A powerful narrative, imaginative puzzles, and strong presentation combine in Papo & Yo to result in one of this year's best gaming experiences. The emotional journey of Quico and Monster that comprises Papo & Yo leaves a long-lasting impression well after its conclusion.

Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway is a perfectly competent kart racer, which is elevated by an insane number of levels, characters, and configuration options. Far better than I expected, Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3 blasts players in the face with a slime-hose of options and game modes, offering hours of entertainment to kids and parents alike. Bottom line is, my kids like it, I like it, and we aren't going to stop playing it any time soon. I can't think of a better recommendation for a title of this nature.

Elex II ignores current game design ethos and rages to its own weird beat. Weird, fun, tough, and unpredictably funny, Elex II is feels like a DIY punk-rock open world game, janky and awesome all at the same time. Steer clear if you insist on perfection in your games, but if you are willing to go for the ride and appreciate the flaws instead of being bothered by them, you’ll find a deep and fun adventure unlike anything else on the market.

MX vs. ATV: Untamed is a solid performer and offers a broad experience in off-road racing. It's fun in both single- and multi-player and is definitely worth a look if you enjoy getting dirty.

Monster Rancher is a unique take on a game, it also takes someone who wants to play a unique kind of game to get the maximum enjoyment from it. I don’t think that was me, but I can appreciate two well made games, even if they’re not my perfect cup of tea. The Nintendo Switch might be the best place for this type of slower paced, menu based game. Overall I enjoyed my time with the games, but not as much as I hoped to.

In summary, Cities in Motion looks to become a solid transportation sim in a colorful package. A comprehensive city model and a wide assortment of transport modes provide a wealth of choices to the aspiring city planner.

Even with some questionable controls and outdated graphics, Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble feels like the River City Ransom sequel I've been waiting for.

This DLC content comes off feeling a little 'more of same.' It doesn't introduce anything terribly new, and feels like it has less content and depth than the first chapter. I'm holding out hope that the third chapter can wrap this up neatly.

Minecraft Dungeons is a competent hack n' slash RPG; nothing more, nothing less. It has the outward charm of the creative masterpiece that inspired it, but very little depth. What is here is fun for a time in solo or co-op, but don't expect it to hold your attention long-term.

With only two buttons and 20-second rounds, DiveKick may sound too simple to be any fun. But that's where you're wrong. This is a game that will not only bring new fans to the genre, but also keep the hardcore fighting fans coming back for more. Throw in a memorable cast of characters and you have one of this year's best fighting games.

Teslagrad 2 is built for fans of the original. If you're looking for a longer campaign, you'll have to look elsewhere, but if you find a good deal on a bundle, pick it up. Play the first, then the second. Maybe speed run them the second time around. Graphics and sound are amazing, and the game will definitely give a challenge. But that could be where it's electromagnetism stops.

Hyrule Warriors Legends is a pretty amazing achievement on the 3DS hardware, but that same hardware imposes some rather glaring limitations. It’s almost feature-complete compared to the Wii U game but a smaller screen and lower resolution hamper the overall experience.

The name of the game pretty much spells out exactly what you can expect: LEGO Jurassic World. It is the traditional, Travelers’ Tale LEGO experience that is becoming all too familiar, set in a Jurassic Park setting. Nothing more. Nothing less.

The great presentation is undone by a number of questionable gameplay decisions.

In the end, the kids will eat this one up. They'll come home from seeing the movie and play this game to death.

If you’re into Metroidvanias, Elderand is a fantastic entry for the genre. The game looks and sounds great, the controls and mechanics and tight and responsive, and the challenge is fair with tough boss fights that are very learnable. With multiple weapon types to swap between and some optional things you can do that might change the game’s outcome, there’s no doubt that I’ll be playing through Elderand again. This is definitely one I’d recommend checking out.

Ronin is fun to play and its strengths more than overcome its weaknesses.

If Rick & Morty: Virtual Rick-ality were a discount title, I would say Take a look, but keep your expectations in check. However, this is one of the more expensive VR titles, and the brevity of the story combined with the frustration of some broken mechanics make this a mixed bag. The game is fun when it is working correctly, and the world building and writing are top notch, but don’t expect to spend more than a couple of hours in Rick’s garage, with some of that time spent wrestling with broken mechanics.

