Beautiful, fluid, and tactfully modernized, The Wind Waker HD heavily preserves its base while adjusting the ingredients when absolutely necessary to correct the original’s most glaring imperfections.

At $20, this is honestly a bargain, especially considering the appeal of the first three titles in particular. In terms of quality, I’d rank them (perhaps unsurprisingly) as such: X, X2, X3, and X4. But they’re all worth experiencing if you’ve never done so before, and with the terrific presentation, true-to-form gameplay, and extensive bonus content, Legacy Collection is certainly the best way to go about it.

A successful reboot of a classic that manages to meld game design from the old school FPS days with modern elements, giving players the best of both.

Zet Zillions from developer OTA IMON Studios is an addictive roguelike deckbuilder that doesn’t quite reach the likes of Balatro but certainly proves its worth in replayability and thick strategy. While it isn’t completely perfect in some elements of its design, it’s still one of the better games of this genre that I’ve played in 2024.

Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines is no exception to Medallion Games’ track record of fun retro platforming but with a modern engine and clear design. Swinging and gaining momentum takes a smidge to get used to (just like the previous title, for what it’s worth), but Grapple Dogs is forgiving enough to let the player fail gracefully and improve their platforming mastery bit by bit.

SteamWorld Heist II from developer Thunderful Development is one of the deeper gaming experiences I have run across in 2024. It contains a hefty amount of strategy in its gameplay while offering up a bigger and richer variety in its exploration and gameplay options. It can be restrictive at times with its gameplay progression but not enough to run the experience.

As far as presentation, Unavowed has twice the resolution of a typical Wadjet Eye title (640×360), but more importantly the art work looks great. Voice-acting and dialog is nicely done, and you can also enable a commentary track as you play to learn more about the development. In sum, if you enjoy the genre, you’re sure to enjoy Unavowed.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is something that is worthy of your gaming shelf. It certainly has some growing pains it's going through, but for the most part it's a very competent and fun MMORPG.

For the past few years, ZeniMax has been bringing wonderful stories to The Elder Scrolls Online and done amazingly with building out Tamriel. To see them bring Oblivion into the fold is fantastic. I can’t wait to see what the rest of Gates of Oblivion has in store for us.

Superchargers is another impressive evolution in the Skylanders brand that series fans and newcomers alike should not miss.

In a certain light The Crown of the Sunken King actually does it better, employing different constraints and driving new ways to explore and appreciate Dark Souls II's finer details.

Although some of the unique elements like the Ooblet collecting and the dance battles may be surface level approaches compared to other games in this genre, I see a great amount of promise in Ooblets’ ability to provide a relaxing yet satisfying experience for players who have enjoyed farming, raising cute creatures, and occasionally deckbuilding. Your life may have been a giant toot before now, but Ooblets will definitely charm you to Elswair and back. Give Ooblets a chance — it’s absolutely worth it!

NBA 2K13 is another high quality entry into a franchise that continues to find ways to improve and get fans excited from year to year.

Axiom Verge is a solid game with very little to complain about. In the case of it arriving on the Wii U, it's definitely a case of better late than never.

If you like Tekken, Tekken Tag Tournament 2 has almost everything you could ask from the series.

Once Upon a KATAMARI is a Katamari game at its best, rolling, rolling, and rolling through time collecting items and constructing new planets. The 10+ year wait has been worth it, as it introduces just enough novelty all the while preserving the best bits of the series. Its uniqueness aside, it’s the most approachable Katamari yet.

Finally, it's here, and I think it was well worth the wait. It's not perfection, but it's a solid effort and an excellent game that 360 owners should be proud to own.

What's important here is that the game has a superb story, excellent characters, and is a hell of a lot of fun. Access Games knocked one out of the park with Deadly Premonition.

The world and art of LOK Digital is the perfect example of what an adaptation should be: true to the source, but enhanced by its medium. The gameplay mechanics and art direction both benefit immensely from the video game form. I very much enjoyed playing LOK, but found that the gameplay loop eventually became repetitive. It’s a short game with a simple premise and isn’t the type of thing you should strive to complete all in one go. I suggest spacing out your time as it prevents some frustration and monotony. As I was playing, I thought LOK Digital would be the perfect game to play on the go (in part because of the daily puzzles). Apparently I was not the only one to have this thought; LOK Digital is coming to Android and iOS on January 23rd. If you’re an avid fan of puzzles, I highly recommend checking this one out.

