The addition of the seamless mobile scanning app, shooting feedback system, Pro-Am modes, new animations and new gameplay mechanics all lends itself to about the best NBA Live experience we have seen in years.

Some people will be bored to tears by SeaBed, and I wouldn’t exactly blame them. It’s a hefty story that can often feel like it’s trying to say a bit more than it really needs to; a complex, tri-perspective lesbian love story is more than enough without adding in frequently pretentious philosophical musings. However, while its intentions aren’t immediately obvious and its focus on fine details may leave some feeling stranded, those willing to dive deep into SeaBed’s world and characters will find a wonderfully bittersweet narrative.

All in all, Ys X: Nordics is a fun action-RPG romp with vikings, frantic combat, and a truly entertaining silent protagonist. If you can figure out the parry system, it might even be a good game. I’m still docking it points for making me swear at my Switch so loud I scared my cat.

Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria doesn’t take any huge chances with the survival crafting genre. Still, the Lord of the Rings overlay and familiar character cameos help make its familiar loops seem fresh enough. In the mixed-bag pantheon of Lord of the Rings-inspired games, Return to Moria acquits itself quite well.

Windbound is a beautiful, relaxing experience that uses its survival mechanics not to force tension, but encourage you to keep moving forward. Its art style is absolutely stunning and the soundtrack – while occasionally sparse with periods of silence – is moving and invigorating. Despite its minor bugs, Windbound is like a great, narrative-driven introduction to the world of survival mechanics and something that is infinitely replayable.

At the end of the day, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate is a fantastic game trapped inside an archaic one.

Even without casual matchmaking, Team Ninja delivered an incredibly entertaining tournament until the weight of progression started to sink in. I clocked in close to 15 hours and only unlocked 3 outfits. I got one that I might have wanted, but I really wish I had a choice. And, I only unlocked those few skins because I slogged through the one, hyper-linear mode that gives decent rewards. Everything else awards pennies by comparison. All but the most hardcore players are liable to burn out before the first DLC drops. In the end, Dead or Alive 6 ran a marathon and put a grind wall (some might call it a paywall) before the finish line.

Windjammers has an undeniable charm with its retro aesthetics, simple gameplay, bright colors, and smart design. It’s lack of content, however, means it will only get attention from players who want to compete against their friends after completing the incredibly short single-player content. A lack of characters, stages, or much else to do is a big setback given the demand of games today, however being a port of the original game from ‘94 awards it a little more leeway in our expectations. Here’s hoping the sequel due out next year will give us the modern Windjammers title we need.

The narrative, atmosphere, and graphics have proven to be particularly superb; however, the poor voice acting and lack of significant interactive content root this game firmly as a walking-sim above a full horror experience. Serving the niche of Lovecraft fans, this is a marvelous game to play, but as a horror video game it will easily lose those not already interested in this style of macabre.

Lack of a concrete story and various unpolished dimensions of the game lend poorly to its overall conception, however underneath its faults and beyond the connection and host issues, Payday 2: Crimewave Edition is a solid experience with tons of hours to invest in the progression system.

Payback is a stark improvement over 2015’s entry in the series, adding likable characters, an enjoyable if not formulaic story, user-friendly tuning, and the best bits and pieces from the previous games rolled into one. Where Payback falters, however, is its misuse of compelling characters, lack of police force, and an open world which – while beautiful – only has about 1/8th of it in the city, leaving most of your driving to be an extended scenic route.

The truth of the matter is if you enjoy the base Card Hunter game then Card Hunter: Expedition to the Sky Citadel will be a welcome addition.

I think Tinytopia is a great game for younger audiences, especially ones interested in dipping their toes into citybuilder games. Fun, creative, and full of destruction! However, for veteran players looking for a new, complex system to dive into, I’d definitely look elsewhere.

