Sackboy: A Big Adventure is dripping with charm and makes excellent use of the DualSense controller.

Beneath its lackluster story, Disgaea 5 is crawling with stuff to do and, thanks to its great gameplay, you’ll always find yourself itching to come back for more.

An excellent horror experience for both seasoned and newbie gamers. Despite some minor shortcomings, Layers of Fear brings some classic elements while adding new depth, creating a unique and fear filled journey that you won't be able to tear yourself away from.

Offering improvements to Career Mode and introducing new modes like Ultimate Team and Knockout Mode, EA Sports UFC 2 builds upon the already solid gameplay and presentation to bring fans a fun experience for yourself or with friends that are either a fan of UFC or just can’t wait for a new Fight Night game.

Crypt of the Necrodancer marries rhythm and roguelike in a unique way — It feels accessible, fun, and fairly difficult at any given moment.

It might not be a perfect package, but its old age certainly hasn’t harmed Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen in the slightest.

Maneater sets out to deliver a specific experience and ends up nailing that, but not much else.

ARMS is a great addition to the Switch's growing library of unique titles. Featuring a fresh new world full of color and character, the content might be light, but if you get hooked you'll find lots to enjoy here.

The wait has been long for a new Hitman game, and good as it may be, this one's going to have you waiting even longer for the full experience.

Skylanders may have more competition in the toys-to-life space than ever, but the addition of vehicle-based gameplay sections has kicked the series into overdrive with Skylanders Superchargers.

It’s showing its age and still suffers from the trademark Bethesda bugs, but The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition is a good enough excuse to warrant a return trip or serve as an entry point to this massive game.

Although it still has much to achieve, Street Fighter V is already a very impressive comeback for the iconic fighting series. Stunning visuals and new fighting mechanics add to this game's already winning formula. Though it is promised for later, missing content is a disappointment. What is here is good enough quality to please fans though.

Trails of Cold Steel II continues the excellent story that was begun in the first Trails of Cold Steel by raising the stakes exponentially. The combat system is not all that different this time around, but it feels as refined and polished as well, which is what any good sequel should be focused on doing.

Torment: Tides of Numenera may not be for gamers that are accustomed to more fast-paced and action-heavy RPGs, but those who appreciate a well-developed world and characters will find a lot to enjoy here. It's overflowing with depth and personality, and the many ways that you can navigate through it make it truly feel alive. If you've been dreaming of RPGs returning to a time where depth and detail were the genre's blood and bones, then this is the game for you.

The game has a home in the competitive fighter circles but also is a rich, rewarding experience for Persona fans and has aged very well. It’s also refreshing for players who want to enjoy a robust fighting game that doesn’t rely on decades-old gimmicks and bleeding-edge 3D graphics to cover up shallow gameplay. With this updated release coming to 3 of the most massive install bases in all of home gaming, it’s a great opportunity for newcomers and veterans to check this one out again.

While the gameplay in Senran Kagura: Estival Versus can grow repetitive after awhile, the series' signature humor is present while new features like the bombshells and creative finishers help to shake it up just enough to make the game feel like a natural progression and what the series should strive to be moving forward.

Despite some flaws, Evil Genius 2 is a doomsday device built to dominate your free time. It's addictive, easy to understand lair building and retro Spy-Fi aesthetic will pull you in and not let go, even after hundreds of hours. It's a shame the titular Geniuses don't feel all that distinct, and that the otherwise stellar UI has some annoying issues, but that won't stop Evil Genius 2 from taking over your world. It feels oh-so-good to be oh-so-bad.

Even with an embarrassingly bad single-player Campaign, the Multiplayer and Zombies experiences are enough to cement this game as one of the franchise's greats.

Despite being rather short, Pikuniku is sure to please players anyway thanks to its pleasant presentation, relaxed atmosphere, goofy characters, and its world that's just plain fun to explore.

Acting more as a transition episode, Batman: The Enemy Within - Episode 3 "Fractured Mask" is another great episode in the series, even if it isn't as fantastic as the first two. The tension is running high here and Telltale's writing is at the top of its game. If the last two episodes can live up to the first three this will easily go down as one of the developer's best.

