Late Shift is interactive storytelling at its finest, a Full-Motion Video (FMV) title where Choices Matter. This gripping "crime thriller" puts players in the hot seat, allowing them to make decisions that drastically affect the course of events that take place in the London night. With seven different conclusions and choices that are genuinely difficult, Late Shift delivers on what it promises: An "interactive, cinematic experience."

The amount of hard work that went into developing Hidden Folks is impressive. No points or timers mean there’s no rush to hurry through a puzzle, and the grandness of each level means you’re assured to spend plenty of time sifting through the world. The sheer number of things to find, and ways to do find them, also increases the replay value for anyone without a photographic memory.

Bringing a new level of complexity and strategy with it, Gathering Storm forces you to participate in diplomacy in later eras and offers new ways to succeed with certain play styles.

The Red Strings Club is a highly original and well-polished title. The cyberpunk mystery is deeply satisfying, with a heavy story that explores interesting ethical questions and the gameplay mechanics, score, and a visual aesthetic that complement the plot wonderfully. The only real flaw of this title is a playthrough length that leaves you wanting more.

Aven Colony is a planetary colonization, city-building simulator that salutes the memes of classic sci-fi while making a memorable impression all its own. The objective-driven campaign mode introduces mechanics and controls on a smooth difficulty curve which you can manage organically by how fast you expand your city and how rigorously you prepare for threats. While at times shallowly implemented, the trade, production, and expedition systems offer a variety of options for you to complete your goals. Simulation noobs will find this release easy to pick up, but only veterans can appreciate all the small details that went into Aven Colony's design.

Atelier Firis is a great addition and continuation to the Atelier series at large. The series may not appeal to players who prefer nearly non-stop action and combat, though if you enjoyed previous Atelier titles, there is a high chance you will come to relish Atelier Firis. The drive for pushing through the story builds slowly, but, once you reach this point, it's unlikely you'll be able to put this game down.

Halcyon 6: Lightspeed Edition is very much (if not only) a sum of its parts; luckily, Massive Damage made sure that each of those parts is well-executed. Hopefully, the developers continue their momentum and keep adding gameplay elements; with more variation in crew selection, the ability to actually build a ship with components you gather, and an expansion of the world in which the game persists, Halcyon 6: Lightspeed Edition can be a triumph.

Summerset is a great second chapter for Elder Scrolls Online (ESO), allowing players to explore, challenge themselves with new and dangerous enemies, and learn about the Psijic Order that had disappeared over 300 years earlier.

In the brief time it takes to complete it, Old Man’s Journey plays out the calm yet deliberate journey of an aging man, set to right the wrongs of his youth. Here is a title that shines a positive philosophy onto a player’s path, reminding us that not everything about life must be hard and complicated. The Old Man’s Journey made me cry, but it also left me with a smile.

This light-hearted visual novel is the equivalent of indulging in a giant piece of chocolate cake. You know it's not what your doctor would recommend; it's mostly empty calories. But nevertheless, it looks amazing, the rush from the sugar is pleasing, and you enjoy every single bite.

Hellenica fits neatly into a spot somewhere between the classic tactical RPG’s that have been around seemingly forever, and the new wave of casual story-driven RPG’s that are so popular today.

Warriors All-Stars is a superb title, with relatively no issues whatsoever. The entire roster of playables come from a fairly wide array of Koei Tecmo titles, nearly guaranteeing you’ll find someone with whom you’re familiar, unless this is your first Koei Tecmo game — but you needn’t necessarily be familiar with the studio to enjoy this release. The RPG elements, hero cards, and regard (friendship) levels, combined with over a dozen different endings, ensure replayability and sustained play value.

For an initial exposure to a cycling team management simulator, the experience is incredibly favorable. Anyone with interest in professional cycling would relish Pro Cycling Manager 17, and it might also perhaps help improve their own pedaling mastery in the process. However, if you’re not a hardcore fan of the sport, be aware that this may be too many spreadsheets and strategic decisions, and not enough action. Now, back to the spandex.

