Sword Art Online: Lost Song has plenty of great ideas, but it definitely doesn’t do enough to make them work in a 20-hour game. A better effort is needed next time.

Starwhal is meant to be enjoyed on the couch with three of your friends, with only one shared screen to worry about, simple controls that are easy to pick up, and fast, frenetic gameplay that can be enjoyed over and over.

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.

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.

Earth Defense Force 4.1 is the videogame equivalent of a ‘so-bad-it’s-good’ B-movie.

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

If you’re hankering for a million ways to die in the west, I’d say this is worth a look.

The real marvel of Mayan Death Robots is that it’s the first game of its type that I don’t feel is an incomplete experience if you don’t have friends to play it with.

At the reasonable price of $29.99 CAD, Beyond is well worth picking up even with all the other triple-A fare competing for your attention and dollars this holiday.

Bursting through a wall with guns blazing has never been this fun. If only there were more unlockable content to work towards than what is included.

Final Cut is definitely an improvement upon the Van Helsing trilogy, without a doubt.

Just Cause 3 is a joy to play and is easily a candidate for game of the year.

I honestly don’t see where all the hate for this game is coming from; Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival is an enjoyable board game that blends in the elements of Animal Crossing perfectly.

Star Wars Battlefront fails to match the ambitions of its visuals with equally as impressive gunplay, leaving it in the awkward position of looking amazing while also being rather boring.

The game fills a surprisingly empty niche, and I appreciate it for coming to the table at all, but beyond that, I found myself somewhat underwhelmed.

And for anyone who’s only after the multiplayer, well, I could say anything I want up top, because all you need to hear is that it’s still StarCraft—but more.

It’s still very much Darksiders II as you remember it, just with a new skin, and that’s completely okay.

For the most part, Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden is fun and simple with creative visuals that is good in short playthroughs.

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.

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

I was legitimately surprised with how much I enjoyed Black Ops 3 as a whole. For a series that has felt so stagnant for so long, it’s nice to see a big step forward in the franchise. It reminded me why Call of Duty is one of the most influential series’ on the planet, even if it didn’t reflect that for a while.

Samurai Warriors 4-II isn’t a horrible game by any means, but the game just doesn’t quite entice the gamers of today to venture through its trials.

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.

It goes without saying, of course, that Rise is an exceptionally gorgeous looking game.

For a pocket-sized RPG that will provide hours of gameplay, it’s certainly worth a look.

Yes, there are better, more realistic racing experiences on the market, but few titles can match the pure engagement that this year’s Need for Speed offers.

With boring combat and a limited custom campaign toolset, Sword Coast Legends fails to capture the spirit of a true pen and paper role-playing experience.

Tales of Zestiria is a JRPG built primarily for Tales fans and those who truly want to be Tales fans.