In a space where Mario Kart has been the only kart racer worth talking about for what feels like eons, Sonic Racing: Crossworlds stands tall as a worthy competitor. Beyond the flashy dimension-hopping, the gameplay doesn't reinvent the wheel, but offers enough quentessentially Sonic-style fanfare to appeal to veteran fans, while offering accessible, chaotic racing that will appeal to casual fans looking for a cross-console alternative. The rather uninspired multiplayer modes, the lack of satisfying unlockables, and the focus on a steady stream of paid content make me doubtful that this game can achieve long-term success. But, as far as kart racers go, Sonic Racing: Crossworlds is right up there with the best.

Some of its best moments can only be appreciated by those willing to put in the extra time, which is both a rewarding and unfortunate reality, as not everyone will be able to experience the best the game offers with a single playthrough. But if you have the patience to persevere through some minor shortcomings and a couple of playthroughs, your understanding and appreciation for this game will no doubt mature from a freshly sprouted sapling to a towering conifer.

Tokyo Dark offers some great animation and character design that reflects Japanese anime and film noir.

Dark Souls Remastered on the Nintendo Switch brings a new kind of revelry to the moment-to-moment victories like finding a bonfire or killing a boss.

Command and Conquer Remastered raises the bar for remasters. This is the definitive way to play these RTS classics, and they still hold up decades later.

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.

If you can get past Everspace’s few flaws, a game that merges the best parts of roguelikes and space shooters exposes itself. The game manages to stand on its own as a unique entity within both the above genres, so Everspace should have no problem finding an audience in the sea of modern roguelikes and space shooters.

A fantastically designed hack-n-slash RPG that kept me enthralled for hours on end. It fits right at home on the Nintendo Switch with its colorful, exciting, and inviting world that made it a pleasure to explore, but it was let down by its lack of local co-op features which really is a crying shame for a game of this kind.

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

Star Ocean First Departure R is an underwhelming port of an excellent but often forgotten Square Enix JRPG.

Marvel’s Iron Man VR is a decent game, no matter where you play it, though I would argue that the Meta Quest 2 version is perhaps the best way to play thanks to its ease of use and cleaner visuals. The intuitive controls, fun aerial combat, and some quality presentation make for a heroic effort by developer Camouflaj, and a worthy addition to any Quest 2 library.

If you want a serious straight-faced, team-based TPS, this probably isn’t the game for you. Yet, if you simply would like to have a lot of fast-paced and exhilarating fun topped by all the eye-candy that can be squeezed into a single Blu-Ray disk, then the new adventure of Marvelous’ ninja waifus can easily fit the bill.

Drop Duchy is a fantastic addition to the deck-building genre, with a Tetris hybridisation that works slickly with all the other systems in the game. If you like relaxing but challenging games where you look at the clock and it’s suddenly 2am, Drop Duchy should definitely be on your radar. I’m looking forward to seeing what this team does next.

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

Overall, the survival genre is very saturated. Grounded is a unique take on a tired formula and is genuinely a breath of fresh air in the space. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel but it doesn’t have to, it’s chosen a premise and has adapted it beautifully and skillfully. While some improvements can be made in combat and other areas, the game is a well-made experience that survival fans will love. I personally can’t wait to jump in with three friends following the full launch. It can get lonely out there all alone in suburbia.

Super Mario Party‘s expansive pallet of different game types opened my eyes to the the benefits of spicing up the traditional formula.

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.

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.

Like many modern fighting games, Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late[cl-r] is so unique. While it has a really steep learning curve that may turn casual fighting game players off, it is incredibly satisfying if you put the time in. If you love fighting games and want a challenge, then look no further.

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

Bury me, my Love‘s very real, genuine sense of storytelling…feels contemporary and in tune with the events shaping our times.

That aside, Sonic Origins is the best collection of Sonic games around. As ever, the games are accessible and easy to play, and the beautifully animated cutscenes breathe some new life into it.

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?

Gylt tells a relatable and emotional tale about bullying via a formula refined by franchises like Silent Hill before it. It can feel a bit airy and derivative as a result, but it’s still a worthwhile experience that should be part of any Google Stadia owner’s library. It may not immediately stand out as the kind of game you can only get on Stadia, but I don’t mind if this is the formula Stadia Games and Entertainment takes with the exclusives they decide to put their full force behind in the future.

Bloodroots is a very simple, straightforward game at face value, but it’s also one that offers tons of replayability and features a high skill ceiling. If you’re a fan of games that are all about mastering gameplay mechanics in pursuit of that one, perfect run, you really can’t do better so far in 2020 than Bloodroots. It’s a game that I’m very much looking forward to returning to time and time again over the coming months.

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.”

Formula Legends is simply fun. The racing is exciting, the attention to detail and depth is a welcome surprise, the love for F1 is charming and hilarious, and I just can't stop playing it. Still, it's probably not as feature-rich as some might desire. It desperately needs multiplayer functionality, the modes are fairly sparse, and there are some visual hiccups. Regardless, at the end of the day, I'm having an absolute blast with this game. This is an arcade racer I plan on working into my regular rotation of long-term gaming titles.

ShantyTown is a cozy game that can easily make you lose track of time as you set up each location however you like. It isn't this big game that you'll play for hours on end, but it is a game that you'll feel really honors the time you spend with it. This is a game you can play in one evening, or for hours if you want to dive that deep. It's fun, well-made, and gorgeous when you finish a location. ShantyTown is a cozy town builder you can enjoy at your own pace, and that's something incredible.