The secrets that unravel about Don Turnipchino Sr and the legacy Turnip Boy give the story a fun, sweet twist. This humorous playful universe doesn’t take itself too seriously, making it a genuinely entertaining adventure. The cute and silly characters, as well as the tasks and quest that unravel in the short time and distance, are just enough to make it a fun game. Although it has its ups and downs, at the end it aligns with the overall direction of the story of an anti-hero root vegetable in a quest to defeat the corruption of institutions.

I like Kiln’s cheeky humor and colorful style. I’m frankly amazed the game is more than just a wacky premise. The pottery-making sim aspect isn’t half bad. Unfortunately, Kiln feels constrained by a lack of alternative modes and maps, with systems and mechanics that could be deeper. In its present state Kiln is engaging for a while, but the fun doesn’t last long enough.

Recompile is the complete adventure package. It has good gameplay, an intriguing minimalist story, striking visuals and music, and developers who respect the player’s ability to explore on their own. Go get it, you won’t be disappointed.

Warriors: Abyss is an addictive roguelite that successfully blends elements from acclaimed titles, carving out its own place in the genre. Combat is a thrill. Taking on hundreds at a time with an array of huge, diverse attacks leads to a compelling system that can quickly get its hooks in you. However, fights can get a little messy in the latter stages of the game removing some of the deliberate actions which take place in the earlier portions. Despite its dated visuals, this roguelite remains a fun and engaging experience.

The epitome of “shut your brain off and shoot” gaming. In fact you might as well take your brain right out of your head and throw it down a set of stairs because nothing here will test your intelligence.

The Charnel House Trilogy sets up an intriguing mystery but doesn’t quite complete it. While some issues hold the game back somewhat, there is no question this was an enjoyable five to six hour diversion akin to reading a good story.

The Nintendo LABO Robot Kit is one substantial project that’ll take you half a day to build. It’s a satisfying project to complete. After you’re finished, you have a few different mini-games to play, but none of them will make you want to come back over and over.

FIM looks and sounds good but all that effort is for naught if it is an exercise in frustration instead of fun.

A year later and a new package does little to boost up World War Z’s failings. If it’s on sale or you really need to kill some zombies with some friends it’s a quick way to get all the content and it’ll be brief and inoffensive enough to waste a few hours. If you’re like me and searching eagerly for the next successor to the 2008 classic, you are better served elsewhere.

You won’t mistake Deliver Us The Moon for a bleeding edge graphical powerhouse, but it looks very good. At least as good as other hit games in the genre. It’s amazing how good a relatively small dev team can get a 3D exploration game looking. It’s comparable with games on a similar scale, like Subnautica. But I appreciate when a game knows to show restraint in pushing my graphics card to the max, and instead it uses its resources to create a coherent and immersive experience. This is that.

It’s nice to play an action game more influenced by Devil May Cry than Dark Souls for a change. Soulstice makes a good case for its combat and its synthesis of two characters with distinct fighting styles. The characters themselves aren’t particularly interesting or sympathetic, and their quips and asides grow annoying. The game’s fixed camera and how it hamstrings enjoyable platforming and exploration are most troubling. Soulstice isn’t as entertaining or polished as the games from which it draws inspiration, but it’s worth checking out for gamers growing tired of the Soulsborne template.

JETT: The Far Shore is an ambitious game that is unrelenting in its vision. Placing peaceful exploration at the forefront, missions lack direction and purpose. Although great when flying long distances, the Jett encounters many issues in compact areas. With stiff movement, dull missions and frustrating enemies, JETT: The Far Shore falls short of its ambitious goal.

All in all, these are minor points to one of the best Battlefields we’ve had in a while. It’s rekindled my excitement for the series for sure. With new modes like Hazard Zone and the ability to play old games like Bad Company 2 remastered, the game is full of content, even without single-player. If you’ve been thinking of diving into BF, whether it is your return or a first in the series, Battlefield 2042 might be exactly what you were looking for.

With 50 replayable levels to choose from and leaderboards for online competitions with friends, Gibbets 2 is a fun little distraction that won't leave you hanging.

Earth’s Dawn is a great game. If you’re at all a fan of 2D beat-em-ups, 2D shoot-em-ups, or action RPGs, I highly suggest you play it.

With a refocus on the dynamics of the Guardians as a team rather than the main plot line, Telltale appears to have repositioned themselves into a better perspective with which to enter the final act. With this episode, we can also begin to see how certain plotlines are coming together now that we near the end. We expect some great things from the final episode, perhaps aptly named Don’t Stop Believin’.

Where the Heart Leads falls into a short, unique list of titles that lead you to ponder things long after the credits roll. The narrative holds a mirror to the player, cornering them against realistic in-game situations and forces them to investigate their values. It’s not preachy, by any means, but it uses realism in a way that made me want to get my own life in order. If such was the goal, Armature Games has succeeded through and through.

The Company Man is a beautiful action platformer that is crammed with character. Forust Studio has laced the game with social commentary that truly enhances the experience. Even though it has a few pacing issues and lacks replay value, this is an enjoyable fight against capitalism.

Some of the technical issues hold the game back; however, I for one will keep coming back to Deadlight as it is an experience I will want to enjoy for weeks if not months on end.

The single greatest oversight in this game, aside from the controls, is the inability to interact with your bird. You can inject it with mutagens to power it up but you can’t pet it? If I had been given the opportunity to interact with my warbird, customize its gear and coloration, and build a real bond with it, I would have enjoyed this game much more than I did. As is, I found The Falconeer to be a compelling but frustrating experience.

If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about marine life or wanted to explore the ocean depths without fear of having to fend for yourself, this is the game for you. Not to mention Beyond Blue would be a fantastic way to get children more immersed and aware of underwater creatures. However, suppose you’re looking for a game with a bit more to offer in terms of gameplay and content. In that case, you may be better off sticking to games like Subnautica that provide the same exploration with added goals and an even higher arching narrative.

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.

If you’re a fan of Persona 5 with a dash of Yakuza, I can certainly recommend Dusk Diver 2. The characters are incredibly likeable, the environment is bright and vivid. Despite not knowing the full context of the story from the original game, the story in this title was still intriguing. JRPG fans and fans of the hack-n-slash genre should definitely add this one to their playlist.

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.

Harmonix blends youthful athleticism and making sweet tunes with their newest game, Super Beat Sports, for the Nintendo Switch.

Though each of those individual elements won’t surpass anything you’ve played before, one can’t deny the level of effort that has gone into making this a smooth VR experience. Seeking Dawn is not the definitive space epic you may have been waiting for, but for now, it’ll do.

Outlast 2 made me jump and cower more than any other game or movie has in the past year. If Red Barrels’ main goal was to make me want to hug my loved ones the moment the credits rolled then they succeeded with flying colors. Outlast 2 is a delightfully nerve-racking horror experience that serves up some of the most horrific and unsettling images you’ll likely see in a video game in 2017. Please enjoy.

After playing The Witcher Adventure Game’s digital version, this is the first time in a long time that not only am I contemplating running out and grabbing a physical copy, but I find myself wanting to play more and more with my friends. The offline mode taught me, a couple online games had me hooked, and now I seriously need a physical copy for my living room.