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.

It’s indifference that takes me out of Bandle Tale. I couldn’t get into the world building, I couldn’t get behind the constant back and forth running that quests have me doing. I never felt like I found my stride. The mini games - especially the cooking - was fun, something that would be excellent to play with a friend. But this single player crafting sim is too cute for its own good. Unlocking new abilities was fun, but the new abilities never felt game-changing, just another new chore to add to the rotation. If you are into League of Legends and want something that feels like a celebration of the cute characters of that game, Bandle Tale might satisfy you in the short term. But as the game spans upwards of 40 hours, I struggled to maintain interest.

Phantom Brave: We Meet Again is a good addition to anyone’s Wii game collection. It is challenging, entertaining, and with thousands of levels to achieve on each character, the game counts for 100+ hours of gameplay

It’s truly a blessing that Thunderful Games has brought Wavetale over to all modern platforms after Google put Stadia in the tomb. Wavetale tells a heartfelt narrative filled with beautiful visuals and a soothing soundtrack in an open world experience that’s short and sweet.

Even better than presenting its dangers, Firewatch presents the threat of danger. This is no feel-good summer beach read; this is a brutally beautiful and fragile story of people running from their problems—and problems running away from any tidy conclusions. This is the video game equivalent of a page turner, and adventure games have rarely been in finer form.

You can’t expect too much from a pack-in game, and Wii Sports is no exception. While it’s true that you will probably have a good time with one or two of the activities presented on this disc, it’s just as likely that you’ll get bored of them after only a few plays and never touch them again.

Ultimate Spider-Man did a lot to improve on its predecessors, but it still isn't as deep as it could've been. The story was good if incredibly brief, and Venom injects some replay value, but it feels like the last pages of this book are mere pencil sketches, much less inked and colored.

Overall, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine is a refreshingly simple, straight forward and fun shooter.

They may not look as good as the 3D fighters of today, but both King of Fighters 2002 and 2003 are fantastic fighting games with a deep roster of unique characters to choose from.

Demigod has laser-focused gameplay that reaches for new ground without overreaching its ability.

There’s nothing crazy about Peglin. The game is straightforward but still offers plenty of twists the further into your game session you manage to get. This is one of those no two rounds are the same games, a staple in roguelight titles I have come to enjoy. The better you become at playing Peglin the longer those sessions tend to become. I don’t daydream about Peglin, which is to say the worst thing I can think about Peglin; it’s there, it’s fun, but I don’t feel much of a sense of accomplishment once I move onto something else.

Think the Xbox Live Arcade is nothing more than arcade ports and 2D puzzle games? Think again, because RoboBlitz is here to show you exactly what is capable when you put your mind to it. With its ambitious game play and engaging puzzles RoboBlitz is an easy game to recommend, even with the higher than usual price point.

In context, Beyond the Alley of the Dolls is a great Sam & Max episode. Unfortunately, taken by itself, this is definitely the season's weakest link.

Jurassic World: Evolution is an island-making sim where frustration and wait-times are scarier than any of the dinosaurs. The idea of creating 40 dinosaurs and their enclosures sounds like a real treat, but in this case, I’m sure Dr. Grant would have stayed at his dig site.

American Truck Simulator, like the rest of the Truck Simulator series, is polished and entertaining.

Badland: Game of the Year Edition is a great looking game with simple gameplay and a lot of charm.

After the Fall works best when four players are working together against hordes of swarming baddies. The shrieks and gun shots are exactly where you want them to be. But the game is held back some by a limited number of levels and some fiddly UI design. Still absolutely worth a look, but with the understanding that some refinements and more content are still on the way.

Very few indie games have quantity and quality that can match those of triple A titles, but Asterigos: Curse of the Stars definitely makes the cut. This is an outstanding first project from Acme Gamestudio and I can’t wait to see what’s next for them. What you’ll find here is a polished narrative-driven Souls-like adventure held back only by some frustrating design choices.

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.

High concept + shaky execution = wait for the patch.

Dear Esther is an auditory and visual experience that interweaves a consuming narrative and array of emotions. The game's actual value must not be solely based upon its gameplay length, but rather on the random elements and new secrets discovered through multiple playthroughs. Those that brave the journey into the narrative and world of Dear Esther will discover an experience that few games have been available to accomplish in years. Highly recommended.

While a bit on the short side, Stubbs is an example of the innovation we need to see more of in the gaming industry. It's not a perfect game but it is certainly one of the funniest, entertaining games to come out in the last year or two.

Thankfully Electronic Arts has managed to do the impossible and make a fun game out of one of the best movies of all time.

