Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is a solid stealth experience with a lot of variety both in hero use and level design. It’s a beautiful game that should please any strategy buff, particularly those who enjoy the whole ninja/samurai aesthetic.

Most of these games translate well to the Switch, the improved graphics exploding with color. Playing in 4:3 suits some games better than others, so it’s not a perfect fit. The JoyCons are a great control tool, even if a few games struggle (I’m looking at you Sky Kid, you menace) on the Switch. This was a fun little jaunt down memory lane, but it’s really nothing more than another Namco collection in new digs.

Although Tacoma is short, it does a fantastic job telling the stories of the different characters throughout the game, using the non-sequential AR memory recordings to build emotional ties to each. Tacoma is a simple, yet fun narrative driven game that brings time and space together.

Whether you are a SHMUP fan or not, Bullet Soul: Infinite Burst will be an addicting time. It’s refreshing to play a game that emphasizes that fun factor, so much so that I really couldn’t find much fault with the game other than the extremely small window in which the action takes place.

This is a great purchase if you like sidescrolling bullet hell or just want an interesting game to play through with a friend.

If linear gameplay and combat that’s decent at best don’t sound like your idea of a good time, look elsewhere. Masquerada: Songs and Shadows tends to fit a niche that is a classic staple of video games.

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.

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.

Cat Quest is a delightfully charming experience, one that people may overlook as a kids game, and they would be sorely mistaken. It has depth, an intriguing art style, some wonderful dialogue, and a compelling combat system that – when combined with everything else it has to offer – delivers a game that is hard to put down.

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

While Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star is a solid experience during combat, the overly complex plot is paired with some juvenile and cringe-worthy dialogue that mars the experience.

If corners were cut with the graphics, they were completely rounded over and sanded down in the music and sound department.

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.

Sign of the Times is a short, boring escapade that is filled with brilliant moments. However, its biggest failure is its inexcusable and confusing narrative, paired with new characters that I wanted to be rid of.

Between the delightful little flourishes, this is a game that wants to make you think. And feel.

CastleStorm VR is a relatively enjoyable game with an addictive loop, and it’s easy to lose hours to it. While I wish more was done on the VR side, it’s a solid addition to the game. It doesn’t do much to improve the lackluster story or repetitive gameplay, however. Addictive or not, some variety would not hurt at all.

That comparison between ChromaGun and Portal has come up a lot, but the game doesn’t suffer for it. In fact, this brazen admission of influence written all over the game works to its benefit.

Cave Story+ is an excellent port and it feels right at home on the Nintendo Switch.

Redeemer aims to deliver a modern take on the brawler genre and in some ways, it does that. Yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the game was merely a variation of the combat from Batman: Arkham Asylum. There are combo’s, counters and stealth elements all blended into an action game but it all seems dated. Redeemer just feels slightly displaced in time. It’s an ok game now, but had it come out a few years back it would have seemed a little more fresh and modern.

In a market swamped in MOBAs, Motiga has made a game that might just be unique enough to stand out on its own. Collecting energy to preserve your lead in the race to charge up your guardian first creates very tense, and exhilarating gameplay. Though the finicky UI isn’t a deal breaker, it may confuse some newcomers and I wouldn’t want anyone to miss out on such a fun game because of a small inconvenience.

While nearly all aspects of the game shine, it’s the collective story that is supposed to bring the cases together that is lacking.

Infinite Minigolf is a lovable, lighthearted game that doesn’t take itself too seriously and will definitely be supported heavily by its community and their created stages. With a lot to unlock and plenty to do, this makes for a great way to unwind either playing solo, online or side by side with a friend as you out-putt each other to victory.

While Aporia may not be for everyone, those hardcore Myst enthusiasts will find a lot to like. It’s got the bare bones of a decent puzzle/exploration game, and it’s got atmosphere for miles. The controls, the graphics, and the level design effectively transport the player to a desolate world. It’s beautiful and enchanting. If only there was something more to do there.

If you’re looking for a Metroidvania-style slash-fest that won’t make your eyes weary, you’ve gotta check out Sundered.

