If Super Metroid had pretty great procedurally-generated levels and roguelike elements, it would basically be A Robot Named Fight!

I enjoyed playing Senran Kagura Peach Beach Splash but I wouldn’t recommend it over any of the more traditional entries in the series. The game does well as a first attempt at a new genre but it takes away too much of what makes each of the characters unique in anyway aside from voiced lines. The forced grinding can also be a drag for a lot of people, especially if you’re hoping to stand a chance online. Despite this, its quick paced gameplay is fun in short bursts and if you’re familiar with the characters, Senran Kagura: Peach Beach Splash is essentially an excuse to literally see more of them.

Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite is an ugly but otherwise enjoyable fighting game with recognizable characters, a ton of cutscenes, and is approachable for newcomers.

Absolver is a game that rewards players with a unique Kung-Fu fighter to master.

Whether quietly or in a shower of blood, Death of the Outsider offers a satisfying romp through a complex, living, deep world.

Danganronpa V3 unravels the series' tightly wound coil of bloody intrigue in spectacular fashion.

Not only is it a great game to be able to sink a few rounds of practice into while commuting or during a lunch break, as an adult with a job, a big part of the problem I had with the original was getting people to actually play it couch-multiplayer style.

Pillars of the Earth is a great game for anyone who likes the slow process of constructing a cathedral—for anyone else, you might get bored.

Tokyo Dark offers a powerful player experience, having them solve the crime on their own terms, whatever those may be, and deal with the consequences in immediate, unsettling ways.

The overall product is great, and while it might be reductive it is also accurate to call this game more Destiny. The majority of changes are positive, and they are built on a solid foundation of gameplay. When people look back on this franchise in the coming years I have a feeling that Destiny 2 will be seen as a turning point.

It is an amazing game, a definite reaffirmation that the series hasn’t forgotten its roots, and is a must own for both fans and newcomers alike.

The Escapists 2 is a perfect sequel for fans of the first game but may overwhelm those new to the series.

Darkside Detective is a quirky, sometimes overly so, adventure game with simple but enjoyable puzzles that's over before you know it.

Starcraft retains its seat in the high pantheon of genre defining games.

Climax Games brings the extreme sports genre to the water with a beautiful, enjoyable, rage inducing game, Surf World Series. Grab your boards, sunscreen and curse the waves.

Songbringer is a randomly generated top-down Zelda-like that has a surprisingly cohesive story and may be worth a play if you can snag it on sale.

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

Interesting friendships between varied characters from multiple games, a fun combat system with some welcome additions, and that same soldier stomping fun make Warriors All Stars a solid Musou game.

Knack 2 isn't the game of the year we have been waiting for, instead it's just more Knack. Who asked for this?

If you’re looking to unlock your inner D&D dance machine, look no further than The Metronomicon: Slay the Dance Floor. If you’re feeling really ambitious, you can whip out your old DDR dance mats or Rockband 4 guitars. You know, really get immersed in the whole party style. Just be prepared for some humbling gameplay and to come away singing the songs for days on end.

Before the Storm addresses old problems through an old story, and it makes a compelling case to reconsider its divisive protagonist.

More Than a Feeling drags as it attempts to salvage some characters, but can’t overcome some of Guardians of the Galaxy’s lack of clarity and visual flair.

Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle is a gorgeous adventure and an engrossing tactical romp that offers a solid challenge and some unique combat quirks that will please tactical fans. Add in the ridiculous antics from the Rabbids and some wonderful creativity in the environments in the music and Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle is a strategy game players dare not miss.

Finally! A football game that literally anyone could play, but that does not mean everyone will enjoy it.

Ark: Survival Evolved is a half-baked game that still isn’t worth full price.

A fun procedurally generated rpg adventure with a punishing difficulty that will require multiple playthroughs.

White Day: A Labyrinth Named School offers some chilling ghostly encounters, provides seemingly endless terrors and new ways to be frightened.

Castle Story is a fun game but it does nothing revolutionary for the genre. Wait for a sale to grab it.

