As someone who did not attend his own prom, something about Monster Prom just clicked and made me really invested into learning more about these monster young adults and their fates before the big dance. I found myself immediately starting a new session after a rejection in hopes of finally getting the monster of my dreams to finally say yes. The sheer amount of events and possible outcomes meant it would be hard for me to get bored.

You’ll never get enough of picking up a soldier, watching him flail around, followed by throwing him into a wall. The rag doll physics help add to the diabolical pleasure as limbs fly all over the place when tossed from one part of the room to the other.

The real draw in Neon White is the action – the pure, unfiltered, adrenaline-pumping action that feels like it brings together the best thing about games like Devil May Cry or Ghostrunner or Mirror’s Edge or Sonic or whatever else you play when you want to go as fast as possible while slicing and shooting through every single enemy in your way. It’s a pretty exceptional game, and it’s unlike anything else out there.

Between the plotting, level design, and gameplay, Tomb Raider: Legend does an admirable job of rescuing the franchise. Crystal Dynamics have torn down the franchise, consulted with the creator, and rebuilt it from the ground up as something significantly different…Something great.

In some ways, de Blob 2 even improves upon its predecessor. It has a much improved camera, more frequent save points, and cutscenes that don’t show their age, all of which count as plusses in my book. Further, it allows a second player to join in the fun, which is a welcome addition for a game like this one. None of these changes represent massive steps forward, to be sure. But they all contribute towards making de Blob 2 every bit as enjoyable as the original de Blob.

Basically, what I'm trying to say is that Inside excels in pretty much every way imaginable.

I think Rock of Ages 2: Bigger and Boulder is pretty fantastic, and well-worth playing. I was genuinely surprised that a sequel was even made, but I’m happy to see that ACE Team managed to recapture all of the magic from the first, and expand on it even more.

All in all, I think Galak-Z was definitely worth the wait. It’s one of the most unique titles I’ve played on my PS4 this year, and certainly one of the most challenging.

Many games are excellent world-builders, and many are deep real time strategy war games. Rome: Total War sets out to be both and pulls it off wonderfully.

I think it does a great job of emulating a style of RPG that is generally not represented on consoles or PC’s nowadays, and scratches an itch I didn’t even know I had. It’s not overly long, has a solid combat system, and the story is robust enough to draw you in and keep you hooked. Give this one a shot when you get a chance, you won’t be disappointed.

If you like LEGO games, you’ll love it. If you like Star Wars. you’ll love it too. If you like LEGO and Star Wars, you might be blown away (like Greedo).

Overall, I’m genuinely impressed by Into the Stars. It’s a fun game that’s easy to control and learn, but provides enough depth that strategy fans will likely get a kick out of this, along with more casual players.

FIFA Soccer on the PS Vita is a welcome launch title, and if you fancy the sport at all, it should be a must buy.

Ori and the Blind Forest is still enjoyable, obviously…it's just that those strengths are so strong that it's hard to imagine what would've been needed for that one ever-so-slightly-weaker element to match up with them. Nonetheless, it's still one heck of an accomplishment, and it's well worth your investment.

Between the spooky shadows at the edge of the screen, the creepy sounds that emanate from every darkened corner and bush, and — most importantly — the sinister soundtrack that's constantly, persistently moving forward, this game knows what it takes to leave you feeling seriously unsettled.

I’ve really had a blast with Valfaris. It looks and performs really well on Switch, and I’d imagine that’ll be the case for the other platforms it’s available on too. The metal soundtrack is fantastic, and the overall visual design is unlike anything I’ve played this year. With the recent announcement that Doom Eternal is delayed into next year, I think Valfaris will easily be the most metal game you’ll play this year. It’s absolutely worth checking out when it launches on Switch and PC on October 10th.

With airtight controls, improved defensive and offensive AI, more animations, a deep and rewarding franchise that allows you to actually own a team this season, John Madden football looks to big in a great position to continue their reign as the undisputed champs of video football.

A fantastic 2D game that everyone should pick up. It’s at a value price now and the PS2 version includes an unlockable Dante from Devil May Cry, who uses cute little guns Ebony and Ivory to blast people to pieces.

There’s quite a bit of replay value involved, primarily when trying to get the three hidden characters unlocked.

It’s certainly one of the more memorable video game experiences this year, and if you have any love for classic RPG’s in general, it should be right up your alley.

All in all, I’m pretty impressed with the overall package of Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call.

There is no comparison; World Soccer Winning Eleven 9 is the best soccer game to date.

Jisei: The First Case doesn’t do a whole lot, even by the standards of visual novels, but what’s here is done very well. Even if you aren’t a fan of visual novels, it’s different enough that it might just be worth your time.

Aurally, WipEout 3 is a masterpiece. In fact, it's almost worth buying just so that you can listen to the music in your CD player.

