This is a game that I could not put down when I originally played it on PlayStation, and I’ve enjoyed re-experiencing it on the Switch, despite the dip in visuals. If you have the means of playing Maneater on an Xbox or PlayStation, that would be my recommendation. If not, then the Switch is a competent port that will give you the same overall experience. Regardless, Maneater is friggin’ jawesome – don’t miss out.

The game is very focused on the essence of platforming which is good for dedicated fans of the genre, but might seem a little repetitive for a wider audience.

I’ll be front row with my bucket of popcorn for 3 out of 10: Season Two. The art style is fun, the writing is on-point, and the game itself runs almost perfectly on the Switch. The first season of 3 Out of 10 isn’t something you’ll get hours upon hours out of. But you wouldn’t want to overstay your welcome in this world anyways. And that’s the magic of what the developers accomplished here. Terrible Posture Games knew precisely what they were doing in making a terrible game about developing a terrible game. Bravo.

The Dragon Quest Heroes series is an ambitious undertaking. Blending arcade-style action with RPG elements is a tricky balance, one that Heroes 2 doesn’t always manage to maintain.While it might bite off a bit more than it can chew, the end result is still good frantic fun. If you’re hungry for more Musou action, a Dragon Quest fan, or both, you can’t go wrong with this game.

At its core, Triangle Strategy is a tale about the dangers of extremism. It paints a grisly picture of greed, selfishness, and horrors committed in the name of Unity, Morality, and Liberty. However, it also offers up the hope that the cycle of violence can be ended. Bringing true peace and understanding to Norzelia won’t be easy, but it is possible.

Abyssus is a solid title, and one that I expect to return to over and over until I complete it. While there are some aspects that could be improved, they won’t deter me from coming back to the post-launch content when those eventually release as well. For a surprisingly enjoyable FPS roguelike title, look no further than Abyssus this summer. I am looking forward to seeing how the game continues to grow over time, as well as hopping into some multiplayer action down the line.

Wunderling DX isn’t the kind of game-changing platformer that’s going to draw in all kinds of crowds. That said, the story adds a fun punch to the gameplay while its mechanical twist is worth checking out for fans of the genre. If you love platformers, Wunderling DX is a well-designed, inventive one of those. If you don’t, it’s not going to change your mind.

If you’re a fan of pinball games or looking for something to distract you while the next great VR game launches, Pinball FX2 VR is a great game to check out. The nice variety of pinball machines and the possible promise of more pinball machines coming down the pipeline make Pinball VR one of the stronger PSVR titles to come out this fall.

Delivers a fun and unique brawling experience that 3DS gamers and Naruto fans alike shouldn’t miss out on as it is fairly entertaining.

Despite some of the frustrations, I walked away from this game very satisfied – it’s definitely one of the more enjoyable tower defense games I’ve played. If you’re a fan of tower defense games or looking for a game that forces you to strategize, Hero Defense is an easy recommendation.

While I might sound overly critical at times of what Just Dance 4 offers, it is undeniably fun and that is ultimately most important. Despite the fact this game seems to have fallen into a schedule of yearly releases, Just Dance 4 is well priced and comes with a good variety of tracks, modes and multiplayer options.

While it’s fun and only a little bit overpriced, it’s just so damn unoriginal. From the story to the combat to the platforming itself, there’s not much new going on.

While the multiplayer maps aren’t exactly breaking the mold, the latest zombies is quite literally killer and whether you’re a fan of the war game mode or not, you’ll enjoy the latest addition to it in Operation Intercept.

Tales of Graces f Remastered has a lot to say about what causes cycles of violence and abuse, and it’s not all executed well. The conclusion pulls some punches given how brutal the opening is. And if you dislike inter-party drama and daddy issues, this may not be the game for you. That said, if you’re a JRPG fan and especially a Tales fan, I still recommend it. Just maybe wait for a sale first.

Don't let these complaints dissuade you, though. If you're a high-level player, then the remix stages and time trials will be an excellent addition to an already robust play experience. If you're not quite as skilled (like me!), then the checkpoint system might just be what gets you to finish these games for the first time. Even though none of these are NES titles, these are still 'Nintendo-hard' games, in their own right. Just so long as you can avoid accidentally using the analog stick, you should have a pretty good time with Mega Man Legacy Collection 2.

