There’s a lot of potential with 36 Fragments of Midnight, but it’s all wasted. The procedural generation of obstacles are cool the first couple of times you play the game, but the fact that it feels empty everywhere with no replay value makes this feel like a glorified demo of something that could be greater.

A gorgeous RPG, with expansive randomly generated dungeons, compelling combat, unique characters, and an amazing soundtrack. Teleportation across maps and within dungeons encourages exploration, and the ability to select dungeon difficulties, as well as the fact that essential game elements, such as crafting and fishing, can only be done inside dungeons creates meaningful replayability and naturally sends you crawling through completed dungeons again and again. Featuring animated comic panels, and avoiding long-winded lectures about history and lore, Battle Chasers: Nightwar is an indie game which delivers a top-tier JRPG experience.

No game has captured the nuance of pen-and-paper RPG quite like Divinity: Original Sin 2. Every moment is filled with meaningful choice with real consequences, and every character has a story to tell. In an RPG landscape where dialogue options are dumbed down, and quests have become package delivery to a specific map coordinate, Divinity: Original Sin 2 stands out as one of the best RPGs I’ve played in a decade...maybe even longer than that.

It would have been very easy for Digital Domain to make a low-effort Voltron knockoff, but instead Voltron VR Chronicles feels like a small slice of the show brought to life. While it is a little short, and the interactivity is somewhat basic, if you are a fan, this game is a must have. Next time, just let us form Voltron and give us sword and shield VR controls to take out the next episode’s Robeast!

Lichtspeer: Double Speer Edition is a great enhanced port of the original game. While it does have a few more issues than its other counterpart, the additions of co-op and updated save mechanics make this an easy recommendation if you want a cheap indie title to play with friends.

Raiders of the Broken Planet delivers a strong shooter experience. The combat of the game keeps you engaged, as you need to be ready to be flanked at any time. The campaign is short but sweet, and leaves you wanting more. The missions are challenging without being too tough, even playing solo. Looking forward to more campaigns being released.

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.

NASCAR Heat 2 is a huge disappointment and massive collapse of the promise given by the decent predecessor, NASCAR Heat Evolution. The game’s controls are loose and worse than ever, and the problems of the first, including some patently stupid glitches and exploits, are still fully present. The game looks fine, but it does not play well at all, and represents what may be a sign that NASCAR just won’t ever translate well to the video game world.

As somebody who’s played each entry in the series, I couldn’t help but feel a little slighted by Marvel. Despite this, I still really enjoyed the game. It’s mechanically sound, and performs incredibly well online. At the time I sat down for this review, the game had almost completely overcome my objections. While it may not be my favorite fighter, it still has me reaching for the controller for more matches.

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.

Tekken 7’s Ultimate Tekken Bowl is only worth it for season pass holders or die-hard fans of the original Tekken Bowl. Other than some cool extra costumes (which are only usable in the main game), there really isn’t much here to get excited about.

Time Recoil isn't going to redefine the cyberpunk genre, win awards for its writing or make players philosophize on the ethics of time travel. It’s a satisfying blitz that wants to chill you out and challenge you, and that's enough.

Minecraft: New 3DS Edition is a surprisingly competent version of the game despite its obvious limitations. However, the draw distances are terrible, multiplayer isn’t available at the beginning, and it won’t stack up to the console versions. If you truly want Minecraft on the go and own a Nintendo Switch, I suggest buying that version instead as it is the same price and, unlike the New Nintendo 3DS Edition, it will be receiving the Better Together Update this Winter.

If you have friends, Ark: Survival Evolved is a fun survival game, with options such as PvP or PvE servers to make every player happy. If you primarily play alone, however, this game will require a heavy set of grinding and repetition, turning off any players hoping to just get a taste of some dinosaur action.

Drive Girls is a hack and slash slog where you quite literally drive girls who transform into cars to fight evil bugs. It is every bit the stupid, ridiculous, freaky fun game that it sounds like, and has some guilty pleasure elements that can endear it to players even while they recognize it is a total wreck. Battles are unique, but ultimately boring, and a bad story and lackluster look makes Drive Girls a mostly forgettable mess.

Pokken Tournament Deluxe is a knockout fighting game that’s perfect for the Switch. With new characters, revamped game modes, and the ability to take the game anywhere, this is one Pokémon game you should fight for this fall.

