Space Channel 5 VR: Kinda Funky News Flash! presents an opportunity to inhabit 1999’s idyllic vision of 1960’s culture through 2020’s virtual reality. Delivering this extremely specific hallucinatory novelty required an alarming price tag and the notice of a brisk runtime. Space Channel 5 remains a lustrous expression of the Dreamcast’s ethos, and a chance to actively embrace it merits attention and applause. Space Channel 5 VR is a brief, beautiful celebration of a bygone era.

Darksiders Genesis is a strong entry to the franchise and it’s one that should appeal not only to fans and newcomers of Darksiders, but also to anyone that enjoys a isometric dungeons crawlers with two player co-op support.

Kunai is a wonderful game that I am sure rewards a high level of mastery over its mechanics. It looks great, sounds amazing, and plays quite well for the most part. However, the bugs I encountered and some of the lackluster designs throughout the game often made me either sleepy-bored or frustrated at being killed by events largely out of my control. It feels clunky at some points and I believe needs just a bit more refining but it is a great game underneath it all.

While I don’t believe that this game is groundbreaking for the genre, I think that it brought unique additions to it. The level design and art style work well with the subject matter of the game. The weapon component system and environmental hazards are a great feature that I have not seen implemented like this in the past.

SFVCE is by no means an entirely new game, it’s just a culmination of where SFV has come so far. In the last four years, the game certainly has come a long way. If you’ve waited until now to jump in, this is obviously the best version to get.

Overall, this is a fun game. Upgrading your Arsenal and gaining new weapons and equipment to fight enemies feels very rewarding, especially when fighting the bosses. If you can get past the cheesy dialogue and fighting endless waves of common enemies, you will enjoy this game and all it has to offer.

MathLand isn’t going to blow you away in any one aspect, but the sum of the parts makes for a quality educational game that deserves a nod of recognition if you’re in the market for this. At a scant 133MB in size and priced at $6, MathLand offers a fair value for the type of experience it offers.

The dated graphics (especially some of the cutscenes) and sometimes irritating camera don’t hold back the otherwise excellent game that DMC3SE is. What’s more, the Switch version’s inclusion of Freestyle Mode (which can be disabled if you so prefer) and co-op Bloody Palace make it a must-have as far as I’m concerned, for franchise fans and newcomers alike. Additionally, built-in achievements, small storage size (around 5GB), and super fast load times make this much more than just a port — it’s an impressive “ultimate” edition, if you will. Bravo, Capcom.

If you’re a fan of the series, you want to support the HD Remaster, but at the same time it’s had a rough go out of the gates that might give you pause. I’d recommend keeping an eye on this one and seeing what develops, but RTS fans should definitely make it a point to play this series if they haven’t yet.

Overall, with all its gameplay design simplicity on the surface, Journey to the Savage Planet still held some fun discoveries along the way that was drenched in short stints of tongue/cheek humor. It does bring a solid adventure and the fact that you can co-op with a friend helps to keep it all fresh and fun.

In 2010, Bayonetta and Vanquish suggested action games didn’t have to compromise between style and substance. In 2020, with a remastered tenth anniversary bundle, the acrobatic precision of both titles still feels ahead of its time. Hideki Kamiya and Shinji Mikami, and their teams at PlatinumGames, created enduring action masterworks and Armature’s 4K facelift varnishes them with another decade of luster. Bayonetta and Vanquish look and feel ageless.

Dreams is a marvel from Media Molecule. It’s another cog in their creative machine that takes game creation to another level. Does it have room to grow? Lord, yes, especially in controls, but it offers up an outlet for non-coders to make their gaming dreams a reality.

AO Tennis 2 is this generation's Top Spin 4. It takes over a baton that has been carried through mis-steps and let-downs as tennis fans young and old finally have a game worth their time and effort. It's not perfect by any stretch but up against the competition and its predecessor it stands head-and-shoulders above them.

Skellboy’s strong points come from its writing and visual identity, not from its combat and gameplay. While there are certainly some unique mechanics to keep the game going, there isn’t much there to keep players invested. The game is enjoyable enough to get through the story alone, just don’t expect a deep gameplay loop within.

