Just know that both the development teams at Telltale, and the smaller-scale one that was resurrected under Skybound didn’t let Clementine down.

Despite its heavy use of aleatory mechanics, Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon: Every Buddy offers a strategic and challenging adventure that’s paired with a delightful dose of Final Fantasy nostalgia.

In an age where it’s become all too common for live service games to release as incomplete products that require a few months’ worth of patches to become the game we were “promised,” The Division 2 is a revitalizing breath of fresh air.

One Piece: World Seeker nails what makes the series as beloved as it is, and does justice to its source material in a way other One Piece games haven’t. It may not be perfect, but it’s still well worth a look for both longtime fans of One Piece and newcomers who want to see what a proper game based on the series can be.

Left Alive’s half-baked nature feels like a real pity because quite a few elements of the game are actually really interesting.

It has the unlockables and online functionality of its modern contemporaries, while sticking to its roots and showing us that a good game can still be a good game, even after all these years.

The wait between Devil May Cry 4 and Devil May Cry 5 might have been long, but the payoff is more than worth it. It doesn't deviate from the series' formula, but instead refines it to a polished sheen; one that's packed with an absurd amount of style and spirit. This is a must-play action game for fans of the series and the genre alike.

Ultimately, the game goes much beyond the alluring eye candy that may appear to be its biggest selling point to a casual observer. While it doesn't neglect the fanservice, it's a rock solid fighting game with complex and nuanced mechanics that will likely satisfy even the most demanding genre enthusiasts.

Ultimately, none of the flaws in Crackdown 3 are deal-breakers but they hold it back from being truly great. If you can look past them, and just enjoy Crackdown 3 for what it is: a game that gives you a wacky toolset to blast enemies away for 10-20 hours or more, then you'll definitely find value and fun here.

The controls of Anthem are intuitive and engaging. Flying through the world of Bastion is a sight to behold, and coordinating with your team on higher difficulties like Grandmaster is rewarding. Despite some questionable design choices and shortcomings, Anthem has a strong foundation that has potential to be a genre leader, but isn’t quite there just yet.

The complexity of the game can definitely be a huge barrier to entry, and there’s a repetitiveness that comes with hunting games that might turn you off if that’s not something you enjoy. Still, God Eater 3 functions as a strong, complex JRPG and a good way to test out the series if you’ve been curious this whole time.

Dirt Rally 2.0 isn’t afraid to throw you in at the deep end with its sophisticated rally action, giving you a lot to think about and a steep learning curve to conquer. Hurtling along the beautiful rally stages or fighting your rivals in a Rally Cross final is exhilarating. Even with some poorly structured content, Dirt Rally 2.0 is still the best simulation of the sport you’ll find.

Everything outside of that core combat feels so wishy-washy and uninteresting, that I can’t recommend Jump Force to anyone that doesn’t have an immediate interest in anime. If these characters have been a huge part of your life, or you’re familiar with a few of the series, you’ll definitely enjoy it, but go in with some lowered expectations.

Far Cry New Dawn is a standalone sequel to Far Cry 5, but it adds nothing of meaning or value to the original story. If you just want more Far Cry, this is worth checking out. Otherwise, you're not really missing much here.

The survival horror tropes, linear moments, and emphasis on atmosphere haven't been lost, but Exodus proves that Metro can be much more than a journey through dark and decaying tunnels.

For all of its problems in the first few hours, Yo-Kai Watch 3 turns itself around wonderfully for an experience most any player can enjoy. Its a great entry for fans new and old, and an indicator of the greater heights the series is headed toward.

Whether it’s your first time playing a game in the genre or not, Steins;Gate Elite is definitely one of the best visual novels available today. Just keep in mind that, while it may have taken a bit for the Phonewave (name subject to change) to heat the story up, the payoff is worth the wait.

Apex Legends is an incredibly intuitive and well-thought-out battle royale game that is worth trying out for yourself.

Put simply, Gathering Storm checks all the boxes of what a great expansion should be and is a must own for hardcore Civilization VI fans looking for a reason to spice things up in an incredibly positive way or get back into the game if they’ve been dormant.

It’s an unerring tribute to everything Disney and what the Kingdom Hearts series has become, and despite its few flaws creates an interesting blueprint for where the series could go next with gameplay and story.

The wait has been worth it; Wargroove is absolutely a must-play title for fans of the genre and just Switch owners in general.

At The Gates is a brutally hardcore strategy game that will keep fans engaged for dozens, if not hundreds of hours. The amount of time it takes to learn even the basics, coupled with its simplistic art style and obtuse menu-based UI, will scare off newcomers. But veterans of the genre and fans of games of this pedigree will find an engaging strategy title that stands shoulder to shoulder with the games that inspired it.

