Resident Evil 4 is still one of the best games ever made, but less-than-ideal mouse and keyboard controls and a barely noticeable texture upgrade keep this PC port from being the ultimate version of this masterpiece that it could have been.

When I first started up Killing Floor 2 I had no idea what to expect. The game looked like a very grim, zombie-killing game. What it actually was - a ridiculously impressive and immersive strategy game… that was very grim. There are a few technicalities, but overall there is nothing out there that gives you such a feeling of fight-or-flight – while at the same time – giving you a giant adrenaline rush from decimating mass amounts of baddies. And I can tell you after some 25 hours… it doesn’t go away.

AI: The Somnium Files - Nirvana Initiative is a masterfully crafted murder mystery visual novel that smoothly blends in detective gameplay elements and puzzle sequences. It features an outstanding cast of characters and a competently crafted narrative that will keep you on your toes until the end. Even though the game has a smaller flowchart in terms of diverging narrative paths than the first game and may feel drawn out at times, it remains well worth checking out if you are into games of this genre.

Riders Republic can be a ton of colorful fun, with go-anywhere do-anything extreme sports gameplay that is instantly accessible and appealing, all wrapped up in a tortilla of weird goofiness. Engage with the stuff you like, ignore the stuff you don't, and get penalized for absolutely nothing. Riders Republic is most concerned with letting the good times roll—and for the most part, it succeeds admirably.

Heart of the Swarm delivers a fun single player experience and updates to the multiplayer portion of the game. It took a while to get here and the 20 or so missions available is a little shorter experience that I would've liked for waiting two and a half years. The graphics are good and the cut scenes are amazing to watch.

PixelJunk Raiders is one of the most beautiful, moody, and tough games I've ever played. But it is the potential of the Stadia community crowdsourcing the game that makes it such a fascinating and unique experience. A unique experience on its own, PixelJunk Raiders has capacity to become a gamechanger if the gaming public choses to adopt it. Either way, this is a fascinating piece of video game history in the making. Attention should be paid.

A surprising game, not just because it's one of the best games based on a movie, but because it manages to raise the bar on a genre that has been stuck in mud for over a decade.

Sims fans shouldn't hesitate in picking up the Get to Work expansion pack as the new gameplay features and added content are well worth the purchase.

The White March - Part 1 is a great first expansion for Pillars of Eternity fans that have been in need of new content. A lengthy main quest, varied side tasks, and an enthralling narrative combine to make a worthwhile expansion for veteran players.

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

Despite a few flaws (difficulty and character development), Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria is a ton of fun.

I can happily say that even if you aren’t a fan of the series you will enjoy this game -- granted you enjoy Dynasty Warriors-style beat 'em ups.

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

NeocoreGames delivers yet another satisfying and solid action role-playing game with The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III. Being the conclusion to a trilogy, the third installment includes all of the series favorite elements while also introducing a wealth of improvements. It's a great time to adventure once again to Borgovia.

Chivalry 2 shines in the combat department. Combat is fast, and the high ceiling of learning it all helps keep players invested. There may not be a ton of maps, but they are full, the movement of gameplay is refreshingly fun, and the promise of more post-launch content keeps me hopeful.

A strange combination of both familiar territory and a fresh feeling, Gears of War 4 provides and enjoyable and robust experience. While there isn't much new ground broken in the experience, it does a lot to remind us what was so great about the original games in the first place.

A fun and challenging game that I’m glad to see got a remake complete with optional retro assets. For those who, like me, never had a Sega Master System back in the day, this is a great opportunity to check out the game as well as the series in general. Plus if you have your old passwords from the SMS version and never finished the game, now’s your chance.

Test Drive Unlimited is just like Grand Theft Auto, except without the sex, violence, swearing... well, ok, it's only kind of like GTA, but it is still the most fun you can have in a virtual Ferrari without risking getting a dose of a virtual social disease.

