Long Gone Days makes an incredibly easy recommendation for those wanting a narrative-forward and cerebral RPG that will make you feel emotions along story beats. It excels in storytelling and creating feelings of fear out of a war-torn alternate reality where geopolitical tensions are as equally sensitive as they are now. But, if you want an RPG that encourages thoughtful party management and turn-based combat, you should look elsewhere.

The Fabulous Fear Machine from developer Fictiorama Studios is a test of skill as much as it is a test of patience. It’s a complicated game that is RISK-like and presents a wickedly good time in classic horror comic book form.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage from developer Ubisoft Bordeaux is a scaled-back version of the last three games. It puts more focus on story delivery than it does on gameplay options and complete execution of them. It’s a good game with a wonderful lead character, but at the end of the day, you’re probably going to leave the experience wanting more.

Summum Aeterna is a good, but slightly difficult, roguelike that takes place in the universe of Aeterna Noctis. While it doesn’t fully succeed in its world crawling fantasy of selecting starting biomes with benefits and detriments, it definitely removes much of the roguelike frustrations by giving the player permanent power in many forms. It’s a gorgeous roguelike I can see myself returning to just so I can feel powerful, albeit not as powerful as I felt while playing Aeterna Noctis.

Fate/Samurai Remnant is not as daunting of a game as its legacy may suggest. While based off a decades-long franchise, this is an ideal entry point because its main character is just as clean a slate as newcomers may be. Initial Musou misgivings may color impressions and dense gameplay systems might hinder pacing out of the gate. But Fate/Samurai Remnant‘s character-driven narrative offers the right amount of intrigue and complexity for everything else to settle into an enjoyable cadence of combat.

Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai contains some simple positives, especially when it comes to delivering a dramatic and fun anime series storyline. Sadly, the gameplay does not complement that storytelling and falls short in content size and portions. Even the inclusion of RPG elements, such as Bond Memories, can’t seem to lift the action and prop it up to a higher Dragon Quest level that most of us are used to seeing.

Violence has never looked as vivid, gorgeous, and wild as it is in Mortal Kombat 1. Its fighting mechanics remain just as approachable and appealing as prior entries, with one key difference: It’s the best-feeling Mortal Kombat I’ve played thus far. There’re some minor quirks that are still being ironed out at the time of writing, but I’m excited, legitimately excited, to see what Netherrealm chooses to add to this game.

Cocoon is a deeply special game that gushes with expertise from the talented minds that programmed it. By constantly expanding upon the unique mechanic of layered world-hopping, players are gifted with an absolute darling of a puzzle game. Cocoon is one that is rarely meant to stump with obtuse solutions, instead becoming a constantly evolving challenge that travels through spectacular alien worlds and rewarding moments. I never wish to be lost in puzzle games, merely wrapped up. Cocoon is a metamorphosis, one to be gladly wrapped in.

Mineko’s Night Market from developer Meowza Games is an adorable, relatable, and fun crafting adventure that pushes everything along with a story that runs perfectly parallel to the gameplay. While its main audience might be younger gamers, there might be enough here for older gamers to enjoy.

Dune: Spice Wars from developer Shiro Games is the ultimate experience for any Dune fan looking for a well-designed and respectful translation of the sci-fi series into an RTS gaming form. It has all the intricate details and power moves that are featured in the books, while at the same time crafted to be a familiar real-time strategy experience at its forefront. The only downer is the amount of gameplay element juggling a casual RTS fan might have to do to enjoy the game, which could turn them off from playing it.

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.

Antstream Arcade is a good retro-gaming service that does a great job of bringing old gaming experiences easily home to gamers, and additional interesting content (tournaments, challenges, etc.) that adds more value to the yearly subscription fee. The service has a vast library and a respectable price point to begin reliving one’s childhood. The application probably needs some additional information architecture work and clarification on how it crosses back and forth between platforms that users online have been wondering about.

