Dungeons of hinterberg - Xbox Series X/S, PC: If you are fortunate enough to use Game Pass for your Xbox console, you have probably found yourself a little overwhelmed at times, scrolling through all the titles that are available to you. [***READ MORE***]

Princess Peach: Showtime! - Switch: When it was first announced that Mattel’s famous toy doll Barbie was going to have her own major film, it didn’t muster up much enthusiasm... [***READ MORE***]

WarioWare: Move it! - Switch: If there’s a bad boy within the Mario kingdom, it’s got to be Wario. He drives around on his motorbike, giving off early Marlon Brando vibes, but less The Wild One, and more The Wario One with a quirky gaming franchise.[***READ MORE***]

Red Dead Redemption - PS5/4, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC: The lawless west has long since been a regular well to return to for the likes of film, with the western genre just about as dominant as superhero films are now, back in the day. [***READ MORE***]

EA Sports FC 24 - Xbox Series X/S, PS5/4, Switch, PC: One of the most recognised video gaming franchises globally has to be EA’s FIFA series. So much so that despite being the name of the International Federation of Association Football (Fédération Internationale de Football Association)... [***READ MORE***]

Starfield - Xbox Series X/S, PC: It seems as if Microsoft have had their backs against the wall for some time now, in regards to first party releases. Even though their Game Pass subscription service appears to be a success, the slow drip of first party studio titles has caused frustration amongst players. [***READ MORE***]

Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg Re-make - PS5/4, Switch, PC: We live in a time of gaming that seems obsessed by a current trend, one that’s quite divisive, that of the re-make. It shouldn’t be a surprise, Hollywood has been cashing in on it for a number of years now, struggling to produce anything of any originality. [***READ MORE***]

Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Switch: In 2017, Nintendo released The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on both the Wii U and their new console, The Nintendo Switch. [***READ MORE***]

Redfall - Xbox Series X/S, PC: If there’s any industry that has its fair share of bandwagons, it’s gaming. If it isn’t a console, it’s a controller, if it isn’t a controller, it’s a character, if it isn’t a – well, you get the picture. [***READ MORE***]

Dredge - Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5/4, Switch, PC: For the most part, the act of fishing has mostly been relegated to the lowly level of the mini-game in video games. Link is a keen fisherman and can be often been found in many of his games with his rod in hand angling for something on the fishy side. [***READ MORE***]

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon - Switch: In the world of cinema, audiences are more than familiar with the origin story. It’s something we’ve all become aware of, most recently in the world of Marvel and DC with the back stories to their myriad of characters. [***READ MORE***]

Kirby's Return to Dreamland Deluxe - Switch: You could imagine that living in the shadow of one of the most recognised gaming characters of all time would make you bitter, but that doesn’t appear to be the case with the always chirpy Kirby. [***READ MORE***]

Hi-Fi Rush - Xbox Series X/S, PC: Rhythm - they say you’ve either got it or not. It’s always a sad day when you finally admit that you’re in that percentage that doesn’t. Still, it doesn’t stop you from making a tit of yourself in various social occasions. [***READ MORE***]

High on Life - Xbox Series X/S, PC: You can blame The Simpsons for this. It was the first prime time animated show that was primarily produced for adults. It was painfully sharp, silly, witty as hell, but also had a whole lot of heart. [***READ MORE***]

Vampire Survivors - Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC: It’s easy to take for granted how far gaming has come over the years. From days of Pong to the incredibly impressive open worlds that we can literally lose ourselves in today. [***READ MORE***]

Doraemon story of seasons: Friends of the great Kingdom - PS5, Switch, PC: We live in dark times ladies and gentlemen. If we needed any indication of this, all we have to do is look at how popular cosy games have become in recent years. [***READ MORE***]

LEGO Brawls - PS5/PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC: With the recent release of the free-to-play MultiVersus game, that can have you get into a curious bust up with the likes of Bugs Bunny, Batman and Arya Stark, it proves there’s an appetite for Super Smash Bros type games. [***READ MORE***]

Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway - PS5/PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC: There are only three professions that are universally accepted as being cool: astronaut, pirate and samurai. There are some that might argue that plumber should be added to that list, but that’s simply not acceptable. [***READ MORE***]

Easy Come, Easy Golf - Switch: Like so many other media industries such as film & TV, the trend for building on a franchise is ever present. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course, as long as there’s something there worth continuing, and in the case of the Orphan franchise, there clearly isn’t, and it’s simply an outrageous means of making more money from a terrible idea. [***READ MORE***]

Disney Dreamlight Valley - Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5/PS4, Switch, PC: The House of Mouse have been no slouches when it comes to video games, with over 300 titles released featuring much loved characters, going back as far as 1981 with the Mickey Mouse Game & Watch. [***READ MORE***]

Neon White - Switch, PC: For many gamers, the idea of a speed run is sheer hell; having to complete a level in the fastest manner possible, knowing that every single move is taking valuable time up on the clock. [***READ MORE***]

As Dusk Falls - Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC: It's truly remarkable how far the game industry has come with the ability of storytelling. From controlling small pixelated characters (who of course, are back in vogue with the current spate of RPG’s such as Triangle Strategy and BravelyDefault II) to the impressive visuals that drive many a strong narrative. It’s no wonder that the games industry is currently more lucrative than the film industry. [***READ MORE***]

Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series - PS5/PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC: There are only three professions that are universally accepted as being cool: astronaut, pirate and samurai. There are some that might argue that plumber should be added to that list, but that’s simply not acceptable. [***READ MORE***]

Mini Motorways - Switch, Apple Arcade, PC: Ah the open road; driving along with the wind in your hair and some great tunes on the go. If you live in a major city however, it’s often another story. Bumper to bumper traffic, cyclists cutting you up and a whiff of road rage in the air. [***READ MORE***]

