While The Club is one of Sega's best action games in years, it's marred by a lack of depth and repetitive gameplay. If you can get past some of these shortcomings then you will find that The Club is a worthwhile game that tries to do something different with the third-person shooter genre.

Ashen is a game created in the same vein as some of the predecessors of its genre, like Dark Souls or Bloodborne. It imitates a great deal of the mechanics from those games but also brings a unique and beautiful art style as well a sense of organic progression that enhances the feel of the game. For those lovers of games like Dark Souls, it's hard to guarantee that you'll find the same experience, but there's still a heck of a lot to like about what sets Ashen apart.

MMOs are difficult to grade on their own, but Throne and Liberty is a pretty great entry into the genre. NC Soft makes getting to max level easy enough, but the endgame grind for gear may turn some players off. Overall, there's a lot to enjoy here with a beautiful world to explore, plenty of PvE and PvP events to partake, and so many players to interact with. For a free to play MMO, it clears the bar quite easily for games worth giving a shot.

GUTS is gory, messy, bloody, violent, and... did I say gory yet? Well, it's gory enough to say it twice. Beyond that, GUTS is an approachable yet mildly complex fighting game that will appeal to people just trying out a fighting game for the first time, or experienced fighters looking for a change of pace.

Moons of Darsalon is a lovely action puzzle platformer with a slight bug problem. With that said, it is so unique and so confidently designed that I don’t think you should skip it.

Not only is this one of the best puzzle games on the Xbox Live Arcade, but it's also a fantastic looking game with a compelling gimmick.

I've gotten some sense of closure after the credits rolled in Kingdom Hearts 3 and it wasn't quite what I wanted, but that doesn't make it unworthy of being experienced. It's hard to say this game was worth the long wait, as the story is still a mess, but Square-Enix showed some real love in crafting this experience. There's definitely some highs, and quite a few lows, but seeing this journey through is ultimately satisfying. And if you've been in it for the long haul, then you'll probably come away pleased.

A solid first-person shooter that tries out a few new ideas and offers a compelling single-player story. But now that the shock and amazement of finally getting to play it has warn off we're left with a game that is a lot of fun ... but probably not worth the decade-long wait.

This is a great deal if you haven't played these two God of War games, but everybody else may think twice about the $30 asking price.

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

Had Future Perfect been released this two or three years ago it would have been considered a masterpiece, but in 2005 TimeSplitters just feels out of touch.

After all is said and done, this DLC gives me more of what I love, and kudos to Red Storm for taking on that challenge when I thought they had abandoned the game and moved on. Now, can I get some Cardassians?

While the Just Dance series reek of a yearly subscription based model, it still is a lot of fun, especially with the bops released in the year to date. Can't beat dancing to your hearts content with your friends and family in this wholesome and colorful game.

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.

It doesn’t quite underscore the horrors of the war, but Valiant Hearts does a pretty good job of telling a great story while supplementing it with facts about a very harsh reality that occurred a hundred years ago. The puzzle styled gameplay doesn’t seem typical for this type of setting, but the gameplay is balanced in such a way that it works. There are instant-death mechanics, which totally makes sense, but also a generous hint system so I never felt like I was trapped in a certain situation.

The Old Hunter’s is a great expansion for die hard fans of Bloodborne. It brings a good amount of fresh content to the game without doing anything to alter the formula. It’s more of the same, which is a good thing. Just be prepared for the difficulty as it is as unrelenting as ever.

Rather than continuing the story of guerillas in Yara, Far Cry 6 Vaas: Insanity offers a tight little roguelite centered on the villain of Far Cry 3. Stripping the franchise down to its core of exploration and shooting, this DLC could stand alone as its own small but satisfying game.

Despite being a little over the top at times, violence-wise, Mother Russia Bleeds is a fantastic brawler at it’s core. Addicting gameplay with a classic look, this one should keep you and your friends entertained time and time again, just like the classic beat’em ups of the past.

When Gungrave is at its best, it's an extremely entertaining action game with a satisfying storyline. At its worse, it's still pretty repetitive and about as deep as a wading pool. Overdose doesn't break any new ground, but still manages to be a great waste of time.

Dead Rising 3 provides plenty of zombie killing fun and is a great game to pick up if you bought an Xbox One. Newcomers to the series will find an incredibly fun game with tons of replay value and co-op fun. Returning fans will find the same thing but may be turned off a bit due to the fact that the core game hasn't really changed all that much.

