Its simplistic approach has little to offer that you won’t find in dozens of other titles, many of which include that something extra that makes them stand out.

It’s a technical marvel, and is undoubtedly one of the best stealth action games ever made.

If you’re into Dynasty Warriors levels of mass combat and are a huge fan of One Piece then this game is absolutely perfect for you. If you’ve been a fan of this particular series since the beginning, the new additions are nice but the game as a whole may feel too similar.

With so much to offer and such a great presentation, it’s hard for me not to consider Armello a must-buy for anyone with even a passing interest in digital board games or innovative RPGs. Deep gameplay and a wide variety of characters, victory conditions, and more, there’s a ton to dive into that’s all wrapped in a gorgeous package.

Gryphon Knight Epic doesn’t bring a lot of innovation to the table. That said, with its relatively free movement and exploration, secrets to uncover, and several weapons to upgrade and master, it delivers well on what it does offer.

With less “busy work” tasks and repetition of tearing down enemy towers or defenses to lower the ‘threat’ within a given area, it could have been a smoother ride, but who said that an all-out war across the dusty expanse was supposed to be smooth?

It’s a good football game, but not an elite one.

Fans of the genre will feel right at home because Until Dawn definitely nails it.

An absolute must-play for action-RPG fans. With the variety of game styles represented, the well-written dialogue, and rich (if sometimes predictable) story, it’s a classic in its own right and filled with nods to genre greats.

You won’t find anything that’s truly groundbreaking here, but you may find a relaxing experience if you’re the type of person that’s always wanted to grow a desk plant but just haven’t had luck with the real-world variety.

Party Hard falls flat in execution and bores in some cases. It’s a dour middle ground between a playground for murder and a puzzle: too restrictive in weapon / trap choice and infuriating to enjoy completely, and too simple and redundant to boggle the mind.

All in all, the Mega Man Legacy Collection has just enough toss-ins and challenges to make it worthwhile, while not messing with the highly-successful formula that formed the foundation of this long-standing franchise.

Red Goddess may lack a touch of the polish that players find from big-budget, AAA games, but it more than makes up for this with what it offers. Gorgeous lands to explore, artful storytelling, and well-designed controls come together to forge a great experience.

Volume is a solid game. Its new-age telling of a certified classic is intelligently done. Its gameplay shines every now and then, but is overall lacking during most scenarios. Yet still, it is recommended if you are a fan of stealth and puzzles.

It’s pretty minimal in its design, difficult to get into, and a bit cumbersome to navigate. I’ll freely admit that, on my first few plays, I planned on giving it a pretty low score. As I played a bit more, though, it began to grow on me and the frustration faded as I learned pilot, manage resources, and make use of upgrades and consumables.

Rather than trying to recreate a retro feel with modern tools, Iced Lizard keeps things to a simple three-color palette, NES-approved chiptune soundtrack, and purely unfrilled gameplay.

Road to Gehenna serves as a fantastic addition to an already-great game.

The mystery surrounding the disappearances, and the hearts pulled into the gripping narrative are well-thought-out and beautiful, in an eerie way.

While it’s not exactly reinventing the genre or creating anything brand-new, INK is a decent and inexpensive addition to the library of platfoming fans.

A great package. 30 amazing games spanning a beloved studio’s history, a low price, amazing extras that take fans behind the scenes, and a wonderful musical to kick things off make for the best collection of gaming goodness released in a long time. But, the issues with controls are difficult to ignore.

A phenomenal outing that builds well on its foundation and introduces great new content.

In the end, Roving Rogue makes a bit of a splash with its interesting means of storytelling, but that’s about it. From the frustrating controls to the uninspired level design, the rest of the game falls pretty flat. It’s not necessarily awful, mind you, just uninspired and a bit frustrating.

Galak-Z took the simple, addictive gameplay of an arcade space shooter and built something wonderful out of it. A simple game to get into with an underlying complexity that never gets in the way of the fun of the game. Galak-Z is a must play for absolutely everyone.

The simplistic visuals and sound design of Holy Potatoes! A Weapon Shop!? may make the game seem aimed at a younger audience. Make no mistake, though, the gameplay has plenty of depth and complexity.

With high-quality writing, voice acting, and graphic design, it stands well above the expectations I had going in, and I’d easily recommend it to anyone who’s a fan of the point-and-click genre.

