For $29.99, it’s worth the experience, especially if you’re a fan of the original series back in the heyday of Yakuza. Sega did a fantastic job of pulling this older title up into current console expectations. They could have sold this puppy for $49.99 and it still would be worth it. If this is your cup of tea, then you need to get it immediately.

There was nothing outright “wrong” with last year’s product, but there was room for improvement. It seems EA Canada was receptive to what could alter things for the better, as many beneficial changes proliferate 18. Gameplay feels much more natural and welcoming, equating to more accessibility. The ways to play are well thought out and varied, adding to replay value. And the garnish of presentation scores big, leading to a pleasant sensory experience. If you like soccer and video games, give this serious consideration.

Storm Lancers from developer and publisher ProbablyMonsters is a wonderful roguelike adventure that is driven by fun controls, solid action, and interesting bosses. While it’s going to bring some frustration and repetition, it’s still a solid experience.

Tales of Graces f Remastered is a wonderful expression of translating a classic JRPG onto modern consoles. Rather than attempt a costly, unnecessary overhaul, Tose and Bandai Namco paid respect to this legacy series by bringing it to a current audience, one made up of series veterans and newcomers. Technically sound and packed with needed quality of life updates, Tales of Graces f has a renewed spotlight–one that may shift to other Tales games in need of this treatment.

Heretic + Hexen brings back a revival of 30+ year old marvels that progressed the first-person shooter genre in the 90s and set the path for future FPS games. The additions of new online modes, direct access to mods, and new content make this even sweeter. But the games do look like they’re from the 90s, which may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

Fear the Spotlight from developer Cozy Game Pals and publisher Blumhouse Games is a frightfully fun romp that balances out puzzles and stealth inside of a horror experience. While it won’t redefine the horror genre in gaming with its narrative, it still delivers enough to be entertaining and scary.

Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse is a more refined and fun journey than the previous entry in the series. It brings a spooky and entertaining narrative that works well with more focused gameplay elements that the series is improving upon.

Breakout Beyond from developer Choice Provisions and publisher Atari is a nice tip of the cap to the classic game. While its screen configuration and pacing might be a little jarring for new players, the power-ups and gameplay elements that present good challenges will certainly hook them. The game does a great job of balancing classic Breakout ideas with well-thought-through gameplay design.

Cronos: The New Dawn, from developer Bloober Team, is representative and respectful of the traditional survival horror genre. It brings gameplay elements that any gamer should expect from a survival horror experience, while testing out minor methods to improve an old formula. At the end of the day, the game is beautifully unsettling, gorgeous to take in, and does enough to make it worth your time. Is it reinventing the genre? Not really, but it’s still quite fun.

Subsurface Circular is worth your attention. It’s well-priced, and offers a unique and compelling experience from start to finish which you can very reasonably achieve in a single sitting. The game is concise, but leaves little to be desired, making it a solid value.

ROBOBEAT is an exciting FPS because of how it weaves a killer soundtrack and punchy combat into its DNA. Firing to the beat of a suite of incredible tracks and sweeping across a techno playground is one of those simple joys in life. While players shouldn’t expect deep roguelite progression, the tools on hand are meant to fuel the frenetic pace, throwing players into a madcap state of sublime shooting.

In sum, there’s a lot of good to Steelrising, I had a great time doing a thorough playthrough, but a few significant drawbacks temper the overall experience and keep it from getting into that upper tier of greatness.

Operation Nightfall is a welcomed addition to the Firewall Zero Hour family. It does bring more pros than cons but still needs a bit more love to truly get this on track to a perfect VR experience. It’s getting there, especially if more updates like this are released.

I think Jake Hunter Detective Story: Ghost of the Dusk accomplishes what it sets out to do. It’s more interactive visual novel than it is a typical vidoegame, but if you’re in the mood for a casual yet compelling experience that’s well written with a strong cast and solid presentation, you can’t go wrong here. The DS is the perfect platform for such an experience, and for those of us wanting to itch that Hotel Dusk/Last Window itch, Jake Hunter is a great option.