AK-xolotl is a difficult yet highly engaging roguelike that will make you fall in love with its charming woodland creatures while laughing at its absurd violence. Seeing my goofy little AK-xolotl with a giant gun made me grin from ear to ear. It’s the roguelike fever dream I’ve always wanted. Once it gets in the hands of players and additional content is added that can smooth out its presentation of information, I’m confident that folks will enjoy this game.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is nothing short of a gaming phenomenon, the kind of video game sensation that surfaces only once in a blue moon. The transition to the PlayStation 5 platform not only feels natural, but remarkably seamless. In their ingenuity, Larian Studios has guaranteed that you can simply pick up a controller and effortlessly traverse the vast realms of Dungeons and Dragons. Every button and option that once thrived exclusively in the realm of mouse and keyboard has been artfully translated to the controller, rendering BG3 a paragon of accessibility. Beyond the satisfaction of gameplay, the visual spectacle on display is nothing short of awe-inspiring. The user interface boasts vibrant icons that lend clarity to every on-screen element, ensuring that all options are discernible. In sum, Baldur’s Gate 3 is an absolute essential for any PlayStation 5 gamer.

For Neowiz’s first big AAA-caliber game, they have done a bang-up job with Lies of P. The story, characters, combat and RPG systems, controls, enemy design, level design — there’s a lot here that is done with excellence and the summation of these is a great game that I’d happily recommend to anyone that enjoys the tough-but-rewarding Soulslike genre.

Crossfire: Sierra Squad from Smilegate Entertainment is an arcade shooter that works in VR with its intense firefights and short stints of gameplay. While the gameplay is finite, especially with its linear backbone and restrictive areas of play, it still contains some charm that may remind VR owners that fun experiences are still out there.

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is undoubtedly a departure amid FromSoftware’s recent output. But the developer once again proves they are up for nearly any task, including reinvigorating a dormant series that was known for its challenge. The fast-paced action and depth of customization in players’ ACs allows for diverse gameplay and intense boss fights that test any type of loadout. Pushing past the initial daunting hours and numerous mechanics serve to reveal a focused, engaging game with deep combat that few studios are capable of matching.

Ad Infinitum is at its most terrifying when reflecting on the psychological and generational toll war has had on humanity. When stripping people of their grasp on reality and sense, psychological horror games often shine. But when Ad Infinitum translates the deeper consequences of colonialism and pride and its impact during World War I, I felt more terrified. Revelations don’t always have to be grotesque or induce fear to make an impression.

WrestleQuest oozes with charm, easter eggs, and sweet chin music thanks to how well it blends traditional RPG elements with a clear love of classic wrestling. It’s easy to look past some of its design quirks because of how well other RPG elements are implemented that respect the player’s time and encourage them to play an active role in worldbuilding. The Switch’s current implementation ain’t the best, but the game sure had me in a cobra clutch for hours.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge – Dimension Shellshock is seated in the halfway point between good and great. On one hand, the Survival mode is better served for parties wanting a good challenge. On the other, TMNT fans should be excited about additional characters for replaying the already fantastic beat-em-up. If you’re looking to replay the single player experience with two new characters or a challenge for yourself and your friends, then Dimension Shellshock is a no brainer.

Fort Solis is a conundrum, one I think I’m happy to have played just for the sake of experiencing a new take on the genre. The slow pace of the game outside its moderately engaging action scenes and snappy dialog can kill narrative momentum. The limited and rote gameplay mechanics are only minor breaks in the plodding walk speed of the main character. The technical excellence and masterful voice acting truly give Fort Solis a glimmer of promise in an otherwise conflicted game. Undoubtedly there is an audience for these pieces of entertainment but those who find themselves entertained by this particular approach may indeed be rare.

It’s pretty clear to me that 30XX is gameplay-forward over anything else. This isn’t a bad thing, but setting your expectations as such will prevent you from thinking that you’ll become invested in 30XX’s protagonists, antagonists, and everyone in between. Instead, you should expect a casual yet fun roguelite platformer that can be picked up and returned to at any time without needing to remember your progress, any side missions, and/or any other progression-based mechanics. I’ve quite enjoyed seeing 30XX progress through Early Access; I’ve enjoyed its official release on the Switch, too. I’m quite excited to take 30XX with me when traveling and returning to it when I need a good platforming roguelite fix if I need to wind down after a long day at work. I just hope that someday the Switch version will get the map maker in some capacity.

Red Dead Redemption is a game that will stand the test of time no matter what. Similar to the westerns of the past like ‘The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly’. It’s a 13-year-old game, but the charm is still there. Well-written characters, an open world full of exploration, and good gameplay are enough to hold up strong. The West will always hold a special place in my heart and life. ‘Red Dead Redemption’ will always be a masterpiece.

