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The final part of the original trilogy looks and plays better than its previous two entries, but the cheap difficulty that was introduced sucks the fun out of Ninja Gaiden III. That said, the extra challenging US edition is now more beatable than ever thanks to save states and the rewind feature. By including the original Japanese version, too, there is every chance of getting through Ryu’s third NES adventure without the need to utilise the benefits of this Console Archives release.

While an interesting concept, Magin: The Rat Project Stories just falls short in every department after the beginning. The writing is so filled with profanities that it comes off as immature rather than adult. What is worse, though, is that the card-based combat system becomes repetitive because the game punishes the player for experimenting. Great concept on paper, but poorly executed.

Rogue Incursion can be an excellent Nintendo Switch 2 game if it gets a patch or two to address its technical hiccups. Mouse mode is completely broken and unusable, but the gyro-aim is effective and plays into the game's VR roots. Alien: Rogue Incursion - Evolved Edition is a pretty solid horror game despite its hang-ups and lack of originality. For its modest price, you can expect about five hours of thrills, and it’s solid enough to inspire hope for part two whenever that releases. If anything, a semi-episodic model like this, where a game is released in cheaper yet substantial chunks, shows that the approach can work, letting players enjoy a mostly complete experience without waiting years for a sequel.

A calming, creative experience built around the joy of arranging and personalising small spaces, the simple but cute look and relaxing atmosphere of MakeRoom make it easy to lose track of time while experimenting with ideas. It thrives when you let your own imagination free, as it's more focused on offering a gentle, low-pressure escape rather than gamey, structured goals. Sadly, the clunky controls, its somewhat cumbersome interface, and the lack of placement precision can interrupt the flow, making the experience feel less smooth than it could be.

Absolum earns its place as one of the best beat ‘em ups available, with its tight combat and beautiful visuals, and the roguelite elements add enough variety to keep things engaging, even if they aren’t as varied as they could be. No, Absolum doesn’t push boundaries or redefine expectations. It simply delivers a rock-solid, highly polished take on a classic formula that’s consistently fun, especially with a friend - whether that’s an elf or a dwarf.

Does Huntdown pass the test of capturing the spirit of the ‘80s, or is it just another neon-coated imposter? It passes - with flying colours, and probably a slow-motion explosion behind it. It has all the necessary ingredients: the excess, the attitude, the willingness to be completely ridiculous while still delivering something genuinely entertaining beyond the wonderful pixel art that dresses it all. It won’t eat up more than a week of your life (and that’s being generous), but some action games are just better as snacks rather than full meals.

For a low-budget indie 3D platformer on the original Nintendo Switch, Crosak impresses with its visuals and style. If it were a real Nintendo 64 platformer, its controls and gameplay would fall short of classics like Banjo-Kazooie and Super Mario 64, but it would still outperform most of the weaker 3D platformers on the system. It's less of a hassle to play than the vanilla release of Yooka-Laylee, but not as polished as Replaylee. It’s way better than Tail of the Sun, and when it comes to caveman 3D platformers, nothing tops Crosak.

For JRPG fans who are looking to dip their toes into the vast deckbuilding roguelike genre, Kazuma Kaneko's Tsukuyomi is a fantastic first step. It has plenty of familiar elements and gameplay loops, in part because of its common roots in the DRPG genre, and because of many deliberate design choices. It is not a two-way street, though, and fans of pure deckbuilders might be annoyed that they can handpick their deck each run. It does, however, make Tsukuyomi stand out in an oversaturated genre, and this more than makes up for its repetitive nature. It is a refreshing mix of old and new: a monster-collecting JRPG and a deckbuilder. This blend creates a highly unique experience; one that's easy to recommend.

Starfield combines Bethesda’s signature storytelling, full of rich dialogue, moral dilemmas and intricate side quests, with sci-fi elements like exploration, the mysteries of the unknown, questions of legacy, and the search for humanity’s place in the vast cosmos. It’s more grounded and personal than many epic space operas like Warhammer 40K, focusing instead on the industrialisation of humanity and the commodification of life. There's no escaping Bethesda's signature jank. It's still here, and some NPCs can look like they crawled out of a Walmart on a Friday night, but for the most part...it just works!

For fans of classic, turn-based RPGs or newcomers seeking a beautifully crafted adventure, Sea of Stars is an easy recommendation. Its transition to iOS is expertly handled, ensuring that its sincere homage to the past remains as captivating as ever—now with the added convenience of being playable in between calls or internet browsing sessions.