This game so difficult to play through in the first place: the clunky and robotic feel of your characters and their movements. Extended Dream Edition is a regurgitation of the same nightmare that surfaced last year, and I can’t recommend it to anyone who isn’t already utterly enamored with the game’s beautiful aesthetics.

The best way that I can think to say it is that if you’re looking for something that’s slow, calm, and without any pressure to accomplish concrete goals, it’s almost certainly worth a look; the graphics are solid, the music is fantastic, and the lack of difficult objectives or enemies to overcome lends itself to losing yourself in the simple act of discovery.

N++ gives fans more of what they want in a more refined, deeper, and prettier package.

A really fun game, filled with fast-paced, side-scrolling beat ’em up action. It brings gamers back to days spent in arcades pumping quarters into machines. It may not do too much in terms of new, but what is available is polished and extremely enjoyable.

The Swindle has some really cool ideas, and the sound and visuals make for one of the prettiest games out there. But, for players looking for something new or are intrigued by the steampunk aesthetic, the randomized barrier to entry may be a bit too much.

Traverser creates a compelling world with numerous interesting quirks and a solid story. While the puzzles aren’t what they likely could be, given the intriguing design and mechanics, they’re also not so awful as to make the experience entirely dull.

All in all, Luckslinger is a fantastic retro-styled game with just enough innovation to make it worthwhile.

While I’m a fan of nostalgic throwbacks, this title isn’t bringing much that’s new or innovative to the genre.

Spectra creates a short yet enjoyable experience that mostly makes up for its visual sameness with the great supporting soundtrack.

The gameplay was pretty much the only reason why I was able to make it all the way to the true ending. But if you’re looking for a good story, oh boy, you’re not going to find it here. Here’s what you’re guaranteed to get with this game: engaging gameplay and an overall soulless story, filled with equally soulless characters.

In the end, Zenzizenzic is a great game for those who like the twin stick shoot-em-up genre, but may be looking for something with a little more to it.

Heavensward proves nothing other than that Square Enix can dress up old content without breaking it, and more needs to expected from the developers in future expansions.

Ironward’s Kickstarter-funded efforts have certainly paid off, and even as someone who doesn’t dabble much in real-time strategy style games, I thoroughly recommend at least checking out the demo available through the game’s official website.

Yes, she gets her own area that’s larger than the other DLC stories, but it’s devoid of anything that makes this add-on unique. A re-skinned Batman is not what fans need, nor deserve.

J-Stars Victory Vs+ is a game that has the look, but just couldn’t follow through on the execution.

Currently sold for $4.99 on Steam, the game features 101 levels of increasingly maddening difficulty. Given the somewhat lackluster appearance and feel of the game, it’s a more than fair price point for the sheer number of levels, though it may not be enough for me to recommend the title.

Altogether, Ronin creates an entirely novel experience that’s given a solid boost from the sound and graphic design.

While much of Kholat can feel repetitive as players roam aimlessly through the barren landscape, the spine-creeping sense of dread that accompanies the rest of the game more than makes up for it.

While it’s nice to see something that’s taking a new angle on the style, I just couldn’t find my way into it well enough to really enjoy it for what it was — and at the end of the day, a game that I’m not able to have fun with isn’t one that I’m going to keep playing until I get it right.

Her Story is likely worth playing if only because it is so profoundly different. When you throw in solid writing, passable acting, and the need for players to reach their own conclusions about what happened, it comes together exceptionally well.

When Yoshi’s Woolly World gets it right, it smashes it out of the park. Creative levels that tried different things such as transforming Yoshi into a plane, mermaid, or a racecar, is when that Nintendo sparkle shined its brightest. However, these moments of brilliance were overshadowed by a large amount of bland and unimaginative levels too focused on collecting.

Amazing gameplay, stunning visuals, a deep narrative that takes Batman to a new darkness, and hands-down the best superhero video game in existence.

Like Deadly Premonition before it D4 suffers from awkward controls, and some frustrating nonsensical mechanics. Fortunately D4’s strange and hilarious story and characters more than make up for what it lacks, while its soundtrack is a joy to listen to.

Unfortunately, this game does have its fair share of issues, particularly in the control department.