The final battle in Archangel is one of the coolest, most epic experiences I’ve had yet in VR. The sense of scale and power you feel makes this a new high watermark for the PlayStation VR platform and for VR in general. If you can overlook the iffy graphics, you’re in for an immersive and moving experience.

Aftergrinder is an incredibly simple arcade runner, but it uses that simplicity to its advantage. It focuses on a core set of mechanics and controls, as well as supremely responsive movements, to keep the player going level after level. It’s quick load-times and short levels feed into its overall approach. It’s great to play a game lie Aftergrinder that knows what it is instead of trying to be a jack of all trades.

The solid twin-stick shooting is worth the price of admission alone.

If grinding for loot, shooting zombies, and building the coolest forts ever sounds like it’s up your alley, I can’t recommend Fortnite enough.

All around, Super Cloudbuilt took me from a baby just learning how to walk all the way to an angsty teenager yelling at the screen. A full blown adult who’s in full control of his movement? No way—I’m barely that in real life, but I reached a level of confidence that brought excitement and not apprehension when I leaped for a platform that might just be too far out of reach. Super Cloudbuilt isn’t a perfect experience, but a fun one without a doubt.

It all comes down to a game that, while not terrible, isn’t going to set the world on fire. We won’t be seeing any Black The Fall clones in the next few months.

I had an absolute blast playing through Aven. It’s as absorbing as it is relaxing, and it does a good job at bringing its own to the table whilst still retaining what makes city builders fun and challenging. The challenges it brings are unique and fun, and though there might be a few changes I’d personally like to see added, not having them doesn’t deduct much at all from the gameplay.

Here’s the thing, Unbox: Newbie’s Adventure is a platformer that doesn’t bring anything new or fresh to the genre and can be downright frustrating at times. Rather than try and evolve the genre, developer Prospect relies on simplistic standards that have been done to death.

It’s difficult to convey Lone Echo’s level of immersion in words. It’s something you have to try for yourself. The game gets so many things right, from the player’s relationship with Captain Rhodes to the interactivity with the environment, that I’m willing to overlook its disappointing finale. For the first time ever, I truly felt like I was in space, an experience only made possible with the power of virtual reality. And for that, I can’t recommend Lone Echo enough.

After a bumpy start with its combat, Pyre lives up to its predecessors with its rich lore, stunning art design, and interactive narrative. With the choices that you carry out altering the story, Pyre‘s diverse cast of characters in such an imaginative world makes it one to return to after you beat it, possibly again and again.

The Lion’s Song is a game that leans hard on its storytelling and pulls it off in fine fashion. The tale is intriguing and demands attention, while the element of choice adds some replay value for good measure. The story and novel visuals may not please everyone, and it’s definitely no Kentucky Route Zero, but for fans of the traditional adventure game looking for some more things to click on, The Lion’s Song is a fine choice.

Yonder takes many of the things, such as fishing and farming, that usually take a backseat and brings them front and center with rewarding results.

Accel World vs. Sword Art Online: Millennium Twilight is a game for the fans. If you’re into one or both of these properties, it’s worth your time. If you’re not, while the freedom of movement and combat are fun, the environments are too dull and the story too boring and low stakes to really recommend it.

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.

When you accelerate away from the line for the first time, you quickly realize how clinical and devoid of character it all is.

The combat… my god the combat. I can’t imagine playing through the entire campaign with all that frantic button-smashing.

There’s someone out there who may enjoy Doctor Kvorak’s manic style, and if so, they may find a game with decent puzzle design. Even that person though, will have to brave the game’s difficult control scheme, and finicky physics. Doctor Kvorak picked some good influences, but doesn’t come close to matching their quality.

With some impressive titles already released this year, the Nintendo Switch continues its hot streak with Splatoon 2. This may seem like a bold statement but Splatoon 2 finds itself to be one of the best shooters available right now. Granted, it is hard to compare gritty AAA first-person shooters with Splatoon 2 but it's equally hard to argue against the aesthetically pleasing visuals, smooth framerate, polished gameplay, and pure fun of the game.

