There’s a gulf between competent and enjoyable, and Jumanji: The Curse Returns comes nowhere close to crossing it. It may work, but before you’ve finished your first time playing it, you’ll be wishing there was something more than that to it.

If you’re after a game that captures the general vibe of that era’s 3D platformers, Kao the Kangaroo does an okay job. Every level gives you plenty of coins and baubles and collectibles to discover, which means that if you’re the type of person who wants to collect everything you can in one of these games, there’s plenty for you to do. Likewise, the levels are all pretty good sizes, so it feels like there’s a lot to explore, even if the levels are generally pretty linear. But these things are only enough to make Kao the Kangaroo feel like an average 3D platformer, not anything special. While that may hearken back to the series’ early days – and it makes this game a perfect continuation of what the series did back when it was a thing – it’s certainly not enough to make Kao the Kangaroo a game you need to play in 2022.

I’m not going to lie. I was terrible at Gravitar: Recharged, and I continued to be terrible at it no matter what I did. But if you’re the sort of person who craves a genuinely punishing experience and doesn’t mind putting in the hours, you absolutely need to give Gravitar: Recharged a try.

To be sure, you could critique Biomotor Unitron for not straying too far from its inspiration – and even if it borrows from Pokémon, it never comes close to matching it. But just as the ‘90s had room for second-tier competitors like Digimon, there’s no reason why Biomotor Unitron can’t exist as a fun curio today. It won’t make anyone forget Pokémon or wonder why Biomotor Unitron didn’t find more of a fanbase, but it’s fun enough that you’ll be able to enjoy it anyway.

I can’t help but shake the feeling, though, that it could have been done in a way that was interesting, or at least tolerable. Instead, The Magnificent Trufflepigs makes the prospect of spending a few hours in this world seem like a dreadful slog. The whole thing feels like it was tailor-made to win awards and win critical acclaim, but like the worst kind of awards bait, they forgot to make the game interesting enough to merit either.

Obviously, Unlock the Cat isn’t terrible, since it’s a functional game, and it works exactly like every other version of this basic puzzle works. But unless the only thing stopping you from playing Klotski puzzles was the general lack of cats, there’s really nothing here that’ll make it worth your while.

Obviously, if Mini Motorways is actually intended to be a subtle critique of how dystopian car-centred cities are, then it absolutely succeeds at that beyond any shadow of a doubt. More likely, though, Mini Motorways is simply an attempt to apply the Mini Metro formula to roads instead of subways. While it hits some of the same notes – and it would undoubtedly be much easier to embrace if it didn’t have such an insanely great predecessor to live up to – it’s simply not quite as good. That still means it’s better made than most other puzzle games, but if you’re hoping for the next Mini Metro, Mini Motorways isn’t quite it.

To be clear, it’s not like ten years has transformed Republique from a decent stealth game into an unsung classic. But they have given its message more relevancy, and given it a console whose controls are a perfect fit for the game – and that’s enough to make it well worth your while.

If you’ve played previous Sniper Elite games, you already know if you’re going to like Sniper Elite 5. If you haven’t, I can’t recommend it enough, as well as the previous entries. The quality is consistent all the way back to the first entry, and it’s a ton of fun. Don’t forget to check out the Nazi Zombie Army games as well. As I mentioned at the beginning of the review, Rebellion knows the meaning of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, and they’ve used that to pump out a series of great games.

To be sure, it’s not a substantial game. You’ll be able to finish it pretty easily in a couple of hours, in fact. But for those few hours, you’re going to have a lot of fun with it – which makes Dungeons of Dreadrock well worth checking out.

As I said up top, I get that it’s a little unfair to come into a series that’s been around for a couple of decades and complain that you don’t know what’s going on. But at the same time, the more you play of Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong, the more you get the sense that it’s being so convoluted because it doesn’t know what else to do. It tries to wrap everything together sometime around the 15-hour mark, but there’s really no reason why you should want to stick around for that long.

As Far As The Eye’s one saving grace is that it’s kind of pleasant to look at, provided there’s no text on the screen. Given that there’s lots of text on the screen, however, along with lots of incomprehensible gameplay and unresponsive controls, it doesn’t matter how nice As Far As The Eye’s visuals are when everything else about it is so awful.

