Guitar Hero Live brings Activision's former fan-favorite franchise back to the fold in new and impressive ways. Handing over the reigns to the DJ Hero team was probably the best decision the publisher made in the rhythm game department since agreeing to publish the very first Guitar Hero a decade ago.

Simply put, Boxboy is an excellent puzzle platform game and a great addition to the HAL library of games.

Few games manage to port from PC to iOS so well as Terraria.

Call of Duty: Strike Team is an amazing hybrid of two great gaming styles that just works on the mobile format. It may not fully capture the experience one gets from a console Call of Duty game, but it does pretty damn well on its own.

Hitman Go takes the boiled-down essence of the stealth genre and brilliantly translates it into a mobile puzzler that’s easy on the eyes and challenging on the brain.

Thomas Was Alone is freakin’ fantastic. It has an engaging story, vibrant and memorable graphics, and well thought out gameplay that will make it hard to stop playing. It’s a great purchase for gamers of all shapes and sizes.

Titanfall 2 is one of the most joyful gaming experiences of the year. There are lots of games with heart and excitement, but Titanfall 2 manages to combine almost everything that was a strength for the first entry and build on it with loads more personality.

The humor has been continually hilarious, the storylines and characters have been compelling, and most of all, Tales From the Borderlands has been fun to participate in.

This map put everything I’ve learned playing Hitman to the test. That, and the surprisingly well-done cliffhanger ending, are what made this episode my favorite of the season. The level of detail and density of each map, and the continually deepening narrative, kept me coming back for each new content release, whether it was new elusive targets or new challenges.

By this point in time, I still have trouble trying to decide whether or not Device 6 was a text-based game or a story with video game elements added in, but neither of those choices adequately describe it. In hindsight, I realize now that Device 6 can be easily categorized with one word: art.

Beyond Space is a gorgeous, competent and engaging space shooter that fans of Wing Commander and old space fighter simulators will love.

With an amazing campaign, phenomenal multiplayer, numerous gameplay options, satisfying story, nigh-infinite unlockables, and tons of nooks and crannies to explore, Legacy of the Void stands as one of the proudest entries in the Starcraft legacy.

It’s a love letter to the genre, written by someone who moved away, traveled the world, and learned some new things while still managing to stay true to their roots.

It would have been something to see all of the story ambitions come together clearly, but even without those elements striking the right balance, Mankind Divided sets a rather high bar for stealth/action-RPGs.

With beautiful visuals, excellent controls, varying raceways, and near-perfect multiplayer experiences, I wholly recommend Asphalt 8: Airborne to anyone wanting a fun, over-the-top racing title. Who knows what Gameloft will do in the future with Asphalt 9, but they won’t be redlining and blowing their engines anytime soon.

For all it accomplishes, and with very few drawbacks, Infinite Warfare feels like a full and diverse package that does the Call of Duty name proud.

Even those who have played through Shulk's big adventure before will love experiencing it again in Xenoblade Chronicles 3D. The game survives the console-to-portable transition amazingly well, with only a few minor graphical imperfections to speak of.

Everyone from the classic Mario Bros. era to the current wave of video games will feel right at home with Super Mario Maker, and I would encourage everyone to don the yellow hard hat and get cracking.

Severed is the kind of game that comes along once a generation, and helps define a console.

It's a bloody, gory bout of glory with intricate controls, a varied and balanced roster, and a ton of ways to play both online against peers or alone on the couch.

An overwhelming adventure full of violence, warring factions, exploration and the craziest badgers you’ll ever see.

I really loved Castle Doombad’s deft mixture of intricate and addictive game play. It’s a slam-bang journey that does so much good that sometimes breaking bad is the only way to go. Especially if a beautiful princess is your unwilling companion.

This first episode is a bit dense, particularly for newcomers, but the attention to detail is meticulous and appreciated.

Dragon Age: Inquisition represents a glorious return to form for the series, with its huge world to explore, great cast of characters, and immensely satisfying combat and character progression. Despite its flaws, this is easily a contender for RPG of the year, and a must-have for most any gamer.

