Pretty environments can't save what is ultimately a bland game. Biomutant lacks character and excitement, which is a shame given the early promise it showed.

Knockout City is a quirky game that players will find most enjoyable when teaming up with their friends. It struggles with pacing from time to time and could do with some quality of life improvements. However, it balances elements that players will feel familiar with whilst also successfully putting an individual spin on things to make for a fun time.

New Pokemon Snap is everything I hoped it would be. It's beautiful, well designed and full of endless charm. There's so much depth and replayability that I felt compelled to return over and over.

Resident Evil Village sets out to do exactly what Capcom planned and that's offering players a well-rounded, gore-filled fright-fest.

From the moment it starts, Returnal is unrelentingly challenging in a way that begs the player to try just one more time.

Emily is Away < 3 doesn’t wear your nostalgia like a mask, it brings you back to the feelings of being a high schooler when the world is only as big as your social group.

Performance-wise Ys IX ran smoothly on the PS4 copy I had, though there have been issues with playing the game through the PS5’s backwards compatibility. Meanwhile, on PS4 there were rarely ever any framerate dips (and even then they were barely noticeable), and combat remaining fluid and responsive. This was thanks to a patch carried over from the Japanese version, which thankfully prevented those in the West from suffering through constant framerate dips. Other movements such as general running and climbing are just as fluid.

Even with so many great indie games on Switch, Nuts stands out from the crowd. Its story concludes in a way that’ll stick with you after the credits. It also offers a quirky, mostly satisfying experience that answers the question: what have these squirrels been up to?

Persona 5 Strikers is an excellent return trip for The Phantom Thieves and hits all the stylish, energetic highs of its predecessor.

Little Nightmares 2 pushes the formula from the first game forward with a lot of largely inventive changes, most of which work out.

If Destruction AllStars was entirely focused on the driving and crashing aspects, this review would be a hands-down recommendation. I just wish it didn’t come to a complete stop as often as it does when you lose control of the car. It does interesting things with the DualSense’s adaptive triggers and has a satisfying loop but comes to a screeching halt in other areas. Lucid Games has promised at least a year of new content for the game following its release, so hopefully, things will be fixed over time. Waiting for a fix, however, isn’t how I like to enjoy games. Luckily, Destruction AllStars is one of the free PS+ games for February, so with an online subscription and a PS5, I would recommend downloading it to give it a spin.

In Werewolf The Apocalypse Earthblood, every advantage is neutralized by a disadvantage, leading to a totally mediocre experience.

While it may not be for everyone, The Pedestrian is worth a shot. It stands out from the crowd in so many ways, leaving a positive impact on me in the end.

Redout: Space Assault dabbles in numerous space shooter concepts but doesn't strike a chord with any of them.

Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy is a fantastic JRPG. Whether you’re a returning fan or a first-time player, it’s an excellent jumping-off point into the franchise. As a first-time series player myself, Ryza 2 was quite a pleasant surprise and one that I find myself continuously drawn into.

Disjunction has so much potential — it has a great soundtrack, interesting ideas for combat, and a serviceable story. These are all bogged down by frustrating and imbalanced combat mechanics, unimaginative stealth, and plain visuals. Disjunction impressed me when I originally played it some time ago, but it may have benefitted from being bite-size. Taking in the entire game, I couldn’t help but want the experience to be over and done with.

Despite its technical prowess and stunning visuals, The Medium is a drag. From slow, uninteresting gameplay to a confusing and poorly executed story, Bloober Team's latest makes for a good tech demo, but not much else.

One of the better visual novels I’ve experienced in recent years. The story and the entire cast of characters are colorful and always a blast to continue to unfold. Its overarching mystery regarding corruption and imposters within the kingdom remains enjoyable and compelling throughout the entire lengthy and winding narrative. Sadly, it is sorely lacking with its uninteresting strategy and combat elements. However, the game’s narrative and beautifully drawn visuals are enough to overlook the less than stellar departures from its visual novel trappings. Behind those flaws is a fantastic experience for fans of the source material and those wanting to enjoy a strong time-bending narrative.

