Donkey Kong and his pals still bring the coolest 2D platforming adventure around, even as a port. Tropical Freeze is fun and challenging; Funky Kong makes it better by adding accessibility for younger, less experienced or outright busier people. Even discounting Funky, this is another perfect example of portability making an already-great game even easier to enjoy.

The Swords of Ditto is a colorful and charming little roguelite adventure that is just delightful to play. Outside of some reservations about the forced time limit restricting our exploration, the game is a lighthearted and fun time either alone or with a friend.

Jotun: Valhalla Edition is a welcome addition to the Nintendo Switch library that brings with it Nordic mythology, a gorgeous hand-drawn art style, and difficult boss fights. It’s great fun exploring the maps and figuring out a boss’ attacks, though the combat can become tedious on occasion.

I never would have imagined a multiplayer dating sim working, but boy, does Monster Prom work. It rests on a framework of superb character art and hilarious scenario writing, then goes several steps further to offer a challenging competitive experience and an addictive solo one.

Minit’s constant deaths are far from discouraging; they’re addicting. It’s far too easy to tell yourself “just one more try” in a world so densely packed with curiosities and no fluff. Minit is another wonderful reminder that you don’t need a million systems for a game to be great if you can do one novel idea very, very well.

Much like No Man’s Sky, Sea of Thieves has the foundation for a game that could be incredible. Unfortunately, it’s current state is more akin to something that should be a $20 Early Access title. The game is also most optimally played with friends, as randoms are typically hit or miss. Solo players probably shouldn’t even bother.

If you have even one friend who will come over to play this with you, Kirby Star Allies is worth a try. Though shallow on the puzzle platforming side, there’s enough going on with different friend combinations to make combat varied and enjoyable, especially once you turn up the difficulty post-game.

MLB The Show 18 is a must-buy game for baseball enthusiasts. And if you’re a casual fan simply looking to dip your toe in a baseball game this year, you probably won’t find anything better than MLB The Show 18.

The marriage of co-op gameplay and the story of two unlikely partners and friends is an almost perfect combination right up until the last few minutes of the game, though I expect feelings on that to vary. It could use another round of technical polish, and you’ll need a friend to play along with, but if neither of those is a problem for you, then you won’t want to miss this adventure.

The Devil May Cry trilogy is undoubtedly an older collection of games that can feel dated at times, but without considering the graphics, it often feels just as modern as a game that came out last Tuesday.

The potential was there for Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom to be a big improvement over its already solid predecessor, but instead of focusing on one new thing and doing that well, it doesn’t keep anything that worked and gives us several modes that could’ve been great but all have major issues. It’s not a bad game, but certainly not on par with the original and does little well enough to make it stand out in a pretty big sea of PS4 RPGs.

Assassin’s Creed Rogue Remastered has some noticeable graphical improvements, but not enough to overshadow the gameplay flaws of the original. At $30, the game is only really worth it for hardcore fans.

Attack on Titan 2 does a great job as a game adaptation despite a few minor flaws and should be played by fans of the franchise. Though the flow of Attack on Titan 2 may be a bit repetitive, the game never ceases to be action-packed and often feels like a fighter pilot shootout.

Burnout Paradise Remastered is an enjoyable revisit to one of the best arcade-style racers of the era. For PS4 owners who may have missed out or want to go back to Paradise City, this is the package for you.

While Yakuza 6 takes a small step backward in its combat, sidequest content and presentation, its attention to detail with its engrossing, dynamic story paired with its near-infinite replayability makes this a thoroughly enjoyable, if only slightly disappointing, chapter of Kazuma Kiryu's life.

The PC version is undoubtedly the best way to play the game, even if it does come stuck with Denuvo. But great graphics options and optimization for mid-tier and up PCs will keep it relevant in the PC community for years to come.

The Sims Mobile satisfies almost everything a Sims fan could want from a smaller, portable counterpart. Considerable customization options will please designers who don’t mind a slow but steady unlock progression. The rest of us will be more than content with storylines to direct gameplay flow and convenient pacing options for both hands-off players and micromanagers.

Frantics is a novelty by virtue of Sony’s continued exploration of how phones can be used as controllers on a console, and I was impressed with how well that tech worked, but that’s mostly where my interest ended. Frustrating tutorials and a lack of options made a small set of already middling minigames a chore to get through, even with friends involved.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance is an extremely immersive and ambitious open-world medieval RPG unlike any we’ve ever seen. But its attempts to remain engaging are ruined by a plethora of technical issues and an overall lack of polish.

This is a game poorly planned and executed by Konami, and unfortunately, could be the final nail in the coffin for longtime fans of the Metal Gear franchise.

Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus offers a fun twist on a classic gaming formula along with some great two-player action on the go or on the big screen, it just seems oddly rigid in how it lets you play.

The writing is exquisite and reflects the joyful diversity of both writers and characters, blending the lines of history and fable to great effect. But the technical framework supporting the discovery of these tales is shaky, with some mechanics simply frustrating and others downright broken. Keep a very, very close eye on this game to pick up after a patch.

I'd only recommend purchasing Seven Deadly Sins: Knights of Britannia to fans who already adore the world and just want to see more of their favorite characters. Otherwise, this game might feel a little lacking in substance.

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.

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.

Alto's Odyssey is a great sequel to a great game that introduces new ways to pass through spectacularly designed levels. It's the perfect game to unwind after a long day with a great soundtrack, sound effects, and a feeling that you're traveling through a new and exotic world every time you play.

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.

Through both visual and auditory queues, Zoink Games had their work cut out for them by making a wordless, interactive story play out as a 3D platformer using atmospheric presence to tell a tale. But with very, very few exceptions, they pull this off with near-perfect artistic grace.