This game doesn’t take itself seriously but the amount of fun and laughs it has given me over the several hours of gameplay, I have to say that it’s one of the best pick up and play experiences I’ve had in recent years, despite the minimal visuals. It’s easy to learn but difficult to master, similar to the original Pong, but Hypergalactic Psychic Table Tennis 3000 brings far more to the table than any other Table Tennis experience that’s out today. HPTT3000 is a small download and a very noticeably indy game but what’s here is very entertaining and as I play through the hundreds of levels, I keep thinking that I wish this game was a thing when I was goofing off in high school computer class.

I find about 80 percent of this game incredibly compelling, and if you don’t focus on the progression of the story or the ending, there are amazing moments here. The unfortunate part is that narrative games live and die by, well, their narratives. Still, I’m glad I played it. I find some sort of weird excitement in being monumentally disappointed by stories — they give me context on what we appreciate in the titles we do enjoy. So if you are like me, The Suicide of Rachel Foster might just be worth your time.

Visuals are upgraded but like any remaster, the results are uneven and this is certainly not a complete rebuild like Yakuza Kiwami 1 and 2 were. Even so, I still recommend picking this one up whether you’re a lifelong fan or a newbie.

For anyone wanting more out of these characters, there's almost nothing better. The voice acting and the dialogue are excellent at giving them life, while the RPG mode gives you a deeper look at these people and their personalities. Ultimately, my heart belongs to the battlefield. I'd rather be sharpening my skills and busting my thumbs than diving into back stories and prime motivations. The accessible move sets, the gorgeous character designs, and the distant skill ceiling mean that I'll be absorbed in this task for quite a while yet. If you're fishing for an anime fighter that will keep you at your seat's edge, look no further than Granblue Fantasy: Versus. ‎

Silver Dollar Games has not only delivered on making the perfect palette cleanser game, they’ve also made a damn fine, addictive, and unconventional beat ‘em up. Fans of the original game might be a little upset it’s not a massive leap forward but, honestly, when you’re having this much fun, does that really matter? And when you factor in the low entry price on the Switch eShop, One Finger Death Punch 2 is a no brainer purchase for a game you’ll be happy to return to again and again…and again.

Oddmar is an action platformer that is full of visual beauty and substance, and it is very fun to play. MobGe has showcased their attention to detail and overall talent with this title. I still cannot believe that this was once a mobile game. There is a familiar charm to Oddmar but what elevates the experience is the graphics and gameplay. While the story may be forgettable and there is little in terms of replay value, fans of the genre will be extremely impressed with this polished little platformer.

What sort of horror game puts you to sleep? One that doesn’t try anything new. And that’s what Infliction is. I can’t stress enough that it isn’t the technical side of the game that I don’t like – I think a lot of what’s there is well done with the budget they had. The lighting is good, some of (not all) the voice acting is strong, and the sound design is solid. But it’s the lack of innovation in storytelling and mechanics that throw me off. It’s frustrating too because ideas like the Polaroid camera and Cooking With Masimo show me that this team is capable of coming up with some genuinely fun stuff. But until then, I guess we’ll just be afflicted by Infliction.

Bloodroots is a game that fans of challenging action brawlers need to give a shot. With its wide variety of weapons, smooth action, and crisp visuals, Bloodroots could be that next Hotline Miami-like fix. The game’s replayability will likely depend on its community, with a scoreboard, speedruns, and self-made challenges at the forefront of that opportunity. While Bloodroots is no walk in the park, it remains accessible to those who don’t particularly love a brutal challenge.

While the games themselves are fairly solid, nothing about them stands out quite enough to warrant purchasing them again unless you are a die hard fan of the franchise. Given that Metro Exodus only released last year and follows as a direct sequel to Last Light, your money might be better spent jumping into the latest entry in the series than revisiting something 10 years old.

If you’re looking for a solid 1v1 fighting game, you really can’t go wrong with Street Fighter V: Champion Edition, there truly is a ton of value here. Just be forewarned that the online experience is severely lacking.

Daemon X Machina is my favorite mech title since Custom Robo on the GameCube and it’s even better now that it’s on the PC. Watching a boss battle play out is like watching the most intense Gundam and Metabots battles and if that sounds appealing, you’ll enjoy how it plays.

The management and RPG style made me think of a digital board game like Antihero, but really it plays more like a visual novel — a genre that leans hard on player interaction to involve you in the story. And in that, Through the Darkest of Times was quite effective. I did feel for the struggle of these people in a way that felt more personal than if I was watching a movie or reading a book. The choices didn’t lead to branching stories, but the very act of making a choice placed responsibility for the consequences on me. That’s an extremely effective game design!

