Writing off Cloudpunk as nothing but a visual attraction will be doing it a great disservice. Sure the splendour of the cyberpunk voxels and the glitz of all that billboard electricity is magnetic, but there’s also a great undercurrent of mystique that you will be spending time peeling away at that Cloudpunk becomes much more than eye candy. The unchallenging basicness may be off-putting, and coupled with stymieing technical issues Cloudpunk can be a bit of a mess that you may fail to forgive. Stick with it though and there is a tasty and indulgent piece of cyberpunk intrigue in here that will please those thirsty for something futuristic and adorned with lights in the night sky. Flawed but fascinating, Cloudpunk is short and straightforward but its elegance and its world should be enough to suck you in for as long as it lasts.

Alba: A Wildlife Adventure can be enjoyed by gamers of all ages, and teaches its players the simple yet valuable lesson that cleaning up is good for the environment and its inhabitants. It has a wonderful art style and sound design that make visiting the island with Alba a joy. The wildlife is bird heavy so bird lovers will definitely be interested in this, and they do an excellent job bringing all the creatures to life. Although brief I enjoyed my time on the island but I couldn’t help but wish there was a little more content.

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.

Despite its flaws Miasma Chronicles is a good but not quite great game that sucks you back in for more and will be a decent pickup for anyone who enjoys tactical turn-based games.

Old school FPS fans will be right at home here, brought in by the fast movement, impactful weaponry and the constant back-peddling and side-strafing attack methods emblematic of classic shooters. Even though I’m not generally a fan of Roguelikes by the very nature of the repetitive loop, I found myself getting very caught up in the grind here. Each run felt new and exciting, and when I was dropped a power or weapon that I liked it really got me hyped to get into the next room to use it. I think I finally get why the genre has been so popular, and I can see myself playing this for quite some time yet.

The Mega Man Zero ZX Legacy Collection is definitely a game that provides a lot of value in the package. The Mega Man games are still great fun to play and perfect for fans of the series who may have missed out on these Original Nintendo DS games. There are a few graphical and control issues to overlook, sure, but that doesn’t detract from the fact these are still decent 2D Platform shooters.

Bold and chaotic, Paint the Town Red is an excellent first-person brawler with a ton of content for both beginners and pros.

Riddled Corpses EX offers a well rounded twin-stick shooting experience that doesn’t take itself too seriously. There’s one hell of a grind involved but its fluid mechanics along with its simplistic progression system, helps to alleviate any frustration. Some odd design choices will infrequently annoy, however, with that being said, this is one experience that fans of the genre will more than appreciate.

Some weaker combat and a few UI problems aside, Tormented Souls 2 is a good love letter to the survival horror genre, with good exploration and puzzles to keep us wanting to see more.

Overall, whilst FAR: Changing Tides will feel little more than a simple puzzle adventure game to anyone who doesn’t enjoy a peaceful adventure from time to time, those who played FAR: Lone Sails will find a perfect companion to the previous adventure that matches the same aesthetics and beautiful gameplay from start to finish. Whilst it can occasionally become a little confusing, there is nothing here that should deter you from jumping in and if you have the patience to sit through not only will you find something a little unexpected but you’ll also find yourself playing one of the most enjoyable adventures this year.

While it won’t unseat Forza as king of racing games on the Xbox One, there is a lot of good fun to be had here. Gravel is both visually and audibly satisfying, and comes with a decent pool of content. It’s a shame that the game lacks a dynamic commentary system, but outside of this, only a few technical issues linger, pulling it just shy of greatness.

King Arthur: Knights Tale is a good but not quite great medieval take on the tactical RPG genre. The Skirmish and Local PVP modes add value and longevity to a game that can feel repetitive if you stick solely to the campaign.

Overall and if you’ve played any previous game in the series, then you know what you’re getting into. Sadly Monster Energy Supercross 5 doesn’t offer enough that I’d recommend dropping launch price cash on, however it’s well worth checking out when a sale drops. For newcomers, it’s hard to recommend starting here when other titles are available cheaper frequently, however, if you want something that looks fantastic on your Series S or X, then this is definitely a beautiful way to enjoy Supercross.

