Witch Strandings is an intriguing experiment that underdelivers on complexity but excels in atmospheric emulation and simple gameplay. I cannot help but want more from Witch Strandings, and I hope that Strange Scaffold continues to build on this experiment.

Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium is a spectacular follow-up to its predecessor. It is packed full of different arcade experiences covering a variety of genres and years, while also introducing some new features that help bring a bit more fun to the journey. As with any journey, it’s not always smooth sailing, but for the most part, it’s good.

Stray’s strength is delivering a fun gameplay experience in playing as one of the world’s most adored animals. While its story isn’t going to be attempting to say anything new about the world, it’s hard to pass up the opportunity to play as a cat.

Loopmancer wants to be the new sleek, stylish roguelite on the block. Using a veneer of cyberpunk action and frenzied combat, the game often gets by on looks alone. In short bursts it possesses addictive combat that suddenly breaks down when strung together with rudimentary level design and unfulfilling rewards. The narrative has all the charm and trappings of movies so bad they’re good but even that is hindered with frequent breaks in pace. Loopmancer attempts to break out of its genre’s endless cycle but often finds itself shackled to avoidable flaws.

Outriders Worldslayer is a considerable upgrade from the original release. The introduction of a new tier, tree, and a more balanced gameplay design helps to make the case for more content down the road. It certainly feels like it’s on the right path to perfection, but still struggling in some minor areas.

Frozenheim meets the status quo for what you would expect from an RTS game. Where it excels is in its gameplay balance and how much control it gives you to create your gameplay path. It falls short in story cohesiveness and the occasional buggy controls.

Moo Lander is a fun game that can be played in short stints. It has a whacky and creative story that supports a side-scrolling shooter/puzzle/RPG backbone. It does more right than not and makes for an engaging and entertaining journey to hunt down alien cows.

The Jackbox Party Starter is a great way to dive into the Jackbox series if you have never explored it. This pack includes three great games Quiplash 3, Trivia Murder Party 2, and the almighty Tee K.O. tee shirt game. The inclusion of more detailed features such as moderation and content filter, and the addition of more localized voice acting helps push this towards a potential new generation of Jackbox lovers. For those of us who are members since the 90s, this isn’t something that is made for us.

The Quarry is a thrilling experience from start to finish that any fan of Supermassive’s other horror games will immediately adore. If this is your first foray into their games, The Quarry is an excellent jumping-in point before diving into their other games. Standout performances, fantastic writing, and horrifying visuals are sure to delight all fans of horror.

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.

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!

The Capcom Fighting Collection brings some unique titles that most U.S. gamers haven’t laid eyes on before. While not all the games in the collection are worthy to be in it, the Darkstalkers-centric theme makes it worth a look.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge has a ridiculous magic to it. The game is one of the best cooperative experiences players can have, not only because six players can wreck through the Foot Clan but because it evokes those nostalgic days of gaming with your friends on a couch during the weekend. Drenched in admiration for the Turtles franchise, Tribute Games has created a beat ’em up that chooses to perfectly encapsulate what the genre was for licensed titles two decades ago. Players seeking bells and whistles and newer mechanics might be disappointed that the game does not push the envelope. Yet Shredder’s Revenge is an immense joy for players who want to be taken back to the past or simply have quick bouts of fun wildly mashing buttons to beat up vibrant villains as some of the best heroes we’ve had in entertainment.

While ESO is certainly growing and filling out the map of Tamriel, it feels like it is stagnating some. New additions like the Antiquities system and Tales of Tribute give players some variety in the gameplay. However, the core of the stories feels the same. While it can feel stale, I do still enjoy playing each new chapter. The new locales and characters usually make up for it. As do the new systems. I am interested to see what the devs bring us next as well as where the Legacy of the Bretons will go.

Silt flawlessly executes a style that permeates its entire construction. The hand-drawn visuals evoke the deadly, alien mysteries that lie at the bottom of whatever foreign ocean it takes place in. Its swirling, environmental storytelling sets a high bar that is only let down by its short runtime. By placing a number of engaging puzzles between the end goal and the player, enough joy can be seeped out of this strange, fascinating game to make it worth the cost. Silt may not feel entirely unique for some, yet its setting and aesthetic have few rivals.

