A fantastic hack and slash RPG that fans of the genre will love. Gas Powered Games added a ton of new features into the game that should help gamers who didn’t like the first game back into the fold.

Forget Darkstalkers, Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max is the must-own fighting game on the PSP. In many ways this is the best version of the game yet, despite having a few quirks associated with the system's D-pad.

Abe Lincoln Must Die is easily the best entry yet. It's full of zany characters, fun puzzles, and one of the most original game plots you will ever see. Regardless of whether you're a veteran or new to the series, Sam & Max Episode 4 is a must play for anybody who likes to have a good time playing games.

Uncharted: Golden Abyss delivers a solid action game full of large scale shoot outs and climbing. Sadly, this Sony Bend developed launch title is marred by a lack of variety in the environments and too many tacked-on mini-games. It may not be as ambitious as Uncharted 3, but Golden Abyss is yet another worthwhile chapter in Nathan Drake's increasingly travelogue.

PGA Tour 2K25 is a golf game for everyone, offering an enjoyable golf simulation for players of any skill level. There are incremental upgrades across the board from 2K23, though I do have concerns about the accessibility of some online modes, as well as the increased prevalence of premium currencies.

With its improved combat system, fantastic graphics, cool levels and fun crime scene instigation, Condemned 2: Bloodshot is easy to recommend to anybody that enjoyed the original.

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux is a really long title for a really long game. But this game is a great swan song for the 3DS hardware and the perfect JRPG for on-the-go gaming next to Persona 4 Golden.

Demeo is pure, uncut geek wish fulfillment. If nights spent in the basement playing a living, breathing board game with your buddies sounds like something you would enjoy, then don’t hesitate to grab this fantastic tabletop RPG sim in it’s best current incarnation on PS VR 2. Tons of content, a wicked level of difficulty, and spectacular visuals all combine to make this the best board game night of all time. Better with friends (they don’t need PS VR 2, but it helps), Demeo can provide some howlingly fun dungeon crawling.

A sci-fi shooter with a strong reputation, Vertigo 2 doesn’t move the needle strongly one way or the other. It’s a lengthy outing by VR standards, so there is some bang for your buck, but it simply doesn’t do enough to standout on PS VR2.

Still, if you somehow missed this game last year, then there's no excuse for you to not pick up this incredible $10 shooter!

BOXBOXBOY is a great follow-up to the original game, though some gamers might find the game a bit on the easy side as while a lot of the later puzzles will make you think deeply about how to solve them, none are downright impossible or insanely difficult. Even with that, the game is still a worthy follow-up to its predecessor.

It is what it is: An enjoyable time in Middle-earth as all of the favorite characters from the nine members of the Fellowship. The standard issues with LEGO games are there, but with a deep amount of gameplay, numerous characters to choose from, and the feeling of actually watching or reading the trilogy means plenty of fun for those looking for a break from the gory versions of hack-and-slash games.

Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl is a fairly solid game. While the early going can be a bit rough since money might be more spent on healing than buying new weapons and armor, the game’s mechanics and Story Mode’s story elements still make for a fairly sold game. This is one that newcomers and veterans alike should enjoy.

Assassin's Creed III may not be the sequel I hoped for, but it remains another solid entry in the time-bending franchise. The setting is a lot of fun to explore and the first half really works on a storytelling level. Unfortunately, the quality is thwarted by a weak villain, boring hero, and frustrating mission designs. Couple that with a disappointing ending and it's hard to be enthusiastic about Ubisoft's latest Assassin's Creed game.

While not as flashy as Final Fantasy or as original as Skies of Arcadia, this updated re-release is a testament to how much fun a well-crafted turn-based role-playing game can be. Grandia II: Anniversary Edition improves the visuals, adds a new difficulty and offers Japanese voice acting, but fails to put the 15 year old role-playing game into context.

Outlast is an incredibly effective horror game with a satisfying story, good looks and good pacing. Unfortunately, the whole thing is nearly derailed by linear level designs and painfully simple gameplay. But many horror fans will ignore all that when they discover just how scary Outlast really is!

This stand-alone expansion delivers extended gameplay and adds nuclear strategies to one of the most detailed WWII games on the market. Great for fans of the series who wanted just a few more years to complete their world conquests.

Building up your character and playing the various challenges can be fun. There are plenty of game modes and online play to keep you busy. Some of the animations can be repetitive and the AI can frustrate you sometimes.

