On the one hand it infuriated me at times, and as I type I still don’t really know what was going on at times or why I was solving certain puzzles. But on the other hand, I enjoyed playing the game.

Is Trails into Reverie a conclusion to Cold Steel? Is it a conclusion to Crossbell? Yes, and yes. Newcomers will want to stay well away from this one until they do their homework, but series fans will probably find this to be a refreshing chapter after the too-long Cold Steel saga, and a useful loose-ends tie-up before moving into the next major story arc. Some framerate dips and a few clear bugs that I expect NIS America to resolve soon dampen the fun a little, but overall this is another solid entry in the series and a nice bounce back from Trails of Cold Steel IV.

Necklace Of Skulls is an enjoyable adventure with an interesting theme and sharp writing.

If you enjoyed the base game, Let’s Build a Zoo: Aquarium Odyssey is a no brainer purchase. It has me even more excited for potential future DLC packs, and over delivers in its value. I hope the developers can work on improving the interface scaling on Nintendo Switch though.

If timing games make you want to burn down a yoga studio, you might not get anything out of Namaste Space Buffalo despite its charm. But if you're up for a challenge, go ahead and enroll in space-school.

Gauge looks artistic, and it looks experimental. It sort of is, but it's not pretentious.

Brotato isn’t shy about where it’s drawing from, but that game also drew from roots that Brotato kind of brings things back around to. It is probably less epic than Vampire Survivors, and I very much doubt it will have a hundredth of its impact. But there’s an immediacy and focus to it that calls back to a type of game we used to get a-plenty and probably took for granted, and I can’t help but appreciate that. If that sounds good to you, then grab some of these fries to go.

Dawn of the Plow isn't something you're going to instantly enjoy, but stick with it for a little bit, and you'll be having a blast in no time.

I was surprised by just how much I immediately enjoyed the game.

Moonrider has an excellent presentation, and the controls are just as responsive as you would hope. The game throws out a lot of fun little twists as you make your way through its stages that ensure things always stay fresh. While it falls a bit short of the fantastic Blazing Chrome and ends a little earlier than I’d prefer, this is still a fine classic-style romp that fans of 2D action games will have no trouble getting into.

Remnant: From the Ashes on Switch is downgraded compared to other platforms, but is a much better port than I expected with DLC included. It feels like a good blend of The Division with souls-like elements, and the online has worked very well in the times I’ve tried it on Nintendo Switch. This is definitely one of the better third-party late ports to Nintendo’s hybrid system, and it even has a physical release, which is great to see.

In its current state, I absolutely recommend getting Resident Evil Village on iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max if you have a controller like the Backbone One USB-C edition or use an external bluetooth controller. The touchscreen interface even with its customization options is not good. Capcom has done a fantastic job so far in bringing this AAA survival horror experience to Apple platforms, and I hope we see more RE Engine games make their way in the future after Resident Evil 4 Remake releases. Resident Evil Village is a free download with an in app purchase to unlock the full game, so I definitely recommend downloading it if you have a supported device to see how good the conversion is.

If you already played Norn9: Var Commons on PS Vita, I don’t think this is worth grabbing at full price, especially since it costs more than the PS Vita original did back in 2015. If you skipped it, Norn9: Var Commons on Nintendo Switch is the best version not only for its features, but also its localization. This is definitely a nice way to get Switch players into Norn9 while we are waiting for Norn9: Last Era.

Like the best iOS games, Sprinkle Islands takes a simple concept and creates a nice little time-waster that will provide pretty reliable entertainment in short bursts. Sure, it's a one trick pony, but its presentational charm, and the wonderful, childish fun you get from spraying water around means that you'd have to be pretty joyless not to see any appeal here.

With a great selection of music, simple but well-executed gameplay, and a good, clean overall presentation, Cytus is well worth a recommendation for anyone interested in rhythm games.

It will take a ridiculous amount of grinding in order to get all of the content in the game, but thankfully the game is fun so I'll be playing it a lot anyway.

Solar Flux HD will have you back fighting entropy in no time at all.

Flick Home Run is a simple concept which is well-executed by Infinity Pocket. It's already provided days of entertainment, which is a dollar well spent. With so many excellent games available, I'm a little surprised this is in the very top rankings, but this baseball interpretation is certainly worth buying.

For pure entertainment dollar by dollar, I'll take Caylus over most board games in the App Store. It's an obscenely good game, which makes its flaws all the more frustrating.

With a tremendous amount of gameplay in the main game and a free play mode for those who master what the challenge mode has to offer, Freaking Inkies is more than just a unique and fun experience – it's a great value too.

