Although the title stays a little too close to its roguelike blueprint, the open-ended nature and eye-catching, fluid battlegrounds make Convoy a thoroughly enjoyable and incredibly addictive journey into a post-apocayptic wasteland.

The arrival of Yo-Kai Watch 2: Bony Spirits provides fans with a familiar experience that changes very, very little when compared to the first iteration of the series.

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.

Overall, Salt and Sacrifice still nails the core elements that make a 2D reimagining of Dark Souls a compelling idea thanks to its fundamental understanding of how character and level progression should flow and its expansive combat system. By adding in an extra layer of Metroidvania-style exploration and a unique approach to boss encounters with its Mage Hunt mechanic, Salt and Sacrifice sees Ska Studios carve out a space for itself as more than the studio that is good at making 2D Dark Souls games.

There's a lot of work to be done to make Nintendo Switch Sports even half as fun as its predecessors, and as it stands now, it's a game that Switch owners can safely skip.

Mafia 2: Definitive Edition is a decent buy for anyone that hasn't played the original (on PC, anyway). It's a more complete package with superior graphics, but there are definitely aspects of the game that haven't aged well.

In the face of an IP filled with rich themes with something important to say, Frontiers of Pandora ignores the point entirely and goes on to have a gameplay loop where players spend most of their time killing otherwise docile animals to make arbitrary numbers go up so they can be as immortal as possible within the confines of the game. This would be business as usual for any other open-world gameplay loop, but it's embarrassingly ironic and tone-deaf for an Avatar game. Sure, anti-pollution sentiments are there because it's impossible to make an Avatar spin-off without them, but they're there superficially and treated as a checkbox for players to complete - ultimately ringing hollow. A betrayal of Cameron’s themes with the Avatar IP, seemingly stapled together as an attempt to get a slice of the highest-grossing film of all time’s pie, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora isn’t just generic; it is downright cynical.

Graphical issues aside, this is a phenomenal and ambitious game with a world that will challenge and entertain players for hours.

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.

Broken DLC promises, long load times, and story padding hurt Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, but it is still a game with plenty of content for Dragon Ball fans to sink their teeth into. It has a large roster full of diverse fighters, endless character creation possibilities, a streamlined hub world, and an engaging story. Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is a vast improvement over the original, and should leave franchise fans satisfied.

There are nits to pick with Toxic Commando​​​​​, but how egregious they are will ultimately come down to player preference. Some may find its accessibility a win for the multiplayer experience, while some may find it too easy. Some will appreciate its lack of bloat, while others will want deeper skill trees and more customization. All in all, though, fans of cheesy horror and zombie co-op shooters will find plenty to love in it. John Carpenter's Toxic Commando is not a game-changer, but it doesn't pretend to be, and it's all the better for it.

If you fall head over heels for Invincible VS’s moment-to-moment gameplay, then you’ll wind up having a sweet spot for the game as a whole. Invincible VS is a content-lean, $50 3v3 fighting game that’s based on a popular franchise but ultimately feels optional for fans of that franchise, trying to stake a hold in an especially competitive genre with entrenched leaders. There is definitely a target demographic for Invincible VS, but it might not be a big one. Here’s hoping it’s big enough to keep the game alive for the foreseeable future.

Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin seems to prove that the Final Fantasy franchise can thrive in the action game scene with this first franchise venture from Team Ninja and Koei Tecmo. The title isn't a true home run, but it is an exciting adventure that expands the franchise lore in a unique direction. The Final Fantasy Job system is as interesting and exciting as ever and adds a unique twist on the action game format as players grind through each challenging dungeon and fill in all the Job talent trees one by one.

Playing through Saturnalia's beautiful mixture of rogue-lite, survival horror, and Metroidvania mechanics feels like being among the first people in the world to experience peanut butter and chocolate. Big Trouble Game Studio and Santa Ragione have crafted an entirely new flavor profile that in just a few short years will be so popular audiences everywhere won't be able to fathom a world before the existence of said combination.

A gloomy and fascinating take on the point-and-click adventure game. While it’s not perfect—the puzzles could be a little more inventive, and the writing sometimes feels a little like angsty high school poetry, the breathtaking artwork, and well-developed world more than make up for it.

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

Ultimately, however, this latest entry in the franchise is simply not exceptional. It’s easy to get sunk in and lose huge chunks of time tending crops and animals or befriending villagers. But, overall, Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life is a steady middle-of-the-road offering with nothing to recommend over anything else currently available in the genre. Almost every aspect of the game is good but not great.