EarthNight is a game that exists to be so immensely entertaining that you will look past any of its nearly insignificant issues. Strange collision detection or a bumpy level load are merely seeking complaints rather than valid problems that detract from a priceless value of fun. From the moment I got to play EarthNight all those years ago I kept my eye on it, frustrated that it was taking so long but hopeful that it meant more and more days of care were being put into it. I never expected a game this coherent, mesmerizing, and entertaining to come along. EarthNight is a serene, challenging, expertly-crafted achievement that should not be missed by any player.

Kentucky Route Zero is lost in the illusive premise of the American Dream but found in the elusive dream logic of its weird, wild, and wonderful prose. Through it all are characters who conceal pain and loss with whimsical musings of hope and escape and locations engulfed in a meditative haze where brutal reality is indistinguishable from isolated reverie. At the end lies a paradox that suggests a circuitous path was the shortest course to an inevitable destination, and the assurance that Kentucky Route Zero’s seven-year voyage knew its direction all along.

Overall, if you liked Patapon 2 back in the day, you’re going to enjoy this release on the PlayStation 4. It doesn’t do anything particularly special other than giving you the game you might have loved in 2009 on a bigger screen.

Overall, this is a game that is made for its fans and crowd. It’s beautifully made, the control scheme is really good, and the story is honestly a really intriguing one for me. I just couldn’t get past the idea of ‘farming’ things and trying to manage people while being strategic. Granted I’m not the best at these types of games, but still. It felt super hard to figure out which way to start.

The branching storylines and miles-deep character and world customization are soul food for players yearning for experiences similar to 90’s cRPGs like Baldur’s Gate or Icewind Dale. Obsidian Entertainment is a master of this craft, knowing that the best way to draw in players are vivid worlds unlike any other and unforgettable stories. Console players shouldn’t be intimidated by a game with its roots in anything but a controller. Menus, combat, and controls are surprisingly easy to navigate and the game runs incredibly well. Having all the updated content only further adds to the value of an already valuable package. If you’re willing to wade in these salty waters, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Ultimate Edition is worth its weight in gold.

Shinobi is an all time classic and deserves another reboot as far as I’m concerned. The Sega Ages release on Switch gives players the arcade original with some cool optional modifications to make it more fun and engaging, not to mention easier as well. I really would have liked to have had the SMS version included here, but this is still a great, polished release as is.

Sega Ages: Fantasy Zone is another solid release that retro gamers should strongly consider picking up.

Three large games, all solid in their own right, now refined with slight visual upgrades, all their DLC which includes playable episodes, characters, and costumes, as well as the ability to toggle running during Exploration and fast-forward during Battles makes this the best way to play these Atelier games. At $90 for the complete set, it feels a little pricey, however. Regardless, whether you’re a newcomer to the franchise or just nostalgic for last-gen’s Ateliers, this deluxe trilogy set is an easy recommendation to consider adding to your digital library.

Having all the updated content only further adds to the value of an already valuable package. If you’re willing to wade in these salty waters, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Ultimate Edition is worth its weight in gold.

Spies in Disguise: Agents on the Run is entertaining for short bursts, manages to be a bit more than a cash grab in comparison to other rail games of its type, and genuinely feels like something you could dig into for the long term. It’s definitely worth checking out, especially if you need more than just Subway Surfers.

DragonBall Z: Kakarot isn’t necessarily trying to reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t have to. After years of adding more and more “new” lore to the canon, it’s nice to take a trip down memory lane and re-experience the characters and story that makes DragonBall so special. While the open world isn’t necessarily the most engaging aspect of the game, the combat is epic and the characters are always entertaining. Simply put DragonBall Z: Kakarot is fun and is sure to please new and old fans alike.

It’s still a solid experience but it could use some expansion or improvement, which if a sequel is ever created, Triangle Studios surely has the opportunity to address.

