This is one of the best indie games to come out this year. Lab Zero has already shown that they know how to make an amazing fighting game and now they have shown they know how to make an amazing platformer and RPG as well.

Yoshi's Woolly World makes a fine addition to any Wii U owner's library. It's full of charm and personality, and it doesn't forget to test you with its high difficulty. You'll spend more than a dozen hours doing everything and collecting every hidden item, and you'll have a blast practically the entire time.

This is not BOTW2, but it’s still a very fun game that is worth your time. It’s fanfiction with an awesome hybrid action-RPG with BOTW mechanics attached. Just don’t get too wrapped up in the non-canon Ganon and you’ll be fine.

Granblue Fantasy Versus is a fantastic game and an early pick for fighting game of the year. It has a lot to offer regardless of your skill level, and appeals to almost any fan. Are you a casual fighting game player? Buy GBVS. A EVO tournament pro? Buy GBVS. An RPG fan who has never played a fighting game a day in their life? Buy GBVS!!! This is a fighting game for everyone, and everyone should play it.

Insurgency: Sandstorm’s slower, more realistic approach likely won’t win over any Call of Duty fans, but then again it’s not really trying to. Sandstorm was made with a very specific type of player in mind, and if you fit that mold you’ll likely get dozens if not hundreds of hours out of the game. And even if you don’t fit that mold completely, there are enough ancillary incentives to make Sandstorm an excellent pick-up-and-play game, especially if you have some friends to recruit.

Despite its flaws, Zero Time Dilemma is one of the more compelling titles released this year. You will find few other games like it, both in quality and plain weirdness.

If you still enjoy TT Games’ Lego series, or if you want to bring a younger gamer into the fold, Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a solid entry which helps to bring some lightheartedness (and new story content) to the film off which it is based.

Battle Chasers: Nightwar is a fine example of how to iterate and improve upon a tried-and-true game genre wth its take on a modernized turn-based RPG. It’s far from perfect, but the combat system alone is engaging enough to warrant a recommendation for any fan of old-school JRPG-style adventures.

Mutant Year Zero makes some subtle innovations for the tactical strategy genre outside of combat that transforms this from just another XCOM clone to a clever mixture of stealth, tactics, and RPG mechanics adding up to an adventure that’s highly recommended.

Ashen is unique in that it borrows liberally from the Souls-like genre, but doesn’t feel beholden to it. It’s clear that A44 was influenced just as much by The Legend of Zelda, and even more niche adventure titles like Shadow of the Colossus, as it was by From Software’s seminal Souls trilogy. Adventure game fans and Dark Souls fans alike definitely won’t want to miss out on what Ashen offers.

The Greens tell a brave story with That Dragon, Cancer. Joel Green's life may have been short, but it was an important, beautiful life that's now being shared with the world.

NHL 16 is definitely a return to form the NHL series, now I think I’d like to see them break that form and come up with something different. The features are there, the graphics are amazing, now the gameplay needs to catch up to the rest of the game.

Mushroom 11 is one of the weirdest games of the year. It's also one of the best.

I had a great deal of fun playing this game, and it saddens me that I can't give it a better score. However, I just cannot imagine justifying the $39.99 price tag of WarioWare Gold for the few hours of gameplay it has to offer. The story mode is about how Wario slaps together a bunch of games in the hopes to make a quick buck off the gaming industry, and I'm sorry to say this might be a case of art imitating life.

Whether or not you’re starving for your next couch co-op game, Moving Out is a lot of fun and should be played by anyone who likes fun team-based games. It’s not exactly the most varied experience, but there are plenty of laughs and hilarious moments to be had if you’re playing Moving Out with friends.

Heavy Rain is a game best left to your memory. It makes a good case study for seeing how cinematic adventure games have evolved over time, but it just doesn’t have the quality of newer games in the genre.

Each game has been distinct in nearly every way, and Gunbrella is once again a standout among its peers. I came away with some disappointments, but those hours I spent going through the game twice melted away unnoticed. If that’s not a sign of quality, what is?

