With Elex Piranha Bytes bites off more than it can chew, unfortunately: the game is huge, and we're sure a great effort went into the storytelling and world building, but the combat system is just too clunky and the difficulty curve is off, too much to recommend it.

South Park: The Fractured but Whole is a nice sequel, with so much fun and irreverence, but, at the same time, it's repetitive.

With a below average combat system, a lot of technical issues and almost no story to speak of, Hob is a hard sell for lovers of the previous Runic games. Still, it is graced by a very good art design and clever puzzles.

"Who needs you?" is a very well-written episode, and it is intriguing to notice that it just doesn't care about the not-so-interesting villain anymore. Player's choices now have an actual weight and we are curious to learn how the final episode will deal with it.

The Evil Within 2 is a very solid and thrilling survival horror. Despite some not-so-good tension-breaking sandbox sections, filled with unnecessary fetch quests, this sequel is better than its predecessor: better game rhythm, better story, no more frustration and a compelling skill system.

FIFA 18, is a good start point for the series with a Nintendo Console. There are a few gameplay problems, some modes aren't available, but the game itself, in the portable mode, is very enjoyable.

Chaos;Child is yet another great entry in the Science Adventure series, with a peculiar but believable cast of characters and a story that will unravel in the less expected ways. An easy recommendation for visual novel fans.

Dragon's Dogma Dark Arisen is good today as it was back in 2012, as it's still a unique take on the open world action RPG genre. We would have liked some new content and 60 fps, but at a bargain price, it's still recommended.

An interesting mix between RTS and tower defense, Mushroom Wars 2 keeps on challenging with fast-paced, tactical battles. A suggested game, even if it can be a bit frustrating at times - especially if you are not so patient.

The Coma: Recut is full of cliches. If you've already played White Day, you can imagine what kind of survival horror it is: you'll find an annoying killer that will follow you throughout the game, you have to find the right item to go on, you'll suffer from the backtracking and you'll have to run away from dangers of hide yourself. Repeat for three or four hours and that's it.

After six successful games and a brilliant spin off, the Layton saga begins anew with this episode, but the end result it's not on par with the quality level we were used to. It's simpler, a little shorter and, more than this, it's double the price if compared to the identical mobile version.

Shadow of War brings the video game to epic: it's an exciting tale in Middle-earth, less rich than Christian Cantamessa did with the first one, but at the same time throbbing.

As if one of the best titles of the GBA library wasn't enough, Nintendo and Alpha Dream have put a lot of effort in this new version of their classic, with a brand new (albeit short) campaign and a great job on the technical side: this is the way to introduce good old games to new audiences.

Hidden Dragon Legend tries to do more than it can truly do. The combat system is deep but with too many problems, many game sections are frustrating and the game has overall bad animations.

Forza Motorsport 7 is the sum of all the experiences of the series to this point, with more than 700 cars, 30 circuits (some of them with a complete dynamic weather) and a great progression system.

NBA 2k18 for Nintendo Switch is the result of the good work of Visual Concept. The differences in the gameplay with the major versions are tiny and the game is extremely enjoyable either in the portable mode and in the docked mode. There are few bugs, but they don't ruin the overall experience.

LOGistICAL Italy isn't a game for everyone, but if you agree to learn all the mechanics of the game, it can become your best hobby, because it leaves to you the decision of how to play entirely the game.

We fell in love with Battle Chasers Nightwar for its character design and wonderful illustrations, but we stayed for its combat system, lengthy campaign and clever New Game Plus mode, which allows us to begin anew and experience a different dungeon layout.

Steamworld Dig 2 builds a solid metroidvania explorative game upon the foundations laid by its predecessor. Better combat, better level design, better graphics and more in depth gameplay makes this one of the best indie titles available on Nintendo Switch.

Whether you are a causal or a hardcore gamer, Modern Combat Versus will be the best mobile shooter on which you could lay your hands this year. Gameloft offers 12 characters you can go wild with in ranked matches, without compromises on the customization system. This brand new experience is enriched by astounding visuals and a perfect control system. That said, the game is not perfect. You just can't ignore the lack of content at day one and there still are some worrying balance issues.

Devolver Digital hits the target one more time. Ruiner is a really solid game, with great personality and gameplay.

Apart from the PC version, which still wins thanks to mouse and keyboard controls, this is the best way to experience the ironic masterpiece called Thimbleweed Park. Don't let the old school vibe turn you off: thanks to the Casual mode, this is a timeless classic that should be played by anyone who was born and raised between the late '70s and the early '90s.