The latest Art Academy title arrives, throwing in the ability to draw iconic Disney characters. It’s a solid and soothing way to kill time, but is a little basic in its delivery.

Stranger's Wrath was a great game... fifteen years ago. It's still good, but after so long it does not age well enough to warrant the $30 price tag. It is a bit too simple and repetitive to be fully redeemed by its careful design. It is still a surprisingly entertaining romp, and will likely provide a lot of fun for younger players or nostalgic fans. By modern standards though, there are plenty of better games out on the Switch that have a similar level of polish but feel smoother to play and benefit directly from being on a portable console.

12 Minutes is a special game. The time loop game design is put together very eloquently, even if there are slight hiccups that can get frustrating. The voice actors do an excellent job of pulling together the tense narrative, and there is always the feeling that the next clue will be what unearths this unimaginable mystery. While the game's visuals leave some room to be desired, the art style and vibe make up for it. There is always an underlying eerie tone in 12 Minutes that goes even beyond the horrors within the apartment walls and those 720 seconds. And that rings forever true in the chilling ending to 12 Minutes.

Spiders nailed the Soulslike experience with Steelrising, providing longtime fans of the genre and newcomers alike with an entertaining and innovative experience precisely tailored to their play style. There's a lot to love in Steelrising, and each playthrough will let players discover exciting new ways to rage against the machines. Steelrising is a step in the right direction for the Soulslike genre.

At launch, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is one of the better-looking, more-polished asymmetrical multiplayer games on the market. It does a fantastic job of capturing the grotesque vibes of the 1974 horror film and translates its themes brilliantly into a gaming experience. Playing as the victims with a group of friends is a great deal of fun, though playing as the killers is not nearly as exciting. Only having three maps at launch is also not ideal and the game's lack of offline options is disappointing, but hopefully future updates will make The Texas Chain Saw Massacre an even better horror game than it is now.

Until Dawn: Rush of Blood features a haunting atmosphere and plenty of scares, but the experience is hampered by a constant need to calibrate the hardware.

All of this is not to say that PUBG on PS4 isn’t fun, as it’s definitely a serviceable experience for Battle Royale aficionados who want a more strategic and deliberately paced alternative to competitors like Fortnite and Black Ops 4‘s Blackout. Unfortunately, though, there are still a host of problems that PUBG Corp. needs to address so as to justify the PlayStation 4 port’s $30 price tag.

Playing with friends, coming up with battle strategies, and catching Pokemon are the most entertaining activities in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Unfortunately, the bland open world and technical problems weigh down what could have otherwise been another exceptional main series Pokemon game experience. The bones are here to build something special, so hopefully future Pokemon games do the concept of an open-world Pokemon game justice.

Battletoads' local co-op is very much appreciated and works great, but the lack of online co-op is a sticking point that's likely to disappoint a lot of people, especially with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic keeping people stuck in their homes.

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.

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.

Lost Orbit is a highly addictive, free-flowing gem that manages to toe that marginal line between challenge and frustration. The game may prove too short for some, but Lost Orbit is nonetheless a worthwhile addition to a speed-run aficionado’s game collection.

RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Complete Edition is in no way a bad experience, but it isn't a particularly great one either. Though veteran players may find great joy in returning to this classic, new players will probably have a completely different experience. The game's expansive Career Mode and in-depth mechanics are undermined by its failure to teach players and the overly complicated control scheme.

Rehydrated is anything but "Rehydrated." Nostalgic fans may want to check it out and may have a moment or two, but otherwise, most will find that it falls short compared to the giant that is the 2003 version. Fans who want to re-experience the game and can deal with the lackluster graphics may instead want to play the 2003 version. As wild as it sounds, 2003's SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom may just be the superior version.

Ultimately, players' enjoyment of Pumpkin Jack will crux on how nostalgic they are for the 3D action platformers of yesteryear. The makings of a great game are definitely here, with witty dialogue, a wonderful selection of fun mini-games, and some serviceable platforming. But, outside of its clear homages and lofty inspirations, Pumpkin Jack feels like it has nothing new to say and no modern insights to add. It ultimately winds up a jack of all trades but a master of none, offering plenty of ideas rife with potential but never honing in on one long enough to make it stand out.

