Disney Tsum Tsum Festival is a conflicting title. It definitely appears to be a low-effort game that borders on shovelware, but there are glimpses of quality spread throughout. With more experiences like Bubble Hockey and Lost Treasure, the game would’ve been great, but as it is now, I’d much rather play Mario Party. Though it’s worth playing for dedicated fans, it’s not worth playing for others. Overall, Disney Tsum Tsum Festival can be fun for young kids who enjoy Tsum characters, but holding the game to a higher standard, there’s little to keep playing.

Although I can’t confirm the differences between the original Xbox One X version and the new Switch edition, I can say that I had a lot of fun with this gem. It was dull and unfocused at times, but it never felt like a slog. Perhaps the game can be remembered fondly one day as a rare 3D platformer throwback of this decade, alongside Super Mario Odyssey, Yooka-Laylee, and A Hat in Time. Or at the very least, some may consider this the long-lost spiritual imagining of Rare’s Twelve Tales: Conker 64.

There’s something to be said for a stripped down to basics game experience, without too many complications or intricacies that get in the way of the fun. Pistol Whip is entertaining and another of the growing list of successful arguments for VR as a near-staple for gamers. As a music game, it doesn’t have the depth or addictive appeal of Beat Saber. It can be fun and is one of the better action/arcade games in the VR space, but given its limited playlist and mechanics, I suspect it doesn’t have the long-term appeal of other, more fully-featured games.

Suda51 is nothing if not subtle. His games always feel outrageous and over-the-top in ways that can be difficult to hold onto some measure of appeal. I love his stuff solely because I can never expect what he’s going to do. Travis Strikes Again was a huge disappointment because it doesn’t have the same high energy or memorable experiences of its predecessors. I do like all of the weird mixed media stuff going on but if you strip the presentation away, there isn’t anything left worth sticking around for.

The Bradwell Conspiracy runs terribly, the visuals are nothing special and the narrative is silly at best but that doesn’t stop Amber and the dialogue from standing out. I’d love to see what the developers, A Brave Plan, could do with more focus on the characters rather than plot, and a bigger budget for art and QA. There are the seeds of a great studio visible within the game but the fruit is not currently evident. I look forward to what A Brave Plan makes next but I can’t recommend The Bradwell Conspiracy.

While the hack and slash gameplay of each individual character is somewhat simple, the variance between each of the six is substantial, keeping things fairly fresh throughout the many runs. Additionally, skill trees and constant stat improvements grant a sense of empowerment and progression. It may not upheave the mechanical norms of roguelikes, but Children of Morta does a good job of weaving storytelling into the well-worn tropes of the genre to create something that feels unique.

I can absolutely recommend the game, but for all the good things it does, one which would be even stronger if you weren't taken out of the experience a little too often. I wanted to achieve true transcendence but the limitations the game places on you too often stop it from reaching its full potential. I have a feeling you’ll still want to experience it, though, and don’t be surprised if you make everyone around you do the same.

All in all these games are truly a blast from the past, and back in their day (1999 / 2000) were some of the best RPG outings you could find on the PC. Today though, I can't say that they are anything more than a nostalgic cash grab. There are no updates here and the amount of bugs I had to get through is just plain unacceptable. Don't get me wrong: Icewind Dale is still a fun dungeon-exploring D&D adventure and Planescape has one of gaming's best stories hands-down but even with them coming to modern consoles these games really show their age. Tread carefully!

Overall, Super Monkey Ball banana Blitz HD is too difficult to play due to the controls. It made me feel sick, and it lacks a lot of the fun extras that were a draw for the series, or at least what should be expected in one for the current generation of consoles.

Ichidant-R is a challenging taste of retro gameplay. If you have good reflexes and a sharp brain, it’s the game for you. Otherwise, grab a buddy and conquer it together.

Crossroads Inn might not be the first medieval sim (that honor probably goes to 2011’s The Sims Medieval) and there are quite a few castle builders out there as well, but as a narrowly focused genre blend of builder and sim, Crossroads Inn stakes out some specific territory. Whether the game reaches its potential to own that little niche depends on whether the developers can squash the many bugs that plague the game and degrade the experience of playing it.

It’s clear that earlier Frontier games like Kinectimals, Zoo Tycoon and Planet Coaster have been stage-setters for this ultimate zoo sim. Whether you enjoy theme park builders, economic sims or most importantly, creating the zoo of your dreams, Planet Zoo will satisfy you, but be prepared for an order of complexity that the previous games managed to avoid, or at least hid a little better. Although it lacks an “immediate gratification” mode, Planet Zoo is still an amazing tool for exercising your imagination and enjoying your love of animals.

