Little Orpheus is an experience more than it is a game. This hilarious story takes you on a wild ride with awesome aesthetics and funny quips all over the place. Where the simple and sometimes boring gameplay lacks, the narrative picks up the pieces tenfold. Don’t go in expecting a challenge and you’ll enjoy your time.

Roguelite lovers will enjoy ScourgeBringer I feel. If you have played Dead Cells you can look forward to some similar action and beats, while also offering just as much of a challenge. It’s a good example of the genre and well worth a look, especially as it’s included in Gamepass!

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance nails the charm of the Gelflings and the world of the Dark Crystal, but fails to do anything even remotely new in the Tactics genre. Nevertheless, it’s a simple game that for a small price could be worth picking up for a quick blast of uncomplicated strategy when the strategy craving hits.

Short, sweet, simple and challenging arcade action that is easy to pick up and play, and very moreish thanks to super fast restarts egging us on for ‘one more go’.

Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics achieves much of what it sets out to accomplish. Whilst the game excels as far as accessibility is concerned, those that relish an in-depth turn-based strategy game may be disheartened by the simplicity on show here. That said, and despite its recycled level design and its grind-like reward system, there’s a fairly compelling experience within that does more things right than it does wrong.

Cris Tales is a beautiful 2D JRPG with an interesting story and great use of time manipulation. Each of the characters are unique and bring something different to each battle. The way the screen splits to show you the past, present and future is delightful to see and invests you into the game to try and improve the future, while using time powers in battles is well executed and kept me keen on trying different strategies. Hopefully the slow movement outside of battle and the fact there is no difficulty slider doesn’t put people off as there’s a lot to enjoy here in this stunning looking JRPG.

SuperMash to me had a goal in mind, and that goal was to create a variety of games for the player to play out of different types of genres. It executed it’s goal perfectly but even so, I feel that a few more additions to the game itself would make it even better and more entertaining than it already is.

Final Vendetta is exactly what it wanted to be; a side-scrolling beat-em-up that can sit with the likes of Streets of Rage and Final Fight. And it does a pretty good job in doing so. The graphics have a great retro feel, the music is great, and the characters have different and interesting moves. It’s just a shame it’s so hard, missing continues and lacking online play.

As a debut FMV title, Trapped Predator has done a great job of following in the wake of publisher Wales Interactive. The tale is engaging with plenty of twists, turns, and reasons to replay. We’d have liked a few more choices, more frequently to make along the way and we hope that whatever they bring us next can fine tune what is already a solid base in their production and story telling.

Despite its difficulty fluctuations and some minor design issues with its procedurally generated content, 20XX offers a solid Mega Man-like action platformer that plays well and is distinct enough to stand out. There’s a lot of diverse content to work through, with heaps of upgrades to chase after and several enemy variations to keep you on your toes. It’s just a shame that its few issues hold it back slightly in the long run.

EA Sports UFC 3 is a solid entry that’s accessible, fluid, and content rich. The visuals and audio go hand in glove to deliver an authentic representation of the sport, but the formula is still far from perfect. With that being said, despite its flaws, this is as good as it gets for fans of MMA and a step in the right direction for the series.

Overall, if you’re after a classic platformer that harkens back to the good old days of platforming past, then Pumpkin Jack is certain to bring you some joy. The story may not be one I, or anyone else, will be telling their children about (as I did with Crash Bandicoot as if it were a true story) but it’s not a totally inept offering either, and if you simply want something that can return that nostalgic charm, and some Halloween festivities, then there are many worse options you could choose than a shot with Pumpkin Jack.

The only issues with The Gardens Between is its short length and its utter lack of replay value. If you enjoy heart warming bite-sized puzzle games, the journey found here is as stunning, as unique, and as clever as they come. The game’s core time manipulation concept works sensationally well with its few mechanics, serving up puzzles that, although quite simple, remain thoughtful and captivating throughout.

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.

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.

Even with these foibles, I still really dug the majority of Genesis Noir. The fantastic presentation made it easier to forgive some of the repetition and bugs, and for all the grandiose nature of the story, it was still interesting to follow and piece together. It could probably be completed in one or two sittings, so if you’re up for something a little different, I’d definitely recommend checking out Genesis Noir.