I need a little more hand holding than Sherlock Holmes Chapter One gives. I’m not as smart as Sherlock, and found myself bumbling around at times like a lost child. When I was in the zone I was having a good time. The variety of costumes made for a fun time, and the eavesdropping mini game were a good distraction to a worthwhile story. The game has flaws, but those can easily be overlooked with a mountain of fun and interesting mysteries to solve.

I have played a lot of farm sims in my day. Fae Farm is one of the better options available, especially if you have three other friends that you can play along with. Fae Farm falls under the cozy game genre, giving off a relaxed and pressure-free atmosphere more so than hurry up and plant those seeds. It provides diverse customization options, including skin tones and pronoun choices; it also streamlines farming tasks and simplifies tool selection. Crafting and decorating are also present, as well as dungeon exploration. But like a lot of cozy farm-style games, this can feel repetitive after a while. Can Fae Farm hold your attention long enough to see it through? Probably, especially if you can do it with a friend or three.

Despite the game's short length, Tiny and Big: Grandpa's Leftovers captures the player's curiosity and doesn't let go till its thrilling conclusion.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II brings the core of what makes CoD games great and stays true to Infinity Ward's best efforts in the series. It's big step away in a positive direction from last year's Vanguard disaster. I just wish there was a bit more meat to sink my teeth into. The single player campaign makes no attempt at a commentary but will have you running through a series of competent missions and set pieces. Multiplayer is what you would expect from the series, both with competent gunplay as well as a map playlist that will need to expand over time. The new co-op mode seems a better experience with a friend than queuing with a random from the lobby. All in all there is good game on offer that moves slicker and the shine on your assault rifle looks more gorgeous than the series ever has.

Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker provides a good spin on the monster collecting style of gameplay, and it is definitely more challenging than what the other companies out there provide.

Good track design and a blistering sense of speed are not enough to compensate for relatively mindless racing. Horizon Chase 2 serves as an ode to arcade racing classics that reminds us just how far the genre has come.

Overall though, with the excellent gameplay, somewhat higher difficulty and challenge, and the excellent dialogue and narrative by characters both old and new, fans of Borderlands 2 will likely get the same amount of enjoyment out of The Pre-Sequel.

As a Saturn game, NiGHTS into Dreams under-delivered. Sixteen years later it's easy to see why, but that shouldn't keep you from playing through this bizarre dreamscape. Just be ready for some frustrating boss fights and linear flying stages!

Witty, and with a wink and nod to the limitations of the point and click style adventure genre Edna & Harvey: Harvey's New Eyes gives gamers an adult experience while providing the necessary cover for a teen rating. Recommended for old school gamers looking for a reminder of the past, or those who enjoy quirky plots.

Steamworld Dig is a fun game, but it’s pretty short and can get repetitive after a while. My first playthrough clocked in at just under four hours and most of the game is mining, going back to town to cash out and upgrade, and repeat. That said though, Steamworld Dig is still a good game, and ten dollars is a decent price for it, but just take note that more expert level gamers might be disappointed in how short the game can be.

Remaining true to its roots with engaging ship to ship combat but shifting the gameplay to a more narrative focused exploration game, Star Control: Origins excels at it's prime directive. As we push out from that core loop there are elements that can drag on, but the central experience is where it stands tallest, incorporating a playful tale with entertaining delivery around excellent two dimensional, top down ship to ship combat.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider should leave us wanting more from the rebooted Lara Croft game, but with some clunky controls and a lazy combat system, what saves the game from being below average are beautiful visuals, fantastic puzzles and tomb layouts along with true adventuring. It’s as mixed up of a bag as one can get.

If you already love Devil May Cry 4, then this brand new special edition is everything you could hope for. It looks great, runs fast and is loaded with playable characters. On the other hand, new players may not be able to overlook some of the game's outdated designs, including fixed camera perspectives and tons of backtracking.

While not a huge fan of Dragon Ball in general, I can say that I’m a fan of Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 on the Switch. It does have its flaws. Namely with the camera and some of the training. Plus the combat can get repetitive as you mash out the same combos, at least in the early going. But I can definitely say that I found a Dragon Ball game that I can enjoy coming back to from time to time.

Silence is a great game with some quirks. The artwork is beautiful and the animation is pretty good for the most part, and the story definitely takes center stage for me. However, the puzzles are rather simple, most of the dialogue (and puzzles for that matter) have no real consequence for choosing a wrong option, and the forty dollar price tag might be off-putting to some, especially since you can find it for half of that on other platforms. Silence is definitely worth checking out and it makes me want to play through The Whispered World, but I’d recommend waiting for it to go on sale.

