If you’re an angry gamer, human, or just someone needing a break, Koi is worth a try.

SaGa Emerald Beyond is a fun experience with new mechanics and many ways to play. With five different characters with their own stories, it’s a fun time to run around fighting a flurry of monsters, demons, and more. While things might get a bit repetitive at times, many will find it a blast trying out the different formations, United Attacks, and more.

Unfortunately Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D doesn't feel very much like a Resident Evil game. It feels more like a zombie shooting gallery, except with blood spurts with each hit instead of the ding of a bell.

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

This was a very good creation. The art was breathtaking, and the music was just as good. A simple story and a simple platformer were made so much deeper and complex, just by the little choices the producers made.

Arslan: Warriors of Legend does a great deal more right than it does wrong, but you would likely already need to be fan of the Koei Warriors games to think so.

Yoshi’s New Island looks great, plays flawlessly, and is entertaining and challenging enough for any fan to enjoy—and ultimately, that’s all that matters. If you’re a fan, you’ll find what you’re looking for here, but those still waiting for the next great and unique Nintendo title will have to keep on waiting.

Graphically, Godfall is an absolute triumph while also delivering fun pickup and play combat that will appeal to a more casual crowd. With up to three in multiplayer, or a very viable solo implementation, the game is a fun but repetitive romp through a faux-Arthurian world. While there are some technical hurdles to patch, there’s a lot of fun to be had here. Now let’s just hope we get to someday see the rest!

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

Very similar to the past titles in the series, this game is tried and true because Neptune never changes.

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

Star Fox Guard’s mechanically sound gameplay is frantic and fun, but its two-screen display adds to its chaos and brings down the experience.

The Masterplan presents a very unique and welcoming vibe for all who have dreamed of robbing a building establishment.

Rebel Galaxy Outlaw brings a smaller scope and simplified controls to a sometimes intimidating genre, watering down the grandeur of spaceflight, but making it more fun and accessible at the same time. Its repetitive missions and sparse narrative weigh it down, but its fantastically engaging dogfights make it an easy recommendation.

NeocoreGames ultimately delivers more of what we fell in love with in the first Van Helsing title.

Bear With Me is an entertaining, witty point-and-click investigation game with a Noir twist. Its strong characters, unique style, and snappy dialogue will resonate with fans of the genre. The game is held back by slow load times and a surprisingly short story, but provides a great little adventure and a solid overall experience.

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.

While still in need of some technical polish, ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove is a loving flashback to the good old 90s, filled with some lighthearted laughs and killer beats in an easygoing adventure setting. Fans of the original will definitely find something to love, and those who are new to the craziness can find some great fun here.

While Hand of Fate can get aggravating, the novelty and personality oozing through it is undeniably alluring. The game’s simple but satisfying combat and risk versus reward card game will have you coming back for one more hand, waiting for your luck to turn around.

Devious Dungeon 2 is an entertaining action platformer that adds onto the original's premise. Choosing a class made the game feel different enough while still retaining its charm. Buying equipment in order was still a drag, but it doesn't hurt the game too much.

Strike Vector is a game with great ideas, and really breathes some life into a dying genre. The game’s challenge may be a bit too much for casual players, but if you’re looking to scratch that aerial shooter itch with a frantic edge, then take to the skies — but don’t expect to live long.

Get to Work is all about the careers of your Sims, and it does it well. It is the first expansion of the Sims 4 and is a great addition worth any Sims fans attention.

Cosmic Star Heroine is an accessible RPG that fits very well with the Switch’s lineup. While some issues like bugs and an underwhelming story hold it back from being an RPG classic, the experience is propelled by its innovative and creative combat system and eclectic cast of characters.

Grow up was a uniquely calming experience, from the soft colors and bioluminescence, to the ethereal music that played along with the visuals. I highly recommend it as a refreshing break from more conventional high-paced, thrilling, adrenaline pumping titles that fill the gaming industry.

If you are getting a Wario Ware 9-Volt games vibe, you are on the right track. If you like your old-school gaming challenging, and you don’t mind a few minor hiccups, NES Remix is worth a trip down memory lane.

Many of the season’s problems remain in episode four – Thicker Than Water, but this installment does improve on many of its storytelling segments. There are still problems regarding relationships that you might not want, but the choices that you do get to make feel more important than they have in a while. While devoid of puzzles, the incredible ending has me eagerly waiting for the final episode.

Luto is a bone-chilling and deeply layered game that, when playing to its strengths, provides an enthralling, emotional and creepy experience that goes above and beyond its initial exploration of death. Despite some stumbles in the form of some frustrating puzzles and a strangely dissonant meta nature, it is undeniable that Broken Bird Games have made a stunning debut here, and are absolutely a studio worth watching.

