooked right through. While the obtuse nature of traditional point and click puzzles still rears its head here, they are the exception rather than the rule. The characters are well written, and I found myself really growing attached to Amber, Flint and Ted as well as most of the supporting cast. There’s a surprisingly touching narrative to uncover too, with extra little side stories tucked in along the way that flesh the world out nicely.

Despite having a vertical drop for a learning curve and looking and feeling kind of average as far as modern gaming goes, Age of Wonders: Planetfall succeeds in being a richly deep and complex space strategy hybrid that will no doubt appeal to long time turn-based strategy fans, and newcomers alike.

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.

When all is said and done, Smoots Summer Games is fun, for a brief period. But, with no real atmosphere, and no online play, it’s not really going to be keeping you coming back for very long.

Wolfenstein: Youngblood may not be quite what I expected in a new entry to the series, but damn, if it isn’t good. The ‘live service’ additions detract slightly from the experience, but that glorious combat more than makes up for it. Add in some wonderfully crafted play spaces to explore (if only there was a couple more) and you’ve got yourself a great way to spend a weekend. The main campaign will be over quick, but while it lasts, it’s great, wholesome, Nazi killing fun.

So to some up, The Blackout Club is a Fun, addictive 4 player co-op horror with a Stranger Things atmosphere and lots of paranormal paranoia. Fans of the genre will dive for this and its nice to see a brave new attempt at the horror game. With the new enhanced horror system being a plus I can see people are going to be very curious about this title.

Solo had the potential to be a fun 3D puzzle platforming game. It has a friendly artistic design and the music accompanies it very well by breaking the silence with its slow calm notes. But sadly, it comes packaged with a thought-provoking narrative around your ideas of love which can make you feel uncomfortable and could be detrimental to a relationship if played with your partner.

In a world where there are so many exciting indie titles being released seemingly every week, it’s tough to recommend Tetsumo Party. It feels like a mini-game at best, something made for a flash browser at worst. We’d recommend you let this wall pass straight by.

Might Switch Force Collection is a mixture of clever, old school mechanics, wrapped up in a modern package. Some of the games perhaps haven’t aged all that well, but if you’re after something to feed that nostalgia itch, you won’t be going far wrong with this.

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.

There’s not really much to complain about with Hoggy 2. While it’s hardly likely to set the world on fire, what’s here is a cute, simple, but challenging puzzle game that is a fun way to spend an evening. The overly bubblegummy visuals and music get a bit much after a while, and the kid mode could’ve done with being a tad bit longer, but overall if you’re in the market for something short and sweet, you can much worse than this.

Whilst its mechanical depth leaves a lot to be desired, and whilst it’s far from the most innovative of its kind, The Tower of Beatrice goes on to provide a neat escape room-like puzzler that doesn’t at all outstay its welcome. Those looking for an interesting take on the hidden object concept will pull the most from this, but even so, I would caution against setting expectations too high. It’s fun and unique, but somewhat let down in the long run.

Despite the fact that the game is quite unrefined and poorly paced, and overlooking the AI’s rubber band functionality, Meow Motors isn’t half bad. This is one kart racer that certainly caters for the younger audience, and even with its problems in mind, it just about manages to get more right than it gets wrong. It’s colorful, it’s cutesy, and it’s fun when it works as intended, but with more time in the proverbial oven, it could have been much better.

Redeemer: Enhanced Edition, although not quite as robust as its contemporaries, is one hell of a bloody good game. Everything from its progression, its pacing, and its core functionality, right through to its combat diversity and its play depth, remains constantly gratifying and energetic throughout. Despite some issues with its performance and its insipid level design, fans of the brawler concept will absolutely love what’s on offer here.

Whilst short and somewhat overly dramatic in regards to its writing, the game’s core loop is thoroughly well designed, putting forward engaging, clever mechanics that rarely grow tiresome. This is further upheld by solid visual and audio design, both of which collectively set the vibe of the game remarkably well. Puzzle fans looking to fill a quiet evening will no doubt enjoy what’s on offer, it’s just a shame it’s all over with far too soon.