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.

In the end, Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-Ality has a lot of fun for fans. The VR aspect really brings you into the world of the show and I really enjoyed my time playing the game. I just wish it was a bit longer for the price, but this is one of the few licensed games of a TV show or movie that captures a lot of the magic from the source material.

Clockwork Ambrosia is a fun steampunk Metroidvania. There's a plethora of ways to customize Iris's gear and weapons. You might stumble upon a loadout so powerful that you may not want to use anything else, especially towards the end game. There's fast travel, but you may not find the relic to enable it for several hours. It depends on where you explore first. But if you like Metroidvanias and customizing weapons, Clockwork Ambrosia is worth checking out.

Fans of adventure and puzzle games seeking a gameplay experience that's both addictive and unique will find plenty to enjoy in Scribblenauts Unlimited. Those gamers looking for more of a challenge will find the game's difficulty to be disappointing.

Worms for the Xbox Live Arcade does an excellent job of recreating the fun and excitement of the series, but it's slightly disappointing to see so many modes and weapons stripped from the experience. Still, if you're looking for a great game to play with friends or online, then you can't go wrong with Worms.

Dragon's Dogma may not be the best game of 2012, but it is certainly one of the most surprising. Intense and refined combat help an otherwise average RPG become something special. This game redefines the concept of boss battles with confrontations of epic proportions. The future is bright for this new IP.

Paper Mario: Sticker Star does have some flaws, but the good does mostly out-weight the bad. The puzzles can be challenging, as well as the boss fights, but the normal battles as mostly there to suck up your stickers.

All in all Sega Rally Revo is a good arcade racer. The learning curve was a little steep and the single player mode was not as robust as I would have liked, but the fast arcade action kept me coming back for more.

Even its small group of levels and no multiplayer support, Dracula is a fun PSP that is well worth downloading!

Rebel Galaxy is one of the best space games released in some time, both in terms of its vast content and that its low price that won't break your wallet.

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.

Twelve years after first hitting the Game Boy Color, Toki Tori remains an easy game to recommend.

The bottom line on Need for Speed Rivals for the Xbox One is that it's a gorgeous world that is pushing the hardware to its limit. Gameplay, however, is as close to the same as its Xbox 360 predecessor. For those who have the Xbox 360 version, it isn't a must buy.

Not a remake, not an action RPG, but definitely a very refined MMO experienced tailored to be inclusive to solo and console players, New World has received a major shot of accessibility with the release of Aeternum. With a welcoming community, a refined story, and some very fun crafting mechanics, there is a lot of material here to dig into and enjoy. If you are looking for a new title to sink 1000 hours into, you could do far worse than this one.

If you are a die hard RTS fan looking for a new challenge, Infested Planet's mutated hordes might be just what you are looking for. Everyone else be wary. Infested Planet is easy to pick up and play, but its alien army wants nothing more than to tear you apart.

Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged has improved and expanded every aspect of the original game, and smoothed out some of the difficulty spikes that entranced/enraged me the first time around. Though the new story is mostly kid stuff, the actual racing is still challenging and wildly exciting. Crushingly good graphics, fun mechanics, and the obsessive collection of amazing toys once again combine to create a fantastic must-play racer.

Resident Evil: Revelations doesn’t live up to its title. The closest thing to a revelation is that you can construct a story out of nothing but betrayals, double-crosses, and weightless twists. Even worse is that the gameplay, while fun in small doses, suffers from a long list of poor design decisions that will surely scare off anyone trying a Resident Evil game for the first time.

Knights in the Nightmare is a solid addition to the PSP library.

This is a game that Command & Conquer fans will enjoy (and it’s definitely the best version for those interested in purchasing it) but for everyone else, I suggest you rent it first.

Absolver is one of the top games of the year. While its level design can use some work, its combat system should be studied and worshiped by anyone trying to make a fighting game.

TrackMania DS gets the basics of the series right on a handheld, and that’s decently impressive.

Another great addition to the series. It's not perfect but it's a lot of fun and there's a lot of value and re-play value included.

Regardless of how it looks or sounds, American Wasteland just feels like a step backwards from previous Tony Hawk games.

Songbringer’s general aesthetic and sense of humor rubbed me the wrong way, but the procedurally generated worlds are actually a lot of fun to get lost in, and the art style and music, though occasionally harsh, have a lot of love and nuance put into them.

