Minecraft: Story Mode Episode 3 pulls off a fantastic turnaround for a series that was looking rather lackluster. Issues still persist, and Telltale will have to capitalize on what works well here while moving beyond the things that didn't, but overall it is a massive improvement over what we saw in the first two episodes.

Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak is a fantastic expansion to the original Monster Hunter Rise. It lacks some of the robustness of previous franchise expansions on launch, and there can be some frustrating moments found within. However, this is more than made up for by new abilities, extra quality-of-life features, and increased challenge. Sunbreak is a fantastic choice for new players wanting more variety or veteran hunters seeking tougher battles.

While it may not return to the heights of The Thousand-Year Door, Paper Mario: The Origami King is by far the best entry in the series in over a decade and gives us hope for the future of the series for the first time in awhile.

If you like the building, crafting, and collecting aspects of something like Minecraft, but wanted a little more structure, Dragon Quest Builders 2 is an easy recommendation whether you're a Dragon Quest fan or not.

PlayStation VR is all about immersion and EVE: Valkyrie does a fantastic job at handling this, and even with the presence of microtransactions, EVE: Valkyrie is still one of the best experiences thus far on PSVR.

As newcomers to the pixelated shooter genre, Roll7 has succeeded in producing a fun, challenging, and gory experience with Not a Hero.

It's been a long wait, but Aloy's new adventure into The Frozen Wilds is every bit as fulfilling as the main game.

Capcom's partnership with Disney back in the 8-bit era led to some really fantastic games, six of which have been brought back via The Disney Afternoon Collection. On top of making these often difficult games more accessible with a rewind feature, also having competitive game options like Time Attack and Boss Rush make The Disney Afternoon Collection a worthwhile trip back to the past.

Octopath Traveler may not be the perfect JRPG revival that many had hoped for, but this PC port takes what worked before and makes it just a touch better.

While not as innovative as it once was in the current gaming landscape, Payday 2: Crimewave Edition is the definitive Payday experience on consoles that will provide hours of multiplayer fun.

Even with no new content outside of a few downloadable characters and costumes, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 Road to Boruto is still the best that the franchise has to offer gaming wise and performs with very few hiccups in its latest release on the Nintendo Switch.

Rising Storm 2: Vietnam hits a sweet spot between realism, fun, and required teamwork that few games do.

Persona 5 Tactica is an excellent addition to the popular franchise, bringing a heartfelt story and an addicting tactical-based combat loop. The ending part overstays it’s welcome and becomes fairly repetitive, but that can be overlooked for all the positives the game brings to the table.

Mega Man 11 offers a successfully modernized take on the classic Mega Man experience and should please fans both old and new.

Ultimately, Codemasters plays it safe with GRID, for better and worse. There's certainly a lack of features, less modes, and a lesser number of cars and tracks than other contemporary racers. This is a no-frills arcade racer, but a very good one. If solid racing action is the only thing you care about, GRID has it in spades.

While the West may have been skipped over for much of the last decade with Digimon games, fans can rejoice over Bandai Namco's choice to localize Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth, as they will find plenty of reasons to love this game with its nearly 250 different Digimon available.

A surprisingly well put together open-world survival game with a lot of moving parts, all of which add up to something pretty fun to play. It’s not going to blow your mind in terms of story, and the mission structure of the campaign is certainly familiar, but Dying Light has cohesion between its parts that make it enjoyable.

The action is tight, the dialogue is engaging, and the characters are all fantastically acted and scripted. Fans of Batman and/or Telltale will be very pleased with the direction that this series is going. However, technical problems still create headaches, though they might be lesser for some players depending on the system they play on and the setup they have.

Serving as an homage to the past, Yooka-Laylee is strongly inspired by elements of the team’s previous efforts, and despite some flaws, it is the game that fans have been waiting for all these years.

It's essential to remember that just a little over 10 years ago, Fire Emblem Awakening saved the franchise and brought it to the mainstream. Now, in the present, Fire Emblem Engage represents a series that now no longer needs saving. It's a series that has blockbuster appeal, with people eagerly anticipating every announcement. Fire Emblem is Forever, and I'm overjoyed to see friends and colleagues take to it so passionately, something I didn't think would happen.