A quintessential Korean action RPG. It has a lot of grinding, mixed with a decent storyline, and great sprite-based graphics.

Some of the quests and open world activities felt repetitive, but on the whole Sand Land is one of the better adaptations we’ve seen from the publisher. Whenever Bandai Namco Entertainment announces a new project like this, I never know whether it will be worth my time or not. Thankfully, Sand Land ended up delivering and is worth your time on Steam Deck. I definitely recommend trying out the free demo if you aren’t sure it is for you.

Some of the puzzles in Primordia can be really hard to figure out logically, which is one of the bad ways it can feel old-school. Some people may not resonate with the setting or some elements of the story, and those are such a big factor in this genre that it always needs to be considered. Other than those things, I’m hard-pressed to find too many things to complain about here. This Switch version handles the controls as you would expect. You can move the cursor around with the stick or use touch controls. Adventure game fans should enjoy it quite a bit, but be ready to get a little frustrated with some puzzles that feel borderline farcical in their design.

I suppose it's a good thing that Agent A's first episode left me wanting more, but I feel like the game and its promotions need to hammer down the idea that this isn't a complete story yet.

The appeal here is the same as it has always been with Minter’s Tempest games and variants. There aren’t a lot of games similar to Tempest, and it’s still a lot of fun. Every new stage brings its own shape and therefore its own required strategies, making for a game that constantly feels fresh and challenging. Online leaderboards give the score attacking a stronger sense of purpose, and the presentation makes the whole thing feel like an experience as much as a game. Oddly while the in-game controls are incredibly responsive, the menus appear to be suffering from some sort of lag. Not a huge deal, but worth mentioning. If you come for the pure gaming thrills that a Minter jam always promises, you won’t be disappointed.

World of Horror would’ve been an easy 5/5 if it had touchscreen support on Switch or had better controller support on the platform. Barring that, I have no hesitation in calling this a must-play horror game if you enjoy the genre and are up to try something interesting. Right now, World of Horror is amazing, but I really wish it controlled better.

Groundskeeper2 is an entertaining action game that will keep you busy blasting bots for bits and bobs for a while.

While it may lack gameplay innovations or flashy razzle-dazzle, it's a good solid example of the gamebook genre that should sit nicely in the library of fans.

Originally released back in 1992, Truxton 2 is a sequel to Truxton, and it has gorgeous visuals. It is also quite difficult, but really has been the game in this set I’ve revisited the most since getting access to it. As a vertical shmup, Truxton 2 has excellent gameplay, and I’m glad to see the audio issues get addressed quite a bit with updates following the launch. It isn’t perfect, but I’m pleased with the current state of Truxton 2, and it plays flawlessly on Steam Deck with Steam Remote Play Together support.

Visually speaking, Baseball Superstars 2012 is definitely the best-looking of the pack.

The colorful new style and great new explosion effects are just icing on a solidly designed cake. Whether you're a nostalgic fan or you've never delved into the series before, it's still worth playing to see how the developer has grown, now making a triumphant return to form from a rough patch in his life.

Sure, you can probably find a better pure game of pinball, and all the roguelite caveats apply here. The procedural generation can swing for or against you, and things can get a little repetitive after a while. But broadly speaking, this bit of pinball with a purpose offers up plenty of fun zombie smashing and loot gathering to keep you whacking away for hours on end. Zombie Rollerz: Pinball Heroes has its tongue in its cheek and its hand on… someone or something’s heart, and that’s good enough for me.

All things considered, Shieldwall Chronicles is a pretty solid game. It needs some work—specifically on the complex combat system, and for play on smaller screens—but, on the whole, it is a fun, well made game. When there are so many games that are made for consumption and consumption alone, it is good to find one now and again that is made by someone who cares, for players who are looking for quality. Despite its flaws, Shieldwall Chronicles: Swords of the North delivers just that.

I just wish there was more of everything. I want a reason to pull out more skills and level them higher.

Despite any criticisms though, Elemental Rage is one of the best experiences you can have if you enjoy a good action-platforming game. The iPad version looks great on the larger screen, but it feels a bit more natural to play on the easier to handle iPhone or iPod touch.

The over-the-top violence and humor will simply not work for some people. However, I implore anyone on the fence to bite the bullet and check out this title. It strikes that hard sought balance of accessibility, appealability (again, for some more than others) and enjoyability with very little in terms of detraction, and it's certainly one of the better physics-based titles that I've checked out.

Burn it All is an easy recommendation, especially if you liked Burn the Rope. Similarly, if you download and enjoy Burn it All, you'll ned to give Burn the Rope a try.