This is definitely the best version of Yo-Kai Watch 2, and we recommend it to the uninitiated of the franchise, but we wouldn't do the same with people who already finished any of the previous versions.

Cuphead is a hardcore game with a beautiful art design that recalls the classic cartoons of the '30s. Based on splendid boss fights and with some "run and gun" levels, MDHR Studios' game is challenging and satisfying.

We won't waste time in small chat: Final Fantasy IX is a timeless masterpiece. It's a nostalgic medieval ballad, that takes the player's hand to guide him into a fantasy world. The game was optimized for PlayStation 4, but the remaster suffers some little flaws such as old textures and pixelated pre-rendered environments. If you never experimented this videogame fantasy symphony you should buy it without thinking, but if you also bought it on PSX or PS3 you will not find any reason to take it again.

If you like the first Total War: Warhammer you have no choice: you must buy this new Total War: Warhammer II

Like its predecessor, Cars 3 is a decent tie-in that shouldn't have any trouble entertaining a younger audience, although it's a little hard to suggest the purchase to more expert gamers.

Fall of Light is a good Souls-like, but it can differences himself from the usual dark fantasy games.

Divinity: Original Sin II is a new landmark in the RPG universe. The world is immersive and dynamic, the combat-system deep and versatile, and the narration solid and engaging. The only problem is the beginning difficulty for new players, after that you can discover one of the best gaming experiences ever.

The Initiate is a good puzzle game, a mystery that will intrigue you till the last scene. Too bad for the hasty finale.

Episode 3 deepens the story with new characters, trying to explain who is the Admin, but on the other hand there's no real action: the element we appreciated in the previous chapter.

Super Hydorah is great shmup, perfect for the fans of old school games like R-Type, Gradius and Darius. It offers a well-balanced difficulty and has a high replay value.

FIFA 18 is a very good football game, probably the best coming out this year, with new gameplay that is more slow-paced and gives more space to players with great technique. The AI is eventually more Human, but the keepers are worse than the previous year. FUT is great as usual, and The Journey two brings the new modes of FIFA to a whole new level.

Atomega is a nice shooter from the studio behind Grow Home. It's simple to approach and entertaining to play, though it has only a map and a game mode.

Everything is changed, but Nidhogg 2 is still fun and addictive.

PES 2018 significantly improves gameplay, animations and feelings during the game. Despite the squad license and the single player experience, it's still less attractive than the other big football game.

NBA Live 18 is a good game, far from the best of the genre, but enjoyable and improved from the last chapter. If you aren't familiar with this kind of game, this could be the game for you.

Even though it's not as fresh as it was back when the first chapter launched, the base concept around which Danganronpa V3 revolves is still very strong, and, aided by brilliant writing and strong character design, makes this visual novel hard to miss for all the fans of the genre.

WRC 7 is better than its predecessor but is still far from its direct rival DiRT. It offers a good career mode, with all the official tracks of FIA Rally championship and many improvements. The physics of the vehicles and the graphics have to be improved.

Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite introduces some twists to the formula that will likely be divisive for the hardcore fans of the series. However, a compelling story mode and the balanced introduction of the Infinity Stones will satisfy new and old players alike.

Pokkén Tournament DX is easily the definitive edition of the game, thanks both to graphical enhancements and additional content. At its core, Pokkén is a game that manages to appeal both to hardcore gamers and casual gamers, who will find themselves engaged by the accessible yet tactical gameplay.

Project CARS 2 is able to evolve the content of the previous game in the series. Madness Engine can bring new life to the tracks with the Live Track 3 tool, even if there are a few problems with some tracks and some cars.

NBA 2K18 is the definitive basket simulation, a game that will make basketball fans play for months. This year's defects are difficult to find and the new elements of its gameplay are really engaging.

Vacant has an intriguing narrative premise, but it suffers from too many technical flaws. The story is decent and the price is competitive: you can give it a try.

Oriental Empires is a solid 4X, but with a lack of innovations.

Dishonored: Death of the Outsider is a good stand alone adventure that deepens the story of Billie Lurk. It offers roughly three-four hours of gameplay and brand new powers to experiment with.

Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition is surely the definitive edition of the game, although it adds very little to the original outing. New skins and Kung Foot tournament are not enough to warrant a second purchase of the game; however, Rayman Legends remains a must-have even four years after its original release if you haven't played it before.