Disgaea 4 is everything a Disgaea fan could want, which is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing in that it's an enjoyable game, a curse in that you probably won't finish it until after the holiday season.

Guardians of the Galaxy sets a new high bar for interactive storytelling and jaw-dropping visuals. With an unparalleled attention to detail, Guardians tells a rollicking sci-fi story rooted in true human emotion. But the gameplay sections of this narrative masterpiece sometimes bog down the proceedings with merely "okay" combat and exploration.

With well-designed missions, strong graphics and a good balance of “realistic” and “fun”, Phase 2 is a decent way to spend some gaming hours. It’s not as standout as it needs to be to drag itself from the pile of “me too!” WWII titles, but Phase 2 is certainly near the top of a very long list.

While the story is okay and the graphics are pretty nice, it’s the battle system that keeps me coming back. While the game is only six chapters, there is a lot of story and Idolosphere exploring to add a lot of hours to the game that make it feel worthwhile.

While I would liked to have had a bit more variety (the ability to carry a fight inside a building, for example), it is a very impressive first effort for this new genre.

A beautifully crafted RPG that provides the boost that the GameCube so desperately needed.

A total package and a feast for the senses, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 should not be missed. It feels like a game brought forward from the Xbox 360 era in the best possible way. Put simply, Space Marine 2 is on the short list for 2024’s best shooter.

All told, AI Wars: Fleet Command is bound to be a delight to any fan of the heavier strategy titles.

Dragon Age: Origins’ expansion, Awakening, gives you 20+ more hours of an experience that entails characters with depth and a captivating storyline that picks up and expands in a very unique way from the original game.

Modern Warfare is the most astounding Call of Duty I've played since World at War. But they haven't gone as far they could, in the campaign especially. The multiplayer is outstanding, as always, with the slightest modifications eking out big results. But in the game's attempt to shock and awe, I don't think they're quite there yet.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty pushes the boundaries of a Souls-like game by introducing refreshing and unique takes on otherwise overused formulas. The emphasis on deflecting and the new morale mechanic makes for a challenging and rewarding combat system only to be further enhanced by the dramatic backdrop of the Three Kingdoms.

Exactly what one would expect from one of Kratos’ adventures. It’s gritty, action packed, super-violent, and feels as epic as ever. As fun as it is, one can’t help but feel like we have played this game before...perhaps a major change of scenery is needed before this patented formula wears out its welcome.

DarkStalkers Resurrection is yet another high-quality fighting game collection from Capcom, a company that has gotten real good at this sort of thing. With an online mode and plenty of goodies to unlock, this DarkStalkers compilation is easy to embrace with open arms. Don't be intimidated by the chaotic action, the two games found in DarkStalkers Resurrection are well worth the asking price.

There were times I wanted to root for Goodbye Deponia, and there were times I wanted to, well, say goodbye to all of it. Deponia happens to miss almost all of my laugh bases with its self-aggrandizing jibs and jabs, but that doesn't mean its puzzles and gameplay mechanics fail. It's confident and consistent in its tone, even if its tone isn't laughable when it should be, which means its drama is off-kilter when it shouldn't be.

A little rough around the edges with traversal but there is so much charm and fun with this game that I can easily overlook the negatives. Each level is like a trip down memory lane and reminds me of when I had epic battles that left a complete mess of my bedroom, living room and more. With lots of replayability and fun game play, Hypercharged: Unboxed will be one of those surprise hits for me of the year. A game I didn't even know existed that ended up being one of my favorites of the year.

Lego Dimensions follows the trend of solid gameplay from developer TT Games while introducing new mechanics with the included toy pad and minifigures.

Bandai Namco and CyberConnect2 have done some amazing work here, and everyone who's a fan of the show needs to play this game.

Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition is a welcome addition to one of the best fighters available today and something Street Fighter fans will undoubtedly eat up.

With a robust story mode, a deeper grappling system and the addition of online play, this is the best wrestling game available today.

Company of Heroes 2: The British Forces is an excellent multiplayer expansion pack for veteran players, while it's also a great entry point for newcomers with its standalone design.

Ready or Not’s grounded, gritty gameplay is one of the best tactical experiences on console. It requires you to take it seriously to be successful, but that’s what an elite tactical shooter will do. If you’re into this sort of thing, I highly recommend it.

If you're looking for a long, deep and engrossing RPG, take this Strange Journey on your DS.

Skate 3 may not be the revolution we were all hoping for, but it adds enough to warrant a day one purchase.

