With non-stop action and a near limitless amount of customization. Daemon X Machina is a great mech game that now looks better than ever before.

Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog is a somewhat short but sweet visual novel experience that captures the heart of the PC-98 era and retro mecha anime of decades past.

If you loved the other Dark Pictures anthology games, The Dark Pictures: The Devil In Me contained its core essence, and continues to innovate new ways to keep players interested.

It’s one of the more addictive games I’ve touched this year. The Dragon Ball fan in me loves the fact that I can fuse Frieza with Cooler, and Arale with Android 18. The RPG fan in me loves the interesting combat and addictive nature of collecting every character and super move. If you fall into either of those categories, then I have no reservations about recommending this. It’s some of the most fun I’ve had with my 3DS this year.

Alongside essentially being a new IP here in the West, Granblue Fantasy Versus bring a lot of new ideas with it which for the most part, work out in the end.

Life Is Strange’s first episode is a compelling, but awkwardly written introduction to a promising story.

Forza Horizon 3 is an invigorating open-world racer, although it may be a little too familiar to anyone who’s been down this road before.

The Thaumaturge blends cosmic horror, mature themes, brutal combat, and a sense of exploration like no game before it. A perfect fit for any horror fan looking to dive into the horrors of the real world.

Stardust Vanguards is not a perfect game, but it does its job well to entertain players with its one of a kind fun factor.

With a extraordinary art style, touching story and interesting gameplay loop, SAND LAND ended up really hitting home with me.

Civilization VI is a rock solid port that keeps the game’s strengths – and flaws – intact for consoles.

For a free MMO, it’s technically proficient, looks great, and will provide a fun experience. Even though I couldn’t find myself getting into it, I definitely understand why it has the following it has.

For as great as Bowser’s Inside Story is, it does little to justify busting out the 3DS again.

Chambara lacks solo play, but its fast-paced kinetic action makes for a thrilling co-op experience.

If you're a fan of old-school survival horror, My Friendly Neighborhood is an essential playthrough that feels fresh yet familiar to fans of the genre.

When players learn it all, Ruin of the Reckless makes for some frantic roguelike fun.

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening fits right at home on the Switch, feeling like a fresh title despite being over twenty years old Played on: Nintendo Switch

While Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream offers a lot of the same fun and quirkiness as its predecessor, its commitment to player creativity also sacrifices a lot of what made the 3DS game great.

Visually, the game has a minimalistic style, a chibi style that isn’t the most original but works for something of this scale. It utilizes a wide pallet of bright colours to create an environment that is fun and inviting. I was genuinely surprised that Feritella was fully voiced, and it’s genuinely well done. There isn’t a lot of music in the game, but what’s on offer is whimsical and suits the fantasy setting.

K Station is an intriguing sci-fi mystery that uses archaic mechanics to say something important about the fickleness of human memory.

I’m impressed at how well Fire Emblem blends into the Warriors style.

The Midnight Walk is a one-of-a-kind, often atmospheric and melancholic journey through a hauntingly twisted and imaginative world made better in VR.

A novel and brilliantly executed concept, regrettably dimmed by self-defeating structural choices.

EVERSPACE 2 shakes things up in the aerial/space combat genre, resulting in a unique shooter with solid RPG mechanics that feel fresh for the genre.

If you're tired of shooting guns and swinging swords Yonder offers laid back palate cleansing cuteness in this open-world adventure.

Enhanced Edition brings a breath of fresh air into the Original Sin experience in a great way.

Kamiko's quaint, pick-up-and-play nature makes it a fantastic fit on Nintendo's versatile console.

Nexus 5X is an easy-to-start, difficult-to-master strategy game that is both deeply robust and incredibly addicting.

If you’re bored of the fireball throwing, dragonbone sword wielding classic Fantasy RPG heroes, and want a game that’s both difficult and rewarding, with some tedious but realistic survival mechanics, in a setting that doesn’t take place in an ancient land on a faraway world, Kingdom Come: Deliverance is pretty damn refreshing.

While lacking in diverse combat, Samurai Shodown’s intentionally slower combat offers a fresh style of gameplay worth experiencing.

#BLUD encapsulates the feel of cartoons from the 90s onward in a fun and over-the-top Zelda-like experience that carves and slashes its own niche against the minions of darkness.

Shuffle Tactics takes the structure of Slay the Spire and layers in interesting tactical combat in the best way imaginable.

Rockstar ports the underrated L.A. Noire over to The Switch and actually adds some interesting new control dynamics to the old title rather than just tossing on some gimmicks. That’s a good thing.

Kingdom Hearts III is the biggest, boldest, flashiest entry in the saga—one that builds upon the gameplay systems of its forebears in a kaleidoscopic carnival of action RPG jubilance.

