A roguelike for fans of city-builders, Roots of Yggdrasil deftly extends its branches to those who typically shy away from the live-die-repeat nature of the genre. It's not perfect, but speaking the city-builder language makes this an inviting roguelike experience that will challenge but not frustrate you.

For fans of Dead by Daylight, The Casting of Frank Stone is an incredible experience that expands the lore of the game in ways we have wanted to see for so long. For everyone else this will play as a great Supermassive movie based game. I do think that non DBD fans are gonna be missing out because lot of the big moments, reveals, lore and references are just gonna go over their heads, but if you are a fan of Dead by Daylight this is an experience you won't want to miss.

Some RTS remasters have been terrible, chock full of issues. Age of Mythology: Retold is not one of them. Some bumps, like the terrible, lifeless voice acting are hard to get over. I love the idea of being able to play with a controller, and the support is there, it still doesn’t feel right. The campaign is great once you get into it, and there is plenty to keep a single player happy for some time. This one is hard not to recommend to fans of the RTS genre who like to relive a bit of their younger days, but might be a bit to much to chew off for the casual fan.

Star Wars Outlaws is a good time, once you come to terms with it's stealth gameplay. While the visuals feel rough around the edges, the story and writing are fun and the gameplay can be surprisingly engaging. Things do wear thin after doing the same stealth missions over and over again, but this is still a trip to the outer rim well worth taking.

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.

I’ve never been as emotionally affected by a video game as I was by Farewell North. It’s a gorgeous bit of storytelling, flanked by music and art that is just as beautiful. You can see its emotional gut-punch coming, but good luck avoiding it.

Eleven years is a long time in between games, and the developers at EA Orlando largely did a good job. There's a lot of fun gameplay but there are some issues that will need fixing for the next version. Dynasty mode is the star of the show here with so much depth you might get overwhelmed. Here's hoping EA Orlando builds upon the success of this game and does even better next year.

Shoulders of Giants: Ultimate is not the roguelike that breaks the mold for those trying to get into the genre, and I can’t say that roguelike veterans would find its gameplay loop compelling either. It’s wide range of weaponry and abilities does create bursts of fun, but unfortunately it wears thin relatively quickly.

On Point is a throwback to the shooting gallery light gun games of old, and will definitely take you back. For how long is the question. It's still in early access, so there may be more to come, but right now, maybe download the demo first. With no online or multiplayer modes, it's tough to recommend. It's not bad, but something is keeping me from calling it great.

Sword of Convallaria: For this World of Peace is not a game made for me, a person who enjoys a good, story-rich tactical RPG. Not much story there, and I found it confusing, to say the least. There are a lot of moving parts to this one, some of them feel like old-school TRPG traits that I love, and some feel like it’s wearing the mask of a TRPG. If this is not made for someone who, by all accounts should enjoy this, then I am unsure who this is made for. Have fun, but be cautious.

DROS is a fun game but it can be a bit too easy at times. That combined with there not being much reason outside of in-game lore to get all of the optional goals might turn some people off. However, the stages aren’t incredibly long and the game is one that can be enjoyed in spurts, plus it can be a challenge to collect everything there is to find, allowing for some fair replay value.

Thrasher is something entirely new, both in video games and in the VR space. Not for the faint of heart, and you are going to have to practice. You don't just want to play Thrasher, you want to play Thrasher well. And Thrasher wants to pound on your eardrums and heart while you try. A digital geometric nightmare-scape, that is also one hell of a good arcade game. Video games don't get much more creative than this one.

Super Evil Mega Corp may have struck gold with their take on the TMNT franchise, but with an empty story, a myriad of audio problems, and the same difficulty as an actual turtle flipped over, a game that wants you to play it over and over makes it impossible to play it over and over. I guess everything that turtles, ain't gold. Splintered fate, indeed.

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.

Ark of Charon presents as a visually appealing and intriguing title that unfortunately falls short in execution. Its blend of tower defense and colony simulation has potential, yet the game's finer details—such as the cumbersome controls, underdeveloped mechanics, and lack of engaging storytelling take away from the overall enjoyment. While Ark of Charon shines in its peaceful rhythm of base-building, this strength is not enough to keep me attempting to rebuild the life tree. As it stands, Ark of Charon feels like a game best suited for occasional play rather than a long-term commitment. But, it is in Early Access, so I have no problem giving this a second look down the road. [Early Access Provisional Score = 65]

A delightful creature-collecting zen ‘em up, Flock’s charming vibe and flowy movement is a perfect weekend game.

