Poi is a competent love letter to the 3D Mario games we know and love that manages to give players a nice taste of nostalgia while still having its own charm. If you're hankering for a good 3D platformer, look no further. Your move, Yooka-Laylee, Hat in Time, and Super Mario Odyssey.

I enjoyed my time with Macbat 64. It is cute, short, simple, and a nice nostalgic trip back down memory lane, even if these are new yet forgettable memories.

So even if I'm not in love with HackyZack, I still really like it. It only lasts a few hours, but it's a few hours of genuine fun that makes you feel good. There is no need to complicate that further.

Instead of dancing around the "is it a fighting game or not?" question plaguing Nintendo's major mascot title for years, Rivals of Aether goes full throttle into the genre and delivers an experience the platform fighting genre deserves.

In a world where $25 gets you five diverse party games in each of the Jackbox Party Pack collections, asking $15 for one flimsy game is just offensive.

Crawl spent a long time getting to where it is now, and the results speak for themselves – it's the best time you'll have knifing your friends in the dark, betraying all bonds, and desperately trying to escape the clutching tentacles of the abyss.

Years later De Blob feels like a worthwhile experiment. It hits the ground running with its likable tone and doesn't really let up with its no-strings-attached sandbox approach. Ironically after seeing the landscape so packed with open world busywork since its retirement, it's a welcome respite.

Spark the Electric Jester takes mechanics from two of my favorite series growing up and combines them into one fantastic project that deserves the recognition I'm giving it. It might be uglier than Freedom Planet, but otherwise, it is an all around better game.

If it wasn’t for this perplexing progression choice made by the developers, and if the story of Deemo: The Last Recital played out at the pace it should, the game would be easy to recommend. In fact, if you love rhythm games, ignore the score below and pick it up for yourself because the music selection is outstanding overall and who knows when next we’ll get something else like it. But know the game isn’t nearly as good as it should be and you may spend far more time than you want repeating the same songs just to advance.

The story threatens to be interesting, but is laughably bad, as is the dialogue in the game (such as the lady who constantly talks about being "punished"). I'll give it this, it has a pretty cool version of Moonlight Sonata as part of its soundtrack. At least Phantom Dust dared to try something different, which is more than can be said for most AAA games these days.

It isn’t flashy or snazzy like other apps, but it’s also not as empty. Like its forbearers, this Harvest Moon is a low-key, laid-back experience where hard work is its own reward. Whether that’ll be enough to keep your kids engaged is the question, but for $4 it really couldn’t hurt to try.

While other game packs for The Sims 4 introduced new gameplay elements into the mix, The Sims 4: Parenthood sets out to enhance existing parts of the core Sims experience and does so in a way that meshes surprisingly well with what was already there. If the next few game packs and expansions can manage to do the same, The Sims 4 might be able to live up to the standards set by past games in the series.

For me the main story juice has been worth the squeeze, but the DLC has not.

Fire Pro Wrestling World is a great wrestling sim that requires effort and patience to be mastered. However, it does reward those who commit to the game with intense, exciting and satisfying matches, featuring some of the greatest wrestlers in the history of the pseudo-sport...or at least 3,538 of them. [Early Access Review]

While the characters are fun, much of their characterization comes from Go! Go! Nippon!, as does the idea of visiting various places to earn date points. Not talking about the locations much defeats the purpose of the traveling format, and the plot wavers between comedy, romance, and real drama too much to fully capture you on any point. The lack of accuracy on the country lessens the impact of the serious moments as well.

Were it not for the successful conversion of the multiplayer mode for this port, I would have rated this game lower. Even without an active player base, though, the prospect of getting friends involved for a night of classic fragging is really tantalizing. Hopefully more people get this in the future, because letting these crazy weapons go to waste is a damn shame.

All of these issues add up to a final product that feels devoid of any real personality and what we’re left with is a generic experience that relies too heavily on a gimmick that never fully delivers on its promise of fun.

Pirate Queen's Quest is a fun addition to Half-Genie Hero, and fans like myself will enjoy seeing the story from the other side of the moral thermometer. I'm convinced all Shantae fans will be grabbing this update anyway. But be aware at what you're getting for your money: an opportunity to play through the same game, with a cool new sprite and some very minor alterations.

