While the Ninja Gaiden Master Collection isn’t perfect on Switch, it’s nail-biting, Ninja fun that is definitely worth revisiting.

Thanks to stellar mechanics, a great netcode, and beautiful visual and audio design, Guilty Gear Strive is a fighting game you don’t want to miss.

If you aren’t a BattleTech fan, mech fan or a gamer prepared to put in the additional study time required in order to learn how to master it, MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries is a game that is either best left avoided (unless you’re taking it for a non-committal test drive on Xbox Game Pass).

Lifeslide is a zen-like experience from the visuals to the soundtrack that just doesn’t last long enough.

Nintendo’s best development toolkit to date, with a gamified process that makes creating enjoyable, even if the curation tools are sub-par.

With over a dozen games in the long-running series, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart still manages to feel fresh and exciting, taking full advantage of the PlayStation 5 by delivering what, for many, may be their first taste at a definitive next-gen feeling game for the still-budding platform.

While not quite reaching the heights of its predecessor, Subnautica: Below Zero is still a survival game worth diving into.

R-Type Final 2 is a boon for hardcore fans of the franchise and lovers of Japanese shmups in general, especially on the Xbox platform, but should probably be avoided by gamers with short tempers or who are unwilling to learn through repeated failure.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition is one of the finest remasters made to-date. For newcomers and veterans alike, it's the essential version of a must-play trilogy, honouring its strengths while smoothing out most of its faults.

Miitopia is whimsical in its opening hours, but becomes repetitive far too quickly.

While not perfect and sorely lacking playable female characters, RetroMania Wrestling is an enjoyable, feature-packed love-letter to the late 80’s and early 90’s era of wrestling videogames and the WWF in general.

Biomutant is the least fun I’ve had with a game in a while. Broken, shallow, and above all, BORING. This mutant should’ve stayed in the Ooze.

At the end of the day Wonder Boy Asha in Monster World is a no-frills remake that at times feels a little rough around the edges but ultimately does a well enough job in modernizing the 1994 classic.

Due to a myriad of technical hiccups, finicky controller support and some uneven changes, Disco Elyisum – The Final Cut is disappointingly not the best version of this otherwise sophisticated and ingenious game.

Smelter takes a handful of conventions and turns them into a near-masterpiece of the action-platformer genre, but like the retro games that inspired it, it doesn’t pull any punches.

If you can adapt to its ruthless approach, Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster is a retro JRPG that’s worth revisiting. However, the remastering doesn’t go far enough, leaving PS2 quirks intact.

The definitive way to play Days Gone—regardless of the issues that come with the game.

New Pokémon Snap earns it’s name—maintaining what made the original so beloved, but making it feel fresh and exciting.

Deiland: Pocket Planet seemed promising with all that it offered but ultimately fell flat, especially compared to all the other simulation games currently available.

Resident Evil Village is a worthy sequel that takes full advantage of its Gothic setting, with Capcom delivering an absolute masterclass in survival horror thrills.

SaGa Frontier Remastered is often too obtuse for its own good, but behind it all is a unique and captivating RPG that benefits greatly from quality-of-life improvements and restored content cut from its original release.

Narita Boy is visually stunning and packed with great ideas; but for everything it does right, you can see how it could’ve done better.

While I can’t say Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville is a bad game, it might not be a very good Switch game.

Returnal sets a new standard for Housemarque and delivers a must-play game for fans of roguelike titles while offering everyone else a genuinely unique experience. The game masterfully blends arcade-inspired gameplay with AAA quality chops usually reserved for a first-party PlayStation developer.

Total War: Rome Remastered is a top quality remaster of what remains an engaging strategy game. While I can’t directly compare from experience, the modernization of many of its gameplay aspects, the introduction of a host of new playable factions, and the strength of the existing systems allow it to stand alongside more recent editions of the franchise without any trouble. If you haven’t experienced Rome: Total War before, I recommend playing this remaster.

With its much-welcomed next-gen improvements in framerate, resolution, and load times plus the inclusion of all previously released DLC, the next-gen remaster of Judgment is hands-down the definitive version to own.

MLB The Show 21 is not an easy game to get the hang of by any means, but it manages to make the experience a good one whether you’re winning or losing.

Toylogic has done a stellar job in modernizing 2010's release of NieR with NieR: Replicant Ver. 1.22474487139 giving fans of both the original and Automata something new to enjoy in the ever-expanding world of NieR.

Republic Commando reforms Delta Squad as a worthy tactical shooter on the Nintendo Switch, despite performance bugs which hinder an influential piece of Star Wars media.

If you can look past a plethora of bugs, backtracking and glitches, there’s an interesting game hidden here.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 is still a wicked game no matter what version you choose. This updated version is sure to be enough to please perfectionists and looks incredible. Here is hoping we get more Tony Hawk games for years to come. Wonderful job again Vicarious Visions.

