Darkwood‘s story is twisted and full of weird characters and unnerving moments. The ultra-tough gameplay is likely to turn quite a few people off and it can be tedious, but those that stick with Darkwood will be rewarded with a memorable survival-horror game that will linger with them long after they’ve conquered its nightmares.

Fans of the series will likely enjoy the first episode, as it builds off years’ worth of investment. However, those that expected something that tied into A New Frontier may be somewhat disappointed, as this first episode offers many more questions with very little in the way of answers.

Afterlove EP lacks meaningful gameplay, and its bugs can range from inconvenient to apocalyptic, so it says a lot that it's still worth recommending it to anyone who likes smaller, story-driven games. Make no mistake, the aforementioned issues do drag down the overall experience, but at the end of the day, Afterlove EP is more than the sum of its parts. Its music, charming characters, nuanced portrayal of grief, and beautiful manga-inspired art design are all worth the price of admission. If developer Pikselnesia can hammer out its more troubling bugs, then Afterlove EP has a chance to become an all-timer in the visual novel genre.

Although the game boils down to a walking sim with a puzzle component, the unique setting and mechanics make it worth a playthrough.

Those wanting to roll the dice on Concord will find an excellent FPS full of exciting abilities, intense battles, and eye-popping visuals. The game's character designs, premium price point, and general lack of interest from the public may make it so Concord never really gets a chance, and so potential consumers need to weigh the risks of investing $40 on a game that may be dead before too long. Personally, I am glad to have played Concord and I will continue playing it as much as possible, and will be sad if the day comes when its player count dwindles to the point where it no longer makes sense to support it. Hopefully, Concord defies the odds and becomes one of Sony's long-lasting live service experiments.

Dead Rising 4 is certainly good, but it’s still not as good as it could have been.

Gamers who’ve never experienced the old-school variety of first person shooters may also still enjoy Turok – though it’s a bit more punishing than modern first person shooters, the availability of cheat codes and a wide arsenal of weapons and enemies should still make an entertaining adventure for gamers who don’t mind older, jagged-looking graphics.

On its own, Astro’s Playroom would be a fun platforming distraction fit for younger gamers or families. Its world is vibrant and wonderfully detailed, and it looks exceptional on the PS5. But in all honesty, this isn’t so much a game as it is a showpiece for what the DualSense controller can do. And as a result, this isn’t so much a review, as it is an opportunity to highlight how well the features on the PS5 controller work.

Crisol isn't a perfect survival-horror game, but that's not to say that it's not a solid time overall. I really enjoyed Crisol's combat and though the levels are a little bloated, the game still delivers a fairly solid rendition of the classic survival-horror gameplay loop. Genre fans should definitely make sure to give it a look.

This game is a worthy successor to the Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance titles. Though the combat can become a bit repetitive, it's fast-paced and engaging for the most part. While playing solo, it's fun and challenging, and it's easy to see how it would flourish with a full group of players. It isn't perfect, but the over-the-top voice acting and character models, respect for Dungeons and Dragons lore, and intuitive combat make for a charming package. It's casual enough for anyone to pick up and play while retaining enough Dungeons and Dragons standards to keep experienced players of the tabletop game content. Dungeons and Dragons: Dark Alliance is a fun action RPG, that has an opportunity to open up Dungeons and Dragons to a wider audience.

Sniper Elite 4 may lack the bells and whistles of other World War 2-based shooters, but its top tier shooting mechanics and open maps make it a fun experience for the creative sniper.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 won't be a game for everyone. If you're looking for the depth and variety of content offered by other leading AAA RPGs, The Chinese Room's relatively modest take on Seattle-at-night might leave you feeling a little underwhelmed. But if you want a story that you can sink your teeth into and gameplay that, while not always given the proper room to breathe, often gets the job done, then you'll likely settle into this relaxed-fit action-adventure quite nicely. In a way, Bloodlines 2 is a fitting continuation of its predecessor's legacy: it's deeply flawed, but masterfully written.

Hopefully, this is just THQ Nordic's first step with the new IP, and that could perhaps be the biggest selling point for the game. Back in the day, there were big plans for an MMO set in Kingdoms of Amalur's world, while potential sequels were brought up in fan discussions from time to time. While it may not be perfect, Re-Reckoning would be a great way to finally lead that charge and realize the grand vision that 38 Studios once held.

