I’m not sure the “rage game” genre is really a thing, but if it is, Rage in Peace deserves a place at the big people’s table. Although it has a narrative, lots of secrets and side-quests to discover and a colorful style that helps to balance its premise, Rage in Peace will primarily appeal to a very specific subset of action fans less concerned with strategy or character and more focused on achieving a fast and flawless command of the game’s patterns and obstacles. The game doesn’t aspire beyond that narrow goal, but it does its rage-inducing thing rather well.

Unfortunately, the game is quite buggy with multiple technical issues and beyond the solid (but not great) story and replayability. There just isn't much else. Still, if you're a fan of the genre and you're itching for your next mystery murder read, The Shapeshifting Detective is an easy game to recommend for a good evening or two of getting lost in. Just be sure to temper your expectations a little.

Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu/Eevee is not a total reboot of Pokémon, nor is it entirely the console experience that many fans have asked for, but it goes a long way to making a very familiar game feel at least momentarily fresh. Most of the mechanical changes are for the better and help make Pokémon a great casual RPG for just about anyone. Most critically, it allows longtime fans a not-too-jarring glimpse into what might be the future of their beloved franchise.

Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu/Eevee is not a total reboot of Pokémon, nor is it entirely the console experience that many fans have asked for, but it goes a long way to making a very familiar game feel at least momentarily fresh. Most of the mechanical changes are for the better and help make Pokémon a great casual RPG for just about anyone. Most critically, it allows longtime fans a not-too-jarring glimpse into what might be the future of their beloved franchise.

The Forge is a great opening shot for the rest of six DLC adventures to follow, not to mention that it alone is better than the dreary 20th anniversary content released for Rise of the Tomb Raider. It’s a fun way to extend the game’s life beyond New Game+ and is tightly woven into the context of the main story, its people and their history without feeling unattached or forced.

Fallout 76 is a confusing experience, a discord of half-baked ideas and false premises but also some genuinely smart gameplay mechanics that allow solo players and groups alike adventure in equal terms. I want to desperately love it more but as it stands now, the game makes it pretty tough. Still, I will have my Frankie keep on going, no matter how stubborn that might be in the long run.

For fans who played and loved the early games, Battlefield V is like a memory on steroids. It’s a very good game, not quite a great one yet, but six months from now it may prove to be a high water mark in the franchise.

The game can get a little dull over time, especially if you’re trying to get through all fifteen levels in a one sitting, but like most things in life, Trine: Enchanted Edition is better with friends. One last point I’d like to make: I staunchly recommend against playing without a Pro Controller. I thought the Joy Cons were rather unwieldy for this particular game and not at all comfortable during some of the more intense platforming sequences. Do yourself a favor and splurge on the better controller if you have the means to do so.

It’s not necessarily a game for players looking for brilliantly devious puzzles and new mechanics, but from an artistic standpoint it succeeds in some important ways. Its pleasant visuals and music are cornerstones for a quality adventure time, even if it’s otherwise not overly ambitious and suffers from occasional flaws. However, the game is fairly easy to recommend if you’re looking for a story that explores themes such as mental health and tragedy.

I suppose it says a lot about a game if the biggest thing I’m complaining about is the short length. I hope Neverout gets extra puzzles or a sequel down the line because it really is fun to play. Plus, a sequel might give the game some longevity. Beyond replaying to collect trophies (though to be honest, you’d have to work hard not to get them all on the first playthrough) and taking advantage of the game’s PlayStation VR support, Neverout is more than its surface level homage to a really great movie. I really liked Neverout because it offers the right level of the challenge and atmosphere to keep you engaged all the way through to the end.

Valiant Hearts defies the traditional war game, featuring comical, fluidly animated visuals that tell a somber story about people caught up in World War I. The interactive puzzles, alongside engaging action segments, are effectively interspersed in an experience that is hard to put down. While this slower-paced war title may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it’s worth a playthrough for history buffs, puzzle platformer fans, or anyone who wants a beautiful adventure game with a lot of heart.

In the end, my recommendation for Marble It Up is based upon what kind of games you like to play or are looking for. Those longing for a title chock-full of content will be disappointed, but those after a small time sink that rewards commitment and mastery, then Marble it Up is a great game to fill those voids.

In many ways, Battle Chef Brigade Deluxe is a perfect video game. For starters, it looks like one instead of yet another movie wannabe. It teaches, entertains, challenges, stresses and eventually rewards you, like any true video game should. In times when big games are high on cinematic violence, indie titles like this should be cherished. And who knows? Maybe the game urges you take the frying pan out of the kitchen cabinet and try out some cooking yourself, even if you don’t fancy yourself exactly a master chef. I, for one, played with the thought what taste gems the ingredients I use in the kitchen would break into!

