At its core, Weird West is a solid game that presents a fun sandbox to play in. There are some aspects of its combat and story that aren't as strong as we'd hoped, but exploring the world and uncovering secrets with its strange and diverse cast of characters is enjoyable. It's time to saddle up and head out west.

Nintendo aims to expand the game with free updates after release, but for now Arms lays a solid foundation for the future. The vibrant cast of characters, accessible mechanics and couch friendly co-op offer a distinctive fighting game that feels right at home on the Nintendo Switch. The battles eventually become routine but offer an alternative to other complex and competitive fighting games.

Timespinner is good callback to the 90s and games that inspired it. It has some solid combat, decent exploration, and a great soundtrack. The story and side quests are a bit dull, and the time mechanic never delivers on its potential, but it’s still an enjoyable adventure overall.

Outriders blends frenetic combat and hard hitting class skills to make each encounter feel tense and rewarding. Chasing loot drops and collecting mods to bolster your collection is as addictive as using storm whip on vulnerable foes. The presentation makes it hard to connect with the characters, but players willing to read a lot may be surprised by how much thought has been put into things behind the scenes. With the current state of problems however, waiting a bit longer for things to get sorted out is recommended.

Far Cry New Dawn offers a leaner take on Ubisoft’s open world formula clocking in at about 13 hours, but hardcore completionists can stretch beyond that. The characters and narrative drag down the fun, but the variety in your tactics and arsenal allow you to approach each activity in different ways. It doesn’t revolutionize the series, but New Dawn is a solid entry that makes us eager to see where the franchise goes next.

It’s clear there’s some friction between the vision for Starlink and what we’ve come to expect for Star Fox as the two don’t mesh together perfectly, but what Ubisoft manages to accomplish is pretty remarkable. It’s a good game with a lot of small flaws, and this imperfect union shows amazing potential. It’s repetitive and certainly could use some more polish, yet it’s still strangely addictive and fun. If Nintendo is smart, they’ll continue this collaboration with Ubisoft, only hopefully next time it will be a dedicated Star Fox project instead of a tacked-on console exclusive.

Trek to Yomi doesn’t offer anything essential, but it scratches a very specific itch. Edo Era Japan is an entertaining setting, and the lethal sword duels are engaging albeit basic. A few extra enemy types and further insight into Hiroki’s struggle could have elevated Trek to Yomi to greater heights, but it’s still a fun diversion for those looking to clash swords.

Blanc isn’t a heady game or a particularly sad game, it’s about the simple beauty of companionship. As you clamber over rooftops, slide down hills, or push through blinding winds, you’re doing so with someone you care about at your side, going out together for a memorable walk in the snow.

Fire Emblem Warriors absolutely makes good on its combination of strategy and action, working better than many other licenses that have adopted the Warriors format. While it's definitely rough in spots, it does manage to capture a lot of the Fire Emblem spirit. If Nintendo keeps mixing its properties with the Warriors style, hopefully those games will learn a lot from this experiment.

Even though some concepts never really feel fleshed out, Concrete Genie's imaginative design is compelling. It’s often way too straightforward, and elements like the combat feel like afterthoughts. However, covering Denska's walls with vibrant illustrations brings a wonderful sense of satisfaction, and watching your genies come to life is a delight.

MediEvil does a good job of addressing some of the problems found in the original while sticking close to the source material. The updated visuals and audio are great, and it’s more pleasant to play thanks to the improved interface. Even though some aspects can feel dated or way too straightforward, journeying through this dark and spooky world is still satisfying. Whether you're a fan of the original or enjoy other action-adventure games of the era, MediEvil is a solid choice.

Many of the best moments in Shadow of War come from elements returning from the first game, along with a few squabbles between Celebrimbor and Talion that begin to give them some identity. Otherwise, orcs always take center stage. The combat isn’t terribly difficult, but it’s a lot of fun to rip enemies apart. The story isn’t very satisfying, but it’s amusing to assemble a cast of murderous Captains. Shadow of War is a successful update to a smart formula, but it lacks enough depth and diversity to keep us enthralled.

Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite is a hard game to pin down, a task made even more difficult by the plentiful competition of other recently released fighting games. It's easy to see the areas where the game could have been so much more, an especially frustrating exercise when you consider how much it gets right. If the most important part of a fighting game is the joy you can have during an individual match, then Infinite manages to capture that. Hopefully future updates can smooth over some of its roughest aspects so the game can shine more brightly.

Fe’s shortcomings definitely hold it back from being something spectacular, but what it manages to achieve is still admirable. The stunning visuals, emotional singing mechanic, and the wonder of the world itself are top shelf efforts. Beneath its initial ambiguity and occasional rough patches lies a charming adventure.