As a collection of catalog titles, "Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy" does everything an audience expects.

In sum, Sniper Elite 5 is another evolution in the right direction of this long-running series. If you enjoyed any of the previous entries, this one should be right up your ally and I would lean towards calling it the best yet. The additions of more traversal mechanics, the workbenches, and Invasion mode, along with even bigger maps (that are also the best looking/designed yet) make this an all-around compelling game. However, some age-old issues still rear their head at times, including some jankiness with AI, bugs, and invisible walls. Some of these are likely to be patched out, and frequent auto-saves also help work-around these issues.

An excellent platforming title with tons of style and polish. While it’s true that it doesn’t explore a lot of new territory, iteration within a genre is only bad to the extent which creativity and permutation are not applied. In other words, if it’s fun and feels fresh enough, it was worth the effort—and Tropical Freeze is every bit as enjoyable as its Wii predecessor.

The Magic Circle is a playable videogame about a broken videogame made by people who aren't good at making videogames.

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

Armored Kill brings some pretty fantastic maps to the BF3 universe. Those maps alone make this worth the price of admission. The addition of Tank Superiority and new vehicles only sweetens the deal. Armored Kill is certainly another well-placed notch in the BF3 belt.

Tuned ever-so-slightly in "race trim" for more consistency doesn't hinder the uproarious, maniacal wild side of free roam. In a vacuum, it plays just as well as the first two.

Technobabylon is loaded with cool ideas and it's a lot of fun to play. The story, multiple playable characters, creative and interesting settings, and challenging but logical puzzles kept me entertained from start to finish.

At the end of 2009, if you were of the mind that twin stick shooters had been done to death, please allow PixelJunk Shooter to quietly defy your expectations.

An excellent fighter and another superb addition to the series, MKX kicks ass.

Fundamentally sound gameplay, revolutionary control scheme, awesome Career experience, and expansive online offerings all make this game one of the best sports games of the year and is neck and neck with UFC Undisputed.

DOOM II is legendary, plain and simple. It's required gaming for any action/FPS gamer, and this XBLA release is extra special in that it has a new nine level episodes created by Nerve Software. Highly recommended.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja 4 sets new standards for the series. It excels in nearly every aspect, while merely stumbling here and there on minor issues.

The premise of Hacknet and my preexisting interest in the idea of a UNIX-based hacking sim had me going into this excited and hopeful. The quality gameplay and sense of reward from figuring things out kept me playing hours on end, and excited to tell others how cool of a game this was.

The cutting mechanic is smartly embraced as Revengeance's signature rather than its limitation, a crescendo earned by appreciating the profundity of its stylish combat. This is actually expected of Platinum, but the real surprise is their respect and dedication Metal Gear’s established doctrine. By any definition, Revengeance is beautiful symmetry.

Professor Layton and the Last Specter continues to push the high production values of the cartoon mystery series while still providing a slew of enjoyable puzzles along the way.

Persona 3 Reload is not a carbon-copied remaster of Persona 3 Portable or even Persona 3. It’s a refreshed perspective of Persona 3 that removes a good bunch of pain from older RPGs while retaining the charm and character of the original. It feels like many thoughtful decisions were made to better the game’s flow without compromising on its core experience or watering it down. Framerate quibbles of the Switch 2 version aside, owners of 2023’s Persona 3 Portable might feel like there aren’t enough changes to warrant a replay. But, if you haven’t yet experienced its source material, Persona 3 Reload is without a doubt the best version of the game to play.

God of War III is still an excellent game five years later. The Remastered version is the best way to play it, but, it's a somewhat underwhelming release because it is so similar to the PS3's Ultimate Edition. This is not a Definitive Edition technically, but more content and thus value would have been great to see included here.

Ultimately, Block N Load is a ….load of fun (I’m sorry) and will be seeing a lot more playtime on my part moving forward. A highly strategic game that allows you a lot of freedom in what that strategy is. The team with the most innovative plan will likely be the winner, and that key element of innovation can come from anyone and any class.