Sadly, I don’t have a Steam Deck. (Note to self: somehow obtain a Steam Deck.) But I do have Rogue Legacy 2, and I can say that even if it’s not portable on the Xbox, it’s still every bit as fun as it was the first time around.

Busted in more ways than anything I’ve played in a while, it’s very disappointing as an evolution to the series. Maybe we’ll get the No Man’s Sky of Postal games and in 5 years, this review will look stupid, but where I’m sitting now, at the 1.0 release, I’m not hopeful. At least I liked No Man’s Sky on launch.

Cotton Fantasy is a fantastic addition to the franchise. It’s completely new, but feels more like a classic Cotton adventure with some nice added features. If you are a fan of “Bullet Hell” horizontal shooters, they you will be right at home here for as long as the experience lasts. It’s a little on the short side, and offers a challenge that is a bit over shadowed by an unlimited continue system, but it’s still absolutely fun to play. Even if you aren’t familiar with the Series, this is a great game that almost anyone can jump into and play.

Honestly, there’s nothing redeeming about Waifu Impact. It’s bad, it’s broken, and it’s boring, and there’s no reason whatsoever to play it.

It may have been made with the best of intentions, and it does an okay job of being an homage to its influences, but the route to get there could have been a lot less off-putting.

You can build to your heart’s content, devote hours upon hours to building a great theme park, and, best of all, you can make your dinosaurs wear hats. There may be a few better management sims on the Switch, but Parkasaurus makes a solid argument for being counted among them.

At $9.99, this is a fantastic party game that anyone can pick up and play. The game itself is rated T, but anything goes when writing your own riffs. Even with a few playthroughs, I never saw a duplicate clip come up. I’m sure that will happen eventually, but lets hope they keep this game updated with fresh clips, sound effects and pre recorded riffs. I want to play this game for years to come! Super fun and super simple, I can’t recommend RiffTrax: The Game enough! A Definite Must Buy!

It’s a dull walking simulator mixed with an equally dull visual novel, and the end result – while fairly unique – is indescribably lousy.

It might be worth it if you’re obsessed with Trophies or Achievements on another system, but if you’re just playing for the fun of it, don’t bother. There are plenty of other, better platformers to be found on the Switch.

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.

Fatum Betula is a strange game geared towards a very specific niche. I can’t say I’m in that niche, but if you are, it’s probably going to be right up your alley.

While the title doesn’t soar as high as it’s predecessors it is an absolutely competent release in this pseudo series. Players of all ages will be able to pick up and play and it even provides hardcore players a hook to keep the game installed/inserted into the console. Given that it is announced that golf would be added as a free addon later in the year, one would hope that some other missing sports can be added post launch (give me back baseball and boxing damn it!). Let’s just hope that Spucco Square can be expanded to something like a rectangle or anything. The foundation is solid, let’s hope Nintendo will build more on it!

All in all, Trek to Yomi is a pretty solid game if a little short. I won’t fault a game for being single-digit hours long, as long as it delivers a good story; Trek to Yomi certainly did. As mentioned prior, the additional story path options potentially take the game up to a good probably 10 hours, assuming all are approximately the same. The challenge offered by completing the game on higher difficulties can also invite a challenge to squeeze a few more hours out, and the combat is fun enough to welcome a playthrough just for difficulties sake.

It’s still a fun game that probably gets overlooked since it wasn’t one of the highlights of its generation, and if you go in expecting an enjoyable (if slightly dated) game, you’ll be pretty happy with it.

It’s demanding, but the game always makes it very clear what it expects from you. It hasn’t won me over to survival horror, but it’s a lot more accessible than most games in the genre – which, from me, counts as a glowing recommendation.

All in all, I enjoyed my time spent with Cathedral, but with the sheer glut of indie developed Metroidvania’s on the market, including some fairly big-budget ones at this point, it is a little hard to recommend Cathedral over other like-minded titles. It’s a solid one of those games, but solid isn’t necessarily enough to propel it to the top of the must-play pile. If you’ve got a little time on your hands, and you haven’t already given it a shot on Switch or PC, then I think it’s worth a look. But if you have yet to play any number of critically acclaimed Metroidvania titles on the market, then I’d be a little hard pressed to suggest Cathedral over those games.

