Like a Dragon: Ishin! is a lost classic that has finally made its way to a global market. Fans of the franchise will be ecstatic to experience an Edo-period drama that features icons of the Yakuza series. Even though it is set in the 1860s, the foundation of the series is evident with each step. It’s a familiar experience that feels similar to its PS3 counterparts rather than the modern releases. The world lacks the hustle and bustle of Kamurocho and the mini-games are not as diverse. However, the card-based combat system and four fighting styles make battles a thrill. While the game may not do enough to alter the perception of those who don’t enjoy titles from the franchise, fans of the series are in for a treat with this samurai-focused epic.

Atelia Ryza 2: Lost Legends & The Secret Fairy is a highly enjoyable JRPG. Returning fans of the series and new ones should be delighted. Ryza has an infectiously bright personality and her relationship with the other party members meshes well. The combat is fast, and the story is intriguing. The heavier focus on exploration, as well as alchemy, is a welcome change.

Stellar Blade stands out as one of the best action-adventure games of its generation. Its combat system is both deep and multilayered, ensuring that every encounter is an exhilarating experience. Offering a range of options, players can tackle enemies in several ways, be it through offensive maneuvers or defensive strategies. Whether opting to dodge, parry, or create distance, the choices are intuitively designed. Coupled with its captivating narrative and cinematic presentation, Stellar Blade is an essential exclusive.

World of Warships offers veteran MMO captains and World of War newbies alike a lot to write home about – in this case, loose lips float ships.

Aztez certainly is a fun game and very quick to the action, but I felt the tactical layer hid too much of the great brawler underneath.

Overall, the art style, the esoteric story setup, the charming character work and genre mashup make it a worthwhile experience to at least dip into. If you love pinball games and dungeon monster beat ‘em ups, this will be in your wheelhouse and you may find yourself losing out to just “one more run” mentality.

The main game consists of 5 chapters that each take about 2 hours, as well as 3 bonus chapters. Corpse Party isn’t the longest game, but it doesn’t overstay its welcome, and it’s certainly worth its bargain price. The only complaints I might have is that it won’t be for everyone. Corpse Party isn’t quite a visual novel, but it’s definitely more of an interactive story than a videogame. Its modern equivalents are games like To the Moon, and Yume Nikki. So if you’re into JRPGs, old school survival horror, or modern narrative-heavy RPG Maker indie games, I highly recommend picking up Corpse Party. I was curious about playing it, and am so happy that I did.

Image & Form has done it again. They’ve created another gem in their SteamWorld series that not only shows their talent as game developers but also their love of RPG’s. The card battle system is incredibly addictive and offers a ton of gameplay options to boot. And while the story is somewhat by the numbers, the memorable characters, dialogue and rewarding gameplay elevate it above the pack. Even if you’re not big on card games, SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech is another home run for Image & Form and a definite must-buy on Nintendo Switch.

It has been a very long time since I played a game as assured, polished and emotionally affecting as Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2. The first game was impressive, but the sequel brings everything Ninja Theory was trying to do into sharp, unforgettable focus. Senua's new journey is epic and harrowing, told through cinematic visuals. jaw-dropping graphics and gameplay mechanics that feel at one with the story. It's a saga of sadness, courage, challenge and redemption, told by masters of their craft.

With two full story campaigns playable with up to four players, an action packed multiplayer experience, an addictive little twin stick Easter egg gem and a punishing zombie experience, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 is hands down amazing value for the buck.

All in all, Death’s Gambit: Afterlife is a tough but rewarding exploration of a grim fantasy world populated by ruthless immortals, mindless constructs, and weary civilians whose lives have been horrifically twisted by forces beyond their control. The revamped movement options made traversing the expanded world a treat, though I would’ve liked a fast travel system that didn’t clash with my hoarding instincts. If you like Metroidvanias and Soulslikes and always wanted to know what it would be like if the two genres fused, then Death’s Gambit: Afterlife is for you.

Atlas Reactor is a game that I appreciate for its diverse cast and refreshingly short match times.

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.

Horace is a charming homage to an era of gaming and culture that’s rapidly fading into the sunset, yet it never rests on the nostalgia factor to keep the player engaged. The sound design is messy and the cutscenes can run on too long, but its affecting story and sharp, fun platforming are bound to satisfy anyone keen on the genre. Nostalgia may be a common crutch, but with a sturdy foundation beneath it, Horace shows that feeling a little sentimentality isn’t a bad thing at all.

Simply playing Detective, looking at clues, and driving through post-war L.A. are consistently thrilling and the VR enhancements make it seem even more authentic – even if those deserted streets feel weird.