Humor in any narrative is highly subjective. Afterparty starts out strong, with a clear and vibrant sense of style that is unlike many other games. The game can be funny, clever and smart but it can also seem random, indulgent and perplexing and thin on the amount of interesting stuff for the player to actually do, other than experience the story, dialog and a few mini-games. The price to content ratio might be out of whack for some folks but Afterparty does have a unique, out of left field kind of kookyness that is worth paying attention to for its short length.

If you’re starved for another fun puzzle title, you can definitely do worse but there are more fully-featured, well-rounded puzzle games available on the Switch.

Luigi's Mansion 3 is the perfect mix between spooky and fun gameplay, suitable for fans of any age. The mass amount of variation continuously keeps the game feeling fresh as you play. The option for co-operative play also adds another layer to the game, increasing the replayability further. From the gorgeous graphics to the fantastic music, Luigi’s Mansion 3 is nothing but an enjoyable experience. Going in as a new player to the series was also fantastic. I can definitely see why so many people love the series, and we would love to see Nintendo take it to new and refreshing places in the future, once again.

A passable entry in the long-running series, the latest Modern Warfare is polished but lacks creativity. It’s certainly more of the same as a return to a once-beloved sub-series. Sadly, it fails to invigorate and impress on the same level as the groundbreaking Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Still , the game has a dedicated fanbase and the developers undoubtedly cater to that crowd. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare lives up to the series as a whole, but ultimately fails to match up with the best of the sub-series it attempts reboot.

There’s no denying that The Outer Worlds bears the imprint of earlier Obsidian games and a number of other timeless RPGs as well, but those influences do little to diminish the accomplishment of some amazing worldbuilding, entertaining storytelling and brilliantly realized characters. The Outer World tackles some serious subjects but never feels weighted down by them and it’s a fully realized example of an RPG that allows for an immense amount of player agency while keeping its larger narrative on track.

Disco Elysium deserves applause for having a singular vision and generally bringing it to fruition through its art, writing, setting, characters and gameplay mechanics which suggest the heyday of classic isometric RPGs. At the same time, it can feel joyless and self-consciously weighted down by its bleak vision of the world, despite a steady drip of cynical, eccentric humor. Disco Elysium was perhaps the best example in years of a game that I appreciated but didn’t much enjoy.

Mario and Sonic’s collaborative Switch outing may not be a huge upgrade from previous entries, but there’s enough variety and content, all wrapped around a ten-hour story mode and adorned with multiplayer functionality.

Slain: Back from Hell was a master class example in teaching how to play well. Valfaris, on the other hand, doesn’t understand the same rewarding philosophy. Luck plays too big a part in beating all the hardship in Therion’s way, controls are unfortunately sloppy (again, it could be a console-specific issue) and the game even falls to punish players with its dubious risk/reward system. Valfaris looks great and at its best, can make your hands sweat when tackling its steep challenge but ultimately, for all that the game is, it more talks the talk than walks the walk.

I love the game that is bubbling under all the excess garbage. This year’s MyPlayer is pretty much what I would have liked to see before in the series, even though I had to play it with Plan B characters as photo uploading in-game didn’t initially work. Despite its crappy presentation, MyCareer is also endearing and inspiring. If you, like me, advocate equality in all things, WWE 2K20 is worth your attention if the entertainment it features is your thing – and only when it’s fixed to the state when all the playtime won’t be spent on bewildering bugs and glitches. A tip to 2K and Visual Concepts; don’t even bother with the next year’s iteration until this one is fully patched.

Although the Switch version is a new way to play, it really doesn't add anything new to the game. If you were a fan before, you'll either want to play it again or you won't. But if you're a new player picking Overwatch up for the first time, then you'll very much enjoy the experience on Nintendo.

If Hideo Kojima’s non-conventional storytelling, flair for the cinematic, and fourth-wall-breaking silliness gets you out of bed every morning, then Death Stranding is going to appease, surprise, and maybe even delight.

While it lacks the processing punch of a PC-tethered headset, the mobility and no-strings-attached freedom of the Oculus Quest has allowed me to dive deep into the headset as a fitness product, and Beat Saber, Box VR and a few other titles are in regular rotation. Synth Riders has the potential to challenge those products if it can expand the range of its playlist and offer a few more bells and whistles (like a campaign) to the generally solid foundation. Synth Riders’ approach is definitely influenced by Beat Saber but it has expanded the earlier game’s vocabulary and mechanics in several interesting ways.

The problem with all puzzle games is that they are almost always a single-play through experience, so that initial run has to be the memorable one. Moons of Madness has some jump scares and other surprises, but its biggest draw might be that it takes Lovecraftian elements into a wholly new environment and replaces combat with exploration, puzzles and a slow-growing sense of confusion and dread. Fans of all those different elements and genres might find Moons of Madness just the right companion for Halloween night video gaming.