This all being said, Tower of Time is dark, rewarding and interesting. It relies on some dark fantasy cliches but offers enough originality to stand out in an over-saturated market. If you like old school CRPGs, this is absolutely worth your time.

For less than a fiver on the Xbox store, there’s not much to lose if you’re even remotely keen on a fun but challenging indie puzzler. There’s not much in the way of extra flash or pizzaz, but what’s here is solid puzzle gaming through and through.

Mugsters offers up a great deal of variety across its sizable portion of well developed, colorful, physics-based levels. There’s a few issues present, such as the daft AI and the counter-intuitive camera, but even so, the game remains fun, engaging and wide open to choice. Whether you’re exploring, innovating or even just messing around, Mugsters’ puzzles will keep you entertained for hours on end.

Overall, if you want to experience all the highs in the life of a bus company without any real punishments to worry about then Bus Simulator 21 is the game for you. It’s a surprisingly engaging experience when it all runs smoothly and there’s definitely fun to be had here as you begin connecting routes and districts together. It must be said the multiplayer experience isn’t fantastic right now thanks to consistent connection issues, although should they not be present at any point the experience would certainly be enjoyable, but this isn’t a game that requires friends to enjoy and whilst there are some questionable occasions that arise, the general experience brings a believable and enjoyable life in the life of a bus company.

Knights and Guns is exactly what you want from a reimagining of a classic title. I loved Pang when it was at the arcades and this game made me feel the same nostalgic excitement I had when playing. It’s simple chaotic fun without being super difficult and overwhelming bullet hell madness. It’s a shame there is no online co-op but it’s still just as fun to play on your own.

A game that was completely developed during the lockdown – and is about it – is worth the current price it is currently listed at. With a total of 762 scenes and several hours of FMV footage to be seen in the game, there are many hours here for the player to experience with various dialogue options leading to different responses and outcomes. I wouldn’t pass this game up if you’re a fan of the Visual Novel genre, as this game is not complicated and provides many laughs in a romantic comedy fashion while raising the bar for expectations for this genre.

All in all, we enjoyed our time with Chasing Static. The retro-stylings hooked us in and gave the creepy atmosphere a more unique flavour, while the gameplay and story were good enough to keep us coming back for more. A little more action wouldn’t have gone amiss, but as it is, Chasing Static comes out as something we’d recommend to those looking for something a little different.

The simplicity and seamless movement between levels and menus, combined with the ambient soundtrack and gently glowing visuals will naturally draw anyone into the game. Considering that the player is essentially just moving a little white block in only 4 directions it is a surprisingly enjoyable experience overall. Active Neurons is simple, yet effective and certainly worth the low entry fee.

Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker captures the essence, the speed and the personality of Naruto magnificently well. It’s deep, engaging and distinct. There’s certainly some adjustments needed for class balance, and matchmaking can indeed drag on for longer than it should, but when everything clicks into place, there’s little else that comes quite as close to the source material as this does.

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.

While I was disappointed by the horror aspects in Close to the Sun, overall I found my time with it to be quite engaging. The story and characters get their hooks in just enough to keep you playing, and the world building – from the gorgeous visuals to the incidental details and notes left behind – is brilliant. That it keeps its run time brief is to the games credit too, as yet more chase sequences would definitely have harmed the experience.

Sea Salt is refreshing in its gaming style. Combining action and strategy in a simple based setup works great here. The dark artistic style and music serve the evil cult theme well. It has enough difficulty to make the game a challenge and enough variation to make you consider different tactics and replay the game in a different way. Although the graphics are in an 16-bit style, there is something charming about the sprites making the game an interesting play through.

As a recent addition to the Microsoft Game Studios family, Obsidian have put their best foot forward with The Outer Worlds. Solid gun play, an engaging story with great, likeable characters and a world that is fun to explore and interact with. Some missions let the side down a little and the game could be bigger but with so many nods to the great RPG predecessors and taking the best elements from them this is a great game to pick up.

Horizon Chase Turbo doesn’t come without faults, but even so, it’s easily one of the most entertaining retro arcade racers in recent memory. I take issue with the game’s unbalanced AI and its unsteady difficulty curve, collectively presenting infrequent moments of frustration. This, however, is easy to overlook in the face of its deep serving of content, its diverse track and vehicle selection, and its addictive, energetic gameplay.

