Castle of Heart: Retold rounds off a few rough edges from the original. However, it remains a run of the mill platformer which, despite the intriguing affliction Svaran carries, does little else to innovate or differentiate.
Super Perils of Baking nails its theme, but a few small nuggets aren’t enough to prevent it feeling like a run of the mill platformer. Achievement hunters and completionists will benefit the most from this one.
There's a lot to like about Bananitro and it would be good to see more in the future. The components are all there, but the execution falters at times, resulting in an experience which regularly swings from being good fun, to feeling like a chore.
ZOE Begone! is a wonderfully created but brutally difficult SHMUP, that despite looking cute and cuddly, will challenge even the most adept players.
Candylands Journey is a solid, plucky platformer which does enough to keep your interest, even if you’ve seen it all before.
Inspector Waffles Early Days is a short, sweet love letter to a different era of gaming. Perhaps as a result of aiming to be wholly true to the time, it also comes with familiar limitations.
On balance I very much enjoyed Baseless and I honestly can’t pick many faults at all. However, the strenuous gameplay will prove make or break for some, especially when the control niggles only make things more problematic.
In Labyrinthine patience is largely rewarded with a gripping, bone chilling horror experience which can be “enjoyed” alone or with friends. Just remember to keep an ear to the ground.
Mamorukun ReCurse! is a solid shooter with plenty of charm appeal thanks to its Japanese heritage. Although it’s not the best example of the genre, it is very appealing to have the opportunity to play this cult arcade hit.
Metal Eden may have clear inspiration, but emerges as an enjoyable adventure in its own right which unfolds at a breakneck pace. The eerily beautiful, mechanical world riddled with danger and intrigue compliments the fluid gameplay, elevating it above a simple shooter.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants is bittersweet. Despite getting almost everything right, as did the base game, it’s hard not to feel short changed by the time the credits roll. Let’s pray Indy’s not about to hang his whip up anytime soon.
You may be tempted to look the other way but don’t, because underneath the somewhat cheesy exterior of Chip ‘n Clawz vs. The Brainioids is a highly entertaining and accessible strategy action hybrid.
Keeper is a short, but very sweet, exquisitely crafted experience which relaxes, intrigues, impresses and delights at every turn. This is about as relaxing as gaming gets, and I loved it.
Amnesia: The Bunker is ahead of the class, achieving what many of its peers aspire to but often fall short of. If you’re a horror fan, this is a must play.
Despite seeming similar to Two Point Hospital on the surface, Two Point Campus is stuffed with enough new ideas and irresistible charm to ensure it is a sequel well worth playing.
Psychonauts 2 is an absolute hoot from start to finish. It showcases a lot of what makes video games great, combining skillful and emotive storytelling with inventive gameplay that above all else, is loads of fun. Put simply, it’s the best game I have played this year.
007 First Light is a triumph. It has a legitimate claim to the best James Bond game ever, managing to reboot the series whilst cherishing what makes it so special. It’s the start of a new era for Bond, which will leave you shaken, not stirred.
Resident Evil Requiem is a pitch perfect love letter to fans of the series. Capcom has absolutely nailed the dual protagonist mechanic which sits at the core of a truly incredible piece of storytelling. The result is a must-play title for those both familiar and new to the series. Put simply, it’s an absolute tour de force.
Platypus Reclayed really is impressive on every front. Far from being style over substance, it’s an immensely satisfying, yet challenging, shoot 'em up experience.
The team at Hazelight have done it again, creating an experience in Split Fiction that is relentlessly diverse, innovative and, above all, an absolute riot.