A fun, albeit highly frustrating, experience. For starters, the bugs and glitches are across-the-board aggravating and Avalanche, Eidos and Microsoft all should have kept this title in development for at least another month.

Ara: History Untold tweaks the Civilization formula, but doesn’t change it all that much. While it’s a well polished experience, I’m not sure it does enough to push the genre forward, settling instead to do what it does well. That said, good strategy games can be hard to find, and Ara is a good one in a crowded field.

All in all, Droplitz is an incredibly addicting puzzle game, that will require a time and effort investment that most casual gamers are not typically willing to give.

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection – Volume 1 serves as both a fantastic collection of video games and as an impressively detailed look at the evolution of the iconic video games series, but is unfortunately hampered by a sense of déjà vu due to providing few upgrades to the core games from the previous HD collection release. Despite this, the Master Collection remains the only way to be able to experience these games on modern consoles and each title is well worth revisiting. The real stars of this collection are the screenplay and master books which provide meticulously crafted breakdowns of each game and serve as a treasure trove of information for die-hard fans to pore over.

Lina's week-long adventure is a brief but intense adventure in technology, human nature, and all the ways those two can intersect. Where it lacks in length, it makes up for with compelling deeper stories about people.

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.

In this day of me-too action games, you could definitely find something worse than Chili Con Carnage.

It’s nice to know that one of the biggest complaints with the previous two episodes has been addressed: “Above the Law” is significantly longer than the earlier installments. Also, for those wondering about Clem, she gets plenty of screentime here, especially in the latter half, and we get a few more hints as to what happened to her between seasons. While her flashback scene is as short as ever, I have a feeling that, given this episode’s ending, we’ll be seeing a lot more of her in the near future.

he game on average can take between twenty to forty hours to complete, but as with many other NIS titles, you can easily sink hundreds of hours into this,trying to see what all you can find in the random dungeons. It's fun, and at only $20, it's well worth the price.

Romancing SaGa 3 is a strange game. I like some of its oddities, but others not so much. The game is a bit of a mess. It is, however, a really pretty mess with a great soundtrack. There is a lot of good here, but I just wish it wasn’t so bogged down with nonsense.

Sky Force Reloaded is a great shoot-em-up for the Nintendo Switch, and is enjoyable for the hardened veteran and newbie alike. The intense gameplay and enjoyable progression system just kept me coming back for more, and will provide hours upon hours of enjoyment.

LEGO DC Super-Villains is a charmingly funny game that combines the joy of LEGO with the creative coolness of the DC roster. The game isn't hard by any means, but it's a great casual romp through an interesting story. The massive roster is impressive and the detail put into each character makes each one of them worth putting time into.

The mixture of zany antics and storyline coupled with an outrageous cast of characters makes Serious Sam 2 a must play for FPS fans.

The star here is clearly the new combat engine, and boy does it deliver. You rise from incredibly powerful to obscenely powerful over the course of the game, and it never gets old.

Slain is a fun retro platformer with a slick combat system, great visuals, and a killer soundtrack. While its difficulty feels unfair at times and the Castlevania-inspired levels and enemies may be a little too close to the source material for it to feel totally original, it’s still a blast to play.

In the end, Everybody’s Golf VR is an excellent new way to experience golf without the funny pants or rising greens fees. What it lacks in localization, it more than makes up for with immersive and light hearted fun. Tee up, this one is fun for the whole family.

A number of nagging problems and annoying glitches mar an otherwise good product. Much of the promotion surrounding this latest Tiger promised a much more difficult and realistic golf experience; perhaps this is why EA has graced us with numerous unnecessary loading and saving screens, broken sounds, and a lot of time angrily staring at Pebble Beach’s beautiful sandy beaches.

While the battle between the two modern warfare juggernauts will be settled in multiplayer, the single player stands well enough on its own to justify your purchase.

Adventures of Pip is a charming experience that embraces its pixelated appearance. The platforming can feel occasionally stiff, but Pip succeeds the most when it’s not afraid to have fun with its theme.

Bladed Fury doesn’t break any new ground, but it’s got its 2D hack and slash fundamentals down to a science. Its beautiful hand-drawn art style and great enemy designs bring its mythological rendition of ancient China to life, even when its story fails to.

