What we have here is a game that manages to capture its theme beautifully but then crashes under the weight of its own monotonous gameplay.

Defenders of Ekron is passable at best. I wont deny that the game shines at its brightest and is at its most exciting when there’s a lot of action on screen, but the moments that lead to that, despite some interesting ideas, often struggle to maintain grip. There’s also a few technical issues and poor design choices to contend with, on top of the game’s play-it-safe story. Fun indeed, but hardly compelling.

Aqua Moto Racing Utopia suffers from poor optimization, dated visuals, bland audio and a lack of decent stunts. Though, it has to be said that at its generous price, there’s a plethora of content to take to across several varying modes. It’s far from perfect, that much goes without saying, but if you’re looking for something akin to Wave Race 64, this will just about do the trick, warts and all.

While I might not have been able to relate to the stories personally, I still got some enjoyment out of A Year of Springs. Between the pleasant visuals and tales I would recommend players check this out as one of the better visual novels on Xbox.

Under Leaves appealed to me in both the concept and to my childhood memories. This is not as gimmicky as other hidden object games and it’s far more functional than the Where’s Wally games on previous consoles. It is a relaxing game to play through, but it is very short and lacks that something extra which could have made the game more interesting and given it some replay value.

Hot on the heels of Operencia: The Stolen Sun, Vaporum feels quite out of place, and frankly, behind the times. Whilst the game sports an intriguing framework and houses some commendable RPG elements, the whole ordeal is greatly let down by its poor handling, its ridiculous difficulty curve, and its weakly paced story. It’s not a terrible game by any means, but alongside its vastly superior contemporaries, it’s a hard one to comfortably recommend.

Kaichu is light and silly but for dating sim enthusiasts it might be missing the depths of the genre. For those looking for short bit of fun it is worth engaging with.

Torii is an interesting little game with some good visuals and solid puzzles. The stealth elements don’t need to be here, and it will entirely depend on your frame of mind as to whether the story hits.

Whilst Metagal doesn’t stand nearly as tall as the likes of Mega Man, there’s still quite a bit of fun to be found here. The gameplay is fluid and responsive, with just the right level of challenge in place to keep you on your toes throughout. That being said, the game’s short length and its habit of frequently handing out cheap deaths are its greatest drawbacks, which is a shame, because Metagal’s otherwise sturdy framework clearly deserved better.

The Bridge Curse: Road to Salvation isn’t without some charm though, the retelling of this story goes some dark and strange places, and the acting is enjoyably cheesy for the most part. There are moments where it threatens to ramp things up in the gameplay department, but it’s not long before we’re into another boring chase sequence to slowly try and figure out. It’s short enough to power through if you really want to experience the story, but there are far better titles in the genre out there to play.

Those with patience and a mind for spatial puzzles will no doubt relish the challenge on offer here. Whilst difficulty spikes can frustrate to the point of quitting entirely, this is one of those games that gets that under your skin, you cant help but return. That being said, this is likely only going to appeal to a specific crowd, and if that’s you, you might want to bring your own tunes. The audio here is truly annoying.

Fans of simpler puzzle/platformers would do well to check out Night Lights. It may lack a bit in the audio department, and some sections feel overly long thanks to padding back tracking, but overall I had a good time with the game and would definitely recommend others check it out.

The Adventures of 00 Dilly is a fun and light hearted game with an abundance of items to collect and a 15 second soundtrack which repeats infinitely and must be muted to avoid insanity. It isn’t a terrible game and definitely has the potential to evolve into something unique, but currently it is missing a few very important features which make a massive difference to the satisfaction and enjoyment of the player.

Those of you who already have an interest in Space faring expeditions will likely get the most out of Mars Horizon, as otherwise the fairly bland gameplay and presentation may well put you off digging into the experience. There’s a good amount of educational merit to it though, so hopefully it’ll inspire more people to learn! But if I’m completely honest, the most fun I had from Mars Horizon came from the controller vibrating in my lap during rocket launches. And yes, Bigger is Better. Lol.

Vesta tends to remain enjoyable throughout the entirety of play, offering up some colorful visuals and decent puzzle design. However, this is hardly a groundbreaking experience, seeing as many aspects of play have already been better achieved elsewhere, time and time again.

