I am a big fan of the Yakuza series and Like a Dragon Ishin! has all the qualities that you would expect from a game in this series. It looks and feels like a modern game but certain aspects do remind you that you are playing a remake of an older game. For those new to the series this is a great one to jump into as it’s disconnected story-wise from the Yakuza thread. There is so much content to enjoy and the different combat styles keep things fresh even if the story doesn’t feel too fresh.

The experience of playing Football Manager on my living room TV really makes a difference – the whole thing feels more premium. I will always be a full-fat version of the game kinda guy, but that doesn’t take away from the fact the Sports Interactive have done a great job at making a Football Manager sim accessible to people who don’t want to search the Ecuadorean 3rd division to find the next wonder kid. One of the features that has really impressed me with the Xbox version is the quick resume feature, no waiting on loading screens just to grab a couple of games before dinner or heading off to work means that it really can be a pick up and play experience.

Earth Atlantis’ blend of exploration and side-scrolling shooting remains tense, invigorating and well paced throughout the entirety of play. Its unique old-sketch visuals provides a theme that widely sets itself apart from its peers, ultimately producing an adventure that’s as fascinating as it is enticing. There’s a few niggles here and there, but these are easy to forgive in the face of everything that this game gets right.

Train Sim World is a robust yet accessible game that caters for a wide range of its material’s responsibilities. The game does a good job at feeding you into its intricacies and once there, rarely fails to maintain its allure. It’s also quite free in its approach, enabling players to explore and drive at a leisurely pace. Not perfect nor groundbreaking by any means, but it does achieve what it sets out to accomplish.

Nidhogg 2 doesn’t stray too far from the concept of its predecessor. This, depending on what you want from a sequel, will be for the better or for the worse. Regardless, there’s no doubt that this game offers one of the best and most tense 1v1 experiences in recent memory. What I found most compelling is how in-depth and robust the game can be, whilst remaining totally accessible and fluid throughout.

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.

When playing Anodyne 2: Return to Dust you can tell the developers love making video games and want to share that love with anyone interested. Thanks to an ever-expanding world and the introduction of new mechanics and ideas as the game progresses the game certainly stands out from the pack. There are some slow-paced parts and a few of the later puzzles and card locations might require a guide, but overall Anodyne 2 should be played by anyone who is interested in indie game design or anyone that wants to enjoy a multi-genre nostalgia-fueled adventure with an endearingly entertaining story about self-discovery.

If you’re in the mood for classic Resident Evil-style thrills, Signalis is the best example of its kind in modern videogames. Don’t expect Signalis to evolve survival horror formulae or give you a horror experience that’s resoundingly new, but provided that you crave a faithful and sumptuous classic horror game experience, Signalis will be a nice and welcoming surprise that you will be sure to savour.

I decided to review Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan on a whim, and I’m glad I did. There’s a lot to like here, and I think it could appeal to a lot of different gamers. The story goes off the deep end in terms of wholesomeness and could be perfect for children that know how to read. The exploration, the monster befriending, and the wonderful art style are the best parts and I found the game hard to put down, many nights I’d tell myself “oh, I’ll just play one more island real quick” – “Gotta recolor ‘em all!”

One of the best thought out FMV games by Wales Interactive, a must play for fans of the genre and good entry point for newcomers.

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 want to get back to your arcade roots and experience some of Capcom’s exemplary arcade games spanning over three decades then Capcom Arcade Stadium is a no-brainer. The quality of life additions allow players of all skill levels to enjoy the games, and the multiple leaderboards for each game will have the veterans competing for fame and glory. Some audiovisual galleries would have been nice, but as long as Capcom stays active with challenges and hopefully adds more games then the Stadium will remain standing room only for some time to come – but really how else would you play at the arcade?

UnMetal is a love letter to old school Metal Gear with a comedic twist. It excels in stealth and you will enjoy yourself though each of the levels. There’s nothing I would change or feel is missing in my opinion. It’s definitely one of the best indie games I have played this year.

Paul Raschid has been in the FMV game for a while now, and though The Complex still remains a firm favourite at Tavern Towers, Hello Stranger is a strong contender for some of his best work yet thanks to a snappy playtime, great performances and plenty of replayability.

