Nairi: Tower of Shirin is a witty, cute, and quirky point-and-click adventure. Silly and slightly morbid, Nairi shines with unique characters, hand-drawn artwork, and challenging but fair puzzles. It is held back slightly by some confusing navigation, a few bugs, and the inability to save your progress, but this charming little gem is a must-play for fans of the genre.

ABZÛ is nothing short of a work of art. Diving through its gorgeous cel-shaded ocean with the title’s sweeping orchestra in the background enraptured me from the first moment of the game. This is an experience that shouldn't be missed.

Cattails is a cute, light-hearted RPG that revolves around hunting, foraging, and trying to restore the Forest Guardian. The gameplay is easy to pick up and play at any time, but can become a bit monotonous after awhile. The game isn't very exciting, and is meant more for relaxing gaming.

World of Final Fantasy Maxima is by no means perfect (it, in fact, has many notable flaws) but I had a fun time indulging in my love of Final Fantasy and with a Pokemon twist. This new Maxima add-on only makes the overall experience better, but is a fairly light package for anyone that played the base game already. If you were champing at the bit for any new content, then this gives players some new monsters to collect, but it ultimately is more additive than transformative.

Pokémon Let’s Go is a curious game which bucks the established trends of mainline Pokémon titles. The series’ signature, turn-based combat takes a backseat to the experience of simply existing in the world of Pokémon, capturing Kanto’s ‘mons with brand-new, well-executed capturing mechanics. This game lacks many of the “hardcore” features that scores of fans, myself included, have come to expect from a new title. However, in the wake of these features is a Pokémon experience that engaged me in a manner unlike any title in the series’ past.

Featuring a great value of three games in the package, the Persona Dancing Endless Night Collection is the best way to experience Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight and Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight. While a bit grindy later on, some killer tracks, entertaining gameplay, and a refreshing aesthetic, the games in this collection are chart-toppers.

It’s a strange thing to find yourself smiling so much while playing a game that has you carrying out a series of grisly murders, but that’s exactly what Hitman 2 does. Whether you’re disguising yourself as a cupcake salesman to get close to a target, or spending an hour to make someone’s death look like an accident, Hitman 2 is the best stealth action game of the year.

Bendy and the Ink Machine takes players down a corrupted nostalgia trip, full of old school cartoon characters mixed with twisted horror. Exploration, puzzle solving, and the occasional fight are the name of the game, even if the save system could be better. If you don't enter Joey Drew Studios for the gameplay, you'll be enthralled by the story.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker sets up an epic story, expansive world, difficult combat, and lively characters, but all these elements eventually become tiresome. Its unforgiving difficulty and strict adherence to Pathfinder tabletop rules will likely turn away more players than it attracts, and while its kingdom management sim sets it apart from similar RPGs, no part of the game ever feels wholly original. Despite boldly putting players in the role of a king or queen, it never engages enough with the consequences of your decisions, or whether you have the right to make them at all.

Turf Wars shows promise in its two hour story, but mostly sets up a more interesting third act with (hopefully) more interesting boss fights. At some points, it’s far too hard and the last fight is almost unfair. But the core of what made the main game so compelling is all still intact and is more than enough reason to pick up the DLC.

With a more heavy focus on action, Darksiders III is a return to the roots of the franchise, and away from the RPG elements of its predecessor.

As much as I’d like to be able to tell you that this title is terrible or amazing, the truth is that it’s just okay.

The Forge is a disappointingly brief and underwhelming add-on to an excellent game. What is there is technically good, but hard to recommend as content that Square Enix is asking you to pay for. I’d recommend holding off to see if the rest of the season pass is worthwhile or if you should pass on it entirely.

Steel Rats is an awesome 2.5D platformer that makes great use of motorcycle based combat. The team of four bikers are badass and unique, prompting you to try them all out, and being able to switch between them on the fly keeps gameplay fresh.