Somerville is a noble attempt at matching the style and eerie substance of games that came before it. As a first-time effort, Jumpship stuck the landing on creating engaging moments in time for an intimate narrative. But a lack of memorable connective tissue means that players have little reason to dwell in this world and ask bigger questions. With perhaps a bit more time and polish, the studio’s second attempt can be truly remarkable.

Unidentified Falling Objects (UFO) from developer Andrew Morrish is an addictive battle puzzle experience that balances a chaotic falling block battleground with an upgradable astronaut that can handle the insanity. While it doesn’t work in all areas, it does enough to warrant multiple playthroughs.

There’s a reason why humankind has found space travel to be so alluring. It’s mysterious, expansive, and comprised of limitless opportunity. Starfield taps into each of those aspects incredibly well. Once you get past the ridiculously complicated and information-heavy tutorial, the game opens up into a loop of players’ own imagination rather than a linear highway most are expecting. Starfield changes the RPG game by adding a slow burn of a main quest alongside a character management system that keeps players’ power in check. It’s nearly perfect, and I can’t wait to spend another chunk of my life playing another excellent Bethesda RPG.

Sea of Stars excels on so many levels. Much of Sabotage Studio’s work is homage to the games the developers and ourselves played as children, living in these vibrant worlds of fantasy and magic. But rather than work to be a carbon copy of the past to remind players of the fun they used to have, care was taken to play with expectations and design around an updated vision of these classics. Few games can feel as nostalgic and modern as this, while becoming a classic in its their right. And Sea of Stars is a classic.

SPRAWL from developer MAETH is a well-made, intricately designed first-person wall-running game that hits all the right notes with mechanics, gunplay, and level design. It does come with a mechanic learning curve that might frustrate some gamers but the reward of learning the mechanics is far greater than the frustration produced by them.

While Madden NFL 24 is better than last year’s release, there are still some glaring shortcomings that hurt it, specifically with UI clunkiness, game mode access at times, and repetitiveness.

Immortals of Aveum is a blockbuster action game. Much like superhero movies, it excels in combat but loses its heat in the story with lackluster dialogue and a hurried narrative. The cornerstone of Immortals is its graphics. The characters and environments were expertly crafted, highlighting the strong motion-captured characters. It was always refreshing to see how all the colors were utilized in each mission of the game. Excellent level design and fast-paced gameplay made a wonderful pair.

By just about every single metric for evaluating a boomer shooter, Turbo Overkill excels and delivers in spades. I had a near limitless amount of agency to play as I want and still enjoy a boomer shooter experience without frills, gimmicks, and other artificial difficulty spikes. It oozes creativity while taking players on an exhilarating ride through a cyberpunk apocalypse. It’s the perfect blend of gore, seriousness, and silliness. Turbo Overkill is a literal spectacle of unfettered, high-octane boomer shooter gameplay. Call it a symphony of destruction, mayhem, gore, and violence. Call it bloody good fun. Call it whatever you want, really, so long as fun is somewhere in that mix. The world of Turbo Overkill is one worth exploring and desecrating with Johnny Turbo’s chainsaw leg.

Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition from developer Cardboard Computer is still a work of art after all these years. The game is thick in story, choices, and interesting characters that you never want to ignore.

Dust & Neon from developer Rogue Games is an interesting, and oddly relaxing twin-stick shooter. Its RPG backbone and simplistic mechanics will keep you coming back for more, even when the unremarkable enemy variety, sans the bosses, might dull down the experience. There is still a lot to do and explore in the game, which makes it at the very least a good action title.

Even though Stray from BlueTwelve Studio has been out for a year, it’s still a joy to play on the Xbox Series X. The story is still a wonderful journey, the gameplay is still easy-peasy, and the visuals are still out of this-world gorgeous.

Astronaut: The Best from developer Universal Happymaker is a challenging game that brings so many layers of complication that it can be overwhelming as much as satisfying. The difficulty might catch some gamers off guard, but the humor helps keep the ship together and create a fun experience.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a watershed moment for RPGs and gaming. It represents one of the closest approximations of true freedom, creativity, and player choice available, evolving concepts and mechanics that have been tinkered with for decades. Using Dungeons & Dragons as its catalyst, Larian has honored the past and forged a new future for a genre that has allowed increased agency for players to put their thoughts, feelings, hopes, and wants inside of a digital realm and live.

Stray Gods from developer Summerfall Studios and publisher Humble Games is a beautiful and engaging musical branching narrative game that succeeds in delivering a powerful story with compelling characters. While not every song in the game is gold, the music that accompanies the gameplay mixes well and makes for one of the more entertaining gaming experiences of 2023.