Ultimately, Senran Kagura Burst Re:Newal is a competent remake with all of its graphical fuel poured into the main characters, while environments and enemies could have certainly been done better.

Aside from the disappointing 2nd Run scenarios, I feel confident in saying that this is the best Resident Evil game ever released. It brings back everything that fans loved from the PS1 classic, and presents it in a fresh, modern way that's both exciting and nostalgic in a modern age.

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown finally fulfills the expectations of those players from my generation who loved Ace Combat 04 and 5, bringing the series back to its roots in a masterful way. While there are a few relevant innovations, the good folks at Project Aces kept their eyes and ears open and listened to the fans of the franchise who wanted to return to Strangereal and to the Ace Combat that we know and love.

Fairy Fencer F Advent Dark Force is a deceptively simple game housing some deep customization options. It’s easy to get into if you’re new to the series, while veterans will no doubt enjoy all of the new content that’s been padded on. While it no doubt caters to a certain audience, Fairy Fencer F Advent Dark Force does show both promise and potential in the niche market.

Its absurdity, alongside occasional quips do end up pulling their weight, but it’s not enough to save Piku’s journey from being inoffensive and simply forgettable.

With the 3DS slowly but surely coming to an end (it’s been eight years now), Bowser’s Inside Story is a wondrous journey from start to finish, closing out with an epic final boss battle and is simply a must-play for any fan of RPG’s and anyone who wants to get a deeper look at who Bowser exactly is, like a really deep look.

There’s too much in Double Cross that either bores or frustrates for the quality moments to be worth struggling towards.

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is a must-play for 2D Mario fans and is the best in the 2D line of games since Super Mario World.

I’m not inclined to play back through it right away, but it’ll be staying downloaded on my Switch for those lengthy flights and commutes where I want to do nothing more than slash through countless enemies in style.

My Time at Portia cultivates hard work and pays it off with a sense of progression and achievement. When you aren’t searching for materials or crafting a new gadget, you’re off cavorting at festivals or bonding with the friendly townsfolk. There’s always something waiting for you at Portia, and it pulls you back in every time.

New players will get the full, unabridged experience at a decent price, while old fans should find this treasured classic is still just as fun to dive into as they remember.

Catherine Classic continues to be one of the most fascinating and unique games of last generation. And the good news is, you no longer need to hook up your last-gen console to enjoy this gem of a game.

This is easily one of the biggest Tales experiences to date, and pretty much everything about Tales of Vesperia still holds up by today’s standards.

Roller Coaster Tycoon Adventures lacks the replay value and challenge to have much worth outside those two scenarios, especially when compared to modern competition like Planet Coaster and Parkitect.

BELOW held a series of incredible highs and depressing lows, and harbored several unlovable mechanics. But its tense environment and enchanting ambiance kept the experience alive to the very end for me.

Ashen feels like it’s trying to be too many things at once, and perhaps because of that, it ends up tasting like a bland pot of soup without any punchy flavors to really catch your attention.

For all it has to offer, The Last Remnant Remastered is still the same adventure longtime fans still know and love. Its visual upgrades and other changes make it the best version to play, but its lackluster plot and complex combat system might turn others away.

Book of Demons sets a fantastic foundation for the next tale in the Paperverse.

As a one-off experience or one-time playthrough, GRIS is certainly one of the most artistic and provocative experiences I’ve seen in video games. While I would’ve liked to see a more fleshed out world, with meaningful collectibles and more puzzles to solve, GRIS is still worth a look for anyone who has an interest in platformers or silent stories

DUSK is a devilishly good game. It will frustrate you, yes, but that’s the point. The game wants you to claw at victory and feel as though you’ve actually accomplished something when you obtain it.

Playing with possibilities of the physics engine as you zip across Solis, trying to take down yet another dictator, is as much fun as ever, but that ‘more of the same’ sentiment is present everywhere in Just Cause 4, from the technical issues to the repetitive mission structure and generic story.

Every aspect of the game feels fine-tuned and thought out, and the sheer amount of changes and diversity of content is simply staggering. This is the most ambitious and all-inclusive Super Smash Bros entry, and one of the very best games Nintendo's little system has gotten yet.

Katamari Damacy REROLL is a condensed, but immensely enjoyable experience. The controls are the main roadblock for sure, but they’re not quite enough to detract from just how fun this game is. REROLL is a simple port of a simple game, refreshed for a newer audience, while also keeping all its charms and quirks intact. There’s no better way to roll.

Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden feels entirely spread too thin. Without much depth to its name, it remains a unique setting devoid of personality.

At its core, Darksiders 3 is a good game. Its combat and story do justice by the series, and even with its flaws it provides enough to keep longtime fans and newcomers alike invested. So long as players can have some patience for the game’s technical issues, they’ll find plenty to enjoy in this title.

