This is absolutely, without a doubt, one of the best gaming experiences of the year. It's still just a little too early to toss around GOTY nominations, but there's no doubt in my mind that The Walking Dead will be on a short list for a number of critics when those considerations start to make their rounds.

It’s one of the better roguelikes out there, and makes for a great action-adventure in general, with an engaging story, excellent writing, beautiful music, and some amazing art to go along with it.

It’s another stellar entry in a franchise that’s full of them, and if you’re after an RPG that pushes the Vita to its limits (without ever breaking them), it’s a definite must-play.

Regardless of which version you purchase, Starlink: Battle For Atlas will provide one of the best console space shooters in years, and is now my favorite Star Fox game of all time.

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

Needless to say, I really, really enjoyed Hyrule Warriors. As a fan of musou-style games, and as a lifelong Zelda fan, there’s a lot to love here.

I have been playing Double Dragon & Kunio-kun: Retro Brawler Bundle non stop and found it hard to put down with so many games to try and master. As I said, this collection has something for everyone. Fighting game Fans, Sports fans and even RPG fans will find something to like here. At $39.99, it is an absolute steal and should be downloaded by everyone who owns a Switch. Retro Brawler Bundle is truly one of the best and really packed retro collections I’ve seen. I really want to see more collections like this so these and many other great games are never forgotten. Super fun and highly recommended!

I’d highly suggest checking out Battle Princess Madelyn, or possibly revisiting the game if you already played it around launch. The changes made so far have all been positive, and it’s certainly one of the best attempts at nailing the Ghosts ‘n Goblins formula that I’ve seen in recent years.

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 amount of detail that has been shoved onto all of the game's character models is fantastic – some of them it would be hard to differentiate from FMV models.

The bottom line is a basketball game that has almost airtight controls, wonderful graphics, along with the most immersed franchise mode you can find, (outside of working for your local team’s front office) can only described as a finely tuned and polished basketball game worth buying no matter what system you own.

These battles are INSPIRED. Seriously. Take your favorite boss fight from each of your favorite games, and imagine them mashed together into one incredibly breathtaking environment that requires you to think, explore, and ultimately act.

If you’ve played Metal Gear Solid 3 before, then you know what you want. Do you want Metal Gear Solid 3 exactly as you remember it, but looking much better and running much better? If so, then great- you want Metal Gear Solid Δ. That’s that. Have you never played Metal Gear Solid 3, been interested, but deterred by the fact that the game is 20 years old? If so, then great – you want Metal Gear Solid Δ. Just get it, you know you want it. It’s as good as a remake is ever going to be.

It's a fight worth finishing so if you haven't already, get out there and do just that.

I'm not going to pretend that Spellspire is a game for everyone: if you're not obsessed with words and spelling, it probably won't speak to you. Luckily, I am obsessed with words and spelling, which means that I've just found my favourite new game.

Taken altogether, it makes for a pretty great experience. Whatever Infernax may lack in originality, it makes up for by being not just a great homage to its influences, but being a blast to play. It may only be February, but I’ve found one game that’s a lock to be one of my favourite games of the year.

An essential game to play if only to see Volition's exemplary game design in action. Failing that, the sheer amount of fun derived from taking on an entire military yourself with some of the most over the top weaponry ever to find itself into a game should seal the deal.

The quality of the Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster on the Switch makes this a definitive way to play with the all-in-one convenience of what the console offers. And regardless of if you jump in now or at a price you like then you’re gonna have an awesome time with these games.

It's the classic on-rails shooter with style, and all the extras from each iteration since the original. It's also about half the cost of its release back in the day, and I would have gladly paid $50 to have this in my Steam library. As I mentioned, this is a game which I will always be collecting as it releases on each platform. Now that the game is available on Steam it feels like the culmination of what Rez will achieve. This version will always be with you as long as you have a computer, and I find that incredibly satisfying.

I’d definitely suggest taking a look at Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, even if you’re not sure you need another AC game in your life so soon after Origins. It’s a pretty great experience overall, and outside of some the standard open world bugs you’d expect in a game this size, I really don’t have any major complaints here. I ended up enjoying it more than Origins, and I really liked Origins. I’m not sure that I want a third game like this next year, but as far as follow-ups go, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is pretty fantastic.

