It's gorgeous, it's fun to play, it's life-affirmingly happy to the point that just thinking about playing made me grin like an idiot.

It may not be the best game you'll ever play on the system, but it's guaranteed to be one of the games that makes you fully appreciate what the handheld has to offer.

Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered is a grade-A game through and through, and as long as this release hasn’t changed anything (it hasn’t), it will remain that way.

A ton of love, care, and attention, not only to the fundamentals, but to what the fans have been clamoring for have been answered in spades. The end result is in not only the best version this series has seen, and not only the most authentic and realistic baseball game created to date, but easily one of the best sports games this reviewer has ever played.

The game’s graphics are silky smooth and the track designs are fantastic.

A perfect fit for the PSP. It’s puzzle based so you don’t have to worry about control issues. The screen is super wide so you can see more of the map than normal and the game has no real continuity involved so you can pick it up and play a game without having to remember where you were at.

If zombies and the apocalypse weren’t your thing despite all the praise heaped upon The Walking Dead, then I’d suggest giving The Wolf Among Us a shot. In both visuals and plot it’s a pretty far departure from Telltale’s previous effort, but manages to be just as engaging and interesting as anything found in The Walking Dead.

The set features fan favorites like Attack from Mars, but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed The Party Zone, which is not a table I was familiar with prior to playing this release. Also included is the pirate themed Black Rose, another carry over from the The Pinball Arcade. Once again the new physics model that Zen Studios has incorporated for these tables feels great, with fast, fluid gameplay and actual weight behind the ball itself. The lighting models for the tables are outstanding, and each table really pops, looking as close to the real thing as you’re likely to get.

Indigo Prophecy is unique, artistic, immersive and beautiful. There’s no reason in the world why any self-respecting gamer shouldn’t have this game in their collection.

The sound design is incredible, with many varied tracks with authentic and unique sounding instruments that organically change depending on the on-screen action.

In a year full of some of the best games we have seen in quite a while, there hasn’t been much on the lackluster side. So, if, you’re like me, with a backlog of games that goes back to the beginning of the year, choose your games to play wisely and put Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus on the top of your priority list. You won’t be disappointed.

It probably goes without saying that this is one of the most gorgeous games to grace a video game console. FFXIII's in-game graphics look like other games' cutscenes. Its cutscenes look like other games' full motion video, and its full motion video looks like a Hollywood blockbuster.

Does it change anything from the first Pic-a-Pix Color? Of course not. But seeing as that first one was one of my favourite games of 2018, I’m very pleased to finish up 2019/kick off 2020 with more of the same in Pic-a-Pix Color 2. It’s basically the gaming equivalent of comfort food, but I’ll take it.

It may not last that long, but it also never comes close to wearing out its welcome. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is an excellent sequel to an equally excellent game, and now that it’s out on PC, it’s absolutely worth your time (even if that time is over far too soon).

As I said up top, The Artful Escape may not sound like much on paper. Its individual pieces aren’t anything special. But mix them together, and you’ve got an amazing creation, and one of the best games of the year.

I absolutely adore Donkey Kong Country Returns. It's a throwback to games of yesteryear, but infused with new and exciting game play mechanics that create a similar, but all-new experience.

I can't imagine the series, or video game golf for that matter, getting much better than this (of course it will).

PC is without a doubt the definitive way to play Destiny 2, if you have a system that can handle what the game demands of it. Now that the game has launched across the board, updates and new content will be available on all platforms at once, so PC players don’t have to worry about being left behind. As long as Bungie continues to support the game and ensure that the PC community isn’t ignored in favor of the PS4 or the Xbox One family of systems, Destiny 2 is a game that I will be playing religiously for years to come.

I genuinely cannot find a real fault with this game. Sound design is incredible, the visuals are stunning, the story exceeds all expectations, combat and puzzle design manage to remain true to what fans would want, while also seamlessly translating themselves to the VR space, there is humor, there is horror, everything comes together and creates the perfect Half-Life game. This is the game that VR was waiting for, this is the game that VR was built for, and if you have VR technology, you owe it to yourself to play this game. If you have been waiting for the right game to come along and make the VR purchase worth it, Half-Life: Alyx is it.

Sure, the story may be a little weak, but that doesn't stop Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King from being among the best, not to mention most polished, role-playing games of the generation. If you’re at all a fan of the genre, don’t miss it.