I can’t really know what the AAA version of No Place Like Home even looks like. I think I wish the controls felt a little tighter, and that it looked a little bit nicer. It’s great to get all the garbage off the grass, but I wish the grass was a bit more textured. Maybe it would have been nice to see it shine in the sunlight. But that’s not where No Place Like Home places its focus. The developers clearly put time into balance and rhythm. If you are a gamer who peacefully likes carving out a digital home for yourself, there is a peace to be found in No Place Like Home.

AereA is a family-friendly adventure that bursts with colorful characters and exuberant music.

Overall, Hextech Mayhem is a good step for Riot to continue letting other developers experiment with their IP. The difficulty can spike unfairly at times and the rarer items require a bit too much trial and error to get behind, but it’s a solid diversion at its price point. I just wish Choice Provisions had taken a bigger (or riskier) swing for their auto-runner to give genre fans something to really dig into.

All in all, D1AL-ogue is a short, free puzzle game that’s more than worth spending a few hours on.

Though a bit bare-boned, Battlewake will satisfy those looking for a solid VR seafaring adventure. It has a reasonably lengthy single-player campaign and enough multiplayer modes to tide you over – provided you can find other players. It’s just a shame that there isn’t more to the gameplay to keep repetition from setting in because, at the end of the day, blasting holes into enemy ships is glee-inducing fun. Battlewake is simply missing that extra – but very necessary – oomph to elevate it into a must-play.

In short, The Inner Friend is enjoyable, if not much too short title that is open to interpretation in its story. This game is worth a play if you can scrounge up the cash. The experience alone is worth picking it up. And yet, PLAYMIND could have explored so much with this idea. Once again the game is much too short, leaving that potential untapped. Adding some more clues to the protagonist’s real identity and what they did prior would help a lot when players start to examine the game. Regardless, pick it up if you feel like spending a little bit of cash on a nice, spooky, surreal game. Your inner friend will thank you.

I can’t help but wonder what King’s Bounty II could have been had it stayed isometric and relied more on written words over spoken dialog. Maybe it could have offered something wholly unique. But this is the choice the developers made and for some of you, if you’re able to get past the jank, you’ll find a pretty okay turn-based combat game in King’s Bounty II. For others who are also looking to get lost in a deep world along with the combat, you’ll be better served elsewhere. ‎

Creature in the Well dances between minimalistic style and narrative juxtaposed against challenging puzzles and a creative new way to play. It’s an indie game that was lovingly crafted to put emphasis in all the right places and to give the player a new experience without bogging down in a heavy story. Instead, it leaves bread crumbs that players can choose to pick up or simply enjoy ricocheting orbs at high speed. The game is just as addictive as playing a real pinball machine, and the stages last just long enough to comfortably play in short bursts, but the challenge of “just one more run” is ever-present as you repair the giant construct to save the village and simply must know what happens next.

Having that single player path dangled in front of me, only for it to be an awful slog, is terribly disappointing.

Move or Die will demand every one of your senses to keep up as you bash, slash, and crash into your fellow players in some seriously fun chaotic mayhem. The fast pace is refreshing and soon becomes second nature as you focus on each mini-games unique objectives and try to destroy your opponents in twenty second intervals.

West of Dead offers a satisfying blend of tactics and rogue-like gameplay that I didn’t expect. Levels offer plenty of options for how you want to approach a situation, the gunplay is fast and precise, and the execution of creating a wild west style shoot out is perfect. The game is dripping with personality and Ron Perlman delivers each word with purpose and meaning. Every aspect of gameplay and aesthetic is tailored to telling the story of Mason in a way that feels natural and unique. It’s a blast to play over and over again despite issues with the geometry interfering with aiming and dodging not quite feeling as useful as it ought to.

Another gripe I have with the game is that there are no checkpoints. If you fail, you have to start from Wave 1. While getting through each wave doesn’t take an extraordinary amount of time, your arms do start to hurt after shooting a lot of arrows. It would have been nice if the game implemented some sort of checkpoint system as I frequently found myself dying during the boss battles.