Fishing Planet is a solid fishing simulator with plenty of depth and variety to its gameplay and mechanics that still make me want to come back for more. But the horrendous menu and UI on console, lackluster presentation, and occasional bugs and hiccups bog down the experience.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare was an acceptable ride from start to finish, but that just isn't enough. It didn't hit the same lows as Ghosts, but it really exposed how long in the tooth Infinity Ward is getting. If Sledgehammer's WWII has a strong debut, they'll without question be the weakest of the three, and Retribution hasn't really helped their case.

The game looks good and plays well, and I only encountered one minor glitch while I was playing.

Samurai Shodown V Special is a fun experience, but can feel a little like solitary confinement at times. Though with local multiplayer, this is remedied quite easily and Special becomes as special as it was all those years ago.

Necrosphere is a solid platformer with an interesting control scheme and mechanics based around them, but I personally don't think the Metroidvania open-ended level design does this form of extremely difficult gameplay any favors. But, if you're another masochist looking for an addictive and challenging platformer for a low price, Necrosphere might be your calling.

I loved my time spent in this goofy, sci-fi world. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a wonderful way to waste a few hours. If Miwashiba ever decides to grace us with any more of these delightfully odd little experiences in the future, you can bet your ass that I intend to play them.

While my group and I enjoyed trying out this year's Party Pack, it's fair to say it didn't live up to my expectations. It's still a lot of fun, and there were frequent outbursts of laughter in my living room. But there really wasn't a standout title here, nothing to recommend this year's pack over previous entries in the series.

A few of the issues I had during my playthrough have already been addressed, and as of the most recent update, the Party Hard Killer is ready to crash and slash your party.

Tiles & Tactics isn't glamorous, but it does its job. It's a vessel for Carcassonne, a complicated eurogame that has withstood the test of time. All Asmodee needs to do now is grow the community and keep people interested.

Tokaido isn't something I can play multiple games of in one sitting -- single sessions at a time are enough. Thankfully, there's options for solo, pass and play, and online capabilities (as long as you register for a proprietary Funforge account) so whenever I do want to jump back in, I can. Digital or physical Tokaido has a somewhat polarizing reputation among hardcore hobbyists, but I personally love seeing it cycle in frequently.

This digital rendition of 7 Wonders is almost a new game. It would be appreciated if we could get a slower mode that really provides a play-by-play of the wonders of revealing your cards at once. As a base though, Repos has a lot to work with, even if it's not going to be replacing the real thing.

One of the benefits of the Race for the Galaxy app is the AI. It's not just any old bot, it's a project developed by "AI Expert" Keldon Jones, and learns from player wins and from experimentation. It weighs all of that data through tens of thousands of games, and then acts accordingly. It makes even the easy bots challenging, and it's perfect for honing your skill at any level if you don't have anyone to play with.

Square Enix recognized its failures from the first two DLCs and was able to address some of them in Episode Ignis. It doesn't entirely redeem the season pass, but it is worth picking up piecemeal for five bucks, or as part of the eventual Game of the Year edition. With the last season pass story add-on out, the cycle of Final Fantasy XV is complete.

The spirit of Burgle Bros. is here, and the foundation for this tabletop crime spree is rock solid.

Combined with its management features that put you in intense situations, there's plenty of content to keep things entertaining on the battlefield. With the Steam version having a bit of nudity, this release is perfect for those who don’t mind fan service but can't stand 2D sex scenes.

Shantae is an amazing series which I dearly, truly love. It makes me very happy. But I have to go with my head, not my heart, and recommend that you wait for Shantae: Half-Genie Hero - Ultimate Edition. You'll not only get the game's great main adventure, but these mini-expansions are much better suited to the role of inclusive extras. There just isn't enough novelty, length or content on offer to satisfy as standalone purchases... Just don't tell Shantae I said that...

It's tough to be down on Gang Beasts. At heart, it's just very silly entertainment for you and your pals, like the multiplayer games of yesteryear. It's kind of bad, broken even, and it's certainly not going to become a mainstay of anyone's regular gaming catalogue. But it does guarantee some laughs with your buddies. Isn't that what gaming was designed to do?

Break Arts II feels like a great mecha customization system in search of game. Whether or not it has legs will depend on players' willingness to put up with the racing to build their robots.

There is so much to celebrate here in terms of quality aesthetic design, intelligent gameplay, online stability, and genuine heartfelt passion from the underdog developer. Betting against something special being delivered over time would be foolhardy. There's more work that needs to be done, but Them's Fightin' Herds has come out of the gate with a lot of promise, and I, for one, hope it builds upon its foundation, finds its audience, and takes its place in the Winner's Circle soon.

