While balanced in a way that forces the player to experience almost everything the game has to offer, Avowed is still a lot of fun. A great story, fun companions, and a richly designed world all contribute to an overall good time. Just remember to take your time early on, because this game wants you to see everything, and it will punish you for trying to skip ahead.

With its fun visuals, finely tuned difficulty, and inherent physicality, Blasters of the Universe stands out in the crowd of VR wave shooters. While a late-game bug was disappointing, I still had a great time and plan on returning to it. Bugs can be patched, and game design this strong doesn’t come knocking every day.

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.

Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel is a bit of a rough outing for those who didn’t play it back on the Super NES and Genesis, but the port makes it a lot more accessible. The extra features menu looks a bit plain and could have been done better (especially the instruction manual), and if you plan to play without utilizing save states or the rewind feature you’ll be in for a rough time. If you’re looking for a good challenge and don’t want to shell out a bunch of money for a physical copy of the originals, six dollars makes it more than worth it to pick this one up.

Earth Atlantis mixes exploration and scrolling shooter elements to create a challenging, if occasionally frustrating experience. The map-inspired visuals are the most unique and eye-catching aspect of this game, but under the hood it’s a good distraction that works best in portable mode when you have some time to kill.

Void Crew is a game that thrives on chaos and camaraderie, delivering an intense co-op experience that rewards communication, quick thinking, and teamwork. When played with a full, committed crew, it’s one of the most thrilling multiplayer games I’ve played. But for those who lack a dedicated team—or the patience to wrangle strangers in online lobbies—the game’s steep difficulty may prove more frustrating than fun.

Smartly written dialogue, strong voice acting, and terrific graphics help make up for some technical flaws as well as a couple cases of that would offer little challenge to Sherlock Holmes. A must play for Holmes buffs, but it’s somewhat slow of pace so action seekers would be wise to look elsewhere.

Berserk: Band of the Hawk is a pretty good fit for the Dynasty Warriors formula. It keeps up the story's tension with a dramatic mission structure, and doesn't shy away from the source material's mature themes.

Magic 2014 still provides one of the most enjoyable gaming experiences out there for fans of strategy and card games.

Despite a few hiccups here and there, Mega Man 11 is a pretty solid entry in the series; While I would have liked to have seen some more challenges that weren't just - traverse the stage for the umpteenth time - possibly an endless mode similar to Mega Man 9 and 10, the implementation of the Double Gear System and the multiple difficulties make the game accessible to any player, newcomers and veterans alike.

It took a few hours to get under my skin. But now that I've gotten into a rhythm with its post-apocalyptic horror-survivalist aspects, Days Gone puts on a good little self-serious road drama.

An excellent remake of the classic arcade game.

Dynasty Warriors 9 is a fun and fresh take of the series with the familiar 1 vs 1000 action people expect but frame rate issues and no multiplayer component keep it from reaching it's full potential.

The bottom line, though, is that Madden is an enjoyable title that, while still having a few flaws, will give a football fan hours of solid gameplay.

Just Cause 3 gets away with more stunts and high-flying hijinks that, let’s be honest, even Hollywood can’t get away with much anymore. Come for the explosions, but stay for the, well, stay for even more explosions.

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.

A lot of things can behave badly in prison, and I’m not just talking about the prisoners. But Prison Architect told me an engrossing story—and taught me a thing or two—with its tutorial and design.

Diablo-like gameplay, hysterical writing, a AAA cast, and a winning story all combine to make this one of the best kid-appropriate games of the year. Some technical issues mar the Switch version, but this game is still miles above what you might expect. Get Cosmic Chaos for your kid, but expect to take the controller yourself, as the game is just too good to sit and watch.

Pixel Ripped 1978 is another fun entry into one of the most unique series in video games, and is recommended to fans with a few minor caveats. Get ready for some spectacular visuals and effects, but also prepare yourself for some old school difficulty and a side helping of minor technical issues. Fans of the franchise shouldn't hesitate to grab this new installment, but new players should be ready for a bit of a "getting to know you" learning curve. Still, the inspired combination of Atari and ARVORE succeeds at providing gamers with a unique and delightful time-machine view into gaming history.

Aegis Defenders is probably one of the tougher games I’ve played in recent memory, and that’s all thanks to the tower defense sections. Fans of that genre probably won’t have too many issues, but newcomers playing alone might find those sections pretty daunting until they master switching characters, learning the arena layouts, and know what traps to use when. If you have a friend to play co-op, you’ll likely have a much easier time. Still, it’s a pretty good game for GUTS Department’s first outing.

Mx Vs ATV All Out Anniversary Edition pairs an accessible, almost arcade-like (in a good way) driving/riding physics model with enough realism to make it a compelling and enjoyable way to race on the new tracks included in the anniversary edition. The majority of the new tracks are long rides through open scenery, but there are also a few shorter, indoor tracks as well for those that prefer tighter racing.

An original, attractive world full of interesting beings to kill. Just oozes interesting ideas we’ll see more of in the future. Path-finding and networking bugs add a fly to the ointment.

Kingdom Hearts 2.8 is thoroughly enjoyable, even as a newcomer, but it requires a lot of homework via YouTube clips and Wiki. The characters are varied and vibrant, and the lineup includes some classic headliners. It's a great taste of what's to come in Kingdom Hearts III, but I feel it's priced a bit high for what it delivers.

The combination of multiple sensory inputs allows for a very believable environment and is the primary draw of the game.

Thymesia is a game that I expected to flop so hard given my initial impressions of the demo. But I am happy to say that the full release is much more polished and fleshed out thanks to OverBorder Studio diligently taking in the feedback of the players. Out of a sea of Soulsborne clones, it exudes just enough flavor to stand out thanks to the aggressive combat loop, robust plague weapon system, and dual health mechanic. Still, the two parry options, which require near perfect timing yet give little to no reward, need a complete rework. But hey, it’s a janky and clunky love letter to its big brother Bloodborne.

Crisis on the Planet of the Apes is fast and fun, delivering a brief jaunt into the oppressive world of the beloved sci-fi universe. While the experience is light in the narrative department, the gameplay innovation and high production values more than make up for story’s shortcomings. With the release of this game, FoxNext VR Studios have broken free of the movie-tie-in stereotype, and have established themselves as a VR developer to watch.

Soul Hackers may be a game from 1997, but it still feels like a fresh entry in the Shin Megami Tensei franchise. The cyber-punk story and compelling characters make for a great experience, and the accessibility of it all is just bonus.

It’s still a fun game but if you already have another console version, this might be one to skip unless you have friends who also pick up this version.