A mysterious Halo-esque narrative and the surprisingly fun multiplayer additions alongside some new areas to explore make Rise of Iron easy to recommend as more updates and patches are sure to make for an even better experience.

It still does what it does incredibly well, and every new campaign in a Civilization game brings originality and variety on its own. I thought the extra-terrestrial setting was badly wasted, but even without any real innovation it’s still a very solid game, just not one that’s much different from Civilization: V.

Simplistic and easy to pick up, the pure fun that results make this a great game for people of all ages and gamers of all skill levels.

It’s a badass strategy simulator, one with deep gameplay and that glorifies what is maybe one of the most gnarly periods of human history. It makes for a wonderfully executed strategy experience. But I still long for the day that we leave behind this whole “historical accuracy” fallacy and devote our fantastic game development resources to something more deeply imaginative.

My only real gripe with the game is the lack of saving and respawning options. I am one of those players that tends to die a lot, so it can be a bit frustrating. Not to mention the mini-map is quite small, so it can be easy to miss something important before moving onto the next level. Other than that, RemiLore: Lost Girl in the Lands of Lore is an incredibly fun title. With beautiful graphics and fluid hack ’n’ slash action, not to mention the back and forth hilarious banter from our heroes, this title is an easy pick whether you are playing it at home or on the go.

When it’s all said and done though, Dodgeball Academia is much better than I was expecting. I enjoyed the style, the zaniness, the characters, and only got frustrated by the gameplay a couple of times. Given my childhood history with the sport and my general anger over not being able to win in every game, a couple of times of frustration is a MASSIVE win. While the RPG elements to it are a little on the light side, the open-ish world and all of the side quests/daily challenges you get to tackle on top of the story have you 3 hours deep into dodgeball games before you know it. The fun and light hearted aspects of the game outweigh the negatives, making Dodgeball Academia a good pick up if you’re looking to hear that SPLAT once more.

If you’re a fan of the Sniper Elite franchise, Sniper Elite 4 on Nintendo Switch is definitely worth checking out. It’s a new campaign in the series with necessary improvements from the last installment, while fans from other platforms can enjoy their favorite Sniper Elite Italian campaign from the comfort of their bed or on their commute to work. Sniper Elite 4 brings snipers into new locations featuring ruined castles, bayside watchtowers, vast orchards, underground tunnels, occupied cities, and far more.

As far as first person vehicular shooter multiplayer games go, Ravaged for the PC is very enjoyable and it was difficult to put down. Granted Ravaged is not the most polished PC shooter available but the price is right, it is entertaining and offers up hours of mindless fun.

On its own, Snipperclips is a charming indie puzzle game, but its quality is magnified due to the size of the Nintendo Switch’s launch list. Snipperclips is a fun, charming title that players will enjoy, and is a great start to the “Nindie” movement that Nintendo is embracing for the Switch.

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.

What stands out to me in this case, is that between how terrible the initial release was, and how the folks at Wolf Brew had to literally crawl out of the abyss to turn Slain into a competent title. Slain: Back From Hell is truly metal in very sense of the word.

As a spiritual successor, the game adopts many traits that are similar to Dead Space. The HUD is implemented within the design, the limbs of your opponent can be blown away and the tight camera obscures your view. While comparisons are expected, The Callisto Protocol does differ. The melee-focused combat cranks up the intensity of encounters but ultimately stumbles when facing numerous enemies. Some may not like the linearity but I felt that this helped with the pacing of the game and the effectiveness of scares. Although it never reaches the heights of its predecessor’s first two outings, it still offers a trembling trek through a terrifying detention center.

It’s has an interesting story, a plethora of puzzles that need to be solved (regardless of either being too easy or difficult at times), and is simply fun all the way to the closing credits.

If you are a fan of superheroes and/or a fan of the Lego franchise of games, Lego Batman 2 will attract you for sure, if you don't find yourself in this category though, feel free to take a look at this game anyhow, as you might just find yourself surprised at what is offered.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes is a unique tale from the crypt of Supermassive Games. The intriguing premise and methodical pacing help to build an overwhelming sense of trepidation, making you question what lies in the myriad of breathing shadows. Although the final third lacks the ambition and ingenuity of its early segments, it’s another great example and celebration of the horror genre.

All in all, Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg is still a classic worth taking a look at. This game is challenging, but it’s not unfair. And frankly, the challenge is half the appeal. The other half of the appeal is the crafting and the cute girls, of course.

They don’t come around as often anymore, but Mantis Burn Racing shows that the topdown racer is still alive and kicking. It excels in being a casual and accessible racer for newcomers with excellent and responsive controls while offering a robust and challenging career mode for the hardcore. While the load times can sometimes get annoying between races, the actual gameplay is fun whether you’re playing solo or with your buddies.

I had bigger hopes for this one. But still Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom is a fun VR adventure game that you’ll enjoy. You don’t have to be a fan of the TV series to enjoy the game, but it helps. Either way, there’s a solid narrative to experience, first-person. And the gameplay is fun and varied, even if the world feels like a beautiful animatronic amusement park ride at times. If you’re a bloke who fancies a good wallop and a bust up at the local boozer, give Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom a look.

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

A quick thrill ride.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 seems to favour fixing most of what was there instead of changing the make-up of the game. While these smaller additions are all well and good, there is a feeling in the football sim community that both Pro Evo and FIFA are due for a generational leap in years to come. However, that starts with getting what’s already there right – and in that regard, PES 2019 passes with flying colors.

Despite my initial reactions, I finally start to enjoy Life is Feudal. After getting over the initial learning curve and skill grind. There is something liberating about being able to terraform any piece of land and cut down any tree I find.

While a few typos and grammar issues throughout hint that the game still needs a little polish, The Horror at Highrook is a great time for anyone who loves a little Lovecraft with their card games.

Zombie Army VR is a fun arcade shooter. Killing zombies never gets old, and the World War II setting is an entertaining mash with the undead genre. The game really gives off a Castle Wolfenstein vibe. However, some may find that the gameplay loop will wear out its welcome. The VR implementation is top-notch, with manual VR weapon loading mechanics that add to the challenge. If zombies are your thing, along with the X-Ray sniper rifle replays, Zombie Army VR will be right up your alley.

For best results, pick up Islanders: Console Edition for shorter sessions; calm yourself down and escape from the stress of life. Don’t look for it to satisfy your Napoleonic yearnings for military glory. And if you’ve been looking for the next “Civ-on-the-go,” keep looking. Islanders: Console Edition is a small game that knows what it is — and isn’t. And that’s just fine.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is a step in the right direction. Game Freak successfully reimagines the formula in an open-world format and improves on its previous experiments with this design. The ability to tackle any gym is refreshing and the three distinct story paths give more reason to explore. Unfortunately, the number of performance issues cannot be overlooked and these hinder what could have been a highlight of the series.

In the end, I think Harold Halibut ought to be experienced for its amazing technical achievement, if nothing else. While its gameplay doesn’t always engage, its narrative, characters, and themes are coherent in the manner of good speculative fiction. Both Harold the character and Harold Halibut the game are weird, wonderful, and quite unlike anything we’ve seen this year.

NBA 2K18 is a solid title but does little to improve overall, featuring relatively the same experience as years past.