Adventures of Pip has plenty to offer in terms of action, as in addition to completing each level, players can rescue three of the scattered townsfolk within each stage. The game’s pixel currency can also be used to buy helpful items and upgrades to aid Pip in his journey, and each boss battle bestows a health increase upon victory.

A deceptively complex game that may not offer much replay value, but has that certain quality that’s able to captivate attention for some time. It may get repetitive, and there are definitely moments of frustration, but it’s innovative and enjoyable in small doses.

BiT Evolution offers a pretty solid, classic platformer game with just enough to it to make it interesting and plenty of tongue-in-cheek wit to be amusing. Play definitely gets frustrating, and the light story isn’t much to chew on, but there’s still flashes of inspiration and plenty of fun.

Ultimately, PeriAreion does a number of things well enough to be playable but is lacking the polish and attention to detail that would get it to the next level.

Ultimately, Brawl falls well short of being a great game. The control issues and, in my personal experience, difficulty finding players to match up with fail to capitalize on the visual design and setting.

That leaves The Executioner feeling more like a tacked on add-on than a true expansion. Fun, but better off as something separate from The Evil Within.

Between the far-reaching scale, the slick and intuitive combat, and the fun of raising heroes through the years, MASSIVE CHALICE brings a whole lot to the table.

Ultimately, the boiled-down approach of 0rbitalis, both in interactivity and aesthetic, works out pretty well. While struggling through the same level for extended periods gets wearisome, the variety as more levels unlock means plenty of new things to try. Still, I’m not sure the bare visual and audio design are doing the title many favors.

House of Wolves is a refreshing step in the right direction that will keep the lights on proudly as Destiny heads into its second year.

Despite some lazy level design, the game’s clever wit and vivid, animated design manages to create a unique and somewhat engaging experience.

It is a shining example of what RPGs should be: an experience that makes you believe that you’re truly part of a game’s world and that you have a very real stake in it. That’s exactly what Wild Hunt has achieved here.

Not A Hero is a game that rarely slows down, offers a ton of variety to both primary and secondary missions, and is seeping with beautiful nostalgia. While it’s sometimes wearisome trying to get through a single mission that keeps getting you down, when you finally get past that hurdle, there’s always something new waiting.

Action-oriented or easily frustrated players, however, would do well to turn elsewhere. Sym, despite the simplistic look and play, is not for the faint of heart.

With its massive scale, broad customization, and entirely solid core, Star Ruler 2 has everything that you’d expect from an indie-developed 4X strategy title and then some.

Lemma shines just as bright as its contemporaries but doesn’t have that one special mark that makes it a game you have to buy.

The game creates a compelling sense of dread, and packs just enough into a relatively small package that multiple plays are essentially required just to find everything that it has to offer. For anyone that’s a fan of a less action-oriented style of horror, the seething mysteries of Uncanny Valley are definitely worth looking into.

The openly apparent beauty of Project CARS is the first thing that draws you in, with an equally gorgeous driving simulator hiding just below the smooth and silky skin.

Puts together a well-made, interesting tale that’s entirely its own. With plenty of the city of Tin Roof to explore, and dozens of characters to question, grill, or shoot the breeze with, there’s more than enough content here to justify the $14.99 price tag on Steam.

Wolfenstein: The Old Blood proves that a little new blood is what was needed to keep the Wolfenstein series alive for many years to come.

An engaging narrative, beautiful visuals, varied gameplay, and top-notch multiplayer (that works well) all fit together to deliver one of the biggest and best experiences to be had this year thus far.

If money were burning a hole in my pocket, I’d sooner spend it on a sewing kit to patch up my pocket than on the few moments of amusement scattered around those minutes.

Axiom Verge has its moments. Exploration is fun to an extent, and the cavalcade of powerups and weaponry to acquire allows for an ever evolving way to interact with the environment and its hostiles. The graphics consistently impress, and the soundtrack is wonderful. However, backtracking gets old fast and the game frustrates at times with its difficulty and often archaic navigation.

Chroma Squad is terrifically enjoyable. Fans of tactical RPGs will have oodles of fun, and those who also look fondly upon the youthful days of the Power Rangers will get an extra kick.

While Shutter probably doesn’t fit in well with most modern horror games, it does a great job of packing a good, creepy punch that’s reminiscent of early horror games.

