When we’re paired up with some real life people though, there’s certainly fun to be had with Pool Party. It’s not a game that will remain on for the whole night, but as something to add to a regular rotation of multiplayer games with friends, snacks, and a few beverages Pool Party will fit the bill nicely. The simple and immediate gameplay will get a few laughs, a couple of swears, and maybe a bit of game-rage at times but a it’s light and breezy enough to overcome these with pure, simple fun.

Astor: Blade of the Monolith is a game that has some great art direction, but needed some more time spent figuring out what its core tenets were beyond the well realised world.

Hypercharge: Unboxed for its price is definitely a title many should consider picking up. It’s cute, charming, and most importantly it’s nostalgia bait done right. Everything from the gameplay elements and the scenery feels like it was done with care. Being able to relieve a piece of my childhood has been a treat and I’m always itching to put toys back into their boxes.

If you are fond of classics from 30 years ago getting modern updates, System Shock will be a commendable trip to take. Plenty has been done to make System Shock an appetizing choice for the curious, and those who wonder where Bioshock‘s influences came from. However, the frustrations of exploration, the monochrome environments and the lack of interesting enemies smushes this remake’s momentum. Your enjoyment of this System Shock Remake will likely hinge on whether you can tolerate the rigidity of this classic’s design and how much you enjoy the story and the intrigue that exists within. Lamentably though, this remake sells itself on regression, meaning you’ll need to erase all the strides the genre has made in 30 years in order to fully appreciate it. Try this remake then if you’re curious, you might enjoy it, but although this remake is commendable, it’s still too disappointingly archaic to fully recommend.

Eternal Threads folds an interesting butterfly-effect narrative into a well put together puzzle, letting us delve as deep into the mystery as we see fit. Consistently intriguing enough to see us through just one more scene, and letting us change our story at will means it’s a game that had us hooked throughout.

After 8 years the vanilla career mode got its big update, and the new features have the potential to bring lapsed players back. However, despite the positives, a poorly implemented new handling model means that at launch the game is held back from its full potential. We’ll be keeping an eye on it as Codemasters update things, but for now go in with some caution.

Hammerwatch 2 made some bold decisions on ways to make the game challenging. I am sure there are those out there who enjoy this kind of challenge but the lack of direction is something that really soured my experience of the game. If this is up your street then there is plenty of content to be had as it boasts tons of quests and the combat is great if you are not going round in circles killing the same respawning enemies.

I genuinely feel for the team that worked on this – it is a licensed product that is much loved in the UK. It is hard to please people engaged with any franchise. But I don’t think I am being precious when I say this game is abysmal in everything but the narrative.

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 you’re thirsty for a cool anime open-world adventure based on a new TV show, Sand Land is a really cool offering. Beelzebub and his crew are a diverse set of personalities, the tank battles are pleasing, and the plethora of upgrade abilities and accessibility features means Sand Land is worth digging into. These Sand Lands can be too empty, the sense of open-world repetition seeps in all too soon, and navigating that open-world can be troublesome, but Sand Land is otherwise an unexpected oasis in the desert that’s worth necking back and savouring while it lasts.

Outside of these areas, The Glass Staircase was still enjoyable enough to recommend, especially if you’ve a penchant for retro, budget and more idiosyncratic gaming. It’s a decent take on old school survival horror, even if there are better examples out there.

Are you interested in a game within a game but at the same time having to determine what is real and what isn’t? Then CorpoNation: The Sorting Process might just be for you. Overall, this game was great and the gameplay loop of waking, working, relaxing was honestly enjoyable. Coupled with the accessibility options meaning I didn’t have to pull my hair out and the fact I could use a mouse or play natively on PC made for a better time. If you are into quirky games and don’t think everything great is tied to high fidelity visuals than I would give CorpoNation: The Sorting Process a shot.

Indika will no doubt be one the most unique games we play this year, if not one of the best. It’s themes are both layered thick and somewhat confusing and the odd pacing means we can never really settle into the flow of things. We still found some fun to be had, mainly in the weird settings and 2D sequences, and those with a bit more of an open mind will no doubt enjoy it, but it certainly won’t be for everyone.

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.

It’s been a longer time coming than we’d hoped, but Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II manages to live up to expectations rather nicely. Vastly improved (and brutally presented) combat, a captivating story and incredible technical work mean that even the few slower moments can’t bring down what will surely be a jewel in Xbox’s crown for some time to come.

