While Episode 3 improves on Episode 2 in terms of plausibility and points of interest, this is likely due to the structure of the script, and less about any conscious improvements Telltale has made, especially with regard to how quickly they put out Episode 3.

A great dungeon crawler whose quote-unquote sexy artwork means you've probably already decided if you're going to play it or not.

That pervasive feeling of emptiness more or less encapsulates Egglia in a nutshell — er, eggshell. Lovely art and localization aside, it just feels like there isn't much game here. I have an aversion to mobile games precisely because so many are built around waiting for things to happen (or worse, paying money to make them happen faster). I hoped Egglia, backed by an experienced team of talented creators, might buck that trend. It doesn't. I was right to be wary.

Dark Deity is a title that doesn’t take many chances, but its few gambles pay off. Its handful of innovations to the Fire Emblem formula produce a challenging, character-driven adventure that may yet develop a following of its own. While a lack of polish, forgettable story, and limited gameplay loop hold Dark Deity back from acclaim, an endearing cast and deep combat and customization systems render it a force to be reckoned with among the Switch’s crowded market of SRPGs.

While I enjoyed my time in space in Episode 1 of The Expanse, a part of me still wanted more. Unfortunately, that’s not only because it was so enthralling that I couldn’t wait to see the other side of the cliffhanger ending, but because it’s so short. On a second playthrough, I picked all the opposite choices of my first run, but the consequences are too far-reaching to feel any difference. Episode 1 mainly serves as a mere reintroduction to Camina and her surroundings, which are new to fans of the show and newbs alike. It’s The Expanse, not The Compact, and I get the feeling I’ll need to see the rest of the series to have a firm position on where it lands.

Wizardry: PGotMO is one of those games where every step could be your last, but you’ll be entertained making those steps. Despite being a foundation of the genre, it does not provide an easy entry point for new players. It requires a high degree of patience, and this slow approach won’t be to everyone’s tastes. The graphics, sounds, and overall user experience are detailed and well thought out, with some lovely homages to the original in both setting and the number of OG player options. For a game that laid the blueprint for so much videogame history that followed it, taking a step back into the Proving Grounds felt like entering hallowed ground, like remembering a dream in vivid, modern detail. Just know that such a dream can become a quivering nightmare without warning. Be prepared to possibly lose everything in a single run, or a single combat, or even a single fudged combat round, and it’s a grand old time.

A slightly below average game tarnished by bugs and glitches to the point where it simply can't be recommended.

While Summon Night: Twin Age does not push the envelopes in any area, it has a certain charm to it that can't be denied.

If you’ve enjoyed the Disgaea series in the past, you’ll like Disgaea 6. If you’ve never played it, you can jump in at any entry, and this is a good one to go with. Either way, you’ll get more enjoyment out of the game if you are judicious in using the new auto-play feature. After all, why let the game alone have all the fun?

Frankly, with the hundreds of other great JRPGs to play, it's hard for me to recommend spending the money and time to play this one

There are flashes of brilliance in Cassette Boy; the perspective gimmick applied to a top-down Zelda framework is delightfully novel. The game has a cozy retro aesthetic and a breezy, lo-fi soundtrack. If only the game had not been so slavish to its inspirations, ditched the lackluster combat & levelling system, and leaned into the complexity the shrine puzzles hint at underneath the surface. Instead, I’m left with a game brimming with promise that goes frustratingly unrealized.

Episode 3 has been my favorite so far, to the point that I'm somewhat doubtful that Telltale can top it with either of the remaining installments. The bar has been set high this time around, with a perfectly paced plot and just the right balance between action and narrative. My only real complaint concerns a reveal that comes right at the end of the episode.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order doesn't do much wrong, save for its camera angles, especially if you're just looking to have a fun time with some friends in the Marvel Universe. Overall, it is a decent action RPG that I had fun with while it lasted. However, if you aren't someone with a passing fondness for Marvel lore in general, there are other action RPGs on the Switch that you might want to try out instead.

Play it on the PC if you haven't done so. If, like me, you're an old dude that has played this so many times you know almost everything by heart, you'll enjoy having it to take with you wherever you go.

Honestly, if you want more Tales of Arise, just go play the base game again. It’s still fun to play and has better storytelling and characterization, along with the added bonus of being a full, complete game all on its own. The only people I can imagine enjoying this DLC are diehard fans who simply want “more” Tales of Arise and spend more time with the characters. If that’s what you’re looking for, you came to the right place, for better or worse.

