I’m left thinking that Parry Nightmare is meant to be a starter bullet hell title for players unfamiliar with the genre – only because of its brevity and simplicity. While it lacks traditional bullet hell variance and depth to ensure replayability, it contains enough nuance to tell an interesting story while the eyes and ears are treated to a stunning art style and jazzy soundtrack.

In single player, it gets repetitive in a hurry, but with friends, it's a blast. I wouldn't recommend this game for purchase unless you're sure you can line up some co-op.

Overall Klaus is a solid linear, story-based platformer. Hardcore players of platformers looking for a challenge should look elsewhere. From a mysterious story to solid yet fun gameplay, Klaus is a game that should be enjoyable for anyone.

NHL Slapshot is a nice attempt by EA to capture a larger hockey audience for the Wii. It combines a solid core game with a unique controller that works pretty well for itself. The result is a hockey experience that isn't bad if you're looking for something a little different and a little more casual.

The ending of this first installment of the DLC certainly ends on a cliffhanger, leaving us excited for November’s content. Whether you play it now or wait until all three DLCs are out, The Heist is definitely worth the price of admission and the four hours it takes to complete.

It goes without saying, but Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 is still just a Naruto game. Full of loose, yet accessible mechanics, the game is a love letter to Naruto fans that seems to forget that it needs to complete its sentences to get its point across.

Echoes of the Fallen is a gorgeous addition to Final Fantasy XVI’s main campaign. At most, it brings new vicious enemies that offer new levels of challenge to the player with motivating rewards waiting in the wings for those that take it on. While the story does add more intrigue to who the Fallen might have been before Clive was a gleam in his parents’ eyes, the DLC seems to be more focused on the game’s action and beauty rather than a deep storyline.

The PlayStation 5 version of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is the best in the bunch. It tells a solid campaign with branching narrative choices, contains some of the best visuals that you’ve seen on a system not called ‘PC’, and it has some good, new faces on the multiplayer scene. Is it all perfect? Not at all, but it’s a good way for Call of Duty to start on the next generation of consoles.

I'm happy that this staple JRPG series is evolving. Dusk Sea brings with it several key gameplay changes that should keep series fans happy while making itself more accessible and interesting to others.

Arcadia Fallen is a wonderful game with very well-thought-through underlying messages that are wrapped up in a branching narrative. While its story-heavy personality may not fit the fancy of some folks, its intentions are good enough to entertain most.

F1 Manager 2023 from Frontier Developments is a detailed F1 experience for the F1 fan that needs a bit more than what F1 2023 can deliver. It has every aspect of running an F1 team, designing success on the racetrack, and juggling the business side of the sport. What it doesn’t have is up-to-par visuals for this generation, but that takes a backseat to the F1 managing the game successfully delivers.

If I do a top games of 2017 list at the end of the year, I can already tell you that Full Throttle Remastered will be on it. This is point and click adventure gaming done right during the best and brightest days of the genre. Double Fine has done a superb job remastering and re-releasing it; don’t miss it.

Mortal Shell does a lot of things right when it comes to being a “Souls-like” game. It nails its environmental and character designs, its combat feels satisfying, especially when I found the build that worked for my playstyle, and it’s difficult and unrelenting. I found a lot to chew on with Mortal Shell, even if it wasn’t necessarily apparent in the first few hours. Though not quite as polished as I would have hoped, for a game developed by such a small team, it’s quite an achievement.

Mass Effect: Andromeda is a game for a different kind of gamer. Those who can appreciate the lore and immense depth of stories upon stories, upon stories. However, if you’re a newcomer and are interested in the content that this game brings, I encourage you, it is a wonderful ride. The universe, characters, tone, the music… EVERYTHING plays a part in this game and melds together in a way that feels like this could be where our technology heads towards in 600 years.

Hyrule Warriors delivers a wonderful Legend of Zelda action game with a large cast of familiar characters, identifiable worlds, a great upgrade/leveling system and endless amounts of action. It’s far from a perfect game, especially in regards to controls and repetitiveness, but it’s much better than expected.

The Crew Motorfest‘s beating heart is its diverse playlists, exemplifying the vast beauty of Hawaii and its many racing opportunities. Extolling the virtues of car culture and history, players will interact with unique scenarios meant to hone their skills and extract blistering speed out of a massive roster of vehicles. With one of Ubisoft’s best worlds to date and a constant stream of rewards, The Crew is in top gear.