Trek to Yomi - Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5/PS4, Switch, PC: There are only three professions that are universally accepted as being cool: astronaut, pirate and samurai. There are some that might argue that plumber should be added to that list, but that’s simply not acceptable. [***READ MORE***]

Triangle Strategy - Switch: Growing old as a gamer is never fun; those sharp, precise reactions you had when you where young eventually pack their bags and head of for younger climes. This can certainly give a sense of irony to Quick Time Events that end up being anything but. [***READ MORE***]

Forza Horizon 5 - Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC: Getting out and about has proven to be somewhat on the difficult side for much of the population, due this pesky pandemic that we’ve been living under for the last couple of years. [***READ MORE***]

Metroid Dread - Switch: In space, no one can hear you scream. Which is just as well, as you probably wouldn’t want your sobbing to be heard as you venture into the world of Metroid Dread. It is the latest addition to the long running, 2D Metroid franchise, and it’s certainly a challenge. [***READ MORE***]

Hot Wheels Unleashed - PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, Switch, PC: There are a few generations that exist now where the notion of play without swiping at a screen or button bashing a joypad is completely foreign. [***READ MORE***]

WarioWare: Get It Together - Switch: There’s a clear pecking order in the Mario world with everyone’s favourite plumber being king; let’s face it, you’d expect nothing less from Nintendo’s most popular mascot. [***READ MORE***]

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin - Switch, PC: It comes as no surprise to learn what a devastating impact Covid-19 has had on the global economy, and that of course includes the games industry. [***READ MORE***]

Mario Golf: Sports Rush - Switch: When it comes to elite sports, there’s nothing quite like golf. It’s a game that rich white men folk can use as an excuse to get away from the monotony of their family lives, as well as the lower class riff raff, by paying an extortionate amount on membership to a club, that’s just a glorified park with holes, to hit a ball around. [***READ MORE***]

Miitopia - Switch: When it comes to Nintendo owned franchises, Miitopia isn’t one that exactly stands out. Mii’s – customisable avatars – made their first appearance in 2006 on the Nintendo Wii. They were a way for gamers to create characters for themselves, which could interact in certain titles, representing them. [***READ MORE***]

Oddworld: Soulstorm - PS5, PS4, PC: Although to body shame anyone or thing over their appearance is never OK, it has to be said, that a rare exception could be given to the inhabitants of the Oddworld franchise, who are undeniably butt ugly. [***READ MORE***]

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity - Switch: With all the many side projects that Nintendo has Mario do, it’s difficult to see how he manages to invest any time into his day job of plumbing. On top of his adventures platforming, they have him taking part in Olympic events, karting, tennis, golf and partying hard, to name just a few. You would think that being a mascot would allow a pass or two on a few games, but apparently not. [***READ MORE***]

Katamari Damacy Reroll - PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC: It’s easy at this time to get swept up in the optimism that a next generation brings. Flashy new this, shiny new that. But as we’ve already discovered so far, this gen isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, with games really not excelling as they should, or just plain underperforming and underwhelming. [***READ MORE***]

Watch Dogs: Legion - Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, PC: According to latest reports, there are over 770 million surveillance cameras installed around the world – over half of which are apparently in China alone. And that number isn’t even taking into consideration those cameras that we all carry around on our mobile phones, or those weird doorbells that can watch and talk back. The world is most certainly watching. [***READ MORE***]

Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time - PS4, Xbox One: If ever the weight of burden from being a console mascot hung heavy on a character it’s Crash Bandicoot. He was created by Naughty Dog in 1996 for the original PlayStation, as a way of both promoting the brand, as well as competing with Sega’s blue hedgehog and Nintendo’s Italian plumber.[***READ MORE***]

Ride 4 - Xbox One, PS4, PC: It’s no real surprise that car racing games are popular; the notion of taking a curve just right, putting your foot down, overtaking the competition and waving them goodbye in the rear view as you speed off into the distance. And that’s just at the lights coming out of IKEA onto the North Circular Road. [***READ MORE***]

No Straight Roads - PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC: It was a prophecy like no other when, in 1987, Gloria Estefan and her formidable Miami Sound Machine, declared that the ‘Rhythm is Gonna Get You”. They were of course forewarning of the power of music and streaming sites, and how accessible and influential music would be in all our lives. And as we can all acknowledge now, it’s a force to be reckoned with. And in some cases tolerated, as in the likes of Justin Bieber and Ed Sheeran. [***READ MORE***]

Paper Mario: the Origami King - Switch: Washing-up liquid bottle, breakfast cereal cardboard box, soap powder packet, sponge, drinking straws. It may sound like a really dully shopping list, but they were the key items often associated with craft building for youngsters. In fact these are genuinely some of the items needed for the now infamous Blue Peter Tracy Island project in 1992, which led to the BBC receiving over 100,000 requests for the fact sheet, which the Beeb just couldn’t cope with. [***READ MORE***]

Relicta - Xbox One, PS4, PC: It may have been the late eighties, but Paula Abdul knew what she was talking about with her song ‘Opposites Attract’. Sure, on one base level she’s exploring what is it exactly that brings people together, as she explains in her lyrics “I take thing serious and you take ‘em light’, and yet she feels she has a connection with this other person, which is difficult to define. Fascinating stuff, for sure. [***READ MORE***]

Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town - Switch: There’s something really rather charming about a game that contains the changing seasons over time. Not just that it’s visually appealing as each season brings its own colour, but more for the fact that in the not so distant future, seasons won’t exist. [***READ MORE***]

51 Worldwide Games - Switch: As a child there was a tangible thrill about owning a games compendium, with the intent of being able to take it away with you and play with it anywhere. Often it comprised of a metallic case, that when you opened it up formed a chess board, whilst containing a number of pieces inside for a variety of different classic games. [***READ MORE***]

