There's a few things here that make Toukiden: Age of Demons worth checking out. Whether or not you'll want to stick around depends on whether or not you need to scratch that Monster Hunter itch. If you do, bring some friends; it'll make the experience a lot better.

Sometimes you’re a rat in a cage. Sometimes you’re a lion. But when all your planning, patience, and possibly plain old good luck finally pays off, The Escapists rewards in a rare way. Because in The Escapists, whether you catch a break or catch a beatdown, you’ll know you’ve earned it.

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.

Not even a Hulk can save Lego Marvel's Avengers from its tiresome gameplay mechanics. Smashing apart bricks isn't fun anymore, and, unfortunately, Developer TT Games doesn't realize that yet. Even a wide variety of content can't save the game from being boring to play. Recommended for kids with posters of Iron Man in their rooms-and a pass for everyone else.

The Elder Scrolls Online is a solid massively multiplayer online experience.

Kingdoms and Castles is entering into a competitive genre and may struggle to get noticed, but the ease of play and nice balance between simplicity and complexity makes it worth taking a look at. Just be sure to consider what you're going to do when the Vikings come calling.

One could certainly argue that Guitar Hero: Smash Hits is nothing more than a glorified expansion pack. But there's definitely enough content in this game to warrant a look, even if you already own these songs in older Guitar Hero games. I just wish Activision would have done more with this idea than throwing us new songs.

Put simply, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier for the PC is an unstable product with numerous gameplay, online connection, and performance issues. Even with the release of multiple patches, there are an array of issues still present within the game. An entertaining single-player campaign and engaging multiplayer are enjoyable if players are able to overcome the blatant porting issues from consoles to the PC.

Battlefield Hardline is a worthwhile entry in the series that shouldn't be passed over by fans.

Unit 13 is a great little shooter for playing "on the go". Don't be fooled by the look, this isn't nearly as technical or tactical as it looks. Zipper Interactive's swan song is a purely "arcade" experience from beginning to end where your one and only goal it taking out the bad guys with quickness and finesse.

Life is Strange: Reunion is not only a major step up from Double Exposure, it's one of the best games in the series. Almost every criticism from the previous game was rectified in Reunion and gave Max and Chloe the closure that they deserved. Great writing, great characters and a pretty intense mystery to solve, this game could have gone off the rails at so many points. But Deck Nine managed to pull off a miracle here by delivering a fantastic game.

Corpse Party proves that a minimalistic approach can get some of the best results when it comes to horror. If a little blood gets you weak in the knees, this game is not for you.

Croixleur Sigma seems to run out of steam right when you start to get the hang of the gameplay. The presentation is top notch, but there's not much below the surface.

Chef Life: A Restaurant Simulator nails the minutia of cooking, with impressively detailed recipes that most people could only dream of making in real-life. Unfortunately, the gameplay loop struggles to keep you engrossed, and the experience is rigid in ways that won’t be palatable for some.

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.

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.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a ton of fun, and though it has some issues it has been pretty addicting to play. This is one of those games though that you will get the most out of it if you are playing with friends and using mics, as teamwork is a must. Some great new game dynamics elevate this one above the fray, making it the best asymmetrical horror game in recent memory.

While some might balk at the shorter length of Transference, I found the experience to be spot-on, particularly while played experienced in the very high-end VR. With a unique take on walking simulator mechanics and some fun (and not overly difficult) puzzles, Transference feels like an afternoon well-spent. Just be ready for some dark, adult themes. They don’t call mad scientists ‘mad’ for nothing, and Transference has one doozy of a mad scientist.

Quality gameplay while it lasts, but this new chapter is over just as the charm begins to set in to the experience. Fans of the original game will surely enjoy The Lost Hobo King but find their selves back in a familiar place of "wanting more" very quickly. The extra chapter is a still a welcome addition and just as enjoyable as the full adventure but it just needs to be longer and that is what really holds it back.