What's important to know is that the new levels are just as gorgeous, musically fit, and well-designed. If anything, Encore seems to be a bit more accessible to newcomers than the level of difficulty presented in the original, thanks to a couple new additions.

Giraffe and Annika is definitely one of those games where the whole is greater than any of its individual parts. It doesn’t do anything incredibly well, yet, somehow, when you put it all together in a package like this, the end result is delightful.

A great, easy to pick up action game that will feature numerous hours of play online.

It might not have as many improvements as other sequels can boast, but it's still a solid game that I think everyone can enjoy.

And for that, warts and all, Saints Row IV became my favorite gaming experience of 2013. Cynicism couldn’t hinder that.

This year's iteration seems a little less polished than last year's, and the basic formula is beginning to feel repetitive, but it still holds up as one of the more enjoyable family friendly gaming experiences available this year.

I almost literally played through the entire game in one sitting, which isn't something I do often, and I didn't feel my attention waver throughout the eight or so hours it took to finish.

If nothing else you're getting one of the best games from last-gen on current gen consoles, and the HD upscaling looks fantastic.

Whereas games like Knowledge is Power or Jeopardy! felt a little (or, in Jeopardy!’s case, very) impersonal, It’s Quiz Time feels like it’s tailoring its experience to the individuals playing at that moment. That generic androgynous robot (Salli, for the record) turns out to be funny, and is constantly trash-talking and praising players by name. This extends to the app/controller as well, with tailored messages flashing on each player’s screen at the end of every round, giving them text they can share via social media that say how well they did in a particular round (note: I did not do this). Add in the personalized stats at the end of the game, and you can see why It’s Quiz Time is so much better than its competition.

Obviously, if you’re someone for whom story matters a great deal, I probably haven’t done anything to sell you on Solar Ash. But I’d still say the game is well worth it. Any game that makes movement feel this cool and effortless is a must-play, as far as I’m concerned.

I almost literally played through the entire game in one sitting, which isn't something I do often, and I didn't feel my attention waver throughout the eight or so hours it took to finish.

By far the best college football game to date.

Given its trappings and its story, I wouldn’t go so far as to call Red Bow pleasant, but it’s certainly in that ballpark. It’s an odd little game that’s better than it has any right to be, and it’s probably worth investigating if you’re in the mood for something short and different.

MotorStorm: Pacific Rift is everything I would have hoped for in a MotorStorm sequel. Sure, it still has some of those quirks found in the original that players may love or hate, but Evolution Studios has put together a well-rounded racer that improves greatly on the original in every way.

I’d still wholeheartedly suggest picking up Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, especially if you’re a big fan of Koji Igarashi’s previous work. It’s a fantastic callback to those style of games, and goes to show that despite “Metroidvania” being a fairly popular genre, it’s hard to beat a game designed by the folks responsible for making that genre a thing to begin with.

Shu is a very pleasant-looking — some might even say "cute" — game. The characters are delightful, from the adorable main character to all his little friends; even the villains and dangers are liable to make you say, "Awww." Likewise, the music strikes a good balance between being frenetic enough to get you to keep going, while at the same time not being so obtrusive that it harshes the overall friendly vibe. But it's more than just aesthetics. The controls feel fairly tight, which is important considering there's the odd part where you need to move with a bit of urgency. Shu's world is also designed pretty nicely — the levels are fairly lengthy, and they're all full of secrets and treasures just waiting to be uncovered. A well-made platformer that's sure to please people who like those things, and it's pretty darn cute, to boot.

If you don't mind Murphy's slightly handicapped functionality on ports of Rayman Legends, then the only deciding factors are what bonus costumes you care about, and whether you do or don't have a PS4.

To be blunt, I haven't been this addicted to one single game in a long time.

The game holds its own despite dated graphics and sound.

Without a shadow of a doubt this is the most addicting off road game to date, it's gorgeous in every aspect, provides hours of game play in single player mode, and even more in multiplayer events, handles wonderfully, and even has adjustable A.I. for various skill level gamers.

Platinum never ceases to amaze me, and thankfully Transformers: Devastation continues to prove why Platinum Games is the best action genre developer in the business today.

When you boot up Jade Empire, you'll be on your way to an engaging story, a challenging, rewarding combat experience and an impressive measure of character building.

This game kicks ass, and remains one of the best games of all time. Now it’s even prettier.

It’s a solid collection of classic games that are pretty well represented here.

The music is just plain amazing and it is perfect for the game.

Zen Studios continues to knock out new properties while keeping up the high level of quality that we all expect from their tables. With the exception of my annoyances with the Archer table, playing some of my favorite shows in pinball form was great fun.

This game is a big step up in visuals compared to the Thunder series of old, which gives even more hope for future titles to come.