Underland works as you’d hope it would, even if it doesn’t work at a speed I can appreciate or enjoy. But you should expect more from a game that simply being functional, and there’s nothing in Underland that goes beyond that very low bar.

The two games that are exclusive are not worth the price at all. But if you don’t have any of these titles in your library or are missing a few, then this is a cost effective collection that can provide a lot of fun! As I stated before, there are no extras or exclusive modes or options included with this release. It is a strictly barebones presentation made up of mostly previously released titles. Not a bad collection for some, but a waste of time for others. All in all, a somewhat lazy and underwhelming release.

RPGolf Legends is actually quite impressive, when you think about it. The developers didn’t just have to create a fun RPG, they also had to make a solid golf game. They succeeded in both, and made one heck of a game in the process.

Is Wall of Insanity deep? Not really. And I don’t think it’s going to be on any GOTY lists eight months from now. But if you want a shooter that doesn’t have any pretensions about what it is, you’ll want to check it out.

Kombinera doesn’t try to hide the fact that it’s tough, so if you’re after that kind of near-impossible difficulty, you’ll want to check it out.

Dino Galaxy Tennis isn’t a great tennis game, but it’s a fun one, and that’s really all that matters.

Personally, I don’t see the appeal, but if its janky, dated RPGs you’re after, it’ll be everything you’re hoping for.

If you haven’t had a chance to check out Road 96 when it was released last year on Switch and PC, then I think the PlayStation and Xbox releases are certainly worth a look. It’s not a time consuming or challenging experience, but it’s an entertaining adventure game with a neat gameplay hook that will likely keep you interested until the end.

Slipstream is truly a work of love. Its gameplay honors its source material and if you look closely at the rivals that challenge you on each track you’ll know Ansdor is definitely a fan of racing in the media as a whole (I see you Tofu Boy…but why isn’t your car white? Also how does Din Mikal feel about family?). The game might feel a little too punishing at times, but Ansdor leaves plenty of accessibility options to flatten the learning curve. Outrun might be stuck in the garage, but Slipstream is out there cruising the streets and it’s a perfectly viable ride!

There’s lots of events, a nice variety of hills, and, as I said, the presentation is so gorgeous you’ll be lulled into a zen state. Even if you’re not a fan of skiing, it’s one of those games that’s so pleasant, it’s impossible to resist.

I had a good time playing through all of the characters’ stories and didn’t have any other things that hit me in such a noticeably out-of-place way as the previously noted moment, so I can accept one off moment in a sea of otherwise excellent quality. Weird West was one of the more unique experiences I’ve had in a game in a while, so I certainly can’t hate it when the rest is there in such a heavy-hitting way.

If you’re a fan of Ghosts’n Goblins, maybe an unbalanced challenge is what you’re after? Still, it’s hard not to feel like there are other, better ways of scratching that particular itch than with Swords & Bones.

Andro Dunos 2 is a perfect example of how to make a true sequel to a classic game. It looks and plays the original, all the while showing off something new. It gave me that classic Neo Geo / Arcade feeling from start to finish and never felt too boring. The minor issues with controls and the lack of custom options do hurt a little, but don’t let them stop you from checking this out. If you are a fan of the original, or a fan of horizontal shooters in general, then you will enjoy what you find!

Big Bang Pro Wrestling isn’t gonna topple the latest and greatest the WWE has to offer, but given the Switch is seriously deprived of wrestling titles, even this one can be appreciated if you’re looking for some grappling action on the go. It was also refreshing to see a NGPC title get put out that isn’t a straight fighting game, so if NGPC Pocket Selection vol. 2 is going to be a thing at least it will be a lot more diverse than vol. 1. Given that this obscure title was given a chance in the west, Faselei! can’t be far behind, right?

If you just want to learn to spell, I guess, that makes Mini Words Collection kind of an attractive proposition. If, however, you’re a fan of word puzzles and you want anything that’ll challenge you in the least, then keep looking, because you’re not going to find that here.