Truberbrook effortlessly stands out on the merits of its uniquely gorgeous presentation, its stellar voice work, and its overall decent writing. Unfortunately, the whole ordeal religiously falters as far as its core functionality and its puzzle design is concerned. The end result makes for an adventure that seemingly looks like nothing else, but largely plays like a poor imitation of any given point-and-click game worth its salt.

RICO’s a very hit and miss affair overall. There’s no denying that it wears its procedurally-generated content quite well, offering some exciting and constantly unpredictable gunplay as a result. Unfortunately, it’s hard to overlook its gameplay repetition, and there’s some irritating design choices and a bunch of technical issues to contend with throughout. I’ve no doubt that it will find its following, but I cant wholly recommend it as it is.

Overall if quick and easy are search terms you’d use to find your next gaming adventure, then Bone Marrow is going to be one you’ll want puffing its chest amongst your collection. If you’re after a meaningful experience that you can invest any serious time and effort into, or gain any real enjoyment from, then there are certainly many better options out there.

Despite its short length, 39 Days to Mars is a game that certainly knows how to boggle the mind through its cleverly structured co-op puzzles. Unfortunately, these intelligently designed moments are frequently broken up by needless, senseless, and boring filler. This ultimately makes for a very hit and miss experience, one that will likely only be appreciated by puzzle enthusiasts.

The Great Perhaps tries to marry some puzzle adventuring in with a weighty story, but in the end all this does is drag it down. The gameplay mechanics are interesting and provide a good time, but the stilted delivery and un-engaging tale are unlikely to drag you though.

SYNDUALITY has plenty of solid ideas, they just aren’t particularly original, and they are asking full price for a bunch of content that is weighted down by the kind of exploitation you see in Free-to-Play.

Little Bug starts of well enough, but some awkward controls and frankly annoying difficulty spikes towards to end mean it’s only a mild recommendation for those who enjoy checking out smaller indie titles. Those looking for a decent platformer to play already have a plethora of better options to choose from.

All in all, I fell that Omen of Sorrow is too much of a niche game in an already fairly niche genre. Very few fighters get enough traction to make it big, and unless you have a handful of equally dedicated mates to play with you’re probably better off elsewhere.

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.

Knightin’+ is a fun dungeon scrolling adventure with some interesting challenging puzzle elements – and some infuriating warp puzzles. The game does look and feel like a retro dungeon crawler but the attack controls let the game down somewhat,and it is far too short. For those who would like a quick, fun dungeon crawler you can complete in an hour or so to bag some achievements, this might be a game to pick up, but if you’re after something more substantial then you’re better off looking elsewhere.

Teratopia is a mostly competent 3D action platformer. The combat is simple, the minion system is pretty cool, the enemies are varied (especially the bosses) but the platforming blows. Story and visual-wise there isn’t anything to wow you and I’m not sure who this is best aimed at. Monsters are more of a young kid thing but the flawed platforming and controls seem to target someone a bit more skilled. Even the humour is a bit above kids as one of the bosses flashes certain parts of their monstrous body which is covered up by a black censor bar. Regardless there is still some fun to be had here for fans of this genre if they can overlook the jumping issues.

Thunderflash is a good blast from the past and does make you feel like you are playing a game from that era. It is fun to play through in its randomness, but it is quite short and I’m sure once you complete the game and have got all of the achievements you are unlikely to revisit it. The extra modes do offer some replayability but challenging for the high score just doesn’t mean what it used to. It’s a fun, quickplay game for fans of the old-style games and achievement hunters.

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.

Bunny Factory delivers 100 different versions of the same type of puzzle. Between each one is a monotonous task of take ‘this unit to this spot and come back’ before you can begin another puzzle. The game does feature online co-op so you could chill with some friends but overall it’s a pass from me unless you are a puzzle enthusiast.

Leap is the very definition of a mid-tier game, not bad, not great – a few iterations from finding itself and its audience.

Lazy Galaxy: Rebel Story fails to truly build upon any of its interesting ideas. There’s fun to be had, but these moments of excitement are oftentimes short lived due to the game’s play-it-safe formula. I don’t doubt that this will please die-hard fans of the shmups, but if you’re looking for the genre’s next big thing, this isn’t it. Lazy Galaxy is, at best, just another substandard bullet-hell adventure.