Taking only 10 people into a medium-sized map and letting them go at it is honestly a really great start for someone new like myself. The colors are a cool futuristic look and the map landscape is honestly cool itself, no freezing and snow puns intended. Some of the processes like buying ramen and just how exactly all your special abilities are hard to understand fully at times, but that is OK as the more you go the more you unlock. The way this made me feel was that this is a good starter. If you want to get into the Battle Royale landscape and have no clue how or where to start, Darwin Project is a good ‘starter kit’ for anyone. There are times where its hard to understand and figure out, but that’s OK. It’s a really good game to get you into the genre.

At the end of the day, Eclipse: Edge of Light is a fun exploration game that will certainly keep you in awe at times without pulling you away with overcomplicated controls or a messy narrative. It simply asks you to traverse the alien landscape, discover a small narrative along the way, and be there. It doesn’t do more than that, nor does it do less than that, which is acceptable for a VR experience.

The general clunkiness of the controls is honestly kind of disappointing to re-experience so many years later, but just as was the case all those years ago, DPO is still a heck of a fun time that out does itself in as far as the overall experience is better than the sum of the parts. That’s a cliche maybe, but it so fittingly applies here I can’t help but call upon it. Bottomline, if your only console option right now is a Switch, you can’t go wrong with DPO, just as long as you go in expecting a dated, but nonetheless very much worthwhile, experience. Otherwise, I’d highly recommend playing the Director’s Cut release from 2013 on the PS3.

The Rebel Collection is an all-around enjoyable and if you can understand that these games have some age to them, then I think anybody will find themselves enjoying it. Even those who have grown up with butter-smooth controls.

As a game, Wattam is a scatterbrained assembly of goofball logic and cumbersome mechanics. As an experience, it's an earnest expression of love, affinity, and forgiveness shared by all of its moving pieces. The product is a game that elicits joy without the videogame-y demand for precooked gratification. Wattam feels like a birthday party where all of your friends actually show up.

The fact that the developers found a better way to play the game through mouse/keyboard means that you certainly have a better experience to look forward to with Dragon Quest Builders 2 being on the PC. It’s the entire package on the PC, and should give something a bit different to those playing that Minecraft thing.

As it stands, Star Ocean First Departure R is a great RPG that needed a bit more love on the presentation side of things. It certainly deserved it.

Arise: A Simple Story is worth a go and worth your time and attention. It carries a heavy-hearted story that is backed by stunning visuals and few flaws.

If you’re looking for an okay FPS sniping experience, SGW Contracts is not a bad choice, but it leaves a lot of room for growth.

Overall, Romancing SaGa 3 was a fantastically wonderful game. Aside from the few issues I had learning the game, I found myself thoroughly immersed in the story. Since the player has such control over how they play the game, every player will have a unique experience. The remaster offers added content as well as a New Game+. I would recommend Romancing SaGa 3 to anyone looking for a fantastic older game that has such high replay value.

Football Manager 2020 manages to improve upon last years outing in enough areas to justify an upgrade for owners for FM 2019 or before. However, I do feel it's getting closer to the point where a marquee feature will need to be introduced or an existing one improved dramatically such as the 3D match engine.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order borrows liberally from other titles and doesn't really bring anything dramatically new to the table, but that doesn't matter. It's a solid, faithful and incredibly fun adventure in the Star Wars universe, with a substantial playtime and plenty of extras to hunt down. It's a prequel and a computer game, so it can't deliver planet-imploding repercussions for the overall Stars Wars canon, but we'd happily hit lightspeed and join Cal and BD-1 on another adventure in a second. No Force push required.

Red Dead Redemption 2 on the PC is the top-tier version of the game. It’s the Woodford Reserve bourbon when you’re used to drinking Kentucky Gentleman. It will most undoubtedly look better than the console version and include all the gameplay that you would expect from the title, but the cost of getting it to that Woodford Reserve level is definitely a price only a PC elitist would understand and accept.