If you enjoy modern Resident Evil titles such as Resident Evil 7 and Village, then you will feel right at home with Fobia - St. Dinfna Hotel. It’s an obvious love letter to the franchise that contains plenty of lore, mystery, horror, and puzzles. Unfortunately, the janky controls take away from what otherwise is an indie game with lots of heart and promise.

Don't be fooled by the name, this is one game that won't make you feel like a real guitar hero!

The concepts behind the gameplay aren't exactly original, but their use and execution makes up for any stolen ideas. What the developers have done is unexpected: they've taken an excuse to make a truly forgettable game, and instead produced a quality product that keeps the player playing, and occasionally makes them laugh as well.

With a slick interface and solid MOBA game mechanics, Guardians of Middle Earth gives a healthy dose of Lord of the Rings gameplay while being a very good title for everyone alike.

Nuclear Dawn is a compelling combination of FPS and RTS elements that provide an unique experience among other online shooters. With an array of class customization and ability to control the battlefield as a commander, a trip to the war torn world of Nuclear Dawn is highly recommended.

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

Unremarkable aside from its boisterous nature, Blood in the Sand is fleeting if not occasionally mind-numbing with its fun. It’s not only unoriginal, it poorly copycats its older siblings to lesser effect.

It may look like it is based on a Japanese TV show, but I assure you that this game is not based on a licensed property. And maybe that's a good thing, because Draglade proves to be an interesting take on the fighting genre that perfectly fits the Nintendo DS' limited hardware.

Conga Master Party is enjoyable, but kind of short if you’re playing solo as the Story Mode doesn’t take too long to complete once you know what you’re doing, and Endless Mode can only go so far. The multi-player modes on the other hand can make for some fun times among friends. Sadly it’s local multi-player only with no online play or AI opponents to compete against. It’s still fun either way, but more so with friends.

It's most certainly a step up from the old DS titles, but Naruto: Powerful Shippuden doesn't quite have the depth to make it really stand out amongst other brawlers out there. Hopefully future titles can build off the good base they've got.

Even for those not willing to hop into gaming’s “kiddy pool,” come on in: the water’s fine.

Standard game mechanics are well-integrated to produce a solid game. RPG and RTS elements are combined into an enjoyable experience. Not great, but not bad, either. Competent.

Diverse factions and units, continually evolving gameplay, and authentic-feeling maps make for a must-own game for RTS enthusiasts and newcomers.

The tracks become monotonous, and once the novelty of the LEGO characters wears off you’ll be wishing you bought a different Rock Band title.

If you like old-school JRPGs, flaws and all, you should enjoy this game.

It's hard to imagine, but Sierra Entertainment has been able to capture the frantic pace and edge-of-your-seat action of the Bourne movies in this game.

Fans of both old school shooters and 2D beat-em-ups will fall in love with the merging of these two genre.

If you aren't a fan of this 15 year old franchise then this won't change that, but everybody else will have a great time surfing the galaxy and busting bubbles!

Kasumi's loyalty mission and her abilities as a combat partner are certainly enjoyable, but there won't be enough content to utilize her with if you've already finished the game and don't plan on re-embarking with a fresh start.

Overall, if you're a fan of the Ace Combat franchise, you'll probably like the game. Otherwise, you might want to rent or borrow it first.

The Ezio Collection is a great bundle with three great games, but that's really all it is. Newer fans of Assassin's Creed that have missed out should absolutely check this out but fans that experienced it years ago really don't have much of a reason to pick this up.

Steel Seed doesn't do anything particularly new, but it does recreate tried and true gameplay and traversal elements and wraps it in a stunning presentation. I have trouble with the final act as I think it falls a bit short of the promise the first two acts build up to, but overall the complete package is a pretty good game marked by solid mechanics and progression. It settles into a core loop but encourages you to explore options to play that out, and for the most part offers a pretty cool narrative wrapping neat ideas into a gorgeous bit of world building.