Fans of the original game will be dying to jump back into the terrifying school to explore the familiar halls of horror while new fans may be put off by the somewhat outdated graphics. One thing is for sure, White Day: A Labyrinth Called School has a strong and very compelling narrative. Finding out the school’s hidden secrets and more about the ghouls that meander the halls will be a riveting experience to gamers.

If you’re looking for a deep space opera to release your inner Captain Kirk than Starpoint Gemini 2 is worth the price of admission.

The beautiful thing about Weird West is also what makes it critically impenetrable. At least for me, my enjoyment of the game is tied to my particular playstyle. If you’re more ruthless with NPCs, if you’re more stealth-focused, or if you’re more patient, this is a very different game. So my frustration with the stealth is a sign to sneak around less. If I’m unhappy with the story, I can always change how it ends. Conversely, the movement and aiming controls are a tangible way of making your platforming choice. If you’re looking for a western RPG with this sort of blissful, overwhelming freedom, you’ve come to the right place. For better or for worse, Weird West has that freedom.

You’d think that a series wouldn’t have a ton of new tricks up its sleeves 15 years in, but Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires is a pleasant surprise. While the core gameplay might still be a deal breaker for some, the strategic offerings add a new layer of depth, and importance, to the battles. It’s still repetitive, but there is plenty to like here.

For casual players, the game still has much to offer as a strategy map game should. I look forward to keeping my eyes on Stardock. So far, between this and other titles like Star Control, Ashes of the Singularity, and Offworld Trading Company, they have a firm finger on the pulse of the galactic exploration and exploitation genre.

If you have played Mutant Year Zero on a console before and are thinking of picking this up for on the go, you may be advised to skip as the compromises are a bit jarring, given this was once a very atmospheric game. The downgrade, combined with text and menus not being scaled for Switch, can start to make you feel like a person with poor eyesight.

What’s funny is that having played it, Mafia still has its charms. I’m sure part of it is nostalgia, but this is a story that transcends its cliches. I did and do care for Tommy. His wife and family are criminally underwritten but when he says he is fighting for them, I believe him. That makes the Definitive Edition something akin to a shot-for-shot remake. It manages to capture the charm of the original, imbues it with modern technology, and freezes all of its flaws in a sepia toned amber.

While the Slayer Edition may not be a huge time sink, it’s still a lot of fun and a great co-op experience.

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly is a remarkable piece of interactive horror history. The nuanced storytelling and atmosphere immerse you in its strange, haunting world, while the Camera Obscura offers a unique mechanic that adds tension to every encounter. However, although the remake remains close to the source material, it doesn’t provide the significant upgrade that other modern revivals of iconic titles have delivered. Much of the original era’s DNA remains, with some clunky controls and awkward animations hindering the experience. Regardless, this is still a remake of a classic. Despite its flaws, fans and newcomers can immerse themselves in a pillar of the survival horror genre, one that continues to haunt with its eerie village and tragic story.

As a whole package, ONINAKI is a decent title. While there is somewhat of a lack of additional activities to do, it fits in extremely well with the game’s narrative. Furthermore, the narrative of ONINAKI reeled me in from start to finish. It could be described as intriguing or mysterious, though at times predictable. ONINAKI is by no means the best in the genre but offers a strong foundation for Tokyo RPG Factory to build off of in the future.

Minecraft Dungeons isn’t the finest ARPG I’ve ever picked up, but it’s a terrific first step in your journey. Minecraft fans and action RPG junkies alike would do well to give this one a good look.

Bloomtown: A Different Story is a fun time all around, the world comes together in a wondrous way with that small town feel. Both sides of its extremes from cozy to unethical monster taming. Along with the relaxing day by day activities on the side. Having one of the best soundtracks I have heard in a while does not hurt either.

In Gunpowder’s case, it’s a matter of quality over quantity, with more quantity on the way via updates and DLC. If you’re looking for a quick and simple puzzle game to play on your laptop during breaks in class, or simply want a relaxing way to unwind at the end of the day, this is a decent buy.

For what it’s trying to do, Disjunction does a pretty damn good job. Hitman 3 just launched and might end up wrapping a garrote around Disjunction's neck. Though, if you’ve had a hankering for some old-school Metal Gear action with solid mechanics, a well-written story that offers replayability, and a musical score that’s been given genuine love and care, Disjunction is for you. Sure, it can get somewhat repetitive. And I did run into a few hit detection issues that cost me a life. I guess that’s just the cost of truth.

