Although not the excitement that one would expect out of one of the original few Guitar Hero games, Guitar Hero 5 continues to provide a high quality music game that offers new modes, an improved overall look and feel, and a solid music outing all around.

As with all console ports, the Platinum Games bundle represents a fine opportunity to experience company defining titles you might have missed the first time with the added convenience of not having to dust off last gen’s console.

EA seems to have figured out what NBA Jam was missing last year and went ahead and fixed it this time. Though battling the AI is fun, it's centered so heavily around playing with people, comparing scores and just having an arcade-style experience from the comfort of your living room that they finally seem to understand it- and if they can fix some niggling issues and get online working right, this game runs very close to perfect.

In all, The Wolf Among Us has a superb introductory episode.

Super Stardust HD takes an old genre and reinvents it in a way that gives us fond memories of past games along with delivering an intense and challenging game.

SteamWorld Dig 2 is a sequel that does more than simply update the original. It creates a larger world structured like a Metroidvania by adding more mazelike corridors and open rooms. On the flip side, the digging segments feel more tedious this time around, especially when compared to the excellently designed challenge caverns and environmental puzzles. Regardless, the constant progression loops and enticing upgrades carry the game along, keeping the adventure interesting. And the prospect of uncovering the secret truths underground remains alluring throughout. If you enjoy games like Metroid, you’ll likely dig this game.

Sine Mora is one of the most beautiful shmups I've ever had the chance to play. It's also a solid action title with a surprisingly deep story about the lengths someone will go for revenge. Purists will find it a fresh addition to their collection while casual observers may be turned off by the short length and the game's masochistic delight in punishing players with nearly impossible odds.

Whether you are a returning fan or looking for an experience similar to Shovel Knight, this collection has a lot to offer. The core gameplay has not lost it’s potency with age. For those looking for old school challenge or experience the definitive version of the early Mega Man classics, look no further than the Mega Man Legacy Collection.

Now that Telltale Games' zombie epic is more than half done, I feel confident saying that The Walking Dead will stand as a shining example of how narrative can be used creatively in games to create a strong emotional reaction. Rather than abiding by a moral code that the game suggests, I am having a blast playing through each episode of The Walking Dead and just doing what I feel is right.

Thanks to its outstanding writing, acting, cinematography and animation, Yakuza 0 tells an effective and surprisingly nuanced story of one man and his early journey through the complex world of organized crime. Although it marginalizes women to the role of cliche props and some of the dialogue -- in translation, at least -- rings a little hollow, Yakuza 0 is still a great introduction to both the series and its long-running characters. With an almost impossibly large number of things to do and combat that is brutal and entertaining throughout, Yakuza 0 has to rank as one of the most memorable and successful entries in the franchise.

For those of you who never got the privilege of playing the original, or want to relive those fond memories, the game is a good purchase for you!

Taking out hordes of zombies has never been this fun, as Capcom gives you the freedom to bash away with solid controls and luscious next-gen visuals.

MLB The Show 17 is still a great game of baseball but one that with each season seems less and less impressive compared to other sports games available. With a lack of competition, it's hard to not recommend. But with each year I'm still wanting to see the team at Sony San Diego push the envelope even if there isn't any competition to force their hand.

Destiny was, out of the gate, kind of a mess that got much better with the Taken King expansion. It was, for a time, incoherent and obtuse but attracted a rabid fan base that appreciated its multiplayer combat and mystical story and worlds. Destiny 2 arrives as a much more polished, tightly focused experience that has far fewer glaring faults and many core strengths. It looks fantastic and the combat is still really fun. Its campaign is far more coherent and probably better executed but lacks passion or characters with whom we can engage. From its lavish advertising campaign to its lavish production values, Destiny 2 has a bloodless, corporate feel that acknowledges the sins of the first game, but maybe goes a little too far in its zeal to correct them.

This was always going to be good, it is Mario Kart after all, but I think Nintendo has exceeded expectations this time. The additions really do add to the game's format, and the improvements to the online system make it a joy to play. Best Mario Kart yet? Well that's a matter of opinion, but it's certainly up there near the top.

Ubisoft goes back to what works best for the franchise, and mixes some furious combat with exploration and some good old puzzle solving.

Same Stitch is a fantastic end to a killer season. Batman: The Enemy Within is, in my mind, unequivocally the best thing Telltale has ever put to code.

Assault Android Cactus is a great dual-joystick shooter for those looking for a new one.

