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

It’s a shame that the gameplay is so shoddy at times, because I truly believe that Tell Me Why is one of the most important games of our time, in terms of social impact. Hopefully later episodes won’t feel as awkward to play.

Nova-111 is a humorous and quirky quest that rivals the sheer charm presented in the PixelJunk games. It's not the most varied adventure, but it's fun nonetheless, and it makes a great portable companion if you go with the Vita version.

At the very least, I’m willing to admit that nostalgia alone is a big part of why the Shenmue series has such a high amount of staying power. However, I will also happily point out that, when they first launched, both of the original Shenmue games helped in redefining what video games are capable of portraying, and it is for that reason most of all that I’m glad they’ll live on as HD remasters.

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.

Evoland 2 is a game that will appeal mostly to longtime RPG aficionados. It's not a perfect execution of its wonderful concept, but it's still a successful showcase of various gameplay styles and formats that's sure to make you smile and reminisce about your fondest gaming memories.

Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection is an attempt to make an old-school absurdly difficult quarter muncher a game worth playing in the modern era, and it delightfully succeeds.

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.

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.

The experience is heavily bogged down by a clunky overworld and purely disruptive gamification of an otherwise pleasant collection of stories.

Resolutiion may wear its influences on its sleeve, but even then it’s managed to carve out a unique identity of its own. You’ll see a little bit of Hyper Light Drifter, Dark Souls, and Metroid here, but the overall package is a wholly original sci-fi experiece that’s great for folks looking to get lost in a bleak futuristic world.

If you are a die-hard Kingdom Hearts fan that loves the music and needs to play every game, then yeah, this game is for you. However, it just feels sloppy for a full-priced game. There are better rhythm games out there, and better Kingdom Hearts games out there, so unless you really need a combination of the two, you can safely pass this one up.

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.

This is exactly what we wanted from a Trials of Mana remake. Square has become very good at updating their back catalog for the modern era. If you are a fan of Square’s 16-bit offerings, you owe it to yourself to pick this up. Hey Square? If you are gonna do a Chrono Trigger remake, do it like this.

Ultratron won't gain a following like some of the better twin-stick shooters out there, mainly due to its lack of diversity and modes. Still, Puppy Games and Curve Studios did do something great with the concept, and if you don't mind a game that's a bit old-school, Ultratron will do you good.

While we're still itching for Shadow Complex 2 to be confirmed, Remastered will swimmingly make proper use of your time. Its action is still addictive and well structured, the visuals look great, and the extra Master Challenges and Achievements will take some time to clean up. More could've easily been added, but this is still Chair at its best – and that's well worth partaking.

Fuser is a great little program that serves as an introduction to the art of DJing. It’s just not much of a game. So think about this as purchasing entry-level DJ software, and as entry-level DJ software, it’s pretty good. It’s never going to be as powerful as dedicated DJ software, but if you just want to have a bit of a DJ fantasy then Fuser will give you just that.

Phantom Doctrine has a lot of competition in the broader turn-based strategy genre and its unique Cold War-era setting isn’t quite enough to really set it apart when all the cards are down. While the setting is great and fresh, the generally lackluster gameplay and mismatch of mechanics hold it back from feeling as clean as it should. Its best moments seem to happen almost completely at random or by accident instead of by design.

It seems like Ripstone could've done more with Extreme Exorcism's gameplay, as it seems kind of one-note, in spite of the "ghosts doing what you do" idea. Regardless, it's definitely fun at times, and makes for a good multiplayer romp, provided you have players that have no trouble concentrating.

It's nice to see that Harmonix can still keep the beat going, even after the commercial success of Rock Band 4. Amplitude may not be as big a game as that is, but it's still a terrific experience, whether you go it alone or bring some friends into the fray. The soundtrack, while more "indie"-based, is a blast, and the gameplay delivers all the goodness we've come to expect from the brand.

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

Overall, the game's solid. It's pretty, it's fun, but it's not without issues. In other words, it's worth the $20 you'll pay for it, but not much more.

If you're a big fan of the first game, I'm sure you'll enjoy this one. However, if you never played the original, you might want to take a test drive first to see if you want to commit to it.

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.

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.

While Mega Coin Squad could've gone the extra mile with more single player oomph and online play, what's here is more than serviceable for those looking for a great time with some friends – or collecting coins on their own. The gameplay is original and a lot of fun, and the presentation is right up the alley of Genesis/SNES owners, right down to the cute animations.

