Travis Strikes Again is not a great game in the traditional sense, but if you are a ramen eating, pro-wrestling watching, anime loving, gaming nerd like Travis Touchdown, then you’ll play it to the end nonetheless, and have a great time doing it.

There are times in which Poncho could've used some smoothing over, like with glitches or painfully missed jumps. That said, it's still an entertaining little treat for the retro crowd, especially those seeking something different from the usual platformer.

If you never played the original then picking this up is a no-brainer. 3D World is a fantastic Mario adventure, and you shouldn’t miss it. However, if you already played the original on the Wii U, Bowser’s Fury and the added online play don’t quite make it worth the full $60. That being said, it’s absolutely worth it if the price drops even a little, or if you just really want to play 3D World without having to hook up the Wii U. It’s a great game, but it still feels like Nintendo should have done more with it.

While Trine 3 would've benefited from a much greater length, less frustrating puzzles and online co-op, what's here will more than suit fans of the series. The new 3D direction takes getting used to, but really incorporates into the developer's vision remarkably; and the visuals are quite stunning at times. If you're a fan of the series, this is a must. If not, maybe this could make you become one, despite the shortcomings.

If anything, I think the game is worth checking out for the story alone. It’s unfortunate that the gameplay is so much of a slog that some players may not think the story is worth the trouble. However, if you have the time, the extra coin, and love mob stories, this tale has a satisfying end.

Spellbreak’s combat is stylish and offers a lot of flexibility. If the developer follows through on its roadmap (which promises more storytelling among other things), it could really turn into something special.

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.

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.

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.

Gigantic is an entertaining combination of a MOBA and a team based shooter, and what it lacks in originality it makes up for in charm and polished controls.

Samurai Shodown is yet another fighting game that is fun to play but suffers in its core feature set. The hardcore fighting game fanatic will love it, but the mainstream consumer will find it offers much less than other titles on the market.

In many ways it feels too early to judge Battlefield V, and the game doesn't feel quite as substantial as it needs to. But the foundation is strong, and upcoming free content releases should add a lot of depth to the title.

Sundered's immense sense of style carries it over any bumps in the road, and the result is one of the best Metroidvania games released in years.

Given its dark and mature fantasy theme, Conan Exiles is a surprisingly accessible online survival experience. Even under the most generous conditions the game will still challenge you as you make your mark on the world, and players who fancy themselves as survival game experts will find plenty to pit their abilities against. No matter your level of experience, Conan Exiles is a survival experience that is very much worth investing in.

Sludge Life is graffiti-themed a first-person 3D platformer that works really well and is fun to play. Its emphasis on climbing high structures and getting to hard-to-reach areas to drop your tags makes the tough gameplay feel worthwhile. The controls can be a bit finicky, but there’s a lot of fun to be had here. There’s also a nice blend of real-world commentary and vulgar humor to keep things interesting.

Dawn of Andromeda is a thinking man’s space simulator, with a complex network of systems that give you control over your expanding galactic empire. Though the level of control and and minutiae might be a turnoff for some, once you understand the systems it becomes a satisfying foray into space bureaucracy.

Tekken 7 will satisfy Tekken fans the world over, but won’t impress anyone who hasn’t already been won over by the franchise.

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.

I was hoping for an original take on the open-world genre, but I got Assassin’s Creed in samurai drag. If that sounds like a blast to you, it will be, especially if you go into it with the knowledge of the game’s design missteps. It’s not that it’s bad - it’s just bad for me.

If you're even remotely intrigued by the prospect of an FMV game being able to tell a good story with interesting characters, the first episode of Missing is $4 well spent. There's no word on when the next episode will arrive, but let's hope it's not too far off.

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.

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.

Pyre has an interesting combat system, though it does become a tad repetitive. The beautiful visuals and audio more than make up for any shortcomings.

Arise: A Simple Story is well worth the $20 and six hours you'll spend playing it. Even though it can't seem to avoid problems that plague your typical indie game, the artwork and level design are beyond worth the small investment.

The action-heavy moments are really polished and a pleasure to participate in, the story is interesting when it feels like divulging itself to the player, and the entire theme of the thing is just downright cool (there’s a sect of robots that live at an amusement park and literally exist to throw confetti in the air at all times); but when you boot up this Square Enix title hoping for some RPG character building mechanics to fill the gaps in between the barrage of action that’s presented, it can be difficult to maintain your zest for an otherwise mesmerizing experience. There’s a reason straight-up action games aren’t 40 hours long, and unfortunately, Automata is worse for it.