Monster Hunter Rise is shaping up to be my favourite Monster Hunter to date. From the fluid and in-depth gameplay, to the ingeniously designed new monsters, to the insanely fun gimmicks that add new levels of mobility, Capcom has outdone themselves with their latest entry in the franchise yet again.

Balan Wonderworld is just plain bad. Apart from its terrible costume system, it does nothing new and just poorly copies things that other 3D platformers have already done better.

So is it worthwhile? For SNK fans, yes, especially if you missed the Pocket Color like everyone else. Despite the Compilation’s game-to-dollar value, though, this is still a collection of twenty-year-old handheld games. If you miss the Game Boy days and want something new to play, you may find something worthwhile here.

Lost Words: Beyond the Page makes a strong case for the argument that video games can be considered art.

The indie horror game Mundaun from Swedish studio Hidden Fields has a great sense of style, but little else going for it.

Outriders’ stellar gunplay and abilities make for a standout take on the cover-shooter genre, even though the overall experience is dragged down by server instability.

Ultimately, gameplay is king, and players that crave the core mechanics that puzzle games like Tetris and Puyo Puyo deliver are the ones that will get the most mileage out of Puyo Puyo Tetris 2.

Thanks to great art direction and tone, Evil Genius 2 is a base builder that is captivating to play, even if it gets tiresome at times.

SNK vs Capcom was an exceptional fighting game at the turn of the millennium and still holds up now—mostly as an artifact.

As long as all you’re asking for is the epic conclusion to the Kazama Kiryu saga on something other than a PlayStation and you aren’t expecting the game to fully leverage the added horsepower of an Xbox Series console, you should be in for a great time with Yakuza 6: The Song of Life.

If you’re a fan of Story of Seasons, I think you’re definitely going to love all-of this game...get it?

Apex Legends has finally made its way to Nintendo Switch, but the end result makes us wonder if it was better off staying in the dropship.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time may not be the biggest upgrade over its last-generation release, but for a game that just came out a year prior, it does what it needs to do and presents the best console version of an already well-polished game for players to enjoy.

I honestly don’t think Empire of Sin knows what it wants to be. It seems like it wants to be something like Mafia or even Grand Theft Auto, but assumed a game about micromanaging criminal enterprises needed to play like X-Com. It shouldn’t have been this hard to make a mafia game this uninteresting but Romero Games sure found a way. Do yourself a favor and just skip this one.

While Cyber Shadow is fundamentally a solid game, it does go to show that some robot Ninjas aren’t built as well as others.

For JRPG fans, Bravely Default 2 is a new twist on familiar comfort food. Subtle innovations make a proven recipe worth exploring all over again, and JRPG fans will find a lot to digest.

The game is ruthless fun that will rake you over the coals over and over, and keep you coming back for more.

In terms of narrative, Atelier Ryza 2‘s light tone makes for a refreshing experience but a somewhat bland story. There are a lot of familiar tropes and the dialog often feels padded with pleasantries. It’s nice to have predominately lower stakes and a “everyday life” atmosphere for a change, compared to the genre’s typical “save the world from a would-be god” theatrics. But after a while cutscenes and conversations felt like a drag, especially if you enter an area and set off a couple different scenes at once. At its core, it’s a fairly typical narrative for an anime-styled JRPG, with the usual conventions like standard personality types, stock expressions, and an occasional objectifying camera angle.

Capcom Arcade Stadium is a staggeringly good port of many solid games, breathing new life into them with unique challenges and through a robust suite of difficulty options. It’s a great way to experience these games no matter your skill level, and offers so much variety that I just kept coming back for more.

Despite some good moments, Bowser’s Fury just feels like a strange collection of ideas that never really coalesce—like it wants to be a Course Clear Mario, trapped in the body of a Sandbox Exploration Mario. I can’t help but feel like maybe if Bowser’s Fury was built like Super Mario 3D World and had a collection of actual levels—maybe some that were normal, and some where Fury Bowser was in the background the whole time creating obstacles and threats, which culminated in various “3D” Fury Bowser boss battles, than it might have felt like a more put together experience.

Little Nightmares 2 is incredibly creepy but not much has changed from the first time around.

The Nioh Collection on PlayStation 5 collects two excellent and instant classics together in one well polished and tough experience that will give new console owners something to sink their teeth into for the foreseeable future, while bringing with it, technical improvements that take advantage of the more capable hardware.

If you’re looking for a mindless action game that feels like it came out 15 years ago then you should check out Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood. If you’re looking for anything new and exciting or a decent story, look elsewhere. You should be thankful I took a silver bullet playing this game for you to give you this review. Now please, let’s never talk about it again.

