The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel is a nice example of how a turn-based, old school RPG should be done mechanically in these times. Sadly, like so many others, the game is lost in a rather bland smattering of characters and story. If those elements aren’t important to you, then you’re going to find a very deep, simple, fun, and innovative game here that will provide hours of entertainment.

Monster Hunter Stories may be the lesser game compared to its sequel, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth playing. It’s a fun, lighthearted take on the monster collecting genre with a deep battle system and tons of Monsties to befriend. This version is better than ever, with gorgeous visuals and hammy voice acting, and is worth a try for any RPG fan.

It makes a lot of changes without alienating the core gameplay ideas, and adds a nice coat of polish and variety on top of the previous Battlefield 2142 content.

Gathering up the Tinykin to get Milo home is great fun. Exploring expansive environments as a shrunken human gives a unique perspective to everyday objects, and provides a particularly interesting setting for the story to unfold. With responsive platforming mechanics and amusing puzzle encounters, this game is a pleasant ride from start to finish.

If you’ve felt like some of the old-school magic has been missing from Super Mario games lately, let Luigi guide you through some of the most satisfying platform gaming ever designed.

Game Builder Garage is a great way to learn the basics of game programming through an easy to use visual language. The tutorials may be overbearing for some, holding your hand through each step, but the engine is surprisingly robust and will let you create whatever you want. However, there is no active sharing or receiving interface in the game itself which is incredibly frustrating and limits learning opportunities.

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.

The Primate Observation Club has you watching monkeys as you struggle to pay for more cages while taking care of yourself. The balance between time and money is consistently engaging. The subject’s lives are yours to watch. There is just one key rule: Do not feed the monkeys.

While the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters aren’t perfect, they’re certainly the best and most convenient ways to play these classic games. The soundtracks are lovingly orchestrated and the pixel art is gorgeous, though the latter does lose some detail in the translation. Each game feels great to play, but I do wish extra content from previous releases or remakes had been included.

The Disney Afternoon Collection combines several of the great NES games into a single collection, featuring Duck Tales, Chip & Dale, Darkwing Duck, and Tail Spin. All of these games have their own nostalgic charm, and are presented in this collection with style, a hugely functional and awesome rewind button, and enough good extras to make any Disney TV fan go wild.

Bravely Default II is a good RPG that undermines everything amazing the previous two games. The new battle style discourages risk taking and thus less freedom with the job system. The first 30 or so hours are great, despite a slow start in terms of gameplay, but the last 20 are too frustrating to be worthwhile and the story ends on an unsatisfying note.

Worms 2: Armageddon is an excellent multiplayer game, but a so-so singleplayer game.

By no means is it worthy of owning. Midway has a great idea here, but the game play and graphics are just plain awful.

It has a steep enough learning curve that it requires some definite determination to stick with the game long enough to begin enjoying it.

Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue is a morsel that updates a small bit of the past with a very nice Dream Drop Distance HD Remaster, details a bit of the present with the χ Back Cover cinematic, and shows a smidge of the glorious future with Kingdom Hearts 0.2: Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage. The gaming content is high quality, but low quantity, leaving you wanting more. Great for junkies needing a Kingdom Hearts bump to get them through the long wait should get this immediately.

While the overall world-building and customization options leave a lot to be desired, Eldest Souls is still a worthy game for Souls' fanatics despite its blatant flaws.

As it stands now, it feels like a strong foundation coupled with a thin story and some baffling missteps on the MMO aspects of the formula.

Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile is Warzone, but on the go. The visuals suffer, but the game plays just like you remember and it works. If future updates can address that and some settings, along with continuing the fantastic content pipeline, Warzone Mobile can grow the scene further.

It isn't deep. It won't set a new standard for action games. But I had a great time playing and I believe you will too. This is the first Transformers game I've been excited about, and having played it I can say that my excitement was validated.

We Were Here Forever is a step back from the rest of the series. It’s hard to find the motivation to keep playing when you’re completing the same puzzle three, sometimes four times. Quantity doesn’t mean quality, and when you’re in control of a unique genre like coop puzzlers you don’t want to step on the quality of what made this series great. Plus, the lack of a compelling story is disappointing when it’s the only thing that’s meant to encourage you to keep playing.

