Batman: Arkham Shadow is a legitimately great Arkham game, one that mostly lives up to the high bar set by the Rocksteady trilogy. A few patches will go a long way in making Arkham Shadow even better, but even now, it's an easy recommendation for Quest 3 and 3S owners.

I can see myself returning to Fear the Spotlight in the future. It's a great game to get into the Halloween spirit, with an effectively creepy atmosphere that doesn't feel overbearing. Hardcore survival-horror fans will likely find it all a little too easy, but it's a great way to introduce newcomers to the genre and is consistently entertaining from start to finish. Fear the Spotlight ensures that Blumhouse's new video game initiative gets off on the right foot and gives horror fans a game that will likely become a Halloween favorite in the years to come.

Even in a post-Astro Bot world, Sonic X Shadow Generations serves as an epic reminder of how untouchable both Sonic and Sega can be when they're firing on all cylinders, and its treasure trove of content and top-notch presentation make it an easy recommendation, regardless of it not being a blemish-free experience.

Even though RetroRealms Arcade can be a fun action platformer at times and has amusing references for horror buffs, its pricing scheme makes it impossible to recommend.

Even though RetroRealms Arcade can be a fun action platformer at times and has amusing references for horror buffs, its pricing scheme makes it impossible to recommend.

I truly think that everyone should play Neva at some point; it's hard to imagine someone not feeling profound emotion from this trim but unforgettable release, which now sits comfortably on the short list of video games that have brought tears to my eyes. If it has captured your attention in any way, then it's safe to say that it's worth your time. It's certainly worth far more than the $20 Devolver Digital and Nomada Studios are asking for it.

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.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero isn't a perfect sequel to Budokai Tenkaichi 3, but it has successfully recaptured its spirit. Effort is visible even in the areas where Sparking Zero falls short, and concentrating on the core gameplay, presentation, and progression has paid dividends. Custom Battle and a decent online suite help this game find its own voice, both compared to its PS2 forebears and its more focused modern Dragon Ball peers. Ultimately, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero does the late Akira Toriyama and his collaborators’ work justice, and that should help it find its audience.

The greatest RPGs are experiences that stick with the player long after the credits roll and warrant repeat playthroughs in the future, and even at 80-100 hours, Metaphor is a game I can easily see myself returning to time and again as one of my new favorite role-playing games.

The new game retains the core feeling of the original while expanding on it in brilliant and surprising ways. Bloober Team has elevated its game with the Silent Hill 2 remake and delivered what is quite simply one of the best Silent Hill games to date. I sincerely hope Bloober Team gets to keep working with Konami, and we get remakes of the other Silent Hill games with the same level of care that Silent Hill 2 has received.

At times, I was blown away by Starfield: Shattered Space's beautifully rendered new areas, but other times, my immersion was ruined by the annoying progression-killing quest bugs and weird graphical oddities. The DLC is uneven to say the least, and that's something Starfield fans should take into consideration when deciding if they should spend $30 on the expansion...$30 for a four-hour main quest sounds a bit steep, but the new weapons and side quests may make it worth the investment for diehard Starfield fans that simply want more - once the bugs are ironed out, anyway. Future updates will likely make it a lot easier to recommend Shattered Space, but for now, fans may want to hold off until its more egregious bugs and glitches are addressed.

While it does offer some strategy thrills, all of this really holds it back from being another genre kingpin. With DLC and future updates, it may have a chance to iron out its weaker aspects. But, outside a few unique twists, it feels like it is missing something to make it truly worth the price of admission.

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.

God of War Ragnarok will give PC gamers their money's worth and then some. It's a lengthy adventure and one of Kratos' greatest outings to date. Still, there are some pacing issues and the PSN account requirement is a disappointment. It's unlikely that Sony is going to let-up on the latter, so PC gamers that want to enjoy the company's games without buying a PS5 should keep that in mind.

Funko Fusion fumbles its interesting concept with bottom-of-the-barrel gameplay, and it's hard to see how co-op could make it any more tolerable. That being said, the game's latest balance update has made it at least a little better, and so perhaps future updates will make a bigger difference than expected.

Those looking for a deep challenge won't find it in The Plucky Squire, but any gamer looking for something fun and charming will be entertained by the story of Jot and his friends. Despite its lack of difficulty, it's easy to think that most users will want to finish the story once they've started. Its creativity and level designs go a long way in turning something mediocre into something artfully enjoyable. Be it for the children who remember their parents reading stories to them or for the parents who remember reading to their kids, both will find a bounty of nostalgic adventure in The Plucky Squire.

