Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora may be the most “definitive” Avatar experience in a game we will ever receive and that should be relatively sufficient for most. Often, its limitations extend to the boundaries of it existing as a game with rules and objectives carved into it. But an open world is the only way to truly suit the lofty goals of what Pandora actually means from an entertainment level. The home of the Na’vi is supposed to feel real, like a place we could reach if only humans had the capability. And in that sense, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is practically boundless.

The Talos Principle II quickly becomes more than just a deeply involved game about laser puzzles. Its world brims with mystery and surprises that reward players dedicated towards resolution and experimentation. The rich, complex narrative posits vast, difficult questions about humanity in an approachable package delivered through expert writing and inviting characters. This is one of the rare games that breaks open its own genre, morphing into an incredible, indescribable journey.

Gangs of Sherwood may be inhibited by its own limitations but I can’t express how great of a time I had once it fully released and I could merely link up with a full group of players. It may not be a game that has a great deal of permanence in this busy season and packed year but it does deserve appreciation and respect for its tenacity. Such a unique setting and basic, engaging combat are luxuries we so often forget about.

Loot River‘s strange, seemingly disparate elements fuse in a surprisingly elegant, razor-sharp roguelike. The unforgiving progression may deter a few but excellent combat creates its own tangible reward. While being able to literally shift the world around like a game of Tetris may be Loot River‘s defining, identifiable quality, its individuals pieces fall into place so seamlessly you won’t be thinking of any other game.

To say that Trinity Fusion is missing the mark would be overlooking its other successes as a roguelite. It boasts fluid combat and platforming that keep its gameplay fresh. The weapon/spell management tied with the Amplification system creates a persistent set of variance that avoids becoming stale. My main two critiques of the game are that of its hazy progression system and its lack of a concrete pull that keeps players engaged for longer periods of time. I know that Angry Mob Games has additional content on the way, but waiting a smidgen longer may let Trinity Fusion hit its stride as a roguelite.

Calico from developer Peachy Keen Games is a cute experience that features some good gameplay design geared toward a younger audience. The amount of customization, collecting, crafting, and questing that goes on should lock a Roblox-type audience into its gameplay. There is a lot to do and explore, and that just bodes well for the game’s longevity. There are some hiccups to the gameplay design with the HUD and clipping issues, but nothing that brings down the entertainment Calico dishes out.

Outer Wilds: Archaeologist Edition is the best chance Nintendo Switch players have at experiencing a truly innovative game, albeit one that isn’t best presented on Nintendo’s little console that could. There’s quite a lot stacked against Outer Wilds thanks to how quickly it lets players do what they want and the clunkiness of the early game. Acquired tastes aside, it’s worth a try and even worth to complete. That said, if you want the best experience, you’re probably better off choosing the PC/XB/PS versions.

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.

Cookie Cutter is hyper-violent translation of old-school Metroidvanias that gracefully does not allow itself to get bogged down with convoluted modern flourishes. Exploration tools drop the player into a satisfying progression loop that doesn’t rely on random elements and combat is not overtly punishing. But it’s Cookie Cutter‘s unique visual palette and uncompromising absurdity that truly leave a bloody impression before ever allowing itself to grow stale.

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.

Call it refined nostalgia. Call it a love letter to Metroid Fusion and other Game Boy Advance metroidvanias. Call it what you want. 9 Years of Shadows is a good, short, yet approachable metroidvania. While it doesn’t quite hit the depth of combat complexity and story beats of its GBA predecessors, it overdelivers via gorgeous pixel art and an orchestrated soundtrack. Its Nintendo Switch port is not the best in its current state, but it’s worth playing if you’re wanting a metroidvania to play on a lazy Sunday.

Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince from developer Armor Project brings an enjoyable monster collecting and fighting gameplay blueprint to the Dragon Quest world, but falls short in its shallow narrative and humdrum visuals.

SteamWorld Build is an enjoyable city management game that is perfect for newcomers to the genre. Its friendly approach makes its building simulation and mining complex but not overbearing. A thin narrative and limited post-game can hamper long-term engagement but the SteamWorld license proves malleable enough that satisfaction can be found for nearly anyone.

To sum it up, Flashback 2 was worth a playthrough, and as a fan of the original, I had fun with it. It’s probably the easiest Platinum you can get, too. But the experience is tainted by lots of technical bugs and very linear, flat gameplay design. At its launch price of $40, I’m hesitant to recommend it to anyone that isn’t an ardent Flashback fan who might be more forgiving of the flaws. Whether any more patches get released is anyone’s guess, but even if the technical bugs get ironed out, the gameplay is still thin and pretty lackluster.

Roboquest from developer RyseUp Studios is a simple, fun, and fast-paced shooter that presses you as much as it rewards you. While not everything in it is gold, there is enough packed into this to make it a fun experience.