It's a great call back to classic SEGA characters and franchises, and provides a heavy emphasis on fan service while maintaining a level of quality not often seen in kart racers outside of the Nintendo developed ones. It seriously feels like a love letter to long-time SEGA fans, and is certainly worth picking up.

One aspect that has been improved upon greatly in Wind Waker is its story.

The fantastic setting and light RPG elements really pull you in, and the customizations, challenging game play and new online multiplayer modes will keep you coming back for more. It's definitely worth it to book a trip back to Rapture.

It's not every day that we'll get another shooter like this, but it's a good one for every day we don't.

But every once in a while you have a game so mindblowingly good-looking that the gameplay, good, bad, or somewhere in between, just doesn't matter. Say "Hi" to Gears of War.

Outside the large amount of space needed to install Rare Replay, the end result of this collection was remarkable and I hope other developers consider putting in the same care that Rare did.

Vandals isn’t without its flaws. In particular, the controls can be a little iffy, and you’ll occasionally find yourself forced to shove the right thumbstick a couple of times before your character finally moves where you want them to go. Also, with just five cities, none of which will take you too long to finish and, three stars notwithstanding, none of which have much in the way of replay value, you may find that the game is over far too soon. But better to leave you wanting more than to wear out its welcome, right? Besides, Vandals can be had for well under $5 — which, all things considered, put it squarely in “easy-to-recommend impulse buy” territory.

In terms of a great bargain it’s hard to get better than a game like Valkyria Chronicles and the quality of this port on the Switch means it’s a must-buy for anyone curious about the series or considering adding it to their Switch library. And the only thing that makes an SRPG better is the portability of having it around to make dull moments like bus rides and family events breeze on by.

The game may feel a bit too much like the last. But the fights are fair, the combat is fun, and the classic platform gameplay is executed to a sharp perfection.

Midway has come out of nowhere to create the most entertaining arcade baseball game in years.

While Fable II seemed to regard the story as secondary to the newest toys thrown into the mix: making money and babies, Fable III draws our attention back to character building and history making.

Rockstar has cut no corners in crafting the game for the PSP and it shows. This is the real deal... A few control issues hold it back from getting a perfect score, but we'll save that for "Vice City Stories" (we hope).

This has to be one of the most beautiful titles I have ever played on my computer. It looks as if Outrage has thrown in every visual effect in the book, and in doing so, removed the monotony of the previous Descent level designs.

Even though the overall look and presentation has not received a glowing amount of attention, it is what EA has done as far as tweaking the controls, A.I. and adding a monster amount of modes and options that will keep fans of the links playing for another year to come.

I pretty much love The Gunstringer, and it is easily my favorite thing Twisted Pixel has put out so far.

Sure it still has the same issues of the console counterpart, but there's something different and refreshing about having a near perfect conversion on the go.

I definitely think Wipeout 2048 is worth checking out, and from what I've seen it seems to be the racing game to beat amongst the Vita launch titles. I've heard and seen dubious things from both Modnation Racers and Asphalt (and Ridge Racer is MIA at the moment), so if you need to get your racing fix this seems like the way to go. It's a legitimately great experience on the new handheld, and looks absolutely fabulous on the OLED screen. I highly recommend picking it up.

In fact, if anything this new version may be even better than the original — which means that, come end of year, that "Game of the Year" may prove to be just as predictive as it is descriptive.

With loads of action and old adventure, Megaman and Bass is also a game with plenty of depth and replay value to it. So fans of the mighty Blue Bomber rejoice and grab this game with no hesitation.

It is fast, fun, frantic, fantastic, and full of...Splosions...what else!

The real reason to pick up this version over last year's are the presentation upgrades.

I found Demon's Souls to be very addicting, especially when you make full use of the multiplayer features. There's no way to sugar coat the difficulty though, and even I had to put the game down for a couple days just to take a deep breath before going back to it. But, the things that draw you back in are the superior level design, morose artwork, and engaging gameplay.

Well Soulcalibur IV has done both, it has wowed me and evolved all in one fell swoop. In four words…Buy Soulcalibur IV today!

True to Paper Mario's great sense of humor, art, and constant series revision, it should be no surprise to longtime fans that they're in for a treat one way or another. Maybe they'd like a return to form, but for now, to anyone who skipped Sticker Star, Color Splash is worth the price of admission just to luxuriate in what has clearly been a labor of love for the Paper Mario series.

If you’re on the market for a dramatic and original episodic series with unique gameplay mechanics and an intriguing story to tell, then consider checking out Life is Strange. I definitely need to reiterate how impressed I am with Dontnod Entertainment's first foray into the episodic adventure genre, and we're definitely excited to see where they'll be taking us next.