In spite of its few shortcomings, Minecraft Legends is still a bold and exciting new direction for a franchise that continues to stand the test of time. It's a game that understands why Minecraft is so compelling in the first place and then twists those elements into an action strategy experience that can be hard to put down. Its only missteps come from its limited scope and how it leaves players wanting more because its core gameplay loop is so good. Minecraft Legends is approachable, captivating, and just a really good time.

Rainbow Six Extraction is a mixed bag of good ideas and weak implementations. It’s unfortunate that the bad manages to outweigh the good, because underneath it all, Rainbow Six Extraction's gameplay approach holds promise. It’ll be interesting to see how Ubisoft supports this title in the weeks and months to come, but it’s really hard to see how it can fix a lot of core issues within the game.

Bound brings a unique approach to the speedrunning platformer by putting the focus on a heartbreaking narrative and a beautiful dance mechanic to pull players through its world.

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.

It's also a visual knockout, with highly detailed environments and character models. Regardless of how well-animated or detailed the characters are, though, many players will find it difficult to care about them or the story, which is a huge blow to something that is basically an interactive movie. However, those who push through will be rewarded with a memorable ending, and if nothing else, Little Hope is still a solid choice as a sort-of party game.

Co-op is a fantastic way to experience Saints Row, and luckily the co-op on Switch is just as robust. It is quite easy to do side content alone, and then join a friend to complete other things together. Overall, Saints Row 4 loses out on very little in its Switch port, and comes in an attractive bundle with every DLC unlocked and the ability to take one of the most beloved GTA-like games on the go.

The sound of every gun and explosion are incredible and make it very difficult to not play this one with the surround sound on and the volume turned up way too loud.

While The Centennial Case has an interesting story to tell—and it's quite an enjoyable story at that—it's better told in a different medium. As a game, it struggles to balance the narrative with gameplay. Because it hands players the solutions, it then has to butcher reasonable logic or outright lie to prevent them from stampeding through each case. Had it just been a TV show, the red herrings could've been used as diversions that the protagonist cleverly dispels to find the truth. Instead, The Centennial Case feels like a TV show providing pop quizzes with only wrong answers.

Given the right context, Goat Simulator 3's uniquely humorous, wonderfully broken world is a delightful playground. Though the single-player experience can be lackluster, bordering on boring, the multiplayer party potential is great. The world and mechanics are set up so the slightest provocation can prompt a world unraveling with hilarious results. Despite its flaws, Goat Simulator 3 deserves its day in the sun as the go-to party game.

Battleborn has a strong cast of characters and exciting action, but suffers from a lack of content, frustrating server issues, and some questionable design choices.

With rudimentary characters and extremely basic tasks, it almost feels like the Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town gameplay was made for those who haven't played any farming sims in the past. But for folks familiar with the genre, they'll find that there's not much to find here and little reason to justify spending $49.99 on an unoriginal, redundant farming sim aside from being a relaxing and easy-going experience.

Playing with friends, coming up with battle strategies, and catching Pokemon are the most entertaining activities in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Unfortunately, the bland open world and technical problems weigh down what could have otherwise been another exceptional main series Pokemon game experience. The bones are here to build something special, so hopefully future Pokemon games do the concept of an open-world Pokemon game justice.

Make no mistake, though, this is still a well-made game, albeit with a lot of familiar elements underneath the zombie apocalypse veneer. PS4 players should still absolutely play the game and they will come away satisfied as a whole. Just know that this isn’t the same type of top to bottom hit that some past Sony exclusives have been.

Sand Land's story, characters, and progression are among its best features, all of which stand out in the JRPG genre and are fondly remembered, even after the credits roll. While its open world may rely a bit too much on the open-world model that many gamers have come to dislike, its exploration still proves to be a rewarding venture that feeds into its satisfying progression system. ILCA and Bandai Namco Entertainment have created something worthwhile in Sand Land, suitable for fans of the original manga and newcomers alike.

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.

After the plodding pace of Episode 3, Above the Law, Episode 4 brings back what the series so desperately needed.

In the end, High on Life 2 understands what made the original work and pushes it forward in ways that actually matter.

From the moment Life is Strange: Reunion begins to the very last choice, that answer is woven into every conversation, every contemplative moment, and every relationship. The answer lives in the same way Max Caulfield and Chloe Price navigate the weight of their pasts, the burdens of their present, and the uncertainty of their futures. And by the time the credits roll, it's clear the answer to my question was always meant to be felt, understood, and ultimately accepted, one way or another.