Buried beneath these weird outer layers is a string of tough, glittering Mega Man games, all starring the elusive red swordsman of my youth. If you’re a fan of Mega Man, or even action platformers in general, the Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection is worth checking out.

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is a beast of a game. The amount of content is staggering, and one can definitely play for hours and hours. Obsidian has gone extra miles to create an immersive fantasy RPG adventure and truly delivered. You are in for a deep experience but, caveat emptor, you will have to dedicate yourself to learning not only the intricacies of Eora but of POE2’s gameplay mechanics.

So is Wargroove: Double Trouble worth your hard-earned money? Absolutely. It takes things that already worked in the base game and cranks it up just enough so that- hold on. What’s that? I’m being informed that Double Trouble… is free? This expansion that shakes up the tactics and the balance, that adds extra content to this already robust game is absolutely zero dollars? You guys! That’s amazing. Install this expansion pack and get into the rhythm of this excellent and yes, groovy game.

Dreams is incredible. It’s what I and so many others have wanted from the time we fell in love with video games. It’s a limitless playground for those that have ever dreamt of the perfect video game – but it’s okay if you haven’t! Because Dreams is also a limitless playground for those that just want to sit back and enjoy the ride.

When it comes down to it, I don’t really understand who this game is for because I can’t tell fans they’d love it and I can’t tell the uninitiated to pick it up because the story is baffling, and the gameplay isn’t great. So, even though there are aspects of the game that are solid, this one gets a hard pass from me. Hopefully, I have fewer nightmares about this game than I did about the Skeksis for pretty much my entire childhood.

While Bayonetta requires a bit more grit during boss battles, both are still easy enough for anyone to pick up and not feel lost or unpracticed, and I highly recommend this bundle as a starting point for interested players. If you are a fan of hack and slash gameplay and creative finishers or fast-paced shooters where you just want to have fun and not think much of it, these games should definitely satisfy your needs.

Both the storyline and gameplay in the Zombie Army series have that classic “B movie” vibe to them, and with a storyline as insane as this one, it just feels right as the game is self aware and gives the audience what they would want, including tons of gore, humour, and satisfying kills. Rebellion really took things to the next level, not only with tons of variety of undead, but missions and areas to explore. There is so much game here with replayability and I hope it will be expanded with some DLC or online challenges. Even if this is your first time experiencing the Zombie Army franchise, or a game like this, this is a great title to start with. Rebellion really has perfected the zombie shooter. So grab a drink and lets go!

Patapon 2 is a fun game of its time. It still feels like a relic of the PSP days with its big chunky menus and relatively straightforward gameplay, but if anything sets itself apart as much to warrant its own remaster, it’s the charm that comes through loud and clear. I enjoyed my time with my Patapons. It’s not a game I’d play forever, as my tastes have changed over the last decade, but if you need any reason to get back in, then look no further my god friends. Pata, pata, pata, pon!

At the end of the day, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners is a satisfying action RPG with reasonable writing, fun scenarios, and the opportunity to hit zombies with barbed wire baseball bats. That it happens competently in VR makes me feel good about the future of such experiences, even if there are some usability troubles. If you’ve already got a headset, giving Saints & Sinners a shot is a no brainer. If you’re still on the fence, well, it might be about time to hop down.

Overall, Not Tonight is incredibly fun – repetitive, but fun. The different conditions in each level keeps the monotony of the task interesting, and the strange situations that challenge your moral reasoning makes each hour spent more entertaining than the next. With its satirical tone and quirky storyline, the game mocks political movements and stereotypical characters while presenting to us a simulation game for adults to enjoy. After spending hours playing this game, I feel like I could probably work as a pretty efficient bouncer in real life now.

The Turing Test, despite being four years old, still holds up and makes for a perfect Nintendo Switch puzzler. The Portal influences hang on its sleeve, but the darker story, compelling dialogue, and engaging puzzles kept me hooked till the very end. It might run a little long in the tooth around the midway mark but, thankfully, it rebounds in the last act with a memorable finish. As a port, it’s remarkably polished on both the big and little screen. In a nutshell, The Turing Test is totally worth your time and money.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced, action-packed adventure where you can pull off some sweet parkour moves all the while wielding Ninja weapons, I highly recommend checking out Kunai. The controls are incredibly easy to learn but not easy to master, making this a superb game for beginners in the genre to our hardcore speedrunning fans. Not to mention paired with a unique if, albeit simple story, interesting story design and wonderful art design, you really can’t go wrong with this title.