Cold Iron is a game that requires players to think and act fast. While it is brief, and some might consider it too difficult, the game never feels unfair. The solutions to its unique puzzles are right in front of you, and your own wits and skill are the only things that stands between you and sweet, sweet victory. If you have had a hankering for a new gaming experience and don't mind getting your hide tanned a little bit, Cold Iron may just be your huckleberry.

NBA Jam is a lot of fun to play, especially with friends both online and off. The game plays exactly like the original in terms of gameplay, which was the series' strong point. EA has gone to great lengths to ensure that the strengths of the original has remained in tact.

Abstraction Games’ 8-Bit Adventure Anthology: Volume I is a collection of three Mac and NES point-and-click adventure titles developed in the mid-80s by ICOM Simulations. The collection delivers a window back to the time when games refused to explain themselves. These games don’t care if you like them, don’t respect your feelings, and cannot be bothered with your tears of frustration. Only the toughest of the tough need apply.

Samurai Warriors 4 Empires is a nice change of pace for those who want more to the Warriors franchise than just hack and slash. Not that the hacking and slashing isn't fun, but the addition of the strategy elements makes it and even better game and one that is a blast to play.

I have to admit I was pretty impressed with Brave. If you have a child that enjoyed the movie, were a fan of the movie yourself, or are a parent and are looking for a fun family friendly game you can play with your kids, then Brave should be right up your alley.

A decent action RPG with some interesting and unique character development. It may take some time to appreciate, and many won’t. It’s worth a look, but it’s not for everyone.

Eivor steps into the shoes of Odin for a grand stomp around a gorgeously realized fantasy realm in what has become my favorite Assassin's Creed experience of all time. Great writing, gorgeous visuals, and a ridiculous amount of content make this DLC worthy of being a stand alone game. Beyond being highly recommended, Dawn of Ragnarok is an absolutely necessity for Assassin's Creed fans.

Not Tonight is a good, solid game. The mechanics are fun, the characters are memorable, and the setting is well executed. However, for its satirical approach, it should have gone a few steps further, and taken the risk in order to become the truly biting, funny, and meaningful social commentary that it wants to be.

Crayta is a remarkable game-creation game/tool, with just enough fun structure built around it to keep the proceedings light and fun. Crayta is built to appeal to builders of all skill levels, providing simple controller-based construction for newcomers, while allowing skilled users to dig right down into code. While a few starter games are provided by Unit 2, they aren't really the point. Time will tell what the community builds out of Crayta, but the tools are certainly there for this platform to spawn some amazing things.

From the creator of ToeJam & Earl comes a game about a robot searching for humanity. Doki-Doki Universe has players flying through twenty different planets, all in hopes of finding what makes humans tick.

Namco knows how to make fighter jets interesting, as is proven by Ace Combat: Joint Assault. Although it's marred by some slow parts in the story telling, the missions are diverse and there's enough multiplayer content to keep players (and their friends) busy for months to come.

Gods Eater Burst provides a compelling adventure game with a mountain of content, great graphics and online multiplayer support. Namco goes toe-to-toe with the Monster Hunter franchise and, at least from my perspective, wins.

What goes down must come up. The Sinking City is more than the sum of its glitchy b-game parts. Balanced detective work makes up for shoddy gunplay. A gruff and well-realized cast makes up for brain-dead AI. This is unironically a highwater mark for both detective fiction and Lovecraftian Horror in video gaming.

Gotham City Impostors is a solid shooter wrapped inside of an entertaining tongue and cheek presentation,which results in a very enjoyable game.The core gameplay is right in line with everything that you would expect in a modern shooter but it just so happens to also include a great sense of humor and and a great presentation style. Batman and shooter fans alike will find plenty to enjoy with the game but end up wishing that had more maps and match types in the long run.

FlOw is a unique little adventure that rewards players for investing in its world, but if it doesn't pull you in quick, its short length and repetitive gameplay will make for a forgetful experience.