One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 introduces some great fighting mechanics, overhauled systems from previous iterations, and smoother and more rewarding gameplay to the franchise. While it doesn’t do anything new to uplift the Musou genre of games, it’s a good game to pick up and beat the crap out of pirates as Luffy tries to become the king of the pirates.

Dragon Quest Heroes 2 is a fast-paced, ridiculously fun hack-and-slash RPG. Even if you’re tired of the Dynasty Warriors style of hack and slash gameplay, the open world and massive amount of depth should be enough to keep you interested for the duration of the game.

Mario Tennis Fever moves the series to the next level, bringing a balance of fun chaos and Mario Tennis skill. With the multiple ways to play, adventure mode, a great cast of characters, and intense online multiplayer; Fever brings the heat to the Nintendo Switch 2. If you've been a fan of the tennis side of Mario since the N64 or if you're just picking it up for the first time here - there is tons to do and fun to be had!

Gundam Breaker 4 is the video game I never knew that I needed. Building my perfect Gunpla is the most relaxing gaming experience I have had so far in 2024. If you're a fan of Gundam you have to try this game.

Good choice of rock music in the playlist.

Dancing All Night is full of spirit and celebration unparalleled in the series thus far. Despite the dark and implausible story in the background, Dancing All Night is a concentrated dose of the most uplifting, cheerful, and fun side of the series, all set to a fantastic soundtrack that will get anyone dancing.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage underscores Ubisoft's commitment to bring the series back to its roots, making it a compelling choice for those who are long time fans. Despite not revolutionizing the franchise, it still expertly transports players to an intricately designed Baghdad, and presents a captivating narrative through the lens of one of the most beloved assassins in the series.

At only $10, it’s worth a plunge for genre fans, but only expect about three hours of gameplay with a startling difficulty spike.

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.

This version has taken some strides ahead of '07, and it makes sense to have it.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is just as fun and infuriating as I remember. It’s a content-complete package that celebrates the series. It can feel a bit too limited, with no online play or unlockable characters in minigames, but it’s still a unique experience you can’t get anywhere else.

So is it worth playing? Actually, yes, though you’ll want to watch some footage first, or be aware of the limitations of rally racing. There is no traffic or simultaneous opponents, and the lack of precipitation takes away the fun and unpredictable elements of rally. With no snow, ice, rain or mud, the times you’re racing against feel fixed rather than based on the day’s conditions.

Samurai Shodown is a breath of fresh air to the series, because of its choice to make the battles more of a duel and not a button mashing frenzy – and I respect that. With each character feeling different enough to make your mind race with possibilities of offensive and defensive strategies, it almost fails because of the timing system.

You are never lost as to where to go throughout each level, so seasoned veterans of first-person shooters might find the game a bit easy, but they would be missing a great time if they passed this over.

Sad Cat Studios has finally delivered the game they've been promising for years, and it's every bit as brilliant as I'd hoped. Featuring an incredible tale of what it is to be human, Reach touches hearts and rips some out as he hops and wacks his way across Phoenix City and beyond. This is an Indie Game of the Year contender, no doubt about it.

Inbento is cute, has simple mechanics, and doesn’t require tedious amounts of hours to master it. There are over one hundred levels, and it has a low price point, meaning you’ll never have to worry that you didn't get enough for your money. Plus, those cutscenes make it so worthwhile to finish a level.

While Röki doesn’t do anything particularly new or interesting, it does present a gorgeous world and introduces those unfamiliar with many myths and legends to learn more about.

The PC release of Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town has benefited greatly from all the quality of life changes which have been patched into the Switch release, making it an enjoyable farming experience right from the start. It looks shockingly similar in quality to the Switch version, a credit to the dev team, and the optional Expansion Pass adds a good deal of content, some of it cosmetic while other features expand the world, the plot, and the personalities which inhabit Olive Town.

