Monster Prom’s charm stems from its thematic elements. Fantastic interactions, its satirical narrative, and the monster theme offer a unique spin, even if it doesn’t deviate all that much from known formulas. But, it does bring a little more to the table, a party for daters who are in it more for the ride than the destination.

I was pleasantly surprised by Drug Dealer Simulator. What I thought was going to be a joke of a game turned out to be something I had a lot of fun with. The game desperately needs to be patched, as even taking a two-minute scroll through the DDS Subreddit will show just how many issues people are having, and a fleshed-out tutorial and endgame need to be added for the package to truly shine. But, give it a chance, and you could find yourself addicted.

It’s decidedly more realistic take on the sport of MXGP may not endear fans looking for a more over the top MX vs ATV like experience but fans of the sport of motocross should enjoy this.

Those who are fans of space combat games (e.g. Homeworld, Wing Commander or X-Wing) can do no harm by checking out this game on the Xbox One, and those who haven't delved into the world of space combat to date should take a close look at this title too, as there is some fun to be had.

Overwatch on Nintendo Switch is a prime example of a fantastic game marred by a sub-par port. The core experience remains compelling and the new portability and motion controls are nice additions, but the trade-offs are just too significant. The dramatic drop in frame rate and overall performance make it hard to recommend this port if you own the game on any other platform. However, if you travel often and need that Overwatch fix wherever you go, you’ll at least have a better experience there than on your TV at home.

Biomutant on the Switch is a decent port of a decent game. There is a new learning curve with Nintendo Switch controls, especially in handheld mode, and the graphics are not much to write home about. The difference is really noticeable especially if you’re coming from PC. However, Biomutant performs and still offers a good time for those that loved it the first go around.

NITRO GEN OMEGA is a game about you and your Code Lyoko style crew toughing it out at the end of the world. If you enjoy turn-based anime robot action, you might find that fighting for that end is more engaging than it first appears.

While the idea of Fight Crab was novel and hilarious, it, unfortunately, fell a tad short because of its average execution. There were a lot of redeeming qualities to the game though, so it was still time well spent. Brawlers can be repetitive by nature, but it was a slow grind to get to where you wanted to be and this made it hard to play for a long time. Even though the controls were slow, I’ll admit it was fun to button mash and I am sure this would be a hit in a household with children and those who want to experience the novelty of this game.

The game isn’t terrible, though, it looks great and it still manages to be fun in short bursts and with other people locally. There’s something inherently satisfying about seeing your friends visibly devastated when their dreams of an architecture career come crashing down in front of their eyes. But that only lasts for a short time because Tricky Towers doesn’t have enough content to warrant the $16.99 (!!!) price tag.

Touhou: New World was indeed a new experience of the franchise for me. Having played games in all the genres it touches on, this game provided an interesting new experience for me. The game started a bit slow due to its low difficulty. It eventually started to catch on and provide a more enjoyable challenge. Despite this, the overall inconsistency with the game in various aspects does detract from the overall experience at times. If the game interests you in the slightest, I would recommend giving Touhou: New World a try.

Overall, Scars Above just can’t rise above its AA roots. This translates to some cut-rate animations, character models, and environments. The game’s primary weapon is good enough, as is the story and combat. But just being adequate is a tough sell. It’s hard to imagine Scars Above moving to the front of the Soulslike line.

All in all, if you don’t enjoy wandering through randomly generated dungeons and frantically managing items, Touhou Genso Wanderer -FORESIGHT- might not be for you. But if you already like dungeoncrawlers and know about Touhou Project, you might have fun. Let’s just hope the devs continue fleshing out the experience post-launch.

Cornerstone: The Song of Tyrim is very fresh and has the nostalgic essence of some of the best platformers from the 90’s. This game is a great way to introduce a new generation of gamer to the classic platformer style, but the lack of voice acting and frequent bugs make this a game better suited for the casual gamer.

The story isn't engaging, the overall gameplay loop is weirdly off-balance, and the combat won't surprise you. But if you want to sink into that loot cycle, be it for better scythes or snappier clothes, you'll make yourself at home in no time. God Eater 3 is a delightful smashup of monsters, swords and skintight leather. Just don't be surprised when you discover that's all there is.

