Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar is not only a stellar remake of its DS counterpart, it may be the best entry in the series to date.

Moomintroll: Winter's Warmth is a short and sweet game that is beautiful to look at and play. The journey through Moominvalley and the characters you meet make the entire experience worth it.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2's sluggish combat and adherence to low-brow, leery anime writing detracts from the joy to be found in exploring its magnificent world.

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

Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is an incredible strategy title for the Nintendo Switch. While the gameplay can be monotonous at times, changing up how you play can easily absolve those issues.

The Switch release of Dark Souls: Remastered is sublime, offering a daunting, rewarding experience that you can carry anywhere with no losses. That you can play it in such an intimate way only enhances its themes and its best points, becoming, to me, the definitive way to experience Dark Souls.

It’s a fairly significant time investment and, while it doesn’t do anything new with the patented Horizon formula, The Frozen Wilds is jam-packed with side quests, ravenous machines to hunt, and an interesting story. The new enemies are interesting to fight and the new region is a joy to explore.

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

Short, sweet and smart, The Last Clockwinder is a VR puzzler which creatively uses cloning to help players automate machines in a magical fantasy worth jumping into with the PSVR.

Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 is a bloody good time and a must play for Warhammer 40K fans or third person shooting games in general.

Though its roster isn’t as cohesive as past Warhammer factions, Total War: Warhammer III - Forge of the Chaos Dwarfs is a welcome addition to the franchise, thanks to its excellent campaign mechanics.

The Messenger’s intricate platforming and charming world make for a surprising journey that must be played.

While I was skeptical at first, World of Warships has made the transition to consoles better than I thought possible, and is a blast to play.

Personally, I see myself revisiting this game down the line just to replay and enjoy it because it is that good. Seriously, I think this may be my new favourite horror game, beating out the classic Silent Hill 2. If you buy one horror game this year, make it Little Nightmares. You won’t regret it.

Hypnospace Outlaw’s 90’s tinted internet exploration is spot on, but may be too specific for players who were not around to experience that particular time.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus is an adventure that is charming, surprising, and above all else, wonderful to play.

Gorogoa is a beautiful albeit short puzzle game worth experiencing even if you aren't a brilliant puzzle solver.

Look Outside is genuinely one of the scariest games I’ve played since P.T., and that’s an incredibly high bar to clear.

Basically, Animal Crossing: New Horizons 3.0 is all about decorating and designing, and that really is the core of the franchise. If this is something you love, then the update is for you.

Mortal Kombat 1 is an excellent entry point for new comers and returning fans. It outshines every previous Mortal Kombat in almost every way, with intuitive controls and interesting modes. NetherRealm cranks the gore up to 11 and I cant wait to see what else they have in store for us.

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined rectifies one of the slower entries into the long-running series with a next-gen coat of paint and pacing to match the sensibilities of contemporary JRPG enthusiasts.

KuloNiku: Bowl Up! contains many emotions, but is always an enchanting sight to watch and take in everything.

Cairn is something truly special. A game that makes you climb in isolation, giving you and Aava time for quiet contemplation, enough so that you feel the embodiment of the character and can’t help but face her struggles like they were your own. With an outstanding gameplay loop and so much freedom to climb where and how you like, Cairn is incredible.

The Plucky Squire is a phenomenal game from a debut studio and is an absolute must-play.

Bioware’s first RPG foray into gaming stole the hearts of myself, and I’m sure others has not aged well, and has a lot of difficulties to overcome.

Grounded is a solid title that has massive scope and a grand adventure for anyone seeking it, with its inclusion on Xbox Game Pass everyone who subscribes to the service should give this one a try.

Yoku's Island Express is the perfect combination of pinball mechanics meets metroidvania, and is not only my favorite indie game so far this year, but my favorite pinball game of all time.

Rhythm Heaven Megamix is a bright, colourful collection of zany rhythm-based minigames for the 3DS that is easily recommendable to fans of the genre and newcomers to the series.