This is an arcade-perfect port that is fast, flashy and furious. Sadly, this also has no extra frills and struggles to justify an afternoon of play.

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.

Himno is a simple game designed to be played at any pace suited to the individual’s preferences or needs. Featuring relaxing sound effects, music and endless areas to explore, it certainly provides a tranquil experience but it isn’t particularly exciting so it won’t appeal to everyone. With no pressure to avoid enemies or harmful obstacles, Himno provides a calming escape from the stresses of everyday life and a relaxing time-free approach to gaming.

I hope you expected some running and gunning with a game called Guns N’ Runs because that is exactly what you get. Make no mistake though the challenge this game will bring you. Ultimately it was not the challenge that did it in for me but the blandness. While definitely retro inspired it was not an exciting experience that I would recommend to anyone other than those who love grinding out difficult games such as this.

Treadnauts is a fairly passable couch party-like game that houses some interesting ideas and design choices, but is fundamentally flawed as far as varied gameplay content is concerned. This is the definition of fun in short doses, though, tiresome and boring in the long-run. There’s enjoyment to be had through the use of the game’s various modifiers and maps, but that’s pretty much as compelling as it gets.

Orangeblood certainly has the style to draw players in but it sadly lacks the engagement of gameplay to keep us there. Fans of JRPG’s might be more willing to put up with it’s nonsense, but even then I suspect many will expect better these days. Mid level saving would have gone a long way to improving the experience, but confusing menus, boring and random-luck based combat and a story that fell straight out of a teenagers sketchbook all add up to an underwhelming finished product.

Whilst the depth and diversity of its content will be bolstered through post-launch community contribution, Animal Super Squad, at its core, feels far too bare for its own good. There’s nothing particularly wrong with its physics-based gameplay, and there’s certainly some fun to be had throughout. However, the big drawback here is that it’s just not exciting enough nor interesting enough to maintain traction in the long run.

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.

Arcade Islands: Volume One is a bundle of over thirty borrowed ideas, spread across a range of themed islands that encompasses them. While some of these games do indeed relay a good degree of fun, several of them either handle poorly, serve as filler or prove to be more frustrating than they’re worth. There’s certainly some value and depth to this collection, but it’s a far cry from both quality and innovation.

If you were looking for the next big open-world racing game juggernaut, you’ll be sorely disappointed by Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown. The dinginess of its Hong Kong setting leaves a lot to be desired, the racing events are uninspired even though the showrooms and the close-knit racing can be satisfying. Much of Solar Crown feels like a throwback to racing games at the start of the eighth generation, rather than a current force on current-gen hardware. Thus, Solar Crown doesn’t do much that’s wrong or egregious, it’s just uninspired and dull for the most part, and lacking in charisma or a sense of excitement. Such a blow for Test Drive Unlimited‘s return, but Solar Crown races with the reliability of a Porsche with a punctured set of wheels.

Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn is a bland and repetitive brawler that tries too hard in the comedy department. Some good ideas are scattered throughout and the art is great, but it’s too little to really prop up the game. Short enough to get through in a couple of hours, however, the lack of co-op and the dull structure leaves a lot to be desired. Big Deez set out to rewrite history, but some things are best left alone.

Disjointed is the lingering feeling once all is set and done with Atomic Heart. The articulate opening and the immense effort made to craft an absorbing alternate-history World War II Russia is certainly appreciable and admirable. Dishearteningly though, the FPS experience is weighed down by an awful lot of busywork and obnoxiously annoying characters that it’s hard to feel wholly immersed. As an FPS it certainly has some aplomb going for it, but it gets lost in the shades of comparison with greater games. If Atomic Heart was able to carry the brilliance of its opening twenty minutes it would be an excellent game, but sadly we’re stuck with an entertaining enough but bland and by the numbers shooter.

At only a fiver Frightence is worth a look for those who fancy a short thrill ride, but the abrupt ending and slow pace of the game serve to undermine the decent world building and spooks Playstige did manage to squeeze in here.