Ultimately, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage proves to be an uneven experience where the characters are more interesting than the plot. With a final twist that doesn't feel earned and fails to illuminate the game's greater mystery, it's hard to imagine players eagerly awaiting the second half of the story when it arrives on April 15. However, it's still possible that the remainder of the title could continue building its wonderful characters and make the juice worth the squeeze.

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 offers a genuinely fun multiplayer experience, so it's a shame that its single-player features are so weak. We were unable to test the game's online functionality, but if the online multiplayer is reliable and as fun as its local offerings, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 will be a solid option for Smash fans who are hungry for something fresh. The game isn't going to blow anyone away, but it mostly accomplishes what it has set out to do and delivers a platform fighting game experience that outdoes the original.

Gotham Knights is a lot of fun, and for someone looking to mindlessly beat criminals as a superhero, it's an easy recommendation. Yet, anyone interested in anything more than that is going to face a lot of disappointment with its story beats, gameplay elements, individual features, and many other elements.

It feels strange to put gameplay at the bottom of the list for any video game, but Fort Solis clearly made performance and visuals a priority. With a cast consisting of two video game A-listers, the game showcases what a difference hiring talented people can have on the impact of a story. Disappointing conclusion aside, the visuals, tone, and the acting are strong enough to satisfy some people. However, the gameplay is rarely fun and occasionally frustrating, even if the mood is tense and the desire to see more is compelling. Fort Solis is a hard game to recommend for a mass audience, but there is a specific subset of gamers who this game will really resonate with.

Its no holds barred approach to the familiar side scrolling shooter combat helps it stand out from the pack, and keep players engaged from beginning to end.

Satellite Reign offers a great real time strategy experience in a cyberpunk world, but doesn’t keep the experience as fresh as it could have been.

Superliminal is still a really solid puzzle game. Its innovative main mechanic is worth the price of admission alone, with Pillow Castle taking the time to evolve and experiment with the mechanic so no two levels are ever exactly the same. What it lacks in challenge, story, and length it makes up for with its commitment to its perspective-based premise, carving a genuinely fun puzzler that's sure to leave aficionados of the genre satisfied.

Redfall is ultimately a fun experience thanks to the world, the enemies, and the gunplay itself, but as a whole, it's an incredibly shallow one too. Because of this, some may question whether it's worth the price tag, but it's noteworthy that Redfall is launching on Xbox Game Pass. It feels like the game is designed for the service, with an experience that is easily digestible, is full of simple mindless fun, and is easy to move on from.

Even though Zombies in Spaceland and multiplayer are just more of the same, as a whole, it’s hard to find an FPS on the market as fully-featured as Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare. The campaign is the surprise highlight, with heart-pounding action, jaw-dropping graphics, and fresh ideas for the series, making it worth checking out even for those disappointed by its sci-fi themes.

Dead Island 2 offers plenty of over-the-top zombie-killing fun, especially in co-op, but it's dragged down by serious technical problems.

The music and sound effects in Sun Blast are pretty sweet, and some of the music I’d even call spectacular and worthy of being included in a glorious 80’s sci-fi movie soundtrack.

Dungeons of Hinterberg does a lot of things right. It features a story that shows the protagonist growing within themselves, albeit slowly, and embraces its casual atmosphere with wide-open arms. Players that enjoy that slower side of gaming will find some interesting moments while exploring and playing through the story. The rest will have to find something buried in the game's combat to keep their interest, though that may prove too difficult. Still, those players looking for something easy that never moves too fast and ambles on at a comfortable pace will enjoy Dungeons of Hinterberg for the qualities it fully embraces.

Soundtrack changes, the cheaper price, and PS5's backward compatibility make it easy to recommend the original Until Dawn over the remake, but the remake is still a high-quality game. It looks incredible, the Until Dawn story is still a thrilling time, and there is some worthwhile new content to seek out. However, $59.99 is a steep asking price for what's on offer. PC-only gamers may want to consider taking the plunge, but those on PlayStation might be better served sticking with the original and looking up the new ending.