FIFA's first outing on next-gen is a solid effort that isn't likely to disappoint the casual or hardcore FIFA fan. Between the two, the Xbox One version includes voice command support via Kinect and legendary players in Ultimate Team, so I give it a slight edge as otherwise the gameplay is identical.

ATLUS has outdone itself with RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army. Middling story and wonky camera angles aside, it hits the sweet spot of monster taming and action combat without compromising on the complexities that make JRPGs captivating. Here’s to hoping that ATLUS reinvents and reinvigorates the RAIDOU series, as it’s a breath of fresh air for this Persona fan!

Valkyria Chronicles 4 is an imperfect, flawed, and splendid game where the highs ultimately outshine the lows. A few seemingly minor iterations go a long way in adding a fresh layer on top of the existing battle system — which was already one of the more innovative hybrids of real-time and turn-based tactical gameplay found in any modern strategy game. Valkyria Chronicles has always been about managing risks and rewards, and it’s at its best in Valkyria Chronicles 4. And even despite some inefficiencies in plot delivery, it still manages to deliver a resonant payload through a series of small character moments, slow-building tension, and decisive moments. Also, there’s a dog with a hat.

Cult of the Lamb is perfect example of an innovative indie that proclaims to be one genre, but assumes multiple identities and delivers. The game’s charming yet disturbing theme lends you freedom to play as you want, and have your actions make sense on the lore-front. Yes, this roguelite is most likely the easiest and most accessible compared to its competitors, but that accessibility comes at a cost of some gameplay, like combat, lacking depth and complexity for genre veterans. Knowing all of this, should you sacrifice your time to the altar of The One Who Waits? To this, we say yes.

Thumper wraps a trip through spectral hell, the sensation of travelling down an interminable barrel of a gun, and a pounding rhythm game into an articulate package. It condenses to a sensory rampage that feels as concerned with survival as it is as consumed by perfection. Hitting notes on highway isn't a new concept, but performing it under the threat of phantasmal horror, and somehow empowering progress, positions Thumper as a modern apex.

I have no problem recommending Conviction to anyone who enjoys the Splinter Cell series or third person action/stealth games in general. I would have loved a much longer and more involved campaign, but the additional modes (including a separate co-op campaign) go a long way in making up for that.

In spite of a somewhat lazy presentation, New Super Mario Bros. U manages to captivate with just the right balance of fun, challenge, and variety. Perhaps it doesn't leverage much of what makes the Wii U different, but via masterful implementation of the basics, it's the closest thing to SNES Mario that we've seen in over 15 years.

“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.

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

Unforeseen Incidents checks all the boxes for what constitutes a great point and click adventure game. Solid characters, a good story, good puzzles that are balanced, and an impressive presentation thanks to well-drawn art/animations and a good aural package.

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.

Regardless, it's a finely crafted game and an exceptional example of how to do the genre right.

Quietly, The Walking Dead continues to perform like a potential game of the year.

Need For Speed comes to the sim side of racing, and the result is a game that is plenty sim enough for most racing fans, but not too hardcore that it makes arcade racers like me bored or frustrated.

Alan Wake has aged well and still offers a compelling thriller story with some fun gameplay to keep you entertained for a dozen or fifteen hours. Whether you missed the game way back when it first came out, or just haven’t played it in a decade, it’s a worthy addition to any collection.

The Legend of Dead Kel is a quality five-plus hour expansion that is fairly priced. Fans of Reckoning should strongly consider it, unless they're holding out for a eventual re-release of Reckoning with all DLC included.

Guacamelee was already a great game, and while not all of the extras for Super Turbo Championship Edition are beneficial, it's tough to say the grand experience isn't better for their inclusion.

Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth is an ambitious amalgamation of disparate stories, ideas, and styles. Persona 3 and Persona 4's character driven narratives may seem like unlikely bedfellows alongside Etrian Odyssey's obsession with dungeon crawling, but with a careful and crafty application of their respective strengths, Persona Q is a strangely melodious composition.

A New Day embraces this concept and allows the player to revel in its characters and their conversations, and in doing so even manages to grant the player legitimate agency over the suspected protagonist. And, yeah, it's a hell of a good ride.

tar Fox Guard's class of tower defense is an exemplary validation of its platform's unique hardware. Like Super Mario Maker and Splatoon, it proves the Wii U's gamepad isn't a superfluous novelty, but a prudent force against an entrenched position.