Xenoblade Chronicles - Definitive Edition - Switch: We, as a race, all appear to have a nostalgia gene in our DNA. We often find ourselves recalling adverts that promoted no longer available treats, or fashions that that we dressed ourselves in because the really cool kids did, whilst listening to music that wasn’t terribly good, but did so for the simple reason it annoyed our parents. [***READ MORE***]

Lonely Mountains: Downhill - Switch: After being cocooned in our micro worlds for so long, there’s now encouragement from the powers that be, to venture outside, maybe do a little more exercise. One of the preferred choices of getting about is cycling. [***READ MORE***]

Good Job! - Switch: You’ve had a long, hard day, slaving your fingers to the bone. Or the very least the mushy, fleshy bit. You want to relax, take yourself out of your dull, humdrum existence, if only for an hour or so, and have a magical adventure in a video game. But what if that game finds you working in an office, given all the menial tasks under the gloomy sun? [***READ MORE***]

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX - Switch: It all started with just two colours in 1996: Red and Blue, and gamers had one remit – gotta catch ‘em all. Since then, the Pokémon phenomenon has gone from strength to strength, with the franchise more popular than it’s ever been. [***READ MORE***]

Coffee Talk - PS4, Xbox One, PC: It’s incredible to think how one hot (and cold) beverage could have such an impact on the world. The rise of the humble coffee bean in the last couple of decades has been nothing short of phenomenal, in western civilisation that is. [***READ MORE***]

Need for Speed Heat - Xbox One, PS4, PC: Perhaps one of the most testing elements surrounding this long-running driving game must be naming them. Since it pulled up to the bumper for the very first time in 1994, the main franchise has grown considerably, with this entry being the twenty-fourth release. [***READ MORE***]

GRID - Xbox One, PS4, PC: Bolt. Redgrave. Phelps. Ennis Hill. Thompson. Some of the biggest names to appear in the Summer Olympics over the years, but can any of them really compete with the likes of icons Mario and Sonic? [***READ MORE***]

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening - Switch: There must be a certain amount of pressure that comes from having a hugely successful franchise on your hands, in the sense of trying to keep it fresh and engaging with every instalment. Not so for Nintendo, so it seems; the Zelda series has grown into a serious concern, and yet they still manage to outdo themselves from their last jaw-dropping achievement. [***READ MORE***]

FIFA 20 - [PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC]: With the ‘20’ in the title, it feels that this year’s FIFA should be weightier than usual. It’s not, sadly. It doesn’t even make a fuss about it being a big competition year, with the European championships kicking off in June of next year; let’s hope that the there’s at least some DLC, and not a separate title. [***READ MORE***]

eFootball PES 2020 - [PS4, Xbox One]: With a yearly release of what is essentially the same game, it’s no surprise that developers try and tweak the formula to justify the on-going expense to us gamers. But we’re not sure how big a help it is to simply add the letter ‘e’ to the games title. [***READ MORE***]

Gears 5 - [Xbox One]: When Gears of War was released in 2006 as an then exclusive for the relatively new Xbox 360, it was difficult not to be impressed with it. It was the kind of AAA title that made your non 360 pals a little bit envious. [***READ MORE***]

Dragon Quest Builders 2 - Switch, PS4: It’s weird how pre-conceptions about sequels can work differently. Take the film world; the rule of thumb for any sequel is that it will be inferior to the original. Just think of all those films you’ve seen with a “2” at the end of the title, and remember how disappointing all of them were. [***READ MORE***]

Sea of Solitude - [PS4, Xbox One, PC]: In recent years, there seems to be a noticeable increase in the number of bandwagons whooshing through society. No doubt the introduction of social media has helped highlight a fair few of them, with everyone’s feeds seeing various ones pop up to gain attention. [***READ MORE***]

Senran Kagura Peach Ball - Switch: It’s been said in the past that there’s nothing stranger than folk. You probably only have to look at the person opposite you currently to agree to that. And although there’s a lot to admire about Japan and its people – robots, Manga, Godzilla and Samurai flicks to name but a few – their gaming habits are often on the peculiar side, as this odd game is the perfect illustration. [***READ MORE***]

Rage 2 - [Xbox One, PS4, PC]: The planet, as we know it, is fucked. At some point we crossed the line from ‘if’ to ‘when’ without a care in the world. So here we are, kidding ourselves into thinking that recycling that milk carton and flushing after every other piss, will actually make a difference. That ship, containing all our crap being sent off to another land to be buried underground to poison the earth for thousands of years, has most definitely sailed. [***READ MORE***]

BoxBoy! + BoxGirl! - Switch: Sometimes gaming can get a little too much, particularly these days where so many titles can have you playing in their worlds until your limbs feel numb and your eyes feel like crying blood. [***READ MORE***]

Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn - 3DS: Poor old Kirby; always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Despite starring in over thirty titles since his debut in 1992, he’s never been allowed into the elite club for video game characters. [***READ MORE***]

Anthem - [PS4, Xbox One, PC]: Everyone wishes they could fly, just ask Orville. For many, it was probably admiring Superman – either in comic print or on the big screen – with his cape flowing behind him as he flew through the air, which initially caught the eye. [***READ MORE***]

Crackdown 3 - [Xbox One, PC]: Thank God for wide spread crime. Let’s face it, if our streets weren’t teeming in criminals, doing a whole lot of stuff they shouldn’t be, the video game industry would be forced to make The Great British Bake Off games, with a fishing sub game, natch. [***READ MORE***]

Gelly Break - Switch: There are many things that can test a relationship. For instance, when one of you finds The Big Bang Theory funny, and the other has superior tastes in the sitcom format. Or when one finds anything Ryan Gosling does life changing, and the other believes that that guy on the corner who makes balloon animals is more talented. Stuff like that. [***READ MORE***]

