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

Now I wasn’t expecting Payday 3 to match its predecessor in terms of quality right off the bat (and let’s be fair, Payday 2 is a much different animal today than when it launched), but even with my expectations lowered a bit, I was still pretty disappointed with what we got.

It’s more comparable to Persona 5 Strikers than, say, Hyrule Warriors.

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.

While I do think the audio mixing could use a little tweaking, I really enjoyed all of the music, voice acting, and even the sound of the wind blowing through the trees in certain areas. Little touches like that really elevated the overall experience.

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.

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.

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?

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.

You have so much choice in what you do and how you do it that you might not be bothered by having overflowing pockets or being unable to find a store. Heck, bring a knife to a gunfight if you want. You do you. Me, I'll be exploring the stars, with a gun in my hand, a song in my heart, and a grin on my face.

Very minor issues aside, I think that Blasphemous II is an absolutely fantastic and challenging addition to the list of Metroidvania titles that exist, and the majority of fans of the first game are going to adore this. I know I do.

Much like many Uncharted-style navigation gimmicks that aren’t really puzzles, there’s a lot to the RPG systems in Sea of Stars that are present as fun elements to play with rather than obstacles.

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.

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.

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.

The more time I spent with Atlas Fallen, the more its cracks became harder to ignore. Its combat system is sorely lacking, the story is entirely uninteresting and poorly told, and the whole experience has an unpolished quality to it. Perhaps Deck13 ought to give the soulslike thing another go.

BG3 is a highwater mark for choice-driven RPGs and the new standard to which basically every other major RPG will be compared. I feel bad for Starfield at this point and for game developers in general. Larian Studios has set the bar incredibly high. Still, I hope other publishers will see it as an example to let developers have time and creative freedom to make incredible games without all the bloated live service and microtransaction bullshit. Also, you can play this game in four-player online co-op or even split-screen locally on a single PC, and in this day and age, that may be one of the most impressive features in BG3. If you love RPGs, you owe it to yourself to play this game.

WrestleQuest is something wrestling fans will truly enjoy from a sentimental perspective. The story overstays its welcome a bit, but I loved the nostalgia in the storyline. You can clearly see the love of wrestling the development team had and their care with the different legends like Macho Man Randy Savage, Ric Flair, Sgt. Slaughter, and more.

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.

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.

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.

Persona 5 Strikers is a worthy addition to the Persona 5 game line. If you enjoyed the previous exploits of the Phantom Thieves, then you will love everything this game has to offer.

Little Nightmares II is just a worse game than the original. Everything they added to the system feels clunky at best and unfair at worst. It’s a shame because this same story, with its same environments, same levels, same enemies, and same music and sound would have been infinitely better if they kept the mechanics from the original.

In a world where you can pick up The Last of Us Remastered for a song, there’s no reason to waste your time on Earthblood. Paradox Interactive is no stranger to game development. I wonder which team lead is asleep at the wheel such that Earthblood was allowed to go out the door in its current state.

Destruction AllStars may not be a killer app that sells you on a PS5, but anyone who owns a PS5 will be happy to add it to their library. It is definitely one of the best perks of owning a PS5 yet.

You’ll likely have a really good time with Gods Will Fall. Straight up, it’s a good game. A lack of polish keeps it from being a great game, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had here.

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.

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.

Redout: Space Assault is a reminder that I should fire up Star Wars: Squadrons again. While it’s visually appealing given its discount price, it fails to deliver fun and engaging mechanics. If you want an indie and don’t dig on Star Wars, there’s House of the Dying Sun, an excellent indie that’s over four years old and retails for $20. Even in a genre as niche as the space shooter, there are better options available.

Cyber Shadow packs a lot of quality into a small six-hour package. If you love indie platformers and have a soft spot in your heart for games like Ninja Gaiden and Shatterhand then you won’t want to pass this one up.

Hitman 3 was a fun game, but I definitely put it down quicker than I did Hitman 1 or 2. If you wanted more of the same it gives you that on top of being a really convenient platform for the content of the previous games, but that doesn’t change the fact that this feels much more like an expansion pack than a new entry in the franchise.

Super Meat Boy Forever is a fun little distraction. Though it fails to live up to the legacy of its predecessor, it’s entertaining for a few playthroughs. If you loved Super Meat Boy, you might just get a kick out of Forever… or you may not.

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

Godfall could scratch that action game itch if you don’t mind how lackluster it is in other areas. A paid expansion is coming out in 2021, so I’m curious to see if that’ll address any of my concerns about the campaign.

I want to recognize how ambitious and fun this game is while simultaneously warning people about how incomplete and sloppy it is. Whether or not this is a worthwhile purchase will be entirely up to whether or not you want to brave the bugs, glitches, and general half-baked feel in order to get to the core roleplaying game underneath.