Toaplan’s 1993-released vertically scrolling shmup Grind Stormer, considered a successor to Slap Fight, has been one of the biggest surprises so far from Bitwave’s releases. I’ve enjoyed experiencing it for the first time, and the quality of life features helped make it easier to play through initially. While the visuals and music are excellent in Grind Stormer, the gameplay is the real star. Grind Stormer also includes the V・V regional version which is worth checking out. I just hope the few small audio issues get resolved in updates.

If you're the guy or gal with the fancy iPad 2 or 3, Wonderputt is one of those sharp apps you just have to show everyone and will definitely earn a few cool points in doing so.

1992-released vertical shmup Dogyuun is a stunner of a game with its environments and design. I hadn’t played it before this release in any form, and didn’t even bother checking out any footage of it barring that trailer. It floored me with its gorgeous visuals for the time and music. I think it is now one of my favorite Toaplan shmups with its setting and unique mechanics. Dogyuun makes me wish Bitwave did galleries and museum modes in these releases because I want to see more of this art. If you only want to grab one of the games from this bundle, Dogyuun is my favorite.

It might look like a casual title, but there is a lot more strategy to it than a glance can reveal.

While it does have a few annoying sections, Subway Midnight is definitely worth experiencing if the aesthetic appeals to you. Just be warned that there are some sections that hold it back a bit. The striking use of color and rumble also makes it a great fit for the OLED screen on Switch. In fact, having experienced it on PC and Switch, Subway Midnight shines in handheld mode with a pair of good headphones.

With all of the improvements made for the iOS version of Dragon Fantasy: The Black Tome Of Ice, it's a much easier game to recommend. Just keep in mind that there are still a few glitches here and there at the moment, and that the game itself is pretty content to color within the lines of the genre and period it's aping.

Fae Farm is a polished farming sim with a magical flavor that excels of the genre greats in many areas, but also one that falls short in some key ones. The repetitive dialogue and character designs right now are the big caveats. While the latter is subjective, Fae Farm can address the former and truly reach its full potential. I look forward to seeing how it evolves through patches and content updates, but right now Fae Farm is worth checking out if you’re a fan of the genre. It is like a magical remix of the greatest hits in the genre, but one that is chock full of things to do with its own charm.

Like I said, fans should dig this one; detractors won't. "Get Tannen" does nothing super special other than add to the fiction, which I imagine would be fine for everyone who enjoyed the first installment of the game series and are looking for more.

Frozen Synapse succeeds at bringing a beloved PC game to iOS.

Despite some performance issues on Switch compared to the PC version I played, a nice gyro control implementation helps elevate the Fashion Police Squad experience on Nintendo Switch. It is an easy recommendation for anyone looking to try out a unique take on the boomer shooter subgenre.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption keep the party rolling with a set of new stages that show off a slightly different design intent than those of the original. The new weapons and enemies are appreciated, and the level design makes the most of both. I do wish there was something more interesting going on visually here, and the difficulty curve isn’t as smooth as it was in the base game. Still, those looking for more Boltgun challenges to tackle will find them here.

The snappy controls, variety of situations that can be encountered, and interesting limited attack gimmick make it fun to play on a basic level. Put those two sides together and TOKOYO: The Tower of Perpetuity has a lot to offer fans of challenging platformers.

That said, while I think the writing could use some serious editing and the game doesn’t quite nail its pacing, those things are easily forgiven by how well it does just about everything else. Sea of Stars fits in nicely with other indie RPGs like Cosmic Star Heroine and Chained Echoes, serving both as a high-quality traditional turn-based RPG experience and a display of genuine affection for the greats of the genre.

At least at the moment, Marvel: Avengers Alliance 2 is a player-friendly free-to-play game with a well-designed battle system and satisfying party-building choices.

If you were one of the many people who wiled away the time on their Palm Pilot playing this game, you'll have a blast going through it in its shiny new form. If you're coming into it cold, just be prepared to put up with some quirks and a somewhat merciless difficulty curve. I think it's absolutely worth hanging in there, as the overall game is quite enjoyable, but it doesn't do a lot to hide which era it sprang from.

Where's My Mickey? is a cool twist on a familiar formula. With the animated shorts and clips, and new level challenges and elements, you can tell Disney really wanted to deliver a Mickey Mouse game that's both well made and fresh

It could use a bit more meat on its bones, but it's hard to complain when the core game is competent and completely free, with no strings attached.

The level designs are solid and moving your little mole around in them is pleasant. You’ve got a very typical hub structure, a lot of familiar types of levels, and various secrets tucked away for you to find. While the character designs and music let down the overall presentation a little bit, the graphics are bright and colorful, and everything runs quite smoothly. This probably isn’t going to rock anyone’s world, but if you enjoy the genre I think you’ll have a lot of fun going through this one.

