Rather than just coast off the ingenuity of the first game, Sparks of Hope reaches beyond its predecessor. The Sparks give an extra layer of agency and choice to the player, while handing those same deadly tools to your enemies. The battles are fast-paced, clever, and compelling. So much so that the sections outside of battle feel like an exhausting slog by comparison. The dialogue is at turns both witty and insufferable, while the actual plot exists only to justify the action. Don’t let my bizarre set of blinders deter you, though. Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is an excellent follow-up to the remarkable original game.

If you enjoy roguelikes but want something you can play for half an hour at a time and actually see progress, I strongly recommend Leap of Fate. It has great value, an interesting story, and fun gameplay. If it had a multiplayer component so I could team up with a friend, I’d be giving it a nine out of ten for sure.

Overall, Roki was a big win in my book. Initially, I found its family-friendly focus to be a detriment to my enjoyment in my first sitting with it. In my second, I began to appreciate more of what it was going for, and in my third sitting, I played for 5 hours without even realizing it. Roki has a lot going for it, including a unique story, well-done but straightforward mechanics, and a simply beautiful art style. Don’t let this one slip past you like a tomte hiding in his hat.

There are few ways in which The Outer Worlds 2 doesn't improve on the first game. It's bigger, deeper, and more complex. The story and characters are more satisfying. Combat has been refined. It takes its time and demands players be patient and engage in all its systems and overlook some technical issues that pop up somewhat frequently. I can't imagine a world -- Outer or not -- in which fans of the original won't enjoy this new experience.

It may be surprising that a PSP title is a potential Game of the Year contender in 2015, but we all know life is strange. Trails in the Sky SC is an excellent JRPG that has managed to age incredibly well since its Japanese release.

Though I did have a couple of grievances, this game was a lot of fun. My stress levels went way down once I stopped trying to 100% every stage. The boss fights are all clever, the controls allow for precise maneuvers, and the visuals are nice and crisp. It took me a little time to get used to the controls, and I kept feeling slower than I would have liked. But the level design is excellent, the soundtrack is choice, and the difficulty never felt unfair. If you haven't played this classic Wii game, now's the time. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a terrific platformer that holds up perfectly today.

While I’m impressed by the technical tricks, WarioWare is just… really funny. It’s awesome fun making a fool of yourself in front of friends and loved ones. It’s even better dragging them into the mix. The variety of games is delightful, and the various poses are well-crafted. But they’re also funny. Honestly, if you take away nothing else from this review, my job is still done. WarioWare: Move It! is a hilarious good time and you’d be a fool to let it pass you by. Though this season is crammed with excellent games, the latest WarioWare title is perfect for that party-style vibe.

Even if you’re growing tired of the 80’s trend, Crossing Souls should be at the top of your list. It’s full of awesome twists, humor, and enough varied gameplay to make it stick out from the pack. Underneath the 80’s veneer is a wonderfully crafted action-adventure game that could very much stand on its own.

Fit for a King is a surprisingly deep game with a wide variety of interactions. The retro theme is well done and provides a nice charm to the game. While the gameplay takes a little getting used to it works well with the free form format. Aside from some sound choices, this is a great pickup for people looking to enjoy a larp as a medieval king. For such a simple interface they were able to provide a wealth of freedom.

Luigi’s Mansion is a must play if you’ve never enjoyed it before. If you still own the GameCube version, there really isn’t enough here to warrant a new purchase unless you need the slightly updated visuals and ability to take it on the road. I personally believe this game, like it’s 2013 sequel, Dark Moon, is better suited for a home console experience – and fortunately, we’ll all be enjoying Luigi’s Mansion 3 on the Nintendo Switch when it launches in 2019.

Sumire may be a short game, but the character interactions, side quests, and challenges make each playthrough unique. Despite having experienced loss, the game shows us that Sumire could make her day better, one step at a time – that is, if you chose to give her a good day. Even though some parts may be arguably scary for children, important lessons are to be learned and beautiful artwork to be appreciated. With good replayability but no fast-forwarding enabled, you may not immediately feel the urge to start a new game. Still, someday if you feel like picking up a heartwarming tale and giving Sumire the worst day of her life, the game will be there, ready for your poor choices.

It’s an impressively fast and well-playing arcade racer that will constantly keep you on your toes. While it could use a little more depth when it comes to single player progression, the racing itself is fantastic and quite addicting.

As it is, this is a great, relaxing, and yes, very fun game. I love the look and the intuitive design. The addition of expeditions is a great idea that works. It’s an easy game to pick up and just start having fun from the first moment to the 50th hour. It might not be perfect but Two Point Museum is another example of why Two Point Studios is the standard for sim games.

The world of Henford-On-Bagley is absolutely breathtaking and has such a fairy-like and whimsical charm. EA really did a wonderful job capturing the rustic vibe of the European countryside. There are a few flaws with inventory management and the relatively scant wardrobe options, but you can still really enjoy your time on the farm. Because honestly, what’s better than being able to hug and pet your cows and llamas!

