Hey! Pikmin is a quirky attempt at a beloved franchise with many minor annoyances. Throwing your Pikmin is fast and fun, but the different types are hardly used to their advantages and there isn’t a good incentive to collect every treasure.

Archangel fulfills the Pacific Rim mech fantasy we have yet to experience in a VR world. The fluid and engaging combat is a highlight, as is the solid tracking and intuitive controls. While there’s not a lot of replay value, it’s easily one of the most impressive ways to introduce someone to VR. If watching the trailer for Pacific Rim: Uprising makes your palms sweaty with excitement, you need Archangel in your life.

Accel World vs. Sword Art Online is a fairly magnificent little JRPG that surprised me with its depth of characters and customizable options within, and a world where I can fly, explore, and battle dozens of monsters along the way. I’m reminded so much of the golden PlayStation 2 era of JRPG gaming, with all the good and some of the bad that comes with that distinction. Overall, Accel World vs. Sword Art Online is a very solid JRPG title and one that any fan of the genre will enjoy.

While the VR component ends up a little “pin high”, the overall package is well worth it. The powerful editor and community component extend the game’s longevity dramatically, and are a welcome feature amidst a solid title. Whether you are a kid, or just a kid at heart, Infinite Minigolf’s charm is sure to lure you in.

While Arizona Sunshine might have been an incredible game on other VR systems, the PSVR version seems to be lacking due to the platform’s limitations. An intriguing narrative and impressive voice acting make Arizona Sunshine an enjoyable, if short, experience. Some minor glitches hold the game back, but excellent sniping and comfortable controls make up for these inconveniences.

I and Me stands out due to the fact that the Switch library doesn’t have too many puzzlers right now. However, a pointless story, frustrating mechanics, and disappointing length mar a game with lofty ambitious.

Each episode of The Lion’s Song offers a beautiful narrative with pleasant (and sometimes not-so-pleasant) surprises. Its sepia-tone art style and use of sound design helps lay the groundwork for its Vienna setting that has you coming back to learn more about the world and characters that Mi’pu’mi Games has given us.

Perception’s unique echolocation gameplay hook is enough to sustain the game for its 4-5-hour run, but I was saddened that The Deep End Games didn’t explore this mechanic any more than it did. Had it, Perception’s shallow plot and characters might have found some redemption. Ultimately, Perception is more carnival than amusement park – cheap thrills than top shelf. If you like horror games, you’ll like Perception, but you’ve probably already experienced a bunch of horror titles scarier than this one.

Splatoon 2 adds some great new weapons and decent new modes, but an over-reliance on the its familiar formula keeps it from feeling like a full-blown sequel.

At $12, you can’t go wrong with Implosion. While it sometimes shows its mobile roots, the Switch version of the game is frantic, fluid fun with a great amount of content and thrilling gameplay. It’s games like these that make me never lose hope that Rayark will astound me again with its next release.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s first DLC pack, while not essential, tremendously capitalizes on the game’s fantastic mechanics.

Kirby’s Blowout Blast is a fun, short distraction that acts as a pseudo-retelling of Kirby’s Dreamland. The levels are short, there aren’t a large variety of bosses, and there is a notable lack of surprises, but replaying levels to earn a platinum level, or even just ace your score, is what makes this game almost worth the $6.99 purchase.

Front Defense is good arcade fun, raising the action to flat-out frantic with a more active reloading system than most VR shooters. Lobbing grenades, calling in airstrikes, and using the mounted weapons are the real highlights – I just wish my fellow Army members were a bit more present. Here’s to hoping that a little arcade action will spur deeper experiences from HTC’s internal teams.

Death Squared is a great example of a game that fights you every step of the way. However, its sharp and witty narrative mixed with simple pick-up-and-play controls guarantees that you’ll have some frustrating fun with a partner. Just make darn sure to leave your best friends out of party mode if you want to stay that way.

With a few new zones and bounties, there’s more to tackle beyond the new class and Challenge Rift. With luck, and the upcoming Season 11, there’s plenty of reasons to come back to Diablo III. The Necromancer is a bit of a work in progress currently, but it’s a fantastic addition that fits nicely into the pantheon of fighters and casters.

