It’s not often that a game can change your perspective on how you have previously enjoyed (or not) the franchise but Sonic X Shadow Generations has just done that. I’ve never been a full-blown hater of 3D Sonic games, but they were never something I sped to play (pun intended). This new game has changed my mind. The remaster of Sonic Generations is great as expected but Shadow Generations is like finding extra fries at the bottom of the bag. The 3D landscape that you get to explore as Shadow and the powers you acquire is like a breath of fresh air for the series. It gives me hope for the future of Sonic and it’s worth your time to check it out.

Overall, I’ve had a blast playing A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead. It nails the sense of dread and atmosphere, and regularly did I find myself on the edge of my seat as I just evaded the creature again. The use of Alex’s asthma is handled well, albeit a bit over-done at times, but it adds to the fear and horror of the experience. The use of a mic in real life is a short-lived gimmick, but other than that this is a great survival horror stealth title that makes tremendous use of the Quiet Place setting.

Where Shadows of the Damned stumbles is within its inability to be a horror game, and although its genital jokes can be chuckle-worthy, the sense of comedy is dimmed by predictable stereotyping. Nevertheless, Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is a treat as it pulls the blinds up and shines the light of straightforward satisfaction into your face in a refreshing way that few modern games can match. Sure, Shadows of the Damned is a hella remastering of a thirteen year-old product, but on current-gen hardware it stands out like Garcia and his uhhh hot boner….Remember it’s the gun in the game you filthy minded scoundrels! So yes, play Hella Remastered, though you may need some in-game Tequilla to not only heal Garcia, but to soothe the sense that not all the pieces in Shadows of the Damned fully jive together harmoniously. Now here’s to that cabrón!

It’s gross, heartfelt, morbid, mind-fucking, and touching all at once, and how much you get out of it will depend on your penchant for the bizarre. Now I need to go lie down and think happy thoughts.

If you’re thirsty for a boxing game after all these years without Fight Night, then Undisputed does fit the bill well, but with so many areas that are unfinished, it’s a bit of a hard sell. Undisputed gets the fundamentals right though, and if the fundamentals are all you care about, this is definitely a good boxing game, but it could’ve been so much more than that.

I enjoyed my time with this game, simple as that. It’s not too serious (see the name) and it provides a nice mix of combat, platforming, and puzzle solving. I particularly like how obtuse some puzzles may seem but once you know the answer they are quite simple. The sheer exploration and process of figuring out the solutions was enough to keep me intrigued for the adequate time this game lasts which is likely going to be less than 10 hours for finding everything. Fans of other popular animal physics based simulators should feel at home here. Don’t expect a AAA budget banger and enjoy the wackiness here that Squirrel With A Gun is offering.

Starship Troopers: Extermination is a game full of tremendous potential. Two years after early access that potential seems within reach with a bit more polish. The action can be a blast, but often the bugs, some design choices, and unstable servers act against its overall vision. Often it felt like I was fighting the game itself and not the bugs onscreen.

Maybe Akimbot will play as a loving exploration of an old favourite for some. For those without rose-tinted glasses, this is a deeply unrewarding experience with a sidekick that needs to be launched into the sun.

Overall, I loved my time with Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus. I never got the time to play it when RAIN CODE first dropped on the Nintendo Switch and now it got me craving for more. One thing to note is that the Xbox Series S version was giving me performance trouble with frames constantly dropping. I’ve played the Steam version as well and didn’t encounter it at all so keep that in mind. All in all at the end of the day, I felt like a master detective.

I can’t say that Sparking! Zero is the best Dragon Ball game ever made, as my track record is on the lower side, but it’s the best anime arena fighter I’ve played in a while. The bar has been set, and it’s incredibly high. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to train in the hypersonic lion tamer.

The Holy Gosh Darn has utterly won me over with an excellent time loop mechanic paired with an engaging, humorous story and clever puzzles. It’s been an absolute joy to play, and comes recommended as one of my favourite games this year.

112 Operator excels not only as a crisis management game but as an emotional experience that challenges you to think beyond strategy. The sound design, dynamic challenges, and the human element behind each emergency make it an intense and thought-provoking experience. While the visuals are simple, they allow you to focus on the real heart of the game, the emotional and tactical complexities of managing emergencies. This title will stay with you long after you put it down, making you think about the unsung heroes who answer those 112 (999/911 calls). This isn’t just about making quick decisions, it’s about understanding the human element behind those decisions.

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.