Hardcore Persona fans are probably going to be let down that the story and character screen time takes a backseat in this one, but you’ll take whatever Persona you can get when you’re obsessed with the series like I am. The gameplay is still solid, and while the track list is a slight downgrade, it’s still decent enough, and enjoyable.

As long as a lack of a formal campaign isn’t a total deal breaker, Persona 5 fans should have enough here to enjoy themselves. Enjoy the extra time you’ll get with the Phantom Thieves and try not to think too much about the scrapped story mode.

Forcibly pushing players together in order to tackle the later main quests isn’t the experience fans wanted, nor is a PvP system that requires consent before it really kicks off, regardless of where you are.

We’d always known that Game Freak had created a world that was truly special when the original games first released on the Game Boy, and that vision’s finally been brought to life with Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee.

We’d always known that Game Freak had created a world that was truly special when the original games first released on the Game Boy, and that vision’s finally been brought to life with Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee.

A spectacular breath of fresh air for the 40K franchise.

Exactly what it needs to be. Its farming sim systems are well balanced and easy to use, and fans will have everything they need to zen out for hours of play. By all other counts, it’s a rough entry point into the genre for newcomers and not the kind of game most people would enjoy as much as the more accessible titles seen in recent years.

I enjoyed my time with Battlefield V a lot, I just can’t confidently say that it’s a major improvement (if at all) over my personal favorite in the series, Battlefield 1, at least not yet.

If you’re looking for a new The Sims 4 expansion pack, you can’t go wrong with choosing this one, but you also have better options if you haven’t bought any in awhile.

The Reignited Trilogy only helps cement the fact that the three original Spyro games are some of the best platformer/collectathons ever made.

The freedom to plan and execute a variety of insane kill fantasies makes for missions that are fun and original even after multiple playthroughs. Hitman 2 is a wonderfully designed, enjoyable, and rewarding stealth sandbox that’ll only continue to develop.

Despite its visual shortcomings, World of Final Fantasy Maxima still brings back the charm we all fell in love with two years ago. This crossover still feels like an excellent celebration for the series, spoiling long-time supporters with classic gameplay and a fanciful tale filled with Final Fantasy fervor.

Arguably the biggest flaw with Overkill’s The Walking Dead is just how generic and bland it feels.

Whether you’re playing in VR or not, Tetris Effect is an incredible achievement. The familiar gameplay, stunning visuals, and beautiful music all come together to evoke a variety of different emotions. For a couple of minutes, you’re captured by what’s happening around you and it’s magical. It’s a near perfect puzzle game, but it’s even closer to perfection in VR.

Held back by baked-in design decisions, muddy graphical effects, and non-exciting sound design, it’s doubtful that GRIP could make any significant comeback due to its flaws. With these elements in mind, GRIP: Combat Racing should take a pass from prospective purchasers.

I love that CD Projekt Red’s solution to getting more players on board with its free-to-play card game was to produce a massive standalone RPG with all the spellbinding storytelling that’s become a signature of The Witcher brand. It’s the sort of thoroughness and commitment to quality they’ve built a reputation on, and Thronebreaker now paves the way for an exciting new genre of card games that incorporate a similar design ethos.

Deracine has a world worth seeing, but it’s not likely to stick with you once you’ve left.

Everything I could’ve asked for from a proper Switch port. The graphical downgrades are noticeable in handheld mode, but it doesn’t detract from the experience at all, especially when it runs so smoothly.

When taken for what it is, Castlevania Requiem is a functional and acceptable port of two legendary titles. It provides both games to players in a way that is entertaining and satisfying, regardless of whether you’ve played it a million times or want to finally see what all the fuss is about over two decades later.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is a landmark title for storytelling, open-world design, voice acting, and immersion in video games. It is certainly among the best games of this console generation, but that's not all. It should eventually go down as one of the greatest games of all-time.

If there’s one fault My Hero One’s Justice has it’s a lack of ambition, to really try and go for something inventive and new, like its anime counterpart. Still, if you’re jonesing for more My Hero Academia, this will see you through the wait until Season 4.

For the most part, NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 is an improvement on the original. The fun, over-the-top, and easy to understand gameplay returns and the online options make it a more complete package. However, while it should be the perfect game to pick up and play for a couple of matches, the player pack system means you need to grind a lot if you want to fill out your roster, unless you’re willing to part with some real-world cash.

Without a doubt, this is the very best place for newcomers to jump on, but there’s still plenty of depth for vetaran fans. In all respects, from the guest character to the presentation and new mechanics, this is the best that SoulCalibur has been in a long time. It’s not just one of the best fighting games of the year, it’s one of the best games of the year, period.

It serves its purpose and delivers on what it advertises, giving players a power fantasy experience where they can tear through waves of enemies with the touch of a button. It’s an enjoyable Musou title which will keep fans entertained, and takes some small steps forward that future installments could use to great effect.