Mochi Mochi Boy is a decent game for its budget cost, but as with most things cheap, you really do get what you pay for. Whilst it’s fun by concept, and perhaps even exciting when new mechanics are introduced, repetition ultimately sinks in, and fast. This is very unlikely to blow your socks of, but it’s a serviceable journey nonetheless, and one that doesn’t take itself all that seriously.

Decay’s biggest drawback is that it hasn’t aged very well at all, in fact, it’s aged terribly, and for as scary as it can be, it’s a tough one to recommend. If you’ve a soft spot for the series, the game’s comeback, with all of its additional extras, will no doubt please you. If you’re a newcomer, on the other hand, and you’re looking for a horror that’s engaging, deep, and diverse, there are far better options available in the storefront for around the same cost.

Aggelos is a love letter to fans of classic side-scrolling platformers. Despite a few glaring issues, the game achieves greatness through staying true to its formula, through not holding back on its difficulty, and through maintaining a pace that effortlessly keeps things interesting and unique. Whilst this may not be the best adventure of its kind, it’s certainly high up there, and in the midst of so many retro-inspired releases, that’s a feat in itself.

Despite its lack of depth and its somewhat wonky handling, Bouncy Bullets isn’t half bad. The game sports quite a bit of content and a nice degree of replay value, but falls slightly flat in regards to its fluctuating difficulty curve. Still, for those looking for a Lovely Planet-like game that offers up silly, vibrant, and senseless fun, you cant really go wrong here.

Duck Life: Battle is one of the most tedious games I’ve ever played. Whilst its general framework is plausible in regards to progression, everything else falls to pieces. The game’s combat is lackluster, its countless mini-games are far from fun, and even basic traversal feels like a slog. It’s a shame that there isn’t much more to the game than that, ultimately making for an experience that’s bland, drawn out, and wholly boring.

Sea of Solitude offers a surprisingly deep adventure that not only toys with perception, but inadvertently encourages you to look inside yourself. Whilst the gameplay would have benefited from a bit more depth, what’s present is well balanced, well varied, and well paced. Collectively, this makes for a massively involved journey that showcases its developer’s heart remarkably. Whilst slightly flawed, Sea of Solitude is unlike anything else.

Putting its slightly awkward handling and its tendency of dishing out cheap deaths to the side, Furwind goes on to get a lot more right than it gets wrong. The game sports quite a commendable amount of variation across its levels, its enemies, and its mechanics, and blends in a solid pace to keep things grounded, challenging, and fun. This may well not be the most sophisticated of platformers, but it does indeed provide a worthwhile adventure.

Deep, fun, and wholly entertaining, Stranger Things 3: The Game is a must-have treat that sits remarkably well with its exceptional source material. Despite some hit and miss puzzle work, everything from the combat and the progression framework, right the way through to the world design and its many hidden secrets, collectively put forward a well paced, well balanced adventure that rarely grows tiresome. If you love the show, you’ll love this.

Hot on the heels of Bloodstained, Paradox Soul comes across quite simple, especially for a metroidvania. The game lacks many of the qualities that its contemporaries house, and it’s perhaps a bit too straightforward for its own good. That being said, if you’re looking for a much less serious take on the loved concept, you’re unlikely to be disappointed. This, at the absolute best, is merely a serviceable adventure. Nothing less, and certainly nothing more.

F1 2019 follows in the footsteps of many of its predecessors, being that it takes everything that came before it and makes heaps of improvements across the board. Whilst still not as close to perfection as a game can get, it’s clear that the series is on the right track. It looks amazing, it plays well, and there’s a shed load of content to dive on. Whether you’re a newcomer or you’re jumping over from F1 2018, there’s much to marvel at and enjoy here.

Simple by concept, yet tough by design, Grass Cutter – Mutated Lawns is an ideal puzzler for those that enjoy reflex-based challenges that encourage logical thinking. There’s a great deal of variation across the board as far as progression and core content is concerned, and although things can get visually repetitive before long, and perhaps overly difficult, for everything it gets right, you’re certainly getting your money’s worth.

