Instead of standing in the original GoldenEye's shadow, Eurocom has created a brand new game that is just as compelling and addictive as the original.

Sifu is the epitome of a well-made martial arts video game that infuses cultural storytelling, brutal combat and a dash of roguelike. With its beautiful art direction, excellent soundtrack, and immaculate attention to detail, it is sure to rivet the attention of anyone interested.

Catherine is certainly a fun and challenging game, both in its gameplay and story and character elements. In some of these moments it succeeds, in others, it fumbles, and falls flat on its face. But that doesn't mean it's unimportant, as it is good to learn from mistakes made previously in order to improve at a later point in time.

I had considerable doubt that MadWorld would be more than an exploitation game, but it’s been done so smartly that I can’t help but love it

Ten long years have culminated in a game that's a bit rough around the edges, but enjoyable. Kudos to Hajime Tabata for getting this thing done. For me it was enjoyable throughout, and I'll be seeing this one through until I have the platinum trophy, but I think that feat is reserved for only the most dedicated franchise fans.

The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners is a great game. It's just that maybe it's not a great game for you. Maybe, like me, you don't have your VR legs enough to enjoy it. Maybe you want a little bit more from the PC hardware you have to run it on and won't accept the compromises this game makes. Maybe you just have TWD fatigue. If those things don't stand in your way, then what is on offer is an incredible and immersive experience. A well-developed virtual playground to craft and battle your way through a rich world and story that is only let down by an implementation that just screams compromise to make way for a PSVR release.

Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen truly feels at home on PC with its in-depth gameplay and beautiful world.

The new items are sure to be a hit with the fans and the University aspect lends an entirely new atmosphere to explore.

Solid but not great, the first DLC pack is best when it the content is original. The final boss fight in the game makes the pack worth $10.

FORM was an enjoyable and mildly challenging romp through some beautifully crafted spaces populated with puzzles that achieved a nice balance between being interesting without being either too easy or frustratingly difficult. Sadly, I was ready for more than it had to give.

With much better balance in gameplay and deep Road to the Show and Franchise modes, MLB 14: The Show continues to stand as the leader in baseball titles.

All the harrumph and bluster about cut content and changes does little to change the fact that Bravely Second: End Layer is a fantastic game that should satisfy fans and foes of the original game. There is a lot of revisiting, and some forced moral quandaries that I don't exactly agree with (from a logical stand-point), but they do little to affect my overall enjoyment of this game.

Another success in the line of Civ games. It does a good job of setting the scene and taking the player along on a story of hope, struggle and triumph.

The weirdest Marvel game is also one of the best. With an enormous number of complementary systems, a simple but deep combat system, and a mountain of delightful character moments to explore, Midnight Suns shines a brilliant light into one of Marvel’s lesser-known corners. This is a huge game, but also a comfortable and warm game for strategy and Marvel fans alike. Possibly the best release of the holiday season, and one of the strongest games of the year.

Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack is a fun and fresh little diversion of a game. At $8.99, it’s a bit pricey for a game that can be finished in an afternoon, but it’s fun nonetheless.

Origins was worth taking the year off. Egypt will be hard to top as a location. The series' dry, ironic, corporate sense of humor is still dull. But nobody can beat Assassin’s Creed’s architectural history lessons, even if you’re still just stabbing folks and jumping out the window while you’re sightseeing the entire timeline.

While the game is most effective the first time through, repeated visits to its brief vignettes reveal just how meticulously this spook-house was built. Don't bother with the individual episodes, just go for the whole game. You will immediately want to buy more episodes after playing the first one, so you might as well save some money by buying the package. And don't forget to play with the lights on, for all the good it will do you.

All in all, the game is a great addition to the collection of any fan of Final Fantasy Tactics or Final Fantasy XII because it melds the two games together seemlessly.

Pool Nation is a great game that has a surprisingly long shelf life. It hits a nice balance between accessibility and challenge, letting you play however you want; whether you're a no-crosshairs, no-mercy kind of player, or if you're a newbie that needs all the help you can get.

Scribblenauts returns with yet another disappointing puzzler. 5th Cell manages to get the control right, but the terrible campaign and limited puzzles drag everything down. There are remnnants of good ideas here, but Super Scribblenauts doesn't deliver on its promise.