Overall, Galaxy Champions TV is a decent little game, and an instant purchase for those who miss Smash TV. Otherwise, I feel like this is the sort of game perfectly suited to the Switch. Just something to play during your morning train ride. Simple, engaging for a short time, and rounds are over quickly.

To sum it up, The Eyes of Ara is a solid point-and-click adventure with plenty of mystery and intrigue to keep you interested.

Overall, Iron Rain echoes Insect Armageddon as a spin-off that tries to take the well-loved series in a new direction. Unfortunately, it drained out a lot of the charm that made the older titles so fun to begin with. Admittedly, any Earth Defense Force game will have a passable fun factor just from how straightforwardly enjoyable it is to blow up giant enemies and buildings. However, the campaign dragged on far too long and relied too heavily on endless waves of bland enemies. Sadly, Iron Rain is a massive misstep that should probably be avoided by both fans and newcomers alike.

There’s a lot to enjoy here for BurgerTime fans, and I have always been one of them. If you are already a fan, I think you will really enjoy the game. However, if you already know you aren’t a fan of the series, then please skip the game. The new ingredients (pun intended again) will not change your mind at all and may actually reinforce the elements you don’t like. If you aren’t sure and have never played the original, I urge you to play the original BurgerTime arcade game and make your decision from there as BurgerTime Party! just improves upon the classic.

I enjoyed my time in the world of Trine 4. The puzzles are engaging, the world is attractive, and there are few puzzle platform games with local co-op out there. There were a few issues here and there, but I recommend Trine 4 to anyone looking for a game to play with a friend.

The post-game content can be a complete nightmare for clueless newcomers because Disgaea 4 demands you to learn its systems in-depth so that you can break them in your favor. That being said, with lovable and quirky characters, amazing voice-acting, great writing, and excruciatingly complex gameplay, Disgaea 4 Complete+ is a dream come true for strategy game fanatics.

Including all unavoidable failures and retries, it only takes two hours to play Stela through. In that sense, the asking price of twenty bucks is a bit too steep. However, the game is well done and the gameplay focuses only on the essential as there’s nothing extra to distract you. There are plenty of similar games out here (Limbo, Inside and Little Nightmares to name a few) and despite somewhat unfortunately hollow emotional response, fans of the genre will find a competent puzzle-platformer in Stela. As of writing, no one has clocked the achievement for zero deaths during a playthrough so the game is a perfect challenge for die-hard completionists out there.

Aside from some minor visual glitches and pop-in and some finnicky platforming, A Knight’s Quest is not at a bad time but it’s not an experience that will stick with you, either. Its focus on humor instead of drama or pathos will be a selling point for players weary of self-important heroes and dark themes but on the flip side, humor is very subjective. From its title to its overall mechanics, A Knight’s Tale seems like a safely familiar variation on a popular but over-played theme, appealing for its recognizable form but less satisfying for its lack of creative ambition.

In some ways the game feels pigeonholed by its genre and its aesthetic qualities don't do it any favors, but Fight'N Rage elevates the hot-blooded action of old-school beat em' ups to new heights.

Although it has an intriguing story that feels like a Greek mythology greatest hits collection, Argonus and the Gods of Stone impresses with a fresh setting and the transposition of the puzzle-adventure genre into the world of ancient gods and heroic characters. Playing through it can be frustrating at times, thanks to technical issues, an overall aimlessness and puzzles that are made challenging by their dependence on hard to find objects and an inconsistent interface. With a bit more polish, focus and quality of life enhancements, Argonus and the Gods of Stone would impress all the more.

For me and for my generation, the subject matter that Ghostbusters: The Video Game so respectfully represents is a flight back to the carefree childhood. Here’s the catch, though. It’s not a one-way nostalgia ticket to the bygone world but a fun game that perfectly holds up today with its entertaining gameplay, sparkling and characteristic visuals and amusing narrative. Can I ask for more from the game? Wait, of course I can! Next, give me a Ghostbusters game where I can play as Jillian Holtzmann and the world would be complete!

Deliver Us the Moon is a good-looking game with a solid story premise that doesn’t quite stick the final landing. It never strays far from many of the tried-and-true puzzle-adventure game mechanics (uncharitable people might call them cliches) that remind us we’re in a world with artificially created barriers for us to remove in order to progress. I appreciate that Deliver Us the Moon pulls from some of the dire headlines and concerns that are part of our lives today and suggests how they will resolve — or not.

Blasphemous finds success by adhering to staples of the genre and executing them well. Coupled with its strong art style and design, it’s a great option for anyone seeking another Metroidvania fix. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it proudly shows off its visual personality.

