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

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.

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.

Once again Capcom creates a fighting game meant for fighting gamers, specifically fighting gamers that want to re-live Street Fighter’s history. If this is you or if you are a scholar of video game history in general, then 30th Anniversary Collection is not only a fun fighting game, but an astounding educational and historical tool about the history of fighting games. If you are more casual, then you might get some fun out of trying the 12 different games 30th Anniversary Collection has on offer, but you’ll likely end up wanting more.

If you can look past the annoying bugs and obtuse mechanics, Kingdom Come: Deliverance’s strong sense of believable, historical realism will undoubtedly cast a spell on anyone that gives the game a chance. This is a must-play for fans of lifestyle simulators and medieval RPGs.

If you are a fan of Fire Emblem or tactical games in general, Fire Emblem Fates will not disappoint.

Ape Out is a fun and fast-paced action game with nary a dull moment. The brutal difficulty can go overboard at times, but even then it's never too daunting. This is one of the coolest games of 2019 so far, and any fan of slick, stylish action games should give it a go.

While BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma Extend could've used more new content (and more balance in the way it tells a story), it’s still a worthwhile brawler for PS4 and Xbox One. That goes double for fans that want to get the full gist of what BlazBlue's universe has to offer – this is as expansive as fan service as the series gets. At least, for now.

Unlike its predecessor, Ghost Recon: Breakpoint risks alienating the very community it was built for due to its over-reliance on RPG-esque looting and leveling mechanics. However, shooter fans who can make peace with the game’s loot-driven economy and pervasive microtransactions will find a lot to enjoy in the moment-to-moment gameplay. Breakpoint isn’t quite the tactical shooter sequel fans asked for, but there’s no denying the amount of long-term value it offers to shooter fans of all stripes.

Pro Evolution Soccer 18 is another viable competitor to EA's FIFA dominance, though the same familiar shortcomings continue to plague the franchise.

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.

The Talos Principle has made an effective jump from PC to PlayStation 4, thanks to the addition of expansion levels and a presentation that really makes use of the hardware at hand. While it's not quite a perfect transition, it remains a very applicable one, as the level design and snowballing level design continue to keep their momentum. Even if you're not entirely a fan of first-person games, Talos is worth a look, if only for the story alone.

A no-brainer purchase for fans of both Minecraft and Telltale. Those who prefer Telltale's more complex and mature works may find this title a bit lacking, but the exciting story, quality writing, and talented voice cast make this a hard game to dislike.

Not content with simply letting you try to play it, Calendula is very much a game that plays you. It's a thrilling commentary on the relationship between player and game.

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.

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.

I enjoyed my time with We Happy Few mainly because it both respected my time as a gamer, and also immersed me in an fascinating world that was driven by an equally fascinating backstory. The game’s potential may get a little tripped up on the technical front, but if you can look past the occasional unloaded texture or random loading screen, you’ll find that Compulsion Games’ latest was well worth the three-year wait.

Death of the Outsider is a mature and highly polished spin on the core Dishonored formula. It tries new things and mostly succeeds, and it's a must-play for fans of the franchise. While it's nice that it exists as a standalone title, it shouldn't be the first Dishonored game you play.

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.

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.

While there are still some areas that could use polishing (like that commentary team – wake up, fellas), Madden NFL 16 continues to make strides with some strong gameplay change-ups and abundant online features.

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.

Enter the Gungeon is an incredibly addicting indie game that will keep you coming back for more. It goes to great lengths to improve on the rogue-like genre, fixing flaws and tightening balance, all with a tongue-in-cheek presentation that can’t help but make you smile… if you like shooting things, that is.

If you've spent years craving the old Fallout formula, The Outer Worlds will hit the spot.

Sprint Vector is an immensely entertaining VR racing experience that handles movement in a very unique way. If you’re looking for a Mario Kart style VR game, you’ve found it.

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

Luigi’s Mansion 3 is a nice spooky treat for your Switch. Anyone who loved the original will love this one too, and the game is easily welcoming enough to rope some newcomers into the franchise as well. How could anyone find issue with a game whose menu screen is a Virtual Boy? Ah, Nintendo. You know how to laugh at yourself.

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.