My Time at Portia is a visually beautiful, charming game rich in story, lore, and personality; everything about it is made better by the jump to a portable console. While this version lacks voice acting and rumble integration, the portability and surprisingly decent load times make this a great way to discover all that Portia has to offer.

A fantastic real-time strategy game that is a little overwhelming to those just moving into the series.

The Lunar games are delightful, classic RPGs, and the Lunar Remastered Collection makes them easier to play than ever. It doesn’t bring together all versions of each game for a truly comprehensive look at the series’ history, but it is a faithful update to the PS1 remakes.

The Medium proves to be an interesting look into the human psyche, one that attempts to figure out why individuals are the way they are, while still stating that your past does not excuse your current actions. I greatly enjoyed my time in Marianne’s shoes, and found myself constantly impressed with the incredible graphics and unique mechanics. Bloober Team has made an impressive product, even more so on the PS5 with their willingness to make use of the PS5’s controller’s special features.

Seventeen years after its original release, Final Fantasy IX continues to bring lovable characters full of whimsy. The new boosts ensure that the game can be played in its normal state, or with boosts that are respectful of the player’s time. While the graphical upgrade is a bit of a mixed bag, it’s amazing just how well this PS1 classic holds up. It’s a welcome surprise for the PlayStation 4, and a nod to Square Enix’s continued efforts to bring the best of the Final Fantasy legacy to new generations of players.

Dying Light 2 Stay Human may begin like the shuffling corpses you run into during the day, but evolves into the ferocious horde you encounter in the shadows of night. With an engaging gameplay loop of parkour and combat, the exploration of Villedor is something you’ll enjoy for hours on end, and with up to three friends at that. Yeah, it may take a little bit to get hooked, but once you’re infected, it’ll be all you can do to stay human.

DOOMBLADE offers fantastic combat, lore, and art direction which propel it to greatness. Despite progressing and backtracking being confusing and tedious at times, and a few lackluster boss fights, the occasional dullness was alleviated by great music and worldbuilding that spurs intrigue. The devs created a world that I was continuously getting lost in, both literally and figuratively.

The online co-op mayhem is a blast, and I heartily recommend this to any new Xbox One owner looking for an M-rated way to kill time (and reams of the undead).

NCAA Football 14 is a fun and immersive experience as always. Though not many big changes have come in this latest edition, the ones that have come are big and definite steps forward.

While it doesn’t knock your socks off graphically like you might expect for a ‘next-gen’ title, the extremely-accessible fighting mechanics make this title a must-have.

Life is Strange: True Colors is very much a Life is Strange game in all the right and wrong ways. The new characters and plot provide a refreshing new take in the series and an enjoyable experience overall.

Sometimes nostalgia can disappoint because of how childhood can blur how bad something really was. Gradius doesn’t disappoint.

Nidhogg on PS4 is just as great as it was on PC. I’m still hoping for more content, though.

Monster Hunter 4 has a lot of repetition and grinding, but succeeds at capturing the thrill of the big game hunt like no other game can. If you’re looking for a long-term game with plenty of loot to grind, quests to beat and bosses to kill, this is your game.

Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series contains two of the best 2.5D platformers out there. With adorable characters and a heart-wrenching story, it’s well worth diving into the world of dreams despite the less than bare minimum updates made. Wahoo!

MLB The Show 23 moves the franchise forward in several ways. The Negro Leagues storyline shines bright as the best addition we’ve seen in the series. While San Diego Studios didn’t pitch a perfect game, they delivered a game worthy of being called The Show.

The Ties that Bind Part 2 is an excellent ending to what was already a great premiere to season three. While a little on the short side, the overall experience is memorable and has me anticipating the next episode.

Tales of Symphonia Chronicles is definite must-have for any Playstation 3 owner and/or fan of JRPGs.

After seeing what they have done with this setting, I can't wait to see what the next campaign will contain.

Mario is known for surprising you with new ideas and strong game design. Super Mario Bros. Wonder contains both in spades. Although it executes on the element of surprise in a way I hesitate to call an outright innovation, it always supports the strengths of both the expected and unexpected.