I enjoyed Mosaic. It isn’t reinventing the wheel, and we’ve seen this sort of story many times before, but there’s something about this game that just works. It’s not too long, it’s interesting right from the start, and I think it does an excellent job of commenting on a few specific hardships of life. Much of the game is open-ended and will leave the player wondering what they just saw, but that’s the beauty of it. As I said earlier, Mosaic can be what you need it to be, and if you’re feeling down on life lately, maybe this game can inspire you. If even just a bit.

It’s by no means easy, but as you progress and upgrade your mech, you’ll find it strikes a decent difficulty balance. If you’re up for a somewhat challenging game with a very anime-inspired look, then Hardcore Mecha might be just what you’re looking for.

The main complaints about Kingdom Hearts III Re:Mind are that it provides no answers to the questions the series left players with, and that it involves playing a lot of content that the player has already experienced. My positive spin is that it’s an extension of what was already a fantastic game ending, that provides multiple characters to use, and extra boss battles. My main complaint is that it came too late, or shouldn’t have been DLC at all. If one accepts Re:Mind for what it is, it should be a real treat for hardcore Kingdom Hearts fans.

Kentucky Route Zero is a brilliantly told story that takes chances, and unapologetically is what it is. Sounds suspiciously like art to me. Damn good art.

Frostpunk: The Last Autumn DLC takes everything you have learned while playing through the brutality of the base game and tweaks the formula just enough to bring you a new feeling of dread, loss, and despair while remaining true to the brilliant mechanics and narrative of the game. You will undoubtedly fail time and time again until you understand how to perfectly manage your time and space – a feature that feels incredibly more prominent this time around. Bringing the focus towards the safety of the workforce is an interesting shift that pays off well against the impending deadline and creates for an effective extension of the game that breaths fresh new life into an already crisp experience.

Sure, the combat is simple, the progress is slow, and the difficulty is high. But if a measured, elegant, austere RPG is what you’re looking for, look no further. Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls is a great escape for anyone invested in the genre’s illustrious past.

All in all Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is an engaging and immersive experience that transports the fans back to the very beginning and for me, that came with a heavy serving of nostalgia.

Journey to the Savage Planet provides highly rewarding exploration and discovery bundled with a genuinely funny sense of humor to make for a worthwhile first-person adventure experience. The game is clearly a labor of love and is only hindered by a few unrefined elements that don’t significantly detract from the overall enjoyment. Though the planet is a savage one indeed, in this case, the risk is absolutely worth taking.

Although Shinobi likely isn’t going to gain any new fans from this release, it is a comprehensive, well put together, package for the original game. It contains every modern enhancement I could think of, and for only $8, it’s a steal for all Shinobi fans.

Fantasy Zone is an excellent, and difficult shoot ‘em up. For fans of any Gradius-style game, I highly recommend you play this classic that still holds up. Its cartoony visual aesthetic gives it a charm, and its difficulty will keep fans shooting for a long time.

Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath is an enjoyable remaster which has managed to age with grace, bringing back a classic feeling that isn’t too dated and is just as easy to play now as it was back in 2005. With excellent controls and a smooth blend of FPS and third person platforming adventure gameplay, the game’s only real faults come from repetitive and lackluster dialogue, and a rather barren landscape that reveals its age a little too well, but overall left me with a great experience that newer gamers really ought to try.

Eclipse: Edge of Light offers a passable VR experience, especially for the affordable price, but its 2 to 3 hour adventure isn’t something I would want to replay after finishing it. I like the game’s narrative message and easy going nature, but in gameplay and visuals I was left bored. Despite a few tepid attempts at adding complexity, this is mostly a mild puzzler with a lot of walking through 2D polygonal environments. I recently reviewed Doctor Who: The Edge of Time, which in addition to the oddly similar names also had a similar gameplay style of forgettable puzzle solving. But in Eclipse: Edge of Time, there’s not even the Doctor Who name to spice things up.

With its creative puzzles, fully-voiced dialogue, and an ending that is open to interpretation, Goodbye Deponia is an excellent point-and-click adventure to go on at any time of the day. While this is the third instalment, I am sure even if you did not play the previous games you will be able to pick up on what has happened in the past. However, fans of the Deponia series will definitely have to play this game to find out the ending of this trilogy. Fairly straightforward with plenty of thinking and goofing around, Goodbye Deponia wraps up the Deponia trilogy in a satisfying way and leaves us players curious yet content.