Hitman 2 - [PS4, Xbox One, PC]: This is one of those rare occasions where we come clean. We’ve never played a Hitman game before. There, we said it. We did watch the 2007 flick, based on the game, starring Timothy Olyphant, but we wished we hadn’t. [***READ MORE***]

Grip - [PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC]: It’s clear to all what we will be driving in the future – nothing. We will undoubtedly be driven around by self-driving vehicles, all of which with the voice chip of KITT built in. [***READ MORE***]

Dakar 18 - [Xbox One, PS4, PC]: There’s a certain romanticism conjured up when thinking of the Dakar Rally; driving in searing heat, windscreens smothered in dust, across inhospitable terrain in exotic locales. For us it’s Lawrence of Arabia on wheels, with the camels swapped for off-road vehicles. [***READ MORE***]

Overcooked 2 - [PS4, Xbox One, PC]: It will come as a surprise to many of our younger readers that there came a time when food didn’t come in tight plastic wrapping or a thin cardboard shell. Even older members of society are now relying on ping dinners, served in plastic trays, all in the name of convenience. [***READ MORE***]

Mario Tennis Aces - Switch: Plumbers hate exercise. Fact. Anyone who has had the misfortune to have to call one out for a leaky wotsit can testify to that. The closest they ever come to exercise is lifting their heavy wallets after extortionate call-out charges. Are we right? Yes, we most certainly are. [***READ MORE***]

Kirby Star Allies - Switch: There are a handful of gaming characters who have surpassed being mere gaming characters and have become cultural icons around the world, the likes of Mario, Sonic, Link and Lara Croft. [***READ MORE***]

Gravel - [Xbox One, PS4, PC]: With the racing sim being one of the most popular genres in gaming, it’s understandable that trying to come up with an original name that will really stand out can be hard. But seriously though, Gravel? Apparently it could have been a lot worse, with Grit and Tarmac both strong contenders.It should have just been called Nigel and be done with it. [***READ MORE***]

Samsara - Xbox One: Getting from A to B can be quite challenging; after all, not all doors slide open when you approach them, and not all stairs move up and down. It’s easy then to appreciate the obstacles Zee has to face, when he attempts to leave the mystical land of Croydon. No, wait – Samsara. [***READ MORE***]

Kingdom Come - [PS4, Xbox One, PC]:
Every gamer loves a challenge, but it’s difficult to compete with a game that hates you. You see, Kingdom Come: Deliverance does everything it possibly can to put you off playing it. And it does a great job of it. [***READ MORE***]

Assassin's Creed Origins - PS4, Xbox One, PC: There's a current trend that games in general, and so-called AAA titles in particular follow. Once they get so far with a series, they wonder where to go next with it. Invariably, some bright spark chirps up and offers "I know, what about going back to the beginning...". Battlefield's done it, so has COD, and even Rayman went back to his roots. Obviously the one everyone is waiting for is FIFA; players with moustaches, running around with long shorts and long sleeves, kicking something that's almost spherical around, with DLC including a kickabout in no man's land in 1914. [***READ MORE***]

Destiny 2 - [PS4, Xbox One, PC]:
So, here we are again. A sequel to the hugely popular shooter that attempted to change it up a bit as far as the multiplayer experience was concerned. It wasn't overwhelmingly received however, as the story was deemed on the dull side, but it certainly did enough right to tempt gamers with a second instalment. And here it is. [***READ MORE***]

PES 18 - Xbox One, PS4, PC: Everyone loves an underdog and Konami's football title has been just that for a number of years now. Top dog is of course FIFA, but snapping at its heels has always been PES. Over the years, PES has actually been a better sim than its competitor - and by better we mean more fun. The ball has moved across the pitch with more zip, and you could have games with goals galore. Ah fun times indeed. [***READ MORE***]

Agents of Mayhem - PS4, Xbox One, PC: According to this latest shooter set in a futuristic Seoul, the South Korean capital is swell. Which is a relief, considering all the current shenanigans north of its borders. That said, despite all its pretty neon and holographic signs - think Blade Runner meets Hello Kitty - the city does take a bit of a pummelling. You see there's evil afoot by way of the dastardly L.E.G.I.O.N - League of Evil Gentlemen Intent on Obliterating Nations. as the name suggests, they want to take over the world, which is bad news for all concerned. [***READ MORE***]

Splatoon 2 - Switch: To say we were miffed with Nintendo regarding all things Wii U is an understatement. Let's face it, it wasn't cheap on release, but pure Nintendo-ites didn't mind. It transpires that we have less than ten games for the console, which is far less than we have for any other system. In fact we've kissed more girls than that, and that's saying something. OK, so when we say girls, we mean have been licked by an animal, but it's pretty much the same thing. Everyone however, seems to be loving the Switch though. Except for us. Don't mind us if we're a tad on the sceptical side. We've been burnt before. [***READ MORE***]

Dirt 4 - PS4, Xbox One, PC: Ah the driving genre. The wind in your hair, the skid marks in the rear mirror and the occasional pesky blue shell up your bum. It’s not difficult to see why these games are popular, but, especially in this latest generation of consoles, the driving genre has seemingly stalled. A good example is Mario Kart 8. Yes the Switch version is heaps of fun, but the game is essentially three years old as it was first released on the Wii U in 2014. And then there’s the Dirt series. [***READ MORE***]

Moonstone Island - Switch, PC: If there’s one genre that has just exploded in the gaming world in recent years it’s the rise of the cosy game. [***READ MORE***]

Senua's Saga: Hellblade II - Xbox Series X/S, PC: It’s been difficult to ignore the seeming shift in the games industry of late. There have been a worrying amount of lay-offs, as well as the plug pulled on a number of studios. [***READ MORE***]

