Monark puts a spin on the high school JRPG design by offering unique gameplay and combat systems for fans of the genre. The narrative heightens this experience with a memorable cast and plenty of mysteries to uncover. The spike in difficulty hurts the experience as the balance of vague puzzles and encounters slows the pacing down to a crawl, but genre veterans might enjoy the art of grinding and not notice this too much.

Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires is a great representation of the Empires series with a few modern elements to entice seasoned players. Its strategic systems are addicting, with combat being delightfully simple, instilling the gratifying sense of mayhem the franchise is known for. It’s a moderately enjoyable time-sink, yet it lacks an identity that can make it difficult to recommend to casual series fans who want more out of their experience. At the very least, Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires isn’t an erroneous existence like the original Dynasty Warriors 9 since it provides genuine entertainment, even if not sincerely lasting.

Infernax is more than just an ode to black sheep titles that it’s paying homage to. With well-crafted platforming and combat, it surpasses many of the games that inspired it. Further, it is intentionally challenging without relying on cryptic padding or cheap deaths. Those looking for a retro action-adventure without the dated feel will have a bloody great time with Infernax.

The King of Fighters XV is as good as it gets and feels like a complete package even at launch. Sure, it may not reinvent the wheel for the genre, but it perfects its unique gameplay formula and easily offers the best character roster the series has ever seen. With robust online options, deep gameplay systems, and stellar and stylistic presentation featuring unforgettable music, this is one fighting game that will be in regular rotation on any gaming platform. What was once innovative in 1994 succeeds at feeling just as new and exciting in 2022.

Cogen: Sword of Rewind would likely only satisfy those yearning for challenging action-platformer regardless of its reception. You could do much better with the genre, and I hope the development team learns from these efforts to potentially make a far more fulfilling game in the future. With an especially meager playtime to boot, there isn’t much-instilled replay value with this gameplay quality nor enough bang for your buck. At the very least, Kohaku is pretty cute.

Rise of the Third Power is a wonderful 16-bit adventure that offers a charming world to uncover. It’s nostalgic to the core, but it may be a bit too familiar for hardcore fans. I was hoping for more diversity in the narrative themes and environments, but as a package, this is one adventure that I couldn’t step away from. For those seeking a retro-inspired experience, you can’t go wrong here. I was going to make a math pun, but decided against it.

Breakout Recharged might be the least interesting of all the games Atari has chosen to revamp. This is as basic as a video game can possibly get, as even the new bells and whistles added in this modern remake don’t do a whole lot to make the core gameplay feel any more interesting than what it was back in 1976. Unless you’re a retro enthusiast, you’re better off accidentally stumbling upon one of many Breakout clones out there for free.

Needy Streamer Overload is a recommendable title for those yearning for an unhinged aberration of management simulations. Its realistic portrayal of ill mental health and internet reception deserves to be experienced by as many crowds as possible, notably due to its multiple endings and player choice. Still, the lack of conventional joy derived from such a title limits the crowd who can enjoy such a game. As such, our scoring is not representative of overall quality but an attempted melded assessment of its intentions and provided entertainment.

While Warm Snow may not have the polish that other roguelikes feature, there’s plenty to keep you playing for hours on end. The combat system gives players freedom during encounters with rewards that offer a deep level of character customization, hoping that your next run will last a little longer. I’d call this game a hidden gem, but don’t let it be hidden from you for too long if you have a roguelike itch to scratch.

SIFU is the must-play action game of the year. Its roguelike systems shouldn't hold back anyone from jumping in and following this thrilling narrative of revenge. The entire experience is like watching a Bruce Lee movie play out with you controlling the choreography. It's as rewarding as it is brutally challenging, but I was having a blast kicking ass whether I was 25 or 55 in-game years old.

Drifting: Weight of Feathers is not a horrid experience everybody should avoid at all costs. It’s clearly not backed by a substantial budget or team, so it’s worth keeping that in mind. Still, those seeking fulfilling puzzle parkour experiences should find their fill elsewhere, as this title is really only meant for those who are desperately searching for something new. The lack of music, questionable story implementation, and awkward presentation don’t help matters either.

Maglam Lord uniquely combines an action role-playing game with heavy visual novel and dating sim elements to create an experience that stands out from the JRPG crowd. While the action combat portions of the game are underwhelming and the graphics are outdated, the beautiful art direction, engaging narrative, and excellent cast markedly make up for it. You might initially play for the artwork, but you’ll stay for the characters.

OlliOlli World opens the door for new and old fans with casual and hardcore systems to master. Its controller layout takes some getting used to, and the frame rate issue doesn't make that easier, but there's so much here to keep you invested. It's a game that demands to be replayed, and luckily it's so damn fun that that isn't an issue, and the sheer amount of content will keep you skating for hours.

The VII Enigma‘s unusual time travel mechanics should please fans of the genre, but it doesn’t make the best use of its format, and the bland writing and frontloaded info-dumping don’t do a great job of drawing the reader into the story. Instead, it feels a bit like a prototype of a more interesting visual novel — a disappointing experience that nevertheless left me wanting more.