If you’re terrified this will be the same experience as all the other entries in the Far Cry franchise, don’t be. You’ll be pleasantly surprised. While there isn’t revolutionary reinvention, Ubisoft Montreal has proven they’re listening to their fans. It’s everything you’d expect, with a ton of extras thrown on top. The destruction of stealth and the infuriatingly inconsistent AI are exceptions, but everything else that has done the series good in the past does it justice once again. The arcade mode alone shows enough potential to produce content far beyond the main campaign. This is a great game that shines a bright future on a once-declining franchise.

Whether you want to manage every aspect of your team, or you just want to sit back, build a team for play style, and auto-play games straight-through to the offseason, Pro Basketball Manager 2017 delivers. Developers Umix Studios and Cyanide have successfully created an experience that is as intense, or as moderate, as any that a sports sim nut could hope for.

The first installment of what looks to be an interesting series, Misadventures of Laura Silver: Chapter 1 brings polish and interactivity to the visual novel genre.

While there are dozens of Sci-Fi Survival games to choose from, ION LANDS has blended a remarkable combination of elements to create a saga that stands out from the crowd.

An insightful story with fleshed out characters and captivating dilemmas, not to mention a great soundtrack, A Normal Lost Phone is the kind of experience that inspires you to get back into the world with a renewed sense of compassion toward all those who live in it. At $2.99 on Steam, some would argue that makes it worth it.

While the price point is a little steep for what seems like a simple old-school puzzler, depth and mechanics make Warlock's Tower worth it for those who can appreciate good design.

All in all, Fortnite is a game many people can look forward to playing for the foreseeable future. Epic Games’ persistence and commitment to community feedback, latched on with low PC requirements, creative gameplay, and a Free to Play model, have made it one of the most successful games on the market today. With updates almost every week, there are always new things to try for new or returning players alike.

Mercenary Kings: Reloaded is just as much fun as it was when it released back in 2014. The additions, while not completely game-changing, inject a nice sense of variety into the original. New weapons, characters, and the ability to buy materials encourages players to experiment. Unfortunately, this side-scroller still suffers from repetitiveness when playing for long periods of time, thanks to a lack of mission variety. This is alleviated by the options allowed, making this title a joy to play the whole time.

Starpoint Gemini Warlords is a fine title with the occasional rough edge. Solid gameplay, with smooth controls, is hampered by a frustrating camera, but an interesting mix of single-ship combat and 4X civilization management, and great graphics, seal the deal.

Regalia: Of Men and Monarchs wins time and again with unexpected surprises, character development, and fresh plot. With a sharp, sarcastic tone like Shrek, and a generally disinterested atmosphere like One Punch Man, Regalia: Of Men and Monarchs is a trove of snark, swears, and mild innuendo. An ending that surely comes too soon leaves you hoping for a potential sequel to meet, once more, Kay and his merry band of flawed friends.

Controls are often not as responsive as you’d hope, and evidence of “flat gaming” roots abounds, but Fallout 4 VR brought the entirety of the massive, content-rich adventure, with hundreds of hours of gameplay, to VR, and it did so with little in the way of graphical compromise. No other virtual reality title is as technically advanced, and almost none offer the value for money found here, either. Bethesda has set the standard for future AAA VR.

One of the best Adventure Point-&-Click titles I’ve played in recent memory. The developers have done a fantastic job of blending a compelling – if occasionally dark and twisted – storyline with challenging, varied puzzles, while still keeping the Point-&-Click style.

Project Highrise is a top-notch simulation and management game. It’s like Tiny Towers on steroids, and brings back my 1994 Maxis nostalgia, with an art style and aesthetic very similar to previous tower sims. It doesn’t disappoint in any way. The additional content added in the Project Highrise: Las Vegas brings the casino flair, is enough to vary the way you play, and give you an entirely different architectural experience. In addition to base game, the decisions by Sonasim to include, mods, steam cloud and mac support allow for a lengthy, diverse and easily accessible experience. I’ve got my casino empire blowing up now while I should be focusing on things that pay the bills. Please don't tell my editor.

Grow your kingdom and unite the world in peace in Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom, an ambitious JRPG title that offers a visually astounding treat alongside (mostly) on-point gameplay.

Chess Ultra is a fantastic entry in the world of virtual chess, delivering much more than is expected from a chess title. While the actual gameplay isn’t revolutionary, Chess Ultra’s entertaining tutorials and challenge modes make it a worthwhile play for beginners and experts alike.