Pico Park 2 is fun, annoyingly moreish, and hair-pullingly frustrating yet hard to put down all at once. With a good group of friends it devolves into utter chaos, where we’ll be laughing and swearing in equal measure. One for those nights where you just want to have a good time with pals – the more, the merrier.

In a world where quick delivery is a major part of our lives, I’m surprised it too this long to get a cool videogame out of the concept. Parcel Corps feels pretty natural in terms of a videogame giving strong Crazy Taxi vibes. When the game flows it feels so good, but it can quickly come to a halt, literally at times and it takes a bit to get it going again. I do like this game but it can feel a little rough around the edges sometimes. This is a good base, and I would love to see it expanded on. If you enjoy “extreme sports” in an open world type environment, you’d probably feel at home with Parcel Corps.

With improved movement mechanics, new dog Luna’s abilities, and a lot of content to get to, Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines is a better overall game than its predecessor. The optional levels are a bit easy, and Luna makes playing as Pablo feel a bit weak, but this is still an easy recommendation for anyone looking for some pure, fun platforming action.

While there are a few mini-games here that are fun to play, the slow unlocking of more levels, the randomness of the rewards, and there being a couple of dud games in a small selection early on puts a downer in Pureya for us.

This “Rebrush” of Epic Mickey paints a successful picture for the iconic mouse, simultaneously celebrating the brilliance of the original game, whilst lifting it up to modern videogame standards in what is a really beautiful remake that is delicious to look at. If you squint, you may find undesirable remnants from its original existence on the Wii, but otherwise Epic Mickey is preserved and improved lovingly here. The reworked controls, revamped visuals, and the numerous ways Purple Lamp have refurbished Epic Mickey shows you the true love the developers have for what they’ve created, and it shines through in just about every way. Platforming can be a tad stodgy at times, and the morality system is a bust, but otherwise this is a real treat for fans of the original game, and an even bigger treat for new audiences, so go and give this gem a shot and you should fall in love with its painterly aesthetic without it wearing thin.

For a 2-hour story extension and 6 unlockable characters, 3 of which are only available at some point in the future, £39.99 seems a steep price to pay. So, unless you’re desperate to play the fun but way too short expansion story and try the new characters out, in the meantime the free Animalities will be fun to play with until the inevitable sale down the road.

The Karate Kid: Street Rumble sticks close to the source material in the way the story plays out and most of their likenesses. The combat is robust and fast paced and great to be played along with friends if you like games like the turtles beat ’em up games. It’s a shame there is no online co-op play but they have provided some ways to replay the game to improve the longevity, and it is quite fun to play through, especially if you are fans of the original films.

Don’t you love when a game delivers on the hype? I certainly do and The Plucky Squire lives up to its promise. I was grinning the whole time playing it and really enjoyed what it had to offer. This is a game that while not providing a ton of challenge in the combat arena, it brought forth some clever puzzles that sometimes made me stop to appreciate what I had to do regardless of if it was actually difficult to figure out or not. A game like this comes around only so often and it is actually one I’d recommend to all gamers.

In short bursts, Tilting Tiles offers a decent puzzling challenge that’s enjoyable to conquer, albeit one that a few quality of life improvements such as backtracking steps or a hint system would improve.

I’ve genuinely lost hope in this franchise. With the mix of VC shills, content creators that overhype a garbage product, outlets praising the word vomit stew that the player base eats up every year – at least the ones with deep wallets – and the F2P tactics in a paid game, NBA 2K will more than likely never return to its glory days that I loved. I’m tired of repeating myself and I’m tired of having expectations go below the bar, like it wasn’t low enough. Every single year it’s “a step in the right direction.” No, it’s not. I stopped settling for less and everyone else should too. NBA 2K25 is a basketball game but feels like a grindy RPG with heavy predatory practices at play. An utter disappointment. Save your money and play a better game.

Cilla gives all the right shoot em up vibes from the 90’s, but fails to deliver a promising concept. Enemies feel like they have just been copying and pasted from one level to another, with the same movement type. Power ups are welcomed however they seem to lack the punch the power up should have.

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.

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.

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster brings us more than just updated modern graphics, with auto saves, fully voiced cutscenes and some of quality life features. It also brings the nostalgia back for us older gamers who remember it back on the Xbox 360. But whether you’ve played this before or not, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster still proves to be a fun, wacky, and somewhat unique experience, and this is the best way to experience Frank’s story.