If games like The Forest were up your alley, I do recommend giving Green Hell a shot. However, if you’re easily frustrated by obscure deaths vs trial and error, I’d recommend starting out at the easier difficulty so you can enjoy what it has to offer without needing to wrestle in frustration.

If you’re looking for something new to play and are a fan of roguelike card games, then you’ll probably have a good time with Roguebook. It’s a fun game and does a solid job of being what it is – when it works that is. However, if you’re looking for the next big genre-defying roguelike then you might be a bit disappointed as Roguebook isn’t really that. It is a good game, just not an incredible one and maybe that’s enough.

As an easy-to-pickup game, Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee is an enjoyable choice for those who aren’t looking for too much of a challenge but would like to utilize their brain and platforming skills for something fun and simple. With an interesting plot and two funky protagonists, Munch’s Oddysee provides a smartly made game with forgiving deaths and options, giving players the freedom to explore with minimal consequences. Although the puzzles could be spiced up a little, the overall customizable experience and well-made gameplay are something to be celebrated.

The game teeters close to punishing the player with its brutal difficulty but it never felt frustrating to the point of quitting. The simple mechanics and graphics make Lichtspeer approachable to anyone and lends itself well to the Switch’s pick-up-and-play ideology. Grab it if you’re looking for some mindless fun.

Trigger Witch has the potential to present a captivating adventure, especially with its interesting premise and fun dialogue. There isn’t much else to it besides slaughtering creatures, getting new weapons, and slaughtering the same creatures but in different ways. It’s good fun as long as you don’t expect the story to blow you away. I can see this having a cult following based on the gameplay, attainable trophies, and its cast of charming characters. If bloody, cutesy games with never-ending fights is your thing, you will enjoy Trigger Witch a lot.

All in all, Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian is a slow-paced but cute JRPG with an expansive crafting system. If you like Atelier games, you’ll have fun with it. If you’ve never tried an Atelier game, it’s not a bad place to start. Just don’t expect something revolutionary from a slice of life game about grief, town development, and alchemy.

Under normal circumstances a title like this wouldn’t have been worth a $60 price tag, but free is an entirely different story. It has a surprising amount of content, but ultimately suffers from lack of variety.

While the Big Score comes with a hefty price tag, it also comes with a good deal of solid content. While you may not enjoy everything the Big Score has to offer, the same great gameplay that captured your attention is back with even more bells and whistles.

With easy to use controls, gorgeous levels and vectors, and a pleasantly challenging AI, Strike Vector EX has classic arcade shooter written all over it. I wasn’t particularly happy that customizing my vector was limited to online multiplayer, and the thin storyline with irrational character decisions was a bit of a letdown. Had more effort gone into the story and characters, this could easily have been a much more impressive title, and with multiplayer restricted to PS+ it just feels that much smaller for those not interested in buying the service.

Kingdoms and Castles is a charming, relaxing, and easy to play real-time kingdom builder. Using simple polygons and vibrant colors, the game is heartwarming and challenges you to meet the needs of the people while expanding your empire.

At the end of the day the game is not a bad one, it is just one that has notable weaknesses and although the story is a prequel, the technical differences makes it less then the bigger console version whose release it follows.

If you haven’t played many point-and-click adventures and want to start, or you want to rekindle your love of this genre, then The Perils of Man would be the game to start with.

If you’ve got a very specific Ralph Bakshi craving, you could do worse than Ash of Gods: Redemption. It’s not a bad game, it’s just too similar to a better one.

All in all the Vergil’s Downfall, the first DLC for Devil May Cry, is a solid experience as Vergil’s unique combos are fun and the narrative is actually pretty good, all which make the $7.99 (720 MS Points) worth the price of admission. The collectibles and additional difficulties deliver a fair amount of content for the coin too.

