Despite some hiccups with the ambitious new story mode, Madden NFL 18 remains a solid entry in the franchise.

If video games were cars, NHL 20 would be a modest update to last year’s model that looks shinier while functioning and operating better as a whole. Video games are not cars, however, and the lack of new gameplay modes, as well as core functions remaining sadly untouched, hold it back from greatness.

If you want a simple and clean action RPG that loves immature humor and the zombie apocalypse then you should give Eternights a try. It won’t make you delete Resident Evil, Breath of the Wild, Persona, or Darksiders, but there is enough meat on the bone to get this game on sale. Play it for the dark sci-fi story and the fun of playing anime Tinder, but also thank your lucky stars that this game is 1000% less complicated than Kingdom Hearts.

While PayDay 2 certainly needs a touch of polish and a bit more love given to it, OVERKILL has a solid game on their hands. If they give the Nintendo Switch version the continued support they gave the previously-released versions of the game, I see a great, and beautiful future ahead.

Bravely Default II ticks off all boxes for people looking for an old school, turn-based RPG experience but at the same time makes it very difficult for the casual gamer to enjoy it. Even if you get a hang of the gameplay, the story is such a remarkable slog, and the dialogue delivered at such a slow pace that it could easily replace melatonin as my go-to sleep aid. If you’re here for this sort of game, they do wonderfully with their dedication to the job system and the enemy design, and even if it’s not necessarily my jam, I can absolutely respect the work and effort put into this.

Awkward controls and a requirement of patience are the only things holding Birthdays the Beginning back from excellence as a scientific twist on a world simulation. Managing to perfectly balance education and enjoyability, you’ll continually be delighted by the different paths life can take and the ways you can shape it as you alter your Cube. Three different game modes and a vast library of creatures to discover offer playtime beyond the basic goals of the Campaign, and ensure the birthday surprises continue for hours on end.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits takes us on a whimsical tale that’s both predictable and familiar, but also something brand new with the way that it’s presented. Between the the back and forth moments of polish and unpolished gameplay lays an absolute gem of a game.

Mega Man 11 is a must-play adventure for series fanatics, but not an essential adventure for everyone else. It's a paint-by-numbers experience that offers more of the same game content you've come to expect from over three decades with the Blue Bomber.

Cat Quest II is pretty much more of the same you experienced in the first game. It’s a winning formula though, so that’s not a bad thing just yet, but could be in future entries to the series.

Lies of P is a fun game with solid combat mechanics and a really pleasing aesthetic. A creepy factor is aided by unique twists. But it falls short when compared to the finesse and balance of other games in this genre.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a fun action game to start 2025. If you’re a fan of the previous entries in the series, this is a great pickup to continue the momentum. If you’ve never played a Dynasty Warriors game, Origins can still be fun but you may want to wait until it’s available on sale. The action will keep you hooked, but you’ll want to look away from the screen during the boring story scenes. 2025 is set to be a big year for gaming, and Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a great way to start things off.

Date Night Bowling is a fun arcade-style bowling game with many silly mini-games. In that it understands the assignment and makes it really fun. The pixel art also shines in many of the scenes providing a ton of charm. But the dating part is a bit of a letdown with recycled dialogue and a lack of depth to the characters’ stories. Ultimately you have a fun, lightly dating-themed bowling game that’s good for a fun co-op experience with someone but not great for a single player actually looking for a dating sim.

While Natsuki Chronicles doesn’t add anything new to the genre, it definitely has a lot to offer those who are fans of bullet hell games. Despite a very distracting story mixed with equally distracting visuals, the game is a real fun time with plenty of unlocks to keep the replay value high.

Journey to the Savage Planet is a game about exploration and looking for a change of pace in progression. It’s rewarding to those who take things slower or have a knack for adventure. It’s definitely on the easier side but has a gameplay loop that offers a bit of everything with sharp responsiveness. The parts that Journey to the Savage Planet really excel in don’t last for too long.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning on the PS4 is a fun and well-written game that, unfortunately, is nearly ruined by the remastered version’s ridiculously long load times. If load times don’t concern you, then you may enjoy this underrated action-RPG that was originally developed by a fantasy “dream-team” that included author R.A. Salvatore, comic artist Todd McFarlane, and game designer Ken Rolston.

While definitely not for the online competitive community due to the game’s lag issues, manga/anime fans looking for a fun time are going to really enjoy how well all of these characters translate into the game, even if they're sometimes a bit nightmarish.

Dragon Quest Builders is a charming game that is great on the go and provides a satisfying loop but is burdened by absolutely terrible combat mechanics.

Despite its nostalgic appeal, Dissidia Final Fantasy NT still has a long way to go before it can stand with other recently-released fighting titles. With a little love, a little bit of fixing and something to compensate for the game’s lag issues, Dissidia Final Fantasy NT has the potential to be a great experience.

Sonic Mania brings Sonic and friends back to the series' 2D roots successfully but also reminds us of many of the issues with early 90s 2D platformers. Longtime Sonic fans will no doubt find some value here, but everyone else is better off playing more modern takes on the genre.

An oddly-paced episode is made up for with a deep characterization of the Guardians of the Galaxy, further supplanting the series as a character-driven comedy adventure game. With an unclear look into where the future lies, the next chapter could make or break this series.

Knights and Bikes is a great and a beautiful way to kill a handful of hours with a friend. You can play solo but as a game with such a heavy focus on friendship, it only seems right to have a friend by your side, either physically or virtually, to go on a colorful adventure and deal with some real life heavy subjects.

Resident Evil 3 has swapped out the horror genre for action-adventure, which makes for a short, yet highly-enjoyable campaign. Resident Evil: Resistance will leave you wishing the story was much longer than six hours and the cut sequences from the original game had made it to the final product.

Genital Jousting is fun for a time–good for some laughs, good for a silly time with friends, and good for a long, hard think about how we represent masculinity and male genitalia. Its deserted online play and short story aren’t markers of something with long-lasting appeal.

Secret of Mana’s remake lacks polish, but not power. The innovative-for-its-time combat is still fun and variable today, and its charming characters and precise pacing carry the story through the mechanically awkward moments. It may not be worth a revisit as a veteran, but those who have never played Secret of Mana should consider this a ripe opportunity.

Despite solid gameplay, multiple minor errors and frustrations hold Party Hard 2 back from true greatness.

I laughed along with Human: Fall Flat much more than I’ve done so with a game for a very long time. By putting a little more finesse and care into building the parameters of its goofy concept, it’s far more enjoyable than your average “Gabe Newell Physician Simulator 5000” found on the daily sales page of Steam, making this purchase well worth its slightly steeper asking price.

NBA Playgrounds has some rough spots, but one cannot deny that it is a fun arcade-style basketball game. Local multiplayer is a joy, and the single-player modes are entertaining enough to warrant a playthrough. If the online is able to recreate the fun of local multiplayer, then NBA Playgrounds will be tough to pass on.

Despite some fun new weapons, a new playable character, and some challenging post-game content, Pulse of the Ancients, the first DLC offering for Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity’s Expansion Pass doesn’t add much in terms of new stages, storylines, or campaigns. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity – Pulse of the Ancients likely won’t entice back players who have already completed the main campaign with its lack of strong post-game content, but for players looking to get a few more hours of gameplay, it will more than provide an adequate experience.