Overall, Dune Sea feels like a work in progress. Though it generally succeeds with its pleasant scenery and occasionally inspiring music, the gameplay holds the game back from being the kind of experience it was meant to be. Had the flying been more polished and the glitches less abundant, Dune Sea would easily be a solid, relaxing experience. As it is now, it’s a good example of why playtesting and polishing are so important.

Candleman is a very fun game to play on the go as the short levels allow you to just pick it up and play whenever you feel the need. It’s also easily replayable due to the goals of lighting candles in each level, but overall, it’s a bit short. It’s a shame as I feel like there could have been many more avenues to be explored. However, if you want a short, thought-provoking game to play through that won’t take up all your time and won’t break the bank, then Candleman is at the top of my list of recommendations.

Not all games that focus on a few, selected mechanics are bad, of course, but any game that narrows its focus to such a small set of moves had better make sure those are brilliant or that there are other, supporting pleasures, like an interesting narrative to fill out the experience. The developers seem to think that minimalist presentation, limited mechanics and high, often unfair difficulty and repetitive combat are enough to distinguish Ling: A Road Alone from other hack-and-slash games. Come to think of it, they’re right.

The Sojourn is a beautiful game with numerous extremely clever puzzles but it has a hard time balancing its story and difficulty curve. I honestly wish I liked this game more than I did. It has a lot going for it, but if I hadn’t been reviewing it, I would not have made it to the end. Though seemingly inspired by some of the best games ever, The Sojourn falters in its ambition. On the other hand, if you like first-person puzzle games and want to stare at something incredibly pretty for a while, you could do a lot worse than The Sojourn.

The VR Case Files, though technically well-adapted to the platform, is a novelty, a carnival rendition of a game I hold a huge amount of personal respect for. If nothing else, I thank L. A. Noire: The VR Case Files for reaffirming my love and respect for the original game.

Trails of Cold Steel III is a must play if you enjoyed the first two games in the series. The game is not radically different from the previous titles, so if you didn’t love them or just do not like JRPGs in general, it won’t change your mind. If you’re a newcomer to the franchise, I strongly recommend playing the first two games in Trails of Cold Steel series before getting into this one.

At times, Code Vein can be stressing as you can’t cut much slack until you have gained not only level-ups to strengthen your character but also personal confidence to challenge everything the game throws at you. While it sometimes too obediently follows conventions of Souls-likes, its generous framework and character-centric exposition bring the game its own kind of unique personality.

As an allegory, bringing light to personal or cultural darkness through art isn’t terribly original but it’s still relatively surprising for any game to have a wider subtext, and besides, Concrete Genie’s deepest pleasures are aesthetic. It’s simply fun and rewarding to paint with light and bring fantasy fairy tale Genies to life. The VR implementation is bare-bones and is of little consequence for those without a headset, but Concrete Genie is a great example of an imaginative interactive experience that simply couldn’t exist outside of gaming. We need more of those.

As a landmark title that other games have trouble matching even now, The Witcher 3 flourishes on the Nintendo Switch. With an immense amount of absolutely engaging content, a meaningful narrative, and a meticulously designed world to explore, there’s no doubt about the quality of the game.

Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age is a masterpiece of design that balances tradition and subtle innovation and is very bit as entertaining on the Switch as it was on PC or PS4. It’s a generous game with relaxed yet engaging storytelling and despite some minor graphical compromises and hiccups, it’s a near-perfect fit on the Switch, absolutely worth revisiting for those who played another version, and required playing for anyone with an interest in the genre or series.

There is, of course, nothing wrong with complexity and challenge in a game but Warsaw adds to the mix some capricious unpredicatability in its AI mechanics and design that can be frustrating, resulting in gameplay that is simply not on the winning side of the challenge/reward equation. Some streamlined systems and little more tolerance for varied playstyles and approaches would make Warsaw feel encouraging of creativity. If Warsaw’s intent was conveying the hopeless desperation that the city’s residents felt in 1944 was the goal, the title succeeds but that doesn’t necessarily make for an engaging game.

Despite its various flaws, the game excelled in creating disturbing environments. There, Touhou aspect of 3rd eye came off more as a set dressing than anything of actual substance. The story tackles serious subject matter, but the translation makes it difficult to really get involved with what was going on. 3rd eye's gameplay works with a streamlined approach to the adventure game formula, eliminating a major portion of the puzzle solving expected in the genre. Regardless of the game’s issues, 3rd eye is worth recommending to dedicated Touhou fans or those who particularly like creepy, cutesy aesthetic.

The single player campaign is a bit of a wash, but your experience depends on what you want from the game. Daemon X Machina excels at playing against skilled human opponents and taking the time and care to customize your arsenals. I enjoyed it for what it was, but I don’t think it will be a game I want to play again, at least not for a long while. I’m glad I played it, though. I needed that giant arsenal-sized hole in my heart filled once more, at least temporarily. Also, there’s a really bizarre ice cream-based mini game. I’m not sure what they were thinking with that one.