The themes of government surveillance and citizenship scores are not impossible to imagine, and that only makes the story of Liberated stronger and much more intense. The plot and gameplay are both simple to understand, even if the game did end too quickly. I also would have liked some variety in enemies and more strategizing in the game, but this is based on a pretty realistic world and having overpowered robots would probably not fit into the narrative. While it may not the most exciting action-adventure platformer out there, the artwork and stylish storytelling is impressive and makes the experience worthwhile.

Omen of Sorrow is an efficient and fun fighting game while in the heat of battle, but it trips getting to the arena. Barebones mode selection, a Story Mode that’s clumsy and doesn’t properly pay off, and some strange dialogue throughout keep the game from reaching full potential. The characters are really cool and the fighting system is worth learning, the game does succeed in that regard, but I still am left wanting more. The true Omen isn’t one of Sorrow, it’s one of where’s the rest of the game?

Regardless of its somewhat flat textures and oddly long loading screens, this is definitely a user-friendly title with potential for hours of fun with friends as they fly high and kick mud in each other’s face.

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.

If Outward had released a decade ago, I have a feeling it would have been an instant cult classic, but in 2019, it’s harder to look past some its more outstanding issues. But even with its long list of flaws, I’d still happily get lost in Outward again.

MediEvil is a straight forward hack n’ slash game, originally made for the PS1. It’s presentation and sense of humor set it apart from its contemporaries, and improved camera controls have modernized it. The graphics are now rendered in 4K, and the music is orchestral. If you’re a fan of PS1 classics like Crash Bandicoot, or Spyro, but would like a heavier emphasis on action, then MediEvil is just what you’re looking for, especially if you want an old school challenge with some new school tweaks. If you’re not into retro gaming, however, MediEvil won’t be the game to convert you.

World of Warships Blitz is a well crafted naval combat MMO that is both easy to play and offers loads of options to unlock.

Coupled with a strong and detailed art style that really fleshes out the story settings and you have a mystery game that all should find worthy enough to play.

It’s not the brand new Fable adventure I’ve wanted for years, but Fable Fortune does an admirable job of bringing the franchise back. The whimsy and humor are back in force, coupled with a competent card game with new ideas and limited execution.

All in all, Artis Impact is a fascinating work of art from a solo developer. I just wish the combat was more balanced and the English translation were better.

I admittedly didn’t exit the Gungeon but I had a lot of fun between the Breach and my constant deaths trying to escape the time paradox created with Enter The Gungeon. Although this process often feels like beating my head against a wall with other titles, the charm and chaos of Exit The Gungeon keeps me captivated while my stubbornness forces me to keep picking it up and trying to climb my way out of the Gungeon.

Temtem is a unique yet familiar take on the monster-collecting genre. Its blend of MMO mechanics gives it the potential for a long-running, sustainable community with more to enjoy than a single-player narrative. The new combat mechanics are a fantastic upgrade. However, the Tems themselves and the overall lack of guidance aren’t quite up to standards. Tems aren’t that memorable themselves and many of their names just don’t click. Having no guidance on typing, advantages, or explanations on a number of smaller features drops the enjoyment of gameplay. It’s a great experience, but it expects you to already have a certain amount of knowledge of both genres before picking up the controller.

Intruders: Hide and Seek is a short game focused around one thing, and it does it pretty well. The hiding, seeking and sneaking gameplay works, and developers Tessera Studios interweave it with a short, decent story and not too much else to overly complicate things. The characters look like demonic dolls and the voice acting is scary for all the wrong reasons, but luckily they never play enough of a role to bring this cat-and-mouse affair down too much. If you’re looking for a stealth VR title with solid gameplay and a decent story, seek no further – Intruders: Hide and Seek is a worthy VR title hiding in plain sight.