No Straight Roads has fantastic visuals, a phenomenal soundtrack, and lovable characters. It's a shame that the rest of the game doesn't hold up as well but I didn't regret my time with the game and will be replaying the boss fights many more times thanks to the fantastic music.

The Legend of Kage 2 may not be the perfect 16-bit revival, but it's definitely worth checking out for those who love fast-paced ninja platforming action!

Aerosmith is exactly what you think it is, a Guitar Hero game with way too much Aerosmith. If that's your cup of tea then you're probably going to get a kick out of this game, but everybody else should avoid this like the plague.

Need for Speed Nitro has a lot of solid content, good production values and a large quantity of customization for a DS game.

Excitebike: World Rally is a really good example of how to take a classic, simple game and bring it into the modern era.

DuckTales Remastered looks great, but WayForward's tinkering has led to a disappointing remake. What used to be a simple story about an adventurous duck has suddenly become the type of long-winded story Hideo Kojima would be proud of.

Vertical Drop Heroes is a really solid game. While there are a couple of things I could (and did) nitpick, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with it. If you're looking for a fun and slightly different type of RPG that you can easily play in spurts, definitely give this one a go.

Glitchy Pixel's new game proves once and for all that it's more fun to be the ghost.

Coming from a series newbie, Yo-kai Watch 2: Fleshy Souls/Bony Spirits is an enjoyable game, but there were a couple of things that surprised me. The mostly-automated battles confused me at first as I wasn’t expecting it, but I did get the hang of it over time. I just wish the user had more input during them other than healing and Soultimate moves, but other than that and the tedium of befriending Yo-kai, fans of the original game should enjoy the second outing as well.

Rezrog is essentially the “miniatures on a grid” portion of Dungeons & Dragons so to speak and I enjoy that. However, the early going can be tedious as you learn the game’s mechanics and some frustration may set in until you start to get your characters leveled up. This is definitely a game where strategy must be employed to survive without getting your heroes captured, but if you stick with it long enough you’ll find an enjoyable experience that tabletop RPG fans will likely enjoy.

Trailblazers is a race-and-paint game for children. With its smooth, consistent gameplay and simplistic challenges, a group of toddlers could be content for hours. Just don't be surprised when the 12 year old is reaching for Grand Theft Auto instead.

Although it has a few quirks, the Ultimate Fishing Simulator does provide a believable environment paired with what seems to be a very accurate fishing simulation. While you have to play by a few rules and use defined reeling methods, there is still a good amount of personal technique required to land a fish. They put up a good fight and can be very devious in their fight to break your line - even the smallest of the fish can escape if you aren’t careful.

Joggernauts presents a smiling face to the world, bouncing happily in place and waiting for someone to love it. But before long, it rips its mask off and reveals that it is, in fact, a ludicrously difficult game. It all starts with Ooh and Ahh and Oh, that’s cute, but later there’s running and screaming. Groups of friends that love games will have a riot savaging each other over their performance. With a fun and accessible veneer, Joggernauts is ready to break the world.

Disjunction is a stealth-action RPG that seems to focus more on the "stealth" and less on action or even RPG. The framework is there for a better game, but it sadly fell short of what it could have been.

Martha is Dead had all the right ideas, touching upon themes of loss, war, and personal identity in a meaningful way in a horror game. It unfortunately failed to deliver on an experience that cohesively weaved together those great ideas, along with a slew of technical and performance issues.

Do you like ABBA? Do you like singing along with ABBA songs? Then you will love Let’s Sing Presents ABBA, which is really just the same Let’s Sing game we’ve been playing for years, this time with ABBA songs. Personally, I’ve been having a blast with this one, as the track list is deep, the songs are catchy, and the singing – as always – is bad. Nothing revolutionary, but good times all around.

Whether you are using it for exercise or to laugh at family gatherings, Just Dance 2023 simply can’t be beat. Accessible for beginners but requiring real skill if you want to top the leaderboards, Just Dance 2023 comes out swinging with a great group of new routines, delivered with a noticeable increase in production value. Though the World Dance Floor is sorely missed, the other improvements to the UI, multiplayer, and suggestion algorithms pull the franchise into the modern era.

There is no getting around the fact that Zen is the best in the business when it comes to creating (and recreating) pinball tables in the digital space. The new Pinball FX is a solid package with several new ways to play your tables. That said, this is a platform, not a game, and your experience will vary depending on your level of investment in tables. New modes and interfaces are nice, but the game still aches a bit from what could have been.