There’s a reason (err, several) why It Takes Two earned its Game of the Year accolades in 2021, and Switch owners now have the opportunity to play one of the best co-op games of late. The story remains meaningful, the puzzles innovative. The title continues to succeed in navigating interpersonal strife long after its release and the title’s ending being freely available to find online. Even though I knew of some of the events that occurred before reviewing, I was often surprised by its powerful storytelling. It runs incredibly well on the Switch, to boot. Some of the typical Switch-based quirks may be coming with, but it still delivers on a compelling and emotional experience without the compromises that usually accompany a Switch port. With Friend Pass baked into the game, Switch owners are able to play with those in the same room as well as afar. I would personally recommend using a voice comms platform should you play remotely, though.

Requisite complications ensue in later challenges, and the different game modes provide a range of valuable experiences, but for the most part, this is a well-balanced package whose value towers over its asking price.

MLB 13 The Show shows its continual dominance in the video game world of baseball. Though it's not perfect, it still makes all the right improvements and additions to keep the game fresh and interesting.

Ultimax could have slammed the gas pedal in one direction and been fine, instead it takes its time to stop and make sure the view is great, too.

Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater respects its source material in ways that other games should follow suit. The story is retained, each emotional gutpunch hits home just as hard (if not harder), and the core stealth gameplay that you and I grew to love in our adolescence is preserved. While it’s hard to ignore that this MGS lacks Kojima and the segmented maps are archaic, it’s just as hard to ignore that this iteration of MGS3 is the faithful modernization you and I deserve.

The art style is pixelated and feels very Dragon Force mid-90s, which I adore. The action sequences are over-the-top in the best of ways, and the music…good GOD…the music is an electronic, bass-driven masterpiece. Related to the music, I’m not sure I enjoyed a set of sound effects before as much as I did with this game. I know, I know, that is a ridiculous statement, but they’re well done and add to the atmosphere of the game. Anyway, the presentation is a treat during the fights and the maps are equally well done with a forced depth of field to make the scenery very pleasant and visually active. Star Renegades is an impressive game that is easy to start and will keep you playing with its strategic depth.

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.

Project CARS is going to give some of the bigger racing games a run for their money. There is depth, detail and fun to be had with this game. It certainly was worth the wait.

To say that Yakuza Kiwami is a great Nintendo Switch game is an understatement. It’s a fantastic port of an existing remaster that serves as one of the best entry points in the Yakuza series. It might have less to “do,” but that’s more of a reason for SEGA to port the rest of the Yakuza games for Nintendo players in the future. Hopefully (and I sincerely mean this), Ryu Ga Gotoku brings more of its library to Switch owners…preferably at the same quality as Yakuza Kiwami.

If Super Metroid is fine dining on exquisite steak then Guacamelee is a night at the wild Mexican place down the street, the one where you're sure the salsa is either aggressively seasoned or mixed with the chef's blood. This might leave Guacamelee too abrasive for certain tastes, but for most everyone else it’s the equivalent of a celebration riot in its declared genre.

I had my doubts until the very end, but no longer. Activision and Eurocom have pulled off the impossible: they've revived a classic by remaining constantly cognizant of the line separating tradition from obsolescence.

It’s safe to say that this is the best Mario Kart since the SNES days, and that’s a pretty heavy statement.

Prey establishes an interesting atmosphere early on and maintains that, with only a few disagreements along the way. Lengthy load times are likely going to get reduced with patches and combat is sometimes more annoying and pace-breaking than I would like, but overall, Prey gives more than enough back in return to offer a compelling experience.

A dungeon-crawler that contains an addictive card game element as the crux of its gameplay design while making the experience as easy as possible for the player to stay focused on creative elements of the game.

An extremely deep and refined 2D fighter from Japan that challenges and impresses.

At $16, Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy is fairly priced and offers a lot of quality content for the puzzler in you. Personally, while I am enjoying my time with the game, I will be looking forward to the 3DS release instead, primarily out of personal preference more than anything. However, if you do not have a 3DS, this latest Layton adventure is a top quality app that shouldn’t disappoint.