Lacking a story, bot matches, or any other form of single-player content, Hood: Outlaws and Legends is committed to a very specific multiplayer model that may or may not have legs. The game feels unbalanced, populated by a large number of surprisingly high-level players wreaking havoc on newbies, and squads interested in subverting the flow of gameplay. Some of these issues will get ironed out in time with tweaks to balance and matchmaking but what remains is still a fairly limited experience even under ideal circumstances. Additional modes, a wider variety of classes and especially, some sort of alternative to PvP combat would all potentially bring Hood: Outlaws and Legends’ fundamentally solid gameplay to a wider audience and give it a chance at longevity.

Legends of Eisenwald presents players with a game that takes place on a broad canvas without the freedom to dive deep into it. That is not a bad thing but a different approach. Sometimes that is all a player is looking for.

Featuring upgradeable weapons, unlockable combat companions, and hidden collectibles to find, Blue Rider’s biggest problem is overzealous movement controls that make fine-tuned bullet dodging trickier than it needs to be. While it does not feature a story or basic plot, it makes up for it with fast action, explosions, and replayability as you try to reach the top of the leaderboard.

The best the franchise has looked to date and the fighting is more enjoyable than ever.

NHL 26 is not a game that reinvents the wheel, nor does it shed the criticisms leveled at its annual predecessors. However, it represents a decent step forward in key areas. The refinements to puck physics and skating mechanics are substantial, delivering a more authentic and rewarding on-ice experience. While lingering issues, such as inconsistent goaltending AI and repetitive commentary, prevent it from achieving what hockey fans dream of. Be A Pro is certainly more enjoyable, but still requires a ton of work to feel authentic. NHL 26 doesn’t come close to reaching the heights of the series, but it isn’t terrible by any means.

Even though Clea 2 is very challenging, it is not impossible to beat nor is it scary enough to act as nightmare fuel. A great continuation for those who are looking for more of Clea, the sequel does not have a story that could stand on its own. However, it rightfully belongs in the horror genre with its heavy and tense atmosphere and clever use of sounds in a dark setting. Even though the plot isn’t memorable, Clea 2 is a quiet thrill that can be mastered and replayed over and over again.

Hohokum’s developers intentionally created a game that was more about vibe than content. It prioritizes meandering and discovery over logic and progress. Some players will connect with Hohokum’s relaxed approach to game design, but others will wish for more direction and sense of accomplishment or mastery. The PC release doesn’t add or subtract anything from the original, but it gives a new audience the chance to experience a unique and sometimes fascinating game.

Superstars fills a weird niche for Mario Party fans. If you're missing the old maps, this is a great way to dredge them up without suffering through the ancient visuals. Conversely, if you're looking for more modern Mario Party action, this entry will fall a bit short of your expectations. Little things have been rolled back, little problems persist. That game where you rip open your palm to win at tug-of-war is back, for example. The game looks modern, but feels more like a classic entry in the franchise. If the thing you were missing was frustration and elation in equal measure, then yours will be a rich bounty indeed. For better and for worse, this is a heaping helping of the cruel whimsy you remember so well. Mario Party Superstars is a glamorous trip down cherished paths you've mostly blocked from your memory.

Graveyard Keeper is an engaging and rewarding farming sim weighed down by pacing and performance issues. The GBA-style visuals compliment its contained open world, and influences from old-school Zelda games that shine through just as much as that of Harvest Moon or Stardew Valley. The PC and Xbox versions play almost exactly the same, which is unfortunate considering the game’s performance, but if you can look past all the spots and blotches, you’ll likely enjoy the challenging gathering-crafting grind, and the game’s macabre humor when it actually lands.

Skull and Bones does what it set out to do quite well. Combat is fun, the upgrade system is rewarding, the environment is engaging, and the sound design is phenomenal. But everything that it doesn’t do sticks out like a sore thumb. A next-to-non-existent narrative, repetitive one-trick missions, and a lack of anything pirate-related other than sailing a ship hurts. To its credit, I enjoyed my first twenty or so hours more than I thought I would. But it’ll take a significant, focused effort from Ubisoft to maintain interest over the years to come.

