The Walking Dead: The Final Season’s opener is a remarkably solid beginning of the end. Done Running’s return to the first season’s narrative structure is masterfully combined with a fine cast of characters and potential friendships. This is one series that I’ll miss, but has the potential to go out with a bang.

Franchise Hockey Manager 3 is a fantastically crafted title well worthy of praise. Unfortunately, with this release being a pretty basic retread, there is a prevailing sense of staleness. The game does have some minor improvements that are mostly visible with the streamlined startup process and visual data provided while in-game. Long time fans of the series may not need to update, but any new player looking to try a sports sim would be hard pressed to find a better place to start.

Vectronom is a stylish rhythm-puzzler with delightfully unforgiving difficulty and a fist-pumping electronic soundtrack. This is one game you should definitely try out if you want a musically-inclined challenge for your Switch.

Diablo II: Resurrected delivers on the promise of a rebuilt original, without tampering with the soul of what made it amazing in the first place. With completely remastered graphics, all-new cutscenes, and console cross-progression, Diablo II: Resurrected takes us back to Hell, and it’s every bit as amazing as it was when we played it 20 years ago.

Avowed is a stellar RPG, with satisfying combat, a gripping story, lovable characters, and plenty of roleplaying opportunities. It has more than its fair share of annoyances and jank, but the heart is what makes Avowed a must play.

I had fun swinging and leaping about, doding the police and the enemy gangs, and just about everything else in this game.

Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! is both a celebration of visual novels and a deep dive into the potential of interactive fiction. This updated version introduces new content that continues to weaponize the game’s mastery over the visual novel format to land even more emotional gut punches.

I found the Nifty Knitting Stuff Pack to be a relaxing distraction after the Eco Lifestyle expansion. Though it isn't filled to the brim with content, what is there is fun. The new knitting hobby will keep you busy and you'll make some profit with the new Plopsy marketplace.

Final Fantasy VIII Remastered is the perfect way to revisit this classic or experience it for the first time. Its themes are more relevant than ever, and its battle system, while flawed in some aspects, is weird, fun, and encourages creativity.

Ragnarock is an incredibly fun rhythm game filled to the brim with catchy Celtic inspired music. While a bit bare-bones with no story or progression modes to speak of, Ragnarock still works as a party game and is sure to become a go-to when you have a few moments to spare or when you want to have a blast with your friends.

Lichtspeer is nonsensical, bloody, and a joy to behold. It suffers from repetition, and stages that drag on a little too long, but is a worthy experience for those possessing the willpower to tackle this challenging title.

While it’s definitely got its flaws, and it doesn’t quite reach the same exceptional standards as its predecessor, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is definitely worth playing. With robust, customizable combat, fun characters and an interesting story, and huge environments to explore, it’s one of the best games on the Switch and an excellent RPG.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution – Director’s Cut may be overlooked by those who have already played it, but it is a robust experience worthy of a playthrough by its own right.

A thrilling, albeit frustrating, gaming experience that will have you yelling for joy one minute then screaming in anger the next.

Star Ocean: The Divine Force is a bold and exciting new direction for the series with incredibly fun combat, great characters, and a gripping story. It stumbles more often than it should, but this grand return was more than worth the wait.

Street Fighter 6 on Switch 2 is a surprisingly good port and is hopefully emblematic of what we can expect with future Switch 2 ports. Yes, World Tour is far from perfect and could use a 30 fps cap or 40 in portable mode, but the majority of most players' time with the game will be spent either online or in the more traditional single-player modes. It also supports cross-play, so you’ll be able to fight against anyone else on any other platform.

Sifu delivers on its promises of being one of the best Kung-Fu games ever made. With incredible animation work, flowing combat, a beautiful art style, and great music; this indie beat-em-up, roguelite game deserves more than the cult following it will probably receive.

The PC version brings accessibility and graphical upgrades, as well as the promises of unofficial mod-based improvements. If this is your first time with Final Fantasy X, I envy you — it’s a powerful journey that you won’t soon forget.

Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled has the thrilling speed and the addictive gameplay of the original and adds a metric ton of extra content for fans and newcomers to enjoy. Whether you’re new to the frantic frenzy of Crash Team Racing or you’ve been hankering for a chance to play as Nitros Oxide himself, there’s a whole lot of things to love.

The Last Clockwinder is one of the more chill games to check out on your new PSVR2, and it’s worthy of the purchase. This is the definitive version, with crisp visuals and motion controls backed by an emotional story you connect with even without seeing any of the characters. If you’re looking to decipher a few puzzles with the help of a few cute little robots, this is the game for you.