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

Ruffy and the Riverside is both an homage to classic platform games and an entirely new take on the genre. Its fantastic texture swapping mechanic lends itself to a stunning variety of environmental puzzles, many of which offer a high level of head-scratching satisfaction. Ruffy and the Riverside has sleeper hit written all over it.

Trombone Champ: Unflattened takes cues from it's predecessor, and is maybe too difficult at first. Once you get the hang of it, it picks up rather nicely. It's not the pick up and laugh uncontrollably game it used to be, but it's definitely one of those get friends in the room, and watch trombonic chaos ensue.

The Pillars of the Earth has its mechanical flaws, and it doesn’t translate seamlessly from medium to medium due to technological constraints, but that aside it’s a truly gorgeous experience. The art, music, and voice acting all come together as one to blend this story into one that transcends the pages upon which it was originally written, making it a very unique and interesting experience.

Nocturnal may seem short on length but is enjoyable throughout and doesn’t seem to overstay its welcome. The “light your sword on fire” mechanic to reveal puzzle clues and help defeat enemies shrouded in the mist is unique and helps the game flow smoothly. While it can be a bit annoying to miss some lore collectibles or extra ashes to help you get to that next perk upgrade since you can’t backtrack after certain points, it does make for an interesting risk vs. reward scenario: do you want to just press ahead or take the chance against the mist and learn more about the game’s lore?

It's fun, it can grow with you, and it's priced just right.

For the younger kids that really find that they enjoy the movie's characters, this will be a fun game. Without the tie-in to the movie, though, there isn't anything particularly compelling to recommend it.

If you've been looking for an alternative to the Tony Hawk games then this is it, just don't go in expecting this to be the same kind of over-the-top arcade sports game that the Activision series is known for. And in a lot of ways that's a good thing.

Project Gotham Racing 4 is a solid game that delivers a diverse collection of races to complete. Unfortunately it's marred by the fact that it's not all that different from Project Gotham Racing 3 and isn't as much fun as Forza 2. Still, this is an exciting racer that is well worth adding to your collection.

La-Mulana EX is a frustratingly difficult action/adventure that mixes The Legend of Zelda with Castlevania. Unfortunately, many will be scared away by the obtuse puzzles and confusing level designs, but those that stick with it will discover a lengthy adventure that is full of hidden treasures.

An engaging 80's world is the playground for a romp through a procedurally generated dungeon crawl. But it's not really the changing landscape that spices up the experience, its the wildly shifting abilities earned via in-game mutations that drastically alter one run to the next. The package oozes style and has enough substance to back it up. I just find it lacking that last little bit of polish to help me decide how I want to play, not how the random number generator is going to direct me.

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

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.

Ultimately, Pool Nation is a fun, if a little bit austere, game. It lives up to its own "pixel perfect graphics" and "slo-mo replays so detailed you can see the chalk fly" hype. So if you're looking for something to sate your pool appetite, but were banned from the local dive bar for puking in the bartender's mouth, you should definitely give Pool Nation a look.

There is a bit too much repetition in the experience. It's a good game, but lacks staying power.

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

There's still a lot of button mashing, but the over-the-top story and time travel elements helped keep things from getting to repetitive.

It's got a couple of nagging issues, but Code of Princess has a fun story, a bevy of characters, and a lot of heart.

Overall, the evolution is positive, but the single year development cycle is really hard to ignore with all the little issues and frustrations that the game shipped with. The menus are bad and there are far too many bugs in this year's iteration of EA Sports FC 25. The slower gameplay and move to deeper tactics are features I actually really enjoy, but I can totally understand how many fans might be disappointed at this move away arcade style play to a more methodical approach. There's no reason not to pick it up, but wait on the frequent sales and discounts the game will see.

XCOM 2 checks many of the right boxes for a worthwhile sequel. The improved turn-based strategy gameplay and base management are the true highlights of the sequel. The game's random nature and urge for trying new strategies will keep players coming back. The game stumbles, however, at making the series accessible to a larger audience. The overwhelming difficulty is frustrating. That may be appreciated by series fans, but doesn't welcome newcomers.

Gamers looking to run and gun will be disappointed, but everybody else will get a kick out of this solid World War II shooter.

Disney Infinity 2.0 has made some big strides from the original release. There is a ton to do, especially when you dig into the toy box, which should keep fans occupied for a long, long time. Things are just a little complicated for the younger gamers to do all on their own.

