Sea of Thieves on PS5 is another great way to play a good multiplayer game. There’s a lot more content now than at launch, with tons of things to do either solo or with a crew. With cross-play and save, a wealth of convenience options, and even more coming down the pirate pipeline, this may be the perfect time to brave the Sea of Thieves.

Although there aren’t multiple endings, this game lasts for long enough on its own and creating a new character always adds something different to the game.

There are a few drawbacks and limitations, but Splatoon’s frantic and addicting gameplay is a blast. This is Nintendo’s best new IP in years.

Super One More Jump is a fun, little platformer that fits very well on the Nintendo Switch. It’s unforgiving yet engaging gameplay mixed with some snazzy visuals will have you coming back for one more attempt.

Tearaway: Unfolded is full of the same enchanting charm and clever design found in the original, and the PlayStation 4 gives it a new stage to captivate both returning and new audiences alike.

Trackmania Turbo lacks some of the series’ standards, but still offers a polished and engaging time-trial racer for those looking for a rush of speed. With tons of options for play and the constant chase for a better time, Turbo gets under your skin, and once it’s in there, it doesn’t let go for a long time.

The cutscenes were an enjoyable interlude between bouts of carnage, but the looping quips eventually got under my skin.

When it comes right down to it, if you're a fan of any of the NIS titles or a fan of roguelikes, you owe it to yourself to buy this title. At $30 it's an absolute steal given the amount of gameplay you can get out of it. It's not flawless, but then again, no game really is.

The Sims 4 Seasons is quite frankly the best expansion to come out yet. There are tons of new items, but what sets it apart are the ways it changes the game. It adds so many new activities and things to do and wonderful holidays, it honestly made me feel like this is the first must have expansion for The Sims 4.

If you enjoy The Sims 4, this is definitely a must-have expansion pack. If you’re familiar with the franchise, you’ll recognize a lot of similar things from Sims 3 University Life. It’s a stressful and hectic expansion, but reflects a realistic college experience. Now, if only one jog could shed 50 pounds in real life….

Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore is the best version of a great game. It’s got great characters with a lot of depth (except for Itsuki), varied visual themes, wonderful music, and an addictive battle system. Its debut didn’t get the attention it deserved, but maybe this encore will shine a spotlight on one of the best RPGs in recent memory.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink is yet another bold leap for the franchise and it lands gracefully. The combat is a ton of fun with a massive and unique roster of characters. The game could have introduced characters much better and given them more quiet moments, but the story is nice to watch play out, and it all leads into a massive post-game that will keep you playing for a long time.

Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is a short yet refreshing adventure game whose whimsical world and cast of characters make for a cozy evening gaming session. While the gameplay is simplistic and doesn’t leave much room for deep thought, its strength lies in its ability to allow the player to stop and smell the virtual flowers, taking in the beauty of nature.

The game makes a lot of headway in terms of story quality, and the customization is beyond what we’ve seen in any sandbox title to date. While Saints Row 2 doesn’t reinvent the genre by any means, it brings more than enough big pimpin’ gameplay to keep me busy for a while.

Super Mega Baseball 2 brings a great amount of arcade fun to this historical sport. With great mechanics and pick up and play gameplay, the game keeps you entertained and engaged. Since there it is not an MLB game you can’t use real players or teams, but that doesn't stop the game from holding up as a respectable title.

I’m going to go have Sara shag a few more sims, then I’m calling it a night.

The high points of great graphics, high fun factor, good sound, and high replay value, outweigh the control issues.

Paradise Killer is a fascinating murder mystery set in a strange world with even stranger characters. The game lets you put the evidence together to find out what really happened in a way most don’t. With its unique aesthetic and bumpin’ soundtrack, it’s well worth letting love die to find the facts.

Downwell is a simple and fun 2D platformer. Its unique gameplay makes it fast-paced and challenging, and its roguelike qualities keep it from growing bland or frustrating. Spend a little time with this game and you may get hooked too.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies doesn’t do much to innovate the series, but does a great job at bringing a classic experience to the 3DS.

The Lion’s Song is a beautiful narrative-focused game if you get passed the sluggish cursor and the slow character movement. Each episode contains its own beautiful story which are woven together to form a satisfying conclusion. Any fans of the art scene in the early 20th century or anyone hungry for a good narrative should definitely board the train on this one.

The Kingdom Hearts PC ports are surprisingly excellent. With a substantial amount of options in 3 especially, this will no doubt please players who want to experience some of the saga at upwards of 900 frames per second. While there are a few blemishes, like blurry movies and no mouse support, each of these games is well worth owning for fans of the series. Just wait for a big sale.