Spin Rhythm XD is a straight forward package. It knows it's humble origins, and isn't trying to reinvent the wheel. Better still, this is a game that shines a new light on several artists and songs you may never have heard. Challenging and unforgiving at times, in all the best ways. The only drawback is that there is zero multi-player. Still, while I am late to the party, I'm now within the spin cycle. Pick this up.

As a solo player there were many moments where Bungie was clearly leaving my ilk behind. But on the other hand, they've finally unleashed the power fantasy and given players the tools to be the space wizard gods we've always dreamed of. The narrative the campaign delivers is a worthy and satisfying conclusion to all of those years spent loving this game. With Bungie already starting walking back some of the changes that hurt solo players the most, it's fair to say The Final Shape probably eclipses The Witch Queen as the best this game has ever been. Ten years on and we've arrived at the summit the journey deserved.

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.

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.

A wonderful PC port, Ghost of Tsushima is one of the best PlayStation games to come around on the PC side. This is one that you'll enjoy, especially if you're a fan of classic samurai stories.

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.

XDefiant will likely divide competitive shooter fans, as it did us here at Gaming Nexus. Fans of classic competitive shooters will find a lot to like in the Ubiverse shooter, even its take on hero abilities. But it may not go far enough in any direction to truly stand out in a crowded market.

What makes a must-play game? Is it adding more levels to an already stacked list of platform worlds from which to collect items? Is adding a commentary you can turn on and off at will worth it? How about re-drawn art? All of those things are here, any one of which could be argument enough for the need of a Braid Anniversary Edition. It just happens that Braid Anniversary Edition is a near-perfect way to try out Braid, if you haven’t before. As someone who hasn’t played before this edition, I think this is a great way to introduce yourself to Braid. Everything looks, sounds, and plays great.

Rainbow Cotton is a fun arcade-style shooter, but it has a couple of flaws. While the game plays pretty well and I did enjoy my time with it, the lack of any information on even the basics of the game’s mechanics as well as it sometimes being hard to see what Cotton’s shooting at can make the game a bit more difficult than it should be, even on the easiest of difficulty settings. It’s still an enjoyable game, but a few additions could have made it even better.

There is nothing revolutionary in Max Mustard, but that doesn't mean that this game isn't very well made, and very entertaining. The story is cheerfully bewildering, but the game is so familiar and comfortable, you aren't likely to care. With solid platforming mechanics, Max seems to borrow a bit of this and bit of that from other VR platformers in order to deliver a very polished experience. In a genre that is woefully underserved, Max Mustard is a breezy breath of fresh air.

Kudzu is a fun outing inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening but it’s not perfect. While the adventuring and puzzle solving are well done, the combat can be a bit clunky between the weird knockback when you get hit, the hitboxes themselves being a bit inconsistent when sprites overlap, and the enemies resetting to their spawn points when you pause, including some bosses. Still, Kudzu is definitely worth checking out on the Switch if you’re a fan of these kinds of games.

Even when I’m not playing TopSpin 2K25, I’m thinking about playing TopSpin 2K25. I’m obsessed with its gameplay, despite its online play being held back by some inconsistencies. TopSpin is a clear contender for the best sports game of 2024.

Stacklands is a really enjoyable game. It combines a clever survival loop of exploration and optimization, it is easy to grasp the core concepts and get your runs moving, and it definitely grabs your attention with the "just one more turn" hallmark of the best of these type of round, time, or turn based games. The only real drawback here is the Switch, or rather how uninterested this game is of making use of what makes the Switch great. It's fine when docked on to your tv or monitor, just as if it were still running on the PC. I'm thankful the developers have brought it over so Switch players can get to play it, I am just recognizing not optimizing it for a 6.2 inch touchscreen is a missed opportunity.