Regardless of any decisions made in The Outer Worlds, know that Obsidian has justified them. This is a game that is confident with itself. It is in no way small. Featuring some of the strongest games writing I’ve witnessed in years, it’s hard not to want to dive back into this world as a completely different character and tinker with the story just to see how it attempts to gel with player choice. For awhile, I thought this genre was nearing life support. Now, I’m confident that the community will embrace The Outer Worlds to the point where Obsidian has to give us more of this universe. It’s so well-realized, so lovingly crafted. It’s the best choice.

Overall, Outright Games’ Ice Age Scrat’s Nutty Adventure shows some passionate love for the film series and constructs a game that young gamers will eat up. Does it have a fair share of issues? Yes, the levels feel too big and there’s not enough to do at times, but young gamers won’t really need that intricate design and complication to enjoy it. Ultimately, this game wasn’t built for me, nor was it built for teenagers, rather it was built for young gamers just getting their feet wet with 3D action adventures.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 feels like the hardest Sega has tried at coming up with a broadly appealing track and field collection since DecAthelete. The wide range of events and alternative control options create open accessibility while a handful of retro throwbacks and madcap minigames function as impressive novelties. Mario & Sonic’s limitations are still recognizable, but Tokyo 2020 feels like the farthest anyone can drag an Olympic videogame into the present.

Valfaris is a collection of conventional run ‘n gun elements amplified by one of the gnarliest and most committed heavy metal aesthetics ever pledged to pixels. Ideas that belong to Valfaris may not be as well tuned as the Greatest Hits it so liberally samples, but it’s easy to overlook in light of the vibrant carnage. Valfaris, in the parlance of its god, shreds.

Type Knight is elegantly simple in its design and a fun distraction. It can run on any grade of PC, wisely confines itself to a small window size, loads instantly, has surprisingly good music and sense of atmosphere, and is all around well worth the low cost of admission of $4.

Though I could extend this article with more information and thoughts, the bottomline is that this is the type of game you’re either into or you’re not. The genre is fairly niche and from the little I have played of it in the past and from what I have read this week, there’s nothing really new here other than the crossover with Doraemon. That’s cool and all, but is it enough to get players otherwise not enamored with the gameplay loop of these type of games to buy in? That’s something you’ll obviously have to answer for yourself, but for me, I found the game to be too boring and too tedious to spend a great deal of time with.

Death Stranding reinvents how video game design can work. It takes you through an experience you didn’t expect, doesn’t hold back with its design intentions and execution, and takes the gamer through a journey like no other. This is a masterpiece that only Kojima could pull off.

esident Evil 5 is a product of its time. It is also a product of Resident Evil 4’s time. The generation-defining strength of the latter pushed against the contemporary ideas of the former, creating a surplus of vaguely Resident Evil content masquerading around in 2009’s milieu of cooperative action games. Depending on your expectations, Resident Evil 5 either remains a blissfully cooperative version of Resident Evil 4 or a harbinger of the monstrosity that became Resident Evil 6.

This year, ZeniMax breathed live into a new zone for The Elder Scrolls Online. Players recovered the Wrathstone tablet which was used to unleash dragons back into Tamriel. They explored Northern Elsweyr, Anequina, to bring the dragon threat to a halt. Most recently, players dealt with the repercussions of the scourge of dragons. Now, players must venture into Southern Elsweyr, Pellitine, and finish the job. A wonderful story, combined with fantastic worldbuilding and new mechanics, brings a fantastic conclusion to the year-long Season of the Dragon event.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare puts the franchise back where it needs to be. You get a wonderful campaign, team-oriented spec ops, and a variety of multiplayer options that cater to those who love large and small scale warfare.

While I would have personally preferred the addition of three player support, or even extra stages or modes, Natsume and Project Tengo did a great job of resurrecting a classic for modern audiences and adding two new playable characters. Other cool features include a timer to encourage speed runs, with online leaderboard support, and being able to unlock the soundtracks from the original and the ’94 games. Beautiful sprite art and animation, and a nostalgic-inducing soundtrack add wonderfully to the experience as well.