I want to love El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron, but the HD Remaster on Switch is not the place to do so. It runs so poorly you can’t even navigate menus properly. Even besides those problems, the action and platforming are incredibly bland and the story is nigh incomprehensible, even as someone who loves artsy titles.The visuals are drop dead gorgeous and the voice acting is good, but that’s not enough to carry a game.

There have been a lot of games throughout the last two decades that have pulled off great run-and-gun gameplay. The old school title Alien Syndrome comes to mind, as does Crusader: No Remorse. If you are looking for an updated version of either of those two titles, you can’t go wrong with Shadowgrounds.

Do not pick up Rainbow Six: Lockdown for the single-player experience. If you plan on picking this game up be sure you have Xbox Live because that is the only place you are going to find meaningful gameplay.

On the whole, Call of Duty: Black Ops for the DS is a genuinely solid little shooter.

Nintendo and MAGES defy all expectations, delivering a grim murder mystery filled with heartbreaking characters and a tragic narrative that stands among the visual novel genre’s best. Hopeful just as much as it is haunting, Emio - The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is a monumental feat of storytelling from Nintendo’s long dormant adventure series.

If you just enjoy good adventure games with a heavy dose of action, then be sure to give Shattered Dimensions a look.

Valley of the Yetis has a few issues, the major one being the stripping of all your hard work in the main game, but it is still a ton of fun.

With a handful of bugs to iron out, Alien: Rogue Incursion isn’t quite a “perfect organism”, but it is a creepy good time with compelling performances and a great use of virtual reality.

Overall, my experience with Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- the Hinokami Chronicles was a pleasant one. I greatly enjoyed the story and I am looking forward to its continuation, though hopefully with more actual gameplay in place of cinematics. Hopefully the battle system will also get some more attention to spice it up a little. Aside from the boss fights, the combat itself was pretty easy compared to other fighters I’ve played.

In the end, Valkyrie Profile series completists will probably enjoy it, but I'd tell most other people to steer clear.

A stylish game brought down by the ok graphics, run-of-the-mill FPS content, horrible aiming controls and my general lack of interest when playing the game.

Space Colony is a quirky and charming package that packs focus that previous sim games lack. While it’s clearly getting on in age, it’s still a timeless gem in some regards, and easy to recommend to those who have not yet played it.

Semblance lets you deform your platforms to solve puzzles how you want, but it limits your tools so severely that the promise of that idea is wasted on mediocre puzzles. It has a neat look, but like its core mechanic, it wears thin even before you get to the end of your two hour trip through the game.

Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns brings all the charm of the Bokujō Monogatari games, along with a whole new cast of characters animals, and a number of improvements. With a more colorful and stylized look than the previous game, a new part-time job system, and a revised, more strategic approach to tool upgrades, Trio of Towns is a welcoming, forgiving, and addicting game. One of the biggest Boku games yet, Trio of Towns is loaded with characters, features, and objects to unlock, and is a must-have for fans of life down on the farm.

There are a lot of small things to nitpick about Neverwinter, but the overall experience is something more than worthy of its exceedingly fair price point.

If you’re looking for a fun Picross title to play for an affordable price, PictoQuest has got you covered. While a bit too overbearing with its action elements, the new mechanics and tried-and-true Picross puzzles are sure to engage beginners and veterans alike.

This k-horror survival game gives us a breath of fresh air by using contemporary survival play strategies, while giving us the freedom to choose our own path. Having two endings in the game so drastically different just makes the gamer want to play over and over. Coma 2: Vicious Sisters is a must buy for its unique gameplay and 2D design along with great character development.

Outcasters is an outrageously fun Stadia exclusive with an innovative shot mechanic and wacky graphics. If you can get a party for four together, it’s an amazing time, but even playing solo with online randoms is a great treat too.

Star Ocean: The Last Hope - International gets so many things right that it is easy to look past its weaknesses.

Immortal Redneck is a fast paced FPS that has a lot of enjoyable aspects and replay value. With over 50 weapons to choose from, there is no lack of fun and exciting firepower at your disposal. The biggest problem I had with the game was the scroll system, repetitive temples, and what felt like an unrewarding grind. Overall, Immortal Redneck is well worth playing.