As a Grandia fan, it’s been an absolute joy replaying these classic games on Switch. Parts of it are starting to feel a bit dated, but hot damn they’re still a blast to play. Thanks to a wonderful cast of characters, superb soundtracks, and an addictive combat system, Grandia and Grandia II are surprisingly accessible, even 20 years later. If you’re in the mood for more classic JRPG’s on Switch, the Grandia HD Collection will more than fill that void. It’s absolutely grand.

When all is said and done, Darkestville Castle adeptly invites the player to think outside the box. There’s a good story, great dialogue, and an interesting world to discover. On the downside, there’s no real choice involved, and it transitions into an experience where solving problems is a matter of clicking everything on-screen—no elaborate navigation necessary. However, if you enjoy Point and Click and clever humor, I don’t see a downside to this new adventure.

Nostalgia is a tricky business. Pixel art and chiptunes are all fine and good, but you need more than that to capture an era. You’ve gotta drill down, deep into the bedrock of bygone eras. Freedom Planet 2 is a perfect time capsule of Sega’s glory days, for better or for worse. The graphics are amazing and the soundtrack is incredible. But the dialogue is corny and the combat feels out of place. Maybe this is for the best. Perhaps you can’t properly emulate a lost era of gaming without preserving the flaws as well. Either way, this game feels like time travel. If you’re hungry for a high-speed platformer crammed with Sonic and Sega vibes, you can’t pass up Freedom Planet 2.

Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is a mixed bag. It was great to see a continuation of the world and characters from Nosgoth. The story is beautifully told and realized. The gameplay was really fun once I adapted to it. The different characters keep things feeling fresh. But the game is very linear, and there are no skill trees or RPG mechanics. There’s no way for the player to experiment with the game’s mechanics, and there’s not a lot of reason to keep playing once the story’s done. There are some of us who like nice, linear old-school action platform progression, though. The game also demands a lot of the player and has a lack of polish that works against those demands. I’m still so happy Legacy of Kain: Ascendance was made, though, and I really hope this leads to more games in the series.

Aperion Cyberstorm is meant to be played with friends. As a solo experience, the game’s lifeless art style and ubiquitous play style won’t win many people over. But as a local co-op experience, it’s an exceedingly fun spin on the genre. If you’re looking for a great single-player game, you should look elsewhere, but if you have had a handful of friends willing to play with you, this one is definitely worth a try.

Overall, every player’s experience will differ based on how you choose to play the game, but Albion Online has provided a quality sandbox game with a strong initial build to work with.

Anima: Gate of Memories I & II Remaster is a collection of two very low-budget action JRPGs that I really enjoyed. Anyone looking for something in the vein of Nier should definitely consider playing it. The changes in this remaster are almost entirely cosmetic, though, and probably won’t justify a double dip for anyone with the original games. The price is very low, though, and there’s a lot of content to be found. Hopefully, developer Anima Project gets enough attention to develop games on a grand scale in the future.

Knockout Home Fitness has a clear objective and target audience: this is a game for people looking to get in shape that replicates a workout routine with a personal trainer. It never really pretends to be much more, like an addictive video game. That will be fine for many people, but if you’re hoping for more, Ring Fit Adventure is still the undisputed champ.

With an overall smooth gameplay and a fresh The One mode, NBA Live 19 does enough to distinguish itself from competitors, but it does not rise above as the best simulation basketball game of the year. For those who much prefer a casual playing experience, NBA Live 19 has got you covered.

It is fine as a simple game and the characters are lovely, but I know it has the potential to become even bigger. So much imagination was used to create such an epic story and to have named all the different characters, monsters, places, and remnants, and I believe a lot of these aspects could become sentimental pieces and not just names in a game. Overall, if you are looking for a fun, straightforward, and interesting JRPG with fun twists, The Last Remnant fits this description and is worth the play.

Is Terraria on Switch a must-buy? In its current state, I’d say no, but it’s still worth taking a chance on if it interests you at all. This may be an eight-year-old title, but it’s received a ton of content over the years, and you’ll be kept busy for over one hundred hours easily. Its depth and replayability put many AAA titles to shame, but the lack of some pretty big features like local wireless gameplay and its high price will definitely turn people off of it regardless. Terraria has aged fairly well, and the Switch version captures that same magic that made it so popular, despite its problems.