Humour - GOOD humour - is hard to get across in entertainment software, but Startopia succeeds in not only being a fun game, but a funny game.

Assassin’s Creed Origins manages to live up to the expectation that the preview event gave me. I dubbed it “near perfect” after that event, and the final product does not disappoint. A few pacing issues late in the story caused things to drag a little bit, and the loot system doesn’t remain intriguing after the first few hours, but finding a complaint beyond that is difficult. You can nitpick some of the graphical hiccups or complain about repetitive side quests, but even those manage to stay fun and interesting with all of the different styles of play. On a day with two other heavy hitting AAA games and an amazing TV show releasing simultaneously, your time and money are going to be precious commodities. With Game of the Year talks coming up, Assassin’s Creed Origins is a serious contender for the title in my book.

It's a visually striking game, combined with a beautiful soundtrack and challenging platforming and the pacing of the new abilities and moments between boss fights is pretty well executed.

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.

With the Masters as the game's primary focus, honestly you can't use another name as Tiger has had more accomplishments and Masters Moments than any golfer. So the choice was easy, has been made, and the result is near perfection.

It seriously is one of the best Xbox Live Arcade titles to be released so far this year, and I highly urge every 360 owner to give this one a look.

For the causal or first time gamer, I will warn you that there is quite the learning curve to this year's game, but the payoff is huge, especially in the created golfer realm.

It was one of my favourite games of the generation back when it first came out on PS3, and after sinking many, many hours into this version, I suspect it’ll wind up being one of my favourite games of whatever generation the Switch falls into, too.

Playdead has once again struck gold with this game and hit all the right notes for another classic. If you only download one non-AAA game this year, make it Inside.

Super Mario Galaxy is an out of this world experience that is spectacularly amazing in every imaginable aspect. It creates a constant sense of wonder that manages to permanently transplant a grin on my face while playing. Even when I died I was smiling. No game has ever done that to me before and it's truly a testament to how perfectly fine-tuned it is.

LittleBigPlanet is a beautiful, happy, extremely eye-pleasing game that will put a smile on anyone's face who plays or merely watches it. Like Sackboy himself, it's impossible to not find the game both attractive and aesthetically pleasing.

As such, Zack and Wiki stands as one of the best games I've played in a long time, with my only (aforementioned) complaint being the ridiculously steep hill that the rather odd name puts between it and consumers.

M2 did a marvelous job porting Shinobi to the Switch. Everything feels like you are playing the original arcade game with nothing removed. The game has been ported to many platforms over the years in many forms. This one really does feel like the best port out of all of them, though as I found it hard to put it down long enough to write this review. The addition of AGES Mode is great for new players who have never seen or heard of this game before, but most classic gamers will prefer the challenge of the original.

I’ve absolutely loved playing through Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and I’m happy to say that Square Enix once again delivered with this release. It’s a fantastic follow-up to Remake that expands the world of Final Fantasy VII even more, and it’s a sequel that shouldn’t be missed. Whether you’re a hardcore Final Fantasy VII fan, or someone that came on board via the Remake, you won’t be disappointed.

If you've wondered what the video game equivalent of curling up with a cup of tea and a good book would be…well, here it is.

Great thing number two...is the ability to switch your characters in and out of battle at will. This is a tremendous step forward for the series as it fills in holes that we gamers had to come up with workarounds for previously.

Xenosaga has that extra special something that has been missing from RPGs for the last couple of years, an enthralling, profound story that leaves you truly wanting more.

If we cannot have an actually F-Zero, FAST Racing NEO definitely is a great substitute. This is a fun and challenging Wii U racer that will keep you entertained for a long while, and an outstanding experience especially for a relatively unknown indie studio.

Even if you don’t have an ounce of affinity for the first game, or weren’t around to experience it to begin with, ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove still comes together as a modern roguelike that everyone can enjoy.

A fantastic console experience and it comes highly recommended. It does have flaws, and some strange graphical bugs that pop up from time to time, but despite all that I look forward to playing the game for months to come, and I think 360 and PS3 owners should absolutely plan on either playing, or picking up, this action RPG.