Gears Tactics perfectly translates the aggressive, bloody action of the series to the turn-based format.

With fast and fluid combat, endearing characters and a grounded story that isn’t afraid to crack a few jokes, Senran Kagura Burst Re:Newal represents the series at it's finest. That said, if you take issue with the sexualization of its characters, then this game is not for you.

The Quarry is a cheesy, campy thrill ride with a fascinating mystery at its core.

Milestone's latest outing with the MotoGP series continues to show improvement, albeit slightly, as the end of the console generation is approaching fast. While the game definitely has a steep learning curve for those new to the franchise, MotoGP 20 is a lot of fun and a true representation of the sport when there is no way to experience the live events right now at all.

Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 improves on its already great predecessor in a bunch of ways. New characters, game modes, and other modifications make for a better, though very familiar experience. This is definitely an iterative sequel, offering nothing revolutionary, but for those that want more PvZ action, it'll easily fit the bill.

Downwell truly feels like a classic NES game both in aesthetics and in difficulty, which paired with incredibly addictive gameplay makes the under $5 Downwell at least worth giving a try.

It is startling to think that one of the best games of the year has come in the form of a title that looks like something you would put on to amuse kids for a morning. Yet Kena: Bridge of Spirits boasts more heart and genuineness than many games could hope to exude. What Ember Lab has produced is a rejuvenation of the indie market, proving that the little guys can box with the best. For anyone looking for a game that will bring a smile to their face, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is not to be missed.

MotoGP 2022 has the racing down pat, and the new 2009 season mode is a fun blast from the past.

UFC 4 is a better game than UFC 3. While some of the systems might take a little bit of getting used to, there's a more refined experience here. One that's a little bit more welcoming to many different types of players and that's been done without sacrificing the level of depth and quality to the fighting that fans have come to expect from the series.

Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 rounds out the story for fans in one of the best looking and best playing entries in the series.

Taking Swedish mythology and crafting a puzzle-based horror game will definitely please Wii U owners who are looking for something fresh and interesting to play. The Wii U version has a few very small issues, but overall it presents some great new takes on the Gamepad, that fans will definitely want to check out, as long as they can get past a couple of small missteps.

Finally making its way out of Japan for the first time, Mr. Driller DrillLand is still the best entry in this niche puzzle franchise and fits right at home on the Nintendo Switch.

With fun presentation and a well designed co-op platforming mechanic Heave Ho is certainly a great new addition to the party game genre.

Horizon Chase 2 is an outstanding arcade racing game. Although it has only 10 cars, it brings customization options, over 80 tracks, a captivating art style, and improves upon virtually everything else compared to its predecessor.

While the original game was more of a showcase of what the PS4 was capable of, Knack 2 is a more thoughtful, well-rounded experience.

The Outer Worlds might not be exactly what you think it's going to be. It's a smaller game, one that focuses on replay value and role play fantasy to really get the most out of the experience. It's a dense game though, where there's plenty of lore packed into smaller sandbox style areas. It's up to you to poke around in the corners of these areas to get the most out of it.

F1 2020 continues the positive trend the series has had over the last multiple years by not only improving on existing game modes and game mechanics, but also introducing the brand new My Team mode and even new racing options that make the game more accessible than ever.

While Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore may not have quite as much Fire Emblem influence as some fans may want, the two series go very well together with a unique premise and Mirage system that is overlaid upon a pretty traditional turn-based system at its core that will satisfy both fan bases.

Battlefield V ultimately feels like a lateral release with little pushing the franchise forward when you judge it by what’s here and not what may or may not come.

WarioWare: Get it Together! is a very fun game from the moment you pick it up. It has a generous selection of over 200 micro games to sink your time into. Pair that with the various playstyles of the characters, and you have yourself a lot more than just a one and done game.

Somewhere between a remake and a remaster, the work done to the original Gears of War is evident at every turn. You'll come to see the impressive new coat of paint, but you'll stay for the timeless multiplayer.