TopSpin 2K25 - Xbox Series X/S, PS5/4,Xbox One, PC: 2011 was the year that saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 as the biggest film release, Adele’s 21 the best-selling album, as well as Estonia adopt the Euro, Amy Winehouse die, and Prince William and Catherine Middleton get hitched. [***READ MORE***]

Tekken 8 - Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC: Imagine the thrill of it, 1976, walking into an arcade and seeing Sega’s Heavyweight Champ, widely considered the world’s first two-player fighting game. [***READ MORE***]

Another Code: Recollection - Switch: You have come to a junction, the path in front of you now forks left and right. To the left you see a solid oak tree on the horizon, and to the left leads down to a stream. In the distance you hear the cries of goblins... [***READ MORE***]

Silent Hope - Switch, PC: The daily grind. Now we’re not talking about the one in our daily lives, where we sleep, eat, work, repeat, but the one that many of us do for fun. In video gaming worlds. [***READ MORE***]

Forza Motorsport - Xbox Series X/S, PC: When Forza Horizon 5 was released in November, 2021, it was greeted by a fair few players ready to get behind the wheel, with 10 million players jumping on at launch. This number would double, as the word got out just how good a racer it was. [***READ MORE***]

Armoured Core VI - Xbox Series X/S, PS5/PS4, Xbox One, PC: One of the greatest things about being an adult is the ability to see past an awesome trailer for a videogame, and understand that it’s not for you, for whatever reason.[***READ MORE***]

Exoprimal - Xbox Series X/S, PS5/4, Xbox One, PC: When you’re a youngster growing up, it’s no surprise that that idea of monsters roaming the Earth before us is such an exciting one. So when the likes of Jurassic Park - or for the more mature discerning cinema-goer... [***READ MORE***]

Park Beyond - Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC: According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the first ever theme park was the Bakken in Denmark, opened in 1583. Apparently it was a pleasure garden built near some popular springs, that featured live entertainment, dancing, and believe it or not, some early rides. [***READ MORE***]

Trinity Trigger - PS5/4, Switch, PC: There appears to be some new-found love for the RPG with gamers right now, especially with the success for titles such as Bravely Default 2 and Live a Live. [***READ MORE***]

Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp - Switch: When you think about it, mankind’s progression has been pretty impressive. The wheel was invented so we could do less walking; Flight was invented to travel to both visit faraway places and, more importantly, created a greater distance between ourselves and our families. And arguably the most impressive achievement, the internet, that gives every person on the planet 24 hour access to free pornography. [***READ MORE***]

Storyteller - Switch, PC: Everyone loves a great story, which is why films, books, theatre etc. are so popular. And certainly one of the most impressive elements of video gaming is being able to immerse yourself in stories, allowing you to take on various roles such as an adventurous plumber, or a cowboy, or even a blue hedgehog. [***READ MORE***]

Metroid Prime Remastered - Switch: Samus Arun has been around the space block, ever since debuting in 1986 in the 2D action platformer Metroid for the NES. [***READ MORE***]

One Piece Odyssey - PS5/4,Xbox Series X/S, PC: You know a gaming franchise has been around the block when it had titles released for the WonderSwan – a handheld produced by Bandai in Japan in 1999. [***READ MORE***]

Evil West - PS5/4,Xbox Series X/S, PC: At one point in history you couldn’t swing a gun belt without hitting a western film. No one made them quite like John Ford, with his epic vistas of the old west, often featuring a protagonist – such as John Wayne – taking on the odds to save the day. [***READ MORE***]

Bayonetta 3 - Switch: So, a certain witch is back, around a fair amount of controversy as it happens, that caused ripples through social media timelines, but more of that later. [***READ MORE***]

A plague Tale: Requiem - Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch, PC: If you suffer from musophobia then this game is most definitely not for you. It’s the name given to those with a deep fear of all things rats, and this game is brimming with them.[***READ MORE***]

Easy Come, Easy Golf - Switch: It’s probably a sign of the fairly dark times we live in that cosy games are so popular right now. You know the type of game, that isn’t too taxing, that may have you out planting crops one day, or fishing the next, or maybe cooking up a storm. [***READ MORE***]

Destroy All Humans! 2: Reprobed - PS5/PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC: It would be truly ignorant to believe that there are no other life forms out there. No, not out there, out there. It could be a green globule of an organism floating in space, or a twelve legged, hairless being, sitting in front of a screen watching the latest intergalactic reality show. Or somewhere in-between, but if space flicks have taught us anything, it’s that the universe is a big place. [***READ MORE***]

Pacman World Repac - PS5/PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC: The year was 1980 when a certain yellow circular character with an insatiable appetite for pills first appeared in arcades. Two years later he was invited into our homes, as he was now playable on the Atari 2600 console. [***READ MORE***]

Two Point Campus - Xbox Series X/S, PS5/PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC: In 1996 at the Labour Party conference, Tony Blair gave a speech stating that the party’s top three priorities once in office would be “education, education, education”. This would no doubt make him the number one fan of this new game then, as it reinforces all his priorities, taking place in a number of universities as it does.[***READ MORE***]

Live a Live - Switch: It has only been recently that we’ve forayed bravely into the daunting world of the JRPG, mostly due to the number of releases that have found themselves on the Switch, such as Triangle Strategy and Bravely Default 2. [***READ MORE***]

Mario Strikers: Battle League - Switch: The beautiful game. It’s going through a bit of a transition, as far as gaming is concerned. First we had the complete disintegration of what used to be such a fine footie franchise PES, which has withered away dramatically since taking on a free-to-play approach to its business model, which ironically enough, is bringing them no business at all now. [***READ MORE***]