His past games have demonstrated that Suda51 is probably incapable of making a cookie-cutter action game. Yet underneath its misdirection of wild and crazy, that’s kind of what Romeo is a Dead Man really is. Strip away the disorienting style shifts and patchwork narrative, and you’re left with a fun but limited third-person action game with Soulslike elements. The game succeeds at stylistic surprise but at the expense of polished mechanics and satisfying coherence.

A spiritual successor to the Zeno Clash franchise, Clash: Artifacts of Chaos preserves and extends those games’ trademark weirdness. Clash: Artifacts of Chaos takes some chances and adds some interesting mechanics to the action game formula. Not everything works, unfortunately, and the game can be striking, engrossing, and frustrating in equal measure. I loved the game’s singular art direction, day/night mechanic, and more, but the combat is a mixed bag. Clash: Artifacts of Chaos is almost, but not quite, worth playing for its art alone.

In the end, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn has a lot of good ideas and the potential to be a standout ARPG. The problem is, that all those strengths are counterbalanced by issues that chip away at its quality. Good writing and acting, some interesting character dynamics, and fluid movement compete with bad sound mixing, janky combat, and inelegant level design. I think that in the end, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is worth playing, especially for casual RPG fans. Hardcore Soulslike players will find it harder to ignore the game’s missteps and flaws.

There’s a lot of cool little ideas on display here. The combat system and the use of bonds is excellent. The dating sim sections are fun. Even the survival scavenging elements are a fun distraction. But they all feel insubstantial. Certain activities feel repetitive or limited. The progression path you follow with every teammate feels almost identical. Scavenging is the same thing every time. Even the fights fall into a predictable rhythm after a while. But I still had fun. I’m not sure if all these subgenres add up to a proper game. But I did enjoy the ride. If you’re looking for a pretty, Persona-style RPG, check out Eternights.

Sim games approach their subjects with a mix of reverence and intense focus. Unlike more arcade-style skateboarding games, Session is a pure, unfiltered experience. If you want to recreate the slow, careful process of learning how to skate, this is your game. But be warned! The mix of intense difficulty and self-directed gameplay isn’t for everyone. Anything less than a pure, powerful love for skateboarding will leave you feeling dissatisfied with this game. But if you’re looking for a pure challenge, and don’t mind a few bugs, you’re in luck. Session: Skate Sim is exactly what you’ve been waiting for.

I’m genuinely delighted that Nintendo was able to strip away just one aspect of Animal Crossing and make an entire game out of it.

Mekazoo plays it safe in the gameplay department, but what is there can still be frantic and fun. While some segments feel a bit scripted, others gave me a huge sense of accomplishment. It’s really the art and soundtrack that shine here, allowing me to be immersed in the world to focus on the difficult platforming segments.

While 198X did not quite live up to expectations set by its undeniably awesome trailer, the game has displayed a dedication to what it set out to do. Though its narrative at times felt more like a method to which to introduce the various levels, it definitely left me wanting to learn more about the world. Similarly, the game’s relatively shallow stages made we wish that they had been more fleshed out. Sitting at a playtime of somewhere between one and two hours, 198X gives players a glimpse of the retro-inspired world that the developers have crafted, leaving players wanting more of what they got.

More variety in enemy types and more gadgets at the disposal of the player would do wonders for an already solid stealth game.

If you and your friends are still really into Aliens: Fireteam Elite, Pathogen is a no-brainer purchase. Like the Chapter 2 content, Pathogen adds lots of toys, cosmetics, and a new mode. For casual players only dipping into Fireteam Elite on occasion, the ratio of cost to content might not work in their favor. With the right group — that is, human friends or cooperators — Pathogen is just as rewarding as the base game, and extends the fun just a little longer.

