It had been several years since I had played Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon so I was a tad worried about doing the series justice in this review, but I can definitely say that outside of a couple of issues with giant insects blocking my camera view, repeatedly getting knocked down when surrounded by the critters, and the sensitivity of clicking L3 to turn around when moving backwards, Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain is a solid entry into the EDF series and one that anyone wanting to blast the heck out of giant insects should enjoy.

The more logical subject matter and double the screen room resulted in a solid game, filled with Metroid homage and tight pinball mechanics.

A perfect balance of old and new with a wonderful presentation. Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 is simultaneously inventive and nostalgic, and worth playing for anyone who likes arcade style games.

Toy Tactics is a great example of "less is more", brilliantly opening-up the RTS genre to newcomers, while still managing to challenge longtime fans with confident, intuitive gameplay design. An excellent singleplayer suite overshadows a seemingly DOA multiplayer mode, but that shouldn’t stop you from playing one of the finest strategy titles in recent memory.

Regardless of whether you like the three-dimensional shift or not, there's enough content in Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions to warrant a look.

007 Legends attempts to be a big, brassy tribute to 50 years of James Bond, but it ends up a little too ambitious for its own good, with a story that is more spectacle than substance and some new ideas that don't work together as well as they should. The multiplayer, however, is better than ever, and that alone should make this a must have for any 007 fan's collection.

Cozy Grove is great to look at, and only having to spend 20 minutes a day doing so doesn’t make it feel like a chore. Gameplay can eventually feel repetitive, alas, such is the struggle with life sim games, and this one does it better than most.

Starlight Legacy is a 16-bit JRPG that gives players a lot of options in terms of how to progress. From choosing which order to tackle the four main provinces, to customizing a character's weapon and item loadout and changing their elements, to even turning random encounters off and on or changing how much experience is rewarded after a fight, there are plenty of ways to either make the game easier for new players or make it more challenging for seasoned JRPG veterans. There are a few quirks that some players might have issues with, but Starlight Legacy is a fun classic-style RPG that's worth checking out.

Gungnir is a fine addition to the Dept. Heaven series of Sting games. It's got enough content to last a good 30+ hours, and offers an immense challenge that even tactical professionals will have a hard time tackling. Coupled with an intriguing story and Atlus' excellent localization, this game definitely shouldn't be missed by PSP owners.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: the Sith Lords expands upon the ground-breaking original. Story choices change depending on who you put into your party at the time. Conversations that take place between party NPCs can also get spicy, depending on who you bring along. Sith Lords does lean on some traditional Star Wars tropes a little harder than I would like, and the menus and UI are a bit dusty. Though I was afraid my rose colored glasses wouldn’t hold up, I fell in love with these unique characters once again.

This is not another relaxing bike ride. Bike Rider DX is an action-packed game full of platforming challenges and exotic locales.

You’ll need to refresh your 8-bit platformer skills to survive the tower in Teslagrad, but doing so is well-worth the effort.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment successfully marries the button mashing combat of the Warriors formula with the visuals and sounds of Tears of the Kingdom. While the repetitive mission structure can get a little tiring (plan on taking breaks) and the game doesn't push any boundaries, the satisfying combat, impressive technical performance, and faithful recreation of Tears of the Kingdom's world make this an easy recommendation for Zelda fans that miss the sights and sounds of Hyrule.

Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection is a fun trip down memory lane; playing in handheld mode on my Switch further pushes that nostalgic feeling. The weakest part of this collection is the lack of innovation made throughout the series, something I wouldn’t have noticed if I was playing a different game once every few years. But none of the negatives drag down the overall fun of this collection. The best part of the Battle Network series is the combat, which still feels unrivaled. Added features make it a great collection to add if you’re into either Mega Man or RPGs in general. A collection of six games, with ten different versions to play, the Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection is a worthwhile investment.

EA UFC 3 is EA's best UFC game yet, and while there a lot of improvements, there are still some things like the ground game and the career mode that still could use some fine tuning.

