While the planet of Batuu is visually pleasing, I found myself getting bored after the first few hours. Journey to Batuu can be a little a hit and miss depending on what kind of Sims fan you are. It’s a fun experience for the first bit, but if you’re someone who focuses’ more on builds than completing missions, this may not be the right pack for you. For Star Wars fans, I’m sure you would have a much better appreciation for this DLC pack than I did as it’ll likely scratch that tiny itch you may have for more Star Wars content.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is every RPG lovers dream and if you don’t mind its somewhat dated appearance, this classic absolutely deserves your undivided attention. I’ve been having a blast saving the people of Amalur and I can’t wait to see what the all-new DLC content will bring to the table.

Doraemon: Story of Seasons is beautifully executed, and it’s one of the most engaging Story of Seasons games I’ve ever played. The story is great and progresses without overly excessive downtime in between major events, and there’s no shortage of things to do to keep you entertained. Though the core gameplay may be tedious for some, it’s completely engrossing for others who love games of this nature or have loved Story of Seasons games in the past. As for me, I hope that Noby and his goofy friends stay trapped in Natura for a while — I won’t be ready to leave life on the farm anytime soon.

While the idea of Fight Crab was novel and hilarious, it, unfortunately, fell a tad short because of its average execution. There were a lot of redeeming qualities to the game though, so it was still time well spent. Brawlers can be repetitive by nature, but it was a slow grind to get to where you wanted to be and this made it hard to play for a long time. Even though the controls were slow, I’ll admit it was fun to button mash and I am sure this would be a hit in a household with children and those who want to experience the novelty of this game.

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!

On a story level, Paradise Killer was fantastic. It could have used a lot of fine-tuning but the setting was unique, the characters were interesting, and it asks a lot of questions about morality, acceptable behaviour, the difference between truth and fact, or law and justice. It’s up to you to decide what is right, but the game is a let down in execution. The experience is a long way from video game paradise, but it has its heart in the right place.

The thing that really bums me out about all this is that there doesn’t seem to be any real plans to release any sort of major DLCs for the game modes or different factions. It isn’t often I see a game that is let down by a lack of ambition. They have such a great foundation, and I think if they had put more time in developing more content, or promised ongoing support, this game could have been the next Heroes of Might and Magic. So, would I recommend Immortal Realms: Vampire Wars? Not at full price, I’m afraid. But if you’ve been craving for some Might and Magic, it may be worth your dime.

Raji: An Ancient Epic is an incredible adventure that carries the soul of the famed Prince of Persia. Although there are some technical issues, its intriguing narrative, immense world and core gameplay will keep you hooked.

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.

Controls and obnoxious voice acting aside, Pathfinder delivers exactly what it promises and does so very well. I can’t knock a game for not being something I usually play when it does what it sets out to do it so effectively. From the character creation, to the battle system, to the governing system, Pathfinder is incredibly in-depth. It’s very effectively realized and will steal whole hours of your day before you know it. If you miss the height of tabletops and CRPG’s and you love to fiddle with every nuance and detail in your gameplay, then Pathfinder: Kingmaker is definitely the game for you.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 is the package fans have been waiting years for. They missed the mark with the HD remake, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5, but I’m happy to report Vicarious Visions and Activision have perfectly rebuilt the original two Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater titles from the ground up. There are plenty of new things added to the reimagining of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games, and they’re all welcome additions. Nothing feels out of place and includes a lot more content than expected. Time has flown by through my first playthrough of the two campaigns, and I know I’m just getting started with all of the online and local multiplayer potential. This great package leaves me wanting more.

Although my ultimate verdict is weeks of multiplayer away, the first slice of this cake is a tasty one. Even casual Marvel fans would do well to keep Marvel’s Avengers on their radar.

Even though the core gameplay is solid, most game modes are riddled with micro-transactions that prioritizes grinding and monetization over enjoyment.

What I will say is that you can see the passion that went into this project. The environments are well-designed and it’s clear that the developers had a lot of love for the genre. It’s a game made for survival horror fans, but sadly isn’t one I can see many survival horror fans loving. It’s a mildly effective throwback, but somehow manages to feel more dated than games that were made decades ago, and that’s not a comfortable spot to be sitting in.

You could say that Tell Me Why is about the journey and not the destination, and that journey is indeed a compelling one. And it’s complex; with violence, dysfunction and mental illness featuring prominently, it’s a dark tale in many ways. But it is also one full of hope as well – in the unlikely love that can bring two outsiders together, in the mental bond that literally connects two siblings, and in the liberating power of the truth. You’ll come away from playing Tell Me Why feeling a lot of things – sadness, optimism, confusion, disappointment. I can’t tell you which of these you’ll feel when you play it … but you should play it.

New Super Lucky’s Tale is the best Lucky’s Tale title to date. The colorful visuals are now in 4K at 60 frames per second, something nobody can complain about. The cast of characters are complemented by impressive voice acting. While Lucky’s Tale may have originated as an Oculus Rift pack-in game, New Super Lucky’s Tale has really evolved after originally debuting on the Nintendo Switch last November. The transition from Switch to Xbox is impressive. When Yooka-Laylee released back in 2017, I expected it to reinvigorate my love for the 3D platforming genre similar to how Super Mario Odyssey did, but I had to wait until New Super Lucky’s Tale to truly feel that satisfaction.

