While Murder on Eridanos has fun moments focusing on investigating and dialogue choices, it is actively undermined by shoving combat in your face and a twist that makes events leading up to that point feel pointless.

From the sharp graphics to the rock solid gameplay, this is a well-implemented game.

Jak X would have been even better if it supported four-player split-screen with the multitap.

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.

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.

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.

Asterigos: Curse of the Stars is a game composed of two different genres and not fully committing to either. Doing so makes it not reach the potential I think the game could have had by sticking to simply one. Still, with fun combat and an explorative world, it is a solid experience. One that many gamers will be satisfied with but forget after the holiday season.

Tentacular is a fun little sandbox game that manages to be as genuinely fun as it is funny. Filled to the brim with moments, it’s great for VR newcomers, or those who just want a break from all the super-serious shooters and world-saving simulations.

Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life does lose some of the original’s soul in this remake, but it gains some incredible convenience and quality of life updates to make it much more enjoyable for a modern audience. Returning to the Forgotten Valley is a nostalgic experience for veterans, and newcomers will discover why the original game is a classic.

No, I’m Not a Human is the kind of game that makes for an excellent demo, but fails to capitalize on what’s established in its opening hour. The crushingly grim mood and uncanny visuals are worth experiencing, but its opaque mechanics are better at creating confusion than intrigue. With a narrower scope and a more specific narrative, No I’m Not a Human could have been a prime candidate for a cult classic.

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

SO: SE will appeal to some RPG fans, but I’m certainly not one of them. I need at least a somewhat interesting story and/or characters to keep me engaged in a game, and these aspects were completely missing.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: the Game is one of the best modern beat-em ups, despite a lack of much competition in the genre. It’s gorgeous visuals and amazing soundtrack complement its surprising depth in combat perfectly. Scott Pilgrim is back, and hopefully here to stay.

A genius concept that is fun for a little while, then grows as stale as its protagonist. The ideas are perfect, but the execution is weak.

Rematch is a great arcade sports title that’s sure to win over both hardcore and casual fans. With tight controls and excellent customization options, the title’s fun and easy to pick up. While the soundtrack feels lacking and matchmaking can occasionally balloon, you’d be hard-pressed to find anything like this rooted in traditional soccer. If you dig arcade soccer and are tired of gasoline fumes, you’ll have a great time with Rematch.

THQ and Rainbow Studios have really hit their stride with the MX vs. ATV franchise. Not only have they managed to address every minor issue that plagued previous incarnations of the series, the addition of persistent terrain deformation and Reflex rider control absolutely take this game to the next level.

Telltale has taken decent poker gameplay, some gaming culture icons, and an entertaining script and wrapped it up neatly into an affordable little package. For less than a cup of Starbucks, it’s hard to go wrong.

Barring its quest system and dull dungeons, Fae Farms is a solid farming sim that offers a ton of things to do in a fun and magical realm.

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 Sam & Max Save the World remastered makes a few concessions for its console release and the touch screen support is lacking, it’s still a gorgeous and hilarious game that is well worth playing in any form.

Slipstream Blue Hour successfully reignites the magic of retro racing, inviting players to relive the joy and excitement that defined a generation of gamers. While its gameplay may feel repetitive in the long run and may not match the advancements of modern racing games, Slipstream Blue Hour is a charming and delightful tribute to the classics. With its wealth of content, fresh twists, and captivating blue hour-themed tracks, it's the perfect excuse to embrace nostalgia and embark on a thrilling journey through Slipstream's beloved retro world. So buckle up, hit the gas, and let Slipstream Blue Hour take you on a joyful ride back in time.

While it probably should’ve been DLC, it’s still more Borderlands fun for anyone starving for more Vault hunting action.

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

Outlast 2 has all the makings of a good horror game: alarming visuals, intense situations, menacing antagonists, and an overwhelming feeling of powerlessness. Though I would have liked the world of Temple Gate to be developed more beyond Knoth’s Gospel, I loved every minute of my playthrough.

