Honkai: Star Rail feels like the consummation of all the knowledge that Hoyoverse amassed so far after the two juggernauts that preceded it. With a good amount of content to tackle at launch and such a compelling story being told, all that remains to be seen is where the Astral Express will take us next.

It’s remarkably easy to tell yourself you’ll do just one more expedition, only to balk when the Princess tells you how long you were down in the Abyss. I caught myself desperate to push on just a little further, to level up just one more time before I went back to Base Camp, leading to late nights that I’m not upset to have spent grinding my way to prowess and power. As long as you can handle the Princess chatting your ear off while you’re at Base Camp between expeditions and occasionally passing out and being brought back there before you're ready, the hours you’ll effortlessly sink into “just a little more” of Silent Hope will be a joy from beginning to end.

Despite its flaws, Scars Above's engaging combat and expansive toolkit keep it interesting for its entire 10-hour campaign. Though its world is gray and the story leading you through its levels is a let down, the moment-to-moment gameplay makes the journey worth taking. This space adventure isn't the final frontier of third-person action games, but it manages to offer roughly the same thrills as a pretty good SyFy Original movie. It isn't the cutting edge, but it's sharp in its own right.

Mouse is an enjoyable and visually stunning shooter with just enough uncapitalized potential to make me mourn what could have been. It looks amazing, the music is spectacular, the voice acting is top-notch, and it feels great to play in the moment, but its unwillingness to put up even a semblance of challenge is its biggest downfall. I’d still very easily recommend it, but sticking it on the hardest difficulty is almost a requirement.

The Outer Worlds is an engaging outer space RPG. As the Stranger, you have the ability to bring change to the Halcyon system. There are many dialogue decisions to make, from persuading a peaceful resolution, to simply going on the attack. Combat may not be the best, but there is a nice array of weapons to choose from. If one only has the Switch, it's still worth playing. But, with the technical issues, it's better to play it on other consoles.

Even if you don’t become an expert player, Destropolis has plenty to offer in the way of a casual quickplay experience. It feels like it could easily be a mobile title, but it fits well on Nintendo Switch. Destropolis is, at the very least, a nice way to take a break from the holiday craziness for a quick gameplay session or two.

It reminds me of the games I loved as a kid, and without all the dark patterns modern games use to keep players hooked (and paying), it’s certainly one of the most ethical multiplayer games you can play this year.

This isn’t the series most standout storyline, but there’s a lot to appreciate between the traditional gameplay loop we all crave and various new features. As always, given the nature of the game, to truly appreciate it and fully unearth the plot and fine details, you’ll need to replay and delve into those other possible branches. Good luck staying alive.

Arizona Sunshine 2 does everything the original game does well. It’s a visually stunning experience with well-designed levels, an engaging narrative, and enjoyable gunplay. While the new features like explosive crafting and buddy commands fall short of being meaningful additions, they don’t hinder the overall package. If you loved the first game or are looking for a good story-driven shooter, then I recommend giving it a try.

Sunday Gold is a game with a lot to say, says it eloquently, and has an aesthetic and artistic direction that I’ve fallen in love with. However, it must be said that the execution leaves something to be desired - the game excels in set pieces, confrontations, and dialogues, but getting from one highlight to another is a bit of a slog. I’d play another game following Frank, Sally, and Gavin in a heartbeat, but I’d hope it flows much better than Sunday Gold.

You can dig deeper and appreciate mechanics and ratings all you like, but for the first time in years I can boot this baby up with my friends and feel like a kid again. John Cena is all over this thing too, subverting his once polarising fan reputation to cement himself as the wrestling icon he is and always will be. The Champ is Here.

Ete might be simplistic, but it has so much heart and gives you so much room to express yourself that, like a paintbrush and an easel, it can be more than its parts. Technical hitches disrupt its flow and a shallow narrative can hold it back, but it’s worth seeing what you can create for yourself.

Amnesia: The Bunker is a bold new step for the series and it’s the shot in the arm that I think it’s needed for some time now. This first attempt isn’t perfect and has some teething issues as it figures out its new identity, but it makes up for it by being a truly terrifying experience that shows how bright the series’ future can be.

Very few changes were made from their now non-existent previous releases, so it’s high time Sega dusts off some more titles from its ‘90s library. The gorgeous cartoons in Origins give me hope, as Sega seems to be establishing some kind of Classic Sonic universe completely isolated from his modern counterpart. It’s just a shame that it’s a universe consisting of four games once again.

