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Ring of Pain is an excellent concept which is almost perfectly executed, but falls flat at the final hurdle. The gameplay is as engaging as it is moreish, which is why it's such a shame that the difficulty spike at the end ruins the experience. Hopefully this is something that's amended after today's release.
Pendragon is a great introduction to the strategy genre and is easy to pick up and play without the fear of being overwhelmed by menus and options. Multiple characters, dialogue options and areas ensure no two playthroughs will be the same.
Cake Bash has provided my family and I the most fun we've had in front of the telly all year. It's a wonderfully enjoyable and completely hilarious party game, one that is accessible to all players. The argument can be made that it's a little light on content but then isn't that that the way with the best of cakes? Sweet, delicious, moreish and gone all too soon.
Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix is a decent kart racing game. The tracks are well made and take proper inspiration from Nickelodeon's retinue of shows, the Crew system adds a tactical element, and the challenges are decent, but it's just missing a little sparkle and a certain charm. Still, it's a thoroughly competent kart racer that leaves its predecessor in the dirt.
I have no doubt that those who are into motocross and its associated sports will get some kicks out of MX vs ATV All Out and its numerous modes and racers, but it does come across as a cash-grab with poor graphics and performance on Switch. If you're simply looking for a racing game to play on the go, look elsewhere.
Avicii Invector Encore Edition is a perfect portable album, offering a wonderful chance to bid farewell to one of the most important electronica artists of our time.
Kirby Fighters 2 is an unremarkable fighting game that doesn't really do much to separate itself from Super Smash Brothers. The fighting is decent and the story mode is fun, but there's little reason to carry on playing once you've climbed the tower, especially with the multiplayer servers already feeling empty a few weeks after release. At less than half the price of Ultimate, Kirby Fighters 2 is a great compromise if you're looking for a simple fighting game.
The Survivalists is a calm and serene survival game and monkey butler training broken up by spurts of risky combat and dungeon crawling with your trained monkey attack squad. If it wasn't for a few awkward design decisions it'd be fantastic, but it's still a good survival game that you can tackle with friends online.
On the pitch, FIFA 21 is an incremental improvement over FIFA 20, but doesn't address some of the biggest issues with defending and the high-scoring matches this leads to. With Volta still missing a certain spark and Ultimate Team not really changing much, it's the Football Manager-inspired Career mode that takes the biggest step forward. It's still a good football game, but it feels like the real focus is on next-gen.
Going Under is an excellent roguelite that is challenging, rewarding and hilarious at the same time. It takes a little while to get going, but once it does it's a delight. As a scathingly satirical look at tech startups and culture it's likely unmatched, helping it to stay fresh and funny for a long time.
Lifting the Tetris 99 template wholesale, Super Mario Bros. 35 is a fun and accessible spin on the battle royale, but it's one that's hampered by a lack of clarity over its multiplayer mechanics. Its fresh new player base also leads to endless trips through 1-1 and gruelling marathons instead of tense battles to be the last Mario standing.
Motorcycle fans will gorge themselves on Ride 4's 250+ obsessively detailed motorcycles and one of the best track lists to be found in a modern racing game, but the pizzaz needed to keep playing is sadly missing and the career gameplay can be duller than counting your own eyebrow hairs.
Star Wars Squadrons has taken an impressive first step in revitalising the Star Wars fighter pilot game. With a tale that feels like a genuine part of the galaxy far, far away, and space combat that gives you the tools to be an X-Wing or TIE fighting ace. Whether you're on the light or the dark side of the force, this is a game that Star Wars fans need to play.
Genshin Impact needs to be played to be believed. This is an addictive open-world adventure with gorgeous art and unique combat...and it's free! The character designs are sharp and beautiful, while the pastel-style world itself is full of jaw-dropping colour and natural vistas...and it's free! Sure, there's the admittedly stingy gacha system, but if you just want an immersive and peaceful world to climb and fly around in for hours, then Genshin Impact is for you.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time really is the definitive Crash game. Toys For Bob have taken all the series' trademarks, refined them into a challenging and polished experience and given us tons of levels to play and secrets to hunt for. There's new characters to play as and masks that shake up the gameplay when they appear, but Crash 4 is the same old Bandicoot who's learnt a few new tricks.
Paradise Killer is a pure, unguided detective mystery that doesn't dare hold your hand. You, and you alone, are in charge of seeking out not only the truth of this locked room murder, but the truth of the wild and cosmically corrupt world that the game takes place in. The open ended nature of the investigation can be daunting at first, and while some clunky platforming and frequent periods of downtime can sour the experience just a bit, Paradise Killer still manages to be one of the most well put together and utterly satisfying mystery games I've ever experienced.
Hotshot Racing is a nostalgia-tickling delight that doesn't have quite enough depth to keep pulling you back for any real length of time.
If you've been eyeing up RPG Maker for a while, then MZ is the best version of RPG Maker. Just don't expect MZ to do everything you want or even need it to do to match your vision.
Honestly, it's difficult to recommend Crysis Remastered. Its premise and design remain impressive to this day, but poor optimisation makes it difficult for players to enjoy the new graphical additions. If you already own a copy of Crysis, you aren't going to miss out on much here.
Port Royale 4 starts off strong, but its solid trading and management gameplay just become repetitive over time, eventually turning into a waiting game as numbers slowly get bigger. Managing cities and trade routes also never really overcome the somewhat awkward controls on console, and combat never becomes interesting. Still, if you absolutely love trading and seeing your empire grow is all the reward you need, Port Royale 4 might be for you.