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is the definitive LEGO Star Wars experience. It’s the only game that contains all nine of the main films in LEGO format and it will also include some content from Rouge One, Solo, The Mandalorian, and The Bad Batch via DLC. The iconic LEGO game humor is everywhere. The destruction of all LEGO items in an area does get a little repetitive after a while, however, the collectables will keep you playing for hours on end. This game is a jump forward for LEGO titles, with the awesome bonus of it being a Star Wars game. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is a must own for any LEGO fan.

Doki Doki Ragnarok is a game that’s incredibly difficult to describe without sounding like you’re three days out from the last time you slept, but I promise you that you won’t regret playing it. It’s short (about 5 hours for me to play through it) with limited replayability outside of testing the differences between passing or failing in a “dating” scenario, but it’s just such a good, goofy time.

Is Kinduo a terrible game? Definitely not – like I said, it’s cute enough, and it’s not objectionable so much as it’s short and easy. If that’s all you’re after, go for it, but there are much better puzzle-platformers out there to be had.

While MLB The Show 22 is definitely a step up from last year’s game, it’s pretty clear that the years of the franchise setting the bar for other sports games are behind us. That said, the fixes they’ve made after last year’s soulless debacle are enough that I expect I’ll be spending quite a bit of time with this game over the next 12 months or so – which is a pretty big step up from what I was expecting when I started playing it.

The subject matter is difficult to get past for most people, and it’s present throughout the game. The touching mini-games are weird, the pervy humor is rarely funny, and the fact that it all seems to take place with high-school aged teens is just a bit much. And it’s a shame, because there’s elements of a competent light gun game here, but it’s buried under too much junk to glean any lasting enjoyment from it.

Obviously, Trivial Pursuit Live! 2 didn’t reinvent the wheel. As I wrote up top, it’s exactly what you’d expect from a Trivial Pursuit game. But when you’ve got a game that’s as reliable as Trivial Pursuit, sometimes that’s enough. Trivial Pursuit Live! 2 won’t wow you with innovation, but it still makes for a fun way to spend a half hour.

It’s unfortunate because, again, Aztech Forgotten Gods has such an interesting idea at its core. It could have been a great game that really stood out from the crowd, but instead, it’s one that’s not nearly as good as it could have been.

Even if you’re not a fan of how Wordle suddenly has a lot more of those words post-NYT move, they at least keep things interesting. Without them – and without anything else to push you – it’s really makes it difficult to stay interested in the game. There are ways to play around with the Wordle formula to make the gameplay fresh and new (see Octordle for an extreme example), but there’s none of that to be found in Wordbreaker.

Neither the story nor the setting are so compelling that they can overcome your character inching along from room to room in what’s essentially a straight line. There’s nothing inherently wrong with pushing you in a clear linear direction; one of my all-time favourite games is What Remains of Edith Finch?, and that’s nothing but linear exploration. But add in the glacial pace, and it makes it a lot easier to stop caring about the story as you’re faced with long stretches of simply walking from point A to point B. There’s a lot of potential for Paradise Lost to have been a great game, but unfortunately, it mostly goes unrealized.

Again, a big part of Boris the Rocket’s problem is completely unintentional and far, far beyond its control. But even if you could somehow ignore real world news, you’d still be left with a game that’s basically Simon, but with nukes.

It’s entirely possible that Rustler is a lot better if you’ve played the original GTA games. But I doubt it. Between the lousy controls, the ugly graphics, and the all-around annoying gameplay, there’s really nothing here worthwhile.

Really, everything about Ghostwire: Tokyo is amazing, and it makes me glad I own a PS5. There aren’t many games just justify going out and buying a system for, but you could make a pretty convincing argument that this is one of them.

I’d be lying if I said I enjoyed Rover Mechanic Simulator as much as I do some of those other simulators. It’s harder to get in one of those grooves where you just lose all track of time – and not being able to do that means you’re constantly aware that you’re just completing mundane, time-consuming tasks over and over again. That might be the joy of some of the better simulators, but here it just feels like a chore.

I mean all the usual suspects of match types are available along with the always incredible create a wrestler(and other “create” options). I really think this year is a step in the right direction for the franchise and is a buy for loyal WWE fans, possibly even for fans that have since moved on, with the large roster of legends available. Is it the best wrestling game of all time? Not even close, but it’s certainly progress and a really enjoyable time that has something for everyone, casual and hardcore marks alike. Now acknowledge me!… and get into the ring!