30XX takes the basic idea behind 20XX and expands on it, offering more of just about everything to players. That’s pretty much what you would want from a sequel, though I suppose the shift in graphical style and slightly more repetitive main mode might find some detractors. I like the Mega Mode and I feel it makes for a nice olive branch for Mega Man fans turned off by the roguelite elements of 20XX, though it probably doesn’t go far enough. Like its predecessor, this is a solid action game with great controls that is doing its part to keep the spirit of a dormant franchise alive, and if you’re an X fan who can enjoy randomized elements, you’ll likely have a great time with it.

Backed with some solid gameplay, I think Tengami more than proves itself worthy of a place in the adventure fan's library.

Castleparts stops short of greatness in some ways, but has enough depth to keep you busy even if you never play against another human. It doesn't even need more modes or characters per se, just slight expansions on the foundation that's already been created.

This game is glorious, but severely lacking in bells and whistles.

The simplicity of Shoot The Zombirds is definitely key in making it such an appealing pick-up-and-play title.

I doubt I'll spend any real time on Say the Same Thing. It's the sort of game you play for a bit until the notifications start bugging you, you turn them off, and then after a few weeks you forget it's on your phone.

If you skipped ONE PIECE ODYSSEY on its debut platforms, the Switch version with all DLC included is an easy recommendation for those who like One Piece. The DLC included makes this a better value proposition as well. I enjoyed the game before already, but it was great revisiting it in a very good conversion for Nintendo’s hybrid system. We need more ports like this and Ace Combat 7 from Bandai Namco Entertainment.

In the end, I found myself trying to slow down and simply enjoy being in the game's atmosphere. I really didn't want the game to end, and I suppose that's the best compliment I can give anything I play.

So if you don’t mind being a little more hands-off during combat, Dragon Blaze has a lot to offer.

It took a lot of re-adjustment, experimentation, and practice, but I finally feel like I've got Power Ping Pong cracked. And you know what? It was well worth it. When everything clicked into place I could finally see why everyone was raving about it.

Football Manager Touch 2017 is a five star game for me, but I can't give it that considering the technical issues. Still, this is one of the most engrossing games on the App Store and will have you coming back for that "one more match" every single day. For me, that makes it more than worth the money.

It might not blow (ha!) your mind if you're tired of the runner genre by now, but AdvenChewers had enough heart and variety to keep me interested for quite some time.

The only problem here is that not everyone likes a talker. Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective's only real flaw (which is also, paradoxically enough, its strongest quality) is the fact that it is extremely heavy on the narrative. More than half of your time in the game will be spent reading.

A solid title that's more challenging than it looks. The limited flapping mechanic sets it apart from the many similar simplistic arcade games on the App Store, and it's a good value for a dollar.

Anyway, Help Volty is a strange game set in a strange world, for sure, but that's the best part; you can't figure it out and you can't help but want to continue because you want to try. It's neat.

If you're looking for a unique puzzle game that will occasionally challenge and frustrate you, Cyro will do the trick.

It seems the developers set out to make a throwback to some of their favorite old-school platformers, with awesome graphics and solid controls, and at this they completely succeed with Paper Monsters.

In a sea of matching games, few feel simultaneously as rewarding and as respectful of a player's skill as Rise of the Blobs. It may be soft and jiggly on the outside, but it's hard as nails underneath.

Whether you are looking for a fun and pretty game to cruise through, or something you can race against time and get the adrenaline pumping with, this game will deliver. Over all I am a huge fan of Moon Surfing and can see myself spending a lot of my future free time exploring the moon, though right now I am off to find more Christian Schnellmann games in the app store.

I'm not usually a big fan of tilt-only games, but Air Penguin definitely does it right. The tilting is extremely accurate, so it makes completing acrobatic leaps of faith a joy rather than frustrating.

Dragon Quest Treasures is an enjoyable action-RPG with an interesting treasure-hunting gimmick that is boosted by how it uses elements of the series. It’s perhaps a little on the easy side, and there are aspects of the game that feel thinner than I would prefer. Still, I think it’s a solid choice for fans of Dragon Quest or younger players who are dipping their toes into the action-RPG genre. It’s a bit of a trifle, but it’s a well-made one that sits well in the proverbial stomach.

If you have a couple of bucks to spare, Dungelot is the way to go. For those who have exhausted that game, or those who aren't keen to spend money, I can now at least say that Dungelot 2 is almost as good.

If you want a great one-handed mobile platformer that will test you, check out Blitz Breaker.