Its story and atmosphere are intriguing, if a little too reliant on dark tropes to get the gravity of the situation across, and the unique art style is eye-catching and memorable.

The major aspects of Trek to Yomi that will stick with the player are the combat, the atmosphere, and the world design. All three of these key features will drive the player to continue playing and enhance the gameplay. One example would be how exploration can reveal alternate ways to defeat groups of enemies. These moments are few and far between, but their inclusion is a nice reward for players who choose to explore the map. It's one of many smaller pieces of gameplay that makes the overall experience stand out among other indie titles.

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.

As far as virtual reality games go, Transference isn’t the best, but it’s definitely one of the scariest. Anyone looking for a solid horror game will want to give it a go despite its shortcomings.

There are glimpses of brilliance in Blue Fire when completing Voids and making one's way through dungeons, but it's all overshadowed by technical issues and some frustrating design choices. Blue Fire lifts a lot from Dark Souls and Zelda, but is unlikely to appeal to diehard fans of either franchise.

It might still need some wrinkles ironed out in terms of its balance and difficulty, but otherwise, Ravenswatch is a strong action roguelike and a worthwhile entry into the increasingly crowded genre.

The Medium is a short game that does not offer much in terms of replay value. Normally this would be a serious problem, but The Medium is available through Xbox Game Pass, and so its short length isn't nearly as pressing of an issue. It's short but mostly sweet, and will definitely appeal to fans of classic survival-horror games. It's easily Bloober Team's best game yet and something Xbox Series X owners should check out as soon as they can.

Destroy All Humans! 2 Reprobed is a gorgeous, destructive romp across multiple cities dragged down by its original platforms' limitations. Unshackling Crypto from the confines of previous gaming hardware might give him the ability to jet to new heights, but it’s unknown how much a new game would be able to maintain the raunchy spirit of its predecessors. Perhaps enough interest in these remakes will encourage THQ Nordic to think about creating new adventures for the constantly aggravated and devilishly malicious Furon named Cryptosporidium.

It feels a little content deficient at launch, but Rocket Arena is a solid multiplayer shooter that is almost something great, and hopefully, the developers get the chance to help the game reach its full potential. In the meantime, those looking for a fun new multiplayer game can't go wrong with Rocket Arena.

Cibele is much more of an interactive movie than it is a game, but neither the plot nor gameplay engage on enough of a level to make the short title – which we finished in an hour – worth the $7 price it comes with.

Even with its blemishes and missteps,The Knightling is not bad, or even totally mediocre. Its combat is weak, its story underwhelming at best, and its open-world design is nothing to write home about, but traversal and atmosphere save the day. Indeed,The Knightling is worth recommending on the grounds of its movement abilities and soundtrack alone - it's just the rest of the package that isn't up to snuff.

Appreciating the design of a game and investing time in its gameplay are two different things. It requires a very specific type of gamer, one who loves finding their fun in an experience with a ton of freedom, to keep progressing through No Man’s Sky. The game is part Minecraft, part Subnautica, and part its own creation, but if any of those component parts interests you then this may be worth checking out.

Artificial difficulty spikes and needlessly obtuse level design can lead to a lot of unnecessary frustration, and that frustration can quickly overshadow the game's greatest strengths. Blades of Fire had all the right materials in front of it, but it forged an uneven blade that keeps accidentally wounding its wielder.

Don’t bother with Gauntlet: Slayer Edition if playing solo, and expect the end game to be little more than a massive grind for gold.

The season finale of The Walking Dead: Michonne is easily the best episode of the entire miniseries, and Telltale Games has once again delivered a compelling narrative with fully realized characters.

Halycon 6: Starbase Commander may lack the nuances of some of its peers, but it nonetheless delivers a charming and moreish strategy RPG for science fiction fans to enjoy.

There is a satisfying quality to seeing Sonic blitz through rings in a Cyber Space mission while thumping dubstep or crunchy post-hardcore riffs blast throughout the level. Watching Sonic take down a Titan ten times his size in anime-like cutscenes at the end of a boss fight is always a spectacle. There is always something cool and worth the effort to see or do in this game, which is why Sonic Frontiers works well despite being very repetitive in nature. Those who can fall into its groove will find plenty to enjoy in Sonic’s latest adventure, and as a blueprint for the franchise going forward, Sonic could not be in a better place.