Under Night In-Birth EXE: Late{st} is a fighting game that deserves to be played but will inevitably be overshadowed by its competition. It’s a shame because its $50 price tag is worth it for the tutorial alone.

Tropico 6 is not the hardest of hardcore simulation games, but for folks looking for something more casual, it’s a blast. It’s entertaining and addictive, and its minor interface flaws only stand out because the rest of the game is so polished and enjoyable.

While there are some things I could've done without in Syndicate – like the occasionally frustrating "kidnap" mission and some weird ghost-like glitches – it's still one of the best entries in the series in some time.

Melty Blood: Actress Again Current Code feels like a game that came out five years too late. It’s fun and interesting to play for a while, but French Bread has better games that you can play right now for a similar price.

Little Nightmares drops you into a mad and scary world that's worth visiting thanks to some enjoyable platforming mechanics and chilling atmosphere.

Abzu is one of those games that comes along and manages to capture you into its world, allowing you to shut out all of the stress and worries of your own life. It successfully allows you to live in its dream-like environment for a few hours and delivers tranquility you may not have even known you needed.

Toki Tori 2+ is a great-looking puzzle platformer that doesn't quite reach the high standards of its predecessor.

Life is Strange: Before the Storm's first episode is heavy on atmosphere and emotion, but light on narrative or gameplay. It will appeal to those who loved the heart-wrenching drama of the first game, but could have a hard time attracting any new fans.

Although Transference is an interesting narrative horror game, it struggles to carve out a space as a VR game and a traditional title. The story is undeniably something worth experiencing, but the gameplay is lackluster enough that more often than not it serves as a barrier to experiencing what Transference does best.

Everybody's Gone to the Rapture has an original and engaging story to tell over its roughly 5 hours of play time. If you enjoy narrative-driven games it could be worth a look, but it's not a huge step forward for the genre.

Olija is, simply put, a great 2D action-adventure game. Developers Thomas Olsson and Skeleton Crew Studio knew exactly what they set out to deliver. This is a focused, refined adventure that’ll captivate you for a short while and provide you with a bite-sized albeit worthwhile journey.

While it isn’t perfect, The Following openly embraces everything that made Dying Light a standout hit of 2015 and also injects enough fresh content to warrant a return visit from even the most hardcore of Harran’s explorers.

Sure, Mega Man Legacy Collection could've added more games, or had an option to expand the screen to full size (and what's with the full price tag?). That said, it's still a rich package filled with gaming history, between the six original games, the museum, the music player and the NES Remix mode. If you're even slightly devoted to the Blue Bomber, you owe it to yourself to pick this up.

The writers know that, and refuse despair by not closing the circle of loss that started with Lee’s death. They knew that we were watching and learning as well, and refused to leave us with a message of nihilism and hopelessness that has consumed much of zombie and other horror media.

While this is a different direction for the Far Cry series, Far Cry Primal is an excellent entry into the franchise. While it might not be the best introduction to the franchise, it’s certainly one the fans of Far Cry should definitely check out and those interested in the series will find something incredibly unique, action-packed, and a lot of fun.

Solid gameplay and core but light on content. It will be exciting to see what's coming in the future, but I can’t help but be somewhat disappointed with the initial set of modes.

Engaging and addictive action RPG gameplay makes Dragon Quest Heroes worth a look even for gamers who aren't fans of Dragon Quest or Dynasty Warriors.

Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour doesn't enhance the titular protagonist's classic FPS ride in any massive ways. That said, it's a whole lot of fun, and it's perfect for people who want to revisit the game and for those who are fans of old school shooters.

I commend Remedy for taking a chance on a different way of storytelling in Quantum Break. Although I didn’t enjoy every aspect of the way it was done, I still had an gratifying experience and would look forward to the next installment.

ARMS is a lot of fun in a party setting, but playing alone gets boring quick as there isn’t any other mode to play solo besides the super repetitive Grand Prix.