I had recommended Disgaea 6 to anyone who enjoyed the series, but now I can endorse Disgaea 7 with more genuine optimism to broader audiences. It’s not going to win over anyone who dislikes kooky games with anime-inspired visuals, but its renewed blend of parody and pathos could be refreshing for genre veterans who have never dipped a toe into the series’ waters before.

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.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is Ubisoft’s latest entry into the franchise, and despite having little connection to its predecessors, remains a solid Action-RPG.

Forza Motorsport is another fantastic racing experience from developer Turn 10, with a ton of content and plenty of great driving as long as players don’t mind grinding or waiting around at times.

Beyond Sol is one of those rare games that smooshes genres together that don’t usually get along, with an end result that is incredibly rewarding.

Slayaway Camp checks all the boxes and will slash its way into your heart.

Gunheart is an over-the-top arcade shooter that plays excellently in both 2D and VR modes, thanks to the inclusion of some tight and fluid controls.

Moss Book II by Polyarc draws too much on familiar tropes to stand out, but further showcases some of VR's most creative levels masked with an immersive fantasy adventure Quest 2 players don't want to miss out on.

Though I could use a bit more hand-holding, with endless options for style and gameplay, House Flipper 2 stands to be one of the best building sims I’ve tried. If some of the controller and grid issues are addressed on Xbox, it will be something truly remarkable.

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

Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria for Xbox is a great addition offering new players to Free Range Game’s continually improving survival title.

Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero is a near-perfect representation of the legendary Shounen series, which comes with its own set of pros and cons but ultimately is a must-play for fans.

Lynked: Banner of the Spark balances excellent dungeon crawling with solid town-building mechanics for a really satisfying experience.

OFF isn’t for everyone, but it’s a must play if you’re not everyone, and fans of Undertale must try this game.

Despite some bugs and network limitations, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition undeniably succeeds in becoming the new definitive version of this game.

A long-deserved remaster of two very classic games, but there’s still some bugs to work out.

Helldivers 2 is a testament to the power of teamwork and tactical gameplay, wrapped in a satirical package that's hard to put down.

After several of the tournament-style sessions, I never once cared if I won or lost, as it was just so bloody fun.

It Takes Two joins the Switch's growing library of excellent ports and offers players a version of the game that holds up on its own, considering the hardware limitations.

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.

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.

It’s a rare example of a big-budget game looking to make a statement. Even more rare, it succeeds by starting with a central thesis and communicating ideas through player action. That it also manages to be a rip-roaring good time is almost irrelevant. You can patch a framerate, but you can’t patch a story or gameplay, and on those fronts Watch Dogs 2 is nigh unimpeachable.

Atelier Ryza 3 doesn’t fix what’s most broken but compensates by presenting a vast world to explore. Newcomers and veterans alike will find a mountain of content to enjoy.

FIFA 16 doesn’t introduce a whole lot of interesting new changes, but it’s still an exceptional soccer simulator.

This is still a Ryu Ga Gotoku production, meaning there’s an over-the-top and at times absurd line that weaves it way throughout the entire game. In short, Lost Judgment is a damn good time.

If you’re a fan of Fire Emblem, Oregon Trail or any of the Telltale games, then you’ll find something to enjoy with The Banner Saga 2.

Dropmix is fun and engaging, with the potential to grow into something that could revolutionize the music game genre.

PowerWash Simulator 2 is a sequel that tweaks or improves nearly every issue from the original game and provides another zen-like simulation experience that might just make your mind wander.

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.

It’s the most innovative shooter I’ve played in years.

As with any remaster, the value of the Handsome Collection comes down to your relationship with this series. There’s no question of the quality of these games, just your own sense of (over) familiarity with them.

If you find this game’s story distasteful, especially considering the modern American political climate of misused government overreach, I really can’t blame you. Everything is political, it’s just that many don’t realize that things like the status quo or basic power fantasies fall into that category whether they like it or not.

EA Sports College Football 26 is like being in the stands among the fans of your favourite team, living the traditions and experiencing the explosive gameplay as if you were actually there.

CrossCode is an excellent ARPG that’s definitely worth rediscovering again.

It really is the F1 themed racing game that The Codemasters should have made all along.