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! -Pirates of the Disturbance- feels like a few episodes of the anime put together into a well made visual novel package. The writing can feel clunky, but the charm of the characters shines through. Fans of the show, manga, or light novel will find something to like here, and otome game fans will find a game with a ton of options and robust ease of play.

Sable is high on the list of game of the year contenders in one jam packed with them. It’s a gorgeous, immersive coming of age story that happens organically and at your own pace - you can see as much or as little of the game as you like. While it certainly has its share of issues, Midden is just a place you have to visit.

A very good multiplayer title, jam-packed with every wrestler currently seen on TV, as well as any character you can think of including yourself.

Chariot is a fun, albeit slow-paced platformer with a refreshing art style and interesting concept.

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.

Half-Minute Hero is a fun and quirky gem that is worth a second look.

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.

Soul Reaver and its sequel are both perfect storms of story, voice work, soundtracks, and now they have the final pieces they needed to become classics for a new generation with revamped controls and now gorgeous graphics. While I’d like to see the execution be a touch cleaner, the sum of its parts is so damned strong that it lets you experience this incredible game all over again. I know you, Raziel. You are worthy.

Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars is a strange mix of table top and video games that manages to add something new to the very traditional JRPG genre. It’s a short, cozy experience that doesn’t overstay its welcome while also feeling fully fleshed out.

It's not a bad expansion by any means, it just feels rather light compared to the previous three expansions.

Tales of Kenzera: ZAU rests on a solid foundation, yet prioritizes its narrative at the expense of its game design. Rather than allowing its gameplay and narrative to support each other, it discards some of the medium’s unique strengths for a competent if bland experience that fails to give full weight to its subject matter.

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.

Hob: The Definitive Edition is a 3D adventure game that combines fluid combat, landscape altering puzzles, and engaging platforming. The varying area designs and atmospheres are a treat to experience and entice you into pushing forward. The enhancements since the original improve the experience as well.

Driftland: The Magic Revival is a mix of RTS and god game that focuses on the realm of magic. The indirect control of individual units and their free will can lead to insubordination, which ruins the fun. Planning out your moves is the key to success.

Into The Radius is a great VR survival game with an amazing atmosphere, rewarding experience, and a very interesting set of enemies. It’s especially suited to VR veterans, who may think they’ve experienced all that’s to see and do with the platform. Do beware however, as this game has recently come out of Early Access and has some hallmarks of it.

With several new biomes, a fresh tileset system, more than two dozen mechs, and 14 story missions to set the stage for the 4th Succession War, Mechwarrior 5: Legend of the Kestrel Lancers lets us finally take our massive machines to war. The Mechwarrior universe is all about political intrigue and war on a galactic scale, and the Legend of the Kestrel Lancers pack absolutely nails it.

Discovery Tour: Viking Age uses fictional narratives to interest the player in learning about real world cultures and artifacts to great effect. While seeing more perspectives would have given a rounder view, there’s a ton of interesting things to learn at your own pace and however deep you want to go.

Aligned with games like Animal Crossing, Townsmen VR aims to provide casual players with a relaxing and almost meditative experience. Its main value proposition is its immersive and exploratory nature, which can be a fun and satisfying adventure if you have the right expectations. The campaign story is simple but heartwarming, offering a comprehensive walkthrough of the game. If you're expecting a fast-paced, feature-rich RTS game, you'll be disappointed. However, if you're looking for a slow-paced but pleasant journey in a stunning, fully interactive, and immersive VR world, Townsmen VR should deliver a delightful and fun experience.

The Day I Became a Bird is a short, cute story-driven game you can finish in a single sitting. While it's on the shorter side, it tells an adorable story of young love I think almost everyone will identify with. That said, outside of a companion experience for the book or simplistic children's game, I can't see this appealing to many.

At the end of the day, Band Hero feels a little like that massive bag of cotton candy you buy at the fair. Nostalgia tells you that it tastes great, but reality leaves you with a pink mouth and a stomach ache.

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.

The number of different challenges actually detracts from the gameplay instead of enhancing it. THDJ isn’t a bad game, but if you are expecting something similar to the other Tony Hawk games you might find yourself disappointed.