Spirittea is the farming sim with Miyazaki vibes I’ve wanted for a hot minute. It doesn’t onboard the player in the most intuitive fashion, so it’s a smidge hard to pick up to get into the groove. But, once you’ve managed to parse through the disparate tea leaves that make up its multiple activities and mechanics, it’s worth a try. I’m looking forward to seeing how Spirittea evolves in the future while I enjoy its coziness this holiday season.

HOWL from developer Mi’pu’mi Games GmbH is a narrative-driven puzzle-strategy game that brings a simple concept but a complicated gameplay design. The inclusion of a deep goal system that plays into how a player can progress in the game makes for a fun experience, while the offensive and defensive nature of its card system pleasantly complicates and compliments the gameplay. While not everything is perfect, it’s still better than expected.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is likely going to go down as one of the weaker entries in the franchise. Undoubtedly the quality fluctuates from player to player every year but key elements of Modern Warfare III don’t hold a candle to what most expect from a superb Call of Duty game. This is most apparent in the game’s lackluster campaign that injects far too much Warzone influence for its own good. Rather than a classic, bombastic narrative with diverse mission structure, we are left with an all too brief story that leaves players with little to latch onto outside of vaguely experimental open-ended combat. Zombies is as universally weird as ever but may actually be beneficial towards newcomers with its large map and mission-based approach. Thankfully Modern Warfare III‘s exceptional multiplayer feel and suite of popular maps, modes, and customization elevate this rough going. If Call of Duty needed a break, maybe this year should have been the one. But at 20 years old, the old chap still has life left in it.

The Last Faith is a grueling metroidvania, leaning into pinnacle souls-like gameplay elements that reward exploration, precision, and patience. Its combat may be simple and fun, but the challenge of mastering its traversal may be too much to handle. Its gorgeous visuals might not be distinct enough to separate itself from the pack of its predecessors, but it’s a great start for those wanting to test the waters of the souls genre.

Astral Ascent is the roguelite I’ve been wishing to play for a hot minute. Its combat is highly variable, incredibly replayable, and quite gorgeous. It’s a fantastic example of a roguelite that is easy to pick up, fun to return to, and rewarding despite losing early and often.

The Invincible does not stray far from the borders of the many narrative-driven games it takes inspiration from. But the retro-futuristic aesthetic coupled with a narrative that shifts with tension and mystery, makes it one of the more memorable titles in the genre. Barring some unfortunate but resolvable issues, the planet of Regis III is constantly captivating, rife with alien mysteries to uncover.

Little Goody Two Shoes from developer AstralShift is a hodgepodge of well-put-together intentions that all work out beautifully. You get this innocent backdrop and this thick horror-filled narrative that drives it all. While it might seem like a simple RPG that typically is found in Square Enix’s past published works, the underbelly is more expansive than that and the multiple endings make you want to revisit the warped experience.

Berzerk Recharged from SneakyBox and Atari gives a tip of the hat to a wonderful 80s arcade experience, even at times when the hat tip means carrying some of the original frustrations.

Jusant from developer Don’t Nod is a wonderful example of balancing well-crafted gameplay mechanics to perfectly matched puzzles to use them on.

Blasphemous 2 felt incredibly good to play despite its challenging nature and complex combat. It’s a great Soulslike 2D action-platformer that doesn’t rely on nonsense gimmicks that make the game artificially difficult for the sake of being punishing. Its exploration, art direction, and worldbuilding are unmatched in a sea of modern Metroidvanias released in 2023. If you’re down for a good challenge or path of penitence in a Roman Catholic-inspired 2D platformer, look no further. Like it or not, you will pay for your gameplay sins.

Killing spiders is incredibly easy – Kill It With Fire VR makes it fun. Scratch that – it makes it dumb fun. Despite the jump scares and spiders, I kept myself fully entertained because of the sheer number of ridiculous things I could use to kill spiders. If a book from the shelf wasn’t enough, maybe a shotgun would do the trick. No dice? Shurikens. No? Fine. Flamethrower. That’ll work. Some of its controls lack explanation and its features could be better explained. Once you figure it out, Kill It With Fire VR lends itself for a fun afternoon VR experience or party game if you want to mess around with some friends.

I’d recommend waiting to bite on this one for a few more months until things are really ironed out and tuned. It’s not like we don’t all have a ton of other things to play anyway — but the state of LOTF right now is just too technically unsound to give it a glowing thumbs up. There’s still a great game undernearth all the mess if you can survive the bugginess, but give it a little more time to ripen for now and I think you’ll be glad you did.

Ebenezer and the Invisible World has its moments of fun and rewarding exploration through completing optional sidequests and finding secrets. It looks great, too. However, its big swings in the form of ghost management and stiff traversal/combat lends to a less than stellar experience. May this experience become better in the future with more time and polish? Absolutely, but it’s worth waiting to see what happens.