Sand Land immediately caught my attention due to its ties to Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball and character designs in the Dragon Quest series. With a manga, anime, and now a video game adaptation, Sand Land has quietly become a full-fledged franchise, seemingly over night. Despite its simple premise—a search for water in a desert wasteland—Sand Land offers a mix of action RPG, vehicle combat, and stealth gameplay that’s just plain fun. The game stays faithful to its source material while offering surprising depth and variety in gameplay mechanics. Despite some challenges with the stealth sections, Sand Land provides a fun and engaging experience and retains the nostalgic charm of its origins in Toriyama's work.

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.

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.

Planet of Lana is a joy to behold, having been crafted with aplomb by a team of artistic and musical virtuosos. The gameplay itself is nothing you haven’t seen from other side-scrolling puzzlers, but it gives a wide berth to the stunning art and musical score that reach Disney levels of quality.

Minishoot' Adventures is a non hand holding, bullet hell, Legend of Zelda like shoot-em-up with Smash TV elements. If you want a game with all that thrown in, then this game is for you. Don't sleep on this one. It's so good. You're guaranteed to lose your ship.

In the end, traversing through the labyrinth of memories in The Gap has left me with a sense of both fulfillment and intrigue. Despite the disarray of Joshua’s world and mind, there was joy in piecing together the fragments of his existence. Most interactions served as a breadcrumb leading me deeper into the intricacies of Joshua's life, his struggles, and the mysterious forces at play beyond his control. The experience, though at times bewildering, was immersive, drawing me into its web. Perhaps one day, when the memories of this journey have faded, I'll return to unravel the mystery again. Until then, The Gap remains an echo in the corridors of my thoughts.

Be warned: There isn’t any sort of ”game” to the Summerhouse experience. This is a simple, doodling-sandbox meant to allow users to craft serene landscapes without needing any drawing skills. It does exactly what it sets out to do but could easily be SO much more.

Children of the Sun is short, sweet and doesn't outstay it's welcome. Despite it's short length, this is a very fun puzzle game that has a lot of replay value, especially if you want to get the high score on the leaderboards or via speed running. There is a lot of potential here with this concept and id love to see the developers expand upon the idea in the future.

Planet Zoo: Console Edition does not completely pull off the PC-to-console transition from a control standpoint, leading to bouts of frustration. But it has enough charm and depth that will make it difficult for genre fans to ignore.

I would love to say that I loved South Park: Snow Day. But the shallow combat, light story, and general lack of depth made me feel like this game was just scraping the surface of what it could have been. Grab it on sale to play with buddies, but beyond that, stick with the classics.

Engrossing and enjoyable for its brief run time, Open Roads tells a quiet, witty story of discovery that spans three generations of women. Though it never veers into melodrama, I found the narrative to be engaging and intriguing. Great performances lend a realism to the well-written characters. If you think Open Roads seems like something you might enjoy, you are likely right.

Though I am so far impressed with these Gold Master Series, this one is ranked 3rd out of 3, if I include the amazing Atari 50. I respect the hell out of Jeff Minter for being THE indie game creator. There are some games missing that may come at a later date, and some that I'll never play again. But I think that's what Jeff wants. Stay weird, Mr. Minter. Stay weird.

Taxi Life: A City Driving Simulator proves that not every occupation can become a worthwhile video game simulation. It’s infested with bugs and soulless gameplay, making it more of a mundane taxi than a crazy one.

If action role-playing games are something you are into, then Dragon’s Dogma 2 is your next big game. It’s that simple. You may have been thrown off by talk of the lack of fast travel. But the game’s director Hideaki Itsuno, is right: a good game doesn’t need it. Dragon’s Dogma 2’s world is covered with experiences to have. It could be a hidden cave, a simple treasure chest, or even a giant griffin that just wants to create chaos for you and your party of pawns. Combat is easy to understand, and different enough from vocation to vocation that when I get bored with one class, I can easily switch to try something different. It’s not about the destination, but rather the journey. As silly as it sounds, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is all about the friends we made along the way.

Dead Hook is fun in small doses as it can get pretty repetitive, but I would say that this is also one of the best first person, Doom inspired shooters you can buy for the PSVR 2 right now.