If you have any love or affinity for NES-era gaming, you’ll find Shovel Knight is an experience worth having.

Now, do I love Pic-a-Pix Pieces so much that I’m ready to proclaim it one of my very (very, very) early GOTY contenders? Probably not, since there’s still a long time and a lot of games to go in 2019. I can, however, say with certainty that after playing the heck out of this game on the Switch, I’m going to pick it up for the Vita and PS4 and do it all over again on those platforms too. If that’s not an endorsement, I don’t know what is.

Fight Night Round 4 can honestly claim to be what Mike Tyson once quoted many years ago, "...I'm the best ever, my style's impetuous, my defense is impregnable, I wanna eat his children..." Well, okay, maybe not the last part, but damn if this isn't a great boxing game! If you are a fan, you are doing yourself a disservice not picking up a copy.

While more difficult initially, it becomes more approachable and easier the further in you get and the more you adapt to the combat. Since you are not leveling in the same way as the other games, scaling does not work the same way. Once you master the basics, you can master the game. Sekiro is an absolute must buy for From Software fans and anyone willing to put in the work to really get a grasp of the flow of combat.

Right now, Bionic Bay is easily one of the best games I’ve played this year. It’s a fantastic platforming experience with a super unique visual style that’s constantly throwing new puzzles and ideas at you throughout the campaign. While certainly not as whimsical or packed with secrets in comparison to something like Astro Bot, Bionic Bay nails its approach with incredibly tight controls and a cool sense of style. I’d recommend checking it out, it may well be the best platformer released this year.

I know I’ve probably done a horrible job of capturing what makes Indivisible so wonderful, but you’ve got to believe me: it really is a fantastic game. If I can love it despite it featuring a whole bunch of elements I usually dislike, I think that speaks to just how good it is — and it means that you already are a fan of anime-inspired graphics, metroidvania platforming, or turn-based combat, then you should find even more to enjoy here.

Add it all up, and Astro Aqua Kitty is a delight in every way imaginable.

If you allow yourself to get absorbed into what Dyad is offering though, I think you'll admit that there's a lot more to Dyad than what a simple text description can relate. And for me that's the sign of something truly great, regardless of the type of media it's presented in.

It's epic, very difficult at higher levels and offers stunning visuals. Online, the ranking system is just as, if not more addictive than Halo 3's, and custom classes and abilities add another layer to each match.

I can’t think of a better platformer released in the past several years. Crash 4: It’s About Time is an absolute must buy and it’s truly about time that Activision returned Crash to his former glory. Hopefully we don’t have to wait another 20 years before we get another sequel.

I again absolutely urge you to check out Monster Hunter: World if you have any passing interest in the series, or have been wondering what all the talk is about. It can be a difficult experience at first, but I definitely do not think it’s impenetrable to newcomers.

It is likely that a few months from now, Super Monkey Ball will be one of the few launch titles that you still will be playing, especially if you have friends to play with.

Vicarious Visions have once again done an exceptional job in adapting a console game to a handheld system, yet for the first time ever, have made it virtually indistinguishable.

I would highly recommend Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 to just about anyone, even if you weren’t a huge fan of the first game. This feels like a much better attempt all around, and certainly scratches the same itch that games like Diablo and Destiny did for me. It also has plenty of initial content to explore, making it feel like a worthwhile purchase while the developer irons out the finer points. So absolutely give The Division 2 a chance, you won’t be disappointed.

It's one heck of a compelling story, which means that all of them do their job. In fact, everything about Root Letter seems to do its job of making it a good, worthwhile game…which, in turn, is why it's most definitely worth a look.

I was extremely impressed with Death’s Door from start to finish, and would absolutely implore you to check it out when it launches this week. Again, it’s just one of those games that was extremely hard to put down in order to write this review, and I’m already looking forward to going back and trying to suss out the additional secrets and puzzles I have yet to solve.

The best representation of the sport ever created. I don't think I can praise it any more than that.

Mega Man 11 is truly a memorable experience and is one of Mega’s finest adventures and it is highly recommended. The 8 bosses are all clever in design and their levels are very appropriate as well. Even if one made me almost rage quit. (Yes, you Bounce Man!) In a year with amazing games, I can see Mega Man 11 in my top 5 of 2018.

