Although over the decades comics have become ever more reflective of the complexities and concerns of contemporary life, in the end, they are still often the literary or cinematic equivalent of fast food: momentarily delicious, exactly what you need to fill the void, but not necessarily memorable or nutritious. Guardians of the Galaxy isn’t afraid of touching on some weighty themes, but they’re always secondary to an absorbing story, entertaining characters, and engaging action. Guardians of the Galaxy isn’t perfect, but overall, it’s a very effective translation of Marvel’s iconic band of misfits from page or screen into interactive entertainment.

The Banner Saga comes to Nintendo Switch via a fantastic and faithful port, its dire tale of survival and strategy completely intact. It plays well, it looks fantastic, and every battle and dialogue choice is here for the taking.

Thirteen years is a long time in video game history and technology. Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 obviously looks and plays much better than the 2011 original. Fans of the first game will appreciate the continuing saga of the main character and the seamless integration of Warhammer lore. Action gamers without a moment of prior Warhammer experience will enjoy it, too. Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 is operatic, visceral, violent and unrelenting. It can be repetitive, too, but that’s best balanced by the creativity and camaraderie of human players blasting bugs by your side.

While the game is just as fun and addicting as ever, the awkward dialogue feels shoe-horned in and the stark difficulty drop off in the mid-game is unfortunate to say the least, making the latter half of the experience a breeze. It’s still an enjoyable experience and a treat to explore the Galar region. It may not be perfect, but it is a strong step in the right direction to giving us the ultimate Pokemon experience.

Regardless of your latent skill level, there’s a ton of content here that’s sure to keep you hooked for quite some time. If you’re one of the many Wii U diehards out there, these games might not pique your interest in the same way. The portable element is lovely and the bundle is super convenient, but I recognize that might not be enough. Either way, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe (god, it’s like a mouth full of marshmallows) would be a worthy addition to any respectable Switch collection.

Trials Fusion takes the series into the realm of being a full game and not a small arcade title anymore as it has some serious chops to run with the big boys, especially with a $20 price point (digital version).

I loved playing the first Fantasy Life game to an unhealthy degree, and the sequel is no different. Grinding away to master all the Lives is deeply satisfying, there’s a wide variety of systems to mess with, and the overall pace is very chill. On the other hand, I recognize that much of what I love about this game isn’t necessarily good, it’s mostly just addictive. A mishmash of my favorite dopamine receptors are getting smashed to bits when I play this game, and I’m fine with that. If you’re looking for a cozy, compelling Skinner box of a game, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is perfect for you.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare does everything fans of the franchise could ever want. You get the triumphant return of the single-player campaign; crossplay that actually works; maps and weapons available to everyone; and a robust multiplayer experience packed with over 25 maps (including Spec Ops maps) out of the box. Modern Warfare isn’t the best Call of Duty game in the franchise as the single-player and Spec Ops modes fall a little short. Yet, at the very least it pushes the series back in the right direction and fans should be plenty satisfied with what Infinity Ward has brought to the table this year.

Flying your ship feels good, the galaxy accurately conveys an immense sense of scale, the use of real life stars and planets adds an amazing sense of wonder, and the trading and combat systems have strong cores. Overall, Elite: Dangerous is really cool, but mostly as a tease of what it could be.

Overall, Ghost Giant is not about great gameplay – the object-manipulation tasks are standard VR fare and only really serve to move the narrative forward. But oh, the narrative. The trials and tribulations of Louis and the rest of the denizens of little Sancourt will tug at your heartstrings and leave you thinking about them long after playing. Strap on your PSVR headset and definitely check Ghost Giant out, but be prepared to stop and wipe your eyes more than once.

For the first time in sim racing history, a console version can share the starting grid spot with its PC brother.

Like Sekiro and Team NINJA's Nioh games, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty demands a lot from the player, specifically persistence, creativity and let's be honest, decent timing and reflexes. In lots of key areas it's a pretty traditional Soulslike, with all the challenges and rewards that come with the genre. Wo Long's particular brilliance lies in its new mechanics and the way they flow in and out of every encounter. While some moments and fights can seem like insurmountable, immovable walls, getting around, through, or over them is never boring. Wo Long both honors the genre and pushes it forward in an exciting way.

There is no doubt that God of War fans will certainly find much to enjoy in this latest installment, but when standing next to its colossal brethren, this game is the weakest link in this long standing iconic series.

This is a worthy successor to Valve’s Portal games. It doesn’t have the polish and production values of those games but makes up for those shortcomings with it’s gameplay. If you love Portal, you, at the very least, really like The Entropy Centre. The Entropy Centre aims to bring a new meaning to the slogan: Build a Better Tomorrow. The release date is November 3, 2022 and the game will be available on most gaming platforms: Steam, Playstation, and XBox.

A New Frontier, despite its name, really is sticking with what’s worked before, and it’s not made to convert. It’s made to continue, and that’s what it does superbly.

Overall, The Gardens Between is not particularly complex or subtle with the linear-nature of its puzzle-solving and familiar story, but the level of creativity and depth the game reaches with its uncomplicated parts is not to be understated. It is a game to be played after a long day of school or work, when you might need to take a moment to remember simpler times.

Controls aside, this might be one of the first collections I’ve acquired in a long time where I’m almost compelled to finish every game.

A great game, plain and simple.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is about the best fans could expect from this finale.

Civilization has always been a board game too complicated to play with cardboard and plastic pieces. Gathering Storm takes that complexity to new levels of simulation, but it is so well presented you never feel overwhelmed. I’m an easy mark for a new Civilization, but I have no fear in saying that Gathering Storm is one of the most creative and significant expansions a Civilization game has ever received.

Drinkbox studios took an already great game, and made it that much better.

The Banner Saga 2 is a mesmerizing and beautiful turn-based RPG with a deep and layered combat system while also delivering a strong narrative jammed with plenty of tough player decisions.

Streamlined is a good word to describe Expeditions: Rome. Instead of jamming it full of every feature under the sun, it’s lean and mean. Maybe you are making fewer choices than you would in the latest Pathfinder game, but every one of those choices is meaningful. That philosophy permeates every level of the game, from the combat systems, to the art design, to the music, and the writing. A lot of thought went into every part of this game. RPG fans should honor that by giving just as much thought back to this game.

For fans of the point and click adventure genre, aficionados of retro pixel artwork, or anyone looking to get lost in a kind of feel good world that warms you when it’s not frightening you, this is a steal. Come on, give the creepy clown a hug.

I find it kind of ironic to have a pixilated old school themed shooter find its way on to a shiny new and very powerful Xbox One console; however, Super Time Force represents itself commendably.

With the Phoenix Wright games being a visual novel adventure and relatively easy to learn, it is suitable for a wide range of audiences, even for those who have never held a game controller before. The stories only progress when the player comes to the right conclusions, challenging our intellect and powers of deduction. While the cases may not be long, it is exciting, packed with many twists and turns, and brings you mysteries that make it all worth solving. With the release of the trilogy on the PS4, it is a great way for the series to reach more people and a hopeful sign that there will be more coming.

The title definitely packs a heck of a lot of bang for your buck and wins the top spot out of all Pokémon titles in my books. At the end of the day, if you are a fan of the series or not, this latest Pokemon title is a must have game for the DS, plain and simple.

While the game is just as fun and addicting as ever, the awkward dialogue feels shoe-horned in and the stark difficulty drop off in the mid-game is unfortunate to say the least, making the latter half of the experience a breeze. It’s still an enjoyable experience and a treat to explore the Galar region. It may not be perfect, but it is a strong step in the right direction to giving us the ultimate Pokemon experience.