Stereo Aereo is a functional music game. While it has a very cool scoring method and control scheme, it’s ultimately plagued by unforgiving and frustrating gameplay plus a generic soundtrack. Play this one if you’re looking for a fun time-waster, but there are better titles to which you may rock out.

Montaro is an endless runner that does what it needs to. Its silly charm and low price of one dollar makes up for its sometimes unfair mechanics and limited content.

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is a highly familiar, yet fresh take on 2D platforming, and the results are a game I can easily imagine scaled down to 16-bit on a Sega Genesis. A nostalgia hound for the 90s will find a lot to love with this game, from the gameplay down to the look, feel, and story it presents. Far from perfect, but charming beyond its expectations, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is wonderfully fun.

An eccentric cast of villains and zany action make Teslapunk a decent bullet hell shooter, but a terrible soundtrack and performance issues mar an otherwise enjoyable title.

Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone is everything you love about J-pop. Its infectious music, snazzy visuals, and accessible yet challenging gameplay will have you shouting for an encore.

Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone is everything you love about J-pop. Its infectious music, snazzy visuals, and accessible yet challenging gameplay will have you shouting for an encore.

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

The Ties that Bind Part 1 is a great start to a new entry in Telltale’s excellent series, one that does just enough to feel fresh.

While it’s a decently fun time for 5 bucks and easy to pick up and play, Mini Golf Resort is an unremarkable 3DS port of a game with generic design choices and some strange physics.

Space Hulk: Deathwing boasts the best, most stylistically accurate Warhammer 40,000 visuals yet created, bar none. It’s precisely how the grim darkness of the far future should look and feel. However, the incredible eye-candy of this new FPS is not enough to disguise its lackluster story, indistinct gameplay, and stability issues.

More than just a ‘locked in a room’ simulator, I Expect You To Die! Is a masterful use of VR and the Move controllers. The puzzles are just challenging enough to be fun, while not so easy as to be obvious. My only complaint is that the game is relatively short, but the promise of a sequel has me ready to hand over my money. You need this game in your VR library.

Rollercoaster Tycoon World has so much potential. All of the base pieces are here, and the game’s content is being expanded to match that promise, but stability problems and bugs hamstring what could be a solid park creator. There’s a fun game here…but you can’t experience it if the game won’t stop crashing.

A stellar interpretation of Bruce Wayne and Gotham can’t hide that Batman is one of Telltale’s biggest technical messes yet.

Draft Day Sports: Pro Basketball 2017 is a generic simulator that is just not quite ready for the big leagues. There are plenty of great features, and a deep collection of players that show the potential expected. A series of fatal flaws and poor design throughout will frustrate you and make you want to send it back down for more development.

A very deep, complex, and well made game with high quality experiences from the lowest to the highest level of rule in Feudal Japan. It is also a tease, showing you all of this quality without taking the time to actually explain itself. Frustrating camera controls and a total lack of guidance leave a bad taste in the mouth when the game so easily could have avoided both and been truly great.

Steep is a triumph at merging gameplay and presentation to deliver players a sense of place in its beautiful open world. Controlling each sport feels simple yet laser precise, and the diversity in sports and challenges encouraged me to stay in the game even when challenges became too frustrating or uninteresting. Add to this a solid layer of social functionality, albeit shallow when playing with strangers, and you have a game that reaches the great heights it endeavors to recreate.

The initial concept of the Space Rift is original and compelling. However, the overall execution of the world is far below what have come to expect from most VR games. While the game does have some nice style and mechanics in the cockpit, the voice acting and artwork in the game make it an unpleasant and drab experience. Space Rift seems to be as devoid of life as the dried up Earth within it.

Final Fantasy XV’s seems to be confused as to what it wants to be, and it makes one game feel like several, none of which execute upon their ideas well enough to stand above its modern contemporaries.

Bethesda Pinball is an impressive collection of pinball experiences based on Bethesda’s A-List hits Skyrim, Fallout, and Doom. Surprisingly complex and dynamic, these tables do a great job of capturing the feel of the game they represent while staying true to the classic pinball dynamic. Visually pleasing, challenging, and highly replayable, these tables are a perfect addition to your Zen Pinball 2 collection.