Dragon Quest I, II and III on the Switch are great picks, especially if you enjoyed the recent eleventh entry and wanted to experience the origins of this great series. However, these are ports of the mobile versions with some audio and visual enhancements. So if you have them on your mobile phone already, there is little point in picking them up on the Switch again, unless you really want to play them on your TV in full glory.

Dragon Quest I, II and III on the Switch are great picks, especially if you enjoyed the recent eleventh entry and wanted to experience the origins of this great series. However, these are ports of the mobile versions with some audio and visual enhancements. So if you have them on your mobile phone already, there is little point in picking them up on the Switch again, unless you really want to play them on your TV in full glory.

Dragon Quest I, II and III on the Switch are great picks, especially if you enjoyed the recent eleventh entry and wanted to experience the origins of this great series. However, these are ports of the mobile versions with some audio and visual enhancements. So if you have them on your mobile phone already, there is little point in picking them up on the Switch again, unless you really want to play them on your TV in full glory.

Despite my issues with Puzzle Quest: The Legend Returns, the game is still one heck of a great experience, twelve years later. Battles are as exciting as ever, while the new wealth of classes and quests ensures that even series veterans will be able to get lost in this world all over again. The game shows its age in the visuals department, and the presence of difficulty spikes is bound to frustrate some. However, those willing to look past The Legend Returns' flaws are in store for a rich and rewarding experience. And for 15 bucks, where else are you going to get a sprawling RPG/puzzler like this?

John Wick Hex is a fun experience, but one that woefully fails to deliver on its premise. Nothing really demonstrates this more than the ability to play back each completed mission in real-time. The idea of watching all of your methodical, turn-based actions playing out in cinematic, gun-fu action is certainly tantalizing, but actually manifests as watching janky, eight-way movement alongside strange collision detection, limited animation and questionable camera angles.

If you shun DiRT Rally’s authenticity or F1 series’ almost tiresomely detailed race weekends and don’t mind the deficiency of online features, GRID is just about the best game you can get if you only fancy racing fast. It knows where it’s good at but at the same time, I still wish there was more character and challenge to it.

Absent server crashes and disconnects, playing through the campaign in co-op mode is still fun and certainly more efficient than slogging through it solo, though it doesn’t improve the quality of writing or convoluted narrative. Ghost Recon: Breakpoint blurs the line between a singular, well-defined approach to the tactical shooter and a whole mess of other games, and the result is a loss of identity with little gained in the process.

Don’t let the nondescript and somewhat generic title cause you to look away. Indivisible is charming as all hell, sweetened with a bit of old school flavor, and a product of high craft in every regard.

The fun thing is, you can try to take on the Impossible Lair as many times as you like and each time you die, the game leaves a little marker indicating how far you got. My skills were most definitely not up to the challenge of beating the Impossible Lair without the Beetallion, but I sure had fun trying. I genuinely had a blast with Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair and you will too if you have any love for the genre at all. The game was pure fun.

Due to unfortunate design choices, I just wanted to rush through everything and couldn’t exactly enjoy my time with the game. In short, Ancestors Legacy felt too much like a chore to play. Saying this doesn’t bring me any joy because the Middle Ages setting and the presented factions were actually cool. The idea to make a history-based, story-driven RTS title with dynamic features could have been great, but all these sides didn’t mesh well here. I really wanted to get into the gameplay, but the best I could muster was excitement for engaging cutscenes and disturbingly alluring images.

Stygian isn’t that long as it takes some 15-20 hours to see its horrors through, depending on your willingness to search every nook and cranny of its warped world, and the story paves the way for more adventures in the doomed Arkham. However, the replay value is strong due to different character archetypes and what gameplay options they will bring along, adding to the multiple ways to approach quests. In many ways, the game was an eye-opening experience. It sets the bar high what comes to meaningful content and depicting an atmospheric game world and also reminds of what is still possible to achieve in its well-worn genre when given enough effort, heart and thought.

Headliner: NoviNews isn’t meant to dazzle people with super tight, unique, and revolutionary gameplay. It is, however, immensely replayable as it gives room for you to play through the story again and make all sorts of different choices the second or third time around. Whichever route you take, the entire practice of selecting which articles to publish is to get you thinking about the role journalism plays in society. It’s meant to provoke thought and test the player’s willingness to stay true to their own self in the face of ever-growing moral quandaries.

Star Wars Pinball is a great collection of themed tables, and it manages to fit as many references from the series to please any Jedi or Sith Lord. Of course, if you’re not a fan of either Star Wars or pinball, I would first recommend Zen Studios’ other pinball tables or other Star Wars games. But if you adore the franchise, this is a fun and addictive way to re-experience the galactic fantasy world. The Force is strong with this one.