With great 3D fighters like Tekken 7 and SoulCalibur VI on the market, my personal assessment is that DOA6 is a fine fighter to try, but for now will only amount to a flavor of the week.

Despite the overwhelming quality of its emotional storytelling and the fantastic characterization of the game's protagonists, every frustrating puzzle, every quirk of the controls, and every graphical hitch will leave you wondering why, after such a painfully long wait, this was all The Last Guardian could shape up to be.

I’m hoping that Coteries is the first modern step forward for an IP long overdue for mass recognition. Vampire: The Masquerade fans will enjoy this, and fans of vampire fiction in general might want to give it a whirl, as this is an easy introduction to an awesome universe.

The latest Dark Pictures Anthology installment takes narrative risks and refines mechanical gameplay. While I still take issue with photorealistic graphics, Little Hope is still worth visiting.

While I still kind of prefer Evolution in terms of its broader scope and better loyalty to Tron's world, Run/r is a game that works far better on its runner principle on console than I would've expected. Even with certain limitations (and an unnecessarily high price tag), it's a good time, especially if you're a fan of the franchise.

There are certain aspects to Maiden of Black Water that I can't help but question, but overall, it's a solid addition to the series, and finally provides gamers with the feeling of holding a Camera Obscura with the help of a GamePad. And that pushes the gameplay a long way. If it's a scarefest that you're after this Halloween, Fatal Frame is worth the download. Just make sure you have an external hard drive set up first – it's a massive 13GB.

If you already enjoyed previous Fallen London escapades like Sunless Seas, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy Cultist Simulator as well. It’s certainly not the easiest game to break into, but then again it was never really meant to be either. Cultist Simulator isn’t afraid to keep its greatest rewards locked away for only the most patient and clever players to find, and there’s a lot of potential enjoyment to be had for players who relish the journey as much as the destination.

Life is Strange: Chaos Theory moves the series' plot forward, if awkwardly at times. The third chapter makes up for the weak decisions players have to make by maintaining a superb production quality and delving into increasingly mature issues.

Fire Emblem Warriors isn’t an amazing game, but is a successful and enjoyable merging of two franchises that naturally fit together.

Alone With You tells its somewhat bizarre tale in solid fashion. The story and characters, though sometimes inconsistent, are strong enough to make this a worthwhile piece of interactive fiction.

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.

Super Mutant Alien Assault isn't the greatest shooter in recent memory, but that doesn't take away the fact that it's just really fun to play. And there's plenty of depth tucked away for you to discover the more you play.

This isn't the kind of game you revisit multiple times, but rather the kind of game you tell your friends about with the utmost enthusiasm on account of just how silly and pleasant the whole thing is.

Epiosde 3 gets Story Mode back on the right track, adding a great new character and taking players through some dramatic, emotional moments.

Its old-school vibe is irresistible, and the gameplay, while limited, has its explosive moments.

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.

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

Rage 2 isn't a revolution, but it's a well-executed open world shooter with satisfying core gameplay and big splashes of color.

RAD was a fun experience and one that I’ll likely revisit in the future. However, it’s pacing made it difficult to play for long periods of time. It’s a decent distraction but it just doesn’t hold up as a game you might want to binge all the way through. Luckily, the rogue-lite formula fits perfectly into small distractions like this.

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.

Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 offers good combination of multiplayer third-person shooter gameplay and platformer collect-a-thons of days past.

It may not be the best in terms of graphics or value, but none can deny that Call of Champions is the ideal way to get a quick MOBA fix, even when you’re away from your PC.

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.

The new MediEvil remaster stays faithful to the original, for both good and bad. Fans will enjoy seeing Sir Daniel’s adventures come to life in full HD, but anyone looking for a brand new action/adventure/platformer might find the old-school PS1 controls and mechanics more than a little jarring.

While Assassin's Creed Chronicles Russia isn't quite up there with the best adventures in the series, it's still the best release in the trilogy, thanks to its moody settings, its acceptable range of gameplay and its fun storytelling.

Wild Hearts is a game with a ton of charm, but it left me wanting more. It feels like it could have made the leap from good to great with some relatively minor additions and tweaks.

