NeuroVoider doesn’t do anything particularly different, but everything that’s there is executed with brutal efficiency. Tight combat, deep customization, a breadth of different gameplay styles, an astounding soundtrack, breathtaking environments, and an addictive gameplay loop that always pushes past the ‘GAME OVER’ screen makes NeuroVoider one of the best games I’ve played this year and a must-play for fans of the roguelike genre.

Wulverblade is a wonderful throwback to classic 90’s brawlers but there’s also a healthy dollop of newness added to the mix. The combat, while initially very simplistic, has layers upon layers of depth that slowly reveals itself with each subsequent stage. The difficulty tends to rear its ugly head a little early, but dedicated gamers will find the challenge rewarding and engaging. The heavily-researched storyline, gorgeous graphics and animation, and simple controls make Wulverblade a sharp and to-the-point beat-em-up that’s totally worth playing.

Summerset is a wonderful expansion for fans of ESO and people looking to jump in. The expressive new soundtrack and change of scenery are elegant and grandiose, and the detailed landscape provides endless corners and coves to explore. As expected, the lore is incredibly deep and offers an intimate opportunity to get to know the striving, high-brow Elves who inhabit the land.

The more I played Minoria, the more I liked it. This became a game I was rooting for, and that’s a great feeling. It sets a high mark for the Momodora series and stands tall about the slew of other Metroidvania options out there. If you’re a fan of Metroidvanias, platformers, or 2D combat, Minoria comes highly recommended. And if you’re a fan of the Momodora series, Minoria is the series best. Highly recommended!

I think Tinytopia is a great game for younger audiences, especially ones interested in dipping their toes into citybuilder games. Fun, creative, and full of destruction! However, for veteran players looking for a new, complex system to dive into, I’d definitely look elsewhere.

It isn't a super complex, deep, and difficult gaming experience. And that is perfectly great. It nails exactly what it is trying to do. Bring some life to a beloved galaxy and fill it with things to do while also being funny and charming. Players get to see, and play as, their favourite characters from across all three trilogies and relive that magic in a stress-free adventure. Furthermore, they get to explore iconic planets and feel close to these places they have always wanted to explore.

For the King II is a happy synthesis of accessibility and depth, though some of the mechanics can be a bit opaque. It’s ideally a game for four friends but works well enough for a solo player. There’s a bit of a learning curve and it might take time to click, but overall For the King II is colorful, appealing and a lot of turn-based fun.

Minos reminded me of playing one of those wooden ball-in-a-labyrinth toys, where you tilt the maze just so to guide the ball to the end. In this case, gravity is replaced by scores of devious traps, and the goal is to stop the progress of enemies before they can defeat the Minotaur. Minos brings a lot of interesting ideas to the tower defense genre. If you have patience for increasingly challenging puzzles and a bit of jank, Minos can be a lot of fun.

At the end of the day, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate is a fantastic game trapped inside an archaic one.

It’s time for Visual Concepts and 2K Games to go back to the drawing board with their microtransaction philosophy. At this point, it’s hard not to feel like they’re gouging the player. Especially given the exorbitant prices their premium edition versions cost. And it’s so damned frustrating to dislike as much of 2K22 as I did because behind every extra dollar asked of me was an excessively smooth compressed spin or step-back jumper to put a smile on my face. I like NBA 2K22. I wouldn’t say I like it enough to remortgage my home to play it.

It’s deep, but not overly complex.

If you’re looking for a party game, Windjammers is a totally tubular choice. If you’re looking for a deep and engaging game that’ll keep you occupied for a long time – this isn’t it. Still, the core gameplay is fun and exciting as long as you’re playing with humans, so consider Windjammers an option the next time you’re wanting to elicit controller smashing rage from a fellow human.

Super Mario Party features a large character selection, beautiful visuals, fun minigames, fresh new modes, and that fun, party-style gameplay - all of which is great. But I constantly found myself wanting... more. Maybe it's because I see what Nintendo is doing with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - with its massive roster, absurd number of levels, and so much more and I wish Nintendo would put that kind of effort into a Mario Party game. If you have three friends that are Mario Party fanatics - than there might be just enough here to satisfy the Mario Party craving for a while. Otherwise, it's really hard to recommend Super Mario Party - especially if you don't have anyone to play with, the stupid AI will just drive you insane.