In some ways, Threefold Recital does an excellent job in telling a thoughtful tale of beastlings bound to Daoist philosophy. In other ways, I was a smidge disappointed in the driving forces behind that storytelling and the simplicity of the platforming. It’s not the most memorable platformer outright, but if you’re in the mood for a compelling narrative with some light platforming and other minigames, look no further than Threefold Recital.

Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story demystifies yordles’ existence in a way that emulates some modern simulation favorites like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing. While its gameplay skews more straightforward, guided, and simplistic, Bandle Tale is presented in a way that is charming and contains ample mystique thanks to its glorious pixel art and soundtrack.

Dead Take works as a message, as a personal anecdote, as a performance showcase. It may not present a wholly unexpected take on the first-person horror genre nor dazzle with complex puzzles. But this dissection of power and the ones who wield it feels especially timely in our constantly-changing world that seems to reward ambition through viciousness. As an eerie, moody look at Hollywood, players may grow uncomfortable at Dead Take‘s honesty but remain enraptured by the phenomenal talent of its acting and direction until its final, stark moments.

It’s no Thousand-Year Door, but Color Splash really does provide an overarching sense of consonance which was conspicuously absent from Sticker Star and even Super Paper Mario. It’s a good balance of humor, environment, variety, and casual puzzle elements.

Arkham fans can expect to really enjoy Origins, so long as they don't go into the game expecting to experience sweeping changes to the gameplay that made Asylum and City so great. Origins is a great game that can proudly stand outside of the shadow of its predecessors.

Evasion is a decent FPS for the PSVR, but it needed just a bit more variety to make it fun and engaging. The initial structure of the gameplay is spot-on, but the enemies and level design are just a bit too stale.

Firewatch distinguishes itself through integrity of its structure and preservation of its characters. Allowing control over Henry and Delilah's perilous connection provides a sense of ownership over the narrative and creates an important bond between action and place. Other story-focused games suffer from a damaging disconnect between agency and intention, almost as if they don't trust the player to act reasonably in accountable situations. Firewatch proves this dynamic not only to be valuable, but necessary to go forward.

A great fit in any Vita library that would benefit from an excellent JRPG.

An awful story is salvaged and ameliorated through exceptional combat design and an engaging weapon creation system - leaving Dead Space 3 weaker than its predecessors, but still an experience absolutely worth having.

This game has sparked an interest in anime that I didn’t know I had. I would highly recommend this game to anyone who enjoyed the PS2 game, as well as anyone who wants to check out a series that has withstood the test of time.

Though the characters, locales, and general lore of Warhammer were lost on me not having ever played any Warhammer before (tabletop or otherwise), this didn’t stop me from getting into the game and enjoying it. The story, characters, quest and dungeon design, and general gameplay are all pretty straight-forward and familiar, and I don’t mean that in a disparaging way. This is a good case of ‘if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.’ If you’re looking for an expansive and fun co-op loot-gathering, combat-heavy dungeon crawler, this is a good choice, and your only choice right now for the new consoles.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game Complete Edition is exactly the game you remember from ten years ago. It’s a complete nostalgic joy that honestly didn’t really need to be touched up or fine-tuned. Ubisoft chose to preserve the experience where it mattered rather than alter it in any significant way. Instead, the crucial missing component of online play was worked into the game, drastically increasing its appeal for just about any player. Though not without the same faults that were in its DNA from the beginning, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game Complete Edition will have you grinning from ear to ear with its irresistible charm that gushes from every pixelated pore. Finally, Scott’s journey is complete.

For Super Monkey Ball fans out there, this game is going to be fun because of the variety of creative mazes SEGA has in store for you. The modes beyond the main will be hit or miss depending on expectations. Nonetheless, Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is mostly entertaining.

EA FC 24, the revamped FIFA, brings a breath of fresh air with its dynamic menu, "precision pass," and reintroduction of female athletes in Ultimate Team. However, it grapples with lingering connectivity troubles and a lack of innovation. On a positive note, the elimination of position-altering consumables, in Ultimate Team, and the introduction of "playstyles" offer enhanced gameplay depth. All in all, EA FC 24 caters to football enthusiasts, offering a small blend of new features while still wrestling with the same gameplay formula.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II is a continuation of one of the best Call of Duty games in years. Rather than acting as yet another overhaul, Infinity Ward has fine-tuned the standout first-person shooter to provide one of the deepest multiplayer customization options in the space. A campaign packed with highlights boasts a number of missions that spin the formula in exciting ways. Despite many woes at launch, players are treated to top-notch gameplay and movement that continues to satisfy, especially now that weapon stats can be adjust in granular ways. And with more content to come, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II is sure to satisfy.