The combat, while competent, is hardly the selling point of the game. The mechanics in place here aren't the thing that causes Crimson Shroud to really stand out, despite its unique use of tabletop RPG elements that are rarely seen on the surface level of most video games. It's really the superb presentation, writing, and music that will sell you on Crimson Shroud, and make it one of the best E-Shop titles available on the 3DS.

The redeeming fact is that the game is always there to be had at a moment's notice while on the go. There's so much content that there's always some new officer to unlock or new ability to acquire even if the basic gameplay remains the same throughout.

For less than $40, it’s kinda a no-brainer for gamers looking for a fun and creative, family-friendly adventure.

What really makes One Night Stand worthwhile, though, is that despite its name — and the fact you find yourself in bed with a naked woman right off the bat — it’s not interested in being sexy (or, seeing as it’s a game, “sexy”) or titillating. It’s just a short, somewhat awkward, occasionally charming and funny (depending on what choices you pick) game about a pair of twenty-somethings having a mature conversation. There really isn’t anything else like it, and it’s worth checking out if you’re in the mood for a game about talking.

It won't necessarily appeal to everyone, but if you're the target audience, rest assured EDF 2 on the Vita will hit all the right buttons.

Bethesda Pinball is a solid download for Pinball FX3 and fans of these games should get this pack right away. I, for one, cannot wait to see what Zen Studios comes up with next. If this pack is any indication, we’re in for some great surprises.

Truly one of the most beautiful games I have seen this year.

For me, the biggest sign that Deadbolt is worth checking out is that it gets really tough really quickly, but I couldn’t help but go back to it again and again. Seeing as I tend to be allergic to ultra-tough games, that should tell you a lot about its addictive properties. It should also tell you that if you’ve been in the mood for a stealth game that blends action and puzzling, Deadbolt is well worth your time.

Riders Republic definitely does check most of the boxes for what I would like to see in an open world extreme sports title. My only real criticism is that with all the variety of sports, events, equipment and environments, it still starts to feel a bit repetitive after reaching a certain level. The Big/Boss and Sponsor events help to overcome that to an extent and I’m hoping the addition of new sports, fresh live events, and themed seasonal/limited events will as well when they roll out in the future. For now, Riders Republic is a super fun pick up and play multiplayer outdoor sports experience with plenty to see and do right out of the box.

The Bogey Man is another great entry into the series, and if you've stuck with the series so far, you'll enjoy this one as well. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, and there's nothing in the way of new mechanics introduced for this entry, but then again it's not necessary to throw something new at the player every time, as long as the script and dialogue manage to deliver as well as they do these series of adventures.

It's really a no-brainer for RPG fans even with the genre being so crowded this season. Personally, I put Shadow Hearts Covenant in my top three RPGs this generation.

NBA 2k11 is amazing. It looks great and it offers depth that actually makes the game deeper. In other words, you can't just ignore the strategy of calling offensive plays in favor of jumping over and sprinting past the defense.

If you are fan of Alan's painful journey, you've probably already downloaded this gem and know the greatness that continues to please fans again and again. If you have never played this title, I urge you to play the original to understand the story mode as this game does little to explain the past and expects you to already know the events that have happened.

Homeworld was, at the time, my favorite RTS. With the release of Homeworld Remastered Collection, this game has crawled back into my heart and is now firmly planted there for quite some time to come.

Overall, Tactics Ogre: Reborn is a fantastic game! As a fan that has played all three it’s hard to say which version I like best. I like the system changes made in Tactics Ogre: Reborn, simplifying removing skill points from the game and entirely relying on magic points in fights makes a lot more sense. The biggest problem with this version is removing random encounters from the game. While I understand the choice, they could have just added the level cap and possibly kept random encounters — which is something I enjoyed doing in other tactical RPGs such as Final Fantasy Tactics. Overall, I really enjoyed my time in Tactics Ogre: Reborn and look forward to many more hours with the game.

A SRPG player’s dream. A person could spend hours just wandering around the item worlds leveling up characters and items, or one could just go straight through the game without turning back.

The story aspect actually helps the flow of the game. Instead of just doing random tasks all over the place, you feel more of a purpose and progression for doing those tasks.

NBA 2k11 is amazing. It looks great and it offers depth that actually makes the game deeper. In other words, you can't just ignore the strategy of calling offensive plays in favor of jumping over and sprinting past the defense.

No matter how odd it may seem, as soon as the opening notes of the very first song ("Ievan Polkka") kick in, you're probably going to get hooked.

A great upgrade for Freedom 2, and having the ability to take Felyne's into combat is a nice addition for those stuck with solo play.

The AoEII environment is extremely rich in detail. Even more than the original, details on buildings are captured right down to the dead leaves resting on the rooftops.

Overall, I would say DS III was well worth the wait and encourage fans of Bloodborne to give it a go.