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.

Atomfall is a delightful surprise in a year packed with big game releases. I haven’t felt this amount of joy from discovery, or this level of player agency in a game in quite some time. Wherever it is on your list of games to play in 2025, move it up.

A rather expansive DLC pack, New Super Luigi U actually stands up well on its own. It offers up a healthy challenge and plenty of fun for those who enjoyed New Super Mario Bros. U and games past.

While the first game was an enjoyable proof of concept, Sanctum 2 is that idea realized. A great experience all around, it brings the best of both the shooter and tower defense worlds together. Try to bring along a couple of friends for the adventure though, as they will make it exponentially more enjoyable.

Windjammers 2 is a fast and fun arcade style game that fans of the original and competitive vs games will enjoy. But the game is very light on single player content, so unless you want to play against others online or with friends, you probably won't get much out of the light arcade mode.

While there are quite a few survival games out, the Flame in the Flood approaches the end of the world from a new perspective. Its an enjoyable survival game that always ends in peril; nevertheless, the Flame in the Flood is worth playing over and over again.

If you're looking for a few hours of non-stop comedy then you would be a fool to pass over Ice Station Santa. This Sam & Max adventure hasn't evolved much from the first season, but it tells an interesting story full of memorable characters and plot twists. After this game you'll never look at Santa Claus in quite the same way.

They may not look as good as the 3D fighters of today, but both King of Fighters 2002 and 2003 are fantastic fighting games with a deep roster of unique characters to choose from.

Sportsball is a fun and fast paced game…when played with friends. Sadly there’s very little single-player content to be worth the ten dollars if you rarely have other people to play with, and there's also no online play at all, but beyond that Sportsball can make for a fun afternoon of soccer with a bit of Joust thrown in.

Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax may have suffered a little in the transition to Vita from a visual standpoint. But the gameplay is certainly on point and fighting game fans finally have a reason to turn on their Vita again.

Transformers Prime on the Wii is still a good game and I do recommend giving it a shot, but if you already have the 3DS version, you're pretty much getting the same game again.

Salt and Sacrifice to Salt and Sanctuary is like Dark Souls 2 to Dark Souls 1. It diverges a lot from the original, with some ideas that work well and some that don't. All in all, it's still an excellent 2-D Souls-like Metroidvania that brilliantly infuses Monster Hunter elements with challenging combat. Despite some poor design choices and questionable difficulty spikes, it's still astonishing to think this game was created by a team of just two people.

The Callisto Protocol is a gorgeous and gory science fiction horror experience that lives up to its big brother Dead Space in many ways, but fails to do so in others. The high production value, stellar cast of characters, top notch audio and visual design, and an excellent mix of adrenaline pumping action and terrifying horror are all overshadowed by a frustratingly designed dodge mechanic.

So is it worth it this year? That's a firm "yes". The Hypermotion 2 engine lives up to its hype and delivers what it probably the best simulation of football I've seen. You have a variety of game modes to find your favorites with some like Volta that deliberately speed up the pace that the engine tends to slow down in Career. You also have the widest variety of stars to choose from featuring men's and women's teams as well as all the licenses and real player likenesses you can hope for. However, Career mode needs some love. And by love I don't mean more meaningless transfer cutscenes. I mean depth beyond just the UK pyramid: add some real lower division teams across leagues and stop neglecting everything outside of Europe.

Mechwarrior 5: Mercenaries brings back most of the combat and management the series is known for. Your mileage may vary on just how satisfying that is, but in objective terms there are a number of small issues—from AI to graphics—that add up and keep this game from its full potential.

Scribblenauts Unmasked is a nice addition to the Scribblenauts series and an awesome addition to the lineup of DC-themed video games. There is plenty to love here for fans of both universes however DC folks will find that the experience is tailored especially for them.

Grey Goo isn't a paradigm shift but Petroglyph still really know what they're doing when it comes to RTS. They introduce some clever new twists on the formula and tell an intriguing story in the process.

Potion Permit has you go from unwelcomed guest to belle of the ball. This doesn’t feel like other life-sim game in a couple of ways. The handful of mini-games, the romancing, and the gifting feel different, in some good - and sometimes only decent - ways. The pixel art looks great, and load times on the Switch were a breeze. I would have liked more of an overall challenge; the game never feels hard or very difficult. Potion Permit works best when throwing on some headphones and listening to a podcast.

Dungeon Hearts is a perfectly fun puzzle mash-up that is marred by inconsistent difficulty and lack of a narrative. While the actual combat is fun, it's a shame that players are forced to start over every time the game ends. Even with its problems, there are enough good ideas here to make it worth the low retail price.

As an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink sandbox, Crimson Desert is endlessly compelling, and frankly, irresistible. As a single-player RPG trying to tell a story, it falls flat on its face. Amazingly, it features one of the best and most immersive open worlds since Red Dead Redemption 2, but tries to give it purpose with a narrative that will have you scratching your head, or worse yet, scrolling on your phone.

Promise Mascot Agency is a delightfully bonkers blend of Japanese crime drama, business management sim, card-battler, and open-world collect-a-thon. No aspect of the game goes very deep, but developer Kaizen Game Works has threaded the needle here, creating an engaging “lite” version of several video game subgenres.

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.

Carnival Games VR: Alley Adventure is a great deal at its low price point. The fact that 2K is continuing to support a VR title is encouraging, and the new minigames combined with the enhancements to the base game make this a no-brainer for fans of the franchise. While Alley Adventure is not a game changer, it continues the base game’s strategy of throwing everything at the wall, and hoping that each player finds something that sticks. There are a few extraordinary experiences included, and even the “filler” minigames can be rewarding if players take the time to properly engage with them.

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.

Battlefleet Gothic: Armada is not your typical space strategy game. It's a fun violent strategy game focused on space combat rather than micromanaging an empire.

Ayo the Clown is a fun, light platformer with origins that can be traced directly back to any number of Nintendo classics, putting it in esteemed company. Though the difficulty might be a bit much for the smallest kids, Ayo the Clown is a light-hearted, family-friendly game that deserves attention from platformer fans.

Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight serves as a good place to start with its accessibility and less steep learning curve. It's a great game for JRPG fans, and is a welcome addition to the franchise, even if it is getting a little crowded now.

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.