Alfred Hitchcock: Vertigo weaves a wonderful mystery that is full of surprises. The direction and audio pay homage to its namesake and will please fans of the source material. It is disappointing that your choices have little to no impact on the story, however, this can be overlooked due to the lovingly crafted tale that will keep you gripped throughout.

The story hangs a little thin in spots and the combat gets hard at random times, but I found myself going back repeatedly until a given challenge was finished. Yes, the game gets tough. And yes, it can feel unfair at times. However, I learned that a little patience and a little experimentation was often enough to overcome seemingly impossible hurdles.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Reverie is not a good place to start the Trails series. This is not a short game, it starts very slowly, and it’s effectively a sequel to every previous game. If you’re a fan, however, you can’t miss this. Especially since it has enough replay value to keep you busy until the Calvard games are localized.

Astor: Blade of the Monolith is a great introduction to the Soulslike mechanics that dominate ARPGs right now. I can see it appealing to younger or novice gamers. It’s family-friendly, colorful, and pretty satisfying to play. More hardcore action fans will probably find it too familiar and not quite as polished as their favorites. Overall, Astor: Blade of the Monolith brings together a collection of tried-and-true mechanics in a pretty satisfying way.

Mage’s Initiation might suffer from aiming itself at nostalgic fans of a bygone era of gaming, but when someone new stumbles on it, they’ll have themselves a good time…as long as they avoid forests.

Lightfall as a whole package falls short of the standard set by The Witch Queen last year. The story is shaky and tangential, and the gameplay changes are few and far between outside of the underwhelming Strand powers. Neomuna isn’t nearly as memorable, and difficulty changes make it more challenging to engage with Destiny’s bread and butter content. Thankfully, overall quality of life improvements and the rock solid bones of the gameplay save the package as a whole. If you’re after more Destiny 2, Lightfall is certainly that, but as the most expensive expansion yet ($100 USD with the annual pass), I expected to have my hair blown back a bit more.

The price is a little high in my opinion, but if you’ve got a VR setup then it’s definitely worth it. Even without, if you enjoy other horror games where resources are limited and your mind is playing tricks on you, then there’s a good chance Narcosis is worth the money. Just make sure to grab your best headset, and turn out all the lights before you start.

While the planet of Batuu is visually pleasing, I found myself getting bored after the first few hours. Journey to Batuu can be a little a hit and miss depending on what kind of Sims fan you are. It’s a fun experience for the first bit, but if you’re someone who focuses’ more on builds than completing missions, this may not be the right pack for you. For Star Wars fans, I’m sure you would have a much better appreciation for this DLC pack than I did as it’ll likely scratch that tiny itch you may have for more Star Wars content.

All in all, Prinny Presents NIS Classics Vol 3 is a pretty solid purchase for fans of retro SRPGs, but I wouldn’t recommend it for casual gamers. However, if you want your young sister or daughter to get into RPGs, this might be a good starter package. She can begin with the easy difficulty and charming story of Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure. Once she has her bearings and is ready for something more complex, she can try La Pucelle: Ragnarok.

If you love an interesting story with some creepy sci-fi elements, then I highly recommend The Final Station. Finding bits of lore and slowly uncovering parts of the mystery was intriguing and kept me moving down the line, but that’s not for everyone. It’s a bit short for the price tag, but well worth your money if you enjoy single-player titles that leave you wondering at the end.

As it stands Block’hood is a mostly competent builder, but don’t expect to sink dozens of hours into your pièce de résistance. What you should expect is to be frustrated by bugs, crashing, and hang ups, and dazzled by the unique visuals and silky smooth score.

This game has a curious blend of strengths and weaknesses. What’s done well is exemplary, while the game’s problem areas were excised altogether.