I can easily say without a doubt that this is not only the best EA hockey game since "NHL 05," but quite possibly the best hockey game ever. Fans can be happy to know that the series they grew up loving has finally delivered in all department to create the most realistic and authentic hockey game on the market. Second place is the first loser, and that means you 2K Hockey.

But no more than slightly. Firewatch is strong enough in virtually every respect that it can afford to fall a little short of perfection here and there. That may be annoying to anyone who demands absolute perfection, but for everyone else, it means that this is an absolute must-buy.

If you have any love for pinball, you should definitely pick up The Pinball Arcade. Its presentation and re-creation of actual pinball tables is second to none, and deserves to be seen and experienced by as many people as possible.

I still sank hours upon hours into Lara Croft GO, seeking out hidden treasures and trying to solve its very clever puzzles, and I have no hesitation in saying that if you have a Vita, you should pick it up, too.

Shenmue II literally is 5 times the game Shenmue: Chapter 1 is...an incredible experience for me, from start to finish. The core gameplay formula isn’t much different from the first game, just packed with more action and improvements.

XCOM 2: War of the Chosen is a must own for veterans and new players alike. It doesn’t matter how many hours players have put into the original XCOM 2 campaign, starting over with War of the Chosen is completely worth the time.

Almost everything you would want in a NBA game is here. From single games, to seasons, dynasty mode (Association), 24/7 personal career street ball mode, street games, and even deep online play that includes seasons and tourneys.

While there’s been no content added to either the PlayStation or Xbox versions, you’ll still have plenty to do here. There’s the main questline to engage with that’ll take you through multiple monster quest tiers, which is somewhat short compared to other Monster Hunter titles. But the online hub quests expand that out even further, offering up more story content that goes beyond the end credits of the game, and has a number of challenging fights for experienced hunters. There’s also a whole host of free downloadable quests to engage with, encompassing the free DLC that’s come out on prior versions of the game. All in all, you’ll be able to spend a lot of time exploring and hunting down giant monsters, which is pretty much what you want out of a new Monster Hunter game.

Overall, Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak is just more of what you already know and love from the game. It provides further functionality to existing weapons and some new monsters but makes sure not to change too much. For me, it took about 16 hours to complete the main questline of Sunbreak, but as usual, there are easily hundreds of hours to pump out of the content if you want to. Just don’t buy it until you’ve finished Rise’s main story.

The fact I’ve spent the past day playing and replaying Headliner shows how addictive it is. In fact, even as I’m writing this, I’m eager to go back and try out some different choices to see how that impacts the game. That’s not something that happens very often, at least in my experience, and it’s why this game is easily one of the best I’ve played in a very long time.

Superior to the original in every way, and retains its charm while creating a new direction for the series to follow. It is without a doubt one of 2003's best titles, not only for PS2 but across all platforms.

Nights is a bargain at only five smackers.

I’m very, very impressed with what KOEI Tecmo and Square Enix have managed to do with this sequel. I think it builds upon the first game in a really solid fashion, and does so while still feeling fresh and enjoyable to play. The A.I. can be really spotty, but overall that’s a fairly minor complaint for a game that honestly doesn’t have many issues to speak of. It runs well, looks and sounds great, and for Dragon Quest fans, you’ll be getting the appropriate amount of fan service here.

There is so much here to play; it's very much two games in one. Not only do you have the single player campaign to play through, which can also be done via adhoc Co-Op, but there's also a 6 player competitive mode like Metal Gear Online.

Astro Bot Rescue Mission is an extremely fun and engaging game, and a dynamite addition to the growing PSVR library. At $39.99, it is an absolute bargain for what you get here. Once you start playing you will find it hard to stop. Games like these are the reason why I love PlayStation VR as much as I do. It’s a simple concept that works on so many levels here. If you have a PSVR system, Definitely check this one out, I can’t recommend it enough!

Abe also manages to remain challenging while never becoming irritating. Words cannot express how important this is. [Overall Score = 97]

I know that it’s weird to rave about a game without actually saying what it’s about, or what happens in it, or what you do. But as I said, the joy of The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe is simply playing it, and watching as everything unfolds…and unfolds again…and then folds up and starts anew. It takes you in all kinds of unexpected directions with every playthrough, and you absolutely need to play it to fully understand what makes it great.