If you’re someone who can get lost in a repetitive task, then I will say you may find yourself falling into a trance, an almost zen-like state. But maybe do so on PC if you have one available to you. I could not get into Barents Sea on the tiny screen with its muddy and bare world. And I would advise if Switch is your only way to play it, maybe find another ocean to travel.

Forget this game. Move along, and pretend you never heard of Decay of Logos. It tries so hard to be something that it simply isn’t, and it leaves players with a frustrating mess of mechanics that have been done so much better elsewhere. There really isn’t any reason for someone to pick this up. If you’re craving a big, open-world to explore, literally any open-world game will be better than this. If you’re looking for a difficult, combat-based action game, literally any combat-based action game will be better than this. Some of the sound design is actually decent, and I’ve heard worse soundtracks before, but there is no reason you should be playing this game. Get out while you can.

Even if you haven’t played a Vertex Pop game before (you probably should, because they’re great!), Super Crush KO is the one you should start with. It plays like a dream thanks to responsive controls and smooth as silk gameplay. It’s an arcade brawler through and through, so combat takes the spotlight. Stringing combos is the name of the game and it feels awesome when you’ve conquered unbeatable odds without taking a single hit. It might be a bit on the short side, but man does it feel good to play. Don’t ignore Super Crush KO, it demands your attention.

I can’t knock Dead End Job for anything other than its redundant level design and mechanics, as it really does succeed in every other aspect pretty well. The art and music are great, the perks are clever, and the couch co-op is a huge plus. I think it would make an excellent game for kids or for couples and friends who love playing new, lighthearted games together that don’t require a high level of skill or attention. However, for solo players, I don’t imagine this game being able to hold the same longevity for everybody. Still, it’s a solid little indie game that lets you play as a Ghostbuster, and for some, that’s the dream.

If you must prepare for this game, then prepare to be exhausted, elated, and energized. I found the Persona/Fire Emblem mix to be a bit unbalanced for my tastes, with too much tough and not quite enough touching. Still, under the layers of glitter, music, and misery, there’s a rock-solid JRPG to be found. If any of these disparate ingredients caught your eye, then Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore will almost certainly keep you hooked.

Phoenix Labs has built Dauntless to be the same game for all gamers. That has been their mission from the start and in that they have absolutely succeeded. The game plays great and it is a fun experience to work together and slay giant monsters, however the technological limitations of the Switch in its innovative handheld or tabletop mode feel like a hindrance to the experience, and those who may only have a Switch Lite may easily be put off from investing in this game as they won’t be able to play for long.

Just like the original release of Monster Hunter World on PC, the game feels right with unlocked framerates and gorgeous graphics.

All in all, Heroland is a solid title which finds its niche, sticks to it, and ramps it up. Its humour and style may not suit everyone, but for those it suits, they will love it. While the game starts a bit slowly, it won’t take long for one to dive deep into it, though the game can be enjoyed both in small chunks as well as much larger ones. In Heroland, you won’t be the hero, but you will enable everyone else to be, and that’s perfectly fine. The game turns the RPG genre around just enough to keep things interesting, and who knew that being a tour guide in an RPG theme park could be so fun?

No matter how well you do, you’ll never pull away from the pack. It’s the cheapest of AI solutions and undermines any sense of accomplishment. There’s no escape from it either, as the game does not support multiplayer. So it’s AI racing or nothing. Nothing is the better choice.

I’m a big fan of Fight’N Rage. Of course, I’ve been a big fan of beat ’em ups for a long time now, but this game does so much right that I have no problem recommending it to someone that isn’t too familiar with the genre. The combat is incredibly smooth, and once you master the various combos your favorite character can pull off, you’ll be flying through levels and juggling baddies like you were born to do so. Dolloped on top of that is an unlockable list that’s almost overwhelming at first, an excellent local co-op mode, and one of the most bitchin’ soundtracks I’ve heard from a game of this nature. Now excuse me, I’ve got some more fightin’ to do.

For maximum enjoyment, Wattam expects you to meander, to mosey, to stride. A frantic pace will only lay bare the shaky controls and the counter-intuitive camera setup. Take your time, the game insists. Speak to every new citizen, wear all of their hats, propel them skyward with your hat bombs. This way, the good times can dwell while the pockets of misery remain distant and hazy. For me, the off-putting voices and the clumsy controls work with the sparse conceit to create a world that’s oddly ill-fitting. The idyllic madness and the slow, sparse mechanics butt heads to make a game best approached with caution and care. Choose the world of Wattam at your most studious discretion, my friends.