I wish the fighting system was a little tighter and didn't feel so much like button mashing, but generally speaking, this is a step in the right direction for Mortal Kombat.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a delight for players of all ages, regardless of the platform you play on. With amazing visuals and a stellar soundtrack, Sackboy delivers one of the most creative platformers in years. PC gamers can of course maximize their experience to their system’s best ability, but regardless of the power of your rig, Sackboy is worth a look.

Muramasa: The Demon Blade is already destined to garner a cult following, and I feel it deserves better. This title should be embraced by all Wii owners, don't let this one pass you by.

This is a refreshingly unique take on the old school swords and sorcery genre. The time trial aspect may turn some players off, but it's a challenge that is actually a joy to play.

The bottom line, though, is that Madden is an enjoyable title that, while still having a few flaws, will give a football fan hours of solid gameplay.

Call of Duty: Black Ops does many things right on the PC such as dedicated servers and high resolutions, but it's just really buggy.

A bit more thoughtful than many RTS games, Kohan 2 is perfect for those wanting a deeper real time strategy. With yet another rush of RTS games being released, don’t overlook this gem.

Once again, Zen nails the Star Wars look and feel with another set of tables. There are issues to be taken up with both, but overall they prove to be a lot of fun and great additions to the Star Wars Pinball line.

Midnight Club: Los Angeles isn't without a few problems, including a steep learning curve, unfair artificial intelligence and a lack of originality. However, that shouldn't keep you from having a great time as you race around one of the best looking recreations of Los Angeles I have ever seen!

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is a mixed bag. Hatching and maxing out your Monsties is a lot of fun, but the battle system in which you spend most of your time eventually wears out its welcome.

A good game marred by bugs and lack of documentation. Once it is fixed it should be back on top but it does not justify a higher score.

Shovel Knight Dig is a fun little rogue-lite. While it took me over ten hours to beat, I know better, more rogue-lite skilled players will not need as much time. I did not encounter bugs or errors with my time; but more than a few of what felt like unfair deaths. The chaotic gameplay of Dig makes it hard to see how great the pixel art is at times, but being able to literally slow down the gameplay or adjust my health and damage output makes it easier to appreciate the visuals. I can see myself returning to Shovel Knight Dig in a few months just to give it another spin, but the overall replay did not entice me back immediately.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma confidently advances the life sim genre while still keeping one foot comfortably in the past. With streamlined farming and town management mechanics, deeper yet-still-accessible combat, and the usual great writing and character work, Guardians delivers a consistent good time for new and old players alike. This beautifully animated game is a great way to break in that Switch 2.

The Dark Souls of zoo tycoon sims. Start slower than you'd like to, YouTube yet another tutorial, then watch Planet Zoo blossom before your eyes. This is a slow, mindful, niche of a sim that demands more patience and learning than you'd expect.

Some people will hate the putting, but the rest of the game more than makes up for the questionable way the developers implemented the putting stroke.

If you embrace the madcap, if you let go of expectations of narrative and plot and just give in to the cult of Far Cry, then there is a lot of entertainment to be had. It's not a game I would describe as good so much as entertaining. A stoner's paradise of silly action and happenstance. That's the level on which it truly works and can be enjoyed.

Dicefolk is an excellent game that takes full advantage of the Switch. It is challenging but balances that out with giving the player full control over every turn - both their and their opponent's actions. Progression can feel a little skewed towards the luck of what upgrades you get offered run to run; but there is so much you can control to help guide your fate. If the game boiled down to a roll of the die; well, you can even upgrade the faces of that as well.

With a lighthearted, yet impactful narrative, a beautiful soundtrack, deep combat and kingdom building mechanics, and a delightful cast of characters, Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom - Prince’s Edition should be enjoyed for any JRPG fans.

One of the coolest video game duos are back for a brand new adventure full of memorable characters and great graphics.

The Prince of Persia Trilogy is a great package, primarily due to the source material. Ubisoft has done little to improve the included titles for the new generation but thankfully they were as good as they were in their original forms that their overall quality still shines through. Whether or not you are a fan of the series, you will enjoy three excellent games brought together in this discounted package.

