If you can break up the repetitive gameplay against spongy mini-bosses making up most of the game, there's fun action to be had with a great concept.

Big Helmet Heroes is an action adventure beat ‘em up that sees you taking on the role of a little cast with big problems. The loony ways you can go on the offensive easily piles up hours of entertainment. Gratifying sounds and visually pleasing graphics adds even more value to the adventure. Troubling bugs and design choices throws a kink in the system, but doesn’t decrease the charm these huge noggins bring to the table.

I like the concept. I also don’t even really mind the high cost to upgrade everything, mostly because once you realise the false sense of time pressure of having to accept the next client as soon as they arrive is not real (clients come and go… the important thing is not to accept a new client if you aren’t ready to deal with their request… that’s when the real clock starts ticking). You can develop a workflow of gathering ore while you wait for an ingot to form or for the next client and start getting things ready for the next order. But when you’ve made so much progress to then have the game soft lock you and essentially throw all that (very) hard won progress away… it just becomes unplayable. Either wait until a patch that fixes these or possibly even have a look at the other blacksmith simulator that is available (yes there is a different blacksmith simulator in existence).

I haven’t quite wrapped up my time with Mark of the Deep yet, but as my first playthrough shows signs of coming to a close, I can’t help but feel that this is one the best games of its kind in a while. The genre is overloaded with Hades, Curse of the Gods, and Hollow Knight knock-offs, and it’s difficult for games akin to the Greats to really stand on their own. That’s where Mark of the Deep comes in. It does enough to tick off what I want from a Soulsike-come-Metroidvania(ish) to deserve your attention while still doing its own thing; I just wish one of these fish guys had a map or two on hand.

Civilization VII brings some massive changes to the formula that may alienate some players, but the core Civilization experience is as good as its ever been.

Trombone Champ: Unflattened! is a rhythm game that hilariously allows you to play the trombone as erratically as you want. Quick decisions and fatiguing movements can be challenging in VR, but can also add to the delightful ridiculousness. Admirable new features like new environments and trombones as well as amusing glimpses of a narrative with a baboon adds to the inventiveness. It’s all the fun of playing an actual trombone without the spit valve.

Fitness Fables is a fitness and sports game that keeps you engaged with the workouts by having a magical story attached to your actions. The game successfully makes working out more exciting and takes the stress off the demanding pressure your body goes through by giving you a different purpose to complete your grueling labors. Some exercises feel a bit awkward and unfair, but nothing beats doing squats in the comfort of your own home to shield yourself from the magical blasts of a giant tree beast.

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a solid recreation of the original game, offering improved visuals and additional features. While it stays true to the challenge and feel of the original, some minor graphical issues and the high difficulty level may deter some players. Overall, it’s a must-play for fans of the series and newcomers alike.

Tales of Graces F Remastered is an almost perfect remaster of a highly beloved title that provides an excellent gaming experience despite its few flaws.

Ys Memoires: The Oath in Felghana is a perfectly serviceable port of the PSP original to modern consoles. Offering some nice quality of life improvements and remastered audio and visuals while maintaining the essence of the original release.

A substantial visual update over the original PS4 version of the game that doesn't add much else to the core experience.

The game has an addicting leveling up system where all of your decisions help you out in multiple ways. While gameplay is unique and offers a lot of different ways you can go about any given situation, actually controlling the character is clunky which creates a lot of inadequate moments while playing. The robust magic and gorgeous world really puts this game in a category of its own to be seen among the established titles out there.

Sniper Elite Resistance has taken what makes the series great and honed it even further, building upon the success and fan-favorite aspects of Sniper Elite 5 and tweaking it to provide even more excitement and fun. It is still immensely satisfying to get a long-range shot without assistance in one go, or to manage to attach a sticky grenade to an enemy and have it go off amongst other troops. Definitely worth grabbing a copy if you are a fan of the series or sniping games in general.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is still an amazing JRPG, and Its PC version elevates the experience it provides in all the right ways.

Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles is a remastered beat em’ up platformer about using power-ups and collecting points to bring down the Galactic Empire. While the new coat of paint may gloss it up a bit, the game is still coarse, rough, and irritating. Nostalgia and simple arcade fun may prompt quick bursts of amusement, but all in all, this is a Star Wars game from a long time ago that can easily be mauled for its confusing incompetence.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is the third iteration of the 2D platformer and the game continues to be another brilliant Kong quest. A ton of diverse levels, an ample amount of replayability, exceptional controls, noteworthy audio design, and rambunctious gameplay effortlessly fills your heart up with joy. The difficulty may still be a bit harsh for some and lack of updates is extremely underwhelming, but Donkey Kong Country Returns HD proves that Donkey Kong is still going strong! Okay!

Arken Age is a VR action-adventure game about finding the creator of the world while using creative weapons to fight off cyborg-like enemies bent on anarchy. Roam an elaborate landscape and use your tools to intricately traverse the environments to stop an ever spreading corruption. Craft, swim, and battle your way to victory in this exceptional VR experience that you will never forget.

A gloomy isometric shooter with an appealing setting. The rest is silence.

Batman: Arkham Shadow is a real achievement for the team at Camouflaj and a milestone in VR superhero games. With a reach story, challenging yet seamlessly coordinated combat, and decent stealth scenarios, Batman: Arkham Shadow is the perfect place to feel truly in the cape crusader’s cowls.

I really enjoyed my time playing Epyka. The puzzles are creative, the characters are amusing, and the story is interesting even though it’s a little “book by numbers”. I really wish I had more time in this world. Some puzzles felt too short; it was like right when I understood what I was doing, the puzzle was over. If there were ever a sequel to Epyka, I would be looking forward to how the mechanics and gameplay design might expand. Even if the game is a bit on the shorter side, Epyka is debuting at only $10, so you are getting a lot more bang for your buck here in this virtual escapade of uncovering the mysteries of the world and yourself.

All in all, it’s easy to say it’s the best fitness boxing game yet. It might not do anything spectacular or innovative– it’d be fun to have an opponent to spar with, or even a punching bag to see bounce off each hit– but it gets a sweat up and your heart pumping. It’s boxing and it’ll keep you fit, simple as that.

SPRAWL is a decent entry into the ever growing list of boomer-shooters that are making their way to consoles. Its fast-paced combat and great soundtrack make it stand out from the crowd.

Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition is a surprisingly enjoyable game with satisfying combat mechanics and intriguing puzzles. With all enhancements released so far, the title looks and works well – even by today’s standards. If you haven’t played it before, the free current-gen upgrade gives you a good chance to do so. At the same time, if you’ve already played Darksiders II, I wonder if 4K and improved shadows are enough to make you revisit the game. It’s up to you, of course; but if you ask me, in this case I’d try something more recent.

There are certainly some lovely elements here. The visuals are a nice change from a lot of what is out there. The gameplay swings between simple enough for people new to the genre to get into and arguably quite repetitive (fortunately there is a fast forward option for battles… so you can use your specialty cards then set to max speed until you can use them again). Some of the mechanics are a bit annoying (I hate being able to take a city/town, only to have it in enemy hands at the start of the next story element… if you knew it was going to be in enemy hands at the start of the next story segment… don’t let me take it beforehand). It’s not super expensive so it could be a good option for those wanting to get into strategy gaming… but hardened gamers might find it too simplistic or even frustrating at times.

In a field of games that typically offer a slight variation on a theme… TankHead stands out as something a bit different. If you like the idea of tank warfare but with perhaps a bit more of a kit-bashing feel… grab a copy.

Masters of Light is a creative and fun box-to-the-beat, shooting gallery, with a unique aesthetic and a decent attempt at world-building, despite its somewhat barebones design.

A great brawler brought low by baffling design decisions.

Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered is an old AAA title from the PlayStation 1 era with such strong core design elements that just a facelift using HD textures and refined character models turns it into a decent modern indie title. It is a must-play for those who take video game history seriously and want to understand the evolution of this young art form throughout its history.