Gravity Circuit (grapple) hooked me after I threw caution to the wind. First playthroughs inherently emphasize caution, which means that truly appreciating the game will take some time. If you’re willing to put in the effort, you’ll find a game that twists old ideas in a fresh and fun direction.

8 Bit Hordes is a nice addition to the 8 Bit series, especially with the fantasy centered theme. The gameplay is essentially the same, which is great for fans of the previous game. For RTS fans, you'll appreciate the ability to control three different groups while managing your resources.

Deathloop is a great game, if kind of a mixed bag in ways. On one hand, the gameplay is some of the most refined Arkane has done, and they give you almost an “easy mode roguelite” to play, along with a little opposition via co-op for spice. On the other however, the story can stumble, and the grind can be a bit too monotonous. Deathloop walks a bit of a fine line, but overall has enough fun ideas to keep things mostly fresh and fun for Colt and Julianna players alike.

In the post-apocalyptic world of Miasma Chronicles, players embark on a gripping journey with Elvis, a young man possessing a unique glove that can control the devastating Miasma. Developed by The Bearded Ladies, known for Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden, this turn-based tactical game offers a captivating story and memorable characters, though it follows a mostly linear narrative. While the exploration aspect may feel repetitive, the game truly shines in its intense combat, featuring Elvis's glove and strategic elements inspired by games like X-COM. With customization options, evolving characters, and no need for grinding, Miasma Chronicles delivers an accessible and engaging experience for players seeking a balance of gameplay and narrative.

Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon offers a fun glimpse into the Pokemon world from the monsters’ perspective, all while providing a unique, turn-based tactical gameplay with light roguelike features. Featuring over 700 pokemon to encounter, fight and team up with, it’s a must-have for any dedicated fans of the series, and provides just enough tactical thinking to entertain a budding CRPG player.

Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds is a short, but substantial expansion for an already great game. It doesn’t reinvent the game in any major way, but offers a few excellent hours in a world that players have come to love.

The plethora of vehicles available combined with the multitude of different types of races, this game will keep you busy.

Mythology fans that like a good challenge, including discovering everything through trial and error, will love this game.

Timberman VS is a surprisingly solid party game that will keep you and your friends entertained for short bursts of time. Crank out the Joy-Con and get to chopping, because the bigger they are, the harder they fall.

Basically, if Forza Horizon 4 and American Truck Simulator got drunk and hooked up one night then SnowRunner is what I imagine the result would be. A slower paced game that challenges throughout and stays fresh with a good range of vehicles, upgrades and locations to explore and a great deal of customization.

Octodad: Dadliest Catch may be a one-joke game, but the team at Young Horses has taken that joke and squeezed as much hilarity out of it as possible. Don’t ask questions about the man in the suit — just buy the game.

Dead Rising’s Deluxe Remaster makes changes big and small to an all-time classic. Some changes work, some don’t, and ultimately none of them feel essential. Dead Rising remains a great game with or without this particular reconditioning. This Deluxe Remaster works best as an interesting thought experiment: what if Dead Rising released in 2024? It would be shinier, have autosaves, and noticeably fear its potential audience.

Trombone Champ may suffer from the joy-con curse, but it’s still a laugh out loud good time with a surprising amount of secrets to find. You’re not supposed to be good at Trombone Champ, but playing with friends will make you feel like a master tromboner.

Worms 2: Armageddon is an excellent multiplayer game, but a so-so singleplayer game.

Cyber Sleuth evokes nostalgia while also pivoting in tone and setting for fans who have grown older. The disorienting lack of story direction in the first half is made up for when its mysteries finally come to light, and it makes Cyber Sleuth’s world a great one to spend hours training Digimon in.

The story centered on John Doe and Bruce Wayne (the Joker and Batman) is why you should play Batman: The Enemy Within. The rest of the characters and narrative are mediocre, but this interpretation of the clown prince of crime is so strong that it makes it all worth it.

My Beautiful Paper Smile Chapters 1 and 2 drop you into a world where children are forced to be happy, and punished for feeling anything else. It may unnerve some people, so keep that in mind. The gameplay is simple, but some sections can be annoying and feel unfair. You're left on a cliffhanger, but the final chapters will be released later on.

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.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion packs all the punch you’d expect from a comic book splash page. It’s clearly made with the kind of love for the source material that I’m looking for, and it improves on Shredder’s Revenge in every way that matters to me.

While this episode is short in length, it certainly isn’t lacking in excellent narrative execution. The final confrontation between Europa’s Bane and the Artemis culminates into an intense altercation with death being a constant threat throughout the episode. A fitting conclusion to Drummer’s struggle to survive, even if gone too quickly.

As a game, The Last of Us: Part 1 still deserves a high score after all these years, but I give that score hesitantly, as I am acutely aware that previous releases offer more content and that this release was not created for those who have already played through and enjoyed the game in the past, but rather to welcome in new players or for those who wish to harness the full power of their PS5. While this is the most technically impressive version of The Last of Us that we will likely ever get, it is anchored down by its previous releases, while simultaneously missing important components those versions had, namely the superb multiplayer. Despite some interesting bonus features, new cosmetic items, vastly improved AI, and a few quality-of-life changes, there may not be enough here to justify the purchase for anybody except newcomers. That said, the impressively robust suite of accessibility options is a welcome addition worthy of praise and will hopefully provide an opportunity for a new generation of fans to experience this story.

1-2 Switch defied my expectations, providing an entertainment experience above and beyond that of what I thought was its closest counterpart, Wii Sports. It has a huge variety of games, some better than others, which appeal to both gamers and non-gamers alike. Although artificial restrictions placed on some games and game modes keep it from being as much fun as it could be, this is an excellent party game, and it’s just as much fun to watch as it is to play.

Pathologic 2: The Marble Nest isn’t as engaging gameplay wise as the base game, but it’s still a very interesting microcosm of the game’s themes and a fascinating glimpse into what the Bachelor’s full campaign might look like.

Repetitive, a little frustrating but well done and fairly well polished.

While Camina Drummer may not have been the captain of the ship at the start of the mission, she absolutely takes the reins by the end. Telltale has stepped it up in terms of both visual quality and game play, with a solid yet short intro to their take on a gripping sci-fi narrative. The true depth of which however remains to be truly tested going into further episodes as the narrative progresses.

The game gets a great deal right and brings collectable card games to the casual player, but there are a few things that really hurt it, like the short USB cable and a finicky eye that relies heavily on overhead lighting.

No right turns, a heavy focus on tweaking your car's specifications, and brutal difficulty. This is not a pick up and play title for the casual driving fan. However, if you prefer Gran Turismo to Mario Kart, this might be worth at least a rental.

A fun adventure with two of the best characters from Far Cry 5, Lost on Mars is a quick jaunt to the Red Planet with more hits than misses.