As a fan, I'm miffed at the story, which I doubt is what the creators want to hear. As a gamer, I had a good time with Chaos Bleeds and if you're looking for a good fighting game, check this one out.

WarioWare Gold is an off-the-wall title bursting with content and creativity. The 300+ microgames and myriad side modes will keep you coming back to this game time and time again, even with its lacking multiplayer and padded unlockables. WarioWare Gold is easily the best game Nintendo has released in 2018 so far, and a great addition to any 3DS owner’s library.

Danganronpa Decadence is a great package of the three highly engaging games from Spike Chunsoft. While the collection comes included with some noticeable flaws, the overall package is worth every penny for die-hard fans of the series.

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.

The writing can be overwrought, written by committee, and occasionally forced, but it’s also a major step forward for a team that needs the win. Dragon Age: The Veilguard brings us compelling characters, excellent combat, and a world worth saving.

What makes Danganronpa immensely satisfying is how it consistently toys with your expectations. With excellent writing, well-developed characters, and a story that keeps you guessing, Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc is a bloody good time.

DOOM: The Dark Ages throws everything and the kitchen sink at the wall, and a lot of it sticks. However, just enough of it doesn’t stick to drag things as a whole down a few pegs. Gunplay and parrying feels great, as does weaving through the bullet hell-esque attacks, but suddenly dying for no perceivable reason does not. Still, it’s a game worth your time for those highs, even if you have to get through the lows to reach them.

Salt and Sanctuary isn’t the most original game in the world, but Ska Studio’s take on a 2D Souls game has enough going for it to stand on its own two legs. It’s held back somewhat by occasionally cheap difficulty spikes, performance issues, and a bizarre tendency for things to appear too tiny or dark to be perceived when in portable mode, but none of that should deter you from picking the game up if you’re looking for a game that will kick your ass.

EA Sports MMA brings a nice package to the ring.

Octopath Traveler 0 is much, much more than a simple remake of a mobile game. It uses that as a base, but still feels like a full fledged RPG in its own right. It’s a different take on a lot of Octopath’s usual systems and tropes, and feels incredibly refreshing in that respect. Its plot can flounder at the start and middle chapters, but can be enthralling once it finally gets going. The battle system is just as fun as ever, being bigger and yet more restrictive in a very interesting way. Whether you’re after revenge or restoration, there’s fun to be had in either path.

D-Pad camera controls are painfully slow.

Even five entries in, Sniper Elite 5 manages to deliver on the core gameplay sniping loop while managing to provide us with a handful of new features to keep things fresh. There are a few bugs to hammer out, and some movement systems are underbaked, but fans and newcomers alike will find a lot to like here.

The shortcomings of the Switch port are easily forgiven when the proposition of a portable BioShock is on the table. All three are phenomenal games that could face off against any modern-day juggernaut, but only the BioShocks can be played on the go.

If you haven't gotten a chance to play it yet, then take a look at the Xbox 360 version. You won't be left disappointed.

If you haven’t played Crash 4 yet, this is a competent version of the game if you don’t mind the drastically reduced visuals. However, it is slightly more glitchy and more difficult due to reduced visual clarity and the halved frame rate.

This classic arcade style shooter will keep your thumbs and your senses occupied for many, many hours.

Detective Pikachu is a surprisingly charming Telltale-like game filled with humor, twists, and a sassy electric rodent. More than a mish-mash of minigames, it's a shockingly solid title with first-class voice acting.

I’m both happy and sad that Shadow of the Erdtree is the first and last expansion for Elden Ring. On one hand, it’s a masterfully woven experience that expands on the contents of the base game, whereas on the other it leaves much more to be desired with its disappointing final boss. That being said, it’s still very much worth your time if you’re craving some more Elden Ring.

LOVE 3 is a challenging precision platformer without the frustration. With some smart level design and accessibility features as well as chill music, this is a great game for anyone looking for a bit of a challenge.

Steel Assault brings back the arcade feel with tremendous accuracy and care. Its brevity nicely contrasts with how difficult it can be, and the bosses are fun and distinct. The grappling hook is a great addition with unique uses, though it's a little unreliable at times. If Steel Assault were to cost 50¢ per play, I probably lost $20, and I don't regret it.

Viking Rage takes the simple concept of tower defense and brings it to VR. Enemy variety, traps and secrets, and a few boss fights make it more than the sum of its parts. Minigames are icing on that cake. There are some technical hurdles, but at its core Viking Rage is a fun take on an established genre.