Shatter, whether the original PSN version or this updated PC one, is a solid game and well worth the price.

Fueling creative energy with frayed Neuromancer paperbacks and worn out Terminator VHS tapes doesn't typically qualify as a safe investment, but Blood Dragon absolves its endearing risk by leveraging Far Cry 3 as its base and then running away to celebrate 80's cinematic excess. Ubisoft wins, Blood Dragon's creative team wins, Michael Biehn wins, and, most importantly, the consumer wins. Why can't all games be like this?

The developers seemed focused on bringing the best Madden NFL title in the last 10 years and they have very much accomplished that feat. This is a must-have, folks.

‘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.

Atelier Rorona Plus: The Alchemist of Arland, while not perfect, is an improvement over the 2010 version.

The Assignment is an excellent piece of DLC that adds, in a purely positive way, to the base game.

Dante's Inferno is a captivating fight through Hell that any action gamer should partake in. Highly recommended.

NHL 17 is a game that overwhelms you with variety of play as well as feedback aimed at making you a better, happier player. Outside of a collection of new game modes including Draft Champions, Franchise Mode and the World Cup of Hockey, everything here is largely the same. The game still looks great. Still feels great. And most importantly, it still plays great. Little refinements throughout yield small but noticeable improvements on the experience.

I became invested in the characters almost immediately and found the game very accessible. It's perhaps a little too easy or too linear for some, and I would have appreciated another gameplay mechanic or two, but I found the design and difficulty to be perfectly fitting for the type of game this is.

The best Move game available, and one of the best motion game experiences on any platform I've experienced.

Borderlands manages to combine two normally distinct genres into an impressive and potent blend of FPS and RPG entertainment that is best played with friends. Grab your buddies and get hunting.

Generally speaking, there is very little not to like about Fast RMX. If you dumped a lot of hours into Fast Racing or Fast Racing Neo, ok, maybe there’s not enough content here for you to warrant a re-purchase, but I don’t think anyone is seriously in that boat. Instead, what you have is a really compelling, slick racer that gets the core gameplay done right and does it in style. For Switch owners, consider it a priority release.

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?

Beyond its nostalgic surface, though, is a game that’s freaky fun and well-suited for pick-up-and-play gamers as much as it is for hardcore enthusiasts looking to set world records.

Limbo features but one seamless, monochromatic level with no music and no narrative… yet it manages, through creativity and art, to leave a lasting impression.

More races, more cars, better controls and a huge Gymkhana presence means that you're in for a truly great experience. While not perfect in some areas, DiRT 3 manages to improve upon elements of the previous installment that were already good to begin with. Hats off to Codemasters for putting another fine racing feather in their already feathery racing hat.

Pikmin 3 is a beautiful, highly-polished experience that is a must-own for any strategy fan in possession of a Wii U.

In the end, New Leaf takes logical steps toward expanding its appeal and solidifying its foundations—but when you boil it all down, just as with the best of the series’ past, it’s a proven recipe for social gaming: just add friends.

The combat system, once you get the hang of it, is surprisingly deep and engaging, and it does well to support each characters inherent strengths and weaknesses.

From ambulances driving on field to cart off the injured to cones projected on the field to aid your passing, a lot has changed in Madden over the last 25 years. This latest edition boasts the most dynamic rushing controls to date. And with all the tweaks to the physics, Madden 25 gives you a nicely touched up version of the franchise you have loved for a quarter century.

Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes is an addictive puzzle/RPG/strategy experience that looks and plays great on consoles.

Ubisoft continues its upward trend with its golden goose of a series. It brings a deeper amount of gameplay, story and enjoyment to the mix with Assassin's Creed III. It's certainly not perfect, but it's good enough to be considered for 'Game of the Year'.

Though Far Cry: New Dawn treads similar ground as its predecessor, this direct sequel signals the franchises is stretching its wings by introducing RPG mechanics and easily replayable content. This is still a game packed with zany characters, bizarre moments, and fast-paced fun.

Gravity Rush is captivating early on and maintains that level of interest throughout. It's addictive, well-paced, fun as hell, and has a nice steampunk world with a great soundtrack. The remaster is good, although straight-forward, and at $30 it's a purchase well worth considering.