While this modern take on the beloved classic is certainly beautiful to look at in places, it stumbles a bit with ill-advised combat and an uneven presentation. Still, the lore drops are incredible, the performances solid, and the Lovecraftian storyline is intriguing - and when it goes hard at the end, it is a sight to behold. Survival horror fans won't find huge scares here, but there is a fun feeling of creeping dread and anticipation that moves things along.

Helldivers 2 is truly a game of the year contender. The gunplay and gameplay is excellent. The variety invites you to keep hoping into one mission or another. The difficulty ramps from fun barrel shoots to harried and hair-raising struggles on the edge of a knife. However, the overall experience greatly suffers when playing as a solo player. If you have a group, dive in to hell. If not, be careful out there, soldier, and watch your back. The bugs aren't your only enemies.

Despite its AA veneer, Outcast – A New Beginning is a solid open-world RPG. The combat doesn’t carry its weight, but the quirky characters, fun traversal, and open quest system are the real heavy lifters. It feels like a game from a bygone era and in this instance it works.

A game that certainly isn't shy about what it is, Berserk Boy is a love letter to the Sonic the Hedgehog and Mega Man franchises. While there are arguably some slight concerns along the way on the design front, those shortcomings are overshadowed by fun and addicting gameplay. The game manages to pay great respect to the games that influenced it and still stand on its own at the end. Fans of both classic franchises will certainly enjoy going Berserk!

Swarm 2 improves almost everything from the stellar first entry, while adding a roguelike structure that makes the game that much more addictive. At this point, if you haven’t played a Swarm game, you are failing at VR. There just aren't that many games that can grant this freedom of motion without a side helping of nausea. You owe it to yourself to experience the pure joy of movement that Swarm 2 offers.

Hex Gambit: Respawned tries to view chess and checkers through the lens of a modern video game. It succeeds in some ways, but falls well short of taking down the kings.

WWE2K24 is more of the same. The added matches are a nice addition, but there are some caveats made here. The visuals seem off-putting, and some of the single player modes are overkill. If you're looking to slam someone to the mat with a near current roster, grab this. But be wary - it may need a little bit more time in the ring.

Akka Arrh is a resurrected version of a game that never existed. And if you don't know the lore, it's ok. It's colorful chaotic nature will keep you at bay for a few hours. You can get those high scores, and win, but it won't be easy. If you want that Atari pain, this is a little less hurtful than usual, but mastering it will still take a while.

Cricket Through The Ages isn't much about Cricket, and that's ok. It starts slow, but with a pretty cool payoff in unlocking the other modes. It's way more entertaining to watch others play it, but you playing at home, alone, trying to convince other people to play it, is useless. Fire it up, hand your friends the controllers, and watch chaos ensue.

Dynacat does its best to be a throwback to Sonic 3D Blast and while the ideas are there, it feels like it could use a bit more polish. There were times where I had to intentionally lose a life to restart at a checkpoint because I ended up landing in an area where I could not get enough speed to proceed, plus there were a couple of times I ended up out of bounds and had to restart an entire stage or boss fight. Dynacat can be an enjoyable game once you learn the physicals and controls, but it feels like a little more polish could go a long way.

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”.

A Void Hope is one of those games that you want your friends to play through, so you can all talk about it later on. Platforming that has a great old-school SNES feel, with a story that is better shown than told. I found each level to be unique enough, especially when accompanied by the soundtrack, that I didn’t feel like I was replaying the same level again and again. My only complaint is the need to replay some levels in order to fully clear such a short game harshes the vibe, but only a little. Play it when its dark or cloudy out, when you’re in the mood to experience something with feeling; A Void Hope was clearly made with love.

The world is indeed wide enough for Skull and Bones and the increasingly few pirate games out there. But be careful. It won't let you get comfy. And after a long time in production, there's still work to do before Skull and Bones is feature complete.

There is plenty to see and do in Piczle Cross: Story of Seasons, as long as the thing you want to do is nonogram puzzles with a Story of Seasons theme. If you were expecting to play the first nonogram farm sim then you may hbe disappointed. The puzzles are pretty good, some of them are just silly, I’m still upset about what the developer considers to be an egg. The collage puzzles require more patience and thinking than the normal nonogram puzzles presented here, but that’s good too. Other features like the almanac are welcome additions-even if they don’t add much overall. If you are into both genres then picking up Piczle Cross: Story of Seasons make sense.

