While Helldivers 2 may look like a tropey action game on the surface, what lies underneath is one of the most fun co-op shooters I’ve played in recent memory. Endless explosions and unyielding foes makes for heart-pounding gameplay as you spread democracy across the galaxy one dead bug and bot at a time.

It’s a shame, since the Ys series deserves more attention than it gets. A little more polish could have really brought it out to the forefront.

It Takes Two is a fantastic co-op game, and feels right at home on Switch. Sadly the visuals take a big hit, but in return you get a few more options on how to play. It still remains difficult to get a co-op partner for the full game let alone enough controllers, however if you can manage you’re in for a great time.

This is exactly what Street Fighter players have wanted. A game where all of their favorite characters and skins are available, and not having to wait for Capcom to release them when they see fit. The fighting is engaging and rewarding. Each fighter feels unique and offers a wide array of offensive attacks that land as intended. But with most modes locked behind the PS Plus service, it’s a hard buy, even if you are looking to upgrade from the base Street Fighter V game.

Sayonara is an experience first and game second, so it is not one that should be played if you are only interested in the high scores, but if you take the game as a whole, then it can be deeply rewarding.

While the first game is missing some content from the PS3 version, No More Heroes 1 and 2 on Switch are easily the best versions of these fantastic games. While it’s disappointing they didn’t take the time to fix any of the games issues like the tedious minigames, both are still well worth playing.

Journeying through the Necrom Chapter on my new Arcanist was loads of fun. The new Arcanist class is very powerful, feels amazing to heal on, and has some of the most satisfying visual and sound effects I have ever seen in a class. The Apocrypha zone is a visual masterpiece, and Telvanni Peninsula makes you feel right at home in Morrowind. The main story was very engaging with a huge plot twist, and I can’t wait to see how it all ends. This Chapter is a must-have for Elder Scrolls fans.

Watch Dogs 2 is Ubisoft open world at its finest. Full to bursting with fun and interesting content, Watch Dogs 2 carefully balances hacker culture, serious moments, and engaging storylines to create a game that has something to say. With far more personality in its protagonist, it’s very easy to recommend Watch Dogs 2.

Take Us Back, the franchise finale of The Walking Dead, is a serviceable episode to end the series, and in a way, Telltale Games in general. While it has the problem of falling into its familiar issues at times, the sendoff of Clementine and her friends is one that will be remembered for years to come.

The next-generation upgrade of A Plague Tale: Innocence succeeds in making an already amazing game even better. Fluid 60fps, massively improved load times and clever use of haptic feedback all come together to create an unforgettable experience. If you’ve not played this yet - do it. You won’t regret it.

Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire is a good remake, but new features and graphical updates make it a hard sell for those who have already invested many hours in the originals.

Chivalry 2 was a pleasant surprise, and something totally different in the PvP realm for me. There are a few bugs that need to be fixed, but the maps are gorgeous and the gameplay is engaging and fun. The humor and endless ways you can die are very appreciated.

If you are a fan of the previous titles you will also like SingStar, but be aware that this outing isn't going to revolutinize your playing experience.

Lost Judgement is a small leap forward for the Yakuza spinoff series. While I would have expected a bit more from a sequel, what’s here is still just as enjoyable as the first game, if not more so. The highschool additions are a novel look at the often used Japanese setting, while still focusing on the crime drama and investigation fans love.

Child of Light is a bright spot in a genre overwhelmed by mediocrity. Beautifully retro, yet modern, and incredibly addicting–Ubisoft Montreal has created a rich world and style that is unlike anything I’ve played before.

L.A. Noire The VR Case Files represents the next step forward for VR. In a world filled with wave-based shooters, stationary puzzlers, and simplified interactions, L.A. Noire offers instead real-world interaction with real dialogue and head-scratching problems to solve. Easily one of the best demonstrations of the potential of VR, I just wish it had some more legs to it.

Part board game, part DJ simulator, and all Harmonix right down to the DNA, DropMix manages to make ever would-be music mixmaster sound awesome. While Hasbro has work to do on making the cards flow, DropMix brings the fire.

Dead Space: Extraction is a true Dead Space experience.