BATS: Bloodsucker Anti-Terror Squad reminded me a little of Katana Zero, another fast-paced 2D action platformer, taking place inside various buildings where you have to quickly dispatch the enemies with melee attacks. You also have a less effective dodge move, and there’s no time-slowing experimental drug to be found anywhere. Instead of being a sharpened, polished katana, this is more like a rusty spork. Despite a lot of frustrating aspects, I had an alright time playing through it the first time – mostly due to the eye-catching pixel art and funny premise; however, I would probably feel differently if I had paid for this out of my own pocket. I think there are much better ways to spend $10, but if you’re truly interested in this I’d say wait for it to go on sale.

Time on Frog Island has some charm due to its appealing art style and frog NPCs, but Frog Island is not a locale that you want to book a trip to, let alone get shipwrecked at. Most of my time was spent wondering what the characters wanted me to do, and wandering around fetching items for them. There are some interesting mechanics in the game, but none of them are used anywhere close to their fullest extent in the game’s design. Unfortunately, I can’t get any of the time back that I spent on the game, but at least I can warn you to steer clear of this lackluster experience.

The story had me pretty hooked throughout even if it was a bit confusing at times, and the seeds of a decent idea in the time limited puzzle exploration scenes are there. But every time I started to find my rhythm with Of Bird and Cage I’d get tripped up by a scene, be it bugs or simply poor design choices, and end up feeling off tempo entirely.

Area 86 has some neat ideas and puzzle layouts, and its escape room premise is a good one. The awkward camera placement and sometimes finicky nature of the physics though mean that what should be a simple solution can end up frustratingly failing through no fault of our own. It’s worth a look, but don’t expect it to last you more than an evening’s play.

VED has a strong combat system, but its story doesn’t hold the rest of the components together, which is a fundamental flaw for a game so focussed on it.

Midnight Deluxe’s reliance on its singular mechanic only makes for a repetitive experience overall. The game is too laid back for its own good, so much so that what little creativity it offers is often lost in the midst of its simplicity. That said, there’s certainly some fleeting fun to be had here and I do credit the game for its decent visual and audio design. All in all, Midnight Deluxe is passable, at best.

Bleed 2 is an average bullet hell game that will be better appreciated by streamers and speedrunners. Those looking for a padded, in-depth, side-scrolling shooter, will be left in the cold. Despite some interesting gameplay design throughout the varying levels, Bleed 2 just doesn’t stand out. It’s worth the price of admission for its content alone, I’ll give it that, but it’s far from revolutionary and lacks originality.

Way of the Passive Fist is fun to begin with, and indeed offers a unique twist to the typical brawler formula. That being said it rapidly becomes repetitive, and the lack of content outside of the campaign leaves much to be desired. It’s a one-and-done sort of experience, one that doesn’t particularly go to great lengths to intrigue or innovate.

Ganbare! Super Strikers is a fun arcade-style tactical football RPG game. For those familiar, it is akin to playing a light version of Inazuma Eleven, but with little to no storyline. It is quite fun to play but it is incredibly short, though the option is there for you play this locally with a friend. This could be great for those that like tactical strategy RPGs, especially if you’re a football fan, and is very simple to pick up and play.

Overall, S.W.A.N.: Chernobyl Unexplored is a game that starts out really strong, but suddenly fades as if there is a lack of identity that’s taken over. Jump scares are relied upon too heavily throughout the game and whilst the puzzles aren’t bad at all, the enemies are appalling given the only real threat they pose is the radiation they give off which can be easily avoided. The idea of a dark scientific research project hidden within the radiation-contaminated depths of Chernobyl is certainly a money-making idea, but it has to be done right and sadly, this isn’t a game that ticks those boxes.

Think of the Children’s main drawback is that it utterly lacks any form of balance as far as its difficulty is concerned. The problem this creates is that when playing solo, you’re required to fulfill seemingly impossible objectives through large quantities of frustrating multitasking. The game does indeed shine much brighter with other players helping out, but not quite enough to justify an easy recommendation.

The Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human is as basic as they come. The theme and setting may well be intriguing in concept, but much less so in delivery. Nearly every gameplay element within has been tried and tested to a better degree elsewhere. It’s not a bad game by any means, but it doesn’t do much to separate itself from the crowd.