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.

Whilst Irony Curtain doesn’t stray too far from the expectations of its concept, it certainly excels as a fun, humorous, puzzle-filled adventure that balances its mechanics well. My only gripe with the game is that some solutions to the game’s many problems are perhaps a bit too outlandish for their own good, ultimately presenting moments of sporadic guesswork. Still, that one flaw does little to pull the game shy of well deserved greatness.

Through solid world design and intelligently structured detective mechanics, The Sinking City provides a commendable basis for its intriguing adventure. The game is every bit as seemingly interesting as it is unique, and makes for a strong story that knows how to toy with perception. It’s a damn shame that it sits in the midst of so many technical drawbacks, so many bugs, and so many poor design choices. This, is squandered potential at its finest.

Due to a range of technical issues and poor design choices, Monster Jam Steel Titans utterly fails to capture the excitement of its source material. Not only do the trucks handle like fat cars on an ice rink, but everything from the wonky physics, right through to the game’s numerous bugs, collectively pulls the entire experience short of even substandard quality. Furthermore, even if things worked well, the core content is too tedious and repetitive.

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.

Attack of the Toy Tanks would have been a great modern take on Atari’s Combat if it housed more depth, more variation, and a better core structure. Sadly, as it stands, and due to the somewhat lack of all three, it’s merely a serviceable action game that becomes far too repetitive, far too quickly. If you’ve a penchant for this sort of experience, I recommend giving it a go, but if you’re seeking something more weighted, look elsewhere.

Fun, diverse, and heavy on the replay value, Hero Express is a solid atypical driver that will keep fans of its Trials-like concept entertained for hours on end. Despite some issues with its upgrade system and the occasional flaw in its level design, this is the pinnacle of one-more-go gaming. When all is said and done, you’ll be hard-pressed finding anything quite as engaging as this, for the same massively generous price.

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is one of the best metroidvania games of the gen, sitting in a league shared only by an elite few. Everything from its deep story and its diverse combat systems, right through to its remarkable gameplay variation and mechanical depth, is quite simply outstanding. Despite the occasional bug, this is as close to perfect as a game of this type can get, and one that’s certainly been worth the lengthy wait; this, is a must have.

Whilst the lengthy and somewhat persistent loading times can irritate, Shadow Fencer Theatre provides a lot of fun for both solo players and fans of local multiplayer alike. The game’s hilariously awkward physics fit well with its distinct presentation, and thanks to its varied content, if indeed lacking overall, repetition is kept firmly at bay. This isn’t going to blow your socks off, but it certainly offers a trip to the theatre you’re unlikely to forget.

Car Mechanic Simulator may be a little rough around the edges as far as its optimization goes, but speaking specifically of its functionalities and its mechanics, it’s easily one of the most well rounded sims in recent memory. Furthermore, it doesn’t alienate the inexperienced, and instead, does a wonderful job at keeping its in-depth gameplay and its deep systems both accessible and easy to digest. I wholly recommend giving it a chance.

Samurai Shodown marks the return of a beloved classic, and although not quite as refined nor as deep as its modern contemporaries, the game proves that there’s still plenty of life in the franchise yet. Through staying faithful to the series’ roots, Samurai Shodown offers up a different kind of fighter, one that retains the strategic action and high levels of tension that put this saga on the radar to begin with. Whilst not great, it’s certainly bold and unique.

Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled is easily one of the best kart racers of the gen so far. It’s gorgeous, it’s deep, it’s sensationally remade, and it’s wholly entertaining across all aspects of play. The only real drawback sits with its constant loading screens. If, however, you’ve the patience to forgive such a niggling issue, the game sports plenty of exciting content, and heaps of multiplayer modes to keep you going for hours on end, and then some.

Double Cross is a great game that sports quite a lot of variation. Whilst the detective mechanics, although solid, are perhaps a bit too simple, everything that pertains to the platforming remains diverse and engaging throughout. The end result makes for an adventure that’s not only interesting, but thoroughly entertaining, and although the dialogue can be too invasive at times, the game goes on to get a lot more right than it gets wrong.