Cybarian: The Time Travelling Warrior is a difficult, often frustrating retro action platformer that values its old-school aesthetic over all else. Everything from its graphics and sound to its difficulty and controls recall an earlier era of gaming, but it does nothing to expand on that legacy. Players looking for a challenge may take some pride in conquering Cybarian, but its short playtime and mostly empty levels leave very little to sink your teeth into.

Moonlighter’s original conceit blends shopkeeping with monster-slaying in a way that’s satisfying for most of its length. While both its combat and trading eventually get repetitive, the gorgeous graphics and pixel art make it a pleasant journey while it lasts. Unfortunately, your character’s quest comes to feel as shallow as the merchant’s life he wants to escape with its uninteresting goal and uninspired conclusion.

Instead of simply running you through various battles of World War I, Valiant Hearts: The Great War uses the story of a French family to build a better understanding of the broader historical importance. This personal story serves as the perfect framing device for the game’s documentary-style presentation. While there are a few missteps and areas where it could have been stronger, it is a beautiful and well-executed game that offers a unique glimpse into one of the deadliest wars in human history.

With three titles of great quality being redesigned to be beautiful even by today’s standards, the Spyro Reignited Trilogy burns bright. Little touches such as a unique design for every Elder Dragon, an attention to detail in the aesthetics of the levels, and a dynamic music system breathe life into what was already a lively collection. Spyro is back, and his games are exactly as good as you remember.

After spending quite a while with the game, I’m blown away that there’s still so much to discover. With dozens of collectibles to find in the single player campaign, a seemingly-unlimited number of weekly challenges, and the Tides of War looming large on the horizon, Battlefield V is the best this series has ever been, and easily the best FPS of the season.

Warriors Orochi 4 is a celebration of Koei Tecmo’s Warriors series, and it’s a great game to pick up for those interested in some good old hack-and-slash goodness. With its record-breaking roster of characters and some new gameplay mechanics, this is one adventure that is divinely entertaining.

Castlevania Requiem: Symphony of the Night & Rondo of Blood does the bare minimum, but it’s still well worth playing. While there are no extras included in this anthology, the two games it contains are some of the best ever made, and one of them has been pretty difficult to come by until now. Aside from the replacement of Symphony of the Night’s wonderfully campy voice acting, both games are delivered in perfect shape and are still as worth playing today as they’ve ever been.

Honestly, the nicest thing I can say about Heavy Fire: Red Shadow is that it’s over in two hours. It is at least technically playable with some interesting mechanics. But even if you are specifically looking for a wave-based, arcade-style turret game, I’d still stay away. This game offers little of value and is fun only if I stretch that word beyond its absolute limit.

Call of Cthulhu is a thrilling experience from start to end. The monsters may be a little lackluster, but the writing, puzzles, and characters are all interesting enough to keep you going until the very end. While the graphics are disappointing, the art style, vocal work, and atmosphere do enough to make up for it. Fans of horror or mystery will find plenty to love here.

Friday the 13th: Killer puzzle is a great combination of the Friday the 13th franchise and the puzzle game genre. The game has a good premise and entertaining gameplay, which may leave you not wanting to put it down. The variety of weapons and costumes make things more charming, and kept things fresh. The game should take at least a couple hours to beat as well.

Summary: Thronebreaker is a masterful RPG with a version of Gwent that is well-suited for a single player experience. Even if you aren’t into card games, this one is worth a try for the story and RPG mechanics alone.

The World Ends With You: Final Remix is a great port, so long as you keep it in handheld mode. Combining RPG storytelling with frantic cell phone game tapping, this funky, high-fashion game is still a surprisingly unique experience, but the Joy-con controls are simply not up to par. With a killer sound track, a surprisingly complex plot, and a whole lot to do after the credits roll, this DS title has more than stood the test of time.

SoulCalibur VI’s combat could crack even the toughest case of fighting game-phobia; it’s strategic, fluid, and deep, but remains as accessible as ever. It’s unfortunate that it’s hampered by a lack of interesting modes, and that its hefty single-player offerings attempt to shift the focus away from the robust combat system and towards stale, cumbersome stories.

