In most games there is a simple pleasure of success that accompanies them. The payoff for Dark Souls isn't guaranteed, but goes somewhat deeper than that. It feels a little more like genuine accomplishment, found in small does along the way and promised in large measure when you finally find yourself skilled at this wonderfully unique little corner of the gaming world.

Forgettable characters with a lackluster storyline do not help a puzzle game that can be, at times, enjoyable and, at worst, downright infuriating.

All the harrumph and bluster about cut content and changes does little to change the fact that Bravely Second: End Layer is a fantastic game that should satisfy fans and foes of the original game. There is a lot of revisiting, and some forced moral quandaries that I don't exactly agree with (from a logical stand-point), but they do little to affect my overall enjoyment of this game.

Offworld turns a spreadsheet simulator into a knock-down drag-out scrap for Martian resources and almighty dollars. The pacing is almost breakneck. But with so much transparency in delivering the numbers, it maintains a sense of fairness, even as black market tactics from less-scrupulous rivals threaten to tear down your 30-minute monehy-making empires.

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.

Corpse Party is a pretty good mix of a visual novel and survival-horror games. While the gameplay itself can get a little dull at times as you wander the halls of the school and try to interact with just about everything, the story is rather enjoyable and unique. Wear some headphones and turn out the lights to complete the experience.

Star Fox Guard is really a pleasant surprise. It’s a simple concept that is well executed and makes perfect use of the Wii U’s unique control options. Hundreds of levels and the ability to create and share your own give this one some serious legs.

Star Fox Zero offers a blend of a familiar story with fresh gameplay experiences and mission variety. The controls are the biggest hurdle for this game and will likely deter a lot of players. Those who stick with it and eventually get the hang of things will be thankful that they did in the end.

Koi is cute, it’s simple, but worth a swim if you’re in the mood for a low-rent Journey.

Catlateral Damage isn't a cat simulator, really. It simply takes the shove-things-off-the-ledge aspect of a cat's personality and runs that concept into the ground. Different cats don't do anything different, and different rooms don't feel all that different either. Cute for a little while, and fun for a couple swings, but boredom set in before I'd even unlocked every cat or wrecked every room.

As it’s done in the past, Out of the Park 17 shows why it’s the go-to simulation series for someone wanting to manage a baseball team, historical or present day.

Dark Souls 3 is going to be the most accessible game in the series, while still maintaining the brutal levels of difficulty and reliance on skill. If this is the end of the Dark Souls series, then they've chosen the perfect time to bow out.

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.

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

Automatron pays off by taking advantage of Fallout 4's pulpy, ludicrous--yet still somehow slightly dry--sense of humor. Like any good sci-fi involving robots, it exposes people's humanity and inhumanity. And it adds new toys and settlement pieces to your toolbox. It's a well-rounded piece of DLC, and introduces you to the Mechanist, one of Fallout 4's more memorable villains.

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.

Garden Warfare 2 will be fun for those who enjoy the tower defense genre. Anyone else will want to stay away from this game that suffers from lackluster controls in third person shooting and a missed opportunity to create a much larger world to explore.

As good as the writing and acting are, Quantum Break is still a game and the game is rock solid.

Strip out all of the blood and gore from the Hitman franchise and what is left is truly a thinking man’s game. The developers certainly understand what the true charm of the series is and it is highlighted in this puzzle-take on the franchise.

Mario and Luigi Paper Jam successfully mixes the two long-running Mario RPG series, but outside of a few new Paper-based gameplay surprises it’s the same solid, self-aware role playing experience you’d expect from the Mario and Luigi series.

Hitman is off to a good start, but the ridiculous load times and the always-online issues bring down an otherwise impressive entry in the Hitman series.

Dokuro is the unconventional love story between a schlubby skeleton and a beautiful princess that doesn't know he exists. But that isn't going to keep our hero from helping the troubled maiden escape the harrowing castle. With 150 challenging stages, Dokuro is an epic adventure every PS Vita owner should undertake!

Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth is enjoyable both on the go or on your console, either way you're going to be transported back to a time where you had shouting matches over which Digimon could beat which Pokemon. The story and gameplay are a bit same-y to other properties out there, but its easy to look past considering how much fun it is.

Ubisoft has created a wonderful world for gamers to play in, but The Division is held back by a lack of mission diversity and some gameplay quirks.

EA UFC 2 is certainly an improvement over the original game and while it does add more game modes and more to do, it's just disappointing that the main game mode, the career mode has almost gone untouched and the new additions don't really add much to the experience.

Sky Fortress cranks up Just Cause 3’s bombastic effects more, if that were even possible. The addition of the jetpack wingsuit and Bavarium rifle make a video game-y video game even gamier. They change up the game enough—and in enough good ways—that I wouldn’t want to give back the new toys.

Tiny Troopers takes a simple concept of twin stick shooting and does absolutely nothing new with it at all. If you're looking for a game with something worthwhile to offer, you've come to the wrong place.

Estival Versus continues to build on a formula that's working for the franchise, but is starting to wear thin on its fanservice schtick. The gameplay is really hitting its stride now and has quite a bit of good additions this time around, with plenty of characters and variety. The excellent localization also helps strike a good balance between the comedy and touching story bits.