Thumper really isn’t like anything else I’ve played and I don’t say that lightly. Yes, there are similarities to other games in the genre, but the rush of adrenaline and existential dread felt throughout the game are just small factors in what ultimately sets it apart. Thumper is a brutal deep dive into the abyss, one that will relentlessly push you to your limits again and again.

The best way to describe the gameplay in Titanfall 2 is fluid and precise.

I loved the implications of Limbo’s ending, it’s something that I think about quite often still, but Inside’s final chapter is the kind of thing that keeps you awake at night. It’s an unrelenting storm of nightmarish realities that completely blindsides you, and then things just get weirder from there.

This is easily one of the best twin stick shooters I’ve played in years.

There’s a linear story being told, but i never felt like I was being funneled down a straight path. I never felt restraints from where I could go or what I could explore. Even the world barriers are disguised in such a way, thanks to the map design, that it all feels natural.

The pacing is perfect, introducing new recipes and level obstacles in a way that consistently keeps the player engaged and wondering what could possibly come next. After having three friends over to play the game, all three of them went home, separately purchased it, and played it to completion either solo or with a significant other. I’m not sure any game I’ve shown my friends before this has had the same effect.

ABZÛ should be played with as few story details known as possible. The story and your journey are made great by the surprises that happen along the way, so take your time and explore everything that ABZÛ offers to you, it is absolutely worth it.

Overall, Gareth Noyce has successfully accomplished what he set out to achieve with Lumo; producing a charming retro throwback comprising of many hidden references to games from the 1980s and early 90s that is highly recommended for gamers who are new to the isometric puzzle genre and veterans of the genre alike as it provides a modern take on Head Over Heels and Batman from the classic 1980s prime of isometric puzzle games.

As long as the servers hold up and there isn’t lag during netplay, it should wind up being one of the top PSN titles of all time.

I see myself coming back to Flinthook for a while to come. Like many other Tribute games, it is tightly designed; nothing feels extra, nothing feels stark. I love mashing packs open. I love unlocking relics. I absolutely hate getting hit in this game, and I love that about it. If you’re wondering whether you might like Flinthook or not, take this test: Do you like video games? (Y/N).

Night in the Woods culminates in some revelations made in regards to some of the stranger things happening within Possum Springs. It’s an interesting contrast to almost everything leading up to it and ultimately delivers an interesting message that, I think, resonates with much of what Mae’s character is dealing with. Night in the Woods is unafraid to embrace a wealth of issues that young people face in their daily lives. There’s still fun to be had, parties to attend, and songs to jam out to, but it’s also about depression, anxiety, moving on, and cherishing the things that you do have. Night in the Woods delivers a powerful message that resonated with me in ways I wasn’t expecting or prepared for.

That said Axiom Verge is a game that absolutely nails exploration/discovery and that’s an experience that people deserve to have for themselves. After three full playthroughs I can’t think of many other games that have proved to be as rewarding as this. It’s the kind of game that, just when I thought I figured it out, it would surprise me again and again.

For fans of Telltale’s storytelling and The Walking Dead games, television series and comic books; The Walking Dead: Michonne is an emotional journey that comes highly recommended as we all wait with eager anticipation for Telltale to produce the third season of The Walking Dead.

I think back on games like Yoshi’s Cookie that cost $50-$60 when I bought them way back when. This game has so much more content than that game and pretty much any other puzzle game I can think of.

Shovel Knight has everything. It’s fun, the soundtrack is ridiculously good, the difficulty curve feels just right, there’s smart level design, funny writing, a story that’s surprisingly touching, and so much more.

What Remains of Edith Finch is a personal story, one that really hit home for me in just about every way imaginable. It’s a game that finds beauty in death and demonstrates the importance of appreciating what little time we are given to experience what life has to offer. The story of the Finch family is strange and at times might not seem possible, but dig deep enough, and you’ll find a wonderful game with a profound perspective on life, family, and what we leave behind.

Even with high expectations going in The Talos Principle still blew me away. Through excellent puzzle design and a thought provoking narrative this easily stands among some of my favorites games this year.

