Madden 22 is the next year’s instalment on the franchise and I feel it’s gone back a step. Yes, it looks graphically better, but otherwise it’s really not that much different to previous instalments. The career mode is a roll-forward from previous years, as are the achievements. EA could do so much more with the Madden franchise and it’s a shame they haven’t executed it as well as I’d hope.

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.

All in all Virtuous Western is a nice game. The gameplay loop is easy enough to get to grips with, but it’s also not a title that’ll hold the attention for a long time. Achievement hunters will likely blast through it, but those looking for something to sink their teeth into are best of looking elsewhere.

Come for the striking art style and stay for the engaging gameplay, that’s my cliched tagline for the undoubtably original Inked: A Tale of Love. It’s a relatively short game (about three to four hours), and doesn’t offer much replayability since there aren’t any achievements, but the game stays fresh throughout by introducing new mechanics in each of the beautifully drawn levels and by featuring a fun hidden object mechanic. If you don’t mind not earning achievements and enjoy puzzle games then this is worth a look.

For those looking for a short and funny Point-and-click/visual novel One-Eyed Lee is a good way to go. Just remember to have multiple saves to avoid getting stuck.

Tales of Arise is a JRPG that ticks a lot of boxes of what I expect and what I want such a game to be. It has a great story, great characters, wonderful designed areas that are vibrant and a combat system you can tailor to your preference. It proves not every RPG needs to be open world and if you do all the other elements very well then it makes for a great experience.

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.

Overall, if you want a game that brings back the type of horror that seems to have become lost to time in recent years, Tormented Souls will definitely provide. It’s creepy, it’s dark and it has an enjoyable story within its moody setting. Sure, it essentially rips off the features of the classic experiences, but it also feels like a fresh new experience thanks to a surprisingly enjoyable story that holds its own. If you’re missing an experience that properly gave you a thrill, then Tormented Souls should be able to reintroduce that excitement in your life.

All in all the Isle of Siptah expansion adds a much needed content injection that will leave you in awe of the vast landscapes and huge variety of new and interesting monsters you will come to face in your time spent on Siptah. Maybe one day I’ll see you there amongst the many that have fallen at my feet, and we shall see who’s head is on the floor and who stands the victor in this wonderful action adventure from Funcom.

With the raft of great horror titles out there already, there’s very little to recommend checking out Yuoni over most of them. The slow paced hide and seek gameplay lacks tension, risk, or any real consequence, and while the visuals can prove quite creepy at times, for the most part this is all too forgettable.

Despite the slow start and the weak melee combat, I will go out of my way to recommend Phoenotopia: Awakening. The developers went above and beyond building a captivating world that will suck you in. There are funny characters, interesting locations, unique puzzles, and satisfying platforming. What are you waiting for? Grab your fishing rod, frying pan, bomb sack, spear, and dust off your flute, and prepare for an adventure.

Super Animal Royale has exceeded my expectations. The title is just so cute and enjoyable and the fast-paced gameplay is truly addictive and I can gladly say it’s a game that I almost play daily. Even if it’s not that kind of game for you it definitely can be something to play if you find yourself bored. It’s even more of a blast if you play with friends. I can’t stress enough how cute and adorable the game is and how far it’s come since its early stages. Super Animal Royale still gets the Varnell Harris seal of approval.

Mask of Mists is a wonderful first-person adventure title considering the size of the team that made it and is appropriately priced on the marketplace. There is also a trial that can allow 30 minutes of gameplay to experience what it’s like before committing to the purchase. The price for both versions are the same, but I would highly recommend getting the newer X|S version with upgraded visuals, lighting, and faster load times.

As a lifelong Sonic fan, I’m glad I was finally able to play Colours, and in the best possible fashion thanks to the nice audio/visual upgrade. The core gameplay is great, and the Wisps add far more than I thought they would to proceedings. Some of the classic issue with 3D Sonic games remain, but these are limited in what is otherwise a great time.

