Pool (Virgin)

The same beautiful game engine as Jimmy White's Whirwind Snooker, but now tweaked, refined improved and attached to a zappier game. Great stuff.

Doodlebug (Core Design)

It's cute, it's playable, and the control system works a lot better than you might expect it to. It reminds me of Fire And Ice, and it's good fun in a not-at-all-dissimilar sort of way.

Bat II (Ubisoft)

Surprisingly exciting... Bat II draws on so many different styles that it could have turned into a molten mess of incoherent gameplay. But the combat and simulator sections work well, and the exciting adventure is heavily backed up with RPG-style elements.

Assassin (Team 17)

This game is not far off perfect. When a game reaches this kind of standard, it has no competition.

Rome AD92: Pathway To Power (Millennium)

You can't help feeling that if a little more was put into the action it could have been so much better. As it stands, you should prepare for a bit of a snooze.

Shuttle (Virgin)

If you're a big NASA fan and have always wanted a shuttle simulator, buy it now. If you think it might be worth a look for novelty value, think again. If you like to enjoy yourself when you're playing games, steer clear.

Shadoworlds (Krisalis)

It's got all the advantages of its predecessor, while bunging in enough new stuff to make it worthwhile.

Aquatic Games (Millennium)

It's the best joystick-waggler of this year's crop by quite a way.

Sabre Team (Krisalis)

The controls are pretty easy to get to grips with, and basically it's dead easy to get into.

Curse Of Enchantia (Core Design)

A classic adventure... A worthy addition to any collection, and it will stand as a challenge to any adventurer.

Locomotion (DMI)

A brilliant game that'll test your powers of tactical thinking and mental organisation better than just about anything else... And, with a built-in construction kit, you don't ever need to be bored.

Red Zone (Psygnosis)

This is a hard game to play... I didn't expect to be World Champion first time out, but I wouldn't mind not crashing at every corner and I wouldn't mind if the corners looked pretty when I hit them.

Match Of The Day (Zeppelin Games)

A mediocre management sim, with a few good ideas and a whole lot of bad ones.

Air Support (Psygnosis)

This just doesn't hit the mark either as a serious strategy game or fun 3D blaster.

Blade Warrior (GBH)

Ultimately slightly unsatisfying, and possibly more of a curiosity than a classic, but it's definitely the kind of quirky game which belongs in your budget collection.

Dizzy: Prince Of The Yolkfolk (Codemasters)

It's Dizzy game like any other, it's just better than the rest... Dizzy's most excellent adventure yet.

Gem'X (Global/DMI)

The best budget bargain since Rainbow Islands. The best puzzle game in the whole world, and also the best looking and the best sounding.

The Lost Treasures Of Infocom (Activision)

This collection contains some slices of game playing history, but it is more than just a curio. If you have any tolerance for text adventures at all, then these are the best you'll find anywhere.

Seymour Goes To Hollywood (Codemasters)

It seems you can't go wrong with Codies puzzley platform games, and here's another. Not as good as the best Dizzy games, though.

Switchblade II (GBH)

It's very addictive, very slick, and very, very big. In fact, it's as close as you're going to get to sheer entertainment.

Combat Classics (Empire)

What Combat Classics lacks in numbers it sure makes up for in quality. A compilation which is spectacular in every way.

Swiv (Kixx)

If you want a game that will keep you relentlessly away at your joystick for hours on end then this is the one to go for...!

Magic Worlds (Daze)

All very strategy-based, but excellent value for money. Storm Master is worth the asking price by itself, while the other two could provide weeks of fun if you're prepared to stick with them.

Treasures Of The Savage Frontier (US Gold/SSI)

Don't buy this. There are so many excellent role-playing games out there that this one should be left to fade away into the background while the real things take centre stage. An outdated waste of time and effort.