Pikmin 3 Deluxe is the best version of the best game in this series. I missed my map at times, but the new additions more than makeup for having to pull it up when needed. If you’ve already played the original version though, there probably isn’t enough here to justify purchasing the game again unless you really love playing co-op. For any gamer who missed it the first time though, Pikmin 3 Deluxe is one of the best games released in 2020.

Old school RPG is very much alive here, as Fire Emblem charms us with its engaging storyline, uncompromising combat and solid gameplay.

Like many VR games, Ghost Giant is relatively short but this is a case where the scale of the experience is in sync with its story and characters. Ghost Giant has a solid emotional core that resonates with many people’s experience. It has amusing and appealing characters and a lovely world to explore, and while its puzzles are generally logical, they also are locked by single solutions that frustrate creative thinking. On the whole, Ghost Giant is an excellent story that could only be told in VR.

I was not one that thought Steven Spielberg’s first outing was going to be a stellar one, but boy did he and EA prove me wrong.

The Xbox 360 has had three years to mature and grow with Madden, and we are really ready to be wowed and Madden 08 does a good job of it, but I still think fans want more.

Far Cry 2 may be the surprise game of the holiday season.

Its fluid mix of combat, platforming, and smart humor made me enjoy each of my 100+ run throughs just as much as any other. After spending nearly 20 hours with the game I can honestly say I’d love to jump right back in, if only to conquer the castle just once more.

Dragon Quest Builders 2 is an impressive game that shines especially bright on the Nintendo Switch. The game's constant sense of progression and discovery is a joy to behold, whether you're docked to a television, relaxing on the couch, or playing from somewhere else entirely. While the game's performance issues, small text, and barebones online functionality put a slight damper on the fun, the ability to play the game wherever you want more than makes up for it. Whether you're new to the Builders series or are fresh off the original game, Dragon Quest Builders 2 is a great addition to the franchise and a solid choice for your Switch library.

Simple to grasp and difficult to master, Out There is a dark but richly entertaining story of survival.

From the moment I picked up this game I can honestly say I was just floored by how amazing the gameplay really was.

Ikaruga is a game that takes the old and combines it with the new, and does a good job of it.

Like so many games before it, Yakuza Kiwami 2 does a great job of bringing players up to speed with previous events, which makes stepping into this pleasantly dense universe easy and comfortable.

UFC Undisputed 3 is a fantastic fighting experience. THQ did right by allowing the developers more time to polish the experience. For me the next step has to be to get a deeper more engaging career mode that allows the player to really feel part of the experience rather than just fighting match after match without any real hook. With that being said UFC Undisputed 3 on its own merits is a great game and worth a look if you're a UFC fan.

South Park: The Stick of Truth is designed with the South Park fan in mind – the one who doesn’t mind gags and gameplay sequences featuring abortion, homosexuality, farts and alien anal probes.

FM2014 is a refined, tactically-rich game which gives you countless tools to play with in an infinite sporting sandbox.

Thankfully, Capcom has done a stellar job this time around by implementing an intuitive control scheme coupled with beautiful HD textures that brings this lengthy 30 hour game to life.

Tangle Tower is still worth exploring despite its issues, especially for those with access to Apple Arcade. At it's piecemeal $20 price tag, though, the game's flaws are less forgivable. If anything, Tangle Tower makes a compelling case for a long-running franchise starring Detective Grimoire and Sally. The foundation is there: sharp writing, beautiful presentation, phenomenal voice work, stellar music. With just a little more time in the oven, SFB's next game could be something truly special. For now, we'll just have to settle for "good."

Really, the best part about Brave New World is that it’s finally addressed every victory condition in the game and made each one not only more equally viable, but also just as busy. Weaponizing culture works to bring it more in line with the other conditions–it’s something you have to work towards and not something you just happen to achieve. On top of that, the diplomacy changes make this system more interesting as well, and it all comes down to one thing: if you have Civilization V and want to play more, you owe it to yourself to get this expansion.

Rockstar takes the classic 80's movie and turns it into the most bone-crunching brawler on then console. Controversial at times, but a solid choice for fans.

Whether you’ve played every game in the series or this is your first experience with a Lombax, you really can’t go wrong with Ratchet & Clank.

MLB The Show 16 is yet another great game of baseball, but for the first time I felt like the franchise is starting to wane in its greatness.

Despite an hours-long tutorial, it takes some time to fully understand the mechanics of Valkyria Chronicles 4 and it remains a challenge from start to finish. That said, the time spent with engaging characters and their stories is immediately rewarding and it’s hard to resist being pulled into the drama, sacrifice and yet somehow buoyant positivity that motivates them. The focus is on tense and often tragic battles, but both fans of the series and newcomers to the franchise will appreciate Valkyria Chronicles 4 as an excellent sequel and the most accomplished realization of the concept to date.