In the end, NieR Automata’s story is profound, at times heartbreaking, and in other instances you’ll spot tiny glimmers of hope. It’s an expertly crafted story that’s uniquely presented to toy with the way you perceive characters and the world surrounding them. It’s a crazy ride from beginning to end and one that completely blew me away, in spite of my own absurdly high expectations.

Whether you grew up with a ZX Spectrum or, like me, you’ve never seen one I think there’s a lot of great stuff here. It might be difficult for some to get used to the graphics at first, but when you do you’ll find a really fun game with some excellent music.

Arcade Mode alone is enough to get me back into playing the game regularly, but aside from that there’s still enough new additions here to make this an easy recommendation for anyone.

With those issues and caveat, Fallout 4 has to be the most addicting and content heavy-game we’ve played on the Playstation 4. Looking forward to spending many more countless hours exploring every nook and cranny of the Commonwealth.

Overall, Red Game Without A Great Name provides some fun and challenging puzzle gameplay which is perfect for fans of side-scrolling platform, puzzle, action or adventure genres.

Riptide GP: Renegade is a genuine improvement upon the already excellent Riptide GP2 in a number of areas, therefore if you are a fan of arcade or water based racing games such as Hydro Thunder and most certainly if you appreciate split-screen or online multiplayer racing, then Riptide GP: Renegade is absolutely a highly recommended game.

2064: Read Only Memories presents an interesting, if not predictable, narrative that is propelled by its strong cast of characters and excellent world-building. It’s refreshing to see a developer put so much care into creating a cast as diverse and interesting as this.

Nova-111 is excellent. There’s enough content that’s introduced with comfortable pacing to keep the player engaged through completion.

TimeSwapper delivers an extension of what was previously experienced in Red Game Without A Great Name by providing some fun and challenging puzzle gameplay which is perfect for fans of side-scrolling platform, puzzle, action or adventure genres, especially given the twist of the new time manipulation gameplay mechanic and such amazing value.

In all, if you haven’t played Bastion yet, now is probably the time to. The move to PS4 doesn’t boast many extra features, but the game itself is worth a playthrough (or two, if you’re into New Game Plus modes).

Dariusburst is perfect for short play sessions and the crazy amount of content in the game means it’ll probably take me months to see everything.

The Binding of Isaac pulls off everything it tries to do, and very well. The story is interesting, the gameplay fantastic, and the art and music are wonderful as well. The only things I found wrong with the game were that the bosses were repetitive and the challenge mode was lacking fun.

This is a big step in the right direction for the franchise and I can only hope that things continue that way in the future.

I’m now in the midst of my third playthrough with this game which will mark my fourth overall run with Resident Evil 1. Somehow it manages to get better each time I start up a new file.

Hatoful Boyfriend is enjoyable enough for just being a weird pigeon dating sim. The truth about the reality of St. PigeoNations is what elevates this beyond what I ever expected. Learning that truth takes time and every second is completely worth it.

Overall, SteamWorld Heist is one of the most accessible strategy games you will ever wish to discover and play with an incredible depth of gameplay and features.

Cosmic Star Heroine is simply an incredible JRPG inspired adventure that’s even more impressive when you consider how small the team is that made it. Aside from a story that didn’t completely pull me in, my only real complaint is that the game’s UI can, at times, be a little unclear. In battles an AoE attack sometimes wouldn’t highlight multiple enemies (even when it’d still hit them) and in shops there didn’t seem to be a way to compare equipment. I also ran into a couple small glitches, one that forced me to reload a save file, which is a bummer, but luckily Zeboyd Games have been quick to patch out these issues. Ultimately, Cosmic Star Heroine really shouldn’t be passed up, it’s a fantastic throwback to games like Chrono Trigger and Phantasy Star that, like Shovel Knight before it, presents a modern twist that makes it a clear standout indie release.

Valkyria Chronicles is a deeply satisfying game and one that I really only have a few minor gripes with. By the time the credits rolled I found myself completely wrapped up in a cast of like-able characters and excited to dig into the game’s New Game +. If, like me, you never gave Valkyria Chronicles a chance then there’s no better time to see what you’ve been missing out on.

Disgaea 5 is the best game in the series to date. I might prefer the story/characters in other games sure, but the game mechanics have never been more refined and fun to break.