Twelve Minutes is a nice little point-and-click adventure game that will leave you stunned. Some points of frustration can make the game longer than it needs to be. Can get tedious at times if you're stuck.

Swords and Soldiers II is an entertaining RTS game that doesn’t take itself too seriously. That being said hardcore RTS players might find this one a bit too “silly” for their tastes, though players new to RTS games might find it enjoyable, especially with the option to go through any stage on Easy Mode.

Strike Suit Zero borrows a lot from its predecessors, including an uneven difficulty curve, but it gets more right than wrong and the art direction and music are superb. For $20 its a AAA-looking game at a bargain price. Not too shabby for an indie studio's first game.

The game is just as good as it was 10 years ago, and now looks even better.

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.

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.

WWE 13 is a very up and down game. There is a lot to enjoy with this version, and the negatives mentioned do not outweigh them. The gameplay is solid, albeit some minor issues, and the Universe and Attitude Era modes give wrestling fans, both old and new, something to enjoy.

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

Nintendo once again proves that they know the platforming genre better than almost anyone. While polished in its design, I can’t help but wish it was a little more challenging. You can fly through the levels rather quickly without breaking much of a sweat; extra challenges add some life for more advanced players but young ones are likely to get more out of the game.

Star Fox Guard is really a pleasant surprise. It’s a simple concept that is well executed and makes perfect use of the Wii U’s unique control options. Hundreds of levels and the ability to create and share your own give this one some serious legs.

An excellent puzzler that is let down only by a mediocre port onto a screen that it is doing no favors for. The game plays fine when docked onto a bigger screen, but then the controls let you down that much more when you lose the touchscreen to doodle on. There is a rhythmic, difficult challenge unlocked behind the awkward interface played across a level design that beautifully weaves the very canvas of each problem into the story. I thoroughly enjoyed Solas 128, if only I could shake the feeling I would have loved it more were I playing it on a PC.

Super Mario Maker for the 3DS is enjoyable but it has its drawbacks. While the 100 Mario Challenge and Super Mario Challenge are both fun to play through, the lackluster search function of the Recommended Courses, having to go through the Super Mario Challenge to unlock most of the stuff for stage creation, and the quizzical lack of ability to upload courses and share them with the world outside of locally and via StreetPass make this a hard game to recommend at $40 for a lot of people.

Cargo Commander provides gamers with a variety of interesting concepts that ultimately suffer from a lack of motivation for continuing onward in the depths of space.

While it may appear to be a simple carbon-copy of Capcom's Monster Hunter, Ragnarok Odyssey goes to great lengths to develop an identity of its own. Action packed quests, an expansive and beautiful world, and a simple-yet-addictive approach to combat makes this game more enjoyable than Capcom's series in the long run. This is an excellent mobile RPG in my book.

Mario Golf: World Tour isn't quite a hole in one, it's just a few inches short of the hole. A quality title none the less, it's got plenty of content for casual fans of golf and Nintendo fans alike.

How does Skyrim Special Edition fare in a post-Skyrim world? Conceptually: Not bad. Technically: It could use work. The game should've cleaned up some more of its long-standing "Bethesda jank." But the rugged plains, the jagged peaks, and the deep forests of Skyrim are still a sight to behold. These stories, and finding your place in them, is still worth the price of admission.

Minor bugs start to stack up in Arslan: The Warriors of Legend, and they wind up sucking some of the air out of a fun Warriors game. Omega Force definitely has the formula for fun down pat, and they captured the essence of the series, so check it out if you're a fan of the source material.

Knights and Guns takes arcade-style shooters like Buster Brothers and adds a few things to make it unique. I can understand some people getting bored by the repetitiveness of the game and if you’re looking for something that majorly shakes up the genre, you likely won’t find it here. What you will find is a simple always-firing-upward shooter that lets you shoot monsters with several types of weapons, a campaign where you can take multiple paths to get to your final destination, and the ability to bring a friend along for the ride. For ten dollars, I’d say that’s a pretty solid deal.

Despite there being no real improvements or enhancements to any of these games, it is hard to deny the quality of these three games. The BioShock franchise consists of three of the best games we have seen in the past decade and these are the best versions you can get of them. There isn't much in new content but the base content of this collection alone is an incredible value.