The Tour de France games will only really appeal to a very certain audience. Some people might jump in for a few stages to see if they enjoy the game if this game drops into something like Game Pass but fans of the real Tour will definitely not regret parting with their hard earned cash. Fans of the TDF will plunge a ridiculous number of hours into the game, whether that be king of the mountains, a sprint demon or even the chance to match the great Eddy Merckx! Sure, the game could do with having the full rider roster, a better in game audio or a more realistic crash mechanic but that doesn’t ruin the overall experience.

Overall and if you can look past that glaring miss of possible greed, WRC 10 is a fantastic game. The cars feel the part, handling is much more in-depth this year than in previous entries, and should you have the capacity to race with a wheel then you’ll find the whole experience incredibly engaging. Even with a controller though there is certainly plenty to be excited by and whilst we only have a few years left of Kylotonn holding the WRC license, we are surely seeing the best we’ve ever seen from the franchise yet.

Overall and if you’re looking for a game that is great to play with a friend and can frequently keep things interesting then Struggling is sure to keep you entertained. It holds enough challenge and difficulty to keep things engaging without ever going too far as to make things inaccessible. Whilst it’s likely to be one of the weirdest games you’ll play in 2021, it’s up there with one of the finest indie games too.

Crown Trick warrants a play from all Roguelike or turn based games, a worthy challenge with a change in pace from a typical one life only game. A truly joyful movement-based game with amazing art and combat depth, try it out if you’re a part of Game Pass day one.

Monster Harvest looks charming and it offers a lot of the things you want from a game like this. A story, a farming sim with some creative choices and an animal combat element. It could be described as a Farmville Pokémon hybrid but only very loosely. A lot of the game feels lifeless and countless bad decisions in this game will leave you bored. Also losing your progress will infuriate you more than the three looping songs this game has to offer.

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.

Developer Jutsu Games have ensured that this latest title is engaging, silly and fun and with surprising detail packed into an expansive gameplay experience this is certainly going to be a surprise for many gamers out there. The issues however are glaring, and should a fix be put in place soon then there will be very little to complain about should you jump in with a purchase of this one.

As you can hopefully tell, I very much enjoyed The Innsmouth Case. It’s easy to pick up and get into, full of interesting and witty writing, plenty of alternate routes and options, and even surprisingly decent in the audio/visual department. Fans of the choose your own adventure style books of old should absolutely be checking this one out.

Golf Club: Wasteland is slightly more hit than miss. The overall package contains an enjoyable experience. The music matches wonderfully and exploring the decayed wasteland landscape is a fun experience, but the method by which you do the exploring, i.e. the golfing, leaves a lot to be desired and can be more than frustrating using a controller. The game is priced fairly, $10 USD, for what’s there, so if you want to take a swing I’d say go for it.

Islanders is effortlessly sublime. A city builder that is easy to understand and continues to grow with each playthrough.

In the here and now, Guts ’N Goals is fun in short bursts, at least solo. There’s a ton of stuff to unlock, the match types are fast and hectic and the extra modes prove to be a great way of mixing things up. It’d make a great addition to a local multiplayer night again in the near future, and once online play is there there’ll be more incentive to keep returning.

All in all, Orbibot is tough to recommend. For those willing to persevere the physics foibles, there’s a decent puzzle game here. But the issues are so frequent that unless you’re here for the very easy 1000g, then you’re probably best off looking elsewhere.

Pile Up! Box by Box is definitely an enjoyable couch co-op title. The lack of online multiplayer sucks but you shouldn’t avoid playing it purely for that. Get some friends round now Covid restrictions allow and have some fun working things out!

As someone who grew up in the 90’s and watched countless hours of Nickelodeon, the art style alone is an instant sell, but The Big Con is more than that. The game has a great sense of humor and the story stays entertaining throughout. It might not be Da Bomb, but it would definitely be worth a rental.