If you follow Artifex, Queen’s Quest 2 will feel painfully familiar due to its lack of formulaic deviation. Unsurprisingly, the story is its weakest element, with its unenthusiastic voice work trailing closely behind. That said, it’s still a fairly robust and very challenging puzzler nonetheless. One that certainly knows how to motivate your senses through its intelligent design, its commendable diversity, and its expertly detailed locations.

With the desolate multiplayer population to the side, Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China will help satiate those hungering for a little bit of air combat in a genre that is in need of a few more good titles. Controls are mostly comfortable on the Xbox controller, though it would have been nice to see support for the HOTAS. There’s enough diverse content on offer to justify the generous price tag, but don’t expect to be blown away.

Deep Sky Derelicts: Definitive Edition may not be a graphical masterpiece but it more than makes up for it in tactical gameplay. I found myself quite addicted to the tactical challenges of the maps and in the combat. The difficulty starts of quite tough, but it gradually becomes easier as you buy the upgrades and craft your equipment. DSD is sufficiently long enough to make it good value and you can tackle the game using different job classes for longevity.

Lonely Mountains Downhill is a fun, arcade style challenge that will test even the most hardened of gamer’s nerve. Some bizarre technical issues and dodgy physics let the side down a tad, but it’s far from unplayable. In fact, there’s something rather calming to the whole affair in between the rage that makes playing the game worthwhile – especially as it launches into Gamepass.

Simple, solid fun from Double Fine’s multiplayer brawler, with a charming and easy to use creation suite to boot. Matchmaking can take some time, and playing with random players is far less enjoyable than with a group of buddies, but this is still an easy recommendation for those looking to add a new game to the game night rotation.

Although it’s nowhere near as compelling nor as deep as its inspirational material, Anodyne offers a fun, worthwhile and well paced journey. The game uses its few gameplay mechanics to great effect, and although it would have been nice to see more innovation and depth as far as its combat is concerned, there’s no denying that Anodyne is one of the better examples of Zelda-esque adventuring.

Flint: Treasure of Oblivion is an interesting turn-based pirate adventure, to say the least. The storyline is interesting even if it does go a bit supernatural. The comic book-style dialogue is wonderfully drawn and well-written. I know turn-based combat is hard to keep fresh and interesting but I think this game went a bit too complex with it. Maybe with a bit more on-screen hand it would make more sense but I found it too easy to get lost with the dice roll meanings and the upgrade configuration.

Despite starting off negatively (the bugs and glitches can easily be fixed with patch), overall I had a good time with Sniper Elite 5, I’d highly recommend every Game Pass member download this and give it a go, whilst fans of the series will also be happy with the new content and Nazi ball-busting opportunities.

Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds: Ultimate is a loving remaster/reworking of the original title, it is bursting with content and all of the originals wide-eyed excess. For those revisiting this will be everything they could possibly want (bigger roster, more modes, better multiplayer). For hardcore beat ‘em up fans the combat might not be deep enough for them but they aren’t the target audience for this title.

Overall Antigraviator is a nice, smooth experience of high speed, futuristic racing. I wish it had a few more tracks as even with reverse and mirror modes it’s really only 18 courses, which would have been fine 20 years ago, but I believe players expect more in this day and age. Another thing on my wish list would have been some kind of combat element with limited ammo per lap. The random trap activation’s are fine but I want more control over my opponents demise. Plus it would give a greater sense of your own personal danger. Still the racing is intense and fun so I can’t really complain too much.

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.

When Yukes and Kenny Omega stated they were looking to bring back the glory days of N64 wrestling titles I was on-board. As a fellow student of those times, there’s a clunky charm to AEW: Fight Forever with its meaty feeling moves and arcade-style action. However, those days were far longer ago than I care to think about, and younger players will have gotten used to a more fluid and fully featured sports entertainment game. If you can work around some of the more pressing quirks there’s fun to be had here, but this feels more like a base to build off of for the hopeful sequel down the line.

Replaced has been a long time coming, and for the most part we’re happy with how it has turned out. The combat and presentation are the highlights here, with incredible animation making every encounter look and feel awesome. A slow opening and generally heavy platforming and exploration can drag things down at times though. As it is, Replaced winds up being worth a play for sure, even if it isn’t quite the next best thing we were hoping for.