The Last Guardian’s story is moving and beautifully told, but the poor execution of its dated mechanics hold it back from the greatness of its predecessors.

Dead Rising 4 is bloody, chaotic, and downright hilarious. If you’re looking to turn your brain off this holiday season, and de-stress with gratuitous violence, this is the game for you.

Super Mario Maker 3DS is a subpar port of a great game. While a lot of the fun is still there, the lack of sharing and search features make for an overall inferior experience.

1775 Rebellion successfully takes the fun of the original board game title and ports it on to iPad and Android. The game isn’t the prettiest one you’ll play, but a competitive AI and incredible balance will keep this in your regular rotation.

Football Manager 17 is a titan of a game, representing a depth of knowledge, complexity, customization, and humanity that would be a welcome addition to any game on any subject. If football, or soccer as many a westerner calls it, is not your favorite sport, that may very well be the only reason to not give this game a twirl. While an expert may find some small issue, as a greenhorn I can’t report a single drawback for the game, but I can pretty much find a complement for each and every aspect of this marvelous simulator.

Mario Party: Star Rush can be a charming title at times, and definitely shows some promise. However, the game tries too hard to separate itself from its predecessors which causes its mechanics to fall under the pressure of trying something drastically new.

Franchise Hockey Manager 3 is a fantastically crafted title well worthy of praise. Unfortunately, with this release being a pretty basic retread, there is a prevailing sense of staleness. The game does have some minor improvements that are mostly visible with the streamlined startup process and visual data provided while in-game. Long time fans of the series may not need to update, but any new player looking to try a sports sim would be hard pressed to find a better place to start.

Motorsport Manager is a very fun and unique racing game that allows you to focus on so much more than steering and acceleration. A much more realistic racing game than one where you just drive, this game gives you the experience to see how good your driving decisions really are, and with great graphics and a easy to learn set of controls, this game is a fun addition to any gaming library.

Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization is a game that places too much of its emphasis on its dating sim mechanics rather than a polished RPG experience. Dodgy armor designs mar the progression that the weapons add to the game, and a rather stale storyline does not give enough motivation to want to progress through the game.

Watch Dogs 2 is Ubisoft open world at its finest. Full to bursting with fun and interesting content, Watch Dogs 2 carefully balances hacker culture, serious moments, and engaging storylines to create a game that has something to say. With far more personality in its protagonist, it’s very easy to recommend Watch Dogs 2.

There are very few games that consume me like this. Frontier has made a game where obsession over every detail is somehow fun. While there are a few elements that need improvement, such as the staff management and some much-needed heat maps or location services, Planet Coaster delivers in terms of rollercoaster customization and sandbox flexibility. Let inspiration be your guide and check out this incredible thrill ride.

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.

Exist Archive: The Other Side of the Sky is a test as much as a game, with some interesting new ideas being applied to a pretty standard JRPG. There are some highs and some lows, but the overall product is lacking in severe ways that are amplified by the generally promising new concepts. However, a strong story and some exploration options make this a game to consider.

Bon Appétit is one part rhythm game, one part cooking, and endless amounts of grimy sexuality. The more time you spend with it, the more likely it is you’ll come away feeling dirty and depressed. If you want to both enjoy a game and look at boobs, there are plenty of better titles out there.

Pokémon Sun and Moon are the most refreshing and exciting updates to the Pokémon franchise to date. Having found an impressive balance between old and new, providing both nostalgia and innovation, Pokémon Sun and Moon are a must-play for any Pokémon fan. With depth which is surprising and not obvious early on, a new path to becoming the best, and entirely new ways of getting around, there are plenty of reasons to explore the Alola Region.

Pokémon Sun and Moon are the most refreshing and exciting updates to the Pokémon franchise to date. Having found an impressive balance between old and new, providing both nostalgia and innovation, Pokémon Sun and Moon are a must-play for any Pokémon fan. With depth which is surprising and not obvious early on, a new path to becoming the best, and entirely new ways of getting around, there are plenty of reasons to explore the Alola Region.

