Gareth Brierley

Sweet Carole will transport you to a different time and place, one that is like sinking into a warm bath; familiar yet new, with its solid storytelling and beautiful, nostalgic animation.

If you like your spot-the-difference games to be weird, and have a peculiar love for creepy cabins, then you should try a shift at The Cabin Factory.

If you are a dedicated fan of old-school survival horror and genuinely don’t mind the punishing nature of limited save points and the deliberate awkwardness of fixed cameras, then Tormented Souls 2 could be for you.

Yes, playing NBA Bounce alone does get a bit boring after a while, as the game becomes a tad samey. But it’s in playing with others on the same couch where this can properly shine, and, of course, in its wonderfully wacky Party mode.

Supermarket Simulator is incredibly addictive, which is the hallmark of any good simulation game.

The big takeaway for Reus 2 is this: don’t give up on it in the beginning.

Windborn - Echoes of the Night has none of that trademark Aery calmness. Its entire focus is on relentlessly hitting checkpoints against a strict time limit. To be honest, the whole package feels a bit half-baked. It's a real shame.

You’ll have fun with Lumo 2, even if the isometric visuals do prove to be a persistent nightmare during the more demanding platforming sections. See through that and this is a well-crafted, retro-themed surprise.

Trivia: Knowledge Trainer - the Quiz Game is good for a bit of fun for an hour or so, and the knowledge-building part is genuinely great.

KAKU - Ancient Seal comes with some big ARPG ambitions. Yes, there are times in which rough moments pop up, and for me, the platforming elements are too floaty. But nevertheless, this is a great game with a wonderful world to explore, pulled along by some decent combat and Zelda-like puzzles. 

Before Exit: Gas Station cleverly lures you into many false senses of security.

If you’re a fan of horror, Creepy Shift: Roadside Diner does a good job of mixing scares with sim work. But just remember, don’t let that jukebox play… 

Football Manager 26 Console, at times, borders on the unplayable.

Syberia - Remastered is not a perfect game, and there are many moments when it really does feel like it’s 2002 again, but you’ll mostly be glad to experience this iconic story from the very beginning.

There is a vogue for this genre of game, where you are tasked with spotting anomalies in a short, repeating loop. Some are very scary, but P1: Anchor Light feels quite unique with its strange set-up, the terrifying hand from the sky, and the fragmented narrative that needs to be unlocked piece by piece.