I really enjoyed playing TR-49, but it’s too wrapped up in its characters for me to totally forgive the fact that I came away from it not caring about any of them. Still, the formula at the center of this one is a winner, and if you’ve already played some of the genre’s very best, TR-49 is absolutely still worth a look.

Cthulhu Saves Christmas is a fun game with great dialogue, a combat system that’s more hit than miss, and an overall amount of content that’s way too short for its own good. If you’re hungry for some JRPG action, appreciate a well-written comedic story, and don’t mind something that’s a quick burn, this is definitely something that you’ll want to pick up this holiday season. Or, you know, sometime in November. Whatever works for you.

Subjectively speaking, I absolutely adore this game. Objectively, however, it’s far from perfect. All-in-all, The Caligula Effect: Overdose is a unique JRPG with a captivating story enveloped in the fragility of human psychology, but tends to fall a bit flat when it comes to actual gameplay. Its decision to move to the PS5 also still baffles me. Still, I’d recommend playing it if you’re interested. And, hey, I guess you can play it on the modern PlayStation platform of your choice, too.

Like Prodigal and Curse Crackers: For Whom The Belle Toils before it, Veritus is an unapologetically old-school adventure made for a very particular demographic. It has its quirks and can feel a bit unfair at times due to some questionable design decisions. But stick with it for the excellent puzzles, delightful dungeon variety, and irresistible presentation. If you happen to be a retro gamer at heart with a soft spot for the Game Boy Color era, Veritus comes easily recommended.

I don’t want to come across as too negative because I still think there’s a lot of good in Shattered Space. While the planet of Va’ruun’kai itself may not offer much unique to the game, it looks great and the core quest line here is worth your time. The amount of content you get for nearly half the price of the original game, though, is wildly underwhelming, and there’s nothing here that is going to change the mind of anyone who doesn’t already like Starfield. Fans of the game should absolutely check Shattered Space out when they get the chance, but I might consider waiting for a sale.

Flynn: Son of Crimson was ultimately worth the wait. Even though it didn’t quite live up to the potential I felt was possible, it’s still a solid platformer with beautiful art and plenty of spunk. Sure, I was disappointed by the half-baked story and how repetitive the combat becomes, but I still had fun playing it. If you’re a fan of retro-inspired games that harken back to the ’90s, I’d check it out.

Glitchhikers: The Spaces Between is excellent, but it’s not for everyone. If walking simulators aren’t your speed, I don’t know if this is going to be the one that’ll change your mind. But if you’re a huge fan of liminal spaces and esoteric musings, Glitchhikers: The Spaces Between is absolutely for you, but I recommend it in small bursts. If anything, it’s reminded me that sometimes it’s not the answer that matters, but the fact that we’re asking questions is enough. Thanks, disembodied low poly heart particles in the middle of the woods.

I really was hoping to score METALLIC CHILD more highly. It’s a fun and challenging game full of heart and creativity. But ultimately, the various poor design choices and outright glitches I encountered kept if from a better score. That said, the game is still well worth the price of admission and has plenty to keep you coming back for more. If you’re a fan of rogue-likes and want something new to spend some time with, I’d check METALLIC CHILD out.

Despite not being drawn in by the hunt for high scores, the interesting twists TOKOYO puts on action platforming did grab my attention. Movement feels great, and having to approach situations with combat as a last resort instead of my main plan required me to think my way up the Tower of Perpetuity. If that sounds like it’s for you, then definitely check this one out.

If you’re looking for more brilliantly brutal gunplay and satisfying supernatural shootouts, Outriders: Worldslayer delivers the goods. But there’s a solid chance your mileage will vary depending on what you hope to get out of the DLC. If you love fine-tuning your builds and tackling the highest World Tiers, Worldslayer will keep you glued to your controller for the foreseeable future. However, if you’re the type of player who’s strictly in it for the campaign and quest lines, you’ll probably want to wait for it to go on sale before pulling that trigger.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong does wonderfully with creating an engaging atmosphere and has some legitimately creative ideas, but its overall execution still leaves much to be desired. I can appreciate an entirely combat-free RPG, but I think that you’re going to have to do more than occasionally let players unlock certain dialogue choices or bypass locks by leveling up specific skills. I’m not too worried, though. This series has been going on for a long time, and while this game may have Swansong in its title, I doubt it’s the last Vampire: The Masquerade game we’ll be seeing. And, hopefully, the next one will have just a little bit more polish.

The Good Life can be summed up as one of the more polished SWERY experiences. For some, that explains all they need to know; for everyone else, it’s like a fun, repetitive, sweet and sour mixture between Little Dragons Cafe, Animal Crossing, Harvest Moon, Pokemon Snap, No More Heroes III, and Katamari Damacy. So few games leave me at a loss for words like The Good Life did, yet this is somehow one of my longest articles. As a gamedev and reviewer, I’m confused. As a gamer, I’m content.

I’m very ambivalent about Tower of Fantasy, but despite seeing quite a few flaws, I also see a lot of potential here. The attempts to riff on Genshin Impact and Honkai Impact 3rd wind up leaving some of the things it attempts to emulate feeling inferior to where it’s drawing inspiration from. That said, what it tries to do differently is help make a functional, stable platform from which Tower of Fantasy could truly start to grow from, and make something entirely fresh and unique from its competition. The exploration features, the Relic system, and even the weapon types are willing to come together and make something fun and unique, but it’s held back by a mostly lackluster world, bad story writing, annoying upgrade systems, and currency overload. I’d say go in strictly on Free-to-Play ideals, temper your expectations and focus on the things it does differently, and you’ll probably find something to like.