Sucker for Love: First Date may be a niche title with a weird premise, but it does that premise incredibly well. If you’re a fan of Lovecraftian horror and anime, or if you think dark romantic comedies are great, this game is for you. Akabaka’s weird creation definitely isn’t for everyone, but if it’s for you, you’re gonna love it. I know I did.

A welcome addition to Rise of the Tomb Raider even if it runs a little shorter than most people might like. The battle with Baba Yaga alone is worthy of the price of admission.

I do think that Maple Powered Games is on to something here with Monster Harvest. Its mishmash of systems accomplishes, for the most part, what they were trying to do – this is undeniable. Just be forewarned that under nearly every rock, and within the leaves of all those trees, there will sit a bug waiting to suck the entertainment out of it. And what you get out of Monster Harvest will vary depending on how willing you are to put up with that. Still, there’s a lot to enjoy here, and if you’re a fan of Stardew Valley or Pokemon, you owe it to yourself to check this one out.

Double Cross is an enjoyable adventure through a fun and interesting Saturday morning cartoon. The characters are unique and charming, the art style grabs your attention at every turn, and the gameplay feels fresh despite being a simple platformer. While the ending was predictable early on, the journey to get there was captivating and fun, and the various unlockable abilities will surely make each players experience a unique one.

Far Harbor feels like a classic Bethesda move, where we’re being given a ton of content that is littered with bugs and seemingly half-assed pieces, but contains some seriously fantastic bits as well.

Once Upon a Katamari has an excellent concept, and excellent gameplay. The problem is that there are lots of Katamari games with the same excellent concept and gameplay. The new online modes and customization options are great ideas, but are very shallow in execution. There just isn’t enough evolution in any of the series’ core ideas. If you’re a player who wants more Katamari levels, then Once Upon a Katamari has that. But if you were excited to create your own Prince character and get lost in endless online battle modes, then I’m sorry to have to share that those aspects are afterthoughts, despite being advertised as key features. As a fan of the series, I can tell there wasn’t the same amount of care and effort in Once Upon a Katamari that went into the series’ classic titles.

Despite these shortcomings, World War Z is an above-average zombie shooter. The sheer number of zombies, up to two hundred, is a sight to behold. Except for Days Gone, and that is flat screen only, there has never been a VR game to tackle zombies on such a large scale. If you are a fan of zombie killing and the World War Z franchise, Saber Interactive has done a good job with this game.

Fighting games come with their own language, one assembled out of controls, concepts, and character types. We’re so well-versed in this dialect that it can be jarring to try and pick up a new one. Fantasy Strike lays this daunting task at your feet with comfort and ease. Before long, you’re wholly absorbed in the game’s unique rhythms. At the same time, you’re learning the basics common to all fighting games. When to block, when to counter, what moves work best, and when. With a little patience, you can pretty good at this game. Yet if you spend enough time in these trenches, you’ll end up better at all of them. While it’s not perfect, Fantasy Strike is a rock-solid entry in the larger fighting pantheon.

This is a fun, pretty and polished game.

A pretty solid package, and has no glaring flaws that I could find. But looking back at it, it doesn’t feel all too different from its previous iterations (totally flying the face of the name “revolution”).

Squadrons has a somewhat limited audience. I'm terrible at dogfights, but I'm motivated to get better. They're a ton of fun, but they're brutally tough. If that doesn't appeal to you, best you learn it now, rather than later. For those of you starving for a proper Star Wars flight combat game, this is exactly what you've been waiting for. Otherwise, you're in for a rough ride, albeit an exciting one, with Star Wars: Squadrons.

Bomb Rush Cyberfunk is the perfect spiritual successor to Jet Set Radio. Not only does it capture the idea of cruising the streets, but the intuitive controls and simple mechanics allow anyone to pull off impressive-looking tricks. Unfortunately, the combat is weak, and segments where this is at the forefront hinder the overall quality of the product. However, when you hurdle this bump, you’ll fall in love with the banging beats and addictive gameplay loop.

I’d like to see The Enemy Within challenge players’ minds a bit more.