If you like cute and fun, you’ll enjoy Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story. Nothing is too complicated to understand while gameplay gives you enough challenge you want to keep going. The plot is nothing too heavy but still pushes you to move forward at all times. Some of the side tasks can feel like a time waster or repetitive, but if you enjoy the style, those things become less of an annoyance and more of a time to work on time management. Make some tea, put on some cozy socks, and play Bandle Tale.

Isn’t as much of a game as it is an experience. The controller definitely adds to that experience. Just seeing the way the lights flash during the startup sequence is incredible.

Guilty Gear -Strive- is an excellent fighting game with gorgeous visuals, but feels like it's lacking in content. There are essentially only three modes of play, arcade, survival, and online. While the complex inputs and lack of a decent tutorial will leave some players in the dust, fighting feels so good you won’t want to put the controller down.

West of Loathing understands the stylistic charm that a unique aesthetic can provide and that stick figures are still, at the heart of everything, rad as heck. While the combat system is lacking, hilarious storytelling and a dynamic world make up a wonderful stroll through the western-styled landscapes.

For a studio that hasn’t previously made any Lego titles, I feel they checked pretty much every box on what makes a Lego game a Lego game. This isn’t for everyone but isn’t made to be for everyone. If you are someone who seeks building in a game, I highly recommend Lego Bricktales. People often say that they don’t enjoy Minecraft because there aren’t guidelines or a direction to the building. I believe Lego Bricktales is the perfect solution and encourage people to give it a shot.

State of Decay 2 improves upon its predecessor in almost every way. Although the game still suffers from a host of bugs and lacks much of a focused narrative, it succeeds at being a tremendously enjoyable and addictive experience.

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

Yo-Kai Watch is an endearing, charming title with some minor missteps, but it overcomes those with the pure joy of discovery and intrigue that can only come from a well-crafted collection-RPG, reminiscent of my youth spent behind a dim GameBoy light.

Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City is for hardcore RPG fans only. Those looking for a challenging title that will deliver 50 to 80 hours of gameplay will not be disappointed.

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is a very well crafted adventure that will keep you hooked for hours on end.

LEGO Marvel’s Avengers’ ties to the cinematic universe make it less imaginative than its comic book predecessor, but excellent superhero gameplay makes up for it. This is one of the best LEGO games yet and a must-play for any Marvel fan.

The Serpent Rogue is a beautifully crafted alchemic adventure with a gameplay system that I am constantly drawn to. It’s simple while still being very thought provoking and so much fun. The game can feel a little drawn out and dry between discoveries (and deaths) however the satisfaction of solving a problem becomes euphoric.

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX is a collection that can provide countless hours of RPG action and mixes Square Enix’s brilliant esoteria with Disney’s magical childlike wonder into a story unlike any other. It is also a collection of games that have been around for years, and provides little new content to long time fans. Brilliant is a word to describe the content, albeit familiar, but a little refresher may be just the thing to get you fully amped for the future of the series.

Archangel fulfills the Pacific Rim mech fantasy we have yet to experience in a VR world. The fluid and engaging combat is a highlight, as is the solid tracking and intuitive controls. While there’s not a lot of replay value, it’s easily one of the most impressive ways to introduce someone to VR. If watching the trailer for Pacific Rim: Uprising makes your palms sweaty with excitement, you need Archangel in your life.

Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge takes full advantage of Sony’s PlayStation VR2, breathing new life into the game with updated visuals, awesome haptic feedback, and a story worth remembering.

While it stumbles greatly in execution, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla - Dawn of Ragnarök reignites the magic of the main game with a vast realm to explore and myriad secrets to discover using the new Hugr powers. It’s still a ton of fun, just don’t expect the story to be all that coherent.

Offer[s] its genuinely-hilarious story for a whole new generation of gamers. While it isn’t the cleanest port ever, it’s a welcome addition to any library — especially at the $14.99 price point.

Resident Evil Revelations is another great addition to the franchise. It maintains the survivor-horror feel that the series is known for. The campaign isn’t the longest, but it is engaging and well worth the time. Raid mode is fun to go through afterwards and try out different weapons. Altogether a satisfying challenge and a very enjoyable experience that I had a hard time putting down.

Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree’s Woe and the Blight Below is an excellent musou game and a blast to play. It retains its Dragon Quest heritage beautifully, while still creating an experience fun for any fan of musou gameplay.

