I loved Angry Video Game Nerd 8-Bit. I was worried the gameplay might be a bit simple at first, but the level choice and non-stop gags kept things fresh. Fans of NES games and the Angry Video Game Nerd YouTube series will have a much more rich experience than newcomers, but the game is so well made that modern players will be able to play it with ease. Any AVGN fans who might be hesitant about buying the game, rest assured that it’s a fantastic experience. I’m going to get myself one of the physical NES cartridges.

Rogue Trooper Redux is a third person shooter that surpasses the original by adding depth, a story of betrayal, an interesting dynamic with Rogue’s squad, multiple tactics, and fantastic controls. The game looks great and it’s easy enough for newcomers to enjoy without feeling overwhelmed. Rebellion and Tick Tock Games did a fantastic job keeping it authentic to the source material and it’s a game everyone should try.

Dreamfall Chapters – Episode 1 does an excellent job of laying the groundwork for what is to be sure to be a helluva journey.

For those who have fond memories of Shenmue I & II, these ports will allow you to revisit and experience why you fell in love with them. New players who feast on GTAs and Yazukas may find the pace a little too languid but with a little perseverance should soon fall under the Shenmue spell. A stellar port by d3t and here’s to hoping Shenume III can pull off the tricky balancing act of appeasing original fans in tandem with bringing the franchise into the modern gaming world.

If you’re an existing Stellaris player, the Utopia expansion opens up a bunch of options that didn’t exist before and is well worth the investment. If you haven’t jumped on the stellar bandwagon yet – there’s no better time. Stellaris is a very strong space strategy game that has flown a bit under the radar, and anyone who enjoys games like Civilization or Masters of Orion will likely be quite taken by Stellaris.

For me, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity succeeds on two separate fronts. This is a prequel with the narrative heft required for a game in the Zelda franchise. But, this is also a Musou/Warriors game that twists that formula into something unique and engaging. What emerges from this strange union is an experience unlike either set of source material. This is a final product content to carve a small slice out of a massive pie. Even if your interest is strictly in Zelda games or Warriors titles, you owe it to yourself to give this game a shot. You're certain to be quite pleasantly surprised by what Age of Calamity has to offer.

At the end of the day even if you were someone who played it twenty years ago, there’s still something completely satisfying about playing this revamped ode to the classic Spyro all this time later and that’s definitely something worth celebrating.

The single player campaign is a wild ride despite its underwhelming storyline and short play through while the multiplayer aspects of the game take the cake and raise the franchise to even higher heights. It's jam packed with all sorts of new content from an engaging squads mode, a hectic Extinction mode and a new slate of multiplayer features to keep the core Call of Duty gamers playing for hours on end.

Given the big changes this year to F1, Codemasters have crafted an impressive technical showcase that is accessible to players of all skill levels.

Jedi Survivor is the definitive Jedi video game experience. As a Star Wars fan, I love it. I imagine it was a lot of fun to develop, and the Jedi Team at Respawn are absolute rockstars for what they've achieved. I'm confident the performance hiccups on PS5 will be resolved. Apart from that, I can't get enough of the game. I'm actively finishing my initial playthrough and am stoked to jump into new game plus.

There’s something rewarding about this game. You’re working to restore a dead world, with tangible results to keep you engaged. The mechanics get pretty complex after a while, true. And it can feel like your mistakes are indelible, even as you’re restarting a stage. But the labor feels worth it. Better still, developer Free Lives is putting a portion of pre-order and post-launch sales towards the Endangered Wildlife Trust. In that sense, playing this game actually does some good for the environment. If you’re looking for a peaceful, yet sometimes stressful, gaming experience, consider Terra Nil. You might even reconsider our actual planet as a result.

Bionic Bay is a captivating platformer that pays homage to the forefathers of the genre while confidently carving its own path. Its stunning art direction immediately sets it apart, lending the game a fresh and distinctive identity in an otherwise crowded space. Adding in the thoughtful mechanics and meticulous level design, Bionic Bay stands out as a truly special platformer and an essential purchase for fans of the genre.

Even though Berserk and the Band of the Hawk isn’t the best way to experience the Berserk story, its story is so in-depth that it would still be a great way to experience it for the first time.

Lamplight City is the rare detective game where the mysteries are challenging to solve and satisfying to do so. While the world-building often doesn’t stand up if you peel back the initial layers and there are frustrating elements to the way cases stack against each other, I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the world of New Bretagne and the mysteries inside of it. The game handled sensitive topics with real care and integrated them seamlessly into the story of Miles Fordham.