Assassin’s Creed: The Rebel Collection is an easy recommendation. While one game is indeed better than the other, there are still two very strong games for one single price. And you can’t forget the addition of the previously released DLC that makes this whole package an extremely good value. Ubisoft has redeemed themselves with an almost perfect port of Black Flag while understanding the advantages that the Switch had to offer such as the motion controls. And of course Rogue is no slouch either. Ubisoft proves that you can port large scale games with some hard work and passion.

While this may not be suitable for newcomers, Steins;Gate 0 is an excellent visual novel for fans who already know what the original story is about. If you enjoyed the first game, you will definitely enjoy this “what-if” scenario. It provides an alternate ending with your favorite characters, allowing you to see how they would react in a new situation that threatens them. Despite not having much interaction with the player, Steins;Gate 0 is an enjoyable experience with an enthralling and clever storyline that can keep you up thinking about it all night.

There is a lot content here to enjoy, however one thing I wish they had done differently is add a big dose of humour to the overall product. It might have made the overall game feel a bit less dry. The challenges should provide many, many hours of playtime to complete, especially if you’re compelled to complete the Expert and Master criteria. Big Pharma might not be a cure-all product, but it should definitely alleviate that simulation itch for some.

I think Darksiders Genesis has a really solid base, is greatly entertaining, and is definitely worth its price tag. The previously mentioned technical flaws can (hopefully) be addressed in future updates, and I would then have little gripe with the game itself. If you are a Darksiders fan, or simply want to feel the power of slaying demons left and right, I would definitely recommend picking this title up.

Alien: Isolation on the Switch is fantastic, and is most definitely a game that deserves a spot on your shelf. Even five years later, Isolation continues to be a horror tour-de-force that will have you wishing you could play something rated ‘E’ for everyone instead. Bring a pair of headphones and do your best to get over that input lag, and you’ll find yourself in the midst of the best port this console has seen to date. You may also want to bring a portable charger as this thing is an absolute battery killer, but hey, when you look this good and feel this good, I don’t mind.

As a fan of music games, AVICII Invector is an easy recommendation. It might not take any big risks evolving the genre, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a grand old time to be had. It looks great, sounds amazing, and makes for a surprisingly excellent party game for the Holidays. Even if you aren’t familiar with AVICII’s back catalogue of tunes, I still suggest you give it a shot. Who knows, you might find yourself becoming an unexpected fan of his music. If so, then I can’t think of a better way to honour his memory.

The core of the game is solid, and the financial dread of being a badass is something rarely explored in video games. I recommend playing MechWarrior 5 in co-op with a friend, as I found coordinating builds and strategies with someone really added a layer of fun and replayability to the contracts.

The repetitive levels and enemy AI get old quick but the fish react to things differently which is engaging and the environment tells a story as you uncover glowing orange Debris deeper underground. If you don’t mind minimal visuals for an interesting story, Debris is worth checking out.

Shovel Knight: King of Cards is the proverbial cherry on top of a massive sundae that I’ve enjoyed thoroughly, and I know I’ll look forward to revisiting it in its entirety in the future as well.

SaGa Scarlet Grace: Ambitions is a SaGa game through and through. Unfortunately, that means it’s not for everyone. Even JRPG fans could find it tedious and grind heavy. Those who do find SaGa Scarlet Grace Ambitions’ gameplay enjoyable will have a long, interesting campaign ahead of them, featuring tons of customization options and multiple storylines. The value of this game cannot be understated. For those unfamiliar with the SaGa series, the recent Romancing SaGa 3 might be a better series entry, as it’s a bit simplified, and has a more retro aesthetic. It can be much faster-paced and would be an easier place to try SaGa’s levelling up system. Still, SaGa Scarlet Grace: Ambitions is highly recommended.

Ultimately, I think your mileage will highly depend on how the stories land with you, and whether the act of walking is a delight or a burden. I do think Where The Water Tastes Like Wine is worth a gander, just don’t expect a swan song of a tale or gut punch metaphor about early America. Enjoy it for it what it immediately offers: a fun series of tiny vignettes and discoverable characters to unwind with. Forget the rest.