Whether you want some hardcore platforming action or an easygoing trip through a land of hugs and high fives, LittleBigPlanet 3 has what you’re looking for.

This is one of the best first episodes we’ve seen from Telltale, and quite possibly one of the best episodes of all Telltale’s work.

Despicable Me: Minion Rush proves that, if handled the right way, there’s still some life left in the endless runner genre.

Overall, Escape from Doom is a lot of fun and a perfect compliment to your gaming regime this October. It provides you with some classic horror fun that I haven’t seen in a running game in ages. It is well polished title that would be welcome to anyone looking to have their nerves jilted and fingers pleased.

If "Zer0 Sum" was about introducing us to this world and these characters, "Atlas Mugged" is about getting us invested. The character moments are wonderful, and the few surprises along the way will make longtime fans happy without alienating newcomers.

In the grand scheme of the tower defense genre, Defense Technica is near the top. It sets itself apart and is mostly an enjoyable experience. It has its quirks, but they are minor and overshadowed by the great visuals and gameplay.

An excellent sandbox reminds us that gaming, nor life, can ever stop. The adventure is always afoot, so keep your workbench good and ready.

Coupled with varied and exciting gameplay, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is a first rate experience that should please most Spidey fans.

Radiation Island is a game that may require hours of dedication, but considering it’s a survival adventure that hits almost every creative note, that shouldn’t be a problem.

The gameplay is designed to spur you on and strive to beat your previous score. It’s a lot of fun, but just be careful not to bash your head into the wall or snap your device in half when you crash into obstacles, because that is going to happen — like, a lot.

The periodic releases of smaller “target” events are a good way of keeping people’s interest in the game between episodes, but if server problems persist then those events will suffer the most. Still, the introductory episode of Hitman: Intro Pack - Paris makes a pretty strong first impression even when working with limited content.

Prey's pacing may turn off players unwilling to let the story unfold in due time, but Arkane has crafted a special, authentic world that's worth combing over for every last detail.

Although it serves as an excellent primer to the impending release of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, The Witcher Battle Arena proudly waves its own sword, carving a path for eager gamers waiting for a new adventure.

It might not be a game for players that aren’t looking to be challenged, but Invisible, Inc. is a great stealth experience despite a couple of minor setbacks.

Its narrative and puzzles can occasionally be long-winded and a bit too time consuming, but it still stands out as one of the more gripping narrative driven games we’ve played. Just be aware: before the moment of final escape, there will be blood and tears.

The campaign leans on everything that worked in the first game, all while adding new flourishes to further make the world of Gears of War more compelling. The multiplayer is as enjoyable as ever, with the new modes keeping Gears online elements fresh, and more importantly, addictive. It's undeniably good to be thumping around in COG armor again.

Mickey may have a few illusions in store, but he’s got the right kind of magic to get him by.

For just $0.99, this app offers up a ton of action for a minimal price.

The Final Station is a considerably devilish adventure. The balance between keeping everyone you can alive, keeping a train rolling, exploring and scavenging overrun outposts and surviving long enough to get back to your train keeps the situation tight at practically all times.

Ultimately, SOMA provides a unique tale of sci-fi horror that is unlike any of its contemporaries.

If you’re on the go and looking to flex those mental muscles, and don’t mind a game that’s not all that flashy, look no further than this wonderful puzzler.

In Fear I Trust may annoy gamers who love to zip through their apps with unrivaled speed, especially since downloading the title takes a bit longer than expected. Loading times, when one returns to the app, are also a bit slower than average, so if you have places to go and really don’t have time to wait, this isn’t an iOS experience you’ll cherish.

Colossatron: Massive World Threat is an immensely fun game that features action that almost never stops.

Smash Bandits is one hell of a fun game.

This is a full-fledged RPG that you can take with you, just in case you want to escape to another world and become an epic badass.

Some players will likely have a gripe with Her Story's format or even have the audacity to claim that it's not a game. I assure you, it is as engaging as any AAA, blockbuster title I've encountered... as long as you're willing to observe, think and research.