Antihero is a charming aesthetic package wrapped around a solid tactical core. If you can master the various systems at play, you can turn any situation into a victorious one. There are multiple paths to success, and you’re only funneled into a specific one if your opponent is absolutely dominating the board from start to finish.

While Absolution is by no means a disaster it just feels lacking in comparison to the rest of the content we’ve been given for Infinite Warfare so far. Although Absolution does add new content, and the Attack of the Radioactive Thing! is both complicated and fun, the multiplayer maps just don’t fit very well within the constructs of Infinite Warfare.

If you’re looking for a puzzler that tests your brain as well as your reflexes, then Death Squared will fit the bill nicely.

For the two hours it took me to complete, Minecraft: Story Mode Season 2 is off to a grand start. I never thought I’d enjoy something that’s so outside of my gaming ballpark, but I genuinely can’t wait to see how the rest of Jesse’s second journey unfolds, even if it’s not heavily weighted by my decisions.

A fractured, short, unrewarding experience that needs to figure out what it is before it says anything more.

Each level presents a new challenge, with some really forcing some outside-the-box thought in order to succeed, but there are moments where the difficulty becomes more frustrating than challenging. iFunForAll made a neat little game here, it’s just a shame that the execution wasn’t as clean as the main character’s work.

The pacing is still weird, even if it is breezier. The battle system will still turn you off if it did the first time. Still, this is Ivalice in all its glory. Enormous, beautiful, flawed and fiercely compelling. Even if you've already put a hundred hours in the original, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age can get its hooks in you, and deep.

Provides a solid amount of goodies to keep Breath of the Wild fans occupied through the summer months.

Technical issues aside, sadly Cryptark ends up being a middle of the road roguelike. It has some well thought out and unique ideas that get lost in the business of everything around it.

Astro Boy: Edge of Time is a fun and functional CCG, it just doesn’t do a whole lot to stand out from the many other like it.

It’s smart, the jokes are funny, and the story is incredible with some excellent twists. I fell in love with its canvas visuals and character interactions, making this one of my favorite point-and-click adventure games in recent memory. It plays wonderfully on console and its charm is never lost. Its relatively short length isn’t a detriment in the slightest; It only encouraged me to fall for it over and over again.

A delightfully charming game with some irritating design flaws that prevent it from achieving excellence. While the characters are fun and their abilities are creative, the puzzles they’re used for lack the level of challenge that’s become expected from modern indie games, and the fast-travel system often forces you to spend lots of time backtracking. That said, there’s still a lot of fun to be had in this world, and the beautiful aesthetic and fantastic musical accompaniment will keep you entertained at even the most tedious moments.

The real kicker here is that Air Missions: HIND features some incredibly detailed helicopter models – almost full simulation quality – and initially looks like it has bags of potential. Sadly, it doesn’t even come close to realizing it.

It’s evident MXGP3 is not an AAA racing game. With 22 people on small dirt tracks, the races are often fast-paced and exciting and the bike physics add a surprisingly realistic touch. Unfortunately, with its so-so graphics and lackluster game modes, the rest of the experience feels somewhat rushed and unpolished.

With a colorful and wild presentation, Micro Machines World Series is a hectic and incredibly fun racing game that manages to be both challenging and light hearted. The level designs, details, vehicles, and game modes are all superb, and the game’s announcer has a wonderfully over-the-top comedic delivery that adds to the excitement. It’s a game full of laughs, but like a good joke, the laughter ends. Micro Machines World Series simply doesn’t offer enough to players to keep them invested beyond playing it as a party game with those who remember the original toy line from the 90’s.

The premise is amazing, and your first hour or two with the game is stellar, but the long term enjoyment you’ll get out of it depends on what level of tedium you’re willing to tolerate.

While the gameplay might be repetitive and clunky at times, the game encourages players to return, and the town building aspects are quite addicting.

Elite: Dangerous is a well crafted and complex space simulation in flight, combat, and a number of RPG elements such as resource management, questing, and upgrading gear. With real world science creating the games universe and some very nice graphics, the game’s downfall comes from the overly complex controls used for flight, making the game difficult for newcomers who may be expecting a more user friendly experience.