All in all, Persona 5 Tactica is far from perfect. But it looks pretty sound, it sounds excellent, and it is fun. If you just want to see more of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, you could certainly do worse. And if you open your heart to the new cast, Erina and Toshiro have a lot going for them. Just be prepared to replay levels a lot on higher difficulties.

Slam Land is the perfect game for families and friends who want a lighthearted yet very competitive experience. It does not currently support online play, so make some room on your couch for a slamming good time.

If 22 very well done tracks are worth your ten bucks, then yeah, Awesome Max DLC will appease; you even get a weird unicorn thing as added value. But if you’re coming to the package solely for The Awesome Adventure, I think you’ll be let down as it’s not nearly as absurd nor engaging as I had hoped.

I could tell that the music wasn’t just a second thought added in at the end of development; there was some deliberate planning and meticulous composing to be able to have a score like this.

It’s a love letter to the franchise’s history, and really it’s only for fans of the series.

Skytail doesn’t reinvent VR gesture-based gameplay, or add anything new. However, what it does well is combat. Often, I would find myself sucked into playing it much longer than I planned. The game is fun to play and gives you a bit of a workout to boot. If that mix appeals to you, Skytail is worth your time and money.

Even with the frustrating technical issues I’ve had with the game, I still find myself wanting to create some more transport lines.

The few hiccups of platforming hell are the only elements keeping Deadlight from being a good game to becoming a great game.

With everything taken into account, Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash is a well-put together title. The pros outweigh the cons by leagues and it has fun packed into all the right places.

As a whole you can’t go wrong by including Killzone: Shadow Fall as part of your next gen PS4 package. It might be lacking in true next generation gameplay mechanics but it really shines when it comes to the new generation of graphics.

However, if you are into good storytelling, with a detailed back story, good voice acting, and are patient with the story to kick in; Journey to Foundation is the ticket. The game should take between six to eight hours to complete if you focus on pushing through the story. However, if you stop to peruse the encyclopedia it will extend your play through time.

Thymesia is for anyone who believes that a game like Elden Ring is too accessible or that FromSoftware has lost its edge. It distills the Soulslike formula down to challenge and difficulty, adding a few new mechanics to the familiar staples. Yes, Thymesia is grueling and can be fun for hardcore fans of the genre, but it's also pretty highly derivative. Unless they're absolutely brilliant, copycat games almost always make you wish you were playing the original.

It still boasts some great artwork and dramatic story beats while serving up a few interesting surprises, even if lacking in the action department.

The Great Perhaps does not offer anything that we haven’t seen before in its gameplay, but there is an understated beauty in its presentation that I found haunting (literally … you’ll see). The trial-and-error nature of some of its puzzles may cause you to reach for a bottle of Vodka in frustration, but its world has a certain sad and subdued charm that will, in both past and present, motivate you to keep trudging along in order to save it.

With customizable shows, an extensive list of unlockables and a massive roster of both current and classic WWE Superstars, WWE 2K17 sets out to establish itself as a simulation title and succeeds.

I think that whether you enjoy Sable will very much depend on your mood and expectations. Some gamers will appreciate it for the chill, Zen-like, conflict-and-combat-free, emotionally resonant story that it absolutely is. Other gamers may grow impatient with its lack of real incident, and weary of the pace and absence of challenge. I tend to land in the latter camp. Sable is a beautiful game, but it needs to rev up the dramatic engine or raise the stakes for the player to keep fidgety gamers like me engaged.

It really is a jack of all trades, but master of none.

Enotria: The Last Song’s delightful setting, theatre-infused narrative, and mechanical depth help it stand out from the very crowded Soulslike landscape. On the flip side, that depth translates to sometimes poorly explained, unnecessary-feeling complications. Strip all that away, and Enotria: The Last Song is still an enjoyable action RPG that should appeal to almost every fan of the genre.

SnowRunner brought out the kid in me when completing contracts. It reminded me of playing with Tonka trucks in the sandbox, but instead of sand, it’s snow and instead of Tonka, it’s real-world branded trucks and heavy machinery. While the realism kept me thinking like an adult, the mud running familiar to the series and newly introduced ice and snow mechanics make building bridges and fixing roads feel more interesting than other games. I enjoyed many aspects of SnowRunner and see the improvements that Saber Interactive has made with the new entry into the series. After tackling mud and snow, it’ll be interesting to see where the next title treads. It feels like they took a big step from MudRunner to SnowRunner and if the next step is just as big or bigger, it may be the perfect vehicular simulation game.

