XDefiant is a solid first-person shooter featuring familiar gameplay elements as other games in the genre but with a twist, including the different factions and their unique abilities. The factions help to keep the gameplay fresh from match to match, and they're all fairly balanced in their ability, though not necessarily their application. Unfortunately, the game still suffers with weapon balancing and hit registration, as well as missing a some accessibility and quality of life options.

Creatures of Ava is what you get when you simply dump a bunch of ideas into a bucket. The mechanics feel disconnected, the story is rote and uninteresting, and the world, while very pretty, looks generic for sci-fi. It’s all been done before and better elsewhere, and sadly the game doesn’t take the chance to connect anything together or really explore anything in depth.

If you’re in the market for a superb mystery visual novel, then look no further. Staffer Case: A Supernatural Adventure, offers players a fantastical version of 1960s London. Investigate various murder cases in a world where some people have superpowers and everyone has a motive.

Taking up the torch of hope against the forces of evil was never going to be an easy task, and Darkest Dungeon II makes sure you feel it. While the roster of heroes creates plenty of opportunities for build crafting, actually interacting with all of the systems in the game can feel like a slog at times. Even so, there’s enjoyment to be found in this roguelite spin on the brutally difficult combat and festering world that Darkest Dungeon is known for.

World of Goo 2 takes everything you loved about the original and turns it up to 11. The levels are more complex and inventive, there’s more types of goo, and the humor is even more out there. Unfortunately, there are some features that feel like they’re missing and a section of the game that completely goes against the rest of the story’s themes. While it’s somewhat of a mixed bag, there’s far more good than bad here.

With a fresh story, AAA quality gameplay, a solid amount of gameplay, and now complete freedom of movement in the controls, Marvel’s Iron Man VR is absolutely phenomenal. This is a major win for the Meta Quest 2, and a must-have for your library.

Tomba! Special Edition perfectly preserves the 1997 classic. The game is just as good as it was back then, and perhaps even better now with tons of quality of life features and extras. This is an incredibly special game, and I hope it finally gets the recognition it deserves.

One Piece Odyssey Deluxe Edition is a solid port of a good game. It looks great and runs fairly well in both docked and portable modes, though sitting through loading times for every single battle can get very tedious.

Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is a short yet refreshing adventure game whose whimsical world and cast of characters make for a cozy evening gaming session. While the gameplay is simplistic and doesn’t leave much room for deep thought, its strength lies in its ability to allow the player to stop and smell the virtual flowers, taking in the beauty of nature.

Earth Defense Force 6 is a pretty basic game, but what it lacks in complexity, it makes up for in silly fun. Blowing up hordes and buildings with your buddy, using these wildly unbalanced weapons, all while losing our minds anytime the game tries to do cool things in the story, it all makes for an excellent experience in co-op. So really we feel we can only recommend this if you have someone to play with. You’re going to be buying a game that is extremely unpolished but will give you literal hours of laughing together with a friend and that’s worth every penny to be honest. Try EDF6 with a friend if you think this would be appealing to you. Just maybe try playing on PlayStation 4 or 5 instead for the smoother experience.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora - The Sky Breaker is simply more of the main game. While the story is still forgettable the stealth, combat, and platforming are where the game truly shines and this DLC makes sure to give them the room they need.

Splintered Fate transparently aims to munch your time. All of its combat and replayability ideas give the appearance of a sturdy shell, yet the cracks in its execution undermine what is otherwise a lovingly crafted representation of the TMNT.

After a long build of anticipation for College Football 25, EA Sports kicks it right through the uprights. They give us the opportunity to live out our biggest college football dreams in a beautiful and atmospheric journey through multiple modes. Between Dynasty Mode, Road to Glory, Road to the CFP, and Head 2 Head; there’s something here for every type of player. If you loved NCAA 14, this game is everything you would want and more.

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is by no means a bad game, but in a sea of other Souls copycats, this one does very little to stand out. Put into the perspective of its multiple delays and overall unpolish, it’s clear that this is an easy skip to play better options out there. Or at least wait until it's heavily discounted.

Kunitsu-Gami is a striking game both conceptually and visually, exactly the kind of experimental game that I wish we got more often. I just also wish it pushed itself a little further than it does. Offense runs the show in Kunitsu-Gami, which unfortunately undermines some of its potential strengths. Still, the game keeps itself engaging with its hybrid of action and strategy, as well as the courage to change up its structure.