While Avowed's successes should not be overlooked, its shortcomings highlight the need for refinement later on. If nothing else, Obsidian has something worthwhile here that might actually reach its full potential if it were given a sequel. As it stands currently, however, it is a game that will likely resonate most with dedicated RPG fans who appreciate the weight of moral decision-making but may leave others feeling like their journey through the Living Lands was cut short just as it was beginning to hit its stride.

In a field crowded with competitors, Achilles: Legends Untold does everything it can to set itself apart from the pack. A story setting that hasn’t been explored as much in the isometric combat arena, a fighting system that flows very smoothly using whichever weapon a player wants, and large areas to explore and fight in. A large skill tree adds complexity as well, and there isn’t much to complain about in the looks department. It will need all of this and more to go up against the big names of the genre, but this scrappy action RPG fighter has a bigger punch than most players will be expecting.

Despite the occasional stumble, The DioField Chronicle turns convention on its side regularly enough that even the more familiar elements feel fresh much of the time. Players have regularly encountered evil empires, warmongering generals, sneaky alliances, and corrupt church officials within the genre, in classic RPG experiences ranging from Suikoden to Final Fantasy Tactics and beyond. Those familiar tropes and themes have rarely been married with such a fresh combat system, however. There’s room for improvement across the board, but what’s available already is worth a look by strategy fans new and old alike.

A joy to play, and those after a frenetic indie fix with plenty of action should get themselves hooked up with Extreme Exorcism pronto.

It’s that infectious enthusiasm that makes VoidExpanse such an effective experience. The game may have flaws, with stability a problem that still needs to be addressed, but AtomicTorch has nonetheless created a highly addictive and fun title, with the potential to grow into a sleeper indie hit.

Those that give Crash Team Rumble a chance will find fun, fast-paced platforming gameplay that rewards coordinated teamwork but is still perfectly entertaining with randoms. Toys for Bob has proven that the Crash Bandicoot-style of platforming is right at home in the online multiplayer space, but the game's longevity is a legitimate concern. Anyone interested in the game should jump in now while the community is most active, but those that don't want to risk spending $30 on a game that may fall off in a few months may be better served waiting to see if Crash Team Rumble gets a free-to-play re-release down the road.

Everything on display here has been seen before, and though it does those things well, its reliance on a tried-and-true formula and its liberal borrowing from Bloodborne in particular work against it, denying it a unique identity. Yet despite the impulse to think that The Last Faith could just be 2D Bloodborne 2, the final product is a great Metroidvania on its own, and - aside from some of the writing - its adaptation of the work that inspired it is very well done. Ultimately, The Last Faith feels sharp, looks great, and it's a lot of fun to play. Playstack clearly loves and understands the genre, and anyone looking to scratch the itch will certainly enjoy this game.

If story and interactive fiction interest you, and if you like musing on regret and memory and family, you’ll find something to like in Three Fourths Home.

Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake is a respectful return to two foundational RPGs that still have value today, even if they don't age so gracefully in every area. The visual overhaul is excellent, the story additions work far better than expected, and the world feels more alive than it ever has. However, the shallow, slow, and repetitive combat, frequent encounters, and grind-heavy pacing hold it back from being as inviting as it could be for new players. Longtime fans will appreciate how faithfully these classics have been recreated, but anyone looking for a modernized experience may find that Dragon Quest 2 carries most of the weight while Dragon Quest 1 struggles to justify itself beyond nostalgia.

Beautiful environments, a deliberate slow pace, and an intriguing story to unravel for completionists make this Homesick game a moody journey.

Although The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing II doesn’t look as sharp, it certainly delivers more than enough entertaining content for the price of entry. Fans of ARPGs who enjoy micromanaging can’t go wrong with this title, but its lack of deep tutorials might make it difficult to jump into for gamers who aren’t already familiar with the genre.

Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered lacks the impact of Suda51 and Mikami’s Killer7, the mechanical depth of Mikami's RE4 and Vanquish, and the uncompromised vision of Kurayami Dance. However, getting lost in what SotD isn't also means losing sight of what it is. Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is a delightful B-movie romp that can be knocked off in a weekend, and there's still value in that. Diving into hordes of enemies with Garcia's upgraded abilities and assorted takedowns can be very fun, even if extra details like headshots feel like they could be tightened up. If it sparks some good word-of-mouth, perhaps today’s leaner shooter landscape will do Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered some good.