LawBreakers feels like combat occurring inside a snowglobe while a five-year-old shakes it really, really quickly. It’s a shooter, like so many others out there, but it doesn’t camouflage an axis-locked multiplayer formula with a new historical setting or gimmicky abilities — its low-gravity environments and lightning-fast traversal make it like no shooter you’ve ever played.

Civilization VI is the most strategic installment of the Civilization series to date. With upgrades to everything from city planning and management to an entirely revamped social policy system, the are lots of new and improved features to dive into. Diverse maps, unique leader abilities and plenty of interesting rival empires to befriend and fight, Civ VI has a lot to explore and great replay value.

With only a few hiccups, Sniper Elite: Contracts finds the fine line between action arcade and sniper simulation. While the story might be forgettable, landing the perfect shot from 500 meters away never stops being awesome.

Moving Out 2 innovates on the foundation of puns, puzzles, and platforming its predecessor built before it and provides a break from the mainstream releases of 2023.

Antstream Arcade is a must-have subscription for the retro enthusiast. It has a great selection of games, and even if every big name isn’t there and they aren’t natively downloadable, the cloud-based service works incredibly well. Add in a fantastic challenge system and local multiplayer, and this is an easy recommendation.

The premise is exciting! You’re Benedict Fox, and demonic friend, taking on a case about a murder, a secret society, and more. This game is not for the faint of heart when it comes to puzzles and problem solving. You can get frustrated easily if you don’t breathe, but it's a challenging kind of frustration and fun. If you love puzzle games and platformers, this will be a must play. And if you love lore, it has that in droves. While it has moments of feeling directionless, don’t worry. Just walk around and you’re bound to find something you haven’t seen before.

Wild Card Football is not just a perfect break for the Madden player, but a fantastic throwback to playground football. With recognizable NFL athletes playing in wacky uniforms and stadiums, it’s hard not to have a blast. This is arcade football at its peak; Playground Sports has nailed the nostalgia for PS2 games past.

Red Matter showcases what happens when you make VR interactivity the star, and lean into giving the player as much control as possible. The interactivity, immersion, and presentation are top shelf, and the atmosphere is one you shouldn’t miss.

Saturday Morning RPG is an extremely fun and heart-filled adventure, giving a great homage to the 80’s.

2064: Read Only Memories is a free expansion to the original game, available on Steam for $19.99. With a cyber-punk setting and a retro vibe, Read Only Memories is filled with a host of interesting and colorful characters to get to know, a complex and escalating mystery to navigate, puzzles to solve, and a sinister plot or two to overthrow, making it a great investment for fans of the point-and-click adventure genre.

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.

I can’t get over how sweet Kabuto Park is, and it proves that simplicity can really be the best policy. However, it falters sometimes due to its small scope and simple premise. It allows for a lot of repetition in its gameplay, alleviated by a short runtime but present nonetheless. But don’t let this stop you from trying out such a relaxing and heartfelt indie title. For such a small price, why wouldn’t you at least give it a go?

The iconic Lara Croft returns in a series of lovingly crafted remasters of her first three adventures. Tomb Raider I-III Remastered features not only the base version of all three games, but also the full expansions which were previously unavailable on the PS1, providing an incredible amount of content for a bargain price. Upgraded character models and lighting, a photo mode, and optional quality-of-life improvements help round out a collection which would have been worthwhile without the graphical upgrade. Unfortunately, a few control, lighting, and camera issues do occasionally arise, dampening what is otherwise a great collection.

Ever Oasis offers a surprising amount of content in a fun, accessible game. Challenging yet forgiving battle mechanics mean that beginners can hack and slash away, while masters can focus on strategy and speed running. A diverse cast of characters with numerous abilities encourages playing with diverse parties, and the warp system enables lots exploration, creating replayability while making long slogs across maps a thing of the past. Easy to pick up, hard to put down, and overflowing with features, Ever Oasis really is a diamond in the desert.

Curse of the Dead Gods is fantastic. The gameplay, while incredibly challenging, is still fun and immensely rewarding. It's so satisfying to finally complete a dungeon after spending hours grinding there. It's a roguelite in nearly the best sense of the word, with the only downside being that there's no established story; no tangible endgame.

The 2005 and 2006 titles had their fair share of little hiccups, but this title irons out nearly all of them. From top to bottom, World Series of Poker 2008: Battle for the Bracelets is a solid Poker title – bring your chips – they’ll look good in my stack.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Donuts ‘N Justice and highly recommend it to anybody looking for a short but exciting shoot ‘em up. The game is brimming with fun shooting, a goofy premise, and a good variety of unlockables that are sure to keep players coming back for a few more rounds after completion.

