There was heavy skepticism arising when it comes to Ubisoft Montreal being able to top Far Cry 3. Not only was Far Cry 3 a very impressive game with excellent gameplay, it was not even two years ago when it hit store shelves. Despite that, Far Cry 4 tops Far Cry 3 in every single way imaginable.

The Finals is the kind of game that you play when you want to live an action film. You’ll most definitely find a playstyle you like in one or more of the three classes. While there are too many factors outside of player control to consider this a truly high-level competitive game, it sure is a fun time. That being said, if you’ve been disappointed by recent FPS titles, then try The Finals for some high octane gameplay.

Burning Shores is more Horizon Forbidden West, which is enough to tell you to grab it. Although the narrative isn’t as gripping and the new characters aren’t as compelling, being able to explore more of the West and fight new giant robot dinosaurs makes this a fun jaunt in Los Angeles as we await Horizon 3.

It’s not anything spectacular. It is what it is, a competent tactical shooter that tries to require brains over brawn, but has no problem letting gamers open fire on anything that moves.

A giant in the sports gaming world, MLB 14: The Show continues it’s namesake’s quality tradition as it transitions from the old to the new, but doesn’t offer anything new and fixes little.

Despite the few framerate dips and noticeable visual downgrade, Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom Prince's Edition is still a solid port of a great game that provides Switch owners a chance to experience the title to the fullest extent.

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.

60 Parsecs is a simple game about not dying in space. While not complex in gameplay, 60 Parsecs is incredibly deep with strategy, problem-solving, and smart resource planning. The game expertly blends a cartoonish and goofy world with some of the darkest elements of death and isolation. 60 Parsecs is a surprisingly fantastic game that has a large amount of replay value. It’s well worth a look.

Punch Club is a game with a lot of personality. From its realistic gameplay to the little surprises it has tucked away, there’s something special about it that will have you hooked. In spite of the moments that feel like a lot of grinding, it’s an enjoyable title.

Syberia - The World Before is a captivating story of turmoil in the face of fashism. With compelling characters and fascinating logic puzzles, newcomers and returning players alike will have a blast with this adventure.

Resident Evil 7 feels as terrifying as it does modern, all while returning the series to its roots. It hits some familiar bumps along the way, but this is the best this series has felt in years.

Bravely Second: End Layer has a merely passable story, but the fantastic combat, new job classes, and updated mechanics make it an excellent installment to the series.

If you love South Park, this will be the best $30 you could spend to have another adventure with all your favorite characters. With a completely different game style than the most recent South Park games, Snow Day! gives you five chapters of the main story totaling 5-6 hours, side quests that can be done more than once on multiple difficulties, and plenty of cosmetics for you to unlock. Solo play gets a little difficult during the ending of the story, but with friends, it should be an enjoyable time for all.

There hasn’t been a shoot-em-up game in recent memory that’s made me smile quite as much as Neko Navy: Daydream Edition. Its adorable artstyle mixed with innovative gameplay mechanics and a ton of replay value will reward anyone who’s feline up to the challenge, meow!

My experience with Call of Duty Black Ops 4 has been extremely positive, and I’m having a blast with the game. Don’t let the fact that there’s no campaign fool you into thinking that this year’s offering is light, there is a ton of content that will take even harcore players time to tap into. While lacking some of the expected Call of Duty polish, Blackout is by far the centerpiece of the game, and will likely stand as an exemplar in the Battle Royale genre.

Trepang Studios knew exactly what type of game they were trying to make from the start, and they more than succeeded in doing so. Despite a few technical hiccups, Trepang2 is an absolute banger from start to finish, providing exquisite gunplay and an intricate narrative. If you're looking for an adrenaline-fueled and horror-inducing shooter that keeps you on the edge of your seat, look no further because Trepang2 has got it all.

As the west’s first peek into the Granblue universe’s gaming side, Granblue Fantasy Versus is a fighter that can stand alongside its peers in terms of depth, but in addition offers a simplistic control scheme that even those less familiar to the genre can get to grips with quickly and easily. RPG mode is a unique way to to learn the basics of fighting, even if this and other modes could have been a bit more fleshed out.

Mr. X Nightmare is loaded with enough new content to keep players engaged or bring back those who may have strayed. As an old school fan, it’s great to have Max back but the new faces fit into the roster nicely and bring their own beautifully animated flair to the party while survival mode provides plenty of replay value.

Rosewater is a marvelous surprise in the middle of the first half of 2025 games. With a captivating story and charming characters, traversing the wild west is a delight. It’s not as challenging as some other point and click games, but what Grundislav has built is a great example of what this genre can offer to reach a greater audience. Lasso this one up ASAP.

Bravely Default Flying Fairy is a great game, and while this HD Remaster cleans things up a bit its efforts often feel lacking. It looks better in some ways, but the same in others and plays better in some ways but worse in others. If you enjoy experimenting with character builds, it’s a great time, but it’s still going to take some grinding to get there. If you can persist through the grind, you’ll find the same diamond in the rough that the game was on the 3DS.

Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One is an exemplary experience for anyone wanting to enjoy time with our eccentric investigator. The story behind Violet Holmes' demise will pull at your heartstrings, and the cases you’ll decipher on the way there just make you appreciate Chapter One all the more. Yeah, there are some technical issues, and you’re most likely going to get stuck at least once, but unraveling the best laid plans of the most conniving criminals is a delight to accomplish.

Under fire from the Europa’s Bane pirates, Drummer must make the call to save her crew. This episode turns up the heat with the introduction of an antagonistic faction, while still allowing smaller moments to bond with the crew members in a way not present in the initial episode. While it feels like more of the same at times, this is a stronger episode in general from the first that gets to the action much more quickly, and has me looking forward to the next stop in this space-faring voyage across the Belt.

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.

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.

Akashicforce is an incredibly challenging puzzle game that feels rewarding when you succeed. The bumping music, fantastical visuals, and fast-paced action keep you engaged. A tutorial would've helped the start of the game immensely.

For those that haven't played it, it will make a nice addition to the 3DS library.

Mario Party Jamboree harkens back to an older time for Mario Party while adding new game modes, courses, mini-games, and characters. With 110 mini-games with different types of motion controls, rhythm games, and more, you and your friends will have a great time learning all the new stuff while enjoying two re-created older courses. If you’ve taken a break from Mario Party for any reason in the past six years, Jamboree is the one to get you back into the party.

While it’s not quite what I had hoped for, Sonic Origins is one of the best ways to play Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic CD, Sonic 2, and Sonic 3 & Knuckles. The sprite art looks fantastic in widescreen and extras like animated cutscenes bookending each game are a delight.