DropMix continues Rock Band developers Harmonix's elevated expectations of what can be accomplished when you mix video games with chart-topping hits.

It's a close-to-perfectly painted picture of the core MMA experience remixed into a tiny controller and super-realistic fighters on screen.

For Honor takes a somewhat ridiculous concept, lays down a pretty great fighting foundation on top of it and loads it with plenty of reasons to keep playing. This past year, Ubisoft has shown a penchant for developing exciting multiplayer experiences. For Honor might frustrate in a few areas, but for every one thing it does wrong, it does a dozen other things right. For Honor sets a strong pace for Ubisoft, and it looks like the developer on course for another great year of multiplayer action.

With the wide range of interests collected here, there's almost assuredly something for everyone, and that's one of Lego Dimensions' greatest strengths. That it's also fun to play just makes the decision to enter this world that much easier.

With that said, it doesn’t stop Costume Quest from being an addictive experience that oozes with humor and good-hearted fun. The $4.99 asking price might seem a little steep, but you’re getting a console-quality game with the “Grubbins on Ice” downloadable content. This should ensure that you’ll have a sugar rush for a long time.

Overall, Defenders and Dragons is a damn good defense game.

I never thought I’d listen to Flock of Seagulls, but Futuridium EP is a space age love song that sings straight to the soul.

It’s not a point-and-click and it’s not a straight up puzzle title, but rather a mixture of the two. Take one part Professor Layton and one part Sasquatch, throw in a generous helping of Psychonauts, and you have this charming title.

There are a number of artful indie puzzle games out there with this philosophy, such as Hexagon, Eliss, ColorShift and Hundreds to name a few. The latest title that belongs in this company is the super slick puzzler Color Zen, which offers a unique and relaxing new look at the mobile puzzle game.

A fantastic entry to the tower defense genre.

Cosmoplan: A Space Puzzle encourages thought, geometrical planning and expert timing.

The gameplay is a bit repetitive, but the strong story more than keeps you interested.

This game's fast-paced platforming and clever level concepts elevate it past any other game in the series.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD is a wonderful re-emergence of a wonderful game. The brand new HD visuals make the game look better than ever before, really capturing the beauty and majesty of Twilight Princess.

With this latest entry on the PlayStation 4, Clap Hanz gives longtime fans and newcomers plenty of reason to hit the links, even if it doesn't quite live up to all its promise.

To have an enemy offer words that, upon one’s interpretation, is either a threat or a form of encouragement, exemplifies Anodyne’s deliciously surreal tone.

Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin is an unexpectedly good thing for what is essentially a teaser for Psychonauts 2. It has some great moments and leaves some tasty bread crumbs for what to expect going into Double Fine’s much anticipated sequel, but it’s also a genuinely enjoyable offering for VR in general. The puzzles are fun, the environments are fantastic to observe and the Psychonauts cast does a great job in bringing the whole thing together with a colorful and amusing bow.

At its core, Bloodstroke is an unapologetic and noirish journey through Woo’s universe. Its streets may be bathed in black and white, but after a few rounds as Lotus, all you’ll be seeing is red.

Yes, it has some padding in its optional missions, some of which just aren't very fun, but when you are free to just run with nothing else on your mind, Mirror's Edge Catalyst reminds you why you fell in love with the concept in the first game, and illuminates why so many people have revered this series for so long.

For a free game, FIFA 14 is an amazing value and packs in all of the fun and deep content of a console sports game down into a mobile platform.

Camera issues notwithstanding, Final Fantasy XV was worth every second of that 10 year wait. The story pulled me in despite not giving me all of the backstory I craved, the four heroes were charming, witty, and fun to pal around with, the locales were gorgeous and a delight to look at, and the battle system was fast and frenetic.

With a variety of cards for you to assemble and test against the masses, Combat Monsters is a great title for players to unleash the strategist within.