If you own a GBA or a DS then be sure to check out Riviera if you can find a copy, you'll find a very fun and challenging game underneath its cutesy exterior, and clocking it at well over twenty hours for the first play through you'll be long entertained, even into your second time around when you seek out all the stuff you missed the first time.

With a lighthearted, yet impactful narrative, a beautiful soundtrack, deep combat and kingdom building mechanics, and a delightful cast of characters, Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom - Prince’s Edition should be enjoyed for any JRPG fans.

Playing Another World feels like more than a dusty visit to the video game museum. It is something more akin to an exciting examination of modern gaming’s DNA under a powerful microscope. For those interested in the origins of Souls games, rogue-likes, and cinematic adventure games, this is the place to look. Be ready for some wonky old-school controls and bewildering level design, but know that working your way past those limitations is absolutely worth it.

With Cultic, the nostalgia hits hard. So hard that it was easy to overlook some of the lighter features of the game. Enemies are mindless cult fanatics, sometimes with a gun, other times with an ax, and on occasion dressed in more than just robes. But that doesn’t matter. What matters is that Cultic made me feel like I was sitting on a kitchen chair in my friend’s house, taking turns trying to clear levels like I was ten years old. When I find something that gives me that goosebump feeling of nostalgia, I eat it up. Cultic made it feel like Thanksgiving; I can’t wait to see what the solo developer, Jason Smith, cooks up for chapter two.

With its deep progression system, vast array of locations and classes, World War Z Aftermath is an excellent play for anyone looking to shoot up some zombies with their friends.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a great game to finish off the Switch's stellar first year, and offers a massive adventure that will scratch the itch felt by both MMO and JRPG fans.

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

Modern Warfare is the most astounding Call of Duty I've played since World at War. But they haven't gone as far they could, in the campaign especially. The multiplayer is outstanding, as always, with the slightest modifications eking out big results. But in the game's attempt to shock and awe, I don't think they're quite there yet.

Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault is both a worthwhile expansion for series fans and standalone game for those new to the series. With a non-linear campaign structure and thrilling missions, Ardennes Assault earns a high recommendation.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, the fifteenth iteration of a storied Call of Duty franchise, blends old and new to put itself in the upper echelon of Call of Duty games. Despite its lack of a traditional campaign, the game impresses in plenty of other aspects. The newcomer mode, Blackout, puts a fun and compelling Call of Duty spin on the battle royale genre. Multiplayer's boots find the ground again and take me all the way back to my fondest memories of the original Black Ops. Although it's not historically my favorite type of mode, Zombies really kicks it up a notch, with more maps and customization than ever before (not to mention even crazier Easter Eggs).

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus plays great on the Nintendo Switch, though if you have a chance to play the game docked, it is definitely the way to go. But either way, New Colossus is an amazing game, with a rich universe, gonzo cinematic storytelling, and great-feeling combat. Not having played the first title is no reason not to jump into Wolfenstein II, and the Switch is a completely viable way to experience the touching lunacy of this series. Highly recommended.

OddBallers is a charmingly fun dodgeball party game with a simple yet addictive gameplay loop that has snuck onto the scene without so much as a peep. Due to a non-existent online player base, the AI does an admirable job propping up this wonderful game that more people should be playing.

Its characters lack depth, and it could really use some sort of leaderboard or ladder to compete with. But, overall, Need for Speed Heat is worth playing even if you're just a casual racing fan. The day/night dynamic is entertaining and mixes things up. The car list is better than expected. Customization is clean and maximizes personalization. And the driving mechanics aren't overly complicated but present enough of a challenge. s

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life wraps up the story of Kazuma Kiryu with the same sense of style and attention to quality the series has always maintained. By alternating erratically between deadly serious crime stories, and wildly goofball side activities, Yakuza strikes an entertaining sweet spot that few other series manage. Players should set aside a lot of time before engaging with Yakuza, because like the mob, this is a game that will keep pulling you back in.

