Britt Roberts

“Jerry Anker: and The Quest to Get Love is a fun and funny game that aims to titillate and does the job successfully. This is admittedly a niche genre, but it’s always good to see competent, saucy games going strong on modern systems, it would have been a bonus for a little extra attention to be paid to some of the issues with the dialogue, but the effort that Funbox Media have put into the physical release shows their faith in the game. I very much to look forward to what comes next! And admit it, deep down, in our heart of hearts...we’re all a bunch of ankers.”

“There’s a lot to love here, with the only drawbacks really being that Kemono Heroes feels like it could get slightly lost in the shuffle due to perhaps not carving out enough of an identity in such a rich genre, and the fact that with three or more players, things get so hectic on screen that it’s hard to keep track of who is doing what, especially with the animations being so busy and satisfying – a boon in single player mode, but a little too over the top in co-op. That said, these are relatively minor quibbles, and in the end, Kemono Heroes is a fun game to blast through with friends, just be prepared to help each other up when things get a bit bonkers!”

“A zombie game with character and class, this is a title that may be divisive in terms of its design and layout, but I can imagine it’ll gain quite a hardcore audience of fans that relish its indie charms. The fact that it’s currently available on Xbox for a tenner is astonishing when you consider the amount on offer, and, as it has been created by such a small team, it has that quirkiness, verve and drive that only indie games driven by a solitary vision can generate, warts ‘n all.”

“Dragged down a little by the perfunctory combat, Trident’s Tale is nonetheless a fun pirate adventure that nails the visuals, tonal balance, and jaunty music. It feels like an adventure, and the quirky cast of characters that you’ll meet combined with the charm of the world makes Trident’s Tale a title we at GF recommend to everyone out there… except landlubbers!”

“It's a strong entry in terms of visuals and design, but the lack of any depth really does drag this racer down a little. Casual Brothers clearly have the technical wizardry to create a very cool karting game, but there’s not quite enough on the bone here to make it a must-play recommendation. That said, the 60fps gameplay, and familiarity of design does mean that this does absolutely have its pluses for perhaps a younger group of players.”

“A simple premise that is easy enough to grasp, but does leave the more in-depth gameplay elements and customisations in a bit of a grey area until you get to grips with them, Peglin is a solid entry in the genre with old-school vibes and a cool, breezy soundtrack. I think this will be installed on my Xbox for quite a while!”

“This is an incredible achievement for a solo developer, and the sheer scope on offer here is undeniable. This is a game that will be installed on my Xbox for quite some time, and the pacey nature of the game, combined with the addictive complexities that can be uncovered makes it an extremely rewarding experience. Valorware has created a game that they should be incredibly proud of, and all CRPG lovers should absolutely dive right in!”

“Well-designed and appealing, Is This Game Trying To Kill Me? Is a title that I really hope spawns a series, as the developers clearly have a knack for this genre, and it’s a premise that has legs. A huge recommendation from us at GF, and definitely one for those out there who want to get their grey matter pulsing whilst also hiding behind a pillow.”

“The walking simulator genre as a whole tends to deal with life and death as a main topic, and few do it with as much visual and technical aplomb as here with Caligo. That said, the heavy duty narrative delivery, and occasionally underwhelming voice acting may mean that this is a game better suited to streamers who can have live existential discussions with their viewers as they unfold in-game as opposed to being a truly meaningful experience for a solitary player.”

“Moving Houses is a game that will only take a couple of hours to see through and feels just about the right length for its premise. A little more variety in the main gameplay mechanic would have made a lot of difference in those moments where things start to sag, but overall, Moving Houses is a neat bite-sized slab of subtle surrealism.”

“A game that may sate your appetite for an evening of spooky horror, Mortisomem gets by more on mood than pure scares, and is all the stronger for it – that said, finicky controls and a slight sense of plodding gameplay does take the edge off this bite-size folkloric horror tale.”

“At it’s current price, Care Bears: Unlock The Magic is a tough game to recommend as it just feels like a compilation of forgettable – yet competent – mini-games that feel more at home on a mobile device.”

“All in all, X-Out: Re-surfaced is a little different from the other horizontal shooters of yore, and this does give it its own identity. I would have liked some more content on the history of the game, but the more tasteful aspects of this remaster give it appeal, just be prepared for a serious challenge!”

“If you are looking for a fun wrestling game that nods back to the past, then this is for you, it has a variety of wrestlers, arenas and match types, and you can tell that the game is made with love and that shines through in all facets of RetroMania Wrestling.”

“There’s definitely something here, and the blend of investigative policing and turn-based combat is a great combo, but it’s done so loosely here that the technical issues get unavoidably in the way of having fun and getting the bad guys off the streets and into body bags (or handcuffs, I suppose, if you’re into that sort of thing.)”

“Worth a play if you and some friends are firefighting fans, as that human element will allay a lot of the tedium, and totally remove the AI-centric issues. If this is game you hope to play in single player mode, however – be prepared for some infuriating immolation incidents.”

“Blow It Up is a game that is great fun for all the family that can teach youngsters all about physics whilst being explosive fun at the same time, just be prepared to yearn for How Much is that Doggie in the Window after a while.”

“Tiny Terry’s Turbo Trip was a gem to play, and has absolutely won me over, despite a few minor niggles. I was getting Anodyne 2 vibes in how the humour connected with me, and the sense of a truly unique world designed unto its own rules, a great little title – I’m looking forward to seeing what the studio brings us next!”

“Big Helmet Heroes has big, colourful visuals and a soundtrack to match, but the lack of any online aspect or four -player modes may be a shame to some. It’s a very good looking and sounding adventure with enough humour to keep things light, but it doesn’t quite have the wow factor to hold off the more tedious gameplay aspects of the side-scrolling brawler genre in the long run. Although for short blasts of mindless fun, I tip my helmet to it.”

“Starbound is a game that comes highly recommended from us here at GF and, in summary is a far superior space exploration game to Starfield – and it has a sense of humour.”