Whilst not quite as deep, varied, or refined as its widely acclaimed contemporaries, Warhammer: Chaosbane still manages to serve up a solid ARPG that packs quite a punch. The game plays well, looks good, and sports heaps of replay value across the board. Despite the odd issue with its combat diversity and its poor voice work, fans of both the genre and the source material will no doubt thoroughly enjoy what’s on offer.

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.

Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara is a very cutesy platforming game that does it’s job surprisingly well. The “speed tech” taught is simple but effective and the variety of level types was a pleasant surprise. The art style and the story are nothing to write home about and certainly won’t appeal to all but platforming fans who admire gameplay are encouraged to give the pirates a run for their money. It doesn’t really overstay it’s welcome (underwater levels aside) and the levels feel bite-sized which was nice. A fun game to just pick up and play for bits at a time.

There’s a lot of potential with the groundwork Keen Software have set here in Space Engineers. However, it’s an incredibly obtuse game to get into, not helped by a lack of clear, legible information in game (relying on YouTube links instead). If you’ve the patience to get stuck in though, the scope of what can be done will likely surprise and amaze you.

Enigmatis 3: The Shadow of Karkhala is a decent conclusion to the trilogy. It’s a casual puzzle game that doesn’t demand too much legwork, making it an ideal adventure for those that seek simplicity, accessibility and beautiful handcrafted visuals.

In today’s world where everything needs to have a simulation videogame, Gas Station Simulator fits right in. Despite some visual glitchiness here and a bug there, Gas Station Simulator remains fun for a period of time before the mundane tasks or overwhelming amount of management takes its toll on you. However, when it has its claws or should I say pumps in you, it’s a decent time. A solid 7.5 gas station coffees out of 10.

After playing the modern Star Wars Battlefront and its sequel I had some high hopes for Star Wars: Squadrons. I enjoyed the story, and playing both Empire and Rebel sides gave great additional context to proceedings. It’s also a stunning looking affair, the first person viewpoint showcasing lots of fine detail in the little switches and dials all immersing you in the experience. I’m not a big fan of first person aerial combat and would have liked a 3rd person option (especially as we don’t get a VR option on Xbox) though. Also managing some of the elements of the ship is tricky as I needed to constantly flick between the analogue stick and d-pad to adjust energy flow.

A too short affair with a real threat at the conclusion of Siren’s Rest means a lot of the game is spent swimming and gathering narrative exposition rather than fighting for survival as in Still Wakes the Deep. Luckily, the story told is engaging enough to pull us through the few hours it takes, and the sense of being at the bottom of the North Sea is convincing enough to be its own threat for those of us who aren’t super keen on the water as it is. I’m not sure if it helped or hindered my preparation for real life though…

The concept of Murderous Muses is great, with randomised runs meaning every game can and will play out differently, giving dedicated players a new challenge to solve each time. However, unless you’re completely invested it can be tricky to keep track of the clues given. Some wonderfully camp acting and an over the top story at least makes even failed runs entertaining, though a little more help – especially early on – wouldn’t have gone amiss.

Nocturnal is not a standout title but it is far from bad. A shorter experience, this linear platformer will end up testing your patience and reflexes in challenging but not punishing traversal and combat. Although basic in fighting and its skill selections, Nocturnal is a fine game that’s worth the attention of 2D platforming enthusiasts.

hape of the World is a beautiful journey that offers a relaxing and well paced experience. Its core function consists of simply exploring its world and taking in its lush surroundings. There’s a few framerate issues to contend with and the lack of activity within certainly wont appeal to everyone. However, if you come into this without any expectations, you’re in for a stunning short journey that seamlessly captivates.

Warriors Orochi 4 has a lot going for it, but its sheer lack of difficulty is hard to overlook when taking its widely interesting gameplay mechanics into account. Still, with its needless simplicity to the side, the game delivers on its promise to be the most fun and diverse entry in the series so far. Furthermore, in contrast to Dynasty Warriors 9’s launch, Warriors Orochi 4’s technical performance is top-notch.