Neurovoider is a fun twin-stick shooter and is especially great to have and take around with me everywhere I go. The moody soundtrack bangs, the game's frantic and fast, and the loot system is engaging as you build yourself up and find new and amazingly named things. It's especially perfect if you need a game that you can play a quick couple of rounds of while you're waiting somewhere or on a commute – it starts to feel a little samey and doesn't do too much to set itself apart as different from other similar games, but it's a good time nonetheless.

I cannot recommend Mortal Kombat highly enough. This is a game that belongs in your Vita's library and the price is just right. For $40 you get everything the console versions had and then some, as new characters fill out an already massive roster and new challenges will test your combat skills. It may not have the stunning in-game visuals of its counterparts, but that is forgivable considering what Warner Bros. has managed to pack into the product.

Total War: Three Kingdoms provides a solid look at the spectacle, history, and romance of the Three Kingdoms period, as well as being entertaining enough to hold the attention of those who just might not care about that stuff. I don’t know who they are, but I’m sure they’re out there.

It is rare that a multi-genre game can be successful in more than one of its mechanics, but Thronebreaker is simultaneously an excellently written story, an entertaining isometric RPG, and an addictive and engaging card game. Finally, for fans of The Witcher universe, it gives us another excuse to live in that richly-imagined world. For me at least, Thronebreaker came out of nowhere and was a very happy surprise indeed.

Having rejuvenated the tired genre, the sequel tightens up the gameplay and spruces up the visuals. Nothing major, but massively fun nonetheless.

A wonderful novelty, Sorcery! exists to serve a niche group of users and will struggle to find a captivated mainstream audience.

RedLynx has crafted a devilishly addictive racing-platformer hybrid that pushes their game design know-how to new limits. If you don’t have an Xbox and have been waiting for the chance to play one of the toughest releases of last year, Trials Evolution Gold is a fine way to explore that content and then some.

Moss is one of the most fun and imaginative games available for the PlayStation VR. Even the VR design, which plays with distance and depth of field, is really cool. Although the story was mostly lacking, the world building is fantastic and real, the puzzles offer enough challenge for this age-friendly game, and above all, you’ll be enchanted by Quill and want to hug her and be her best friend forever and ever.

There is no doubt that Bionic Commando Rearmed is the best title out on XBLA to date.

Terraria is an enjoyable, combat focused alternative to Minecraft that doesn’t ape Mojang’s game for the sake of taking advantage of consumer confusion. It has its own spirit and soul, allowing it to stand on its own two feet.

If you’re interested in a return tour or want to see it all for the first time, though, consider the Definitive Edition a great way to play a great game.

StarCraft is a masterpiece, a landmark game that remains as entertaining as it was in 1998. The question is whether Remastered's cosmetic upgrades are worth the $14.99, as the unvarnished original and Brood War expansion are already free from Blizzard. There are fans that would like to see the original game entirely remade with StarCraft 2-quality units, effects, and graphics but until that unlikely event happens, StarCraft Remastered will have to do.

There’s just a ton of content packed into FIFA 17 including an updated Ultimate Team that makes this an extremely compelling package. I’ve sunk nearly thirty hours into FIFA 17 already and I don’t see that stopping anytime soon. The new engine increases the spectacle of the sport while still keeping true to the franchise. This is a great looking game and easily one of the best sports games of the year.

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.

Infamous is one of the best games so far in 2009 and if you have a PS3 you owe it to yourself to check it out.

Papers, Please is a lean game that knows exactly what it wants to do, and does it with more style and confidence than one could reasonably expect.

The additional content may not be substantial enough to entice seasoned players, but it adds to the complete lore, so hardcore fans may find it still worthwhile. Not to mention that the game adds at least 10 hours to an existing 40-60 hour playtime. Newcomers and veterans who want to relive the excellent story, time-travel mechanics, and combat system will find Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology to be worth their… time.

In closing, I'll say that Star Wars: The Old Republic is a game I never knew I wanted. Years ago, I was upset to discover that there were no plans to continue Revan's story after Knights of the Old Republic II and instead continue exploring the Old Republic universe through an MMO. After experiencing burnout with World of Warcraft, I had resigned myself to no longer play these types of games. However, I couldn't be happier with what BioWare has done with The Old Republic and the experience continues to be enjoyable. The bottom line is, after 42 hours, I'm still having a blast.