Overcooked 2 is better than the first game, but yet again, there is room for improvement. Ghost Town Games is still trying to nail the recipe for the perfect local co-op party game, and perhaps it will succeed if it delivers a third title with more levels that drops some of the more frustrating elements and irons out the lingering technical issues.

The game’s lack of engaging narrative and experimental soundtrack are likely to alienate some of the more casual gamers who would give Amplitude a shot.

Despite being a solid Bloodborne imitation, Thymesia carries over common issues in other Soulslikes. It's a great challenge for Bloodborne fans and offers the potential for exciting gameplay, but it weighs itself down with complicated and poorly implemented mechanics.

Mortal Shell offers an experience that longtime Dark Souls fans will likely cling to. Its early hours can be painfully slow, and there are a smattering of issues with the world design, but it's not enough to ruin the experience. Once players find their groove with the right loadout, Mortal Shell's biggest problems evaporate, and its offering of new additions to the Souls-like formula makes it stand out in an increasingly crowded genre.

If Shinobi: Art of Vengeance was more challenging and had more depth to it, it would potentially be the best game in the franchise to date. As it stands, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is still a mostly triumphant return that will keep genre fans thoroughly entertained while it lasts, and it would be great to see a follow-up that builds on its foundation to create something even bigger and better.

There is something special here for those who want a mechanical experience that can bring about a fluid, satisfying flow state. For everyone else, the game should be a blast to watch at GDQ.

Viewfinder is fun while it lasts and has more than one moment that will leave players with a smile on their faces. It doesn't live up to its full potential, but it's still a solid game and one that will hopefully inspire others to explore similar concepts. It's easy to see how Viewfinder's picture-to-reality idea could be huge for something like a horror game or even a first-person shooter. Applying the brilliant idea at its core to something with a better story and more content would be the makings of an instant classic. What's here is still certainly worth the price of admission, however.

It’s a shame, because for all of the story missteps and relatively simple gameplay, there are plenty of small touches in the game that make it rather enjoyable.

From Showcase to MyGM, WWE 2K22 is stuffed with content, and in terms of graphics and polish, it's a huge improvement over its predecessors. But the game has some notable drawbacks, especially with the botched MyGM, which could have been the crown jewel of WWE 2K22's game modes. The foundation is there for a future WWE game to provide a more fleshed-out MyGM experience, so hopefully, it isn't abandoned again.

Octopath Traveler 0 is a game I'm glad I spent time with, even if it made me sigh as often as it made me lean forward. It delivers some of the series' most memorable moments, both in how it tells its story and in how it lets you build a small corner of its world through Wishvale. At the same time, its constant cutscenes, uneven rewards, and reliance on the illusion of choice keep it from reaching the heights it seems so close to touching. For every moment I was absorbed by its atmosphere or impressed by its combat, there was another where I felt the game tug me back into a pace that wasn't my own. Even so, there is a sincerity to this entry that stuck with me. It might not be the total reinvention some fans hoped for, but it still carries the heart of the series, and that was enough to make the journey worthwhile.

While it's not without its flaws, The Pathless is still more fun than it is not, with impressive visuals, fun boss fights, relaxing puzzles, and an interesting movement system. It's one of the better PS5 launch games, and it's easy to see how a sequel could elevate the concept to the next level and become something special.

Hardcore Hot Wheels fans will get the most out of Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged, but even casual racing game fans will have a lot of fun with the game. Not everything clicks, and the game could have benefited greatly by having more variety with its track environments, but Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged is an exciting racer with a great set of creation tools that should keep fans busy for quite some time.

Nobody Saves the World could have been exceptional, but there are certain aspects that are lacking. The expected Drinkbox Studios humor isn’t pervasive enough to keep people playing to see what’s next, the story is negligible and seems like something tossed in to give players a half-hearted sense of purpose, and the repetitiveness of quests gets tiresome very quickly. The positives of the game – the appealing art style, variety of skills and dungeons, and perhaps multiplayer — might not be enough to keep players interested either. That being said, the gameplay and presentation of Nobody Saves the World will undoubtedly win over many people, and it may capture the attention of others for a solid chunk of time.