A solid campaign and endless customization for single-player, co-op and online play, Age of Empires IV deserves a ton of credit for making turn-based strategy a treat to play.

Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection is a great celebration of Street Fighter’s history. While I’d rather have seen Street Fighter IV as opposed to five versions of Street Fighter II, I can’t really complain about having twelve games in one collection, though only four are playable online.

If you're looking for a high-fidelity racing sim, TrackMania isn't for you. If you're looking for a way to express yourself with custom-designed race tracks without having to invest months of effort, this is the game you're looking for!

Wanderer combines delightful world design with insidious environmental puzzles, to create a top-notch VR experience that should not be missed. With incredible visuals, a mountain of surprises, and a fun AI buddy to tag along on your adventures, Wanderer is a delightful brain teaser of a game.

Desktop Dungeons: Rewind is what I look for when playing a remastered title. A nice graphical update, plenty of quality-of-life changes, and new content that is not in the original but still adds to the enjoyment without feeling forced in. I love how easy it was to get into the game, and I liked the challenging aspect of Rewind. The new rewind feature is interesting and doesn’t break the already solid game experience. If you’ve never played a roguelike then Desktop Dungeons: Rewind is a great jumping on point to the genre. If you’ve been a fan of them for a while, this one should be added to your collection.

When it comes to psychological scares, this whodunit of a ghost story introduces you to your own worst enemy: Being inside your own head. You may anticipate more horror than you’ll actually run across, but that’s a horrific thought in its own right.

Good puzzle games make you see the pathways in your mind before they show up in the game. Mini Motorways does this, and does it well. At its heart, Mini Motorways is about failure. Or your attempt to push failure back as long as possible, just like my parents' marriage. Eventually your city will collapse under its own pressure. But if you need a half hour to kill Mini Motorways is a great choice.

The Warriors remains one of the greatest 3D brawlers of all time, even though it has been shrunk down and the controls have been revamped.

Over two years after it hit the home consoles, Mortal Kombat is finally making its way to the PC. This port may be called the "Komplete Edition," but it lacks much of the content found in last year's PS Vita release. Even in its inkomplete state, Mortal Kombat remains one of the best fighting games of this generation!

Ys is a well-made side-scrolling hack-n-slash game with minor character development and zero loot system, but a well written story-line and easy-as-pie gameplay. There are hours of fun to be had and twists in the story you won't see coming... just make sure to bring along some other music.

Get Packed is a wild multiplayer title, challenging players to pack a moving van while wrestling with some seriously destructive physics. Even in single player, the game is a good time, but in multiplayer Get Packed comes to life. Fans of games that cause them to yell at their friends should have a great time here, as this is a polished example of the genre.

If you're big into the series then you'll probably want to pick this one up, as it's going to provide you more of the same fun with some new features that you're sure to love.

It’s been nearly a decade since Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! released exclusively in Japan, but RGG Studio has finally brought it over to the West in the form of Like a Dragon: Ishin!, and it does not disappoint. Not only does Ishin! touch upon an important part of Japanese history, it does so by excellently balancing ridiculously fun over-the-top action with engrossing narrative pacing and mature character development. It doesn’t quite meet the bar of a full on remake though, so that’s something worth considering.

Eets is exactly the type of game I wish the major video game companies would work on. It features a simple concept that is both fun and addictive, plus offers a large community creating new puzzles for you to solve as I write this.

In a nutshell, Stellar Blade is just that – a game with exceptionally stylish combat that is both challenging and accessible. The narrative and characterization won’t land with every audience, but developer Shift Up has made a noteworthy console debut.

An enjoyable game from start to finish, it's impressive how much more fleshed out this release feels compared to last year's title. Hatsune Miku: Project Diva f 2nd is the encore that I had hoped it would be and is as fun as it is technically impressive.

Despite having a bit of a learning curve, Ant-Man has quickly become one of my favorite tables that Zen has produced. It really ties in well with the Ant-Man character and world without having to retell the events of the film.

The campaign could have been so much better, but while throwaway characters and lackluster scenes hurt the single-player product, there is no denying that Treyarch did a solid job with the multiplayer options. Killing zombies will become your favorite pastime and a great change up from all those online deathmatches you'll have against players around the world. It isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but it's still a good time.