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is a competent port on the Nintendo Switch. While it has obvious stutter in the online lobby and the framerate doesn’t match that of its rivaling consoles, being able to play in handheld mode with little difference in quality is a plus and will help you tackle the game’s expansive list of content from anywhere.

An excellent and very welcome port of an already great and addictive game that stands out among other games in the genre.

Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story is a magical adventure starring a sweet duo of characters. Nunu and Willump are a joy to get to know and love. With smooth platforming and great puzzles, this will be a game that any League of Legends fan will want to play. If you enjoyed old school platform/puzzle games, you’ll love this gem.

Strike Vector EX is a whole lot of fun to play with friends, but is held back by a few multiplayer issues and an entirely fruitless campaign. If you’re interested in immediately diving into multiplayer and murdering a bunch of people in cold blood using a giant robot, then this game is for you…just be prepared for the occasional headache when your buddies accidentally blow you into tiny pieces for the fourteenth time.

There’s absolutely nothing new to push Virtual Reality and roomspace VR forward in Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-Ality, and it is painfully short with little replay value. Those indictments aside, it’s a must-have for anyone who enjoys the dark humor of the show. Perhaps we can Get Schwifty with another run at VR with a longer run time and harder puzzles in the future.

If you’re a fan of more esoteric storytelling and indie point-and-clicks, I think Centum would be really up your alley. While there are slow points in the narrative and rather simplistic gameplay, the game as a whole is still positive, even if I was left with more questions than I had answers to.

MainFrames is a short and sweet platformer that manages to pack plenty of challenge and fun into every stage, all while remaining visually striking, engaging, and memorable.

Sony – why did it take you so long to bring us this great series?

Mario Tennis Aces isn’t a terrible game, but is a forgettable one. Online doesn’t work consistently, Adventure mode is pretty boring and uninspired, and there is a smattering of content. The game just lacks the heart that Nintendo titles have, and this leaves us with a bland and forgettable game that doesn’t do anything interesting. It’s not bad if you are just looking to get some friends or family together to play a few matches, but don’t expect the appeal to last much further than that.

The bottom line is that Sticker Star is a generally enjoyable experience filled with long stretches of utter rage induced by poor game design.

If you have access to other consoles, or if you aren’t interested in playing Samurai Shodown on the go, the Switch version of the game might not be the best way to experience the game. However, it’s still fundamentally the same great combat, so if you’re willing to make some visual and performance compromises, you’ll find a solid fighter here.

A fun solo venture, but it won’t suck out thousands of your hours.

Endless Dungeon tries to do a lot and is largely successful. However, the mix of genres and focus on roguelite elements over tower defense falls a bit flat in the crowded roguelite space. It provides a few hours of fun, especially with a friend, but Endless it is not.

Shadow of the Ninja Reborn is a welcome change of plans, pushing an NES classic into fascinating new territory. With katana in hand, Reborn carves out its own niche with its meticulous, plan-based platforming. Its strong design combined with a high amount of replayability invites its science-based community of ninjas to keep experimenting long after their first playthrough.

Beholder is a management sim and a moral quandary all in one. It’s easy to become consumed by the lives of Carl Stein and the apartment dwellers he’s been hired to spy on, with a story full of twists, turns, and terrible fates.

EA Sports UFC 3 provides a staggering amount of improvements in nearly every area. EA Canada could have played it safe and iterated, but instead they overhauled major systems, addressing almost every complaint I had about its predecessors. Better striking mechanics, movement, and animations are joined by a fantastic career mode, and a whole host of additional attractions. I’ve still got a few axes to grind on submissions and AI balance, but the rest of the game is an embarrassment of riches.

It’s hard to give a definitive rating or opinion on an MMORPG, as the game is always changing and evolving, hopefully for the better. But it is without a doubt that New World: Aeternum is leagues better than what it was 3 years ago, with an enhanced beginner experience, a fleshed out endgame, tons of content, and availability across 3 major platforms. I’m so glad that the team at Amazon Games didn’t give up on this project!