As a shooter, Crysis 3 doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but the addition of the Predator Bow makes the stealth game take on new life. For me, the game’s true aim is bringing the adaptability of the Nanosuit to the player. If you’d like to play this game as a shooter, it’ll handle pretty much Crysis 2. If you’d like your games a little quieter, you’ll find the stealth aspects of Crysis 3 to be a vast improvement over the predecessor.

A complete flight sim package, that looks really nice, and has great mission modes. This game, and it's previous versions stand head and shoulders above the Microsoft Combat Flight sim games.

The Splendor app is a great way for fans of the original game to play it on the go.

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.

At its core, Rome II is not a bad game, but it does feel horribly rushed.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a great looking remake of an already fun game, which is made better by the inclusion of two new worlds to complete. Unfortunately, the game is quite easy, and the entire experience ends too quickly, which may hamper replayability. Still, it is well worth grabbing a friend or family member and dedicating a weekend to completing the game.

DOA 5 could easily get overlooked in the deluge of upcoming titles, but it shouldn't. Despite the departure of Itagaki, Team Ninja manages to take DOA 5 up a notch. While it doesn't reinvent the wheel, the counter system adds a new layer of depth. Toss in the upgraded stages and the accessibility offered by the story-lead training and you can almost forgive said story for making almost no sense at all. The game remains accessible, pure fan-service, and most certainly the best looking fighter of this generation.

Deadpool VR offers some great arcade-style shooter mayhem, so long as you don’t take it too seriously. While melee combat can sometimes feel like an afterthought, the huge range of weapons will still satiate your bloodlust as you embark on a journey to gather contestants for Mojo’s wild reality television show.

It’s obvious that Pharaoh: A New Era was a labor of love by Triskell Interactive and Dotemu. I am sure there wasn’t a massive demand for this title, but there are some die hard fans out there (like me) who enjoyed and appreciated this game beyond comprehension. It keeps the heart and soul of the original Pharaoh, while making just enough tweaks to improve upon a timeless classic. The nostalgia factor is high on this one, and if you liked any of the late 90s to early 2000 city-building titles, then picking up Pharaoh: A New Era is a must. My only request: please consider remastering Zeus & Poseidon!

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

Bottom line is this: If you’ve never played Peggle before, add 15 points to that score and buy this immediately. If you’re like me and have already played it to death, be warned that there’s nothing new to see here and you may just want to move right along to something different.

Trigger Witch is a surprisingly cute yet bloody homage to retro RPGS while also being an incredibly competent twin stick shooter. You can tackle the campaign solo or alongside a friend, adding much needed replayability. Despite the short length, I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Evertonia. The characters, dialogue, backstory, and challenge left me satisfied and looking forward to a sequel.

As a game in its own right, it feels short-changed and recycled for the most part – Fans of the series will likely bask in the familiarity of it, but ultimately Nexus is a hollow offering.

Because of the episodic nature of this series, you'll get the feeling that you're doing the same things over and over. And while this is true, there are enough things in the game such as secret wallpapers, new weapons, spells, and items to find, that the game stays interesting.

A little more polish and gameplay balance could have made Second Sight a classic gaming experience. This really is too bad since it contains a story that puts Psi-Ops to shame.

Whether you prefer, multiplayer or story, Dominion or Duel, viking or knight or samurai, there’s something for every gamer in For Honor. With a compelling story, beautiful customization options, competition, community, this game is both a triumph and a damn good fight.unity, and a damn good fight.

Even with a handful of last minute bugs to iron out, Planet Coaster 2 lets me build the park of my dreams. More than a water park expansion, it takes everything the first game did well and makes it better. Don’t wait, get your ticket now – heck, this one is even worthy of a fast pass.

What SaGa Scarlet Grace Ambitions lacks in its plot, it more than makes up for in its difficult and complex battle system. Make no mistake, this is a hardcore RPG. You’ll be retrying battles over and over just to barely scrape by, and while it can be too difficult at times, the combat system is still a blast the whole way through.