Despite its promise, we really need to see where post-game support and server population is going to be in a few months.

Metropolis: Lux Obscura is another entry in the crowded Match 3 market, albeit one with a decadent coating of sleaze and brutality. Fans of the genre will have a fun time while it lasts, but anyone disinterested in such games will find nothing new here. Though it certainly isn't without its merits, namely in its great art, branching pathways and low price, Metropolis suffers due to its unoriginality and short lifespan, which may be enough for some to give this otherwise interesting release the hard goodbye.

Play and enjoy the Monster Hunt mode, but stick to the Arena and Tavern Brawls when playing against others if you don't want to open your wallet. I still enjoy playing this game, but the busted meta means I'm enjoying playing against other people less and less.

Middle-earth: Shadow of War - Desolation of Mordor brings a worthy character into the spotlight with a slightly different feel, to aplomb.

If you’re a fan of noir thrillers, puzzle games or just creatively presented ideas, you’re bound to find something you’ll enjoy here. It also won’t require a massive time investment, which is always a plus.

Every time I could find something to enjoy in Flynn & Freckles it would quickly be overshadowed by a frustrating platforming sequence, mundane level design, or one of the many rage-inducing bugs that would ultimately result in my death. The character design and colorful world all have promise, but it's evident that something when wrong along the way.

Riddle Corpses EX doesn't go beyond its initial premise and I'll admit I'm more than tired of zombies and demons as the go-to cookie-cutter enemies. With a bit more personality or perhaps some original ideas, it'd be a no-brainer to recommend. As is, it's simply a fun and challenging twin-stick shooter that's perfect in short bursts. Quite frankly, that's good enough.

This is about as pure as a game can be. You learn how to play it in a few minutes, but can sit with it for hours. Its stylistic visuals and awesome soundtrack draw you in and keep you hypnotised, while addictive and challenging gameplay teases you with frantic block-dodging mayhem, great multiplayer modes and weird, surprisingly emotive "characters." In a time of incredible looking, but often flabby titles, it's nice to be reminded that, sometimes, Just Shapes & Beats is all you need.

Unworthy falls just a bit short. Not much can be done about the level design, but a few key tweaks to item management and difficulty balancing could lead to this becoming a hidden gem. If nothing else, it scratches the itch for more Souls that From has left.

I called dibs on Grab the Bottle because it looked kind of silly, and figured at worst it'd be a fun little distraction. It definitely hit those points, but wound up being something I legitimately enjoyed for some quick, on-the-go puzzle solving. And with a story that wound up having minimalist heft to it, I think this is a nice little excursion from your typical gaming experience well worth hitting the sauce for.

Danger Zone 2 isn’t a bad game, but it falls apart under the weight of its technical issues. If there wasn’t already a better version of this game by the same devs (disregarding the Burnout series), I might be more forgiving of some of these flaws. I simply can’t ignore the shortcomings, though.

State of Anarchy: Master of Mayhem is a decent twin-stick shooter that more or less works in function and fun, but has many setbacks that prevent it from being anything other than a middling affair. It's certainly not a bad way to get some light arcade action, but you'll hardly feel like you've mastered any mayhem by the end.

I had legitimately enjoyed playing it. This has somehow become one of my favorite games, and I couldn't be happier about that.

It just misses the balance, leaning too heavily on the side of frustration, with too little to show for all the hard work a player could put in.

Frozen Dawn is engaging as a micro story mission even in solo play, and one of the most impressive zombie offerings to date.

Hopalong: The Badlands is a fun and intuitive arcade shooter that lasts just long enough for you to feel like you've truly mastered its controls, but not too long to overstay its welcome.

All of the gating is unnecessary, but if you're willing to dig into Seal the Deal there's a decent amount there.

The game's variety of tools and obstacles keep it interesting all the way through... Just don't expect anything particularly special from its story.

My biggest issue is that DLC is so blatantly being held back from the game that it's annoying. The base board that you play on has the artwork for the two factions from the Invaders from Afar expansion and it's like they aren't even trying to hide the fact that there is still more money left to be spent. I understand the need to charge for expansions but at least try to hide it next time.