Capcom Classic Collection Remix features some of Capcom's greatest games (Strider), some of their worst (Avengers), some that have been completely forgotten (Street Fighter), and one that makes absolutely no sense what so ever (Quiz & Dragons).

Outside of a few ergonomic missteps, especially with the controller integration, it delivers an intense and immersive experience that rivals a lot of AAA FPS titles.

Arma 3 refines and masters the military simulation genre.

John Wick Hex is a fantastic game. It combines real strategy in a gameplay that feels truly unique in the RTS genre. It really captures the world of John Wick and brings the character from the silver screen faithfully onto the PC. There is a fluidity to the combat, but one that falls ever so slightly short of the effortless slickness that we've come to love about the title character. Missing that trick takes a near perfect game to just a notch below, but puts it squarely in good company as a top game of the year.

This is a great looking game that will remind players of the genre's heyday in the 1990s. And with dozens of items to unlock and a wide variety of weapons to shoot, Jamestown+ will keep shoot-em-up fans happy for many hours to come.

Lost Ark is light on the MMO, and heavy on the action- RPG, taking all the elements from MMOs that make them great, and a few that make them a bit dull to fans of the genre. It’s easy to get lost in the customization before you even set foot in the fleshed out world. The five main classes are the big star, each feels and plays differently enough making me want to replay the game just to try them out. Being able to tackle this game with friends will make for a better overall time with the game, but it isn’t required to have a good time. Lost Ark warrants a look if you like action-RPGs, MMOs, or both.

In comparison with past expansion packs, The Sims 3 University Life provides a wide range of varied and worthwhile content that's a great addition to any fan's base game. The extensive amount of added activities and social interactions make up for the few oddities while attending class. No matter if an individual prefers to study or party, The Sims 3 University Life has something for every Sims fan.

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.

Observation spins a chilling and seductive science fiction tale of suspense and mystery, juxtaposed against strong adventure gameplay and stellar production values.

As the strongest entry yet, Devil in Me is a great finale for Season One of The Dark Pictures Anthology. With an original story and some showstopping sequences, the game is a step up for the series, despite some minor technical and animation issues. Fans of the franchise and horror in general should not hesitate to pick this one up, as Supermassive shows the true potential of its anthology experiment.

After almost a year of waiting for the right simulation racing game to come around, Dirt 4 has me zoned-in for the duration.

If you would have told me there was a new PSP game coming out in 2015 that I had to play, I would have called you crazy. But here we are. The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky Second Chapter is a title that you shouldn't miss.

It's a dazzling adventure that is not to be missed.

Don't come into Loop Hero with expectations simply because you've never really played anything like this before. Whatever those expectations might be, they're probably wrong. But do come into Loop Hero as it embodies so much of what makes games great: storytelling, engaging interactions with a digital world, the rewards of looting, world building, strategy, but most of all that ceaseless desire to just dip in for one more run.

Pool Nation is a beautiful game that plays great and has a long shelf life.

It's more of the same but that's not a bad thing as the gameplay is incredibly fast, frantic and fun. A great game on it's own but if you aren't a fan of Dynasty Warriors style beat em ups, this game might not do much to change your opinion on them.

There's not too much to not like about Injustice 2's port to the PC. A great fighting game along with plenty of features to keep you busy.

I think for most of the hardcore Destiny 1 players, this is simply not the game we were expecting. This one is built for the casuals. That's not necessarily a bad thing. I played more D1 over the past two years than probably all other games combined, but Destiny 2 is just going to be another game in my library. It won't consume me, but I will enjoy it every time I load it up. I still maintain that Destiny provides the best gunplay of an FPS year in and year out, but where Destiny 1 was a game to be loved, despite its flaws; Destiny 2 is a game to be enjoyed, even with all its triumphs.

When it comes to Monster Hunter, the level of depth in the game leaves a lot to talk about, and I don’t think it’s possible to capture everything in this review. I personally think this entry in the series is a fantastic addition, both for returning fans and new players like myself. The game is a tremendous amount of fun, balancing challenge and reward perfectly in a way that made me want to keep on hunting for hours on end. The PC port itself has some technical issues which detract from the overall experience, but the quality of the game underneath more than makes up for it.

