The game is marketed and discussed as an evolution of the CRPG, but I think fans of story-heavy adventure games and the old point-and-click classics would also feel right at home in Disco Elysium: Final Cut.

Now, as I mentioned briefly at the start, the trailer didn’t quite sell to me the whole psychological horror tag that has been applied to In Sound Mind, and even now after having spent some enjoyable hours running through it, I wouldn’t quite point fully towards the horror genre for placement with In Sound Mind. Sure it has a few horror elements, however, should you be willing to accept it as a psychological thriller, then I for one would certainly assign that as amended tag, whilst also raising the expectation that In Sound Mind is a game we’ll likely see mentioned in the same breath as previously mentioned classic Condemned, in years to come.

Despite very slight niggles over control and getting myself lost, the reality is that Piccolo Studio have delivered an incredible debut full of rich storytelling, tear-filled beauty and unforgettable moments. Their own attention to detail and the obvious love they have poured into this game lift it far beyond the heavens their hero seeks. Whether a debut outing or otherwise, the game is outstanding. They may have also just delivered my game of the year.

I am Your Beast is lean, well paced, and full of style and humour. An essential purchase for anyone that loves to chase a perfect murder run.

Strategy fans looking for a meaty title to sink their teeth into will be disappointed, especially if they aren’t good at platforming games. On the other hand, 2D platformer fans should definitely give this a try. They’ll certainly be happy with half of the game and they might end up getting some enjoyment from the strategy part of the game as well like I did.

Deep Silver Fishlabs has spent a lot of time developing space-combat shooter games; they also developed the Galaxy on Fire series, and I think all of that time has culminated in a stand-out product here in Chorus. Taking the gameplay elements found in a typical 3D action RPG and applying them to a space flight game works tremendously well. Flying around the levels is a blast, the combat is enjoyable, and the story is more substantial than I expected, which was good and bad, as sometimes I wished the characters would shut up so I could get back into the action. If playing a space-combat shooter with an action RPG structure sounds at all interesting then you should consider checking out Chorus.

While I may not be fit to rule the new world, I sure had a depressingly great time with Frostpunk. The difficulty will no doubt put people off – especially those going in blind – but persevere and there’s a deep, rewarding strategy title here that will get it’s hooks in, and drag you down with it.

I still really enjoyed my time with Obduction, even despite getting severely stuck at points. It looks great, there’s a compelling tale being told and for the most part the puzzles are just the right balance of difficulty, rewarding our time spent invested in exploring the world. A little more guidance – even an optional hint system – could have kept me from visiting Google, but the fact I still wanted to continue means it must be doing something right.

Hidden Through Time has the secret sauce for what makes a game universal. It’s uncomplicated, fun, appropriate for everyone, and can be played in small chunks. For a hidden object/person game, I don’t see it being better than this. Crazy Monkey Studios does a great job of landing exactly on target on delivering exactly what you see, of which not all companies can boast. Highly recommended.

I really quite like Tannenberg. It’s committed to presenting WW1 in a pretty chilling way, yet still manages to be a fun, challenging online multiplayer shooter. The levelling progression menus are a bit confusing, and there’s not all that many people playing it yet, but get a good squad to go into battle with and I think you’ll be won over.

Ace Team have released their best game yet, a fusion of survival, exploration, and platforming. The world is stunning and begs to be explored.

I came away from Re:Turn – One Way Trip having had a great time. I really dug the 2D, 32-bit aesthetic that managed to get a good, creepy atmosphere across without relying on all the usual flash and pomp we’d expected of a horror title. The story is constantly engaging and well written, complimented by some great audio work. Some minor niggles in the constant back tracking and lack of helpful direction can lead to some frustration, especially if played across a few nights, but it doesn’t take too long to get back into the swing of things really. If you’re after a solid start to the Halloween season, this comes highly recommended.

Overall, if you like the world of Sherlock Holmes, enjoy a good investigative adventure, or have enjoyed any of the previous games in the series, either new or old, then Sherlock Holmes Chapter One is likely to be a game you will thoroughly enjoy. It has charm, wit, excitement, and plenty of harrowing crimes to chill you to the bone as you explore the picturesque locale of Sherlock’s childhood stomping ground. This is what I always want a Sherlock game to be.