It has its fair share of hiccups and design flaws, but Sunrider Academy is a good spin-off title. It’s a fantastic game in its own right with charm, addicting gameplay, and a humorously told story with good replayability.

It’s a good game, a few sandwiches short of a great one.

ManaCollect is perhaps the most interesting take on the Minesweeper formula I’ve seen. With solid art and mechanic design, the blazing pace at which the game takes place — especially at higher difficulties — will give players a run for their money.

Once the clunky stealth controls of The Consequence are married to the less than cooperative camera, all that’s left is an idea that never seems to come into proper fruition. What does exist is a frustrating experience that had some potential. Unfortunately, it takes more than potential to make something worthwhile.

The Weaponographist delivers pretty well on the pitched idea: a frantic arena battler that keeps things in constant motion. While it’s far from perfect, the interesting mechanics and decent all-around design make it fun, if a bit repetitive.

Exploring themes of horror, personal relationships, and personal agency, The Charnel House Trilogy weaves a fantastic tale that is well-written, and relatively well-acted.

Whether you end comes in 15 minutes or 2 hours, Convoy lets you tell your own story of hardship on the uncaring tarmac of this turbulent world.

Shovel Knight is delightful, amusing, and oftentimes challenging. It’s surprisingly deep, with enough secrets and charm to warrant at least one more run through on New Game+. The game controls like a dream, is simple enough to pick up immediately, and knows just when to up the ante to make you a more skillful player over the course of its six to eight hour campaign.

While I can’t say that Albedo: Eyes From Outer Space is something I’d recommend to just anyone, it’s a phenomenal entry in the adventure genre that provides plenty of unique content, brain-twisting puzzles, and a fantastic aesthetic and theme all its own.

Though adapted from an 18+ title, Princess Evangile tells a fantastic story with deep, rich characters.

Titan Souls isn’t a bad game, it’s just noticeably lacking. If players are just looking for tough, often short, battles that involve one hit kills, then this is the perfect game. But, if a fleshed out, well rounded experience is what’s desired, then Titan Souls will leave you wanting.

A game that will give you faith once again in PC ports. To not take a bite of this seductively colorful cherry does both your rig and your very self a disservice which can never be forgiven.

While some of the early levels get a bit repetitive, it’s largely to get players accustomed to the game’s world and rules before building into more difficult territory.

Great, innovative mechanics.

The combination of sticking to the core values of the Mortal Kombat franchise, while also adding just the right amount of new makes this latest entry more than worthwhile...It does a great job of not relying to much on nostalgia, and giving plenty of new while still remaining recognizable.

A Pixel Story puts together a great, complete package that has a ton of ingenuity and fun to offer.

Take up the Monado and put down the Mechon who dare to stand against you, you are Bionis’ only hope in this expansive, spectacular handheld RPG.

The game is still stunning in both its art direction and writing. Gameplay is fun and varied, and there are many different experiences to be had throughout. It’s also nice to once again see the game that laid the foundation for Transistor‘s presentation and mechanics.

While it may not offer a lot for the dedicated, hardcore gamer, those looking for a quick, easy to pick up addition to their Steam library could do a lot worse.

All in all, Glorkian Warrior: The Trials of Glork plays much as you’d expect from a mobile game port, but with enough amusing content and unique style to create a memorable and worthwhile experience.

What Hunter Gatherer is missing, really, is content. There’s not an awful lot to do, but it can take a while to get the hang of accomplishing it.

There just isn’t anything strong enough to keep you interested after the fifth time a Quetzalcoatlus drops you into the jaws of Terry the T-Rex, or off the side of a mountain, or into the depths of hell, or — you get the picture.

Zombie Army Trilogy may not do much new in the grand scheme of things, but everything that it does, it does well. Shooting is fun and engaging. The story is slightly silly but it keeps everything together. Enemies are varied and make enjoyable targets. Horde mode is an absolute blast that really makes the multiplayer portion of Zombie Army Trilogy stand out as the true champion.

Overall, Zombie Kill Of The Week is a must-have game if you love zombies and want quick, fast-paced, over the top action. Its controls are simple and intuitive, so you will be running, jumping, shooting, and hacking zombies with ease.

The sum of its features produces a complex yet accessible gameplay experience that is amazing pretty much in every aspect.