Lego Dimensions follows the trend of solid gameplay from developer TT Games while introducing new mechanics with the included toy pad and minifigures.

50 years of memories. 50 years of being the king. I love how the 50th Anniversary Collection shows the ups and downs, and exposes the vulnerabilities, of one of the greatest companies of all time. Although some games could go, and I would love to see some DLC. Digital Eclipse deserves a round of applause for this as well. You love documentaries, and you love games, so here's both. And you're going to love it.

This is a good collection that runs the gauntlet of arcade fighting games of the '80s and '90s. Whether or not you are a fan, this is a good entry point in the series, and there is something here for everyone.

Pool Nation is a great game that has a surprisingly long shelf life. It hits a nice balance between accessibility and challenge, letting you play however you want; whether you're a no-crosshairs, no-mercy kind of player, or if you're a newbie that needs all the help you can get.

SOMA is a suspenseful and frightening journey to a mysterious underwater research facility that keeps players engrossed till the credits roll. While it might not be as scary as its marketed, its science fiction setting and compelling narrative make for one of the more memorable gaming experiences this year.

Doom on Nintendo Switch is visually pared back compared to other versions, but it’s still fast, addictive and gorgeous. Seeing it run on a portable is truly a sight to behold. Nintendo fans should not pass this one up.

For the uninitiated, Total War: Attila does a good enough job introducing a very detailed world and mechanics.

Delightfully old school and satisfyingly violent, Turok 2: Seeds of Evil can finally meet its true potential thanks to Night Dive Studios. Framerate chop and cloying fog have been replaced with tight action and a host of modern conveniences that will make you yearn for the good old days of first person shooters.

An innovative approach the adds a degree of non-linearity to the game play combined with a compelling story line and great visuals make Daedalic's Alcatraz 1954 a game that is hard to walk away from.

It has taken them a while, but Pinball FX2 has finally hitting the PC in full force. This is a great port that features a vastly improved interface and some great community features that should create quite a competitive community on the PC platform. If only I didn’t have to buy all my tables over again.

In the end, this game works on many levels. It plays well as a brawler, it attracts the superhero fans with fun powers and moves, and it gets kids giddy for Spider-Man. The Amazing Spider-Man: Ultimate Edition is a great addition for any Wii U owner.

Narcosis isn't much of a game, but it is an amazing, immersive horror that everyone should experience.

Desktop Dungeons: Rewind is what I look for when playing a remastered title. A nice graphical update, plenty of quality-of-life changes, and new content that is not in the original but still adds to the enjoyment without feeling forced in. I love how easy it was to get into the game, and I liked the challenging aspect of Rewind. The new rewind feature is interesting and doesn’t break the already solid game experience. If you’ve never played a roguelike then Desktop Dungeons: Rewind is a great jumping on point to the genre. If you’ve been a fan of them for a while, this one should be added to your collection.

Serious Sam: Bogus Detour does a fantastic job of distilling the Serious Sam formula down into a twin-stick shooter. While there are a couple hitches along the way, the game is a surprisingly robust package and a lot of quality content for a great price.

Euro Truck Simulator 2: Going East! is a must-own expansion pack for fans of the simulation series. The added countries and cities provide players with more variety and challenge, both of which were lacking in the original game.

It won't convert a casual fan of the sport into a rabid follower of the series, but it is one that will take anyone who wanted to live the fantasy of managing a football club and give them every opportunity to find their heart's content.

If you aren’t a fan of games like What Remains of Edith Finch and Fe, where combat and thrill takes a backseat to emotion and art, then I’ll be honest—this probably isn’t the game for you, and that’s okay. But for those of you who enjoy games with meaning, games with abstraction, or games with that unique artistic beauty that so often blossoms in indie games, then Kay is waiting for you on the Sea of Solitude.