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.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is spectacular on the PC. It brings the same great story with the same wonderful characters, as well as all the good gameplay elements that the series has been known for over the years. It has some very minor hitches in its giddy-up, but nothing too serious. It’s certainly one of the better PC conversions from Sony Interactive Entertainment.

Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes – Definitive Edition from DotEmu is a decent game thanks to a clever mixture of RPG, puzzle, and strategy structure. It has a compelling storyline that reminds you of an 80s/90s RPG gaming world, and it has plenty of characters to play around with on the battlefield. It falls short with unbalanced gameplay that always leans towards enemy advantage and the control mechanics that can be incredibly finicky at times.

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is missing a little zest, something extra. When I dived back in after that first run, the fun and the warts and all were still there. Combat was a blast and my newly unlocked characters asked me to play the game in a different way and tackle its gauntlet of gangs in a different order. And much like the classic Double Dragon with its handful of stages, that’s eventually all that would become of it. Maybe the game needs permanent unlockable buffs, more levels, better ways to spend tokens, and more ways to tweak the difficulty. All games must run their course and, depending on who you are, Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons will be a long ride or a short one. Thankfully either imperfect journey is still fun.

Mr. Run and Jump from Graphite Lab and Atari is a phenomenal tip of the hat to simple, yet fun games born during the heyday of the Atari 2600 VCS. While the game’s simplicity is a mask for a more mechanic-fueled strategy game that will test your gaming nerves over and over again through its complicated gameplay design, the journey very much pays off by the end.

Exoprimal is such an incredibly unique game that mixes traditional multiplayer competition with a bizarre premise. Want to mow down thousands of dinosaurs with a team and crush your enemies before they can do the same? The tragedy is that players need to power through a lot of repetition before they get to the strongest and best parts of the game. Underneath a strange progression package are 10-player raid-like boss fights and thrilling combat encounters that feel at home in bigger budget single-player titles. Capcom has given players a lot to look forward to with Exoprimal. My only question is if the masses will seek out this adventurous game and give it the love it deserves.

LISA: Definitive Edition from Dingaling Productions is a warped, twisted, dark game that doesn’t pull its punches with any of its storytelling. The complementary gameplay helps to enhance the story and create some major connection between game and gamer. It’s something to behold, even if the beginning feels impossible to overcome.

When evaluating a rhythm game, I take into account its complexity, soundtrack/tracklist, and replayability. Invector: Rhythm Galaxy’s gameplay ever-so-slightly improves an already good gameplay loop for a rhythm title thanks to how well it blends rhythm beats with cruising through stellar futuristic landscapes. Its difficulty spikes inconsistently, needing some mild curation in onboarding players. Its tracklist that’s comprised of licensed music is fantastic, on the other hand, and should appeal to fans from multiple audiences. Is it replayable? Yes, but some may feel pressured by its arbitrary completion requirements in its campaign. Taken together, it’s a great entry in the genre, and hopefully Hello There Games continues to refine the series and cement its place as a modern rhythm series of must-play proportions.

Let’s Revolution! from developers Buck and Antfood is a simple game that has a complicated underbelly of strategy and asks gamers to make sophisticated choices. While the gameplay is short in its single follow-through, its replayability shows its longevity. While not all of its elements work, especially when it comes to character choice and sometimes random enemy attacks, it’s still a fun game to come back to when you are itching for a quick gaming experience.

Return to Grace from developer: Creative Bytes Studios is a short and sweet once-through experience. It has nice dialogue but is more for viewing than interactive gameplay. As a game tagged to be known as a “Walking Simulator” I believe this is the pinnacle of the genre. With its beautiful local, interesting in-game history, and clever dialogue Return to Grace is a great pick for a narrative-driven game to play all in one go. While the gameplay isn’t exactly my go-to first choice of gaming, after completing and experiencing everything the game has to offer, I can recommend this to those gamers who enjoy this type of gameplay.

GYLT from Tequila Works is a heavy game to bear. Its story is overwhelmingly sad, relatable, and impactful. The gameplay is built to complement the story and the devs did a great job of pulling those two pieces together. This game isn’t for the faint of heart and it will certainly get you in the feels, but the journey is worth the emotional risk.