Come for the new and improved features, stay for the far better soundtrack.

Neversong is an amazing adventure through a world that feels uniquely crafted. It stands out in its genre because it takes platforming, thriller, and side-scrolling game elements, mashes them together, and what we get is a well-balanced narrative adventure game.

Superliminal is a short, sweet, but superficial exploration of one the most interesting mechanics to find its way into a puzzle game. It excites with the possibility of what could be, but fails to deliver on the challenges its mechanics beg for.

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.

Gestalt: Steam & Cinder looks and plays the part of a competent action game. However, its heart lies more in its narrative. While I admire the ambition, Gestalt left me asking, both as a game and as a story, one simple question: “so what?”.

There may not be another game out this year that can provide as much limitless fun as Disgaea D2. Many fans of the original still play it religiously 10 years after it’s release. With the triumphant work done by Nippon Ichi America, Disgaea D2 is well on it’s way to still being as fun and as rewarding as it is today at it’s ten year anniversary mark.

It’s definitely worth a look if you’re after something a little outside of the ordinary, and is certainly worthy of at least a cautious recommendation.

Cavemania is a gorgeous, fun, and addictive game that should probably be on your phone, but doesn’t quite hit the high mark in terms of free-to-play iOS games quite the way Real Racing 3 or Pixel People has.

Omensight is an amazing twist on the Groundhog Day style storyline. Some thinking and planning is necessary, but The Witch makes this easier. The gameplay is fast, fluid, and very fun. It may seem repetitive to some, but slowly learning and altering the day is part of the journey.

Need for Speed Heat has a great visual style that smartly leans into the tuner culture that helped set the series apart in games like Most Wanted and Underground. Unfortunately its sluggish progression and weak online offerings keep this from reaching the heights of the series.

The game is a triumph for simulation fans, and is moderately accessible to new players.

The 15-20 hour average completion time might be shorter than what many JRPG fans would expect, but it is also a good entry point for newcomers without being a daunting 100+ hour experience. It is safe to say that I am Setsuna is a worthwhile journey.

May be a bit over a very young child's head, but much older than that and the combat system of the game may make them lose interest in it when they realize they can't assign skills.

Ring of Pain shows creativity and promise, but all to little depth to carry those qualities through. The choices presented by the game are interesting in principle, but in practice your success or failure are determined by luck more than anything else. The result is a game defined by repetition, which struggles to justify the time it asks of you. That said, for a minor price and a fun few runs, you could do far worse as a distraction.

Wrong Number is the right call for anyone looking for just more of the same, but some problematic focus on the wrong things keep it from feeling as fresh and exciting as the original. You should still buy the soundtrack, though.

Famicom Detective Club: The Girl Who Stands Behind has an excellent murder mystery plot that is sadly obscured by frustrating and arbitrary road blocks. The visuals, writing, and soundtrack are excellent, but actually getting to those will take a lot of patience.

Tesla vs. Lovecraft is imbued with a frenetic, bold energy that I only wish its designers had committed to more strongly. While there is fun in the premise of knocking back waves of Lovecraftian horrors while teleporting around them and maximizing Tesla’s devices, none of these concepts ever truly hits the mark. The result is a distracting but ultimately mindless exercise in repetition, which fails to ever become truly interesting.

A compelling game lies at the heart of Penny's Big Breakaway. If you're willing to give it the proper staging and some time to practice, it will put on a great show as a speedy platformer with a fun learning curve. However, getting to that point requires seeing past its many distracting elements. I enjoyed my time with Penny, but if we're being honest, I think she needs to polish her act.

The Escapists is an entertaining open-ended puzzler that delivers plenty of challenge for those possessing the patience to overcome it.

Crayola Scoot is a wonderful hidden gem that caters towards an all-ages demographic with a snazzy sense of style. With a great mix of missions, a killer soundtrack, and challenging opponents, you can color me shocked: This is something that kids and adults will love.

Biped is a cooperative game full of fun and suitable for kids and kids at heart. My only wish is that there was more to enjoy.

