Angry Video Game Nerd 8-Bit is both a charming love letter to the AVGN series and a challenging retro sidescroller that is immensely fun.

Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake completes the Erdrick trilogy, bringing with it the definitive way to experience the birth of JRPGs.

Frostpunk is a brutal city-builder that shines thanks to difficult choices, an original world and engaging gameplay.

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.

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

The Super Bomberman Collection is a genuine celebration of the SNES era of Bomberman games. Five amazing games, tons of goodies, what more could you want?

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.

Despite being relatively light in narrative, that shouldn’t stop anyone from playing this. The focus is clearly on combat and exploration, both of which are excellent examples of great design and execution.

A fantastic spiritual successor to the NES trilogy of games.

Although not perfect, DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake modernizes the decades-old classic while setting the stage for the sequel, ultimately making it an essential game for JRPG enthusiasts and DQ die-hards alike.

Final Fantasy XVI Complete Edition is easily the definitive way to experience Square's latest epic for those who can push the game to its limits on PC.

As the most content-rich Project DIVA game yet, Future Tone has a bizarre charm that should appeal even to the most vocaloid-averse rhythm game fans.

As the most content-rich Project DIVA game yet, Future Tone has a bizarre charm that should appeal even to the most vocaloid-averse rhythm game fans.

Cat Quest 3 is a paw-some laid back adventure that could be enjoyed by anyone, especially if a friend is available to join in.

The initial release of LEGO Bricktales was a novel idea that successfully translated the childhood favourite of many to a digital platform while stumbling due to its reliance on conventional controls. LEGO Bricktales‘ Quests’ debut fixes this and delivers a truly mesmerizing experience that not only has that cool factor from playing it in augmented reality but is, by and large, the definitive version of an already fun-to-play game.

There has never been a better time for System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster to grace consoles once again, and it’s a must try for fans of Sci-Fi.

This is easily the best game on the Wii U. Monolith Software is probably the best developer Nintendo has under their umbrella at the moment, and Xenoblade Chronicles X is without a doubt their crowning achievement.

SOMA is one of those once-in-a-generation experiences that so wildly defies both expectation and assumptions that I can say with confidence that it will forever impact how we define video games.

Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster revitalizes a cult classic JRPG, and plants the genre's flag firmly on the Switch 2's soil.

Despite some strange balancing issues, Lies of P: Overture offers a plethora of incredible content to an already incredible game.

Nioh slips onto the PC and is as great as it was on the PS4, with DLC and some minor control issues.

Icey is a fun action packed little indie game that isn’t afraid to get weird.

Age of Empires 2: The Definitive Edition is an excellent version of a game that refined a genre two decades ago, but it doesn’t offer much to entice new players from their modern conveniences.

Thimbleweed Park is an excellent experience made by masters of their craft. Every speck of it drips with quality and care.

Hitman 2 is possibly the best version of this darkly comic murder simulator we’ve seen in quite some time.

For better and for worse, Thank Goodness You’re Here! is unlike anything I’ve played recently: a short and mechanically lacking “slapformer” which makes up for its imperfections thanks to a bevy of hilarious jokes and zany artistic sensibilities. The final result is a game that is both more than the sum of its parts and a loving tribute to the archetypal northern English industrial town.

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.

The Drifter is an excellent adventure game with a fantastic story, excellent sound, and lovely pixel art, though sadly it drags a bit here and there.

Sayonara Wild Hearts’ is gorgeous and packs an incredible pop soundtrack, but the actual levels the music accompanies never feels as natural as its audiovisual splendor.

These are stories worth telling, and if you've somehow avoided all of the spoilers so far, taking a journey through Rapture and Columbia is a great way to spend a rainy weekend. But if you already own them, you don't need to double-dip outside of a deep sale and thus, a chance to venture into Minerva's Den.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is an impressive port on Nintendo Switch 2—maintaining the fun and excitement of the films, and the impressive qualities of its console brethren.

Each level feels like a real place, inhabited by real people with their own goals and routines.

SpeedRunners is a perfect party game, with a deep competitive scene.

The Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Series triumphantly arrives on consoles as the ideal way to revisit a 35-year old franchise's origins—carefully balancing legacy with modern convenience.

Super Mario RPG is as good today as it was 27 years ago, and this remake simply brings it into the modern day.

While Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse feels a little too similar at times, it’s one of the tightest JRPGs on the 3DS.

Almost a decade later, Super Meat Boy still offers an excellent difficulty curve, sharp level design, and heartless, brutal platforming.

There’s no denying the quality of FFX, as it’s often hailed by some as the last “good” JRPG Square Enix has made in the last 15 years, but there’s already a much cheaper, slightly blurrier version of this compilation out there on the PS3.

Ravenswatch blends remarkable gameplay with an incredible sense of style to make one of the most unique Roguelikes you’ll ever play.

Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection is a triumphant return for the series that brings back the best the series has to offer.

Just Shapes & Beats’ excellent soundtrack spawns intricate levels in a stylish aesthetic that is sure to challenge even the most dedicated players.

VA-11 HALL-A demonstrates its ability to create a unique world filled with diverse characters without even setting foot outside of a rundown dive bar.

Two Point Hospital manages that fine balance of nostalgia and new idea while making for a brilliant and fun management sim.

Fortnite brings a lot to the table with season 5, and while it is certainly worth your time and money, I just wish it could be a tad bit smoother before calling it “perfect”.

Shiren the Wanderer may have pioneered the roguelike genre, but this latest entry sure hasn’t advanced it in any positive way.

Not quite a tech demo but not quite a full adventure, Superhot VR is one of the best virtual reality games you can buy right now.

Botany Manor is like spending a Fall afternoon with a hot cup of tea and a good puzzle—relaxing, challenging and beautiful to look at.

I came into PES 2018 ready to be won over, and converted into a PES fan. Unfortunately, I came away being disappointed.

Grim Dawn is one of the easiest ARPGs to recommend in recent years.

Fear the Spotlight delivers an incredibly impactful and unsettling story that will linger in my memory long after the credits roll.

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is everything that was great about Igarashi’s Metroidvania titles all rolled into one, and feels like it will be as timeless a game as Symphony of the Night.

Ghost of Tsushima is an excellent homage to classic samurai films and a darn good game to boot. It is truly a master class in presentation and has fun, engaging gameplay throughout.

Tales of Vesperia continues to hold its spot as one of the best entries in the franchise, and was definitely an epic tale worth retelling for a new generation.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is the best entry in the series in recent history. With its impactful campaign, tense zombie mode, and highly addictive multiplayer. It's easy for me to see why Call of Duty is the king of multiplayer gaming.

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.

Laika: Aged Through Blood is a fairly remarkable game, even if it got on my nerves something fierce due to its predilection for unnecessary mechanics.

Guacamelee 2 is a gorgeous, fun game with a sense of humor that makes me want to cry.

Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster is a nigh-definitive rebuild of an essential entry in the series, revitalized with a new presentation and only lacking the bonus endgame content of other ports.

Nobody Saves the World is a unique and charming action RPG, but it’s held back by some frustrating decisions and a disappointing beginning and end.

Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire is a great expansion for an MMORPG that’s now five-years-old. For anyone like myself who missed out on the game during its original release, I’d recommend trying it out now. You won’t get as much out of the story as long-time fans or people who have done their homework but you’ll still be able to enjoy the game’s great visuals and huge amount of content, which now makes it even greater than before.

Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled breaks casual expectations, delivering a much needed jolt of speed and a high skill ceiling to reinvigorate my love for the genre.

Blasphemous 2 is another excellent Metroidvania that’s quite different from its predecessor in a number of ways, even if it doesn’t quite manage to supersede it overall.

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.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is a great multiplayer first-person shooter. Each of the three multiplayer modes plays in a number of unique diverse ways, but each maintains that core identity of a Call of Duty title.

Splatoon 3 is as polished and fun as its predecessors, but little else.

The hardcore difficulty and lack of menus will be enough to turn some players off, but for those that stick it out, you’re in for a Hell of a good time.

Battlefield 6 is a fantastic follow-up to its divisive predecessor, and gets a lot of things right, while leaving room for improvement.