Destiny 2 is a massive accomplishment, and a huge step in the right direction for the franchise. With a more focused narrative, more activities to do than ever before, and enormous quality of life improvements to the Destiny sandbox and economy, there isn't much to dislike about Destiny 2.

Kingdom: New Lands is the same survival simulation game you'll find on Steam, but it feels even more at home on the Nintendo Switch. While the lack of tutorial and clearly defined goals can potentially lead to frustration and some difficult first starts, Kingdom's simple controls lead you right into an incredibly engrossing game. The gorgeous pixel graphics shine on the Switch's screen, and the changing of day to night, and summer to fall is not only visually stunning, it's an ever present reminder that winter is coming. Based upon the principle that nothing lasts, with each new game Kingdom asks: How long can your crown survive?

While Knack remains an uninspired protagonist, Knack II’s gameplay more than makes up for his bland character. Vast improvements in combat, visual fidelity, platforming, and the addition of cooperative play realize much of the potential the original Knack was meant to achieve. Knack II is a fine example of how a sequel can improve on its predecessor in nearly every way.

The Horns of the Reach DLC for Elder Scrolls Online is small, but it gives some decent gameplay and a new set of items, objectives, and a few other scarce elements that will help players at any stage of gameplay. Many players will get this full release automatically as part of their ongoing subscription to the game, but casual players of the game may want to wait and see before jumping in.

Despite some minor frustrations and inconsistencies, Darkwood is a journey of masterfully deceptive madness that will drag you in whether you like it or not.

League of Evil has its faults, but it more than makes up for them through its robust and accessible level editor. While it’s a six year port that shows its age, it’s still a great way to get your twitch-reflex platformer fix.

If this sounds like a bit of a love letter, it is still underselling just how fantastic Samus Returns has turned out. Stunning animations, a fantastic soundtrack, and awesome cinematic moments come together to remind us of the amazing roots of this series, while updating it for a fresh audience. Metroid: Samus Returns is one of the best Nintendo 3DS games of all time, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

At its core, Sneaky Bears VR is a wave-based shooter, but that doesn’t account for the excellent writing and genuinely funny premise. Sure, it’s a little short, but if you own a PSVR, this is a great title for younger audiences, as well as VR newcomers.

I really can't offer a clear, concise explanation as to why this ridiculous game is so much fun, all I can say is that sorting cats has become the new competitive hobby in my office. Cat Sorter VR has somehow combined the adorable, the absurd, the repetitive, and the high pressure of a continually moving assembly line to create an inexplicably addictive virtual reality game which you really have to experience yourself to understand. It may not be a purrfect game, but it's more than worth the $12.99 price tag.

With excellent level design, smooth animations, impressive pixel art, and a bunch of brand-new twists on classic-style gameplay, Sonic Mania manages to feel both old and new at the same time in the best way possible. Whether you like the old Sonic games or the new ones, or even if you've never played one before, Sonic Mania holds plenty of fun for everyone.

Longtime Monster Hunter fans may have radically different opinions from mine, but for what it’s worth, I’ve found this game to be full of wholesome fun. It’s hardly unique in gameplay and story, but what it lacks in uniqueness it makes up for in execution and presentation.

Everybody’s Golf is a great game for those who want to relax and hit the virtual links. The game provides a good challenge that increases slightly as you progress. The beautiful graphics and calming soundtrack make the world more engaging and serene. The extra activities such as golf cart driving and fishing add to the already high replayability. If you’re a fan of the Hot Shots series, you’ll definitely want to pick this up.

Ys Seven is a straightforward adventuring JRPG that plays quickly, keeps things simple, and moves along with daring speed. The battles are fluid and emphasize the group dynamics of the entire party of characters. This upscaled release is a beautiful game that leaves something to be desired resolution wise, and has a flawed beginning that can frustrate many, but overall this game is another example of Ys’ long held excellence.

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle features excellent turn-based strategy gameplay and buttery smooth combat and animations. A fluid and fun must-have for Switch owners and strategy fans alike.

Rocket Fist for Switch is a great party experience when you want, well, rocket fists! While this version of the game omits some content from other platforms, the simple and accessible controls mixed with some lightning-fast gameplay is a great recommendation for your next four-player game night.