The game is simple for when you want exactly that, but you can't help but feel like it could be so much more.

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.

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.

Skylanders Trap Team’s biggest surprises lie not in its gameplay, but in how it uses sound to completely sell its gimmick. It’ll bleed you dry, but somehow, that doesn’t seem so bad.

If you like cheeze anime character dialogue and clichés and you like a fairly solid arcade flight sim then you'll probably like Aiforce Delta Strike. There are a ton of planes to fly, plenty of missions and fairly good graphics to weld it all together.

For the few things that aren’t quite up to snuff, Sniper Elite III gets a whole lot right.

The graphics and sound are adequate, but the gameplay matters most. That being said, having two screens on the Nintendo DS gives you a better view of the playing field.

Dogurai is an homage to retro platformers like Mega Man, with the inspirations being very clear. Simple controls and infinite lives make it easy to pick up and play, although it only takes a couple hours to complete. Some sections can be a bit tough, but overall it's a good time.

Play Gravity Ghost if you’re looking for a weird, endearing experience that you can lose yourself in for a few hours. Pass on it if you’re looking for something more.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 takes the familiar plot and characters that players first met nearly four years ago and rewards them by tying it all together into a respectful and conclusive payoff.

Hellpoint is an interesting entry to the popular Souls-like genre and I think it is one worth playing. I wish it was more clear on the rules of the world and I’m not a fan of fast travel being restricted. Still, the black hole and rewarding exploration make Hellpoint a fun and rewarding game.

Absolum aims for immortality with its roguelike systems and progression systems. While its attempts at eternal life shine in its world map and strong combat design, its attempts to force you to keep coming back fall flat.

Transference is an interesting experiment in the blending of horror and virtual reality. Noah and Waller deliver a stressful experience that pushes the player into an uncomfortable space. While the puzzles aren’t going to bend your brain, the tension is more than worth the trip...and it is very much a trip.

Worse options could be chosen these days, and while it’s not for everyone, fans of the genre looking for something new on their Vita should check it out.

Nintendo’s best competitive sports title is just as thrilling as ever, but feels a little too familiar and light on content.

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III is a fun ARPG with plenty of nifty distractions. Nothing more, nothing less.

The Tale of Doris and the Dragon is an intriguing one. You’ll be drawn in by the unique premise and dry wit, and stay for the charming characters.

While it does suffer from some performance flaws, Attack on Titan 2 is a wonderful way for fans of the anime and manga to relive the fight for humanity. With breathtaking gameplay and some great character interaction, you’ll eat this right up.

Plain and simple The King of Fighter 98' Ultimate Match is pure fan service.

The game won’t wow you with its innovation and the chaotic gameplay may annoy some players, but the title is well worth the time and money it takes to get the most out the title.

Fresh and engaging, The Weaponographist is a succinct package of roguelike goodness. If you need a quick fix of something new for a weekend, this weapon-breaking dungeon-delver will suit that need perfectly.

Life is Strange 2: Episode one is a good start to an interesting adventure. The beginning is terrible and the political statements feel forced, but the dynamic relationship between Sean and Daniel is relatable and enjoyable. Episode one has flaws, but I’m excited to see what happens next.

The Gunk is a creative, witty, and charming adventure game, albeit a bit on the short side at only five or six hours in length. Still, the writing, world, and exploration more than make up for the short campaign as players will find themselves immediately immersed in the world and Rani and Becks’ friendship. Unfortunately, a few technical problems plague the game, the most blatant of which – getting stuck on various items – becomes frustrating in later platforming sections. Still, The Gunk is an adventure well worth partaking in.

GrimGrimoire OnceMore serves as a solid remaster with a fantastic visual upgrade and new gameplay additions. Some control issues and repetitive gameplay hold it back but overall is a good strategy sim with an alluring setting.

Before Your Eyes is a unique and emotional narrative about a soul on its way to the afterlife and a deep dive into what is important in life. Sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, Before Your Eyes manages to make you care for Benjamin in the short time that you have with him. Controlled using only your eyes, Before Your Eyes is a testament to what the PSVR2 can do, helping craft a story which has no need for controllers to experience. Simply sit back, watch, and blink when you’re ready to progress.

Amid Evil is a great throwback to old-school shooters like Quake, and this VR version features some incredibly satisfying combat with immersive controls. However, it is sorely lacking in comfort options which makes it hard to get through even a single level in one session. This works best as a compliment to a flat version.