If you’ve never played a Monster Energy Supercross title, go ahead and get this. It’s every bit as good as previous versions. But if you’ve played either of the previous entries in the Monster Energy Supercross series, you’re probably best off waiting for a sale or skip this as there just isn’t enough to warrant a full price purchase.

Lost Words: Beyond the Page to me is a heavily story-based game that uses platforming as a means to tell it. If you’re after something with deep gameplay to get into, this may not be the right title for you. If the story alone is something that piques your interest then it’s definitely worth a shot as it is an enjoyable tale.

Episode 4 did start off very, very slow, but definitely heated up near the end. This episode has created a great set-up for the final episode and I have enjoyed what the team have done with the story throughout so far.

Slitterhead is a fascinating game, with an over-the-top plot, routed in strangely grounded characters. The combat is good, with some genuine new additions to the character action genre. However, it goes on for just a bit too long.

While the slow, awkward pace and systems might put off some early on, Vaporum: Lockdown is worth sticking with and investing the time to get to grips with. The grid based gameplay is somewhat refreshing in this day and age, and the sense of satisfaction in solving puzzles off our own back is good. UI and presentation wise things could have been better implemented for sure, but get lost in the world and there’s a lot to enjoy here.

Dustoff Heli Rescue 2 is a fun arcade experience that packs a great deal of replay value. With some questionable and slightly frustrating design choices put to the side, the game delivers on its promise to keep you engaged and entertained from beginning to end.

At first, I was a little disappointed that Firegirl: Hack ‘n Splash Rescue DX wasn’t really a roguelite, since it lacks any penalty for death, but then I quickly found myself having a blast – beating the game in one sitting. I love games where I can just kick back, relax, and not have to worry about missing important elements of the game or achievements and this game fits that description perfectly. If you’re looking for a quick and fun distraction, Firegirl: Hack ‘n Splash Rescue DX could be just the thing to extinguish your boredom.

Party Hard 2 is a brilliant sequel. Pinokl Games have improved things significantly, from the graphics and play style, to the objectives that can be completed as an alternative to killing everyone. The pace is much faster and offering multiple ways to finish a stage makes it far more enjoyable. But hey, you can still go crazy and kill everyone, just don’t forget to DANCE!

The Crew Motorsport separates itself from Forza Horizon. While Its simple nature may be a turn-off for some others may see it as a nice change of pace from the realism of racing. The open world of Hawaii does have a rather small map but with new content being added seasonally, The Crew Motorsport can keep gamers coming back for more.

Die for Valhalla!’s possession mechanic never tires and remains every bit as addictive as it is enticing. It’s a very accessible game that comes with some intriguing design choices and a great deal of variation across the board. I found issue with a few instances of unfair difficulty and it would have been nice to see support for online multiplayer, but when all is said and done, Die for Valhalla! is easily one to recommend.

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.

I enjoyed We Were Here, and again Total Mayhem Games have made a beautiful, intricate and definitely more difficult game with this sequel. The communication needed and I suppose understanding of your partners humour (explaining symbols) really made this much longer than expected play throughly enjoyable. I will be going through it again and suggest you do too with a good friend.

Fans of the recently popular isometric roguelike genre will find familiarity in Dandy Ace. They will also find a sense of uniqueness. Though an interesting move-set building mechanic, you will find yourself battling the RNG at times, but at least you are always building towards progression no matter how far a run may take you.

Insomnis is a short lived affair, preferring to stake it’s thrills on tense atmosphere building and jump scares than combat or hide and seek scenarios. The tale it tells is entertainingly sad enough to pull us through the 2 hour runtime, and for the most part the puzzles are just on the right side of not quite too easy to make them enjoyable to complete. Some control issues and a mumbling protagonist sour things slightly, but on the whole we enjoyed our time with the game.