Satellite Reign is an incredible successor to Syndicate that gets more right than not. Where it falls down on bugs and control issues, it shines brightly in aesthetics and fantastic combat mechanics.

When all is tallied up, The Legendary Starfy is a solid game. It does everything a platformer should do.

Despite the occasional frustration it brings, Hohokum is an absolute treat to behold.

Massive in scope and improving on its predecessor, Middle-earth: Shadow of War is a triumph in every way that matters. While certain aspects are underdeveloped, or simplified to embrace player choice, the Nemesis 2.0 system, combat improvements, and genuinely engaging combat system keep things fresh for the 40 hour adventure. If only they hadn’t followed the movies and extended the ending well past its welcome.

Hot Wheels Turbocharged: Unleashed 2 leans well on tweaks and not transformations. It is a great game that has recharged its predecessor and taken it to a new level. Graphics are visually stunning and gameplay is satisfying. The pocket-sized miniature mayhem title does well to burn rubber on the tracks and race its way into one of the most fun toy-racing games in the industry.

A pretty decent title, if not visually off-putting.

Sega Genesis Classics boasts an amazing collection of 50 games, all of which will keep you busy and entertained for hours. Some of the games can be challenging to a fault, but that's just the way some old school games were made. The games hold true to their original forms and bring you a cartridge full of nostalgia that you can pop right into the console of your heart.

Defector represents some of the best interactive elements in VR, with combat, gunplay, spycraft, and a little bit of puzzle work. While the wheels occasionally fall off on that puzzle aspect, and the story does feel a bit truncated, the ride is a blast while it lasts.

King of Meat’s intro is a reflection of how the game feels — disjointed, confusing, and self-indulgent — yet it exhibits undeniable fun and high-quality production value. But for every awesome feature King of Meat has, there are just as many design decisions that undermine those features, making it difficult for King of Meat's strengths to shine.

In the end, however, Gyromancer feels like somewhat of a wasted opportunity because of some poor design decisions, which is a major disappointment.

While Killing Floor 2 doesn’t offer a lot of content, especially compared to many other multiplayer shooters out this year, at the end of the day, it’s still fun to shoot some Zeds with your friends. If you’re really looking for some quick, challenging multiplayer action, Killing Floor 2’s a pretty good place to start.

Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny is a lot of fun. The HD update looks fantastic, while the classic gameplay remains intact. There are some solid quality-of-life updates added that fans are sure to enjoy. The enemy and boss designs are great, and the ensemble cast keeps things interesting. For better or worse, the gameplay is still totally on the classic end and, while most burrs have been buffed out, a few snags may remain for newcomers. This remaster is responsible for winning me over to the Onimusha franchise, and I hope more folks feel the same.

Hitman tries an interesting balance of stuffing a lot into a little, but doesn’t exactly pull it off with elegance.

A rental at best, pure and simple. There are vastly superior action titles on the market, and everything presented here played better in the first game.

The fighting game is fairly solid with several elements that, while not completely unique to the fighting genre, mix together for a unique experience. It takes the source material and does it justice.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Thieves Guild is the most promising addition yet to the otherwise bland and repetitive experience the game has offered in the past.

Homeworld 3 is everything I hoped it could be. It improves on its predecessors in every conceivable way, and adds meaningful new features including a cooperative War Games mode. I never thought it would happen again, but I’m happy to report…the mothership has cleared the scaffold...we are away once again.

Combining gorgeous if deceptively simple graphics with an innovative approach to combat, Absolver is a welcome breath of fresh air to the sometimes predictable fighting game genre.

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

Tormented Souls feels like a labor of love, paying homage to its predecessors and delivering a survival horror experience akin to the games of the genre’s glory days in the PlayStation 2 era of gaming. This game will not pull in newcomers to the genre, but lovers of survival horror will enjoy this game for its puzzles, tension, and environmental design, even if the game is lacking in some major areas.