Columns’ gameplay is simple, addictive, and largely fun, but it’s also quite a challenge. Despite loss after loss, Columns and Columns II are fun to go back to and try again, just see if I could top my last score. Puzzle games, good ones that is, have a way of being addictive like that. At a point, after a few hours total over the course of a few days, my interest fizzled out, for now at least. But for about $8, and to support future works of M2 and the Sega Ages line, and as a tip of the hat to recognize Columns II finally being released on a home console, I’d still recommend this release for anyone with even a marginal interest.

We’re not quite into PES vs FIFA territory yet but if WRC 8 is anything to go by KT Racing are on the right track. WRC 8 isn’t perfect and there’s a few, unfortunate failings that hold it back from perhaps being the overall winner. However, if multiplayer competition doesn’t swing things for you then WRC 8’s single-player components are compelling. Those disillusioned by Codemaster’s recent outing may find the challenge and the subsequent thrill of success in WRC 8 a more compelling package.

Untitled Goose Game is a body-swapping fantasy that transforms any would-be suburban miscreant into a waddling force of mischief and destruction. Instead of putting your finger in everyone’s freshly baked pie, you menace around town and devastate an ordinary Saturday afternoon. Untitled Goose Game is philosophical exercise to determine if the conniving will of a large annoying bird is either innate programming from a bored deity or a product of our broken society.

With Ichidant-R, M2 has rescued another Sega classic from international obscurity. As either a proto-WarioWare microgame collection or an academic dive into Japan's transitional arcade scene, Ichidant-R's ecstatic presence succeeds in delighting and illuminating its audience. It's another affirmation that M2's work on the Switch's SEGA AGES' line continues to be one of the most valuable projects in gaming.

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Breakpoint is an exciting game. It knows what it wants to do. It wants to give players options, it wants them to feel unshackled by design decisions that offer to gently nudge them in a direction or possibility. It wants to give a platform to four friends to cause chaos in a variety of scenarios. Breakpoint is a freeing game and it has its flaws. But, above anything, it is fun.

Blasphemous is a delightfully dark game with superb style. This Kickstarter success pairs magnificent world-building with clever combat mechanics. A player must have precision timing, as every hit point is vital. One wrong move could be a fatal error. This intense game feels very much like a 2D platforming version of games like Dark Souls or Bloodborne.

I haven't had a game hit me emotionally quite as Concrete Genie has. An emotional story blended with beautiful artwork and seamless gameplay creates an incredible experience. I am beyond impressed with Pixelopus's work and you can easily see all the blood, sweat and tears poured into the game. Concrete genie may not scratch the gameplay itch that you have but rather it delivers an important story to tell. I highly recommend it for any hardcore gaming fan as well as the creative types.

Without a doubt, The Surge 2 builds upon the structure of what came before. Making already fun combat systems even more enjoyable is not an easy task, but Deck13 achieved it. The dedication to building Jericho City into a viable arena for death and exploration comes across in its intricate paths and hidden bits. But I do think just a bit more time and polish could have not only made the game a bit prettier but also resulted in a handful of additional bosses that really put players through the ringer. But The Surge 2 still rewards those looking for a hardcore game in a new setting. And who knows where a third game might go.

Code Vein is a pretty strong entry into the genre and it’s always refreshing to see new IP. While it has a few (mostly patchable) drawbacks, Code Vein is one I would recommend with just a little bit of hesitation.

For Pinball on the go, you would be hard-pressed to find a better option than Zen Studios’ Star Wars Pinball. From design to execution, Zen did an excellent job.

If you enjoy Devil May Cry, or third person action games, DMC2 is worth playing through. While being the worst in the series, it’s still canon and still fun. It’s also not very hard nor will it take more than probably about ten hours to play through both campaigns.

The cost of admission is about four times what you might pay for a copy on the PS3, but obviously your mileage may vary. For those that missed NNK the first time around or maybe sold their copy with their PS3 over the years, the remaster makes a strong case for itself simply because the game is still great and time has not tained the experience.