Madden 13 on the Wii U sacrifices the Impact Engine from the PS3/360, but adds Gamepad integration that is intuitive and works well. That combination could make the purchase a tough decision for diehards, but whether you wait for next year or go with this release, you're getting a good football game.

“Be kind rewind!” is the core experience of CONVERGENCE: A League of Legends Story. Mastering Ekko’s time-based combat and platforming skills becomes incredibly rewarding for those wanting a new metroidvania experience. For Ekko mains, CONVERGENCE should be a no-brainer as it faithfully implements Ekko’s power in inventive and satisfying fashions. For other League fans as well as those unfamiliar with Riot Games’ other titles, CONVERGENCE will offer you memorability, challenge, a thoughtful story, and another blissful audio experience Riot (and Riot Forge) are known for.

If Saviorless is Cuba’s first independent video game, then players are in for an aesthetically pleasing yet moody future of game design that touches on emotional elements that leave a mark on the psyche. Saviorless isn’t the best example of a platformer, but it’s a great start to something truly novel in the platforming space.

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel refreshes gameplay through some new mechanics and a whole new story, including a cast of familiar characters and brand new characters, while diving into the events that lead up to Borderlands 2.

Prey: Mooncrash melds Arkane's excellent immersive sim playground with the challenge of a roguelike that gives players a good excuse to dive back into what made Prey so fun.

Capcom did a lot more than just spruce up the graphics and add in some concept art with the DMC4 Special Edition. The new playable content makes this a significantly different game than it was seven years ago, and one that any DMC fan should own.

Unto the Evil is a bit expensive, but offers some pretty good additional content for the multiplayer component of DOOM. If you're a fan of that, Unto the Evil is required to keep pace with the community, but otherwise it may be best to save your efforts for the next DLC which should cater to the more popular campaign mode.

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.

If I could go back, even for a moment, to the mid-90s era of coin-operated arcades, I would seek the closest facsimile to Nosebleed Interactive’s arcade that is so perfectly constructed within Arcade Paradise VR. Until a time machine becomes available, I’ll settle for putting on my PSVR2 and playing some familiar arcade titles that translate pretty darn well in the VR space, Sense controllers and all.

Don’t Starve is a weird and wonderful jaunt through a purgatorial wilderness. With the Reign of Giants DLC, there’s enough content for even well-seasoned Don’t Starve players. The brutal and unforgiving permadeath mechanic heightens tension and emphasizes player prudence. The lack of stylus and touch controls feels like a real missed opportunity to advantage of the platform’s primary peripheral.

Banned Footage Vol. 1 is a test to grade how well Resident Evil 7's innate talents extend past survival horror. As a wave based survival game, it is eager but routine. As a grueling roguelike, it is chaotic and formally aggravating. As an escape room, however, its fiendish motif fits neatly inside of a clever and contained challenge. All three accumulate to a zealous B-, which is a clean score for Resident Evil 7's first post-graduate exam.

Superhot VR is a license to perform inside of a bullet ballet without any of the implicit horror of gun violence. Its hook—time only moves when you do—makes room for strategy and action in equal measure, and its stationary operation neatly accommodates and conceals the limitations of virtual reality. All that’s left is to imagine is the caliber of Superhot VR’s performance outside of Sony’s finicky hardware.

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.

MultiVersus from Player First Games is a good fighting game. It does a good job of competing against the likes of Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. series. While it may not yet have the longevity of Nintendo’s golden child, MultiVersus’ characters, maps, and welcoming atmosphere are enough to convince any future wannabe fighter to give it a try.

Scribblenauts Unlimited is a bigger game than the previous. It offers more chances to put your creativity to the test and its replay value is through the roof. Granted, it doesn't offer the same type of challenge as previous version, but that also decreases the frustration that might come with said challenge. If you're looking for a game that is fun for the kids, and the adults, in the house then look no further than this.

NHL 18 continues to build on the success of last year’s title by making subtle but impactful refinements throughout the game. The new skill stick options give you a wealth of ways to slice through defenders, fake out goalies and light the lamp. And the improved AI make pretty much every on-ice engagement a smoother, more enjoyable ride. The real surprise of this release, though, is the NHL Threes mode. Far from the cheap schtick it appeared to be, Threes actually offers roster management, unlockables and a lengthy tour of opponents spanning multiple regions and leagues requiring a significant investment of time.