With its impressive visuals and compelling storytelling, The 3rd Birthday is an exciting new chapter in the Parasite Eve series. Too bad the game is marred by stiff controls, frustrating gameplay and cheap bosses. If you can get past these hiccups you'll discover another worthwhile PSP game!

If you've never played any of the games in the series then you may want to try this one out, if not there are plenty of better DS titles out there.

No Man's Sky is an ironically small game, but it has a big, beating heart at its center, even when the procedural generation and the sometimes narrow-scoped world building tries to hide it.

A solid RPG/dating sim that will please those that love all things Japanese.

Grand Slam Tennis 2 has a good visual product with quality stadiums and good gameplay. However, there is a lot of work that needs to be done with the career mode to make this game have a much higher replay value than what it has currently. After three years of releasing the first title, it is concerning that this was the final product.

Amazing Discoveries in Outer Space is a fairly easy game that would be good to play if looking to relax. While it didn't provide too much of a challenge, it kept me interested, even if it was a bit repetitive.

Another Fisherman’s Tale eventually tells a heartwarming story that many people will relate to, but whether or not they stick with it to the end is the big question. The narrative feels contorted to accommodate the gameplay, which itself stales rather quickly, and by the time it gets on track the game is over.

A bit of trailer trickery might have you thinking that Crossfire: Sierra Squad is more open than it really is. While it's not quite a rail shooter, the environments and scenarios are much smaller than you might expect. Still, a wealth of content and a ton of weapons make up for the surprise once you settle in to the fact that this is an cover-based arcade shooter above all. The guns feel good, the graphics are fine, and if you turn off your brain you'll probably have a pretty good time.

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

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure All-Star Battle is as baffling a fighting game as you will ever play. With a large cast of eccentric characters and some of the most stylish moves you'll ever see, Namco Bandai have finally released a good anime game. It's not without a few problems, but JoJo has enough charm to warrant taking the risk.

An addictive mix of strategy, RPG, exploration and storytelling, Halcyon 6 is slow to start but should satisfy anyone craving a deep, retro-affectionate science fiction adventure.

Kung Fu Panda is a surprisingly good movie game that is marred by awkward PC controls.

Asura's Wrath is an incredible experience, but not exactly a great game. You spend as much, if not more, time watching cut-scenes as you do actually controlling Asura. There is a lot of promise to this concept, but I am not sure it's implementation belongs in a full-priced, retail game.

The most fun I have had with a videogame in 2015 so far. I think the idea of this game is brilliant, and it is absolutely addicting to play.

The theme is finger-lickin' good from its campy standpoint, but the deliberately-paced action, puzzled AI, glass-ceiling scenarios, and sometimes-brilliant/always-limiting Army Controller will leave any Kid at Heart hoping for better functionality of all the small things.

From the explosive tankers to the destructible environments, Shatter Bay makes a great first impression. Franchise loyalists may be turned off by this brand new direction, but anybody who loves Burnout will have a blast playing through Ridge Racer Unbounded. It's not without a few problems, but Namco's newest racer packs enough content to make up for any imperfection!

Even if it is a bit one-note, 101 Ways to Die is an irreverent puzzle game whose sheer fun potential outweighs its frustrations.

While notably short, 39 Days to Mars is a lot of fun, delivered in an attractive artistic design. It's really more puzzles than adventure, but the puzzles are satisfying to solve and never caused one of those "how was I supposed to know that??" moments.

Hellgate: London does have potential though but it's just not there yet. There's a lot of fixing the needs to be done and a lot of bugs to hammer out.

No pun intended, but Spectrobes: Beyond the Portals is a game that gets more interesting the deeper you dig.

You'll have a lot of fun with this new Bionic Commando, but he ultimately plays it safe in his first adventure in twenty years.

It’s not groundbreaking, but the intense action and decent mission structure will allow you to shut your brain off and have a great time.

While I didn't enjoy it as much as the first game, Red Faction Armageddon is still worth picking up if only to play with the big box of explosive toys. There are a few great gaming moments in the game but they are held back by a few generic ones.