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.

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.

Nicktoons and the Dice of Destiny is exactly what you're expecting it to be, and probably more. With standard ARPG elements mixed with classic characters from the Nickelodeon universe, this game straddles the line between compelling gameplay and frivolous fun. A great blend of nostalgia and gaming.

The Prisoning: Fletcher's Quest is exactly as it presents itself. It wants to be more, but I wish it didn't think it had to be. It's regular retro platforming, with a good map, checkpoints, forgettable characters, and cool bosses. It's something to do. You'll probably play it twice, but that's twice the something to do.

Much as its title may suggest, Lollipop Chainsaw is a sweet confection of a game. It's an enjoyable experience, but ultimately hollow. Unlike the lollipops that Juliet sucks on, Lollipop Chainsaw won't make you fat, as it has almost no fat to speak of. It's a lean game predicated on replay value instead of an epic story and/or brilliant gameplay.

It's not a perfect game by any means but the Bourne Conspiracy is a great start for a new franchise.

While not as fully realized as its Xbox 360/PS3 counterpart, Skate It proves to be enough fun to recommend ... but only if you're willing to put the time in to get over the mountainous learning curve!

Saints Row The Third is the same riotous good time it’s always been, except now you can take it anywhere. Some performance issues hold the experience back, but with any luck the instability will get patched out.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars is enjoyable but rather easy, even in later stages.

Full of body horror and psychotically twisted imagery, players will have a variety of reactions to Scorn, but they are unlikely to be bored. While the game's world building and puzzle design are top-notch, the combat and a punitive checkpoint system may turn some players off.

Steep: Road to the Olympics adds a ton of new content that will surely please fans of the base game. However, for those who weren’t able to get on board with the game’s free roaming aesthetic, there is little new that will change their minds. While the new Olympic story campaign offers some much-appreciated structure, it is over quickly, and players are left with an avalanche of content and no map directing them where to go next.

Ultimately it's not a bad game, I kept playing and I enjoyed myself. I just question whether it really should have been made. The open world is beautiful but it doesn't set the stage for a Tom Clancy adventure, and this Tom Clancy game is too repetitive to carry an open world on it's own. The gunplay itself when you do engage is solid, and there is plenty of weapons and customization options of that armament to tailor to your own style. Its weakest moments come in between missions, as traversing the landscape by anything other than a helicopter becomes a burden. However if you have a helo, taking in the Bolivian sunset and you swoop down skimming the surface of a river is reminiscent of a modern day Apocalypse Now. That is a tremendous little moment of satisfaction, but it doesn't carry a whole game.

The sound design is bad, Plan 9 From Outer Space Bad, meaning that it's so bad to the point that it's unintentionally hilarious. Without a doubt, this is the most memorable soundtrack of the year, but for all the wrong reasons.

n-Space takes the rather generic framework of Blood Stone and turns it into a thrilling Bond experience, through gameplay innovation and old fashioned ingenuity.

While the execution misses in a few areas, Magrunner is a fun game that's worth your time if you're looking for an action-puzzle game.

Amazon has done a decent job with New World with its exquisite visuals and overall environment. They just need to smooth out those rough edges and implement some mounts!

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Revenge leaves a lot to the future. If the DLC and future patches make the game faster, and more enjoyable, then you'll have a solid game on your hands. In it's current state, it's slow, it's repetitive, and some features are admittingly missing. A wise man once said "A delayed game is eventually good, a rushed game is bad forever." MMPR: RR is somewhere in the middle.

Life in space is probably not easy, so it's no surprise that there is a distinctly tough learning curve in Evochron Mercenary. Those with enough interest and diligence to stick with it, though, will be rewarded with deep, unfettered space sandbox game play.

Sacred 2 is an excellent game that excels in many aspects while not doing anything terribly new or innovative for the genre.

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.

The first glance at Democracy 3 can cause an immediate "it's too complicated" reaction, but the well-designed interface enables a fairly quick understanding of how to manage the policies required to create your own personal political utopia. For those that are into this kind of thing, Democracy 3 is a great way to test pet political theories in a (mostly) consequence-free way.

It might not be the flashiest or most original movie tie-in game, but Shrek the Third does its job and uses the DS’s abilities for a fun and creative experience. Older players might not be too interested, but this game is good for younger kids who liked the movie.