Matchpoint Tennis Championships - Xbox Series X/S, PS5/PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC: One of the key, vital elements of the great game of tennis is timing. Everything from serving to returning relies upon it. [***READ MORE***]

Sniper Elite 5 - Xbox Series X/S, PS5/PS4, Xbox One, PC: War, what is it good for? A valid question that was asked by Edwin Starr with his track ‘War’, way back in 1970. There always appear to be a war somewhere, ones you may not be aware of and some that you probably are, like the atrocities that Russia are currently committing against the brave people of Ukraine.[***READ MORE***]

Nintendo Switch Sports - Switch: Something that’s always simply a given is that you shouldn’t have to stand up playing a video game. So it’s only fair that any game that has the audacity of making you get up off your chair, automatically has a boom taken off its review score. [***READ MORE***]

Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Switch: If you’re a parent of young children, then there’s no doubt you’ve failed to escape the song “We don’t talk about Bruno” from the animated Disney film Encanto. [***READ MORE***]

Chocobo GP - Switch: When is a Mario Kart game not a Mario Kart game? Well, the biggest giveaway is if the world’s most adventures plumber isn’t in the driving seat. [***READ MORE***]

Halo Infinite - Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC: It was the end of 2001 when the gaming space got that little bit more competitive when Microsoft released their first gaming console – the Xbox. [***READ MORE***]

Far Cry 6 - Xbox Series X/S, PS5/PS4, PC: When a man is tired of the open world game, he’s tired of life. Samuel Johnson said that in 1777. OK, we’re paraphrasing, as he was actually talking about London, but it’s the same principle. But you just know if anyone appreciated the open world genre, it would have been writer Johnson; you can just imagine him losing his academic shit playing Watchdogs: Legion, roaming the virtual streets of London, hacking skills at the ready. [***READ MORE***]

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania - Xbox Series X/S, PS5/PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC: There’s only one real reason for anniversaries and that’s to make you feel old. Sure, you can celebrate whatever the anniversary stands for in some way, but ultimately its very existence is to remind you of your own mortality. [***READ MORE***]

Cris Tales - Xbox Series X/S, PS5/PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, Stadia: Time is such a precious commodity, so it’s no wonder there’s such a fascination surrounding manipulating it. Whether you’re Marty McFly going back to the future, Cher keen on turning back time, or just Cindy Lauper yakking on about time after time, the here and now never seems to be quite enough. [***READ MORE***]

Knockout City - Xbox Series X/S, PS5/PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC: Thank the almighty beings above for video games. Where else can you participate in a sports game without having any interest in the sport itself? Take golf for instance. It is primarily a sport for white, middle-aged, middle-class men, with too much time and money on their hands. Watching it played by professionals is about as exciting as looking out of a window that has a picture of an empty field attached to it. [***READ MORE***]

New Pokémon Snap - Switch: If ever there was a gaming franchise that was a license to print money it would be Pokémon. Ever since their debut in 1996, these colourful pocket monsters have been a huge hit with gamers, turning the franchise into not only one of the most popular, but also one of the most lucrative. [***READ MORE***]

Outriders - Xbox Series X/S, PS5/PS4, Xbox One, PC Á Stadia: As owners of PS5’s and Xbox Series X/S are all too painfully aware, new games to play on their next-is-now generation of consoles are thin on the ground. And new original IP’s even thinner still. [***READ MORE***]

Bravely Default 2 - Switch: With reaction speeds slowing down, no doubt attributed to the inevitable signs of aging, we’ve found ourselves dabbling more and more with RPG’s of late. [***READ MORE***]

The Medium - Xbox Series X/S, PC: With such a drought of not only new games, but next-gen titles exclusively, gamers are crying out for new titles to play on their next-gen machines. [***READ MORE***]

Dirt 5 - Xbox Series X/S, PS5/PS4, Xbox One, PC: There’s a certain amount of bravery that comes with releasing a game alongside a new generation of consoles, more so when the quantity of released titles has been so lacklustre, as it has been with the release of both the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. [***READ MORE***]

Pikmin 3 Deluxe - Switch: Anything involving aliens in space usually evokes a sense of fear and dread, as well as the occasional digestive issues leading to a serious bit of stomach ache. This of course is often the case in video games too, with gamers all too often required to ward off alien attacks, in a bid to save one universe or another. [***READ MORE***]

9 Monkeys of Shaolin - PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC: Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael and Leonardo: just a handful of names of some of the most famous exponents of martial arts in popular culture. [***READ MORE***]

Spiritfarer - Xbox One, PS4, Switch, PC: There’s a saying that goes that there are only two things certain in life, death and taxes. That’s true unless you run a large global company like Starbucks, Google or Amazon, who’d only rather be certain of one of those.This new indie title acknowledges both of these things on the list, as it dips its toe into both commercial and spiritual waters. [***READ MORE***]

Windbound - PS4, Xbox One, PC: There are romantic connotations to being marooned on a desert island; you can lay on a beach, drinking straight out of a coconut, feeling the breeze tickle underneath the fetching skirt you fashioned yourself out of palm leaves, all to the sound of the music to the classic sixties TV show The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, playing on a loop in your head. [***READ MORE***]

Destroy All Humans! - PS4, Xbox One, PC: Mankind has always had a fascination for what lies beyond the stars. Beyond this galaxy, into the very depths of space, could life possibly exist? It’s a question that has vexed us for years, and the simply answer is this: yes. [***READ MORE***]

F1 2020 - PS4, Xbox One, PC: Imagine a race where the cars can reach speeds of well over 200 mph! Sounds exciting huh? It’s ironic then how Formula 1 racing can make such a thrilling sounding event so utterly dull. [***READ MORE***]