Super Dungeon Tactics poses a decent challenge, some cheery art and a fluffy storyline and straightforward campaign with a respectable variety of missions whose tedium is helped by the variety in the mechanics upon which they sit. When it’s put next to Disgaea or X-COM, it’s almost laughably simple and cheap in comparison, but cheerful enough to grant a looksee if you have exhausted any and all other similar options on the Switch.

It's not quite as good a package as my favorite Jackbox Party Pack, but in my opinion, Party Pack 5 is much better than last year's offering. None of the games seem to be here just to fill out the pack. If you're looking for something to do with a group over the upcoming holidays, there's plenty in Party Pack 5 to keep a whole bunch of people engaged and laughing for hours.

If you're a hardcore fan of Japanese role-playing games, then Resonance of Fate might be for you. The storytelling is far from remarkable, and the battle system requires a whole lot of patience and commitment. It wasn't groundbreaking in 2010 and isn't groundbreaking now, but there are a handful of neat ideas.

Even though it's not the most thrilling side of Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Hunted accomplishes what it sets out to do. It's an introductory chapter, one that establishes a new conflict at the origins of the Assassin's Creed lore. Although reserved, Hunted manages to be plenty entertaining. More importantly, it constructs a compelling foundation for the rest of Legacy of the First Blade. If the latter two-thirds can build on the first chapter, we're in for one hell of a story.

Shikhondo - Soul Eater is a dessert shmup. Newcomers won't want to skip ahead to the last course of a meal because there are already so many other dishes to choose from, even at the same restaurant..

Gungrave, like when it debuted over a decade ago, is an acquired taste.

I think the absolute worst part, and this is unique to Skate Jam, is when the game decides that you hit an angle wrong and instantly boots you back out to a random area instead of the zone you're actually playing in.

The Lord of the Rings Living Card Game is crafted by a company that loves Tolkien, and understands both the lore and how to craft a unique world around the source material.

Rastakhan's Rumble isn't the best expansion Hearthstone has ever released, and it's only a small step up from August's Boomsday Project. Unfortunately, like its predecessor, the reward for completing the single-player content is extremely disappointing. Rumble Run is a decent way to spend about an hour, but that's all it is and you'll never go back to it. I hope Blizzard puts more resources into the next expansion's single-player mode.

Shadow Heritage is more Assassin's Creed Odyssey and I'm absolutely going to take it as we wade through an AC-less 2019. The episodic delivery system is a ballsy move that's somewhat paid off, though I wish it took more grounded risks.

Due to the marriage of puzzles and story I was swept up in Isle of Madness from start to finish.

It isn't perfect, but this episodic format isn't something I'd mind seeing return to Assassin's Creed in the future.

If you're the type of old school rhythm player that's willing to look past those blemishes and just focus on the music, you'll be fine.

If you had to pick out a single Overcooked 2 DLC, Campfire Cook Off would be my recommendation without hesitation. It adds depth to the usual proceedings without going overboard on complexity, and the clever new backpack mechanic encourages even deeper teamwork. You can't go wrong.

Fate of Atlantis by comparison actually feels like a premium creation while forging its own identity.

Shakedown: Hawaii might play similarly to Retro City Rampage, but it takes place in a markedly different world.

It so effortlessly executes its central premise that thinking up any negatives would mostly be nitpicking.

A Hat in Time: Nyakuza Metro is an instant recommendation.

Although I had my share of frustrations with Spark 2 during my first playthrough, I'm sure repetition and better knowledge of level layouts would make for a much smoother second playthrough. Die-hard fans of the Sonic Adventure games are absolutely gonna have a blast looking for the fastest routes possible and it's still a solid experience overall. But, I just can't help feeling like it's a less polished experience compared to its 2D predecessor.

It's great to see Ubisoft fully embrace the wilder, more mythic side of the series.

The non-horde levels are all well-crafted. To exceed, you're going to need to have a solid grasp on strategically throwing food, flipping switches to rearrange the kitchen layout during key moments, and being efficient with when and where you move your pots, pans, and bowls. Both in scope and challenge, Night of the Hangry Horde is exactly where I want Overcooked 2 DLC to land. I wasn't keeping precise track of time, but it took us three decently lengthy sessions to finish all 20 levels.

The combo of real-time lanes and card-based abilities allows Teppen to feel more intense than most of the other card games on the market.

Assassin's Creed Odyssey: Fate of Atlantis has been one of the more consistent DLC storylines in the history of the series.

I urge you to pick The Messenger back up and give Picnic Panic a shot: if only for more sassy shopkeeper dialogue.