The voice acting is top-notch, the graphics are sharp and clear, and the artwork and character designs are pretty cool. The challenge of the battles feel fair and keep you coming back for more, as does the story. The 3D positional audio is fantastic and the music done by Halo and Destiny composer, Martin O’Donnell, heightens the emotional spectrum of the game from the battles to the quiet introspective beats. If you want to play something with a slower pace and dig fantasy coming of age stories, there’s enough here to make mastering the control scheme worth it.

If you are familiar with the genre, you know what to expect with Phoenix Point. Little flourishes, like letting you manually aim your shots, inject some new life into a fairly predictable genre. It is the plot and the aesthetic that make Phoenix Point truly shine though; the world is so strange and immersive that you will love playing the game over and over to learn everything you can — which is precisely how the game is meant to be played. Even though it doesn’t shine technically, Phoenix Point has it where it counts — in an engaging gameplay experience.

While Halo: Reach on PC is actively undergoing maintenance, it’s achieved an exceptional launch and feels great to play on mouse and keyboard. If MCC maintains a large player base as the rest of the collection trickles out and crossplay with Xbox is enabled, the next golden age of Halo could be on the rise as we approach Infinite. I’m thrilled that the collection is in a phenomenal place on console, and with PC now being my platform of choice, I’m pumped to experience the remainder of it. Halo’s popularity has undeniably dwindled over the last decade, but it’s not dead yet. After all, Spartans never die. They’re just missing in action.

Lost Ember is defined by its exuberant art style, musical score, and narrative. It tells a simple yet coherent story and gives you just enough at each memory to make you want to press onwards and learn what happens next. While it could use a few small design tweaks like a simple map, the overall experience was a steady climb into an emotional drop that firmly squeezes your heart. The technical issues this game suffers from can easily be overlooked due to the serene nature of exploring the wilds and the incredible feeling of jumping from animal to animal in search of the truth.

I love Star Ocean: First Departure R. It’s a must-play for JRPG fans, and gaming historians. By modern standards, it might seem fairly simple, but this is a port of a PSP port of a Super Famicom game. It holds up very well and is by far the most accessible way to play this first story. Even players who aren’t JRPG fans might really enjoy the combat. Especially if they’re into hack and slash and beat ‘em up games.

The game feels skeletal, like raw wood piled in the shape of a building. It’s missing something essential in its new home on the Nintendo Switch. The stages, missions, and challenges all feel interchangeable. Even the bosses feel like palette-swaps from time to time. In spite of all this, the game is still compelling fun. You’ll find yourself trying just one more run, one more stage, over and over again. If you’re seeking out a little scif-fi arcade action, definitely check out Space Pioneer.

I did enjoy my time with Farming Simulator 20, but I’m concerned about the level of content to keep me invested down the line. There’s not nearly as much equipment as you would find in the more fleshed out versions of Farming Simulator, but I think if you can get past the shortcomings of the hardware that Farming Simulator 20 was built to run on, you’ll enjoy your time with it too. If you, of course, don’t care at all about being able to take your farms with you on the go, then I would opt for Farming Simulator 19 on a beefier system, but everyone else – cock-a-doodle-do!

Although Mosaic’s gameplay is simple and the play length short, it boasts a powerful story with many unique elements you won’t find anywhere else.

With how much of the game is centered around combat, I expected it to have more impact but found a lot of my hits not registering and when the hits do land, it doesn’t feel as fluid as it should. It plays more like a PS2 title than a current-gen experience. Much of the game takes place in hollow arenas or narrow corridors and running through the empty rooms gets repetitive. As a fan of anime, I can appreciate the storyline and the art panels that fall page by page during certain segments but as a gamer, I see a lot of flaws in the overall experience.

While the game looks pretty enough there just isn’t a lot of depth to it. The feeling of playing ping pong is mostly here, but with the technological deficiencies in tracking that prevent the control and finesse needed in a fast paced game, VR Ping Pro misses the mark.

Arise is an incredibly powerful story despite it being so simple. It invokes emotions that I would rarely bring with me when playing a video game, and it is refreshing to know that there is a game out there focused on bringing us a heartwarming experience. There are so many elements in the game that work well together, from the color palette, lighting, music, gameplay, and ease of controls. Even without much dialogue or long, extensive cutscenes, Arise is able to tell us a simple story that is vibrant and rich, bringing us an unforgettable and emotional experience.

Monster Jam Steel Titans lacks the depth of a sim and the fun of an arcade racer. What we’re left with is a good concept, marred by a lack of fun. Realistic monster truck physics are unique to be sure. But what’s here is just so bland, and unfun that the end result will provide about as much playtime as a demo would.

