If you can look at it through the lens of when it was created and get past the control scheme, you will find a satisfying experience and show younger gamers why System Shock was so influential to the gaming community.

A masterpiece, and quite possibly the best Halo game so far. The campaign is top-notch, even as Master Chief shares the spotlight, and the multiplayer is largely a return to everything that has made the franchise so beloved to begin with.

One of the best efforts of the year, unafraid and willing to take chances, and well-deserving of your time.

Tales from the Borderlands concludes with some series-defining moments and choices, solidifying it as one of Telltale’s best, if not the strongest offering the studio has put forth in several years.

Yoshi’s Woolly World is a charming, yet unchallenging platformer that succeeds at being an amusing way to pass the time.

To this day, I call Assassin’s Creed II my favorite video game of the past generation. It was truly a masterpiece. Unfortunately, the Assassin’s Creed series has become a shell of its former self. Syndicate tries hard to recreate some of the magic, and even creates some smart new features, but it ultimately falls short.

A top notch bullet hell experience racked out with character options, unlockables, and some charming dialogue, Assault Android Cactus is a top shelf choice of any shooter addict. A lack of online co-op is unfortunate, if understandable, and the characters – while cute and expressive – may be a bit too adorable for some.

Guitar Hero Live gives us an offline first-person rock-and-roll fantasy, but it’s Guitar Hero TV that gives this series new life. The new guitar gives veterans new challenges while breaking down the barrier to entry for new players. While the on-disc tracks are, in my opinon, throwaway, Guitar Hero TV should keep players busy for a long time to come.

Lego Dimensions is a great blend of toys-to-life and charming Lego gameplay, but falters under the monetary weight required to get the same breadth of play that previous games did. Some of the best content in the game is locked behind figures, but if you like building with Lego bricks and playing Lego games, this a no-brainer.

Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water finds a wildly effective new way to utilize the GamePad as the Camera Obscura, and builds some great story and atmosphere. Barring an odd control scheme and some tedious missions, this is a stellar horror title for any Wii U owner.

Cleanly mapped to a console controller, Wasteland 2 is a must-have for any RPG fan.

The way that Telltale takes advantage of Minecraft lore to form its own narrative is intriguing and will delight fans of the original game, but what the studio is doing with this new story isn’t doing much that will excite anyone else.

As a The Walking Dead fan, a fan of puzzle games, RPG games and retro-style graphics, there is nothing I can say I enjoyed about this game.

Wasteland 2 is an excellent update on a classic RPG experience, placing you squarely in the harshest of settings with a more benevolent role to play than most other “post-nuclear” game experiences with an excellent and open world exploration and battle system, as well as deep character customization and a dynamic, ever-changing story and world experience. While the game suffers from some look and feel issues and has a mostly abysmal camera, Wasteland 2 is still a great new title that can sate your desires for apocalyptic exploration for now.

It’s easy to have mixed thoughts about The Beginner’s Guide, but as a game that aims to make you think, it does accomplish this goal.

The parts of the game we fell in love with feel like they’ve gotten a fresh coat of paint, but the feature set, and currently incomplete pieces, feels like a Kickstarter title that didn’t quite hit all of its funding goals. The parts that matter, however, are rock solid, and the new solo improvements are a hit.

Frontier Developments have done a magnificent job of creating an affordable universe that is fun to play. With tons of game styles and the entirety of the Milky Way to explore, this one is truly for space sim buffs with one caveat – if you’re feeling lost, we recommend you check out video tutorials online.

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is a cute, simple game about space travel and the power of love. Though you have the option of flying solo, take the title’s advice and play through this game with a friend for the optimal experience.

Albino Lullaby: Episode 1 offers a genuinely fresh take on the horror genre, with a bright color palette, a topsy turvy environment, and nuanced enemies. In spite of its low points, it’s definitely worth experiencing. With time it should become more polished, but for now if you want to play it, you’ll have to brace yourself for bugs.

While some graphical issues keep the PS4 version from matching its PC counterpart, The Talos Principle remains one of the most interesting, intelligent, and inspiring video games ever made. Absolutely essential gaming.

Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth Rising Tide is a well developed, superbly balanced, and refined evolution of the original.

Prison Architect is a triumphant simulator that almost perfectly captures the world of prison building and administration.

Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax crafts a crossover fighter that’s extremely enjoyable and faithful to its series, but lacks the depth of polished fighters to garner any long-term attachment. Play for the fun, but don’t expect to lose yourself in it.

Summary: Regicide is chess. You are buying a computer chess game. Yes the graphics are tasty and the fight scenes are well done and the atmospherics are exemplary. But it’s Combat Chess with a twist, and not even a big twist.

This skater not only fails by today’s standards, it wouldn’t even be passable during Tony’s heyday. Lousy controls, bland visuals, and an abundance of bugs make Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 a broken mess.

Dropsy is a bit of an oddball game, so I wouldn’t bet on it having wide appeal, but those who love it will really love it.

Undertale is one of the most unique efforts seen in indie gaming. Combining a love for the old with a willingness to innovate and utilize game mechanics to express ideas, rather than a binary input-output, this game should be on any and every one’s radar.

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