Under Cover is a love letter to light gun games. There is no question here what niche group it's reaching for. For the price, and the nostalgia, I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it, even though time wasn't against me in any way shape or form. The mechanics feel good and familiar, and the challenge is just right. More please, and thank you.

With the core team assembled, Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth feels like embarking on a fantastic adventure with a gang of your best friends. More open, action-packed, and surprisingly funny, Rebirth gives players days of content and the freedom to pursue it, while still telling a wonderful and cohesive story. Every aspect of Remake has been examined, refined, and improved. This is the franchise's Empire Strikes Back, in all the best ways.

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.

D-Day Enhanced offers fun gunplay that only sporadically functions 100% correctly, in addition to myriad bugs and a paltry player base. The bugs can be squashed in the weeks ahead, but the lack of players and subsequently poor AI make this one a tough sell.

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is a deeply emotional collection of human stories, of both the protagonists, but also the settlers of New Eden. The combat is nothing great, but the stories within certainly are. You’ll be surprised at how easily you can empathize with late 17th century colonials, which is the magic of developer Don’t Nod.

Tekken 8 is not just a return to form, it's a Tekken masterpiece. Without question, this is the most fun I've had playing a Tekken game in a very long time. It's only a matter of time for people to call this one scrubby too, and I am here for it. Harada, hat tip to you. Beautiful and very fun game.

While the strangely gun-focused combat isn’t anything to write home about, the filmic story elements in Suicide Squad are enough to carry the day, at least for the duration of the campaign. While I wish there was more to do in Metropolis, it is a beautiful setting for a game, and watching the cast of weirdos and losers skewer some of DC’s finest is a guilty pleasure. While the end game doesn’t currently feel compelling, there is more to come, so we’ll reserve judgement until we see how that plays out. As it stands, this is a mild recommendation for a mostly painless, often funny game.

Casper Croes and his crew understood the assignment. Alisa is pure Playstation One-style 90s survival horror in the best way possible. There is so much love and passion put into this game, and a true understanding of tone and aesthetics and gameplay that made those games so much fun. If you grew up with these games like I did, I cannot recommend Alisa enough.

Momodora: Moonlit Farewell doesn’t do anything groundbreaking for Metroidvanias, but it really doesn’t need to. The art style and music suit the game well given the story and the various sigils, relics, and companions to collect, along with health and magic upgrades, give you plenty of ways to customize your playstyle, though they can make things a bit easier than it seem like they should. If you enjoyed Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight or just have a bit of a Metroidvania itch, Momodora: Moonlit Farewell can definitely scratch it for a while.

Ultimately Hitman: Blood Money Reprisal is an 18 year old game that feels optimized for mobile, but yeah, also lands on the Switch. There are some decent quality of life upgrades but the visuals show their age. The story and missions stay true to form in what was always one of the best Hitman narratives. I expect a little more on the Switch and while this might seem a more premium experience on something like an iPad it doesn't quite hit that same height on Nintendo's console. It is still a good game, and is a cool throwback to a really accomplished peak in gaming's past.

The scope and depth of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth are stunning, as is the amount of addictive fun the game provides. With a ton of new mechanics, minigames that are more like full-sized games, and great characters, this enormous (and enormously entertaining) action/RPG title is one of the best values in AAA gaming. Like a Dragon is willing to do anything to entertain you. You should probably get on board if you aren't already.

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.

Regardless of if you’re experiencing the story for the first time, or returning for the $10 upgrade, this is the definitive version of one of the finest video games ever made. It’s worth playing for the story alone, but the No Return mode is an intense and fun addition that might keep you around longer than you expect.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown strikes a harmonious balance between combat, puzzles, and exploration, providing a satisfying blend for players. The shadow of the deluxe edition looms, introducing cosmetic items and early access at a questionable price point. Despite this, the core game experience remains untarnished, making the deluxe edition an optional, albeit somewhat disappointing, add-on. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a delightful journey, offering a well-paced adventure that managed to keep me engaged from start to finish.

