The idea underlying The Invisible Hours is really cool, and it’s not hard to see how more could be done with it in the right hands. Unfortunately, that’s just not the case here.

It’s a satisfying RPG with a steady pace and great gameplay. There are also plenty of sidequests if you want to pursue them, but it’s optional. One thing I really like are the raids which will happen on your little castaway village. These happen throughout the game and you can choose to participate in defending everyone from a monster raid. They’re also good for friendly competition with Dogi, and if there’s one thing I think Ys VIII does really well it’s things like this that keep things from ever getting too serious.

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.

I know that reviewing daily regulations and double-checking birth dates and passport numbers sounds like it’s the most mind-numbing work ever. And, in real life, you may be right (though having known people who worked at borders, I’d argue otherwise). In Papers, Please, however, they’re tasks that are every bit as weighty as any gun battle or puzzle, and they make for a uniquely enjoyable game experience.

The big problem with Psychedelica of the Black Butterfly is that it contains a lot of fluff. If you want to advance the story, the game forces you to watch bonus episodes that consist of little more than Beniyuri and co. sitting around the mansion. It adds nothing to the story, and, to make matters worse, you have to replay chapters over and over in order to earn points to unlock the bonus chapters. The story would’ve been worked just fine without it, and it all just feels like a bunch of unnecessary padding.

The action here gets pretty repetitive fairly quickly, leaving you feeling like a lot more could have been done. Hopefully City of Brass’ developers take what they learned from this and pour their energies into a well-made sequel, because as it is, this game just feels kind of lacking.

Obviously, it’s unfair to dock points from Devious Dungeon for not being Rogue Legacy. It’s its own game, and deserves to be judged on its own merits. Plus, like I said, it’s certainly enjoyable enough. But, at the same time, it’s impossible to look at what it does and not see how much better all of it was done elsewhere. It may not be fair, but it’s still entirely accurate.

At the right price (which is to say: not very much) and for the right amount of time (again: not very much), Oh…Sir! The Hollywood Roast is worth a playthrough. Only one, mind you, and then you’ll never feel like playing it again, but still, for that one time, it’s kind of worth it.

If you’re looking for a solidly-made puzzle game, you could do a lot worse than checking out Swim Out. It’s got more than enough content to keep you entertained for a good amount of time, and it’s relaxing enough that you can pick it up and play whenever you want without feeling like you’re going to get sucked in and lose a day. There are definitely better games out there, but, for any puzzle aficionado, Swim Out is worth a look.

Obviously, I’m not going to be all hyperbolic and claim that Word Search by POWGI is a GOTY candidate or anything. It’s a solid game, and nothing more than that. But sometimes, solid is good — particularly if you’re a word search fan and you’re just looking to to have 300+ puzzles on your Switch. It’s not going to wow anyone, but it does what it sets out to do.

Obviously, the format will be familiar to anyone who ever played a Picross game on their DS. But just because it’s not brand new that doesn’t make it any less worthwhile. Pic-a-Pix Color is sure to ensnare anyone who loves a good puzzle challenge — so if you pick it up, you’ve been warned.

You may only play a couple of minutes (after you pick it up, realize it’s not for you, and quit) or you may play a few more minutes after that (after you get the Platinum, realize you’ve done everything there is to do, and set the game aside), but either way, your time with InkSplosion is going to be quick and forgettable.

I’d definitely urge you to give Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection a go if you’re like me and grew up playing these games either at home or in the arcade, and want a little taste of nostalgia to go along with your modern day fighter. Most of the games in this collection still hold up really well today, and Capcom / Digital Eclipse have done a real solid job in putting this port together.

Azure Reflections is a short but sweet experience that I really enjoyed. It’s not as fast and furious as other shooters of this type, but the difficulty and loads of charm really make it a hidden gem. If you are a fan of bullet hell shooters that really challenge you, you really should give Azure Reflections a try. It may be a little on the short side, but it’s still really fun and engaging. Definitely worth checking out.

Honestly, it kind of pains me to give Trailblazers a bad score. From a purely aesthetic perspective, it’s got a lot going for it. But, unfortunately, there’s a difference between a game that looks nice and a game that plays well, and Trailblazers just never figures out how to bridge that divide.

Atelier Lydie & Suelle fits right in with the franchise’s tendency towards quiet, solid competence — and, it should be added, it looks much better than it ever has on the Vita. Personally, though, it has me certain that wherever the series goes next, I’m only going to follow it if I can play it on a handheld.

If you are looking for a heavy turn based tactical game with a lot of similarity to X-Com, or if you are a fan of the tabletop version, Battletech is a great game for PC players. Make sure you don’t pass this up.

Not the worst, but not the best, either. Bit Dungeon Plus is just kind of there, and I challenge anyone to have a strong opinion about it one way or another.

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.

Better a fun short game than a long game with lots of padding, though, as far as I’m concerned. Frederic: Resurrection of Music is pretty enjoyable for what it is — and, as a bonus, you get to feel all cultured once it’s all over for having played a game built entirely around classical music.

When all is said and done I like the Warmind expansion more than Osiris. It features more likable characters, a more entertaining story, and way better post-game activities. It probably won’t change anyone’s opinion of Destiny 2 – so if you like the gameplay, graphics, sound (amazing score as always), and the story up to this point, Warmind does a great job pushing that experience even higher.

Despite the show only being on for 3 seasons, the universe is already pretty large with plenty of fan theories, it’s just a tiny (Rick) bit disappointing how short and limited this title is. As a die hard I would kill, Krombopulos Michael style, for a Rick and Morty RPG in line with the South Park series. For now, if you own a PSVR and consider yourself a part of the council of Ricks, this is a must buy.

Unfortunately, even if you think that’s a point in the game’s favour, all the funny interactions and oddball characters in the world can’t hide the fact that Penny-Punching Princess’ action is kind of meh. The game gets points for trying something new, but it would’ve gotten even more if that new thing had actually turned out well.

League of Evil is still the same old game that made it so much fun all those years ago. The levels are still quick little puzzles for you to feel out and solve, ideally within seconds. The graphics are still heavily indebted to games of earlier eras, as is the plot (which, as the title implies, is all about you taking on a group — a league, if you will — of evildoers). There’s little here that you wouldn’t also see in the likes of Super Meat Boy.

There’s little in Neurovoider that you wouldn’t be able to get in most other twin-stick shooters…except, of course, for that fantastic soundtrack. If scores were everything, we’d be talking about an all-time classic game. Instead, it’s really more of a niche game, with a soundtrack that you need to go download right this second.

All things considered, Super Mega Baseball 2 is, as I said, a very, very good arcade baseball game. It may not have the depth of an official MLB game, or the out-of-nowhere shock that made the first game such a pleasant surprise, but it works, and it’s fun. Compared to its competition this year, that makes for a monumental achievement.

For everyone that’s already very familiar with Dragon’s Crown, I’d say that Pro feels like a worthy re-release even if it’s a bit light overall on extra features. If you’re starting to wind down with something like God of War right now, Dragon’s Crown Pro could easily be a solid addition to your PS4 library next week.

Rogue Aces is a very good addition to the respective libraries of the Switch and the Vita. It’s not the kind of game that justifies your purchase of either device, but it’s a fun little game that’s a lot of fun to play on the go.