A Criminal Past will likely be the last that we hear from the Deus Ex series for a while, but if that's the case then it at least ends things on a high note for the time being. The DLC offers a bite-sized version of everything great about the main game, while taking things to a new setting that fans will eat up.

Meet Streets of Rage 4 on its own terms and you'll discover a sometimes cheap, yet often rewarding revival of a once dead franchise. The soundtrack is stellar, art design fantastic, animations superb, and controls precise. But if you expected all the former sins of the genre to be absolved after 26 years you'll have to look elsewhere.

Now built for consoles rather than exclusively as a handheld title, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy still maintains the same charm and gameplay the series has always been known for over the years while looking cleaner than ever.

While it still has room to grow, Ghostwire: Tokyo is truly a one-of-a-kind experience thanks to its breathtaking atmosphere, gorgeous open world, impressive stories, and exhilarating combat.

Despite its often less-than-subtle nods to Nintendo's Breath of the Wild, Genshin Impact does enough differently to stand apart. Throw in punchier combat, a more traditional story packed with interesting characters, and an outstanding score and Genshin Impact easily sits among the upper echelon of games released this year. Hopefully miHoYo relaxes the stamina system and gacha rates soon, because Teyvat is a world absolutely worth revisting. They're just making it difficult for anyone but gacha fans to find the motivation to hold on.

Mary Skelter: Nightmares is strong enough as a whole to offer the most unique experience Compile Heart has ever created.

For about a third of the price of most Triple A titles, you get a decently lengthy experience that will stick with you afterwards, and is pretty replayable with the game’s Endless Mode, which goes on until you die, testing just how far you can journey down the river.

Completely overlooked by most on the PS2, Legend of Kay Anniversary is definitely one of the better action platformers to release over the last few years, with fast paced combat that delivers hours of fun for those that missed out on this cult classic.

Sifu is an incredible journey. Featuring top-notch animations, music tracks, and visuals that are hard to match by even a big-budget animation studio, you will find your jaw-dropping as you make your journey through this story of revenge.

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Legacy is not only the best recreation of Masashi Kishimoto’s work available for fans of the series, but the best way to bring new fans into the series.

Legacy of the Void has something for everyone with changes to multiplayer that shake up the formula, cooperative play, and a satisfying conclusion on the story front.

Fortified is a fun multiplayer romp full of 50s sci-fi camp. Bring some friends as this tower defense shooter can be difficult to tackle solo.

Carrion turns the horror genre on its head by letting you be the monster this time in a Metroidvania style game, which serves as the perfect type game to pick up and play between many of the other larger scale releases that have released this year.

While musou style games aren’t for everybody, Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree’s Woe and the Blight Below is a shining example of a partnership done just right that may just attract some new fans to both franchises.

Gamers weren't quite ready for Yoko Taro's NieR back in 2010, but now the now cult classic is getting another chance in the way it was originally intended. On top of additional content and bonuses not found in the original, NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139... features a beautifully melancholy narrative that is equal parts gut-wrenching and heartfelt, all of which is very worth experiencing.

Avoiding the series’ recent downward slide, F1 2016 has managed to revitalize the series with the return of Career mode in one of its best entries to date.

The Awakening the Nightmare DLC and all of the characters available for players to master in Halo Wars 2: Complete Edition make this one of the most robust competitive RTS games on the market and there's really nothing like it on consoles.

Returning fans won't get much new worthwhile content, except in the refreshing streaming mode, but if you are new the series this is the kitten kabootle of all things Stardust.

10 Second Ninja was already a very fun and enjoyable game in its initial release on PC, but now coming out as the more content heavy 10 Second Ninja X, console owners get to join in on the action with the best version of the game so far.

Lara Croft GO nails all of the elements that make for an enticing mobile title: Fun in small chunks, visually appealing, and thought-provoking, Lara Croft GO can provide hours of enjoyment for a small entry fee.

Following through on the tone of the first episode, Life is Strange: Episode 2 - Out of Time features natural story and character progression with gravitas-laden decisions that will shape the future.