Ultimately Triangle Strategy gets an excellent port, albeit one with fewer frills than we’d like. Still, that’s nothing the modding community can’t fix in very short order. Performance is fantastic on PC, and equally as good on Steam Deck. While the long-winded story might need work, there’s no denying the tactical combat.

With a few new zones and bounties, there’s more to tackle beyond the new class and Challenge Rift. With luck, and the upcoming Season 11, there’s plenty of reasons to come back to Diablo III. The Necromancer is a bit of a work in progress currently, but it’s a fantastic addition that fits nicely into the pantheon of fighters and casters.

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.

Tales of Arise - Beyond the Dawn might not be the most necessary followup ever made and you’ve seen this kind of story told in RPGs many times before, but it's still delightful nonetheless. Combat remains a blast, the story is thoughtful with a fantastic final boss, and the world feels like a realistic impression of what a year after global slavery would be like. Beyond the Dawn is exactly what it should be, nothing more and nothing less.

With an engaging story, endless minigames, always-entertaining characters, and a great blend of series mechanics old and new, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is an excellent entry into the franchise. Now we just need a patch for that lighting issue…

Come for the dungeon management, stay for goofy minions like Jayzee, Am’Adamss, and Kato.

Shenmue III feels like a remake of the Dreamcast game that never existed, for better and worse. It’s got everything fans loved about the Sega classics, along with some of their baggage. Still, the best of the series is the greatest it’s ever been. It can feel as bloated as the originals, and some mechanics feel unnecessary or are poorly explained. If you’re curious about that fabled Shenmue charm, though? This is the best entry to date.

Dead Rising 3 is truly a game that is its best when it isn’t trying, it is unapologetic and bloody, and one of the best zombie hack and slash games that has ever been released.

The Master Collection is just about as barebones as you can get, yet can still be recommended due to the inclusion of two of the best games ever made. Like most players, I was excited when the collection was first announced because I thought it would be a full blown remake or, at the very least, a remaster. Still, I had hours of fun replaying the first two entries, and would wholeheartedly recommend this collection to anybody that has not played the games before or does not own another means of playing them.

There’s room for improvement, but Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II’s move into a new generation of warfare is a reminder of why Modern Warfare is the best timeline. The campaign hits hard, with some of the best performances in a Call of Duty story, the multiplayer beckons with new complexities, and a refreshed Spec Ops opens the mode up to new possibilities. A couple of misses in the UI and basic features cause some frustration, but Infinity Ward has made THEIR game, and it’s an important step into the future of Call of Duty.

Deliver Us Mars explores what it means to struggle against extinction, and the hope of fixing a dying planet. It’s a story of fear, and how it manifests into hope within some, and wrath within others. It’s a short but certainly sweet narrative adventure into the stars with some casual yet amusing puzzles to help break up the flow of gameplay.

Jackbox Party Pack 1 & 2 each contain their own unique set of games for hours of hilarity with your friends, and having this available on the go with the Switch makes it all the sweeter. Each pack contains a wide variety of games such as the first containing You Don’t Know Jack and Drawful and the second containing Fibbage 2 and Quiplash XL. Solo players beware, this game is primarily for parties.

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.

The Journey is a smart addition, though it can be a little tedious at times, top-notch presentation and decent performances make the tedium tolerable. The actual gameplay is still enjoyable, but mostly unchanged from previous iterations.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax’s modern port is the definitive version of the game as it provides a good amount of quality content Die-hard Persona fans and fighting game fans will undoubtedly enjoy.

Sam & Max Beyond Time and Space may be the low point of the trilogy, but it’s still a laugh out loud game everyone should find entertaining. The remastered visuals are gorgeous, the soundtrack is incredible, and most of the puzzles are fun to solve.

Returnal is a great game on console and on PC, and its brilliant fast-paced gameplay will give daring players a highly entertaining experience despite its frustrating elements.

The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes can occasionally get tedious when playing alone, but the multiplayer is one of the greatest handheld co-op experiences around.

Intrigue allows players to choose from 20 governments each with their own perks, special events that can reward unique ships or even destroy one of your planets, and is primarily a positive game changer for Galactic Civilizations III. Commonwealth are a neat idea, but sadly end up becoming more of a nuisance than an ally.

Demon’s Souls 2020 is a gorgeous game that holds up thanks to a lovingly recreation and some helpful quality of life improvements. Although it oftentimes feels like it’s afraid to change too much lest it incur the wrath of the original game’s cult following which makes it less impactful, this stellar remaster is still a must-play for any PS5 owner.