While it doesn’t feel like a No More Heroes game entirely, No More Heroes III is still a fantastic action game with great combat, fun minigames, and hilarious dialogue. I’ll certainly miss the more introspective and dark story, but I look forward to more wacky adventures with the crownless king.

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

Guilty Gear Xrd: -Revelator- is a nostalgic look back on the golden age of fighting games that also manages to wrangle a ton of modern digital beauty and function into the mix. The result is a top notch fighting title that begs to be mastered.

From the Ashes is everything I wanted an expansion of this sort to be, a great look at a different part of the universe while giving us the already established combat and movement mechanics. Playing as the long-lived Dog Tag Warrior allows us to see the fully-utilized Na'vi after seeing the beginnings of a Na'vi's journey in Frontiers of Pandora's main story. While some of the combat and side missions can feel extremely reptitive, the main story beats are so fun and emotional that it keeps you moving forward. If you're a fan of Frontiers of Pandora or simply need more Na'vi after seeing Fire and Ash -- this is the place for you.

Hypergalactic Psychic Table Tennis 3000 is a quirky twist on the classic Pong, where RPG and dating sim mechanics are added. Gameplay may get a bit repetitive, but health bars, spells, leveling up, and romancing add more depth to the game as a whole. With a low $2 price tag, and plenty of paddles to face, you've got a great reason to hop on in.

If you are looking to sink your teeth into a challenging and graphically strong RTS game this may be what you are seeking especially in a time where there are not many options available in this genre right now. Just be prepared for a hard fight, and get ready to go it alone.

TurnOn is an enjoyable and heartwarming little game. With electrical wires instead of platforms, it offers gameplay that feels fresh, piquing your interest at every turn with whatever new adventure or obstacle you’ll face next.

Prison Architect: PlayStation 4 Edition brings an instant classic to console with a lot of retained charm, fun, and control.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist: Link Evolution is a great compilation of the franchise's history. With tons of challenging campaign duels, duelist challenges, and battle packs, there's plenty to scratch that card game itch. Multiplayer is scarce and laggy, so I'd steer clear.

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

Gotham Knights is filled to the brim with character and nods to the Bat-Family. While the locked-in 30 FPS might be a dealbreaker for some, the flawless co-op experience Gotham Knights provides is an amazing time for those who want to fight crime with friends. A fully immersive Gotham City for you to travel in your way, either straight through the story, or complete every side mission you can; your time in Gotham is up to you.

With a $30 price tag, Rare Replay presents an amazing value. You likely have enjoyed these games before, at least in part, and there is no better way to experience them now than in Rare Replay.

The game is beautiful and fun, although there's definitely room for improvement.

Yoshi’s Crafted World is a refreshing, modern 2D platformer from Nintendo that, for once, truly feels new. From its gorgeous aesthetic to its myriad creative level motifs and gameplay ideas, Crafted World embodies the spirit of fun. While the game’s soundtrack is decidedly lackluster and its co-op feels underbaked, this is undeniably the most ambitious and fun 2D platformer from Nintendo in a long, long time.

Liminal Exit is a game that knows its inspiration and executes on it well, from the eerie anomalies to the uncertainty of progress. While the game will probably only take you around an hour to beat, it leaves a lasting impression.

Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore revels in the absurd animation of the Zelda CDI games while avoiding most of their pitfalls. The princess’ romp through Faramore is wacky and fun, with secrets to find around every corner and a new NPC with a hilarious cutscene just over the horizon.

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.

Battlefield Hardline has an amazing single player campaign, with some very unique ideas. Where it fails the most is when it quits trying to be different from past installments.

Rocket League may only feel like a glorified minigame, but its wild, tense, and fast-paced gameplay makes it one of PS4’s best multiplayer experiences to date.

It’s about time Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin made its way onto PlayStation. I’m a bit sad that there isn’t a native PlayStation 5 port, but the current PS4 one is solid through and through. The smooth and high frame rates are a treat but the long load times leave more to be desired. If you’re looking for a party turn-based JRPG as your next game on your PlayStation, then Wings of Ruin is definitely worth checking out.

