For me, though, the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pack has been a wonderful reminder of how much I love this game. That on its own makes it well worth the price of admission, especially when it promises to keep giving me reasons to come back for most of the next two years. Hopefully, I’ll see you on the track.

There’s still room for a big snowboarding game in today’s video game landscape, but Shredders isn’t able to fill it. While it looks nice when you’re not moving, issues with performance, controls, mission design, voice acting, story, nearly every aspect of this game is flawed. So value your time and wait for the next title in the genre.

While its difficulty spikes could use a bit more balancing, it does nothing to diminish my love for Tunic. This is a masterfully designed game that challenges you to take elements of classics that have become familiar and apply them in all-new ways. Its triumphant in-game manual gave me more moments of stunning realization than every other game I’ve played in 2022. If you’re a fan of any of the titles that stand as major influences to Tunic, you owe it to yourself to check this one out.

Obviously, I'm not completely satisfied with everything—the relationship mechanics are essentially a gamble, now, and we're straight-up chugga-chugga-choo-chooin' through certain loading zones, but there's a reason that I played 130 hours of this game. At the end of the day, Rune Factory 5 is a fresh and enjoyable new entry to the series, and I really think that fans will come to love it just as much as they have every other title.

The best way I can describe The Alien Cube is a very thin slice from an authentic Lovecraftian pie. It doesn’t entirely look the part, but you’ll take a bite and know exactly what you’re sinking your teeth into and probably end up reminded why you love this flavor of horror. From the surreal environments to the indescribable horrors after your blood, it’s the stuff known and loved by the Lovecraft community. Be warned though, that while the flavor tastes the part, The Alien Cube‘s optimization issues and occasionally lacking gameplay can make it tough to swallow. That said, if you can forgive a few missteps and have a hankering for hellish horrors, it’s worth digging into – especially when you consider its asking price.

All in all, would I recommend this dip into the ocean blue? Absolutely, but only if you consider what you’re getting into. There’s no denying this game is eye-candy of the sweetest caliber, with rarely any part of the vine-strangled world lacking vividly colored details. That said, you have to go in knowing that this is a perfect example of peaceful gaming, with no death or combat in sight. Exploration is the name of the game here, and it’s best to go into Submerged: Hidden Depths with low tension, an open mind, and a good pair of headphones. Admittedly, it’s on the short side, but if you’re eager to uncover the secret of these decaying cities, you’ll find the perfect game to scratch that urban exploration itch.

Triangle Strategy does almost everything well. It looks great, sounds good, plays great, features an excellent story, and offers enough variance in its multiple paths to provide significant replay value. There’s no one element it gets wrong. Its biggest issue comes in how it puts these various elements together. If you’re okay with long story sequences with the combat taking a bit of a back seat, you’ll love Triangle Strategy. Despite the balance of these various elements feeling a bit off, each element is so well executed that this is still a must-play for fans of the genre.

Despite this, I still recommend The Ramp to almost any player who has interest in it. Its Zen-like simplicity is addicting, and a low price means there’s little room for regret. While you can draw minor comparisons to a wide variety of titles, there’s nothing quite like The Ramp on the market.

Prose & Codes receives only one complaint from me — 350 puzzles spanning 7 literary genres simply isn’t enough content for such a charming and relaxing game. Call me selfish, but I simply couldn’t get enough of Prose & Codes’ challenges and could easily see myself playing this off and on again for the rest of my life. You don’t need a cipher to decode my stance on this lovely literature game: Prose & Codes unequivocally belongs in every bookworm’s library.

Ghostwire: Tokyo ends up being a satisfying experience. With a wonderful world to explore, excellent combat that gets quite deep over time, and an interesting story, there’s a lot to recommend about it. Somehow it also ends up feeling a bit incomplete, though. There was room here for more gameplay variety and to really explore more with some of these characters, and doing so might have turned a good game into a great one. As is, the ending feels like it comes a bit out of nowhere, leaving me to wonder if the team's original vision was a bit larger. Still, if you’re looking for a creepy game where you strike fear into the creatures that go bump in the night, check out Ghostwire: Tokyo.

At a time when trading sweat pants for slacks in a bid to return to the office is a dreaded drag, The Company Man reminds us exactly of what we hoped to leave back in the “before times.” With that being said, it’s handled in such a clever and fun way that brawling with colleagues becomes almost cathartic. If you’re tired of being a cog in the corporate machine and want to stick it to the man, The Company Man offers that pick-up-and-platforming-play that’ll surely bring joy to your lunch hour.

Even with some small issues like a lack of clarity with the Rank system and levels feeling a little repetitive, Dawn of the Monsters is still a ton of fun. There are plenty of goodies to unlock, a two-player mode and a riveting story. If you’re at all a fan of the kaiju genre and are looking for the next great thing, here it is. I honestly think this is the best game to date by 13AM Games, and I can’t wait to see what they have in store next.

Gran Turismo 7 provides an excellent entry point to the series for players who are new to it. If the 7 in the title feels intimidating, you can let that go. Once you do, you’ll find a game that plays as well as any racing title on the market. Some strange choices along the way hold it back from racing perfection, but this is still a game that should keep PS5 racing fans busy for a long time.

So, does Persona 4 Arena Ultimax hold up in the eight years since its debut? Absolutely. Arc System Works and Atlus' slugfest of a spin-off is just as satisfying now as it was the day it was first released. The game's easy to pick up yet challenging to master gameplay is suitable for fighting game novices and pros alike. And the excellent Story Modes that further flesh out the narrative are must-play experiences for fans of the franchise...Of course, if you already own the game and all of the DLC, there's little reason to plunk down the cash for this version. But if you've yet to see what Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is all about, there's never been a better time to step into the ring.