This is a great pinball collection but in its current state, it comes with a BIG caveat. The game crashes. A lot. It seems to be related to the online connectivity portions of the game. Before the game and servers went live, the online portions did not crash. Now it crashes every time you try to access the leaderboards. In its current state, I do not recommend picking this collection up. Keep a tab on the game and wait till you hear these issues have been addressed. Once they have, this is a for sure pickup.

Setting aside its sometimes sluggish combat controls and a few frustrating mechanics, there’s a lot to enjoy about The Lonesome Guild. With beautiful art and a much-appreciated theme centering on connection and communication, The Lonesome Guild should appeal to fans of puzzle-heavy action RPGs looking for narrative depth.

South of Midnight pares a refreshingly different narrative and setting with artistic visuals that bring to life folklore from the American Deep South. It’s captivating, and there’s almost nothing like it. Unfortunately, South of Midnight is saddled with frustrating, unpolished combat and action sequences that become repetitive long before the game’s midpoint. Even with its glaring faults, South of Midnight is mostly worth playing just for the orc-free story and uniquely American characters.

Although this isn’t the most thrilling episode so far, it seems like all of the conversations and emotional moments will act as a bridge between the first couple of episodes and the last two. While the excitement is rather lacking in the majority of this episode, Telltales gives us a more believable story overall, especially where all of the characters are concerned.

In the end, I appreciated that The Wild at Heart leans into being an actual game rather than simply a thinly disguised exploration of childhood trauma. Together with inviting art direction that suggests an animated storybook and a story that supports layers of meaning, The Wild at Heart was a pleasant discovery. The game’s combat and puzzles aren’t entirely consistent or satisfying, and moment to moment the experience can feel a little aimless, but fans of accessible puzzle and action games with heart and some emotional depth should check it out.

The platforming and level design in Wavetale is fantastic. You can easily fly up buildings in style due to the responsive controls. Even though the objectives are similar throughout, the areas are well-designed to make each island refreshing. While you can overlook the lackluster and rigid combat, the performance issues are harder to ignore. Screen tearing and pop-ins are frequent and hinder the experience. However, fans of games like Solar Ash and The Pathless will still enjoy the game.

NASCAR fans should eat this one up but it might be a little too much for the casual racer. If you are up for a challenge and are willing to spend the time to dig deep into what the Career mode has to offer, Inside Line is an enjoyable experience.

I would have expected more of the first batch of missions which are also, unsurprisingly, the most fun and best written.

Although some mechanical elements suggest other games, Under the Waves uses deep sea exploration for its twin themes of personal grief and environmental exploitation in a unique way. There’s a lack of technical refinement here and there, and the messaging gets heavy-handed at times. Under the Waves is actually about something which puts it ahead of many other games in the survival crafting genre.

Shadow Warrior 3 is a real study in contrasts. There are times when its environments and cutscenes are triple-A game adjacent. Its combat is fast, furious, and fun. On the other hand, there’s not much story to tell, and that engaging combat gets frustrating and numbingly repetitive. Shadow Warrior 3 embraces much of what we remember about early shooters, with a lot more visual panache and polish. By the end, though, we’re desperate for the kind of variety and sophistication that later shooters brought to the genre.

Being able to switch back and forth on the fly from classic first-person action to a top-down third-person perspective made for a decent and varied mobile CoD experience.

Ittle Dew 2+ is a perfect fit for the portable Switch, and a supplement if you’ve been missing a top-down Zelda title on it. It has its own brand of humor and is chock-full of creativity with its visuals, dialogue, and puzzles, but can be found lacking with regard to its repetitive, unrewarding combat.

The scary bits aren’t scary and the story goes flat almost out of nowhere, leaving for an experience that is very stunted.

Darksburg is an exciting, dark roguelite with tons of replayability. The cast of playable characters is diverse in their play styles and these are only enhanced with Team Experience power ups and the Curios. The setting is beautiful and lush – far more than I expected out of a procedurally generated experience. The AI companions are good enough to keep you alive but the game really shines in Co-Op with other players. I would love to see controller support or a dodge roll to make managing the horde a little more balanced, but all in all it’s the kind of experience meant for friends diving into dungeons and just having a great time.