Exclusive to the PlayStation 5 version of the game, Control Ultimate Editon features Activity Card integration, a natural fit for an expansive, Metroidvania-style game such as Control, making it great for those wanting to easily track and manage some of the side quests present in the game. Another exclusive feature reserved for PlayStation 5 owner’s of the game is its excellent use of the Dualsense controller.

The Medium is a poor game that is rife with bugs, bad ideas, and some nice things to look at.

If you are looking for the game equivalent of a high-stakes spy thriller, love an equal balance of stealth, action, puzzles and sandbox play, or simply love the fantasy of flying to exotic locations, meeting highly interesting people and killing them, Hitman 3 has your number.

At its heart, Scott Pilgrim is a simple beat ‘em up that struggles with pacing. But once it gets going, it reveals itself to be a colourful and engaging throwback to an era of video games long gone. And while it is better played alongside some friends, Scott Pilgrim’s got enough personality to make it worth experiencing retro Toronto even by yourself.

A charming and original little puzzle-adventure game that should appeal to a wide variety of audiences: kids, families, or even adults looking for something fun and innocuous for game night.

Katamari Damacy REROLL is a delightful game that I highly recommend. It’s quirky, charming, extremely fun, and much deeper than it initially appears. I know it may sound cliché, but there really isn’t anything else like it and with it’s wide availability on modern consoles, it’s a game that you should definitely play if you haven’t experienced it yet.

Super Meat Boy Forever is a challenging sequel that will have you testing your controller’s durability in no time.

Night City still shines with a wide cast of memorable characters and beautifully executed atmosphere that demonstrates just how good CD Projekt Red is at story telling, it’s just a shame so much of the overall experience of Cyberpunk 2077 is all held together by pieces of scotch tape.

For everything I loved about Medal of Honor Above and Beyond, there was always something to be heartbroken by.

Call of the Sea is a well-executed Adventure game that feels both familiar and distinct, with imagery evocative of both Monkey Island and H.P. Lovecraft that comes together in a fun and concise adventure game.

World of Warcraft: Shadowlands is a solid experience all the way around but really finds its best footing in the endgame.

Doom Eternal rips & tears up its quality for worse on Nintendo Switch, but grants an incredible wish by letting players take the highly addictive FPS anywhere.

Altdeus Beyond Chronos might feel like a big change for VR gamers as a visual novel but pays off with a worthwhile sci-fi mech story with plenty of anime energy.

Godfall is a visually stunning game that ultimately disappoints due to its fetch-quest filled gameplay loop and recycled ideas.

Beyond Light feels like a sequel reset without all the baggage of starting from scratch. New powers and a shakeup in playable areas revitalize the formula for returning players, but detractors still won’t be won over.

The original version of Dragon Quest XI was already a near perfect JRPG that I would’ve recommended to anyone to at least try out. Though the changes aren’t huge, Dragon Quest XI S adds just enough to make it the objectively better option between the two. If you have any interest in replaying Dragon Quest XI or if you’re looking to play it for the first time, Dragon Quest XI S is the way to go.

Immortals Fenyx Rising has a strong argument for being the nadir of open world action-adventure games.

If you haven’t enjoyed previous Jackbox volumes, this one might win you back. It leaves most of the humour up to you and presents a well-rounded sampling of tasks. Just be sure you can enjoy the party safely.

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is fun romp through the series many memorable moments, with excellent music and simple but diverse gameplay to keep this title as replayable as possible. While the story lacks in some places, it continues to offer interesting tidbits for the series ever expanding lore, and creating an awesome idea of where the series story is heading in the future.

The best looking console game I’ve ever played, and one that can easily stand toe-to-toe with the best the PC world has to offer — and I can play it on a big-screen from the comfort of my couch. Bluepoint knocked it out of the park so far the ball killed someone in a distant suburb.

In terms of PlayStation 5 upgrades, Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate delivers a razor-sharp 4k image, with brief loading times thanks to the power of the new SSD in addition to a consistent and locked high framerate, making it the ideal choice for competitive play outside of perhaps the PC. Like the Switch version of MK11, thanks to the Dualsense controller, Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate feels excellent, with each attack and blow accompanied by a satisfying rumble that helps bring the game to life.

At the end of its yarn, Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a fun romp through a craft-inspired world that feels as if it was cut from the same cloth as something like Yoshi’s Crafted World, rather than LittleBigPlanet, however, this is not a bad thing, especially for those looking for a traditional platforming experience. Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a content-rich platformer that can be enjoyed by anyone regardless of age and is a worthy addition to the PlayStation 5 launch line-up.

