What Remains of Edith Finch may not be a very challenging game, but the story it tells is one which will undoubtedly resonate with players in ways they may not expect. If anything, it proves yet again that video games can be used to tell some truly immersive and thought-provoking stories, ones which stick with us long after we put down the controller.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the definitive Mario Kart experience. It’s got the most complete roster of characters, tons of tracks, a litany of game modes, and an ultra-polished presentation mixed with pitch-perfect gameplay. A must play for all Switch owners.

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.

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.

Drawn to Death is one of the most disappointing games I’ve played in recent memory. The premise is fantastic and there is a heap of potential buried beneath the surface. Unfortunately, even after you dig past that rough outer shell, the inside is almost entire empty and devoid of engaging content.

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.

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.

Narcosis is a frightening, cerebral game that taps into your basest instincts of fear and survival with a beautifully rendered environment and thoughtful story. The short length of the game and the actual mechanics keep it from being a masterpiece, but it is an excellent debut effort from Honor Code.

There’s no denying that MLB The Show 17 is one of the most comprehensive and realistic baseball simulators that has ever been made. No matter what sort of baseball experience you’re looking for, I can pretty much guarantee you’ll find it in the latest from San Diego Studios.

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.

Persona 5 is a JRPG that deserves to be played, period. There are few other games that understand their genre as well as Persona 5 does. It knows exactly what Persona fans, JRPG fans, and gamers in general want to see. It’s not just a game, it’s an addiction, and if you give it a shot you too will find yourself playing and replaying Persona 5 for the better part of 2017.

Rain World will probably establish a cult following, which is great because it deserves a fan base for its thoughtful ideas. Unfortunately, too many factors get in the way of what very well could've been one of 2017's most interesting indies.

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.

This game is a must-play for sci-fi racing fans who own a Switch, especially if you dream about the day a new F-Zero game comes out. It’s not exactly the same, but evokes a strong classic feeling with a few new twists that make it both fresh and familiar.

As much as I loved the story mode in Super Bomberman R, I can’t help but feel like there was something missing. It felt almost too gimmicky and over-reached. The in-game cut scenes were drawn out and the story line is subpar at best. If you are looking for a good couch multiplayer game and you already have 1-2-Switch and Snipperclips, then this game might be worth a try, but I wouldn’t make this your first choice.

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.

I understand that, as a CCG fan who prefers PvE play, I am in the minority, but The Elder Scrolls: Legends has honestly been the first digital CCG that felt like it was welcoming me in with open arms instead of forcing me to either play PvP or make do with subpar alternatives. Bethesda certainly has some stiff competition going up against games like Hearthstone and CD Projekt Red’s upcoming standalone Gwent game, but as far as first impressions go, I have never been more pleasantly surprised by a CCG than I was by The Elder Scrolls: Legends.

1-2-Switch serves as a nice tech demo to familiarize yourself with the Nintendo Switch console and Joy-Con controllers. It’s a unique experience, the type only Nintendo can provide. Unfortunately, though, the redundancy of the minigames means you’ll likely have fun for only a few hours, and then move on to more engaging games.

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're looking for a good multiplayer game on your brand new Nintendo Switch, Snipperclips is a must. In addition to being accessible, it will test your ability to solve puzzles and work as a team. Expect a lot of laughter and hours of fun in this puzzle game offering great value for your money.

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.

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.

It’s actually a little hard to believe that Ubisoft plans to expand Ghost Recon Wildlands further via post-launch content updates which will add in things like new story content and even a PvP mode since the base game is already quite massive. Shooter fans who want a game they can sink many hours into while honing their tactical shooting skills (either alone or with some friends) should be immensely satisfied with the experience Ghost Recon Wildlands provides them.

Dystoria is one of those games that you just know may go on to achieve cult status. It's certainly not without merit, but it stumbles a bit in its execution of an otherwise promising concept. If we ever get a sequel — and I hope we do — that game could be something truly special.