Rainbow Six: Extraction is challenging and engaging. However its narrative is borderline useless and the core gameplay is highly demanding to players not used to the genre.

Per Aspera has a bunch of good ideas in it. Adding a narrative element is a slam dunk, but the pacing of it hurts it in the long run, even as interesting as it is. Per Aspera also has a lot of solid gameplay elements, and evolves into a pretty complex package in the end. But a lack of explanation as to what you’re doing impairs the experience, and may cause newer players to give up before the enjoyable gameplay loop kicks in.

Monster Energy Supercross 5 is what you would expect of another entry in the Monster Energy Supercross series. With a lot of the series mainstays as well as some newer features, players have a plethora of options to choose from. I just wish it was more welcoming for newer players.

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.

Despite long stretches of anger-inducing logic in Act II, Broken Age as a whole is a poignant and clever adventure game that is worth playing through, even if it never lives up to the promise of its midpoint.

Skully is a simple platformer that boasts fun characters, a great soundtrack, and creative gameplay; all of which provide a rewarding experience by the end of it. However, good things only last for a while, since the quality of the story drops off significantly by the end, and the poor music looping quickly becomes boring. And yet, it’s an underrated gem that you’ll likely want to platinum as soon as it’s done.

SoulCalibur VI’s combat could crack even the toughest case of fighting game-phobia; it’s strategic, fluid, and deep, but remains as accessible as ever. It’s unfortunate that it’s hampered by a lack of interesting modes, and that its hefty single-player offerings attempt to shift the focus away from the robust combat system and towards stale, cumbersome stories.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II feels like a game in stasis. The story starts off strong, but fails to deliver and quickly becomes uninteresting. Those who really love these characters will enjoy spending more time with them, but the combat doesn’t feel improved enough to make this feel like a significant step forward.

Rune Factory 5 delivers everything you would expect from a Rune Factory game, though it does so without adding anything new. It moves from a rather rough start into an enjoyable experience which combines quirky characters, a story wrapped in a bit of mystery, farming, fighting and taming monsters, crafting, and consuming unhealthy amounts of Recipe Bread. Fans of the series will enjoy their time in Rigbarth, though the series and its formula are starting to show their age.

If you're a fan of the Red Faction series, there isn't anything in Battlegrounds that will satisfy your craving for more Red Faction. If you're looking for a simple multiplayer game that you can play with your friends locally or online to kill a few hours, Battlegrounds may very well be worth the price of admission.

For all its missteps, Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac is an agreeable 3D platformer from yesteryear. While hardly in the same league as Mario, Crash, or Astro Bot, it's served at just the right price for those pursuing a nostalgic diet. Approach accordingly, and you may just walk away from this classic meal with a full stomach.

Street Fighter V is a masterclass in fighting mechanics, but doesn’t offer enough content to necessarily justify buying in just yet unless you’re among the most die-hard competitive players.

Little Kitty, Big City gets the assignment, but doesn’t completely land on all four paws. The exploration is a blast, the world is delightful, and the side characters can steal the spotlight. I just felt like my time here was too short, and without much going on during it.

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.

While Rubble Without a Cause can be a little obtuse and less intuitive than A Knight to Remember, it is still a worthy installment.

All in all, putting the online infrastructure disaster aside, Splatoon 3 is a lot of fun, but I can’t help but feel like it could have been an update to Splatoon 2 rather than a new game. I enjoyed the new story mode, the new weapons are great, and the lobby changes are fantastic, but everything else just feels like too little to warrant $60. I generally don’t like to evaluate games on price point, but it needs to be said this is more like Splatoon 2.25 than a full jump in number or even just half. Once you take into account the awful connection it definitely doesn’t feel worth it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a good game and a great entry for new fans, but I’d get basically the same experience and probably slightly more stable in Splatoon 2 and that’s still right there on my home screen. Nintendo really needs to step their game up in terms of updates, and for God’s sake invest in some servers or better netcode.

Hero must die. again shifts focus to the end of the typical RPG story, resulting in a shorter, more somber experience. The limited time you have to perform tasks alongside the weakening hero forces you to choose your moves carefully. Combat is simplistic but gets tougher in later days due to the weakening. Even with a shorter playtime, it offers plenty of replayability to improve your ending, although it has a larger price tag.

Although I wish there were more missions and that some new mechanics had been introduced, there’s some fantastic Starcraft narrative and gameplay here. The price to content ratio is fair, and this is the closest we’re likely going to get to experience what Starcraft: Ghost could have been. If you enjoyed the Terran, Zerg, and Protoss campaigns you’ll get a great kick out of Nova Covert Ops.

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.