A lot of Silent Hope’s problems stem from under the hood tuning, and I can see another swing at this idea landing a much cleaner hit.

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.

Mercenaries 5 needed six more months of testing and refinement before seeing the light of day. The game’s mech combat is great for enthusiasts of the genre, but the lack of polish may leave newcomers cold. I recommend it for hardcore fans, but casual players may want to wait for the bugs to be ironed out.

While the gameplay is solid and Avalanche Studios did a great job digitally creating the Wasteland, Mad Max starts off slow in the story department and may turn off potential players. However, if you stick with it, you'll finally get the Mad Max you were expecting.

It feels like neither game really shines as intended.

Kirby Star Allies is an incredibly fun Kirby game that will please fans of the franchise. If only there were a little bit more of it.

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

Shadowkeep may have been designed for those who are already invested in Destiny 2’s world and story, but the way it augments both the game’s F2P shift and players’ never-ending desire to chase loot is also indicative of something greater. Bungie wants to prove it’s not afraid to embrace change, to take the feedback it has received these past two years and use it to build a better, more rewarding shooter experience. If Shadowkeep is the result of those efforts, I’d say Bungie has certainly succeeded in meeting those goals.

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.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot has its faults, and it certainly won’t appeal to anyone who isn’t already a DBZ fan, but if you fall into the niche that this title is aiming for, you will be very pleased. This is one of the most fun interpretations of the DBZ plotline that I have played in a very long time, and in my opinion it well outshines its brothers in the same franchise.

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.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order is a great beat-em-up game to play with friends. You might not be standing in a hot arcade pumping quarters into a machine, but trust me, this is the pure arcade experience brought to the modern age. Be ready to smash your head against tough bosses and hordes of enemies as you try to protect the universe from Thanos… again.

The Surge is a satisfying sci-fi RPG that pleasantly surprises in more ways than it disappoints. Fans of Dark Souls-style titles will find a lot to like here and the unique combat system keeps it from feeling like a rip-off. It’s just a shame that the narrative and world building isn’t stronger.

If Iron Danger was the third game from a veteran indie studio, I’d be impressed. It’s Action Squad Studios’ first outing. I’m blown away. While it can occasionally be rough around the edges, I can’t wait to see what they do next.

SpellForce 3 is an amazing effort that falls short of its goal due to crippling bugs and some questionable game design choices. However, the development team appears to be committed to their game and is resolving bugs and balancing issues almost every day. By the time you finish reading this review, SpellForce 3 may be the game I was expecting when I bought it. Despite that, I spent over 60 hours playing the campaign, and I can’t say that I didn’t have a good time.

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.

Unfortunately lacks the originality it so desperately needs to really stand out from the pack. Even though the art style is striking and bold, combined with an inventive cultural focus, the gameplay and overall design weigh it down to be little more than a passable action adventure title.

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

The Flame in the Flood is a challenging game, but the kind that will likely have you trying again, rather than throwing things across the room.

PC gamers looking for the old time cRPG feeling can’t go wrong with Pathfinder: Kingmaker. The presentation is beautiful, the writing is excellent, and the world offers just enough life to engage the player’s imagination to fill in the gaps. Still, at the time of this writing, balancing issues and bugs keep the game from being a definite recommend – at least for the time being.

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.

West of Dead is a refreshing take on multiple genres. It’s a great cover-based twin-stick shooter. It’s a different kind of roguelite. And it’s just a solid all-around action game that’s a joy to play. It’s highly challenging, and it rewards smart play, so what you ultimately get is a satisfying experience that’s fun and invites you to put the time into learning its intricacies.

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.

Some may argue that DICE's Star Wars Battlefront lacks longevity to stay the course on the market, or that more could've been done with it. But the developer went through a massive undertaking to not only reinvent the franchise, but also reassure gamers that this would hardly be another Battlefield blunder. It's great to report that both goals have been completed with flying colors, and, as a result, Star Wars Battlefront is an engaging multiplayer experience that will certainly make your holidays.

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.

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.

While there are some very minor cracks in the foundation, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 still proves itself to be an excellent continuation of not only the Black Ops series but also of the entire Call of Duty IP. If you're looking for a fun, challenging, and comprehensive new-gen shooter experience, Black Ops 3 should definitely tide you over for the next several months (possibly years) at least.