Valfaris: Mecha Therion is a shining example of the scrolling shooter genre, with explosive action, over the top bosses, and one of the most exhilarating soundtracks in a game I’ve ever played. Crank up the volume, grab a beer, and this is an evening of gaming well spent indeed.

Selfloss wraps a touching, impactful tale in some clever puzzles, a gripping atmosphere, and some well designed areas. Bugs and a inconsistent camera let it down, but those willing to push through will find an experience that will not soon be forgotten.

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

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

Space Marine II builds upon and improves on its predecessor in every way. Come for the big stompy Space Marines, stay for the intricate interplay between melee and ranged combat.

Star Wars Outlaws is by no means going to be in the conversation for the game of the year but I don’t think it’s as much of a bomb as others are making out. There are a few bad choices which do make the game look dated but there are also some interesting elements to the game. It does feel as if Starfield and Jedi Order had a lovechild that was born 5 years ago but some people enjoy those games and I am sure they will enjoy this game for what it is.

Bleak Faith: Forsaken starts out incredibly strong with its visuals and architecture. It is unable to back up this initial promise with engaging combat, or game design.

Core Keeper is an excellent addition to the sandbox survival genre. The cleverly interlocking systems, the levelling up, and the promise of something new around each corner is going to cause it to consume a lot of people’s times. A must-have for all players.

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.

Excellent presentation, storytelling, performances, and some great quality of life touches make The Casting of Frank Stone one of our favourite Supermassive Games releases yet.

I wanted to like Gori: Cuddly Carnage more than I did, perhaps my hopes were too high. In the end I found the levels too repetitive for my liking and some technical issues soured my mood. There were some fun parts in the platforming and chase sequences but that’s not enough to be able to highly recommend this game to my friends.

GRAVEN is a lovely little taste of retro shooters that fall outside what we considered to be the standard of the time. An excellent fusion of melee, magic and puzzle solving.

There’s a lot to get your teeth sunk into in Tiebreak, but with matches on medium difficulty lasting over an hour, this certainly won’t be a pickup and play game, and with the mentioned issues with gameplay, Tiebreak won’t be something I return to on a regular basis.

Monster Jam Showdown is a fun, action-packed racer letting us control the wildest, most over the top vehicles there are. A few quibbles with the controls for stunts aside, if you’re simply after a fun time, then this is an easy recommendation.

If you’re starving for more Star Wars nourishment in videogame form and you haven’t given Star Wars: Bounty Hunter a whirl, there are far worse games that make use of the Star Wars license. It can be a blast to blast around linear levels with Boba Fett and his jetpack while repelling galactic grunts, but no matter how slick the remaster job is, it cannot hide how old this twenty-plus year old game is, and the frustrations inherent within it are too apparent to ignore. So Bounty Hunter isn’t the worst Star Wars outing and the remaster doesn’t do a bad job, but just like the original game, it might be worthwhile for Star Wars geeks to froth over, but it’s otherwise a despairingly middling affair. So go give Jango and go, but this one doesn’t steal the show and it sorta blows.

Solo players will definitely find some challenging fun here, and I have found myself trying to beat a few of my own times, but I’m not sure how much I’ll return to it over time to test my skills. Some of the tracks I cannot see how I can go any faster, and unless some of my online pals pick it up and get into it the online random leaderboards aren’t enough to keep me coming back.

Where Dustborn works – its characters and story – it really works. Leaden combat and side-missions leave it a little lacking.

I’ve been jonesing to play Kena: Bridge of Spirts since its release on other platforms so I was super excited to finally get to play it. Luckily, I think it lived up to the hype. I really only had the visuals to rely on and they are some of the best in gaming. The combat was something I didn’t look into beforehand but ended up enjoying how simple it was. For those who enjoy beautiful action-adventure games with a high emphasis on storytelling, I can’t recommend Kena: Bridge of Spirts enough.

Players looking for a short, snappy precision platformer would do well to at least entertain the idea of Cattie, even if it misses the mark in a few areas.

While I’m sad that this will be the last we see of Sam & Max, The Devil’s Playhouse does an amazing job of wrapping up the story of my favorite duo. The remaster has been done with care and looks terrific. It’s important that if you want to jump into the playhouse, you need to play the other two games first to understand some of the topics being discussed. You won’t be disappointed. Saddle up little buddy and get ready to ride with the Freelance Police for one last time.

Parkitect is a great little game that didn’t quite let me relive the glory days of the 90’s Theme Park game but it came closer than most. There’s tons of content to get stuck into for any wannabe theme park architect.

