Gary Bailey
Hardcore management sim fans may enjoy Planet Zoo, but others may find it overly complex and packed with an overwhelming amount of management options
Bus Simulator is a nice change of pace on consoles usually filled with 200mph racing games, providing a more sedate and relaxing experience for casual players and an in-depth simulation for enthusiasts.
An inventive take on the Metroidvania formula, but is let down by some awkward platforming and combat.
Keepers of the Void is an interesting addition to the game, with some great boss battles, but ultimately is a fairly repetitive and uninspired experience that does little to enhance Darksiders III.
Close to the Sun is a masterclass in atmosphere and storytelling, sadly let down by poorly-directed chase scenes that quickly grow repetitive and tedious.
A good example of a psychological thriller, and perhaps with a sequel Cyanide Studios could smooth out those rough edges and give us the Cthulhu game we deserve.
While NASCAR Heat 3 is still a fun racer and a great representation of the sport and its support classes, it just doesn't do enough to differentiate itself from the previous two games.
Dandara has some interesting ideas and great visual design, but it rarely feels rewarding. It drags in the middle and the final third just frustrates, sucking the fun out of the experience.
Road Redemption is a fun successor to the classic Road Rash, but its inclusion of a roguelike element simply leads to far too much repetition.
Auto Age: Standoff wears its Eighties influences on its sleeve, but doesn't add enough content to back it up. It does offer a decent distraction though, with a bit of fun vehicular combat that harks back to the days of Vigilante 8 and Twisted Metal's PSOne days.
Despite adding a bit extra to this year's career mode, there are some technical issues that plague the experience. Shame really, because NASCAR Heat 2 can be quite fun at times.
Escaping from a prison sounds like a great concept, but half the time The Escapists 2 is just a time management game. A sandbox without much content.
Despite nailing the Pixar look and offering loads of content, Cars 3: Driven to Win heads off-track because of its unforgiving difficulty.
With its fun gameplay and interesting take on the online shooter genre, Crossout is a decent idea that sadly lacks depth.
Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 offers four reasonably decent games for the price of one, but none of them really have any nostalgic value and so their obvious flaws become all the more apparent as a result.
Although Bedroom is interesting, Nightmare and Ethan Must Die are nothing more than throwaway minigames, resulting in an underwhelming DLC pack that doesn’t live up to the Resident Evil name.
Strategy games may be a niche market on console, but Tethered genuinely has its heart in the right place. With a little more autonomy in its Peeps, it could have been a great game, instead of an above average one. Certainly a good choice if you want a lengthy VR game, though.
Ride 2 aims to be the two-wheeled equivalent of Gran Turismo, but makes too many mistakes that leave it trailing behind the pack.
With its 40-car grids creating exciting racing, NASCAR Heat Evolution is surprisingly fun, but is unlikely to appeal to anyone but fans of the sport.
While it does have its issues, Antigraviator is a fun and eye-wateringly fast sci-fi racer.