Although Persona 5 deals with the everyday angst of your average, magic-wielding teenagers, it is epic in almost every conceivable way, from its combat to its sprawling and surprise-laden story. While some of its large cast of characters strike a sour note and its gameplay can challenge the impatient player, Persona 5 somehow manages the improbable feat of being both an ultimate reward to fans of the franchise and a perfect gateway to newcomers.

While Splatoon 2 is not a drastic change from the original formula that was available on the Wii U, there are certainly enough additions and alterations that separate it from its predecessor. Some of the maps have been recycled, and one can’t help but wonder if this decision was made to expedite the development of the game. For a system that is currently starved for new, triple-A titles the way that the Nintendo Switch is, it seems plausible that a few corners needed to cut to get the game out the door. Regardless, Nintendo made good on their promise to support the first title in this series, and one can only assume that they will give this title the same amount of love and care. If you own a Switch, this game deserves a spot in your library.

It was a nice breath of fresh air to have these telepathic abilities that worked so well with the game.

Some may scoff at a Mario RPG, but this turn-based masterpiece is perfect for the increasingly popular DS, featuring solid combat and trademark Nintendo feel.

Aritana and the Harpy’s Feather offers the right amount of challenge and enjoyment with many throwbacks to our favorite platformers, as well as its own brand of passable mechanics.

Borderlands 2 is full of hilarious writing, is a blast to play with friends, and promises hundreds of hours of content. But a lack of gameplay innovation will disappoint fans looking for more than just "more Borderlands".

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

Although the lack of clarity with the UI and interface takes my opinion down a notch, overall, I really enjoyed my time with Murder by Numbers. The combination of a detective game and picross really works. I hope that this is the start of a beautiful friendship.

It's a gamer's game. Little in the way of panache or hand holding and very rewarding to the dedicated. Those who can overcome a few technical issues and a steep mastery curve should reeve their engines and pick this one up from Xbox Live Arcade as soon as possible.

Nihon Falcom’s games have helped me to rediscover JRPGs which I had almost given up due to their often perplexing superiority complex. There’s this integrity towards the way Nihon Falcom makes their games, and it’s reflected in the gaming experience. What The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel may lack in production values, it makes up for in the richness and depth in its unpretentious and diverse narrative. That makes following Rean and his friends during their year of study uncannily engaging entertainment. I can’t think of any better way to get acquainted with The Legend of Heroes series than this. The only thing bothering me right now is how long I have to wait for the second part!

Wastelands is great because it marks a real turning point in the story and offers an ending that promises to seriously test the Diaz brother’s resolve.

PSP gamers gets a royal treatment as the sequel to the highly acclaimed puzzler is improves in every aspect by this hugely enjoyable sequel.

It's a very fun game but it requires an open mind.

While Gigantic builds on a foundation that has already been set, the architects at Motiga have a blueprint with real potential. The Clash and Guardian system is distinctive and gives a great sense of scale, while the list of heroes is colorful, yet not over-designed. This isn’t just another MOBA; it’s a unique experience that takes the minimum requirements to qualify for the genre and goes off on its own tangent – and I couldn’t be happier for it.

SteamWorld Heist is a phenomenal addition to the Switch library. Its story might not be the most gripping of tales, but its deep and varied combat ensures that players will come back to it time and time again to test their wits and take on more challenging difficulties. Clocking in at around 15 hours, there's also quite a lot of bang for your buck to go around. It might be a spinoff and a port, but for those interested in a deep yet accessible SRPG that you can take on the go, SteamWorld Heist deserves to be on your radar.

A simple rogue-like shoot’em up adventure with tons of replay value that manages to add so much to its original incarnation that I can say without a shadow of doubt that, yes, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth was worth remaking.

Dead Rising 3 Apocalypse Edition is a must-have for any sandbox rampage lover.

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.

Simple but effective, The Last Door offers a great, chilling narrative experience. A little on the short side, episodes do not run longer than thirty minutes or so, but its levity is no reason to ignore this well written and conceived story of the supernatural.

With over 30 tracks, hundreds of impressively rendered cars, and a robust and option-rich single player campaign (not to mention endless single, one-off races), Forza 7 has to represent the current apex of the racing sim. While it isn't a decisive leap forward from Forza 6, neither is it a step back. The cars just get better looking, the handling more precise, and the overall experience more comprehensive and immersive. I can't wait to try it on the Xbox One X.

Though a sluggish leveling system prevents a consistent sense of progression, the stirring single-player campaign, and endlessly enjoyable multiplayer modes cement Battlefield 1 as a new staple in the first-person shooter genre, and prove that WW1 is just as captivating of a time period to explore than any imagining of modern or future eras.

Sony ports their premier MLB franchise to the handheld, and far from being a dumbed down version, this could be the definitive baseball experience rivaling its console counterpart.

San Andreas is still San Andreas, and although the visuals failed to impress the gameplay is still as solid and engaging as ever.

Studio MDHR’s Cuphead is going to be one of those game you’ll either totally love or hate with a fury hotter than the fires of hell. This is a really, really hard game. One of its oddities is the inclusion of a Simple mode for bosses that make the battles significant easier except you cannot advance to the next world unless you've taken out their Regular forms. And because the Simple variants aren’t particularly helpful, there’s no reason they should exist. The platformer minded Run ‘n Gun stages are nice diversions but at their worst, you can tell they were added for wider appeal. As someone who absolutely love what Cuphead is, I learned to take these issues in stride. This is a game that made such a huge splash on arrival and has more personality and charm than anything launched this year.

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.

For any platformer fan, or fan of the previous game, LittleBigPlanet 2 is a game worth checking out.

It would be legitimate to complain that Dragon Quest XI and the franchise as a whole has not evolved much, and less patient players may balk at the game’s grind-heavy, deliberate pace and missing features like save-anywhere systems, tactical positioning or even character models that don’t reflect worn armor. It’s important to note that while these design decisions are debatable, their implementation in Dragon Quest XI is deliberate, and the game’s overall polish and presentation is excellent. Taken on its own terms, the good-natured characters, interesting story, colorful visuals and exciting combat add up to a very specific, but immensely enjoyable, experience.

Resistance 2 improves on an already great title with a fun campaign and competitive multiplayer and fantastic cooperative play.