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

The Metronomicon: Slay the Dance Floor is one of the most infectious rhythm games this year. Its perfect blend of music gameplay and RPG mechanics is an ambitious one that sticks the landing, and the addictive soundtrack will have your toe tapping long after you turned it off. Just stay away from the dancing bears if you’re not shaking it like a Polaroid.

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.

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.

Agents of Mayhem is a very interesting game with some wild concepts, many of which didn’t seem like they would work out. While the combat is enthralling, the mission design surrounding it is consistently disappointing. The city of Seoul is wonderful and begging to be explored, but that’s not something Agents of Mayhem encourages through its design. Agents of Mayhem is hit or miss, but has more misses than hits.

Hellblade could have been carried alone by its insanely beautiful graphics and standout voice performances — some of the best of 2017 — but while these scenarios were always refreshing interruptions from long, meditative walks through Helheim, they distracted from the game’s greater focus on demystifying a taboo mental disorder.

Slime-san is a surprisingly refreshing twitch-based platformer that will put a smile on anyone’s face. Its sharp controls mixed with brutal but balanced difficulty, as well as some well-done pixelated graphics, makes Slime-san a must buy for anyone looking for some platforming goodness.

Madden 18 is a very solid product, featuring the best passing mechanics I’ve ever seen in a football game. The game has come a long way improving the physics and collisions, and overall presents a great product on the field, despite a few glitches. Some of those glitches can cause fatal errors, and there is no more hilarious fatal error than the hacky Longshot interactive movie/football experience that I can imagine ever being in a football game. Overall, this is a really great Madden release with a few errors that need fixing.

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

>observer_ takes the beats from Bloober Team’s own Layers of Fear, adds a layer of cyberpunk, and somehow comes out the other end both unnerving, and more than the sum of its parts. There are a few small technical hiccups present, and some infrequent uneven voice work, but beyond that there’s an amazing story about the human toll of investigation and observation.

While I will continue to miss Sully, Nathan, Elena, and young would-be adventurer Cassie, The Lost Legacy is another amazing adventure in the living Uncharted world. Whether it spells the start of a new direction for the series, or just a fun encore, it’s an excellent experience for any Uncharted fan.

Flip Wars is a very simple, shallow party game. It’s not actively terrible, but it barely offers anything to do. It only costs $9.99, so if you think it looks really fun, it might not hurt to buy it. Someone else might like it more than I do. But personally, for that amount, I’d much rather have Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment, since that offers far greater enjoyment over a longer period than the few minutes I had with this game.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel has made its way to PC, but has made no changes to differentiate itself. This game overall is one that has definitely aged well and has grown on me as time goes by, and is a quality JRPG that any fan of the genre will enjoy. However, this re-release provides no incentive whatsoever for someone wants to double dip.

An excellent and challenging update to a familiar formula, Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is one of those games that makes you cheer at your well-planned success when everything goes off without a hitch, and groan at your own poor planning when it doesn’t. It gets so much right, that the relentless difficulty, and slightly less gorgeous console port can’t mar its beauty. This one snuck up on me, and I couldn’t be more glad that it did.

Sudden Strike 4 is a great example of a challenging real time strategy game without all of the ‘dirt farming’ aspects of other titles. It requires real thought instead of simply pouring all units into the path of the enemy. There are a few hiccups in terms of pathing and AI, as well as a baffling choice for voicework, but the game has more high points than low. It would also be nice if there was just a little more handholding to bring in new players, but overall Sudden Strike 4 is a welcome addition to the genre.

Motiga have created a fast paced and intense game that MOBA and shooter fans will both be able to sink their teeth into. An Incredible art style mixed with fantastic hero designs makes Gigantic stand out from the crowd and offers limitless possibilities. The few problems the Gigantic has are eclipsed by the sheer fun that that it is to play and I don’t see myself dropping this game anytime soon.

Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 is the ultimate follow-up to the first collection, and brings us to a full 10 Mega Man games now available on the PS4. This collection boasts some truly high quality Mega Man experiences, as well as a large number of challenges for experienced players. The Mega Man games speak for themselves largely on quality, but they have been packaged here in a very attractive and improved fashion.