While it isn’t technically a new game, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening looks and feels as fresh and inviting as any new game released on the Switch. It preserves all the strange, playful fun of the original while utterly transforming it visually and mechanically, and preserves everything that made Link’s Awakening a classic. Whether you’re playing it for the first time or revisiting a longtime favorite, you won’t be disappointed.

Conceptually, Repressed is exactly the type of game that appeals to me. Delving into the repressed depths of the mind provides plenty of opportunities to tell an immensely profound and intriguing story. In practice, however, Repressed is actually quite bland and uninteresting. Mechanically uninventive and stylistically dull, there was little that kept me engaged besides the passable but rudimentary story. Repressed is hard to recommend for anyone besides those that are completely sold on the minimalist aesthetic or a limited creative concept.

From its title screens to its combat mechanics, The Surge 2 copy/pastes a great deal from the two-year-old original and while it moves the franchise into a more open and populated world, I was hoping for a more dramatic evolutionary leap. Like its Soulsborne models and its predecessor, The Surge 2 is a challenging game, made more so by an inconsistent frame rate and sometimes imprecise combat controls. It’s still a pleasantly familiar Souls-like experience but like The Surge, the sequel hasn’t quite discovered the alchemy that transmutes repetitive grinding into a satisfying feeling of mastery.

Agatha Knife is all barks and no bite as it makes fun without being mean or mocking. I expected to sit through some profound lesson but much to my surprise – and without spoiling too much – the outcome was positive for all the parties involved. In the end, the unique presentation and a curious premise hide a somewhat familiar parody and the so-called criticism the game likes to think it represents isn’t as sharp as Agatha’s knifes. Or maybe I’m so used to all things weird that it would take something more outrageous to freak me out. On the other hand, maybe it’s better that Agatha Knife plays it safer because even the most straight-laced individual can enjoy the charm of Agatha’s sincere antics set against a strange world of (make)belief.

Before long, you will notice that the sweat you once poured trying to get through brawlers like Streets of Rage and Final Fight is absent here. Instead of hailing your co-op partner to keep the fight going, you’re more likely to ask for a break sometime soon. There’s only so much of the repetitive action, no matter how sugarcoated it is, you can endure in a one playing session. Still, Misako and Kyoko are lovely girls, if sometimes outright half-wits. Games featuring dual female protagonists are few and far between so River City Girls must be appreciated for that alone.

There is a serious amount of content and creative potential in Realm of Magic and it’s further proof that while The Sims 5 might be in some shadowy state of development, there is still ample fun to be had with The Sims 4. Fans of Harry Potter will rejoice that the Sims can now explore the nexus of magic and everyday life and longtime players now have even more stuff to keep them in the game.

Pagan Online’s Slavic fantasy pulls from mythologies that are slightly off the beaten path, but so much of the game feels like familiar — and what’s worse, less successful — tropes, mechanics and ideas gleaned from other ARPGs, MOBAs and mobile games. It does have the advantage of presenting relatively short and fast-paced missions to the time-pressed player, but I suspect fans of action RPGs would prefer a more creative, immersive and less repetitive experience to one that is just abbreviated.

It looks beautiful, plays like butter, and is still one of the most enjoyable games I play each year. The game does have its issues, but as of writing, a lot of the glitches I saw seem to have been addressed. My biggest gripe (and I know I’m not alone) is the amount of emphasis placed on VC each year, and how it feels even more off-putting this year. It takes away from what is such a beautiful and well-crafted game. But if you’re like me and don’t play the card game and don’t mind the grind, NBA 2K20 is still the best sports game on the market.

In addition to a spectacularly unlikable antihero protagonist, Devil’s Hunt has combat that sometimes feels like an afterthought and endless cutscenes that desperately need the help of better writers and designers. I liked its story, and a better executed Devil’s Hunt could give Devil May Cry or that other Polish novel-based game a run for its money.

When the most critical bugs are eventually squashed (developers have promised a steady stream of patches) and the penalty for dying hopefully toned down a bit (or conversely, more resting points added to the world), Decay of Logos will rise up to its full promise. As it stands now, you have to answer the following questions. Do you want your game challenging? Do you want a game that doesn’t guide you by hand but trusts your own initiative? Do you want a brave elf heroine with floppy ears? If you answered “yes!” three times, Decay of Logos is absolutely for you, a high fantasy adventure that is as high on its stakes as on the reward you get from conquering its unlikely circumstances.