Gravity Circuit contains the best parts of the SNES-era of 2D action platforming without the artificial difficulty spikes and frustrations. Its combat is fluid, easy to pick up, and exciting to master. Its pacing ramps up with the player. Its music is a nostalgia bomb of high-energy and synthetic charm. Yes, it’s a short play, but it contains enough content to satisfy most players and get them hooked into using Kai’s hookshot over, over, and over again. If this doesn’t sound like a love letter to retro platforming, I don’t know what will.

Oxenfree II: Lost Signals from Night School Studio is a worthy predecessor to the original. The sequel has a thick branching narrative gameplay mechanic that drives the story and gives you a reason to replay the game. The only big knock is that Riley’s story starts slow, which could put off some folks expecting immediate satisfaction with mystery and horror like the first delivered almost right out of the gate. Regardless of takeoff, the sequel is entertaining and something you should check out, especially if you enjoyed the first game.

The game might have had a rough start with laying out the story and explaining the gameplay mechanics, but SOULVARS quickly smoothed out and got in its JRPG groove thanks to a good mix of deck-building and turn-based action. Additionally, it let its retro vibe personality show and it quickly became a pleasant experience.

Ghost Trick: The Phantom Detective from Capcom is a challenging and creative puzzle game that casts the same logic-driven shadow as its gaming cousins in the Ace Attorney series. It offsets its incredibly large amount of difficulty with a strong story that has sprinkles of humor in it, while still maintaining its murder mystery mission to deliver an overall entertaining experience.

In many ways, Rogue Legacy 2 aligns with the gold standard of the roguelite category by creating a highly engaging, dare I say addicting, gameplay loop that rewards multiple types of players. Newer players will find enjoyment in its accessibility levers and bite-sized progression while roguelite veterans will enjoy its deeper-than-expected class-based variance. Sure, you probably will die a lot, and you’ll wish to have a greater connection with its world and the characters within; at the end of the day, its flaws are outweighed by the amount of fun that is to be had by experimentation and repetition. My nearly twenty hour experience felt like two hours, and I still itch to return for one more run. Regardless if you’re a PS+ subscriber or not, Rogue Legacy 2 is more than deserving of your time.

Dave the Diver from Mint Rocket is something to behold. The game features exploration, collection, side quests, an RPG backbone, and a restaurant simulator, all of which are beautifully balanced and connected. This is by far one of the better games of 2023 and shouldn’t be overlooked.

Sonic Origins Plus is inching toward being a definitive Sonic the Hedgehog anthology of classic games, some of which are remastered. The inclusion of Amy and the Game Gear titles are arguably two steps forward, but the quality of those emulated titles in comparison to their remastered counterparts and lack of Genesis and Master System titles are two steps back. Either way, for Sonic fans who do not yet own Sonic Origins on their PS5, Sonic Origins Plus should be a very easy recommendation.

Escape Academy – Escape from the Past from Coin Crew Games does a good job of creating a decent prequel narrative while incorporating a healthy dose of escape room drama. While the balance between story and gameplay seems more story-slanted, the DLC still does a commendable job of delivering a fun, yet short escape room experience.

Pixel Ripped 1978 from ARVORE Immersive Experiences and Atari is a good VR experience that is led by a competent narrative and nostalgia. How VR is used within the game is entertaining and engaging, if not outright clever. While not all of the game is gold, it still manages to turn old game schemes and concepts into something new and engaging within a virtual reality environment.

Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened (2023) is a phenomenal mystery game and sequel with an intriguing storyline, awesome features, and beautiful graphics. Even though the game is shorter than the previous one, I think this is currently my favorite Sherlock Holmes game because the side and main quests never felt like a dull moment. There was always something to look forward to and a motive to keep playing, unveiling the reason for the people vanishing. Although I wished the game continued after Chapter VIII, I understand. Now, I hope there will be a third game in the series. Maybe it will answer the ending. I cannot wait to see the future of the younger Sherlock Holmes series. We might even see him grow.

Final Fantasy XVI is a breath of fresh air for the Final Fantasy franchise despite its first steps into its grittiest, darkest, and most mature space yet. Its combat showcases action-forward combat held together by a backbone of RPG-similar ability management. Its highs truly showcase phenomenal displays of power in many forms, while its lows effectively strike emotional chords in the hearts of players. This might not be a Final Fantasy fans expect, but boy, it’s what Final Fantasy games SHOULD be going forward. FFXVI doesn’t have a strongest asset, per se, because its entire presentation is a gripping and fun compilation of the best parts of gaming without the filler and frivolity. PS5 owners, I implore you, don’t miss out on what is currently my favorite game of the PS5 generation thus far.