After not playing a Trine game since the original, playing Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince makes me want to play through the first three games. The biggest issue I had was the difficulty as it was kind of simple for a lot of the game and even the boss battles weren't too complex. Trine veterans should have no problems clearing the game and newcomers will find a couple of options that can aid them if need be, and online multiplayer worked pretty well with two people. Whether you're experienced with the series or if this is your first time, Trine 4 is a simple and relaxing puzzle-solving adventure that anyone can enjoy.

Lost Ark is light on the MMO, and heavy on the action- RPG, taking all the elements from MMOs that make them great, and a few that make them a bit dull to fans of the genre. It’s easy to get lost in the customization before you even set foot in the fleshed out world. The five main classes are the big star, each feels and plays differently enough making me want to replay the game just to try them out. Being able to tackle this game with friends will make for a better overall time with the game, but it isn’t required to have a good time. Lost Ark warrants a look if you like action-RPGs, MMOs, or both.

The game has great replay value and it is relieving to see the developers not take their selves so seriously in expecting their own game to be more than it is. You are getting what you pay for... a (solid) space shooter for two bucks.

A solid title, not because of improvements made during the remastering process, but rather the strength of the original creation. Sure, it looks a little bit nicer, and the photo mode is a nice addition, but this is primarily the same game that it was five years ago.

The City That Dares Not Sleep is the action-packed finale to The Devil's Playhouse, the third season of Sam & Max. With its incredible story, ambitious narrative and jaw-dropping twists, this season finale is sure to leave a mark.

After two years of nothing but rocky seas, Puzzle Quest 2 manages to right the ship and correct the course.

While a solid title and a good entry into the series, Age of Empires 3: The Asian Dynasties failed to rekindle my interest in Age of Empires 3. A good title for fans, but not worth it for those hoping for a reinvigoration of the series.

Take this one off the “maybe” list and put it on your watch list for next year.

A fascinating real-time strategy game that will completely immerse you in the action.

While admirably confident in its new direction, the Prince relies too heavily on the lifesaving Elika and the endgame story to carry the entire tale.

A bit light in content, this expansion concentrates on adding features that enhance gameplay in the New World. The new features make Native American nations more rewarding to play, and add an interesting possibility wherein the Europeans could be kicked off the continent.

Young Souls delivers something that I never thought was possible - a beat-em-up game with characters and a story that I actually cared about. With strong RPG elements, great writing, stellar art, and fun combat, Young Souls is worth playing even if, like me, you never gave this sort of game a second look.

A wonderful story that is now supported by great looking characters and backgrounds, Final Fantasy VIII is worth the pickup twenty years after it's initial launch.

Gears Tactics is definitely different than what Gears fans are accustomed to, being a tactical-style game, but I think it fits the genre pretty well. If you've ever wondered what Gears would be like outside of the main series, Gears Tactics shows that it does pretty well in a tactical-style.

Garden Warfare 2 will be fun for those who enjoy the tower defense genre. Anyone else will want to stay away from this game that suffers from lackluster controls in third person shooting and a missed opportunity to create a much larger world to explore.

A good title, but definitely with flaws.

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is a fun and enjoyable take on the shooter genre, focusing on exploration of each area instead of vertical or horizontal scrolling.

PAC-MAN 256 is exactly what you probably assume it will be, which is frustrating and disappointing, but also fun enough to probably warrant its tiny price tag of $4.99.

A gorgeous remake of a classic JRPG that many players missed out on, this version of Dragon Quest VII swings hard towards accessibility (and might actually overshoot the mark a little bit). Visually gorgeous, with a fun episodic structure, this is a great way for fans to revisit this story or encounter it for the first time. My only caveat is a warning to be very careful with the "Quality of Life" settings, which make it entirely too easy to break the game, removing all of the challenge (and therefore all of the fun).

Regardless of your feelings on the first two Metro games—which are quite good in their own right—this is a masterful portable collection handled with an expert hand by the games' original developers.