Russian Subway Dogs isn’t quite the perfect swan song for the Vita (personally, that would’ve been either inFamous Vita or Bioshock Vita ever seeing the light of day), but it’s still an incredible high note for the system to go out on. It’s a passion project where you can see exactly why the creator was so passionate, and anyone who still has a Vita should be sure to check it out.

Thanks to an insane number of hours spent playing previous NHL games over the last several months, I do know what a good hockey game looks like, and NHL 21 definitely fits the bill. The on-ice product is as fast-paced and free-flowing as the real thing, and there are enough options here to keep you occupied for months on end — which, given the circumstances, is exactly what you may need right now.

I absolutely loved Guacamelee! when I played through it the first time, and that fact hasn’t changed here. This is, by far, the best version of Guacamelee! you’re likely to see, until the inevitable sequel arrives.

All things considered, though, I can deal with a slightly wonky camera, pointless jumping and occasionally long load screens if they're the trade-off for an otherwise good game. And by any measure, Akiba's Trip: Undead and Undressed is a very good game.

Diablo IV is a triumphant return to the series that captures the essence of what made the franchise so beloved while introducing fresh and innovative elements. With its stunning visuals, gripping storytelling, addictive gameplay, and robust multiplayer features, Diablo IV is an absolute must-play for any fan of the action role-playing genre. Prepare to be ensnared by the dark embrace of Diablo IV, as you embark on a journey that will leave you hungry for more.

That's how it usually is with the very best works of art, of course: they take the mundane and ordinary, and make them seem deep and meaningful. It's something Gone Home excels at, and it's what makes it worth picking up now that it's finally arrived on consoles.

Previous versions were too buggy to be worth checking out unless you couldn't live without baseball on your home console; this time, they got it right, with an entry in The Show series that reminds you of just how impressive it can be.

It is online gaming at it's best, and nothing really compares. You can single handedly blow away your enemies, team up, or whatever, it's up to you.

This latest entry to Mario certainly helps prove that single player experiences still have a place in an industry where games as a service seems to be the norm. I managed complete the game in about 20-30 hours, a robust post-game will keep the me coming back for more. Coupled with Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild, it looks like Nintendo will need to clear some shelf space when end of the year awards are named by the gaming press. If you don’t have a Switch, I’d encourage you to get one immediately before the holiday rush begins. This is an experience you should not sit on.

Overall, L.A. Noire is a solid release that gives me hope that if gamers support it, we may get some other Rockstar classics in the same vein. Can you image having games like the original Red Dead Redemption or GTAIV on the go?! I can!

Dragon Quest Builders will undoubtedly scratch the itch of any Minecraft/Terraria fans looking for their next favourite game, but it's accessible enough that RPG fans should enjoy it, too.

With increased detail running at a higher resolution and maintaining the same frame rate, it quite literally leaves the arcade version for dead. That's 640x480 at a constant 60fps.

If you were ever a fan of Diablo III, or even if you’re still actively playing like myself, I can’t really see a reason not to pick up the Rise of the Necromancer pack. It’s priced appropriately, and the new class is a ton of fun to play. And with a new season coming up this Thursday, you’ll have a perfect jumping on point to level a fresh character up to 70. Definitely pick this up, you won’t be disappointed.

I would highly suggest picking up Pyre at your earliest convenience. I absolutely believe it will be one of the best games you play all year, and quite frankly I can’t think of another game that easily compares to it. The story, mechanics, and world featured absolutely stand-out compared to other releases this year, and it’s well worth experiencing. And even if you’ve felt lukewarm on Bastion or Transistor, Pyre is such a different experience that I’d still say it’s worth checking out whether you are a fan of Supergiant or not. But if you are, then there is no reason to miss Pyre.

After many tries, I did eventually find my way to and through the final boss, and all I wanted to do was do it again. I suppose in a lot of ways, that’s just the nature of roguelike games. They often offer a near bottomless replay value thanks to the “structured but random” structure of the format. This combined with the joy of bobbing your head along and clicking when you do so makes the experience a ton of fun and feel great. The quantity of content isn’t huge, but for $20 USD, I certainly think it is well worth the money.

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.