SkateBIRD just misses the mark in being a charming, technically sound twist on the skating genre. Clever word play and a whimsical premise simply aren’t enough to mask its mechanical and visual flaws. A game with a bit more lust for life and vibrancy would have excused passable controls. Similarly, its ease of use doesn’t make traversing the world less sparse. But under the messy surface, SkateBIRD can still provide warmth.

The Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection from Atlus is so much better than expected, but not without its flaws. The dungeon-crawling and exploration experiences are primo, as is the need to build a map out and put it on the player to keep track of their surroundings. While the beginning of the game may force some players to question if they’re up for the task of traversing the Etrian Odyssey worlds, as well as some of the gameplay design decisions that can be archaic and restrictive, the collection’s payoff seems much greater by the end than the amount of effort it took to get there.

Fall of Porcupine from Critical Rabbit is a serious story wrapped in cute animation that only Richard Scarry could fully appreciate. The story is driven by branching choices and relaxed from time to time by mini-games. The main crux of this game is the story, which may not be for everyone, especially considering the topics of conversation it presents. They can be powerful at times, but also empty on interactivity.

With the sport growing rapidly, and no intentions of slowing down, ‘F1 23’ continues the yearly release, but gives the player a good experience. Whether you’re a total rookie on the controller or a pro on your Fanatec wheel. ‘F1 23’ is a fun time overall. There is a little bit of ‘clutter’ at times. You feel like you’re having to sort through a lot to even just mess around at Montreal in a quick race, but the overall racing experience is gonna give you your fix. I will say that if you’re a hardcore sim racing driver, then this might be a pass for you. However, ‘F1 23’ is still worth your time on track.

Harmony: The Fall of Reverie from DON’T NOD plays like a proper branching narrative visual novel should play. The acting, writing, and general presentation are the icing on the cake to make this type of gameplay work very well. While it won’t be for everyone, it certainly is top tier for those who are looking for a good branching narrative journey.

Diablo 4 is a vast, daunting experience. One that I gladly dive into. One that I think about while I’m at work. My brain tingles and itches of new skill implementations and ways to maximize gear efficiency. Diablo 4 is also a constantly changing experience. Even as I finalize my thoughts, Blizzard is toiling away at patches and changes to characters, players are coming up with new optimizations. This is a game that can consume your attention with captivating grinds and immersive world-building. Players will hit highs and lows in their search for absolute power, just like in so many other games. Diablo 4 is a culmination of effort, one that isn’t entirely new, but one that is the best at what it does.

Crash Team Rumble from Toys For Bob is quite fun. It features a balanced system of gameplay, some fun characters with unique gameplay styles, and a nice set of maps that complement strategy and quick gameplay. The leveling system may work its way to max quickly, but it doesn’t detour how much entertainment you’re going to get from this title. The biggest concern with this game is longevity and variety. It’s nice that Toys For Bob laid out a roadmap to tame some of this worry, something most companies don’t do well nowadays, but only the future seasons will tell the dedication to the title.

Yes, The Last of Us Part I for the PC has somewhat improved a little under two months in. Graphical stutters, framedrops, and other visual artifacts currently exist. If you’re able to look past those graphical shortcomings, The Last of Us Part I is a truly exceptional game. Consider waiting just a bit more before jumping into one of the best series from Sony and Naughty Dog to date.

Bleak Sword DX is a gorgeous, nostalgic, and clever game for something built in a simplified structural way. More8Bit did a superb job of creating a fast gameplay environment while also maintaining creativity with its enemies and maps. While it may not seem like much, it has some moxie to it. Be forewarned, though, it also contains a heavy amount of frustration.

Super Mega Baseball 4 from Metalhead Studio is a riot to play, but it is a smaller experience when compared to its bigger MLB The Show brethren. What it lacks in the longevity of a forever MLB season, it makes up with in moxie, personality, and a bevy of ways to play. The customization and chance to play legends and vloggers will be enough reason to give this a go.