There is a lot of beauty in Enotria: The Last Song and Jyamma Games deserves to be commended for its efforts to stand out in a saturated market. With immersive connections to Italian folklore and an adoring love of subgenre, Soulslike fans will certainly enjoy the world of challenge. But while the combat is innovative it could use some polish.

Jackbox Party Pack games have long relied on the quality of the people playing for the bulk of their entertainment value, and the same goes for the M-rated Jackbox Naughty Pack. It doesn't provide quite the same value as a full-blown numbered entry in the series, but it is still plenty entertaining. Dirty Drawful and Fakin' It All Night Long are the highlights of the collection, with Let Me Finish lagging very behind. It's a bummer that there are only three games available and one of them is a bust, but party game fans should have little trouble getting their money's worth and then some from Jackbox Naughty Pack.

What 11 Bit Studios has crafted here is truly special, as it lives up to its city-building survival name. Those looking to test their mettle in a different type of city-builder may want to take this one for a spin. However, those that may be looking for something a bit calmer will not find it here. Because although there are calmer points, this will keep even city-builder experts constantly moving, especially if they increase the difficulty. And if the first one is anything to go by, then that adventure is only just getting started.

Some of Dead Rising's morbid charm is lost in translation, but for the most part, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is a solid re-do of the 2006 original. The quality-of-life improvements will be greatly appreciated by all and revisiting Willamette Mall is a nostalgic time for old-school 360 fans. Here's hoping that we don't have to wait long to see another entry in the series.

There's some real promise peeking out of Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions' surface, and if the game's various kinks can be ironed out, it could become something truly special. But that pitch is long, and those goalposts are high.

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.

Six Marvel fighting games and one obscure beat-’em-up might sound like a downgrade compared to the other, larger Capcom Fighting Collections, but the star power of Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics makes it more than worth investing in. Despite a lack of evolution compared to its predecessor, the respect for these titles is felt regardless, and it makes the case for an MvC4 better than anything else. Anyone with an interest in the fighting genre should find something to love here, and The Punisher might even spark love for a different corner of Capcom's catalog. A thorough Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection has been a long time coming, and its arrival feels like the celebration it should be.

It really feels like the developers thought of everything, and thanks to their efforts, Astro Bot is pure joy in video game form. I went into it with high expectations thanks to Astro Bot Rescue Mission and Astro's Playroom, and it not only met my expectations, but completely exceeded them. It's the best 3D platformer since Super Mario Odyssey hit the scene in 2017 and will be remembered as an all-time classic of the genre. Everyone with a PS5 should get their hands on this game ASAP, and hopefully, Team Asobi gets to continue making masterpieces.

Even without knowing the lore around Warhammer 40,000, Space Marine 2 does a great job of inviting new fans into the franchise by showing the unwavering courage, sacrifice, and devotion of these super soldiers, but that doesn't mean things are dumbed-down to disrespect die-hard fans. Being a veteran of the franchise isn’t essential to the enjoyment of Space Marine 2; while it might further satisfy the experience, the universe is brought to life with such detail that it makes for the perfect gateway for newcomers.

Overall, Age of Mythology: Retold feels like a strong remake of the original. Ensemble seems to understand how to craft an engaging RTS that not only feels great for newcomers but also honors the past. However, its graphical style may be a bit too rough around the edges for some, and it may not be modern enough for others. That being said, it still feels well worth the price of admission for anyone looking to sink their teeth into a brand-new RTS. And with all the content on the horizon, the fun may never have to end.

The Casting of Frank Stone includes a few minute improvements over Supermassive Games' approach, like its handful of quicktime event-free gameplay segments and clearer look at the branching paths. But it's still just the same formula with the same pitfalls that have regularly plagued this studio’s near-annual releases in the genre. Middling writing, frequently uncanny animations, and a lack of scares make The Casting of Frank Stone another passable entry in the interactive horror/suspense genre.

Visions of Mana isn't perfect, nor will it revolutionize the JRPG genre with its approach to combat or storytelling. But for the right player, these issues won't matter, because Visions of Mana has an undeniable charm and allure to it. Its breathtaking visuals, satisfying combat, and likable characters combine for a comforting, stock-standard JRPG, and if you're in the market for that, then Visions of Mana is an easy buy.