While the new Hitman should get greater attention (deservedly so), GO! isn't a bad option for people looking for something more on the strategic side. What it lacks in bloodshed and insightful killing, it makes up for with strong level design and creative challenges to overcome. It's certainly something you could, ahem, kill time with.

The Pathless is a gorgeous, exhilarating and frenetic game which unfortunately often stumbles in its own tracks.

A unique genre entry that takes the combat the Musou series is known for and scales the size of enemies rather than the number of them on the battlefield.

While Xeodrifter could've benefitted from more levels and a bit more boss diversity (are these guys related?), it's still an enjoyable Metroid clone that fans of the genre will certainly want to venture through. Here's hoping that, if we get a sequel, it's bigger and better.

XCOM: Chimera Squad is clearly meant to function as a sci-fi tactical strategy game that’s smaller in scale, easier to digest for casual players, and more financially accessible than what existing XCOM fans may be used to. Thankfully, Firaxis’ latest XCOM title succeeds in all three regards without compromising the frenetic tactical gameplay the series is known for. Chimera Squad may have smaller stakes, but it’s also an excellent example of how much potential the XCOM series still has.

I'm still not entirely sold on the way Hitman is being sold, in an episodic package that will open up over the next few months. Regardless, the game is off to a great start thus far, despite minor glitches and drab conversations. Agent 47 continues to be a master of his killing skills, and the first stage of the game, along with the escalation mode and Contracts, really give you a better idea of what's ahead. This is one assassination you'll want to see through to the end.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III is a fast-paced RTS that delivers a good blend of the old and the new to make it a lot of fun for both newcomers and veterans alike. With powerful hero units to break the mold and addictive combat to fill in the cracks, Dawn of War III manages to deliver an RTS experience that lives up to the Warhammer 40K legacy.

This year’s WWE 2K release does a lot of things right but still has a way to go in order to lock down the genre with fans.

The Pathless is as majestic as it is haunting. It’s ruminative and captivating. Above all, it’s one of the most incredible meditative adventures ever created.

Bravely Default 2 brings us back to an older era of simpler RPGs with deep systems and shallow stories. If that sounds like a feature, not a bug, then this is the RPG for you.

I hope this series persists as long as Telltale’s Walking Dead series has. I’d love to see how their interpretation changes and grows as they have more time to work with the characters.

There’s a decent amount of content in Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8: Final Chapter Prologue, but it doesn’t explain much for newcomers playing their first Kingdom Hearts game on the PS4. In addition, Back Cover will feel like a waste of time to some, and Birth by Sleep will feel too short. Dream Drop Distance translates fairly well, but alone it’s not worth the price of admission. As a bundle, the entire package offers a decent value and a great lead-in to Kingdom Hearts III.

LawBreakers offers innovative gameplay and an in-your-face attitude, and the gameplay part, at least, succeeds more than it fails. The game will have to fight to survive, but there's fun to be had and incredible skins to unlock by playing right now.

BlazBlue Cross-Tag Battle is a fantastic fighting game for newbies and veterans alike. Despite some questionable DLC practices and a market saturated with other great fighting game titles, it deserves to be played, practiced and played again.

Dragon Quest Heroes II takes everything people love about Musou games and ramps up the fun factor. If the core gameplay elements don't interest you this game won't change your mind, but if large-scale action RPGs appeal to you even a little bit you'll likely have a blast with this one.

The romantic plot had a real chance to flourish and grow organically and its conclusion is one of the most satisfying I’ve ever had the pleasure of enjoying. I wish I could say the same thing about Tacoma.

Lucifer Within Us has more than a few flaws and is unmistakably indie, especially with its short length, but it’s still one of the better mystery games I have played in recent times.

Frozen Synapse 2's tactical core remains solid and fascinating, but the lack of a sufficiently detailed tutorial makes learning the new depths of the game a frustrating experience.