Tandem: A Tale of Shadows is a surprisingly unique twist on the puzzle genre, making incredible use of light and shadow. The dual character perspective is clever, and helps to create increasingly complex puzzles, which thankfully avoid crossing the line from challenging to frustrating. The short length may upset players hoping for a longer adventure, but helps keep the game flowing smoothly and prevents its core gameplay from becoming stale. Add in a beautifully crafted world and unique boss fights, and Tandem begins to stand out from other puzzler games currently on the market.

Video Game Fables is a solid if simple RPG that suffers from the baggage of its meta nature. The lighthearted dialogue will make you smile and there are glimpses of compelling RPG design strewn about the experience. The game just never truly rises above the height of the conventions it seeks to overthrow, which given the subject matter, is a distracting misstep that weakens the overall experience.

The first part of this series has made me hungry for more. I will be waiting for the second and third parts, as the anticipation was effectively built up in this introduction.

Far Cry 6 is the next iteration of the Far Cry universe, and you can see some of the blending from other Ubisoft properties here. While the formula may be a little more visible than we’d like, and the AI could use a shot in the arm, what is here is a thrill ride adventure sure to give fans of the franchise exactly what they are looking for.

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.

This game is a great foundation – now would be a great time to expand on it and fix some of the minor issues to bring out the AAA potential in this title.

Trackmania is a nice entry into the racing genre that provides a free version, along with paid versions that offer more content. The simple, fast-paced gameplay and official tracks are good, but it's best in short bursts. Official content doesn't take long to complete, so player creations are going to be important in keeping this game alive.

Most of the time when I see a developer change between products, it spells inevitable doom or a watered down shadow of the previous title. In this case, I think Vicarious Visions has taken what Raven started and managed to not only match it but improve upon it.

Bugs, glitches, game freezes, and other technical issues mar what would have otherwise been a passable, if unsurprising and uninspired Batman game.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations offers enough new content and changes that fans of the previous two games will find plenty of reasons to upgrade to this version and newcomers to the series will find more than enough to keep themselves busy.

The Surge is the most badass game I’ve played all year, and a must-play title for any masochistic gamer who enjoys getting their ass handed to them regularly. Although the presentation and enemy variety are somewhat lacking, and technical issues occur occasionally, none of these issues come even close to putting a hamper on this thoroughly enjoyable experience. Play. This. Game.

One Line Coloring is a charming little puzzle game that revolves around tracing objects using only one line. It's relaxing and offers little in terms of challenge, but its colorful visuals and cute aesthetic helps alleviate that. Unfortunately it doesn't take long to trace all 110 objects though.

What Disney Infinity ultimately represents is the potential of a fantastic platform. It’s incredibly rough around the edges, and it will make your wallet beg for mercy, but there is a massive wealth of content for Disney to cull from.

While CounterSpy on consoles is a delight, the iOS version is a near unplayable mess that should be avoided at all costs.

This is an excellent and well-made title which does a lot more right than it does wrong. Strategy enthusiasts looking for something new and fun away from a battlefield will find little to complain about in this game.

Crisol: Theater of Idols is a slower-paced shooter that is elevated by a stellar setting and unique sanguine gameplay. Siphoning your own blood to slay the enemies of the Sun God is a novel and engaging gameplay mechanic that fits right in to the macabre and creepy setting of Tormentosa, even if the action takes some time to really get going.

For a game that deals with this large a scale it often feels small and lifeless outside of the boss fights. It is, though, a visual showpiece that offers a stiff challenge. And while playing it on the go probably won't make this worth a return trip to Ginnungagap, it is definitely a great game to add to your Switch library if you've not checked it out before.

Trials of Mana is a wonderful reimagining of the 1995 classic. It’s an almost endlessly replayable RPG thanks to the roster of characters, class system, and incredible new game plus. However, it’s held back from greatness by a terrible english dub, poor performance on Switch, and the lack of multiplayer especially leaves a large hole in an otherwise enjoyable experience.

Those who are up for a challenge and don’t throw their controller in frustration easily are going to have a good time with Tourist Trophy.

The 2005 and 2006 titles had their fair share of little hiccups, but this title irons out nearly all of them. From top to bottom, World Series of Poker 2008: Battle for the Bracelets is a solid Poker title – bring your chips – they’ll look good in my stack.

