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Zombie Army VR then isn't going to set the VR landscape alight and neither is it going to bring untold masses into the sweet bosom of VR adoption. What it will do however is give you a nice, fetid and appropriately rotting slice of zombie meat cake to devour and you'll do it with a grin on your face as you chase high score multipliers and all the unlocks in one of the more surprisingly effective arcade style VR blasters to come along in a good while.
For a three-hour adventure title, Copycat has something meaningful to say about mental health and relationships, yet it can be too often undercut by its rigid design, story happenings that don't make sense, and the overarching feeling that with more time, polish and backing there's an even greater game trying to burst out here. It's a pleasant and fine game for how short it is in spite of its gratuitous repetition, and deserves kudos for being adequately designed by two people, it's also in need of some significant refinement.
Considering how revered the Castle of Illusion and World of Illusion games were from the 16-bit era for their mastery and level design, there is still absolutely oodles of potential for a contemporary genre effort to hit those highs, while still retaining the roundly attractive visual presentation that we see here. That game however, isn't Disney Illusion Island. Then again, if your age has yet to hit double digits and the idea of watching live-action Disney remakes and suchlike make you giddy rather than making your eyeballs roll into the back of your skull, or you're just in the mood for a super relaxing, breezy and zero stress platformer, then by all means feel free to add another point or so to the score seen below.
Subtle improvements and the amalgamation of ways F1 25 engages players aren't enough to stave off the fact there's no bold step forward with this latest series offering. It's another year and another entry, and while you'll still want to return if you've been dedicated to F1 games for years, there's not enough here to justify F1 25 as a must-buy.
Whether you are a seasoned souls-like pro or a newcomer to the genre, Mandragora has a lot to offer. An ability to tweak the gameplay to your liking by ramping up/down the challenge gives broad appeal to differing skill levels. With a gorgeously crafted fantasy world full of atmosphere to get engrossed in, deep character progression and a tonne of replayability, this is one certainly not to be missed.
From blistering fast and satisfying FPS action through to a thoughtfully layered series Roguelite mechanics that always manage to entice you to have another go, everything works in harmony to create one of the best FPS Roguelites money can buy. Roboquest gets so much absolutely right that this is really just about everything you could want from a Roguelite FPS and one of the easiest recommendations of the year.
Taking the game as a whole, it's hard not to be massively impressed by what Pipistrello manages to do with the toolkit it gives itself. Every piece works together to make for a distinctive adventure game that will grab you from the very first minute and refuse to let go. While I might take some convincing on the "Yoyovania" as a genre, it's clear that there's an unparalleled creative vision here that should be admired.
Not every idea in Nightreign lands cleanly, but its willingness to push Elden Ring's mechanics into unfamiliar territory is admirable. It's a game made for a specific kind of player-those who crave a punishingly difficult challenge. If that's you, this detour is worth the journey.
A welcome surprise, Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon really clicked with me. The Euro indie Skyrim that could, Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon might not be as technically sound as other genre efforts, but across its 60-80 hour playtime there's a lot to enjoy here, while its inventive take on Arthurian legends and surprisingly effective writing all add up to make it a compelling prospect for RPG fans everywhere that don't want to wait 89 years for the next mainline Elder Scrolls title to drop.
Feel free to give this one a go and milk it for all its perks to reach the top of the ACPD, but you may want to send this one down with a DUI once it's all set and done.
Bionic Bay is the perfect game to keep between bigger more involved titles but also has an interesting narrative for those who want it, perfectly balancing fun and challenge with a very approachable pick-up-and-play style.
Some believe that in order to truly "remaster" a game, there has to be a mastered game to begin with, and in the case of Onimusha 2, it certainly (with all due respect) isn't a game that was made with mastery to begin with. A derided sequel given an appreciable but unsurprising remaster, Onimusha 2 is worthwhile to play if you didn't play it in 2002, and is a capable study for new players.
Blades of Fire is a great return to the genre for MercurySteam. With great exploration and a unique combat system, Blades of Fire should have been a sure hit. Unfortunately, the situations you encounter feel completely unfair, and the mechanics sometimes work completely against you. Even still, Blades of Fire is a fun game that harkens back to the old school action-adventure titles, where exploring its world reaps the best rewards and game experience.
This collection of fighting games sits comfortably with Capcom's other compilations as a similarly high quality collection of some truly classic games that were previously stuck on old hardware. For some of these games, it might be the beginning of a new era for their compeititve scene. For others, the mere fact they're here is enough as a curio. Immaculate emulation and slick new features make this the definitive way to play with friends and share the experience.
Little Kitty, Big City is a great little adventure that had me grinning from start to finish. It harnesses the inherent charm that cats have and brings that to an experience that can be enjoyed by almost every type of player looking for a relaxed experience. Exploration and fun are at the core of what Little Kitty, Big City sets out to do and some clunky platforming controls are the only obstacles to total triumph. For now, this is the most "cat" game that you can possibly buy.
If you're familiar with Spirit of the North, this sequel may impress you with its evolutionary strides over its predecessor, such as granting you an open expanse to explore at your leisure, not to mention the fact it's double the length of the previous title. For newcomers, Spirit of the North 2 has an enchanting and calming essence you'll gravitate towards despite its technical shortcomings and unnecessary upgrade system.
id Software once again found a way to reinvent the DOOM formula, adding new gameplay elements such as the thoroughly enjoyable shield saw. DOOM: The Dark Ages is nonstop, adrenaline-fuelled thrill ride from start to finish. This blockbuster demands your full attention as the best FPS this year so far.
As a photography simulator, Lushfoil Photography Sim shines when it allows itself to. A brilliant atmospheric decompressor is lost under the weight of mechanics that I really don't think needed to be there. This feels like a bizarre moment where I want it to be less of a "game" and lean into itself as an experience. Still, it's well worth a peek if you enjoy wandering some silent roads and seeing the sights on your own time.
For those who have already sampled the grim delights of Days Gone on PS4, paying £10 for the definitive version of one of 2019's most underrated open world adventures that brings with it a hugely entertaining and worthwhile horde mode, seems like a bargain to me. As for the rest of the package, it really did surprise me just how well Bend Studio's most marquee effort has endured, offering up a smart take on both open world game design and the zombie apocalypse more broadly that other developers have struggled to match. Put simply, if you haven't played Days Gone before, this is the point where you leap in with both feet.
Nikoderiko: The Magical World provides a raucous and exciting platformer that you'll want to keep exploring, and for those who've already played it, there's even more to unearth now, and a new world.