Slick looking, smooth playing masterpiece... The undisputed king of 3D Playstation fighters on the market today. [Gaming Age Score = 96]

Fable is a rare role playing game that offers incredibly deep customization, style and exploration. It can be both charming and disturbing. Its missions offer equal parts of satisfaction and tragedy, and when you're not on a mission you'll be making your own bed in which to lie (including a dog, he's literally always around).

The intensity, excitement, and frantic pacing that FIFA brings to the table mimics the real thing so perfectly, it's hard not to become a fan after just a few scrimmages.

From the huge open mountain to the convincing radio station to the numerous events, this is one cool experience.

To be clear, Astrologaster probably isn’t for everyone. Humour is, of course, very subjective…and that’s without even factoring in the choral music. But if you’re looking for a game that’s completely unlike anything else out there, look no further, because this is definitely it.

For me, this has been the deepest and most rewarding Tiger Woods PGA Tour title I’ve ever played.

There's honestly a 30+ hour expansion with a great deal to do aside from the main quest, and if you dig The Witcher, you already know it's worth jumping into.

Wilds is an absolute must play, and I won’t hesitate to say you’re missing out if you don’t at least give it a shot. Nothing but absolute praise for Capcom, the Monster Hunter team, and everyone involved in production.

Wonder Boy: Asha In Monster World is a very nostalgic good time. The reimagined visuals only make the experience better. If you purchase the physical copy, you will have the opportunity to play the original game as it comes free as a bonus. The original game is also fully translated into English for the first time since the limited Wii Virtual Console release. This is one of the best games in the series and it’s fantastic that more gamers can now play this “lost” sequel. RPG and platformer fans will have a blast with this one, while newcomers will surely find something to enjoy as well.

Persona 5 Royal is definitely an amazing role-playing game experience. The story is engaging and most of the characters are fun with colorful personalities to match. The battle system can be deeply engaging and almost a puzzle to figure out how to navigate. Collecting the Personas can be quite addictive as is playing with merging the Personas. This game is a must buy for any JRPG fan.

As I mentioned earlier, the reply value for Resident Evil 4 is through the roof. Knowing how much time I put into Village, which has a fraction of the content here, there is plenty of fun and horror to be experienced. My hope is that many gamers can experience the remake on their own as I did, and have that feeling of playing it for the first time. As of now, Resident Evil 4 remake has officially dethroned Dead Space has as my Game of the Year.

Still, it managed to come over to the Vita without losing anything that makes it special, and consequently it's a definite must-play.

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.

It’s a pretty joyful take on open-world action, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s a late contender for Game of the Year.

It's also hard to deny that Halo 4 is a hell of a visual step up for the series. Part of that comes from the art design, featuring bright, neon like colors that infuse the new world of Requiem with inorganic life. But the texture work and character models are a step above what Reach produced, and help to show that that 360 still has a trick or two up its sleeve from a power perspective.

Obviously, if you played Two Point Hospital last year, picking up the Jumbo Edition probably isn’t necessary (particularly since you could just get the DLC that’s included here). But if, like me, you somehow skipped out on it, now is the time to remedy that oversight, and get Two Point Hospital: Jumbo Edition stat.

I really don’t have complaints about Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut. It’s exactly what it claims to be: a new, recut version of Yakuza 0 on the Nintendo Switch 2 with enhanced visuals and smooth performance. It takes advantage of everything very well, and being able to play it on the go is a massive bonus. For existing fans that picked up a Switch 2, it more than earns itself another playthrough. For those of you that are new to Yakuza and may have just started with Kiwami on the original Switch’s release, this is a prequel you don’t wanna miss out on. It’s the biggest and best version of Yakuza 0, and I’d argue an absolute necessity for Switch 2. You simply won’t find a better experience than the Director’s Cut.

The game of baseball is represented perfectly in MLB 06: The Show, and not only is this a candidate for best baseball game of the year, but possibly best sports game as well.

A masterpiece and a AAA launch title for the Wii. The dungeons are fun and the puzzles, while sometimes difficult, always make sense. The scope of adventure and exploration cannot be matched by any other game.

By whatever standard you want to apply, Red Dead Redemption II doesn’t just build on the accomplishments of its already impressive predecessor, it eclipses them. Much like the first Red Dead Redemption was unquestionably one of the high-water marks of the last generation, Red Dead Redemption II will be remembered as one of the most impressive achievements of this one.