With its more focused campaign less burdened by irrelevancy, The Siege of Paris is a leaner, tighter and brisker expansion than Wrath of the Druids or much of the main story. The new/old Infiltration mechanic is a welcome changeup from the usual routine of explore and battle, but maybe not enough to entirely wipe away the feeling that the Siege of Paris is sticking a little too close to the template. What it lacks in creativity, bold new mechanics and mission structures, The Siege of Paris delivers in art direction, atmosphere and story. Though I personally enjoyed the visit to Ireland a little more, Eivor’s trip to Francia is by no means lacking in quality. For better or worse, it’s just more of the same.

In one sense, spending hours mowing virtual lawns in a game could be considered a ridiculous waste of time. But aside from being a satisfying management sim, the act of mowing lawns in Lawn Mowing Simulator can be surprisingly relaxing and maybe even a little inspiring. This isn’t a lawn mowing version of Formula One, where you play a plucky kid with a push mower dreaming of glory on a shiny, souped- up John Deere. But it’s also much more than a one-joke game. Lawn Mowing Simulation is a full-featured product with a very specific focus, and a pretty well-made one, at that.

There’s a lot to like here if you’re the right kind of person. The combat is tight and precise, there’s a ton of variety, and the challenge is mighty stiff. At the same time, Nioh 2 is mechanical on a level that’s a few layers too deep. I see what the goal was – differentiation – but it overcomplicates things where it doesn’t need to. Souls die hards: buckle up and get in there. Souls haters: you’ll hate this too. If you’re somewhere in the middle, give it a go, but beware you might end up like me: appreciating Nioh 2’s craft, but not actually enjoying it.

There is a healthy number of tracks that will take hours to master, cool Gravs and parts to unlock, and it’s a joy to look at and listen to while you do it. But with a little polish and workshopping, Antigraviator could have gone from really good, to really great.

Ironcast isn’t for everyone as it’s geared towards the more hardcore strategy gamer but if you like a challenge and have a low frustration tolerance, Ironcast could be for you.

Fabledom has deeper mechanics than maybe its storybook look suggests, and the folding-in of fairytale fantasy is winning. While both the fairytale and romance elements are unique twists, the core mechanics are pretty standard. Fans of the genre will feel right at home. I wouldn’t call Fabledom uninspired, but whatever it lacks in ambition it makes up in charm and familiar fun.

Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus is a good game, once you take some time to learn strategy and tactics. The upgrades to your Priests also help a lot in the middle to late game, so although it starts out tough things get better over time. I just wish their were more variety to gameplay and enemies, and I was disappointed that exploration seemed to almost be discouraged by the unfair RNG-generated outcomes of choices. The great writing and characters will appeal to any player, but I think you’d need to be a Warhammer fan to love the dull, grim visuals. Check this one out if you’re looking for a change from XCOM.

Pirate’s Curse succeeds as a solid sidescroller but doesn’t reach the heights of other classic and modern fusions of the genre like Shovel Knight, although is still a thoroughly enjoyable experience if your looking for a sidescroller.

Aliens: Dark Descent nails the tone and tension of the movie franchise. Its genre-fluid mechanics are clever, too, and provide some unexpected challenges and opportunities. A very slow, creaky start and some consistent technical issues hold it back from the top spot, but Aliens: Dark Descent is still appealing for fans of the films and tactical action games in general.

Crash Team Rumble is a surprisingly great multiplayer. The simple premise is compelling and fosters a more-ish cycle. Each of the characters is well-designed and gives gameplay options that allow you to strategize during bouts. The lack of single-player content, multiplayer modes, and the inclusion of a battle pass is disappointing, however, the core gameplay is a ton of fun and is definitely worth a spin.

Fractured Soul offers a lot of replay value, and with over 30 levels to navigate, online leaderboards, and unlockable challenges, there are many hours of entertaining, challenging, and addictive gameplay that the hardcore platforming fan should not miss out on.

One Hand Clapping is fun for singers and non-singers alike so I’m sure everyone will enjoy this creative experience. You can use it as an excuse to warm up your voice if you’re going out for Christmas caroling, or you can just sing to your heart’s content while actually making progress in a video game. And who knows, maybe you’ll find out you actually have a knack for singing.