High Hell is ample demonstration that good and simple game play still has a place in world of multi-gigabyte monsters with eight-figure (or higher) development and marketing budgets. It's perfect for those situations when you just want to sit down and shoot things for a few minutes without having to deal with even an iota of realism. After all, they're called "games" for a reason.

Fast and frantic, Not a Hero provides some serious satisfaction when things are running on all cylinders. There’s nothing lack diving through windows and taking out bad guys, even if it is classic 8-bit sprites. The humor feels a bit forced at times, but the action wins out in providing a ton of fun.

Half brilliance, half blunder, Pirates of the Burning Sea sets players up with a boutique online experience rife with piracy, privateering, national pride, cutthroat commerce, user-generated content, conquerable ports, and a highly-listenable musical score.

Unmechanical Extending offers gamers a puzzle game with a story told though its setting, more thought provoking than games with hours of pre-recorded dialogue.

The Precinct effortlessly blends simulation, sandbox, and silliness. Imagine being a cop in one of the early top-down GTA games, but with modern game design and accoutrements. It's not perfect, but it nails the core gameplay loop that inspired it.

Scram Kitty DX may not be an essential purchase, but it's full of good ideas and fun challenges.

Project 8 does a great job of improving the graphics and refocusing the series on what made it so fun to begin with. Unfortunately the game is marred by some questionable level designs and a complete lack of innovation.

Nine Noir Lives reminds me of childhood Point & Click titles with a grown-up edge. The cat detective and his misadventures with his voice recorder held my attention the whole time. If I were more into the genre, my detective skills might be better. Some puzzles that slowed me down probably won’t stump others, but I found them challenging. A story that required my attention throughout made Nine Noir Lives worth my time.

A World of Keflings takes the charming niche strategy series and ports it to Wii U, with a host of improvements. This is the same whimsical civilization-builder you remember, but with a streamlined GamePad interface and Mii integration. If you've never experienced the Kefling world, Wii U is the best place to do it.

Back 4 Blood is a worthy successor to the Left 4 Dead franchise. It maintains the fundamentals of what made the original so addictive and satisfying while adding its own little flair with the rogue-like deck building system. What holds Back 4 Blood from getting a better score is its high price tag and lack of solo play progression.

In the end though, Aero’s Quest brings quite a bit of challenge to the genre and is definitely worth checking out.

Cathedral is a pretty good Metroidvania-style game that can be difficult at times, though that tends to come with the genre. That said though, the game looks great and for fifteen dollars, I’d say its definitely worth picking up. As for me, I’ll definitely be taking another trip through the game down the road.

It's a beloved series, so it's only fitting that WayForward deliver a quality title that is worthy of the Adventure Time name.

WWE 2K16 is one of the best WWE games released in years and is the WWE game you want to get if you own a PS4 or Xbox One.

WordJong is a modest game, a simple puzzle game that does only one thing ... but does it very well.

I Hate Running Backwards is a fairly good game, but I can also understand people’s mixed feelings about it. The game is basically a thirty minute top-down shooter (if you can survive that long), but the further you progress, the more difficult you can make it if you wish. Add in a dozen characters to choose from across Digital Devolver’s games and there are plenty of ways to have fun taking down Mental’s minions.

DS should be the platform of choice for the Eragon fans looking for a good movie-tie in. While the graphics aren’t close to the other platforms, gameplay is light years ahead of the 360 version. Combat and controls are good, and the magic system gives the player a feeling of “casting” spells.

With a memorable cast and a great sense of style, One Piece: Ultimate World Red manages to defy the odds and show us that anime games can be a lot of fun. This action-packed brawler rewards fans with a brand new story, exciting gameplay and all kinds of over-the-top moments. Best of all, this is the type of game anybody can enjoy, even those of us who have never seen a single episode of the anime.

Sonic Team Racing does a pretty good job with the new team mechanics, but the difficulty can still be a tad rough at times; While not as bad as prior entries, it can be easy to fall behind after you've spun out, only to catch up again using a Team Ultimate, only to drop back a few spots when the opposing team does the same thing and cost you the race. Still, Sonic Team Racing is enjoyable alone and even more with friends or while playing online.

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

RIVE is a fun, albeit really challenging blend of space shooter and platformer. The intense challenge early on might turn off less experienced players, but those who want a great challenge should enjoy it. Just get used to having blue-colored drones explode in your face quite a bit.