Instead of forcing story-based planet missions into a game that doesn’t have an interesting story, Starlink should have doubled down on space combat. If it did, the flaws in the story would have been outshined by the constant joy experienced while dogfighting in space.

Luigi’s Mansion is a game that didn’t necessarily need a remake, but I’m glad this exists. The writing and mechanics hold up and it’s still mostly a joy to play. I only wish the controls would have been refined a bit more to catch up with modern standards.

Blackout is easily the biggest highlight here, and if Treyarch had to cut the single-player story in order to make this happen, I’d say it was a worthy trade.

For newcomers, if you can push past the awful touch controls, The World Ends With You provides a gripping tale that will consume you from start to finish.

The case in favor of Pathfinder: Kingmaker comes with an overwhelming series of excuses. Epic quest lines exist, but a boring second act hampers them. The kingdom management shows unique advancement, but it houses nasty unresolvable events that result in a game over.

Armello has a level of polish and depth that is rare for an indie title, and especially for a studio’s debut. It’s truly another feather in the cap for the Australian gaming industry

Gift of Parthax is a serviceable, if dime-a-dozen arena-brawler.

Depending on your taste, Disgaea 1 Complete can offer hours upon hours of gameplay filled with team building and grinding. With its gorgeous graphics and updated animations, this is hands down the best and “complete” version of the first game.

There was a lot riding on Mega Man 11, but it rises to the occasion in almost every regard. It's a near perfect modern representation of the series, and for anyone who has ever had even a passing interest in the series, it's an entry they won't want to miss.

Ubisoft has fully embraced the RPG formula with Odyssey, and they’ve created a game that feels refreshingly confident and self-assured. There are still a few missteps to work out, but for now, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is one of the most charming open world RPGs you’ll play this year.

Arena of Valor is probably one of the best MOBAs to get into if you’re new to the series. With its beginner-friendly features and plenty of heroes to choose from, it’s fairly easy to learn your way around and start competing against other players. On the other hand, Arena of Valor offers just enough depth and a spice of variety to entice MOBA veterans to pick up the game on the Nintendo Switch.

It's hard to imagine an arcade racer playing and looking much better than Forza Horizon 4. It's by far the best Xbox One exclusive for 2018, and among the best games this console generation, period.

Its inclusion of a myriad of different modes and customization add a depth that past installments were missing.

Transference certainly showcases the potential of VR storytelling in the style Spectrevision are attempting. Even if its short story isn’t always effectively told, and some of the puzzles distract, the atmosphere that’s been created through detailed world design, incredible lighting effects, and intense sound design makes for a terrifying experience.

Ultimate Team has been made more appealing by a fairer and more rewarding structure, but it’s the gameplay changes that add fluidity, precision, and reliability to the play that make FIFA 19 the best game the series has seen this generation.

The changes both big and small have radically improved the game.

If not for the blatant microtransactions and VC-driven progression system, NBA 2K19 would be the best basketball game on and off the court to date.

The odd style of pacing and sidequest focus can be off-putting for some, but taken as a whole Torna is a fantastic piece of additional content for a massive JRPG.

This pack has a ton of content, personality, and encourages you to experiment and explore, so I urge you to check it out, especially if you’re a creative person.

For everything it brings to the table, it still left me wanting just a bit more.

It’s frustrating that Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker isn’t better, because the elements it needs to be a great game are all there.

Two Point Hospital is everything that Theme Hospital fans would have been hoping for from a successor, and then some. It may still have some finicky issues, which hopefully, can be addressed with a post-launch update, but all of its charm and witty humor make managing hospitals far more entertaining than it really should be.

A faithful remaster of a game that time has not been kind to. It fails at modernizing it for 2018 standards, making it feel like a clunky mess to play. It pains me to say this because of how beloved the series is.

For the first time since the very first Valkyria Chronicles, it feels like the series has realized its full potential. It’s easily the longest Valkyria game yet, but it doesn’t suffer for it. Longtime fans have a lot to love here and for newcomers, it’s the very best place to try the series out.

It’s another terrific addition to modern Lara Croft’s adventures, albeit a safe one that doesn’t seem to want to take too many risks outside driving the series’ iconic protagonist through a dark and grisly story.

Firewall Zero Hour is a masterclass in accessible, immersive VR first-person shooting. Its sharp, intuitive tactical gameplay and well-designed maps make for intense 4v4 action that’s a level above anything else available on PlayStation VR. However, it cannot be ignored that the progression slog and rapidly emptying lobbies make Firewall a difficult game to commit to.

Strange Brigade’s serviceable but flawed gameplay and forgettable story make for an incredibly generic third-person shooter, but its charming personality, great level design, and well integrated puzzles make for a B-movie romp that’s a lot more fun than you might initially expect, even if you plan to play alone.