Dandara proves that there's still originality in a decades-old genre. It changes the way you control the player character, breaking from Metroidvania traditions, and creates new types of puzzles and methods of progression along the way.

The shortcomings of Timespinner revolve heavily around the fact that the game is so short. It creates beautiful environments and combat systems, but by the time we’ve gotten into a solid groove the game is already over.

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.

The controls take some getting used to, and the graphics could've been a little bit better, but overall, this is a sibling rivalry you should check out.

When it comes to my Dynasty Warriors style kicks, I still prefer the much more stylish Dragon Quest Heroes and Hyrule Warriors. However, Arslan is a decent choice in its own right, despite its technical flaws and slightly repetitive gameplay.

Because of its tonal misfire, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy won't end up as one of Telltale's more memorable series. But an entertaining sidetrack, a decently written plot, and a few good gameplay ideas make it an entertaining distraction and a fun way to pass the time until Guardians 2 hits theaters, or the next episode of The Walking Dead hits Steam.

Immortal Planet isn’t the best that the Souls genre has to offer, but it certainly makes a strong effort to stand out, and as I mentioned before, it can serve as an excellent starter game if you’re thinking of getting more heavily involved in the genre. If anything, the latest from teedoubleuGAMES proves that the Souls spirit will continue to live on even without the guiding hands of From Software.

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.

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.

If you grew up playing 3D platformer collect-a-thon games like Mario 64, Banjo-Kazooie, Donkey Kong 64, Jak & Daxter, Spyro, and others, then there is a good chance that you’ll find a lot to love in Yooka-Laylee. It’s a faithful recreation of the formula that made games of the late 90s and early 2000s both so special and so frustrating.

Skater XL tickles the same part of my brain as my favorite racing sims. It provides a compelling sandbox with enough depth that it makes me want to do a difficult thing well. It’s simultaneously relaxing. You can fall on your face 500 times, but there are zero consequences for any of it. No one’s keeping score, not of points or broken bones. In troubled times, a low stakes challenge can be a welcome one.

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.

Call of Cthulhu suffers from a slow opening, but those who can make it deeper will find a satisfying horror mystery with plenty of twists and turns.

Tales of Berseria isn’t perfect by any means, but it is a marked improvement over other recent Tales titles. With a couple friends along for the ride, you can squeeze quite a bit of enjoyment out of this game, despite its flaws.

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.

Steep definitely has its flaws and downsides, but I enjoyed most of the time I spent with it. I still find myself picking up the controller to enjoy the view and get a little competitive frustration out.

If you love multiplayer survival games with heavy duty environmental storytelling and exploration, then Fallout 76 will probably appeal to you. If you go into Fallout exclusively for the solitude, stories, and characters, then Fallout 76 is going to feel like an empty, boring country road.

Sister Location is a fantastic horror game, even if it doesn’t particularly feel like the rest of the FNAF series.

DOOM VFR delivers a fun VR experience that gives you a tiny taste of an excellent meal, a meal that’s full of stunning visuals, demon stomping, and a satisfying blend of upgrades and the weapons we know and love from the DOOM universe. Unfortunately, a few bugs and some questionable design choices mar an otherwise fantastic VR game.

A Way Out is a fun ride that shows off a great cooperative experience, an interesting story, and some of the coolest camera work to ever grace a video game.It’s an extremely smooth experience with very few rough edges. That said, it lacks some of the content we’ve come to expect from interactive stories, which makes it a fun ride, but not something that you’ll likely return to again and again.

It may not be the most engrossing single-player experience, but if you enjoy local co-op multiplayer, you could do a lot worse than Pac-Man 256.

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.

I’m going to be playing Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite quite a bit over the next few years, but that doesn’t change the fact that its feature set is less impressive than every other AAA fighter on the market.

If you just want a fun 3D fighting game with no extras, then Soulcalibur VI is the grand revival of the franchise you have been waiting for. If you want something more, Soulcalibur VI doesn’t offer nearly as much as other fighting games on the market.

There is a good amount of content here and the gameplay is fun. My only real complaints are that the game can be a pain to play solo, the class perks don’t always make a lot of sense, and the points grind won’t be a fun time for people who don’t want to move the difficulty mode up as their characters level up.

