Metaphor borrows defining features of Persona yet executes these ideas in a less meaningful way, and in taking much from the beloved series, it takes a long time for Atlus' latest to carve out its own identity.

Make no mistake, Torchlight 2 is nothing revolutionary. It favors a remix of genre conventions over any true evolution of the action RPG formula, but it is a pitch-perfect execution of those traditions that remains satisfying from start to finish and beyond

If you loved Zero Dawn and simply wanted more, warts and all, this is easy to recommend. But if you were looking for something groundbreaking with a lot more polish, then Horizon Forbidden West is really a mixed bag.

Bravely Default's more interesting ideas, particularly the mechanics behind the battle system, breathe some life into a very traditional RPG. However, the game is also let down by its fair share of derivative and less ambitious features. Bravely Default disappointingly wastes a lot of its potential, but Square Enix will get another shot with the already-announced sequel.

There's some good fun to be had with BattleBlock Theater and it's a mostly charming title. But its fair share of problems hold it back from being an unequivocally entertaining, must-have game.

Hundreds is certainly worth a look for those craving a challenge on their iPad, but only for the most masochistic gamers.

Sound Shapes is really what you make of it. The campaign, while a unique and thrilling musical ride, is criminally short and can be completed in under an hour on your first attempt.

Halo 5: Guardians features an underwhelming, confusing and surprisingly banal campaign that's not actively bad, but equally not quite good enough to warrant a purchase on its own.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas on iOS is easily the worst way to experience a game that many people regard as one of the best games ever made.

While the sequel doesn't reinvent the game, it builds on the original enough that the novelty of dashing steel unicorns hasn't worn out its welcome yet.

Leo's Fortune is a fun ride while it lasts though, filled with clever physics puzzles and unconventional controls.

Generous checkpoints alleviate some of the control issues, and the unique visual style is almost worth the price of admission on its own, but Type: Rider falls just short of its lofty vision.

What Royal Revolt lacks in strategy, it makes up for in bright visuals and the ability to become more involved in the sweeping battles. It provides a surprising amount of content for a free game, with equally surprising production values to match.

Taken on its own, Asphalt 7 is the best game in the series so far, but it does little to differentiate itself from its predecessors aside from price.

Aside from the audiovisual presentation, the Advance Wars remake plays it considerably safe. That isn't a bad thing in itself, particularly since the foundations of the game mostly hold up. There is still plenty of fun to be had here. But it also means that this package is less interesting than it could have been.

The game's nonsensical internal logic and humor is a lot of what makes McPixel so charming. The downside is that failing a puzzle means repeating it until you get it right.

For fans who already play and love Terraria on another platform, the iOS port is a decent supplement if you need a fix away from home. But due to control issues and the lack of multiplayer, a supplement for the real thing is all it will be.

The dual-stick shooter impresses from both gameplay and visual standpoints, without bringing anything new to the genre.

At least GT Racing 2 doesn't make you wait for repairs like in other mobile racing sims, but the constant downtime that accompanies upgrades gets in the way of an otherwise smooth ride.

Virtual Fighter 5: The Final Showdown shows its age when compared to triple-A contemporary fighters, but it works well as a budget-friendly downloadable release. While the single player modes don't offer a wealth of longevity, there's enough bang for buck value to be found in the online multiplayer to keep the fanbase happy.

The sequel is impressive for its robust drawing suite and shift in focus toward a community art gallery, but casual artists may find the significant bump in quality intimidating, which could hold Draw Something 2 back from being as big of a hit as the original.

Perhaps the most interesting part of Death Stranding's legacy will be the fascinating and barmy hype train we've all been riding for the last few years. It's certainly been a fun ride, but the destination wasn't worth the wait.

Time Surfer is essentially more Tiny Wings with a rewind feature, which for some fans will be enough, but won't convert anyone who wasn't already fond of the game it's based on to begin with.

At its best, Fang and their friends' journey is affecting and thought-provoking, and while their time threatens to be cruelly cut short, the time we spent at Volcano High was mostly well-spent.

Even though the randomly-generated levels can sometimes seem to be unfair in their layout, the intense rush draws you back in, making Boson X an ideal game for mobile masochists.

Lil' Guardsman is charming and novel enough that it's worth playing, but a flawed approach that skirts around aspects of the core idea holds the overall experience back.

This is not a revolution as far as open-world games go, it's more of a compendium of recognizable elements that have been twisted just enough to make them seem new and different for the uninitiated.

A lack of new levels and the omission of online play definitely damages the title, but the wonderful level design, intuitive controls and addictive gameplay makes it easy to overlook such glaring faults.