Lara Croft is no more, and the Tomb Raider takes her place. This latest entry is a wonderful cap on this rebooted series that delivers on both the promise to refresh the character of Lara Croft and to bring the action of old Tomb Raider games to the modern era. It was a fun and visually stunning game from beginning to end.

If gunning down zombies in a gorgeous survivor horror world sounds like your idea of a fun portable adventure, I'd say give this one a look. At the very least you owe it to yourself to check out the demo to get an idea of just what Capcom is offering this time around.

So since 1995 we've been getting to know Jack. Somehow the game has remained fresh and funny, giving us 16 years of solid laughs. This title is no exception with 73 well-polished episodes on the disc.

Romancing Saga 2 - Revenge of the Seven is a brilliant culmination of many of my favorite aspects of JRPGs. While I have some complaints about technical issues and details about implementation, the quality of mechanics and exploration easily blow past them. Fans of the genre will not be disappointed with this sprawling narrative full of secrets and challenges.

Sam and Max Save the World looks as great as it sounds. With upgraded visuals, fresh jazzy music, remastered audio across the board, this is the best this game series has ever looked. Bring on Season 2, 3, and beyond.

Rosewater is a marvelous surprise in the middle of the first half of 2025 games. With a captivating story and charming characters, traversing the wild west is a delight. It’s not as challenging as some other point and click games, but what Grundislav has built is a great example of what this genre can offer to reach a greater audience. Lasso this one up ASAP.

Superhot is short but full of style and substance, taking an inventive mechanic to its furthest and providing a unique shooter experience. The current offering is slim, but unlike anything else around.

There is just something about this game that makes me want to play more of it…I, like other people have said, still have no clue what it is though.

If you like strategy at all and you need a game to get you through the long hot summer nights, get Dawn of Discovery.

But if you’ve been craving an action game which offers up the unique satisfaction of defeating big, truly difficult monsters and carving a new set of armor out of their salvaged skull, get this game now. You won’t regret it.

College Football takes everything from last year and moves it forward a little bit, with the stadium atmosphere, lighting, and quality of life updates taking the star position. Dynasty and Road to Glory have both gotten much-needed tweaks from last year and much-needed attention to detail, especially in the menus. While there are many upgrades from College Football 25, College Football 26 suffers from a lot of little issues, which create frustrating moments in multiple areas. Time seems to have put a damper on making this game as polished as it could have been.

A surprisingly engaging title. The story is full of twists and turns, and the way the story is threaded into the gameplay keeps you involved. The game isn’t frustratingly difficult.

Madden 18 is a very solid product, featuring the best passing mechanics I’ve ever seen in a football game. The game has come a long way improving the physics and collisions, and overall presents a great product on the field, despite a few glitches. Some of those glitches can cause fatal errors, and there is no more hilarious fatal error than the hacky Longshot interactive movie/football experience that I can imagine ever being in a football game. Overall, this is a really great Madden release with a few errors that need fixing.

Jurassic World Evolution 3 is a triumph for the Jurassic World Evolution series of games. Every inch of this game is oozing with quality-of-life improvements. I am seriously chomping at the bit to get my hands on free updates and further DLC.

RiME is a beautiful game that excels in its presentation and tells a compelling narrative. Although it’s held back by technical issues and simplistic puzzles, it’s well-worth the price of admission.

Ultimately, Runbow disappoints. Bowhemoth is a fun distraction. Single-player is a pretty traditional and unimaginative series of levels that only major platforming fans will maybe enjoy. And online is a hit or miss (mostly miss) collection of modes that is fun for a little while, but falls under the shadow of the Wii U’s insufficient online multiplayer ecosystem.

Madden NFL 17 feels like more Madden NFL 16, which isn’t always a bad thing.

While short, grabs you for those few hours and won't let go. The game is such an improvement over the first installment that those who didn't like the first game will probably like this one.

CrossCode is an amazing puzzle action RPG with a touching story and a beautifully detailed world. Combat has tons of options and puzzles require a lot of critical thinking and creative solutions to solve. It draws inspiration from classic SNES RPGs and the Zelda series, but stands proudly among them as a modern classic.

Operencia is a great dungeon crawling experience that you shouldn’t sleep on, especially if you’re a fan of the genre. While some of the mechanics and presentation are a little hit-or-miss, that shouldn’t scare you away from the unique world, memorable characters, and excellent combat that Operencia has to offer.