Dead in Vinland is a game with elements from many of your favorites, but it all comes together as a unique final product. I know I will be starting it up every few months until I know every monologue by heart.

I’m really impressed with Gunheart. It’s easy to get caught up in the importance of the cross-play aspect, but the game itself is great fun. It’s a solid shooter, which some great mechanics and customization that should keep players engaged for quite some time, at the very least long enough to get their money’s worth.

Catan on Switch is serene but never boring. It’s not a pulse-pounding action thriller, but it asks for a lot of thought. You will strategize, you will win, and sometimes you will lose. But the music will continue to gently encourage you, the cartoon opponents are just begging to be defeated, and there are still so many islands to clear. I don’t know how glossy you can make a game like this, but I’m happy to report that you don’t have to. An attractive package and a clear interface are the only reminders we need- Catan is a classic and being able to play it on the go is a gift.

Star Renegades is a love letter to tactical RPG fans who have been craving a rogue-lite experience that keeps on giving. While not quite at the mastery of Into the Breach in terms of depth, Star Renegades has enough to be excited about.

The game has never been better, and now it comes bearing a heap of new and exciting content that fans are sure to appreciate.

Ultimately, if you enjoy dark games with a healthy dose of problem-solving and/or you enjoyed Limbo, then you’ll definitely enjoy Inside as well!

Despite no attempts to evolve the series beyond its simple roots, Lovely Planet 2 is still just that; lovely. Jumping and shooting your way into the high scores is fun and challenging, and the art style has plenty of charm, accompanied by a wonderfully quirky set of tunes. There are one hundred new levels to take on and two additional modes for those seeking more once the credits roll. While Lovely Planet 2 may not blow away existing fans of the series, it will likely win over many new ones and keep those existing ones thoroughly entertained.

I loved Demonschool. The tactical JRPG combat system will likely be the make-or-break component for most players. The lack of emphasis on stats is a bold choice that sometimes makes Demonschool feel more like a puzzle game than a strategy JRPG. The battle system won’t be for everyone. But the story, aesthetics, and vibes make Demonschool a real treat for longtime Shin Megami Tensei fans.

One year later, Avowed is still an impressively polished and confidently presented game, at home in the Pillars of Eternity canon and at home in the action RPG genre. The new Anniversary Edition and 12 months of updates, tweaks, and changes have only made Avowed better. To the extent it got lost in the shuffle last year, it absolutely deserves attention from new players and PS5 owners. Players returning to Avowed will find a game that is now even better.

Straddling the line between remake and remaster, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is a compelling reminder that the original was pretty magical, despite its almost endearing flaws. There’s little doubt that this new version goes a long way to making a great game even more appealing to newcomers, without making it unrecognizable to longtime fans. Short of an entire, from-the-ground-up remake, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is the ultimate version of a genuine classic.

Vessel of Hatred's campaign, new region, new class, and new cooperative dungeon all significantly extend the base game's appeal and depth. If you don't already enjoy the near-constant, frenetic, often exhilarating, sometimes exhausting combat, Vessel of Hatred isn't going to win you over no matter how impressive it often is. The expansion contains some of the best content the developer has released and should satisfy both casual and hardcore fans of Diablo IV.

I didn’t expect to get sucked into the world of Operencia: The Stolen Sun as fast and hard as I did. The story and memorable characters inspired by Central European mythology swept me off my feet from the get-go. The combat is equal parts fun, challenging, and rewarding which means entering battles hardly ever feel like a chore. Zen Studios has created a beautiful dungeon crawling RPG that not only will please the diehard blobber fan but also newcomers thanks to clever modern sensibilities. While the tile-based movement isn’t perfect, don’t let that hold you back from experiencing everything else Operencia: The Stolen Sun has to offer. You won’t regret it.

Overall, They Are Billions is an absolutely solid pick up and a real steal for its price point. It has a great aesthetic, solid gameplay, and a difficulty curve that is as impressive as it is aggravating. The only real drawback that I found was the PC ported controls that aren’t exactly designed to make PS4 gaming a breeze. If you want to test your steampunk mettle against an almost endless hoard of the undead, They Are Billions scratches that base building itch as well letting you live out your fantasies of fighting zombies. As long as you’re really, really, good at both, you’ll have no trouble with this one! Even if you’re not, this is one that is well worth the time and punishment.

If you’ve got the funds, I’d say picking up Russian Subway Dogs is well worth your time. The game offers an arcade style experience that few games can offer well. It’s likely you’ll play it more after you’ve completed your initial session, even if you have no reason to. I’ve come back into it several times to play a single level or try my hand at the Endless mode. It’s well worth the coin you’ll spend on it.