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.

I think I would have liked the game better if the characters were on foot or the bikes were less touchy. In the end, I give Street Rats some credit for its creativity because I haven’t seen a mashup of gameplay like this before. It’s fun and has a great sense of style that works with the world it’s trying to show off.

Tetris Effect, as a Tetris delivery system, also does what it does very well, making this the version you simply must own if you must own a version. I mean, it’s Tetris. What the hell else is there to say.

The lingering black humor relieves the dark subject matter (Agent 47’s deadpan delivery in disguises is so tip-top!) and no matter what, you can’t help but summon that sadistic smile you’ve been trying to hide. Granted, Hitman 2 doesn’t do much differently than the first season but it doesn’t even need to - it’s just so cool.

In terms of tactics and board games, and with the announcement of a bunch of other board game classics coming to the Switch, I can’t really think of a reason to pick up Armello in comparison. It’s alright, and a decent take on a fun way to represent an analog idea within video games, but the game itself doesn’t really have much to hold you beyond a couple of plays.

Fixing what wasn’t broken appears to have been the studio’s number one goal, and they accomplished it. It would have been nice for some more new gameplay elements to have been introduced and for the controls to have received a little bit of precision. It also would have been nice if the Juan had been more fleshed out, as was promisingly teased in the game’s prologue. These issues aren’t deal breakers, though, which means that gamers looking for a good time of cracking skulls and terrorizing enemies as a chicken should find the experience that they seek.

Overall, ZeroRanger is absolutely fantastic shoot’em up. It’s highly replayable, while thematically revolving around the repeating cycles of reincarnation in an undeniably Buddhist fashion. I found the game to be an absolute joy to play and reaching the end was highly rewarding. It’s easy to pick up but certainly hard to put down. I’d highly recommend it to those interested in a unique, polished take on the shoot'em up genre.

Tied Together is a fairly entertaining co-op multiplayer game at core but marred by the lack of variation. Although not a long-lasting experience, it does promise moments of family-friendly fun.

Gaming needs more entries like The World Ends With You: Final Mix. Perfection in entertainment isn’t about lacking a single negative aspect, but rather how those blemishes are overcome, and how the work makes you feel. The game has issues as it fails in areas that could potentially cripple it for some. But at the end of the day, I believe it to be worthy of a perfect score. Deserving the highest praise, The World Ends With You: Final Mix can, and should, be listed among the best titles in the history of the medium.

I love seeing From Software getting out of their comfort zone. It’s a nice change of pace and a good way to challenge themselves creatively, but I would have liked to see a little bit more out of the game. I want them to play against the expectations of the genre a bit more because if you strip away the atmosphere and the story, there’s nothing here you haven’t played before.

Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker is not a great game. Though it has an entertaining character creator and some fantastic customization options, separate the game from the license for a second, and it becomes clear that Shinobi Striker is a sub-par action game and an even worse multiplayer experience. The game sets an interesting foundation for future Naruto games, if only conceptually, but no one save for the bravest of Naruto fans would likely enjoy Shinobi Striker in its current form. Better off next time, Naruto. Believe it!

Whether you're in for the full campaign, fun with friends, or just want to smash some stuff up, you'll find exactly what you're looking for in this charming, rage-relieving adventure. With plenty of settings to assist the motion-sick players, and the option to use a standard controller or Move Controllers, you'll find no problems with accessibility across this vast and hectic game.

Although there are a few environments in the game that feel fully realized, and sections of story and dialogue that hint at a much more satisfying gameplay experience, Call of Cthulhu only sporadically engages with the imagination of Lovecraft and too often seems like a sketch that needs to be more completely filled in, shaped and polished. Once again, the particular genius of Lovecraft has eluded us in the video game form.

Luigi’s Mansion for the 3DS is a good port that is bogged down by the troublesome control limitations. It’s problematic enough that I would still recommend the GameCube title if possible for newcomers. If you’re a series veteran, this is still largely the same game, although the expanded Gallery Mode, multiplayer, and improved postgame might still prove enticing. Otherwise, the core gameplay is as solid and engaging as ever, and this remake rekindled my appreciation for Luigi’s first big outing.

Overall, getting a 100% completion in the DLC clocked me in at around four hours, with the story taking about two-to-three to work through. Given the quality of both the story and the side content, picking it up and its follow-ups too should be a no-brainer. Or at least it was for me. But then, I’m the sick fool currently playing through a new game plus on Ultimate difficulty. I’ll let you know how that goes when we check in on our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man next time.