Observer takes place and memories and turns them into frightening things, dragging the player into realms of terrifying visions that stir up a nameless fear.

Tokyo Xanadu is a surprisingly generic Persona wannabe from a developer that I know can do far, far better.

A moving and earnest independent adventure game. My favorite thing I’ve played all year.

A hit or miss story with a solid battle system, a cute art style, and some interesting ideas.

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.

Batman returns in a plotline that finally includes the traditional Joker and a few other fan favourites.

Uncharted Lost Legacy is a stunningly beautiful and entertaining return to form for the franchise.

Original Journey is a game that is perfect to pick up and play for small bits at a time even with the shortcomings it has.

Hellblade’s mundane mechanics help underscore a powerful story of overcoming your demons, if you’re willing to subject yourself to the honest portrayal of mental illness it presents.

Matterfall is a fluid, frenetic, explosively colourful arcade shooter sure to satisfy both casual players and high-score chasers.

You would expect the team behind Saints Row to make something with more verve and fewer grey hallways, but here we are with Agents of Mayhem.

Lawbreakers is Cliff Bleszinski's new hardcore competitive shooter that doesn't do enough to stand out from the competition and has a steep learning curve.

While Sonic Mania hasn’t taken the place of my favourite Sonic game, it’s definitely a top contender. If there ever is a follow-up, I hope to see it introduce even more original elements with slightly better level design but as it stands, Sonic Mania is one of Sonic’s best games to date.

If you liked Nidhogg, Nidhogg 2 is more of the same—which is probably enough for most people. A few new weapons, a shallow character creator, cool stage backgrounds and online play are the biggest changes you’re paying for here. I just wish there were more substantial editions aside from those.

I absolutely loved Slime Rancher, from the colourful start to the bittersweet ending that literally had me sobbing—something that is quite hard for video games to achieve.

Gigantic is an imperfect game in a genre dominated by Overwatch, but this isn't a bad place to start if you are interested in the idea of a hero shooter. Plus you can play for free.

This collection is without a doubt the best way to play any of these four games legally without spending too much money.

Overcooked remains a fantastic game that is sure to deliver one heck of a good time, or at the very least help you drop a few of those “friends” you’ve been looking to cut out of your life. It’s a solid game that is only made better thanks to the Nintendo Switch’s unique design and is a must-have in the system’s growing library of portable party games.

A pretty solid first outing for a small studio. I love the original take on a classic formula as far as setting goes (despite all my characters looking like total dorks), and it’s refreshing to see. However, the linear gameplay, chaotic combat, and lack of items and sidequests really holds it back from being a huge success.

A diverse narrative-driven space adventure for people wanting actual emotions and relationships in their games; that is Tacoma.

There will be a lot of people who will consider Accel World vs. Sword Art Online to be a good game, and as one of them, I am the most surprised by that.

Mighty Gunvolt Burst is a great throwback and homage to the classic run and gun platformers that the original Nintendo was known for.

A high price point and some subjective duds make Namco Museum a stretch in terms of outright value, but the influence these games had on the industry makes them worth at least a cursory glance in the rearview mirror.

Alwa's Awakening takes its players to pretty pixelated places filled with NES challenge, but mars the whole experience with a clumsy magic system that makes the game's difficult platforming segments needlessly frustrating.

While it isn’t the worst, I wouldn’t suggest that anyone plays Fate/Extella unless they’re starving for more time with the Fate universe.

WipEout Omega Collection is a fantastic update that runs as smooth as a supersonic hovercraft.

Skydance Interactive brings the experience of controlling a mech warrior to players with Archangel,an enjoyable yet uninspired virtual reality title.

Miitopia brings fun ideas to the RPG genre but overstays its welcome.

An unforgettable world, an indefatigable enemy, a somewhat meaningless protagonist, a really good time.

Hey! Pikmin forces the series into something it’s not, resulting in a barebones platformer with Pikmin on the cover.