I had a fun time with Hatsune Miku Project DIVA Mega Mix+ from SEGA. It was colorful, musical, and a real treat without much effort. The replayability might be an issue when you reach expert status, but the desire to achieve a better score with more accuracy, while unlocking more songs might overcome the bore that comes with less challenging difficulty. Regardless, it’s a heckuva game.

Mechanic Battle is a fun, fast-paced game with lots of variety. There is a good amount of replayability, customizable cars, and engaging gameplay. The steering controls were confusing at first, but as you progress it becomes second nature. The visuals are good and the racetrack designs are unique. Overall, Mechanic Battle is a fun and fast-paced game with bright visuals and exciting car races.

Souldiers is a kind of comfort food. There are players who will actively seek out a game like this, one that is inspired by the best kinds of interactive nostalgia. While developer Retro Forge is keen on piquing the interest of classic key genres, Souldiers stands surprisingly well on its own qualities. This is a beautiful game that can be absurdly difficult but it’s more than a large, interconnected map and a twist on punishing combat. The name might be a little too clever for its own good but keep in mind that Souldiers is unique in its own right.

I’m a sucker for old arcade games and having a 14-game Pac-Man collection at my fingertips is everything thing I thought it might be. Bandai Namco’s Pac-Man Museum+ is a must-have for Pac-Man fans and arcade junkies.

Oh honey, APICO has all the fixins of a good and relaxing farming sim, but with bees! You have an inventory system that allows you to multitask without wasting time or restricting your options. There are little-to-no penalties for playing however you want, whenever you want. The soundtrack is so soothing and laid back that you’ll put viewers and bees to sleep. And, there exists an element of surprise within the gameplay loop of beekeeping, breeding bees, and discovering bees that can keep you playing into the wee hours of the morning and can be disabled if you wish to leave less gameplay up to chance. Despite the gigantic tutorial (that could admittedly use some tightening up for new players) and the lack of deep story/community-building that you may expect from other popular farming sims, it is SO easy for one to lose track of time and relax in the bee-pun filled world of APICO. Give APICO some time — it’s an absolute hit, and I’m SO EXCITED to see it grow.

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.

I hope we see more of Voodoo Detective in the future. I think his character is fresh, well-drawn, and very well voice-acted, too, though a “real” name besides Voodoo Detective is maybe something the developers should explore further. The sights and sounds of the game are excellent, and the puzzles and overall point-and-clickness of the game is nicely done. Short Sleeve have done a fine job with this game, and being that it’s priced at just $15, I’m happy to recommend it to any fan of adventure games.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong is a dialogue and story-driven experience with a side of detective to help push it all along. The gameplay was spot-on what you should expect from an in-person Vampire: The Masquerade session, but it may not be for everyone. If you’re looking for something more action-oriented, then this may not be your cup of tea.

Saber Interactive has created a surprisingly balanced and entertaining asymmetrical multiplayer title that throws enough systems in so matches don’t get stale. Finding favorite survivors and demons to play as is a joy and fingers crossed the annoying bugs and issues are ironed out soon to detract less from the quality presented here. Thankfully, Evil Dead: The Game is a groovy blast and not a bloody bust.

Dolmen has wonderful visuals, interesting concepts, and a soundtrack that goes great with the feeling of the story. A sticking point could be the difficulty of the enemies and the issues with struggling to progress, which might make it hard for the players to stay engaged at times. That said, if you are looking forward to a challenge with tougher enemies than usual, alongside futuristic yet apocalyptic graphics, this is the game for you!

Conan Chop Chop is a straightforward roguelite. While it may be shallow in some regards on the equipment and the worldbuilding front, the ability to play with friends can make this roguelite a worthwhile experience for those who want to introduce their friends to the genre. Yes, Conan is on the easier end of most roguelites, but this comes at the cost of a less-than-compelling single player experience. If you’re looking for a roguelite to ease you into the unforgiving nature of the roguelite gameplay loop of dying over and over again, then Conan Chop Chop won’t leave you frustrated.

courgeBringer can be maddeningly difficult in the best and worst ways. It will shove players through the meat grinder and be completely unapologetic. But it’s in this crucible that I learned to love the frantic, deadly simplicity of its combat and the agile nature of tackling tough challenges. For genre stalwarts, ScourgeBringer may not offer anything entirely new but hones its enjoyment through sheer skill and the hopes that players won’t give up until the brutal end.

Rifftrax – The Game is a short stint of ridiculous fun. It can be as hilarious as you make it, though it does fall short in some areas when the game has too much control of the content.