End of Zoe is a Resident Evil 7 gaiden that replaces guns with fists, herbs with bugs, and grenades with javelins. Becoming a bog frolicking ex-boxer uncle who fights monsters with his bare hands is precisely how I wanted to end 2017. End of Zoe is temporal, unhinged, and, either by intention or accident (it doesn't matter), often hilarious.

Tales of the Abyss is JRPG through and through, something which may be appreciated by a 3DS audience which doesn't yet have a lot of other choices of this variety. It arrives with many of the caveats that come with the territory, and its age is unfortunately visually evident. But the strength of its real-time battle system and a progressively interesting story can keep you hooked if you trudge through the less-thrilling opening hours.

Capcom enters the open world fantasy RPG genre with a compelling release whose strengths outweigh its flaws.

In keeping with the Paper Mario legacy, Sticker Star once again seeks to shake up the franchise template without betraying its common foundations. The result is a game which is thoroughly creative and sporadically impressive, but which is also surprisingly devoid of some of the common sensibilities of modern game design. Forgiving that, it's still a worthwhile romp for serious fans.

Humor sharpens Saints Row IV’s experience, though it won’t stop you from wondering of what it could have been with a bit more focus.

Powerwash Simulator does not try to hide its true nature. What might barely feel like a game is more of an expression of that part of the brain that just wants to feel some kind of satisfaction. Whether it’s watching a person peel a large part of dried glue off their hand, seeing a massive pimple being popped, or using a controller to wash off an unrealistically dirty suburban house, there’s an audience here. Those who have already played Powerwash Simulator won’t find anything particularly special about the PlayStation 5 version. Undoubtedly, there’s varying levels of reward here but if you’re looking to relax, this may just be the ticket.

What stood out to me most about Beholder, however, was it’s distinct art style and music. None of the characters have faces or coloring whatsoever, but they have more character than many other games out there. You can really tell which tenant is which, even though they may all look the same at first glance. The black-and-white motif of the character design is fantastic sitting on top of the dystopian backdrop of the apartment complex. The entire look and feel of the game has that sort of grit-and-grime that really give players that feeling that they themselves are being watched by The Ministry. The music, also, is outstanding and gives the game a sort of gravitas that few other games have.

EA Canada knows where their bread is buttered when it comes to this series, and it’s with the stand up portion of play. As long as that segment is done really well, more than half the battle is won. UFC 3 tightens up the strides made between the first two, holding the biggest positive in tact. The ground work might not have been given the overhaul I would have preferred, but the stark difference in tempo of the past is largely absent. Stamina and stats proctor over how the horizontal dance goes, exactly how it should be. Pristine sights and sounds with a deluge of deep modes contribute to a worthwhile AAA release. And I think EA would do well to use this Ignite Engine powered template in creation of other combat sport games.

While the power of a PC environment can never be trumped by a console, and that’s where console games are born, so it should be the apex technology leader in gaming, the console version of New World: Aeternum works very well. The controller layout is easy to use, the graphics are premium, though some enemies are very blah when it comes to detailed character modeling, and everything you would expect from the PC version is here. Having the ability to easily communicate due to PSN and easily grouping with friends will be a treat on console...The game works solidly on the PlayStation and it’s a game I will revisit multiple times before I’m done with it or before a new expansion is released.

There are endless amounts of hours waiting for kids in Disney Infinity's worlds. If kids want to build worlds, boom. If kids want to play adventures, boom. If kids want to spend time with each other and share Toy Box creations, boom. There's so much in one package that younger gamers will absolutely have a blast with it. It literally has everything for them and it's a worry-free environment to play in. What more could you ask for as a parent from a single game?

Genuine art is meant to evoke a response from its audience, and Hohokum's diverse assortment of imaginative endeavors makes it easy to get lost inside its world. It's effective union of art, activity and music, managing a progression of open personal responses without the weight of a direct narrative or dissonant mechanics.

Seasons After Falls tries so very hard but falls short of being truly excellent. The repetitive puzzles hinder things enough that, if you're like me, you'll end up playing in small doses.

Sega Genesis Classics delivers modern convenience options and passable emulation across its fifty-three titles. No Genesis collection can be definitive without support from third-parties, but new additions like Gunstar Heroes and Alien Soldier help curtain the perpetual void in Sega's compilations. At $30, Sega Genesis Classics is an easy and accessible way to appreciate a selection of the Genesis' best work.