Sunlight will certainly be beneficial to players who enjoy games like Flower and are looking for a meditation-like place where they can get away from it all for a while. This game would also be a great place for players to return to as a quick-fix to relax. That said, I think to keep Sunlight impactful and interesting over a longer haul, updating the stories would be needed. Overall, Sunlight is worth the short time it takes to complete and makes for the ultimate respite if you need somewhere to restore your thoughts. Even without the visuals, the music and story combined are enough to create a perfect nest that embodies calm, meditation, and awareness of your body. Given the world we live in right now, Sunlight couldn’t have come at a better time.

New levels, new targets, new graphical improvements, same Hitman taste. Hitman 3 won't be everyone's cup of tea, but the niche should be extremely satisfied.

I had high expectations for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game Complete Edition and, even with my grievances, I can see why it is so beloved all these years later. It imbues the heart and character of the Scott Pilgrim IP with plenty of content for both new and returning players to enjoy. The big difference this time is that Scott Pilgrim is here to stay thanks to the “Power of Love.”

For the $20 price, the Collection of SaGA Final Fantasy Legend is still a fun bundle of games that serve as a wonderful time capsule for handheld RPG adventures, even if it is light on features.

Unreal Life just ended up being a delightful experience that I really enjoyed exploring. That sense of the developer's passion for their creation was clear throughout the whole thing, and the game felt so much better for it.

Drawn to Life: Two Realms presents an interesting premise and an occasionally charming world, but never quite lives up to any of it.

Override 2: Super Mech League can be a lot of fun at its best as a mech brawler, but is ultimately pretty light on content and depth as far as its characters and combat.

Cyberpunk 2077 is a deeply conflicting game, one that you'll end up loving but will also hate and feel profoundly disappointed by.

The numerous pitfalls and issues in Godfall prevent the better aspects from shining through, leaving only a dull mess that isn't worth the hefty price tag.

Unto The End is a hardcore, lifelike action-adventure that offers a brutally challenging experience in a dark world.

Temtem aims to set itself aside from Pokemon as a solid monster collecting game in its own right. For the most part, it succeeds. [Early Access Score = 70]

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 provides an excellent re-imagining of both the Puyo Puyo and Tetris gameplay loops with awesome local multiplayer and creative new modes.

A video game based on Animal Farm is a crazy idea on paper, but it mostly manages to stick the landing with its weighty political themes still intact.

Twin Mirror is a beautiful-looking game but doesn't have the same narrative punch that made previous games from Dontnod so memorable.

Worms Rumble comes just in time to celebrate the franchise's 25th anniversary with a fun and chaotic albeit very bare-bones entry.

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light lays the foundations for the Fire Emblem games of present, unfortunately, however, as a 30-year-old game, feels incredibly obtuse and slow and really shows its age.

Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond has a few faults; however, the excellent campaign more than makes up for it with over-the-top scenes galore.

Per Aspera is a haunting sci-fi simulation in which you play as a lone AI tasked with terraforming Mars for human colonization.

Call of the Sea is a great start for developer Out of the Blue but didn't entirely capture me on any front, despite standout moments.

Demon’s Souls is an excellent game; I’m not the first person to tell you that in the last ten years. Bluepoint’s remake here on PS5 is also in line with the studio’s previous work, which is to say that it’s immaculate. If you already own Sony’s next-gen hardware, this is very much its killer app thus far. I implore you to make this your first Soulslike if you’ve never set foot into the genre before.

The endearing love story and vibrant art style of Haven can't save it from being a derivative and forgettable RPG adventure.

Immortals takes inspiration from many of its Ubisoft predecessors, as well as some other big titles, but it doesn’t really do a good enough job of differentiating itself. There’s no denying that there’s a great time to be had on the Golden Isle, just don’t go into it expecting anything genre-defining.