Placing that final keystone to solidify my creation has always injected a dose of lightheartedness to the experience. If you like building in any capacity, or are looking for yet another top-notch multiplayer PSN game, Tricky Towers is for you.

Rocketbirds 2: Evolution is just about everything I wanted from a sequel. It improves upon just about everything from the original, the story goes in weirder directions while still retaining its dry humor, the game somehow looks even better than before, and we get a new album from New World Revolution. The long wait was worth it.

Hitman GO is fantastic no matter what platform you choose to play it on. Unlike some other games it actually understands what Hitman is about and stays true to that formula while giving us something unique.

For as much content that’s on offer here, there’s bound to be something for everybody. If you just want to stick to Tetris, you can do that! If you’re a Puyo Purist, that’s fine too! Both are excellent in their own right and the wealth of play options only helps to sweeten the deal. Puyo Puyo Tetris is packed to the brim with game modes and alternate play styles that’s perfect for parties or solo challenge runs.

There’s a lot to like about Grow Home, especially if you’re into exploration games with a unique aesthetic.

Pneuma weaves philosophical, existential, and even religious threads into a beautiful tapestry.

Overall, LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a genuinely faithful recreation of the Star Wars universe, while being brilliantly entertaining, charming and as good as any LEGO Star Wars game which has came before it, therefore it is not only a highly recommended game if you are a fan of LEGO games, but also if you are a fan of the Star Wars universe.

The story Bound presents is simple, it’s easy to relate to, and it’s one that’s not afraid to touch on some brutal realities. Yet, at the same time the raw emotion exhibited through the princess and her dance is enough to shine a little light in situations that can almost feel helpless.

The Deadly Tower of Monsters took me about 4 hours to complete, and finding all of the collectibles and completing all of the missions, may take you another hour or two. I never got tired of the game, but it felt like it ended at just the right time.

Overall, Zombie Vikings produces a humorous adventure in the same narrative style as Zoink’s smash hit Stick it to the Man, therefore Zombie Vikings is just as highly recommended as Stick it to the Man for players who appreciate action, adventure and platform genres, especially when fused with comedy.

It’s not without faults, of course; Flux and Singularity could be explained a little better, a run button on the world map would be welcome, and Endir’s place as a silent protagonist is a bit disappointing. Still, I Am Setsuna kept me fully engaged from start to finish and, overshadowing any complaints I might have, provided a world and characters that I care about.

In all, Kromaia Ω is a diamond in the current outpouring of PSN titles that shouldn’t be overlooked based on its price tag. There are a couple of other game modes included in this new package, but the main campaign will take around eight enjoyable hours to complete. I didn’t even mention the unlockable grapple hook, a feature that opens up new levels of piloting expertise.

There are some genuinely cool skills given and the later one I wish could have been used a little more before finishing the game. I’d rather not spoil any of them, because one of the early skills is truly cool and really helps give this game a single unique aspect. Instead of hearing me describe them, go take a few hours and collect them, you’ll love the run ( and may think about playing through it again right after).

I’ve had faith in Dontnod ever since Remember Me and it’s really exciting to see them deliver on an incredible season opener.

Overall, Hard Reset Redux provides plenty of fast-paced old-school first-person shooter gameplay reminiscent of the original Quake games which makes Hard Reset Redux a highly recommended game for players who are fans of the old-school first-person shooter genre, while containing enough new content for players who are familiar with Hard Reset from its original PC release in 2011 to play and enjoy the Redux version as it possesses the same level of quality as Shadow Warrior that elevates it to a must purchase at any price.

If you like platformers, you will likely love N++. The game’s physics take a bit of time to get used to, but if you play through the intro levels, you should be fit for flight in no time.

Looks and runs really great on the Vita.

Even better than Frogwares’ previous attempts at creating an accurate representation of the character and sleuthing of Sherlock Holmes, therefore elevating it to being the best videogame adaptation of the character and story thus far.

Life Goes On: Done to Death came as a pleasant surprise to me. It’s a genuinely funny and unique puzzle game that left me thoroughly entertained from start to finish and all throughout the credits. I simply can’t recommend this enough.

It’s all about going fast, perfecting jumps and slides, and going even faster than the last run. That’s Action Henk in a nutshell – faster than last.