All in all, Battlefield 6 feels very much like a game of two parts; the campaign is an exhilarating spectacle that lacks any narrative interest whatsoever, while the multiplayer is just all out chaos is the best way. It will have its learning curve for new players, but DICE certainly has a very good online shooter contender this time around, and it’s something that will keep drawing me back for some time as I attempt to get even remotely passable at it. Hopefully before the next game…

Turok boasts an impressive variety of enemies, weaponry, and puzzles. This version of Turok doesn’t come without its problems, but many of these issues are merely a product of its age. The price-tag is set too high in my opinion, but if you enjoy chaotic old-school FPS gameplay, it’s easy to overlook. Night Dive’s remastered work is remarkable, the game looks much better and performs much better throughout.

Fairly small nit-pick aside, Bonkies comes highly recommended, especially if you’ve a house full of gamers that fancy something in the vein of Moving Out! or Overcooked. The action provides plenty of laughs to counter and annoyances, and some of the stage designs will really test even the most ardent of builders.

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?

Through the fun story and throwback gameplay of arcade skateboarding, SkateBIRD delivers a refreshing game. Despite some frustrating moments with the movement and controlling of skating, enjoyment can still be found.

Whilst Little Kite is certainly a worthwhile experience, it must be said that localisation isn’t a strong point with numerous grammatical issues including misspelt words and missing punctuation, but it certainly isn’t any reason not to jump into this fantastic story.

However, the slow pace is kind of the point, and Walden, a Game uses it to force us to soak in some lovely sights and sounds. Thoreau’s writings are often insightful, helping build the world out nicely, and that we’re free to explore and complete tasks pretty much at our leisure means this is a perfect title to unwind with over the course of a few evenings.

The JackBox Party Pack 8 has done a great job with this pack as there are no “padding” games. All of them are fun to play in their own way. These party pack games are usually crowd-pleasers at parties as it gets minds working and everyone I played with had fun on each of the games. Job Job might be a bit slow for some and weapons drawn might cause some confusion but when you have friends around for an evening this game could be the entertainment that you are looking for.

It’s Quiz Time is a very impressive and deep quiz game, arguably the best quiz game available on Xbox One, but it doesn’t come without issues.

Wunderling is a charming, funny, and fun auto-running platformer that makes up for it’s simpler interactions with smartly designed levels, loads of hidden bits to find and gaming references around every corner. A few more checkpoints wouldn’t have gone amiss, but overall Wunderling manages to find that sweet spot between challenge and reward.

All in all, I came away from Who Pressed Mute on Uncle Marcus? cooler than I had hoped. The campy story is fun at first, but the amount of repetition and the calculating nature of trying to gather a new bit of evidence rather than just following a well written and performed story began to grate on me after a while. Fans of the Wales Interactive’s other work should still check it out, and there’s fun to be had trying to gather new evidence, but I’d still point to something like The Complex as a prime example of how great this genre can be.

Amnesia: Collection is a must have for horror fans. The game’s performance remains on point throughout, and although the visuals are somewhat dated, this surprisingly adds to the game’s eeriness in the grand scheme of things. The bottom line here is that for its asking price, you’re getting plenty of terrifying content in return, content that’s arguably a staple for survival horror as we know it.

If there was one thing to make an RTS game out of it would be ants and bugs! To me, it made a lot of sense and I’m glad we not only have that, but we have that in an absolutely stunning way. This game is one of the best-looking games which I think helps it tremendously. The game isn’t bad itself, but it can be slow at times so making it nice to look at is really great. Top that with a controller layout that works pretty well, and you have a good RTS on console which is not an easy feat. Empire of the Ants is a pleasant experience that RTS fans should not look past.

McPixel 3 has opened my eyes to the series and has made me want to look at the previous games as it is such a joy to play. With games these days taking hours to get into and days to complete it’s nice to have a pickup-and-play game like this which is great to relax and enjoy an amusing experience. If you like playing quick games and have a childish or crude sense of humour then you will have a lot of fun with this game.

Rhythm game players should find a lot to enjoy with Klang 2. The music is decent, the way we play along is simple yet very, very challenging, and the incentive to go back and beat a high score is definitely there in order to unlock more songs. Some of the random generation of the inputs can make things tough at times, and there are definitely difficulty spikes that will frustrate, but overall I had a good time with Klang 2.

If you like Metroidvanias and/or 2D precision platformers then Trash Quest should be on your radar. The fantastic movement mechanics give the player the appropriate amount of control for working your way through the maze-like space station on your compact quest. The game is reasonably priced at $9 USD, but if you want to check out the game for less you could pick it up on steam where it’s only $3.

