Everdeep Aurora is more than a cozy digging metroidvania. It’s a glimpse of what simplistic platforming can and should be, thoughtfully interwoven into a gameplay loop where discovery is the win condition. Its presentation might lack directness, but I would prefer a world where I can enjoy what I’ve dug up rather than being pointed to the next objective where I can surmise the outcome.

Wildgate from developer Moonshot Games and publisher Dreamhaven is a fun PvP multiplayer shooter that may seem a bit vanilla now, but it has room to grow. As it stands, you’ll get a lot more PvP co-op gaming out of this than anything else.

Part Bayonetta, part Viewtiful Joe, The Wonderful 101 is a game with a phenomenal, hilarious presentation and plenty of great ideas that is frequently hamstrung by its reliance on some unfortunate design choices.

Mario Golf: World Tour is hardly progressive and rarely creative on the level of its predecessors—and in some ways, it actually feels somewhat regressive. However, the core appeal of the series is still alive and well nonetheless, and with the added extensibility of online play and tournaments—as well as downloadable courses—it’s hard to deny its appeal if you ever enjoyed what the series had to offer from the start.

If you liked the game in one of its previous releases, you’ll like it here as well. If you didn’t, well, the portability of the Switch might help, but if not, there’s no reason to look at the Switch version any closer. Many would agree that this is one of the best open world RPGs in the last several years, so if you haven’t played it yet, this at least gives you another reminder to consider moving it to the top of your backlog.

MLB The Show 21 might not excel in vastly improving its overall package, but the smaller upgrades you do get make this game just as entertaining as it was last year. Next year will have higher expectations to meet.

Guerrilla Cambridge did a great job in giving the Vita its best FPS game to date. They did this by approaching the Killzone franchise from a fresh angle, giving players a console-like FPS experience with the convenience of a handheld, and by adding layers of gameplay mechanics that encourage continued play.

Shinobi is an all time classic and deserves another reboot as far as I’m concerned. The Sega Ages release on Switch gives players the arcade original with some cool optional modifications to make it more fun and engaging, not to mention easier as well. I really would have liked to have had the SMS version included here, but this is still a great, polished release as is.

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.

This battle royale mixes gun play and construction that is so fun, the end does not look anywhere in sight. The exciting game is so popular and is even bringing people together. Playing with your friends is one of the most satisfying co-op experiences you will have. Fortnite: Battle Royale is a great play for anyone.

What the Dub? is a good party game. Playing with friends and family to dub over B-Movie film clips is short stints of amusement that you can come back to when you tire of the Jack Box experience. It’s cheap enough to justify and funny enough to enjoy.

Cladun is a love letter to gamers who spend hours on forums bitching about how technology has ruined role playing games for the last fifteen years. For once, they're right; a retro style doesn't go hand in hand with disappointment after the pangs of nostalgia inevitably settle.

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.

The folks at 24 Carat Games apparently spent their nights dreaming of slamming Guitar Hero against a side scrolling shoot 'em up because that's exactly what they ended up making with Retro/Grade. And it's delicious.

It's a delightful mix and, while occasionally stumbling, a great step in the right direction.

I wish that the game visibly was a bit sharper. The game does not look like it was released in 2019. Sharper graphics would take this game to the next level. The music in the game is fun and perfect for being on an island. It gave the game new energy and I was always pleased with the upbeat tunes. Fun to play and a good game for anyone interested.

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.

It's not a brand new game, but it's a cool enough spin on the old one to merit reasonable interest.

Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered from developer and publisher Grasshopper Manufacture Inc. isn’t a remastered game that people might have been asking for, but it might be now after what it brings to the third-person shooter table. Ultimately, it’s a stupid fun action game driven by gore, a well-acted story, and a thick amount of creativity that looks better and acts better than it did back in 2011.

Dontnod Entertainment has a knack for keeping the flaws hidden in Life is Strange thanks to an engaging story. Even if pressing buttons in the right order or at the right time isn’t your gaming ‘thing’, the Twin Peaks driven feel of the story will keep you coming back for more.

Skylanders Trap Team for PS4 is better in almost every way than its predecessors. If you have the money, Trap Team is worth every penny.

Though it doesn't reinvent the rogeulike genre, Fury Unleashed makes a name for itself through its comic book style and action-heavy combo system that relies on agile shooting and swift thinking.

Planetside 2 is entertaining, huge and still a work in progress. It’s certainly worth a go, if you have the available time on your side.

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.

Throw out your preconceptions and give MySims Agents a chance; you might be surprised.

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked is a strong addition to the current lackluster 3DS lineup. Though it isn't truly a 3DS remake that utilizes all of the systems capabilities (including a very small amount of 3D), it does feature polished graphics, the addition of voice acting, and a new scenario to add to the multiple endings from the original version of the game.

NBA 2K20 has revitalized my love for the series. While the launch has certainly been shaky, I’m having more fun grinding out my favorite modes than I have in any previous year. The entire game feels much more rewarding than years past, and not because you have to spend all of your money on it. If you put the time in, you’ll get what you want out of the game. I have to score the game lower than I probably would simply because of the issues and bugs that are prevalent throughout the game, but once those are addressed I can’t wait to grind away.

El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron is a work of surprising confidence. Combat that favors leveling up the player's, not that avatar's, skill set is worthy of admiration, as is a wildly imaginative, frenzied art department that never allows their beautiful work to overstay its welcome.