With the help of CBS and ESPN they have made the NCAA Basketball game much better. With that said, EA still needs to tweak their control scheme a bit and make it work better with situations.

The Persistence is a great entry into the survival horror genre, and I feel that it is best enjoyed in the original VR format. For those entering on Xbox side of this game, this is definitely one I would pick up and take in, even though you won’t get that same immersive VR experience from it. The game still offers a great story and an insane amount of difficulty, which will challenge most experienced players. While it is rather short, the addition of ever-changing maps does add to the ‘freshness’ of the short game, as no playthrough will be the same. Definitely worth a go.

Darkside Chronicles isn't a bad game; it's just a lazy one.

ChainStaff is a game of excess. And that excess is packed into a tight package of constantly surprising and bizarre creatures that often defy explanation. Enough creativity is stretched over the surface of the game to forge its own direction. Using a parasitic alien’s veined weapon as a tool to Tarzan past grotesque worlds and entities is nothing you can say about almost any other game. It may get chaotic and illegible at times but when it’s so gnarly, who cares?

Ones and Zeroes accelerates Republique's exploration of action and consequence by placing the player in a position of uncomfortable accountability, continuing to be an exemplary exhibition of touchscreen gaming.

Tormented Souls gets way more right than not, and I came away from it very impressed. This was the kind of game that once I got the hang of it (I have not played many survival horror games at all) I became enthralled with playing and exploring every area and uncovering all the secrets and story material I could. This game does not try to advance the genre; it doesn’t do anything particularly new or better than previous champions of the genre have, but for all that it does, it does it very well. I’ll always say there is room in any genre for another solid entry, and that’s what you get here — a great survival horror game built with intentional classic/retro design.

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes is a small appetizer for what could be one of the greatest meals on this generation of consoles. It’s true the initial mission in the game is short, but the extra content, missions, items and a first-look at the visuals more than makes the $29.99 price tag worth it. Definitely don’t miss this.

It's clear that Day 1 wanted to appeal to FEAR fans but also break the mold. As evident from the back of the box to the addition of co-op play to the team modes in multiplayer, they set out to make FEAR a more team game than ever before. I think they've succeeded in doing so, but at the cost of a solid single player campaign and the real sense of fear that more or less originally defined the series.

Innocent Sin seems attractive; it's the long awaited opposite half to a cult classic, and it comes with a few bells and whistles to ease it into the 2011 landscape. While I adore the soundtrack and can appreciate the effort put toward a great localization, actually playing the game made me feel like I was trapped in some of the worst parts of 90's era game design. Interesting systems are in place but it's slow, aimless, and, and most of it has done much better in Nocturne or newer Persona games. Of course this is a known quantity to the Atlus faithful who will buy (and love) Innocent Sin anyway, but I'd caution an approach from a newcomer.

One Piece fans will love this game. Although I have not seen a single episode of One Piece’s anime or read any of the manga, I enjoyed playing it. You don’t need to have a vast knowledge of the One Piece lore to enjoy this game, as the main storyline introduces you to the characters and locations within the One Piece universe. Overall, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 was a lot of fun and I highly recommend it if you enjoy Dynasty Warriors-like games.

All Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing had to do was not be completely terrible, but Sumo Digital ignored Sonic's awful racing pedigree and produced a pretty darn good kart racer.

Donut County is a little short and peaks prematurely and I don’t care. I’ve never played a game where I control a hungry hole, think like a trash raccoon, or talk to friendly animals at the bottom of a cave.

EA's move to break up the online and offline development certainly paid off in the end for Medal of Honor. It's refreshing to see two teams create a new first-person shooter experience and put so much care into each side.

Overall, Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth is a great turn-based RPG.

A great choice for anyone looking to start into the otome genre.

Star Wars Outlaws is definitely the kind of treasure that would be coveted by the seedy underbelly of the most notorious in a galaxy far, far away. By placing its narrative in a familiar timeline but making it distinct from much of the tired Skywalker saga, Massive Entertainment has created a rich Star Wars property with plenty of room to build off of. Vibrant worlds full of opportunity, choice-based story beats, and key action setpieces will keep players engaged throughout and hopefully find a new scoundrel to admire with Kay Vess.

Tempest 4000 is a defiant artifact that returns to life once a console generation. What would it be like if someone who made games for the VIC-20 in the early 80’s authored another game in 2018? How many programmers from that generation are still even in this line of work? An answer to these curiosities may seem like a precarious way to spend $30. Thankfully, as either a psychedelic wonderland or a classic arcade score chase, Tempest 4000 is full of eccentric support.