It’s easy for Coromon to be labeled a clone. It almost begs you to think of it as one. On the surface, it looks like a new set of monsters were dropped into a nearly identical world. But dig a little deeper. A story that doesn’t have gyms or badges, customization in both difficulty and player options that you don’t see in the competitor. Coromon feels more like a spiritual successor to monster trainer games of decades past. Sharper pixel graphics and features that people ask for are present throughout. The look of Coromon is more refined than what you’d expect from a "clone". If you enjoy collecting monsters, then Coromon has it. If you want a new twist, something that helps define the genre moving forward, you might be let down.

While there isn't a Karkland or Wake Island classic map in the mix, two of the three maps are actually pretty solid and feature some strong game play if you can get the game to run.

Agatha Christie: Death on the Nile will likely intrigue fans of mystery adventure games, but others will likely find the game's somewhat obtuse puzzle structure frustrating. The 70s setting is fun, and the characters are well done, but overall the game feels a bit too mechanically dated to draw in new fans. If you know you like this sort of thing, check it out. But the merely curious might want to keep on sailing.

Dante’s Inferno is an incredibly fun game with exciting and fast-paced gameplay. However, with a dull storyline experience, Visceral gives me no choice but to call the overall experience of the game mediocre. Of course, if you’re looking strictly for the fun of the gameplay, you can be assured that they’ve delivered on that end.

Mortal Shell embraces the Souls-like moniker with open arms. They welcomed comparisons, and, for the most part, delivered. What's more impressive is that a team of only 15 people created it. Mortal Shell will make you to rethink your ideas around patience and frustration. You will love this game for all the same reasons that you hate it.

Like Pushmo, I really enjoyed my time with Zuma's Revenge and it's definitely a game I'll go to for a quick puzzle fix. I am a little disappointed that there's no wi-fi multiplayer, the boss battles can get a tad annoying, and the difficulty can increase a little quickly for some people. Then again, no one said Zuma was easy.

Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth is enjoyable both on the go or on your console, either way you're going to be transported back to a time where you had shouting matches over which Digimon could beat which Pokemon. The story and gameplay are a bit same-y to other properties out there, but its easy to look past considering how much fun it is.

Long time fans of the genre looking to get their fix on the console(s) will find what they need here. Unfortunately, they are also going to find the things that hinder the genre on anything other than a PC.

With its excellent focus on online multiplayer supported with some innovative fair-play features and related social features, Gran Turismo Sport is a great choice for drivers focused on those aspects. For offline players and those that don't want to grind to gain access to an extensive collection of cars and tracks, though, there are better alternatives.

Released a full year after the PC game, Bejeweled 3 makes for a solid Nintendo DS puzzler. With eight fleshed-out modes and achievement points, PopCap's newest game is easy to recommend for twenty dollars. Just don't go in expecting the Seattle-based company to have reinvented their popular puzzle game!

Far Harbor sits somewhere between a San Francisco noir and a Stephen King thriller. There are things lurking in the fog that you've never seen before. And warring factions fight for both the fog's preservation and eradication. And see if you can stay on task long enough to find the missing girl, too. Far Harbor is a neat collection of short stories in the Fallout 4 novel.

Despite lackluster plot and characterization, and inconsistent level and art design, Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition is still a brilliant, imaginative shooter six years later. It looks and plays even better in the current generation, with a few new goodies that are worth giving a look.

Fighting game fans and wrestling fans alike are sure to enjoy the fast paced action and insane gameplay which will keep you coming back for more time and time again. The game can be played again and again and again, it calls you back each and every time.

Since solving Lego-based puzzles is at the forefront, Bricktales doesn’t feel like it’s aimed directly at the younger crowd; the sometimes difficult-to-solve conundrums might turn kids off. There is plenty for them to get into, like collecting in-game items or the Lego player customization. The physics-based puzzles to solve were excellent; some were easy, and others were a challenge, but all were rewarding. Even with the challenge, Lego Bricktales is the closest I’ve come to feeling like I was playing with physical Lego bricks. Playing Lego Bricktales is not the same as sitting on your bedroom floor and letting your imagination run wild, but it’s close.

Wild Hearts marks the emergence of a worthy new AAA franchise. While the game suffers a bit from some minor technical issues on PC, the core gameplay is astoundingly strong. The mixture of wildly creative Kemono monsters and player-built karakuri creates a strong, addictive cocktail of fun. The challenge level is high, but victory feels triumphant. Highly recommended.

The only experience worth calling fruitful from this RTS is it’s online gameplay modes. You can otherwise expect repetitive and dull campaigns tacked on with unresponsive and, quite frankly, idiotic AI units.