I’m a big fan of playing old games, remembering how things were, and appreciating where we’ve come from. Sometimes though, it’s best to leave things in the past, and Toki is a prime example of that. Whilst the updated visuals and audio work will please those that hold fond memories of this classic, everything else just fails to impress, and if anything, only demonstrates exactly why we’ve moved on from such tedious functionalities.

Doughlings: Invasion shows what a talented developer can achieve with the right mindset and tools. Not only does this game bring back a much loved classic, but like Doughlings: Arcade, it revitalizes the dated concept through the use of implementing fresh mechanics, heaps of variation, and a solid all-round pace. Sure, the audio is still very hit and miss, but in the midst of how fun the game is, this is easy to forgive.

Another Sight does a wonderful job at making you feel invested in not only its characters, but its world, its story, and its deeper meaning. Whilst fairly short, it makes great use of its time through a constant influx of diverse, intelligently developed puzzles. Overall, despite some minor issues with its platforming elements, the game offers an adventure that’s every bit as engaging as it is intriguing, and one that’s unlike anything else readily available.

I’ll commend the game for being faithful to the era that it attempts to adopt, but outside of a few decent boss encounters and some serviceable visual and audio design, Cybarian gets a lot more wrong than it gets right. The combat is far too bland, the game is littered with cheap deaths, and above all else, it’s chock-full of irritating design choices that make for an overly frustrating, somewhat boring trek. Less is not always more, as evident here.

Despite the absence of needed features, despite its lack of replay value, and despite the fact that it’s not all that difficult, there’s still quite a bit of fun to be had in Riverbond. Not only is the game accessible, charming, and unique, but it sports a fair bit of diversity as far as its gameplay is concerned, and manages to spread it well across its handful of varied, gorgeously designed worlds. It’s just a shame it falls short of the mark elsewhere.

Rarely do we see an episodic game getting better as new episodes are introduced, but that’s exactly the case with Bertram Fiddle’s second episode: A Bleaker Predicklement. Whilst short and somewhat buggy, the episode’s enhanced puzzle work and its interesting new mechanics not only make for a worthwhile return, but collectively shows a great deal of promise for the series’ future. Don’t pass this by, things are just getting warmed up.

Captain Cat is a passable game at best. Whilst it’s accessible and does a good job at introducing new level mechanics at a decent rate, the game somewhat neglects its puzzle framework and tends to recycle its ideas far too frequently. Still, for its cheap cost, you’re getting plenty of content in return, it’s just a shame said content isn’t quite as gripping as it could have been, ultimately paving the way for repetition.

Much like any other game from Artifex Mundi, Queen’s Quest III: The End of Dawn will serve you well if you’re seeking a decent point-and-click adventure that’s chock-full of interesting, diverse puzzles. The entire experience is predictably pulled shy of greatness due its hit and miss story, its poor animations, and its shoddy voice work, but, in grand scheme of things, the game does manage to maintain player engagement through variety and innovation.

Neither interesting, nor dull. Neither exciting, nor boring. 2URVIVE is simply mediocre. The game’s campaign is its weakest link, offering very little depth and play variety throughout. The mercenaries mode, on the other hand, is better structured, better refined, and a lot more engaging. Still, even when it’s playing at its best, the whole ordeal comes off as relatively average in regards to its overall quality and functionality.

Technically speaking, the game handles well and performs well, but due to some baffling design choices and an inconsistent difficulty curve, Verlet Swing is a lot more frustrating and a lot more restricting than it needed to be. That being said, if you’ve the patience and perseverance to overlook said drawbacks, you’ll find quite a bit of fun to be had here. Just, be sure to check the warranty on your controller first.

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.

I have fond memories of a few ice hockey games from the 16-bit era, and Super Blood Hockey certainly evokes that in its presentation and general gameplay. Despite some UI niggles in the franchise mode that can make managing your team a bit of a slog, there’s a lot of silly, violent fun here that had me laughing and coming back for more. Couch multiplayer will likely see the violence spilling off screen, but what’s a little slap between friends?