I think most players know what to expect when going into Borderlands 3. Gearbox is devoted to this franchise and has a certain reverence for not changing it up too much. What are you looking for in this game? With three other friends and a laid back attitude, Borderlands 3 rewards on so many levels. Laughs, rewarding but loose gunplay, and constant loot are a specific pleasure. But this game is not going back to the drawing board. It’s hard to say this is a tired formula because Borderlands has been so quiet for such a long time. Yes I wish the story was better and the jokes didn’t work as hard. Despite all that, it is such a fun game especially when you pass the hurdles. And for that, I can’t help but recommend Borderlands 3.

Neo Cab’s malevolent tech-noir is a vehicle for exploring, and ultimately surviving, the tenacity of its passengers and the ambivalence of its driver. As a narrative adventure Neo Cab is full of conflicted, enigmatic, and sophisticated characters all vying for validation in a tortured world. As an opaque lens on social responsibility and morality, it’s as distressing as it is compulsive. Neo Cab’s tech-addled dystopia functions a travelogue to the pain and purpose of being human.

Overall, Sayonara Wild Hearts is a perfect experience. It may not last long, but it will certainly draw you in with its story, keep you there with its variety of gameplay, and then bring the entire experience together with its amazing visuals and music.

I think it’s critical that publishers and studios offer more than just tweaks to gameplay and new lines of dialogue. EA Vancouver and Romania have done quite a bit in that effort this season. VOLTA is an adept component with surprising depth. Yes, it is ostensibly inspired by 2012 Street and borrows heavily from its bag of toe flicking tricks. But the iteration isn’t chintzy. It’s implementation isn’t some hasty, tacked-on remastering. The mode is fleshed out, thought out, and plays out effectively. It also seems to set an influential tone of fun across the 20 landscape. This is the most enjoyment I’ve had kicking it around on the FIFA pitch since 2015 and should be this addition’s memorable stroke.

Built from pieces thought too inscrutable to survive 2019, Daemon X Machina is sincere in its appreciation for a bygone era of mech action games. It understands the charm of assembling giant robots, the appeal of blasting exotic weapons, and the fantasy of combining both together in dozens of pleasing arrangements. Daemon X Machina revels in its esoteric reverie.

Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece encapsulates the majesty and depth of Assassin's Creed Odyssey into a full-blown learning experience. Ubisoft's expansive recreation of Ancient Greece becomes an open book of educational opportunities that should thrill anyone with a thirst for knowledge.

Another amazing platformer is now on the Nintendo Switch. Spyro the Reignited Trilogy is a wonderful remake of the original games that will leave you wanting more. It is a lot easier than the originals, but that should not stop old fans and new fans from playing the game. Its a good game for the Switch, but I would recommend just getting it on PS4 or Xbox if you want the traditional Spyro experience.

NBA 2K20 has revitalized my love for the series. While the launch has certainly been shaky, I’m having more fun grinding out my favorite modes than I have in any previous year. The entire game feels much more rewarding than years past, and not because you have to spend all of your money on it. If you put the time in, you’ll get what you want out of the game. I have to score the game lower than I probably would simply because of the issues and bugs that are prevalent throughout the game, but once those are addressed I can’t wait to grind away.

Overall, people just consider these games a roster update and that’s it. There’s so much more here than meets the eye. With the new Eliminator feature for Ones and NHL Threes, plus the character customization of your own CHEL character NHL 20 is a great game. Some of the graphical changes are hard to get used to at first though and while I like there a new approach to the broadcast in-game, I can tell that it’s going to go through some growing pains. That’s fine though as I feel that it’s a step in a good direction. If you’re a newcomer or someone who has been engulfed into the franchise for a while you’re going to enjoy it.

Astral Chain is the latest and most accomplished model of PlatinumGames' ability to combine stylish action with player agency and accessibility. Exhausted storytelling and haphazard platforming also continue to underline their limitations. If Nier: Automata sought balance between power and ambience, Astral Chain finds power in power. It's a pure, grandiose spectacle.

Overall, I think the longevity of the gameplay might be a bit grind-y for a mainstream audience. If you can accept that grind, then you have a good story waiting for you with a beautifully woven tapestry led by leveling and a competent upgrade system, which helps keep the gamer motivated to continue. Is it a perfect game? No, but it’s a damn good one, especially with friends.