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam is a delightful game with all the love and charm you’d expect from Nintendo poster boys…only now with a dash of poster boy made from poster board. Fun, laughs, and a generally good time are all to be had if you pick this up for your 3DS.

Simply a must buy for fans of PopCap games and of course for those that enjoyed the original Zuma game. When you take into consideration how much content you get for 800 Microsoft Points you cannot go wrong.

It’s fun, looks great, and has a level of depth that people may not expect.

If linear gameplay and combat that’s decent at best don’t sound like your idea of a good time, look elsewhere. Masquerada: Songs and Shadows tends to fit a niche that is a classic staple of video games.

So do you like Control? This is more of that, and gameplay is as strong as its ever been. Do you like Alan Wake? This is a fantastic continuation of the story, so exciting that I am sincerely tempted to go back and give the original a try. Beyond its two parts though, Control: AWE takes concepts from the previous chapters of the story and heightens them in every way. This is the best-written chapter of Control yet, and one that has me frantically searching wikis to figure out where the story is going next. Now just give me a team-up between Jesse Faden, Alan Wake, and Max Payne and I will be the happiest gamer alive.

Fun is a great word for describing Flinthook. It’s fun to play, it’s fun to look at, and it’s fun to explore. Games that are lovingly made are often a treat to play and Flinthook is no exception. If you’re a fan of roguelikes and platformers, treat yourself to one of the best games in the genre.

Candleman may not be a very energetic or exciting platformer, but that doesn’t mean it’s not an effective one. It feels more like a journey of quiet self-reflection than an action-packed thrill ride. It’s a game full of beautiful imagery and a surprisingly worthwhile tale that’s only hampered by a few shortcomings. In the end, Candleman is not a perfect storybook platformer, and it doesn’t have to be.

While Momodora: Reverie Under The Moonlight doesn’t hit the highs of recent genre entries such as Ori and the Blind Forest it certainly offers fans of “Metroidvania” adventures a worthwhile and fun experience with great combat, solid world design and a wonderfully charming aesthetic that manages to feel fresh in spite of its pixel veneer.

Overall the game does feel really good. The mechanics are solid with the only issue being gauging strength. The career and societies are going to offer up some good possibilities to players along with some real extended play times. 100,000+ courses to play is slightly bonkers. That’s great for variety but it’s also a double-edged sword. While most are well optimized, there are times that during your back swing the game will stutter. I’m sure you can imagine what that does to a shot.

The lovable-yet-flawed characters, the interesting, detailed environments, and the snappy story are definitely back again this time around. If you are new to Deponia, however, be prepared for some tedium and confusion to go along with the colorful fun.

Bright colors and low-impact sound design keep Wild Bastards from ever feeling too chaotic. The action stays legible, without too many particle effects crowding your screen. With management, RPG, and unlocking mechanics, there’s a little something for everyone. Wild Bastards is a good hang. Rather than feeling pulled in every direction, you will feel hyper-focused on the next level. I expect to see imitators trying to pull off the same formula before too long. But the real question is, what does the future look like for the Bastards games? If the future looks like this, I’d feel just fine but Wild Bastards is such a leap forward I would hope to see more bold additions to the formula.

While the gameplay might be repetitive and clunky at times, the game encourages players to return, and the town building aspects are quite addicting.

This version is a lot more than the original ever was on the PSN, but it is a modified version. I’m just happy to have this game on the Switch, but I recognize that it’s far from a perfect port. If you can see past the minor flaws, Final Fantasy IX is an excellent investment on the Nintendo Switch.

If you love an interesting story with some creepy sci-fi elements, then I highly recommend The Final Station. Finding bits of lore and slowly uncovering parts of the mystery was intriguing and kept me moving down the line, but that’s not for everyone. It’s a bit short for the price tag, but well worth your money if you enjoy single-player titles that leave you wondering at the end.

EA Sports UFC 2 still isn’t fully where the series should be at by now, but it’s a step in the right direction.