While occasionally frustrating and repetitive, Serial Cleaner is a violently fun puzzle game that provides hours of blood-filled entertainment and new challenges.

Stunning graphical overhaul aside, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age delivers several gameplay-improving mechanics never seen in North America. While balance is still occasionally wobbly, there’s no doubt that Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is a masterclass in the light but deliberate touch necessary to take something great and make it even better.

Ever Oasis offers a surprising amount of content in a fun, accessible game. Challenging yet forgiving battle mechanics mean that beginners can hack and slash away, while masters can focus on strategy and speed running. A diverse cast of characters with numerous abilities encourages playing with diverse parties, and the warp system enables lots exploration, creating replayability while making long slogs across maps a thing of the past. Easy to pick up, hard to put down, and overflowing with features, Ever Oasis really is a diamond in the desert.

Get Even is a respectable first-person shooter, sure. But despite finishing the game eager to start a second playthrough to experience the story with new perspective, the lack of player choice was a considerable disappointment. I felt duped for hunting down every piece of evidence during my time with Cole Black, because it didn’t influence the truth that ultimately emerged. This omission reduces Get Even from an imaginative game to a passable one that made me feel I was watching a thriller film more than playing a game.

The Golf Club 2 follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, providing an unrivaled golf simulation that still lacks surrounding content to keep it relevant for months to come. The new career mode leaves a lot to be desired, but few sports games can compete with how solid the on-course gameplay is within The Golf Club 2. Societies is also a welcome addition that golf-loving friends will really appreciate. The Golf Club 2 is still a ton of fun to play, but it’s clear that HB Studios needs to revamp some of the side activities heading into The Golf Club 3.

Dark Rose Valkyrie doesn’t blow the doors off the hinges, but it does serve as a much improved JRPG over what has been a largely tepid series of releases from Compile Heart and others. The story is fine, the battle system is fun and unique, and exploration is a large part of the adventure. While there are some cliches and rehashed elements throughout, Dark Rose Valkyrie represents what a top end-formulaic JRPG can be.

Cars 3: Driven to Win is a surprisingly refreshing racing game. While it does come with a few speed bumps here and there, the novel approach to Cars 3’s tie-in game is simply high-octane fun.

The Nintendo Switch version of NBA Playgrounds is probably the most inferior. While an entertaining romp with fun mechanics, a lack of content and fundamental patches keep this from being a slam dunk.

So, does the original Crash Bandicoot trilogy hold up? Two-thirds of me says “heck yes.” The first Crash Bandicoot may not have aged well, and there are portions of Cortex Strikes Back and Warped that are frustrating, but I had a ridiculous amount of fun with them. I felt encouraged to go back to find the remaining gems, see my best time, and explore the secret warp rooms. Vicarious Visions did a great job with remastering the Crash Bandicoot trilogy. Maybe we can see our favorite purple dragon done with the same amount of justice?

The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind is a dream come true for many diehard Vvardenfell fans, and does an admirable job in presenting something new and fresh in a way that also makes sure to pay homage to the past. The game expands ESO to include a new 4x4x4 arena mode, and offers hours of new content to enjoy. Any players who are already enjoying Elder Scrolls Online should be expanding, and any fans of the original Morrowind who have held out on ESO may want to consider giving it a try now.

Mighty Gunvolt Burst is everything that Mighty No. 9 should’ve been last year. Its excellent retro style, deep customization features, and rewarding progression system pave the way for a fast-paced, fulfilling experience.

Rising Storm 2: Vietnam is a unique and brutally realistic multiplayer shooter meant to showcase the ugliness and unpredictability of a notorious war. Although it may cause monitor-smashing rage quitting at times and won’t win any awards for eye candy, there’s nothing else out there that provides a more nuanced, visceral, and intense jungle or urban fighting experience. At only $25, it’s tough to turn it down. And hey, who doesn’t enjoy some Creedence Clearwater Revival?

If you’ve been following the series this far, it might be worth checking out just to have a save file ready for when season four comes out. Just be aware that the finale is pretty disappointing on the whole.