Whilst not quite on the same level as top-tier metroidvanias, fans of the concept will love Timespinner for all that it gets right. The game’s story remains interesting throughout, with gameplay that’s well paced, exciting, and consistently engaging, not to mention fairly open and deep. It’s a shame that its time manipulating mechanic isn’t put to better use, but that gripe, alongside a few niggling issues, does little to pull this adventure shy of being worthwhile.

To put it bluntly – I really relived my youth playing this. Controls were as you should expect from a platformer of this nature, very good and responsive. The additions of powers gave the game some strategy; should I stick with the blue potion for my floaty jump or take a chance on this new potion which could give me a ninja strike or turn me into a wizard which gave me a range attack shot. The enemy type changed as you progress through the levels and were in theme with the level. An enjoyable little platformer, and one for those looking for some quick and easy gameplay.

It’s fine. A short description of a game set 30 plus years after its predecessor is really how I’m feeling. It’s not bad but it’s not … for me. In my opinion Beyond the Ice Palace II keeps its retro hardness alive in this installment (which I’m not knocking) but in 2025 I want smoothness to my platformers. This one really takes me back to SNES days where a game was hard because it meant you had to put the time in to master it and I’m just not into that in this day and age which I realize isn’t necessarily the opinion of all gamers. I know some metroidvania fans who would love this one so if that’s you, at least give Beyond the Ice Palace II a double take.

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.

In what feels like a love letter to JRPG’s and professional wrestling, WrestleQuest hits all of the right notes. My qualms with it are small but it definitely met my expectations. The wrestling tones are laid on thick but in no way do I think it will be a hinderance to RPG fans. If you can stomach lots of talking and a variety of moves via turn based combat, well you can do much worse than WrestleQuest. OH YEAH!!!

Overall players can get a lot of playtime and enjoyment out of this collection, but the fact that the game lacks a typical multislot save system really hurts the product. If you like RPG games and want to try something different or have played gamebooks like the ones this is based on, then Steve Jackson’s Sorcery! is worth a try.

I’ve found myself really enjoying Midnight Fight Express. While initially limited, the combat opens up as you unlock new moves and combos. Being able to replay missions is great, and the customisation in both moves and appearance really sat well with me. I’d have liked to have voice acting in the game, but other than that this comes recommended.

112 Operator excels not only as a crisis management game but as an emotional experience that challenges you to think beyond strategy. The sound design, dynamic challenges, and the human element behind each emergency make it an intense and thought-provoking experience. While the visuals are simple, they allow you to focus on the real heart of the game, the emotional and tactical complexities of managing emergencies. This title will stay with you long after you put it down, making you think about the unsung heroes who answer those 112 (999/911 calls). This isn’t just about making quick decisions, it’s about understanding the human element behind those decisions.

ADIOS Amigos is a fun game that accommodates both solo and local co-op play, across a small variety of well designed modes. The controls take some time getting used to and the entire journey can become repetitive before long, but with that aside, its decent gameplay mechanics coupled with its light-hearted sense of exploration, drives ADIOS Amigos in all the right directions.

Delayed completion aside, I found Anthology of Fear to exceed my expectations, with a solidly build horror foundation complimented with genuine frights and tense moments. With no combat (and very little actual peril) it might not suit everyone, but if you enjoyed titles like Layers of Fear or indeed the P.T demo, then this is well worth a look.

Even though I’d not seen an episode of the show before playing I was really rather taken with Samurai Jack: Battle Though Time. It looks great, the combat is fun and fluid, there’s lots to do with upgrading Jack’s abilities, and lots of replayability with the different difficulties and scores to beat. A great game all round and one worth checking out.

This next gen, upgraded version of Warhammer: Chaosbane Slayer brings the fun of a Diablo-like experience to our shiny new machines. There’s a lot to play and experiment with, with a good range of characters and abilities. Fighting mechanics feel good, though easily switching weapons with the right stick in combat can feel a little too tricky at times. After a fairly standard feeling initial load, the Series’ SSD really shines in game, letting us move about in game super fast!

Greedfall II had a big ask to follow on from the original which I enjoyed a lot even if it had its annoyances and limitations such as repetitive dialogue choices. Greedfall II feels much more refined in terms of graphics, story and dialogue. The new combat system was a bold choice but it’s a risk, allowing players to try their hand at both real time and tactical styles. Returning players will find a lot to enjoy here, but newer players will be able to pick things up easily enough as well.

The combat and traversal in Kingdom Hearts III is simply outstanding, with each massively in-depth system intertwining perfectly to produce a widely compelling basis that constantly excites. There’s a fantastic amount of variation as far as the game’s worlds, its enemies, and its activities are concerned, bolstering its already impressive value. Unfortunately, some sloppy development choices and a convoluted plot hold it back from greatness.