The Fall is positioned as the first in a three part story. Without mentioning specifics I’ll just say that the game is really well written, intriguing from start to finish, and it features some great voice acting. While it’s certainly the start of a larger story I think The Fall does a fantastic job of setting up a really interesting world and ending on a crazy/satisfying conclusion.

Layers of Fear is an incredible ride through an ever-changing house that demonstrates an understanding of the horror genre. It succeeds in creating a genuinely unsettling house that never relies too hard on cheap scares. Instead it’s filled with moments that’ll stick with me for a long time.

From the many new locales and scenarios, to character development and the story’s twists and turns, Hearts of Stone is an experience that is absolutely worth checking out for fans of The Witcher 3.

This isn’t just a game about dodging rocks, it turns out. It’s about companionship (even if out of circumstance and/or boredom) and realizing that mindlessly following orders might lead to the feeling of being lost in space.

In all, it’s a must-buy if you have at least one other person to play it with on a consistent basis.

Overall, Neon Chrome possesses such a level of quality to every gameplay element that comparisons can unbelievably be drawn to an enhanced Alien Breed and Crusader: No Remorse, therefore Neon Chrome is highly recommended and is now without doubt 10Tons’ best game, especially to fans of top-down shooters and 10Tons’ previous best game Crimsonland.

Headmaster is so much more than what it might appear to be, and it’s one of the biggest surprises for me coming out of the PlayStation VR’s launch. It’s creative, funny, and provides a perfect example of what VR could bring to the table, while also being far more than just a VR tech demo.

I mentioned before that Persona 4 Dancing All Night feels like a celebration of these characters. Yes, this is a fan-service game meant specifically for fans of Persona 4. That’s fine, but it’s also a legitimately fantastic rhythm game with a surprisingly great story mode.

Yakuza 0’s story is full of twists and turns that’ll keep you guessing and make it exceedingly hard to put the controller down. The final few hours of this game are absolutely phenomenal. I’m not sure words can properly do it justice, there’s plenty of major events that cause you to shout out to no one in particular in the middle of the night just from pure excitement.

Lara Croft GO offers a fun spin on a concept that Square Enix Montréal originally nailed with Hitman. Yet again, it offers a distilled version of what makes Tomb Raider fun and presents a pretty unique and challenging puzzle game.

Everything strips out what typically drives us towards the types of games we play. There’s no objective, rules, or scores; there’s just Everything. It presents a toy-box that’s there to simply be fun to play with and, potentially, something that’ll get you thinking about your own life and how you fit into this bizarre universe that we’ve all found ourselves in. It’s not without faults, some parts of the tutorial segments can be unclear or a bit slow for my liking, but none of that detracts from the wild journey I went on. Everything is odd, thought provoking, and quite unlike anything else I’ve ever played.

The music in Pix the Cat is fittingly fun.

Escape Goat 2 proved to be so much more than I ever thought it would be. It’s the kind of puzzle game that takes simple mechanics, challenges you, and makes you feel like a genius. The great soundtrack and mutators just serve to be the cherry on top.

Severed sports a solid story and a great combat system.

This first chapter of King’s Quest really surprised me. Despite having no prior attachment to the series or its characters I am already sold on where this is going.

This might not be something that I go back to often, but it’s left me satisfied in a way that not many games do.

I could sit here and gush about the art style and overall presentation all day, but hey, go download this game and experience it for yourself.

A Boy and His Blob is an easy recommendation and one that had me grinning from ear-to-ear throughout its entirety.

All in all, puzzle game fans owe it to themselves to try out Stealth Inc. 2, you won’t regret it.

Titan Souls is super fun, challenging, and rewarding in a way that not many games are. Also, shooting an arrow through a Yeti’s butt has never felt so great.

While I love Toto Temple Deluxe as a party game, there isn’t too much draw to playing it solo.

Hotline Miami 2 has its issues, but it’s still a standout game.

Whether intentional or not Prison Architect isn’t just a creative outlet to ‘build stuff’, but it’s also made me stop and think about the kinds of things that are needed to run a facility such as this. I suppose that’s why I ensured my inmates had the ability to work and learn during their time in prison so that one day they might have a better shot in the real world. No matter how you run your prison Introversion Software has provided everyone with complete freedom to handle things in any number of ways. More importantly the campaign and a number of other quality-of-life features help to ensure that the game itself is fun and rarely overwhelming.