The experience is so phenomenal, it deserves to be in the conversation about the best Zelda game of all-time, if not the best games of all-time. When I say Breath of the Wild is a must-play title, it’s not hyperbole, you simply must play this game.

Horizon Zero Dawn is one of the most entertaining open world games I have played in a while. It’s a truly creative take in an otherwise saturated genre.

Halo Wars 2 is a fun and enjoyable real-time strategy game that showcases the biggest reasons we don’t see many RTS styled games on consoles. The lack of precise controls make for a clumsy and ineffective experience. The game’s spectacular sound design helps bring the world to life, and the Ark and the various units of each faction are well-designed and placed within the world. Halo Wars 2 isn’t the best RTS game out there, but as far as things go, it’s not a bad place to start, and could easily soak up your evenings if given the chance.

Tides feels like a complete, if strangely assembled, game. You'll find surprising depth in some areas while other aspects aren't developed quite as much as it feels like they should be, but the total package is a huge success. Commit to learning the game's vocabulary and don't let yourself get overwhelmed by lore at the game's beginning, and you'll be richly rewarded.

With a ton of content, Ride 2 has some great ambitions. But at the end of the day, the game looks great but plays horribly.

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.

Much like From Software’s Souls games and Team Ninja’s previous Ninja Gaiden efforts, Nioh was clearly designed with a very specific sort of gamer in mind, namely a very patient one who doesn’t mind having to constantly learn from their mistakes. If you find enjoyment in the punishing difficulty of such games and you want to delve into a title which could easily suck up hours upon hours of your gaming time, Nioh will certainly not disappoint.

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.

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.

There’s a lot to do in Yakuza 0, but it may take you some time to get through the game. While the story is very compelling, there are so many side activities that are equally entertaining, it may be difficult to pull yourself away to continue with the main story. If you have a history with the Yakuza series, there are even moments when you see where these characters began that will make you feel even closer to the grouping of polygons on your TV screen. Almost everything about Yakuza 0 is well-done and exceeds expectations.

Resident Evil 7 is a highly effective horror title fans of the genre will enjoy, as long as they can tolerate its short length. It's different than the past few Resident Evil titles, but it's different in the right ways.

The first great game of 2017. It takes what made the original a cult classic and builds upon that foundation in meaningful ways across all areas of the experience. Few games will make your heart race and palms sweat with excitement from moment-to-moment like Kat’s physics-defying journey through the skies.

The good news about Siegecraft Commander’s current state is that it has plenty of room (and clear directions) in which to grow, but unless there’s a pretty substantial day-one patch I’m not aware of, you should steer clear until Blowfish corrects the game’s many issues.

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.

The Walking Dead: A New Frontier continues to prove that Telltale Games are masters of storytelling. They know exactly how to craft a narrative that gets you attached to the characters you are controlling, invested in their choices, and devastated by the tragic consequences of those choices.

Final Fantasy XV is a tremendous return to the franchise and includes a lot things we love about the series. I experienced a few missteps here and there, but it didn’t deter from an overall great experience.

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.

As far as Dead Rising games go, Dead Rising 4 may be dumbed down, but it’s still dumb fun.

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.

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.

Pokémon Sun and Moon is full of welcome innovations that make the Pokémon formula feel new and fresh. It’s a perfect way to celebrate Pokémon’s 20th anniversary.

Pokémon Sun and Moon is full of welcome innovations that make the Pokémon formula feel new and fresh. It’s a perfect way to celebrate Pokémon’s 20th anniversary.

What started as a fantastic idea ended up as a pile of wasted potential.

Watch Dogs 2 is definitely an improvement over the original. The entire vibe of the series has changed for the better, with likable characters, tongue-in-cheek scenarios, and a new hacks and gadgets that will keep you busy for quite a while.

With a rushed third act and a few frustrating quirks here and there, Tyranny falls just short of reaching the legendary heights of the games that inspired it. Obsidian has, however, once again delivered on their pedigree with an engrossing and inventive story of betrayal and tyrannical rule. This game is a must-play for fans of isometric narrative roleplaying games.

