Don’t Stop, Girlypop! fits a very specific niche that has been ignored for far too long: a game like DOOM or Unreal Tournament to be played while wearing a pink bow and long nails. This game is for people who want to play classic shooters but are tired of the drab visuals, and there is no better way to replace that than with a Y2K-inspired hyper pop pink space glitter fantasy.

I admire Gust for delivering a product outside of their comfort zone. However, even though the open world is the most exciting new addition, it also tends to bring the most problems with it. Atelier Firis will surly impress fans of the franchise, but could feel dated to modern RPG fans.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a little uneven at times, particularly in the second half of the game, but it's still an enjoyable side-scroller. It's unmistakably loyal to the retro Ninja Gaiden games, refusing to flinch from its roots and delivering difficult combat while incorporating some of the style and flair from the modern 3D action games. It may not be as good as Ninja Gaiden 2, and nowhere near as iconic as Ninja Gaiden Black, but it's still a solid entry in the series and a great way to prepare for Ninja Gaiden 4.

Fast RMX isn’t the best looking arcade racer on the market, and it lacks the polish that other games bring to the equation. However its tight gameplay and impressive tech (for Nintendo Switch) elevates Fast RMX to something better than its individual parts. For those searching for recommendations, Fast RMX easily offers $20 worth of racing entertainment as you wait for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and is an easy buy to any fan of the genre.

Tiny Bookshop may not be breaking any new ground in the cozy genre, but it also doesn’t really need to. It delivers exactly what it claims it will, and what many fans of the genre are already looking for: a peaceful, stress-free escape from the noise of everyday life. Sure, it can get pretty repetitive, and the pacing certainly isn't breaking any records, but overall, I think there's a lot of heart packed into this small indie experience. It's heartwarming, it's comforting, and, if nothing else, it reminds us to slow down, breathe deep, and always take things one page at a time.

If you missed Pokkén Tournament on Wii U and are a fan of fighting games, I highly recommend it, as it is easy to get into and brings some interesting changes to genre.

Freedom Finger is fast-paced, over the top, side-scrolling shooter set to an eclectic soundtrack that makes the game feel like an interactive music video.

The Alters is a unique and atmospheric survival game that riffs on the existing 11 Bit Studios blueprint in a meaningful way. Offering a superb sci-fi story that is equal parts somber, surreal, and silly. The economy, base building, and Alter Management are the highlights, which are somewhat dragged down by the rather mindless exploration that feels like a means to an end. But overall, The Alters is a brave and bold step forward within the survival genre, and one that will make you question your life decisions more than any other.

When living vicariously through your Sims, Island Living is definitely worth it if you choose to move them to the island itself, even without choosing the mermaid life. However, off of the island, the expansion will have much less of an impact on your regular Sims’ daily life, unlike that of the previous Seasons expansion. If there was the option to schedule a vacation, like in Outdoor Retreat, in addition to brief visits, I think it would have more of an impact on the overall game. In the end though, Island Living is a solid expansion that is definitely worth the time of both the casual and avid Sims player.

Sea of Solitude has the heart to pull through and guide players to the end, where its messages really start taking shape.

Even with its faults, Kentucky Route Zero is well-written and contains wonderful art and sound design.

The Alliance Alive is a straightforward and fun JRPG with enough to keep the player invested throughout its story, but it could use some work on difficulty balancing and the inclusion of voice over.

Sworn is an incredibly fun action Roguelite to jump into, especially if you have friends to play with. While it certainly isn't perfect, there's enough here to at least give it a shot. Sworn in its best moments is a game that engages you on several levels and forces you to make difficult decisions while rewarding your hard work. In its worst moments, it's a bit of a slog that will have you questioning your strategy and build. If you like Arthurian legend and thoroughly enjoy Roguelite action with meta-progression, you'll find yourself very pleased with your time in Sworn.

White Day: A Labyrinth Named School is a great game for fans of the survival horror genre, you will feel right at home throughout the entire game.

With a dynamic and engrossing story playing out on a personal stage in front of you, Augmented Empire is a class act.

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.

Throughout my 35 hours of playing Digimon World: Next Order I began to feel like I did the first time a discovered the series. Every Digimon that joined my team made an impact on me and I wanted them all to be the best they can be. The game can be frustrating, but in the end there’s nothing like raising two healthy Digimon. The old mechanics of the Digimon World franchise prove to stand the test of time and can now be experienced by a new generation of gamers to discover and immerse themselves for hours in the digital world.

Dynasty Warriors 9 does a very good job of making you feel part of a larger war that is happening all around you.

PGA Tour 2K21 misses a few putts, but lays down a promising foundation for the future.

While I won’t be forgetting this Western romp anytime soon, I’ll be remembering the witty dialogue exchanges and unique graphics more than its gameplay.

Dissidia Final Fantasy NT’s soundtrack is fantastic.

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.

EA Sports and Codemasters have conjured what is the best Formula 1 game to date. The problem here is that they do this every other year, without error. F1 25 has beautiful graphics, a bombastic presentation that sometimes overshadows the actual racing, and handling improvements that finally do away with half a decade of bad habits in the series. If you are chasing a realistic Formula 1 racing experience and sink over a hundred hours into this game yearly, these changes are enough to justify the price. However, for most players, especially those running controllers or with multiple assists on, this is just $59.99 to have a slightly more polished experience than F1 24. Here's hoping the 2026 regulations bring the change that both virtual and real series need.

The Evil Within 2 still has some nagging control issues when it comes to combat.

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

Thankfully, there’s too many good features about Nights of Azure 2 for fans of Gust to not pick it up, while at the same time introducing new players to the developer. As for me, I’m going to hope that they continue to support this awesome action RPG series and its casual yuri story plots.

Destroy All Humans! 2 – Reprobed is a really good game that doesn’t take itself seriously. In some ways, it’s a relic from another era, a reminder of how simple and fun games used to be; a time before the endless grind. Heck, there’s even couch multiplayer, once a standard feature in games that has slowly faded out over the years. Despite its heritage, Destroy All Humans! 2 – Reprobed feels and plays modern enough with refined controls, decent visuals, and enough over-the-top fun to easily overlook the few shortcomings.

With slick gameplay mechanics and buttery smooth controls, My Friend Pedro will keep you coming back time and time again in the pursuit of that perfect run.