It's finally time for something to happen to the Eternity Forge and our beloved Guardians. "More than a feeling" is entertaining and more balanced than the second episode, but it's more packed with action and, therefore, with a ton of QTEs.

Baja: Edge of Control HD is a better game than what the original used to be; however, the lack of diversity among the tracks makes the game fun only in the short term, and even the multiplayer modes can't do much to help that.

Bigger, better and badass: this is XCOM 2: War of the Chosen, with tons of new content, foes and units.

A lot could have gone wrong with this remake of Metroid II, since Mercury Steam's last work didn't impress and the franchise was dormant for far too long. Luckily, Samus Returns is a very good metroidvania and an honorable episode of one of the dearest Nintendo franchises.

A funny, entertaining, and awesome action puzzle. An enjoyable "Escape from Alcatraz" adventure, with a lot of humor and great multiplayer modes.

Ys VIII is on of the best episodes (if not the best) of the franchise created by Falcom. A frantic combat system, a huge map and an enjoyable exploration make it a great adventure, not to be missed by any PS4 role playing fan.

Resident Evil: Revelations is a great and enjoyable survival horror. Perhaps, the PS4/One version isn’t exactly the best way to go, but it’s certainly a great porting of a game made in 2012.

Destiny 2 is a great game, better than the first one because of its many more end-game activities, all well-structured and organized. The story is amazing, made of very beautiful cut-scenes and characters written along the lines of most contemporary movies. Unfortunately the difficulty is low and the progression of the Guardian could be very quick and easy. Despite this, the game is great to play and share with friends: waiting on the raids and the trials of the nine, we could easily say that Destiny 2 will be loved by fans and newbies.

One of the best RPGs of the recent years finally lands on consoles, with a new (and mostly good) UI and both of the expansions bundled in, and, even after more than two years, can still be a very good choice for all the role playing games aficionados on both Ps4 and Xbox One.

Don't Knock Twice is an awful tie-in, even played in VR. It lasts less than an hour, jump-scares are predictable and there aren't any gameplay elements despite some interaction with the environment.

It's far too easy and its combat system seems to be too dumbed down, but we've had a great time with Monster Hunter Stories nonetheless. We can't stop farming eggs and monsters, and we're doing it well after the campaign was over.

Absolver is a unique fighting game, with its own style and direction. The depths of the gameplay sometimes struggles with the confused brawls on screen.

Knack 2 is funny, entertaining and represents a good mix between platform, action and puzzle. It's too bad that it is monotonous and too easy, even at the hardest difficulty.

Warriors All-Stars is a dress rehearsal. It's a great party with many special guests, waiting for the upcoming Dynasty Warriors 9. It maintains the funny and the canonical gameplay of the series, and it also features good ideas that try to deep the experience, in a manner similar to RPG. Is it is now, the game is a very good example of fanservice, but it also may represent a good starting point for newcomers.

Windjammers is the umpteenth blast from the past, the golden age era of gaming. In 2017, is still a great sport game that didn't age a single day.

A very good episode with a lot of action and new characters.

Life is Strange: Before the Storm is a good prequel, very respectful of the source material. Chloe and Rachel are a great couple and the beginning of this new story is quite satisfying.

Nothing really new for Hearthstone, but a pretty cool adventure with three wings and totally free for us.

Everybody's Golf is still the funniest and freshest golf game you remembered on the previous PlayStation systems. Now it has a new focus on online multiplayer, and it works very well.

Last Day of June is a great emotional adventure from Ovosonico, with some flaws in its puzzles sections. Not a masterpiece, but a game that is certainly worth playing.

Starcraft Remastered reminds to us why the original RTS was the king.

A crazy and extremely fun mash-up, embellished by an excellent combat system and a compelling soundtrack by the eternal Grant Kirkhope.

White Day: A Labyrinth Named School is a good remake of a decent survival horror. The game structure is quite affected by the consequences of aging. Some terrible game design choices are very easy to spot and weigh heavily on the enjoyment of the game. The aficionados will love it despite its flaws, while the younger generation might not be convinced by such an old school game.

With several improvements, F1 2017 is more beautiful and more complex than F1 2016. A great game, but not yet a masterpiece.

If you are a fan of the series or not, Yakuza Kiwami is a title that you must play to (re)discover the origins of Kazuma Kiryu: the legendary Dragon of Dojima.

Another great work by Creative Assembly. Total War: Warhammer slowly became an Opera Magna.