While the presentation is charming and amazing, Joggernauts ultimately fails as a casual party game. With its unfair death mechanics and steep difficulty curve, it’s one that will appeal to groups that want a challenge, less so for ones that want to have a fun time.

Luigi’s Mansion was great when it first arrived, and this remake is even more polished and complete than the first. There are a lot of problems with the controls in the game, but the creative and diverse gameplay combined with a beautiful bevy of graphics make the experience worth the frustration.

Red Dead Redemption 2 raises the bar for sandbox adventure games. It’s organic in a way almost unseen in any genre, creating an authentic open world that is as cohesive as it is compelling. This title will set the bar for action adventure games for years to come.

Kero Blaster proves that going back to a genre’s roots can be a refreshing experience. While marred by a sense of strict linearity and some barren background elements, it’s a treat for those that want a solid run-and-gun title.

More than anything, The Heist leaves you begging for more, and I guess that’s what the idea was. It’s just enough more Spider-Man to get you back into the swing of things, but it leaves you hanging with an abrupt ending and minimal new side content. But at only $10, it’s worth it to get back into Insomniac’s lovingly created New York.

The Conjuring House takes parts and pieces from other horror games but fails to add anything new. The in-your-face ghost and technical issues stop whatever scares the game could offer. At the end of the day, The Conjuring House is nothing more than a scavenger hunt in the frame of a generic ghost story that lacks creativity and scares.

LEGO DC Super-Villains is a charmingly funny game that combines the joy of LEGO with the creative coolness of the DC roster. The game isn't hard by any means, but it's a great casual romp through an interesting story. The massive roster is impressive and the detail put into each character makes each one of them worth putting time into.

Dark Souls Remastered doesn’t add a lot to the Dark Souls formula, but then again it doesn’t need to. Its graphical updates are subtle, and sometimes dubious, and the tweaks it makes to the game will only be noticeable to the already converted. But a refreshed pool of players means more opportunities for jolly cooperation, and the Switch makes it more convenient than ever to play the sometimes unapproachable classic. For better or worse, Dark Souls Remastered is essentially the Dark Souls you already know on a new platform.

Jackbox Party Pack 5 delivers on another great set of party games. You Don’t Know Jack returns better than ever, Mad Verse City has the potential to create plenty of laughs, Zeeple Dome is a successful experiment, and Patently Stupid mixes drawings and prompts in the most clever way yet. Even though Split the Room may be the least exciting of the bunch, it has its own charms and feels more like a worst of the best rather than anything less than good.

Transference is an interesting experiment in the blending of horror and virtual reality. Noah and Waller deliver a stressful experience that pushes the player into an uncomfortable space. While the puzzles aren’t going to bend your brain, the tension is more than worth the trip...and it is very much a trip.

Megaquarium is an fantastic tycoon title with a surprising amount of depth. With far more fish, crabs, sponges, and spiny blowfish than I could have expected, it goes further than the usual “set it and forget it” model that most tycoon titles use. The team continues to hammer away at improvements, so here’s hoping that they can iron out the last few UI and tasking issues to make this one truly great.

The art and style of Prodigy Tactics may have been worth the wait, but the overall package has to be a disappointment to the very people who gave and waited so long for it’s release. The gameplay is fun, but slow and repetitive to the point of monotony. The game also is riddled with lazy cut corners in displaying characters between the battles, and overall falls short of the high mark it set for itself by delaying release for years.

Stone is fun, but flawed. The story is well crafted and reveals itself through a series of twists that keep you engaged throughout. There is no action aside from walking up to different people or items, but the game never drags. As much as I love the story here, the dialogue is strained at times and has glitches that affect the timing. Overall a worthy experience and story to enjoy.

Construction Simulator 2 has some rough patches, but overall provides a fun and semi-realistic experience of one of the roughest and most grueling jobs out there. The game suffers from lulls in action, but when the action kicks in there is a lot to appreciate. A so-so affair throughout makes for a niche game for those looking for a casual experience.

Crayola Scoot is a wonderful hidden gem that caters towards an all-ages demographic with a snazzy sense of style. With a great mix of missions, a killer soundtrack, and challenging opponents, you can color me shocked: This is something that kids and adults will love.