Ring Runner: Flight of the Sages is inspiring both for its unique concept and for being a great example of what can come from a successful Kickstarter campaign.

Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax may have suffered a little in the transition to Vita from a visual standpoint. But the gameplay is certainly on point and fighting game fans finally have a reason to turn on their Vita again.

The Council is a revelation. While the technical aspects of the game are somewhat questionable at times, the storytelling, world building, and RPG mechanics are simply stunning. I found myself propelled from episode to episode, salivating at the idea of advancing the story and outsmarting the game’s lifelike characters. With twisty surprises, diabolical puzzles, and rich historical context, this is a game that makes the player feel intelligent for playing it. The fact that the story is deliciously twisted is just the icing on the cake.

Despite a few rare difficult moments with finicky controls and timed puzzles, Helheim Hassle is well worth a look. The humor is lively, surprising, and wickedly funny, while never feeling mean. The majority of the puzzles are engaging and fun. Helheim Hassle is a good-natured good time.

Gravitar is EXTREMELY difficult. It's fun to watch other people play it, especially your friends who think they're the best at gaming. Atari continues to show you that they are here to forever challenge our mettle. Gravitar will provide the challenge you need, and reward you for your bravery. I can't even say it lacks in replay value, because let's be honest, you're not beating this game anytime soon.

While I can’t fault Cloud Gardens for its cool visuals or interesting themes, those things are ultimately lost to fiddley controls and a somewhat obtuse gameplay loop. Many players will likely enjoy the creative side of this game, but others will be left wondering why they are trashing up perfectly nice scenes.

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.

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.

It's not the best trilogy in the series, but it's still a very fun set of games. It suffers a bit from spotlight sharing issues and the puzzles maybe aren't the most well-thought out, but the stories will pull you in and has some memorable characters to add to the full cast from the series. The visual upgrades are wonderful in almost all cases and makes it worth picking it up just to play on your PC monitor.

Take the magic of NBA Jam’s gameplay, trade NBA players for robots with abilities, toss in some roguelite systems, give it stop-motion-style animation, and BOOMSHAKALAKA – you’ve got yourself a slam dunk.

This is a good idea that needs to be retooled before it becomes a staple of the music game genre.

A rough single-player mode and unfriendly online matches mar an otherwise fun first-person shooter.

A near perfect expansion pack. It gives gamers more levels, more bad guys, and more multiplayer content. What else can you ask for in an expansion pack? Not much.

Bloodious Games has been developing MADiSON since 2016, and it’s incredible to see a project of this magnitude come to fruition from a team of only two people. MADiSON creates a harrowing experience for fans to feast on, with its outstanding atmospheric tension, eccentric camera mechanic, and psychedelic puzzles. Apart from being a horror game, it also showcases some truly artistic stages and mythos. There are some beautiful landscapes to explore and investigate as you plunge into a spiral of insanity. After all, you are the Mad Son.

Although it might look like your standard racing game, Pursuit Force is unlike any other game on the market. Its speed and energy is unparalleled on the PSP, making this one of the most exciting games you ever will play.

It’s not everyday you see a refreshing approach on the Souls-like genre, especially one that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The Last Hero of Nostalgaia does just that, putting you into the pixelated boots of a bundle of sticks on a mission to restore the entire world of video games. Developer Over The Moon does a fantastic job wrapping what we all know and love about Dark Souls with a layer of satirical flare and video game history. If you can get past some frustrating design choices and janky keyboard controls, then you’re in for a nostalgic treat.

Ayo the Clown is a fun, light platformer with origins that can be traced directly back to any number of Nintendo classics, putting it in esteemed company. Though the difficulty might be a bit much for the smallest kids, Ayo the Clown is a light-hearted, family-friendly game that deserves attention from platformer fans.

Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath is a fantastic expansion to the game with three fun characters and a great conclusion to the Mortal Kombat story. It's a shame, however, that they didn't offer people the option to buy the content individually instead of together at the steep price.

I didn’t know what to expect with Ghostwire: Tokyo at first. It uniquely meshes aspects of horror and action with the deep mythos of Japanese folklore. The game absolutely crushes it in terms of visual and technical performance, utilizing every feature of next-gen on the PlayStation 5. However, its disappointing narrative and repetitive open world features hold it back from being truly amazing.

Phenomenal simulation and an amazing presentation make MLB 13: The Show one of the best sports games available on the market. Vita owners are still missing out on a couple of key features like the Diamond Dynasty mode but you still can’t deny the insane amount of game packed into this little package.