In the end, Ironcast is easily a fun game that you can get caught up in while playing. It keeps you engaged and planning, but not to the point where it becomes a chore. The soundtrack stays faithful to the older steampunk style of the game as well. It’s not a long campaign, maybe a few hours at most, but the permadeath roguelike mechanics offer more replayability. The final boss was definitely the most frustrating thing to me because of how much tougher it is with no real lead-up. Other than that and bad luck with the board a few times, Ironcast has been largely enjoyable experience. A nice addition to the color matching puzzle genre of games.

The core premise and style of Overcooked is a perfect fit for Nintendo’s portable console, but its technical performance ruins the experience. There aren’t many issues that couldn’t be fixed with a patch, but as it stands, Overcooked offers an exciting cooperative experience which is quickly hampered by performance issues.

If you’ve played games like Gone Home, Dear Esther or Firewatch, Tacoma is instantly recognizable, but it remains distinct by introducing a wildly exotic space setting and a mechanic that keeps the “look and listen gameplay” from ever becoming a bore. It can, at times, devolve into too much of a linear experience, giving way to predictable pacing, but this is forgivable, because when your time is done on the Tacoma lunar station, your heart will be a little fuller for the people you met while you were there.

Namco Museum for the Switch is a great attempt at a collection of classic arcade games. Fighting to become the top score on the leaderboard is fun, even if the other challenges often come off as shallow. With the detailed manuals and the great display options, adding a few more games, or even more challenges could have made this the definitive Namco Museum.

Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and Millionaires’ Conspiracy is a great mobile foray into the mainline Layton series. While the overall story is a tad uninteresting, the excellent puzzle gameplay and tons of replay value more than make up for it. This is a title worthy of its franchise’s reputation.

Pyre is a wonderfully made game, with simplistically beautiful graphics, and an engaging soundtrack. The gameplay can get a bit repetitive, but that doesn’t stop it from being an enjoyable journey. The characters and challenges were more than enough to make up for it.

Overall, I’ve had a great time with Fate/EXTELLA thus far. The presentation is a bit rough around the edges, the story is incredibly confusing (I’m only really understanding bits since I’m familiar with the universe — I can’t imagine what it must be like playing this game with no context at all), and of course, Warriors-type gameplay can get repetitive and rarely is anything new done to shake up the general formula. However, the game provides plenty of ways to break up the monotony of the basic combat, and even if I need to take a break between sessions, I still have a blast just feeling like an overpowered one-man-army and defeating scores of enemies at a time. At the very least, it will tide me over until the more polished Fire Emblem Warriors arrives later this year.

Sundered is beautiful, tense, and frustrating enough to make you want to throw your controller. If you can make your way through it’s overwhelming combat encounters, you’ll find a platformer that’s well worth the madness.

You might forget the STROL virus, or that you are tackling insurgents and mutants, but you won’t forget just how much fun you have, solo or with a local co-op friend, with the non-stop action of Solstice Chronicles: MIA. While there are still some areas to be polished, and online multiplayer is unfortunately missing, Solstice manages to translate the souls of games like Alien Breed and Helldivers into a challenging two-player or solo adventure.

Miitopia is an irreverent, hilarious casual RPG which is nearly impossible to put down. With the ability to create your own characters, import from Tomodachi Life, or pull premade characters from Mii Central, your game is certain to be full of a diverse group of characters from all across popular culture. This full length game has a charming aesthetic, an expanding story and a huge map to explore. Endlessly silly, strangely addictive, and easy to play thanks to the auto-battle feature, Miitopia is a delightfully ridiculous game which is perfect for the casual gamer in search of a reason to smile.

Gunball is developer REDSpace’s freshman VR effort, and it’s not too shabby. REDSpace has worked on kid-focused titles like website for The Powerpuff Girls, The Nick App for Nickelodeon, and The Cartoon Network’s micro-game “Anything” app, so this is a step in a new direction for them. While Gunball is simple in execution, it’s elegant in its simplicity, and fun for the whole family at a fairly reasonable price.

While it seemed like it tried hard to be Minecraft but with a twist, it still held a unique charm with its biomes, portals and eventful stories, as well as the class and custom character system. With the craft system lacking in favor for grinding combat, the game could use some balancing and tweaking to be what it advertises to the public.

Hey! Pikmin is a quirky attempt at a beloved franchise with many minor annoyances. Throwing your Pikmin is fast and fun, but the different types are hardly used to their advantages and there isn’t a good incentive to collect every treasure.

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.