For fans of the Guitar Hero franchise, Guitar Hero: Metallica might be the best entry we've seen yet. I was somewhat lukewarm on my reception to the other band-themed title that Neversoft put out with GH: Aerosmith, but Metallica absolutely blows that game out of the water, not only with the track listing, but the overall time and attention put into the actual presentation, and how the band seems to be infused into every aspect of the game.

So I'll say this: if you haven't played it, then already grab it immediately, since it's easily one of the Top 10 Vita games, and it has a pretty strong argument as one of the Top 5. (The same goes for people who already have the game for PS3, since it's a Cross-Buy title). And if you have played it? Well, it can't hurt to play it again, and to remind yourself of why it's such an outstanding title.

Take a deep breath and understand that this is not some 2 hour breeze, this is a game that will take some time to complete but the payoff is completely worth it.

Overall, I’m really, really impressed by Desperados III. It went from being a game that wasn’t really on my radar, to definitely being one of the best games I’ve played all year. If you’re like me and haven’t played a single game in the series so far, this seems like an excellent place to start. I highly recommend checking it out, you won’t be disappointed.

Either way, this is still an incredibly fun, intense, and satisfying experience. If you wanted more Dark Souls, this sequel certainly delivers.

Honestly, I don’t know what else there is to say about Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut other than that it’s a must-play. That was true of the game last year when it first came out, and it’s just as true now that they’ve refined and perfected it on PS5.

Complaining about how hard a retro-platformer is seems kind of pointless — it’s been ingrained in the genre since they first started popping up in the first half of this decade, and it doesn’t seem like it’ll be going away any time soon. Which means that Super Life of Pixel gets a pass on its difficulty — and, more importantly, it means you get to compare it to many other games of this type. For Super Life of Pixel, that comparison is only a good thing, since — much like Life of Pixel — it’s a standout of the genre. Hopefully this time around, more people will discover it, because it absolutely deserves more recognition than it received the first time around.

It’s easily the best original Legend of Zelda release since the N64 days, and I think you’ll find it’s something you don’t want to miss.

The first-person view even has a sense of inertia that many FPS titles somehow fail to include, and all of this is trucked along in compliment by the game's gloomy and dark appearance. It's not gritty so much as it is heavy.

It’s clear that a lot of care, polish, and attention went into making it. It looks fantastic, it plays even better, and it’s simply a joy to play from beginning to end.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 has to be played to be believed.

It really is a remarkable game, and in a year that’s been blessed with way more than its fair share of standout games, I’d put Viewfinder on the same level as any of them.

I highly recommend checking this out.

If you're at all a fan of shooters, then I urge you to run out and pick up Max Payne 3. It's a great follow-up to one of the best third person shooter franchises around, and while it certainly changes up familiar elements of the series, pretty much all of the changes work out really well. The shooting is, bar none, some of the best you'll see out of this generation of consoles, and really begs to experienced. So do yourself a favor and pick this one up, it really shouldn't be missed.

It’s not too often a game will work your brain and whet your appetite, but Freshly Frosted manages to achieve that rare double feat.

However you want to describe it, though, there’s no denying Hob is great. It’s an action-adventure game that has an abundance of both of those things, and if you want some Zelda-adjacent action on your Switch, you’ll find plenty to love here.

In many cases, it’s hard to step back to a older game from a previous generation when you are spoiled with the latest release such as The Last of Us Part II. To be able to go back to the original The Last of Us with a very close visual retelling to the top notch sequel is nothing short of magnificent.

Battleborn really surprised and impressed me with how fun it is to play. I expected to be let down by another run of the mill shooter with some sort of gimmick tacked on, but that didn't happen here.

First Person Football is the monster addition though. With everything in the gameplay that was updated for 2K4, I don’t know how they found the time to add this big of an addition. First Person Football is a game unto itself, and you get it for free.

From the new 3D areas, to the completely re-imagined boss battles, there is something for everyone to like in Castle of Illusion. The main game might be a bit short, but you will want to keep going long after Mizrabel is dealt with.

Mr. Run and Jump is an awesome looking game with fantastic challenges that will keep you coming back for more. I absolutely love the entire presentation from the beginning all the way through to the end. Although I didn’t finish some of the more ridiculous challenges (yet), I had fun even when I was yelling at the screen! This is definitely one to pick up, highly recommended!