For newcomers like myself this remaster opens the door for a new generation to experience a piece of gaming history. It has faults, and the remaster might not be as extensive as some would hope, but Grim Fandango has aged well. More importantly Grim Fandango’s new lease on life ensures that it will be easily available to anyone for many years to come.

Flywrench is far more than the simplistic graphics might let on, these colored lines create diabolically difficult obstacle courses that will take the utmost skill to complete. Capitalizing off short levels and instant respawns, Flywrench follows in Super Meat Boy’s footsteps by presenting a challenge that’s harder to put down than it is to finish.

Nightmares from the Deep 2: The Siren’s Call builds off of what made the original great and, potentially at least, lays the groundwork for what could be a great finale with Davy Jones. A slight change to some hidden object puzzles and a fast travel system show that Artifex Mundi are continuing to refine their formula, and I hope it’s a sign that there are more new additions on the horizon.

Semispheres ultimately presents one of the most unique puzzle games I’ve played in quite some time.

iO works great in situations where you might only have a few minutes to work through a level or two. It’s fun to jump in, solve a course, and move on to the next. The focus on momentum makes this feel pretty unique and the game’s 225 courses get a good deal of mileage out of the grow/shrink mechanic. Considering this is a game that I only heard about a week ago, this turned out to be a pleasant little surprise.

The game’s greatest attributes are its humor and its fresh take on traditional RPG elements.

Loot Rascals offers a great spin on the traditional rogue-like and presents a supremely strange and otherworldly setting to keep it all glued together. On top of that, it’s a game that’s finally managed to make inventory management fun!

Four Sided Fantasy isn’t the most memorable thing you’ll play, but there is enjoyment to be had. Each new mechanic that is introduced is smartly implemented, and it feels as if every possible puzzle combination has been achieved throughout gameplay.

It’s a good game overall, I just wish so much of what made the story interesting wasn’t ignored in the end.

With manageable levels that feels like a puzzle themselves, simplistic gameplay, and challenges that will attract dedicated players, Ninja Senki DX is a pretty well rounded package for such a small price tag.

It’s a 2D adventure game that’s light on puzzles and heavy on reading, but I think it strikes an effective balance overall.

Whether you played the PSM version or not Switch Galaxy Ultra is still just really fun.

It has the resource management of a X-Com game, zombies, a ton of fun mini games such as fishing, a job board with missions that reward you with food or ammo, and an endless horde mode (complete with silly humor too). All in all, it’s a perfect all around package for only $9.99 that you can’t go wrong with.

Much like last year’s Grim Fandango Remastered, Day of the Tentacle Remastered brings classic point and click adventure games to a new generation to great effect.

Clever use of colors and perception to create some interesting and challenging puzzles.

Laserlife is worth checking out, but I advise not rushing through the experience. It’s meant to be played in short spurts and not to be indulged all in one sitting.

The Dragon’s Trap is an accurate recreation of the original game which, for the most part, is really great. Your journey in Wonder Boy is all about exploring Monster World in each of the various cursed forms. The lizard form is able to breath fire, as a mouse, you can climb certain walls, the piranha form gives you the ability to swim, the lion is essentially a tank, and as a hawk you’ll soar through the sky. These forms break up the game well and ensures that you’ll periodically be traveling through the world in a slightly different way. They’re also great about opening up new secrets in earlier areas in the game that were previously unreachable. Things never get old and exploring is always rewarded. However, the actual movement in Wonder Boy is quite slippery and can lead to a good deal of frustration. This, combined with the continuous knock-back that can happen in certain boss fights, leads to some aggravating situations that tend to be a small blemish on an otherwise enjoyable game.

The story, characters, level editor, and overall aesthetic are just really cool bonuses to an excellent stealth game.

In all, Siegecraft Commander is a great game. Is melds RTS, Artillery, and Tower Defense games in such a way as to make a fun, accessible console strategy experience. The single-player campaign is long enough to get your money’s worth, but if you have friends to play with, I highly recommend picking this title up.