Cookie Cutter is a good Metroidvania, elevated by some pretty stellar graphics. Don't expect to walk through this one - the game raises the difficulty in response to your character powering up. A lot of value here for the asking price.

Towers and Powers is an excellent example of how virtual reality can enhance certain genres. I’ve played tower defense games before, but what I didn’t know until now is that VR is the definitive way to enjoy them. Towers and Powers convinced me of that, making it an easy game to recommend on PS VR2.

It's rare to see such a massive VR game, especially on a mobile platform. Asgard's Wrath 2 delivers a ton of gameplay and a mountain of content. Minor issues aside, this game has it all for VR owners and is a great sequel to the Quest 2 game.

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.

Despite its flaws, Gothic II remains a fascinating relic, a testament to the ambition and innovation of early open-world RPGs. While its clunky controls, outdated mechanics, and fetch-quest-heavy narrative might not resonate with modern players, its intricate world-building, hidden secrets, and surprisingly complex player agency shine through even today. It's a game that demands patience, but rewards exploration with a sense of discovery and genuine joy in overcoming its challenges. Ultimately, Gothic II's legacy lies not in its polish but in its pioneering spirit. It helped lay the groundwork for the genre we know and love, and for that, it deserves our respect, even if I ultimately choose to leave its clunky controls and endless errands in the past.

While I eventually began having fun with Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, the game was a very difficult nut to crack. Rather than being open to the way I wanted to play it, Avatar pushed me to find the way it wanted to be played, and then kinda punished me for doing so. Frontiers of Pandora should feel free and flowing, but I've found a lot of the experience to be restrictive and near-punitive. Once I pushed through the game's many barriers to entry, I started having a good time, but don't expect to just jump in and have fun. Like Jake Sully, it's going to take a while to find your Avatar-legs.

Arizona Sunshine 2 might not be the groundbreaking landmark the first game was, but improved gunplay, a fun companion, and rapid-fire jokes make this a ride well worth taking. Often tense, always fun, and sometimes emotionally impactful, Arizona Sunshine feels like big-budget entertainment. Just play by yourself the first time so your friend doesn't chatter through all the good stuff.

Sanabi is a secret masterpiece. I don't know why it's a secret, but it is. It's a platforming clinic, with extremely tight controls, and the story hit me in the center of my heart. You'll probably play it one more time to speed run it, but I wont. Some games are better left one and done. This is one of those games. Unbelievable.

Without a ton of bells and whistles, Pickleball One delivers a streamlined Pickleball experience that feels great. Pickleball One will teach you how to play Pickleball, train you to get better at it, and allow you to take those skills to the community that has gathered around the game. It ain't fancy, but it certainly gets the job done.

Lego Bricktales VR pulls of an amazing trick, allowing you to play with gorgeous Lego sets floating around in your own home through the magic of mixed reality. Detailed and beautiful, while still being a fun and challenging game, I can’t think of a better way to show off VR to stubborn non-believers. The potential of what is on display here is limitless.

Assassin's Creed Nexus brings Ubisoft's amazing level of polish and fun to the VR space, with spectacular results. While the combat is a bit clunky, everything else - from the effortless parkour to the highly entertaining stealth - works like a charm. I was amazed and delighted by the fact that this is a full game, and not just a small collection of levels crammed into a "VR experience". Wildly fun, this game goes a long way toward re-establishing my faith in VR as a viable video game medium. This is a landmark title.

Bringing a new, adult spin to Zen Studios' winning pinball formula, Pinball M does enough new thing to differentiate itself from the Pinball FX mothership. Bringing a strong opening selection of tables and many ways to interact with them, Pinball M feels like the start of something new and mysterious. I can't wait to see where it goes next.

Despite minor complaints about the story's pacing, the overall experience of Persona 5 Tactica is rewarding. Engaging combat dynamics and a strategic depth that is hidden at the game’s slower-than-I-wanted start kept me invested in the tactical twists. Persona 5 Tactica successfully delivers a compelling inter-quel that stands on its own within the beloved franchise. Persona 5 Tactica is a solid, enjoyable tactics game that still feels like a Persona game despite not being a true RPG. It successfully blends the Persona universe with a tactical RPG gameplay style. This one can be enjoyed by Persona 5 fans and tactics fans alike.