Tales of Arise is not so much an evolution of the Tales series as it is an awkward game that backs up decent combat with a bland, uninspired story and characters.

FAR: Changing Tides is a game that needs to be experienced to be fully appreciated. Filled with wonder, challenge and discovery, this is a game that rewards attention while keeping the gameplay fun and peaceful. If you are a fan of indie games that try and push the bar on what is possible, you owe yourself a service to give FAR: Changing Tides a shot.

It’s originality and charm make it stand out from the rest of the XBLA marketplace’s indie titles.

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is essentially a spiritual successor to Donkey Kong Country that ends with a difficult Super Mario Maker-like dungeon. It friggin’ rocks.

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.

Its “campaign” has some pacing issues, but it is pretty amazing what the community has been able to come up with. I feel that N++ is a game that everyone will be able to have some fun with. How much fun, and for how long, will depend on the person.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 stumbles in its narrative, but great characters, a unique aesthetic, and an engaging combat system make for the best game in the franchise since the original.

Desperadoes III is a highly-addictive and engaging real-time tactics game that offers endlessly satisfying experimentation and replay value.

F1 23 is a fantastic entry to the perennial Formula 1 experience. Driving is polished on both wheel and controller, and the visual experience is second to none.

The Ringed City is a fantastically punishing finale for the Dark Souls saga, but is held back by linear level design and an underwhelming story.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 lives up to the original games and the previous remaster, but doesn't nail the landing quite as well.

Achilles: Survivor is a welcome addition to the Roguelike Bullet Hell genre and provides a unique and exciting experience for players.

A brilliantly realized, brutal and bloody Metroidvania that is the next best thing to reading up on Catholic Martyrs while you whip yourself with a barbed cat-o-nine-tails.

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.

World of Warcraft: Midnight is an excellent follow-up to The War Within and refines all that makes WOW great, providing some of the best MMO gaming I’ve had in a long time.

A Knight to Remember manages to capture the spirit of its predecessors without ever feeling like an empty exercise in nostalgia.

I just can’t stop playing Super Mario 3D All-Stars. The joy of movement, the sharp controls, and the endlessly imaginative worlds keep bringing me back, even after all these years.

Galak-Z is a visual delight that will constantly punish you with its complex systems.

10 Second Ninja X never truly reaches its pinnacle in the game-play department by a charming cast of characters and a surprising story push the game across the finish line.

Curse of the Moon is a nostalgic trip back to the era of classic Castlevania games, warts and all.

Beautifully hand-drawn artwork coupled with turn-based strategy and meaningful decisions.

A Plague Tale: Requiem finishes the brutal and often forlorn story of the De Rune children in a sequel that feels imperative to fans of the original but adds little to those not convinced by Asobo Studio's first entry into the series.

Death Stranding’s attention to the real may make it difficult to enjoy, but it is undeniably an experience that will both scourge and soothe the heart.

Magical Delicacy is a game that requires patience, but once you find that, the story, art, and overall vibe are more than worth its price tag.

Resident Evil 4 remains in a league of its own, but this port dampens the enjoyment with an unwelcome jump in resolution and some odd control issues.

Mortal Kombat 11 isn’t just a fantastic entry into this long running franchise, it’s a stunning example of how much value and content developers can pack into the fighting game genre.

Spyro Reignited Trilogy is a solid remaster for those looking to play as gaming’s most famous purple dragons.

PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo had an immersive mystery story, along with utilizing 2D visual novel features that amplified its overall quality.

Armored Core VI delivers superlative visuals and uncompromising challenge that will delight hardcore fans but risks alienating newcomers with its steep learning curve.

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.

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

While it’s nice to see Battle Royale games on mobile, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds doesn’t translate well to a mobile experience due to its poor touch controls and lack of optimization.

Final Fantasy V Pixel Remaster gives one of the franchises’ underdogs a substantial glow-up, in many ways realizing its potential in ways the original hardware or previous ports never could. Series fans should not miss the opportunity to experience it here, if they’ve never played it before.

Super Mario Party Jamboree takes the best parts of its predecessor and combines it with the best parts of the classics for an unforgettable Mario Party experience.

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