As a swan song for the series, the Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection delivers on the grandeur for which the series is well known. Whether this is your first time exploring these detailed and beautiful worlds or your fifteenth, it'll be hard for you to come across a package of adventure games that can deliver the thrills and chills that these titles can.

It doesn't use the transition to modern consoles fully to its advantage, but with plenty of man-eating Aragami and action that is simply exhilarating to participate in, God Eater 3 is an Action RPG that's good as a snack, and even a three-course meal once future content arrives.

DOOM is 2/3 really good and 1/3 really mediocre. The single player campaign is an absolute blast and if you like the shooting action from that you can get all you can eat via Snap Map. DOOM competitive multiplayer is really unfortunate, however.

2K21 is another solid entry in the series that builds upon the great gameplay strides of the last few years. Visual Concepts has some fires to put out and hopefully that happens sooner rather than later so fans can get on to enjoying the grind.

Wonderlands is a funnier and more focused version of its predecessors.

While the gameplay itself definitely won't be for everyone, due to it being very rooted to the past, Capcom has certainly done a good job reviving what not too long ago seemed like a dead series with the very fittingly titled Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection.

Not just a remake like the N.Sane Trilogy, Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled comes with the content you love from the original and more, proving that everybody’s favorite Bandicoot still has plenty of gas in the tank.

The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series Collection puts together some of the best stories in video games. This series has changed a lot, but even in its worst times it has always delivered tension and excitement, with characters you can truly care about. Previous owners might struggle to find the value here, but if you've never played these games before then this should be at the top of your Christmas list.

The new engine is also firing on all cylinders here, offering the most enjoyable visual and technical experience Telltale has ever produced.

Pikmin 3 Deluxe is another successful upgrade of an already enjoyable Wii U release. If this were a trilogy release or even just the first two games it'd be a home run. But it's a solid hit anyway.

There are a few key moments of stellar storytelling here, but players will need to wait and see how the rest of the season turns out to decide if this season is worthy of its predecessors in the story department though.

Turnip Boy Robs a Bank is a delectable rogue-like that kept finding new ways to bring me back to the dinner table. Addictive run-and-gun gameplay, a colorful art style, and hilarious writing come together to create a memorable first course for 2024.

Massive Chalice really has a unique and interesting premise and even with the lackluster combat it's a lot of fun to play. The management of bloodlines and Keeps, the necessity to keep breeding different types of units to keep your army balanced, and a wide array of power-ups you can research make each playthrough feel different.

Horizon Forbidden West is a bigger, better game than the original in nearly every way. With tons of engaging side content, a wide array of beautiful biomes to explore, and multiple threatening new machines to take on, there’s a lot to see and do in the Forbidden West.

The Arkham series has already done a great job at putting players in the role on Batman, but the level of immersion in Batman: Arkham VR takes things to the next level.

For better or worse Tekken 7 stays grounded to its arcade roots. The console fighting game scene seems to have changed in the meantime.

Halo: Reach is exactly what fans wanted from a PC release from this iconic franchise. It takes an already great game and makes it better. While some new issues are added due to more precise controls, the tradeoff is…well, more precise controls. Add better and more crisp visuals on top and you’ve got easily the best version of Reach. PC players wait has been worth it, and there’s more to come.

Little Nightmares II excels at creating a truly eerie atmosphere that’ll stay with you even after you’ve put your controller down.

Wolfenstein: The Old Blood pays homage to Return to Castle Wolfenstein in some really neat ways that fans of the long-running franchise will appreciate. Machine Games does it while keeping their own additions to the series front and center.

While the game stumbles here and there regarding camera issues, story, and a lack of enemy variety at launch, Koei Tecmo's Omega Force and EA's latest game still manages to land on its own two feet. A brilliant crafting system makes Wild Hearts unique and a lovely addition to the hunting subgenre.