A year after it was released on the Xbox 360, Wii and PSP, TNT Racers is making an appearance on the PlayStation 3. Inspired by Micro Machines and other 8-bit driving games, this brand new PSN offers a colorful world and a bunch of exciting (albeit frustrating) races to complete. Too bad the developers didn't spend the year making improvements to an already strong concept!

Harold is one of those games where if you don’t like steep difficulty curves, you’ll likely want to stay away from it. If you can get past that though, Harold does provide a pretty good challenge even in the early going and really tests your reflexes as the races get harder and you have to multitask even more obstacles.

Crackdown 2 is one of the most disappointing sequels of the year, a flawed action game that feels a little too much like the first game.

Giving the pets the same depth and personality options as your regular Sims is a welcome addition, however I am not sure that it is enough to draw in any new fans to the franchise.

There isn’t much to say about Clockwork Aquario. It's a side scrolling game. It doesn’t stand out, looking good and having solid controls doesn’t make it a must play. While Clockwork Aquario is a fun game, it’s price of admission doesn’t make it a must play for anyone other than a diehard 90s arcade fanboy.

Layers of Fear 2 is an abstract, slow burn psychological thriller that strings you along with increasingly skilled and disturbing imagery, then leaves you shaking and looking over your shoulder.

Overall, I'm going to have to call this one a winner mainly on the strength of its gameplay and visual aesthetic. Just don't go in to it expecting the depth or structural realism you might find in other tennis games.

In Sound Mind might lack the scare factor but it is an unsettling experience throughout that will undoubtedly appeal to fans of psychological horrors.

Somehow, the developers of Lego Horizon Adventures found the perfect recipe to simplify everything about Horizon while keeping the charm and the nuances that make the franchise so endearing to its fans. The development team knocked it out of the park in translating such a robust experience to a family friendly version that can be enjoyed by gamers of all ages. This is an enjoyable ride for everyone but especially for fans of the franchise.

The series was solid to begin with and it seems that the developers tinkered with a formula that didn’t need to be changed.

Do you like classic rock? Are you somebody that can't buy songs via the Rock Band online music store? Do you like all these songs and want a good deal on buying 20 songs at once? Then Rock Band Track Pack: Classic Rock is for you.

The premise behind Nom Nom Galaxy wears thin after a can or two. Its neatly focused premise and evolving puzzles don't progress at a rate to keep things stimulating for more than a few planets' worth of corporate conquest.

If you missed out on Deadlight when it was originally released and are into action platformers, I do recommend checking it out. Just be prepared for the frustration to ramp up as the game goes on.

Maquette has a great puzzle mechanic as its central hook, though it sometimes struggles with obtuse implementation and fussy controls. Nonetheless, the narrative arc of the young relationship at the center of the game is well worth a bit of frustration to experience. Some lovely visuals and music make playing Maquette that much more rewarding.

Payday: the heist isn't without its problems but it is easily one of the most enjoyable multiplayer experiences out there. Just make sure that you have some buddies on your friend's list with the game because joining up with random people, or better yet not being able to, can really suck the fun out of it all.

The game is simple, fun, and safe for the whole family. It may not be game of the year, but it certainly is worth a look from strategy buffs.

TimeShift has a great concept that should have added something new and original to the crowded first-person shooter genre. Unfortunately Sierra's newest action game is marred by a boring story, an easy difficulty and time shifting abilities that aren't nearly as much fun as they should have been.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold is equal parts classic beat-em-up and tribute to the beloved animated series. It's a brawler that anyone, genre fans included, can pick up and have a good time with. For fans of the TV show it's a must own, replicating the series' charm and campy wit with all the same writing, voice talent and art style.

Even though it has a few annoying and erroneous elements and an uncompelling, cringeworthy story, Dead Rising 3 is still an incredibly fun game. If you're looking for something where you can turn your brain off and go ballistic- Dead Rising 3 is going to be a perfect fit for you.