Accel World vs. Sword Art Online is a fairly magnificent little JRPG that surprised me with its depth of characters and customizable options within, and a world where I can fly, explore, and battle dozens of monsters along the way. I’m reminded so much of the golden PlayStation 2 era of JRPG gaming, with all the good and some of the bad that comes with that distinction. Overall, Accel World vs. Sword Art Online is a very solid JRPG title and one that any fan of the genre will enjoy.

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.

While Arizona Sunshine might have been an incredible game on other VR systems, the PSVR version seems to be lacking due to the platform’s limitations. An intriguing narrative and impressive voice acting make Arizona Sunshine an enjoyable, if short, experience. Some minor glitches hold the game back, but excellent sniping and comfortable controls make up for these inconveniences.

I and Me stands out due to the fact that the Switch library doesn’t have too many puzzlers right now. However, a pointless story, frustrating mechanics, and disappointing length mar a game with lofty ambitious.

Each episode of The Lion’s Song offers a beautiful narrative with pleasant (and sometimes not-so-pleasant) surprises. Its sepia-tone art style and use of sound design helps lay the groundwork for its Vienna setting that has you coming back to learn more about the world and characters that Mi’pu’mi Games has given us.

Perception’s unique echolocation gameplay hook is enough to sustain the game for its 4-5-hour run, but I was saddened that The Deep End Games didn’t explore this mechanic any more than it did. Had it, Perception’s shallow plot and characters might have found some redemption. Ultimately, Perception is more carnival than amusement park – cheap thrills than top shelf. If you like horror games, you’ll like Perception, but you’ve probably already experienced a bunch of horror titles scarier than this one.

Splatoon 2 adds some great new weapons and decent new modes, but an over-reliance on the its familiar formula keeps it from feeling like a full-blown sequel.

At $12, you can’t go wrong with Implosion. While it sometimes shows its mobile roots, the Switch version of the game is frantic, fluid fun with a great amount of content and thrilling gameplay. It’s games like these that make me never lose hope that Rayark will astound me again with its next release.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s first DLC pack, while not essential, tremendously capitalizes on the game’s fantastic mechanics.

Kirby’s Blowout Blast is a fun, short distraction that acts as a pseudo-retelling of Kirby’s Dreamland. The levels are short, there aren’t a large variety of bosses, and there is a notable lack of surprises, but replaying levels to earn a platinum level, or even just ace your score, is what makes this game almost worth the $6.99 purchase.

Front Defense is good arcade fun, raising the action to flat-out frantic with a more active reloading system than most VR shooters. Lobbing grenades, calling in airstrikes, and using the mounted weapons are the real highlights – I just wish my fellow Army members were a bit more present. Here’s to hoping that a little arcade action will spur deeper experiences from HTC’s internal teams.

Death Squared is a great example of a game that fights you every step of the way. However, its sharp and witty narrative mixed with simple pick-up-and-play controls guarantees that you’ll have some frustrating fun with a partner. Just make darn sure to leave your best friends out of party mode if you want to stay that way.

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

While occasionally frustrating and repetitive, Serial Cleaner is a violently fun puzzle game that provides hours of blood-filled entertainment and new challenges.

Stunning graphical overhaul aside, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age delivers several gameplay-improving mechanics never seen in North America. While balance is still occasionally wobbly, there’s no doubt that Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is a masterclass in the light but deliberate touch necessary to take something great and make it even better.

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

Get Even is a respectable first-person shooter, sure. But despite finishing the game eager to start a second playthrough to experience the story with new perspective, the lack of player choice was a considerable disappointment. I felt duped for hunting down every piece of evidence during my time with Cole Black, because it didn’t influence the truth that ultimately emerged. This omission reduces Get Even from an imaginative game to a passable one that made me feel I was watching a thriller film more than playing a game.

The Golf Club 2 follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, providing an unrivaled golf simulation that still lacks surrounding content to keep it relevant for months to come. The new career mode leaves a lot to be desired, but few sports games can compete with how solid the on-course gameplay is within The Golf Club 2. Societies is also a welcome addition that golf-loving friends will really appreciate. The Golf Club 2 is still a ton of fun to play, but it’s clear that HB Studios needs to revamp some of the side activities heading into The Golf Club 3.

