SingStar Amped! continues in the same vein as the previous titles, good and bad. Whle the game doesn’t make any huge improvements other than the soundtrack, it also doesn’t make any new mistakes.

Immortals of Aveum is a bright and ambitious title that lays a solid foundation for Ascendant Studios’ future in the industry. The gameplay is solid, the world is beautiful, and I feel compelled to return to continue exploring.

The games provided on Konami Classics Series Arcade Hits are a mixed bag from mediocre to bad. Unless you are a collector of classic game series like this, there really isn’t any reason to add this to your collection.

The fun of this game is that you can pick it up at any time and swing around for a while and then shelf the title for the day. It is a rare game that you can do that sort of thing. Even the full missions are short enough where you can plow through one or two on a lunch break.

While it does have some dents in the armor, there is no doubt that it is a worthy title.

This game will have limited appeal, and only those who are fanatics of King of Fighters are likely to pick up this game.

Taking into account the stuttering, low resolution textures, and downgraded 3D models, this is still an incredible game. When I started playing, the game was a bit harder to look at, but as I continued and got back into the flow of its platforming I stopped caring about the visuals. While the glitches are still bothersome, it’s a testament to just how good A Hat in Time is that I still adored the game in this compromised state.

The Sims 4 Paranormal Stuff Pack has a lot of potential but needs some tweaking with the emotion buffs. A little more guidance on how to get things set up to be Haunted would make it easier for the player to jump in. The Medium skill is a lot of fun, and the new Paranormal Investigator career, while frustrating at times, is definitely something new and fun to try out if your Sims have been in a rut. At $9.99 it’s worth the purchase, and a welcome addition to the game.

Overall, Bloomtown: A Different Story is like a carefree summer vacation. It’s a fun ride with its quirky characters, cozy blended with spooky vibes, and some thoughtful moments that have the foundation for a great game. The gorgeous visuals paint the world beautifully and its demons are original and striking to see in battle. However, this game lacks the depth and voice to stand out in its genre, especially with how closely it uses Persona as an inspiration.

It has all of the classic elements of RPG gaming that the genre’s fans love, and an incredible battle system that stands high as a possible industry standard.

While Murder on Eridanos has fun moments focusing on investigating and dialogue choices, it is actively undermined by shoving combat in your face and a twist that makes events leading up to that point feel pointless.

From the sharp graphics to the rock solid gameplay, this is a well-implemented game.

Jak X would have been even better if it supported four-player split-screen with the multitap.

Bear With Me Episode 2 takes everything great about Episode 1 and improves upon it. Amber, Ted, and their straining relationship hit the streets of Paper City, diving deeper into the tangled web of deceptions and hidden motivations surrounding Flint’s disappearance and the mysterious Red Man. With two to five hours of gameplay, more places to explore, a diverse and interesting cast of characters, a strong infusion of humor, and a diverging story which encourages replays, this point-and-click noir puzzle game brings a lot of enjoyment to bear.

Rocket Fist for Switch is a great party experience when you want, well, rocket fists! While this version of the game omits some content from other platforms, the simple and accessible controls mixed with some lightning-fast gameplay is a great recommendation for your next four-player game night.

While it stumbles greatly in execution, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla - Dawn of Ragnarök reignites the magic of the main game with a vast realm to explore and myriad secrets to discover using the new Hugr powers. It’s still a ton of fun, just don’t expect the story to be all that coherent.

Asterigos: Curse of the Stars is a game composed of two different genres and not fully committing to either. Doing so makes it not reach the potential I think the game could have had by sticking to simply one. Still, with fun combat and an explorative world, it is a solid experience. One that many gamers will be satisfied with but forget after the holiday season.

Tentacular is a fun little sandbox game that manages to be as genuinely fun as it is funny. Filled to the brim with moments, it’s great for VR newcomers, or those who just want a break from all the super-serious shooters and world-saving simulations.

Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life does lose some of the original’s soul in this remake, but it gains some incredible convenience and quality of life updates to make it much more enjoyable for a modern audience. Returning to the Forgotten Valley is a nostalgic experience for veterans, and newcomers will discover why the original game is a classic.

No, I’m Not a Human is the kind of game that makes for an excellent demo, but fails to capitalize on what’s established in its opening hour. The crushingly grim mood and uncanny visuals are worth experiencing, but its opaque mechanics are better at creating confusion than intrigue. With a narrower scope and a more specific narrative, No I’m Not a Human could have been a prime candidate for a cult classic.

The iconic Lara Croft returns in a series of lovingly crafted remasters of her first three adventures. Tomb Raider I-III Remastered features not only the base version of all three games, but also the full expansions which were previously unavailable on the PS1, providing an incredible amount of content for a bargain price. Upgraded character models and lighting, a photo mode, and optional quality-of-life improvements help round out a collection which would have been worthwhile without the graphical upgrade. Unfortunately, a few control, lighting, and camera issues do occasionally arise, dampening what is otherwise a great collection.

SO: SE will appeal to some RPG fans, but I’m certainly not one of them. I need at least a somewhat interesting story and/or characters to keep me engaged in a game, and these aspects were completely missing.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: the Game is one of the best modern beat-em ups, despite a lack of much competition in the genre. It’s gorgeous visuals and amazing soundtrack complement its surprising depth in combat perfectly. Scott Pilgrim is back, and hopefully here to stay.

A genius concept that is fun for a little while, then grows as stale as its protagonist. The ideas are perfect, but the execution is weak.

Rematch is a great arcade sports title that’s sure to win over both hardcore and casual fans. With tight controls and excellent customization options, the title’s fun and easy to pick up. While the soundtrack feels lacking and matchmaking can occasionally balloon, you’d be hard-pressed to find anything like this rooted in traditional soccer. If you dig arcade soccer and are tired of gasoline fumes, you’ll have a great time with Rematch.

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.

Telltale has taken decent poker gameplay, some gaming culture icons, and an entertaining script and wrapped it up neatly into an affordable little package. For less than a cup of Starbucks, it’s hard to go wrong.

Barring its quest system and dull dungeons, Fae Farms is a solid farming sim that offers a ton of things to do in a fun and magical realm.