Thumper is a right hook out of nowhere. It’s the right combination of speed, bizarre visuals, music, and difficulty that makes you want to replay it after the credits roll. The single button and stick controls also makes it eminently accessible to everyone, but difficult to master. Come for the bizarre visuals, stay for the even more bizarre bosses.

Orwell is a thought-provoking game about privacy, politics, and ethical dilemmas such as sacrificing a few in favor of the whole. With immersive visuals and a multi-layered story, it will instantly pull you in. This game offers high replayability and starts much-needed conversations in this age of technology.

Amnesia: The Collection proves why it’s one of the most imitated horror games of all time: it’s also one of the best. While there’s not a lot of new content for any returning players, if you haven’t played Amnesia, now’s the perfect time to change that.

Cartoon Network: Battle Crashers could have been the crossover that fans have been waiting for. However, with the game including nothing that makes any of the series represented great, it ends up as another title in the pile of countless generic licensed games.

While Robinson: the Journey looks great and has a decent conclusion, it seems like Crytek didn’t put any of its time into any other aspects of the game. It suffers immensely from repetitive gameplay, a short story and confusing puzzles. While I would definitely recommend that you experience this amazing world, the rest of the game doesn’t really make enough of a mark to justify its high selling price.

Dishonored 2 is like a pretty painting stuck in an ugly frame — painfully close to being complete. New abilities and upgrades, the addition of a second playable character, and creative level designs illustrate Dishonored in its peak condition, but the game is hampered by technical issues on console as well as a predictable plot. These criticisms are easily forgivable though, because Dishonored 2 is so engaging in its moment-to-moment gameplay. Very few games can boast so lofty a degree of player agency as Dishonored 2, and when you consider this, the ugly frame doesn’t seem as important after all.

Mekazoo is a gorgeous, brilliantly designed evolution of the platformer genre. It feels natural, playful, engrossing, and challenging all at once. Swapping Mekanimals on the fly adds to the game’s already successful formula by giving it more depth. With a magnificent soundtrack and an intuitive, natural flow, this gem shouldn’t be missed.

While the core gameplay is at least somewhat solid, Blue Rider doesn’t have a lot of content or any particularly nifty features to help it stand out amongst its competitors. Unless you love Twin stick shooters and are really, really itching for a challenge, give this one a pass.

Well beyond simple DLC, Escalation polishes every aspect of the base game. The campaign is excellent, and the expansion of defensive and upgradeable structures helps ease in new players. New technology amps the scale, but also provides tools to manage the larger world. Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation is a fresh coat of paint for an already-revolutionary RTS.

A straight port from 2005, Destroy All Humans! is not pretty to look at, but the writing has held up well over the last decade. That said, nostalgia can’t fix the repetitive gameplay of Destroy All Humans!, and technical glitches mar the fun on tap. If you want a trip down memory lane, you might catch this on a sale, but it’s hardly a must-have in its current technical state and price point.

Gas Guzzlers is more of a junker than a Ferrari, and it shows in its technical underperformance and uninspired track designs. If you really have nothing else to play, the game packs a couple cool features that will occupy you for a few hours — if you don’t get carsick before then.

Eagle Flight transcends its simple concepts, bringing the world of flight to life in a way I could not have expected. With incredibly intuitive controls it is accessible by any audience, and all without nausea. If you own a PSVR, Eagle Flight is a must-have.

Stealthy disguises lead into explosive moments of improvisation. Best-laid plans come to fruition through opportunities, and carefully timed, critical moments mean the difference between a master stroke and a quick death. The 2016 Hitman offers the best of its kind, with an episodic structure that clicks, sandbox playgrounds to pick apart and brilliant design and presentation on all levels.

The Sims 4 City Living creates new and meaningful gameplay on the Sims formula, and is the best expansion The Sims 4 has seen to date. It has smart gameplay, new ways to interact with the world, and an amazing new setting. If living the city life sounds fun, you cannot go wrong with City Living, however if that doesn’t intrigue you, there is not much here for you.