A lot of things can behave badly in prison, and I’m not just talking about the prisoners. But Prison Architect told me an engrossing story—and taught me a thing or two—with its tutorial and design.

Aside from some technical issues and a somewhat predicable story, Metro Exodus is a fun FPS with beautiful locations, lovable characters and a decent ending to Artyom's story.

A second shot of adrenaline that complements the original game, Legends II improves upon all the things that made the first Legends great. Voice work is a tad on the corny side, but the cooperative mode and RPG depth just below the beat-em-up surface make this game a real winner.

While balanced in a way that forces the player to experience almost everything the game has to offer, Avowed is still a lot of fun. A great story, fun companions, and a richly designed world all contribute to an overall good time. Just remember to take your time early on, because this game wants you to see everything, and it will punish you for trying to skip ahead.

It ultimately feels like a missed opportunity that Atlus didn’t combine the features of both FES and Portable to create an official definitive version of Persona 3. Nonetheless, bringing Persona 3 Portable onto pretty much all modern platforms is appreciated, as the game maintains its charm despite its age. However, it’s a little hard recommending this specific title to newer fans of the series especially with 5 Royal and 4 Golden already out there, as Portable suffers from some outdated design choices and cut corners. The soundtrack still slaps though.

A great improvement over the intriguing (but flawed) original. Spellforce 2 does achieve a good blend of RTS and RPG gameplay, and has gone far toward finding that perfect balance.

To those who are just beginning, and in need of a strong tutorial, I recommend "Chessmaster." But for the advanced player, Fritz 8 Deluxeis far superior. Fritz contains stronger engines and a deeper database. For those students learning opening books, or looking for move analysis, it is ideal.

A neat little fantasy-themed side-scroller with a clever three-characters-in-one twist. A bit short, but the puzzles are clever, the graphics are gorgeous, and the gameplay is solid.

Mega Man X Legacy Collections 1 and 2 are a great set of games featuring the history of X and Zero. While we don’t have any stage challenges like the original Legacy Collections or the ability to rewind or use save states, the new X Challenge mode is definitely a challenge on normal difficulty and even on easy difficulty I enjoyed just whaling on Mavericks with just the X Buster. Overall, fans of the Mega Man X series should enjoy these collections, even more so on the go with the Nintendo Switch.

While the PSP version of Test Drive Unlimited is not the most complete version of the game available, it's certainly the most impressive from a technical standpoint.

With an approachable learning curve and a forgiving flight model, Air Combat 7: Skies Unknown welcomes players new to the franchise as well as veterans of previous versions. Beautiful graphics and fast-paced action are the very hallmarks of an Air Combat and number 7 delivers plenty of both.

People looking for drastic changes to Road to The Show or Franchise mode, however, may be disappointed with this PlayStation-exclusive baseball sim.

While the graphics are strictly handheld-level, in the heat of battle you simply will not care. Players should be ready to plumb the depths of much more complicated crafting and material gathering systems, but the combat is very recognizable to fans old and new. This is one of the biggest and best games on Switch, and regardless of how long it takes to ramp up and get going, Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate should not be missed.

Few real-time strategy games make battle such a visceral and satisfying experience as Company of Heroes 2. The core gameplay of the series remains intact while veterans and newcomers will have to adapt to controlling the Soviet Red Army in their battle for Mother Russia.

It delivers on the promises of the first game and then some, offering razor sharp controls, a beautiful art style one of the most visceral action experiences of 2010. There's really nothing else like it right now.

Playing through this trilogy made it clear to me why the Crash series burned out. It failed to reinvent itself. It budged only a little bit on its mechanics, and never embraced anything that fused the old with the new. That’s not to say that it fails overall, however. There are hits and misses here, but it’s a worthwhile experience. It works. It’s challenging, it’s frustrating, and sometimes, fun.

Both Sims veterans and newcomers should find plenty to enjoy in the final expansion for The Sims 3 series. The Sims 3 Into the Future is highly recommended for any Sims fan.

Overall this game is super easy to pick up and fun to play. It doesn't have great depth but uses a swift pace to iron out any disappointment that might have introduced. It's a good little time-waster, and comes in at an attractive price point for what's on offer.

Slightly Mad Studios gave Project CARS the face lift it needed with over 500 improvements and bug fixes, a new fleet of vehicles and new locations to choose from. The learning curve is still quite steep and not all of the problems are ironed out, but this is a much better title and will provide both beginners and veterans with a new challenge and level of enjoyment that should last for many hours on end.