Chloe and Nadine's adventure demonstrates that the world of Uncharted can tell many other stories even without the iconic Nathan Drake. The Lost Legacy is a successful spin-off that includes the very best of the series and offers a new and interesting point of view.

Collar X Malice is a well-crafted visual novel, with thoughtful aesthetics and elaborated plot. The story itself is deep with lot of possible interpretations. But this game also features all limits of its genre: dialogues are often too long and there are design limits that are not common to the contemporary audience. Those will be able to overcome these flaws will discover a deep story with great replayability.

Even on PlayStation 4, Cities: Skylines is still the greatest city builder around.

Matterfall is a nostalgic iteration of Nineties' coin-ops. It's an hybrid shooter, that combines side-scrolling with flying sections and platforming. It throws the player into the gameplay without premises, making him to survive among aliens, robots and bullet-hell levels. Its challenging gameplay will be a great thing for every person who lived the last coin-op era, but also modern gamers may have the will to try it.

Agents of Mayhem is an interesting experiment, but with short legs. While on one hand we have twelve agents all different and fun to use in fast-paced and dynamic gameplay mechanics, on the other hand we have a gameplay experience ruined mostly for the repetition of missions background and the copious presence of bugs and glitches ready to make you start a great run over again.

Observer is a brilliant commingling of cyberpunk and horror. It demonstrates how interesting the game concept is and how much Bloober Team has grown.

Sonic Mania is the return to the 2D gameplay style that the community has been waiting for for a long time, and it's one of the revelations of this year. A game made by fans, for the fans.

Sudden Strike 4 is an old style RTS, with classic control and game mechanics, but has some serious problems about the AI and pathfinding.

David Attenborough’s Atomic Ghost Fleet is a unique experience with some flaws. The quality of the underwater experience does not match our expectation. Overall, we recommend this mainly to the true WW2 enthusiasts.

An original indie title with a fun and simple gameplay, which unfortunately suffers from its multiplayer-only nature.

Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 is a balanced and well-done porting of the Blue Bomber's Saga. It includes chapter from 7 to 10 and show Capcom love to his own legendary creature. A must have for Mega Man's fans of the entire world.

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice demonstrates that videogames can be the perfect medium to tell a story about complex themes. The depiction of a disease like psychosis is believable and deep. The story works out very well, but the puzzles and the combat system are the game elements that push back the the overall quality of this very interesting project.

A pure and simple 2D action: Not much variety, but a lot of blood, violence and fighting.

Sine Mora EX represents the perfect chance to finally play the title for people who haven't yet done so, thanks to some new features, a good graphics optimization and the co-op story mode.

Shadow Tactics is as good as it was some months ago on PC, with the added benefit that on both PS4 and Xbox One there are fewer worthy real time strategy games. We sincerely hope to see more of these games in the near future on consoles.

Even though we didn't experience any input lag during our playtime with Patapon Remastered, we're not fully satisfied with this remaster, which adds nothing in term of new content and doesn't alleviate the little problems the original had. Still, Patapon is as fun as it was ten years ago.

The story, the characters and the dialogue of Tacoma demonstrate Fullbright's evolution. The interaction system and the complete control over the story is interesting, though the mid-sections are dull and boring.

GRIDD: Retroenhanced is an excellent cyberpunk shoot 'em up for anyone looking for a fast and stylish title, inspired by movies like TRON. Well done, Antab Studios.

Downward is a first-person platform made by Caracal Games, where fun and frustration coexist at the same time.

A twin-stick shooter with good potential, but also afflicted by bugs and problems.

Theseus hides some good ideas, but boring and repetitive gameplay, along with an outdated technology and a questionable use of the PS VR, prevent it from being a good game.

Sundered is a good metroidvania with astonishing art design. The procedural generation of the enemies is a bit problematic and the difficulty is not well-balanced. Nonetheless, it represents a significant step forward for Thunder Lotus Games.

Miitopia is a simple yet appealing JRPG, especially for those who fell in love with the craziness of Tomodachi Life. Just don't expect a full scale, ambitious JRPG because you won't find it here.

Aerea is too simple and repetitive to be considered a good game. There aren't changes of the rhythm of the gameplay and the game lacks its own identity.

Hey! Pikmin is a colourful spin off that doesn't stand up nor to the quality of the main titles of the series neither with the best 2D platformers on 3DS. Still, it's a solid choice for platform lovers and the younger audience.