Shenmue 3 is a game that I wished I loved or at least liked. It’s a game that I could only enjoy in spurts since so much of my experience was marred by mediocre, repetitive gameplay, terrible characters, and a disappointing, meandering plot. I didn’t head into Shenmue 3 with high expectations due to its budget but the game still failed to meet even those lowered expectations.

Grindstone is a simple, effective, and addictive mobile game that does just about everything right. I’ve been playing it for over a month, and there are no sign of it getting old. If you’re someone who rides a bus to work or otherwise has regular downtime, Grindstone should grab a place on your home screen.

I wanted to love Doctor Who: The Edge of Time, but I was left feeling let down. The periodic injection of obligatory “cheeky quips” from the disembodied voice of Whittaker’s Doctor just felt like another superficial distraction from the fact that, at its core, this is just an ok VR puzzler that wastes its legendary source material. If you’ve always wanted to take the TARDIS for a spin, by all means check it out — but beyond that, temper your expectations.

While the game is just as fun and addicting as ever, the awkward dialogue feels shoe-horned in and the stark difficulty drop off in the mid-game is unfortunate to say the least, making the latter half of the experience a breeze. It’s still an enjoyable experience and a treat to explore the Galar region. It may not be perfect, but it is a strong step in the right direction to giving us the ultimate Pokemon experience.

While the game is just as fun and addicting as ever, the awkward dialogue feels shoe-horned in and the stark difficulty drop off in the mid-game is unfortunate to say the least, making the latter half of the experience a breeze. It’s still an enjoyable experience and a treat to explore the Galar region. It may not be perfect, but it is a strong step in the right direction to giving us the ultimate Pokemon experience.

While the game is just as fun and addicting as ever, the awkward dialogue feels shoe-horned in and the stark difficulty drop off in the mid-game is unfortunate to say the least, making the latter half of the experience a breeze. It’s still an enjoyable experience and a treat to explore the Galar region. It may not be perfect, but it is a strong step in the right direction to giving us the ultimate Pokemon experience.

This remaster not only revamps the visuals and playability, but it also adds a whole expansion pack to the game. Priced like a large DLC, there is no reason not to get this game if you are already an Age of Empires fan. I can only hope that all remasters in the future will be as good as this.

The game wasn’t very long, yet I imagine there will be times I’ll come back to it, just to buzz around Honey Park. There’s a sort of calmness to it all. In some ways, it reminds me of the old PlayStation 3 game, Flower. Bee Simulator is by no means perfect, but I’d still recommend it if you’re looking for a simple yet unique, family-friendly distraction.

Licensed games still get a bad rap these days and Narcos: Rise of the Cartels probably won’t convince the naysayers. But buried beneath the murky graphics and presentation is a pretty decent and entertaining turn-by-turn tactical game. It plays well and there’s a reasonable amount of strategizing to be had to win each combat scenario. Within the genre, however, it doesn’t do enough to make it a must-play but for fans of the show, it’s a fun but safe time killer.

Basically, if you enjoy 4X games or are a Civilization fan, you have to pick this up. But you didn’t need me to tell you that. It’s already on your list and Sid Meier’s Civilization VI is already in the download queue. If it’s not, you’ve got time right now to remedy that.

I loved my time with Black Future ’88. It’s hard, it’s fun, it’s memorable. In a genre that I have felt has been stagnating a bit over the past year or so, SUPERSCARYSNAKES is here to slap us back into reality. While it doesn’t wholly redefine roguelikes, it does enough to make it stand in a class of its own. I’m going to be craving “one more run” for a long time, and I’m going to have that soundtrack stuck in my head for even longer. This is a great game. Don’t miss it.

It is undeniably a beautiful achievement that seamlessly ties together wildlife education and environmental consciousness, and the emotional attachment you will create with your animals makes for an engaging simulation unlike any other.

With all of these upgrades and extra content on top of an already rock-solid game, picking up Romancing SaGa 3 for many is a no brainer. Granted, the combat and leveling up might not be for everyone, but if you are a fan of Western and Japanese RPGs I highly recommend jumping into this classic that took way too long to make its way out west.

An original gameplay mechanic is hard to come by, and these shapeshifting puzzles feel like nothing else. The parts of the game that are derivative aren’t bad, just second best. The parts of the game that are original are extraordinary. And which aspect is more important? Though it may be cliché to say it, Superliminal is more than the sum of its parts. It’s a clever game and the more I play it, the more I think about it, and the more I love it. That’s worth a whole lot.