It’s always good to end on a high note, and that’s exactly what Just Dance 2017 will be doing if it ends up being the final physical entry for the franchise.

Better than the first game in every way, Dishonored 2 is a creative stealth/action adventure packed with replay value.

In the end, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare is just OK, and that’s about the saddest thing you can say about a franchise that used to be the king of first-person shooters.

Skylanders Imaginations is built for the long haul with great replay value, which may be one more reason for the series to take a year off.

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.

Crazy Machines 3 delivers on the machines and delivers on the crazy, and although it isn't for everyone there's a select group that'll love and cherish it despite its quirks. Unfortunately, it’s missing a hook, and has just enough quirks in the core gameplay that makes it frustrating for anyone outside that group. And a lot of cool ideas are held back by a few frustrating gameplay mechanics that need to be ironed out before Crazy Machines 4.

Rock Band Rivals has once again sparked my love for Rock Band, and the thrill of the chase.

This was a hard game to score because I really wanted to love it more than I did. The unique storytelling format and intense musical score carry what is an otherwise perplexing narrative that tries very hard to be profound but ends up feeling a bit muddled.

Titanfall 2 is the sequel that Titanfall fans wanted. A great and satisfying single player campaign. A filled out and content rich multiplayer. And a host of new titans with their own characteristics and specialties. Titanfall 2 is definitely a winner.

Battlefield fans are going to absolutely love Battlefield 1, and casual first person shooter dabblers will find enough in the variety of modes to entertain for hours. However, this is still a Battlefield game at heart, and those who have shied away from the objective-focused mentality in the past are likely to shy away from Battlefield 1 as well. Having said that, everyone should at least try Battlefield 1 because it is one of the more enjoyable shooters in recent memory.

This is a deep, massive, complicated game in the best traditions of the franchise, and though it doesn't do everything right, it's likely that strategy fans are going to be very pleased with what they get with Civlization VI.

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.

2K Games has once again managed to top itself by creating an incredibly in-depth wresting experience. WWE 2K17 may not be as accessible as I would have liked, but if you’ve stuck with the series this long, there are plenty of reasons why you should continue to do so.

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

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.

It’s difficult to fault The Coalition for not running with new ideas when it comes to Gears of War 4. The game definitely feels like a Gears of War title, but it’s more of a revamped reboot rather than a proper sequel. If you’ve been a fan of previous Gears titles, there’s a lot to like about Gears of War 4, but for anyone who wasn’t already sold on the series, don’t expect anything here to suddenly change your mind.

FIFA 17 is visually stunning and "The Journey" is a welcome, if imperfect, new mode to the series. The new title is recognizable as a FIFA title, as any long-time fan of the series can attest to, which can be just as negative as it is positive. It's a fun, solid title but one that already has us thinking about what needs to be improved for next year's installment.

If you enjoy the story of King’s Quest then you’ll love Snow Place Like Home. If, however, you prefer traditional adventure game puzzles, you won’t find those here.

While it’s graphics are nothing to fawn over and its first phase can be a bit of a pain if you’re on mobile, 60 Seconds Atomic Adventure is still an incredibly fun experience even if you’re playing it on the go. Its subject material may be a bit grim, but Robot Gentlemen managed to inject just the right amount of dark humor to give the game a light-hearted edge without making it feel unnecessarily goofy.

The foundation of the gameplay mechanics is still intact, which is what makes it accessible for anyone to pick up and play and is the basis for a lot of our Destiny addictions.

Forza Horizon 3 is a visual feast and an impressive entry into the Forza line-up. The Australian environment feels and looks realistic, with lush rainforests tapering away into the red and dusty outback. Whether you’re a casual racing player or a motorsport enthusiast, Forza Horizon 3 will meet your expectations of a non-simulator racing game. The handling of the vehicles is, as always, finely tuned like only a Forza game can deliver.

A solid title that is as entertaining as it is satisfying to play.