Final Fantasy VII Remake, only a year old, gets a next-gen remake, and the results are visually stunning. The new Yuffie-based Intermission chapter is a ton of fun, and its lighter tone demonstrates ways that the Remake saga can move away from the sullen tone of the first game. Bouncy and full of life, Yuffie brings some much needed levity to the proceedings, shining a new light on the game as a whole.

Dakar Desert Rally is one of the most accessible rally racing titles on the market. Combine that with gorgeous locations and thrilling driving, and you have a game with something to offer all racing enthusiasts, regardless of their niche.

TEVI is an enjoyable game with a great art style, fun dialogue, and a combat system that can somehow be both simple and complex at the same time. The Metroidvania-style gameplay isn’t quite as strict as others in the genre and most of the bullet hell scenarios take place during the boss fights which require a good amount of patience and strategy. If you enjoy the demo, I definitely recommend checking out the full version.

Shin Megami Tensei 4's worst enemies are 3DS battery life, and the at times off-putting difficulty. Conquering this game is certainly satisfying and the storyline is engaging enough to make the effort worth it. Side note, Atlus, these nearly ten year cycles between sequels need to tighten up a bit.

Never Not Shooting is a very effective arcade twin-stick shooter that tasks the player with protecting the sun from waves of baddies. With a number of different weapon loadouts to choose from, this is a game that can be played a lot of different ways – all of which are intense and enjoyable. A must for arcade fans, this game could slide right into a 1980’s cabinet without raising any eyebrows. Never Not Shooting is a hidden gem of a game, and is well worth its modest price.

If you’re looking for a mobile puzzle game worthy of your time, then Umiro is where you should turn. It’s short, with admittedly low replay value, but hey—it’s a mobile game, primarily. It’s not the place to look for a fully-fledged, complex plot, but it does the job on the puzzle front, and is great at keeping you engaged for however long you have to play it.

An experiment in the combination of two drastically different genres, Retro/Grade hits its mark.

South of the Circle presents an evocative narrative that will have you thinking about it long after you finish it. A unique minimalist art style paired with an excellent voice cast and soundtrack are the cherry on top of a heartfelt story. Unfortunately, the lack of impact from any of your decisions in addition to a relatively short run time hinder what otherwise is a flawless experience.

Phoenix Wright: Spirit of Justice is a satisfying and appropriately crazy end to the second trilogy of Ace Attorney games. It retains a few of the persistent annoyances I have with the series, but the story is just as insane as ever and the cases are tough, lengthy and fittingly absurd turnabouts.

Everything you wanted to know about Karateka, but was afraid to ask, is here. Digital Eclipse has done it again. The bonus reimagined games are cool too. Go save the girl, and shoot down some alien bats. If this is the first in the series, I'm ready to get kicked in the face, multiple times.

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.

Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is a great port of a great game and it's great that it will have one more breath of life on current consoles before Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite comes out.

Subsurface Circular has an engaging story with compelling characters that really makes you think about how you’ll meet your objectives. While the game is short, clocking in at around two hours, the story itself is enjoyable enough that you really don’t mind the short length. For six dollars, Subsurface Circular is worth checking out for the story alone.

Despite its technical issues, Sanctum 2’s blend of tower defense and first-person shooting forces you to think differently about both genres. The dichotomy has issues when it comes to balancing on a smaller scale, but it combines mechanics so well as a whole that the rest is easy to overlook.

An addicting, nostalgic arcade light gun-style shooter where gameplay is king. It’s so difficult to not go on “one more run”, and it’s perhaps the most fun I’ve had killing zombies in a video game. Some will find it challenging while others will find its repetitive nature to be one-note, albeit a very high note indeed.

Crimson Shroud is a short but sweet burst of JRPG that the 3DS is surprisingly short on these days.

A worthwhile expansion for fans of the series. A couple new races and hypergates freshen up a 4X veteran.

For trainers wanting a true one-on-one real time Pokemon experience, Pokken Tournament delivers rather well. There are a few things here and there that could use some improvement, most notably some online features and how ranking up works with the Ferrum League, but overall a rather enjoyable game for Pokemon and fighting game fans alike.