Between the dungeon size, the bite-size story chunks, and the clear objectives, this is a game meant for picking up at a moment’s notice. Ultimately, players torn between this version and a home console one are choosing either function or form. Dedicated Switch gamers, on the other hand, would be fools to pass this one up.

These are early days for the PC release and hopefully, the technical issues are addressed in the coming days. As things stand now, unless you have a top-notch PC, chances are you’re running a rig like mine and will have to make graphical compromises that leave you experiencing the game in a presentation fairly similar to that on the consoles. Regardless, this is unquestionably a brilliant experience. Everything about this version is bigger and better than the console version providing you have the rig to run it on.

I wouldn’t recommend Wanderlust to anyone who dislikes reading. Wanderlust Travel Stories is a very text-heavy experience. But if you enjoy reading and learning from gaming experiences and also enjoy traveling, I definitely recommend this gaming experience. Wanderlust Travel Stories is an evolution of non-fiction, blending the sights and sounds of cities, mountains, shores, etc. with interactive storytelling.

If you’re looking for a fun party game or just want to improve your dance skills – Just Dance 2020 is a must-own. My kids and I had a ton of fun with Just Dance 2020. If you’re a parent like me looking for a video game solution that gets your kids off their butts and moving, I highly recommend Just Dance 2020.

Sure, there are far worse games than Sparklite, but there also far better games with similar structures and rogue-like trappings that are worth your time. Sparklite happens to live in the middle. It’s okay. It’s fine. Its art is beautiful and its music wondrous, but somehow it’s missing its own magic. So if you have nothing going on, and it seems your jam, give it a go. It’s totally fine. Personally, I need something a bit more than okay these days.

The aesthetic is beautiful, the new drifting mechanic feels solid, and the game even offers daily challenges to earn a little extra bank. If you enjoy arcade racing this is definitely a title for you, and I am happy to see Need for Speed find some traction again and hopefully it will take off once more.

I love Star Wars, I love video games, and Fallen Order is a glorious amalgamation of the two. Though I’ve experienced everything the game has to offer, I genuinely can’t wait to play through it again on the hardest difficulty. At this point, I can only hope Respawn follows it up with a sequel because the force is remarkably strong with this one.

Conception is a unique game that makes me appreciate the wild ideas that JRPGs can come up with. Definitely targeted to a niche audience who enjoys the idea of courting twelve beautiful maidens with the prospect of saving the world. Conception is not a revolutionary JRPG, nor is it a stimulating dating SIM. It is a strange concept but for the purpose of the game, it works. While the storyline could use a little more excitement to keep players hooked, it is definitely worth trying if you have an interest in harem RPGs.

Let’s Sing Country is a decent karaoke experience that’s well-produced and slick. And you don’t have to be a Country fan to have silly fun, crooning into your iPhone like a dorky George Strait. But the tiny number of tracks is a real downer, and put it this way, you’ll get through them long before the beer runs out (a much better measure of karaoke time, honestly). If this was a discount-priced game that would be fine, but for the price Let’s Sing Country should offer a lot more content … y’all.

Journey For Elysium is a competently designed VR title with the right ideas, if just slightly underbaked. Considering the entire experience clocks in at a brisk hour and a half, I can only wonder how much better it could’ve been if it slowed down and took the time to flesh things out. For a first-time effort from developers Mantis Games, though, Journey For Elysium is a great start.

Planescape: Torment and Icewind Dale are isometric western RPGs with pre-rendered backgrounds. If this style of game is your cup of tea, then these are both classics, especially the creative, dialogue-heavy Planescape: Torment. If you are new to the genre, these might be tough to try by modern standards. But the way the menus have been mapped to controllers make these RPG classics very playable on consoles. Whether or not they’re playable by modern standards is up to your taste.

Cute and charming are perfect words to describe this game. The sign of a good platforming game is one where players want to explore and collect all the items that are found around each level. I found myself wanting to do this and more. New Super Lucky’s Tale delivers a platformer for the whole family to enjoy by being easy to play, visually appealing and introducing a new and clever mascot to the Nintendo faithful. I sure hope we get to see more of Lucky in the future.

Any fans of the Doraemon manga and anime should almost certainly purchase this farming simulator for the Nintendo Switch if only for the story. I enjoyed the farming mechanics but got frustrated with my eternally sick chicken, especially as the clinic wasn’t always open for business (like other locations in town). Though this isn’t Harvest Moon or Animal Crossing, it’s a good void filler until New Horizons.