Spellbreak's shortcomings at launch make it a far less compelling experience than many of the other battle royale games on the market. It will undoubtedly get better with future updates, and not only that, Spellbreak supports cross-play and is free-to-play. Battle royale fans looking for something that's a little different flavor than the military shooters that dominate the genre have no real reason not to give it a go, but they should keep their expectations in check.

Just like the Arsenals the game revolves around, Daemon x Machina: Titanic Scion has a very strong core, but one that frequently comes under attack. The central loop of finding new gear and experimenting with new builds and playstyles remains satisfying long after the credits roll, and there's a plethora of engaging side content for players who want the most bang for their buck. However, Titanic Scion's performance on the Nintendo Switch 2 and some clunky narrative choices often hold it back from reaching its full potential.

Pac-Man World Re-Pac has fun boss fights and decent 3D platforming gameplay for the most part, but it suffers from excessive back-tracking and is quite short. It is a mostly faithful recreation of the PS1 Pac-Man World game, but in a much prettier package, and with its budget price, it's an easy recommendation to anyone that has nostalgia for the original. Those who never played the PS1 original may not appreciate it as much, but it's still a solid 3D platformer despite its flaws.

There is a lot about Curse of the Dead Gods that ticks the familiar boxes of a solid roguelike. A cool art style, engaging combat, some fun twists on the genre, and a sense of progression are key to making it engaging and addictive. Without a meaty story driving the experience, though, Curse of the Dead Gods relies heavily on its gameplay to keep players coming back for more. Motivation is ultimately going to be the driving factor for players. If they believe they can overcome seemingly insurmountable odds, Curse of the Dead Gods will feel like a rewarding experience once they complete a full run.

God Eater 3 doesn’t break any molds and that’s okay. It fulfills its role as a solid action JRPG and a worthy successor to Bandai Namco‘s God Eater franchise by combining the rustic tropes of the genre with a heart-warming, if familiar, story of a developing family struggling to survive. Even through repetitive beats, the missions that run into each other, and the humdrum of the reused environmental assets, the story shines bright like a beacon in the Ashlands.

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is in the spirit of high-quality AA games that should not go unnoticed. Banishers does not necessarily break any new ground with its systems but it keenly focuses on a single vision with its narrative and ensures that everything else is working in rhythm with it and working well. In the end, love is the driving force of Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, and anyone who thinks that they might be interested in Red and Antea’s story is undoubtedly in for a good time.

A fun – if challenging – addition to a Roguelike fan’s roster. It may not have all the bells and whistles of some of the more well-known titles on the market, and the gameplay may feel a little too old-school for some, but overall the game is a sharp, relentless strategy game with plenty of punch. Even without any text, Hieroglyphika proves to be a highly engaging experience.

Hollowbody excels in some key areas, like its sound design, though it also comes up way short in others, like with its level design. Regardless, it's a serviceable survival-horror game that does everything one would expect. Nothing it does is new, but it does everything well enough to make it an easy recommendation to fans of survival horror games from the 2000s.

The challenging boss fights, engaging combat, and emphasis on co-op in Darksiders Genesis make it still worth checking out despite its technical hiccups. Fans of the Darksiders franchise worried that the game is too different from the others can rest easy knowing that Darksiders Genesis is a genuine Darksiders experience from start to finish.

WWE 2K26 lives in the long shadow cast by the improvements seen in WWE 2K22 throughout WWE 2K25. It even makes its own improvements to the tried-and-true formula, but it ends up disappointing far more than its predecessors. The in-ring action still hits hard, and most modes deliver the experience fans have come to expect, offering just enough variety to keep the hours ticking by. There’s fun here, but it's undermined by a lack of creative ambition. Creativity within its offerings is what elevates a good wrestling game into a memorable one, but WWE 2K26 often feels trapped in a creative plateau.

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing likely won’t be dragging too many players away from releases like Fallout 4. However, when the release schedule slows down in a few months time, there’s likely to be plenty of players who are pleasantly surprised by a trip to Borgovia.

Paperbound may not have the depth needed to penetrate the ever-growing e-sports scene, but that’s beside the point. Boot up Paperbound and gather together a group of four friends, and you’re almost guaranteed to have a good time.