If you enjoy the 2D action platformer structure mixed with a heavy dose of Dark Souls, then you’ll love Death’s Gambit: Afterlife. It’s a bigger game than the original and certainly a deeper/richer experience.

Akka Arrh is a fascinating game that finally gets a proper release after forty years. The gameplay is fast, addictive, and embodies everything great about an 80s arcade experience.

Overall, HumaNature Studios’ Toe Jam & Earl: Back in the Groove has brought back and breathed life into the old gameplay design of the original game. It feels like a Toe Jam & Earl game, which I can appreciate immensely. While not groundbreaking with visuals, it still brings some real fun to a series that lost its way a long time ago.

Chip ‘n Clawz vs. The Brainioids brings a wonderful combination of action and real-time strategy with its gameplay. The difficulty can be a bit much at times, but the challenge will more than likely keep gamers coming back for more.

Do I recommend the set for any longtime fan of the series? If you hadn’t picked up the individual 1.5 and 2.5 collections on PS3 back in the day, now is the perfect time to catch up on the series ahead of Kingdom Hearts 3. Actually, the real benefit I found playing this collection on PS4 as opposed to PS3 was using the Dualshock 4, which is inherently more comfortable to use. But if you’re a first time player of the series wanting to know what all the fuss is about, Kingdom Hearts 1.5 and 2.5 ReMIX is the perfect place to jump in; even if you’re only going to play the two main games.

I don’t consider Athenian Rhapsody to be anything like Undertale despite some of its similarities. It’s very well written, often getting me to audibly laugh because of its absurdist humor that surprised me time after time. I truly appreciated having agency to play as I liked in this RPG and the novelty of the Rhapsody system is enough for me to be excited about seeing other players play through to the end. While I have some reservations about the way the story has been constructed and the implementation of the Rhapsody system, there’s enough for players to enjoy if they are interested in a truly silly RPG.

At a $20 price point (or $10 for early access), XCOM: Chimera Squad is a mostly successful experiment. Firaxis Games has cherry-picked many of the best elements of the XCOM series and put them in a more fast-paced, action-oriented title. Tactical superiority still reigns supreme, especially with the intelligently designed breach mode. However, I think some players will miss the more hardcore elements of XCOM despite their exclusion not necessarily fitting the pace of this title. In no way does Chimera Squad feel like a budget title, outside of its somewhat clumsy menus and presentation. But this graphic novel-style, pulpy tactical adventure seems to be the tipping off point for something equally exciting and grander in the future.

Overall, VA-11 Hall-A is a unique experience that borrows some design elements from games in the past, such as Carmen Sandiego, that features solving problems through natural dialogue with ambiguous clues. The additional narrative to it is captivating at times, though some dialogue can get way too long in the tooth. The additional money-making motivation and customization options help to sell the experience a little further beyond its initial design.

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.

Every old school franchise should be so lucky to get such a great sequel that obviously had a lot of thought and care put in by the teams involved. Clearly, if you enjoy Streets of Rage or the side scrolling brawler, especially when playing with up to three other people, Streets of Rage 4 should be on your list of titles to get.

The Callisto Protocol is an enthralling horror experience when all its best elements combine. Few games have captured the sheer atmospheric dread and terror that The Callisto Protocol communicates just through sound and atmosphere. With an ambiance that seeks to get under the skin, the game constantly shifts gears, never showing its hand to the player. A few technical hiccups and lack of enemy variety will leave the player hungry for those few scares that could have been. But The Callisto Protocol is a must for horror fans yearning for a new IP that may eventually grow into a new, deadly universe.

Open Roads from developer Open Roads Team is a personal and powerful journey that is driven by a solid story and fantastic acting, and supported by small amounts of interactive moments.

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.

Helldivers II from developer Arrowhead Game Studios is a team-driven experience that is goal-driven fun wrapped in a goofy Starship Troopers tip of the hat. While the gameplay can get repetitive, the reward system helps to balance it out.