It's pure fan service, and the story is absolute nonsense, but it's the most fun I have had playing an Omega Force Musou game in a long time. Fans of this long-running series of games will love this, but it won't do much to make anyone looking in give the series a chance.

If you're a fan of massive death machines, explosions, and a dab of entrepreneurship, MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries will appease your unique trio of interests. There are also enough mechs, customization tools, mission types, and environments to keep gameplay from becoming too repetitive. Lastly, although I wasn't emotionally attached to the story, it was still entertaining enough.

Dispensing with frivolous window dressing like story and dialogue, Heroes of Hammerwatch give players direct access to its addictive dungeon crawling. Fun played solo – but riotous played with a group – Heroes of Hammerwatch does old-school gaming right, even though a bit more explanation of its systems might be welcomed by some players. With a ton of content to explore, Heroes of Hammerwatch is well worth the asking price. Highly recommended.

For this year's version of NCAA Football 08, EA has included some features that they shouldn't have omitted from last year's version. The graphics haven't taken a great leap but it's been polished up a little more. The campus legend mode isn't to bad and I do enjoy that you can participate on only defense or offense if you so desire.

Metamorphosis is a solidly made puzzle-platformer with a few adventure mechanics on the side for good measure. Taking a literary classic that some consider to be interminable and creating a lively and amusing game world from it, the devs at Ovid Works have create a deeply creative work that delivers a satisfyingly original experience.

This is the definitive version of this game and those with next gen consoles and a love for the franchise should absolutely pick this up.

After a two year wait, PSP owners finally have a role-playing game worth bragging about. Jeanne D'Arc is everything it promises to be, even if it is a by-the-books tactical RPG.

Zombie Army 4 feels like an old friend you're reconnecting with after a few years. Even though it's similar to its predecessors, the game has been refined into something that holds greater mass appeal. Weapon upgrading, fresh enemy design, and a packed progression system give players a reason to keep coming back. The core gameplay loop is even better more when tackled in co-op, yielding some hilarious and action-packed adventures. Despite the good, the game's core issues arise from a bland campaign that lacks the impressive set pieces and locations from the previous iterations.

A unique game full of familiar components, Dungeon of the Endless is as its best while you're still figuring it out, but continues to entertain many hours in.

While not quite as good as Tales From the Borderlands was, Minecraft: Story Mode Episode 1 is a pretty solid start to the series. The story is off to a pretty good start, the characters interact with each other nicely, and the voice acting is quite good as well. There aren’t many puzzle interactions in the episode and the ones that are there are rather easy to solve, but hopefully that and the combat will improve in later episodes.

System Shock Enhanced Edition is clunky, confusing and still absolutely brilliant. Night Dive has done impressive work to make this game playable on modern hardware, but the game still has a steep learning curve. A complicated and chilling experience await those who dare to enter System Shock.

Wonder Boy Collection may be a bit short on the extras, but the four games included still make for a very solid collection. Wonder Boy and Wonder Boy in Monster Land are great for arcade gamers and the options let you tweak things to make the games easier or harder to suit your skill level. Meanwhile, Wonder Boy in Monster World and Monster World IV are great for console gamers, offering very fluid controls and a more relaxing style of gameplay where you’re not rushed by a timer wanting to devour your quarters. Whether you’re a fan of the series or just stepping in for the first time, Wonder Boy Collection is bound to have at least one or two games that everyone can enjoy.

Don't Starve: Giant Edition fills a gap you didn't even know the Wii U had. It's a great indie title, but it's also incredibly challenging, which may be a turn off to some. This game doesn't hold your hand, which is great in this day and age.

Samurai Warriors 4-II is a great addition to the series and proves to be plenty of fun, whether you're playing solo or with a friend. Go get yourself lost in this Feudal era drama.

Shootmania is a fast and fun shooter that is a blast to play. For the $20 asking price it gives you more than enough content to play around with and the games growth in terms of content is only limited by its playerbase's imagination. If you are looking for a FPS that is different from your typical Call Of Duty and Battlefields, which dominate the market today, you cannot go wrong with Shootmania.