Zipping around levels with your hookshot and using your various power-ups to navigate some of the tough scenarios that the game throws at you is rewarding. If Roguelikes are your thing, but you’re not looking for something that’s too taxing Flinthook is worth a look.

A great conclusion to this underappreciated puzzle series, Bye-Bye BoxBoy! is a must buy for anyone who enjoyed the previous games. It also serves as a nice jumping on point, giving players tons of new, fun puzzles to work through with some cool new mechanics.

With the series having seemingly ended one episode early, Minecraft: Story Mode Episode 5 picks things up extremely well, launching a new adventure while paying homage to the old. Many issues with the series have been touched up and fixed, though some still linger. Ultimately, this episode succeeds in telling its own story, while pushing things forward for what is to come.

The Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster collection is the definitive way to enjoy some of the greatest RPGs of all time and experience an essential chapter of gaming history.

Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen may be a few years old now, but the new PC version is still a blast to play.

Madden 20 does very little in this year's game to impress, but it doesn't do anything that truly disappoints. What it offers is a competent and refined football experience with a stellar presentation and plenty of modes to play.

A worthy successor to the 2013 reboot. Flying Wild Hog obviously put more work into some of the gameplay systems for the game, while keeping the original's great combat system and charm. If you're up for some bloody fast-paced first person combat, this ultimate power trip won't disappoint.

What stole the show is Shadows of Rose. An emotional, heartbreaking story that doesn't let up and is one of the better DLC we have received for any Resident Evil title.

While Atomic Heart brings nothing new to the table, it brings flair to the concepts it borrows from games before it, making for a fun experience that will have your heart pumping, funny bone aching, and brain working overtime.

Even as it retains script errors and a lack of wider quality-of-life features, Megaman Battle Network Legacy Collection provides fantastic quality where it truly matters. A faithful gameplay experience is joined by restored content and online play, making this collection the definitive way to revisit these classic GBA titles.

The transition from killing Rats and Chaos Warriors to fighting the Scabs and Dregs couldn't have gone smoother. Warhammer 40k: Darktide adds enough new ideas to differentiate itself from the previous Vermintide games without ostracizing the fans of that franchise.

A decidedly solid adventure-platformer, with some great storytelling and humor layered on top. The papercraft visuals are gorgeous, and the soundtrack will have you humming along in just a few minutes. The card-based battle system is a real downer though and the loss of deeper gameplay elements is still hard felt, dragging the whole experience down quite a bit.

Minecraft: Story Mode Episode 4 continues the momentum from the previous episode in true Telltale fashion. Many of the series flaws remain, but many more have been fixed. The accelerated pace of the narrative really helps here as well, with the story of the Wither Storm coming to a close in both fun and surprisingly dramatic ways.

Bravely Default II doesn't do all that much to differentiate itself from the games that came before it. How you'll feel about that will depend on what you want out of the game: do you want something that is familiar and comforting, or a title that innovates on a decades-old formula? If you're here for the former you'll absolutely enjoy your time with Bravely Default II, even if some of its failings start to grate on you. If you wanted the latter then the excellent combat, art, and music will help you overlook Bravely Default II's otherwise tired tale.

If you can sacrifice an unlocked framerate for the locked 30fps option, Forza Horizon 3 is one of the very best looking racing games on PC to date and quite possibly a glimpse of what console players can expect from Microsoft's next console.

Ultimately, Gestalt: Steam & Cinder is a game that will likely appeal to fans of the genre, especially those who appreciate strong art direction and well-designed worlds. If you can accept that this game is short and far from perfect, chances are you'll love it.

The Surge’s unique spin on combat and customization coupled with some tried and true gameplay mechanics from the Souls series coalesce nicely for what feels like a familiar experience in an entirely new setting.

Moon Studios doesn't necessarily break new ground with Ori and the Will of the Wisps and that's OK. The additions that have been made improve on the experience, even though it's hard to be as impressed as we were the first time around.

While some game modes still feel like they are living in the past, the return of fan-favorites like EASHL and the improved Be A Pro make NHL 16 a power play that hockey fans are bound to love.