There were moments where I had an absolute blast, but the entire package is a bit lacking.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is a surprisingly deep pseudo-prequel to one of this generation's greatest games. A compelling story, fluid combat, and an interesting world will do more than enough to tide fans over until Breath of the Wild 2.

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is a wonderful catalog of some of gaming's best music, but it fails to inform new players about what makes the franchise special.

The next-generation version of NBA 2K21 slightly improves from its predecessors in some areas but is not the leap we were hoping to see the series make.

Altogether, this year’s entry in the Call of Duty franchise is as solid it gets.

Microids' remake of XIII is the equivalent of injecting a deadly virus into the structure of the original game that results in nothing more than corruption.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a great platformer filled with charming levels, fun combat, and a lot of challenges to complete.

As a showcase for the PS5 and DualSense, Astro's Playroom is more than just a tech demo; it's also a playful and remarkably fun platformer.

The Falconeer is an ambitious title developed by one person. It aims to be an open world air combat title but doesn't completely stick the landing.

With all these new additions and improvements, I guess the answer some of you are looking for is whether Observer: System Redux is worth checking out if you’ve already played through the original. Well, there are several answers to that question. If you haven’t played it already, and you really dig horror and sci-fi stories, then you should absolutely play this game. If you played it and enjoyed it the first time, like myself, then yes, you should totally play Observer again. If you are looking for a game to show off your new toy to your friends or specifically want to see what cool new things Bloober Team added to Observer: System Redux, then you can definitely skip this one.

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a worthy follow-up to the previous installment, even if a lot of the core DNA has remained the same. Despite some rough edges, the experience as a whole is one that’s hard to put down once you get entrenched. This proves to be doubly true if you’re playing on PS5 and are really looking for a game that’s going to show you what this next-gen leap is all about. Even though the first game in this new franchise from Insomniac might still be the one that I prefer overall, Miles Morales gives us more than an ample taste of where we could see this series going in the future, which makes me quite excited, to say the least.

Tetris Effect Connected innovates further on 2018's mesmerizing, beautiful and addictive iteration of the Tetris formula, introducing a stable of tried and true multiplayer offerings, as well as a delightful new mode.

Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition is the definitive next-gen Devil May Cry experience. This iteration took what was already one of the best action games of the last console generation and refined everything from the performance to the visuals. Even if you’ve experienced this game before, it’s worth a second look for all of the added enhancements. And if you missed it the first time around, this is the version to play. Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition really is the whole package and a must-play for action fans.

Bright Memory is a profoundly bland experience riddled with hints that the game was never meant to be played anywhere but PC.

While the full MSRP for Pikmin 3 Deluxe might be hard to justify, the port is the definitive way to experience the best entry in the series.

Cloudpunk is miles away from being an enjoyable ride in a pixelated cyberpunk world.

At the end of the day, the traversal alone is enough for me to recommend The Pathless. It’s just fun to get from place to place using your bow; everything else is just a bonus. The overall story is good with performances from Laura Bailey and Troy Baker, the different environments are vast and beautiful, and while the puzzles have a wide range of difficulty, they’re still fun to figure out. It’s just a shame that there’s no synergy between each individual gameplay loop. The Pathless is absolutely worth your time if you’re looking for a game with a sense of adventure and a rich atmosphere.

Ghostrunner will challenge you, but before long you'll be a bonafide cyborg ninja and feel cool as hell in the process.

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin delivers a remarkably in-depth set of mechanical systems. The interplay is impressive, even if the execution is somewhat flawed.

Perhaps the biggest hindrance to writing this review was simply that I wanted to keep on playing. At its best, Yakuza: Like a Dragon has had as much heart and character as any of the strongest games in the franchise. At its worst, it’s still been a game that I can’t get enough of. The team’s writing has continued to improve with each installment since Yakuza 0. Yakuza 7 is well on its way to letting Kasuga rub shoulders with Kiryu’s greatest adventures. Sadly, I still haven’t seen how it ends up, but nearly everything I have seen has been wonderful thus far. It’d take a Final Fantasy 7 Remake level of poorly executed endings to really sour the experience, yet even then, I can say that Yakuza: Like a Dragon would’ve been worth it.