‘GRID Legends’ is a damn fun simcade racing game. While it’s not the most riveting story, ‘Driven to Glory’ is honestly a fun and intriguing story to make you want to keep going for hours and hours. The gameplay and overall game quality are solid, but not perfect, and visually it’s worth the time and energy ripping up the street or the track. EA and Codemasters are working to make this game evergreen with upcoming content and what they describe to be a cool online mode (didn’t report on that due it error issues on my end). This is definitely worth your time and money for sure.

Shardlight is another excellent point-and-click adventure game from the small but fiercely dedicated and skilled bunch at Wadjet Eye Games.

Jazzpunk projects exactly what its eccentric name implies; a hilarious adventure with an unwieldy rhythm and paradoxically predictable narrative-uncertainty, all of which draws fuel from a seemingly endless source of energy.

There is some frustration with Cling!, but there is a lot more charm and value in the title as well. Give it a go and see what you think.

The delicate and skilled operation of a high performance vehicle projects Gran Turismo Sport's utopian vision. Its factitious structure and inattentive principles remind the player that it operates in an unstable reality. Gran Turismo Sport lives in a world of sportsmanship and prestige and doesn't much care if would-be residents find its narrow paradise aloof and inhospitable.

Atelier Sophie offers a fresh start for the franchise on the PS4 and for a new trilogy. Some design changes from previous entries made this one more enjoyable for me, so if you were on the fence before, give this entry a closer look.

Gamers may not like the lack of control and variety of gameplay, but the freedom to dictate the character and story might be enough to warrant a go.

Baby Steps is not a game for a broad audience. But it’s not just rage bait trying to frustrate players while providing amusement to passive observers. There are lessons to be learned and accomplishments to be felt. It tiptoes on the knife’s edge of punishment and profundity, victimizing or enthralling, depending on the player. That fine line opens the path for both a brilliant anti-game or a fist through your screen, your mileage simply may vary.

A great title for the weak Move library and a solid rail shooter.

DiRT shifts into a different gear with Showdown, moving away from its rally sim roots to a more arcade and destruction-friendly forum.

A competent fighter with appreciable depth and complexity, but one that's not overly technical, either. Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax is a fine addition to the Vita and PS3 2D fighting library.

Evil Factory is a simple arcade shooter that doesn’t depend on much, including large amounts of time, that runs purely on patience, strategy and microtransactions. Oh, yes, and small hands.You need those to thoroughly enjoy it.

I have enjoyed the X Games pass for Steep. I think it has far more positives than negatives. The inclusion of actual events means that you have something to play for, and the design of said events is more impressive than not. It’s a solid expansion to an ever-growing game.

The changes that Frogwares made are impactful and make this a significantly better experience than it was at original release. It still has its quirks, but the positives far outweigh the negatives and it’s easy to recommend this game to anyone who has yet to check it out.

‘Hot Wheels Unleased’ is as close as you can get to a kid’s dream (or at least mine). There are some slightly clunky things like the track builder at first, but once you get past the learning curve you’re able to set sail and take the wheel. It handles like a dream.

Moonlight Kids have a hit on their hands with The Wild at Heart. It brings a strong narrative, some clever puzzles, and enough of an endearing journey to make it one of the better releases this holiday season on the PlayStation.

Garden Life: A Cozy Simulator is just that: cozy. There’s little reason to strive for perfection in a game that merely wants players to dabble in its goal of building whatever kind of idyllic flower patch desired. This kind of directionless aura may be a turn off for those seeking a different kind of simulator but what’s on offer is hard not to enjoy.

Regions of Ruin: Runegate, from developer Gameclaw Studio, is an absolute treat to play. The story is great, the action is simple, and the open-world questing and RPG elements make for a worthwhile gaming time.

Everything is Crab: The Animal Evolution Roguelite from developer Odd Dreams Digital is a marvel to behold. It’s fun, enormous in the number of directions the player can take the gameplay, and it’s easily replayable. It’s one of my top 10 games of 2026 so far.

For people who are not afraid to sing (or rhyme in this case), and are tired of Duffy and Britney Spears, give Rapstar a go.

The omission of online features is a shame, however, as the system is made for communications with others. Still, if you're in for a solid racer this launch-season, Ridge Racer 3D is worth the price of admission.