Motorslice can be a frustrating game with a weird tone, some bad writing, and almost malicious design at times. However, getting through those rough spots feels trivial compared to how good the game feels at its best. At its worst, the drum and bass stylings of Pizza Hotline will keep you going until you can reach the next section of truly blissful platforming. It all makes Motorslice feel a bit like the chainsaw P wields: sharp around the edges, but once it's revved up there's nothing that can stop it.

Like the soldiers in the game, XCOM: Enemy Within takes everything introduced in Enemy Unknown, polishes it, enhances it, and redeploys it into the field. It’s stronger, it’s meaner, and it’s awesome.

While the VR component ends up a little “pin high”, the overall package is well worth it. The powerful editor and community component extend the game’s longevity dramatically, and are a welcome feature amidst a solid title. Whether you are a kid, or just a kid at heart, Infinite Minigolf’s charm is sure to lure you in.

1979 Revolution: Black Friday tells the story of the Iranian Revolution in the year within the title. It’s a beautiful, heart-wrenching story that makes you quickly fall for every character on screen.

This game is not very easy, but with the ability to choose where you're going and how you're going to finish the mission you may be able to find an easier way out of a situation than you were able to in the previous game.

Bear With Me Episode 2 takes everything great about Episode 1 and improves upon it. Amber, Ted, and their straining relationship hit the streets of Paper City, diving deeper into the tangled web of deceptions and hidden motivations surrounding Flint’s disappearance and the mysterious Red Man. With two to five hours of gameplay, more places to explore, a diverse and interesting cast of characters, a strong infusion of humor, and a diverging story which encourages replays, this point-and-click noir puzzle game brings a lot of enjoyment to bear.

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen has already been released a handful of times on different consoles, and this port doesn’t add anything new. The ability to play in handheld mode is great, but this version also comes with some pop-in and framerate drops not present in other releases. Still, it’s worth it just to experience one of the most overlooked games of the decade again, or for the first time. If Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen’s stellar combat, unique class system, and treacherous world hook you, its technical flaws are extremely easy to overlook.

While not perfect, Dust: An Elysian tail is a solid 10-15 hour action game with impressive visuals, a huge map to delve into, and tons of secrets to uncover. Even with a lack of difficulty, fans of the genre, and even fans of action games in general, will find plenty to love here.

Bringing a whole lot of lore and content to a well-established favorite, Legion injects some new life and new fun into the World of Warcraft universe. A huge addition of content and a new take on advancement promises to give current players a lot of bang for their buck, while the included level-boost lets new players catch up with their friends quickly.

Stories: The Path of Destinies mixes looping narratives, engaging brawler combat, and beautiful scenery to create a compelling indie adventure that should not be overlooked. Not wholly without fault, but even in the imperfections it’s easy to find a lot to love in Stories.

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.

The gameplay feels tight and precise, which is great considering how fast paced and frantic this game can get. The soundtrack sets the cyberpunk tone well and even mixes in the ominous feeling of something not being right. The world that is built is amazing yet dark and disturbing at the same time. There are plenty of challenging fights to keep you playing until you've beaten the game.

One of this generation’s titans finally makes its landmark debut on the Nintendo Switch. For newcomers who can fight through the rocky 30 frames per second and lower resolutions, The Witcher 3 on Switch is a no-brainer. But, for those with no plans to take their monster-killing outside, the game is better enjoyed on other consoles.

Guitar Hero III definitely fixes that issue and makes the game more friendly for the casual gamer scene. Don’t let the boss battles scare you, and if you approach it with an open mind you’ll probably find that you enjoy them.

Crossing Souls is a delightfully nostalgic romp, balancing original content and nods to the past. Featuring diverse gameplay levels which touch on most every aspect of 80's retro gaming, enough challenge to be rewarding, and a surprisingly touching story, this is a must have for anyone who grew up shouting "Goonies never say die!"

Cities: Skylines isn’t without its flaws, but even the things wrong with it add to its charm. It might not be that much of a challenge, but it delivers on the glee of expansion.

A vast improvement from Subsurface Circular, Quarantine Circular is a standalone sequel that tells its succinct story through engaging characters, a nice storyline, and a shift in protagonists.

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.

