It’s true that Falcon Age is burdened with its share of annoyances, but it overcomes them through the strength of its sense of companionship. By the end, you feel both as if the falcon is a trusted partner and a part of who you are. Even though the story may not have a satisfying payoff, it’s effective at putting you in the main character’s shoes and allowing you to identify with her struggles. There’s a greater sense of meaning here as well as a heartfelt connection that’s well worth exploring.

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.

An enjoyable undersea adventure overall, and we expect it to last about 6 to 8 hours for most players. The serene music sets a relaxing pace for you to search out each nook and cranny while the friendly narration bolsters the storybook tone. It strikes a nice balance between making sure you never feel lost, while providing ample room to experiment and explore. Don’t fret over this sub’s creaks and groans. There’s much to see beneath the waves.

The Callisto Protocol is a solid first entry in what Striking Distance hopes to be the next big horror franchise. Flawed, but unique and engaging melee combat is a fun way to fight against terrifying foes, while Black Iron Prison is an alluring space to investigate. Limited exploration, a cliché story, and forgettable firearms hold it back from being truly great. However, underneath the blemishes, The Callisto Protocol pushes horrifying visual detail to emphasize tense and perilous encounters.

While there’s nothing else out there that can deliver the thrill of racing across this vast city and scaling massive buildings using insane parkour techniques, the sense of wonder isn’t as strong as before. Catalyst is held back by a horrendous combat system and a lackluster story that takes itself too seriously. If you can get past its flaws, you’ll find Mirror’s Edge Catalyst is still a modest platformer.

Star Fox Zero is a wonderful re-imagining of one of the most beloved games in the series, blending elements from its early history in a tasteful manner. The meatier story mode leaves you with a better sense of fulfillment over its predecessors, and while there isn’t an online leaderboard to compare best times or scores, there are other extras to keep you playing. Adapting to the new controls might take more patience than some players are willing to give, but those who stick it out are rewarded with a higher-degree of precision than previously possible. It’s by no means perfect, but it’s safe to say Miyamoto’s latest experiment is a success.

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.

Oninaki tells an emotional tale about life, death, and the will of humanity. Its action-based combat and flexible Daemon system are enjoyable, but the game’s mundane world and presentation hold it back. Tokyo RPG Factory has done a great job of finding an identity of their own with Oninaki, and though it struggles in some areas, it's worth seeing through to the end.

Thymesia is a solid debut for OverBorder Studio. It has some rough edges, but it's still a good time thanks to a focus on core combat mechanics, aided by the versatility of its plague weapon system. It may not stand among the best in the genre, but it has enough going for it to see it through to the end.

Even though it makes some steps forward, The Crew 2 doesn’t offer much beyond wandering aimlessly and stumbling across landmarks. The variety of vehicle types removes any barriers on where you can go, and the creative racing scenarios keep things somewhat interesting. However, these strengths are overpowered by the annoying dialogue, pointless features, and considerable lack of challenge. Stats are king of the road in The Crew 2. Racing skill is supplanted by thoughtless RPG mechanics, and before long, it all just feels like going through the motions.

There’s a lot of potential in the combination of the Mario and Sonic universes, and the Olympic setting is one of the grandest stages of them all. Yet after over a decade, the developers simply can’t make the series live up to its massive billing. The retro angle could have been the missing ingredient, but the game doesn't lean into this strength enough. What’s left is a party game that’s fun for a few hours, but will just as quickly be forgotten.

Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain has its heart in the right place. Instead of simply treading water, it wants to push ahead. Such a drive makes the game entertaining, especially if you're already invested in the series and are curious about the evolution. Sadly, the game doesn't match its own ambition, grasping at greater heights without fully solving the problems its ideas create. Even so, there's something valuable here, and hopefully Yuke's gets another attempt to refine its direction.