MLB 14 The Show is a great baseball game marred by long load times, inconsistent online play, and performance issues. It's still a fun game and Road to the Show is, as usual, a great way to play the game. Fans of baseball will enjoy the game, but it's a little disappointing to see the performance issues.

Demeo Battles takes the assets and mechanics of the original VR dungeon crawler, and remixes them into a fast and fun 2v2 multiplayer game. Easy to pick up for almost anyone, Demeo Battles contains enough deep strategy options to produce some true nail-biter endings. If this game gets the same great support as the original Demeo, there’s no reason it shouldn’t grow into another VR classic, just like it’s daddy.

Archangel is a great example of what VR is all about. The all-encompassing environment removes all worldly distractions and enhances game action to a fever pitch. Movements feel fluid and natural, and the periodic introduction of new or upgraded weapons follows the increase in difficulty well. The story aspects are unobtrusive yet satisfying.

Titan Quest is a hack-n-slash game that captivated a great many players for over a decade. There have been thousands of mods, skill-sets, skins, and even a few full games made in its wake because of how good it was. Now on console, the game lives again. Maybe a bit too close to the flawed original, and maybe not as hack-friendly as the original, but it gives a chance for a new set of players to battle a titan… and that should be good enough for anyone.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a new entry into the tomb raiding genre that takes its cues not from the games themselves that have come before, but the films of its namesake that originally inspired it all. This is the authentic Indy experience, immersing you in a new narrative adventure worthy of the legacy of those classic movies. It is so faithful to the source material that there are times little annoyances creep in. While those annoyances betray the game achieving perfection, they don't spoil an otherwise excellent experience overall. Any fan of Indiana Jones will be well rewarded giving this game a try.

Race 07, while not breaking a whole lot of new ground technologically, is a solid performer in an interesting racing domain.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a thunderous debut from Sandfall Interactive. Its palette is brimming with cleverly engaging turn-based combat, impeccable art direction, and voice performances that rival feature films. The result is an incredible work of video game art. This game is worth more than the asking price, and I highly recommend it.

Papo & Yo offers a deep reflection on the life of its designer. It's doubly impressive that this game manages to be touching and not overbearing in its message. The flaws present are easily overlooked in favor of an amazing story, clever setting, and haunting soundtrack.

Jack Move is an abbreviated JRPG that feels as satisfying as some of the longest classics in the genre. With a great, nuanced battle system and a well-developed cyberpunk world, Jack Move shows that you don’t need 50 hours to deliver a great story with memorable characters. This is a game for fans of the 16-bit era of JRPGs, who should not hesitate to pull the trigger.

Now that I'm accustomed to Just Dance being a platform instead of a net-new game, I can refocus on both the stellar new dances and the improvements to the UI and technical functionality. All of the content here is stellar (as usual), and the ability to download tracks to play locally is literally a game-saver. As fun as it ever was, this year's swath of new material impresses in scope and creativity. Just give into the fun.

A short and simple horror game about a man having the worst Christmas ever in quite possibly one of the most claustrophobic and isolated areas imaginable. Fantastic atmosphere, great characters, and some pretty intense moments make Still Wakes the Deep a must play for horror fans. That said, don't go into this expecting some super in-depth story with twists and turns and whatnot. Your journey through the game and the will of the characters to survive is the main story, and it was one I really enjoyed experiencing.

CK2 is gaining a devoted following for its atmosphere and depth of gameplay. This expansion adds to both, so is a welcome addition. If you like CK2, you'll be well-served spending the 10 bucks this expansion costs.

Corpse Party is a pretty good mix of a visual novel and survival-horror games. While the gameplay itself can get a little dull at times as you wander the halls of the school and try to interact with just about everything, the story is rather enjoyable and unique. Wear some headphones and turn out the lights to complete the experience.