All in all, Acid Nerve did a great job with Death’s Door and by pushing just a little bit more while taking a few calculated risks, they would have an outstanding game rather than a very good one. Still more than worth playing if you’re a fan of the genre and aren’t looking for something revolutionary. There is also some post-game content that should add some additional run time to your enjoyment.

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series - Episode 2 is another great episode from the developer. It's better than the first episode in a lot of ways, but still has troubling technical problems that detract from the fun.

Crush Your Enemies offers a quicker take on the RTS genre that both hardcore and casual fans will be able to get wrapped up in. It may not be a game-changer, but if you’ve been looking for an RTS with no nonsense then this is the one to get.

Overall, Valkyrie Elysium is a great, although rough around-the-edges, action RPG, whose biggest strength lies in its dynamic combat system and in the charisma of some of its characters.

If you like loot shooters and some of the core systems from the Souls games, Remnant: From the Ashes shouldn't disappoint.

It's sad that the Sunbreak expansion is being held back for a later release, but Monster Hunter Rise is still absolutely worth your time in its base form.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus proves that graphics are not the only factor in what makes a game great. Although it can look very rough around the edges, the package here is an extremely fun one that hopefully outsources the overdone formula from previous titles.

More could have been done on the story front, but Death Stranding Director’s Cut is still a solid experience on the PS5.

Awake is a great start to what I hope will ultimately be a great game. As a follow-up to Life is Strange, a game that is near and dear to my heart, I think Before the Storm is definitely on the right track and I eagerly await the remaining episodes.

The game’s protagonist and accompanying cast of characters are fun to watch, and the hacking mechanics are better than ever. It’s just too bad that the overall story is forgettable, as it never really sucks you in despite its best efforts. Even so, those looking for an open-world experience mixed with fantastic hacking mechanics likely won’t be disappointed with what Watch Dogs 2 has to offer.

Rise of Iron isn't quite the game changer that the Taken King was last year, but it continues to build on the work-in-progress experience that Destiny has become. Looking at it peice by piece it's very easy to discount certain aspects of Destiny, but as a whole there isn't a better or more robust game that ties together single player, cooperative, and competitive multiplayer gameplay the way that Bungie has.

Although players of the original Kirby’s Return to Dream Land will appreciate the experience of re-visiting the title with better graphics and smoother gameplay, yet the same familiar story, the title is still as appealing to new players who want an authentic Kirby experience.

The Outer Worlds: Peril On Gorgon is story DLC done right. It builds and expands on the existing world while providing a fun, meaty new narrative for fans to dig into. It doesn't address all of the issues players had with The Outer Worlds at launch, but that doesn't stop Peril On Gorgon from being a worthy addition to Obsidian's spacefaring RPG.

John Wick Hex is a surprise in a number of ways, but the biggest is how much it hits the mark in terms of conveying what it's like to be John Wick himself. While it falters in some key areas, the overall experience is a good one.

Hob: The Definitive Edition on Switch doesn't fully get it to the peak of where it could have been, but it's much closer than before. An overall better experience awaits new or returning players, with just some minor visual downgrades as the tradeoff. If you've been looking for a unique and atmospheric puzzle platformer, then you won't be disappointed with Hob: The Definitive Edition.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare is chock full of content. The campaign, multiplayer, and zombies modes all add up to a game that will keep you playing for hours. These individual modes might have their faults, with the campaign being particularly skippable if you just want that base action gameplay. The multiplayer remains true to its roots, even with the big shift in setting. And Zombies is the highlight of the experience in a lot of ways, offering a great co-op experience. All together, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare is a winner. It just might not be the biggest winner the series has had.

Sniper Elite 4 isn't without its flaws, but it delivers a number of noteworthy improvements over previous games in the series to make it an engrossing experience. The gruesome X-ray kill cams still haven't gotten old, and the more expansive and dense levels make the core gameplay all the more entertaining. It's definitely the best in the series yet, and is worth checking out for longtime fans and newcomers alike.

NieR: Automata’s 3C3C1D119440927 DLC isn’t the most accessible or substantial DLC you’ll ever play, but it still manages to capture some of that magic that the base game had no shortage of.