Fluid SE by its nature is best for people who want to be tested, who don't mind repetition in the name of mastering a game and the challenge it sets forth. Thankfully, the game is designed so well that it makes this experience as satisfying as possible.

Push-Cars' stylized maps add a lot of charm. You get a sense of looking down at the actual cities, but they fit in nicely with the game's cartoonish art.

Power Hover is just a solid little game.

Star Warfare: Alien Invasion is a pretty good first-person shooter for a dollar, despite the expensive weapons, emphasis on IAP and need to buy bullets with in-game money.

You probably already have at least one falling block puzzle game on your device, but you may want to make room for one more.

Overall, Hot Lava is a fun parkour/action game with a lot of potential. Once they fix things like the control design, it’ll become a solid game on Apple Arcade. Until then, Hot Lava remains as a great game for the people with the correct equipment, i.e. a Bluetooth controller. The environment and unique universe will keep you entertained from beginning to end, and thanks to the different starts and collectibles there are, you have a lot of reasons to keep playing this game.

Lunar Racer is already a fun title which I'll be playing for a while, but it feels like it could be much more. Here's hoping for more levels coming, an extra game mode planned & the possibility of online multiplayer mode.

Military Madness: Neo Nectaris isn't much of a departure from the now 20-plus-year-old original game, but it holds up extremely well, especially with the new touch controls.

Chillaxian is still an arcade game and a clear homage to Galaxian. Despite the increased variety and addition of “save points” it cannot escape its highly simplistic yet entirely classic roots.

While the controls needed some more work and the tutorials could have been delivered differently, I enjoyed sending my critters to their doom.

If the quirks and differences of the original release of Sonic Origins pushed you away, nothing in Sonic Origins Plus is going to turn your opinion around. Even the pixel scaling is still off. If you were okay with vanilla Origins, the Plus content is more than worth picking up. Ten dollars gets you a dozen Game Gear games and some fun new character options for the base game. I still think this is a solid collection that presents a good value for your money, and the Plus add-on only hammers that in more. I’d love to see a few things fixed or improved, but even as it is I think it’s a solid celebration of the most famous hedgehog in the world.

Lost Winds is such a delightful game in all other regards that I'm still enjoying it, but the controls have tested my patience.

Alive 4-Ever RETURNS is easily recommended for dual-stick shooter fans, and a must-have for fans of the original game.

As someone who played a ton of Need for Speed II SE back in the day and loved Need for Speed Underground, I’m glad to finally have experienced a modern game in the series that has been a joy to play. Even as the first current-generation only entry in the series, Need for Speed Unbound is a joy to play on Steam Deck. It might’ve released too close to the holidays for most, but if you enjoyed older Need for Speed games, you need to grab this one.

I enjoyed ProtoCorgi, and I think there’s a solid chance many of you will have an even better time with it. It has a solid presentation, almost all of the options you would want in a shooter plus a few more, and a cute premise. Throw in a very competitive price and it’s an easy shooter to recommend. Just keep in mind the usual rule about cute-em-ups: just because it looks fluffy, it doesn’t mean it’s easy. Inexperienced shooter fans may want to approach cautiously, but shooter fans should have a barking good time.

A solid buy and one that will keep you smiling at your phone or iPad for hours.

I came into this already a big fan of these characters, and ultimately I got a kick out of going through each of the routes of Pirates of the Disturbance. It does justice to the original property, and I would recommend it to anyone who has gotten hooked on the series in any of its forms. On the other hand, while I don’t think non-fans will be lost trying to play it, I also don’t think the game is going to shine all that much for them. If that’s the bucket you fall into, you might be better served by another visual novel from this publisher. Catarina cronies should climb aboard immediately, though.

The Catch-22 here is a game that is paradoxically fun, despite a few flaws and a lack of modes that would otherwise cripple less creative games. If the developer commits to its future growth and repair (functional achievements and a co-op mode), Catch-22 will become a score-chasing game that players and their friends will have even more reasons for which to return.

While some of the UI elements clearly belie its touchscreen roots, Dungeons of Dreadrock is a well-designed adventure that manages to keep on surprising you all the way through with its tricky puzzles and engaging atmosphere. Having physical button controls make it easier to get your character to do what you want her to do, and that means this is the version I would recommend if a person asked. Wherever you choose to play, make sure you give it a look. It’s a very good experience, even if it might make you pull your hair out at times.

Vectrex Regeneration wraps that emulation in a jaunty 3D interface, offers most (soon all) of the original game library for those who like the free-download taste, and has trimmed it all with subtle touches that do make a difference. It all comes together to deliver an impressive Vectrex experience, even despite a few rough-start issues that are being presently addressed.