Strayed Lights surprised me into liking it, though the action/combat genre isn't regularly my jam. The interesting mechanics kept me coming back - sometimes against my better judgement - and the beautiful visuals went a long way towards keeping me engaged. The combat in the game is deceptively straightforward, but the ways you are forced to use it continuously ramp up the difficulty in an enjoyable way. This game might feel simple for some, but it was difficult enough for me that I felt pretty proud when I would down one of the bigger baddies. Recommended.

Not a new game, but a good updating of an older classic. Gamers new to strategy, and those who missed the original, will find this well worth playing.

There's enough over-the-top action in Super Dragon Ball Z to make this an easy game to recommend for fans of the series, unfortunately fans of modern 3D fighting games may want to look elsewhere for their fix.

An amazing piece of technology that shows off what the Eye Toy is capable of. It’s the first Eye Toy specific game with mainstream appeal and one that is accessible to gamers of all types.

Oaken might immediately bring comparisons to Faeria to the fore, but it stands on its own as a very good game. It incorporates the hex map as an element, but doesn't make it the star. Instead, it focuses on the survivability of units as you must measure out success across a series of encounters, and balance both the Fatigue your units must endure with the resources at your disposal, building them into a force adept enough to overcome some very challenging bosses at the conclusion of each chapter. It has all the quality of life elements you could hope for. Be endeared by its wonderful art and style, but don't be fooled - there is depth beneath those cute little plants as well.

Simulacra is surprisingly engaging for a game that takes place completely on the screen of a found smart phone. With well-drawn characters, a gripping story, and one foot planted firmly in the real world, the suspense of Simulacra entertains quite well. Never truly chilling, Simulacra is nonetheless a unique suspense mystery that is well worth a look.

Despite a couple of technical hiccups along the way, Thieves in Time is some of the most fun that I have had with a video game in a long time.

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.

A game by people that really know a thing or two about making a memorable experience, and some of the extra features will have you coming back well into the new year (especially if you have friends).

While the game features some new innovation that we’ll be seeing in upcoming games you do have to wonder about the value the game brings as the single player side of the game is a bit on the short side and the multiplayer is a bit on the generic side.

A more forgiving spin on the prison-break theme of The Escapists, The Escapists: The Walking Dead removes some of the high stress from the original and gives the player more room to breathe and enjoy what was great about it.

This is a transhumanism story for the android set. I devoured every chapter of these artificial intelligences shedding their artifice. And I learned that being human is filled with daily acts of self-sacrifice.

Some may argue that this is a step backwards, but for what it is Dominator proves to be a highly competent racer with plenty of replay.

Jagged Alliance 3 couples irreverent 80s action hero humor and turn-based combat in one of the best tactical RPGs I’ve played this year. It could use some slight optimization tweaks but is an otherwise great port from PC to consoles, including an excellent gamepad control scheme. It’s a game that sets the hook early and refuses to let go as the hours fade away.

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.

Poochy and Yoshi's Woolly World is a nice port of the Wii U version, though anyone with the Wii U version might not find enough to warrant picking up this one. The difficulty is easy for veteran gamers but could be challenging for younger players. That doesn't, however, stop it from being a fun and casual game that will remind you of Yoshi's more classic outings.

Pit People is one of those games that I enjoyed despite being terrible at the genre. While the game can be simple compared to other games in the genre, the combination of the easy to pick up gameplay and the graphics and humor that The Behemoth is known for makes this a game worth checking out regardless of whether you’ve played other tactical RPGs or if this is your first one. Plus, who doesn’t want to hear a giant space bear taunt you throughout the game?

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).

With an enthralling mystery to solve while trying to survive a supernatural event, Oxenfree challenges you to solve a mystery, care about the characters, and make you want to play through the story again and again.

Shadow Warrior 3 is absolute fun. It's easy to pick up, and something you definitely want to invest some hours into. This is the most fun I've had playing a game in a long time, and you will not be disappointed. There are a few hiccups and glitches I'm sure will be patched out but I digress. The visuals, the combat, and the characters make this game an absolute blast to look at and play. I have nothing bad to say about it, only because Lo Wang is crazy, and would probably make his way to me! Now, go slay that freakin' dragon!