LEGO Horizon Adventures does some things better than the other LEGO games, and it does some things worse. It has better graphics, polish, and combat than any other LEGO game I've played, but it suffers a lot from uninspired level design and general dullness. It's so mind-numbingly easy in what I assume is an attempt to appeal to children, but I imagine most kids will be bored by the game long before the credits roll. LEGO Horizon Adventures is technically a well-made game, but it is not a fun one to play.

While the game is still beautiful and has some redeeming qualities to it, it’s hard to explicitly recommend Deadlight: Director’s Cut to anyone except the most dedicated fans of the original or of Limbo-style games.

Under the Waves delivers an incredibly emotional story about grief and its ability to manifest in the realities of those who attempt to evade it. While the title's main narrative is powerfully effective, its secondary focus on environmentalism, fueled by a real-world partnership, diminishes the overall impact of the experience. Though its close-up visuals and optional objectives are marred by technical issues, the core of Under the Waves' gameplay is enough to keep players engaged in its mandatory tasks. The story of Stan is one many fans will resonate with, as it captures the difficult thoughts that accompany grief. Unfortunately, Under the Waves doesn't quite deliver a gaming experience deserving of such meaningful concepts.

It's a great throwback, but has a very specific audience in mind. The visuals are fairly standard and the complicated customization and tons of game modes will be great for fans, but might be overwhelming to more casual players. For $40, Pacer is focused on those who miss this type of game and know exactly what they want out of it. Still, there's a reason that the games it emulates are considered classics, and it nails that core gameplay.

When playing through The Last Case of Benedict Fox, it's clear that the developer had high ambitions for the project, but none of it really comes together in the end. Combat feels unresponsive, puzzles quickly become tedious, sound design is lacking, the story is hard to follow and delivered with sub-par voice acting, and that's simply too much for some nice lighting and visual effects to paper over, especially when games like Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and Ultros exist.

When a company remasters a beloved title in its back catalog, it's always faced with the dilemma of needing to strike a balance between two very different audiences. That balancing act becomes especially precarious the more beloved a title is, and honoring the legacy of a game's original vision to appease longtime fans can sometimes have the unintended effect of pushing away a contemporary audience. As a remaster, Onimusha 2 is a success because it lands at a comfortable middle ground between staying true to the original while also serving as perhaps the best jumping-on point for the franchise ahead of its revival.

While its general lack of depth may be off-putting to some, there's no denying the worldbuilding around its meager plot or the fun found in its Flintlock fantasy approach to combat.

While Dead Synchronicity could have been something great, it misses the mark with depressing, difficult gameplay that will make any player feel hard pressed to stick around for at least five or six hours.

The replayability of Go Mecha Ball comes purely from how much fun it is. A handful of ending scenes are available after multiple completions, but these cartoon-y, still images won't rank among the best games with multiple endings, and the first completion on max difficulty unlocks a unique upgrade. But these rewards don't amount to much. Nevertheless, players will likely pick up the game again and again because it just feels that good. Though imperfect,there's simply nothing quite like Go Mecha Ball out there, and it deserves to be experienced.

Those that are looking for a deep experience with sprawling ability trees and a mountain of Minecraft lore are going to want to look elsewhere, as the game's beauty is in its simplicity. Minecraft Dungeons is a fundamentally sound experience testing the waters for ways the Minecraft franchise can grow. It isn't overly ambitious, but it has achieved what it set out to do - establishing a platform for Mojang Studios to build on. It's easy to see new content fixing the game's lack of variety, which is its sole major issue.

Hyrule Warriors Legends is a worthy port of the original The Legend of Zelda spin-off, allowing fans to take the game with them on the go – with a few noteworthy additions.

Elderand is not a bad game. In fact, it's a competent Metroidvania and fans of the genre might enjoy it. It just doesn't go far enough in any one direction, either thematically or mechanically, to leave a strong impression, and it's hampered by lackluster combat.

Tipping Stars may not live up to the standards of Nintendo’s all-time classics, but it’s certainly an above-average puzzle game. If the core gameplay gets its hooks in, it can be difficult to pull yourself away.

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.

Hyper Void is an adrenaline fueled throwback to classic arcade shoot ’em ups, with gorgeous graphics that are nearly as beautiful as the gameplay is exciting.

