Overall, 112 Operator is a fun game for anyone who likes to play management sims. Unfortunately, when the easy control system and preset stories wear thin, there’s nothing to keep this dispatcher from changing careers. I know the developers are planning to release more content, which will help, but I don’t think that will be enough to completely salvage the experience.

Atari has done an excellent job with this upgrade of a classic game. If you like the original game and would like to play it with modern gameplay sensibilities, this is right up, or down, your alley.

Yesterday Origins is yet another game to add to the point & click genre that serves up a fairly unique story. It may not be the “must play” point & click adventure game of the year, but it’s one that you can escape in fairly enjoyably.

Sonic Superstars manages to capture the magic of his earlier releases. The multilayered levels and innovation throughout make this one of the best Sonic games in years! While the multiplayer aspects are not as strong, the single-player portion undoubtedly proves that Sonic is back!

What is great about Warlords is that you can invest as deeply or casually as you like.

System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is the original System Shock 2 experience for better and for worse. It includes every aspect of the original game, including the clunky menus and side features that don’t work as well as intended. Fans of the original will miss nothing, and have a smooth-running version on consoles. While System Shock 2 is an important video game, it’s going to be difficult for modern players to experience it for the first time. I recommend Nightdive’s System Shock remake for anyone who wants to get into the series for the first time. Undoubtedly, System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is the best way to play this classic open-world survival horror FPS CRPG.

I love Star Ocean: First Departure R. It’s a must-play for JRPG fans, and gaming historians. By modern standards, it might seem fairly simple, but this is a port of a PSP port of a Super Famicom game. It holds up very well and is by far the most accessible way to play this first story. Even players who aren’t JRPG fans might really enjoy the combat. Especially if they’re into hack and slash and beat ‘em up games.

Yooka-Laylee is a whimsical and witty gem of a 3D platformer, offering a wealth of secrets to find, puzzles to solve and large colorful worlds to explore each of which are populated with some of the most charming characters to hit a video game in years. The good far outweighs the negative and any shortcomings found never outshine the fun to be had. Yooka-Laylee made me feel like a kid again and proves there’s still a place for the classic 3D collectathon.

This experience has a cool agenda beyond having a fun, silly time, and that makes it greater than the sum of its parts. Mulaka is a thoughtful, beautiful game that will transport you to a magical world. That it’s a world that I’ve never seen before makes the game even better.

Despite several issues, Iron Man VR was worth the time. A severely repetitive mission structure, lackluster enemy variety, mediocre environments, and a dull story can’t stop this train from rolling. It’s the beauty in the uniqueness of its sales pitch. This is the closest to being Iron Man you’ll ever get. We’re in this exciting, quiet-before-the-storm era of VR gaming. Developers have the opportunity to lay extensive groundwork and show us the possibility of what we’ll see in the future. That’s what Iron Man VR has going for it.

All in all Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is an engaging and immersive experience that transports the fans back to the very beginning and for me, that came with a heavy serving of nostalgia.

It would be easy to break this game down to its constituent elements. You drive, shoot, and soak up loot, slowly growing strong enough to rip the head off of an evil empire. Each piece holds satisfaction and joy that belies its base description, however. Combat in Rage 2 feels smooth as glass, with every gunfight playing to a violent rhythm. Travelling throughout the world is fast and engaging, with every pit stop bringing new wonders of varying quality. Even the stock-standard open world components have been polished to a vibrant sheen. While it hasn’t reinvented the wheel, Rage 2 still manages to deliver on every promise with ease. Among sandbox shooters, this game shines, crackles, and sparks.

No, it’s not a bull’s eye by any means, but Hard West will certainly hit close enough to provide you with hours of Wild-West fun.

Slavic mythology, card minigames, and hexagonal turn-based strategic gameplay are just the beginnings to what Thea: The Awakening has to offer. With such a high replay value, it’ll keep you entertained and busy for much more than you would expect.