Twin Mirror is the inferior Dontnod offering of 2020, and probably one of their most disappointing games yet. It is mediocre in every sense, failing to live up to the potential of its concept and the reputation of its developer.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Miles Morales’ biggest problem is by far its length which will turn some people off. But honestly, there’s room for more short form experiences, even as major console release titles. Miles Morales doesn’t waste any time with padding and instead keeps pushing high quality Spider-Man gameplay at you, which in my opinion is a strength, and not a weakness.

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.

If Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is an indication of the direction the series is going in from here, I’m all in. Valhalla sheds light on the Viking era in a distinctly hopeful way with fantastically written characters and story arcs that feel like you’re bingeing an excellent show. The gameplay is at its finest, too, brilliantly balancing stealth and combat in equal measure. If it weren’t for an overwhelming number of frustrating bugs and the lack of quality side content, this could have been the best Assassin’s Creed yet.

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.

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.

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.

Orangeblood offers a unique spin on the offbeat RPG formula that was popularized by EarthBound. This is very much a quirky turn-based game, but its foul language, hip hop music, ‘90s-inspired tone, and adult themes make it a weird, enjoyable curveball. Performance is stunted slightly compared to the PC version, but the game is still a good time.

Cloudpunk succeeds in delivering a worthwhile open-world adventure. The story isn’t perfect, but the characters are extremely well-written. The audiovisual design also drives the game forward, presenting a world that’s dark, futuristic, and mysterious. You might struggle with the camera and controls at times, but don’t let that detract from what is an otherwise awesome character-driven game.

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.

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.

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.

Mafia: Definitive Edition improves on the original in every way. It does this by telling a remarkable story bolstered by beautifully detailed visuals and excellent performances. The outdated mission design and gameplay keep it from ever feeling truly modern however.

Crash 4 isn’t just a competent sequel, it’s a genuinely well-made platformer in its own right. It expands on its now-ancient predecessors in meaningful ways, and incorporates some truly lovely visuals alongside plenty of compelling and challenging level designs that manage to stay fresh throughout.

Squadrons is a Star Wars experience I’ve been looking for since the ‘90s. A two-decade quest has come to an end. I’d happily pay for a bit more single player content, and I hope the devs have some tricks up their sleeves to expand the multiplayer. I’d love a PvE horde mode of some kind.

It may not top Serious Sam 3, but even then, this latest entry in Croteam’s beloved series is still a winner. Serious Sam 4 is fast, loud, insane, and just straight-up cool.

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.

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.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 lives up to the hype, reinventing itself for a new decade of technological possibility. Accessible but challenging, and with mind-boggling graphics, this entry from Asobo will continue to be the gold-standard for years to come.

Hades is a shining example of what the roguelike genre can be. The combat is fast and frenetic with an unbelievable number of options to tailor Zagreus’ fighting style to your liking. Though the story isn’t remarkable, everything else is in this gorgeous must-play indie title on Nintendo Switch.

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a fantastic game that will appeal to a very specific slice of the strategy gamer fanbase. If there is even a chance that you are in that slice, then I suggest you check it out.

Longtime players won’t find much to enjoy in this barely changed version of last year’s entry.

Windbound is a game that sounds good on paper but in practice, it falls apart. It’s a very interesting case study in design that takes inspiration from certain games yet doesn’t quite understand what made them fun in the first place.

WRC 9 proves that there’s a good reason to own more than one rally sim. It’s an exciting game with tons of options, and its training courses make it more accessible to newcomers. Wrapping your Volkswagen around a tree has never been so much fun.

At its $40 price point, this is a great value for anyone wanting to dip a toe into the skateboard game genre. If you’re an old hand, it won’t disappoint. If you’re brand new, get ready to fall in love. With the addition of the skate park editor, this is truly an infinite skating machine.

Marvel’s Avengers isn’t quite a slam dunk, but as a co-op friendly superhero game it does a lot more right than wrong. Major tentpole features such as the game’s story campaign and diverse roster of heroes are further bolstered by accessible progression systems, well-balanced team play, and the unshakable resolve of protagonist Kamala Khan. The game is obviously better with friends, but even as a solo venture it makes a strong showing out of the gate while also teasing plenty of future potential.

Project Cars 3 would’ve been more successful if it was called something else. It leaves far too many important features on the table for hardcore racers, with an AI that’s too buggy and weird for new players. It feels rushed and could use some serious patches.

Madden NFL 21 is the clearest example yet of how unwieldy the series has become, so your en-joyment will vary depending on which modes best suit your play style. For me, that comes from seeing my virtual 49ers hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season, so anything else on top of that is just a bonus.

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.

Wasteland 3 is an outstanding RPG. It features a rich world with fun battles, great characters, and plenty of choices to keep you busy for a very long time. This is a best-in-class game that achieves what it sets out to accomplish. Players who opt to take the deep dive into the game’s awesome end-of-the-world landscape are in for something spectacular.

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.

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.

Hyper Scape has promise, but it’s just so infuriating to play due to poor aiming controls. Some don’t seem to have a problem with it, as I see other PS4 players racking up kills all the time. Still, it’s better to wait and play something else until this gets fixed.