Get Even is a fun, stylish mind-bending adventure that I found very enjoyable for much of my play through. Each part of the game plays like an episode from Cole’s past, and each offers a fresh twist in play style and tone that keeps the experience fresh.

With 11 playable classes, multiple costumes, and some wonderfully cartoonish graphics, the games only downfalls are its unnecessarily layered menu system and its somewhat overwhelming controls, which can take a little while to get used to. Dungeon Defenders 2 is an excellent adventure and well worth diving in head first to save Etheria.

Dead Rising 4 Mini Golf is actually a fun little add-on that adds good content to the Dead Rising 4 package. If you’ll only be playing this mode alone, don’t bother. If you have a group of friends playing Dead Rising 4 that are willing to purchase this DLC, then I’d say go for it.

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy may not win over new or younger players with its occasionally frustrating but faithful recreation of Crash’s original platforming mechanics, but older fans will gobble this collection up, and rightfully so. It’s a wonderful remaster featuring beautifully updated visuals, scrumptious sound and hours and hours of memories to relive.

If you’re looking for some serious tactics fun and have been craving some of that late 80s or early 90s campiness, do yourself a favor and pick up Chroma Squad on just about any platform of your choice.

If you’re looking for a quick distraction with fast rounds and short game times, Ancient Amulator is worth a pickup. If you’re looking for a different kind of game that takes use of virtual reality in a compelling way, then defending towers isn’t going to cut it. Ancient Amuletor feels like just another VR game in a landscape that hasn’t been delivering on its promise and potential since the release of Sony’s headset.

If you like a deep, interesting story in your RPGs, Valkyria Revolution will deliver. There’s a compelling 70-plus hours of content her that almost justifies its Shakespearean ambitions – despite the slings and arrows of boring combat, and the sound and fury of long cutscenes. If the question is To Play or Not to Play, I would say play, but just be prepared for a few tragic flaws.

Overall the game does feel really good. The mechanics are solid with the only issue being gauging strength. The career and societies are going to offer up some good possibilities to players along with some real extended play times. 100,000+ courses to play is slightly bonkers. That’s great for variety but it’s also a double-edged sword. While most are well optimized, there are times that during your back swing the game will stutter. I’m sure you can imagine what that does to a shot.

Cars 3 is a great example of good family fun, however, Avalanche Software and Warner Bros. make a few missteps that ultimately take away from what makes the movies so awesome. If the aim of the game was to make it feel just like the movie, it falls short, however, if the intention was to take a Mario Kart style title and turn it into a Disney Pixar production, Cars 3 nails it.

Despite its utterly insane difficulty curve, Nex Machina is a pure joy to play.

Play Perception if you’re in need of a quick horror fix, and not for what could be perceived as something larger.

Despite the small issues I encountered with this Psych Ward DLC, it plays very well and adds both replayability and enjoyability to a game already far above its genre. Introversion Software and Double Eleven do a great job showing that simulation games do not have to be boring or mindless, and that they can be home to creativity, variety, and if you’re feeling up to it, absolute chaos.

WipEout Omega Collection is a fantastic game for both new gamers and seasoned racers alike, offering something for everyone.

if you’re a fan of looting, shooting, and scooting, I can’t recommend Drifting Lands enough. It’s an absolute blast to play, has a ton of content, and comes in at a very inexpensive price point that should make any miser feel like they’ve gotten their money’s worth.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind is a huge, fun new adventure for players of the base game to enjoy. If you haven’t played the game in a while, it is a great time to get back into it.

A slept-on gem that needs some attention.

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

In its picturesque environments and linear nature, Stones Unturned is the peak of the Mafia III experience.

Conarium does a fantastic job on the atmosphere and giving players those fearful moments of panic where you are holding your breath at every turn. The gameplay; however, is somewhat unchallenging and puzzles are few and far between. While the story and plot are good, Conarium is quite short. This being said, those who love anything inspired by Lovecraft and his creatures should surely enjoy this title.

