It took an unusual amount of effort for me to finally play Child of Light, but the game lingers fondly in my memory now that it finally happened. This is a unique and affecting title that is worth seeking out by any who haven’t tried it before. Just be prepared for Ubisoft not to make playing the game an easy task.

Considering Yakuza 5 was my most anticipated game of 2015, it offered me everything I wanted in a game: a great story, tons of action, and wide areas worth getting lost in. While I wouldn't recommend that newcomers start with this installment, even with the reminisce option, there's enough for both novice and veterans of the series to enjoy. Sega offered me the best Christmas present, and it was completely worth the wait.

SteamWorld Heist II is a swashbuckling tale that always points its compass towards something fun. There’s a refreshing amount of freedom to how players can enjoy the title from its adjustable difficulty to the twist of naval combat. A little more work could be done with the character’s personalities, but they all get moments to shine and with lovely visual designs as well as adorable vocal ticks they’ll find a way to enter player’s hearts all the same. The wonderfully catchy music always brings a smile with lots sights and small things that make the world delightful. SteamWorld Heist II is beaming with sunshine that readily lights up anyone’s day.

With phenomenal music and great art direction, combined with an addictive combat system, it's hard to step away from the keyboard and mouse after the first floor.

The overall depth of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and how well it all ties together is astounding. Though higher expectations mean it is less of a stunning revelation than the first game, Monolith Soft has risen up tall to meet those expectations and delivered spectacularly in every area. 2017 has been one of the greatest years in RPG history; Xenoblade Chronicles 2 caps that off in mesmerising fashion by being one of the finest titles of the year.

Trails in the Sky the 3rd is bound to be a very divisive game among Trails fans. Its radically different structure is such a departure from the prior games that it's inevitably going to turn off some players, but at the same time, the fantastic boss battles and charming moments still manage to keep you hooked through what would, in any other circumstance, be a rather monotonous dungeon crawler. Had it not been for the two prior games of history, I doubt it would be able to hold up as well as it does; indeed, if you haven't played the previous titles, Trails in the Sky the 3rd would be a confusing mess. If, however, like so many Trails fans, you've fallen in love with the cast and want one last adventure with them, Trails in the Sky the 3rd does an admirable job of providing just that.

Atelier Sophie 2: Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream would seem to be the very definition of a sequel which no one wanted. The Mysterious trilogy as a whole received a mixed reception, and not much more was expected of this. And yet, what we’ve got here is a well-crafted narrative in an original setting with a cast of properly developed characters and a plot that actually knows where to find the beat. When I started this game, I was not expecting to find the best Atelier game of its generation, but the development team at Gust has proven with Sophie 2 that they can learn from experience, leveling up in knowledge and skill just as the alchemists do to provide a more polished product.

Ultimately, Arceus is a fun title that does an excellent job rewarding all facets of the Pokémon experience, which will undoubtedly end up flying past a lot of RPGamers who would enjoy it because of embarrassingly poor graphics. For those willing to tolerate the mediocre presentation, an entertaining experience is here for the taking. Hopefully, further experiences in the Legends style will be quickly forthcoming.

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is about new beginnings and, speaking as a relative beginner to the franchise, it is a great adventure. The artwork and character designs are just a treat, and it’s always worth getting to the next island just to see what big bad resides there. The combat system is snappy, making it a fun way to fight to the next heartfelt story beat that runs the whole gamut of emotions. Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined is an eye-catching and enjoyable appeal to wide audiences, and serves as a great example for the franchise.

Horizon Forbidden West embraces everything about its predecessor and makes strides in producing an even more compelling world to explore, with intense combat and story moments, and shiny new robo-dinosaurs to punch in the face. I cannot wait to see where Aloy and her companions’ story goes next.

Those who played and did not like the series, or who are bored with it, will find little here to change their minds. The Disgaea brand of near limitless levelling (and grinding to go with it), has always been an acquired taste, and the formula is starting to wear thin.

It’s pleasing to see how strongly Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic has held up and how well it fits on the Nintendo Switch, making one wonder just how many other classic RPGs will see new life on it. For those who haven’t played it before, the Switch port is an ideal time to find out why BioWare’s 2000s output is so highly regarded. For those who have, it’s a great opportunity to recover those fond memories on an incredibly convenient platform.

The game is a cohesive and stunning effort that keeps you coming back for more.

In spite of its technical issues, Marvel’s Midnight Suns is an easy recommendation to strategy and superhero fans or anyone who’s been missing the more traditional BioWare experience. Its tactical combat stands out in the genre and is consistently compelling. The plot is no great shakes but the characters are excellent renditions of decades-old favorites. It’s also a well-paced game, never getting bogged down in any one form of play for too long but free-form enough to allow for players to do that if they wish. Not only is Midnight Suns a great Marvel game, it’s a great game in its own right.