Decarnation is not about the gameplay, but about the journey. And that journey is wrought with existentialism, Lovecraftian horror, and psychological quandaries that may be trigger inducing. It will grip you, refuse to let go, and entrap you until the end of its story. Should you play Decarnation, you will be opting into experiencing horror through the eyes of a protagonist you may, or may not, empathize with. Should you play Decarnation, you should also avoid sharing its execution of horrors that should remain unspeakable. In other words, avoid spoiling whenever possible.

Switch owners should definitely consider Nightmare Reaper if you’re wishing for a retro shooter that successfully marries roguelite gameplay, fountains of 2D gore, and elements of the original DOOM games. The difficulty curve may be steep at times, but it’s worth sticking with given its high replayability and fresh takes on chaotic first-person combat. I highly recommend Nightmare Reaper for those wanting a bloodbath or an adrenaline rush, as you’ll definitely get it alongside some fun bonus content.

Kingdom Rush Origins from Ironhide Game Studio is a step up with creativity, enemy, and hero design/execution, and with how clever the series’ maps can get. Unfortunately, the difficulty has also stepped up and can create a frustrating time that may hurt the positive parts of this latest Kingdom Rush game.

Street Fighter 6 is one of the most comprehensive fighting games on the market.

All in all, DOOMBLADE excels as a Metroidvania and is worth your attention. I was incredibly addicted to its control scheme and its combat despite its few faults. By the time I reached the final boss, I felt challenged in all the right ways. Considering its disruptiveness, I highly recommend DOOMBLADE for Metroidvania fans who desire something new, especially those who’re playing with a controller.

After Us from developer Piccolo is an interesting title. It tries to create a Journey-like inspiring adventure through gigantic worlds and simplistic controls. Most of what it does works well, especially with its narrative, though the mechanics from its gameplay design sometimes fight against story progression and player engagement. The game can create some frustration with the camera and controls but wins more than it loses.

“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 you come in expecting LEGO 2K Driver to fit firmly with previously released LEGO games, then you’re in for a world of disappointment. This is a game of its own based purely on racing and open-world exploration. While not all of it works completely, it does have enough charm and creativity to push it through as a game worth playing.

To say that Redfall needs major work to fix some balancing issues would be a bit of an understatement. For a game that had so much hype during its development and was supposed to be the first big game of 2023 for the Xbox family that wasn’t called Halo or Forza, it has fallen short in its delivery. There are quite a few issues with Redfall, lots of unbalance in gameplay, and plenty to correct before it can be considered a permanent and worthwhile IP.

Ash of Gods: The Way from developer AurumDust sets a new standard with how deck-building games should be made. It has the core structure that makes the deck-building fun and familiar, while also adding a thoughtful narrative and a variety of gameplay structures to keep the game engaging and entertaining.

God of Rock is an interesting concept blending rhythm and fighting game elements, with some elements being executed better than others. On the rhythm side, the large soundtrack, complex note patterns, and vibrant visuals offer a good experience for those who excel at multitasking. On the fighting side, the combo system may feel familiar but less satisfying because of so much attention needing to be had on the note chart rather than the visually striking character dishing out damage. I am excited for the future of God of Rock, because once this ends up in the hands of creative community members, I’m sure that the competitive experience will be wild.

Smile for Me from developer LimboLane is an unsettling adventure that puts you to the test with its puzzles. The point-and-click backbone will keep the difficulty coming, but the reward for your patience and perseverance will be worth the cognitive trouble you endure.

The Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Series is a near-perfect collection of the original six Final Fantasy titles, updated quite well to be played by today’s Final Fantasy fans and new players. The smoothed graphics, orchestral arrangements of the beloved original soundtracks, and litany of gameplay updates demonstrate that this is not just a simple rerelease, but a clearly thought-out collection of titles ready to be enjoyed by anyone who’s willing to take a step into classic RPGs from Square Enix. While I don’t consider this collection to be truly definitive because of a smidgen of cut bonus content, I still consider this collection worthy of any RPG fan’s time and an absolute must-buy for anyone interested in playing through the first six Final Fantasy titles for the very first time.

Strayed Lights is a challenge with enemies and with controls. Depending on what type of gamer you might be, this could be a positive or a negative. For me, it was small doses of progression and motivation to see the story progress that kept me playing.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores is a fun if not brief, epilogue to Horizon Forbidden West. Those looking for massive reveals may be a bit disappointed, but there’s enough fleshed out in Burning Shores to make it a worthwhile play. Seyka jumps straight to the top of Aloy’s best companions, and the Bilegut & Waterwing are awesome machine additions. All in all, Burning Shores is a must-play for Horizon fans; especially those curious as to what the future may hold for Aloy.