So unless you're in the mood to ruin your day and possibly take a few years off of your life, do yourself a favor and skip Turok: Escape from Lost Valley. Whatever the core concept was, it has not turned out well.

I'm just not as smitten with Electronic Super Joy 2 as I was with the first. The free price tag makes this a lot more palatable, but I do believe more could have been done here. It's a little disappointing, but still a fun time that fans of the first are sure to get something out of. Just don't go in expecting anything dramatically different.

Metro Exodus: The Two Colonels is light on action and heavy on narrative, but will please dedicated Metro fans with its gripping, even unnerving, lore. While its smart story succeeds in engaging the player dramatically, the lack of extended gameplay sequences may leave some feeling like they're watching an interactive movie, rather than playing a new chapter of an action-adventure title. A short journey, yes, but still a trip worth taking.

This is a Shantae fan's Shantae game, and just as it gets going, it abruptly ends. (Part I review)

Exit the Gungeon is an interesting experiment and a clever way to keep the series going without copying what's already been done; but along the path to mobile, some crucial elements of the DNA of the franchise were lost. I'll still be following it through its post-launch journey, however, and Gungeon fanatics will find plenty of references to smile at.

Spidersaurs is only worth a short afternoon as part of the Apple Arcade's festivities, but I actually wouldn't mind seeing this crew again in the slightest. With tighter control on the engine and more refined mechanics, this could end up being one of the stronger Contra sendups in recent memory, alongside of Blazing Chrome.

Agent Intercept feels like a free-to-play game with timers without the option to turn them off. I hope this isn't a sign of what's to come for the Apple Arcade, because I'd love to be able to play arcade-like jaunts such as Agent Intercept unencumbered.

I can handle a world full of chaos, where my actions create ripple effects and I have to figure out ways to get around the messes I cause. I can even handle inconsistent hazard movements and the not-quite-frequent-but-certainly-not-occasional feeble hit detection. But what I can't handle is character movement that feels as though the game is flipping a coin to see whether or not Frogger will end up where I want him to. And while that may not have stopped me from seeing Frogger in Toy Town through to the end, it certainly kept me from enjoying it.

Sneaky Sasquatch was a pleasant surprise. It's not a game-changer by any means and I wish it was expanded upon a bit (maybe for a full console release), but it's a great family experience. Come into it with an open mind.

Despite my disappointment with the first DLC (and possibly the structure of the entire season pass going forward if this model is replicated), Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 has a bright future ahead of it.

Various Daylife is easily the most niche game on a service that's generally targeting the casual audience. It can be cumbersome, it lacks polish in areas, and it feels underdeveloped. But, it can also find ways to squeeze out a small amount of enjoyment from time to time and as the world opens up, it finds a decent balance between adventuring into the field and the mindless work menus.

Manifold Garden has a lot going for it, but above all else, it's simply pleasant.

I want to like Battle Operation 2, I really do. I like the flow of matches, the gameplay is great, and I adore the large roster of mobile suits. However, every system surrounding that solid foundation seems to undermine it at every step. Maybe future updates can salvage Battle Operation 2's myriad problems. But, they've all these issues have probably been present since the game launched in Japan over a year ago; that doesn't bode well for anything getting fixed. As is, the state of Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Operation 2 is inexcusable, especially for a sequel.

Having an extended campaign with some really out-there storylines would have been a fantastic use of paid DLC, but for now you're stuck just doing the same errands over and over or restarting once again.

There are many more baffling design decisions or ideas hampered by poor execution I could cover, but honestly, this is way too long a review already and I'm only going to get more upset the further I dig. I wish there was some redeeming value to Silver Falls: 3 Down Stars or it ended up in a "so bad it's good" situation, but it's just a bland survival-horror game that's light on scares and heavy on aggravation. When I wrote about it back in 2018, I had hope it would end up as one of the great final games for my beloved Nintendo 3DS. But after a month of struggling to get through it, that hope is dead.

The Bad Seed is a natural extension of everything that made Dead Cells so tireless and long-lasting. The new levels don't feel arbitrarily tacked-on (even though they essentially are), and you don't need to be a masterful player to conquer them. I could go for a few more DLC packs with this exact structure, easily.

It took Team Ninja over eight months to get to this point, but we finally have a post-launch DLC that's worth picking up.

Like many expansive online projects, the opportunity is there to really get sucked into a new and exciting world.