I will never object to bringing back older titles to modern platforms, but not everything needs to be dusted off and placed on digital storefronts. Moto Racer MC isn’t necessarily something that should be left in the annals of history, clearly I found the omake mode to be worth playing, even if I find the single player modes unfulfilling. A silver lining for this is maybe it could lead to other ports of TG-16/PC-Engine titles, although the stuff I want to see are IPs owned by Konami (Bonk’s Adventure).

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.

I mean, Heroes of Loot 2 is fine. It moves along at a nice pace, it adds in a bit of nice strategic elements, and it’s got a fun retro vibe. But there aren’t really any hidden depths (not counting all the hidden dungeon rooms) here, so it feels like once you’ve played it a few times, the game doesn’t have all that much more to offer. It’s okay if that’s all you’re after, but it’s all very much a case of what you see is exactly what you get.

Sherlock Holmes Chapter One may try to dress itself as something more or different, but when you get right down to it, not much has changed.

Planet Quiz has a fine base on which to build for next time, but they need to find a way of making their game more fun to play outside of short bursts.

It’s hard to shake the feeling that Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection almost feels like a history exhibit at this point. We may still be living with its legacy – and to be clear, it’s fun to play these games if you never did the first time around – it’s hard not to feel like it’s been surpassed by a lot of the games it influenced.

Additionally, while I really did enjoy the game, and had a ton of fun learning the combat rhythm and mechanics, I will probably never go back for a second playthrough. As I mentioned earlier, the game is full of the lowest type of humor imaginable, and by the end of the game, the same batch of one-liners that had me chuckling during the opening hours was starting to grate. That, coupled with the singular playstyle and set of upgrades, make for a poor reason to start a second playthrough. While launching at only $50, coming in competing with some of the finest video games of this (or any generation), make it hard to justify an early purchase.

Gran Turismo fans should know what they are getting into with each and every new release, and Gran Turismo 7 is overall the very best in the franchise yet. The sheer amount of content and modes will keep casual players, long time GT fans and car enthusiasts busy for a very long while, and the online and social features should continue to keep the community alive and racing for years to come.

Much like the first Mekabolt, there’s nothing here that hasn’t been done before, and better, and in a more interesting way. It’s fine if you’re after an easy Platinum (though it takes a tiny bit longer with those extra levels, and it costs a few dollars more), but there’s not much other reason to play it.

Sable clearly has its share of flaws, but it makes a pretty good argument for style mattering more than substance.

A Night at the Races is worth checking out if you’re after a game that’s unlike anything else out there, but even then, you’ll want to proceed very, very cautiously.

I’ve absolutely enjoyed my time with Elden Ring, and while I’d say my expectations were high prior to playing the game, those expectations have certainly been met or even exceeded along my journey. It feels like a culmination of everything FromSoftware has accomplished in the genre so far, offering up a robust world with tons of exploration married to the unique combat we’ve come to expect from their previous titles. I can’t necessarily say that there’s enough changes here that will appeal to people who have bounced off of Souls games previously, but it’s such a great looking (and playing) game that I think if you enjoy action-RPG’s in the slightest that it’s still worth a shot. And of course if you’re already a FromSoftware fan, then I’d imagine you’re already on board, and I can safely say that you won’t be disappointed.

So all-in-all, Horizon Forbidden West is a very satisfying, extremely impressive if somewhat predictable sequel, to one of the best original titles of last generation. It’s a showcase for the PS5 platform (and not exactly a slouch on the original PS4 and PS4 Pro amazingly), and definitely worth the price of admission.

As I said up top, there’s a paucity of good wrestling games on the Switch, which means that it’d be very easy for a half-decent one to break through and feel like it’s Game of the Year-material. Action Arcade Wrestling, unfortunately, isn’t up to that task.

Is Red Ronin original? Definitely (or, at least, mostly definitely) not. Is it a fantastic game nonetheless? Yes, beyond any shadow of a doubt.

Retro Bowl is generally worth it, if you’re a Switch-owning football fan who wants to play their favourite game on Nintendo’s system. It may not be perfect, but it’s miles better than anything else you can play.

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.

