We expected Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge to be good, but instead it’s absolutely outstanding. It’s got character, it’s got charm, and it’s got gameplay that puts up zero barriers. It’s just an absolute blast to play through from beginning to end, whether you’re alone or accompanied by friends. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fans will love it. Side-scrolling beat ’em fans will love it. And those who simply like fun will love it. Cowabunga indeed.
While Super Perils of Baking can feel a tad too generic at times, then, is has to lot to offer for its modest price. It evokes the spirit of 90s platformers that were never as popular as the big hitters – games like Zool, Cool Spot and Boogerman. And so for those who yearn for a new platforming experience that relishes in that old-school feel, it’ll go down a storm. Perhaps the worst thing about it is its soundtrack, but that can be easily remedied. Ultimately, it will never be remembered as a classic, but Super Perils of Baking can at least remind you of the golden days of the genre.
With a patch or two, Industria could be a game well worth investing in now that it’s available on consoles as well as PC. But at the moment, some frustrating issues mean only the most patient players might see it through, even through it’s not particularly long. Exploring a bleak parallel world is intriguing for sure, but when the controls feel like they’re fighting against you and the save system is overly punishing, much of your drive to proceed is lost.
Is The Quarry Supermassive Games’ best game yet? It’s bloody close. In many ways it outshines Until Dawn, but it’s a shame its final chapter doesn’t feel quite as eventful as we’d have liked. The visuals the great, the characters are brilliantly acted, and the horrors you face truly are terrifying. Combine that with impactful decisions to be made, which will encourage you to play through The Quarry multiple times, and you have a horror experience that’s not to be missed.
If you’re a fan of simulator-like games, and want something a little more different and fantastical, it’s well worth giving Hardspace: Shipbreaker a try. It can feel very much like work at times, but there’s also something strange therapeutic about it. After all, it’s rewarding doing a good job, right?
Still, They Always Run may have its issues, but the good outweighs the bad. The combat is exciting and the chase sequences exhilarating. The platforming bits in-between are fun for the most part, too, apart from the odd moment where the controls feel like they’re working against you. And while the story may be quite brief, it does keep you invested. So, if you’re interested in becoming a bounty hunter for a short while, They Always Run is worth your attention.
If you don’t mind forking out for a spooky experience that you’ll complete in an evening and then perhaps never think about again, you could do a lot worse than Insomnis. It is genuinely unnerving at times, and its puzzles are rewarding to solve. It’s just a shame there isn’t more to it.
As it is, Souldiers is a very enjoyable entry in the metroidavania genre – providing you have plenty of skill and/or patience. It doesn’t offer anything that’s genuinely new, but most of its components complement each other well. If only more thought had been given to the player experience, as for many it will simply prove to be too punishing at times. And on PS5, it could do with a little more polish.
Thanks to its moreish gameplay and wonderful visuals that combine solid black landmasses with pastel-coloured backdrops, Gravitar: Recharged is a must-have for those who enjoy arcade games with a lasting challenge. Revitalising a classic with gusto, the new Missions mode and co-op just bolster what’s already a very worthy addition to your game library.
Remote Life is very impressive, considering it’s made by just one person. But it does have some issues that will prevent it from being remembered as one of the classics. Still, shoot ’em up fans are likely to want to add this to their collection. Not only does it look great, but the twin-stick shooter element makes it unique. If only it didn’t have so many gates to wait around for.
If you’re a Hatsune Miku fan that’s been deprived of the Project DIVA series over the years due to not having a console, you might want to consider Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix+ a must-have if your PC is up to the job. While the gameplay is starting to feel a little old now, the fact that there are over 170 songs to enjoy here is incredible. The VIP edition with its 250 songs is the way to go, though. This is the ultimate Hatsune Miku experience. And there’s even the possibility of more songs being added in the future.
If you’re into action RPGs, chances are you’ll get plenty of enjoyment out of Deadcraft. Especially so if you also like survival elements, though for some they’ll get in the way. In any case, there’s much to like here, despite the unimpressive visuals and basic combat. And so, if you feel like stepping into yet another post-apocalyptic world filled with zombies, Deadcraft will meet your needs while also putting a unique spin on things.
While Sniper Elite 5‘s campaign feels a little familiar, and largely more focused on sneaking than sniping, we can’t help but be impressed by the overall package. With co-op, competitive multiplayer modes and a new invasion mechanic, Sniper Elite 5 has something for everybody. And a range of difficulty settings make it suitable for all skill levels. So, unless you go into it expecting to snipe everything that moves, chances are you won’t be disappointed.
Fans of Touken Ranbu will likely enjoy Touken Ranbu Warriors, but those who are also keen gamers will see its obvious flaws. This is a cut-down Warriors experience, for better and for worse. Newcomers may appreciate the more bite-sized maps that you move through in a linear fashion, but others will find them suffocating. And ultimately, the gameplay just feels more repetitive than ever. Still, if you want to follow the story of Touken Ranbu and feel like you’re part of the action, it might be worth a look.
For shoot ’em up fans, Rolling Gunner + Overpower truly is a treat. Everything about it – from visuals to gameplay – is top-notch, ensuring that you have a big grin on your face from the moment you boot it up until you decide to turn it off. But the amount of difficulty options here, and the features introduced by the Overpower DLC, make this accessible to newcomers, too. We reckon this will be remembered as a classic in years to come.
It may not be entirely original, then, and it’s certainly generic in the looks department, but Amazing Princess Sarah is good fun for those who like old-school platformers such as Castlevania. It’s the type of game that you can play through in one or two sittings, having fun flinging one enemy at another. Then maybe you’ll return to it from time to time to tackle its hoist of additional unlockable game modes. You certainly can’t go wrong for its budget price.
Evil Dead: The Game has quickly become our favourite 4v1 horror title, and we can’t wait to see how it grows and develops. There are two distinct experiences to be had playing as either a demon or a survivor, but both are huge amounts of gory fun. And thanks to the fantastic atmosphere generated by the game’s visuals and map design, you’re genuinely kept on the edge of your seat as you play. We’re so glad that some 40 years after the release of The Evil Dead, the series remains relevant. And on the back of Evil Dead: The Game we think it’s got much more life in it yet. Come get some.
If you’re after a shoot ’em up that’s bold, colourful and offers plenty of replayability, you can’t really go wrong with Cotton Fantasy. For those new to the genre it will simply be fun working your way through its stages, doing your best to survive. But for veterans out there, there’s a high skill ceiling and a robust scoring system, presenting hours of fun to be had.
As far as sci-fi Souls-likes go, Dolmen sits somewhere between Hellpoint and The Surge in terms of quality. It can offer a rewarding experience to Souls-like fans, but it falls short of the bar set by the creators of the genre. Still, for those who have patience and persistence, and like the idea of exploring a new, futuristic setting while engaging in challenging combat, it’s worth checking out.
Soundfall is one of the most unique experiences of the year so far, and that alone ought to pique the interest of gamers. But it’s those who love music-rhythm games that are assuredly going to get the most out of it. And if they also like twin-stick shooters and loot games, they’ll be in heaven. In any case, this eclectic mix of genres works, and whether played alone or in co-op it’s largely a beat-filled blast.