Clearly, the players who stand to gain the most value from purchasing this re-release are those who have bought or plan to buy a next-generation console and for one reason or another haven’t played or finished the original DMC5 campaign yet, as it is for them that the game will yield the most surprises and offer the most longevity. That said, if I were to draw a Venn Diagram titled “gamer groups interested in buying DMC5:SE” that encompassed the DMC-curious, franchise die-hards looking for new challenges, and brand new 4K60/120 HDTV owners, I’d be willing to bet that there would be a sizeable amount of overlap. Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition is still one of the best looking games of last generation, and if you’re looking for something dazzling to flex the muscle of your next gen console and give your thumbs a serious workout at the same time, you could easily do far worse, especially on Xbox Series X/S where there are fewer standout next-generation games to play.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it does offer a more robust and cohesive experience that fan’s of Breath of the Wild will appreciate, even if they have never played a Warriors-style game in the past.

Aside from being a showcase of the tech that the PlayStation 5 is capable of, Astro’s Playroom excels in its exuding charm, with callbacks and references to many PlayStation properties sprinkled throughout the entirety of the game. Ultimately, Astro’s Playroom is a celebration of PlayStation’s legacy encapsulated in a toy-like aesthetic that delivers a fun experience that doesn’t overstay its welcome and gives all players something to dive into when they get their hands on a PlayStation 5.

The Falconeer is a small but surprisingly ambitious game that will impress those that are curious with its artistry, and if you are willing to pack a little extra patience and tolerance of its more glaring flaws, you’re likely to have a good time. Fans of old-school air-combat games such as Ace Combat and Crimson Skies in particular should consider giving it a shot.

Spider-Man Miles Morales is a tightly packed improvement on 2018’s entry. Its engaging characters and fun moment to moment game play combines well with the next-gen visuals and emotionally rich story. If you’re going to pick up only one single-player game to play with your PS5 than Miles is a worthwhile choice.

Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War brings Treyarch’s winning formula back with a few stumbles in content, but manages to deliver on a bombastic story, refined multiplayer and vintage zombies with tons of neon glow.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is a good game that corrects many of the missteps found in Odyssey, offering a number of interesting improvements to the series’ formula.

The No More Heroes games make for light action fun, but they feel like they could be so much more if they only focused on what they did best without so much filler.

The No More Heroes games make for light action fun, but they feel like they could be so much more if they only focused on what they did best without so much filler.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is the the perfect jumping-in point for newcomers to the Yakuza franchise who want to experience what all the fuss is about without all the baggage, but with Ichiban Kasuga as the fresh new face of the franchise, a genuinely entertaining story and a surprisingly solid RPG battle mechanics as the game’s backbone, there’s a good deal here for series veterans like myself to discover and enjoy as well. No question I still want my traditional Yakuza beat-em up adventures, but if we could look forward to seeing another Yakuza JRPG of this game’s quality every other year or so, I would definitely be down.

A fine remaster of one of the best Need For Speed games ever made.

If not for a few clunky gameplay mechanics, Little Hope would be the perfect horror game.

Strife Veterans Editon is a great addition to the Switch’s library of classic releases. Although it might not live up to the likes of Skyrim or any other contemporary RPG, the title still holds up surprisingly well for a 1996 game that utilized the Doom engine.

Pikmin 3 Deluxe brings 2013’s Wii U classic to Nintendo’s latest console, bringing with it, all of its DLCs and a brand-new co-op mode.

Scarlet Hollow proves not all horror games need jump scares or hyper violent animations for them to work. Its execution in a horror visual novel works well through old-school mysteries and slow buildup in its short time.

Watch Dogs: Legion may be as structurally sound mechanically as its predecessor, but the novelty of the “play as anyone” system has damaged Ubisoft’s ability to create a thrilling story in this latest installment, instead creating a cast of very forgettable heroes and villains that lack any semblance of flair or personality.

Second Extinction disappoints as an unoriginal multiplayer dino shooter with an uneven difficulty, unbalanced weapons and mind-numbingly repetitive missions. [Early Access Review Score = 60]

Amnesia: Rebirth offers a thrilling addition to fans of the original, but non-fans will likely face an uphill climb to enjoyment.

Doom Eternal’s first piece of substantial singleplayer oriented DLC feels like it is off to a good start, offering a real challenge for fans of the original while feeling like a natural continuation of the base game. In essence, Ancient Gods Part One feels essential to the Doom Eternal experience, rather than something that feels tacked on or unnecessary, while simultaneously setting up some fun narrative beats for part Two of the DLC.

A massive improvement to the Be a Pro mode and some much-needed improvements to the AI make NHL 21 the best hockey game on the market — but it’s still difficult to justify the price.

It’s not a Final Fantasy 7 style remake, but the Definitive Edition comes closer to a remake than a simple remaster can, and that goes a long way to making the game enjoyable for the modern gaming audience.

The freedom of how to play and how to progress allows you to just sit back and enjoy the game.