Whilst not quite as deep, varied, or refined as its widely acclaimed contemporaries, Warhammer: Chaosbane still manages to serve up a solid ARPG that packs quite a punch. The game plays well, looks good, and sports heaps of replay value across the board. Despite the odd issue with its combat diversity and its poor voice work, fans of both the genre and the source material will no doubt thoroughly enjoy what’s on offer.

Whilst not quite on the same level as top-tier metroidvanias, fans of the concept will love Timespinner for all that it gets right. The game’s story remains interesting throughout, with gameplay that’s well paced, exciting, and consistently engaging, not to mention fairly open and deep. It’s a shame that its time manipulating mechanic isn’t put to better use, but that gripe, alongside a few niggling issues, does little to pull this adventure shy of being worthwhile.

Deep, vast, and hilarious, Party Golf is one of the finest party games available on the Xbox One. The only real issue is that the game’s procedurally generated courses can prove to be a hindrance as far as spawning in concerned, but this only occurs infrequently. The bottom line is that if you’re looking for something that’s heavily customizable, constantly outlandish, and totally unique, Party Golf will serve you and all of your buddies well. Don’t miss out.

Neon Junctions is a bad game for a range of different reasons. Not only are the solutions to its puzzles insultingly straightforward throughout the entirety of play, but its sheer lack of depth, together with its habit of constantly recycling the same ideas, ultimately makes for a very boring, tedious affair. If you’re in the market for new puzzle platformer, look elsewhere, because Neon Junctions falls flat on both fronts, and more besides.

For a puzzle-specific game, Hexologic isn’t half bad. The game’s short length and its lack of any real challenge will no doubt deter player favor, though, in the face of its decent pace, its accessibility, and its constant introduction of new mechanics, these flaws are somewhat bearable. It’s a game that’s easy to recommend for what it gets right, but I would caution against picking this up if you’re simply looking to be tested.

Hollow is such an ironically befitting title. This game is empty, dull, and devoid of any quality on any level. Further to that, the game is chock-full of bugs, lazy design choices, and technical drawbacks. Whilst not broken to the point of being unplayable, it’s certainly broken to the point of being a lot more frustrating than it’s worth. It’s truly a hot mess. If you’re looking for a solid space horror, stick to Dead Space or Alien Isolation.

Despite some spawning issues and the occasional technical hiccup, Hellmut: The Badass from Hell is a damn fine bullet-storm dungeon crawler. The game’s consistently fast pace, together with its non-stop action and its diverse content variety, collectively ensure that adrenaline is kept high, whilst repetition is kept at bay. Granted, this may not be the deepest game of its kind, functionally speaking, but it’s certainly one of the funnest.

Neverout isn’t all that challenging, which, for a puzzle game, doesn’t fare too well. Further to that, the game recycles its few tricks too often and rarely offers much clarity. That being said, the crux of its concept is certainly interesting enough to maintain traction, and its surprisingly low cost makes its drawbacks somewhat easier to bear overall. Bottom line? Neverout is a passable puzzler at best. Nothing more, and nothing less.

Void Bastards is a serviceable first-person shooter, at best. Whilst intriguing, initially exciting, and quite deep as far as its crafting goes, the game’s lack of play depth and environmental variation makes for a very repetitive trek overall. On top of that, its unrefined combat and its lackluster AI proves to be a further hindrance throughout. Still, there’s certainly some fun to had in this loot-fueled space romp, it’s just very fleeting.

Sumo have made some stellar efforts in the past, but Team Sonic Racing is, needless to say, their best effort by far. What’s here is a love letter to all things Sonic, not just in character variation, but stage design, audio presentation, and much more besides. Despite some online teething issues, some questionable AI behavior, and the odd poor design choice, you’ll not find a better kart racer this side of a Nintendo system.

Layers of Fear 2 is fairly hit and miss for a sequel. Whilst it manages to hold its own, it doesn’t quite meet the quality nor the ambition found in its predecessor. The gameplay may be considered to be too easy for its own good, and certain elements do feel somewhat rushed. Though, that being said, one has to commend its level of polish and its psychological approach, ultimately putting forward an experience that’s both unique, and provocative.