In the end, I feel like Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battles is a great game just falling short of a few paces from becoming a masterpiece, which I mean in a positive sense because there are rooms for improvement in this already exceptional tactical/strategy game. Ubisoft went above and beyond to prove that they can make a Mario game that can make Nintendo and its fans proud while opening the door for many possibilities in the future.

Far Cry 2 may be the surprise game of the holiday season.

The beleaguered handheld gets a huge boost with this perfectly crafted action platformer. The comedic duo absolutely shines in this superb adventure.

EA further refines its soccer franchise, with marked improvements in the gameplay mechanics, even more modes and updated visuals.

I don’t know what else they have up their sleeves, but these three tables were more then enough to get me absolutely salivating at the idea of more Star Wars content.

This is really a game to check out if your a fan of the genre or series as it is by far the best Battlefield game to grace the consoles yet.

Call of Duty: World at War I believe will surprise gamers with how complete of an experience it is.

The Walking Dead Episode 2 is a perfect, three-hour nugget of story-driven adventure gaming. The immediacy of the gameplay and writing make it easy to boot up the game and instantly become engrossed in a world where nothing is sacred, and anything can happen at any moment. No tutorials needed.

With excellent writing, strong variety, lots of stuff to do and an incredibly fun and endearing attitude, Saints Row 3 is one of the most quirky games to come out in 2011. The combat could still be deeper and the AI is still noticeably weak and coupled with some technical deficiencies and a disappointing extra mode, Saints Row 3 strictly settles for being great, but it that's more than enough to warrant a recommendation.

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is a great fit on the Nintendo Switch. The portable nature of the game makes it easy to use at a party or game night, while the game's tense nature and challenging, randomized puzzles offers plenty of exciting fun for those willing to learn the game's ins and outs. At 15 bucks, there aren't much better party games you can get than Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes.

Valhalla is equipped with a number of gameplay systems that clearly echo the last two games and while positive tweaks and light refinements have been made, the overall experience feels overly familiar by now. What Valhalla lacks in originality, however, the visceral and fun combat makes up the deficit and that speaks volumes to me as a longtime fan. Packed with enough content on the disc and planned future DLC, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is another hefty and captivating entry in Ubisoft’s long running historical franchise.

This PS2 tennis game port plays superbly on the handheld, with all the current players and tons of game modes. Online play would have been perfect, but not a cause for complaints.

It’s a short game, taking about an hour or so to reach the end credits but the time is well spent and nothing feels wasted or padded for length. The game’s puzzles are just right, neither too easy or too hard, and in some cases make a great use of the facility’s retro-futurist technology. Some might balk over the absence of enemies or outright peril but hungry aliens, killer robots, or demon possessed soldiers would only serve as annoying distractions and just get in the way. All in all, Red Matter is an awesome science fiction yarn built with an eye for dreamy, retro futurism aesthetic.

Still, Shadow of Mordor is a really fun game that being some innovation to an already strong start with the 8th generation.

Thronebreaker : The Witcher Tales is a phenomenal game that can be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys card games or even puzzle games. The port to the Switch was a wonderful decision, but no matter where you play Thronebreaker, you are in for a fantastic experience.

The storyline in my eyes really helps the game progress quite a bit, and fans of Japanese style stories will really enjoy this one.

If Found... is a visual novel that navigates its subject matter with care, its loose hand-drawn art immersing us in a world that we are forced to unmake. Its central metaphor of erasure is horribly effective, forcing us to destroy this fleshed out person's personhood. Through its thoughtful depiction of LGBTQ themes, bold presentation, and penchant for articulating all of the messy particulars of its protagonist's life, If Found... is a deeply moving coming-of-age tale.

Between the base game and the Frozen Wilds expansion, Horizon: Zero Dawn Complete Edition is a forty+ hour experience that should not be missed by fans of open world action games. Three years down the road from release, Horizon feels a little more unfocused to me than it did at launch, but the story, combat and characters are still some of my favorites from the past few years and so I was happy to return to Aloy’s world, that now looks even better. For owners of a PS4 Pro that have already played the game, buying it again on PC for the graphical upgrade alone is maybe a nonessential purchase, but PC gamers who missed Horizon on console have a great game to look forward to.

PlanetSide 2 is a hard game to sum up. It's a beautiful, solidly built shooter that presents large-scale conflict like nobody else in the business. The rest of the game's enjoyment, however, is entirely up to you. If you can dedicate the time to learning the systems, decoding the cumbersome UI, and finding a group of people that you like playing with, PlanetSide 2 will be a blast.