I truly wish Freedom Wars could live up to my expectations. Stories about authoritarian forces with absurd standards of criminality are more necessary than ever. I think we could also use more action games emphasizing vertical environments and mobility. But as it stands, I don’t think I’ll be returning to the Panopticon or working off my sentence any time soon. The prospect sounds more like a prison sentence than a fun time.

There are some circumstances where I wouldn’t hesitate at all to give Iron Danger a strong recommendation, and others where I would advise to wait for more in the series or another entry from the same team. For people who have a strong appreciation for SRPG gameplay and love to overthink challenging battles, this is your game. If you really need a game with the sparse, bleak feel of a Norse epic, you’ll find that here. And definitely, for anyone who knows the Kalevala or spends inordinate amounts of time discussing different representations of mythology or old folklore in games, this is especially your game, and I’ll be wanting to talk to you about how the game represents Lowhee and Ilmarinen.

Despite the strange premise, the odd combination of franchises, and the gameplay departure from the main Super Robot series, Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier manages to thoroughly strike a blow at the JRPG mold while maintaining a level of fun uncommon in RPGs.

In a way, Etrange Overlord is exactly what many of us hope for from smaller titles. It has flair, it is not some object forced out by cookie-cutter conformism, and most of all, it is experimental, reaching for something larger studios would be afraid to touch. It’s also compact, with play times unlikely to greatly exceed 16 hours, except for the most avid completionists. The end result does not quite achieve celestial perfection, falling some way short of the mark, but as a famous fallen angel once said, “It’s better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.”

I finished Another Code: Recollection in about 15 hours, and even though I’m being a bit harsh on the puzzle design, I really enjoyed the time I spent with it. It’s a good remake that makes two interesting stories available to experience again after over a decade. That is my big takeaway; these remakes are about the stories. The excellent graphics overhaul, reimagined locations, and solid performances make it clear that telling interesting stories was the primary goal here. The puzzle design came second, and that might not be what every fan of the original games is hoping for. Another Code: Recollection reimagines two classic point-and-click adventure games as visual novels for beginners, and it does an excellent job meeting that goal. This remake doesn’t make the original games obsolete, but it’s the definitive way to experience the story of Ashley Robins.

A fun game that offers a lot of variety between classes and partners, but difficulty spikes later on require you to miss out on it in favor of specific choices to have a chance at success.

Star Ocean: First Departure R is the quintessential version of an enjoyable old-school sci-fi fantasy JRPG.

It's all well and good that Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot looks and feels like you're re-experiencing the show. That's why it's all the more disappointing that the game makes for a really lacklustre RPG. It's overstuffed with unnecessary mechanics just to try and make it feel like an RPG, but it fails because it forgets to make any of the systems actually matter. It doesn't need them. Essentially, if you love Dragon Ball in any form, you'll probably love Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, but if you're looking for an in-depth RPG with engaging mechanics and combat, you're not going to get it here.

While it isn’t a perfect game, Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Heart of the Forest is a rather unique and clever take on the visual novel genre that combines it with some truly engaging RPG elements. I found myself feeling immensely satisfied with my first playthrough, even if not every path I took ended up being ideal in the end. I found myself already pondering just what decisions I might make differently on a second (or even third one) given how much evolution the title does. That in and of itself is a sign of an enjoyable game to me!

In other words, for those still interested, Alpha Protocol should be low on the to-play list.

All in all, Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl provide a great way to experience the Sinnoh region for first-timers, complete with quality of life features that keep the game from feeling dated. For long-time fans, Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl provide an accessible, no-frills version of the original Diamond & Pearl with a few minor feature updates and a lovely fresh coat of paint. For me, the improved presentation was enough to make for an enjoyable playthrough, but players looking for the definitive version of fourth generation Pokémon, a content-rich postgame, or a well-balanced experience, may just want to dust off their old copy of Platinum.

The changes has its ups and downs, but NIS has produced another fine game. The game has a sluggish start, but it picked up the pace by the end.

As an inexpensive and relatively short title by a one-person team, it is hard for me to lend much weight to the game’s misses. Garden Story’s characters and world have a magnetism; it’s hard to stop spending time with them once you’ve begun, and once you’ve finished the game, it’s effortless to stop back in. If you are happy to delve into an experience where everything but the gameplay shines, then Garden Story is definitely worth checking out.