The most approachable this series has ever been, Monster Energy Supercross 5 is much kinder to newcomers while offering plenty of new content to please returning players. There’s still room for improvement but this game is the best Monster Energy Supercross title so far.
One of the best FMV games to be released in years, ‘Who Pressed Mute On Uncle Marcus?’ is a brilliant combination of a relatable, oddball comedy and a whodunit mystery drama. The acting is superb, the script and editing is tight, it’s deeply replayable and it manages to balance its tone to take you on a really cathartic journey.
An original platforming experience, Onde combines a bold, fresh visual style, gratifying traversal mechanics and a fantastic soundtrack into a very satisfying game. A few rough edges are the only blemish on a unique game that’s worthy of your attention.
Some quality acting performing a fun script that features colourful, interesting characters is gambled away with some drab presentation, a few glitches and some out-of-touch design decisions. FMV game fans will still get something out of Vegas Tales but it’s an ‘also-ran’ in a genre that’s improving with every passing month.
While Dragons In Space is a functional shoot-em-‘up, it’s short, unattractive, bland and boring. Its tiny asking price is reflective of the fact that it’s one of, if not the worst shmups on the PS4.
A smart reimagining of the rules of Sudokuo, Hexologic is an approachable, easy to play puzzle game with a chilled aesthetic. There’s not a great amount of content here however, with the structured levels lasting just a few hours, but if like number puzzles and you’re looking for a fun way to fill an evening, Hexologic is worth a look.
While Dexter Stardust is not bringing anything new to the point and click adventure genre, it’s an endearing passion project full of Mexican flair and light hearted humour. It might be a too short and easy for some genre aficionados, and it has a few foibles, but for most it’ll be a pleasant way to while away an evening with a cast of Taco obsessed space traveling characters.
A quirky, short but smart point and click adventure, Pants Quest is the mildly and intentionally abrasive journey through one man’s calamitous morning where nothing goes to plan. It might only last for an hour or two but in that time, it has the capability to make you feel a myriad of things. If you enjoy little, unique gaming curios then this is certainly worth a look.
While it might lose its lustre towards the end, Another Tomorrow is an otherwise well crafted and challenging first person point and click adventure that’ll appeal to long time fans of the genre. A great hint system helps avoid any frustrating hold ups while still allowing you to discover those important ‘eureka’ moments on your own.
While it certainly isn't going to be for everyone, if you're interested in unique gaming experiences there's a lot to admire about The Longest Road On Earth. It feels more like an art house project than a traditional game at times, much to its benefit. The exquisite soundtrack alone would be enough for me to recommend this game. The meditative, leisurely paced narrative delivered alongside it are just a bonus.
Retro inspired first person shooters don't come any more stylish than KINGDOM of the DEAD. A fantastic soundtrack is matched by a macabre hand drawn art style to create an atmosphere that feels unique to this game. It has a few bugs and some anticlimactic boss battles but there's a lot to love about this game beyond those rough edges.
If you’re a fan of the likes of Overcooked and you’re looking for a new title to spice up your games night, Cannibal Cuisine is certainly worth your time. Despite its familiar aspects, it adds a little of something new to the formula via its darkly funny theme. It’s not as polished or as packed with content as the genre leaders but it’s still a dish worth tucking into.
Featuring a well crafted, mystery fuelled plot informed by an intriguing cast of characters, Unforeseen Incidents is a distinctive and engrossing point and click adventure. You can tell a lot of work has gone in to making the Nintendo Switch version of this title and it pays off in a fluid, accessible experience. A few foibles here and there are the only blemishes on an otherwise very enjoyable game.
Even with its issues though, Gravity Chase has enough content and verve about it to keep fans of Ballistics, WipEout or Radial-G entertained for a few evenings. For a budget title, it’s an admirable attempt to capture the spirit of the zero-g racing greats that came before it. In the long run though, it just can’t keep pace with the luminaries of the genre.
Its issues mean that Rover Mechanic Simulator is a middling experience. There’s a solid core to this game surrounding some impressive 3D rover models. It offers that methodical game play that accommodates gratifying ‘flow state’ sessions to really get engrossed in. It gets repetitive quickly though because of clunky controls, limited depth and a lack of personality.
A modern day twist on a neglected classic, Horatio Goes Snowboarding is a budget, simplistic but addictive arcade game. It’s not quite on the level of other Infinite State Games but it’ll still fill an evening or two with enjoyable twitchy action. Maybe longer if you take on the leaderboards.
While it’s not pushing the genre any further forward, Scarf is a perfectly pleasant way to spend 6 hours of your life. As a non-combative puzzle platformer, it lacks originality. Thankfully, a clever two sided narrative carries the game as it tells both sides of a tale and positions the player in the centre. Just make sure you play this game with a guide so you don’t have to replay whole levels again.
Santa’s Workshop is the video game equivalent of a lump of coal in your stocking. Lacking any of the features that make the idle clicker genre’s best so moreish, it’s a thoroughly hollow affair that’s trying to cash in on holiday spirit with an experience without artistic merit and entirely devoid of intelligent game design.
Finally making its way onto PlayStation, Among Us is still the very best that the social deduction genre has to offer. Using some inventive workarounds to support controllers, this game loses little to nothing in the port away from its natural home on phones and tablets. With a group of strangers, it’s easy to have a great time with this game. With friends, Among Us comes alive in one of the best multiplayer experiences on the market today as you attempt to stab your pals in the back. Both figuratively and literally.
While Firegirl has more than a few singed edges, there’s definitely potential here. The visual style, an evocative combination of 3D world and 2D pixel art characters, is very easy on the eye and the core concept is solid. If Dejima Games are given the time to patch out the bugs, fiddle with the balancing and smooth out the plot pacing, Firegirl will be a good game eventually. Right now though, it’s distinctly average.