Some gameplay elements haven’t aged well, but others demonstrate that you shouldn’t fix what isn’t broken. A must for Ys devotees and JRPG fans.

While last year’s game was coming off its very disappointingly bare bones predecessor, NHL 17 already had a very solid foundation to build upon at the start and is one that will be enjoyed by most any fan of the sport.

Featuring the laid back atmosphere the series is typically known for mixed with enjoyable level design, Yoshi's Crafted World is yet another delightful entry in the series that is great for families and solo players alike.

Everybody’s Golf is a solid series entry despite minor issues in the graphics and online server departments.

Atelier Lydie & Suelle: The Alchemists and the Mysterious Paintings has allowed me to rediscover why I fell in love with the series in the first place. And though I did find the lack of characters and inconsistent translation frustrating, just about everything else blew me away.

Battlefield 2042 feels like a game made specifically for Battlefield fans. Multiplayer is fast-paced and chaotic, and while new modes like Hazard Zone and Portal are a mixed bag, they provide an excellent foundation for the game to build on going forward.

It's hard to not fall in love with Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout.

Like a Dragon: Ishin is a stellar period piece filled with melodramatic monologues, great combat, goofy side content, and a whole lot of heart.

If you are new to the Torchlight franchise then Torchlight III is an excellent jumping on point. At $30 it's a great binge game to play with friends while we all wait on the next-gen onslaught that's just around the corner. But, if you're a hardcore ARPG fan looking for something deeper then you may be better served elsewhere, namely by Torchlight II.

With a more than 26-hour runtime, Afterimage kept me hooked to my seat as I ventured through the beautiful world with elegantly designed creatures and battles everywhere I turned. For the price of entry — Afterimage is one of the best Metroidvanias I have personally ever played.

Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition is, simply put, the best way to experience the game. The hardware requirements are steep, but if you’re lucky enough to have a ray-tracing enabled graphics card, there’s no reason to play the original release instead of this version. Sure, ray-tracing was a feature in the base game, but the Enhanced Edition has been built from the ground up with ray-tracing in mind and it absolutely shows. Whether you’re trapped in the series’ staple claustrophobic tunnels or staring out across an expansive vista in the new open-world sections, Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition looks absolutely stunning thanks to its significant graphical overhaul.

Even though the story is a bit over-the-top, the Mullet Mad Jack’s self-awareness and humor, combined with its addictive and well-crafted gameplay, kept me thoroughly entertained.

Rather than coming out right at the release of the movie itself, LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens has arrived at the perfect time for fans to not only relive the events of the movie, but do so with that signature LEGO style.

If you're willing to put up with some technical issues, Fallout 4 is Bethesda's most ambitious RPG to date.

Ship of Fools is a very fun game that, to varying degrees, lacks engaging endgame replayability, a meaningful story, and player-centered choices. However, the fun factor and level of polish alone are high-water marks that will captivate you and draw you into the Eye, of the Storm over and over again. Although it has its shortcomings, Ship of Fools is an adventure worth setting out on.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor builds on the foundation established in Fallen Order and delivers expansive environments crammed with content and secrets. Respawn still falls into some of the same pitfalls that it did in Fallen Order, though, namely in its underwhelming linear sections and middling story.

Wasteland 2: Directors Cut brings the series to consoles for the first time with the definitive version that proves classic style gameplay still has some life in this rapidly evolving genre.

Backbone does both, striking a balance between nostalgic and new, breathing another breath of life into the genre with its gritty, sad grin. This 2D, sidescrolling, pixel-art noir is a short but solid adventure mystery with stunning visuals and meaningful characters.

Minecraft Dungeons is an incredibly charming dungeon crawler that doesn't have the depth to replace its counterparts, but it's still a blast while it lasts.

Skyrim VR is a true revolution in gaming, but it's one that doesn't hit all its goals perfectly. AAA VR gaming is finally here, and it's a real marvel to behold, but it's also doubtful that many players will play this game from start to finish.