Dream Daddy is more of a dad sim than a dating sim, as its romance feels artificial on most occasions.

Pyre’s battle system is excellent and delivers upon thrilling competitive play, but whether it has any future in that space could rest on whether it gets online play.

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

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

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

Final Fantasy XII was outdone by the competition when it came out eleven years ago, and The Zodiac Age changes absolutely nothing in that regard. An overpriced and undercooked re-release of a game better left forgotten.

Splatoon 2 delivers everything that made the original great and tosses in a few improvements for good measure. The Switch library just keeps getting better.

Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception tells two different stories—one serious, one sexy—that are so at odds with one another that it loses itself in the process.

Plague Road’s visuals may tell an intriguing story, but the rest of the game has very little to say.

A re-inventive MOBA that isn't perfect, especially with its free-to-play scheme, but still rises above the pack.

A charming board game-esque strategy game that doesn't go quite as far as it should have.

One of the oddest VR experiences on the market that blends platforming with bouncy castle aesthetics.

A decent action game, but one weighed down by its terrible plot, crummy characters, and off-putting attempts to be racy.

I’m sure these games are great for anyone who grew up with them, but I honestly don’t get why.

An artistic platformer of sorts that's best played in a relaxed state.

While Secret World Legends will continue to stand as a testament to the power of storycraft and world-building in MMOs, I fear it will also continue to remain a niche game.

Mages of Mystralia mixes clever spellcasting and magical customization in a fun fantasy realm that players won’t want to leave.

Diablo III: Rise of the Necromancer boils down to a pack that is tailored for people who love the series already. The character feels well thought out, visually striking, as well as being fun.

Stormblood helps Final Fantasy XIV soar to new heights in storytelling, visuals, and gameplay, inching one of the best MMORPGs ever created even closer to perfection.

Harvest Moon: Lil’ Farmers is a good first step for Natsume as they broaden the range of their Harvest Moon brand towards younger children and could benefit from an expanded sequel.

Superdimension Neptune VS Sega Hard Girls is a serviceable port of an already somewhat dated and niche title.

Just because Dead by Daylight: Special Edition game is light on mechanics does not mean it is light on fun.

“Under Pressure” redeems one character, but raises questions about whether some of the series’ problems are too well ingrained to be fixed in further episodes.

Valkyria Revolution's story falters while its different, action-oriented combat shines brightly.

Danganronpa Another Episode Ultra Despair Girls is still a profound story with improved mechanics on PS4, but its standing in the series’ narrative has shifted for the worst since it originally launched.

In the torrid desert of the AAA industry, Ever Oasis stands out as the rejuvenating refuge so desperately needed.

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

A reductionist shooter that maintains the over-the-top spirit of Serious Sam, for the most part.

Despite its obvious presentation issues, Victor Vran: Overkill Edition is good fun.

Endless Space 2 is one of the strongest 4X games in recent memory, even if it's not the deepest.

Nintendo delivers a new twist on Punch Out for The Switch and it already feels like the foundation of a new franchise.

Farming Simulator 18 actually improves on its console predecessors by cutting the fat.

Ironically, the only thing holding this game back is a lack of evolution.

A fun experience. It didn’t quite recapture the old feel of Morrowind, nor did I expect it to. Nostalgic imaginings never quite get it right, relying on the hype of previous entries. It was, however, a good-faith effort with a strong focus.

Star Trek: Bridge Crew is a fantasy come to life for Star Trek fans.

For all its talk of destruction and carnage, Danger Zone plays it pretty safe.

A neat mechanic that gets old quickly in this otherwise forgettable twin stick shooter.

Tekken 7 has the barebones basics for a good fighter, but it’s missing the trimmings that make it worth recommending over bigger, and cheaper competition.

An isometric shooter with a ton of style, and a lack of complexity that works in its favour.

Nier: Automata – 3C3C1D119440927 is a short but sweet addition to what is arguably the year’s finest game, and definitely something fans and newcomers alike will enjoy.