Simple and safe, Tumble VR provides a nausea-free virtual reality block stacking puzzle experience suitable for gamers and non-gamers alike. Intuitive and reasonably challenging, it should keep you busy for a few hours. Just don’t expect a lot of variety.

Civilization VI is the most strategic installment of the Civilization series to date. With upgrades to everything from city planning and management to an entirely revamped social policy system, the are lots of new and improved features to dive into. Diverse maps, unique leader abilities and plenty of interesting rival empires to befriend and fight, Civ VI has a lot to explore and great replay value.

While Multiplayer feels largely like more of the same with a few new features and a fresh coat of paint, and Zombies in Spaceland is a goofy, funny romp through 80s nostalgia, the Campaign is where Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare really shines. Infinity Ward brings a level of narrative skill to the series not seen before, with a gripping space opera that makes this one of the best to come out of the series in a while.

Battlezone VR is a missed opportunity. With so many other PSVR launch titles ending up being little more than glorified tech demos, the balance and design gaffes that cripple the game make the experience that much more disappointing as Battlezone VR’s handling of the technology works really well. I’m convinced a good game could be salvaged from this with a few tweaks and some rebalancing, but for now it’s a brutally frustrating mess doesn’t live up to it’s promise.

The root game of Super Stardust Ultra VR is everything you remember, with a new (albeit small) twist. The new Invasion mode, on the other hand, is a shallow nausea-inducing horde mode that does little to elevate the game. If you are looking for the VR game to showcase your new headset, save yourself the literal headache and skip this one.

While Sports Bar VR captures the look and feel of a sports bar, the control scheme combined with Hulk Mode made me feel drunk, complete with hangover. The four games on offer are hampered by inconsistent physics, resulting in an unsurprisingly uneven experience. None of that, somehow, interferes with the game being a stupid-fun experience with friends.

Carnival Games VR is an unexpected hit in my house. The intuitive control scheme made it fun for gamers and non-gamers alike. While having multiple players was cumbersome, there is a nausea-free simple and enjoyable VR experience.

Owlboy was an incredible experience in every sense. Visually and audibly, it was a masterpiece. The characters were lovable, especially the protagonist, Otus. The story was compelling, and each new chapter gave something new and challenging to the players. D-Pad Studio clearly put a lot of love into this game and it paid off immensely.

Gurumin 3D does what it needs to, and does it well. A charming throwback in form and function to classic PS1 RPGs, this re-release is a fun romp down memory lane.

While repeat visits become somewhat predictable, Until Dawn: Rush of Blood offers up some genuine scares by tapping into some of our most twisted fears. While the game doesn’t take long to complete, watching your friends play it never stops being fun.

While Dragonball Xenoverse 2 has plenty of content based off of the franchise’s long history, the gameplay will most likely start to feel stale long before then.

Superdimension Neptune vs. Sega Hard Girls is a match made in gaming heaven. A JRPG with some expanded and fun platforming mechanics throughout, this game improves on the Neptunia series model while sending the player on a lighthearted romp through an alternative Sega universe.

World of Final Fantasy offers up a great tribute to the history of the franchise, but as its own game it has little to nothing of substance to say.

Overall, Titanfall 2 takes the great ideas of its predecessors and expands upon them to create a far superior experience. While the campaign is a little short, it’s still a lot of fun and incredibly replayable.

Rez Infinite is a treat for the senses, and while there might not be a lot in the way of content, you’ll surely come back for more several times. The simple but addictive gameplay will draw you into a musical neon trance that you won’t want to leave, and it’s the perfect length for sharing with friends.

There is nothing quite like experiencing the catapult launch in EVE Valkyrie in VR. The game looks amazing, and the cross-play is seamless. The single player is a welcome addition, albeit a short one, and the new Carrier Assault mode shows commitment to expanding the game by developer CCP.

RIGS is a fantastic foray into high-speed sports-like mechanized combat, and a great use of virtual reality as it realizes our giant robot fantasies. The long loading screens, canned animations and repetitious voice work aside, RIGS brings a lot to the table. From a fully-baked progression system, to gorgeous graphics and fast-paced and balanced play, it’s an exciting sports title. I just hope the nausea factor subsides quickly.