OXTO scratches a roguelite itch I’ve been wishing to scratch for quite some time. Its difficult top-down gameplay is made mildly less punishing by a slow-mo Focus mode, selection of guns, and wide variety of ability upgrades. Each attempt at playing Oxto feels unique, addicting, and fun, and I can confidently say that no two runs were predictable. Despite the lack of permanent upgrades, inconsistent storytelling, and some visual busyness when enemy density is at its greatest, OXTO is an absolute treat for those looking for precise gameplay in a roguelite experience. And it has a fantastic soundtrack, to boot. If you’re wanting a new roguelite for your Steam library, look no further than OXTO; you won’t regret it.

Dead Island 2 often is nothing more than a game where players use ridiculously customized weapons to ravage zombies in increasingly gruesome ways. It’s comically satisfying how good it feels to tear through hordes of the undead–and it looks absurdly vile. It may not be a diamond forged over time, yet it’s hard to deny the fun to be had tearing it up in Hell-A. But does the idea of doing that hour after hour with small amount of variety sound appealing? If not then, Dead Island 2 won’t lure you in.

Ghostwire: Tokyo is a good game, if only for how thick and unnerving the story and world might be. While the gameplay does come up a bit empty, the story helps to pick up the slack and make the adventure worthwhile.

Both the Infant Update and the Growing Together expansion pack adds more life to The Sims 4 experience. You can now play with infants, watch them grow, watch your Sims have milestones, and have the Sims recognize their family as family. While I enjoyed my time with the new expansion and update, I wish more was added to the overall experience. I felt it was missing some key elements such as more interaction options between family. Now, having said that, this is still a step forward, especially if you love creating families and want infants, this is the expansion to get and play with.

I am thrilled to see the Mega Man Battle Network series return with more content than ever, and the Collection makes an incredibly easy recommendation for something to play this Spring: If you’re looking to get your hands on a collection of classic titles remastered in all the right ways, look no further than the Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection.

While San Diego Studio doesn’t take a huge leap with MLB The Show 23 compared to last year’s game, it’s still entertaining and the best baseball game on the planet. The addition of The Negro Leagues mode makes for a deeper and more enriching experience.

Road 96: Mile 0 is a smaller, different experience than Road 96. While the game’s story helps fill in some blanks and provide some context for Zoe’s journey in the first game, the gameplay style mash-up between branching narrative and linear/on-rails gameplay leaves the experience lacking just a bit.

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse‘s fair controls and slightly dated design are things I can accept because this is an old game that was given a layer polish rather than a complete overhaul. I’m sure its small pool of veteran players will appreciate bonus content like unlockable costumes and filters for the photo mode. But ultimately behind all that is a solid horror game, warts and all. And like many updated classics, this could potentially serve as a litmus test of whether a long-running franchise will receive a new entry. Maybe the same applies to Fatal Frame.

Kingdom Rush: Frontiers is a good follow-up to the original game. It’s far more creative with enemies and protagonist characters, but also far more difficult. Regardless, the experience is more fun than not.

Before Your Eyes is a devastating journey in VR that you won’t soon forget. While the journey itself doesn’t last that long, the story is long enough to leave an imprint on the gamer for years to come. It has a very Grave of the Fireflies vibe to it, so bring the tissues.

Storyteller from developer Daniel Benmergui is yet another feather in the cap of Annapurna Interactive. It’s a cleverly designed puzzle game that does a superb job of pushing the importance of visual storytelling as it relates to a narrative. While its longevity might be in question, the journey through the game is good enough to forgive that is even an issue.

Destiny 2: Lightfall is disjointed in story, but pulls through with its gameplay. Something has to give with the former, as the story needs to be memorable and engaging, and this expansion simply didn’t get there in either category.

After the Fall from Vertigo Games is a wonderful jumpstart to the PSVR 2 starting line-up. It has some fun zombie shooting times, great upgrades, and reasons to revisit the game, but falls short in substance in some areas. It is worth your time if you’re looking for a good VR experience.

Ragnarock is a wonderful rhythm game from WanadevStudio that does enough to separate it from its Beat Saber brethren. The Viking backdrop and drum-beating fun make it unique in its music-driven rhythm gameplay, as does the variety of music included. The difficulty jumps from easy to hard is a steep climb that may not be everyone’s cup of tea.