Warlock’s Tower isn’t half bad for a retro-fueled puzzler. The game paces itself rather well through the steady introduction of new mechanics, and although it somewhat struggles to remain interesting in the long-run, one has to commend its solid difficulty curve. You’re unlikely to be blown away by what’s on offer here, but you’ll certainly be getting your money’s worth, especially if you’re a fan of the genre.

Bring to Light is about as scary as a bush baby, about as deep as a puddle, and about as interesting as watching paint dry. Whilst it is indeed very accessible in comparison to most horror games as of late, its complete lack of difficulty, together with the absence of innovation, only tends to further emphasize how boring the whole ordeal is. If you’re looking for your next horror fix, you’re most assuredly not going to find it here.

Considering its low cost, Skelly Selest offers quite a bulky serving that will no doubt entice fans of slash and dash score attacks, and whilst far from deep, and despite some glaring issues, it’s certainly somewhat entertaining across most aspects of play. That being said, it doesn’t take too long before repetition sinks in, making this more ideal to play when you’ve an hour to spare, or, when you’re waiting for something better to install.

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.

Whilst I take issue with the game’s pacing and its hit and miss AI, there’s little else to scoff at here. American Fugitive is a love letter to fans of classic Grand Theft Auto. The game’s stunning world is full of varied activities and events, with no shortage of choice to take to throughout each and every aspect within. This is all held together by remarkably fluid gameplay, putting forward a sandbox that’s deep, robust, and constantly action-packed.

Steels Rats is the definition of a ‘meh’ game. It has some nice ideas and elements, but nothing is really pulled off particularly well. Combat is fine, if repetitive, but the awkward camera view, the unreliable collision detection, and the general lack of any real character, collectively brings the whole thing down.

Back in 1995, survival horror games were much deeper, better refined, and a lot more engaging than this. Furthermore, they were vastly interesting and, more importantly, scary. Back in 1995 is the polar opposite. The game falls flat on all fronts, from its underdeveloped mechanics, right through to its awful overall presentation. It’s the worst throwback I’ve ever played, worse than even Outbreak: The New Nightmare, and that’s saying something.

Constantly tense and surprisingly varied, Darkwood offers a new take on the tired genre, one that never relies on needless scares and cheap tactics to set its captivating, grim atmosphere. Here, you’re simply thrown to the unknown and left to fend for yourselves by any means necessary, with no hand-holding whatsoever, and no easy way out. Despite a few issues, Darkwood offers everything a great survival horror should, and more besides.

Rage 2’s main drawbacks sit with its uninteresting story and its awkward, convoluted structure of progression. If you’ve both the forgiveness and the patience to overlook all of that, a shooter that deals in explosive action and sheer depth awaits. Rage 2 is all about having a mindless blast, and between its vastly varied combat, its interesting world, and its diverse gameplay, it certainly delivers on that front, and then some.

Undead Horde is a surprisingly deep hack ‘n’ slash RPG that not only succeeds at being interestingly unique, but excels as far as strategic variation is concerned. The amount of content on offer, despite its tendency of becoming slightly repetitive from time to time, is quite simply commendable. Bottom Line? Whilst far from Diablo’s standards, this adventure is bound to keep you hooked and entertained for hours on end.

Despite that these games have aged about as well as leather in a desert, and overlooking a few omissions, Konami’s Castlevania Anniversary Collection is well worth the investment if you’re a fan of the series, or, are curious about the franchise’s roots. Throw in the fact that this compilation will soon see the addition of the Japanese versions for each title included, picking this up truly is a no brainer.

For the King is undoubtedly one of the most distinct, intriguing, and fun RPG roguelikes in recent memory, and what’s more, the content value is through the roof. Despite the odd technical hiccup, the game succeeds in blending so many mechanics together without making a mess, and yet respectably manages to remain accessible and exciting throughout. If you’ve even a smidgen of interest in this game, you owe it to yourself to pick this up.

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.