Shadow Warrior 2 is a fast, gorgeous shooter with smart loot components, trapped inside a world and age that lost its luster ages ago. Where the core gameplay still feels fantastic, the story, world and mission structure gradually drag it down short of being a successor to the grandeur of its predecessor. An excellent shooter that could have used 99 percent less Wang.

I enjoyed Necropolis enough to try and keep playing to get the full experience, but I myself never got past Level 2 out of 10. And there is no option to adjust the difficulty, so it ends up being a grind just to survive. Perhaps that’s what some people want out of a game, but for me, I want to feel like I’m getting some sort of progress, and constant permadeath doesn’t quite do it for me.

A brief but thrilling experience, Batman: Arkham VR taps into the desire to be a hero in all of us. The tactile manipulation of the environment is incredible, leaving me wanting more. If you ever put on a cape as a kid, you absolutely must try Batman: Arkham VR.

While addictive in short bursts, Pirate Pop Plus doesn’t have the staying power to compete with the new retro classics in the market today.

Like a bayonet charge to the face, Battlefield 1 packs a serious punch, and it looks damn good while doing it. With a revamped, emotionally charged campaign, the single-player experience is, without a doubt, the franchise’s best. The multiplayer combines solid classics and unbeatable mechanics with new modes that fit the WWI setting brilliantly. Could this be the Battlefield to end all Battlefields? It just might.

Eternal Crusade shows a whole lot of promise as an exciting team-based multiplayer shooter. But ‘promise’ is less than what’s demanded when we’re talking about a game which is released, rather buggy, and not always as intuitive as an action-heavy game should be. At $49.99, it’s hard to justify the investment until the price drops or the game is patched up respectably, but the potential and the fun it offers is real all the same.

There’s a lot to like in Mafia III, the presentation is very impressive and the discussion of race is brought up appropriately. The story unfolds well and doesn’t disappoint, but the mission structure brings about a host of disappointments. Missions rarely give the opportunity to let side characters develop, and the main story consists of doing the exact same objectives over and over until the credits roll. Unfortunately, Mafia III is as disappointing as it is impressive.

The ability to create your own Skylanders adds a great new twist to the series. The new sensei figures are nice additions, and using them in the gong battles pose a refreshing challenge. Aspects of the story can be a little underwhelming but the target age group probably won’t have any problem with it. While the Boss battles were repetitive and easy, the overall level design and experience is very enjoyable.

With quite a few twists on the traditional 4X formula, Sorcerer King: Rivals has a lot under the hood. The combat is a substantial improvement, offering a new way to engage the enemy, and the RPG elements expand gameplay even further. The editor is a cherry on top of an already full package. While it has a few balance issues in the endgame, Sorcerer King: Rivals shines brightly in a crowded genre.

A magnificent game that has taken me completely by surprise with its quality. A mix of 2D and 3D platforming, RPG, and adventure gaming blends with a gorgeous art style to form this hidden gem just waiting to be uncovered. All the while familiar and unique, Touhou: Scarlet Curiosity is a game that all should give a chance, enjoyable by the most hardened veteran gamer down the most green of newcomers.

A highly strange game, mixing graphic novel gameplay with a tactical RPG. The game is very fun, but not everything works as well as it should. The art style is wonderfully detailed and there are lots of quirky art details that add to the experience, but overall the game fails to really shine in either of its styles, and leaves much to be desired.

Gears of War 4 also has the most stunning presentation we’ve seen in any Gears game. For the first time in the series, characters look more photorealistic than they do cartoonish, and the environment is alive with insane weather, deep darkness, and particle effects that are truly stunning.

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

Console ports don’t exactly have a brilliant reputation. So, how does the Xbox One version of XCOM 2 stack up against its PC counterpart? The short answer is: pretty damn well.

The Journey is a smart addition, though it can be a little tedious at times, top-notch presentation and decent performances make the tedium tolerable. The actual gameplay is still enjoyable, but mostly unchanged from previous iterations.