Lost in Random: The Eternal Die is a very well executed roguelite action RPG that brings players back to the fascinating world of Random. While the foremost focus this time isn’t the narrative, the combat system has received such a shot of adrenaline that it more than makes up for it. Combat flows fast and frantic, with a wealth of offensive options mixing melee combat with dice- and card-based attacks. Though there is some necessary repetition that sets in due to the roguelike nature of the gameplay, the many synergies possible between various moving parts of the battle and upgrade systems make for a wealth of build flexibility. Anyone with any interest in roguelikes like Hades will want to give it a whirl, while the dark fairy tale atmosphere will be appealing to others. The game wants to present a polished, not revolutionary, experience and manages to deliver on this in spades.

While not significantly different from Diamond/Pearl, the expanded initial Pokédex alone makes the nearly sixty-hour game far more enjoyable.

I cared more for these characters and the world than I ever did in previous Assassin’s Creed games, and I think that’s part of why this reboot is so successful. Playing Assassin’s Creed Odyssey left me feeling valiant and triumphant as I worked my way up the cultist food chain, and and I was always excited to see what Kassandra was off to discover next.

Valkyria Chronicles II does gameplay right, but lacks polish in other areas.

The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails is a fun, breezy action RPG with an interesting story and great cast. Though combat can become repetitive and frustrating, it’s never enough to significantly detract from an addictive gameplay loop. Its boss battles and visual performance are excellent highlights, even if its simplistic look alludes to its decade-old portable origins. Trails veterans should enjoy some of the references to the main series and lore-building, while any action RPG fan will find lots to love about Falcom’s latest effort to bring the entire series to English-speaking audiences.

OFF is an unnerving dream that steeps one foot into a fever-soaked nightmare. This surrealist approach makes it a truly trendsetting experience with how the characters, story, and visual presentation meld into a highly artistic personal journey that is not like anything else. Combat is always serviceable and the new balanced approach to buffs and debuffs allows extra time for deciphering puzzle clues, making them less frustrating to deal with. The nuanced layers added from the original soundtrack are definitely missed, but the muted melancholy the new soundtrack provides is still a trip to experience. If surrealism mixed with an uncanny sense of wrongness sounds enticing, then OFF will not disappoint.

Ys: Memories of Celceta has a lot going for it. The game's battle system is fast and very engaging, the story really takes off in the latter half, and the soundtrack is engrossing and memorable.

I felt both so happy and sad when I finished Atelier Ryza 3. On the one hand, I was so happy that the story stuck the landing and Gust truly learned from the missteps in Atelier Ryza 2. On the other hand, I was so heartbroken that my time with these characters whom I have grown to love throughout three games was finally coming to an end. While there are a few hiccups, overall Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key is a brilliant send-off for Ryza, her friends, and fans of the series as a whole.

Aside from dropping the popular Friend Safari, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire bring all the improvements and features from X/Y to the world of Ruby/Sapphire as expected. The presentation has minor issues, mechanics retained from Ruby/Sapphire are still not fun, and the diminished difficulty and lack of any draw for newcomers make this a less appealing game than X/Y for those who are picky about which Pokémon titles they play.

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is a delightful reworking of a 16-bit era game, bringing it to a modern generation while keeping true to the art of the original. The challenging combat and depth of the original are completely intact, with new features and many modern niceties to make things less obtuse without hurting challenge or depth. Game progression is wide open, encouraging a wonderful sense of exploration and experimentation. A variety of options allow players to make the game easier and harder as they prefer. This is easily the best game the SaGa series has produced thus far, and an experience any JRPG fan should not miss.

As a whole, CrossCode is a great game with a memorable story and great combat. It makes a great transition from the PC to the Switch aside from a few minor technicalities, and now players can enjoy this game on the go. The gameplay is a joy, taking the Zelda and Secret of Mana styles of gameplay and evolving it into something much better. However, the bombardment of puzzles throughout the game will turn off those who prefer more ‘action’ in their RPG formula. Nonetheless, this game provides a unique experience with plenty of the MMO-esque options and an incredible sense of world-building that will leave players with plenty to do and explore.

Valkyria Chronicles is considered one of the greatest RPGs of the last generation, so this true sequel coming ten years later always had some lofty expectations to look up to. The combat significantly improves upon the original and RPGamers that value interesting, strategic battles will be extremely pleased with Valkyria Chronicles 4. However, it doesn’t quite manage to emulate the same interesting, thought-provoking plot that dealt with delicate themes in a mature manner. Nevertheless, while the narrative of VC4 doesn’t reach those lofty heights, sixty hours quickly disappeared in the course of playing it. Perhaps that’s more indicative of its quality than comparing it to something it’s not.

Etrian Untold 2 delivers the same kind of experience the first Etrian Untold did, but with further refinement.

Aether & Iron is the sort of game I like to see exist. It populates a novel setting with an interesting cast of characters and uses them to build upon a solid gameplay structure, while trying out plenty of its own ideas. There are definitely flaws within, but despite these, it’s ultimately a very enjoyable game to play through, and I would be very happy to continue Gia Randazzo’s story in the future.