Overall, the narrative is predictable while set in an interesting world, and the movement is slick and enjoyable, but the constant back-tracking to collect more keys weighs down the experience. It’s unfortunate that the game couldn’t be tightened up under Microsoft’s tutelage, because ReCore has nuggets of good ideas buried beneath the monotony and tedium of its primary activities.

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.

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.

This isn’t the pinnacle of the Ace Attorney series like fans wanted, but it’s a perfectly enjoyable entry nonetheless.

Turmoil plays like a casual game, but as you go along you quickly see that a lot of thought was put into it by people who really like to make games. I found it exciting and fun and just hard enough to keep me interested. If you like games that force you to put some effort in to them, I highly recommend getting it off Steam.

The Tomorrow Children is a city manager, mining sim, and tower defense mashup - a brilliant idea supported by unimpressive tech despite an inspired visual design approach.

If you’re on the hunt for a new competitive game to play with friends, Inversus is a solid choice given its price and its unique concept. However, unless you’re confident you’ll be able to recruit some friends to play with, you might want to look elsewhere for your next indie fix.

A fresh direction for the series that acknowledges the characters that made it what it is, while adding enough new characters to make this entry worth playing.

Madden NFL 17 turned a corner. While it hasn't overhauled its entire system to the point that it looks like a game-changer, the little aspects make the follow-up more polished. Kudos to EA Sports to stepping up its game.

Okhlos is based on a simple concept with an even simpler gameplay mechanic that may very well be better suited for mobile devices, but that doesn’t stop it from being hilarious, dumb fun when it’s clicking.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided isn't a revolutionary experience, but it is a high-quality one in just about every way. If you're a fan of the genre or the series you'll love it, and it's worth a look even for those new to this kind of game (though prepare to wade through hip-deep lore as you go).

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.

There's a famous quote from mountaineer George Mallory, when he was asked why he would want to climb Mount Everest: "Because it's there." If that answer strikes you as profound and beautiful, go buy No Man's Sky. If it seems dumb and unsatisfying, go play something else.

Deckstorm may not ease players into its gameplay as smoothly as other CCG’s like Hearthstone, but if you can get over the early-game hurdles, you’ll find one of the most accessible and expansive mobile CCG experiences I have ever played.

This is one of the few times where a re-master would have sufficed in place of a new title.

Prison Architect isn't the easiest game to delve into, but it provides patient players with a deep, challenging, and entertaining experience.

Song of the Deep tells a compelling story and presents enjoyable, captivating Metroidvania gameplay set in an enthralling underwater world.

Its best parts are fantastic evolutions of the cinematic game genre and creative new takes on the Batman IP. Its worst parts are just the same Telltale game formula we have been playing for the last five years, and that’s still quality.

The fact that Sword Coast Legends ultimately wound up being a disappointing flop is especially disheartening since it was clear during the game’s run up to launch that N-Space was very passionate about the project. I’m not entirely sure what went wrong, but sadly I do know that D&D fans will need to look elsewhere for a proper digital conversion of the pen-and-paper game’s 5th Edition.

There’s no denying that Batman: Arkham Underworld was created in order to capitalize on the popularity of Rocksteady’s Arkham franchise, but whether the familiarity of the Arkhamverse is enough to give the game any real sense of staying power is something only time will tell. In the meantime, whether or not you enjoy Arkham Underworld depends entirely on your opinion of mobile microtransaction-driven games in general.

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 is an instance of a fantastic game’s incredible potential being wasted on a mismanaged port. If you can grab it on a Steam sale and haven’t played it before, it might be worth a look, but as it stands you might as well wait for the inevitable release of the latest version on home consoles.

If you are looking for a classic JRPG experience, you will love I Am Setsuna. If you are looking for the second coming of Chrono Trigger, however, you will be disappointed.

Playdead's Inside may have been the follow-up to Limbo six years in the making, but the wait was certainly worth it.

Tokyo Mirage Sessions is not only the best JRPG to come out for the Wii U, it’s likely the best JRPG we have seen in this generation, period. Atlus is going to have their work cut out for them if they are going to one-up themselves with Persona 5.

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.