Publisher Rising Star Games clearly saw something special with Lumo, and while it has its flaws, it’s probably as good as an isometric throwback can be. Gamers that grew up with the genre will enjoy Lumo for its nostalgic kick, but those that have never played an isometric adventure title like this may not be able to derive as much enjoyment from the game.

Aside from the glaring technical issues and the almost blatant copy-paste job of the formula from the Left 4 Dead series, World War Z should offer a satisfactory experience for anyone wanting to kill some time and some zombies in the process. Of course, there are a wealth of far better games out there which one could spend their hard-earned money on, but $40 isn’t too steep of an asking price for what WWZ‘s third-person shooter action has to offer.

Hive Jump is a fun and exciting retro shooter romp, with plenty of variety and a great co-op multiplayer experience marred by a lonely single player mode.

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.

Grand Theft Auto 5 and GTA Online for PS5 and Xbox Series X are still phenomenal games that one could easily sink hundreds of hours into, but there's no getting around that they are fundamentally the same experiences as before, only with better graphics and performance. Someone that hasn't played GTA 5 or GTA Online in a long time will get more mileage out of this new version, but those that have played both regularly since launch may be better off waiting for the eventual Grand Theft Auto 6.

Freedom Wars Remastered's extensive endgame will give players plenty of time to fight countless Abductors and really immerse themselves in the gameplay loop. One could argue that the "real" game begins once Freedom Wars Remastered's story is over, and as long as one enjoys these kinds of Monster Hunter-style games, they will get their money's worth and then some, especially if they dive into the online co-op and PvP offerings. It's rough around the edges in some areas, but Freedom Wars Remastered is a mostly engaging action-RPG with an addictive gameplay loop that makes it hard to stop playing.

Into The Stars offers up a slow-paced but atmospheric space-themed survival sim, combining the gameplay elements of The Oregon Trail and Civilization with roguelike mechanics.

Oftentimes, Loopmancer presents itself as a game struggling with an identity crisis. On the one hand, there exists a solid 2D action-adventure game with enough flair and rigorous combat to be an engaging and tight-knit experience. On the other hand, there exists a roguelite game that struggles to find balance in its execution of the genre and ends up making its gameplay loop needlessly tedious and occasionally dull. Where Loopmancer hits its stride is in its gritty story, frantic action, and striking aesthetic. Otherwise, eBrain’s debut title needs some tinkering with its roguelike premise to create a better-balanced game.

The Crow’s Eye is at its best when remaining somewhat static, allowing the user to play out the conflict between the rational solution to puzzles and the irrational fears that the game so cleverly hints at with a breadcrumb trail. It’s full of great ideas, and more than does enough to separate itself out from the crowd. The game’s clunkier moments may put off some users, but those willing to persevere and put atmosphere and plot above pure gameplay could find themselves with an enjoyable game – albeit one that could cause a few sleepless nights.

On the whole, Tron: Catalyst feels like a successor of sorts to the classic AA games from the Xbox 360 generation. It's a simple and fun action-adventure game that doesn't have any bloat, but it has a handful of notable problems that hold it back from greatness. Tron: Catalyst is being sold for just $25, and honestly, it’s worth the asking price. It can keep players entertained for a day or two, even if they're a newcomer to the Tron franchise.

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.

Hypercharge: Unboxed doesn't revolutionize the shooter market or offer anything new, but what it does provide is a highly polished, chaotic, and lovingly crafted experience for players who have an itch for retro games and addictive combat loops. There's certainly an argument to be made that this version is coming a little too late into its life cycle, but if Hypercharge: Unboxed can find a consistent and renewed audience with this long-awaited release on Xbox consoles, then perhaps the future is indeed bright for this zany, old school shooter.

Ultimately, Ghostwire: Tokyo's world-building, Japanese folklore, and character dynamics are engaging, but the pacing and combat weigh down the middle section.

Tales of the Shire is a perfectly enjoyable life-sim that embraces its Lord of the Rings source material well. But due to some prominent graphical shortcomings (at least on Switch), it's far from a perfect adventure. There's enough content and engaging progression in Tales of the Shire to ensure that Tolkien fans have a good time with it, but those who aren't fans of the IP don't need to look far for a better alternative.