Overall, Super Dodgeball Beats is a rather fun and unique game that will bring out the friendly competitive nature in everyone, despite some criticisms regarding calibration and the diminishing entertainment value once the championship has been completed. This game creatively brings together all the essential elements in this genre to form a relatively distinctive and memorable gaming experience.

Seven Doors is short but entertaining puzzle title. The fact each puzzle tests us in different ways is a nice touch, although this will impact the difficulty differently for different players. We’d like to see the movement smoothed out a bit, but as it is this is worth a look for those looking for some quick hit puzzling action.

Overall, Madden NFL 24 is a solid game that delivers a realistic and immersive football experience on the Xbox Series X. The game has amazing graphics, improved gameplay mechanics, new features and modes, and a smart artificial intelligence system that makes it challenging and fun. If you are a fan of American football or looking to jump in for the first time, you should definitely check out Madden NFL 24 on Xbox Series X.

Morkredd brings some great solo or co-op physics puzzling to Gamepass, and it’s a title that is not to be missed. The dark moody atmosphere contrasts brilliantly next to the shining light we’re focused on, and the difficulty and length feels just perfect, not dragging on too long or whizzing by too fast. The story is easily missed, but at the same time I didn’t come away from my time having had any less fun for it.

Inspired by Perm culture, The Mooseman offers a stunning journey that’s well paced, gorgeously designed and thoroughly engaging. For its cheap cost, the game does a good job as far as its gameplay diversity is concerned. It would have been nice to see some more effort spared for its localisation, and although it’s short, it uses its runtime well to relay a decent blend of platforming and puzzle elements throughout.

When a game from a beloved film universe is developed with such fervour, everybody can rejoice in it. Robocop: Rogue Legacy is one such videogame adaptation that shows how unremitting faithfulness to source material and devotion towards replicating the look and feel of the films results in a truly immersive and moreish experience. Rogue City isn’t without chinks in its titanium Kevlar, due to its failure to evolve throughout, and a spongey and unnecessarily steep endgame, but if all you’re after is a badass game that does Robocop justice, then Rogue City is mission accomplished.

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.

All in all, Cannibal Abduction is an enjoyable, if slight, retro horror title. The cannibal gives up a bit too easily at times, but that doesn’t really deflate the shock value when he appears out of the blue each time we start to get comfortable. Add in a secondary, trickier game mode and for horror fans this is an easy recommendation.

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.

I could not put Chronos: Before the Ashes down and fully enjoyed every minute of it. I could only wish it was longer with me clocking in 20 hours on Heroic difficulty. All in all a phenomenal experience, albeit shorter than I would like, though due to its VR roots I expect this had some factor in that. The story of a valiant hero slaying the dragon isn’t ground breaking but sets the tone perfectly for what is a very fun experience. The audio and visuals are both fantastic complimenting each other perfectly. I cannot wait to see what Gunfire Games have in store for the future of the Ashes franchise.

Zero Zero Zero Zero isn’t a typical Ratalaika game – it’s deceptively more challenging and rewarding than the usual fare that they publish. Don’t overlook 0000 based on it’s minimalist presentation and spartan effects because the lack of distractions allow for better focus on the game’s solid platforming. The tight controls and the lag-free timing enable precision jumps, but even failing a level (which is always due to the avatar’s death) isn’t a big deal because a new level pops up immediately, keeping the action going.

A short and sweet puzzler that wows with its aesthetic while keeping us entertained with some simple but effective challenges. It’s all over a bit too soon, but don’t let that put you off checking it out.

While my rose tinted nostalgia glasses may be firmly pressed against my nose, FOX n FORESTS is a wonderfully accurate reminder of the good and bad times of the 16-bit era. Younger players may balk at its simplicity given that things certainly have come a long way since, but the game pulls off its aim so well that it’s hard not to be impressed.

Overall, if you want something that can be finished off over an evening or two and don’t mind challenging yourself, Circa Infinity is a fantastic choice to go with. It’s fairly cheap, it’s challenging and it’s going to ensure you’re getting something different than the blockbusters currently saturating the release window at this time of year. More of this, please!