Sequels are difficult to get right, but Asobo Studio has created a wonderful follow up to Amicia and Hugo’s journey. A Plague Tale: Requiem effortlessly expands on the premise of the original by fleshing out a more in-depth gameplay experience to cater to various playstyle while maintaining an engaging narrative filled with colorful yet unpredictable characters. The game is unfortunately only held back by performance issues and icky bugs.

The Disney Afternoon Collection is a pretty solid compilation of six classic Disney NES games. The extras included are a nice touch, even if some of the gallery pictures are skewed more toward Ducktales. But the time trial and boss rush features are great for veterans to see how they stack up to the rest of the world, while the rewind feature is great for younger players. Plus you can play two rare NES games without shelling out hundreds of dollars for the original carts.

MouseCraft is a fun game, but the difficulty seems to skew a bit on the easy side with the ability to pause mid-level and undo any action. Still, unlocking new obstacles every few stages keeps things fresh, and going for perfect levels will force you to stop and think about how to do things--as opposed to just laying a few blocks and calling it a day.

The swappable characters add a nice new mechanic and jumping is finally in. The PlayStation 4 version looks solid with better textures and resolution. It's fun for the whole family, but can be an expensive investment if your kid wants to unlock every level in the game.

It's not perfect, but this might be the best single-player Halo campaign ever written. 343 finally feels like it's taking the franchise in a new direction—and it's a good one. Just don't expect closure.

A solid side-story from an established universe with spot-on gameplay makes this a surprise contender for one of the year’s best games.

It’s been nearly a decade since Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! released exclusively in Japan, but RGG Studio has finally brought it over to the West in the form of Like a Dragon: Ishin!, and it does not disappoint. Not only does Ishin! touch upon an important part of Japanese history, it does so by excellently balancing ridiculously fun over-the-top action with engrossing narrative pacing and mature character development. It doesn’t quite meet the bar of a full on remake though, so that’s something worth considering.

Call of the Sea has plenty to offer puzzle and walking sim fans alike. The story kept me going even when the puzzles felt difficult and excessive. The puzzles can be tough and seem unfair at times, but overall feel very solid in how they were crafted. The conclusion to the story of Nora, her illness, the previous expedition, and the true nature of the island left a satisfying feeling once I had completed it.

Torment looks like a future-fantasy Lord of the Rings, plays like a collection of extreme short fiction, and emerges as the most alien world I've discovered in decades. Be ready for the narrative equivalent of combat fatigue. But if you’re in the mood for a complex world operating under a complex moral system, then it’s worth examining Numenera's overriding question: "What does one life matter?"

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux is a really long title for a really long game. But this game is a great swan song for the 3DS hardware and the perfect JRPG for on-the-go gaming next to Persona 4 Golden.

The changes and additions to Pro Cycling Manager 2014 are really quite impressive. The extreme level of detail has finally been matched with top quality graphics, improved controls, and a tutorial system that gets you up and going, and most importantly, competitive in races, far more quickly.

Burning Shores is every bit the continuation of Horizon Forbidden West. It builds on the great gameplay of the base game with a few new wrinkles, introduces a watery world and the ability to dive into it, and moves the story downfield a few yards as Aloy and her allies, old and new, prepare for what comes next. You won't be lost having missed out on this DLC when the next full game does arrive, but you would have missed an opportunity for hours of fun in an excellent world that is worth the time of any Horizon fan.

With a great cast of characters and a huge world to explore, this next-generation sequel is the best installment since Assassin's Creed II.

Skylanders Swap Force brings back a very familiar game with a few upgrades and a slug of new characters. Those that are huge fans of the franchise will be comfortable with this familiarity, while those that are just getting into the game for the first time will find a very fun and additive title.