Forest Grove is very short and a little rough around the edges but it's a decent mystery story that kept me interested throughout and made me want to keep playing to find every piece of evidence I could to complete the story.

I enjoyed Astral Ascent when it was in Early Access and I still enjoy it after it’s official release. Multiple characters, spells, and abilities along with procedurally generated areas and some fun and interesting boss fights against the Zodiacs give Astral Ascent plenty of replayability. If these kinds of games are up your alley, you’ll get plenty of gameplay out of Astral Ascent.

Some games don’t need to be ported from board to video. Settlers of Catan is one of those games. The rules are exactly the same. The resources have been left unchanged. The robber still shows up with you roll a 7. That isn’t the problem. Settlers of Catan: Console Edition has taught me that the game isn’t the board; it’s the players. The human interactions happening while playing, the back and forth between rivals, and the race to get to 10 victory points feels meaningless against AI opponents. I tried to get others to play with me in person, but if you don’t play video games, you won’t have fun, and the person trying to help you with the controls won’t either. There is zero online presence, I waited for over half an hour only to find no one. Settlers of Catan: Console Edition is a faithful adaptation, but the jump to the video game screen makes me dream of playing with a group of friends, in person at my dining room table.

Can torturing prisoners in a secret underground laboratory be kinda boring? The Kindeman Remedy shows that it can. Essentially a time management game, The Kindeman Remedy has players putting an evil doctor and his nun assistant through the paces of dark experiments in a way that ends up feeling a lot like a repetitive day of work. Some cheap kicks to be had from the not-so-violent violence, but the shock value is short-lived. Not a prison I would want to spend any significant amount of time in.

Barbaria is fun in the moment, and very visually pleasing. Assembling dungeons and raiding the dungeons of other players are both very entertaining activities, and the high-end VR implementation makes things that much better, but the overly open-ended progression system ultimately left me feeling stalled and frustrated. There is massive potential here, and with a few more guardrails in place, Barbaria would be an all-time great VR game.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was a tough game to review. The campaign almost completely lost its way with respect to the soul of Call of Duty campaigns. Meanwhile, the multiplayer and new iteration on Zombies are fun, with Zombies in particular being a real surprise. As a total package, it is deeply flawed, but taken as disparate parts there is a lot to like, depending on your personal tastes.

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.

Teardown is one of the most fun games I have played this year. The combination of destructible environments and timed heists never gets old. Not quite mindless, Teardown is still a great way to turn your brain off and just blow stuff up. It is packed with so much content that you likely won't get bored of anytime soon.

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.

Nickelodeon All Star Brawl 2 has even more potential than the first game at launch. It's a good continuation, more so a way better start than the last game's abysmal beginnings. However, with clunky controls, favorite characters missing, and a useless campaign, maybe wait until "Nickelodeon's All Star Brawl 3: Shredder's Revenge 2" comes in 2025. Or at least give it a few months for things to get smoothed out.

Through all the performance and optimization issues, all the problems with shading and rendering, I believe there's a good game waiting to be unlocked. However, as it stands, Cities Skylines II is a major disappointment that should have been pushed back to fix these issues. Instead, gamers are stuck dealing with yet another game that falls victim to a rush and will need multiple patches until we see what the final product actually is.

Slay the Princess is my first visual novel in my roughly thirty-five years as a gamer and I enjoyed every minute of it. With so many dialogue options to choose from, no two runs of the story are the same, and even when you get to the story’s finale there are still a few different ways it can ultimately end. The voice acting and soundtrack ties everything together beautifully and for someone who never got into visual novels, I can’t recommend this one enough. If you’re looking for a psychological horror story with quite a bit of comedic dialogue thrown in, then definitely prepare to Slay the Princess…that kind of came out weird.

Vampire The Masquerade – Justice features an intriguing stealth premise that should be perfect for the immersive world of virtual reality. Unfortunately, it’s a lowkey technical mess that struggles mightily to get out of its own way, in addition to losing its identity at key moments. Fleetingly fun and frequently frustrating, this vampire adventure will suck the life out of you.