Seraph has a very solid foundation but lacks the level variation and art variety to get truly addictive. That said, the combat is thrilling and the scaling difficulty is creative. If you can get this one on sale, I’d definitely pull the trigger.

Trails of Cold Steel is one of those games where you get out of it what you put into it. While it is playable for a rank newbie, there is far more depth available to the experienced player. There are some small rough edges, but it works very well overall.

Hunt the Night requires a lot of skill and a lot of patience, but becomes more enjoyable once you learn how everything works. Everything looks, sounds, and controls great, and you’ll definitely begin to feel the challenge even in the opening areas of the game. Between the interesting puzzles and multiple ways to customize your loadout for dealing with enemies, Hunt the Night is an enjoyable game, though frustrating at times. If you’re up for a challenge, Hunt the Night will definitely put your skills to the test.

The Hunt: Showdown 1896 might be the best extraction shooter out there right now. It marries weapons and traits into a meaningful character loadouts with solid gameplay mechanics set against a gritty, horrific world. But this won't be news to Hunt veterans, to whom this latest update and upgrade will ultimately be best enjoyed. The onboarding experience seems a bit of a bridge too far to really welcome in new blood to mire of the bayou or chill of the mountains. However, if you have some friends to jump in together, and if you're willing to stick it out to really level up in this game, you will surely be rewarded for your sweat and tears.

Tetris Forever is a pretty slick package. You learn a lot that you didn't know, and it's cool to know that Tetris will definitely be around if all other games were to go by the wayside. With so many ways to play it, and so many systems, I would've loved to see more of a variation, or versions of Tetris. "Play Tetris, My Friends" is the quote in the opening by Mr. Pajitnov himself. I would, but there's so much Bombtriss blocking the way.

The Knightling is quite reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild in terms of game flow: you have your main quest line and a vast world to explore, with plenty of side quests to help improve your abilities. The only sticking point I had was that combat can be a bit rough when multiple enemies are involved, and enemies have a habit of popping up behind you without warning. Aside from that, The Knightling definitely helped me scratch my open-world adventure itch.

Gran Turismo 5 is another data point on the maturation S-curve for console-based racing games, but there’s still room for growth.

For those that already have invested heavily in Skylanders, this is a no-brainer and must have. For anyone new to the franchise, the games charm and ability to satisfy gamers of all ages and skill set make this something you should look into.

Unless you're desperate for CoD and only own a Wii, pass on Black Ops or get it for a different console. Discerning Wii owners looking for a good FPS should get GoldenEye, and start saving for Conduit 2.

The original six Mega Man games have never looked better, and while the Xbox One controller provides some annoyance with button layout, there is plenty to tackle in this collection of glorious 8-bit gaming.

Despite the bugs and ads this is still a great game. In a way the Battlefield series is a lot like sex and pizza, even when they are bad they are still not all bad.

The Artful Escape tells a heartfelt story of artistic self-discovery through a filter of color, light, sound, and joy. Combining gonzo sci-fi imagery with blaring space-rock guitar chords, The Artful Escape is a playable concept album – or at least a grand trip through that album’s cover art. Never difficult but always fun, The Artful Escape is highly recommended as both a great narrative and a fun exploration into Bowie-style space rock imagery.

Skylanders Giants is a perfect companion game for a Wii U-centric holiday morning. Any young kids on your holiday shopping list will love it, but keep in mind they'll probably get hooked on the little plastic figures and you'll end up buying more of them. As a standalone game, however, it's a merely decent dungeon crawler and the figure-scanning gimmick might actually present some redundancy and irritation for older gamers.

Cat Quest III serves as a fantastic introduction to this charming franchise. With surprisingly deep combat, intriguing exploration, and wild story turns, the game kept me up far later than I intended for several nights in a row. Appropriate for the kids, but good enough that Dad soon booted the kids off the controller and took over. If you can stand the endless puns, this is a great, breezy action RPG that will entertain the entire family for hours.

Unique and confident in its place in the free-to-play world, this team-based MMO is a surefire winner, balancing fun with depth and detail with action.

To put it bluntly, the game is also riddled with bugs.

With a great single-player campaign including six fully-playable races, Retribution once again scores a win for the venerable series.

All those stripped out game modes are back and they're just as fun as they should be. Gameplay is better than its ever been for both veterans and rookies while the presentation is spot-on and a pleasure to take in. There's no denying that the NHL franchise is back to where it should be.