Beat Souls is an interesting take on the musical rhythm game genre. They have managed to inject platform game elements into it which work pretty well and are tricky to master. The bright colours and animation are very vibrant and immersive but I feel it was let down by the audio as the sound effects don’t blend with the music and the music itself is pretty bland.

It’s not going to change the gaming world, but 0 Degrees is a fun enough puzzle platformer that is worth the entry price, but not much more. It’s over a little too quickly but what’s there is worth checking out if you’ve an hour, and a fiver, to spare.

Cyanide & Happiness – Freakpocalypse is a game that relies on its humor to finish out strong. Episode 1’s story falls short with nothing exciting to latch onto. Fans of Cyanide and Happiness will most likely appreciate the title for what it’s for but the same can not be guaranteed for newcomers.

I can see Hunting Simulator 2 working for some people, but it doesn’t work for me. It is clunky, slow and glitchy, and whilst there’s a base loop that could be intriguing, the lack of any real depth past the first few hours left me feeling disappointed.

Sadly, whilst Dolmen is a game that may have been well suited 10 or 15 years ago, with a ton of souls-likes already out there such as The Surge, Hellpoint, Mortal Shell, Nioh, and so on, there is a lot to achieve if you want to make it as a memorable experience in the action RPG genre, and Dolmen doesn’t stand up there with the cream of the crop already available.

Gods Remastered is a mixed bag of pros and cons. Whilst the game’s structure and its pace has maintained its quality quite well over the last two and a half decades, the game’s combat and its handling remains far removed from acceptable standards. Still, one has to appreciate the work that’s gone into the remastered aspects here. It’s just a shame that much of the game’s charm is weighed down by its dated functionality.

Car Demolition Clicker is a pick up and put down game, a game you play if you’re distracted and want to kill some time. That doesn’t necessarily make it a bad game though. I was relieved when I discovered that I didn’t have to click my way through 20 gruesome hours. Upgrading my arsenal made me play a little bit more each time with the mindset of wanting to get stronger. Adding factions help the player grind the resets out pretty quickly considering you only need to destroy fifty cars with a faction (plus ten per additional reset), but you do have to go through the levels again. I personally still have some achievements left in the game to unlock, but do plan on doing so since it’s a relaxing game to pick up in an awkward amount of free time, and is okay to leave running with no consequences.

One Dog Story might not have the punch of a modern game but it’s style and arcade mannerisms make for a fun and entertaining experience. Literally, you can see the characters expressions and when it comes to pixels that can be a hard task indeed. Well done team.

One More Dungeon is a basic game that doesn’t even try to evolve its quite frankly dated concept. There are far better roguelike dungeon crawlers available on the market for a similar price, removing much of the appeal that this game clearly doesn’t have to spare. Despite that, if you enjoy simplicity and can forgive the game of its issues and shortcomings, there’s some fleeting fun to be had here.

Golf Zero manages to be an entertaining spin on golfing, adding in extra platforming elements while removing every other aspect if videogame golf to worry about. It offers a good little challenge, especially adding in the extra objectives, though they are only really there for completionists. Aside from the horrendous audio, I had some fun with Golf Zero, and – cheevo hunter or not – it’s worth a look in my book.

The problem with Gnomes Garden is that, much like the recently released Gnomes Garden 3, its core gameplay loop just doesn’t evolve enough to maintain its initial excitement. There’s certainly enough content for its cheap cost, but even so, it’s content that doesn’t quite meet the standards that games of this type have been setting for years. Fun in small doses, but ultimately repetitive in the long run.

Donuts‘n’Justice is a retro game with a decent retro look and feel. Local co-op is a nice touch. There’s limited replay value due to only a few stages in the game. I think it is good for achievement hunters as you will be able to knock this title out in less than an hour but it’s one you will probably play and forget quickly.

I really enjoyed playing through the challenging puzzles that continued to evolve with difficulty as I progressed through each area. If it weren’t for the hints however, I probably would have been discouraged to push through. Fortunately, Ratalaika has another easy game out there now for achievement and puzzle lovers. Reflection of Mine was quite average, but fun for being a puzzle game.