Ruiner is a cyberpunk-style, guns blazing, top-down shooter that pulls no punches when it comes to action. Where the levels lack depth and unique flair, the gameplay makes up for it with a diverse of ways to approach playing.

Gives a lackluster performance. The highlights of the game are few and far between, which make its flaws and mediocrity stand out.

“Give No Shelter” still doesn’t do much to stand out among everything else in The Walking Dead’s universe, but it does make a more compelling case for its main character’s struggle.

While the first game is missing some content from the PS3 version, No More Heroes 1 and 2 on Switch are easily the best versions of these fantastic games. While it’s disappointing they didn’t take the time to fix any of the games issues like the tedious minigames, both are still well worth playing.

With satisfyingly difficult gameplay and a soundtrack that steals the show, the Hotline Miami collection is a double feature that offers much replay-ability. While the sequel is more of the same gameplay wise, it expands the series lore and introduces new characters and concepts. The games run smooth on the Switch's hardware and the console's portability makes this the ideal way to play Hotline Miami.

A clever addition to Mario + Rabbids that plays to the original’s strengths without takings many risks. While Donkey Kong Adventure likely won’t win the game any new fans, it’s a treat for anyone who were left wanting more. The expansion trims some of the fat from the original, delivering a quick, focused game that quits while it’s ahead.

The feeling of accomplishment in this game is one of the most gratifying I’ve ever felt, and the few hours I spent inside Antichamber’s world felt like interacting with someone’s bizarro art exhibit.

Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream presents an immediately engaging gameplay hook. The story is interesting and can get new players caught up fairly quickly, though the character designs can leave a lot to be desired. Battles and alchemy are a ton of fun, but the game does have trouble explaining all of its systems effectively.

Gears Tactics is a stellar tactics game that still manages to feel like the Gears you know and love. With an okay story, addictive RPG systems, and dozens of hours of gameplay, this is a must-play for any fans of turn-based strategy games or the Gears franchise in general.

The game that almost gets it right. Over time, and a bit more testing, I believe that the game will live up to its Bioware-powered predecessor.

In the end, Darkstalkers Resurrection achieves what it set out to do. It brings together arguably the most memorable cast of characters in a fighting game and the recent advances in online gaming netcode to make a nearly two-decade old fighting series feel fresh again.

An excellent movie adaptation that delivers one of the most immersive gaming experiences on the Xbox. While it isn't terribly challenging and perhaps a little too brief, exceptional art design and solid gameplay make Kong a game you don't want to miss.

It is a tremendous value at the cost, and offers hundreds of hours of some of the best strategy gaming available to gamers on any system. [Review of Gold Edition]

While some problems that weren’t present in the Vita version have made their way into Danganronpa on PC, everything that makes the game great is still intact on the platform.

With better focus on what players want, including four (useful!) costumes per character, a plethora of villians and heroes from Marvel lore, better visuals, tighter RPG elements, less of the Chatty-Cathy moments, and FAR more tough boss and mini-boss battles, Marvel Ultimate Alliance could be the geekfest that keeps players wrapped onto whatever platform they chose like a pair of tight blue spandex with a big 4 on the chest.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 lands somewhere between remake and reimagining. It doesn’t land either perfectly, but it's still a ton of fun. There’s a lot to see and do, but I’ll always come back to just skating around, pulling off tricks just for the fun of it.

There has to be several of 70+ tracks on here that you'll enjoy a majority of if you're over 25. If you haven't jumped on the bandwagon by now, you won't be dissapointed.

The Great Ace Attorney is a duology that any fan of the series should play and also serves as a great entry point for newcomers. Whether it’s the great new story and characters, the high quality slate of cases, or the new mechanics that help break the usual mold of the series, there’s very little to dislike about this fantastic spinoff.

More than just a ‘locked in a room’ simulator, I Expect You To Die! Is a masterful use of VR and the Move controllers. The puzzles are just challenging enough to be fun, while not so easy as to be obvious. My only complaint is that the game is relatively short, but the promise of a sequel has me ready to hand over my money. You need this game in your VR library.

NBA2K26 is a blast to play. The physics feel tight when needed and quickly swap to feeling fluid when needed. The city is awesome, and playing your character as he moves through his career is a blast.

