Rob Kershaw's Reviews
Boxes: Lost Fragments is a shining example of puzzle video gaming, wonderfully constructed and utterly absorbing.
Chronique des Silencieux has the makings of a decent detective game, but bugs, localisation issues and a stubbornly rigid set of puzzle mechanics hobble it from the outset. Elementary, this is not.
It's taken a couple of decades, but Baldur's Gate finally has a worthy sequel. While the sandbox it promises proves to be cunning legerdemain and the main story descends into another generic hero's journey, the richness of your party and the side quests you encounter will keep you engaged for literally hundreds of hours.
Party Packs are nothing if not entertaining, but the tenth instalment only has a couple of titles that you're likely to return to. Some players will enjoy this more than others, but it's hard to recommend it over earlier packs in the series.
Underground Blossom is another solid entry in Rusty Lake's cult series, with a much more accessible story, great music, and some interesting puzzles.
Oxenfree II is a slow-burn horror mystery that slowly latches its paranormal tentacles onto you, thanks to a creepy story delivered by a first-rate cast. It's the definition of a superior sequel and fans of the first game will certainly not be disappointed.
Decarnation is a visual treat and indie horror fans will potentially love it, but throwaway gameplay elements and a bloated and sometimes confusing narrative results in an overlong and often uncomfortable game.
It might look as low budget as the 60s show that inspired it and the humour rarely rises above a smirk, but HRO's interesting characters and plotlines add depth and replayability.
How do you remake a classic? Like this. Resident Evil 4 Remake is a superb action horror game that lovingly recreates and updates the original for modern audiences - and it should be on every gaming fan's shelf.
If you have the patience to get through the first ten or so hours and tackle the multitude of systems it throws at you, Persona 4 Golden will reward you with a richly enjoyable JRPG experience, though the misogyny and homophobic content have really not aged it well.
God of War: Ragnarok throws almost the entire cadre of remaining Norse gods at the beardy one and the result is an incremental but still spectacular step up from 2018's title, refining the existing systems and loading the game with a dense narrative that satisfies more often than it distracts.
The Past Within is an intricate and extremely well designed puzzler which will scratch the itch of escape room devotees and fans of Rusty Lake's kooky series alike. The co-op only limitation may put some off, but this is a treat for those who are looking for a different kind of gaming experience.
A slow-burn psychological experience which taps into the tropes of folk horror with precision, and leaves a truly memorable mark on your subconscious.
Another fine and varied selection of titles from the Jackbox stable, with something that will appeal to everyone in your party.
Stylish but oddly lacking in atmosphere, Jennifer Wilde has some interesting gameplay concepts which fail to fully ignite, and Wilde himself often feels more like set dressing than a crucial part of the story.
It doesn't make any strides in advancing the genre, but brevity, timeliness and an allegorical story mean that The Plague Doctor of Wippra's gameplay faults can mostly be overlooked.
A gentle, immensely silly romp through an Agatha Christie style whodunnit. Lord Winklebottom is a promising debut from a talented indie studio.
A few good scares and some excellent psychological horror aren't enough to fully raise this anthology from the dead.
Crowns and Pawns brings both freshness and familiarity to the point-and-click genre. It may be brief, but quality voice acting and fun puzzles keep momentum going until the very end.
Chernobylite has a lot of interesting concepts but it doesn't manage to form them into a cohesive whole. Patient players may get something out of it, but be prepared for a slog.