Due to the fact that this is a prequel, the storyline and characters of Life is Strange: Before the Storm feel a bit contrived. Nevertheless, despite these inconsistencies, fans of the original Life is Strange will still be moved by Chloe’s adventure.

Last Labyrinth is a VR puzzle adventure with a wide array of interesting gimmicks and unique presentation. If you want to truly understand the story, be ready for a lot of repetition, but in the end that effort will be well worth it.

While most of the new features don’t really enhance the experience, the remaster looks stunning, and you will be surprised by how well the gameplay of this classic has aged.

With a minimalistic approach, Tokyo Chronos succeeds in bringing the player into a VR world that feels like a real place. While the shortage of player choices and interaction hold it back a little, Tokyo Chronos shows the potential of a VR adventure game done right.

While Far Cry New Dawn is visually similar to Far Cry 5, its gameplay has been somewhat boiled down. Nonetheless, its open world is still packed with interesting ideas, resulting in a game that gives you just the right amount of thrill. The story centered around family is not what one might expect from a Far Cry game, and the sarcastic banter of previous entries is not present here. A Far Cry game that supports rather than scolds the player feels new indeed, and its courage to be different should be praised.

Team Sonic Racing is not just a kart game with tight mechanics. By introducing teamwork as the core element of its gameplay, it becomes a racing game with its own unique appeal. Its lengthy and diverse adventure mode could teach Mario Kart a few lessons too.

While the Nintendo Switch version of rhythm game Cytus could have had more additional content, it has been cleverly customized for the system. With many tracks from a wide arrange of artists, Cytus a is a game that is definitely worth its budget price.

With an utterly simple control scheme, One Finger Death Punch 2 still manages to create a sense of player improvement. One Death Finger Punch was the king of two-button action games, and the sequel is here to inherit the throne. From better UI to new effects and tuned modes, One Finger Death Punch 2 is made just a little bit better on every single aspect. While it lacks new additions, it more than makes up for this by majorly polishing what was already there.

If you take the time and effort and have the strength to hold onto that controller long after your fingers start hurting, you will be rewarded with a magnificent piece of art.

While being a sequel, the 6th entry in Toho Project's fighting series by doujin developer Twilight Frontier is easy to grasp for newcomers. The lack of online multiplayer opponents is a problem, but if you are looking for a unique fighting game that is easy to pick up, look no further.

Playing Catherine: Full Body reminded me how amazing the original Catherine was. The exciting puzzles and unique adventure gameplay come with a stylish, mature tone and extremely well written dialogue. With a remixed music score and online multiplayer, Catherine: Full Body does somewhat enrich that original experience. However, the addition of a third heroine can easily be seen as a negative feature. Altogether, Catherine: Full Body is a great game because of the timeless classic it is based on, rather than because of the new features.

With eFootball in its title, this year’s PES comes with visual enhancements that make it even more realistic, while keeping the exhilarating soccer gameplay intact. The new finesse dribble mechanic allows the player to make slight adjustments with the right analog stick, which feels like you are directly in control. With legendary coaches and derby match scenarios, Master League is now more addictive than ever before.

A loving tribute to robots. Though its presentation might be simple, the campaign is extremely rewarding. As you improve, the high-speed action gets even faster. If you are into robots or are just looking for a good action game, look no further.

The concept of an infinite loop has been masterfully visualized in this first-person puzzle game, creating a visually mesmerizing experience. It’s definitely worth playing, but keep in mind that the puzzles are of a high difficulty level, and some players might get motion sickness, too.

A fox traveling through a fairy-tale-like world alone is charming enough, but it is how the tale of this fox and a man come together that makes The First Tree so special. This is one of those games you must play before having it spoiled at all costs.

At launch, Black Ops 4 is a great package to go and have fun with, but it’s hard to say how it will play out in the long term. It might become a 7 or a 9, or maybe even something higher or lower than that.

Soulcalibur VI is a fun and robust fighting game. More user-friendly tutorials would have made the game even more accessible, but with a wide variety of online modes and a deep character creator, this is already a fighting game anyone can pick up and have a great time with.

While action elements feel forced in, and the game’s system often feels like it doesn’t match the characters, Concrete Genie’s heartfelt story and dreamy visuals still make for a short but unforgettable experience.

Crypt of the NecroDancer brings randomly generated dungeons and rhythm-based gameplay to the exploration and adventure of The Legend of Zelda. While it doesn’t feel like total chemistry, Hyrule is faithfully represented, and Zelda fans will be able to enjoy a different type of gameplay. It’s not a masterpiece, but if you can catch the beat, there’s a lot of fun to be had.

By combining endless-runner elements to what is at its core a rhythm game, Muse Dash becomes an exhilarating experience. Its pop visuals make it look more appealing to casual gamers, while the included tracks are tuned towards the a more traditional rhythm game audience.

While using a similar format as 2012’s Journey, developer Thatgamecompany manages to deliver an experience that feels genuinely new by implementing more communication mechanics and adding more diversity in its gameplay. At launch, the more complex package does make Sky feel less refined and not as pure as Journey, but we are excited to see how this online experience evolves from here.

While exciting new monsters and more freedom in equipment are definitely welcome additions, the Guiding Lands endgame content’s poorly balanced level design will make players feel uncomfortable.

The city of Neo San Francisco in 2064 feels like a future directly connected to the world we live in today. As always, there are plenty of social issues, yet of course, there is also always hope.

Steam World Dig 2 is one of the very best side-scrolling games on the Nintendo Switch, and it is the perfect game to play in between the system’s masterpieces.

When at its best, My Friend Pedro’s smooth and stylish gameplay is a dream come true for any shooting action fan. However, its design forces the player to go through a lot of trial and error, which makes the gameplay feel less catchy, and the often clunky controls don’t help its case.

Gris is a 2D adventure game that has the player travel through a beautiful world at a relaxing pace. There is an impactful scene waiting for you near the climax, but after that the experience loses its power and delicateness, making the ending feel like a wasted opportunity.

This game comes with loads of great fan service, including a full voiced cast. Sadly, when you look at it as a hack and slash action game, the game has little depth. Still, if you can live with average gameplay there is plenty to enjoy here.

The MMA scene has gotten a lot more refined over the years, with strikes combined with footwork and bodywork becoming more important than ever. EA UFC SPORTS 3 seems to go along with that shift, as the strike-based gameplay has gained a lot of depth while the ground game takes a backseat compared with previous MMA games.