Utawarerumono: Prleude to the Fallen - PS4, PS Vita: Japan has always been an intriguing culture to the West, but none so more than now, it appears. You can’t watch TV (or other device, for that matter), without another curious TV presenter exploring the country, travelling on the Bullet train, ordering noodles from a robot, and sleeping in an oversized locker for the night. [***READ MORE***]

Maneater - PS4, Xbox One: In 1975, two men inadvertently created the most damning campaign against sharks that exists to this very day. They were director Steven Spielberg and composer John Williams, and the film they worked on together was the classic Jaws. [***READ MORE***]

Fledgling Heroes - Switch: Maybe it’s an age thing, when a game is so packed with menus, sub menus, as well as an almost unending amount of various button and trigger combos for moves or weapon layouts, that just playing it can give you brain ache. [***READ MORE***]

Granblue Fantasy: versus - PS4, PC: For many, there’s somewhat of a Marmite effect when it comes to fighting games, which means there’s a either a lot of love or hate for them. Other genres can have a middle ground, attracting the occasional casual gamer, but fighters not so much. [***READ MORE***]

Sisters Royale - Switch, PS4: There’s nothing quite as special as the bond between sisters. It’s a unique connection that means they look out for each other no matter what. There’s nothing that can break this tie, except one thing: relationships.[***READ MORE***]

Arc of Alchemist - PS4, Switch: It’s estimated that 33 percent of the Earth is desert. Now that’s a whole lot of sand castles. But other than being a major component of hourglasses, there’s not much else you can do with it.[***READ MORE***]

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order - PS4, Xbox One, PC: There’s been a disturbance of late – not so much in the force, but in gaming. There was a trend adopted by developers to forgo the single player campaign for a pure multiplayer experience. [***READ MORE***]

Mars power Industries - Switch: It’s official, our world is doomed. We’ve been buggering it up royally for some time now, without a care in the world, until eventually all that will be left is a dried up, dusty husk. [***READ MORE***]

Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games 2020 - Switch: Bolt. Redgrave. Phelps. Ennis Hill. Thompson. Some of the biggest names to appear in the Summer Olympics over the years, but can any of them really compete with the likes of icons Mario and Sonic? [***READ MORE***]

Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Switch: Dragons are one of those mythical creatures that always deliver a sense of awe – except perhaps that stoner Puff. But their level of coolness heated up when the saucy Daenerys showed off, amongst other things, her scaled pets in Game of thrones. [***READ MORE***]

BurgerTime Party! - Switch: Gaming can often equate to eating: sometimes you feel like a full meal, where you want to take your time to indulge and savour the experience; occasionally though, you can be satisfied with a quick snack just to get you through the day. [***READ MORE***]

The Surge 2 - [Xbox One, PS4, PC]: When we caught wind of the fact that The Surge 2 was about to be released, it suddenly dawned on us that we hadn’t played the original. So with a mix of journalistic thoroughness and curiosity, we downloaded it. [***READ MORE***]

The Sinking City - Switch: We will be the first to admit that the success of the Nintendo Switch caught us by surprise. That’s not to say we have little confidence in the big N, as we’ve been keen fans since the Game Boy for handhelds, and the N64 for consoles. After the disappointment that was the Wii U however – not in terms of vision, but the extremely poor support it received – the notion of the Switch just sounded as another quirky console release that wouldn’t catch on. [***READ MORE***]

Vambrace: Cold Soul - [Xbox One, PS4, Switch, PC]: Greetings adventurer. You have just awoken from a pleasant dream. You find yourself in a place you’re unfamiliar with. Around you are ancient trees, with a simple stone path in front of you. Do you go left or right?: [***READ MORE***]

Etherborn - [Xbox One, PS4, Switch, PC]: There is an urban myth, often attributed as fact, that human beings only use ten per cent of their brains. This is complete twaddle as we actually use far more than that, unless you’re the current President of the US of A that is, where 10% is highly optimistic. [***READ MORE***]

Car Mechanic Simulator - [Xbox One, PS4, PC]: On the spectrum of game genres, there’s a section right at the bottom labelled ‘Sims’. In their purest form, they have to be considered the dullest part of gaming. In a medium that allows you to go anywhere and be anyone you like, the simulator literally sucks all the joy out of it, by expecting you to take part in the relative mundane. [***READ MORE***]

The Division 2 - [Xbox One, PS4, PC]: Olympus has finally fallen. Although it’s not attributed to the current POTUS, it’s just a given that he’s to blame. No doubt he turned the entire White House into a resort, with the West Wing a casino, the press room a VIP titty bar and the South Lawn an 18-hole crazy golf course. [***READ MORE***]

World War Z - [Xbox One, PS4, PC]: If anyone has managed to build their part up over the years, it’s zombies. Once upon a time, they wear just shoe gazers, shuffling around aimlessly, grunting for attention in a shopping mall. As long as you had a baseball bat and a decent swing, they were harmless. [***READ MORE***]

God's Trigger - [PS4, Xbox One, PC]: The top-down shooter. If you’re a certain age, meaning older than you’ll ever let on to your online gang, it’s kind of funny referring to a shooter as top down, as they all were back in the day. One of the greatest of all time was, without question, Ikari Warriors from 1986. [***READ MORE***]

Outward - [Xbox One, PS4, PC]: Probably one genre of gaming that struggles more than any for console gamers, is that of the RPG. Yes, the Role Playing Game, long since a basic staple for the PC gamer, who armed with keyboard and mouse, can negotiate the often bewildering options they will need to understand and master on any major quest. [***READ MORE***]

Super Mario Bros U Deluxe - Switch: You have to admire Mario’s dedication. After all, how much of a relationship must he have with Princess Peach, when she’s constantly being abducted by Bowser? There must have been a time when Luigi sat him down and asked if she was worth all the hassle. Well, you would, wouldn’t you? [***READ MORE***]