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, but that shouldn't deter you from picking the game up if you’re looking for a game that will kick your ass.

If you’re new to Shadowrun Returns, skip the initial release and start with Dragonfall Director’s Cut. Nearly every aspect of the Dragonfall campaign is superior to Dead Man’s Switch, and there’s far more to be excited about than afraid of.

It is steeped in the history of the X-Men comic books and is an easy game to just pick up and play.

Turnip Boy Robs A Bank understood what it wanted to be, an extension of the Turnip Boy world with refreshing new roguelite elements to spice up the combat. Everything from the bank setting, to the soundtrack, to the characters both new and old, hold up to the excellence that was the first game. However, some points have to be shaved off for the game’s ending, which feels drawn out and tedious.

As I said, there is very little new under the sun in terms of features in Buzz! Quiz TV, but the ones that are there are significant.

For $10, FEZ is one of the most solid “must-buy” titles in the indie game scene.

With simple asymmetric gameplay, this game is great for kids of all ages, and a worthy tie-in to the movie. While the unskippable trailer is a poke in the eye, there’s nothing better than the cackling of a five year old while he mercilessly throws his would-be helpers around a submarine full of bombs.

Moss Book II is a game very deserving of your attention. Its novel use of VR as a medium is fascinating and helps to tell a heartfelt story with you and the adorable Quill at its center. It’s bigger and better than the first in many ways, but is greatly held back by small yet consistent and progress blocking bugs.

I had a handful of small, niggling issues with Shio that by the end I was willing to overlook in the face of a game so expertly crafted that it shouldn’t be missed. I just wish there was more of it.

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.

If you can look at it through the lens of when it was created and get past the control scheme, you will find a satisfying experience and show younger gamers why System Shock was so influential to the gaming community.

The wait was definitely worth it for this one! Overall, Ghostwire: Tokyo impresses me with fun and satisfying gameplay, an intriguing story, and beautiful visuals. I never had any issues with performance or pop-in, everything ran as smooth as a hot sake. The new mode, The Spider’s Thread, presents a fun challenge for those craving more Thread Weaving action that doesn’t get stale, even after multiple rounds (or deaths).

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is a beautiful game, plays smooth, and has a story that is genuinely compelling and driven by top notch dialogue and dynamic characters. The fighting is complex but easy to learn, and the game provides tons of great content in the form of mini-games, town exploration, and side storylines. There is lots to look at and take in as you play, and the game packs a lot of good into a nearly flawless package.

Megaman Legacy Collection sets out what it aims to do–provide longtime fans, and a new generation of gamers, with the opportunity to play through some of the most iconic Megaman games ever made.

The many ways to handle enemies give you a lot of freedom on how to play the game.

Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns offers everything a seasoned player could want in an expansion, and more. Coupled with ArenaNet’s track record of continuous free updates, it should be an automatic purchase for anyone at or near the max level.

Metal: Hellsinger has absolutely kickstarted the boomer-shooter, rhythm FPS genre. Of the handful of issues the game possesses, they're all overshadowed by its insane amount of entertainment value. There's no doubt that The Outsiders have created something extraordinary, something that absolutely needs a sequel. Although very challenging and not without its critiques, its an extremely satisfying experience through and through.

Believe it when Uchikoshi says No Sleep For Kaname Date is a game made by fans, for fans. Kazuya Yamada delivers a heartfelt epilogue to the first Somnium Files’s self contained story. While the pacing feels a bit listless thanks to the narrative structure, and the escape rooms are straight up miss, those ended up being small blemishes in the grand scheme. What I'll remember is seeing characters new and old grieve and heal together. I laughed, I cried, and most importantly I was moved seeing the chaotic duo of a cuckoldry obsessed detective and his AI eyeball partner get no sleep because of the friends they made along the way.

Tavern Talk is definitely the best next step in a line of cozy drinking talking simulators, as it tells a charming and gripping narrative that echoes the adventures found in the realm of magic and fantasy. It stands out on its own as a fun and heartwarming piece of D&D with its unique cast of characters and vast world-building and pairs well with great gameplay systems that add depth to its world but could use a bit of beefing up to break up the monotony.

Improves on its predecessor in almost every way, even if it still features the same maddening difficulty level as the original.

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