The premise of Graveyard Keeper is of the most unique of just about any sim game out there, and this no-frills Switch port makes it portable for the first time. There really isn’t much that needs to be added impressively robust graveyard management game, but it would have been nice if the game took advantage of the Joy-Con rumble feature.

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.

By all accounts, Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn should have been a disastrous failure. However, it ended up as a surprisingly competent beat-em-up, and its passionate charm and fun gameplay make up for its uneven humor and short replay value. Put on some Gold Bond and head to the court, because it’s time for a Shaq Attack!

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.

Enchanting and charming, Song of the Deep is a children’s-fairy-tale-turned-video-game that’s full of wonder and vibrant beauty. The gameplay is both solid and enjoyable, but not without hiccups and hindrances.

With a more heavy focus on action, Darksiders III is a return to the roots of the franchise, and away from the RPG elements of its predecessor.

Twilight Monk is a great Metroidvania that deserves some attention. Beautiful visuals and a well-rounded soundtrack will keep your eyes and ears happy for the whole 10-15 hour experience. The gameplay is both engaging and responsive, executing on tried-and-true mechanics while daring to try a few new things along the way. The story is enjoyable, too, despite all but a few of the characters feeling throwaway. Twilight Monk is a great indie game that fans of the genre are sure to enjoy.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A — Mega Dimension is a nice little coda to the base game, both in terms of story and gameplay. It’s content with just being an infinite remix of what’s already there, being both just as fun and as frustrating as Z-A already was.

Cave Hikers is clearly intended for younger audiences, and while quite simple, it still manages to be a cute and charming bed-time story adventure. It’s a point-and-click “mockumentary” that can make for a fun evening, but there’s little else beyond the simplicity save for the amusing artstyle and great narrator.

All three of these games are exactly what you’d expect from other versions: the same shootin’, lootin’, and possibly rootin’ and tootin’ found on other platforms. However, this style of game is a great fit for a portable console and may be worth double dipping if you’ve never played the DLC before.

One Strike lets you take control of six different warriors as you fight to determine who is the deadliest. The simplistic yet tense gameplay will keep you on your toes. The small roster and limited variety to the modes are fun in bursts, but not for extended periods of time. That being said, One Strike is a fun fighter to pick up and play at a low cost.

It’s a solid game, but with GRAW for the Xbox 360 and BF2 on the PC, other better options are available.

Poochy and Yoshi’s Wooly World remains a solid platformer and a little added content will make newcomers who experience the game for the first time happy. However, the same problems are prevalent in this port, and while it’s a great experience, does lose some of its luster next to its console counterpart.

While a step up from last year in terms of included tracks, Just Dance 2017 doesn’t bring a lot new to the table — the meat and potatoes lies in Just Dance Unlimited. The Switch version specifically functions as well as you might expect, offering up an easy second player controller courtesy of readily-available Joy-Cons, though the experience becomes difficult visually once undocked. At this point, it’s what you’d expect from Just Dance, but on a new platform. Consider this tiny cartridge your portal into Just Dance Unlimited as I imagine 2017 might be where physical entries to the series end.

While woefully short and unchanged from its PC incarnation, Noitu Love: Devolution is a great little action title with satisfying bosses and slick controls.

Vicarious Visions has taken the Wii version of the game which leveraged the control scheme of the system very well, and then ported it to the aging PS2 version. The result is a surprisingly tighter control scheme, but one that is less interactive.

Urban Trial Playground is a simple, yet enjoyable stunt show through various parts of California. The levels are well made and the scenery looks amazing. There's a good variety of levels, but they don't take that long to complete.

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

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.

Moonlighter is a beautiful game that combines simplified versions of two game types into one. It’s a novel attempt that plays it too safe on both fronts, and is held back from being something truly fantastic because of its lack of variety.

Phantom Brave: We Meet Again is essentially a five year old SRPG that should have been left in 2004

Chroma Squad isn’t particularly deep or epic, but makes up for it in heart and charm, nailing the Saturday morning antics of its inspiration and creating a cheery game that anyone can enjoy.

Theatrythm Final Bar Line is a good celebration of Final Fantasy’s musical history. While a few key songs are behind a paywall or missing entirely, fans will find a lot to like here.

It’s more than a step in the right direction, it’s a big jump forward and can be engaging and fun for the right people, but it’s still not the well-polished and considerate creation the franchise needs to really make an impression on the videogame market.

In the end, it feels like the externals were worked on more than the gameplay, making the game more style than substance.

While not without its issues, Lords of the Fallen is an entertaining game with many great action RPG elements and challenging but satisfying gameplay.