Spiritfarer is worth playing for the visuals alone, but the mature storytelling and fascinating look at a concept we don’t see explored very often make it well worth checking out. Expect to put at least 35 hours in if you want to see the whole story, more if you’re a completionist.

Rocket Arena shows that there’s more to multiplayer shooters than just military sims and battle royale games. Unfortunately, the unappealing progression rewards and lack of engaging content limit its potential.

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.

Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout is worth playing for multiple reasons. It’s fast-paced, silly, and fun. It’s a unique take on the battle royale formula. It’s great in short bursts or longer play sessions. This is just a really entertaining online multiplayer game, and it’s some of the most fun you’ll have with a game this summer.

Skully is an attractive 3D platformer, but that’s all it is. The gameplay is hit-or-miss and is severely hampered by poor controls. On top of that, the story is cliché and predictable, and none of the characters — not even the ones you’re supposed to root for — are very likable. It’s disappointing, but even if you’re looking for a throwback to old school 3D platformers, Skully is a hard pass.

CrossCode is a love letter to 16-bit RPGs and action-adventure games and features a fun projectile-based combat system. Its lengthy development time was well-spent, and it’s clear that time was used to put together an RPG experience that’s completely worthwhile. Whether or not you play a lot of RPGs, there’s a lot to love here.

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.

This is no Thousand Year Door, and it’s not really an RPG at all, but it is a nice little diversion to keep your thumbs busy between other bigger releases.

Superhot: Mind Control Delete may have gotten its start as an expansion, but it ultimately evolved into a very complete-feeling standalone product. The new gameplay mechanics are awesome, and there’s a lot to love about its dozens and dozens of levels. Taking on a room full of enemies in slow motion continues to feel incredible, and there’s really nothing quite like it outside of the Superhot series.

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.

Rite captures the magic and difficulty of games like Celeste, but by scaling down the overall level of challenge, it’s a more inviting 2D platformer. It’s still pretty tough, and if you’re a completionist, you’ll have your work cut out for you. Thankfully, the slick level designs make playing through the game a worthwhile venture.

While this won’t keep you playing for much more than 10 hours, it’s still a fantastic throwback to classic Castlevania that oldschool action platformer fans will love.

Neon Abyss is one of the best roguelite action games to come along in recent memory. Given how many great roguelites we’ve seen the past few years, that’s definitely a tall order. But thanks to its smooth gameplay and compelling upgrade systems, there’s no denying just how entertaining and exhilarating Neon Abyss is.

Ninjala may very well be Nintendo’s next hot online multiplayer game. It’s free-to-play and totally worth a look, and the action is so fast-paced and addictive that you’ll likely find yourself with a new ongoing game to eat up all your free time.

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition brings one of the best Nintendo RPGs to the Switch in grand fashion. The updates are great, and everything that made the original release an outstanding game is still present here.

If you are the type of person who is going to raise a stink over Ellie being gay or Lev being trans or the game suggesting that self-centered individualism is toxic, and you know who you are, just stay away. This game isn’t for you...But for everyone else, this is one of the greatest masterpieces that the PS4 has produced. I’ll admit, I came into this title with a skeptical eye, ready to knock it down a peg from all the praise other critics had been giving it, but even with that pre-existing bias, I can’t deny that this is an amazing game, and you should play it.

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.

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.

Disintegration at least proves that, when properly tuned, the vehicle-based gameplay that’s normally presented as a one-off setpiece in most other FPS titles is capable of anchoring an entire game, especially when it’s paired off with a little RTS unit management. Unfortunately, in Disintegration’s case, that unique gameplay model isn’t strong enough to outshine the game’s lack of visual and functional polish.

Warface: Breakout is a nice attempt at a tactical FPS. It works really well, and it’s fun to play. There’s just not a lot there at this time. For $20, the game’s not expensive, but it’s still hard to recommend over established games in the genre like Rainbow Six Siege or CS:GO. Still, if the developers make good and release more content, it could be a worthwhile investment and ultimately catch up to the greats in the genre.

If Slay the Spire was the roguelike deck-builder genre’s promising first impression, Monster Train feels like the genre really hitting its stride. In some regards, Monster Train feels like a full-on sequel to Slay the Spire, but it also changes things up enough to stand firm all on its own.

Valorant isn’t trying to appeal to everyone. It’s trying to appeal to a hyper focused slice of the hardcore shooter fanbase. If that sounds like you, you will absolutely love it.

It’s easy to see what Camel 101 was going for as it constructed Those Who Remain’s dark and foreboding world, but while the intent was noble, the execution leaves much to be desired. The game’s low price point might appeal to someone who’s desperate for a new game to play, but any wayward souls who come across the exit for Dormont while cruising the horror game highway should just keep on driving.

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.

Maneater is a game that could have been good but was too obsessed with forcing players to interact with its low points to make its high points shine.