Super Mario Party is some of the most fun to be had with a local multiplayer game on the Switch. Unfortunately that is compromised by a deluge of limited modes and design decisions that pull the whole package down. Based the fun factor alone, Super Mario Party justifies its price tag for anyone looking for a new game to play with friends. However, Super Mario Party's fun factor well exceeds the title's fundamental design principles--so tempering one's expectations is a must.

The depth on offer in Cities Skylines is staggering, which is why being able to pick that up and take it with you is so exceptional. There is a limit to how successfully the console version is able to emulate the PC experience, but it does a good enough job that I can’t recommend the game enough to the Switch owner hankering for a city building game for their favorite hybrid console.

Feral Fury is a nice twin-stick shooter that is reminiscent of games like Enter the Gungeon, although it doesn't have as much content. The gameplay is smooth and entertaining, with four different characters to play as. It offers a decent challenge without being overbearing.

Soulblight is a top-down action roguelike that features simple yet tough combat. The tainting mechanic and injury effects are clever and keep things interesting. Unfortunately, combat is hard to master, and you may end up dying a lot more than you're willing to accept.

My experience with Call of Duty Black Ops 4 has been extremely positive, and I’m having a blast with the game. Don’t let the fact that there’s no campaign fool you into thinking that this year’s offering is light, there is a ton of content that will take even harcore players time to tap into. While lacking some of the expected Call of Duty polish, Blackout is by far the centerpiece of the game, and will likely stand as an exemplar in the Battle Royale genre.

Another World is a game that has critical acclaim, cult appeal, and this remastered version of the game makes the experience smoother and better looking while not sacrificing any of the original game’s charm. There are some frustrating moments in the controls and the game is very short, but both of these are less drawbacks than they are just leftover remnants from gaming’s bygone age. Another World has one of the best stories ever told through a game and remains a true shining gem in both the past and present of gaming.

This is the Police 2 is an impeccably grim view of the modern police force. It deconstructs and subverts police genre stories with a protagonist that offers no remorse and warrants no redemption. It does this while providing an intriguing and vibrant cast of characters and a rewarding gameplay loop. It isn't perfect, but it certainly should not be missed.

While World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth hasn't been my favorite expansion in the franchise, it brought with it some great new dungeons, fantastic new raid encounters, an excellent new story, and gorgeous scenery. I have hope that what is lacking, or not working as intended will be adjusted over time. My love for the game, and the thriving community I have built within it are what keep me logging in week after week.

NBA 2K19 is a fun basketball game held back by unnecessary bells and whistles alongside intrusive microtransactions. The basketball is second-to-none and the players feel and look incredible. It is a true shame the game is shackled by microtransactions which make progression a grind both for MyTeam and your player.

Exorder is a very pretty little game which feels like a puzzle game masquerading as a turn-based strategy title. Controls are simple to a fault, and moving around the map left me frustrated every single battle. While the game has a great style, the bright colors and fun designs are made just a little more dull by the bland voice acting you’ll be listening to before and after each battle.

Where there are some rampant online problems, Capcom Beat ‘Em Up Bundle is a nostalgic trip back to memory lane. A collection of solid titles with some robust local multiplayer and gameplay options make this one a no-brainer for newcomers or veterans of the genre.

As an anachronistic curio it fits well among a growing stable of small, simple experiences to take on the go. Getting it off the phone and onto dedicated game consoles lends it an air of importance that the game design doesn’t always back up, but it has an endearing style and gratifying challenge enough to warrant reuniting the two oft-imperiled blobs.

While Impulsion doesn’t reach the same heights as Portal, it is an enjoyable, fast-paced platformer in it’s own rights. I was always eager for the next challenge and never afraid to fail and learn. While it may not be a long experience, I enjoyed every minute of it.

