Metroid: Samus Returns is a must-purchase for any long-time Metroid fan and a perfect example of the genre. It bodes well for Metroid’s future and makes me excited for Samus’s next big adventure.

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.

It still remains to be seen how much long-term potential Absolver has, but I’m confident that Sloclap will slowly build the game up into a unique hybrid of a story-driven martial arts adventure and a sustainable (not to mention unique) online fighting game. Again, I don’t want to get too ahead of myself, but I could see Absolver becoming one of the big standout hits of 2017 and beyond, and I hope Sloclap sees that as well.

Agents of Mayhem has enough gameplay diversity and fun characters to keep you occupied for a few hours, but it won’t take long for the repetitive missions, horrendously heavy-handed comedic overtones, and tired gameplay loop to wear on your patience.

Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle is an unexpected delight. Fans of tactical strategy games should absolutely pick this one up as soon as possible and enjoy dozens of hours of intense battles and detailed progression.

Aeon is a VR shooter that will appeal to gamers who enjoy a serious challenge. It's much less casual-friendly than similar VR titles and will cause frustration for some, but for the right kind of player they'll find hours of enjoyment to be had.

There are some noticeable detractors which keep it from being a truly great game, but for what it sets out to accomplish, i.e. fusing the strategy and 2D brawler genres into a cohesive single package, Aztez succeeds in many more regards than it fails. Since Aztez is Team Colorblind’s first game, I’m excited to see what the developer comes up with for future projects, but in the meantime Aztez itself is a very strong first showing.

The fast-paced, adrenaline pumping action sequences that we’ve all come to love from Uncharted games are aplenty, and specifically, the game’s finale might be one of the best Uncharted sequences in the franchise.

I hope this series persists as long as Telltale’s Walking Dead series has. I’d love to see how their interpretation changes and grows as they have more time to work with the characters.

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.

Mental illness is a seldom discussed and often misunderstood topic. While Hellblade is far from a direct and immediate exploration of psychosis and how it affects people, it uses a powerful narrative mixed with symbolic gameplay elements to weave a tale of horrific trauma and unsettling experiences. Hellblade is easily one of 2017’s very best games, and the best game I’ve played all year that isn’t Zelda.

Rez is an on-rails shooter that shines due to its unique auditory and visual design. Rez has aged well, and the added immersion of VR makes a great game even better.

It’s hard to deny that Nidhogg 2 is more casually oriented than Nidhogg 1 was, and that’s going to turn a lot of Nidhogg 1’s hardcore fanbase off. But if you can get beyond the random gameplay and the weird character design, there is a lot of fun to be had here, especially for its low price tag.

Sonic Mania is a wonderful blend of classic Sonic and new ideas, and should serve as an example of the great things that can happen when game companies embrace fan creators. There's no reason Sonic Mania shouldn't be followed by multiple sequels that continue its remixing magic.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Splatoon 2 manages to deliver an addictive and engaging online multiplayer experience with plenty of ways to keep you busy and layers of satisfying combat to keep you coming back. The lack of social features is a significant flaw, but it isn't a fatal one, and hopefully we'll see that aspect of the game improved in the near future.

Lone Echo is a smart VR experience that handles movement exceptionally well. It’s one of the most polished and engaging VR games currently available.

Syren is an interesting survival horror game that lacks the polish to come together as a quality title.

River City: Knights of Justice is a fun little side story in the Kunio-kun series. It's not exactly varied, but it features a satisfying challenge and familiar beat 'em up mechanics that fans are sure to love.

While there is some fun to be found in Valkyria Revolution’s battle system, it’s just not worth sitting through the story bloat and excessive loading to get there.

As far as narrative-driven exploration-based horror games go, Perception isn’t the worst out there, but it also can’t really stand alongside games like those in the Amnesia series or Gone Home. It still warrants a playthrough if you’re looking for a game with a unique hook or if you’re just desperate for any new horror game to play, though considering its length and lack of varied gameplay, you might be better off waiting until it’s on sale.

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.

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