Gameplay should be a delight, not an obligation. As a game, The Mooseman falters, but its atmosphere, tone, and storytelling all take huge strides to make up for the lacklustre gameplay. All-in-all, it’s certainly not bad, and I don’t feel guilty recommending it.

If you’ve got an ear for French house music and an eye for Salvador Dali, this game will be a sumptuous feast. The soundtrack and the scenery weave together to create an experience greater than either separate element could offer. What you see and hear has the power to pull you in, to get you hooked almost immediately. But be warned: this game is crazy short.

The Chant has an intriguing premise and setting that set it apart from its cousins in the horror/action adventure sphere. While it doesn’t break any new ground with its mechanics or combat, and it’s definitely not very scary, its exploration of psychological states adds a bit of specific narrative color. Budgetary limitations in character models, lack of refinement, weak combat, and inelegant animations aside, The Chant is just unique enough to make it appealing to fans of the genre.

Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse is a technical improvement over Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo. It still has some problems that should have been flagged during quality assurance testing. The cursor should just be dropped from all sections that aren’t point-and-click. But the narrative is fantastic, and the “Choose Your Own Adventure” chapter structure makes the experience feel more like a game, and less like a novel. The stylistic visuals mask Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse’s low budget, and the music is constantly phenomenal. I’m not sure if the first game has been patched, but Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse is enough of an improvement that I might give it another try.

Its layout and interface is seamless to get accustomed to and is fairly enjoyable for some on-the-go action. However, aspects like the intricate details the Samurai Warriors titles are known for can’t fully be appreciated on the 3DS due to its hardware capabilities.

The Little Acre is a loveable game, with beautiful visuals and strong character and voice acting. It should be on the radar for anyone that enjoys classic point-and-click adventure games in the vein of King’s Quest or the more recent Broken Age, but should also come with the warning that this is more of a short story ripe with potential for further storytelling.

Despite a lack of imagination in its story and setting, Redemption Reapers is not without appeal. Strong production values, excellent music, and solid core combat mechanics promise an engaging experience. Its stabs at originality are both appreciated and a mixed success. Better balance, less oppressive mechanics, and shorter, streamlined missions could make Redemption Reapers an attractive choice for fans of tactical RPGs.

The bright side is, the strategy layer of Sheltered 2 is better than ever. If this kind of game is your jam and the original flew under your radar, it’s worth checking out. And if you played the original to death (as I did) and you’re looking for a reason to fall back into it, think of this as a sort of pricey update. If that doesn’t repel you, Sheltered 2 is just fine. Or maybe that sounds really appealing to you. Despite some of the underwhelming changes, I anticipate putting a lot more time into Sheltered 2. The core gameplay is just that appealing. That makes Sheltered 2 a game where the core mechanic is strong, but none of the set dressing is all that exciting.

In theory, Dust and Neon was made for a gamer like me. And I do like the art, the premise, and the style of action. Some aspects don’t quite feel fleshed out, like the mission designs, the narrative, and the range of weapons. Then there’s the reload mechanic, which I found more annoying than innovative. Dust and Neon isn’t a bad game, and fans of twin-stick shooters, Westerns, roguelikes, and looter-shooters should all find a little fun hunting outlaw robots. Unfortunately, its pleasures are just a bit too shallow and brief.

All told, In Sound Mind wasn’t the game I was expecting. But I still found myself pushing forward, eager to uncover a little bit more. If you’ve got any appetite for cerebral horror and puzzle solving, In Sound Mind might be just what you’re looking for.

While Godfall’s technical components of gameplay and graphics were solid, the game overall is just fine. As mentioned, the narrative as told throughout is relatively shallow, and despite a fun combat system, it does get repetitive. Finally, the recurrence of a number of bugs hampered my personal experience, and these do not appear to be an isolated case. While I quite enjoyed Godfall at the outset, it began to wane on me over time, and what might have been a decent launch title may not seem like it years from now.

My advice? If you haven’t played either game, you can probably skip the first one. Otherwise, only dive into The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II if you absolutely loved the previous game. It’s a fun enough experience, though it’s not worth the second round.

It’s held back by its repetition – the music, the modes; even the four bears get old after a while. Bust this out at a party for 30 minutes of fun, but don’t expect your friends to beg for more at the next get together.

An awesome looking and entertaining game that utilizes an easy and simple combat system. The inclusion of local co-op is definitely a plus while the absence of online multiplayer is a letdown.