Far Cry 5 is hands down the best yet for the series, and may be the best Ubisoft title ever.

Just another bright and shining jewel on the Miyamoto crown of accomplishments! This often overlooked masterpiece will finely get the time in the lime light it deserves.

Yes, they were adapted to the realities of each platform — sometimes (as in the case of the 3DS) fairly well. But none of those adaptations compare to the feel of playing Angry Birds on a touchscreen, and that's where the Vita version comes out ahead.

SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech is basically what we’ve come to expect from the SteamWorld series, namely a well-realized take on an existing genre masterfully executed once again.

As good as Killzone 2 was, Killzone 3 tops it in every respect. The excellent PlayStation Move controls and stereoscopic 3D support certainly don't hurt either. So if you're looking for an intense and polished sci-fi first person shooter for the PlayStation 3, then Killzone 3 is obviously your game.

Basically the developers took everything that was right about GT and multiplied it by a factor of ten in GT2.

Admittedly, just because I love To Be Or Not To Be, it doesn’t mean everyone is going to love it. I get that. If you’re not a fan of North, or this type of comedy, or the general idea of deconstructing English literature and turning it into something else entirely, chances are this probably isn’t for you (also, you probably hate the very concept of fun). But as far as I’m concerned, I’ve found my new favourite game.

If you haven't had the pleasure of playing Joe the first time around, then this game is a no brainer as a purchase. If you have already played it, I still say buy it, as the Lab mode is basically another version of the game's original career mode, but twice as hard.

This is a series that deserves its own place in gaming history and while there will always be comparisons of where it originated from. It's nice to know that there can be a story told in space that is so epic, so intelligent, and so rewarding, that doesn't have to have the word "Star" in its title.

BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma is by far the best entry in the long running series.

Of all the incarnations of the versus series, never before have I had so much fun, said "WHOA!" so many times per match, and been so frustrated as to which characters to pick.

At the end of the day this is the perfect way to play Dark Souls. If you are a new player, the game will still be just as challenging but it will look and feel like a much more modern game. If you are a veteran, this is a beautiful nostalgia filled trip through my personal favorite game of the 360/PS3 era.

Ultimately Sayonara Wild Hearts will be a permanent fixture on my Switch console (as well as my iPhone, as this title is one of the launch titles for Apple’s Apple Arcade service). While the Fool’s journey is a relatively short one, it will be extremely revisitable as one can strive to get the gold rank scores as well as collect all the diamonds strewn across the levels. Why wouldn’t you, with an excellent soundtrack and superb visual design, I couldn’t find a better way to pass the time.

FFXI manages to mend the idea of a persistent online community with a story, graphics, and an intuitive interface that begs to be played when other responsibilities rear their ugly head.

While on the shorter side, episode two comes in swinging and takes no prisoners.

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.

But for everyone else, Etrian Odyssey IV offers more of what you already love about the series, just this time it’s a little prettier in action.

It's a fantastic follow-up, probably one of the best sequels you'll ever play, one that actually takes the complaints of the first game and improves upon them tenfold.

To be sure, Legend of the Skyfish isn’t going to make anyone forget The Legend of Zelda, or even many of its imitators and copycats. What it will do, however, is offer a fun couple of hours at a pretty decent price, and as far as I’m concerned, that’s enough to make it well worth your time.

Just like on other platforms, The Pinball FX3 platform delivers a great pinball experience without costing you an arm and a leg. Combine that with the new challenge modes, multiplayer and the Switch exclusive options and you have yourself a great package for pinball fans and casual players alike. This app is a perfect fit for the Nintendo Switch and is a great addition to the ever growing library! Even if you already have this on another platform, the Switch version is fantastic. I highly recommend it!

A lot of the positive changes were brought on by patch 2.0.1 prior to the expansion launching, but Reaper of Souls continues to build on that with its new content.

All in all, this initial DLC pack is worth picking up, especially if you’re still toying around with Breath of the Wild. Granted, the next story focused pack is probably the more hotly anticipated of the two, but the gameplay features, additional difficulty, and the Trial of the Sword challenge are nothing to scoff at here. Definitely pick this up, it’s well worth the asking price.