Tails of Iron is a fantastic, brutal, and gorgeous game. Placing rats at the forefront of an adventure game was a bold move, and serves the world that Odd Bug Studio has created immensely. The battle between the frogs and rats is intense, the combat is challenging - yet fair - and the wide variety of equipment is sure to make any RPG fan excited to experiment with new loadouts. I enjoyed every moment spent in the Rat Kingdom, and can only hope to see more from Redgi, his brothers, and this fantastic world.

Advanced Warfare creates the multiplayer shooter players have been craving for years. Inspired by the old guard and incorporating a host of new features, this is the new face and bright future of Call of Duty.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is an absolute masterpiece. Well paced, written, and executed, the game is Respawn’s best thus far.

Rising Storm 2: Vietnam is a unique and brutally realistic multiplayer shooter meant to showcase the ugliness and unpredictability of a notorious war. Although it may cause monitor-smashing rage quitting at times and won’t win any awards for eye candy, there’s nothing else out there that provides a more nuanced, visceral, and intense jungle or urban fighting experience. At only $25, it’s tough to turn it down. And hey, who doesn’t enjoy some Creedence Clearwater Revival?

A must-have for Live and multiplayer enthusiasts, Phantom Dust is a breath of fresh air in the fps dominant world of online play. And at twenty bucks, it's practically theft!

Come for the role playing and story, but as soon as someone speaks, please turn down the volume to save your ears some distress.

For a game where you play as an adorable yarn doll, it does an admirable job setting up a touching narrative intertwined with clever and unique puzzle platforming. And if you have a friend to play with, then Unravel Two is a treat in the visuals and the gameplay.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy is a complete and utter masterpiece, and not playing it should be considered a criminal offense in the gaming community.

It even makes great use of the Gamepad with real-time maps and streaming Gamepad play, while staying away from needless touch screen gimmicks. Ultimately, Black Ops 2 is just as good on the Wii U as it is on Xbox 360 and PS3 – save for the complete lack of a multiplayer community.

Treasures of the Sun is a nice side diversion with Dungeon Siege 3. The core game remains a fun hack-and-slash loot-a-thon, and the DLC gives you several hours more game. The dungeons are well laid out, the enemies are challenging, the loot is plentiful, the art is gorgeous, and it's absolutely worth your time if you enjoyed the original game.

The First Tree tells an incredibly personal and melancholy story about the loss of a loved through the eyes of a fox within a dream world. Wandering through beautiful, abstract worlds, you learn the narrator’s story as the fox searches for her missing kits. It has a surprising number of platformer elements, given the nature of the game, but doesn’t distract from the beautiful story within this short exploration game.

Unruly Heroes features a mix of platforming and combat with four characters that you can switch between on the fly. With a handful of interesting bosses and plenty of mechanical variation between levels, the game never locks you into one style of play for too long. Ultimately, though, I didn’t find any part of it that much fun to play, which wasn’t helped by its leaden controls and uneven difficulty.

I have played ESO since beta, and have loved pretty much every expansion and DLC that's been released, but I have to say Elsweyr, along with the Scalebreaker and Dragonhold DLC’s are simply fantastic. The story was well done, the furnishings are some of the best they have come up with, the landscapes are breathtaking, and I mean come on...there are dragons. That you get to fight. If that doesn’t make you feel like a true hero, I don’t know what will.

You can still clearly see the 3DS roots in Rune Factory 4 Special’s PC port, but it’s still a fantastic game worth enjoying if you haven’t already played it. It does have some keyboard input issues, particularly with name entry, and some aspects were clearly not intended to be viewed at a high resolution, however it does put forward enough effort to work on PC that makes it a decent platform to play on.

The Entropy Centre is a mind bending puzzle game that’s constantly introducing new ideas to feel fresh. Rewinding objects never gets old, and will change how you think for hours after you put the controller down. Add on top some hilarious writing, charming characters, and an intriguing mystery and you’ve got an instant classic.

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is a small step forward from the original, but all those tiny tweaks make it feel that much better. Online matches feel seamless, the new and changed characters have a lot of variety, and the story is a fun if incomprehensible ride. However, it takes a bit too much of the first game out including offline unlockables or even getting kicked back to the main menu in single player if you lose your connection. Still, its strengths outweigh its weaknesses by a wide margin and is an absolute blast to play.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is a phenomenal game, with a gripping story and combat systems that encourages you to constantly evolve your strategy. It's a game that treats you like an adult in all its aspects, but is never too punishing when you fail. For fans who have been asking for Pokémon to "grow up", this is your answer.

Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones is a fantastic RPG. The story is interesting, the characters are unique, the quests are varied, and the systems run deep. There are a variety of different ways to play this game and I can’t wait to jump back in and explore some new paths. This is one nightmare I highly recommend.

In the end, those who enjoyed Dishonored will probably get a kick out of The Brigmore Witches, and those who got what they needed out of the main game have few new experiences to find here.

With beautiful music and a heart-wrenching story, the final episode of Life is Strange: Before the Storm provides mostly interesting gameplay and big decisions to mull over in spite of over-dramatic themes and a lack of resolution for some plot lines.

Guitar Hero Live gives us an offline first-person rock-and-roll fantasy, but it’s Guitar Hero TV that gives this series new life. The new guitar gives veterans new challenges while breaking down the barrier to entry for new players. While the on-disc tracks are, in my opinon, throwaway, Guitar Hero TV should keep players busy for a long time to come.

Ashen uses the Souls-like formula to tell a very different, optimistic story about community. Whether you’re playing alone, with an AI companion, or with another person, combat with the game’s varied enemies and bosses is challenging and satisfying. Ashen’s world feels real and lived-in, and getting to carve out your own settlement and watch it prosper is truly satisfying.

The damage model system ties in nicely with the control system and your car will begin to be more difficult to control as you lose pieces of it. You catch too much air and control is lost; you hammer the brakes and they will lock. Every detail is as it should be...

If you even remotely liked the first two, then this title, which only adds more quality to the series, is a must have. The Time Crisis series upholds its throne as the light-gun shooter king, though anyone who is looking for more in a game will not find it all here.

With fantastic visuals, top-tier voice acting, excellent comedic writing, and an addictive gameplay loop, Borderlands 4 is just freaking fun. While not groundbreaking, the story of Kairos and the Timekeeper is well-done and engaging. Despite some technical issues that will hopefully be resolved quickly, Gearbox’s latest is a game fans won’t want to miss. It’s good to have Borderlands back.

Yes, it's campy and silly in parts, and yes, it's not something many western audiences are going to be used to. However, I feel that Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love is definitely worth the look.

Ghostrunner is a breath of fresh air. It takes the best parts of Hotline Miami and Mirror’s Edge, sprinkles in its own style, and hands players a unique experience. Every single minute is a thrill ride that keeps the player packed full of adrenaline, and it doesn’t stop until the end of each level. It’s an immensely enjoyable and satisfying experience that will have you on the edge of your seat trying to master each segment. However, as the price point currently stands you’re getting about 5 hours of content for $30, with the only replayability coming from leaderboard rankings.

With fast paced frenetic combat, a story that keeps you guessing, and enough interlocked systems to bring it all together in a way the first game never could, Everspace 2 is the best space game I’ve played in a very long time. Rockfish reached for the stars, and damn if they didn’t catch ‘em.

Untitled Goose Game proves that you don’t need complex mechanics or an involved story to make a great game. It takes a simple premise — you’re a goose here to make trouble — and spins it out into a short but extremely satisfying slapstick journey. Untitled Goose Game is effortlessly funny, succeeding as much on its physical comedy as its clever puzzles.

A phenomenally awesome RTS, and stays true to all the games before it.

However, standing alone, Telltale Games can and has done much better than Chapter 5.

Clearly, Lord of Shadows wants to feel “cinematic” but it goes too far by sacrificing gameplay on the altar of visual splendor.

With mods, this game is gorgeous, and you can trick out just about any aspect of the experience, though the menus and overall object interaction is still very much stuck in the pancake world. Still, there’s nothing quite like standing your ground and taking the fight to the enemy. In VR, I am the Dragonborn, and that’s what virtual Skyrim is all about.

Suzerain is unlike most things you can play that’s out right now. The choose your own adventure stylings are fascinating, with rabbit trail upon rabbit trail to investigate. Because of this, you’ll be able to play it again and again, and because they do such a great job with the setting and people you’re going to want to. While some sections can be long in tooth, they only make me appreciate what Suzerain is doing, creating a riveting narrative of what it’s like to be President.

A Highland Song has so much heart, it’s hard not to find something to love. I was drawn into the game due to the rhythm based traversal for running up the hills. With music from Laurence Chapman, Talisk and Fourth Moon, I found myself running up and down hills just to get the songs perfect. The story also has such a sweet progression, each hint drawing you closer and closer to the truth of it all. Plus, with how much there is to explore and the time mechanic, the replayability is insane given the cost of the game. From the art style to the music to the adventure itself, it’s easy to get lost in the Highland Song.

Creed has raised my expectations of the visuals and multi-level sandbox games; I am hoping Ubi fixes up the minor flaws for the next go-round as I am now anxiously awaiting the sequel.