While Children of Morta stays pretty solidly in the tradition of recent RPG/roguelikes, its packaging — graphics, design, story and characters — elevate it above the pack and players who have grown weary of the genre will find it refreshing. It’s challenging without (usually) being unfair and while there is plenty of varied combat, there is a story with some heart and soul for any player looking for a break from constant hack and slash. It’s still a roguelike, so any player intolerant of the genre’s “die and try again” conceit will not suddenly become enlightened, but fans of the form will enjoy one of the more interesting and appealing examples in recent memory.

Despite the lackluster single player and small other foibles I have with some of Heave Ho's design choices, you're still getting a ton of great bang for your buck here, especially at the $10 asking price. From the scores of levels available to the player, to the sheer variety of the different worlds and to the simple unpredictability of being dropped by a friend that you thought had your back since preschool, Heave Ho is a fantastic experience that'll make for a killer additional to any player's party-game collection. Just make sure you bring a few (trusted) friends along for the ride.

Overall, WRC 8 screams mediocrity in every turn, something akin to a budget title, but still it’s sold for a full price. It’s not a bad game by any means but not that great either. At its best, WRC 8 can be nice enough to hop into now and then but nice isn’t enough when there’s a superior rally racing game available. As of writing, there are four rally events left in the world championship so there’s still room to get excited whether Ott Tänak can keep up his top form or will Sébastien Ogier make a late-season comeback and continue his winning streak. In video games, the competition is already over, though, as WRC 8 has to settle for a distant second place behind DiRT Rally 2.0.

Some unpleasant forays in the Astral Plane, an occasionally unhelpful dodge, and a dearth of combos hold the game back slightly, but despite these shortcomings, combat still feels robust and exploration is a welcome change of pace. Overall, Astral Chain is a wonderful synthesis of stylish character-action, RPG elements, and a novel central hook that manages to tread new ground despite its many points of influence.

The added functionality of a handheld option further the possible enjoyment more than ever before. Comparing the PS4 and Nintendo Switch version reveals that you don't lose out on much if played on either system. So, whether you have played these games before and want to again or missed out its release on other systems, I definitely recommend the Switch port as a valid option.

In the seven years since Torchlight II was released, dungeon crawlers have both evolved into a more complex genre and toyed with mechanics pulled from outside them, such as roguelikes. However, complicated doesn’t always mean better and it’s hard to deny Torchlight II’s addictive and immediately accessible gameplay and overall, it seems like a natural fit for the Nintendo Switch.

Hunt: Showdown doesn’t try to do a lot of things beyond its core mission, and the challenging gameplay and limited selection of maps — though they are expansive and interesting — might be a barrier to long-term enjoyment. Assuming the developers keep infusing the game with content, Hunt: Showdown is a fresh take on the genre that has already become a bit stale.

Technical issues aside, Blair Witch makes for a satisfying experience with an oppressive atmosphere, an engaging plot and interesting gameplay mechanics. There’s also plenty of written plot details and collectable items dotted throughout the game, should players enjoy themselves enough to come back and attempt to figure out how to unlock some of alternative endings. Being a horror experience (and one with lots of scripted events) means that the most engaging experience will always be the first run through. At the very least, players can expect the game to be tense, well-paced and imminently memorable.

At the end of it all, Omega Labyrinth Life is a game that was not made to be remembered, but instead made to pander certain kind of players. The overt sexual themes, lackluster story, and misused features all came together to make me uncomfortable at worst, while making me only mildly amused at best. What the game does do well has been done before and better, and everything ends up suffocating under its lovingly rendered and bouncing massive mammaries.

Do I recommend playing these games? Oh yes, absolutely. Grandia 1 and 2 deserve four stars by themselves. The games are dated, yes, but they stand the test of time, flaws and all. They are (mostly) timeless and I would replay them over and over. But maybe wait for this specific collection to go on sale.

Control marks a new and glorious beginning for Remedy and hopefully there are more wonderful things to come. Despite a few pacing issues here and there and some exhausting late-game shoot-outs, I gladly award the game a perfect score. Am I biased doing so as a Finn myself? Maybe, but Control is a game that today's dull, unimaginative and opportunistic gaming climate doesn't deserve, but I’m happy it exists.

Outlaw is irrevocably everything that the first game should have been. It combines arcade and simulation gameplay in a way that is dynamic and fun but it definitely does require commitment. The space combat feels meaty but approachable. The technical graphics are great but the art style is phenomenal. The music is better than in the first game and there’s more of it. In all, I had great fun in the Dodge Sector, so much so I abandoned the main story for about 25 hours. The feeling of being a mercenary and the lure of completing “just one more job” is palpable. Rebel Galaxy Outlaw is a fine, fine game. You could even call it “shiny.”

Though not a game in the traditional sense, Discovery Tour Ancient Greece is a fantastic supplement to Assassin’s Creed Odyssey that, if nothing else, showcases one of the best historical recreations this franchise has ever seen.