It’s difficult finding a game that makes everyone happy. Some people like more complicated games, and some people like more simple games. It’s rare to find a game that appeals to a broad spectrum of gamers.

MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune VS Zombies may not be the best game in the Neptunia series, but it is certainly the quickest paced and most action packed of any title.

High Noon VR is WAY more fun than any $9.99 stationary shooter has any right to be. With stellar (albeit repetitive and occasionally janky) voice acting, excellent gunplay, and more than a few laugh-out-loud moments, this is one you should add to your library. Come for the gunplay, stay for the deep-seated worry that might just be a cold blooded well-intentioned murderer.

Ghosts ‘N Goblins Resurrection is a wonderful re-imagining of the brutally difficult iconic series. Featuring incredible hand-drawn animation and multiple difficulty levels to ensure that players of all skill levels can complete the game, this release will win over both old fans of the series as well as new players eager for a challenge.

The Heroes content gives fans a reason to play Resogun again, but anyone who was ready to move on or didn’t enjoy the game in the first place may not find it reason enough to come back.

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.

Franchise Hockey Manager 4 is the latest and perhaps greatest of Out of the Park Developments high quality hockey management simulator. There are a handful of improvements over the last release, and all updates to the current season as included as well. Despite some accuracy issues with simulation, and some confusing navigation, FHM 4 is a strong release, but with few must-have changes for even a dedicated player.

With a plethora of mediums and subjects available, a thoughtful approach to teaching art and perfect touchpad controls, Art Academy is a must-have for any Pokemon doodler.

EA Sports Madden NFL 26 has a lot going for it this year with major updates to Madden Franchise Mode and a great new start to a refresh for NFL Superstar, all the while keeping MUT and online play steady as always. Franchise mode feels the most cinematic it’s ever felt with Rich Eisen and Scott Hanson bringing a new level of immersion into the game and adding all sorts of weekly reports and planning. The gameplay itself feels updated with the inclusion of the wear & tear system coming from College Football to Madden and multiple choices when it comes to passing mechanics. While bugs are a’plenty right now, this is a major step in the right direction for the Madden franchise that really needed a strong showing this year. If you’ve not played Madden in a while, this is where you’ll want to jump in again, especially Franchise Mode fans.

There’s a lot to like in The Sinking City on PlayStation 5. With updated textures, 4K/60 FPS support, faster loading times, and activities support, it’s a solid detective story. While the combat may be shallow, and it has enough havok bugs to make a Deep One scared, it represents some of the best work Frogwares Studio has made. If you are an H.P. Lovecraft fan, don’t let this one sail past you.

If you can adjust to the ProStick controls, you’ll find a control system that really makes you feel like a part of the game.

While Multiplayer feels largely like more of the same with a few new features and a fresh coat of paint, and Zombies in Spaceland is a goofy, funny romp through 80s nostalgia, the Campaign is where Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare really shines. Infinity Ward brings a level of narrative skill to the series not seen before, with a gripping space opera that makes this one of the best to come out of the series in a while.

Pick it up and get ready for a whole lot of fun and the good kind of gameplay frustration.

A love letter to the NES era of platformers, Cyber Shadow scratches the retro itch just right. With some amazing gameplay elements and a killer presentation, this is an adventure you need in your life right now.

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.

Forspoken: In Tanta We Trust presents a cool spin on an already amazing combat system. This DLC is small in scope, but as a result is well worth the time investment. The story is nothing new, but with much sharper writing it holds a lot of promise for the teased sequel.

Bomb Rush Cyberfunk has a few problems, but so much soul you can’t help but love it. The simple joy of movement alone is well worth writing all over New Amsterdam, but so are the music, visuals, and story. Sure, there are bumps in the road, but they won’t stop you from going All City.

This is easily an instant pickup for Dragon Ball Z fans. Fighting game fans should take a look at this title as well, as the amount of customization and number of characters mixed with strategy brings up DBZ: BT to a higher level over other fighting games.

Aliens Go Home Run is a title that packs a punch and has the balls to mix Breakout with shoot-em-up action. It’s a game that aims to be a fun little diversion, and accomplishes that goal quite well. At $4, it’s a must buy for anyone looking for a palate cleanser in the sea of AAA games.

Rain on Your Parade has made me feel emotions for a cloud that I have not felt... well, ever! With a charming aesthetic, entertaining pop culture humor, and a wacky premise, you should play this game if you want to spend a weekend ruining a bunch of people's lives with water.