I’ve become somewhat skeptical of the cozy cottage-core fringe of the indie market after being left disappointed by a few titles, but I’m happy to say that Mail Time delivers where I’ve seen others fall short. Trying to be friendly and welcoming doesn’t compromise it as a game. It manages to be compelling while not being challenging. It does this through breezy design, a lightweight world map, and enjoyable writing. It’s an excellent execution on its philosophy.

Kingdom Hearts is a good rhythm game that meanders way too often with its presentation.

The Jackbox Party Pack 10 is a mixed bag. Two of the games are confusing, one is a welcomed return, and Time Jinx is the absolute star in this pack for being a creative trivia title. The format’s starting to get stale, unfortunately, and the novelty of connecting to the game with your phone has worn off.

With clear inspirations from predecessors in the genre, Crisol: Theater of Idols is a solid debut from Vermila Studios under Blumhouse Games. While it doesn't quite reach its max potential in the end, it's absolutely worth your time for a weekend playthrough.

If you're the type of gamer who worked tirelessly in the past for a top Stardust score and can't get enough, this is the smoothest package yet. While I may be slowing down with my love for the franchise in light of recent competition, the light isn't entirely extinguished.

Sylas’ story is a good way to experience something different in the world of Runeterra, whether that’s fresh air for the MOBA fans or a more appealing genre for those new to League. The Mageseeker meets the bar for spin-offs, expanding well and adding more to the world while putting a unique spin that Digital Sun can call its own. This burly mage adventure is definitely worth looking into if you’d prefer a League game with more action, story, and gorgeous art.

Dark Room has been the most masterful installment in Life is Strange thus far, and it sets us hurtling toward the finish line.

Nantucket is well worth your time if you are looking for a fresh take on the strategic role-playing game genre, or are a fan of the original story that it is based on.

What I mean to say is that if an extremely rigid city-builder doesn’t sound like a problem to you, or even if it sounds appealing, then SteamWorld Build is worth trying. I can honestly say that I didn’t hate the time I spent with it, even on the second playthrough. It just feels empty when I think back on it. I don’t think it’s going to stick with me. But there are far worse problems for a game to have than being too robotic.

Snake Pass' legacy won't be any of that negative stuff I mentioned. It'll be remembered as a quirky thing that's an exemplary example of how games can offer non-traditional experiences. And, to be quite honest, I love it for that. I thoroughly enjoyed my first hour or so as I leaned into its serpentine sensibilities. But, Snake Pass' choice of animal is unfortunately fitting as this game just doesn't have legs.

While imperfect, Gatling Gears sits comfortably at the upper range of twin-stick shooter quality on the consoles' digital platforms of today.

If you want some completely shameless macho shooting fun, then Weapon of Choice is definitely worth at least the free download. It's a solid game, with only negligible flaws. However, the lack of length and replay value makes it hard to recommend as a buy for all but the most dedicated of shooter fans.

The Guided Fate Paradox may not have the most engrossing story, and at times, it can roll at a snails pace when in full swing, but its overall attention to the little things is what makes it one of this year's surprises.

It's my favorite Resident Evil in years, and with a pricetag that's $20 cheaper than most retail releases, it offers up hundreds of hours of entertainment for those who are willing to dig into Raid Mode.

Star Wars Pinball: Rogue One isn't a bad pinball game. It still has the same great level of detail we've come to expect from a Zen Pinball game, the same great physics, and plenty of great quotes and sound effects from Rogue One to bring out the movie's personality. But it never proves itself as anything exceptional. For a single-table pack, it just doesn't have the sizzle you'd hope for.

The Switch version...lags way behind the others in nearly every conceivable way.

As far as NES games go, Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland is as solid as they come. I said this earlier, but if this came out during the NES’ lifespan, it probably would be well-remembered. Maybe not as well as one of the system’s absolute classics, but at least in the same niche as Little Nemo: Dream Master. Released today, it’s another very curious case of a new licensed game getting released on an old console. That’s already very exciting for me, so the fact that it’s also a well-tuned game is just gravy.

Europa is a wonderful indie title that is a breath of fresh air from the triple-A fare of this busy season. The art style is striking, the storyline is intriguing, and moving around in the sky is satisfying. While the game can be repetitive at times with its annoying enemies (that only stun your character), Europa is worth your time if you want to take your gaming slow for a few hours. It is fairly short at 3-4 hours, but there are collectibles you can try to find that can extend your playtime. However, it would have been nice to have a level selection to ease the process.

The most open-minded adult will likely only find a few hours of amusement here. But for a child with an active imagination (and a soft spot for all things cute and fuzzy), Kinectimals goes a long way in making Kinect "a must have" this holiday.

If you are that rare somebody who has always been interested in Katamari but never made the plunge, this is a strong recommendation.

LIT stands proudly eclectic among the sea of mediocre titles available on WiiWare, bringing a truly innovative take on the puzzle genre to the table and offering a lot for players to explore. The issues with minor control flaws can't really bring down the well-executed atmosphere, clever design or overall fun the experience of playing the game offers.

At the end of the day, Sam & Max Season One is an excellent game with enough punch to overcome its deficiencies.

Shadow Complex was great in 2009, and for the most part, it still is to this day. You won't find many new elements in this remaster apart from standard graphical upgrades, but if it has been a few years since you've played the original version, it's worth going through the journey again.

Ultimately, while it's a little bit disappointing to see Kadokawa go with such a "safe" design for its return to the tactical RPG battlefield, there's enough in God Wars: Future Past's narrative and atmosphere to recommend it to someone on the lookout for a new Tactics-style title.

If you have been waiting for something approaching a new Super Monkey Ball, or just want a pretty direct translation of the Marble Madness formula, Marble It Up! has you covered. Just don't expect a lot from it and you will probably be very satisfied.

Despite its Frankenstein-esque shortcomings, Pirate Warriors 3 is a beautiful game, and still a lot of fun to play locally.

It's a title that packs a ton of content and gameplay onto a single disc, and its import options for songs from previous titles will pad your song selections nicely. But it's also an experience that feels remarkably similar to last year's offering, and that's unfortunate.

Adventures of Pip is an inoffensive platformer that doesn't do a whole lot wrong, but it won't stand out in your mind a few days after beating it.