I Am Bread packs a surprising amount of entertainment into a title that’s available for $14.

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam is just as wacky and enjoyable as any other past iteration of the series, but it fails to change things up in a meaningful way for longtime fans.

Metro Exodus‘s gorgeous visuals are somewhat undermined by the NPC clipping issues and texture pop-in, and one has to wonder if those issues would have been ironed out had the game spent some more time in the oven. But even though its technical issues, lack of genuine horror, and bland cast make it fall short of its predecessors, Metro Exodus is still a decent mix of the franchise’s traditional stealth/shooter gameplay and a semi-open world environment.

Telepath Tactics is an impressive title for such a small development team. The game mechanics themselves are well thought-out and the game, although slow going at first, brings in a very high level of challenge for tactical RPG players.

Ghostbusters fans will no doubt appreciate the ability to create their own Ghostbuster, upgrade their kit, and hunt ghosts, but once the nostalgia wears off and the only thing that matters is winning, the game may start to show its flaws. Playing as the ghost, on the other hand, has its own inherent challenges of finding the balance between being outmatched and doing the steamrolling. Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed has all the right pieces when it comes to making a GB game that feels authentic – it's bringing those pieces together in the right way every time that can hurt its fun factor.

Nero stays true to its billing as an interactive novel, and while there are plenty of hiccups in nearly every facet of the game, none of them are particularly experience-ruining.

The best way to describe Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is “safe.” Much like with Jedi: Fallen Order, it is clear that Respawn has a lot of good ideas for this franchise and wants to draw from a variety of influences to make something special, but it ultimately ends up making a pastiche of AAA game mechanics and fixings that are serviceable but not very refined. Jedi: Survivor doesn't have the same novelty and luster that Fallen Order had behind it, so when it rests on its laurels like this, the whole package feels underwhelming. When coupled with a clunky story and a laundry list of technical issues, it's clear that Star Wars Jedi: Survivor still has a long way to go before it reaches its full potential.

Overall, The Sims 4: Paranormal stuff pack accomplishes what it sets out to do. It provides players with a new, spooky experience that hasn’t been in the game previously. There were a few bugs, like the apartment mishap and an instance where a bed had to be removed in order to get rid of a creepy doll, but these things can be fixed easily with patches. It would be a stretch to say every Sims 4 player needs this pack, but for those who enjoy occult gameplay and artsy/boho CAS and Build/Buy items, this will definitely soothe that itch—just make sure it’s not a ghost hand doing the scratching.

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.

Fast Fusion is available at a budget price of $14.99. Compared to some other Switch 2 games, it's super cheap, and it definitely gives players their money's worth, even with the lack of proper online multiplayer and misguided progression. Racing game fans that need something a little different from Mario Kart World should consider giving Fast Fusion a look. As long as they are aware of its shortcomings, they should still walk away satisfied with the overall package. Plus, Fast Fusion has new content on the horizon that should make it even more worthwhile.

Wild Bastards is a very vibrant, very ambitious game that goes out of its way to add new gameplay mechanics and playable characters. But while that effort is certainly commendable, there's no denying that many of those elements just don't hit as hard as they should. There's still plenty of room for fans to have a good time with Wild Bastards, but that time won't be free of moments of confusion, frustration, and a little boredom.

Despite the limited content and somewhat fiddly controls, the game feels great to play. It's endlessly satisfying to turn a neglected garbage heap back into a happy home. The sandbox mode in House Flipper 2 offers lots of creative opportunities and the ability to share with fellow flippers is a big bonus, and will hopefully help the game build an ongoing community. Fingers crossed that more content comes down the road to provide players with even more possibilities.

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.

The hand-drawn artwork is nice to look at, the turn-based tactical combat can be incredibly challenging and rewarding, and players will feel like they have an impact on the world. Broken Roads is held back a bit by its shortcomings, but those looking for something to sink their teeth into may still want to take it for a spin.