All in all, my time with Rune Factory 4 Special has been great. For a 3DS port, the upscaling of the graphics is well done and looks beautiful in handheld mode. Even docked, the game looks pretty slick. The art style is bright and vivid. The writing makes every character stand out in their own way. Players who are new to this series should definitely check out this title before the 5th game in the franchise drops.

It hit every note that it needed to and didn’t try to be something it wasn’t. Maybe that’s the secret to Kirby’s longevity. It knows what it is and what it shouldn’t try to be.

Wanderer: The Fragments of Fate (PS VR2) does not hit as big as the original game because VR has matured. However, it is still a wonderful game and well worth your time. Mighty Eyes has plans to make a trilogy of games. Like its predecessor, the game launched with some annoying bugs, but the developers have been quick and diligent to respond and provide patches. The developers have planned three hot fixes, the first of which is already released. I have already noticed a marked improvement in interactions and graphic fidelity.

If you’re a comic book fan and love MMO’s than this game will rock your world and then some.

It was a wonderful surprise to find out how good the game was and how quickly I became engrossed it. You really feel like a solitary stranger in a strange land. This one has tons of atmosphere.

Creative Assembly continues to support the base game with quality free and paid content. If you’re a fan of Total War: Warhammer III, Thrones of Decay is a no-brainer purchase. Like previous DLCs, it gives players a trio of new Lords to learn, a large number of new units to play with, and another reason to sink hours and hours into the game.

Destiny 2: Forsaken set out to change the game for the better and what we got was nothing short of a phenomenal upgrade. The new systems, bounties, supers, and gear all add so much to gameplay and give it the fresh coat of paint it should have been at launch. With a strikingly personal narrative arch and some truly intense combat, Forsaken’s only downfall is the high cost of upgrading your gear. If you were a fan of the game before, this is going to be exactly what you wanted Destiny 2 to be from the start. If you haven’t played it yet, now is the perfect time to jump in. There is something here for everyone, and the new bounties and triumphs add plenty to do for the hardened completionist.

The Disney Classic Games Collection is very thorough and fantastic. If you have any nostalgic love for these games, then this collection is the best way to play them, and if you’re a younger gamer, who is at all curious as to why some of us adults have a special place in our hearts for 90s 2D platformers, then this collection would be an excellent place to find out. Hopefully this release leads to future Disney Collections. My fingers are crossed for a Mickey Mouse bundle featuring the Magical Quest trilogy, Mickey Mania, the Castle and World of Illusion games, and the Japanese-only Mickey no Tokyo Disneyland Daibōken game. A kid can dream, right?

F1 23 covers a lot of bases. The 2023 version offers a variety of ways to play the game depending on your skill level and preferences. It is a good iteration for newcomers to jump into and the greater depth of options will satisfy the needs of veterans.

Tales of Vesperia is one of my favorite Tales games and one of my favorite games from the last generation. While Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition could have benefitted from some quality of life improvements found in newer Tales games, the remastered version still holds up as one of the best Tales games available. Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition is a must-have for fans of the original release due to its new characters and is a great entry point for anyone new to the Tales series as well.

At the end of the day, I love AC3. I know that I’m not the average player, having studied the Marquis de Lafayette at a college level, but I love sinking hours into Ubisoft’s version of colonial America, where the oft-overlooked make the most important choices of all. Also, I can attack as many Redcoats as I want, with the only consequence being a city-wide manhunt. With this fresh coat of paint, Assassin’s Creed III has never been more fun—providing you enjoyed it in the first place.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed revisiting Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny. I hadn’t played it since it first came out on PS2. And I didn’t even realize there were multiple paths at the time; I just beat it while renting it over a week-long period. But I will happily buy a physical copy of the remaster if one is announced. I appreciate high production values from this PS2 era, so I found Onimusha 2 incredibly aesthetically pleasing. With Onimusha 4 on the way, I hope Capcom finds the time to remaster Onimusha 3 as well. Despite the sometimes frustrating fixed camera angles, goofy voice acting, and rushed second half, Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is one of my favorite games I’ve played this year.

After playing Portia, and then seeing My Time at Sandrock announced, I was skeptical. How can Pathea make this work again? And in a desert of all places? Well, I have to say I was surprised and impressed. Pathea has a very creative team behind this world of theirs. On top of the quality of life improvements, and the new multiplayer component, My Time at Sandrock recaptures the feeling of “I’ll do one more day” at the end of every day. Not only that, but now I’m excited for the prospect of My Time at Highwind or My Time at Atara, just to see what can be done with a new part of this world.

At its core, Far Cry 6 both shines and suffers from many of the same strengths and weaknesses that have characterized the last few entries in the franchise. On one hand, it has incredibly engaging action and an open world begging to be used creatively. On the other, it has repetitive and sometimes rote mission design, with disconcerting tonal shifts that seat inconceivable brutality and violence at the same table with silly, absurd humor that feels at best disrespectful, and at worst, wildly inappropriate. What finally elevates Far Cry 6 is a better-than-average cast, and a more comprehensible and grounded story that is set in one of the most lavish and beautiful environments ever created for a game. It’s fascinating, flawed, and full of contradictions. It’s a Far Cry game.