Other than the Cities franchise, the building-sim genre has been a little under represented as of late, and the amusement park-sim world hasn't seen anything this exciting since the early, glory days of Rollercoaster Tycoon. Planet Coaster represents a return to form and sets the bar very high for sim designers in general. Fun, flexible, deep, endlessly entertaining -- and at a bargain price -- Planet Coaster might not be for every gamer, but for fans of the genre it can't be beat.

Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment is one of the best launch games the Nintendo Switch currently has to offer. As far as platformers go, the only better option would be to plop money down and get the full Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove experience, which bundles this in. Specter of Torment is such a solid feature-filled game on its own that you wouldn’t guess it was a DLC expansion. Yacht Club Games has outdone itself retooling an already excellent game with new satisfying acrobatic thrills.

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.

Capcom has put out a partially broken full retial game. I had fun with it despite its flaws, but $60 is too much to ask for what this game is.

This is a good time for newcomers to see what the fuss was about and a chance for longtime fans to take another dip in the ocean.

In a year packed to the brim with sprawling AAA blockbusters, the nearly claustrophobic hybrid that is Monolith still manages to leave a mark. It’s not revolutionary, but it deftly merges two genres that have largely been left separate. Most of all, it takes a lean but rock-solid framework and bolts just enough onto it to meet its goals. It accomplishes every one of them with ease, and it never attempts to do something it can’t excel at. It’s an example that more games should strive for.

While it’s a pleasure to sit on the sofa and meander through one’s epic theme park creation on the big screen, enjoying the sights and sounds of the rides, the crowds, the vendors and the scenery, actually building that park is still easier and vastly more efficient up close and personal on the PC with a mouse and keyboard. Frontier did a great job of bringing Planet Coaster to consoles and is easy to recommend. Just be prepared for a learning curve and a bit of frustration as you get the hang of building your dream park with the controller.

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.

We are finally beginning to see innovation within sports video games and Fight Night Champion truly is step forward not only for boxing but sports video games in general. It not only proves that stories can be an integral part of a sports video game but can be one of it's best. Fight Night Champion is the best boxing game out and in the conversation of best sports game of this generation.

Fans rejoice because not only is Resident Evil back, but now you not only can enjoy it on your own but with your friend as well. The new cooperative gameplay works quite well, and if your a fan of the franchise it just make sense to go out and buy this one as well.

Salt and Sanctuary clearly gets it’s inspiration and ideas from previous Souls games so there is a lack of innovation here, but developer Ska Studios does a masterful job of adapting the already proven formula of Souls into a exceptional 2D adventure.

I guess, when it comes down to it, I was one of those optimists that was hoping for a real transformation that would make Dark Souls feel truly new again. Remaster doesn't do that, but from the vast number of players that are putting down their summons signs, a lot of new players are diving into this incredible game or maybe like me, easing back into that familiar rhythm. Dark Souls Remastered doesn't do anything but give us the best version of one of the best games ever made.

Telltale puts it’s own spin on things but fans will appreciate their faithfulness to the source material.

What stands out about Top Spin 4 when it is all said and done is the amazing on court action. Whether your playing with a friend or the computer the game brings to life the game of tennis like no other game before it has.

All in all, Battlefield 3 is one of the best multiplayer experiences around.

Forsaken continues Destiny’s great tradition of taking a lackluster opening salvo and beefing it up with content that makes the game feel complete. Were it not for the superhuman light level climb in front of me, I would have absolutely no issue recommending this the same way I recommended The Taken King. If there was a version of original Destiny you had to play, that was it, just as Forsaken is the definite version of Destiny 2 - as long as you’re willing to make that climb.

I should have never slept on Toki Tori 2 when it first came out, and if you've been interested on it, but never had the drive to grab it, let this review be the thing that pushes you. The improvements and extra things brought to the Switch version make it the most complete and enjoyable way to play it (though the game is also available on PC and PS4). Any puzzle fan's library would be greatly improved with the addition of this game!

And with a solid gameplay, an engaging cast of characters and lots of hours of adventures, Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker is a more than worthy entry in the long running series.

Gears of War 4 is one of the most visually impressive games on the Xbox One, period (and yes, I am one of those who think that graphics matter). While the combat is familiar, it is also fine-tuned and polished for maximum challenge and enjoyment, whether in the multiplayer modes, or plowing through the campaign alone.

Halo 5: Guardians obviously isn’t meant to be played for its by the numbers campaign. If your love for Halo falls strictly within the realm of multiplayer, then prepare yourself for a grand old time.

That being said, Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams – Rise of the Owlverlord is an excellent expansion for the series.