If you like fighting games, Mortal Kombat 11 is a must. NetherRealm Studios continues to create great fighting games with compelling stories, even in the goofiest of video game universes. Every minute of my day, I am thinking of how I can improve and perfect my strategies. Whether you’re a long-time kombatant or new to the series, Mortal Kombat 11 is a bloody blast.

Katana Zero ties an incredibly dark and thrilling narrative directly into fast and deep gameplay to create one of the best games of the year.

This adventure game features amazing character designs and a fun puzzle battle system, but The World Next Door suffers from a lack of content.

Super Dragon Ball Heroes: World Mission does an admirable job at replicating the original Japanese arcade game on the Nintendo Switch.

More than anything though, Sekiro is a game that I am endlessly thankful for having spent time with the past few weeks. The moments of elation that I have had playing through Sekiro were unmatched not only in gaming but in my everyday life. It provided a sense of joy that comforted me and made me optimistic when I needed it most. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a game I will continue to look back at fondly for years to come because of this.

Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain is the best entry in the series. It’s also just a ton of fun, in case you were worried at all that killing endless waves of giant bugs and aliens could be boring. I hope future entries will adopt and adapt everything Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain has added to the series. It’s certainly a better game for it and retains so many of the things longtime fans have come to love about the series. I’m happy to report that the EDF is back in business.

Whether you’ve been defending the helpless for years or are fresh off the bar exam, the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy is a collection you don’t want to miss.

A massive breath of fresh air that also capitalizes on the nostalgia towards mid-2000s racing games.

Power Rangers: Battle for the Gird had a lot of potential as a fighting game, but it ends up squandering most of it with a lack of content.

Even with an engaging combat system to some fun side characters, [The Caligula Effect: Overdose] just doesn’t have enough to carry all the dullness it brings with it in its story and environments.

While Tropico 6 remains the same in many ways from the other games within the series, it also consistently remains true to the complex and political nature that comes with ruling a nation, albeit with a few more features added to either improve or destroy the island depending on the player’s choices.

Generation Zero was not in the slightest bit enjoyable for me and it really is such a shame. Avalanche Studios had a really solid base to work off of here and it could have been an incredible experience for players. Instead, to my utter confusion, Generation Zero felt like it was still in early access, at best. It truly was a soulless and painful experience to undertake without cinematics, story, nor any hint of a single-player arc.

Though it is indeed the last time that we will see Clementine, AJ, and the other familiar faces of Telltale’s The Walking Dead in a state like this, Skybound Games certainly made those last moments count.

Though it doesn't quite build up on the first episode's potential, Life is Strange 2's second episode offers several compelling moments.

The Division 2 is better than it has any right to be. Considering how well everything works with one another, it is hard to not overstate how much this game does right. This is what “games as a service” games are supposed to be. Sure, it has the launch hiccups of its predecessors and that one mission that I loathed, but it is loaded with so much content that is both fun and challenging. The Division 2 is the litmus test for loot shooters from here on out and I will surely be playing more as its free DLC starts rolling out.

Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn is a solid 3DS port that both builds upon and takes away from the original Wii title's charm.

One Piece: World Seeker is a solid attempt at an open-world licensed anime game but the same attention to world building isn't applied to its gameplay to craft something that's truly memorable.

The Occupation just seems to work against itself in a finale where unfamiliarity with the surroundings, the necessary puzzle solving, and a constant threat of danger leads you to an ending that feels like something you fell into instead of worked towards.

I’d stay as far away from Left Alive as possible. For all of you hardcore Front Mission fans hoping for a proper sequel in the series, you can bury those hopes and dreams. With a team consisting of so much talent behind it, I truly wonder what went wrong with Left Alive. I love Square Enix games to death typically but this is frankly unacceptable…and it’s $60.

While DMC5 has upped the series’ style and flashiness to heights never seen before, it also packs in a surprising level of warmth and humanity that doesn’t completely let its focus on style overwhelm substance. After having waited over a decade, I realize that Dante might be a little older and grayer now, but I’m sure as hell glad to have him and the rest of the gang back again.

8-Bit Hordes doesn't do anything special but will provide a fun and comfortable experience to new players of the real-time strategy genre.

BioWare's Anthem is as disappointing as it is boring, with the game's biggest fault being that it just gets in the way of its own self.

Dead or Alive 6 is the most enjoyable and accessible title in the fighting series yet, though its story and online modes leave a bit to be desired.

While the commitment HumaNature Studios made to make an actual sequel to the original ToeJam & Earl is commendable, the gameplay just feels way too dated. ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove is truly the sequel fans were probably waiting for, it’s just 20 years too late.

Ape Out is a great little gem and one that works great as a portable single-player game for when you want to kill time. Loading times are adequate and don’t keep you staring at your reflection for too long, and the art style and the music work together in harmony. If you’re not a fan of twin-stick titles and potential bursts of rage-quitting, then this might not be the game for you. But if you want to be a banana munching gorilla on a rampage, then Ape Out is right up your alley.

Trials Rising is the easily the best entry in the popular 2.5D racing series and will keep you occupied for months to come.

Death end re;Quest proves it can tell an engaging and darker story in an RPG/visual novel, even though it doesn't do too much to make it stand out above the rest.

A new coat of paint improves both Blood Money and Absolution but with few other additions, Hitman HD Enhanced Collection is a hard sell.