Hover is a game with fundamental design and movement flaws that limit theoverall appeal of the game. However, surrounding these problems is a great universe that is matched by solid mission variety, a unique level-up system, and interesting energy mechanics. In addition, the game’s robust basketball-parkour mode, Gameball, is an absolute highlight, and offered the most fun Hover has to offer. Depending on how much these design issues affect your enjoyment will largely depend on what you prioritize in games, and as such, Hover is difficult to give a blanket recommendation.

Super Lucky’s Tale is a very predictable 3D platformer. It checks all the boxes it needs to while drawing heavily on the genre’s tentpole titles. Due to that derivative nature in conjunction with the title’s very low difficulty and padded progression, Super Lucky’s Tale is a hesitant recommendation, and only for the hardcore platformer fan. There is some laid-back fun here, but nothing about this title pushes the envelope in any substantial way, and won’t be supremely appealing to a non-fan of the genre.

Yo Kai Watch Blasters Red Cat/Blue Dog Corps offer a new way to experience the Yo Kai Watch series. With a new battle system that feels like a fast-paced action RPG, Blasters still delivers elements to the game that are both familiar and fresh. Having to talk to NPCs to level up and change teammates, as well as the frustrating RNG are among some of the few downsides to the game. However h, this doesn’t take away from the great experience and gameplay that Yo Kai Watch Blasters has to offer. Fans of the series and newcomers will love this title.

8 Bit Armies is a charming cartoon-like RTS game that offers a good challenge. It can be unfair at times due to the enemy having advanced tech, larger forces, and even nukes. Planning and strategizing is necessary, and fills you with pride when successful. Unfortunately it seems as if the multiplayer lobbies are empty.

Whispering Willows is a cool little indie horror game that focuses on exploration and puzzle solving. The game isn't necessarily scary, but the parallel story and atmosphere are definitely eerie. The ghost form mechanic is fun, and the game allows you to collect some items early, which is nice as well.

Marble It Up is a cool racing platformer that lives in the realm of games like Super Monkey Ball. The controls are quick to learn and the gameplay is simple yet satisfying. The visuals and level designs are wonderful and no two levels look the same. Unfortunately the game doesn't take long to beat, but it's still worth the ride.

Mega Man is back in his best entry in over a decade. The controls are tight, the quality of life changes such as button mapping Rush Coil, Rush Jet, and sliding are more than welcome, and the Double Gear system becomes second nature quickly. While the main game may seem short, and a lack of fan-favorite characters is disappointing, Mega Man 11 shines in everything it does include. This truly is the triumphant return of the Blue Bomber.

It’s nearly impossible to summarize a game this big, or this complete. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey lives up to its Homeric namesake in scope and scale, adding fantastic new elements to the solid foundation Origins laid before it. For me, it’s easily the best Assassin’s Creed game to date, and I can’t wait to keep playing it long after the credits roll.

Life is Strange 2: Episode one is a good start to an interesting adventure. The beginning is terrible and the political statements feel forced, but the dynamic relationship between Sean and Daniel is relatable and enjoyable. Episode one has flaws, but I’m excited to see what happens next.

The second, and maybe final, episode of The Walking Dead: The Final Season has some great introductions and story arcs, but unfortunately suffers from some uneven pacing and a conclusion that puts our characters in a rough spot from which they may not recover. Suffer the Children, indeed.

Armello is a great addition to the Switch library, delivering a tabletop experience on the go. Beautiful to look at, this title boasts deep, engrossing mechanics for those who are willing to stick it out through the rather steep learning curve. While you won’t be able to hop onto the couch and engage in local multiplayer with your friends, Armello helps make up for this with solid AI and an online multiplayer option.

Summerset in Elder Scrolls Online offers an all new area, but not much is new for long-term players of the game. The aesthetic of the isles has long been available in the core game, and while the additions of jewelry crafting, collectables, the Psijic Order, and the Cloudrest trial are all nice there just isn’t anything that rises to the level of bringing back old dormant players nor introducing new ones. Dedicated players and those who play competitively will need to have this, however.

FIFA 19 is another great title in a long list of fine soccer experiences. The controls are smoother, the game modes are even more expansive, and UEFA integration means more chances to become a champion. A formidable upgrade for FIFA as a whole.