Cat’s Quest III is a worthy sequel. Fans of the previous game will have a blast and enjoy being back in the world of cat-puns.

What can I say? SteamWorld games don’t miss (with me at least) and SteamWorld Heist II is no exception. This is a special treat for the Xbox ecosystem, as this is our first foray into SteamWorld’s take on the tactical strategy genre. Thunderful have made another game to show and help gamers how to branch out into other types of genres that they may normally not play. If you like this universe but do not typically like this type of game (or don’t know if you do), I would still implore you to give it a chance.

Roguelike fan or not, there’s a lot of fun to be had in Deadlink, with explosive action that encourages us to experiment with the full arsenal, and makes even our failed runs feel rewarding simply by being so damn joyous the play.

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.

A wonderful surprise mid-year. Nobody Wants to Die is a tightly woven walking sim, with gorgeous environmental art and a compelling story. Anyone interested in this kind of story telling should definitely pick it up.

Dungeons of Hinterberg proves that it’s always good to step outside of your comfort zone; it went from being not on my radar at all to winning me over almost completely. With brilliantly crafted dungeons, a surprisingly effective social-upgrade mechanic, and some genuinely fun powers to use, there’s a lot to like here once you get past the slower opening sections.

If you loved the original form of Shin Megami Tensei V, then Vengeance is a fantastic complement to it, with a strong second story arc, excellent quality of life improvements, and a generally refined and improved JRPG experience fans of the genre will lap up vigorously. Yes, it’s still perhaps existing in the shadow of the Persona series with its litany of similarities, and doesn’t quite have the grace and style of its brethren, but it’s a hardcore RPG that blazes its own path (mostly), and does so with conviction and poise. Vengeance is therefore fully worthy of your attention and the amount of hours you’ll no-doubt pour into it.

F1 Manager 2024 is the most feature rich experience to date in the franchise and just like last year I can see Team principles being glued to their chair once again trying to improve their team’s fortune. Whether it’s creating your own team or taking charge of one of the current Formula One teams, F1 Manager 2024 is close to being a 10/10 experience for any sports management game.

SCHiM is a delight of a game. Taking a concept that some of us may have played out in our heads as kids, imaging something jumping across the shadows or us jumping ourselves, and have turned that into a beautiful game. Without words, without facial expressions, and limiting color palettes, SCHiM manages to make something really unique.

CLeM maintains Mango Protocol’s track record of quirky, inventive, and slightly hampered-in-places gaming, with a great central premise and gameplay mechanics that are only really held back by slow movement and occasionally frustrating moments.

Kunitsu-Gami continues the trend of gameplay excellence that has blessed all of Capcom’s recent releases. There are just some parts outside that feel like they should be more streamlined.

An engaging sci-fi comedy with a lot of laughs. For fans of the point-and-click genre this will be a blast, despite some minor foibles.

I had a fun time with Blacksad: Under the Skin. The immersive soundtrack and engaging story never out stayed its welcome and for me I’d say it rivals Telltales The Wolf Among Us as one of the better detective story games out there.

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

All in all, chances are if you enjoyed the cozy puzzling of A Little to the Left, you’re absolutely going to enjoy Seeing Stars. The new levels are all brilliantly designed, offer multiple tough solutions, aided by a generous and fairly implemented hint system.

The long and the short of it though is that Beyond Good & Evil is still a bloody fantastic game, from its setting to characters, story, gameplay mechanics, and everything else. It’s showing its age in some quality of life aspects, but there’s nothing here that should prove too tricky for anyone to get over. It has become the best way to play BG&E, and we can only hope it spurs on any news at all of what comes next.

Horror Tales: The Beggar has its moments (mainly thanks to some half-decent world building) but the introduction of combat, and its slow moving puzzles, underwhelmed me completely. Go and play The Wine instead, and hope we get more of that for the next outing.

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.

Phantom Fury is an incredibly fun throwback shooter, with awesome weaponry and brilliant encounters throughout that are undermined by a plethora of bug and issues that hampered my time with it far more often than it should have. In terms of my enjoyment in the moment, this has entered the top end of my games of the year so far, but those issues mean I can’t recommend it without heavy caveats.

There’s something satisfying about playing a modern game but pulls on those nostalgic strings and #BLUD does that with its stylistic choice. Harkening back to the late 90’s I was instantly pulled into the game by its looks. Once I was there the story, combat and characters kept me involved to see it through the end and it ended up being an enjoyable time. I wish I could figure out some of the side quests, whether that’s how to do them later in the game or find ones I missed but doesn’t take away from a good time. If you dig action adventure, dungeon “crawlery” type games, check out #BLUD.

