It’s not the only horror game set in the UK, but its Englishness and its historical setting is a constant boon. And while the ending is a sliver too familiar to be perfect, the journey to that point is so wonderfully chilling that, unlike its protagonist, you won’t regret digging into The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow.
But if you’ve played Saints & Sinners, and can forgive the Quest 2 version’s occasional graphical shortcomings, you’ll be in zombie-wrangling heaven with this follow-up. Being knee deep in the dead has rarely been this much fun.
If you’ve got a creative streak and a taste for vengeance, Meet Your Maker will have you cackling, plotting and cursing well into the night. You’ll shun daylight, surrounded by an ever-growing field of 3D printed skulls, each representing in in-game kill. And at the end of the day, isn’t that what gaming’s all about?
If starting all over again drives you up the wall, then Lone Ruin probably isn’t for you. For everyone else, it’s a frenetic, fun and highly replayable outing that’ll have you coming back for more. But if you do find a strange meteor in your backyard, do the sensible thing and toss it in next door’s wheelie bin.
As a whole, Home Safety Hotline doesn’t outstay its welcome, and it’s an absolute treat for lovers of folklore or fans of the uncanny. I never thought I’d say it, but this is one call centre I’ve absolutely loved clocking into.
Throw in additional unlockable Crumblings (and the promise of more), and you’ve got a game that’s wonderful wall-to-wall whimsy. Crumbling is best enjoyed in bites – you’re not going to spend an entire day pottering around the toy shop – but it’ll leave you with a smile every time. If you’ve got so much as a single action figure, Skylander or Amibo sitting on your shelf, Crumbling is for you.
You can finish the game in two to three hours, but it’s just the right length for this slice of suspense (and the game’s £8.49/$9.99 price tag). Engaging and shocking in equal measure, Bahnsen Knights is a wild ride you won’t regret taking.
Standing back and admiring your city, knowing that you were responsible for its virtual prosperity, is immensely satisfying. Niche interest it may be, but if you favour construction over destruction, then Cities: Skylines offers a solid foundation for your future metropolis.
If you let it gets its hooks into you, you'll be able to tolerate its flaws. While it won't sate hardcore horror fans, Nevermind is visually and thematically striking enough to be worth a look.
Chaos Code seeks to carve out its own niche and it may just do that here in the west. It's an entertaining brawler in its own right and its roster of bizarre characters and ludicrous moves are just appealing enough to keep you engaged.
Starpoint Gemini Warlords is a solid space strategy game; an eye-pleasing time-eater which will more than sate your desire for galactic conquest.
If complex, entertaining battles float your boat,and you can tolerate the lack of diversions or deviations, then you'll be in your nostalgic element with God Wars: Future Past.
The Escapists 2's blend of excitement and tension will keep you hooked. Lock yourself away with The Escapists 2 and you won't regret it.
It would be easy to dismiss Spintires: MudRunner as a niche title but in truth it's surprisingly accessible. It can drag sometimes and if you think patience is a dirty word, steer clear. But for the most part it's an engaging, messy time sink that's well worth getting stuck into.
This penultimate episode doesn't reach the dizzying heights of the season's opening salvo, but it's a solid, satisfying outing.
Above and Beyond isn't the best Minecraft Story Mode has to offer, but it's nevertheless an appropriately action-packed conclusion to a strong season.
Jurassic World Evolution may not be the deepest management sim ever, but it embraces its subject matter with gusto.
There are times you will hate oOo, and I came pretty close to deleting the game on more than one occasion. But if arcade thrills are your thing and you can view failure as a learning experience, then oOo Ascension will be right up your street.
As long as you can stomach the slow opening stretch and that the game doesn't quite live up to its title, you'll enjoy this gruesome spin on the farming genre.
Nevertheless, taken in reasonable doses, like the board game it's based on, Space Hulk: Tactics is a rewarding and satisfying strategy game, whether you're purging the unclean or punching your extendable jaws through an intergalactic fascist's face