Ultimately is Destiny 2: Forsaken worth the price of admission? Let's be honest, Bungie bungled vanilla Destiny 2 about as badly as they could have, saving turning it into a 2D side scroller (what up Zelda II: the Adventure of Link!). In the past year they have rolled back every major change implemented from D1 to D2. This is the game we should have had from the beginning. There is still work to be done, but the core of the experience is fixed. And what we have is a new version of that original game I poured hundreds of hours into. A version I am looking forward to pouring in hundreds more.

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

Corpse Party 2021 is the definitive way to play the first entry in the Corpse Party series that made its rounds over 20 years ago. This game is a must have for horror fans, especially now that Halloween is coming up around the corner. Just keep in mind that there are some frustrating design elements that accompany what is otherwise an impeccable, immersive and frightening story.

While the game's story can sometimes become too obscure for its own good, the majority of the narrative experience shouldn't be missed by adventurous gamers.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty pushes the boundaries of a Souls-like game by introducing refreshing and unique takes on otherwise overused formulas. The emphasis on deflecting and the new morale mechanic makes for a challenging and rewarding combat system only to be further enhanced by the dramatic backdrop of the Three Kingdoms.

Weak graphics and stability issues aside, SWAT 4 is one of the most comprehensive tactical shooters on the market. The intuitive cursor-based command system works well and the attention paid to detail leads to an exciting, edge of your seat type experience that really has to be experienced to be believed.

Battle Chasers: Nightwar is easily the best turn-based RPG I have played in a long time. There are a bunch of different characters to customize; hundreds of monsters to battle; gobs of loot to find, and a reasonably good storyline that keeps the game moving along smoothly. Add to that a fair starting price (that is now a heck of a deal), and you have a 40-hour beast-bashing game to chase after.

Rogue Legacy is a devilishly clever mix of Castlevania and Spelunky. No matter how many times they die, players will never grow tired of the large variety of characters and classes, as well as a world that changes with every play. While great on all systems, it really shines as a portable action game. This is one roguelike that is hard to put down.

Harmonix shows once again why they are very good at what they do - making fun rhythm games. Fuser is a fantastic music creation tool that is a ton of fun to play. Online battle modes are fun, when you can find people to play with. Fuser is something I will be playing for quite some time, if only to try and get five stars for all the campaign missions.

Resident Evil: Revelations 2 comes to a proper close with chapter 4; Metamorphosis. The great gameplay carries through to a satisfying ending and Raid Mode continues to be a blast.

I would have laughed in disbelief if you told me NieR: Automata was being ported to the Nintendo Switch in 2017, considering how disastrous this game’s launch was on the PlayStation 4. The team at Virtuos did an outstanding job with NieR: Automata - The End of YoRHa Edition, a native port of the original game on the Switch that is undeniably the definitive way to enjoy Yoko Taro’s masterpiece. Sure, the graphics and frame rates take a dip, but that’s the price of portability.

Olli Olli is an impressive effort that is only hampered by a few bugs. But if you can look past them you'll find one of the best games on the Vita.

It is loads of fun to play, has some great atmosphere and artwork to enjoy, and I recommend it wholeheartedly. However, it does not take advantage of many of the things that make the Switch so great. It does not handle the native LCD well with fonts in many places that are just too small, it also loses much of its portability in its mandate to remain always online in order to play. It remains a fantastic gaming experience, only one ever so slightly less fantastic that its PC counterpart, and the lack of cross-save will force you to choose a side, so choose wisely...

Looks good, plays good, a nice use of souls-like mechanics to penalize players for dying but still lets you run freely and enjoy the game at your own pace; there is a lot to like about Foregone. It lands itself squarely near the top of the 2D action platformer pyramid. A little more depth in the skill tree and a little more oomph in the special abilities could take it to that next level, but it stands on solid footing and offers a class leading experience.

It's refreshing to play a game like this. I don't think I've experienced one since Conker. Although this game is not nearly as complex as that, it works well to send Scrat on his way.

Amazing Cultivation Simulator brings a massive learning curve, but that curve creates an amazing amount of opportunity and re-playability that will have you discovering new strategies and methods for elevating your cult for a long time over.