The bite-sized stages really help keep the game moving, even when I'm performing poorly, and the aesthetic is incredibly easy on the eyes. There's some zany good times to be had with the multiplayer as well, and I'm sure Runbow will soon find its way into the rotation as a go-to party game in my household.

I didn’t know exactly what I was missing until Rising Tide filled in the blanks, but now Beyond Earth is more engaging than ever as a Civilization sci-fi experience.

Pandemic: The Board Game is great. It doesn’t stray from the tabletop version’s awesome gameplay, and expands it a little with the addition of a couple of new characters while adding in the option of flying solo.

In short, Khaba is a self contained adventure that, though seemingly simple in concept, is thoroughly sublime in execution.

Despite my critiques on the controls, health regens and continue system of Hail to the King: Deathbat, it still provides an unrivaled experience on the iOS format.

With wry humor, just the right amount of challenge, and accessibility to all comers, I Expect You to Die sets a precedent for being one of the best virtual reality experiences available for PlayStation right now. It's not always perfect, but Schell Games has done so much else right, it's easy to overlook the few flaws that persist throughout the experience.

World of Final Fantasy is light and fun and offers tons to do. With a fun world to explore, gorgeous aesthetics, this is a nostalgic adventure built around the history of one of video games’ most iconic franchises.

There is almost nothing bad I can say about Rymdkapsel. Everything is simple, minimal and cut down. I can hardly think of how the game would function if one of the room-types were removed for the sake of implementing something else.

Fortunately, The Handsome Jack Collection's addictive gameplay, excellent writing and charismatic cast keeps things moving in an unforgettable, fun-filled way.

Evolve stands as a testament to Turtle Rock's unique approach to online multiplayer, and is one of the most enjoyable competitive and cooperative experiences we've had so far this generation.

Angry Birds Go! is a first rate kart racer which delivers the goods.

Acid Nerve's done a nice job crafting a game that provides a challenge without being overly frustrating, and more importantly, that's easy and enjoyable to play.

Even though some of it feels more of the same when compared to Advanced Warfare, Black Ops III's unconventional experiments sits atop refined shooting mechanics and smooth controls, resulting in some excellent gameplay. Toss in a ton of replayability to be gained from both the short campaign, Zombies Mode and multiplayer, and this is one of the strongest entries of the franchise to date.

When a horde of zombies start filling in the room and you start backtracking, the experience falters occasionally. But otherwise, Dead Effect is a shot to the brain, right where it counts the most.

If you’re a fan of mysteries and locked-room games, this one’s definitely for you. There’s a lot to do and it could take you a while to solve everything. But there’s something about the game that just keeps you enraptured and wanting to chug along, despite the fact that you might have prior obligations.

Ultimately, Until Dawn is a bold experiment that pays off far more than it doesn’t.

Incredipede is worth the price tag for any fan of physics puzzles and games that truly challenge one’s problem-solving skills.

Though it can be enjoyed as a pick up and play title, Call of Duty: Heroes is a tower defense journey that also welcomes full immersion into its universe.

Don’t be fooled, this is not an endless runner that will have you snoozing in the back of the lecture hall.

What I thought would be a first-person coaster simulator, and nothing more, turned into a complex and engaging little game, letting me express both my creative and my destructive sides in one fell swoop.

Galactic Civilizations III stays the course on the strong path laid by Galactic Civilization II— at times to a fault.

There are a few bugs here and there, but they hardly keep Dex from being an overall enjoyable ride.

If you’re looking for an action adventure that’s a bit left of center, Hero of Many should deliver the goods. Armed with dynamite graphics and a compelling story, it’s the perfect app to download for your iPad.

The game's high production values were a bit diminished by the series' longstanding fallacies, such as random lag and instances of poor texturing, but London remains a gorgeous place to visit.

It wouldn't be a true Game of Thrones tale without some dramatic twists at the conclusion, and Telltale's story has a few that were true eye-opening moments.

While Gears' campaign will offer an entertaining (and sometimes frustrating) 5-7 hours of gameplay, most players will get the most out of this remake from its addictive multiplayer.