Ed Nightingale

“Hell is Us is an absorbing, nightmarish meditation on the horror of war, but divisive design choices prove tedious.”

“FromSoftware's multiplayer spin-off is an exhilarating rush and a celebration of the studio's prior achievements Souls veterans will devour.”

“Outstanding artwork and glorious combat bring Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's bold, painterly world to life.”

“The cult classic mobile RPG finally gets its due, for lovers of mechanics over story who can rise to the demands of its extreme challenge.”

“Shadow's campaign provides some of the best 3D levels of the series, but it's coupled with a dated and unnecessary remaster. If only Sega went all-in on the future.”

“Persona veteran Atlus flexes its expertise with a fresh take on high fantasy. What it lacks in subtlety, it makes up for in grandeur and heart.”

“What Tales of Kenzera lacks in creative game design it makes up for in vital, passionate storytelling.”

“Rebirth is a playful take on an emo classic that's bloated but full of character in a bid to justify its own existence.”

“Respectable platforming and classic Sonic elements are undermined by inconsistent new ideas.”

“Missing the elegance of FromSoftware, Lords of the Fallen is let down by Soulslike clichés and performance woes.”

“A fascinating but flawed experimental musical game that fails to live up to some heavenly potential.”

“An expressive, characterful entry point for metroidvanias.”

“Vibrant and self-assured, Hi-Fi rush happily embraces the 00s' cheese - and is all the better for it.”

“A sensitive remaster of the PSP prequel that's recontextualised in the wake of Remake.”

“Teen angst, a diverse cast, and simplistic interactivity accompany a real life music EP.”

“Just as it did with Two Point Hospital, Two Point Studios has combined neatly overlapping managmenet systems with an irrepressably oddball charm.”

“It's a small gripe, though. Please Fix The Road isn't really trying to taunt you, it's trying to teach you its mannerisms. It's arguably a meditation on humans and nature, destroying environments only to rebuild them in organic and inorganic ways. But mostly it's just a wholesome and gratifying puzzle game that's impossible to be frustrated with. Even the title is polite.”

“Soundfall plays like an extended pop album, each level a three minute burst of music that initially fizzes and delights. Yet playing on repeat proves shallow. The music is killer, but the gameplay is filler.”

“Flood of Light has an evocative mood, but its narrative is ultimately as lifeless as its central character. The gameplay centres on a single concept that’s mundane, fiddly and gets tiresome quickly. It’s not a bad game per se – it’s just not very exciting.”