Dark Rose Valkyrie doesn’t blow the doors off the hinges, but it does serve as a much improved JRPG over what has been a largely tepid series of releases from Compile Heart and others. The story is fine, the battle system is fun and unique, and exploration is a large part of the adventure. While there are some cliches and rehashed elements throughout, Dark Rose Valkyrie represents what a top end-formulaic JRPG can be.

Cars 3: Driven to Win is a surprisingly refreshing racing game. While it does come with a few speed bumps here and there, the novel approach to Cars 3’s tie-in game is simply high-octane fun.

The Nintendo Switch version of NBA Playgrounds is probably the most inferior. While an entertaining romp with fun mechanics, a lack of content and fundamental patches keep this from being a slam dunk.

So, does the original Crash Bandicoot trilogy hold up? Two-thirds of me says “heck yes.” The first Crash Bandicoot may not have aged well, and there are portions of Cortex Strikes Back and Warped that are frustrating, but I had a ridiculous amount of fun with them. I felt encouraged to go back to find the remaining gems, see my best time, and explore the secret warp rooms. Vicarious Visions did a great job with remastering the Crash Bandicoot trilogy. Maybe we can see our favorite purple dragon done with the same amount of justice?

The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind is a dream come true for many diehard Vvardenfell fans, and does an admirable job in presenting something new and fresh in a way that also makes sure to pay homage to the past. The game expands ESO to include a new 4x4x4 arena mode, and offers hours of new content to enjoy. Any players who are already enjoying Elder Scrolls Online should be expanding, and any fans of the original Morrowind who have held out on ESO may want to consider giving it a try now.

Mighty Gunvolt Burst is everything that Mighty No. 9 should’ve been last year. Its excellent retro style, deep customization features, and rewarding progression system pave the way for a fast-paced, fulfilling experience.

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

If you’ve been following the series this far, it might be worth checking out just to have a save file ready for when season four comes out. Just be aware that the finale is pretty disappointing on the whole.

There are plenty of engaging moments, despite the annoying puzzles, that make this game worth recommending. It’s also a great representation of mental illness, portraying the patients not as cackling sociopaths, but as victims of tragedy. While it’s not for everyone, especially those who want a more “in-your-face” kind of horror, the historical setting and creeping dread make for a very memorable experience.

Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada is a fun and heavy slasher game, where you’ll mow down thousands of enemies in the spirit of war and blood letting. The game captures so much of what makes the Samurai Warriors series well loved, while bringing in a few new features and environmental adaptations that allow the game to stand on its own. Several issues with balance and presentation betray an otherwise solid game.

Vanquish gets another shot at the limelight fixing its presentation flaws from the first time it was released. With possible 4K resolution and an unlocked, constant frame rate during its high paced action sequences, the PC version of Vanquish is the definitive version.

Beholder: Blissful Sleep is an interesting prequel wrapped up in the package of DLC. Other than having more dialogue and changing one mechanic, it’s essentially the same gameplay as the original. That doesn’t bother me in the slightest, though, because I love the narrative style with its subtle humor and overarching feelings of hopelessness under an oppressive government.

ARMS is a shallow yet approachable experience that could have used just a bit more depth, detail, and personality.

Black & White Bushido is a very fun game to play with a group of friends, but doesn’t deliver any enjoyable content for gamers who would rather play on their own. While some of the spawn points in the game can come off as unfair, most of the time the game delivers as an entertaining and exciting battle arena, that I can definitely see being a hit at parties.

There are very few things that Randall gets right: The platforming is sloppy, the combat is dull, the story and writing is unintelligible, and the boss fights are unbearable. When they work, mind control abilities are entertaining, but poor game design and game-breaking glitches make Randall a thoroughly unpleasant gaming experience.

Finally joining the fray for PlayStation 4, Tekken 7 is an excellent blend of action and detailed characters. With deep mechanics and fun gameplay, it’s a worthy installment to one of the most prolific fighting series in history.

Magikarp Jump is a flop. A game asks something of its player — solve the puzzle, shoot the bad guys, be creative, etc. But Magikarp Jump’s brilliant atmosphere doesn’t compensate for its lack of meaningful work. However, if the point was to create a game that mirrored the mindlessness and tedium of Magikarp, Magikarp Jump is an incredible success.

Thumper is a terrifyingly difficult game, but don’t let that deter you from experiencing its rhythm violence firsthand. The Switch port takes advantage of the system’s features quite well, and its speedy performance and killer sound design will rock your world.