If you’re a fan of the Crysis series, then Crysis Trilogy Remastered is definitely going to be a collection to experience once more. Whilst the initial representation may be too buggy at present, the true value of this franchise could really shine with the right patches and some additional polish. Those yet to experience this game shouldn’t be put off by the negatives in this review; sure, there is some illusion breaking bugs, and some irritation can be caused for anyone who knows the games from the originals, but in general, this trilogy still offers up the same fantastic sci-fi stories that they always have and if you’re an FPS fan who enjoys a good story, then you really shouldn’t pass this up, especially when all 3 games are available for the price of one typical release.

The game is marketed and discussed as an evolution of the CRPG, but I think fans of story-heavy adventure games and the old point-and-click classics would also feel right at home in Disco Elysium: Final Cut.

Overall, if you’re after a game that is engaging, worth your time, money, and effort, then Takorita Meets Fries is not really a game I can recommend for you. If you want some easy Gamerscore, then £4.99 is the price you’ll pay along with five minutes of your time for eternal glory to be imprinted in that coveted digital score.

Chernobylite is an amazing, well put together survival game that has some mind blowing plot twists, some truly difficult decisions and a stunning backdrop to experience. Add in the constant sense of unease as you take every step in the exclusion zone and The Farm 51 have made one of my games of the year!

I had a great time with Godstrike. The combat is fast and fluid, and hectic as a bastard, but the challenge is pitched just right that I found myself dropping in every day or so for an hour to see how I would get on. Having time as our health and restriction is an inspired touch, and every hit against us has that bit more impact as a result. Truly challenge, but incredibly rewarding, Godstrike is an easy recommendation.

Alchemic Cutie is a relaxing RPG that relies too much on the patience of the player. I have reviewed similar games like Monster Harvest so I wasn’t expecting miracles. But demographically this is all over the place. The quests and simplicity seem to feel it was aimed at kids but the sheer tedious of waiting for something to happen will make many lose interest. There is only so much crap you can pick up before your soul starts slipping away.

Far Cry 6 is as Far Cry as Far Cry gets. It may be cut from the same cloth as previous entries almost identically, but when the action is this fun and the world is this expansive and full of things to do, I’m not going to complain. The title alone will let you know if that’s for you, but if it is, you’re in for one hell of a ride.

If you’re looking for a new way to jump into the world of Hot Wheels, Unleashed is certainly not a bad way to go, after all, we’ve seen worse in the series’ history. That said, the price point may prove steep for what feels like a more basic use of this beloved licensed property, and with very basic options for included game modes, a lack of substantial variety in race types, and no suitable way for the community to share their impressive track builds, it feels like Milestone has undercut themselves in a possibly rushed attempt to capitalise on this potentially fruitful racing franchise.

Dustwind for me was a fun trip down memory lane as I enjoyed the original Fallout games. They copied the style nicely but the story was too contrived. A woman forager who was beaten and had her daughter kidnapped that suddenly becomes Rambo is a bit of a stretch. The game was still fun to play through, but some of the niggles that made the old-style games annoying should have really been ironed out.

If you were already a fan of the base World War Z then I would have no problem recommending Aftermath to you. Although some aspects of the game could have used a bit more attention, blasting through zeds in the first person was still an enjoyable experience, especially with the addition of friends.

Fans of the recently popular isometric roguelike genre will find familiarity in Dandy Ace. They will also find a sense of uniqueness. Though an interesting move-set building mechanic, you will find yourself battling the RNG at times, but at least you are always building towards progression no matter how far a run may take you.

What you’ll find here isn’t the next game to join the contest of who can be the biggest FPS hit of the year, but rather a game that focuses on realism, action, and teamwork. It trades the big-budget effects for the nitty-gritty darkened warfare and it does this in a way that feels believable and enthralling, whilst managing to scratch that one-more-go itch as each round concludes, and for the efforts, it might just be the surprise big hitter of the year from the FPS genre after all.

There are already plenty of excellent first person puzzle titles on Xbox, and so Don’t Touch This Button! struggles to stand shoulder to shoulder them. If you’re after something in that genre that’s short to get through this might pique your interest, but those looking to settle in for a night or two of puzzling would do best to look elsewhere.

All in all, it’s fantastic to see Super Monkey Ball back after all these years. This Banana Mania collection brings the classic games back to the fore, with hundreds of stages to play, a dozen mini games, lots of cosmetics to unlock and more. The gameplay is as challenging – and fun – as ever, and will no doubt garner a new audience of fans that still have youth on their side.