Call of Duty Modern Warfare Remastered’s campaign might feel outdated by today’s standards, but its multiplayer remains as addictive and fun as ever.

Ring Fit Adventure is one of the best attempts yet to blend fitness with gaming, even if gaming sometimes grabs the reins.

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.

Project CARS is a game that punishes every mistake you make, which makes successes and victories infinitely more rewarding.

Curse of the Vampire Counts is a welcome excuse to jump back into Total War: Warhammer II, as Creative Assembly continues to impress with their newest faction.

Anyone looking for a game that offers an almost endless amount of replayability should definitely check out Duck Game, especially those who have a couple of friends to play with.

I never got hooked on Minecraft because I never felt any real satisfaction from building a new mansion or creating a town with friends. Dragon Quest Builders delivered that feeling to me by making me care for villagers and setting me on some great RPG-like quests. It is easily my preferred title in the crafting game genre.

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.

Stray is a game oozing with charm and can be considered a must-play for cat lovers looking for something new to pounce on and sink their teeth into.

Yakuza 6 has so much to offer and every moment of it is a joy, even if you can’t always read what they’re saying.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land's Switch 2 Edition is the best paid upgrade yet, and a worthy addition to one of the Switch's finest platformers.

For every step in the right direction, NBA2K19’s price tag keeps it from being a truly outstanding installment in the 2K series.

Through a combination of an overwhelming amount of content with solid gameplay, WWE 2K24 continues the franchise’s dominance as the Big Dog of wrestling video games.

Age of Mythology: Retold is a masterful blend of nostalgia and innovation that fans and newcomers will both cherish.

Robobeat is a solid rhythm-based shooter with an amazing soundtrack made even better by its built-in audio studio for players to use their own music in the game.

Octopath Traveler is a sublime mélange of classic role-playing sensibilities and modern conveniences that speaks to this RPG aficionado's soul.

Triangle Strategy feels like: “Oops, All Exposition,” and while I did find myself enjoying it at times, I found myself glazing over far too often. It’s clearly got a big story to tell, but at the expense of all the other gameplay, and it ends up feeling more like a visual novel with some combat encounters, so it can technically be called a game. I’ve no doubt people will find something to enjoy here, but speaking for myself—as someone who genuinely likes turn-based strategy games—I’ve had to really push myself to enjoy it, and I don’t know how many people will.

Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse is just as intoxicating and surprising as its predecessor, but has an integrally different tone and flavor to its surprisingly heartfelt love story. It’s a new classic for the visual novel genre.

30 Birds is a wildly imaginative odyssey that’s as creative as it is beautiful.

Despite its occasional bug, unexplained mechanic, or small gripe, Starfield is one of the premiere titles in Xbox's library and adds to Bethesda's storied history.

By daring to make a statement, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided succeeds in being a nuanced, mature gaming experience that pushes the medium forward in major ways.

Lisa: Definitive Edition is an amazing RPG, that melds the cute and oddness of Earthbound but interjects incredible mature themes. It may even be too dark for some.

With some worthwhile additions and a smoother gameplay experience, MLB The Show 25 hits a homerun and sets the tone for the series going forward.

When Jusant works as intended, it’s a calming, peaceful experience that’s occasionally let down by some somewhat underwhelming functionality.

Dredge remains an incredibly playable and captivating game in a uniquely eerie package and while The Pale Reach DLC is a decent enough addition, it doesn’t offer enough to justify being paid content.

Gris is a game about loss wrapped up in one, truly stunning package that should be experienced by everyone.

It is a quality experience through and through with some excellent writing and inventive design that I can’t say I’ve ever seen implemented so well in a game before. It dares to be different and does so with style. I loved every minute of it.

Helldivers is hands down one of my favorite multiplayer experiences of this year.

V Rising redefines the survival genre with its enthralling vampiric twist and rich, gothic landscapes, proving that being a vampire has never been more captivating.

The game doesn’t judge you for the type of warden you choose to be.

Deceptively simple and undoubtedly original, Ape Out’s fast and frantic jazz infused gameplay never loses sight of what videogames are really all about: having fun.