The Bard’s Tale IV could be a fun — but seriously flawed — game if it weren’t hamstrung by technical problems. Its frequent framerate drops, bugged combat abilities, and crashes are compounded by an archaic save system that makes it far too easy to lose progress. Though it features some great combat and challenging puzzles, they’re not without their own flaws, and become extremely repetitive over the game’s 30–40-hour playtime.

Creed: Rise to Glory is an exhausting, sweaty, thrilling brawler title. It requires observation, reaction, and no small bit of stamina, as you read your opponent, dodge blows, create openings, and swing your way to victory. The story mode may be a little short and fragmented, but the PvP mode, allowing you to step into the ring with real people, more than makes up for it. It’s brutal, it’s highly responsive, making it the best VR boxing title, and one of the most addictive VR experiences I’ve encountered thus far.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 brings the series back to its roots and polishes that experience to a shine. It’s a return to form for the decade-old tactical RPG series and its best entry to date, albeit playing it extremely safe. While it does iron out some of the kinks that plagued its predecessors, it does little else.

Forza Horizon 4 is one of the best games I’ve ever played. Incredible driving mechanics, cutting-edge seasonal changes in a shared-world, and addictive RPG mechanics make exploring Great Britain an absolute blast.

Smooth gameplay, a variety of animations, and interesting game modes take the sting off of the lack of licensed teams. FIFA may wear the crown, but PES is a worthy rival.

Fishing Sim World is a relaxing addition to the simulator game genre. It has beautiful visuals and some great options to adjust the time of day and weather for a more customized experience. The boat's extremely low speed made me not want to head out into the water very far, so hopefully that is looked into.

An ambitious addition to an already enormous game, but by stripping away many of the features on the sides of the experience, you’re left with a game that never quite finds the highs present in the original game.

Star Control: Origins successfully grasps the perfect balance of serious and silly while making an engaging universe that’s fun to explore. The voice acting is wonderful, the script is brilliant, and the fleet battles are short, sweet, and exciting. With an in-depth crafting system, a living universe, and a multitude of choices that subtly affect the story, Star Control: Origins soars.

The Gardens Between is a masterpiece of minimalist storytelling, weaving a wordless tale of friendship and time. By drawing upon a few, nearly-universal childhood events, it allows the player to fill in the story with their own emotions and memories, creating a shockingly moving, personal experience. Featuring a gorgeous, surrealist style and challenging but fair puzzles, this is a must-have title for anyone who enjoys puzzle games.

While lacking in some areas, Code of Princess EX is a solid enhanced port that keeps all of the goofy charm and adds some performance improvements to the final package. This is one adventure beat-em-up fans should look at if they want a solid and humorous experience.

FullBlast is a nifty little diversion for those that have a few bucks to spend on a shoot-em-up, but with lenient difficulty, generic presentation, and unremarkable gameplay, you might have a better time with another bullet hell game on the Switch eShop.

Firewall Zero Hour is precisely the game Sony needs for their Virtual Reality platform -- addictive, fast paced, and immersive. Unfortunately, it’s also in dire need of some tweaks to realize its potential. The grind is too deep, and the need for a ready-up system causes a lot of dead time between an otherwise richly rewarding tactical shooter. Patch this, and a few other minor hiccups, and Firewall Zero Hour will be the VR Rainbow Six it needs to be.

Destiny 2: Forsaken is shooting and looting at it's best. Taking down Uldren and conquering the Dreaming City is an absolute blast. And with the changes and additions to the sandbox, there are more ways to be a badass than we've ever seen before. Destiny is back, baby. And this time it's in it for the long haul.

Remothered: Tormented Fathers is a short yet sweet horror game that mixes stealthy gameplay with an incredibly creepy story. There are plenty of twists and turns that won't leave you disappointed. You can happen upon some terrifying moments depending on how you play, which makes you want to see more. This is meant to be the first game in a trilogy, and with what I've seen here, I'm excited to learn more about this world.