This just isn’t the grand revival of the Sakura Wars franchise I was hoping for, and I’m sure that most other longtime fans will feel the same. As for newbies, there’s some enjoyment here, but it just doesn’t measure up to other major releases on the market right now.

Despite including several different game types and modes, Ubisoft clearly designed Rainbow Six Siege with a very specific kind of player in mind. If you have an abundance of patience, fortitude, and maybe a few gamer friends you can wrangle up, Siege could be just the tactical shooter experience you’re looking for. If you’re looking for a fun game you can kick back with and enjoy in a more casual way, you might want to look elsewhere.

There aren't a lot of games out there like Heroland. The writing takes center stage, but the battles are also a lot of fun to witness unfold. You'll get a lot of laughs out of this game, and though it may seem long-winded at first, the writing is so good that you'll soon understand exactly why there's so much of it. This is just a really fun story to watch unfold and be a part of.

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

Beyond: Two Souls would've fared a lot better if it had even more visual detail, other control options and extra content to make it more like a director's cut. As it stands, though, it's a great conversion of a pretty good Quantic Dream development, mind its storytelling issues and quick-time event gameplay. Plus, it won't kill your wallet being priced for only $30. That's something even invisible deities can appreciate.

Earth Defense Force 2 isn't a great game, it's merely a serviceable third-person shooter where the goal is to kill giant insects. If that sounds at all appealing to you, then you're probably the right audience for this game.

Leo's Fortune can't quite overcome the hump when it comes to avoiding being categorized as a mobile-to-console game – more levels would've done the trick. As it stands, though, it's a solid platformer that fans of the genre will appreciate, and the various challenges it presents more than justifies the somewhat moderate price tag. Besides, you can't help but admire Leo's confidence and attitude – or his mustache, for that matter.

Bugsnax is a truly weird game that is worth trying just for the concept. As the theme song goes “Everyone’s talkin' bout Bugsnax.” Well not everyone, but maybe they should be.

Team Sonic Racing is fun, well designed, and stuffed with replay value. It excels everywhere except the one place it matters: couch co-op, and that’s the one major flaw that holds it back.

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.

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.

Mothergunship might not have been made with my specific gaming tastes in mind. But when a game tries so hard to tell me how to play and, worse, punishes me so harshly when I fail, I just can’t for the life of me imagine that any sort of gamer could find long-term enjoyment out of what it offers.

It wouldn’t be totally fair to call Need for Speed Heat a bad game, but given the exciting high-speed material it’s defined by, it is a disappointingly boring one. Small blessings like the lack of over-aggressive microtransactions and an incredibly in-depth car customization suite can’t make up for gameplay and progression loops which, at best, feel routine and archaic, and at worst frustrating and obtuse. It’s understandable that publisher Electronic Arts would want to recapture the glory of Need for Speed’s heyday, but all Need for Speed Heat proves is that maybe the series just needs to rest for a while.

At the end of the day, Rune Factory 3 Special is a fine game, and its only crime is how closely it sits to games that use it as a stepping stone. If you love the “cozy” genre and are looking for some farming action, but only have the budget for one game, it’s hard to recommend this. But if you’re more of a fan of Story of Seasons and/or Rune Factory as a series, there’s absolutely room for Rune Factory 3 Special on the shelf.

With a little more elbow grease and a lot more consideration for the hardware at hand, State of Decay: Survival Edition could've found a strong second life on the Xbox One. Instead, it feels like it was rushed in several corners, and despite its stacked content, it doesn't quite live up to its potential.

Just like a superstar getting vindication at Wrestlemania, WWE 2K16 has completed a grand comeback following last year's lackluster entry. It feels like a total package this time around, and the gameplay, for the most part, is balanced and entertaining. I love the visuals too, even if the commentary leaves something to be desired. And there's a ton to do, without Vince McMahon getting in the way. Pick up a copy and go wild.

Guild of Dungeoneering can get frustrating due to all of the randomness, but even then there's just no getting around the fact that it is a wonderful game. And if it ever does come to handhelds, I'll be eager to give it another go.

A combination of traditional strategy with layers of modern tabletop mechanics that work well to create a game that's fun to learn and satisfying to master.

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.

ECHO tries new and interesting things, but doesn't always succeed. The gameplay and visuals wear thin over time, but some players will appreciate the game for its originality.

Super Dragon Ball Heroes: World Mission was a fun distraction that let me see what Gohan would look like if he could go Super Saiyan 4, but once the novelty wore off I went back to other, better looking, and better playing card games and Dragon Ball games.