Zen has faithfully recreated two classic pinball tables based on Universal Monsters – complete with their spooky real-world difficulty. While fans of the original tables will be rightfully satisfied, Zen fans will have to adjust their play styles to compensate for the realistic physics. Regardless, this pack represents another solid entry in the Zen library. Did anyone expect otherwise?

Yars: Rising is an ambitious spiritual sequel to Yars' Revenge, and will give you a challenge; Wayforward and Atari worked their magic all through this one. Not so much in enemy variation, but Emi keeps the combat exciting and fun, and the hacks are that old Atari 2600 difficulty. Samus and Megaman would be proud. You will be too.

Based on a classic, but bringing new features and perspectives to the table, Mordheim: City of the Damned provides a challenge, with some interesting party and game management thrown in.

Taking more of a narrative approach while not really offering all that much narrative but definitely adding a little more marvel in the form of cataclysmic weather events as the major antagonist, Just Cause 4 is a shade more than just another Just Cause game. The major gameplay loop of orchestrating chaos remains true to the series but it is meted out just a bit more slowly while unlocking the goodies to perform your opus just a bit more freely. The real shine of the game comes from just whipping about the game world transitioning between grappling, wing suiting, parachuting, carjacking, plane-jacking, and inviting the player to turn the entire island into their own X-games playground on steroids.

Rarely do you see the portable version of a game eclipsing its console counterparts, but that is exactly what the case is here. Germinator “feels” better on Sony’s handheld and result is a much more enjoyable game overall.

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

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed can take you back to 2008, with all the good and mediocrity that comes with it. Do you need to play this if you like Star Wars? I think so. It’s a story that feels right at home with the original trilogy, some plot is good, some goofy, it’s certainly Star Wars. Some shortcomings like basic level design, targeting, and boss mini games. But using your force lightning to attack clone troops is satisfying. Not a perfect game, but darn near close to a perfect Star Wars game.

Dead Island and Dead Island: Riptide are two great open world RPG's in their own right but they are also fantastic zombie survival games as well. Killing zombies never gets old and the island is a beautiful place to explore. If you missed out on these games last generation, now is a good as a time as ever to try them out as they both feel like one huge game that provides hundreds of hours of non stop, zombie slaying fun.

Reign: Her Majesty is a simple game mechanically, but don't let that fool you. Your decisions are not always easy, and the consequences for bad decisions are often fatal. Tread lightly, My Queen, tread lightly indeed!

While the visuals and voice acting didn’t sell me, there was plenty else to sink my fangs into. Choices. So many different, split second choices that made me feel that what I did mattered. A story that kept me searching out clues to find what was really afoot, and great RPG elements too. I was a bit unsure how a game would handle three main characters, and while they’re all kinda jerks in their own ways, they’re my jerks. I was able to overlook any issues I had without having to sacrifice much to do so.

Inmost delivers a variety of gameplay styles, delivering three thoughtfully discordant narratives that tie together with a gut punch at the end. Beautifully constructed pixel-art graphics set a surprisingly somber tone, and the music is top notch at setting the horrific yet contemplative mood. Recommended.

Lumines Arise is NOT Tetris Effect Connected, and once you make that distinction, you'll enjoy this one. The effects can be overwhelming, but turn the ones that affect you off, and connect to the ones that allow you to enjoy the game. See what I did there?

As lovable as ever, Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds is right at home on Sony's portable. It feels as though this is where the game belonged all along. Everything has carried over: the old school, beat-'em-up charm along with a heavy dose of gameplay variation and customization, but the added portability makes it even better than before.

Mr. Run and Jump is a platforming clinic. You are not here to blast through on your first try. If you are easily frustrated, Run and Jump past this one, but for those that appreciate an extreme challenge, Atari has done it again. They didn't necessarily invent the wheel, but there is some very challenging stuff here. Tell your friends. Pack a lunch.

Outcasters is fun, fast, and easy to pick up. A shot-curving mechanic pushes the gameplay in interesting directions, allowing for unexpected levels of strategy. Though the number of modes is currently limited, the modes that are included are quite fun - and there is always room for expansion. The character collection aspect of the game is surprisingly deep and addictive.

While a solid collection, this port is marred by inconsistent frame rate, technical problems and a high price tag. We can argue about whether or not this is enough to warrant the $60 asking price, but there's no debate over the quality of Sleeping Dogs as an open-world action experience.