As much as I wanted to go back to Rapture, Burial at Sea is short on story and simplistic in the missions available. It is still good to see some familiar sights being powered by the Unreal Engine 3. Hopefully, the second part of Burial at Sea can help tie up a few things and improve upon the first.

Beyond: Two Souls is a beautiful and well-crafted interactive experience that is encumbered by some odd writing and questionable game-design decisions.

Sniper Elite: Resistance isn't really doing anything new, and that's ok. It's sticking to a tried and true formula and delivering on promises for solid gameplay mechanics spread out over sprawling open levels. It does carry forward the best features ironed out in previous games like kill cams, a balance of stealth and action, freedom to meet objectives, and even Invasion mode to add some spice to the mix if you're so inclined. It's not groundbreaking but it doesn't have to be because it follows a well trodden path that is already established and frankly just a lot of fun to play.

Nitroplus Blasterz: Heroine's Infinite Duel is definitely an above average title. It's a shame that cutting corners in a few key places (like the online play menus, and the lack of a good combo training mode) really cheapens the experience.

A competent first-person shooter set against the fascinating backdrop of an alternate history, technologically advanced Soviet Union. Atomic Heart wears its gaming inspirations on its sleeve, but never comes close to their greatness.

Legend of Keepers is a fun roguelike that relies a bit too much on the luck of the draw. Constructing custom teams is a non-starter, which leaves players doing their best with whatever the game doles out. The font size might be an issue for some, but overall, Legend of Keepers is a pleasant not-overly-difficult way to kill twelve hours.

River City Saga has a lot of everything. Lots of people to beat up, lots of characters, lots of weapons, lots of upgrades, and lots of story. If you are a fan of the old school feel, you should definitely look into it. It's another beat-em-up to add to the collection, and contains everything you need to know about Romancing The Three Kingdoms. Check it out, if you're a fan of either game.

Alice: Madness Returns certainly has its flaws - the least of which is pacing - but the experience of exploring the slowly-deteriorating mind of Alice Liddell in the imaginative and dark world of Wonderland is worth putting up with them for.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 is another entry in this long running franchise, and it feels like it's been running for a bit too long now. It's not a bad game by any means, it's just starting to really show its age, and the minor tweaks aren't quite keeping up in keeping the game fresh. But for the series newbies there's no better place to start.

Hydrophobia Prophecy is the best version of the game released to date but that isn't really saying much. The game itself is an average platforming adventure that just happens to ride on the tails of an incredible liquid physics engine. Those physics stand out on their own, but when combined with the mediocrity of everything else, the entire package comes down to an average-at-best level.

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

Atelier Annie is possibly the most fun and accessible entry of the Atelier titles released in the West. The RPG combat isn’t memorable, but the simulation aspects that make up most of the gameplay will keep you coming back for longer than you expect.

Good, not great. Fun yet frustrating. Scratching the itch while giving me athlete's foot. The new modes feel rushed and not completely thought out to be much more than a stunt. The game feels balanced when choosing which character to play, and the adventure mode will easily fill in the void of playing by yourself, just don't go looking for a gripping story. Mario Golf: Super Rush tees it off, but has the ball landing in the rough.

Soul Hackers 2 feels like a culmination of everything Atlus learned from previous iterations of its games. It’s beginner friendly enough for newcomers to join but also brings just enough challenge to entice veterans of the series. It leaves a unique mark with some genuinely creative mechanics while retaining core elements of Persona and Shin Megami Tensei, but is bogged down by some poor design choices. Painted in a fresh neon coat of cyberpunk and drenched in a deeply wrapped narrative, Soul Hackers 2 still deserves the attention of any JRPG fan.

Not the best but not the worst, either. It has its moments. It does a good job of translating the normal Dynasty Warriors hack-and-slash gameplay into a turn-based tactical game. But it's just not as exciting as the traditional formula of the series.

If you like the music and are already a SingStar fan, then chances are you're going to get a kick out of this expansion pack. If you don't like the music then maybe another one of the dozen or so SingStar games is better suited for you!

I want to like this game, I really do. But it's holding me back from doing so. Reading into it, I find a lot of near-depth, but nothing that the game actually employs has much depth to it. There are a ton of amazing aspects that boost the game, but its larger ambitions lies just outside the reach of its execution. But it is worth a try, and an admirable achievement. In truth, I think this game is more a 7.8, but I feel the current rating it has adequately describes its qualities, while acknowledging its flaws.