I really enjoyed Dungeons of Dreadrock, because it's a game that knows exactly the experience it is trying to deliver and does so expertly. There are 100 levels of puzzles, all unique, with mechanics and solutions that ramp as your character progresses deeper and deeper into the mountain, while delivering on a cute storyline with clever 32-bit animation. There is an action element, but that is mostly a timing component to drive the mental aspect of solving the puzzles. It's hard to put down, but each level gives ample opportunity to do just that, so you can binge through as many as you like, then leave it to pick right back up again easily enough. The only drawback is once you're traversed all 100 levels, your time is done - but it was time well spent.

More great Age of Empires fun. The new Native American tribes are great, although the single-player campaign is a bit of a let-down.

Ace Combat 6 is one of the best air-combat games I have played, yet it has a lot of flaws outside the core game that drag it down a bit.

Sleeping Dogs provides players with an engrossing narrative set to the atmospheric and richly-detailed backdrop of Hong Kong. An extensive array of additional missions and activities ensure there are always opportunities for further adventure and action to discover while roaming the streets. Along with an impressive presentation for both the visuals and music, Sleeping Dogs is without doubt the sleeper hit of this year for open world action games.

Despite some frustrations, it conjures up a tense experience from start to finish with its compelling narrative, immaculate atmosphere, and beautiful pixel art.

The bottom line is that Bully: Scholarship Edition is one of those games that you have an extremely hard time putting down and allows the mischievous kid in all of us to come out.

Void Crew is a game that thrives on chaos and camaraderie, delivering an intense co-op experience that rewards communication, quick thinking, and teamwork. When played with a full, committed crew, it’s one of the most thrilling multiplayer games I’ve played. But for those who lack a dedicated team—or the patience to wrangle strangers in online lobbies—the game’s steep difficulty may prove more frustrating than fun.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger is an excellent entry for the franchise and continues what made the prior Digimon Story games great. The story is fun and engaging with a lot of different choices to make in the narrative and Digimon to level up and digivolve. While some of the mechanics can be a bit complex and the difference in difficulty between normal and Titan battles can be a bit jarring for the unprepared, it won’t take long before you’re saving both the real and digital worlds like you’ve been a Digimon Tamer you’re entire life.

Despite it being a short and low on extra modes, Gitaroo Man Lives proves to be one of the most entertaining music games on the PSP. It's full of wacky characters, memorable songs and enough fun game play to make you want to come back long after you've memorized the music.

Football Manager 2017 is an excellent soccer management simulation game for the bigger soccer fans, but causal fans or those who only watch a game here or there might find things a bit complex. That’s not a bad thing as the game is pretty deep in what you can do and manage at any point, but it can be a bit intimidating you don’t usually play any other soccer video games where you have to do just the basic management functions for your team.

There's not much to say in summary other than "It's a bargain!"

The Bug Butcher is a really fun and really addicting arcade like shooter. While it won't take that long to play through all the levels, it offers a high amount of replayability and it's one of those games where every single point matters and you will be playing over and over again to climb those leaderboards.

While the new lead blocker and Superstar modess aren’t going to light the world on fire the actual football in the game is excellent. It is hard not to feel that you’re playing an updated version up "NCAA07" though.

A good entry in the series for those who skipped a year. Virtual currency is pushed everywhere. The Neighborhood is OK. Basketball action is fun and exciting.

The Evil Within 2 get so much right that it's predecessor got wrong, and it's actually a great game on top of that. The initial chapters of the game start off slow, but then once things get rolling, this game is really hard to put down.

Distinctive writing, nuanced combat and impossibly beautiful art headline The Banner Saga. Strong workmanship went into the character builds. The rethought turn-based tactics are unique and sensible. And I just couldn’t slow down the insistent narrative of this brave world and the bold new legend it’s sewing together.

A few hiccups keeps this title from being perfect but SmackDown Vs. Raw 2010 is everything a fan could want in a wrestling game and more.

If you can overlook some disappointing plotting and a lame story then you'll find this to be a solid adventure game with enough laughs to hold you over until the next episode.

The tables in the Pinball FX3 Bethesda Pack are all pretty solid, though they can get complicated at times, namely the Skyrim and Fallout tables. While those two contain RPG-style elements to them to match up to their original video game counterparts, the Doom table is more of a traditional pinball table, though all three do have missions and quests to complete.

Aside from a few technical issues, Subnautica is one of the best survival games out there. Not only is the world to explore beautiful but the narrative will keep pulling you along,