While bogged down by its postgame content and scant multiplayer offerings, Old School Musical is still a great time for those who want a nostalgic and comedic trip back to the 80s and 90s. Old School Musical’s dazzling soundtrack and wonderful visuals should be experienced by those who want to boogie on down to the arcades.

Senran Kagura Reflexions is an Ecchi dating sim game that in reality is a touching and squeezing simulator. The gameplay feels pervy at times, and gets repetitive and boring fairly quickly. There are no visual issues, and motion controls make things more interesting, but it unfortunately isn't enough to make it entertaining.

The Pizza Delivery Boy Who Saved the World aims to be a cheesy but endearing visual novel, but with a very linear story and a host of other problems, it unfortunately needs some more time in the oven to get baked properly.

CastleStorm combines the joy of Angry Birds and tower defense games, and sprinkles in some fun fighting sections. Balancing offense and defense is satisfying, especially when you successfully complete your missions. The tone of the game is light-hearted, which makes it all the more enjoyable.

Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner --- M∀RS is one of the best looking mech games out there, despite being a remaster of a 15-year-old game. Its fast, flashy combat still looks and feels good, but is constantly undermined by an extremely unwieldy camera. With its short, linear campaign, dull story, and terrible dialogue, The 2nd Runner seems stuck in 2003, despite its slick graphical upgrade.

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.

Mini Metro’s dynamic gameplay kept me engaged, yet never left me feeling overwhelmed. Whether I was simply looking for twenty minutes of casual puzzling or a burst of hardcore strategy, Mini Metro’s deceptively nuanced gameplay worked on both levels equally well. With some quality of life improvements and a more detailed presentation, Mini Metro could propel itself even higher, but even with these concessions the game is easy to recommend.

Laser-focused and brimming with charm, Donut County is one of the year’s best experiences. While brief, its laugh-out-loud sense of humor and laid-back, tactile gameplay combine precisely to create a game like no other. You’ll come for its physics based puzzle-solving, but you’ll stay for its quirky cast of characters and world. This is not a game to be missed.

Haunted Dungeons: Hyakki Castle is a clever twist on the traditional dungeon crawler, with a focus on the split-team function. Learning to work with separate teams can be tough at first, but it's well worth the effort. The combat is otherwise simplistic and easy to pick up, making it easy to jump in for hours at a time.

Despite an extremely promising opening, The Low Road fails to capitalize on its own interesting premise. Every part of its presentation, from art to music to voice acting, is fantastic, but the puzzles that make up the game fall flat. Though I was happy to spend time with The Low Road’s characters, the game around them doesn’t hold up.

More than Theme Hospital for the modern age, Two Point Hospital brings fresh features and new maladies to a genre full of try-hard games that tried to be what this game is. With charm and wit to spare, Two Point Hospital is the game patients have been patiently being patient for.

Kentucky Robo Chicken is a cute 2D platformer that takes inspiration from Balloon Fight and Super Meat Boy. There's a decent challenge, but nothing too intense. The game doesn't take long to beat, but it's worth a few bucks to check out.

I’ve 100 percent completed the game and unlocked the platinum trophy, but I can’t stop swinging through the city and saving people. By the end, it really is your city with your people to help, your landmarks to admire, your jungle to swing though. This is the new benchmark for Spider-Man games and I can’t wait to see what Insomniac does next.

Shadows: Awakening is a damn good action-RPG. The combat is quick and varied while the characters are interesting. While the story lacks originality, it is still well written and allows the different characters to shine. There are a lot of different elements at play, and they all work together to create a fantastic experience.

Freedom Planet is a wonderful Sonic the Hedgehog-esque game that mixes nostalgia with something new. The quirky characters, fantastic levels, and interesting story will make you not want to put the game down. Each character has their own advantages and disadvantages, encouraging you to test them all out. In the end, it's the whole package, and it's worth picking up.

SLAM LAND combines a great art style with a decently fun couch co-op basketball hybrid game, in which dunking your friends and objects in the only objective in the game. Although there is a decent amount of content here, the lack of unlockables and no online play gives little incentive to come back to or continue playing SLAM LAND.