Darksiders III has a good framework, including the simple yet fun combat and interesting Hollow system. Unfortunately, it’s held back by its weak puzzles, uninteresting environments, and numerous technical issues. If you’re already invested in the series and want to see it through to the end, there’s enough to enjoy despite its flaws, but it’s not the strongest return for the franchise.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX is a decent remake that nicely updates its presentation, but fails to improve upon its most prominent aspects. Exploring dungeons and battling should be standout features that excite and motivate you, but it quickly becomes a mundane routine. If you're a big Pokémon fan, you may find enough enjoyment out of recruiting new pokémon and building up your rescue team, but if you're looking for more beyond the Pokémon license, this Mystery Dungeon may not offer enough to keep you engaged.

Sea of Solitude tells an emotional story about what it means to be human and struggle with all of life's highs and lows. The gameplay itself isn’t as strong, and a few enemy encounters can drag down the pace. However, the introspective tale crafted by the team at Jo-Mei leaves an impact, and it's well worth exploring such challenging themes.

Rehydrated is a good remake that wonderfully updates aspects of the original. Even though the horde mode is bad and some aspects of the campaign can feel dated, going through Bikini Bottom as SpongeBob and his crew is still a lot of fun. Most importantly, it captures the charm of the show in a way that fans can appreciate the most. While the majority of licensed games get lost to time, it’s nice to see Battle for Bikini Bottom remembered and brought back.

Lost Sphear successfully captures the essence of classic role-playing games. It tells an engaging story with likeable characters and satisfying combat, though for its simplicity and shortcomings, the $50 price tag does seem a bit steep. Tokyo RPG Factory hasn’t come close to reaching the heights of the classics, but Lost Sphear is a worthwhile addition to the genre.

Star Wars Battlefront II features stunning audiovisual design, but it sets a new low for loot crate systems. With advantages determined by random chance and possibly returning to microtransactions in the near-future, it destabilizes the fun and spirit of competition. Meanwhile, the much-touted campaign is devoid of any memorable moments. Fans will certainly enjoy playing as the heroes and villains, but it’s hard to recommend Star Wars Battlefront II.

We wish the story had a stronger narrative, the online restrictions weren’t so frustrating, and the humor had more variety. But the diversity in everyone’s abilities and playstyles should be enough to keep the light of this last star shining for dedicated Gearbox fans.

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.

Even in retrospect, it’s easy to look at Hoa and imagine possibilities that it just doesn’t fulfill. The way it contextualizes its mechanics is wonderful, but there’s not enough depth, risk, or complexity to complement those ideas. As a result, the brief experience becomes rather flat and routine.

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.

Mafia III offers a rich narrative set in an authentic open-world. However, its memorable protagonist Lincoln Clay and beautiful setting in New Bordeux are squandered by menial, repetitive tasks, annoying glitches, and inexcusably daft AI. When the credits roll, there are surely moments to look back fondly upon, but it’s hard to recommend sifting through the trash to find them.

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.

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.

Sea of Thieves is an ambitious game filled with some great ideas. Being able to explore the high seas with friends while collecting treasure, battling other pirates, and solving riddles is fun the first few times. However, after the short honeymoon phase is over, there’s not much left to keep your crew from abandoning ship.

Marvel’s Avengers is launching with a few cuts and bruises. It has a charming story and a surprising amount of depth and detail in the massive Initiative missions, but trying to experience it all inevitably leads to running through the same types of areas over and over, multiplied by however many Avengers you choose to make time to level up. It might not be as easy to love this crew compared to the cast we’ve been laughing and crying with for the last 10 years, but the groundwork is here to create a potentially epic-sized superhero fantasy. It just has more work to do to get there.

Shenmue 3 faithfully continues the next chapter of Ryo Hazuki’s journey. After an 18-year wait against seemingly impossible odds and expectations, the end result is mostly successful. Welcoming locations and an absorbing plot are held back by presentation issues, while the combat system just hasn’t come together. Regardless, Shenmue 3 is a nostalgic return to a different time and a priceless reward for anyone invested in Lan Di’s demise.