The PC port for Monster Hunter Rise is the definitive way to experience this game. I am excited to see where the franchise goes from here, although I will find it hard to slide back into any Monster Hunter game without the new traversal and streamlined elements. Whether you want to hunt alone or play with your friends, play “Fashion Hunter” or experience the main quests, there is something for everyone in Monster Hunter Rise.

That’s really this game in a nutshell: it’s relentlessly sunny in the face of a grey world, and you only win by making the lives of your friends brighter. Given we’re in the dead of winter as I write this – after a few very difficult years, in the midst of yet another pandemic wave – that’s the kind of message I can go for. Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan is a pleasant antidote to these times, and even if I can’t describe it, I know I liked it.

Just about my only real quibble with Dojoran is in how it describes itself. It claims it’s a 1-bit platformer, but that’s kind of a misnomer. For me, when I think of those, I think of games like Zero Zero Zero Zero, that really do look 1-bit, to the point they could’ve come out on one of gaming’s earliest systems. Dojoran, by contrast, may have a black-and-white colour palette, but it still looks like a more modern game. As I said, though, that’s just a quibble. Dojoran is a fun platformer – whether you want to play it until the Platinum pops, or if you keep on playing beyond that point.

Sifu on paper looks like a short title, with it’s five stages you would think it will be a short weekend experience and you will be done. However, it is so packed with content that even though you think you’ve mastered a level, a discovery at a later stage will force you back to an earlier stage. It’s varied arsenal will have you constantly replaying certain sections just to see how different a score you can get (such as the hallway fight in the first level which encapsulates the feeling of a certain fight scene from the movie Old Boy). I read somewhere that the devs wanted action sequences to feel like a Jackie Chan movie, and given what I’ve seen they’ve definitely nailed it. Although most players’ experiences will at first look like the credits of a Jackie Chan movie, through persistence and patience, their encounters will start to look like the final cut of the film.

It’s a shame that the execution is so bad, since, as I said, there’s a good idea at the core of Monster Harvest. Given that there are plenty of very good monster-breeding games and farming sims out there – even if not necessarily in the same game – you’re much better off playing those in tandem rather than suffering through this.

If you want something to take over a Minecraft- or Don’t Starve- or Terraria-shaped hole in your life, Nira isn’t it. It aims high, and clearly has some great influences, but it can’t seem to meld them all together into something worthwhile.

It’s clearly better than its predecessor, but that’s the lowest bar imaginable – and it’s pretty clear that it’s a bar that this one only just clears by the barest of margins.

My final thoughts on my overall experience with Dying Light 2: Stay Human remains positive. Seeing some coverage come out and be turned off by the bugs and issues that were pre-release was expected, but disappointing since I had faith that Techland would stay true to the fans and make sure the experience is covered top to bottom with prime support for the players and community. I commend the entire development team including Lead Designer Tymon Smektala for being engaged with the community leading to the release and listening to what they all have to say. It shows in the final release and look forward to spending even more hours in Villedor for years to come.

Just about the only drawback that could be applied to I Love Finding Cats! is that there’s nothing linking all the puzzles together. It’s not like the games are improved by having a shoehorned-in narrative (like, I know that Faircroft’s Antiques had a story, but I couldn’t tell you what it was), but if you want one, you won’t find it here. Then again, the point of the game is right in the name: you’re supposed to find cats. If that’s all you want out of I Love Finding Cats!, then you’ll probably be very, very pleased with what you find here.

If you’re not a fan of shmups – whether upwards-scrolling or side-scrolling – Gynoug isn’t likely to win you over. It’s a fairly easy Platinum, but other than that, there’s not really much to recommend it.

Truthfully, I don’t think that Danganronpa Decadence is the best way to experience the trilogy. These are three very intense games, each with enough crazy twists and over-the-top cruelty and violence that you should probably take a break between each one. One thing that you’ll be reminded of again and again in each game is that they earn their M ratings beyond a shadow of a doubt. But nonetheless, these are still three of the best games the visual novel genre has to offer, and if you’re even remotely interested in playing murder mysteries, they’re all must-plays.

It’s a gorgeous game that gets to the heart of why people get hooked on golf and, as I said, if you’re a fan of the sport, it’s a must-play.