Nothing about it is spectacular but it’s such a fun little platformer that I enjoyed it anyway.

Lips: Number One Hits is a more polished version of the first game with some Avatar support. It's too bad you have to do a disc swap if you want to sing the songs from the first game. A nice little easy karaoke game for those what enjoy singing with easy accessibility for all skill levels.

Although the AI is still a cheating SOB, it only takes 40 quarters and about 2 minutes of download time to make the game yours.

A return to an all-too-overlooked genre, The Whispered World delivers a solid and entertaining 2D adventure.

While Homefront's overhyped single player campaign is a bit of a disappointment, it's under-hyped multiplayer portion is where the real fun is at.

Gloomhaven as a video game is a faithful recreation of the board game into the digital world. This is both commendable and detrimental. It is a good game, but there is also a reason no one sits around a table and plays by themselves and this is pretty much it.

Despite having some control issues, Rainbow Moon gets most of the core gameplay right. Unfortunately, the game's horrible pacing and insane difficulty makes this impossible to recommend. This would have been a better product if the developers weren't so preoccupied with microtransactions!

Fe is a beautifully ethereal game that, despite its flaws with plot comprehension and spatial organization, is a pleasure to play. If you’re fine with wandering, and don’t mind the feeling of being swept along on a journey rather than pioneering the journey yourself, then the weak points of this game will seem a lot less weak.

If you haven't played Until Dawn before, then sure, go ahead and pick this up. But for those who have played this before I see no reason to pay full price when it's pretty much the same game. While some of the updates to graphics are nice, there really isn't any thing new here that is worth the price of this remake.

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.

Overall, it’s a fun jaunt through the past, and although I’m sure I’ll get tired by the eventual repetitiveness, just like all open-world games, it’s a great experience for what the gameplay provides.

Project X Zone is a fun game that brings together characters from various Namco, Sega, and Capcom franchises. While it is a bit easy and not quite as deep as other tactical RPGs, like the Fire Emblem series, it’s not a bad game by any stretch. I just wish there was more to it.

Even with the missing content, The Sims 4 delivers a gameplay experience that is highly-entertaining and addictive for both series veterans and newcomers.

A good story wrapped in not-so-good gameplay. Nothing here is terrible, though, and I felt compelled to play through just to see where the story was going.

The Wii U version has a couple advantages, letting you play with some novel motion controls, and of course enabling the entire game on the GamePad. For $7.99, it’s not a bad little entry in the Wii U’s burgeoning digital catalog.

Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time is a competent, if linear and somewhat unbalanced, action adventure. You can tell that the game studio was made up of true fans who poured their love for the show into this game. But the scope and grandeur of the Samurai Jack IP are sadly limited by this game's low-budget restrictions. It's fun for what it is, but it left me hungry for more.

Activision has churned out another Shrek licensed title, with all the sophomoric charm of the films but a tired gameplay concept. There's a certain degree of variety, between story and multiplayer modes, but it all comes up short when the player realizes there's nothing here to hold interest.

Simple mechanics, brutal difficulty curve, lack of feedback and a sophisticated simulation make for a mixed bag. Recommended for those with an interest in global politics, strictly optional otherwise. A bargain at 10 bucks.

The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales simply fails to deliver. It's probably a better experience on PC, but should be generally avoided on console without some updates to the controls and stability of the game. It doesn't take long to finish, at least I don't think so - a handful of hours to the final level. So at least it has that going for it.

Some pretty bad bugs cropped up and the collar is really annoying at times. I did like the characters in the game and the story isn't too bad as well. It's better than Mothership Zeta for Fallout 3, but those that played that know it's not saying much.

As a port of a 2004 console game, Mortal Kombat: Unchained is spot on. Unfortunately the fighting system hasn’t aged as well as you would hope and some of the extra modes are just as pointless today as they were two years ago.

So it's not quite the stuff of legends, but it's a solid game that has a great cast of lovable characters and a strong battle system, two of the biggest linchpins of any RPG.

Dead Star is a cool twin stick shooter with fun online multiplayer. Teamwork however is essential for both victory and fun, that like with most games, that all comes down to the player base themselves and doesn't reflect on the quality of the game.