Just Dance 2019, for better and for worse, doesn’t do much to step the series outside of its comfort zone. Though even so, it still manages to maintain the allure that’s held the franchise together for quite a number of years now. Despite the odd issue with its tracking technology, the game offers countless hours of fun for players of all ages, complete with a decent online component to further its longevity.

GRIP isn’t a bad racer by any means, but it could have been a lot more than what it is had the developer spent more time refining track consistency. Furthermore, the campaign itself feels nonsensical by design, and there’s certainly some population needed for its online component. Nevertheless, and despite those faults, GRIP is one of the most fun, intense and unique combat racers in recent memory.

Solo players will definitely find some challenging fun here, and I have found myself trying to beat a few of my own times, but I’m not sure how much I’ll return to it over time to test my skills. Some of the tracks I cannot see how I can go any faster, and unless some of my online pals pick it up and get into it the online random leaderboards aren’t enough to keep me coming back.

Despite the clear inspiration it has taken from Mario Kart and other kart-racing games, Nickelodeon: Slime Speedway is an energetic burst of kart-racing action you will find suitably engrossing. It’s not pushing any boundaries, nor does it always feel compelling to drive – but it will likely steal your evenings with the little ones, and there’s a cast of characters here that will delight those little ones who grew up in the 90s. All told this is a solid effort that will go down well like Garfield’s lasagne – just don’t expect it to get Squidward’s approval.

Overall, Silver Chains is at best a capable horror that gives a few hours of chills, and at worst it’s a game that relies on overused tropes to create its scares whilst looking damn good doing so. Let’s not forget though, this is an indie title, and for a small budget adventure, we’ve certainly seen and played much worse. Whilst it might not be the best horror game you’ll play this year, there is no reason not to add this to your list if you’re a fan of the genre.

There are many trucks to level up and many customization skins to unlock by earning XP with each of the 8 groups of trucks and finding all the collectibles on top of secret vehicles. Overall, this is a fun arcade racer with some issues, but none that are game breaking.

Fun, diverse, and heavy on the replay value, Hero Express is a solid atypical driver that will keep fans of its Trials-like concept entertained for hours on end. Despite some issues with its upgrade system and the occasional flaw in its level design, this is the pinnacle of one-more-go gaming. When all is said and done, you’ll be hard-pressed finding anything quite as engaging as this, for the same massively generous price.

Might Switch Force Collection is a mixture of clever, old school mechanics, wrapped up in a modern package. Some of the games perhaps haven’t aged all that well, but if you’re after something to feed that nostalgia itch, you won’t be going far wrong with this.

Journey of the Broken Circle is more than meets the eye. It’s an easy to pick up 2D platformer that delivers an excellent narrative about love, existentialism, and friendships. From the actual gameplay perspective, nothing is gated through difficulty and even younger gamers could play and enjoy. Throw in some collectibles and audio that pairs up well with the mood of the story and you’ve got yourself a game. Recommended to fans of story and casual platforming.

Xuan-Yuan Sword 7 is a curious and fun insight into a franchise that hasn’t seen much air outside of China. Solid combat, with detailed upgrade systems, underpins a compelling story.

Heading Out has a clear sense of style and carries the whole experience. It falters a little with the driving model and some small bugs.

Beholder houses a great deal of depth, even for a management sim. It’s an intriguing experience that will constantly toy with your moral compass, if indeed frustrating at times. This game isn’t particularly lengthy, but there’s a heap of replay value to be found within thanks to the procedurally generated scenarios and over ten different endings.

Infernax for me is a decent platformer that is aimed at the older market. They have added in a lot of adult references and gore to make sure you understand it is not for kids. There are some fun comical elements, wonderfully tough decisions with surprising outcomes and challenging bosses which will test your patience. I am glad games like this are still being made as there is still a lot of joy to be had with this formula.

I would recommend this title to LEGO fans that love building, but hate the mess. This game is a brief story of a bond between two characters and coping with everyday life as a Lego. I enjoyed the silent story the player witnesses as the levels roll on and was impressed mostly by the vivid color usage in the visuals and level design. If you’re not into puzzle games or an avid Lego fan, then you might find it hard to find value in this short game and will quickly lose interest. Once the credits roll, the game resets right back to the beginning again with no other mode or extra content apart from the main 35 levels. I felt it was a tad short for the asking price, but the game is impressive for what it is and is an official LEGO product. If trying to get a young child to play this, they will most likely lose interest in comparison to the standard LEGO game due to the lack of familiar characters, voice acting, and the subtlety of the story delivery. This game was made for the fans of the hobby and puzzlers alike.