The Sims 4 once again proves that a good PC game that’s primarily designed for keyboard and mouse, simply doesn’t suit the controller. It’s but one of the many reasons that Microsoft needs to pull their fingers out and enable keyboard and mouse support for the Xbox One, not only will it help the transition of games like this and Divinity Original Sin, but it will add more appeal too.

Darksiders: Genesis redeems the series after the disappointment of the 3rd entry last year. It manages to capture the essence that makes Darksiders what it is, while transposing it in to a new genre. Top quality action, over the top powers and spectacle and a fun core loop that provides challenge without too much frustration. Removing the series staple platforming wouldn’t have hurt, and at times solo play can be a little bit attritional, but overall you’d be hard pressed not to have a good time with Genesis.

Episode 1 really is a journey that tugs on your heartstrings and plays with your emotions, so much so that I can’t wait to see how the brothers and their relationship develops over the coming episodes. No doubt there will be many more horrific challenges in their way, but I am eager to see how things pan out. Life is Strange 2 is off to a great start.

What you’ll find here isn’t the next game to join the contest of who can be the biggest FPS hit of the year, but rather a game that focuses on realism, action, and teamwork. It trades the big-budget effects for the nitty-gritty darkened warfare and it does this in a way that feels believable and enthralling, whilst managing to scratch that one-more-go itch as each round concludes, and for the efforts, it might just be the surprise big hitter of the year from the FPS genre after all.

These minor niggles aside, Radical Rabbit Stew is a fun puzzle game. The central mechanic is easy to grasp, the puzzle design is mostly brilliant and the retro style visual and audio presentation is right up my street.

Overall, if you are after a moody, vibrant, and focussed action platformer that can hold your attention throughout, then Gunborg: Dark Matters is definitely one you should be playing, be it in 2022 or beyond. It may be incredibly challenging, it may in essence be basic platforming, but it also brings together well-crafted mechanics, smooth controls, and some fantastic gameplay to create a memorable and enjoyable title well worth your time and money.

Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters is another great entry into the Warhammer Universe. With tons of different ways to customize your squad cosmetically and with talents, Daemonhunters has the ability to keep you coming back for more.

First person puzzlers are my jam, and I’m glad I finally got to check out Q.U.B.E via this 10th Anniversary Edition release. The puzzles are well crafted, with enough new mechanics added at just the right time to prevent things getting stale. Add in a passable tale and some lovely new visuals, and we have a game that comes easily recommended to all but the most puzzle adverse players. And look at that, not a single Portal comparison!

City of the Wolves is a solid instalment in the series, and a game that is in love with its past, while adding new layers everywhere that counts. There is substantial single player content, multiplayer of value and considerable roster. SNK fans will be eating well today – as long as they are prepared to pay extra for content.

Publisher Nacon and developer KT Racing have built a very solid Rally title with WRC 9, even though there aren’t many improvements over the last edition. It’s definitely a worthy investment for Rally fans, especially if you skipped last year’s WRC 8, though I’m not sure it’s worth upgrading straight away if you’re still plugging away at that title. At least not until a good sale comes along. While it does have some multiplayer modes, at the time of this writing I was unable to find any open lobbies. But to be fair most people probably prefer the career mode, because you really aren’t racing head to head anyway.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker is a very detailed and immersive RPG and there is much to get involved within the game and enjoy. Fans of the old Baldurs Gate-style games will find a lot of comfort in this game as there is a lot of familiarities and it has been brought to a decent modern standard. Causal players might find the game like wading through treacle in its pacing, but with the great story line and bags of content, there is a lot of enjoyment to be had if you can commit the time to it.

Blades of Fire has all the elements to be a memorable action-adventure game but a few questionable decisions in my eyes have made it slightly fade in the crowd. Great graphics, complex combat, and interesting forging mechanics but the lack of direction sadly steers the game into becoming repetitive.

Wulverblade is brutal, gory, and gorgeous in its design. It comes packed with collectibles and unlocks that constantly rewards the player with fascinating insights. Putting some difficulty inconsistencies to the side, fans of side-scrolling brawlers will be thrilled with what’s on offer. The game is well designed, diverse, and above all else it’s hard to put down.

Old gits like me will no doubt get a nostalgia rush out of Ion Fury, as for all intents and purposes it is a ‘90s game. It’s certainly a lot simpler and to the point than most modern shooters, and perhaps modern payers might not quite jive with it, but the core gameplay is fast, fun and easy to get into. Hard to beat, but easy to get into.