All in all, Still Wakes the Deep has been a fantastic horror experience. It looks and sounds great, the sense of tension and fear is very well handled, and even the few moments that drop the act don’t give us enough time to catch our breath before things go sideways again. Topped of with a touching story and well rounded characters, Still Wakes the Deep is not one to be missed.

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.

When we’re paired up with some real life people though, there’s certainly fun to be had with Pool Party. It’s not a game that will remain on for the whole night, but as something to add to a regular rotation of multiplayer games with friends, snacks, and a few beverages Pool Party will fit the bill nicely. The simple and immediate gameplay will get a few laughs, a couple of swears, and maybe a bit of game-rage at times but a it’s light and breezy enough to overcome these with pure, simple fun.

Astor: Blade of the Monolith is a game that has some great art direction, but needed some more time spent figuring out what its core tenets were beyond the well realised world.

Hypercharge: Unboxed for its price is definitely a title many should consider picking up. It’s cute, charming, and most importantly it’s nostalgia bait done right. Everything from the gameplay elements and the scenery feels like it was done with care. Being able to relieve a piece of my childhood has been a treat and I’m always itching to put toys back into their boxes.

If you are fond of classics from 30 years ago getting modern updates, System Shock will be a commendable trip to take. Plenty has been done to make System Shock an appetizing choice for the curious, and those who wonder where Bioshock‘s influences came from. However, the frustrations of exploration, the monochrome environments and the lack of interesting enemies smushes this remake’s momentum. Your enjoyment of this System Shock Remake will likely hinge on whether you can tolerate the rigidity of this classic’s design and how much you enjoy the story and the intrigue that exists within. Lamentably though, this remake sells itself on regression, meaning you’ll need to erase all the strides the genre has made in 30 years in order to fully appreciate it. Try this remake then if you’re curious, you might enjoy it, but although this remake is commendable, it’s still too disappointingly archaic to fully recommend.

Eternal Threads folds an interesting butterfly-effect narrative into a well put together puzzle, letting us delve as deep into the mystery as we see fit. Consistently intriguing enough to see us through just one more scene, and letting us change our story at will means it’s a game that had us hooked throughout.

After 8 years the vanilla career mode got its big update, and the new features have the potential to bring lapsed players back. However, despite the positives, a poorly implemented new handling model means that at launch the game is held back from its full potential. We’ll be keeping an eye on it as Codemasters update things, but for now go in with some caution.

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

I genuinely feel for the team that worked on this – it is a licensed product that is much loved in the UK. It is hard to please people engaged with any franchise. But I don’t think I am being precious when I say this game is abysmal in everything but the narrative.

Morbid: Lords of Ire is the best kind of sequel. Confounding, different, but also spiritually aligned with its predecessor. It helps that it did not forget to be fun too.

If you’re thirsty for a cool anime open-world adventure based on a new TV show, Sand Land is a really cool offering. Beelzebub and his crew are a diverse set of personalities, the tank battles are pleasing, and the plethora of upgrade abilities and accessibility features means Sand Land is worth digging into. These Sand Lands can be too empty, the sense of open-world repetition seeps in all too soon, and navigating that open-world can be troublesome, but Sand Land is otherwise an unexpected oasis in the desert that’s worth necking back and savouring while it lasts.

Outside of these areas, The Glass Staircase was still enjoyable enough to recommend, especially if you’ve a penchant for retro, budget and more idiosyncratic gaming. It’s a decent take on old school survival horror, even if there are better examples out there.

Are you interested in a game within a game but at the same time having to determine what is real and what isn’t? Then CorpoNation: The Sorting Process might just be for you. Overall, this game was great and the gameplay loop of waking, working, relaxing was honestly enjoyable. Coupled with the accessibility options meaning I didn’t have to pull my hair out and the fact I could use a mouse or play natively on PC made for a better time. If you are into quirky games and don’t think everything great is tied to high fidelity visuals than I would give CorpoNation: The Sorting Process a shot.

Indika will no doubt be one the most unique games we play this year, if not one of the best. It’s themes are both layered thick and somewhat confusing and the odd pacing means we can never really settle into the flow of things. We still found some fun to be had, mainly in the weird settings and 2D sequences, and those with a bit more of an open mind will no doubt enjoy it, but it certainly won’t be for everyone.

