J is for Judicious jugular slicing. If the Red Recon: 1944 trailer (see below) tempts, try the demo while you can. Available until Thursday, the single-mission taster for Varangs’ upcoming Commandos-like launches in Russian. Tap this menu button to access language selection.

K is for Kafkaesque, kompact, and kompletely ignored

Talented Czech nostalgic Spytihněv has reason to feel miffed. Brno Transit, his witty/shitty Kafkesque train driving game, has been out since late April and has yet to get a mention on any of the bigger PC games sites.

L is for Lashings of elbow grease

I doff my cap to DeGenerals. After Tank Squad’s difficult debut, a studio with thinner skin and less backbone would have thrown in the towel. DG, however, rolled up their sleeves and set to work. One year and 28 updates later, although their creation still lacks open steppe-style battlefields (the Ponyri campaign is scheduled to arrive between late summer and mid November) changes such as dynamic campaigns, Soviet mounts, and better AI have reduced griping considerably.

M is for MP simulator

Governance Studios aren’t short of courage. Thanks to the recent slump in support for traditional Westminster sparring partners the Conservatives and Labour Party, simulating British politics has never been trickier. Bugs seem to have blighted Governance’s launch, but as almost every red thumb review includes the word ‘potential’ and the devs have already issued one powerful patch, this Early Access MP/PM sim looks well worth monitoring.

N is for New Dig In trailer

O is for Optional track wear

While several rail sims let you lay track, not many expect you to maintain it after construction. Railroader’s next update will introduce permanent way wear. Splendidly, the rate of deterioration is linked to the amount and weight of traffic, and dodgy stretches are signposted with speed limit signs and intuitive graphical touches like rust, weeds and distorted rails.