As a design doc, a game that combines horror, sci-fi and Norse mythology sounds intriguing but in actually, Apsulov just seems uncertain of its identity. With too much clunky action for a narrative driven walking simulator, and not enough combat to excel as an action game, it’s a lot of bits and pieces that don’t quite connect. The game has some ideas floating around but they’re too often drowned in a sea of over-used cliches, tired gaming tropes and creative cul de sacs that lead nowhere in particular.

By most metrics — polish, graphics, writing, acting and engaging game play mechanics — Gears 5 is an impressive product for both solo players and competitive or cooperative shooter fans. But moving forward, the series desperately needs to venture into new ways of telling its stories and pacing its encounters. The tentative toe-dip into open world design is a great start, but not enough. Gears 5’s campaign is robust and almost always fun and its focus on the female protagonist Kait is a welcome tonal and dramatic shift, though it doesn’t much impact the gameplay. I’m always ready to dive into a new Gears game but I’m hoping next time, The Coalition will take some bold chances, make some tough choices and steer the series in a really new direction.

The randomized nature of the game does allow for new-ish experiences each time you play, though I wish the game took it further, such as making Freedom Town modular so that its camps, playground, open-air theater, and places of worship could be moved around and really shake things up. As it stands, The Church in the Darkness is a decent exploration of cults from the perspective of those participating in it.

Faith is Life Is Strange 2’s most engrossing, heart-wrenching episode and may likely stand as one of the best across of the entire franchise. What it lacks in gameplay, its excellent writing, wonderful performances by the cast, dramatic camera work and cinematic nature more than makes up for the deficit. It is how DONTNOD maturely handles sensitive subject matter like racism, belief, and family that makes this season feel far more grounded to a familiar reality than those before. As far as season finale lead-ins are concerned, Faith will have you counting the minutes until the anticipated conclusion.

There is a disconnect between Rad’s appealing world and character design, art direction and writing, and its frustratingly difficult gameplay. The world is fun to be in, with no lack of clever, imaginative touches but its combat can turn the experience sour. Gamers with grit and patience will discover a lot of layers, secrets and maybe even a little unexpected pathos but many will be turned away by the early game’s barriers.

Final Fantasy VIII Remastered is a prime example of how to do a remaster well. Improved graphics modernize the experience, and modifiers help alleviate the grind issues. That said, I’ve always felt FFVIII needed real gameplay changes. It won’t get that in a remaster, and as such, those who didn’t like the game before won’t like it now. If what you disliked in the original was the grind, put your eyes on this remaster. And if you loved FFVIII in the past or are a curious newcomer, this is the best version of the game by far.

Catherine: Full Body is a curious remaster. After completing the original release eight years ago, I never really felt like this was something that would benefit from an enhanced re-release and yet, it kind of does. Both the character of Rin and new cinematics enrich the story in ways that give it more depth (even if it does venture into some really wild supernatural territory by the end). And at no point does Rin feel shoehorned into the story. I can’t imagine how tricky it must be to write in a whole new character to a pre-existing work but Full Body makes it look easy by fitting her in with nary an exposed seam. Catherine: Full Body might not be for everyone, it’s the very definition of a niche title, yet in the end, I find it hard not to appreciate it on an aesthetic level.

Man of Medan kicks off The Dark Pictures Anthology so elegantly and chillingly that you just can't get enough of that lovie-dovie stuff.

Knights and Bikes is an unique and genuine experience that was engaging from beginning to end. It’s a great example of a high quality co-op game. Thematically and mechanically, the game succeeds in highlighting cooperation. Foam Sword successfully delivers a great title that manages to be both fun and artistically inventive. Knights and Bikes is highly recommended for those looking for a captivating cooperative game to play with a friend.

Anyone who did not pick up The Bard’s Tale IV: Barrows Deep when it was released in 2018 missed an amusing and well-crafted RPG, a definite high point in a storied and popular franchise. With some minor interface and gameplay tweaks and the addition of some new quests and significant additional areas to explore, the Director’s Cut makes a good case for itself and the game includes some nostalgic bonus content and some behind-the-scenes features as well.

After so many years since its debut, Hotline Miami is still a really tight and focused game. Wrong Number carries over much of its predecessor’s greatness, though I don’t like the larger levels that much only because it makes getting ganked by unseen enemies a little too easy. To hand-wave away these games because of their misanthropic tone and senseless violence is to ignore a product that’s addictive, well-designed, and even fun. As for their status as console ports, both titles are a great fit and have arrived on the Switch with nary a blemish. There is no better time to experience the acid trip that is Hotline Miami if you haven’t done so before. For everyone else, this is one double dip that won’t do you wrong.