I wouldn’t recommend this DLC (or the base Train Sim World 2) to anyone looking for a conventional game – only those who want a technically accurate simulation of running a train between Boston and Providence. Think of it as an intricately designed train set with some bonus activities to do, but no real added frills. Though there’s a pretty hefty price tag on it, if you’re looking for an accurately rendered ride across two of America’s founding states, Boston Sprinter won’t disappoint.

Trying to shove so many different gameplay styles for all of these guest characters was definitely ambitious and I applaud the developers for trying, but next time around I’d much rather they focus on moving this series forward and making the best Cotton game they can.

Megaquarium: Architect’s Collection is the perfect expansion for a-fish-ionados who want to take their base game to the next level. The new fish are definitely worth getting excited about, and the addition of bridges and tunnels makes for interesting aquarium layouts. It doesn’t add as much as the previous DLC did, but for only $8, it’s still a worthy purchase for experienced players. If you’ve already poured dozens of hours into Megaquarium but you want something a bit novel to bait you back in, Megaquarium: Architect’s Collection definitely does the trick.

Zoeti is a beautiful game with a steep challenge. While I don’t mind some difficulty, I do find the balance more than a bit skewed against the player. And I say that as a fan of the rogue genre. That said, if you don’t mind the challenge and can put up with some minor glitches, this is a game that is well worth your time.

If you’re looking for a bullet-hell shooter that demands pixel-perfect skills and pattern memorization, you’re not going to find that here. Dogfight: A Sausage Bomber Story is about as casual a shoot-’em-up as you’ll likely come across. But don’t pass it up like you might a sad gas station roller dog languishing under a flickering heat lamp. With a beefy and satisfying upgrade system and spicy four-player co-op, it might just be a hit at your next gaming gathering. If you have three friends to bring along for the ride, there’s a good chance you’ll relish your time with Dogfight: A Sausage Bomber Story.

Other than the aforementioned problems with the doll-finding puzzles and the frame rate hiccups, this is an intriguing game. Sorrowvirus explores the endless death-and-rebirth cycle of poor Wyatt, with each successful playthrough shifting the dialogue, the information learned, and the very look of his personal Purgatory, all underscored by an incredibly haunting melody. You’re certain to be left wondering if immortality is really as promising as it sounds.

Overall, I enjoyed my time with the game. Divination is unique, and explores some pretty intense topics, with an appropriately dark art style to match its themes. It definitely gives off vibes of those 80’s dystopian sci-fi films, which all focus on the same question: are any of us truly in charge of our own fates?

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl feels incomplete in a lot of ways. It needed more modes, better sound design to provide some personality, a better selection of stages. If the developers take the time to fill the game out further, it could even end up being something pretty special. For now, this is still far better than a Nickelodeon fighting game has any right to be. The most important part of a fighting game is the feel, and the team at Ludosity nailed that. When I was tearing through foes with Reptar online, I had a hard time caring about what was missing. Players coming in with the right expectations will have a ton of fun, just don’t expect a game that is more than it is.

While #BLUD’s occasionally frustrating hit detection and repetitive late-game dungeons keep it from realizing its full potential, it’s still very much worth checking out, thanks to its entertaining writing, imaginative boss fights, and pixel-perfect presentation. If you’ve got a soft spot for the cartoons of the late 1990s or are simply looking for a fun twist on the Zelda formula to sink your teeth into, #BLUD should leave you satisfied.

I had a wonderfully pleasant time playing Before We Leave. While consoles may never be ideal for simulation titles, if I’m going to check one out with a controller, this is exactly the version I’m looking for. A few performance issues and a lack of variety may make this a game to be enjoyed briefly, but the cozy vibe it gives off feels just right. Grab a nice cup of tea, wrap yourself up in a warm blanket, and enjoy.

Siege Survival: Gloria Victis is a thoroughly brutal mix of simulation and roguelike. It’s only for those who want an unforgiving experience and are happy to labour not for a glorious kingdom, but for one more day of desperate survival. If you want a darker simulation title then you’ll find Siege Survival: Gloria Victis is gritty enough to clear a snowed-in driveway in Antarctica.

I know that The Land Beneath Us might still be a hard sell for some people, but personally, I loved the game. It’s not only unique and challenging, but it eventually balances that difficulty with new features that open the experience up smartly. If you’re willing to put in the time, this is a rogue-like I would highly recommend.

When it comes down to it, Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 4 is absolutely a game for pre-existing fans—whether casual or hardcore—of supercross. So long as you know a thing or two about the sport, you probably won’t have too much of an issue jumping right into things, and I’m sure that you’ll enjoy all that the game has to offer. Those who don’t know anything about supercross might want to watch out, however. While things are nice and friendly once you understand the basics, you’re in for a pretty rough start if you’re coming in completely green.

The paper-thin narrative and characters may leave some underwhelmed, but ultimately Date Night Bowling does its job as a fun, cute, and stylish mash-up of genres. It's a short and sweet experience that will no doubt have you smiling with its charming collection of mini-games, along with the solid arcadey bowling tossed in for in good measure.

No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle reflected on what made the first game great and took exciting risks to see the next one soar to new heights. Did it recapture that winning formula? It all depends on player preferences — if you enjoy more streamlined fights and a deeper storyline over free-roaming freedom, No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle is certainly a step up. If not, that’s okay; much like how bad pizza is still good because, hey, pizza, No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle is still a No More Heroes game, and that’s all that really matters anyway. Just be sure to play it on the Wii or the Switch instead of PC if at all possible.