Overall, Erica is a unique undertaking in the FMV world that worked out well and has set new standards for the genre. It brings an engaging story to life with superb acting, and enough interactive choices for the player to make it a cut above the rest in its genre. It does waste time in unnecessary interactions on occasion, but nothing too detrimental to take away from the mystery and intrigue of its narrative.

Final Fantasy spent a decade constructing idols and Final Fantasy VIII demolished every one of them. Its elaborate, extravagant, and chaotic parade of ideas marched toward an evolutionary dead end and ensured there would never be another game like Final Fantasy VIII. Even by Remastered’s distressing modernization, Final Fantasy VIII’s paradigm shifting idiosyncrasies still showcase one of the most fearless and contemplative models of its medium. Final Fantasy VIII is a classic for people immune to the charms of classics.

Flaws and shortcomings in Control are utterly few and far between, while the gameplay is highly satisfying and fun. The world Remedy created is full of intrigue from the get-go and stays enthralling throughout. Barring any major surprises, Control is my personal game of the year for 2019.

Catherine remains a talented caricature of a hysterical, impossible man’s moral frailty and romantic insecurity. Characters and complications introduced by Full Body, however, lack the connective tissue and social maturity to support its expanded ambition. A (now optional!) tower-climbing puzzle game fused with a supernatural infidelity meditation, even in its spiraling convolution, still survives as a provocative oddity.

The developers have outdone themselves and crafted a wonderful addition to Season of the Dragon. The DLC release also brought along Update 23, a quality-of-life update that brings some wonderful improvements to some core mechanics of The Elder Scroll Online.

The Blackout Club manages to wedge itself into a crowded cooperative space with the use of clever tricks and an approachable atmosphere. But unless the developers build off this initial offering with new content to slice through repetition, it will soon get lost in the dark.

The simplicity of Knights and Bikes lies within its need to revisit your childhood and remind you how much fun life can be, even when the storms are intense. It brings a great narrative to the table, throws some fun puzzles in the mix while delivering beautifully playful visuals that request you go on an adventure with a good friend. The game’s intentions of stupid fun might outweigh its execution, but it succeeds in capturing the imagination and delivering a fun experience that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

I’m pleased, though not surprised, to say that M2’s typical sincere effort in preserving and re-presenting these Sega classics is on display here. Everything from the digital manual, menus, menu music, optional display filters, numerous border art, unlockables — it’s clear that M2 has created and maintained a reputation of excellence for themselves and they should be proud of it. The only thing I would have liked to have seen would have been the ability to invert the joystick (as is, you have to press down for Harrier to fly up) and the Master System version of the game included. Nevertheless, M2 are offering a lovingly and expertly crafted Space Harrier experience here like none other available that is easy for me to recommend.

Oninaki is an abundance of compelling ideas enveloped in a fog of stammering expression. An extensive progression system, myriad combat options, and a sincere and original premise aren’t enough to overcome the rote execution of its world, characters, and basic combat. Oninaki’s only viable curiosity is what kind of game it may have been with more time, budget, and expertise.

As long as you know what your’e getting into with Ion Fury, there’s not a whole bad that I can say about it. There is some repetition and a little bit of button-hunting and I didn’t care for some of the raw simplicity of some of the bosses, but all in all, I had a great time. So I think it’s fair to say that with Ion Fury, you really get what you probably came for — an old school FPS experience with a few modern refinements that make it a standout game. That goes for both for genre newcomers as well as veterans looking for a blast of nostalgia. Plus, with the budget price of $25, it makes it very affordable.

They Are Billions' crucible of experimentation and failure molds players into rugged survivalists. The RTS-style resource management and tower defense test the ability to aptly devote time to the bare necessities that will fend off countless hordes of undead. Harder to master console controls may add an extra layer of tension but living another day remains the sweetest of rewards.