Sherlock Holmes The Awakened is an amazingly creative way of remaking a game. Taking a piece of your past and making it a building block for your future is genuinely impressive, and it’s a captivating tale that can be experienced now in a deeper capacity. He may not be the same after what he’s just experienced, but Sherlock Holmes has never looked better, and I can’t wait for the next one.

Styx: Blades of Greed is the epic conclusion to the Styx trilogy, setting the stage nicely for the war between men and orcs in Of Orcs and Men. The gameplay may feel a little repetitive, but it's also fun and satisfying when you master a new skill.

Songbringer’s procedurally generated world is a double-edged sword. While exploring a unique overworld is, on the whole, rather enjoyable, the map feature could’ve done more to aid traversal. On the flip side, dungeons feel rather uninspired due to the fact that they aren’t deliberately crafted. However, the aesthetic and combat system are both incredibly strong aspects of the game that prop up Songbringer’s weaker elements. While it does have flaws, the sum of Songbringer’s parts is an easily recommendable title for fans of the genre.

Anyone who wants to experience the tabletop wargaming experience without purchasing all those little minuatures should take a serious look at this game. It offers so much detail for the retail price.

While it isn't necessarily aimed at people used to more recent RPGs, Persona 2: Innocent Sin is a prime example of the entire reason many of us have loved Japanese RPGs for years.

A stop-gap measure, another coat of paint on a series designed for a specific audience that’s looking for a specific experience. The freshly streamlined interface may court some new blood, but a lackluster campaign and a failure to branch out from the micromanagement-heavy core sim experience makes this a tough sell for outsiders to the genre.

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

Zombieland: Headshot Fever Reloaded is a great VR shooter with precise shooting, good enemy variety, a nice cel-shaded art style, and near infinite replayability. While the base campaign is short, the multiple goals, B-side levels, upgrades, and leaderboards help to flesh out the game and provide a compelling reason to continue jumping back into the chaos long after you first complete the levels.

God's Trigger is a fast-paced top down shooter in the realm of Hotline Miami, which brings with it some brutal deaths. The various abilities and ways to attack are fantastic. The story doesn't delve deep, but it does what's needed to keep you engaged.

Mortal Shell is an action RPG that uses the sleeve of the soulslike genre to create something unique enough to stand on its own two feet. Though its campaign is short and predictable, the beautiful world, interesting body-swapping mechanics, and strong technical performance more than make up for how liberally it borrows from other games.

Maskmaker feels like it’s going to give you full control over the game, then it takes it away from you and does it for you. The parts it gives you full control over, however, tend to be exceptionally tedious. The crafting system is great when the game wants it to be, and I loved exploring every nook and cranny that the game had to off, but in short, while the game feels like a bedtime story, ultimately it’s just that --- there’s not much lucidity that you’d expect from a VR game, and it feels more like an on-rails experience.

It might take you a bit to get your space legs, but once you do you're in for a great ride.

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

Etherborn is a gravity-defying puzzle platformer with breath-taking visuals and MC Escher-like levels. The difficulty is enough to test your observation and critical thinking, but nothing gets stressful. You'll be done with a playthrough in around five hours, but it's time well spent.

Cyber Sleuth evokes nostalgia while also pivoting in tone and setting for fans who have grown older. The disorienting lack of story direction in the first half is made up for when its mysteries finally come to light, and it makes Cyber Sleuth’s world a great one to spend hours training Digimon in.

Star Wars Outlaws might play things a bit safe, but the solid foundation leads to a fantastic adventure. The gameplay is tremendous, with some of the most engaging stealth mechanics I’ve enjoyed in a game in a while. Add in some great characters, fun side missions, and a gorgeous open world, and Star Wars Outlaws is a great trip across the stars.

Suffice it to say, the more you play the more in-depth and rewarding the game becomes. The presentation is top-notch for a game of this genre, with beautiful visuals bringing your island to life and a rollicking score to keep your ears happy

Don't buy this game if you don't plan on getting the whole series. It would be like watching "The Fellowship of the Ring" and not bothering to watch the rest.