Visually, everything is black and white, with a few hints of red, which is certainly pretty striking. On top of that, Apple Slash is scored by a chiptunes soundtrack that does its genre proud. To be sure, if you’re looking for something more substantial, Apple Slash isn’t it. But if you look at it as a teaser or a prelude for something bigger – which it hopefully is – it certainly seems like the first part of something that could become a truly distinctive experience.

So if you’ve never played one, or perhaps both games, then I think this collection is a no-brainer for sure. And even if you have, the upgrade discount path makes this collection a worthy addition to your growing PS5 library, and it’s sure to be the game that you pop up in when you’re trying to show off modern console technology to your friends and family. It’s a solid remaster of two excellent games, both of which are well worth playing through again.

Arietta of Spirits won’t wow you like some of the best Zelda-inspired games, but it’s still got some niceness at its core. That may not make it a classic, but it’s enough to make it fun enough while it lasts.

At the very least you’ve got to respect how much effort went into this game, and how much it asks of players. As I said up top, Ratalaika has been responsible for some of the laziest, low-effort visual novels imaginable. I’m not going to then complain when one of their visual novels swings hard in the exact opposite direction. There’s a tonne of content to be found here – all Angels with Scaly Wings asks is that you just be super into reading about kissing dragons to get the most out of it.

Dropping the ball on versus play aside, having this port available means a larger audience will be able to experience the joys I did those many years ago. My timeless strategy of locking down my opponent’s characters to 100 HP, keeping the opponent’s SP low while waiting to initiate one devastating union attack to end the match still works and I’ll continue to employ it until I collect all 300 cards in this version. I just hope that SNK will find it worthwhile to adjust the Versus play so that you can actually play against other humans and whatever deck they’ve assembled rather than facing a doppelganger deck with another person doling out the strategy.

Windjammers 2 is what a sequel should be. Updated visuals, added bonus games, and new characters, all without ruining the core game play. As I have said, Dotemu did a remarkable job with this release just as they have with their previous classic sequel efforts. If you are a fan of the original Neo Geo game, or if you want a fun game with a lot of challenge, than look no further than Windjammers 2. We may actually have a contender for 2022 Game Of the Year on our hands! I cannot recommend this game enough to every gamer out there, it is truly a super fun time!

At some point you have to assign proper value to your own time, because Extraction will not. There are too many good games out there that manage to do this better. If you are on PC, play GTFO instead. If you are only interested in GamePass games? Play Aliens: Fireteam Elite. Do you want tight Rainbow Six gameplay and tactics? Stick with Siege. There are no upsides to Extraction that outweigh the negatives here, and I cannot suggest it to anyone in its current state.

Yes, the jumps are floaty, but the whole thing feels dreamlike with its vividly coloured world, so it kind of fits together. Further, Castle on the Coast is, ultimately, a collectathon, so the objectives are secondary to bouncing around the world, picking up everything in sight – and the given the sheer number of collectibles to pick up, it’s pretty easy to sink a couple of hours into just grabbing everything in sight. And, again, it’s all for a good cause. Castle on the Coast may not be perfect, but its heart is in the right place. In this case, that’s enough.

Really, I shouldn’t be shocked that A Good Snowman is Hard to Build is so cute or so good at what it does. After all, it’s a loose sequel to A Monster’s Expedition – which also came to the Switch after being a mobile hit, and which was also utterly delightful. You don’t need to play one in order to understand the other, but if you want some adorable-but-challenging puzzle games, you should probably play this one. Or that one. Or, better yet, both.

If you loved the games back in the ‘90s, you may enjoy reliving your youth, but for everyone else, there are plenty of other more modern games worth your time and attention.

Suzerain is an outstanding political game that’s perfect for anyone who’s ever dreamed of drawing up their own budget or getting into no-win situations, and I loved every minute of it.

God of War was a masterpiece when it was released and raised the bar for what a game like it could be. It is one of the best games of that generation and sits somewhere in my top 10-20 best games of all time. This new PC port fires on all cylinders and elevates this already great game to further greatness. I experienced no issues with my entire playthrough, the game never crashed, I did not find any bugs or glitches, and the performance was always exactly what I expected out of the systems I played on. I cannot recommend both the game and the PC port highly enough.