While the original Puyo Puyo’s festive brand of falling-block puzzle-action is a known quantity, M2’s tireless determination to blend accuracy with accessibility persists as the best way to enjoy a classic game in 2019. The SEGA AGES line continues to be the Switch’s secret-best asset.

Overall, The Wizards creates a nice environment to explore and provides a short adventure to draw gamers into a magical land. Unfortunately, the unpredictable VR controls frustrate gameplay and are a distraction from totally enjoying an immersive wizard experience.

Gravity Ghost imagines the maelstrom of adolescence further complicated by its protagonist’s untimely death. As an elliptic platformer, it’s concerned with reaching a neat-and-tidy series of goals. As a narrative experience, it’s consumed by normalizing the despondency of its cast. Gravity Ghost’s kinetic novelty may have ebbed since its 2015 debut, but its resolution, which seeks idyllic healing from an enormous tragedy, still creates a powerful statement.

Metal Wolf Chaos XD is a time capsule from 2004 that allows its recipient to survey the United States’ enthusiasm for boisterous violence and blind patriotism. The President stomping around in an eight-gun mech suit and delivering outrageous dialogue while suppressing a coup is nakedly hyperbolic, but it’s also a lens to an outsider’s interpretation of mid-aughts American culture. Metal Wolf Chaos, in addition to presenting a clumsy but capable action caper, has only improved with age.

It is what it is — a reasonably priced spin-off of the series that is not bad, it’s just limited in its scope and replay value, though your mileage may vary greatly depending on who you have to co-op with.

Overall, Madden NFL 20 updates and adds some interesting attributes to its football structure. It polishes up the story mode and gives it focus while maintaining the entertainment value of the series steadily. It needed a bit more with regard to content, but what it has is still good.

After spending several years on mobile devices, Growtopia is bringing its seemingly limitless worlds to consoles. In a game where everything grows on trees, young players will gobble the chance to punch and build while those looking for depth may come up short without searching for intricately crafted worlds.

While most collections are products of profit and/or preservation, Collection of Mana advances the Western Mana canon with its surprise inclusion of Trials of Mana. This feels like a minor miracle and, despite the collection's austere packaging, sparks hope that Square-Enix may disentomb more of their perceived gems that never made the voyage westward.

F1 2019 is a fantastic racing title whether you're a fan of the sport or not. Despite my reservations and perceived lack of improvements I've been proven wrong at almost every turn. Codemasters have done the licence and series proud and look forward now to next year's edition and what it might bring especially with new consoles on the horizon.

Warhammer: Chaosbane is an incredibly entertaining game but at this point in time, that fun lasts as long as players continue to be invested in the repetitive nature of an ARPG. Right now, the pool of enemies, while aesthetically cool, begin to feel tired after awhile. It takes a considerable amount of time before modified enemies show up and the variety of equipment might not be enough for some players to invest the time it will take to soar to the highest echelons of skill.

I could go on and on about this game, but just know that games like Sea of Solitude are important. It personifies Kay’s journey with mental health issues, and brings to light different types of situations that people suffering from MHI might encounter. It also brings with it perspective that some people absolutely need should they know someone going through MHI and potentially a starting point when it comes to getting help for that individual.

Dragon Quest Builders 2 is a marvelous upgrade to its initial brethren. It offers up a bigger world, well thought through RPG construction, and keeps you exploring and building.

Lucah: Born of a Dream is a neon crash of allusive storytelling, deliberate top-down combat, and distressed, manic ambience. Its indirect means of expression risks losing the player in its internal contradictions—it’s hysterical and tender, it’s demanding and soothing—but tenacious pandemonium is also its objective. Lucah: Born of a Dream seeks an audience that can relate to its world without needing to make explicit sense of its features.

Warlocks 2: God Slayers is a tedious action-RPG that will certainly satisfy those who seek out a challenge on the Nintendo Switch. It’s not necessarily the first game of its genre that I would recommend for people who are interested in the genre, but it’s certainly not the last. The tedious button mappings on the JoyCons with the slow moment-to-moment gameplay makes it an action-RPG that’s fun to play in short bursts, but not for long periods of time.