So, even though the gameplay loop can be a lot of fun, I worry about the longevity of this game's lifespan. With only three maps (that are all kind of similar) and the possibility of not getting much new content due to licensing issues between all of the other films in the franchise, the game might not be around for a long time. Let’s hope that isn’t the case.

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.

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.

While The Deadly Tower of Monsters would've been better with optional camera control, a New Game + mode and more gameplay combos, it's still a fitting tribute to the long-lost era of 50's sci-fi.

Republique transitions from mobile to console in grand fashion, and it boldly tells a brilliant story that's rife with wonderful gameplay design and quality voice acting.

Watch Dogs: Legion is an interesting game with an innovative system and a compelling story. It’s not a blockbuster hit and it probably won’t make the running for GOTY this year, but its experimental systems and socially resonant plot make it worth checking out.

Thanks to GreedFall’s impressively diverse roleplaying and combat systems, it’s the sort of game that any sort of RPG fan would enjoy, whether they prefer playing as the tough warrior, the cunning rogue, the wise spellcaster, or any combination of those archetypes they can think of. It may hew closely to the template that BioWare created many years ago, but GreedFall also proves there’s still a lot of potential for expansive single-player RPGs that put player choice first.

It's too flawed to fully recommend, although if you know a few friends that don't mind casting spells at mindless monsters, it'll cast its spell on you.

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.

A fun, pick-up-and-play brawler that’s perfect if you’re looking to play a more engaging brawler on the go. However, its lack of ancillary features and focus on linear grinding make it quite obvious that EA only wants those who pay real money to have any long-term enjoyment.

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.

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.

Battletoads is a highly entertaining beat ‘em up. It’s a throwback to the series’ roots while still managing to reinvent that series. The action is fast and flows smoothly, and the whole thing is just filled with slick style. This is a revival done right.

Leave it to TT Games to save the day once more with the Marvel license. Lego Marvel's Avengers lives up to the same level of appeal as Super Heroes did years ago, but expands upon it with some fundamental new combat ideas and an overload of content to unlock. Sure, the voice acting may not always fit, and there may be a few visual hiccups here and there, but this crew still saves the day in the end – and that's what counts.

More work could've been done to make Payday 2: Crimewave Edition the ultimate value for fans of the series – especially when it came to making the AI perform up to snuff. Still, the abundant amount of content, combined with strong multiplayer options, make it a heist worth trying with the right squad of goons.

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.

In spite of some technical setbacks and repetitive tasks, Just Cause 3 delivers the kind of stress-relieving destruction to get you through the doldrums. It's easily the best looking game of the series thus far, and the awesome gameplay will have you continue to think up ways to bring down enemies. You're due a holiday vacation, and Rico's trip will certainly fulfill the need.

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.

9 Monkeys of Shaolin is the type of game you pick up and play over the course of a weekend or after a long day at work. The martial arts movie style works well and wears its grindhouse love on its sleeve. Combat is entertaining and challenging, and like a proper beat ‘em up, you can have a friend join you for the ride. It’s over after about five hours, but in that time you’re treated to a really good time.

Far Cry: New Dawn is a well-put-together Far Cry title that does a great job of bringing the story of Hope Count to a satisfying conclusion. It’s fun for all the reasons Far Cry is fun with some addictive survival and base-building elements that shake up the formula just enough to make New Dawn stand well on its own.

Days Gone seems like a classic case of a game that grew too big for its own good. The production values are excellent and it packs some tense gameplay and emotional stories, but the poor pacing, tedious open world, and padded length significantly drag it down overall.

Death end re:Quest is not for everyone. Many people will be made uncomfortable by its moe aesthetic. However, if you have similar experience with games such as Danganronpa, Doki Doki Literature Club, or anime such as Magical Girl Site, Made in Abyss, or No Game No Life, then you will not only be able to tolerate Death end re;Quests aesthetic, you might even enjoy it, and that leaves you free to experience the incredibly ambitious and innovative game underneath.

While there are some things that could use tweaking via a patch, Ultra Street Fighter IV has come to PlayStation 4 with flying colors.

Portal Knights feels like a natural evolution of the procedural block building and exploration genre. It packs in lots of RPG elements, exciting adventure, and addictive multiplayer that layers on top of the existing world creation mechanics popularized by Minecraft.