Offering fast and furious combat, with a well-balanced character switching mechanic that helps it stand out, players should make sure Young Souls doesn’t slip under the radar for a second time. Goblins may be rising up, but I’m confident anyone who likes a good beat ‘em up will have a great job putting them back down.

All in all, I can’t help but rave about Horace. While it’s challenging and may prove troublesome for those not comfortable with their platforming skills, it nevertheless features a ton of content and an engaging story. And while I was frustrated by some of the glitches and occasionally lackluster design, this is still a game I would highly recommend, especially for fans of older games and indies.

Beat Souls is easy to learn but hard to master; it’s also easy to like but hard to love. A lot of promise upfront unfortunately doesn’t carry through the rest of the game, which is a shame considering how finely tuned the entire experience is. I wish I could remember a single song or recall a fun beat pattern where I really connected with the game; instead, I’m left with the feeling that I would have put up with Beat Souls if either music or mechanics had been better. Still, if you’re wondering about how jazz or vaporwave-inspired tracks would work in a genre flooded with higher energy tunes, Beat Souls won’t break the bank for curious minds with disposable income to spare.

Zombie Rollerz: Pinball Heroes is not a game I can really recommend. Whether you’re a fan of rogue-lites or pinball games, there are numerous options out there that will provide vastly better experiences for your money. Whilst it does have an admittedly interesting concept, a complete lack of balance and poor optimization completely squanders any potential this unique hook might hold.

The Hundred Year Kingdom is as hard to describe as it is hard to put down. Never did I ever think I’d become addicted to a waifu city-builder, but I also didn’t ever think such a game would ever exist. Simultaneously simple yet complicated, The Hundred Year Kingdom is charming, chill, and chuckle-inducing. If you want a novel, peaceful experience that slowly unfolds over time, The Hundred Year Kingdom is worth spending a century with.

Aztech Forgotten Gods is a game that undoubtedly comes with issues in general feel when playing, and the questionable design choice in going with an open world. Having said all that, Aztech Forgotten Gods is also an experience that is loaded with such heart and ambition that it’s impossible not to enjoy your time spent in this world with this fantastic cast of characters. If you’re someone who can look past the rough edges that likely resulted from a modest budget, then I would definitely recommend joining Achtli in her conflict that not only pits her against the titular Forgotten Gods, but also her own inner demons in a way that will resonate with many.

Kardboard Kings may have a short story, but its gameplay easily extends into the 20 – 30 hour mark and beyond. If you loved collecting Pokémon cards in real life and searched high and low for a shiny Charizard or others, you need this game. With coffee-shop casual music, a fun visual style, and dozens of cards to add to your personal collection, Kardboard Kings oozes that “one more turn” gameplay that’ll turn casual players into complete addicts. Can you collect them all?

Dread Hunger is marketed as far more… well, dreadful… than it actually is; instead of being forced into a psychologically tense situation with 7 other strangers, I found myself laughing at the ridiculous situations we consistently ended up in. White the Northwest Passage may be frigid, players can slowly warm up to Dread Hunger and all it has to offer with addicting gameplay that’ll make it hard to stop even after playing the day away. No longer do Frostpunk and Among Us pass silently through the night; Dread Hunger mixes elements of both together that’ll have even the pickiest of players come aboard.

The Life is Strange Remastered Collection offers you an excellent game and another, which is a lot of fun if you’re invested in its characters. They’re well worth playing. The question is more about whether this collection is the way you want to do so. Despite the improved visuals and animations not quite making this the definitive version in every way, things are solid enough that if given any way to do so, I’d probably choose these versions. Despite that, this is a great example of titles that simply didn’t need to be remastered. For fans of the series, it offers nothing that makes them worth revisiting, or even upgrading from the versions that are already out there. If you have another way to check out Max and Chloe’s stories, just play those instead.

While its core gameplay loop is strong, Gunborg: Dark Matters doesn’t do a lot to set itself apart in a crowded field. You can definitely have fun for a few hours, but before you know it, you’ll be getting off this ship with your cargo in tow. Still, while it lasts, Gunborg provides a great looking, excellent sounding, adventure that plays pretty well to boot.

Elex II presents a world and narrative of immeasurable depth in terms of the freedom you have to play your way and the choices you’re presented with as a player. Couple that with an extremely gratifying sense of progression, and you have a world that begs to be visited for repeat playthroughs. If you can look past the inevitable lack of polish, and archaic presentation issues, do yourself a favor and don't let this absolute gem pass you by.

If you sometimes get tired of plodding, greyish-brownish-greenish pseudo-realistic military shooters, this is the antidote. Dazzlingly colourful, unrelentingly fast-paced, unrepentantly zany and bursting with potential for player creativity, Shadow Warrior 3 is absolutely joyous to play from start to finish. So after 25 years, do I STILL want some Wang? You’re damn right I do!

Although About an Elf is only a 3 – 4 hour romp that ends in an unexpected-yet-should-have-expected way, it’s an elf-tastic epic worth playing. The writing is guffaw-inducing, the music toe-tappingly addictive, and the visual style unlike any other I’ve seen in gaming before. If you’re looking for a story-telling experience more entertaining than the actual story itself, lots of laughs, and plenty of opportunities to take screenshot after screenshot of glorious models and colors, About an Elf is a must-buy.

Horizon Forbidden West improves on its predecessor in nearly every way, offering a stunning follow-up to an already excellent title which shows just how much a game can improve through refinement. Fans of the original will feel immediately comfortable, but they’ll find a far better adventure waiting for them. If you disliked the original game, Forbidden West won’t change your mind, but this is a must-own for everyone else.