Even with some tricky movement and super hard solo road blocks, I enjoyed what I played of AlphaLink. It’s got that old school arcade multiplayer charm, with potential not just for local game nights but even online play. The gunplay is decent enough to counter the movement issues, and there are enough modes to keep things interesting. A good first console outing for Black Hive, and I hope to see the game thrive going forward.

Sable is one of the latest games to get a day one release on Xbox’s Game Pass service so it’s almost impossible to not give it a recommendation for anyone with a subscription, but on the whole, I was somewhat let down. The game has some of the most visually stunning graphics I’ve seen, but the gameplay gets repetitive. Exploring the desolate expanse on your own terms is not as fun as it sounds; however, a compelling series of quests and wonderful writing throughout are just enough to keep you hooked and justify the price of admission if you’re already a Game Pass subscriber.

Boy, did I enjoy A Juggler’s Tale. It was a palate cleanser of a game that in my mind only suffers from it’s longevity – or rather lack there of. From the voicework, to the music and the gameplay, it was all well done with care from the developers, and something that you can experience in just a couple of hours. A definite recommendation to new gamers and veterans alike.

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.

Anyone out there looking for a precision platforming challenge should consider picking up Dojoran. Achievements hunters will have a slightly harder time than usual here. It’s a quick 1000G, but it will test your platformer reflexes. The 1-bit minimalist art style suits this game well; it doesn’t compare to the best of the bunch, but it’s a fun diversion and challenge.

Now, as I mentioned briefly at the start, the trailer didn’t quite sell to me the whole psychological horror tag that has been applied to In Sound Mind, and even now after having spent some enjoyable hours running through it, I wouldn’t quite point fully towards the horror genre for placement with In Sound Mind. Sure it has a few horror elements, however, should you be willing to accept it as a psychological thriller, then I for one would certainly assign that as amended tag, whilst also raising the expectation that In Sound Mind is a game we’ll likely see mentioned in the same breath as previously mentioned classic Condemned, in years to come.

Overall, whilst Gummy’s Life won’t quite bring the thrills of Fall Guys, or provide quite the surprising time sink that Human Fall Flat can as you try to perfect actions through wobbly movement, it isn’t a bad game. It takes what we know from Gang Beasts, adds bots, full cross-play functionality and a ton of maps and leaves the rest to the players. It’s not going to keep you occupied for long, but the kids will get a thrill out of it and it’s not bad for a rainy day should you happen to have some friends who are willing to jump in too.

Despite the game growing on me once I learned the ropes, I can’t recommend this game in its current state. There are too many bugs and a few achievement glitches. There is a good amount of variety in the performers but learning how everything works can take some time. The game also starts to feel very tedious in the last area when all the performances are three acts long. If this circus comes to town I’d give it a pass unless they upgraded it. Right now only a matinee show would be worth checking out (if there was a discount).

All in all, I fell that Omen of Sorrow is too much of a niche game in an already fairly niche genre. Very few fighters get enough traction to make it big, and unless you have a handful of equally dedicated mates to play with you’re probably better off elsewhere.

While it may be generally the same game as last year, If you skipped out on last year’s edition of NBA 2K this may be the year for you. Mechanically the game has improved and other than having to pay for VC to compete against other players I think you’ll find some enjoyment in playing My Career games or just with some friends.

Although short, Blind Postman is a passable puzzle game that’ll do you for an hour or two in between meatier titles.

Lost Judgement is in my eyes a superb addition to the Yakuza series and is jam-packed with content. The graphics are great, the voice acting is great and the amount of activities that will distract you from the main quest is mind-blowing. It used the same formula which made its predecessors so much fun to play and improved on it. Even as dark and gruesome as the main story is there is always something around the corner in this game to put a smile back on your face.

Overall Tails of Iron is an enjoyable experience. Action-RPG fans will find a lot to like here. I know some people don’t like 2D games, but everything here works well, especially the beautiful art and the combat. Some of the side quests can feel like a drag, but the main questline will draw you in and keep you hooked.

Overall, and if you want a new game to run around with friends and simply have a laugh whilst doing some basic, yet humorous jobs, then Embr will certainly tick the right boxes. Whilst some of the additional level types feel a bit tacked on, the general rescue missions are certainly enough to warrant a playthrough and whilst playing solo will quickly feel a bit repetitive, going for the full flame rating with friends is worthwhile. Sadly, bugs and minor issues are present and whilst not game-breaking, they certainly detract from the joy factor, but all in, this isn’t the worst way to spend time over the course of a few evenings as you finally get to be the have-a-go-hero we all have hidden inside.