Ape Tribe Games succeeded in making a game with a daring story, interesting characters, and unique setting that players will love their first time through. Subsequent playthroughs have the potential to be even more interesting, as players will likely need to completely change their strategies in order to see the different endings. Aside from some minor and mostly inconsequential issues, Disjunction is a real treat and acts as a love letter to fans of the Cyberpunk genre and stealth games as a whole.

Out of Sight's extremely short runtime keeps it from reaching its full potential. The second-person gimmick is used to great effect, but there isn't enough time to fully explore its possibilities. There are certainly great moments in Out of Sight, and it would be a perfect entry point for someone that has typically shied away from the horror genre, but it desperately needs more meat on its bones to be elevated to something that genre fans must go out of their way to play.

Finishing Scorn does not leave players with a sense of satisfaction; it's not scary and it's not fun. Most will be glad that it's over, and at least it's mercifully short. It only takes about five hours to beat Scorn, and our playthrough ended with us earning 11 out of 12 of the game's achievements. Scorn gives players absolutely no reason to return to it, and quite frankly, it doesn't offer much reason to play it even once.

Despite my disappointment with it, I acknowledge that others may fully embrace Code Vein 2's art style, and really, my biggest issue with the game is its lackluster open world. Everything else is quite good, with Code Vein 2 offering a fun, well-rounded Soulslike experience that should appeal to genre fans. Even though it may not reach the same highs as some of the heavy-hitters that inspired it, Code Vein 2 is still a great time from start to finish and an easy recommendation.

The Swindle is a visually beautiful and enjoyable rogue-like game for the experienced, but may not be the best choice for players who’ve never tried games like Spelunky or Rogue Legacy before.

While Super Meat Boy is arguably one of the best modern 2d platformers, the same cannot be said about Super Meat Boy Forever. The game abandons much of the identity of the original in order to try and offer players infinite replay value with a more stripped-down gameplay style. But rather than a game that encourages repeat playthrough, Super Meat Boy Forever is more fun to watch than it is to actually play.

Maquette's short length makes this inconvenience slightly less frustrating than it would be otherwise, but it's still a glaring oversight that is sure to sour completionists' opinion on the game. Maquette's short length does make it an ideal candidate for the PS Plus lineup, as this way gamers can experience the story, art, and soundtrack without having to make any financial commitment beyond their existing subscription. But those on PC and PlayStation 4 may find it more difficult justifying spending even $20 on such a brief puzzle game.

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.

Gorn 2's story only takes a few hours to get through. After that, players are free to check out the Custom and Endless game modes, but that's more of the same shallow violence that the base game offers. VR enthusiasts are likely looking for something with more substance, but that's not to say there is no value to Gorn 2. The game can be fun in short bursts, and it works great as an easy way to show off virtual reality to someone who has never played a VR game before. Ultimately, those wanting more Gorn will get their money's worth with Gorn 2, while those who are looking for a deeper virtual reality experience will have to look elsewhere.

The Bruce Wayne sections help develop the plot and present the player with dialogue choices that will pull their allegiance in one way or another. While the Batman sequences truly typify the character, highlighting both his skills as a detective and a tactician.

As far as season finales go, The Ice Dragon brings no shortage of excitement to the table, but fans looking for confirmation that their choices really mattered will be left disappointed.

The Gunk has its flaws, but it's still a mostly enjoyable way to spend a few hours. It's a short but sweet adventure with gameplay reminiscent of PS2-era platforming games and so fans of the genre should certainly give it a look through Xbox Game Pass.

Players who get enjoyment from titles like Minecraft or even Super Mario Maker will find that King of Meat's suite of creation tools gives them plenty of options and is fairly easy to use. But much like the core gameplay loop, this creative mode lacks the depth and complexity of any of the aforementioned games to be something that could keep creative-minded players engaged for more than a handful of sessions. King of Meat is not an objectively flawed experience, but in a year when gamers are practically drowning in one incredible game after another, a title can't really afford to be this forgettable.

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.

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.

Though likely to chase away those easily frustrated by complex systems, Circus Electrique offers more than enough surprises to entertain players for the couple dozen hours they’ll likely spend clearing its entire campaign. Unforgiving combat and the constant need to monitor resources demand the player’s attention, while the unique blend of genres rewards them with inventive new experiences. Juggling everything at once might be a bit more than some people are ready for, but that’s what a circus is for.