JCB Pioneers: Mars - [Switch, PC]: Despite all the warnings, the human race has completely buggered up planet Earth. It’s no coincidence that we’re sending probes off to Mars, to see if it’s viable to sustain human life, because, in the not so distant future, Earth will be having a closing down sale and getting rid of its current tenants – i.e. us - by all apocalyptical means possible. [***READ MORE***]

Battlefield V - [PS4, Xbox One, PC]: EA know a thing or two about taking flak. Not from developing their contender to the Call Of Duty throne, by way of the Battlefield series, but from what many believe to be dubious practices regarding micro-transactions. [***READ MORE***]

Shadow of the Tomb Raider - [Xbox One, PS4, PC]: It’s not fully appreciated how difficult it is to pull off wearing khaki. It’s not just a colour, it’s a way of life. Someone who always manages to embrace it is Lara Croft; if ever khaki had a poster girl, it’s Lara. [***READ MORE***]

Fishing Sim World - [Xbox One, PS4, PC]:
You’re in the middle of an adventure, with enemies breathing down your neck, baying for your blood. Do you fight or take flight? Many times though, there’s a more relaxing third option: fish. [***READ MORE***]

PES 19 - [PS4, Xbox One, PC]: It’s been a pretty good year for the beautiful game, what with Russia hosting the World Cup during the summer. And with the Premier League already up and running, the appetite for football has never been stronger.[***READ MORE***]

Airheart: Tales of Broken Wings - [Xbox One, PS4, PC]: Just so you know, this isn’t a gaming interpretation of the classic 1985 Mr Mister song. Now once you’ve processed that disappointment, we can move on. Instead, what we have is a curious, top down, plane shooter, set in a gorgeous cel-shaded world. [***READ MORE***]

ONRUSH - Xbox One, PS4, PC: When is a race not a race? More to the point, when is a racer not a racer? When it’s ONRUSH. This new IP from racing gurus Codemasters, certainly takes the bog standard racing game in a different direction. [***READ MORE***]

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze - Switch: In 1981 Donkey Kong must have thought he’d won the lottery. Not only was his name plastered on the front of an arcade machine, he sat proudly at the top of every screen as some red-capped shmuck tried, over and over, to knock him down. He looked invincible. He could see it now: the lunch box endorsements; the invites to the Playboy mansion; nights out getting sozzled with the Brat Pack whilst getting ‘caught’ snogging Molly Ringwald outside The Viper Club by the Hollywood paparazzi. [***READ MORE***]

Dragon Quest Builders - Switch: We’re not ones for reinforcing stereotypes, but even we have to concede that all builders are the same. You have to ply them constantly with weak tea with four sugars in order for them not to build a wall around your front door for a laugh. But the last laugh is on them, because as everyone knows, true gamers never leave the house anyway. [***READ MORE***]

Monster Energy Supercross - PS4, Xbox One, PC: It’s funny how some sports just don’t travel well. The US, surprisingly, has a number of sports that many outside the States just don’t get. Baseball, for instance, and, as much as they try, US football has still to make a significant impact, particularly on our shores. [***READ MORE***]

Middle-Earth: Shadow of War - Xbox One, PS4, PC: If you're a PC gamer, then you're no doubt already accustomed to worlds populated by orcs, ghűls, graugs and the like. If that's the case, the chances are relatively high that you don't go out much and that the sensation of the sun hitting your skin is an unfamiliar one. Console gamers however, have had less exposure to these types of creatures. [***READ MORE***]

Mariokart 8 Deluxe - Switch: The best karting videogame without dispute of course goes to Mario. The now infamous red shells have been flying around Nintendo devices for years now, and they always pass the chequred flag in pole position. There's a beautiful simplicity surrounding them that is just makes them a joy to play. [***READ MORE***]

Battlefield 1 Xbox One, PS4, PC: War, what is it good for? Well, if you're EA or Activision, it's good for filling bank accounts to the brim from gamers shelling out a fortune, year after year, for the latest incarnation of their blockbusting franchises. Between Activision's Call of Duty series and EA's Battlefield, their head to head record often sees EA's franchise coming off second best. But in this war, considering the huge amount of moolah they both generate, there are no losers. [***READ MORE***]

Watchdogs 2 - Xbox One, PS4, PC: It's hard to imagine but there was a time before the internet: books had sleeves not faces, birds were less angry, and the only thing Amazon delivered was a lot of rain in its forests. Ah simpler times. Today we are all permanently plugged into something, invariably all leading to the super information highway. Those three Ws are a key to a weird, wild and occasionally wonderful online world.In 2014, Ubisoft released Watch Dogs, which saw you playing as a computer hacker, hacking your way through the city of Chicago. It was an interesting premise, but was lacking in its EXECution. [***READ MORE***]

Aragami - PS4, PC: Just to be clear, this isn't the game about folding paper we've all been waiting for. This is actually a game about sneaking in the shadows and not getting caught. In real life this kind of behaviour would normally result in a court/restraining order, but in the world of video games, anything goes. You play the titular character, an assassin, who finds himself in that awkward position of being not quite alive and not quite dead - we've all been there. In this undead state, Aragami discovers that he has supernatural powers; these mainly manifest themselves around shadows, which he can manipulate to a certain extent. [***READ MORE***]

Metroid Prime: Federation Force [3DS]: Gamers can be such touchy folk; when this title was announced at 2015’s E3 event, it was greeted with the kind of enthusiasm usually reserved for stinky lepers. Not that they didn’t like what they saw, per se, but it just wasn’t what they wanted, which is a Metroid Prime game proper, and not yet another spin-off. It was always going to be an uphill battle since then, and it has been. Fans even started an on-line petition to cancel the title completely, which picked up a number of signatures, such was the harsh resistance to this particular game. Ouch [***READ MORE***]