This is a very well crafted game, and aside from the sound issues, fits perfectly into the GBA's hardware. Atlus did us all a favor by taking a chance on this and bringing it to North American shores. I can think of only one thing I want to do after playing through it and seeing one of the endings.

If you are a fan of old school games like Mega Man, this may be the easiest purchase you ever make. JumpJet Rex’s new-school approach to old school platforming, and the addition of the time trial elements and collection itch to scratch, this game is an absolutely must-have.

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.

Clustertruck is an addictive, fast-paced parkour platformer with great controls and a ton of challenging levels to race through. While it lacks a polish in some crucial areas, it’s easy to recommend this game due to how simply fun it is.

But, if the only console you happen to own is a Wii then you owe it to yourself to check out Call of Duty: Modern Warfare – Reflex. Sure the graphics can’t compare to the other versions, but somehow the developers have managed to squeeze everything else that was good into this Reflex edition.

Miasmata is definitely a unique experience, and as the work of two people it’s actually a hell of an achievement. It’s a game with ambition, which should be rewarded even if it occasionally falls short of the goals it set for itself.

It's too bad that Gun is so short because I could have easily devoted more time to playing such a refreshing title.

It’s easy to have mixed thoughts about The Beginner’s Guide, but as a game that aims to make you think, it does accomplish this goal.

Pokkén Tournament retains the spirit and charm of Pokémon, while still a fun fighter that excellently caters to all skill levels.

Describing QuestLord as “Solid and straightforward” runs the risk of making the game sound dull, but I want to stress that that’s not the case. The graphics are well-crafted for what they are, though you have to appreciate pixel art to agree with that estimation, and even then you have to admire the throwback to the 1980s that QuestLord really seems to be going for.

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.

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.

At times, Candleman: The Complete Journey can feel like a chore with its slightly erratic pacing and inconsistent tone. However, those that stick with it will find a surprisingly heartwarming story mixed with an innovative mechanic and some great environments.

The Long Dark is an amazing spectacle of narrative brilliance and survival. The twists and unexpected turns of the story are complemented by the survival mechanics that are challenging and thought provoking. The Survival Mode gives players a sandbox to play in, and allows them to play and survive how they see fit. With the story being released in episodic expansions, there's always a reason to come back and play.

Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia is a wonderfully crafted grid-based strategy game with plenty of planning needed. Some battles will be tough, but winning is rewarding every time. There are times when you'll be frustrated by your units missing attacks while the enemy beats you down, but that just forces you to adapt.

Although Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time has the occasional frame rate drop, and it doesn’t pose that high a challenge, Soleil’s game direction has proved worthwhile. Having all the tools to shape your experience provides a thoroughly enjoyable experience for the player, and it’ll keep long-time fans of the series happy seeing Jack’s old allies in action once more. However, with such a short time-to-complete and weak story, it will have you yearn for more.

Tinytopia is a casual city builder that hits all the fun notes without asking too much of the architect. About a dozen hours of pure fun, only a few bugs, and an easily-gamed happiness meter hold it back. It’s good city-building comfort food.

Land of the Vikings is a beautifully done survival colony sim that takes the genre to the next level with gridless building. The ease of managing your village and the simplicity of the UI are very much appreciated. It makes the hassle of doing mundane tasks for your village so much easier. The art, music, and attention to detail is phenomenal. Being able to build a village in any way I want is so much fun. You will be challenged throughout your game, all the while having a relaxing time watching your little Vikings go about their daily lives. Land of the Vikings is a masterpiece, and I highly recommend it!

Party Animals presents an overall fun and chaotic experience that will have players laughing with their friends. The characters are cute, the boards are fun and the multiplayer aspect is a plus. However, since the release date, not much has been added which makes the game short-lived with content and can demotivate players to pick this title up again.

More Slime Rancher is always a good thing. Slime AI has been improved, Slime personalities stand out more and are better designed, and Rainbow Island is gorgeous. However, a distinct lack of progression and a tiresome gameplay loop make Slime Rancher 2 feel more like DLC than a distinct sequel.