At a glance, Tannenberg might appear like a dated first-person shooter, but playing in the authentic world that M2H and Blackmill Games has recreated is an experience that history buffs and fans of the genre will enjoy and appreciate. The game plays as well as other shooters on the PlayStation 4, so long as you’re willing to get down to the bleak grittiness and utter chaos that defined the First World War.

Platforming is effective, and the puzzles are decent. However, those hoping for the challenging puzzles of Limbo will be disappointed. The game is also rather short considering its price tag. Still, Stela will likely leave more of a positive impression than negative.

Bleach: Rebirth of Souls has some uneven presentation and can get overly repetitive towards the end of its campaign, but its more thoughtful combat mechanics and commitment to doing the series’ story justice make it a strong first entry in what I hope is a new series. Whether you’re a seasoned Bankai user or a newcomer to the Soul Society like me, Rebirth of Souls is sure to show you why Bleach earned its place in The Big Three.

The dystopian world created by the Naughty Dog team is one that I enjoy exploring and surviving in. For everything that The Last of Us: Part II gets right, though, I can’t help but feel like I just played through an extension of the same game from 2013. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, and like Ellie with Joel, I'm trying to accept the game as it is. Considering the impact that The Last of Us had on gaming, I guess I just expected to be blown away all over again.

I’m not sure that anything can ever capture the lightning in a bottle that was Epic Mickey’s original concept, but Rebrushed is the closest thing we’ll ever get to that dark magic, even if one of its core pillars is something that still drags it down. If you’re a diehard fan, you’ll love all of the small changes Rebrushed makes to cut down on the grind and monotony the original suffered from, and if you’re a newcomer you’ll experience Disney’s weirdest venture at its absolute best.

Full Void is on the short side, but that’s no bad thing. There’s only so much you can do to keep someone invested in a dystopian narrative that does little to explain the world it resides in, and this adventure thankfully provides mystery, suspense, and climax in quick succession. I clocked in at just under two hours and came away satisfied. While the metaphors at work err on the self-indulgent side and the gameplay is relatively shallow, Full Void delivers a memorable experience about how it feels to have your childhood ripped away by forces you can’t control.

It's a little too bloated in some places, but for the most part, Brigandine: The Legends Of Runersia could be a fine choice for those looking for some tactical action on the go.

GrimGrimoire OnceMore is an engaging experience. The battle system is its strongest feature, and is extremely satisfying to play around with. Developing your own personal strategies and comparing them with other players is one of those joyous moments you won’t forget in a hurry. Despite the mediocre storyline and all the repetition you’re forced to endure, the game is well worth checking out if you’re a fan of quirky and unique RTS games.

Ultimately, the move to Switch makes sense for AVICII Invector Encore Edition, and it is a successful one at that - guided by Tim “AVICII” Bergling’s love for the genre. If you have the option, I’d recommend the console version of the game as a first choice, but if you’re someone who is constantly on-the-go (as much as one can be “on-the-go” right now), then AVICII Invector Encore Edition will be well-worth adding to your Switch library.

Paper Beast isn't a revolutionary title, but if the idea of a short voyage into an original alien environment sounds like a blast, then this may be well worth your time.

Despite my own disappointment with the last few installments of this series, Warriors Orochi 4 reminds me why I fell in love with it all those years ago with Dynasty Warriors Gundam. It’s tight, polished, chockful of content, and an almost constant dopamine rush.

Terminator: Resistance is a scrappy little game with a lot of heart, ambition, and genuinely great design in parts. It definitely could’ve benefited from a more compelling latter half, and the presentation will throw off a lot of people. However, it’s the most accurate interactive translation of the franchise to date, and frankly, a better yarn than many of the films between Judgement Day and Dark Fate.

It perfectly marries gameplay and story in a way that isn't seen often. By the end, I had come to love Spiritfarer and am happy I stuck with it. Still, I can't readily recommend this to everyone. If you fancy story more than gameplay, then, by all means, go for it. If you're more of the type that likes being constantly engaged with challenging systems, Spiritfarer probably won’t get its hooks in you. Either way, Thunder Lotus has created a beautiful, thoughtful, and emotional journey that won't soon be forgotten.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has everything a Star Wars fan will want - it's an excellent story, and uses classic Star Wars tropes, musical cues, and narrative moments. But if you're not enamoured by a John Williams horn reprise, what you have is a decent adventure game with a vibrant but often annoying open world that you keep being sent back to, that rarely lets you think for yourself and often just doesn't quite work properly. For a story so sharp, it's a shame the game gets in its own way so often.