Just Cause 4 is easily the best game in the series, seamlessly combining its freedom of experimentation with its signature, action-packed concept. The addition of extreme weather effects, together with the game’s redefined functionalities, go hand in glove to produce wildly entertaining gameplay opportunities from the get-go. Unfortunately, the game’s weak story and its grindy structure ultimately pulls it just shy of greatness.

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.

Conarium is certainly one for the fans of H.P. Lovecraft, despite the fact that it’s less of a traditional horror, and more of a puzzler with elements of suspense present. That said, the game does a wonderful job at presenting a dark and eerie story that follows in the footsteps of its source material, complete with a great setting and several nods to its inspirations. Unfortunately, however, its slow pace and its short length holds it back quite a bit.

Tin & Kuna may look adorable, but they’re stress balls, and not in the relaxing sense. A joy for the eyes and ears, then, but expect pain in every other part of your body, as you fall off the same platform over and over and over.

No One Lives Under the Lighthouse is an enjoyably dark, surprising adventure that is well worth a look for those in the market for something a little obtuse, yet different.

Endzone – A World Apart is one of the most comprehensive base-building survival management sims I’ve seen. There is a lot to do here, it just might be too much for some.

Gods Will Fall doesn’t hold your hand. It can seem difficult when first playing, but it’s one of those games where you get better as you learn the mechanics and which bosses to tackle first, as well as their weaknesses. Eventually you’ll be breezing through most levels, picking up weapons and chucking them at enemies, parrying them and launching them off cliffs to their deaths left and right. You’ll feel like maybe you’re the god, and if something does happen to you, you have seven more chances. If you like hack and slash games but want more than an average challenge then this is the game to try. Clever Beans has done a great job designing a harsh and atmospheric world while also providing an excellent set of tools and mechanics to conquer it.

Bendy and the Ink Machine is a pretty good action-horror, and although it can sometimes seem a little bland, you cannot knock it for its originality. There’s a couple of technical and design issues to iron out, but overall, the fresh and distinct look, together with some good scares, will undoubtedly keep your heart racing throughout.

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.

The music, whether you’re driving a buggy or walking around, is unobtrusive and doesn’t interfere with the background ambient sounds, which I like.

Trailblazers is undeniably fun, well developed and unique. Its distinct design and innovative paint-to-boost gameplay mechanic proves that a simple idea can go a very long way. With some AI issues to the side, this is one cooperative-specific racing experience that shouldn’t be overlooked. Whether or not its online community will flourish remains to be seen, but given its alluring foundation alone, I hold hope that it will.

Chasm is a shining example of the concept that it adopts, and although it doesn’t really do anything out of the ordinary as far as its core design is concerned, it does indeed offer an exciting adventure that’s neatly paced and brilliantly structured. There’s a few technical issues to be mindful of, such as a some visual blemishes and its slightly floaty controls, but for the most part, Chasm represents its genre remarkably well.

Even if you’re not an ardent follow of the sport, MXGP 2019 still provides a fun, though challenging, racing experience. Great visuals, some fun, responsive handling and great track design more than make up for the difficulty and constant droning of engines.

We Were Here Together is a solid example of out of the box, co-op thinking. The puzzles can get a bit too clever for their own good at times, and if you’re not playing with a good friend I’d imagine the frustration will only amplify; but get a reliable buddy, grab you’re note book and there’s plenty of brain teasing fun to be had here.

King of Seas is solid, but unremarkable. Lacking the diversity of actions and depth of simulation required for something within its genre. For those craving a pirate game it will definitely entertain, but maybe not for very long.

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.

Togges is as a unique game as its name. In this 3D puzzle platformer, you aren’t controlling some bipedal human or creature trying to get to the right side of the screen but rather a vacuum like robot that with the aid of the togges, solves puzzles to traverse this free roaming landscape. The traversal is likely my favorite schtick as you have to manage the amount of togges you have while keeping them next to each other as they are the keys to the puzzles. As with a lot of 3D open-world-esque games to me the camera is very middle of the road and leaves some to be desired. The puzzles are hit or miss as to their understandability but at least it’s a pretty game. This beautiful puzzle platformer would give the fan of the genre plenty of content to stack the deck with.

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.

All in all, it’s great to have The Dark Pictures back with us after an extended break. The Turning Point feature is fantastic (we’d like to see the older games retrofitted with it), the story is full of interesting twists and turns, and the extensions of more traditional gameplay are welcome. Some choices still leave us screaming at the screen to meet in the middle, but on the whole Directive 8020 maintains the series high bar.

Although many comparisons can be drawn from such games as Stardew Valley, Graveyard Keeper very much stands on its own two feet. This game will not be for everyone due to the play-style, however, if you are partial to the pixelated farming sim genre and have a curiosity for something a little darker, I fully recommend that you consider adding this game to your collection.

SYNDUALITY has plenty of solid ideas, they just aren’t particularly original, and they are asking full price for a bunch of content that is weighted down by the kind of exploitation you see in Free-to-Play.

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III doesn’t stack up against the likes of Diablo, but it does indeed provide a well rounded action-RPG experience nevertheless. It implements much of what worked in the immediate predecessor and improves upon what didn’t. The game provides plenty of action, heaps of loot, and a conclusion that neatly wraps up the overarching story. With minor issues to the side, this installation is arguably the best in the trilogy.

The Gunk is a perfect example of a developer that can make tired mechanical tropes sing with master craftmanship.

Subtle but solidly produced, In Rays of the Light does a beautiful and eloquent job of drawing you into its story and environments. Much can be appreciated regarding the artistry on display here and while the gameplay doesn’t compare favourably to it, there’s plenty of potential in what the game offers stylistically and in regards to its presentation that it can stand tall and comes recommended for its attempts at drawing you in. There is a need to make the gameplay more riveting despite the lurking presence of shadows, as there’s a propensity for unexcitingly light puzzles and a frustrating segment amid darkness, but in all In Rays of the Light is worth a look if you want a short, flawed but compelling and well-made jaunt.

Thinking back on the game as a whole, though there’s obviously that Dead Space DNA running through it – from the over the shoulder camera, the stomping on corpses for items, the diegetic UI and more – this feels like the successor we probably should have received instead of Dead Space 3. The action is here but it still managed to keep the survival horror flavour and tone intact. It’s not perfect, but it’s a solid outing for Striking Distance and one we hope they can build on in the future.

Fe is a wonderful and endearing adventure that’s slightly let down by niggling control issues. This game brilliantly merges stealth and platforming together, with a collection of well designed puzzles thrown in for both meaning and balance. The visual presentation remains rich and diverse throughout, serving up an experience that wont be forgotten in a hurry.

Vampyr is an ambitious experience that’s packed with atmosphere and personality. The game’s greatest achievement, however, is how well all of its systems come together to produce constant catch-22 dilemmas. It’s a game that truly puts the narrative power into the hands of the player, which ultimately results in a deep and immersive journey through a dark and compelling plot.

Madden 23 is a rehash of all the previous Madden‘s in the series. Bits and pieces were taken from those games and labelled as new. Even though FieldSENSE was refurbished I still strongly believe that it gave Madden 23 its shine. What good is that shine however when the game is covered with bugs and laziness? I’m not saying this game had to be perfect. Other sports simulation titles have their own share of problems. What separates Madden from them however is EA decides to mix the old problems with the new ones. Instead of fixing it, they go and do the same thing next year.