With its fun story and entertaining characters, Young Horses' Bugsnax is a charming game that shouldn't be missed -- whether you play on PS4 or PS5.

With a near-perfect blend of old and new, Valhalla is the best Assassin's Creed title in the past decade.

While Descenders offers a fun downhill mountain-biking romp, it's constantly held back by the Switch's lackluster hardware.

While there’s definitely fun to be had with Fuser, the not-particularly-musically-gifted people (like myself) may struggle. The budding Calvin Harris and Tiesto’s of the world, on the other hand, will surely find enjoyment in the game.

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered isn’t going to set the world on fire. However, it’s important to remember the dumpster fire that this franchise has been languishing in for the last decade. If a boringly good remaster is what it takes to get us back to the series I grew up with, I’ll more than take it. Hopefully, Criterion uses this momentum to deliver something that finally puts Need for Speed back on the map.

Dirt 5 is a content-rich, diverse arcade racing game that is unlike anything else among racing titles of this year. Codemasters’ new direction in the Dirt franchise might not be what veteran off-road enthusiasts would’ve expected. Still, Dirt 5 accomplishes its mission of expanding to a broader audience with engaging arcade-y gameplay, and sets the series off on an exciting new path.

There are certain things that don’t quite connect and a handful of plot holes that stick out, but Dark Pictures: Little Hope is definitely worth your time if you’re a fan of the genre or liked Until Dawn and were disappointed with Man of Medan. It’s a game that’s best enjoyed when being played with a group of people to shout out which decisions to make and pass the controller around. At its best, Little Hope is chilling and gripping and creates an internal conflict in the player between wanting to press on and being too scared to see what lies behind the next door.

Watch Dogs: Legion offers an incredibly vast recruitment system that wonderfully complements its hacking mechanics while boasting the darkest story in the series.

A fantastic conclusion to the Trails of Cold Steel series, a highlight in the ever-impressive The Legend of Heroes franchise, and a must-play for JRPG fans.

Disc Room provides a difficult experience for those looking for a brutal challenge that you’d be happy to brag to your friends that you’ve accomplished. Even though there aren’t many accessibility features available, as a title that was created by a four-person team, it is still surprising to see the number of options that are there for players who need it. Alongside having dedicated challenges, there is also a speed run timer and more options to make your time with Disc Room even more unforgiving. The demanding level of challenge in Disc Room makes Devolver Digital’s latest title a game that I think most people can and will enjoy, even if there might be some rage-induced screams at the same time.

The Jackbox Party Pack 7 is here with a slew of mostly awesome, creative new games that carry the torch of the Jackbox franchise with pomp.

Spiralling towers, endless deserts and impossible geometry; Frictional's return with Amnesia: Rebirth showcases why they're the masters of horror.

Ys Origin is a choice that you’d be hard pressed to pass up — especially for its price.

Though it has fun gameplay and unique character classes, Torchlight III doesn't do much to progress the franchise to attract a new audience.

Those Be A Pro changes are great and all, but it isn’t too much of an incentive for those who already own NHL 20 to go out a grab NHL 21. While there are some new gameplay features, it doesn’t really feel like it differs much from last year’s installment. If you missed out last year, now may be a good time to check out EA’s take on hockey, but if you’re looking for something new and exciting, maybe wait for a next-gen entry.

I enjoyed my time with Crash 4 and would easily recommend it to any like-minded fans of the series. Though there aren’t many meaningful changes to how the game is played, it’s still a fun jaunt, and what new content is here is mostly welcomed, despite some unnecessary modern additions. Crash games don’t need a long list of skins or collectibles, but they do need to take a bigger step forward. In a sense, Crash needs to stop living in the 90s.