I feel like fans of tile-based tactical games and fans of Warhammer 40K will enjoy this entry into the series. With visually appealing designs, Cyanide Studios did a wonderful job with bringing the dark atmosphere of the Blood Angels vs Genestealers to life. Topped up with fairly decent voice work, a solid game design, good writing and a plethora of things to do, Space Hulk: Tactics has got a lot of things right. With working out a few kinks, and hopefully a more active online presence, you’ll certainly be getting your monies worth for this title.

Bus Simulator 21 turned out to be a lot better than I was anticipating. It has a ton of the typical shortcomings you see in simulator-type games, but it also gets a lot right. The maps are large, pretty, and varied. Busses handle well and feel weighty when making corners. And the multiplayer is genuinely fantastic. If other sims take note of what Bus Simulator 21 is doing in regards to cooperative modes, this might be a genre I start to pay much more mind to.

Star Wars: Tales from The Galaxy’s Edge – Enhanced Edition allows you to step into the franchise and use a range of iconic weaponry. Fans will love the faithful representation of the world and its inhabitants, however, the uninspiring opening and aging design hinder the experience.

Not only does it look significant better than its little brother on the current generation systems, Madden 25 on the Xbox One seems more authentic and more true to life.

The graphic art may not be what you’d hope for in a space oriented game, but the fluidity of game play and sheer engagement makes it easier to overlook any shortcomings.

Dark Crystal Games’ passion for this type of game shines through in every facet. They have made every attempt to make the game as accessible to a wide range of players as possible. The game feels tight in terms of performance and I encountered no bugs. How much one will enjoy the game really depends on how much one will put into it.

The most important aspect of a visual novel is that it has a compelling story, and in that aspect, Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Heart of the Forest delivers in spades. I just don’t feel like the mechanics in Heart of the Forest justify it being a videogame over a straight up novel. If you’re a fan of the Werewolf: The Apocalypse franchise, then Heart of the Forest should serve as an excellent love letter. Newcomers to the franchise who are visual novel fans will find a driving narrative, but those who like a lot of play in their game best stay away.

Overall, Tandem: A Tale of Shadows is a fine game. There are some flaws for sure, but nothing that ruins your overall experience, and what’s there is solid. I’d recommend this game for people who are interested in the light/dark puzzle mechanics, but if you are thinking of getting into it for the aesthetics or the story, I’d give it a pass.

The game’s style is good, and the basic structure is engaging and challenging. Combat could be a little more tactical, but overall it’s a solid game that provides a great outlet for any turn-based craving you might have.

On the flip side, I'm not sure who this release is for. If you've never played Diamond and Pearl, you'll probably love these games. Assuming you don't mind a couple of tiny steps backwards in terms of mechanics. If you're familiar with the old games, this will be a mostly pleasant nostalgia trip. Especially if you've forgotten everything that happens, like me. The only hitch is the baffling visual and audio design. More than anything, these choices suggest that the Pokemon Company isn't exactly sure what fans want out of these games. Brilliant Pearl feels well-crafted yet confused, like they pursued several disparate visions at once. If you can see past these strange decisions, you'll find a set of pretty respectable Pokemon games.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R is a celebration of the weird and wonderful world of the franchise. Fans will love the number of characters and nods to key moments from the series, however, the gameplay lets it down. Its age becomes more apparent as you fight. The sluggish combat and simple systems mean that it can’t compete with its peers. While fans of the original will enjoy the new features, it misses that knockout blow.

Draugen is not a revolutionary game, but it is a smart one. The story teeters between being overly explanatory and too ambiguous but never manages to succumb to either. Additionally, the two lead characters feel deftly crafted and relatable. The short length and a lack of replay value may deter some, but Draugen is a mystery worth losing yourself in.

New mechanics, some tweaks to the level design, and more unique enemy AI would go a long way to making this one of those games you absolutely need to check out.

The general gameplay is a bit simplistic but your actions result in high-stakes scenarios that make you immersed in the world and the experience which is a hallmark positive in any survival game.