Ghostrunner is an all-around great action game. The first-person parkour mechanics will make you feel like a badass, as will chopping up bad guys. The game doesn’t always control perfectly, but everything still comes together to create an awesome, action-packed cyberpunk experience.

Done Running isn’t perfect, but nothing TWD-related ever is. This game remains the best incarnation of the IP, and long-time fans won’t be disappointed.

Luckslinger is an engaging 2D platformer with a lot of brilliant moments, wacky luck-based randomness, and a memorable hip hop Western soundtrack. You'll likely get angry a lot while playing, but you'll also feel good about yourself every time you reach the end of a level.

For Honor is a fantastically innovative game that deserves to be played by everyone at least once, but whether or not it ends up being a multiplayer classic is still yet to be seen.

There's a lot of fun to be had with JumpJet Rex, though the game sometimes goes out of its way to frustrate you.

Pokken Tournament is a solid game for Poké-fanatics and a decent enough game for casual fighting game fans. I’d recommend it if you need a Poké-fix before Pokémon Sun and Moon come out, but if you are looking for a new fighting game, stick to Street Fighter V.

Sequels aren’t always a safe prospect to bet on, but The Surge 2 is one investment that Souls-like fans definitely won’t be disappointed with. The game’s visceral combat, robust RPG elements, and immersive exploration mechanics come together to create a second outing that’s just as compelling, if not more so, than its predecessor.

Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time is an enjoyable nostalgia trip both in gameplay and story, but it’s just not quite $40 worth of game.

Super Mario Party elevates the franchise to a new platform and gives you plenty of things to do with friends. The randomness is still a bit more frustrating than it should be, but the high points make up for the occasional frustrations.

Even though the visuals are a bit softer and there are a few elements you may have run into before, Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam continues the winning streak for the team at Alphadream. It's done remarkable work mixing the Paper Mario universe into the mix, and the hilarious script, backed by a strong combat system, will keep RPG fans of all ages pleased. This is one adventure that certainly doesn't wear thin.

Even without multiplayer, the game shines in nearly every aspect, and holds up the tradition of B.J. Blazkowicz's Nazi-killing provocatively well. If you loved the first game, this eight-hour adventure is just what you need.

There are still some small improvements to be made when it comes to getting on the level of Undisputed, but EA Sports UFC 2 is a significant improvement over the first game, and proof that the team is more than ready to step into the Octagon. Whenever it rolls around, EA Sports UFC 3 will have a hell of a game on its hands. But, for now, part two is well worth trying, especially if you're a fan of the sport.

If you can accept the role that randomness plays in the overall game, Blood Bowl II offers a great deal of turn-based strategic fun.

Budget Cuts is a fun VR game that creates an interesting, engaging world that’s worth exploring, but only if Neat Corporations can iron out the bugs that mar an otherwise fun experience.

Carrion is a fun but flawed 2D horror game with a fun hook. It doesn’t play perfectly, and the controls are particularly hit-or-miss, but overall, there’s a lot of fun to be had when you get to be the monster and leave a path of destruction in your wake.

The Heist is a solid DLC that’s meant to serve up more Spider-Man goodness for fans that are craving a chance to slip back into a Spidey-suit. For what it is, it’s a great story that fleshes out old characters while adding some new flavors to the pot with a classic comic book character, but if you’re expecting The Heist to change up the formula at all you’re going to be a bit disappointed.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War brings the series back to the start in a much-needed way. Treyarch proves yet again that it is the king of multiplayer, providing exceptional, genre-defining gameplay along with a decent mix of new maps and modes that help with the lack of Zombies content. And Raven Software takes the single player campaign in a different direction that stumbles a bit in execution but lays the foundation for games to come.

It was a bit of a drag having to deal with the usual F2P restrictions but otherwise Empires & Allies is perfect for anyone who wants a fun mobile RTS they can take with them wherever they go.

Paper Mario: Color Splash could have been so much more than it was, but its attachment to Sticker Star’s failed mechanics holds it back.