If you’re looking for a game to start your love affair with tactical turn-based games, Crown Wars: The Black Prince is as good a choice as any thanks to the way healing and upgrades work. Despite a few flaws, I had a great time with Crown Wars: The Black Prince.

It’s been a longer time coming than we’d hoped, but Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II manages to live up to expectations rather nicely. Vastly improved (and brutally presented) combat, a captivating story and incredible technical work mean that even the few slower moments can’t bring down what will surely be a jewel in Xbox’s crown for some time to come.

These minor things aside, Paper Trails is stunningly crafted, cleverly designed and simply great puzzling action. Each new locale offers a fun, challenging new twist, and more insight into the sweetly told narrative pinning everything together. Extra challenges are there in the form of hidden collectible origami figures for those looking to maximise their time with the game, but that the hint system is so well implemented means even players unsure about their puzzling abilities can see if through.

TopSpin is challenging in many intentional and unintentional ways – the control system is tough to master but there is a great sense of reward to even getting the ball to land where you want it. The online requirements, and some of the more befuddling systems make it much harder to get to the core of the experience.

A pleasant surprise akin to receiving a kitty cat on your birthday, Little Kitty, Big City is a lovely breath of fresh air, not only for indie gaming but videogaming as a whole. Playing as a pesky mischief-causing and problem-solving cat scurrying about a city while taking time to indulge in bird-catching and snuggling up with citizens is a joy. However, there is plenty of room for refinement as clunky controls and irksome design choices make exploration a wee-bit annoying. In addition, there’s also the lingering stench that Little Kitty, Big City has missed potential, and no that’s certainly not the scent of cat pee. Overall Little Kitty, Big City is certainly worth your time and is a pleasure to play, but with some more polish it could’ve been a paw-some experience, but instead it passes as a moderately paw-leasing one.

Crow Country is top-tier retro survival horror. It has fun, engaging puzzles, some excellent presentation work, and is a tightly paced affair that keeps the gameplay flowing nicely. Easy recommendation for players familiar with the genre and new players alike.

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.

Qomp2 offers a fresh take on the classic Pong formula, introducing a unique premise and challenging gameplay. While it may not appeal to everyone due to its departure from the raw simplicity of the original, fans of puzzle games and those seeking a unique gaming experience will find enjoyment in its artful reimagining. The game’s diverse boss fights and hidden collectibles add depth and replay value, making it a worthwhile endeavour for those willing to embrace its challenges.

The World After is a good attempt at a point and click adventure using live footage, there is some good dialogue and the puzzles aren’t likely to slow people down. Unfortunately, the plot doesn’t reveal much and it ends with more of a shrug than a bang.

As a TMNT fan I am drawn to all content about this tubular foursome, especially the games! TMNT Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants was no exception. Considering I’ve not played the arcade cabinet for this game before I was very excited. It did give me an evening of fun as it felt like I was right there in the arcade hanging out but unfortunately the experience was short lived. While yes, there are leaderboards to entice replay-ability, they weren’t enough to keep me coming back to the game. So, if you are looking for a quick turtles experience (especially if you have some local buddies to play with), Wrath of the Mutants may be what you are looking for.

I found my time playing Lunar Lander Beyond to be good fun in short bursts, usually in between something a bit meatier. At around 5 hours to complete it doesn’t outstay its welcome, though there are harder difficulties (and permadeath) to consider should you really want to test yourself. If you’ve not gelled with the previous releases then this make good strides to win you over, though the same tricky controls and movement are present as ever.

While these issues can take the sheen off things at times, when we’re in the flow of a level, stunning pixel art whizzing by our retinas, cracking music filling our ears, and the thrill of the platforming keeping our palms busy, Freedom Planet 2 is a wonderful time. The levels are well designed, the boss encounters tough but fair, and there’s enough here to have people coming back for more, be it a new character or simply beating their best times.

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

If you would like a sweet narrative and you’re into coffee, then Sunny Café is your Visual Novel. But if you’re looking for a game to keep you locked in and engaged with the story, you may have to get your caffeine fix somewhere else.

I am a fan of side-scrolling platformers like Inside, Songs of Iron and Limbo, and One Last Breath has taken my gaming breath away! Personally, I am not the type of character to worry about “save the world” elements, however, One Last Breath sucked me into their world and made me think, that some of my real-world actions might have a massive effect on the world as we know it. That aside, the gameplay was wonderful and pleasant to play, with the short sharp and levels that made each section of the game palatable. I felt truly relaxed while playing, even though a wrong move could kill me.