Disintegration is solid and does a good job with its mix of FPS and RTS elements. The strategy aspects feel a little shallow, and neither the campaign nor multiplayer modes really go above and beyond in any way, but there’s still an enjoyable and interesting premise here. Disintegration’s mashup of genres isn’t revolutionary, but its different approach is worth a look.

The driving is excellent, there’s an enormous amount of cars to explore, and the improvements to weather and race length are appreciated. Yet there’s no defining element to really get behind aside from the ability to play in 4K after the launch of the Xbox One X. On its own, Forza Motorsport 7 has merit, but if you’ve invested a lot of time into the series, it can feel like it’s spinning its wheels.

Battlefield 2042 is inconsistent. The maps and vehicular combat are top tier, while the specialists and redesigned scorecard diminish teamwork. Hazard Zone does its best to offset these issues, but playing without a dedicated squad can be tricky. Portal opens the window to what could be a brighter future for the franchise, and hopefully DICE adds meaningful updates to the service at a steady rate. Battlefield 2042 has a long and windy road ahead, and only time will define its lasting legacy. As of this moment, all but the most dedicated veterans should probably wait and see how things shake out.

Déraciné maintains a calm and quiet focus on puzzle solving, characters, and its world above all else. Although it has a few underutilized mechanics and increasingly confusing time jumps, its story and atmosphere are strong enough to keep you engaged until the end.

Assassin’s Creed Origins isn’t the reinvention of the prolific franchise that many had hoped for. Instead, it refines the formula put in place a decade ago while telling an important story about the Assassins. Ancient Egypt is a compelling playground to explore, and the RPG elements make it easy to stay engaged. If you love the franchise, Origins is an easy recommendation. Just don’t except much change.

World of Final Fantasy certainly is an inconsistent, yet intriguing experience. There’s a touching tale set against wonderful locations and characters drawn from Final Fantasy’s rich history, but its best parts are short-lived. The visuals nail the storybook vibe, and they’re accompanied by a solid soundtrack featuring original compositions and beautiful new arrangements of classic pieces. Yes, the combat system is obviously heavily influenced by a certain popular Nintendo franchise, but Square Enix has put a unique spin on the formula with the stacking mechanic.

What does stand out are the weather effects, which fill the screen with debris and drop cover in your path - or just as easily rip it away. With constant windflares and lightning storms, this might be the loudest Gears yet. There are some off-the-wall vehicular segments and executions are at their goriest peak. Technically speaking, Gears of War 4 is solid.

Kirby’s greatest strength lies in the versatility and inventiveness of the powers he can absorb. Forming a team and combining those powers only adds to that joy of experimentation, but it’s disappointing that the places you go don’t do more to make the most of those abilities. Kirby Star Allies does get better in its later stages, it just isn’t particularly memorable as a whole.

Battletoads tries to do a lot in a short amount of time, and mostly succeeds. The core beat ‘em up stages drag on a little too long and the comedy is hit or miss, but there are enough other ideas mixed in to break up the pace and keep things interesting. It may not be the most triumphant comeback, but it’s a decent homecoming for Rare’s irreverent heroes.

SteamWorld Quest scratches the RPG itch with an accessible take on card-based battles. It’s never overwhelming which is both a benefit and detriment. The characters are lovable, but the plot fails to capitalize on its engaging foundation. In the end, it’s a solid entry in the SteamWorld franchise, just not the best.

Knack 2 is an improvement on the original in nearly every way. Constantly changing enemies and environments, a sizeable set of abilities, and seamless co-op are hindered by a mediocre story that’s hard to invest in. Still, it’s safe to say that Knack has been redeemed.

Maquette never quite delivers that sense of mind-boggling euphoria you might expect. Finicky mechanics sometimes get in the way, and it would help if there were more rewards for experimentation. That said, it’s still a fascinating premise that’s fleshed out in ways that keep pushing you to think outside the box. Paired with a love story that feels personal and authentic, it’s both intellectually and emotionally worth exploring.

PixelJunk Monsters 2 is exceedingly similar to its predecessor. The core mechanics remain simple with deep, nuanced strategy, but the short length and lack of multiplayer innovations are a letdown. It’s an easy game to recommend for fans and newcomers to the tower defense genre, but it lacks the impact of the original.

Although LawBreakers suffers from a sparse number of maps and shallow characters, its fast and fluid movement, gravity-defying combat, and emphasis on skill blend together to make for a solid multiplayer experience. There’s a decent core to build on, but it needs to do a lot more to stand out in the long run.