Hard West is a tough one to recommend; the tactical battles are pretty decent, if perhaps a little lighter in options than some examples of the genre, but it’s also quite po-faced and sterile in its delivery. The in-between map sections are a nice idea though also suffer from the same flaws, as well as not feeling all that engaging or interesting. I liked the supernatural twists across the scenarios though, offering up a little something extra to just cowboys shooting at each other.

Despite these complaints, I have tremendously enjoyed my first 40 hours and feel a sense of accomplishment when I finally get my wash station running and walk away with a pocket full of gold. This game demands your patience and attention, so it will not be for everybody, but for a select few, this game will provide hours of entertainment.

Distraint is a short game, but well worth the time invested. The story kept me interested, and while the mechanics are simple, they work well enough.

Driven Out is a very challenging game and offers good enemy variety and will test your reflexes. But with no backstory or any kind of storyline, it is hard to bond with your protagonist. There is some fun to be had in the sense of achievement by progressing in such a tough game, where it can take you an hour or more to progress past the same 3 or 4 enemies. But constantly dying against the same foe grows old very fast.

Despite deciding not to review anymore visual novels after the poor Strawberry Vinegar, I’m glad I changed my mind for Vera Blanc: Full Moon. It has a great comicbook visual style (even for a decade old mobile phone port) and the extra interaction from the mini-games helps stave off the feeling of just reading a book, letting us actually play something here and there.

InnerSpace is both relaxing and endearing, but fails to truly captivate due to the lack of meaningful progression and pace. It’s a game that encourages players to take a journey into the unknown, yet doesn’t quite relay what the player is journeying towards once there. It’s certainly pleasing at first, but it wears thin far sooner than it should.

Tanuki Sunset started off as a free-to-play game, and like any good games “journalist” I tried it out before writing this review; while there are some major improvements in the expanded, for-purchase version, I can’t help but think that it should have just stayed as a free to play game. Transforming an endless runner-style game into one with semi-procedurally generated levels does not work in this case. The aesthetic might be off the charts and just your style, but the gameplay is a real bummer, not even a cute and furry main character could stop me from wanting to bail at the first chance I got.

With an old school arcade mentality Pity Pit manages to be good fun in short bursts, but those looking for a more substantial experience might be left wanting here. Achievement hunters will lap it up, but it’s probably not something they’ll come back too once that final one pops.

Night Call for me is a really tough game to play through as I prefer more – or even some – action. It should appeal to those who like gritty novels and like to play as a detective. For those who can read between the lines and use clues to solve mysteries, it may be better suited. The game plays more as just reading the book with the occasional dash of strategy. But it does have some interesting stories and themes and should appeal to the right audience.

Explosionade DX is everything you would expect from a 2D platform shooter. The only thing stopping it from becoming too vanilla is the shield floating feature, though you can play most of the game without needing the shield outside of high jumps. Once the buttons were remapped the game was fun to play but the short levels made the game feel too stop-start for me. Fans of this genre and achievement hunters may still get some joy out of this.

I expected so much from the story with it being a Warhammer game. Usually, you are drowning in lore and story but with 40,000: Space Wolf, you barely get your feet wet. Every menu in the game feels so slow and sticky. I know it originated from a mobile game but the menu and story needed way more work for a console version. The gameplay is actually alright, the card mechanic mixed with X-COM style combat is quite interesting. But with dumb NPC’s, respawning enemies and losing a turn just to turn your guy around there are just a few too many bad decisions for me.

OK K.O.! Let’s Play Heroes is a prime example of licence cash grabbing. It’s not a bad game, but it’s clearly an experience that focuses on fans of the show, inadvertently alienating fans of the game’s genre. There’s no depth and innovation within, leaving players with nothing more than a bog-standard brawler that does very little to excite or excel.

CrossKrush is a fun puzzle game which gets your brain working and is good to play for a couple of hours, with or without a friend. It has cute graphics and catchy music. With it being a quick completion I can imagine a lot of trophy/achievement hunters will love this game. Though, with no incentive for extensive play this game would benefit greatly with some much needed additions and online play. I had great fun with this game with a full completion and really hope you do too.