For fans of the franchise, this is an easy sale. You’ve got three games to play and tons of art to sift through. New players might be more cautious. The core gameplay is well-crafted for sure. And you can’t go wrong with that high-quality sprite work. But these are still punishing offerings from a bygone era. You’ll need a lot of patience and perseverance if you want to get through this collection. The rewind function is a serious advantage, but even that system requires some practice and fine-tuning to use. Retro gaming fans new and old will appreciate the Rocket Knight Adventures collection, though maybe you’ll wanna wait for a sale.

Overall, it’s a decent game. There is plenty of content to go around, but it may lend itself to certain types of players more than others. If you don’t like a bit of grind, it may not go down as well. The story is good, the voice acting is excellent, but the more action-oriented parts feel almost like a more arcadey version of Elite Dangerous (but not like, in a bad way). In the end, Star Control: Origins feels like a game that players will either love or hate.

It’s entertaining, fun and lighthearted, making it the perfect title to pick up from time to time or to play after a long day when the mind just wants to rest.

Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga has a lot of content, but it’s still not a very deep game. It’s made for fans of the Ys and Trails series. Its release is timed well to coincide with the release of Trails in the Sky: 1st Chapter. But Ys Seven is trapped on the PSP, and the only modern access is as a crappy PC port. It’s amazing that Nihon Falcom has released Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga for their fans. But longtime Trails and Ys fans will find a lot of their favorite characters missing. Hopefully Nihon Falcom will make a proper Ys Seven modern console port soon.

Sega is straight-up hooked on compilations. Their old catalogue has come out on everything from the PS2 to the Mini Genesis. You almost certainly own half the games in this collection several times over. On the other hand, Sonic 3 and Sonic CD are two terrific games that deserve your attention. Plus, Sega has done an admirable job in filling this collection with bonus content. And we can't overlook the accessibility win that is Anniversary Mode. While there are a lot of old Sonic games that deserve this treatment more, Sonic Origins has earned a place of sorts. If you're looking for a glittery shrine to Sonic's 2D era, this collection has got you covered.

Minute of Islands tells its tale confidently but its potential power is undercut by its mostly uninspired and largely irrelevant game play mechanics. It never felt like it mattered how I played the game because sooner or later the story would eventually unfold as long as I kept clicking and pushing the character through her small range of tasks. I think that playing through Minute of Islands is worth your time if you enjoy dark themed stories and distinctive art, but don’t come with high expectations for the puzzles or platforming.

If you are a Zen Pinball fanatic then you have likely already downloaded the new tables. Those new to the franchise may want to look elsewhere unless you want your first experience to be a CastleStorm experience.

From its amusing setting to its solid gameplay mechanics, Murderous Pursuits has a lot going for it. When you boil it down, it’s a fun game to play, especially with a few friends to share in the antics.

For all its playful polish, this is a Senran Kagura game at heart. The story battles take time to ramp up. The dialogue between said story battles can get a little tedious. The controls are pretty good, though at times I felt like they were rough around the edges. The fan service vibes are at full power with Peach Beach Splash.

While the story itself is pretty sub-par, the characters are really quite likable, the gameplay is a lot of fun and the need to have a 100% complete map of Celceta is a huge drawing force.

I can’t totally ignore the flaws present, and I suspect that many potential players will not be able to either. But this is a rock-solid title nonetheless. If you know the Touhou name, or even if you know the masochistic joy of bullet-hell gaming, Battle Burst is worth checking out.

All in all, Into the Nexus is an entertaining and well put together Ratchet and Clank installment with some flaws here and there that drop the experience from good to just okay.

WRC 6 is a decent racing game, assuming you understand exactly what you’re getting into.

If you’re a fan of the sim/building/cleaning genres and games like House Flipper, you’ll probably enjoy Hotel Renovator, though it doesn’t exactly break new ground. The process of demolishing and refurbishing the rooms is relaxing and chill enough, as it should be. That’s probably enough, but I wish the controls and camera were a bit more responsive and the campaign a little less skip-worthy. In the end, Hotel Renovator was engaging enough to keep me away from actual cleaning around the house, so goal accomplished.