Super Mega Baseball 4 is simply a blast to play. It’s an arcade baseball sim-lite with a focus on fun factor, and it includes a surprising amount of depth that will appeal to a wide range of baseball game fans. If you’re looking for something more laid back than a full-on baseball sim, but also not mindless button-mashing, this is that game.

This game is good. I have made good memories, and hope to make many more. I'm going to miss these characters, their quirks, their catch-phrases, and their flaws. It's a good egg.

If you looking for a reason to hop back into Nier: Automata, 3C3C1D119440927 is a great reason to do so. Even if you aren't leveled high enough to complete all of the challenges, there is nothing wrong about going around the world and grinding yourself up to finish them.

GORN makes a gory, bloodfest type of fighting into a fun pastime that can also serve as a fairly good cardio workout. While there are buckets of blood and dismembered body parts flying around, it is designed in a way to make what would normally be prohibitively gross into something so fun that you will find yourself laughing at the incredible mayhem that surrounds you.

A fun, surprisingly lengthy and deep romp with everyone's favorite violent motormouth, Deadpool VR sends players careening around the Marvel Universe on a goofball mission that allows for equal parts bloody combat and surprisingly awesome watercooler moments. The combat is only as fun as you make it, but the non-stop barrage of jokes are top tier. The tone is right, largely due to a killer, irreverent performance from Neil Patrick Harris, so everything else falls into place.

In the end, Dawnguard doesn't add vast new stretches of wilderness to explore or new game mechanics; it merely builds on what made Skyrim so great to begin with. The main quest will captivate those who have exhausted the majority of storylines in the base game, but players will inevitably be drawn into exploration once again. Dawnguard is almost guaranteed to elicit more than twenty hours from your schedule, so stay away if you have any real priorities at the moment.

Rustic Defense is a simplistic tower defense game but a very fun and very addicting one at that. The game could have used some more scenarios and different maps but it didn't take away from the fun I was having.

A revamped gameplay system allows players to take more control than ever, making Madden 16 feel like a polished product. Career mode still has some holes in it simply because of stale options, but the game truly shines online. Overall, a great experience and one to build off of for the future.

Pacific Drive is an intriguing blend of science fiction storytelling and simulator gameplay mechanics. If you typically shy away from roguelikes, this might be the one that finally nestles its way into your psyche as you tell yourself “Just one more run”.

Codemasters demonstrates once again that they truly are the masters of racing game code. GRID Autosport is the most fun you'll have at the virtual track. Bet on it.

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.

Williams Pinball Pack Volume 5 continues Zen Studios’ relentless adaptation of real-life pinball machines. The quality of the tables isn’t the issue here; the quality of the adaptation is what should be noted. As usual, these tables are spot on. Real-life pinball fans will love this pack, and FX3’s more casual fans might enjoy the gut check beating they endure at the hands of these classics. Recommended, as usual.

White Shadows tackles heavy themes with some wonderful storytelling. The gameplay itself is competent, and there is enough variety level to level to make the experience fresh throughout. Through stark visuals and a well placed soundtrack it presents its tale artfully, but unfortunately runs its course in only a few hours. It's hard to squeeze a great deal of game from the experience, but what is there is splendid.

Dead Head Fred is a fantastic adventure game full of memorable characters and ingenious puzzles. If you're the type of person who likes to do and see everything then you'll be at this game for weeks. And even if you don't care about all of the extra content the developers stuffed into this $30 PSP game you'll still find an interesting story full of twists and turns.

F1 2018 is by far the best F1 racing sim that has ever been made. It has the graphics, career mode, and blissful racing to make anyone go ga-ga. It is also no better than the F1 2017 from last year in virtually every way.

Although not playing the original, The Escapists 2 is still an enjoyable game, especially if you don’t have a lot of time on your hands as it can be played in spurts with how the game and save mechanics work, each day lasting around fifteen minutes. However, the first prison you play through might take a while to escape if you’re not familiar with how the game works. Though the tutorial level does help out a bit, there were still some things I didn’t know about that would have made things a lot easier my first time playing.

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