Motorstorm Apocalypse delivers an exhilarating experience that you will want to visit again and again.

MLB The Show 24 is spectacular this year. It hits more than it misses. It takes some bold chances and they pay off. It’s just another example of how to do a sports game well.

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate feels right at home on the 3DS. The segmented environments are perfect for gaming on the go and the game's addictive item creation is perfect for bringing wherever your travels take you. The number of unique creatures to hunt, expansive number of items to collect and craft, and strong multiplayer experience make for a must-play experience on the 3DS.

Sonic Origins is the Sonic anthology that Sonic the Hedgehog fans, including myself, have been waiting for years to play. Being able to play the classic Sonic titles in their original glory AND in an updated fashion thanks to Anniversary Mode should make newer players’ journeys less perilous than the journeys we had on our Sega Genesis in the 90s. Sonic is more forgiving than ever. You’ll be hit with all the nostalgia from Sonic 1, 2, 3, and CD, although some of the content has been changed. I only wish that this content was taken one step further: More playable content and animations, please!

Though surely there’s plenty of room for additional features and improvement, Super Mario Maker is a user-generated content experience assembled with the wisdom and mature philosophy of gaming’s finest.

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.

Through its characters, its designer, and its player, Gorogoa keeps an outsider’s perspective in a present state of mind. Straightforward action—shifting panels and considering different points of view—doesn’t preclude logical twists or emotional complexity. In only a couple hours, Gorogoa creates a window into a daydream and a companion to despair.

Simply put, EA Sports has perfected how they do things when it comes to hockey. They only added a few major things, made a bunch of adjustments here and there. What they have produced with NHL 11 is probably the best hockey game to date.

Star Ocean The Second Story R is not a time capsule. While many of the key elements of the original are preserved, including the character-driven story and diverse action, the sheer beauty of the harmony of its 2D characters and 3D environments is unquestionably a winning formula. Not only is The Second Story R the best way to experience a classic, it is a fantastic entry point into the Star Ocean series. But if we are lucky, this is the blueprint Square Enix will use to remake the most-wanted list of the many RPGs players haven’t seen in decades.

Rockstar really knows how to please with Red Dead Redemption and this DLC shows it.

Persona 5 will be beautiful forever. Meticulous thought and consideration has been applied to Shin Megami Tensei's durable model of dungeon crawling and Persona's paragon of social simulation, creating a brilliant pulse visible through (almost) every aspect of its performance. Keeping this pace across a formidable length is Persona 5's most impressive trick, ensuring it will steal your heart without wasting your time.

The Game Band did a great job with Where Cards Fall as it is a perfect amount of puzzle, but without a lot of frustration attached. The main gameplay mechanic of moving and adjusting a stack (or several stacks) of cards is clever, and beautifully thought through, and well-executed. It is a puzzle game that I highly recommend.

Knights of the Old Republic is a remake of a classic done right. Despite some issues with clunky gameplay and visuals, the story is entertaining, and the gameplay is engaging. The missions encourage the players to explore every inch of the mining station. Overall, it’s an enjoyable experience with an immersive story.

In the end Xenoblade Chronicles can be revealed through the elegance and simplicity of its title screen; a neatly wrapped present doesn't need an aggressive preamble to punch up the surprise inside. In the case of Xenoblade Chronicles, the quality of its contents speaks for itself.

Goat Simulator is stupid, ridiculous, and incredibly fun. Everything from the hidden areas to the different goats make this game hilarious, and well worth the price.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an exhibition of lessons learned not only from CD Projeckt RED’s past work, but also from a spectrum of open-world and role-playing contemporaries. It's expected for games of this nature to excel at taking your time away. What's most impressive about The Witcher 3 is that rarely seems to waste it.

Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold is a hardcore dungeon crawler flaunting an old-school difficulty, yet imbued with modern sensibilities and accessibility. It’s a terrific addition to a beloved series, and it’s truly probably also the best entry to date.

There are a lot of things that are packed into this long game, but they are done very well and are able to work in tandem with one another smoothly. This game is truly unique and would be worthwhile to buy to experience how this sticker bomb of a game manages to keep its punk aesthetic and be a game that is difficult to describe but not hard to recommend in any capacity.

Team M2 has done another masterful job with this Sega Ages release and it’s another must-have as far as I’m concerned. Sure, Sonic 2 has been released numerous times over the years on all kinds of platforms, and you may have had your fill, but if you’re like me and it’s been many years since you’ve played this old classic, there is simply no better way to play it than on the Switch.

One of the best games I've played this year and my favorite from Frictional to date.

While its dystopian, futuristic London may smell of Grand Theft Auto open worlds, Watch Dogs Legion's approach to recruiting any NPC differentiates the formula in a unique way, creating a fascinating blend of freedom, action, stealth, and roguelikes.

Hitman: World of Assassination Part One – VR Edition from developer Io Interactive is an impressive and immersive VR experience that raises the bar for the Hitman series. It brings good content that will put you in the shoes of Agent 47 in an entirely different way. The only hiccups are some glitches that are wandering around the game, but the core gameplay is solid.

Crystal Dynamics did a great job with methodically thinking everything through before releasing the new Tomb Raider to the world. The story, gameplay mechanics, depth and visuals all make for an unforgettable experience, sans the multiplayer side of things.

Have a Nice Death should satisfy any player looking for a roguelike that excels at being more than merely competent. Bolstered by an incredible art style, accessible combat with a taste for encouraging lengthier and harder playthroughs sets Have a Nice Death firmly amongst the heaviest of competition.

There’s an immense value in preserving classic titles in their original forms, mainly for the better. For the case of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection, it is so easy to relive the glory days of arcade gaming be it in playing any of the thirteen titles it offers OR by perusing the sheer amount of extra content in the Turtle’s Lair. And, having online play that works with little issues is the cherry on top. As a fan of TMNT, the Cowabunga Collection is a no-brainer: This is the collection best shared over pizza.

Most sports would probably be better if human participants were replaced with cars. While this thesis is typically reserved for late night conversations with close friends, Psyonix accepted it as a genuine assignment and produced Rocket League. It's soccer with cars—and the execution of this idea has no business being as good as the fantasy.

I have been, and continue to enjoy S:A enough that it’s hard to find much fault with it. That said, for some genre veterans looking for a stout challenge, the default difficult setting is likely much too easy. Additionally, some quest and puzzle design could be considered a bit repetetive, but for me, these concerns were greatly overshadowed by the positives of the experience.

Etrian Odyssey IV carefully balances classic and modern to produce a truly accessible dungeon crawling RPG without compromising significantly in terms of core values. It is a seriously challenging game, but one which—by way of two straightforward difficulty selections—can hope to appease those who normally would not put up with such punishing gameplay.