Dying Light 2 gives us a sandbox to live and die for. This is the premier adventure game that marries combat and parkour systems for an exceptionally thrilling experience. And while there are moments where the narrative stumbles in terms of consequences, it doesn't matter as waves of zombies move in for the kill. I look forward to the many more hours of content that await on the other side of this campaign.

For the most part, Startup Panic is clean, competent, and amusing. I wish I could say more than that about it, but I don’t feel like the game goes in hard enough on its premise. It’s fine if you’ve been looking for a new company-tycoon title (particularly one that does not involve you developing video games), but if what you’re looking for is biting satire of capitalism, it doesn’t commit hard enough to being that, and that wasted potential is what’s left me struggling to find anything to say about it.

Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX 2 continues to deliver the 2D platforming action that players demand. The new focus on melee combat coupled with ariel dashes breaths new life into Copen’s growing arsenal. Further, I thought the narrative, characters, and bosses made this entry just as endearing as the previous, and the interaction with the environments made each stage fun to explore. I can’t wait to go on future adventures with Copen and friends.

The additional enemy types and weapons are appreciated, but the gameplay is still riddled with bugs and performance issues. Given that it’s a standalone game priced at $20, I expected more content considering the full base game is priced at $40. For the amount of content offered versus the price, I suggest playing Serious Sam 4 first, which has been patched up since launch and is usually on sale. However, if you’re just craving more Serious Sam, well then, this game is for you.

Reverie Knights Tactics is a good game with a good story, but unfortunately, lacks a compelling user experience. While the story was engaging, the controls made gameplay a more frustrating experience that limits enjoyment, and that’s a shame.

Sucker For Love stands out for its bold premise and talented voice work, but aside from that, it can be a chore to actually play through. Its gameplay feels like padding to its core, and the writing, while occasionally humorous, presents itself as unfocused. The lack of grace with tonal balance ultimately makes this title a questionable venture that is best perceived as an entertaining experiment and nothing more. Still, its price point is fair, so if you’re moderately intrigued by what this game offers, it’s worth giving it a shot.

Labyrinth Legend doesn’t offer much in the way of a story, and gear drops leave much to be desired. However, it makes up for this with delightfully simple gameplay and brief stages, making this a solid experience for every Switch owner.

Dimension Tripper Neptune: TOP NEP feels like an appetizer of a full game, but it’s a damn tasty one. Boasting five defined stages, well-designed boss battles, and remarkable sound design and art direction, this on-rails shooter is an experience that can be easily enjoyed by fans and non-fans alike. Still, more incentivization for replayability aside from reaching higher scores would’ve been appreciated. Moreover, simply having more content would have been ideal since 15-minute playthroughs can be a tough sell, even when accounting for intention. Still, at least at the end of the day, I can say that Neptunia seamlessly stuck the landing for a first genre attempt.

Master Duel is currently a reasonably barebones experience that delivers on what it needs to but not anything else. I am impressed by the focus on allowing players to get right into the swing of competitive duels by giving them the tools to quickly put together whatever deck they would like. The presentation is immaculate, aside from many typos in the game’s original text. I love the pacing of the flashy animations that lend a lot of weight and satisfaction to every blow struck on your opponent. I only wish there were more differences in how easy it is to create older, less-competitive decks than the new stuff being played in stores in 2022.

Windjammers 2 is a welcome modern interpretation of a timeless classic. It may not reinvent the wheel, but thanks to stylistic visuals and some new gameplay systems, this is a game you’re going to want to add to your multiplayer rotation, even if you happen to be still playing the original Windjammers.

Rainbow Six Extraction can be fun in a casual setting, but it caters mainly to the hardcore tactical shooter fanbase. This isn't a bad thing because it's fun as hell. Everything you do in a match is rewarded with a constant stream of in-game items and new areas, but this is only after a few hours of finding your bearings in zones and understanding mission types and operators. However, after that, the game opens up exceptionally well, with so much promise to continue with additional content and ways to strategize with friends.

For whatever flaws are apparent in Democracy 4’s base game, it is the only game out there that depicts the densely interconnected system of mechanics that influence our political system. It fulfills a fantasy you can’t get anywhere else in video games — and certainly nowhere else in life. This is why no matter how many criticisms I can list for Democracy 4, I find myself returning to it over and over. That doesn’t necessarily make it a good game, but if it’s the type of game you’d enjoy, there’s simply nothing else like it.

Endwalker is not the end, but it is very definitely an end. In the game, it is the end of the tale of Hydaelyn and Zodiark, the Ascians, and the Scions of the Seventh Dawn who rose to challenge them. In our universe, it is the end of the second era of Final Fantasy XIV, a midnight that transitions into a bright and new day for the players and developers, in which anything could happen. But for now, the clock is still striking twelve, and I’m absolutely thrilled to see what will happen at 12:01.

Firegirl: Hack ‘n Splash Rescue is fun for about an hour. Then you’ll realize that you’ve seen much of what the game has to offer and must now focus on upgrading and surviving. The rollout of the narrative is appreciated, but this game does have a pacing problem. It doesn’t know if it wants to be a pick-up and play arcade firefighter game or a simulation time sink where most of the fun comes after multiple hours. There’s no doubt some potential here, but I’d wait for a few updates before rushing into this burning building.