These minor things aside, Paper Trails is stunningly crafted, cleverly designed and simply great puzzling action. Each new locale offers a fun, challenging new twist, and more insight into the sweetly told narrative pinning everything together. Extra challenges are there in the form of hidden collectible origami figures for those looking to maximise their time with the game, but that the hint system is so well implemented means even players unsure about their puzzling abilities can see if through.

TopSpin is challenging in many intentional and unintentional ways – the control system is tough to master but there is a great sense of reward to even getting the ball to land where you want it. The online requirements, and some of the more befuddling systems make it much harder to get to the core of the experience.

A pleasant surprise akin to receiving a kitty cat on your birthday, Little Kitty, Big City is a lovely breath of fresh air, not only for indie gaming but videogaming as a whole. Playing as a pesky mischief-causing and problem-solving cat scurrying about a city while taking time to indulge in bird-catching and snuggling up with citizens is a joy. However, there is plenty of room for refinement as clunky controls and irksome design choices make exploration a wee-bit annoying. In addition, there’s also the lingering stench that Little Kitty, Big City has missed potential, and no that’s certainly not the scent of cat pee. Overall Little Kitty, Big City is certainly worth your time and is a pleasure to play, but with some more polish it could’ve been a paw-some experience, but instead it passes as a moderately paw-leasing one.

Crow Country is top-tier retro survival horror. It has fun, engaging puzzles, some excellent presentation work, and is a tightly paced affair that keeps the gameplay flowing nicely. Easy recommendation for players familiar with the genre and new players alike.

A visually busy game, ArcRunner is a good multiplayer Roguelite/3rd person shooter. However in singleplayer the grind can be too much to bear, with unlocks and progress a chore to get to.

Qomp2 offers a fresh take on the classic Pong formula, introducing a unique premise and challenging gameplay. While it may not appeal to everyone due to its departure from the raw simplicity of the original, fans of puzzle games and those seeking a unique gaming experience will find enjoyment in its artful reimagining. The game’s diverse boss fights and hidden collectibles add depth and replay value, making it a worthwhile endeavour for those willing to embrace its challenges.

The World After is a good attempt at a point and click adventure using live footage, there is some good dialogue and the puzzles aren’t likely to slow people down. Unfortunately, the plot doesn’t reveal much and it ends with more of a shrug than a bang.

As a TMNT fan I am drawn to all content about this tubular foursome, especially the games! TMNT Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants was no exception. Considering I’ve not played the arcade cabinet for this game before I was very excited. It did give me an evening of fun as it felt like I was right there in the arcade hanging out but unfortunately the experience was short lived. While yes, there are leaderboards to entice replay-ability, they weren’t enough to keep me coming back to the game. So, if you are looking for a quick turtles experience (especially if you have some local buddies to play with), Wrath of the Mutants may be what you are looking for.

I found my time playing Lunar Lander Beyond to be good fun in short bursts, usually in between something a bit meatier. At around 5 hours to complete it doesn’t outstay its welcome, though there are harder difficulties (and permadeath) to consider should you really want to test yourself. If you’ve not gelled with the previous releases then this make good strides to win you over, though the same tricky controls and movement are present as ever.

While these issues can take the sheen off things at times, when we’re in the flow of a level, stunning pixel art whizzing by our retinas, cracking music filling our ears, and the thrill of the platforming keeping our palms busy, Freedom Planet 2 is a wonderful time. The levels are well designed, the boss encounters tough but fair, and there’s enough here to have people coming back for more, be it a new character or simply beating their best times.

A solid little platformer made in the image of games almost as old as the Mayan Ruins themselves, but with modernised controls that make it feel refined.

If you would like a sweet narrative and you’re into coffee, then Sunny Café is your Visual Novel. But if you’re looking for a game to keep you locked in and engaged with the story, you may have to get your caffeine fix somewhere else.

I am a fan of side-scrolling platformers like Inside, Songs of Iron and Limbo, and One Last Breath has taken my gaming breath away! Personally, I am not the type of character to worry about “save the world” elements, however, One Last Breath sucked me into their world and made me think, that some of my real-world actions might have a massive effect on the world as we know it. That aside, the gameplay was wonderful and pleasant to play, with the short sharp and levels that made each section of the game palatable. I felt truly relaxed while playing, even though a wrong move could kill me.