Dark Souls 3 is exactly what fans want, more of the same. There are new elements to be sure, but overall the game is the same great action RPG formula as the previous games. Unfortunately this also means some pieces that should have been updated weren't. On top of this are some performance issues and a lackluster targeting system. Still, longtime fans will overlook these with ease. Newcomers will find a more accepting entry for the franchise, though the massive challenge is still there, and don't expect to understand all of the intricate mechanics that the game never really explains to you.

Threes is definitely the star of the show in NHL 18 with only marginal improvements made to the rest of the franchise's modes.

Like with the rest of this continually growing franchise, this game likely isn’t going to change anybody’s mind that didn’t like past entries, but there is no question that fans of the series will absolutely adore Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice.

Fe mixes tried and true gameplay mechanics with new ideas in interesting and beautiful ways.

While this isn't Samus' greatest adventure, it is still a very good one.

There may be no new content besides the previous DLC being included, but Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game - Complete Edition takes what was already a really fun beat 'em up and makes it all the more accessible to a whole new generation of gamers.

The game adds new features like the Hunter Styles and Arts, which complement the already existing foundation very well. While Capcom could have shaken up the formula further, they know exactly what fans enjoy and have given them that and more in Monster Hunter Generations.

LEGO Jurassic World hits all the right notes on the nostalgia scale by providing gamers with faithful recreations of the four movies in the series for a really fun experience, but there is really nothing brick breaking this time around.

While the series may not be anywhere near groundbreaking by this point, Puzzle Quest still returns to its roots in strong fashion with all the previous content and more on the Nintendo Switch, making it great for prior fans and newcomers alike.

If you’re looking for something that makes you feel closer to the ice than ever before, NHL 23 is going to be your favorite game that you play this year. The electricity that oozes from this title is something that will bring me back to playing it over and over again, even if there are a few nagging problems that need to be addressed very shortly.

Four Sided Fantasy is a very unique game despite appearing as the opposite on the surface. Puzzle platformers may not be on the cutting edge of what’s fresh and original in gaming these days, but Four Sided Fantasy shows the genre can still deliver surprises.

Nuka-World is a fine new addition to Fallout 4. However, as the final piece of DLC it is a bit of a let down. It does offer a huge and interesting new area to explore, and the attention to detail in creating Fallout's Disney World is very much appreciated. But there's just not much here that hasn't been done before in the series. The factions can largely be ignored, and many players will find that the role-playing aspect is almost non-existent this time around. But overall Fallout 4 Nuka-World provides a ton of new things to do and check out, which is enough to warrant a purchase from anyone who has exhausted what's available now.

There may not be a whopping amount of new content besides the introduction of the JRPG-like Skill Battles, but Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 refines the overall formula and offers players another great puzzle game that is even more accessible than before.

What keeps Capcom Arcade Stadium of having a perfect score, is the lack of Online Multiplayer and certain beloved games, that would otherwise elevate this title to new heights. That said, it's an excellent trip to the past, with a good amount of content and tons of replayability. Certainly, a way of reminding us old-schoolers why we loved Capcom in first place and how empty our wallets were due to their arcade dominance. The Nintendo Switch received another great entry to its already big roster.

Fans of whimsical, artful indie titles will find much to love about Shinsekai Into the Depths, and ardent Metroidvania purists will get a kick out of its aquatic take on the genre. It's not going to be everyone's favorite game for the Nintendo Switch, but I'll be damned if it doesn't top at least one person's list.

The core gameplay is still a lot of fun and the level of customization with the new Imaginators is quite impressive, but a few decisions prevent Skylanders Imaginators from taking the series to the next level.

Even though the style of gameplay is one that definitely qualifies as one to try before you buy due to motion sickness, RIGS: Mechanized Combat League is a very enthralling experience that PSVR early adopters should definitely check out.

Just like with the previous Mega Man Legacy Collections, Capcom brings together a group of standout games in their most accessible and affordable form to date with the Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection.

Shin Megami Tensei 3 Nocturne remains a solid JRPG even today, but the remaster could have gone a bit further at this price point.

Although I can't see it ever becoming a sensation that manages to attract people who don't care for its genre, House Flipper 2 will surely become a reference among those looking for a casual, relaxing, house-flipping simulator.