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!

If you took the journey five years ago to Journey to the Savage Planet, you’ll want to book a trip to Revenge of the Savage Planet as well. Marmite humour and low-key exploration pleasures aside, Revenge of the Savage Planet is a good and enjoyable time that allows you to scan to your heart’s content and mosey through unknown landscapes to complete objectives and challenges en route to your ultimate revenge. Revenge of the Savage Planet won’t take up much of your time either, but just know that this brand of revenge is a dish served with a slice of weirdness and a platter of squirt burgers—meaning you should just go and have fun for a while.

Sir Lovealot might seem like he’s always on the lookout for love but if you’re on the lookout for a solid, fast-paced, 2D action platformer, then you have found a match. Its fantastic pixel art and familiar gameplay that’s both challenging and forgiving make this title worth your time. It’s only a few hours in length but is filled with funny fantasy tropes and gameplay that is easy to pick up.

Maid of Sker is a compelling and visually stunning experience for any horror fan and brings true stealth horror with 3D sound against you at it’s core. This may not be the longest game ever, but if this is the future of horror gaming then I welcome it with open arms.

Rad Rodgers is a good looking, fun, and comical adventure that will please just about anyone that gamed in the 90s. It’s short and suffers from some screen tearing issues, but for the most part, it holds its own ground well. This is one foul mouthed, entertaining, and well rounded nostalgic trip that you don’t want to miss out on.

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.

I think that the biggest thing that will hurt this game is the versions that came before it. I’m not sure people will spend the money on the latest edition if they’re still having fun on the last few entries. The career mode is worth the jump I think, and the more people that do will ultimately find themselves filling up multiplayer lobbies too. While the base price of the game is $49.99, ten dollars cheaper than most triple A titles, it should be an easy buy if you haven’t played a NASCAR Heat title before. But if you’re still having fun with any of the previous iterations you may choose to wait for a sale.

An excellent update to a relatively unknown arcade game. Quantum: Recharged is small in size and scope but the price is right for a cracking good time.

Shining Resonance Refrain is most certainly overshadowed by the more intriguing, deeper and better developed JRPGs of this gen. However, that’s not to say that it isn’t worthy of your time and attention. Despite its unoriginal characters, its poor soundtrack and its slightly repetitive gameplay loop, the game has a strong and interesting enough backbone to make for an enjoyable and diverse adventure.

Maneater is another great title from Tripwire, plenty of blood and adventure packed into this single player shark fest. Full of fun and great gameplay I highly recommend to any Jaws fan or horror nut out there. The only thing I’d like to see next time… Online shark battles.

Death Road to Canada’s randomly generated content injects a great deal of replay value into the mix. This is further bolstered by its well developed functionality and charming allure. Unfortunately, tough difficulty spikes can often cheaply rob you of success, but even then, there’s no denying that this game remains fun, exciting and tense, throughout the entirety of play.

REANIMAL is a great step in the right direction for Tarsier’s portfolio, though with all the improvements there are still some problems with its execution.

Warm, inviting and pleasant, Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus And Butterfly is a wonderfully accessible and gentle graphic novel game with a beautifully well-meaning heart. Changes from its predecessor are minimal, but Hibiscus And Butterfly encourages you to discover an array of comforting drinks, while the cast of fantastical and not-so fantastical characters tell you about their life predicaments, their perils and their successes. Much like a good pick-me-up, Coffee Talk Episode 2 is as easy as you’d like but has space for you to master the fine art of being a top-tier barista in a busy bustling café. The addition of Hibiscus And Butterfly Pea brings a classiness and a radiance that will lighten your day, and there are reasons to replay the story several times through to see everything it has to show for itself. There’s still plenty of room for Coffee Talk to grow and flourish, but this sequel is well-worth diving into if you just want to take a pew, grab an eye-opener and relish in a bevvy of stories.

Home Sweet Home is a guaranteed heart-stopper and gets a lot right with the tools that it uses. There’s the occasional issue to contend with, but the bottom line here is that this is a top survival horror title for the enthusiast of games such as Amnesia and Outlast, developed meticulously to relay the same style as that of the infamous P.T. It’s stunning, it’s intriguing, and it’s very, very scary.