Song of Iron is possibly one of my favourite games of 2021. It has a perfect playtime with just the right amount of difficulty to leave you at times pulling your hair out and feeling a brilliant sense of accomplishment when you have killed an enemy or a boss. Song of Iron‘s music is a great accompaniment, the Nordic feel pulls you in and immerses you completely. As you’re going through the game you pick up powers which include faster running helps you jump over those big gaps, fire and electricity for your sword and arrows as well as my personal favourite: calling back your sword after you’ve thrown it into an enemies head. At just a couple of hours long, this comes highly recommended.

Overall if you want a refreshing bike racer that elevates the usual tropes and exceeds in all the key areas, then RiMS Racing is the experience you need. Whilst it might falter slightly with some questionable A.I. aggression, and it may not have quite the number of iconic locations as some racers out there, there is more than enough to get lost in with this two-wheeled dream ride. The petition for RiMS 2 starts here!

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

Two Point Hospital is a familiar yet refreshing take on the PC classic that will satisfy veterans and newcomers alike. With its Dad humour and simple but deep gameplay, the game will keep you trying to achieve those perfect star ratings for hours on end. If you’re missing the 90’s nostalgia of management sims such as Theme Hospital, Theme Park and Rollercoaster Tycoon this will certainly cure that longing for the glory days.

A gorgeous and immersive first-person survival game that takes all the best the series has had to offer, and runs with it. The slow pace can take a little getting used to, but that visceral heft to the game really helps to place you in its world. The open world is a nice addition, but the game still plays at its best in its claustrophobic smaller areas. If you’re seeking a palette cleanser after years of breakneck shooters, Metro Exodus is a great choice.

While it may seem like an odd pairing on the face of it, Atomicrops blend of farming, rogue-like elements and bullet hell shooter make for one incredibly fun game. Starting from scratch upon death still isn’t my favourite thing in the world, but Atomicrops is definitely one of the better examples of this system.

Despite some very minor issues, F1 2018 is the best of its kind, and certainly the best in the series so far. The high level of visual and audio detail, grouped with the care and attention to authenticity, collectively makes for an experience that’s robust, faithful and deep. Codemasters’ subtle yet noticeable changes over F1 2017 takes an already distinguished racer and makes it bigger and better than ever.

All in all, Space Moth Lunar Edition is a great modern throwback to the arcade Shmups of old. It has some clever systems to encourage high score chasing and repeat plays, it looks and sounds lovely, and is, most importantly, a lot of fun to play. If you’re a fan of the genre or just curious to try a title like this out, you won’t find much better than this.

Radiolight is an enjoyable sci-fi adventure where we’re constantly wanting to see what’s next, with great performances pulling us through to a solid conclusion.

As I mentioned earlier I’ve played everything Warhammer from the Xbox 360 on and I can recommend most of them, but this is the first title I can recommend for both Warhammer enthusiasts and novices alike, as there’s enough story and lore content and plenty of interesting and challenging gameplay to satisfy both groups.

Rain on Your Parade is a hilarious, reference filled adventure that gamers young and old could enjoy. It provides variety and options for how much you want to get out of the game and is never too challenging for any one person.

The Gap is a stunning looking, well written, and engaging puzzle game, one that will have its hooks in within minutes and not let go. It can be a bit obtuse with the goals we’re looking to achieve (especially if your play sessions are spread out or get interrupted) but if you can keep in the zone, The Gap will reward you with a fantastic gaming experience.

Overall I am blown away at how much I have enjoyed playing MLB The Show 21. I had a mild interest in baseball but I can see myself following the sport a lot closer based on how much fun I have had so far in this game. Sure it has flaws and it’s not the easiest to just pick up and play, but that all pales in comparison to the satisfaction of crushing a pitch clean out the field.

Overall, if you are looking for a game that can provide a high-quality storytelling experience, whilst remaining engaging throughout, then there will be few better than The Letter – A Horror Visual Novel. Sure, you can blast through it with skip-text options and auto-play if you’re just here for the Gamerscore, but if you want to make the most of that money spent, then this is not a game that will disappoint. It brings classic horror to a complete narrative adventure, and it does it in a way that even few books manage to achieve. This is the first time a visual novel has left me anything but resenting its existence, and somehow this one even manages to be impressive. Hopefully, we see more horror visual novels given this same development effort.

The Golf Club 2019 is as close to real world golf as you can get. HB Studios goes above and beyond to strike a fine balance between accessible and challenging. With its repetitive commentary and its plastic avatars to the side, there’s very little to scoff at. The game’s functions are remarkably fluid, precise and deep, allowing players to immerse themselves in an authentic and faithful representation of the sport.