I will add here that if the game has one drawback, it's that you can't share your created tracks with other users. It feels like that's a wasted opportunity, and I say that as someone who generally doesn't care for user-generated content. It's a sign of how awesome this game is that I just want more of it.

I can't think of a single negative thing to say about it, and it's definitely in the contender for Game of the Year.

While complicated at first, the completely customizable schemes work extremely well. Nearly every control parameter can be adjusted and tweaked, and it would be difficult to not find a method that works.

NBA 2K17 shows that even if the game may be on top, it's not content to rest on its laurels.

Honestly, I have nothing bad to say about Mini Metro whatsoever. It’s an incredible blend of gorgeous graphics and addictive gameplay, and if you want a great puzzle on your Switch, you owe it to yourself to pick it up.

MLB 2006 looks flat out fantastic, not only that, everything looks authentic.

Though its cartoony visual style may be a turn-off to some, Skies of Arcadia is one of the most beautiful and overall well-constructed RPGs in recent memory.

Where it goes beyond a typical first person shooter is in its story telling. The graphics engine is so realistic that you feel like you are participating in a movie. The character's facial animation is incredible. It's done so well, you can get a sense of how the characters are feeling.

Storm Island provides added value for an existing game, filling out the edges of Forza Horizon 2 with lots of new content to explore both online and off, giving an ample number of reasons to jump back in with a game that’s likely been set aside for other titles released between September and now.

Skate 2 is a must buy for fans of the first, and a give it a try for fans of Tony Hawk. Love it or hate it, it's the only game in town.

The game looks great, sounds better, and has more depth than 3 fighting games put together.

I’m absolutely impressed by every aspect of Battlefield 1. While it’s easy to think that the weapons and machines available to a game based on the first World War might feel like a step back for military shooters, I think you’ll be surprised by how exciting and modern Battlefield 1 still manages to feel.

I was really surprised by Everybody’s Golf VR, in the most pleasant way possible. Not being a golf fan by any means, I thoroughly enjoyed what Clap Hanz has done here. If you have a VR, I highly recommend this title, even if you don’t like the actual sport of golf, you will have fun here. It may be a little skimpy with content, but that shouldn’t stop you from checking this one out. This one definitely should not be missed!

If you have never played Death Stranding and are on the fence about picking it up, this is the version to go for. Everything about it has been improved upon, and navigation has been perfected, so if you don’t want to walk 20 minutes to every destination, the Director’s Cut has supplied you with all the right tools to make it faster and more efficient.

We've been through years and years of Final Fantasy Tactics lookalikes and play-alikes, many of which I've enjoyed and will continue to enjoy. Valkyria Chronicles, though, is truly a much needed step forward for the genre. It proves that SRPGs can look great and can even further push the envelope of human tactics in a video game. Hands down, this is the best RPGs on the PS3, one of the best of the entire genre, and one of the best games this generation.

If you want some amazing online experience, I can't tell you whether Dreii provides it - but I can say without a doubt that if you're after a great solo game, Dreii absolutely delivers.

Maybe it's because the cinemas that push the game forward are so amiable and bizarrely infectious with their dubiously likeable characters and ridiculous story that you simply can't escape the essence of the game.

My opinion on sports games comes down entirely to two factors: how good is the career mode, and how well does it represent the sport. And on both those counts, FIFA 18 delivers in spades.

Even with that similarity, though, Teslagrad still has a look and a feel all its own — which, as I said up top, is what helps set it apart from all those other great puzzle-platformers. At the same time, though, as much as that sets it apart from the likes of Braid, Fez and more, it also places Teslagrad alongside them, as one of the really phenomenal examples of the genre.

A masterpiece...Brütal Legend deserves all the admiration and attention that some of the best games out there receive. Sales or no sales, this game is easily a contender for game of the year and is just brilliant.

Much of this will seem like a given to Switch owners, but it's still completely relevant in terms of what validates picking up this version of Mario Kart 8. It's not only the "complete" and current experience, but one transformed by its hardware. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the definitive version as we're likely to know it from now on, and thanks to the nature of the Switch, it's worth every penny.

The matchmaking is quick and really does a great job of keeping you within your skill rank, and the added modes are worthwhile and fun to play. So whether you're a vet of the first game or a newcomer, I'd say Super Street Fighter IV is absolutely worth checking out.