Call of the Sea struggles to maintain its momentum as it nears the end of the game in terms of gameplay, but the first few chapters are great and the story at least stays interesting. While its short length may understandably make some hesitant to buy it outright, it's an easy recommendation for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, especially anyone looking for a fresh experience on their Xbox Series X consoles.

Pragmata certainly starts strong, but it doesn't have quite enough to stay completely engaging all the way to the end credits. It's a highly-polished sci-fi game with fun combat and exploration, but its lackluster story and characters keep it from reaching its full potential. Still, it's exciting to have a completely original IP from Capcom, and while Pragmata doesn't live up to the high bar set by some of the studio's other efforts, it's a mostly worthwhile adventure.

Mad Max may be a bit of a mixed bag, but the faithful recreation of the film universe, the ridiculous car combat, and loads of content will keep players coming back to the desert for a long time.

Tharsis is a game for those who love tabletop gaming and a challenging experience. At its heart Tharsis is as unforgiving as it is entertaining, but it offers very little variety in terms of the overall game.

All in all, The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is a wonderful entry point for players fresh to the franchise. The main cast of characters is charming and bursting with personality, even without voice acting; there are so many entertaining cases to go through, and the courtroom dramatics will keep players mostly intrigued and on their toes. The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles isn't the best pair of Ace Attorney games out there, but they will still provide players with an enjoyable experience that will last for many, many hours.

While it is a fun game for short bursts of time, Fruit Ninja Kinect 2 lacks the depth needed to be a top choice game for most gamers, and fails to build upon its predecessor.

Overall, Essays on Empathy is a great look into the lives of different characters and how they fit into the world around them. It may not be the most graphically or mechanically advanced, but that didn’t seem to be the goal of the games anyways. Essays on Empathy gives players a chance to step into the shoes of people different from them and understand them a bit better than before. While some players may struggle with certain subjects tackled in each game, the topics addressed are part of a bigger conversation worth having.

Pearl Abyss’ Black Desert Online is an incredibly detailed, visually gorgeous MMORPG that succeeds at nearly everything but having a beating heart and soul.

In the end, what does this short, ridiculous, and at times hilariously disgusting game have to say about the human condition? To quote the artist, it is “about nothing less than love.”

Mario Tennis Aces may not be quite as engaging as the Nintendo 64 game, but it’s a significant improvement over the poorly-received Ultra Smash on the Wii U.

Pokemon Let’s Go botches co-op and may feel like a step backwards in some ways, but in others, it is a surprising leap forward for the franchise. By streamlining many elements that made past Pokemon games frustrating, Pokemon Let’s Go successfully delivers a faster-paced Pokemon adventure, even though it has some missteps here and there.

Lakeview Cabin Collection is genuinely difficult, and may prove too much of a challenge for players expecting a quick game. Yet the sandbox gameplay provides enough enjoyment that winning isn’t necessary to have fun.

A seriously innovative game.

Those looking for a nostalgia trip will find it here, but there are some huge asterisks to consider before diving in. Mafia: Definitive Edition is just right for those looking to kill a few evenings before the fall's bigger games start rolling in, or those that have fond memories of the franchise. It's got a pile of problems to sort out, but at the same time, it scratches an itch that few other games can.

The Surge delivers an intriguing sci-fi world with dark themes and should satisfy any genre fans looking for something to play now that the Dark Souls series has ended. Just don’t pick up The Surge expecting a game that is as polished as From Software’s flagship franchise.

It's not surprising that Where Winds Meet drew millions of players after its initial release in China. Almost anyone can find something they enjoy in it, and there's enough there to sink hours into. But as a jack of all trades and master of none, it won't likely be many people's favorite.

Despite some stumbles, there's still much to recommend playing and finishing Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals. Fans of the first game will get a little more out of it, but new players will catch up easily. Though it wraps up a little too cleanly and some bothersome traversal gets in the way, it tells a well-written, relatable story that's worth experiencing.

Despite jarring bugs and inconsistencies, Curse of the Sea Rats is a well-designed game with a clear direction. Petoons Studio succeeded in making an accessible Metroidvania that can be enjoyed by gamers of varied skill levels. Its art, simplicity, and smoothly escalating challenge make it a great way to introduce a younger audience to the genre. If the rough edges are smoothed away, a real gem lies beneath.