Do yourself a favor and reinstall “Grim Fandango” on your PC if you want to see what a top notch point and click video game adventure is capable of.

Yuke's and THQ set the bar quite high with last year's rendition of this franchise, and they could have easily taken the year off and rested on their accomplishments. It is quite impressive to see that the development team has stayed hungry and added some key elements to this franchise that fans are going to go absolutely wild over.

The Big Con is a blast from the past in its setting and story. While the tools to get you where you need to go need a bit of work, Ali is an exceptional main character, and playing through her story is a lot of fun. It’s short, yes, but it’s definitely worth the price of admission for an entertaining jaunt through the ‘90s.

Rifftrax: The Game is a fantastic way to bring your funny friends together to riff on infamously-bad movies. With over 2000 groan-worthy tracks, and more on the way, it should make for some genuinely funny moments at your next party. Just be prepared to type as the Write a Riff is the best way to play.

Despite its incredible art direction and pixelated visuals, The Last Faith fails to encapsulate what makes its inspirations so brilliant. The plethora of poor and frustrating game mechanics and design choices, combined with technical performance issues and lack of accessibility options, makes this one of my biggest gaming disappointments of the year.

There are enough small grievances I have with the game that hold it back from being truly great, but the tone and setting are so charming that it’s hard to be too mad at it. If you want to do some peaceful meandering during your commute, the Switch version is easy to recommend.

WWE 2K14 still features some unfortunate issues, but those can be easily ignored as the 30 Years of WrestleMania mode soars past every possible expectation you may have.

Marble It Up is a cool racing platformer that lives in the realm of games like Super Monkey Ball. The controls are quick to learn and the gameplay is simple yet satisfying. The visuals and level designs are wonderful and no two levels look the same. Unfortunately the game doesn't take long to beat, but it's still worth the ride.

The funny thing is that Midway probably could have combined the best games in both complications and released just one version of the Arcade Treasures.

Does it push the graphical prowess of the PS3? Not even close. Does it have a coherent story? No, but it’s better than most of the Resident Evil stories in the franchise.

As with every music game, it's all about the replay value, and Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock has plenty of that. I can't say enough good things about the quest mode, Party Play is shaping up to be more user-friendly than ever, and the amount of competitive and co-op gameplay options are all great fun.

Castlevania Requiem: Symphony of the Night & Rondo of Blood does the bare minimum, but it’s still well worth playing. While there are no extras included in this anthology, the two games it contains are some of the best ever made, and one of them has been pretty difficult to come by until now. Aside from the replacement of Symphony of the Night’s wonderfully campy voice acting, both games are delivered in perfect shape and are still as worth playing today as they’ve ever been.

You'll find a lot of fun in Back 4 Blood. Turtle Rock Studios managed to take something that was old and give it enough of a touch-up to make sure we recognized it but played with it differently. It's fun to hop on with your friends and blast away the zombies and compete to potentially take out the Cleaners, but you have to get past the first half of the game to get to the best parts. It doesn't help that the story gives you nothing to cling to, but once you get past those parts, the tension and excitement kick in. But sadly, playing solo hardly gives you anything like what you get playing online and with friends.

Dying Light features some truly serene moments as you glide from building to building, but once that serenity halts, so does the player’s enjoyment.

For those who still haven't had a chance to enjoy the amazing experience of Mass Effect 3, the DLC will integrate well with your experience and enhance an already enjoyable game, but for anyone looking for a reason to dust off their copy of ME3 for Leviathan, the DLC may prove too much trouble for such a brief expansion and not worth the $10 price tag. If you're a hardcore ME fan however, you won't want to miss out on the exciting content revealed about the Mass Effect universe.

You will have to look at the list and see if it covered your favorites or if you don’t know enough of them to justify the $39.99 PS3 price point or $29.99 PS2 price point which does not include those last 5 tracks!

A fiercely difficult but engrossing experience, Superbeat: Xonic has a sense of musical euphoria that can only be experienced in a quality rhythm game. While it might take some time to acclimate to the gameplay, you’re in for a treat. Pick this up if you’re a rhythm game fan: you won’t regret it.