Ultimately the toys-to-life aspect feels like it gets in the way of an otherwise competent and fun space shooter that’s packed to the brim with things to do. Flying ships feels great and the occasional difficulty spikes rarely take away from the excitement of tearing through the atmosphere onto a new planet’s surface. But not all platforms are created equally, with the Switch’s Star Fox content shining as a bright point.

While Event{0} ends far too soon, the clever and emotive A.I. is a real treat to interact with. It’s far from a perfect implementation, but the unique and engaging story is one worth experiencing for fans of sci-fi exploration adventures that don’t mind a bit of reading.

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.

Rise & Shine feels like a game that tries too hard to be too much, ultimately coming together in a fun package that could have been great. The action is tight and rewarding, the gameplay is varied, and the difficulty is satisfying, if a bit frustrating in some parts. Fans of old-school arcade shooters will find plenty to love here, even if the jokes don’t always hit home.

Goodbye Volcano High is rough and uneven, but it still contains some of the best individual moments I’ve had with a game all year.

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.

If you are a Call of Duty fan, you’ll have a good time (hacks aside). If you aren’t a Call of Duty fan, there isn’t much reason to come back. Playing CoD: WWII is like eating a great salmon filet; if you’re into fish, you’ll have a great time. If not, you should go find a burger or something.

Loot Rascals may have missed an obvious opportunity on the Vita and Nintendo Switch, but it's still worth playing on either PlayStation 4 or PC. It's a great deal of fun, it's charming, and it's highly addictive.

There's a lot to like in The End Is Nigh, and seeing the Super Meat Boy formula tinkered with and experimented on is really interesting. The game suffers somewhat as a result, but damn, it's still a lot of fun to play.

Wattam is the Katamari successor you may not have known you needed. Keita Takahashi and the folks at Funomena have created a new kind of alternative game experience. If you long for the days when you used to collect toy figures and play sets, Wattam is a wonder to behold. It's joy, colorful and fun, in your hands and right in front of your face.

WWE 2K Battlegrounds is the best WWE game in a long time. Its over-the-top combat leans heavily on cartoon violence, so if you’re looking for a wrestling sim, you won’t find that here. What you will get, though, is a fun, fast-paced, and lighthearted wrestling game.

As long as you understand the sort of game it is (and the limitations of what it offers), Spartan Fist can provide a few solid hours of fun at the very least. Over time, it could grow into a more robust and complex experience that has more lasting appeal, and even in its current form there’s a decent amount of content for roguelike/first-person melee fans to sink their teeth into. There are also some noticeable shortcomings to be sure, but indie fans who just want to punch some dudes with no muss and no fuss will find plenty to love about Spartan Fist.

In its current launch state, Catlateral Damage doesn’t offer enough content to remain compelling over the long term. However, its unique premise combined with its abundant amount of potential could eventually give it the staying power it deserves.

Weakless is not exactly a masterpiece, but it is a beautiful little game with an undeniable amount of charm and a heartfelt message. The game tells a story of the beauty of nature and perseverance through friendship. The narrative is kept to a minimum to ensure you experience its themes and concepts through the gameplay, which is a lot of fun despite some glaring rough edges.

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.

Mass Effect: Andromeda manages to feel both overloaded with content and spread too thin. There are great battles to be won, puzzles to solve, and satisfying social interactions, but they're hidden behind layers of presentation problems and tedious travel times.

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.

While this isn’t a contender for fighting game of the year, it’s a great way to pass the time while you wait for other big name fighting game releases.

While it may be geared more towards hyper-competitive players with extra cash to burn, there’s still a lot to enjoy in EarthCore for even casual CCG fans. You may have to put up with some turbulence as you learn the ropes but the game’s seemingly simple yet addictingly fun premise is well worth the effort.

As a Danganronpa fan, I liked Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, but I hesitate to call it a must-play. It’s a great puzzle game to keep you busy while you wait for the next Phoenix Wright or Professor Layton, but you won’t walk away from this one happy. What did you expect from a series obsessed with despair?

Pro Evolution Soccer 19 is a fun one to play. Unfortunately, I’m already thinking of ways Konami can improve it for next year’s version (I’ll still be playing PES 19 though!).

There’s a good game somewhere in Anthem. Somewhere behind the loading screens, asking for meaningful endgame content. Hopefully in the next few months, when BioWare starts launching its post-launch content and quality of life fixes, the game will become what it’s meant to be.