Monster Seeking Monster isn't the same pace as most of the other party games, it's a great source of fun for those who enjoy games featuring strategy and social manipulation. Survive the Internet reveals just how terrible your friends are, Bracketeering provides fast paced fun for a whopping sixteen people, and Fibbage 3 allows you to show off both your trivia knowledge and your ability to fool your friends. All in all, the Jackbox Party Pack 4 is a great party game bundle with far more hits than misses.

Anodyne 2: Return to Dust is a work of art you absolutely must play. It’s heartfelt and personal, with tons of fun puzzles to solve and locations to explore.

It’s unfortunate that this sequel has the blender feel to it, as the original game was a blast to play.

XCOM: Chimera Squad brings together a huge list of fresh new ways to play. Each change introduces a new layer of strategy, and the new turn system completely upends what you know about XCOM. This is a daring new take on this venerable series, and having just completed it, I can’t wait to run it again.

This is a once-in-a-generation action RPG that redefines the genre, providing hundreds of hours of incredibly varied gameplay that never stops giving you new things to do. There are a handful of bugs to hammer out, but don't let that dissuade you — you're looking at your likely RPG of the year.

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.

Avowed is a stellar RPG, with satisfying combat, a gripping story, lovable characters, and plenty of roleplaying opportunities. It has more than its fair share of annoyances and jank, but the heart is what makes Avowed a must play.

Lost Orbit is fast-paced, adrenaline-filled fun with a story that, while entertaining, feels like an odd pairing to its gameplay.

Both the stealth and shooting elements of this game are largely broken, leaving only the story elements and features I mentioned above to hold it all together. Perplexed, I’ll have to say that if I’m only left with the excellent story and ambiance, I think I’ll just buy the book instead.

It’s not outright terrifying like "Fatal Frame 2" could be, nor is it intermittently creepy like "Half-Life" was, but it finds the right balance in being consistently ominous.

Koira is beautiful, with its exploration of hope and the harsh world around us. Its mystical setting and its focus on music as the gateway to harmony and peace is a pleasant package for a cozy night in. It doesn’t bend the genre but it doesn’t need to, with how it makes these very real issues more accessible to a younger audience with its simplistic gameplay and whimsical moments. I’ll never stop loving this little genre of indie games, with its big heart and aim to say something meaningful.

Not content to simply remake these games, this collection offers a nearly complete (sorry SNES Aladdin fans) look into these games and what made them so special. If you weren’t a fan in the 90s, you won’t be persuaded now, but for older players looking to tap into some sweet nostalgia or a new generation discovering these for the first time, this collection hits all the right notes.

NHL 20 is a nice addition to the NHL franchise, with engaging gameplay and great visuals. The multitude of game modes will keep you occupied, even if several are very similar to one another. It gets as repetitive as the typical sports game, but that can be good or bad depending on your interests.

The setting is nailed down perfectly, and EA has taken care to get great voice acting and music.

Cronos: The New Dawn is Bloober Team’s attempt to prove they're more than just remake specialists. Did they succeed? You betcha.

It’s so hard to score Palia when I look at my playtime of 75 hours and think of all the amazing things this game has to offer, from its in-depth characters, activities to indulge in, and endless possibilities in decoration. However, all of this is sprinkled with bugs, a ridiculously broken climbing mechanic and the fact that it seems far from being finished. It’s definitely come a long way since its launch in 2023, but we still seem to be so far away from its full potential.

South of Midnight is a masterclass in picking a theme and sticking to it all the way through. The usage of music as a character world/lore enhancement is one of the best examples out there of what TO do. From the character models, to the music, and beyond; South of Midnight shows how to build a game around a style and committing fully.

With its stunning graphics and terrific story line, X-Men Origins: Wolverine is definitely one of the more pleasant surprises of the year.

If you're at all interested in Penny Arcade, retro RPG's, or tranforming into a dinosaur, it's hard to go wrong with this one.

Instead of simply running you through various battles of World War I, Valiant Hearts: The Great War uses the story of a French family to build a better understanding of the broader historical importance. This personal story serves as the perfect framing device for the game’s documentary-style presentation. While there are a few missteps and areas where it could have been stronger, it is a beautiful and well-executed game that offers a unique glimpse into one of the deadliest wars in human history.

Still, original owners clearly weren’t the primary target of Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, hence it being released as a stand-alone title. The real target, for better or for worse, are brand new players who haven’t been introduced to Capcom’s newest fantasy property.

Unfortunately the game can be beat in a mere six to eight hours, which just feels too short even when taking into consideration its mission pack status.

Grey Goo wildly exceeds all expectations for presentation and gameplay. While there are a few issues with cheating and infinite units in single player, the multiplayer is rock solid.

If you like to be immersed in a wonderfully historic world of political intrigue and epic battles with the added touch of some great role-playing elements there is no reason for you not to go out and buy Romance of the Three Kingdoms VIII right now.

A fun game, but it just seems too repetitive for me. It is certainly a better volleyball game than "DOA: XVB," but the latter was far better in the aesthetic areas of the game.

Yooka-Replaylee oozes with charm and color, yet much as its visuals endear, its lack of cohesion still can’t match the heights of its 64-bit ancestors. While filled to the gills with collectibles, those nostalgic for Rare’s golden age may well be better off revisiting their classics via Nintendo Switch Online or digging out their old Banjo cartridges.

This is a great game, with a mature storyline and wonderful controls. I did not want this game to end when it did, though the story comes to a very well done close.

It's not perfect and it's not for everyone, but ZombiU is a fantastic return of the survival horror genre.