I desperately wanted to enjoy Artifact, but it currently stands as a monument to the flaws of early CCG design. It’s random, it’s expensive, and it does a horrible job of teaching players both basic gameplay and high-level strategy.

Mixing a unique setting with classic strategic and board game elements, Armello is easy to recommend.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider has all the polish and extraordinary visuals you’d expect from the third entry in a huge franchise, but it’s also held back by uninspired writing and an emphasis on archaic video game conventions like boring gunplay.

If the number one thing you want from a game is a good scare, Outlast 2 is a big success. If you're looking for deep gameplay or replay value though, you'll have to look elsewhere.

Had Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition addressed the real problems from the original game, while also keeping some of the high-profile additions, it could've really been something. Instead, it feels like a repackaging that doesn't quite have its heart in the right place.

Dontnod clearly has a lot more heart to share and story to tell.

While Fae Farm removes a lot of friction from the farming sim formula, it doesn’t add much to it.

Mario Tennis Aces doesn’t quite excel in all of the ways that it could have, but the core mechanics and multiplayer action are so good, it’s still worth diving in for some quality Mario Tennis action.

Man of Medan is a promising start to the Dark Pictures Anthology. I'd be happy to play more of these b-horror movie simulators, full of pretty people desperately trying to survive.

Ether One presents a spellbinding take on memory loss and what really goes on inside a person's head, but tedious voice acting, the pacing of certain puzzles, and the lack of guidance when some players need it the most may leave some folks just as confused as the poor woman who's going through all its torment.

The plot leaves Sean and Daniel on a brutal cliffhanger, and I can’t wait to see how it resolves. Episode 4 can’t come soon enough. Nice work, Dontnod, you’ve reeled me back in. At this point, I’m reasonably sure that Season 2 will live up to Season 1. And by that, I mean that it will cause me to cry myself to sleep and feel shaken for days after.

Donut County's gameplay doesn't offer much of a challenge, but the mechanics work as an engaging core for a game that delivers so many charming characters and genuine laughs.

If you want to dive deep into the genre of racing simulation, Gran Turismo Sport is a great place to start.

Despite a puerile sense of humor Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition channels the soul of old school first person shooters like Serious Sam and Doom, with a modern look and a creative twist.

Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book isn't going to win any awards for best RPG of the year, but it's still a good time and gives you a couple dozen hours of enjoyable playtime.

An unnecessary amount of initial complexity can’t stop Final Fantasy Record Keeper from being a solid mobile game that offers a fun, original adventure peppered with iconic elements from the series’ past.

Despite my frustrations with its shortcomings, I want to see where The Council leads me, and if it manages to deliver a narrative payoff in spite of itself.

Rogue Company is a reliably fun, engaging, and well-positioned F2P title from the publishers behind Paladins and Smite. The game has a ton of potential and we’ll be watching it progress in the next year. Though it borrows many of its concepts from other games, it manages to feel fresh and new, and utilizes its lack of real originality to leverage its top-notch gameplay.

If you want to test your skills against other players, you can do so with a couple of different modes. There is the "Grand Races," which are races with up to 28 players. These are in three separate sections and will take approximately ten minutes.

The Medium is at its best when you are exploring its remarkable, beautiful worlds, or enjoying the excellent composition and art direction. Unfortunately, the gameplay does not meet that high mark, and often detracts from what is otherwise a stellar aesthetic experience.

If you are going to buy Concrete Genie buy it for the novelty. You’ll probably enjoy painting the town with glorious neon landscapes, but there’s just not much more to it than that.

The difficulty can be a bit much at times, but when all is said and done, there's no getting around the fact that the BunnyLord's team is one you want to be on.

Afterparty is a fantastic story about booze, buds, and the nature of good and evil. It’s just not much else.

There’s no doubt that some Jet Set Radio fans hungry for more will enjoy Bomb Rush Cyberfunk. I’ve been waiting for this series’ return in spirit along with the rest of them, but in the end, it did little more than inspire nostalgia for the original, gorgeous though it may be.