Skylanders SuperChargers is hands-down one of the best kid-friendly games on the market, and the most complete realization of the “toys to life” genre to date.

I came away from Hunt: Showdown a little let down. The premise is good, the setting is something new, and many of the gameplay loop elements are unique. Better still, the combination of PvPvE sets the stage for something amazing, but that stage is just too damned small. With too deep a grind, and too few maps, Hunt: Showdown has just too little content (currently) to match its ambition. But hey...at least the hunting is cool!

Despite some annoyances, Atelier Ryza 3 wraps up Ryza’s journey in a fantastic way, while introducing new elements for both new and returning fans.

The best thing I can say about a game of this nature is that it accomplishes what it sets out to do. It creates puzzles to be solved, gives players the tools to succeed, and then makes you feel like a dextrous genius when you execute successfully. Couple that fantastic visual design and a solid soundtrack and you have something special fans will come back to time and again. Don’t sleep on this wild ride.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a fun puzzle-platformer with a huge amount of polish. The camera angles can sometimes get in the way of its greatness, but Toad’s first solo adventure is absolutely a memorable one.

Well beyond simple DLC, Escalation polishes every aspect of the base game. The campaign is excellent, and the expansion of defensive and upgradeable structures helps ease in new players. New technology amps the scale, but also provides tools to manage the larger world. Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation is a fresh coat of paint for an already-revolutionary RTS.

Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is a quality Fire Emblem game, no doubt about it. It’ll feel strange at first for those who started with Blazing Blade or a later title, but not in a bad way. Once you get used to its little quirks, any Fire Emblem fan will love this game. It’s got an engaging story, likable characters, and multifaceted gameplay that stands together with the rest of the series in some ways and sets itself apart in other aspects. Whether you were looking for a change of pace or just more Fire Emblem, this game is sure to satisfy.

Once again, One More Level has created a speedrunner’s dream. For new players it might be somewhat hard to master, but once you get the gameplay down pat you’ll experience one of the most rewarding and unique titles of 2023. It’s so much fun to play, and the new abilities and changes are a welcome addition. The inclusion of the motorcycle, whilst somewhat janky, is a breath of fresh air to the core gameplay loop. One More Level has once again put their heart and soul into producing a fantastic game.

Mario & Luigi: Dream Team could have been one of the best RPGs on the 3DS; instead, it sadly overstays its welcome.

Trials of Fire is a new legend for single-player strategy. Combining all the best of tactical board game combat, deck-building, and narrative, this game is a contender for best roguelikes available right now. It does have some flaws that keep me from recommending it categorically, but nothing that overwhelms the depth of strategy at play here. I have long been starved as a fan of turn-based combat, and Trials of Fire has finally erupted from the depths of the earth to satisfy that need.

While the maps and enemies could be more varied and interesting, there’s no denying that the gameplay is stellar, rewarding you for working closely with your teammates and punishing you otherwise.

While Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy offers little innovation or surprise, it’s still just as charming and entertaining as ever, and it’s a fitting end to a legacy of perplexing brainteasers.

Rune Factory 4 Special proves just how charming and well-written the Rune Factory games can be. The Switch remaster is just as addictive as charming as the original release was fourteen years ago, and looks even better, thanks to an HD makeover. New content and difficulty modes provide no shortage of replay value, making this a great time sink for newcomers as well as anyone itching to revisit the friendships forged in the town of Selphia.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie serves as the grand conclusion to the Crossbell and Cold Steel story arcs, tying up loose ends with an all-star crossover cast of characters. It does very little to catch new players up to speed with the narrative and context, and ultimately is not a good place to start for newcomers. However, Reverie features an incredibly in-depth gameplay experience to keep even the most hardcore of fans engaged for hours on end.

Whether you are defending a trash barge, grinding a dragon spine, or flinging bowling balls at exploding enemies, Sunset Overdrive is pure insanity – just how I like it. Come for the crazy, stay for the fourth-wall-breaking fun.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion packs all the punch you’d expect from a comic book splash page. It’s clearly made with the kind of love for the source material that I’m looking for, and it improves on Shredder’s Revenge in every way that matters to me.

With gorgeous visuals, an expansive open world, and multiplayer support, Stormland delivers a serviceable shooter with an exceptional upgrade system, and a feeling of progression. What makes it amazing is all of the ways you can glide, fly, surf, or climb -- the expansive world of Stormland is yours to explore, until it changes next week and you get to do it all again.

The Ties that Bind Part 1 is a great start to a new entry in Telltale’s excellent series, one that does just enough to feel fresh.

The amount of swagger and sheer fun in “Just Cause 2” is tremendous, and needs to be played by you right this second.