SCHiM is a wildly inventive platformer with a unique minimalist aesthetic, which is bolstered by creative gameplay and a steadfast focus on the human experience. I was surprised by the amount of emotional depth hidden within SCHiM’s shadow hopping platformer shell and appreciated becoming a small part of this world and its inhabitants. Though the premise is simple, SCHiM keeps things unique by constantly adding new challenges which utilizes light and darkness in creative ways, and I found myself consistently intrigued by where the story would go next.

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is very messy, but still greatly enjoyable. Wuk Lamat is a lovable character who I hope sticks around, with a satisfying character arc tying in with the expansion’s themes. Viper is a blast to play, and every dungeon or trial holds something new and unique. While the expansion isn’t the best FFXIV has to offer, it has so much heart you can’t help but smile.

I think it's fair to say that Spy X Anya is for a very specific crowd of people. If you like Animal Crossing and you love the Forger household along with some of their compatriots, this is probably the game for you. You might play a pretty decent chunk of it like I did, and get your money's worth. But honestly I can only recommend picking this up on sale. What's here is perfectly functional yet barebones and I don't think that's enough to rate it highly. With over 32-story missions, 49 side missions, and 51 challenge missions, you have a lot of game to enjoy if this sounds appealing to you. Or maybe giving Yor a ponytail for the entire game gives you gender euphoria and that makes Spy X Anya the perfect game.

Despite the bite-sized mission structure and constant interruptions, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is still a great game, full of funny moments, quirky segments like Luigi humming along to the background music, and a gorgeous HD makeover which leaves no hint that this is a port of an 11-year-old handheld game. I admit that I was a fan of Dark Moon when it was first released on the 3DS, so my judgment may be a bit biased, but I still believe that Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is well worth picking up and that this HD remaster has done a fantastic job bringing a handheld classic to modern consoles.

Sometimes you just need to slow down, and Simpler Times is a great game for that. It’s a vibe, a “stop and smell the roses experience”. Some may be disappointed in a lack of gameplay depth, but those who want a game resembling a break will be pleasantly surprised.

While Still Wakes The Deep doesn’t boast the biggest narrative draw, what will really pull you in is the eerie atmosphere it manages to envelope you in. Fighting for your life against the churning sea and the strange creature that rose from the murky depths provided some truly surreal and hair-raising moments.

Broken Roads is a solid effort that falls short of capitalizing on its central mechanics. While it takes some ambitious steps, it doesn’t realize them in execution. Community engagement suggests patches will address the big rocks soon, but know that it’s a moving target thus far.

Beyond Good & Evil is an absolute classic, and the 20th Anniversary Edition makes it easier than ever to appreciate why. The characters are endearing, the visuals are mostly amazing, the music is incredible, and the gameplay is a ton of fun on top of all that. If this is your first time stepping into Jade’s sneakers or your 20th, now has never been a better time to explore the beauty of Hillys.

When Riven was first released in 1997 it was heralded as a majestic piece of art. Now almost 30 years later, Cyan Worlds returns to that world, bringing it to modern standards using the tools of today. Once again, they’ve created a majestic piece of art, and a world worth exploring all over again. It’ll test your mind, it’s a feast for your eyes and ears, and if you enjoy deep puzzles, it’s a game you absolutely cannot miss.

Banana Rumble shows the value of adding a new spin on a tried-and-true formula. This series has wallowed in its past for a long time, so I’m glad to see the new Spin Dash mechanic propel it into new and exciting places. As far as Super Monkey Ball sequels go, this one is easily the top banana.

Where some teams would stay safe in their additional downloadable offerings, building on the foundation laid by the full game, Remedy has gone wild. This is exactly the kind of episodic content I’m looking for. While I’m sure the upcoming Lake House DLC will further our connections to Control, I’m glad Remedy took the time to make something wholly unique, which is what that studio is.

Destiny 2 is back, baby. The Final Shape’s exhilarating and heart wrenching main story quest, beautiful and twisted new destination, terrifying new enemy faction, and plethora of insanely powerful gear solidify this as the new peak of the Destiny experience.

Star Wars: Hunters does a great job of creating fast paced matches with unique and balanced characters. Each level is well thought out and keeps the games moving at a steady pace. The game modes, while straightforward, are interesting and full of detail for Star Wars fans. If you like Star Wars, you’ll love this free game with new characters and plenty of explosions.