This episode has a good flow and tempo, with lots of visually appealing cutscenes and action to break up the story, and while it reaches the end without feeling rushed, the cliffhanger feels a bit out of place.

While the lack of button mapping or even a general guide to the controls in the menu can be off-putting at first, the gameplay itself is a delightful challenge.

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.

A brilliant game that may turn away some beginners due to its steep learning curve, but stick with it and you’ll be rewarded with an intense squad-based shooter that gives Battlefield a run for its money. It also serves as a cheerful reminder to me that I’d be as useless in a real firefight as I have expected.

Whether it was the shoddy writing, non-existent character development, the floaty platforming physics or the combat mechanics that are often at odds with themselves, Randall is the kind of game that is no more than the sum of its parts. Unfortunately, that sum does not add up to a memorable experience.

What is great about Warlords is that you can invest as deeply or casually as you like.

Despite some promising features, the negatives associated with the gameplay and camera were enough to keep me from fully enjoying this title.

While the magic system that is the core of Mages of Mystralia is outstanding, the rest of it can use some of that creativity as well. It is a game where a sequel may be due, to add to what Borealys Games has made here and really bring this world to life.

Star Trek: Bridge Crew feels like the next step for cooperative gaming. It builds upon the core concept that made Spaceteam and Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes so much fun to play, and adds an extra layer on top of it that makes it feel more like a traditional game. It might not offer as much freedom as players would like, and there’s not a ton of content, but it still manages to be one of the most captivating titles for VR.

ARMS is a great package, subverting and exceeding most of my expectations while offering modes of play that cater to a variety of players. The offline Grand Prix mode leaves much to be desired, and the 2 v 2 tethered fights are lame, but all that is made up for by an assortment of other entertaining modes, slick online lobbies and surprisingly deep and addictive gameplay. At the end of the day, it’s all about having fun, and ARMS provides that in spades.

Over the past decade, Pox Nora has built an amazingly deep strategy universe for tactics junkies to really sink their teeth into; we’re talking Marianas Trench levels of deep. When you take a moment to think about how complex all the interactions in Pox Nora must be, it staggers the mind. It’s unreal, it’s awesome, and it’s just a wee bit intimidating. But if deep is what you’re after, Pox Nora delivers.

The Town of Light is not perfect, and it defies the usual categories in many ways – frankly, given its lack of player agency, it’s even hard to call it a game. But it is a narrative experience every gamer should try. After you finish it, and put down the controller, Renée’s sad life story will haunt you in ways that no feral ghoul or shuffling zombie ever could.

DiRT 4 is a highly-polished and well-thought-out title that could truly succeed in pulling more players towards the genre. It looks great and with the new optional arcade-style handling model, the barrier for entry is low. Even with that in mind, hardcore players are served better than ever before with increased options at the top end. If you like your racing fast, filthy, and challenging, there’s no doubt that this ticks all of the boxes.

Hover: Revolt of Gamers is definitely not a game that I enjoyed at all. It was boring, uninspired and often times way too frustrating. With that said, I could see it being a game that could potentially appeal to others. I felt the multiplayer aspect didn’t add anything special to the game, the visuals were bland and the music was awful (the music will definitely have an audience that loves it – it’s just not something I enjoy listening to). The missions were way too repetitive and usually varied between boring and frustrating with very few hitting that sweet spot where I was having fun.

Newcomers to Tekken may find the learning curve to be a tad bit high and accessibility to resources lacking, but self-driven investigation on combos as well as tips and tricks is all part of the fun. It’s also a surprisingly suitable entry point for newcomers to learn about the Tekken universe and returning fans to have a recap.

When the puzzles and chase sequences are pulled off smoothly, they feel incredibly rewarding.

Between the DLC and the Switch’s portability, there’s a lot of new life breathed in. On the other hand, if you’ve never played this game before, this review is more of a warning. Spend your money wisely, for countless hours can vanish in a blink.

It doesn’t quite make it into the elite, but Feral Fury’s relatively low asking price means that there’s value for money to be found.

Rearmed is not only a solid and consistent game, but it’s also inexpensive considering what you get.