Definitely a step up from the original iteration. It has more of its own style, and the gameplay mechanics rarely feel clunky. Though it hints at a meaningful narrative, ultimately it isn’t very substantial.

A fantastic game in practice, but has a terrible presentation elsewhere. At the end of the day, this makes NASCAR Heat Evolution a disappointing title rather than a full-fledged trip into victory lane. With some amazing features available, but near impossible to enjoy, NASCAR Heat Evolution is a game that will only please hardcore NASCAR or racing game fans.

A faster, more frantic, and fresh take on the old Pac-Man series, and this sequel does a great job of furthering what the original Championship Edition presented. The game is fun, and Pac-Man fans will enjoy the game while also getting a new set of challenges to face. In the end, the game is fairly simple and something you’ve seen before many times, but if you are craving a return to Pac World, this is a great place to look.

An unapologetic love letter to the beat-em-ups of yesteryear. While simplistically accessible and filled to the brim with nostalgia, it’s brought down by very limited options and some clunky controls.

Lichtspeer is nonsensical, bloody, and a joy to behold. It suffers from repetition, and stages that drag on a little too long, but is a worthy experience for those possessing the willpower to tackle this challenging title.

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.

While it’s not going to revolutionize the Sonic the Hedgehog series, Sonic Boom: Fire and Ice is a solid entry in the franchise. Its slick controls, fun boss battles, and entertaining speed sections are bound to put a smile on fans’ faces.

Rogue Wizards is a solid casual roguelike with unique monster designs, perpetually generated dungeons and 10-12 hours of story-mode gameplay. Dungeons themselves are challenging and fun, requiring a bit strategy to defeat monsters which utilize truly unique and interesting attacks. While the boss battles and AI are a little lackluster, the ability to teleport within floors, bonuses for defeating all enemies, and the replayability offered by the Gauntlet mode make Rogue Wizards a good investment for the small price tag of $15.

Tempest is available for just $15 and it scratches an itch few other games do. It’s a capable, if somewhat buggy, pirate adventure that offers up challenging combat and an open world to explore. Customization and late-game challenges courtesy of legendary ships and mythical monsters help round out the title, making it worthwhile if a little frayed around the edges.

Destiny: Rise of Iron is an excellent addition to Bungie’s open-world shooter, but is held back by a weak story, and a leveling meta that requires a bit of grinding. Overall, Destiny looks, sounds, and feels better than it ever has, and there has been no better time to be a Destiny player.

Neon Chrome makes good use of the cyberpunk setting, but remains light on story. While the grind is real, the game shows real promise in couch cooperative play. If twin-stick shooters are your thing, you could do much worse than Neon Chrome.

A beautifully animated walking simulator. I recommend that you give it a play, because it really is quite a different experience from most mainstream, fast driven, AAA games. It reminded me of a form of meditation because it was simply that immersive.

Safety First wants to be a strange puzzle game (emphasis on strange), and while it has an inkling of innovation here and there, the game is tarnished by poor graphics, tame humor, and terribly broken controls.

Forza Horizon 3 feels familiar with its already-polished gameplay, but the new setting, cars, and incredible customization options opens the throttle on an already-fantastic platform. The team has built on an already stable platform, bringing entirely new ways to play. I struggled to find a single thing I didn’t love about Forza Horizon 3, and that’s a fantastic problem to have.

If roguelikes are your cup of tea, you probably won’t find much gripe with Lost Castle. Seeing all the characters you could possibly be is enjoyable, and working through your skill tree feels rewarding, but the grind and repetition of much of the gameplay make you question whether it’s worth the hours.

The Bioshock series is awesome, and The Bioshock Collection modernizes that experience. Although there are a few technical shortcomings, and Bioshock 2 lacks its excellent multiplayer mode, The Bioshock Collection is a worthy investment for fans of the series, or newcomers who want to see what all the fuss is about.

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse is a hell of a mess. At moments, the complex and fun combat and progression systems break through the game’s ick presentation and sexist character designs, but what little fun exists gradually fades before you’re even halfway through the campaign. If you’re a fan of the series, there’s plenty to love here, but Apocalypse is unforgiving for any new players