All in all, Fury Unleashed provided me with several entertaining afternoons and also brought me back to the past. It’s very fun, hard to play well, and the randomness of the levels was a treat for those looking for a challenge. Even though the game was short and felt a tad repetitive due to going through the same chapter after endless deaths, it doesn’t chastise you for failure and helps you along the way to become better than your previous run. Yes, it can be frustrating, but it’s an enjoyable frustration – I recommend the challenge.

Popup Dungeon is a fantastic starter game for newbies to the turn-based strategy genre, and it’s the ultimate playground for those who want complete creative freedom to make their own tabletop adventure. You could play around with the creation tools for hours and almost never skim the surface of what’s possible — the sky is truly the limit here. Though it’s certainly not a game for everyone, it’s one of the most impressive experiences I’ve seen for customization, and a must-have for anyone who wants to create an in-depth D&D campaign.

Ultimately, this game would have benefited from more time both in testing and on the drawing board. A more sophisticated combat system, less cheesy storytelling, more embellishment on exploration, and animations that are far less glitchy would have done Ary and the Secret of Seasons the justice it sincerely deserves.

Anyone hip to the source material is sure to find a lot to love about Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions. And if you’re tired of the same old song and dance that is Fifa and Pro Evo, RoNC might just be exactly what the doctor ordered. But I’d also love to see Tamsoft and Bandai Namco take another crack at this universe because most of what’s here could be made exceedingly better with a solid polishing. Until then, I’ll keep shoulder-checking and falcon-kicking my way to the championship.

It’s clear that Crusader Kings is not a game for everyone. It’s dense, complex, at times slow, at other times overwhelming. But there’s a magic here, a storytelling generator that you won’t find anywhere else. It’s a series that already has a lot of fans, and I think those fans are going to agree with me when I declare Crusader Kings 3 the best Crusader Kings yet. There are also a lot of people who may become fans, and to them, I declare this game as easily the most accessible Crusader Kings. Not only is it a strange and wonderful experience, but it also promises to grow more exciting with future updates. You can’t get your Crusader Kings fix anywhere else, and Crusader Kings 3 takes the series to new heights.

Darkestville Castle is a nostalgic game for sure. But play at your own risk as rose-colored glasses are not included.

Although the game has taken inspiration from titles such as Portal and The Witness, the ingenuity of design sets it apart from its predecessors. The combination of exploration and puzzles in the vast interconnected world is a joy to experience. Despite the relatively short playtime and little replay value, Manifold Garden is worth exploring. Just be prepared for an existential trip into the world of William Chyr.

Windbound is a beautiful, relaxing experience that uses its survival mechanics not to force tension, but encourage you to keep moving forward. Its art style is absolutely stunning and the soundtrack – while occasionally sparse with periods of silence – is moving and invigorating. Despite its minor bugs, Windbound is like a great, narrative-driven introduction to the world of survival mechanics and something that is infinitely replayable.

While it seems like the Madden franchise is trending in the wrong direction, the future remains bright for EA Sports virtual gridiron game. A new generation of consoles is right around the corner and the timing couldn’t be better. I have to give EA some credit here as folks who purchase Madden NFL 21 for PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, are able to upgrade their copy to PlayStation 5, or Xbox Series X at no extra cost. That said, it feels as though EA Sports has done everything they can with this generation of consoles and is merely on cruise control until they have the technical capacity to do so much more. Madden NFL 21 isn’t necessarily a bad game; it will improve over time with updates. Yet the product at launch is riddled with deficiencies and the incremental additions aren’t significant enough to warrant a purchase recommendation from me.

The improved graphics take an already beautiful game and smooths out all of the aging issues that became noticeable since its original release seventeen years ago. The various family trades and tribes in Crystal Chronicles Remastered brings an element of replayability to this Final Fantasy title for new and old fans. The epic Caravan campaign is more enjoyable than ever on current-gen consoles, and fans of the original Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles should definitely check out the freshly remastered version.

Project CARS 3 suffers from a bit of an identity crisis in what it brings to the player, blending racing sim gameplay and arcade racer mechanics. Its message isn’t entirely clear without some trial and error, and while the narrator, drive-assist, and AI modifiers help ease into gameplay, there isn’t quite enough to know what everything means for the un-initiated. Driving feels wonderful and I expected nothing less given the history of Slightly Mad Studios and Codemasters, but this feels more like a racing sim for casual play over an engrossing and addictive time behind the wheel. It has a lot going for it, but its identity seems lost and with it, my drive to sink time into it.

Willy Morgan and The Curse of Bone Town is a simple title with a well-intentioned premise. Despite its cast of colorful characters and relatively interesting narrative, it really struggles to find its stride and unfortunately feels like its potential is squandered by both the undercooked game and sound design.