Despite its flaws, The Teal Mask DLC, with its fresh setting and intriguing side quests, amplifies the experience of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet—perfect for those seeking a return trip to the vibrant world of Paldea.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink might not reinvent the wheel when it comes to storytelling in a JRPG, but as far as fun multiplayer experiences go, Relink soars to new horizons.

Despite a nonsensical plot and slightly lower emotional stakes, Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is a stunning refinement of the Dragon Engine that's wholly deserving of your time, whether you're a longtime Yakuza fan or new to the franchise.

The constant need to speed up, turn, avoid, or utilize level features at break neck speeds all conspire to make your moves instinctual. It’s possible to get “in the zone,” with this game, where you hit that Zen state where your hands know what to do faster than your brain does.

Hockey is a sport that’s very confined to skating on a set rink with a standard 5 vs 5 player configuration. NHL 22 brings all the different styles the game can be played with superstar abilities tailored to the different hockey niches all gamers can appreciate.

Lords of the Fallen is a solid entry in the Soulslike genre, and deviates from the recipe enough to craft its own identity.

FCB: Firebreak takes the strangeness of the Control universe and applies it to a genuinely fun and challenging co-op shooter.

If you own or take care of a pet – or if you have kids who’d like a pet – do yourself a favor and play Copycat in one sitting. Make sure you have tissues ready.

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

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

Rogue Flight is a well-made, perfectly-priced arcade-style 3D space action shooter that serves as an open love letter to 80’s and 90’s anime/shmup era fans, offering plenty nostalgia, throwback references and many hours of replay value.

Mortal Shell is a small-scope Soulslike that serves as a tight, lean, but short experience.

Once Upon A Katamari is the first true sequel in the long-rolling series since 2023, bringing with it a plethora of levels and multiplayer action to keep fans pleased while being approachable to newcomers alike.

Marvel MAXimum Collection is a retro-videogame compilation of arcade and home classics that can live on the quality of its included X-Men, Avengers and Spider-Man beat-‘em-up titles alone, offering stellar value to both gamers and collectors looking to pick up a digital or physical copy for their game library.

Yakuza Kiwami is the best way to experience Yakuza. With Yakuza 6 on the way, those looking to jump into the series would benefit greatly from picking up Yakuza Kiwami. If you’re a fan of Japanese films or gangster movies in general, the plot of Yakuza is a good enough reason to play this game. I can only hope that Yakuza 2 receives the same treatment in the near future.

Sable borrows a popular and tried and tested approach to open-world game design and gives it a truly unique feel indicative of the works of the French artist Moebius. The lack of combat may turn some off from playing the game—however, for those looking for a casual game where exploration and light puzzle-solving comes first, it's hard not to recommend Sable.

In fact, after my time with DT2, the only obviously glaring fault I can find with it (assuming you don’t mind the grind—this is a JRPG, after all) is that there’s shockingly little information to be had from in-game.

A fantastic spiritual successor to the NES trilogy of games.

I am largely happy with this. I will continue to keep an eye on this—MMORPGS are difficult to gauge early on, but ArenaNet has a good track record, and this remains, in my opinion, the strongest online game on the market.

Cuisineer is a delicious dungeon crawler served with a scrumptious side of restaurant sim that is sure to leave players satisfied.

Out of Sight is a short and sweet adventure that takes players through a pitch black modern fable. The gameplay is simple but engaging, and suitable for horror fans, new and old.

Captain Spirit’s use of a child’s imagination to contextualize a dark, poignant story sets up a strong foundation to build Life is Strange 2 upon.

It's a simple enough concept, but Hidden Through Time 2: Discovery brings puzzles, creativity, humour and challenge to the table in an adorable package.

An overall good game can still be brought down by bad business decisions.

Arcade Paradise VR lets you run your own business while enjoying classic games of the yesteryears, complete with comfort options to alleviate most hassles when playing VR titles for prolonged periods.

If you’re looking for an action-RPG with a substantial story to fill the Diablo void in your life, then Bastion will be right up your alley. It plays well, has a striking aesthetic, and a unique story.

Sonic Frontiers may not be the best game released this year, but it is one of the best 3D Sonic titles released in recent memory and should not be missed by fans of the series.

Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap combines intense action with some minor roguelike elements for a Tower Defence game like no other.

Soul Calibur VI revives a series that may have been lost to time by learning from what worked best and introducing creative and unique mechanics to its already solid gameplay.

My only real complaint with The Old Hunters is the length. Depending on how you play it, you can easily finish the entire thing in under a few hours.

Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark desperately wants to recreate the experience of a tactical RPG and it does so with a few added flourishes.

The Coin Game has some deceptively addictive gameplay, especially for those trying to scratch that arcade itch.

