Alongside a lovingly remastered Sonic Generations showcase, Shadow Generations is a dark and broody triumph that not only pays homage to the cult classic outing of yester-year for the troubled hedgehog, but also irons out all the aspects that fans didn't quite take to, effectively giving Shadow the do-over they deserve. It's a fast-paced and fluid Sonic title with great new mechanics, a tonne of replayability, and just the right amount of challenge. The fact that this is a short experience will irk a few, as will the lack of crossover between the two games, but all in all, Sonic x Shadow Generations is yet another strong Sonic outing that proves the dark days for the franchise may well be behind us.

Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception is definitely a game that’ll appeal more to fans of visual novels as opposed to SRPGs. The strategy sections are a nice break from the game’s mountains of dialog but they’re not too memorable outside of being a short break from the bulk of what you’ll be doing early on. The game is pretty long and does drag at the beginning, but fans of the visual novel genre should find a lot of what they’re looking for.

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.

Revolgear Zero is an enjoyable and satisfying retro shmup experience that will undoubtedly satisfy the genre's biggest fans. It's nowhere near as challenging as some of the genre's juggernauts, nor is it as impressive, but there's still plenty to enjoy here, especially at a discounted price tag. I just wish there were more to see and do in Revolgear Zero to attract those who aren't hardcore shump fans.

Guardians of the Galaxy is everything that Marvel's Avengers should have been, offering players a single-player focused adventure with some of your favorite comic book characters. Mixed in with solid gameplay and continuous witty banter between your teammates, Guardians of the Galaxy will leave you already excited for what you would expect to be the inevitable sequel.

Pokemon Sword and Shield are a lot of fun, even if the series is experiencing growing pains with the transition to home consoles.

Filled with well over 150 levels between the base game and the New Super Luigi U expansion, there’s more than enough in NSMBU Deluxe to keep players occupied on-the-go or surrounding a big-screen TV.

Fantasy Life I: The Girl Who Steals Time is a lovingly crafted and well-deserved glow up for one of the shining stars of the 3DS era. The visuals, score and overall presentation have been elevated beyond recognition, and yet, the things that made the original great remain intact. The abundance of gameplay mechanics and variety via the different islands and time periods is a standout feature that makes the endless grind paletable, and while every action in the game borders on basic, it never crosses the threshold to be considered boring. It's a quintessentially cozy game that deserves its flowers, and for those who have long wished for a true Animal Crossing competitor to wriggle from Nintendo's grasp, it seems your wish has finally been granted.

Ghost Giant is a lovely adventure puzzle title that will provide a joyful romp for many PSVR owners.

No matter how disappointed I am with the game and myself after each "Crushing Defeat," I find myself wanting to go back and play again, even if it's just to build up relationships with Liu Bei and Sun Jian, unlock their armor sets and weapons, grind for levels and new spells and, maybe some day, finally get to use that wizard's house key. It doesn't excuse the faults, and I will die (quickly and repeatedly) on the hill that it would be vastly improved by adding difficulty settings, but if you're a fan of the Three Kingdoms and (not or) extreme difficulty, Wo Long may be a good fit for you. And if it's not, Hell, there's always Dynasty Warriors.

Final Fantasy VIII Remastered is a love letter to fans of the original title.

Ties That Bind does an exceptional job at building a new world for The Walking Dead fans to explore while still integrating the components that made Telltale’s series a breakout hit.

A wholly unique experience that you shouldn’t let fade away from your memory.

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.

Ready or Not can be a little formulaic at times, but so is police work. It's the second police game I've reviewed this year, but the first one I can wholeheartedly recommend. If you are here for the multiplayer, the PC players might move too fast for you, but you can just disable crossplay. The controls are intuitive, the AI is generally easy to command apart from some menu clunkiness, and the dystopian grit looks great on a big TV screen. I'm definitely going back to playing the PC version most of the time, but that doesn't stop Ready or Not from being the best tactical shooter available on consoles today.

Pokemon Sword and Shield are a lot of fun, even if the series is experiencing growing pains with the transition to home consoles.

Avowed isn't what I expected, but I loved every second. It's the type of game I'll gladly play through again and again, a feat made easier by its somewhat short runtime. Avowed proves that bigger isn't always better. Instead of making a game that tries to outsize everything on the market, Obsidian stayed true to its vision and delivered a polished experience that I fell in love with. As someone who replays Oblivion every year, it'll be hard to go back to those older Elder Scrolls games after enjoying my time with Avowed's combat and characters. This is the RPG experience I've been wanting on Xbox, and Obisidian delivered big time.

If you're craving a game to play during idle hours, be it a flight or chilling after a long day at work, it does not get much better than Hello Kitty Island Adventure. It's not good enough to take time away from that shiny new release you've waited months for, but it excels at being a constant companion without much pretense.

Ironcast’s gameplay makes you feel like you are inside a mech’s cockpit, constantly checking on tons of different systems, and becomes very addictive and rewarding as the game goes on.

Octopath Traveler 0 introduces a new town building system to its endless turn-based battles, but doesn't innovate much outside of that. Combat feels fun and powerful, but with this being the fourth game in the series, it could use a touch up. In the end, Octopath Traveler 0 is an incredibly enjoyable JRPG, but one that feels like it's just spinning its wheels at this point. Town building is fun, but ultimately shallow.

Mega Man X Legacy Collection feels like an upgrade on all fronts and should be an entry point for all Mega Man novices and longtime fans.

One of the best Nintendo 3DS games you will play this Fall.

Remnant: From The Ashes was a game with massive potential that struggled under the weight of its own ambition. Remnant 2 realizes that potential and then some. Lessons have obviously been learned from last time around, and what we have here is a confident, unique experience that delivers on what it promises. I'll be playing this one for a long time to come.

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown reaffirms I am way too invested in this Strangereal universe and that arcade flight sims are capable of telling compelling stories about war.

Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate is a must buy for established fans looking for their Nintendo Switch port, but is a far cry from the series’ recent peak.

In a year that has been filled with some of best games this generation, RiME finds a way to stand out thanks to its unique world and impactful story. While it might not contain the most original gameplay of all time, its beautiful vistas and fantastic soundtrack will keep you coming back for more just to see if there’s a corner of the island that you haven’t discovered yet.

Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince stands as one of the strongest games within its own series.

While some aspects of the game's presentation are surprisingly lackluster for the lauded series' triumphant return, Mega Man 11 still provides the satisfying and well-designed platforming that put Capcom on the map in the 80s.