Ghost Recon: Wildlands can provide countless hours of thrilling sandbox shooter gameplay, but co-op is needed to make the most of it. Its massive, numerous and diverse locales are often gorgeous to behold, and navigating them tactfully with a good co-op team is a blast. Just don't expect to have as much fun in single player, as your team limits your mission methods due to shaky AI and a lack of deep squad commands.

Axiom Verge is one of the purest forms of Metroidvania titles that we’ve seen in recent years.

Building a game around nostalgia can often backfire, but the classic style battle mechanics mixed with the capturing and stacking of Mirages make World of Final Fantasy a trip down memory lane that any fan of the franchise should check out.

While a few problems are certainly present, Life is Strange: Before the Storm is still on the right track. The characters and plot points remain interesting and the choices, when real choices, are very well thought out.

Subnautica: Below Zero doesn't reach the same heights as the first game, but it's proof Unknown World's 2018 survival game wasn't a fluke. The act of exploring a mysterious underwater world whilst trying to survive is nearly as captivating in Below Zero as it was then. I'm still not a fan of the survival genre, yet I loved every moment I spent with Subnautica: Below Zero. I may know most of the tricks by now, but that didn't make the experience any less magical.

Mass Effect: Andromeda fails to deliver a compelling plot and the journey to a whole new galaxy offers little that's new or exciting. Still, it does give you the same quality gameplay the series is known for and you'll enjoy your time with your new crew, even if they're no replacement for the originals.

Perception is a truly unique game, putting players into the shoes of a blind girl and using that as a means of storytelling and gameplay. It develops a world that you want to explore, but also keeps you on the edge of your seat with fear and trepidation.

The Artful Escape provides a strong narrative adventure focused on self-discovery, identity, and expression that musicians, artists, and just about anyone can find something to relate to.

Moving away from the more strict mission based structure of the first game, players now get to travel across the lands of the seven kingdoms in-between the smoother than ever large scale battles. As with any musou game, the combat will get repetitive at times, but there is no question that Dragon Quest Heroes 2 is a bigger and better followup to the original that continues to be a love letter to the Dragon Quest fandom.

Amnesia: Rebirth won't dramatically shift the modern horror landscape like its predecessor did ten years ago, yet it's an excellent addition to the genre nonetheless. It's an excellent marriage SOMA's narrative sensibilities with The Dark Descent's more terrifying pacing, capable of standing out in the now crowded market. It won't replace SOMA as my all-time favorite horror game, but it's up there.

Adds a lot of excitement to an already fast paced game that makes Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 a very worthy follow-up on its predecessor.

Project X Zone 2 may not be for everyone, but fans of SRPGs and characters from Capcom, Sega or Bandai Namco are going to have a blast with this game.

Star Fox Guard is a simple concept done very well. It's a new takes on the tower defense genre that really adds a whole lot to the experience. And in contrast to its big brother, it uses the Wii U Gamepad very effectively. However, while there is a lot of content thanks to the massive amount of levels and challenges, the core gameplay never strays too far from the base experience.

Not only does NBA 2K21 Next Generation feature true to life visuals and insanely fast load times, but it also has new and improved game modes for you to check out that makes this the definitive version of NBA 2K21 without any question.

Gravity Rush 2 is a step up in almost every way from its already enjoyable predecessor. The sense of freedom and adventure is great, thanks to the gravity bending abilities of Kat. Combat is still kind of dull and frustrating, but it's less of the experience this time. The gorgeous art style and design eases this pain though, delivering a great action experience for PS4.

While definitely not for everyone, Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is truly a trip down memory lane full of the best songs that the series has to offer. With more than 140 tracks and a relatively minuscule new story involving Kairi thrown into the mix, the game is a must play for long time fans of the series, especially if you love rhythm games.

As the title infers, Mafia: Definitive Edition is indeed the definitive version of the classic game, this time with completely redone visuals and updated gameplay that makes the game feel like it could have released today as a brand new game and few would have known the difference.