Simply put, Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout is brilliant. Its creative take on a much-loved genre will keep fans coming back for more. Although there are teething issues, these are minor concerns that will be resolved. Featuring 25 mini-games with more in the pipeline, expect to spend plenty of time with Fall Guys.

In spite of all my grievances, these are still two classic RPGs. Suikoden I&II are enormous adventures full of interesting characters to recruit, and epic plots to discover. To be perfectly clear, my final score reflects these games as remasters for a modern audience rather than as games in isolation. I loved the new sprites, and the levels do look better than ever before (even if the aesthetic saddens me). I wish more mechanics had been modernized more than anything else. We’ve come too far to go back to this kind of awful inventory management. But the point remains – this is the best way to play these games on modern hardware. If you simply must experience these games, then Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars is the way to do it.

Lost Ark is a polished, solid, substantial, and engaging free-to-play MMORPG that is very solo-friendly and offers a vast amount of well-made content for just about everyone. The combat is exciting and fun, the classes are appealing and varied, and the world is colorful and lush, if not necessarily state-of-the-art. The story isn't going to turn heads, but the number and range of quests and side activities will keep you happily entertained. I've only scratched the surface, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the end game has to offer and what kind of community coalesces around Lost Ark.

A splendid continuation of one of 2017’s finest titles. Though it features minor disappointments, the overall experience is incredibly enjoyable.

While it was, and remains, a great and classic game in its own right, unless you have somehow never played it before, you should give this Remastered version a pass.

I'm a deeply time-invested Souls player. To be honest, it took me a few hours to give up my Soulslike expectations, engrained muscle memory and to set aside comparisons with FromSoftware's best. When I did, Black Myth: Wukong and its design suddenly made a lot more sense. The biggest disservice to the game would be to come to Black Myth: Wukong as an Elden Ring player, for example, and be disappointed that there aren't quests, companions, a warehouse full of weapons, and the ability to explore the beautiful world…As a massively ambitious game made by a relatively small developer, Black Myth: Wukong could have gone sideways in a dozen different ways. That it didn't is a minor miracle. That the game looks incredible, offers deep and engaging combat and a unique blend of mechanics is even more impressive. Black Myth: Wukong takes a very specific approach to the action-RPG genre that might not be for every player. But judged on its own merits and self-imposed rules, it's an almost entirely successful and deeply satisfying game to master.

There’s nothing I like more in video games than when a developer thinks outside of the box. Wonderful ideas and worlds can be bred from experimentation, much like the culinary world that Battle Chef Brigade champions. The contrasting gameplay styles, a beautifully designed world, and interesting characters combine into a delightful game that just doesn’t last long enough. Trinket Studios should be proud of their efforts, and I’m looking forward to whatever is next out of its kitchen.

RPG veterans will likely love this game, whereas some of the more contemporary RPG players might find the game to move slowly.

Where Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart took an old formula and brought it into the modern era, Kena: Bridge of Spirits’ approach was more adherent to the old ways. The technical aspects are phenomenal and thoroughly current, but the game itself relies heavily on the old way of doing things. Limited paths. Contrived situational limitations. Collectables galore. You likely already know if that’s something you’re interested in playing, and I personally believe they’ve done an admirable job here. Especially for a first crack.

All in all, Young Souls is a charming coming-of-age story that veers much darker than I expected. It’s a world I was happy to lose myself in, even if the characters weren’t always happy themselves. I’d recommend it to any fan of beat ’em ups and modern fantasy. Those button-mashing minigames are incredibly frustrating, though.

I probably admire Barotrauma more than I enjoyed it. I like the setting. The gameplay is very clever, even if it isn’t always exciting. I didn’t get a chance to get deep into co-op, but I can’t wait to try. It’s crazy to me that cooperative spaceship games aren’t an entire genre now, with dozens of indie games to compare. At the moment, Barotrauma may be one of the best trailblazers, giving inspirations for the developers of the future.

Back to the Dawn ended up being a bit of a mixed bag for me. I loved the story and aesthetics, especially the music. It works wonderfully as a choose your own adventure-style adventure game. Time management, puzzle solving, and minigames are all fantastic. But the CRPG elements felt tacked-on. Back to the Dawn was probably initially envisioned as a CRPG, but grew into something different. With a bit more polish, focus, and elegance, it could be a really fantastic experience. If everything I’ve shared sounds good to you, then definitely don’t hesitate to give Back to the Dawn a few playthroughs.

When it comes down to it, this is a must-play game for those who enjoy adventure games of this style – but it definitely sticks to the tried-and-true point n’ click genre.