Yakuza: Like a Dragon is ultimately a masterclass in pacing and storytelling with an fabulously gorgeous backdrop, welcome combat shake-up, and a cast of extremely affable characters, especially the newcomer Ichiban Kasuga.

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.

Etrian Mystery Dungeon is a deep, engaging and fun game that fans of the series and RPG followers will love at first glance, even though not every player will enjoy it.

L.A. Noire is not a game for everyone. For those expecting a GTA style experience then you may be disappointed with the outcome. However if your open to a new experience then this is one game that you shouldn't miss.

L.A. Noire is not a game for everyone. For those expecting a GTA style experience then you may be disappointed with the outcome. However if your open to a new experience then this is one game that you shouldn't miss.

Go pick it up and give it a try, you’re bound to find something unique.

The navigation, the combat, the dungeons, the characters, and the peril you must face as that young elf boy in green are all fantastic.

A great refreshing change in pace from your other run of the mill rpgs. It truly is a classic one of the best I strongly urge anyone who doesn't mind less than stellar game play graphics to go out and find a copy.

Little Nightmares II builds greatly upon what the first title achieved, and pushes with great effort to accomplish even more in its setting, design, and gameplay - and it absolutely succeeds in every area of the game. From start to finish of this 4-5 hour experience, you’ll be sat on the edge of your seat, wanting nothing more than to go back in the opposite direction, but the world design and your curiosity will compel you to delve ever deeper into the horrors that await. I am confident that fans of the first game will absolutely love this installment, and any newcomers should go back and play both of these games without a doubt. The settings are both creepy and beautiful, and I really hope to see more from Tarsier Studios in the future.

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is a game I enjoyed immensely. It controls and plays better than Assassin’s Creed III and its hard not to enjoy causing all sorts of mayhem on land and sea.

Layers of Fear isn’t just about being terrifying, as it has a solid story that deals with some dark material even though you could very well miss the majority of it if you aren’t diligent about investigating your environment.

Sometimes, playing a video game really is the best distraction from the real world. If you’re looking for an escape to an idyllic place of relaxation and quirky animals, where you can be creative, productive, or just chill in a virtual environment, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the right game at the right time.

I can't express in words to do the game justice how large and well drawn out these cities are.

If there is one game for the Playstation 3 this year that I would say is a "must buy" Uncharted 2 is that game, it truly is one of the best games in years and could very well be the best Playstation 3 game of 2009.

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.

Just in case you’d forgotten that Bloodborne was one of the best games of the year, The Old Hunters should seal the deal and place it near the top of the list. Generously difficult, filled with hours of new story, and packed with interesting areas to explore and enemies to die to, The Old Hunters is a great addition to the game and should not be missed.

To reiterate, no one takes advantage of Nintendo's hardware like they do themselves. It establishes a new direction for combat, and even justifies motion controls - something that's been a long time coming.

Florence doesn’t last long but when it's finished, I was left with an overwhelming series of emotions. I don’t want to sound hyperbolic, but I found the simplicity of this game to be profound. Florence right now retails for $2.99 on the App Store and although it doesn't have any replayability, I think it’s worth every penny. I hope that Florence inspires more games of this kind that captured an hour of my day and transformed it into an intrinsic adventure that I’m not soon to forget.

This is the game that should have come out two years ago, and while it’s sad that we didn’t have it then, it’s great to enjoy right now.

Turmoil on the Nintendo Switch is a fantastic and addictive experience, wrapped up nicely in a wonderfully simple art style and excellent music, perfect for picking up and playing on the go. Whether you’re in it for the long haul, or just feel like doing some quick digging, Turmoil will keep you coming back time and time again. I highly recommend the game - and specifically this version of it - as I believe this is the optimal way to play Turmoil.

Overall, Cake Bash is a fun, simple game that the whole family will enjoy. The graphics are bright and colorful, and as someone who has a major sweet tooth this game made it really difficult to avoid raiding the cabinets for second dessert. If you’re hungry, don’t play this game; the detail in the frosting and cakes aren’t conducive to diet plans.

It’s a meaningful and beautiful creation far more entrenched in the human experience than any other game I’ve played.

It can feel weird going back to the older format after spending hours acclimating yourself to the gameplay of New Creed but neither Black Flag or Rogue feel dated in any way and remain insanely playable to this day. And if that doesn’t sell you, perhaps knowing that the Rebel Collection offers the finest collection of sea shanties this side of the West Indies will have you galavanting over to the Nintendo eShop.

Removed from the reality with its fantasy settings and stylized visuals, the game has no burden of contemporary issues clouding its ageless tale of power and responsibility. As such, Omensight is perfect escapism despite its dark tones.

Golf Peaks is a great use of the idea of golf, with rule modifications that make it less a score-conscious sports simulation and instead an amazing puzzle game. I had a great time with it for the few hours that it took to get through all the puzzles, enjoying the challenge and calming ambience of it all. It’s an excellent idea, executed well, and it was a joy to play it on the go while sitting at a bar or something. You don’t have to be a golf fan to enjoy Golf Peaks, and the puzzles are engaging up through the end.

It’s a wonderful, heart wrenching experience that’s honestly opened my eyes to a whole new world of exciting storytelling possibilities.

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

The controls are tight, the levels are fun to look at, and the music will have you sucked into the Runner world in no time.