The gameplay is fun for a short amount of time, which it only lasts for sadly. Yet, the music and cute artsy visuals make up for the lacklustre future the game holds and is fun while playing it. You do get your value out of what you pay for the game unlike other games out on the marketplace and is not overpriced by any means.

Flat Kingdom Paper’s Cut Edition has made it’s way onto Xbox and while it’s not bad, it’s not great. Mediocre platforming mixed with simple yet convoluted mechanics that took my brain longer than it should to catch on made this for a very “meh” experience. At least it’s easy gamerscore though!

Yet Another Zombie Defense HD is a bog-standard game that doesn’t particularly do much to stand out. Sure, there’s support for both local and online play across three game modes in total, but its lack of innovation and depth does little to elevate the experience above its peers. In fairness, the game is fun in short bursts and comes with a decent gameplay foundation. Just don’t expect to be blown away.

Tracks is simple pick up and play game and if you have kids who love trains this is something they may enjoy. I still prefer playing with the real thing with my son but if you want to get your creative juices flowing and love trains this is a no-brainer for you.

All in all Balan Wonderworld is uninspiring and boring to play. A lack of instruction mixed with some of the most basic platforming abilities missing at times makes the game a chore.

While it had some decent moments once we’d gotten into the flow of things, overall we found our time with Remorse: The List to be underwhelming to say the least. An over reliance on cheap jump scares and underpowered protagonist, this is only for those who have exhausted better horror options.

In my opinion, it’s a real shame that Messy Up falls short, as there are the makings of a good game here. It just needs a little more care to optimize the menus for consoles and to fix some gameplay mechanics. I just can’t recommend this game when there are other games that do it much better.

Lifeless Moon has its moments, but lacks any real excitement or interest that would have me recommending it to others.

Technical issues aside from the moment this game has potential. I love the fact that the Turtles have been given a bit more complexity in this game, but the mark is just a bit off. I honestly would have called this an okay game but had to knock it down with all of the hoops I had to jump through to finish the game. This won’t be the end for TMNT games and after some patches and maybe even a good sale, a fan of the reptilian ninjas may enjoy this but for now, I don’t think I’d recommend to my friends.

King of Seas is solid, but unremarkable. Lacking the diversity of actions and depth of simulation required for something within its genre. For those craving a pirate game it will definitely entertain, but maybe not for very long.

The truth is that to truly appreciate Fractured Minds and leave the game having been rewarded and touched by its content, it is imperative that you approach it in the knowledge that the actual gameplay and puzzling is entirely secondary to the experience and the message. Not that the puzzling is completely pointless, it’s just heavily weighted to the simplistic...If you can do that, what awaits is wholly unnerving and uncomfortable. Fractured Minds is an insight intended to open eyes wide to the daily turmoil mental health can raise. From the half-light of paranoia to the all too bright light of anxiety, this is a game that makes its mark, and in my opinion, makes those who play it all the richer for having done so.

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.

Overall, we came away pretty underwhelmed with The Last Case of Benedict Fox. While there are seeds of good ideas here, the package as a whole just throws up too many hurdles for us to look past in order to seek them out.

Velocity G is a mixed bag of pros and cons. On the one hand, it’s accessible, it handles pretty well, and it’s got a shed-load of races to take to. On the other hand, it’s got little mechanical depth, its track design is overly repetitive, and its visual and audio presentation is substandard at best. Overall, it’s a valiant effort on the developer’s part, but at a time in which futuristic racers are on the rise, despite its cheap cost, it’s wide of the mark.

If you’re into tough, obtuse adventures that may or may not reward you for exploring and soldering on through multiple deaths, then there’s a good chance you’ll jive with Cryogear. If it’s more of an action type platformer you’re after though, then absolutely steer clear. The lack of direction, the unclear inventory and crafting system and combat mechanics will likely have you reaching for the off switch soon after starting.

Nefarious is a game that could have been much more than what it is. Instead, what we get is an adventure that does something wrong for everything it gets right. Despite its interesting bad-guy concept, Nefarious handles about as well as a lizard on ice. There’s some good ideas running through the game, but it’s ultimately bogged down by some poor design choices and an overall lack of refinement.