This game is recommended to anyone who is looking for an engrossing, time consuming and intricately detailed JRPG to sink their teeth into. What it’s lacking in story and character development, it more than makes up for in strategy based gameplay.

15 hours worth of dungeon-crawling fun. There are enough challenges, random things to do, and sheer fun to keep people entertained for the entire length.

Star Ocean The Second Story R is a wildly inconsistent package, with the ending portions falling off greatly in quality, but still a mostly fun game. Battle and its surrounding systems can have a lot of variation depending on your party and how you choose to play. However, it lacks polish in many areas making it very difficult to want to finish.

The driving model takes a little getting used to, but once you do the variety of vehicles will keep you racing for a long time to come.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is the best open world RPG this year. It’s colorful locals are a joy to discover, combat and stealth feel deep and rewarding, and there’s a viking hoard of things to do.

Those who have been trying to decide whether or not to get into this game can know it feels like a Monkey Island title and if you've played the previous ones before these new chapters, you'll be able to capture that same feeling again.

Aether & Iron offers a story-driven noir adventure that can both satisfy and frustrate. The retro-futuristic depiction of 1930s New York with floating cars on flying islands is enticing, complete with factions and seedy characters. Turn-based combat on high-speed streets is engaging and satisfying, offering some new considerations to your typical turn-based experience. While the story and characters are worth experiencing, some of the storytelling mechanics can feel frustrating and unwieldy. That said, the patient, strategic gamer looking for a well-told story will find a good time with Aether & Iron.

Uneven is probably the best description when it comes to Blur. On the one hand the audio work is lacking overall, but the developers went the extra mile to add plenty of sound effects to show if you're racing on pavement or off-road.

FIFA 15 is a very good game. The only real issue is that it all seems very safe, when risks are needed to keep annual franchises alive.

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion adds some nice features to a great, proven winner of a game. Those features are nice, but as nice as they are, I couldn't really see myself running out and throwing down forty bucks for this standalone expansion if I already owned the original Sins, to say nothing of its expansion packs.

If you didn’t like the first ATV Offroad Fury, this game probably won’t make a believer out of you, as it’s virtually the same as the first one.

The game fails a bit in single player mode, but more than makes up for it in multiplayer.

While Marvel Ultimate Alliance isn't reinventing the wheel carved by X-Men Legends and X-Men Legends II, it certainly puts Armor All on the sides, slides in some new rims, and adds aquatread.

PowerWash Simulator 2 is more of the same, but it doesn’t need to be anything else. With a meaty campaign, DLC offerings in the future, and an ever-addictive feedback loop, things are only looking up for Muckingham’s local hero. Watch out for the “one more game” trap!

While it does share many of the same themes and gameplay styles, Darksiders is truly its own game, with its own set off high points and low points. Whether it’s the engaging combat or the surprisingly complex puzzle solving involved in many of the levels, Darksiders manages to consistently impress. This is absolutely a title that you do not want to miss.

With an eye towards fan service and a nod to incredible storytelling of old, King’s Quest resurrects the genre with style. The first chapter is expertly written, and the hand-crafted nature makes it feel unique in the genre.

A top-tier example of what a roguelike can be when combined with a colony sim, Cult of the Lamb is pure addiction. From managing your minions, to slaughtering the bizarre Eldritch gods that dare defy you, Cult of the Lamb has converted me completely.

With procedural worlds, fantastic cooperative combat, and a storyline that makes you care about the entire Bergson family, Children of Morta represents the best example of games as art. There are still a few months to go in 2019, but Children of Morta is looking like my Indie Game of the Year.

It's tough because you should play the games, but this collection is only a must-have if you’ve never played them or have no means of playing the copies you own. Otherwise, the included soundtracks are not enough to make this 35th anniversary package feel special enough to warrant a buy.

Despite the DLC's sometimes repetitive experiences, occasional glitches, and underwhelming dragon mounts, Dragonborn is the first major expansion for the Elder Scrolls V, and is worth every penny you'll pay for it.

A unique concept, brilliant execution and excellent mechanics make Galak-Z: The Dimensional a stellar title. Perfectly capturing the Gundam pilot inside all of us, this is must-have material for anyone who’s always wanted to fly away in a mech and take down some imperial scum.

Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 manages to do something very few licensed IPs can – it’s not just a great Warhammer game, it’s just a great game, period. It’s easily one of the best games of 2024, and we can’t recommend it enough.

It’s not anything spectacular. It is what it is, a competent tactical shooter that tries to require brains over brawn, but has no problem letting gamers open fire on anything that moves.

It provides fantastic visuals that has few rivals on the PS2. The sound and music of the game are top notch. The realism and grittiness of the game pull you right in and completely immerse you in the battle.

If you like platformers or puzzle games, try Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure. You'll enjoy it.

While the core gameplay is unchanged, Ultramix feels like a less complete package than other DDR games in the series. Instead of trying to attract a new generation of gamers, Ultramix feels like a game dedicated to the hardcore DDR player.

A vast improvement over its predecessor. There are limitations to the hardware that really impact this particular platform, but 4-player co-op, even locally, is a great deal of fun.

Endless Legends tries to overcomes flaws by focusing on strengths. Unique factions, in-depth customization and beautiful art will keep you hooked and wanting more. It isn’t perfect, but it is still a solid strategy game.

Momodora: Revere Under Moonlight is a fantastic game, wonderfully animated, rich with accurate and sharp controls, and a worthy successor to the heyday of platformer gaming.

The infuriating do-over nature of 10 Second Ninja X greatly sours the experience and takes away from what otherwise could’ve been a decent game.

Bug Academy is a goofy game where you control four types of bugs in pursuit of wacky goals such as tossing cows, putting out fires, and much more. With a cartoony aesthetic and wonky controls, you're in for an insect filled treat. It doesn't last very long, but it's worth it.

OkunoKA Madness caters splendidly to its target audience and while it might be inaccessible to those looking for a casual platformer, it’s got a lot to love if you want a challenge.

What Lies in the Multiverse is one of the most unique puzzle/platformers released in recent years. Featuring gorgeous pixel-based graphics and a charmingly self-aware sense of humor, the game constantly throws a variety of new set pieces and obstacles at you and continues to find clever ways to use its central universe swapping mechanic. Despite some unexpectedly dark undertones, the game remains mainly upbeat, telling a story that deals with loss, friendship, and life in a surprisingly mature way. What Lies in the Multiverse is well worth picking up for fans of puzzle based games.

A Plague Tale: Requiem is one of the most emotionally satisfying games I have ever played. I was stunned by the emotionally charged, beautifully presented, and impeccably acted story which is brought to life by incredible technical feats which showcase the power of the PS5. Time and again I was surprised by the sheer bleakness that the story was brave enough to dive into and the thrill of watching hope attempt - and often fail - to overcome those seemingly insurmountable odds. Requiem is a story which both uplifts and decimates your emotions at the same time; a story told by characters that feel real and that you grow to care and root for. By the end you too will be shouting, “I am Amicia de Rune and I kneel to no one.”

No Man’s Sky returns home to Sony’s newest platform, bringing with it more features, fun, and now virtual exploration than ever before. While a few bugs remain, No Man’s Sky stands out among a very strong launch lineup for the PlayStation VR2.

Now that we have two instalments in the Duck Detective franchise, there is nothing stopping you from marathoning both and having the best ducking detective experience. This time around the setting and story caught my attention a lot more, with a great variety of characters and puzzles to solve. Don’t go in expecting a complete revision of its predecessor making the ultimate experience, it is pretty much the same game but with a new coat of paint, but for me that’s all I really needed. I’ll always come back for more with Duck Detectives shenanigans!

Death Stranding is a story of rebuilding America by connecting people far and wide. Stealth, exploration, combat, and inventory management are all necessary in order to succeed. With a fantastic cast, incredible set pieces, an engaging story, and Kojima's brand of incredibly enjoyable crazy, you won't want to put your controller down.

The game starts off a tad bit slow, but once you are engrossed in the story nothing is quite like it (except a movie that is a tad bit similar to this game). I will be returning to this game once some more mods come out and when the vehicle mod is perfected.

Space Invaders Extreme 2 is a fun game, and it will only set you back $20.

The Evil Within 2 is a huge step forward for the series that emphasizes exploration, stealth, and conserving resources for the more challenging encounters. Though the compelling plot is weighed down by poor writing and poorer voice performances, the game offers a great horror experience with a ton of content.