Combining battle royale with classic Mario gameplay, Super Mario Bros. 35 is an interesting and fresh idea that could use some more depth.

Spelunky 2 takes the ridiculously polished foundation from the first game and blows it out with new content, mystifying secrets, and big-time cave mole jerks.

I Am Dead avoids the pitfalls of modern video game storytelling to deliver a touching narrative experience with simplistic, but approachable puzzle elements.

Star Wars: Squadrons delivers on nearly all fronts with a tight focus on space combat, multiplayer dogfights, and immersive VR support.

The crew at Bithell Games has done it again. The Solitaire Conspiracy may not be the developer’s best-told story, but it’s one of the most enjoyable on a gameplay level. And like every Bithell Short, it never overstays its welcome. If you want to play something short and sweet, look no further.

FIFA 21 feels like a game with a ton of potential that’s being held back by its engine. Konami decided to take the year off and switch to Unreal. I can’t help but feel like EA really needs to do the same. For all the bells and whistles the team adds every year, the on-field product leaves so much to be desired.

Warsaw is a complex and deep game that forces players to fight against seemingly impossible odds while making difficult decisions. You must fight against the looming threat of an enemy hell bent on conquest as you deal with the horrors left to fester in the cracks of the battlefield. The combat is fast-past with a fun system that rewards you for battling smart, and the storytelling is simple yet compelling, leaving you wanting to learn more. It’s captivating, exhilarating, terrifying, and crushing with just enough slivers of hope that attempt to motivate you to keep fighting the good fight. And despite a few hiccups, Warsaw most certainly succeeds in that regard.

Bartlow's Dread Machine is a solid bullet-hell shooter with an excellent look that's held back by a few curious design decisions.

After a couple of hours, all of WWE 2K Battlegrounds’ silly over-the-top gimmicks lose their luster.

While it's missing a few bells and whistles, Super Mario 3D All-Stars is a wonderful collection of some of Nintendo's most beloved classics.

It’s a shame many quality-of-life improvements that could have been made to Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles aren’t present in this Remastered Edition.

Hades is one of the greatest roguelikes ever made. This is a must-play.

If you want to experience a Mafia title, there is no better choice than Mafia: Definitive Edition.

WRC 9 is currently the best rally experience you can get this year, but there's still room for a much deeper and more detailed career mode.

Mortal Shell will certainly scratch your Soulslike itch, but it won't necessarily win points for originality in presentation.

While I enjoyed my time with the single-player campaign in Marvel’s Avengers–which surprised me with its warmth, fun, and energy–its multiplayer components haven’t quite come together just yet. As a game that revolves around assembling its team of iconic heroes, Marvel’s Avengers at this time still feels a bit at odds with itself. Granted, Crystal Dynamics clearly is planning to make this experience evolve over time with the introduction of new heroes and storylines into its online modes, so the Marvel’s Avengers a year from now may look very different than today. For now, we’ll have to see if these heroes can find a way to regroup to face the challenges ahead.

Cloud Gardens is an utterly charming and well thought out simulation game that does exactly what it says on the tin. If you need a chilled out and truly captivating game that encourages its players to be mindful and to de-stress while also being creative, I honestly couldn’t recommend Cloud Gardens enough. [Early Access Score = 90]

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 is one of the finest remakes to have come out of 2020 in keeping its original roots intact but to modern standards.

An addictive loop, well thought out systems and wide variety of classes make Star Renegades worth a shot for any rogue-lite fans.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning’s world holds so much promise that it was heart-wrenching when the franchise went dormant, but with this new lease on life, I am keeping my fingers crossed that it won’t be long before we get a full-blown sequel. Until then, I shall continue exploring the world of Amalur as Barnaby, the dashing rogue.

Crusader Kings III is a one-of-a-kind experience that mixes intrigue, the ambrosia of victory, and the devastating bitters of defeat.

Despite some technical issues and a story that ends too quickly, Raji: An Ancient Epic is a great narrative-driven game that's worth playing.