Graphically there is nothing on the console that compares, and in terms of the complete package, it delivers in every way.

If you want to travel on the road with Snake, then the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection is the right thing for you.

Featuring an eclectic cast of characters and some over-the-top gore, Samurai Shodown is a wonderful reimagining of the classic fighting series. The strategic gameplay and wonderful balance of risk and reward make this game a fine addition to the current generation of fighting games.

Firewatch is a beautiful story of escapism and loss, set against the beautiful Wyoming wilderness. The physicality of your interactions, the excellent radio conversations, and poignant writing and imagery are hindered only by slight issues in presentation and technical hitching. It’s grounded, human, and one that you’ll be eager to talk about for days after the credits roll.

The little details like glass shattering, reflections and shadows, and even exhaust, are meticulous enough that it just took my breath away. I love how this game looks, period.

For those who have never played The Sims, I encourage you to rent the title and try it out...if it is your type of game, this one is better than the original console version with only a few 'lead weights' to hold it down.

There are several areas in which the individual games of this collection could be improved, but Sportsfriends achieves what it set out to do, and for that it is to be commended.

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is a highly familiar, yet fresh take on 2D platforming, and the results are a game I can easily imagine scaled down to 16-bit on a Sega Genesis. A nostalgia hound for the 90s will find a lot to love with this game, from the gameplay down to the look, feel, and story it presents. Far from perfect, but charming beyond its expectations, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is wonderfully fun.

The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker is a reinvention of full motion video for the current generation of games. Its quirky and troubled cast gives some spectacular performances, and the text-based elements make this adventure game an excellent way to get into the genre.

Torchlight II on the Nintendo Switch is not just a re-release of an established game, but it takes full advantage of this transformer-like platform. Its ability to utilize all the Switch’s hardware to make the game more appealing was achieved, without cutting corners or gameplay experience. Offering hours and hours of single or multiplayer monster demolishing gameplay, Torchlight II is everything it was when it first debuted, and more.

For those that haven't played it, it will make a nice addition to the 3DS library.

Spirit of Justice is yet another fantastic game in the Ace Attorney series. The gameplay is better than ever, and the stakes have never been higher, all of which only helps to make one of the best stories in gaming even better. Play this game — you won’t regret it.

Gran Turismo 6 is a beautiful racing simulator that values the art and science of the race over the drama and theatrics that often make racing so appealing. While the game lacks in certain areas, namely in their complete lack of real collision dynamics, the overall racing experience is one of sublime enjoyment.

Caught in a struggle between being a definitive casual game while also being a hardcore competitive experience, Sparking! Zero makes the best of its numerous limitations. The core game is fun enough, it looks great, and it contains an impressive collection of Dragon Ball fan service. Sparking! Zero pushes limits in all of the ways a Dragon Ball game should. Unfortunately, various limitations push back just as much, resulting in a game that still has plenty of training to do in order to reach its full potential.

Fans of the website or the previous games will enjoy the story and jokes.

GoldenEye 007 is a great step in the right direction for this long-neglected franchise.

Basically, if Forza Horizon 4 and American Truck Simulator got drunk and hooked up one night then SnowRunner is what I imagine the result would be. A slower paced game that challenges throughout and stays fresh with a good range of vehicles, upgrades and locations to explore and a great deal of customization.

Fate/Samurai Remnant makes a worthwhile addition to the Fate series, as it expertly intertwines Musou-style combat with a unique historical backdrop all to tell a twisted take on the Holy Grail War. Those who are fans of the franchise are sure to enjoy its narrative rich dialogue and colorful cast of characters, but those just looking to jump into the action might find this experience a bit of a slow-burn.

Marathon so far has been a brutal but rewarding extraction shooter that boasts an incredible visual style and is steeped in excellent Bungie gunplay. The learning curve can be steep at first, and losing everything to a bad run can sting, but the game truly opens up after a few hours to be something very addictive. Once the final map, Cryo Archive, releases in the coming days we'll have a final score for the full review. In meantime, we'll be dropping back in Tau Ceti IV chasing that next piece of loot.

Borderlands 3 is the modern looter shooter at its finest. The signature humor is alive and well, and with a cast of four fresh Vault Hunters and over a billion guns (and some with legs!), there’s a lot to be excited about. It builds on and evolves everything that makes Borderlands great without changing the core looting and shooting that makes Borderlands, Borderlands.

Stranded: Alien Dawn is a well-focused survival game with choices that have meaningful and lasting impact. While it could stand to have a few more scenarios, what’s on offer will keep you busy for dozens of hours, and that’s just your first playthrough.