Moonlighter’s loop of combat, exploration, and sales is an engrossing one, with steps taken to keep players invested in every part of the game.

Rainbow Six Extraction is an excellent concept that will delight Rainbow Six fans that are tired of the PvP scene of Siege. The title has a select audience and may isolate newcomers to the series, but with the direct to Game Pass release it is an easy recommendation to subscribers because it works EXTREMELY well.

Nioh 2 takes a solid foundation and improves upon it in nearly every way with more weapons, more skills, and a whole new approach to Guardian Spirits.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a strategy game like no other, complete with that classic Capcom charm, making it an essential experience for longtime fans of the studio.

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.

Earth Defense Force 5 mixes a compelling sense of power and powerlessness, creating chaotic, overwhelming battles filled with laughter and drama that make it hard to put down.

Like most racing games, F1 25 suffers from a lack of repeatable things to do. An exceptional handling model, new Braking Point chapters, and a robust My Team section are enough to level out the apparent lack of additional content.

For fans of the manga, anime series, or of the Dynasty Warriors franchise, this game is an absolute winner.

Despite its confusing introduction and uneven narrative, Wasteland 2 is successful at what it sets out to do. It maintains the spirit of its predecessor without feeling like it’s been designed for pre-existing fans of the genre to enjoy.

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.

Baba is You is a delightful puzzle game filled with absurd solutions and situations, asking players to discard what they think they know about games to solve them.

While it may not be my cup of tea, Borderlands Legendary Collection is a solid collection of games, and an admirable addition to the Switch’s library.

At the end of the game’s update cycle, Street Fighter V: Champion Edition proves to be a fitting conclusion to a rock solid fighting game.

Currently the best multiplayer experience on the Oculus Rift, if only the servers were more populated due to the bungled launch of the Rift. Easily recommendable once more people have headsets if you've got a hankering for space dogfighting.

Ys SEVEN remains a hard-rockin', wall-crushin' paragon of the action RPG genre.

Don’t let What the Bat’s absurd premise stop your baseball bat for hands move through hours of hilarious puzzles - and recapturing simple childhood fun - that hits a home run over the new PSVR 2 console.

F1 Manager 2024 is a very good Formula 1 simulation in every aspect of the management side of things. The sheer number of things you can adjust and change is staggering and perfect for the F1 connoisseur to tackle.

Deserts of Kharak boasts an unprecedented beauty in its setting and world design, and its hand drawn-style cutscenes only add to that.

BioShock: The Collection pushes the Nintendo Switch to its limits and offers the best looking games on the system to date without taking away its hallmark FPS experience for players.

While it can feel a little linear at times, there is something magical about the start to any Pokémon adventure, and that’s what makes Pokémon Sun so great.

Keylocker is a testament to smart Indie JRPG design, and is an easy recommendation for any fans of the genre.

Fallout 4 is a bit of a mixed bag. While it’s certainly enjoyable and I highly recommend it, I’m not sure if this is the revolutionary Fallout title that we’ve all been waiting for. It really feels less like Fallout 4 and more like Fallout 3.75. Longtime fans will definitely find a game they love here, without question (I do too), and newcomers will find a game that’s a little easier to approach and equally enjoyable to get into.

RetroRealms Arcade is a great double feature of platformers that is an easy recommendation to horror fans, platforming fans, and is a must play for both.

While I think TRON: Catalyst leaves a little to be desired, it's still an excellent action adventure and brings the TRON world to life in a way few games have.

Elite: Dangerous isn’t a terrible game, but I don’t think it was made for mass appeal.

RetroRealms Arcade is a great double feature of platformers that is an easy recommendation to horror fans, platforming fans, and is a must play for both.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is, for better or worse, a lean green fighting machine. A quintessentially retro presentation makes up for some shortcomings, and adults who grew up on the franchise will love the nostalgia trip.

I Hate Running Backwards is a much needed and refreshing tribute to the classic arcade shoot ‘em up, that, in spite of a few odd difficulty spikes, is highly addictive and absolutely worth the time spent—and at times lost—to it.

Blade Strangers is accessible to players of any skill thanks to simplified combat, but still leaves room for the more competitive players to shine.

Remnant II: The Forgotten Kingdom is a solid entry into the Remnant franchise with fresh and unique ways to play thanks to the Invoker archetype and a host of new weapons, time and mods. Priced at USD $9.99, it’s worth picking up if you are a fan of the franchise.

Life is Strange 2 sets up a very different story that cares a lot of the original game’s strengths with it, and leaves some of its weaker points behind.

Coromon is a must play for Pokémon fans, and although it has flaws, fans who normally steer clear of like minded games might find reprieve here, especially for its good price and portability due to the Switch port.