Evil West's poor narrative, dated graphics, and short length make it somewhat difficult to justify the $60 price tag, regardless of how much fun the core combat is. Even so, those yearning for a no-nonsense action game with old-school sensibilities may still want to take the plunge, and if they aren't bothered by the short length, they are unlikely to walk away disappointed.

Tower of Guns does have an element of fun thanks to its randomized levels and simple premise, but it’s a game best consumed a little at a time. While a few gamers may enjoy the game enough to play it often, most will see Tower of Guns as a momentary distraction to be experienced for a few minutes, then left to wait for a later date.

The premise of a procedurally generated rogue-like experience sounds fun, and it certainly starts off that way – but once things start to get repetitive and the game slows down to a familiar grind, the brittle bones of Necropolis are exposed.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection is a funtime if you have an existing nostalgia for the series. Some features and mechanics could be better explained from game to game, but the developers may not have wanted to tamper with the original experience. Thankfully, menus and manuals create enough quality of life improvements to look past the sour spots among the included games.

It comes quietly – the new features are nice additions to the gameplay, but this flavor pack doesn’t dramatically change how players will interact with Cities: Skylines.

Returning to this pivotal Atlus JRPG well over a decade after its original release, Shin Megami Tensei 3 Nocturne HD Remaster has never been more accessible. Nocturne is unabashedly old-school, in both good ways and not-so-great ways. The gameplay adjustments and options allow for decent customization of the experience, but some of the omissions in this re-release are pretty glaring. It's not perfect, but so long as players can adjust to its rustic edges, there is a fantastic old-school JRPG in Nocturne's remaster full of quality of life changes that make it worth playing in 2021.

Yo-Kai Watch is filled with charm, monsters to befriend, unique battle mechanics, and gameplay that keeps players engaged. Still, the title is filled with redundancies.

As found in many good RTS games, the potential for mastery of Iron Harvest's mechanics is immense, but it can also be plenty of fun to turn down the difficulty, crank up the starting resources, and watch the big robots fight. Against a high-difficulty AI with a wide array of units, players will need to be clever, quick, and good at micro-managing units, taking advantage of cover and unique abilities to turn the tide. For RTS or other strategy fans, the game is definitely worth checking out, but those who find themselves primarily interested in the setting and not the focused gameplay may want to wait for a sale.

Despite its imperfections, this is far from a bad game. It’s not for everyone, but there are certainly players out there who will eat it up.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition is a fantastic game that is hindered by some multiplayer hindrances. With a few updates and some additional work, this game could overcome its flaws and relive its glory days. Unfortunately, there's no telling whether or not these changes will be made, or how serious Square Enix is about maintaining the title now that it has been released to the wild. Players should try and take the game at face value, as difficult as it may be to look past its differences from the original.

The dastardly Mr Moon and his troublemakers have stolen Mr Sun’s hatbox delivery from a humble courier company. With the fate of an aspiring apparel business at stake, it’s up to you to build a team, stage a series of heists, and get it back.

As mentioned, this remaster is geared for newcomers and so it's the best way to experience the game, even if it isn't a must-play for those who already experienced it on last-gen.

Considering its short length and current lack of replay value, it is somewhat difficult to recommend The Callisto Protocol at full price, but it is a must-buy when the price comes down a bit. The Callisto Protocol is an excellent game let down by some hugely important missing features, but hopefully future updates will help it live up to its full potential as a worthy successor to the Dead Space franchise.

The Resident Evil 3 remake will appeal to hardcore fans of the franchise and those needing their survival-horror fix, but its especially short length and lack of replay value, even compared to the PS1 original, definitely makes it harder to recommend than Resident Evil 2.

We’re comfortable recommending this title to gamers looking for a quick fix of solid, 2D beat-’em-up action without many frills.

Star Wars Battlefront may not offer unlimited entertainment for years to come or the best environment for fiercely competitive gamers, but there’s no denying that it does a brilliant job of giving Star Wars fans a chance to walk around and live in the iconic universe.

Hard West may not reinvent the wheel, but it’s a visually imposing title that brings tactical combat to a new and intriguing setting. Gamers are unlikely to be playing Hard West for the long haul, but it’s a good blast whilst it lasts.