For $40, this is one of the greatest compilation games ever released.

With all its puzzling adventures, out-of-the-box thinking, and stunning hand drawn visuals, it’s a memorable game in its genre. Solving the puzzles offers such gratification that one looks forward to continuing climbing the tower and solving the next. But with a lack of a meaningful story, it lacks complete immersion from the player.

Necrophone Games has a fantastic premise, a decent execution and a brave narration in Jazzpunk.

After a long wait, Gran Turismo Sport is here, and it is racing perfection beyond measure. This is the best racing game that I have ever played, overflowing in beauty, grace, playability, and precision. Driving a go-kart, a fusion-engine concept race car, or a standard Ford Focus all provide a wealth of fun and unique challenges. Gran Turismo Sport is a triumph, and will be played voraciously by racing fans for years and years to come.

This is not an action packed role playing game, with limit breaks, kamehamehas, and sixteen button combos during combat. This is a game of exploring a Labrynth and learning to survive it by strength and wit. Calling it well written is hard to do, as it has only the basic framework of a story, letting the player make it up on their own. But I do find it fun to play, completing quests, earning experience, and delving the depths of the Labrynth with my Landsknecht and team.

Figment’s mechanics are woefully underdeveloped, but the rest of the game is so cohesive and often brilliant that it’s difficult to dismiss out of hand. The ambient soundtrack, and especially the boss songs go a long way and are worth playing through the slight, five hour game to hear if that interests you at all. If not, the gameplay can be downright boring at times.

Blade Strangers is an odd mix of zany characters and entertaining gameplay. Its unique four-button fighting gameplay is a refreshingly accessible experience for anyone that wants to duke it out with Shovel Knight, Isaac, Quote, or any of the fourteen different fighters within the title.

Surprising, fun, and challenging, Atelier Sophie is a must own in the PlayStation 4 collection.

If you don't care as much about getting really into the dancing however, the basic pad is just fine.

Overall the game does not take many risks from the formula established in the first game, but it presents everything with more polish. The series is not quite part of the big leagues yet, but still, if you are looking for an action RPG to spend time with in-between other major releases the world of Two Worlds II may be a good vacation destination.

Cloudberry Kingdom is a terrific gauntlet romp through classic gaming’s hallowed halls.

Ultimately, Grow Home ends up feeling like a product you really want to love, but is unable to produce the content required to hook your attention.

If you want to learn how to play correctly being dipping your toes into betting Poker games, this would be an excellent tool to learn, and a way to not lose money through playing with a bunch of buddies for real money.

I just want to take the time to request that everyone take notice of Conquest mode. It’s really a shot in the arm for sports games and should really be present in every other title in the genre.

If you are willing to spend time with the control scheme, then you can find a satisfying experience, especially if you enjoy playing online. If you are the kind of person who enjoys the singleplayer experience, then you may feel slighted by the weak campaign.

Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax crafts a crossover fighter that’s extremely enjoyable and faithful to its series, but lacks the depth of polished fighters to garner any long-term attachment. Play for the fun, but don’t expect to lose yourself in it.

Road to Ballhalla is an insanely difficult rhythmic puzzler. It’s enjoyable and agonizing in equal measure, tossing a variety of trials at you then teasing you when you don’t overcome them on the first try. For those who can fight their way through and remain cool-headed, dozens of neat features and hours of playtime await.

Onrush is a racing game that strips away the commonly understood mechanics of the genre to deliver something that is both fresh and classic at the same time. And a vivacious multiplayer experience that rivals some of the big contemporary shooters of the day.

Miles & Kilo is a massively improved sequel that mixes great platforming mechanics and tough but fair difficulty in the package. It’s a cheap title that you should definitely pick up if you have an hankering for fun, lighthearted platformers. Grab your canine friend and get ready for a howling good time!