With its deep progression system, vast array of locations and classes, World War Z Aftermath is an excellent play for anyone looking to shoot up some zombies with their friends.

Red Strings Club is more of a visual novel than a true adventure game, but its roughly four-hour story will give you some topics for your brain to chew on. The conversational gameplay, not to mention the drink mixing minigame, are a lot of fun.

While it's easy to criticize this game for not being very different from past entries, Virtua Tennis 3 proves to be just as much fun as it ever was. With fantastic online support, an engaging single player mode and some entertaining mini-games, Sega's next-gen tennis game will turn you into a tennis fan!

It's fun and a blast in multiplayer. Cloning Clyde isn't a very deep game but it can be worth your $10 if you like side scrolling games.

One of the most visually and auditorily exciting games I have ever played, Aaero provides such an exciting sensory experience that I would recommend it to everyone, despite occasional frustrations and hiccups along the way.

Urban Flow is the best kind of puzzle game: one that is easy to pick up, difficult to master, and lovingly developed exactly for the hardware on which it runs. It's not perfect, but has so much to offer and it so well done in places it's easy to overlook the few warts. It is a welcome addition to the Switch library and a great example of why this console is so good at what it does.

It is loads of fun to play, has some great atmosphere and artwork to enjoy, and I recommend it wholeheartedly. However, it does not take advantage of many of the things that make the Switch so great. It does not handle the native LCD well with fonts in many places that are just too small, it also loses much of its portability in its mandate to remain always online in order to play. It remains a fantastic gaming experience, only one ever so slightly less fantastic that its PC counterpart, and the lack of cross-save will force you to choose a side, so choose wisely...

Even as a remake, Trauma Center: Second Opinion is an innovative, challenging game that is one hell of a lot of fun. The hectic adrenaline pumping surgeries are back with more eye candy and a smoother interface. New difficulty levels make the game far more accessible than its brutally hard DS predecessor, and the new doctor and sixth chapter are the final incentive.

No matter if you're new to the Land of the Dead or a returning visitor, Grim Fandango Remastered is a must-play.

Double Fine's Happy Action Theater isn't a great "game", but it is the best tech demo and use of Microsoft's Kinect peripheral to date. There is a simplistic joy to be found in this title and you really get out of it what you put into it. There is no purpose, no goal(s), and no real requirements to succeed. Players simply interact with a variety of environments and have a ton of fun. It may not sound like much, but it works, and the manner in which it does is almost like magic.

As the game has updated visuals, new additions to modes, and more microtransactions than a Prime advertisement, WWE2K25 has some bright spots. But it just feels like a superstar that dominated NXT and then was snuffed out when they joined the Main Roster. Better than last year's, but not by much. WWE has a credo: Then, Now, Forever, Together. I want now, now.

This is a good expansion/patch to a good game. It fixes some bugs, adds some interesting features, and slips in lots of changes to quietly improve gameplay and balance. It's definitely worth $20 for “Fallen Enchantress” owners, and $40 for anybody looking for a good 4X fantasy TBS.

This is a worthy addition to the Tales of Monkey Island series. It's one that all adventure fans should own and everyone else should at least try.

While not as gripping as the first three episodes, Around Every Corner remains a strong chapter of The Walking Dead. Unfortunately, too much of the game involves new characters that don't seem vital to the end game storyline. Still, this is an episode that sets up what is sure to be an incredible season finale!

For the price of three tables, you get four to play and each have something a little different to offer.

The roster of hotshot golfers is now 21 members deep, several new-to-the-series courses are unlockable, and you can also toss your own face into the fray with the Photo Gamer Face tools.

Metro 2033 was a cult classic; Metro: Last Light is a shining example. Last Light proves that gameplay and story don’t have to compromise. They can coalesce to form a compelling narrative set in a rich world, a world that elevates both to equal heights.

Like all Nintendo Switch ports, Crash 4: It's About Time makes concessions to run on the less-powerful hardware. Ultimately, though, the concessions are more than worth it to get a great game with a wealth of content running on the Nintendo Switch.

Nidhogg 2 is a surprisingly short game, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a lot of fun. While the Arcade Mode is rather short at eleven stages, the local and online multiplayer options will keep fans coming back. If you were a fan of the original game you’ll likely enjoy this game as it’s pretty much more of the same but with some new and enjoyable additions.

While a good game, it would have been nice to see some more complex puzzles around the mid-way point to up the challenge a bit more.