Looking at my death count at the end of the game, it was a little shocking to see that I’d died that many times. But Celeste constantly reassures the player that it’s not something to be ashamed of. Every death is a lesson learned, and with every lesson comes improvement. As long as you don’t give up, there’s always a path to success. Even if you have to fail 2,649 times to see it.

From the fluid storyline down to its tactical combat, I was absolutely hooked.

More importantly, the developers did a good job with the color palette of the ship, the background, enemies, and gunfire, so that it’s always easy for the player to keep track of where they are on the screen.

There’s a lot to love about Dissidia NT, especially once you really get a feel for its systems and multiplayer. The game can be an absolute blast when everything clicks, but when it doesn’t, boy can it be tough to enjoy. The story mode has some really questionable design decisions, and the summons battles are frustrating.

It feels so much like the original that even its few new additions like new Digimon and Dominion Battles start to slowly but surely feel less impactful over time. All the same charm, quirks, and missteps of the original game are captured all over again in Hacker’s Memory but for a full $59.99 price tag it just feels like this sequel could have, and should have, brought more to the table.

Without a doubt, this is the best way you can experience Fumito Ueda's best game.

Dragon Ball FighterZ has the gameplay foundations to usher it into the echelons of some of today’s premiere tournament-worthy fighting games.

If you find the idea of facing down monstrous beasts with a group of friends and hunting together for hours on end appealing, Monster Hunter: World has what you're looking for.

The episode ends on a bit of a low note as things seem to end rather abruptly. Episode 4 also feels like the shortest one of the bunch so far, with major characters taking a backseat.

One thing is for sure, as we look to the future for this powerhouse of a game, the sky is the limit.

To my surprise, Styling Star charmed me a lot more than I initially expected.

Tiny Metal is an admirable return to the traditional turn-based strategy genre. There’s enough of a challenge both in the campaign and skirmish mode to keep players happy for a good while, but the lack of any sort of multiplayer at launch hurts its overall score.

Before the Storm is the more personal take on the series’ formula, forgoing the supernatural elements of the first series in favor of something more real, and I’m so glad it did.

I can’t help but feel that there just wasn’t enough time to fully flesh this expansion out. Maybe updates will utilize the new space and we’ll remember the Curse of Osiris era more fondly over time. If you just want more Destiny 2, Curse of Osiris is a serviceable expansion. But right now, Destiny 2 doesn’t need more stuff, it needs a shakeup of its DNA, and Curse of Osiris doesn’t deliver in that regard.

Here’s hoping Capcom sees it as a franchise worthy of a modern-day sequel.

Minecraft: Story Mode has been such an enjoyable adventure to go through from start to finish, and even if Telltale chooses to leave this story as it is, I’d say they’ve done a pretty good job at constructing a simple but meaningful story with a satisfying close at the end.

Seven’s narrative is certainly its main draw and rescues the often woeful gameplay. The lackluster stealth and bland combat are big issues, as is the frustrating world design.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 certainly isn’t a title for those looking for a quick to play RPG or an easy to learn experience, but for anyone willing to invest the time there’s a gem underneath that just needs to be buffed out.

Road to the Olympics adds a stand alone story that follows an olympic snowboarders’ journey from a hopeful participant, to the first person to ever claim gold in three distinctly different snowboarding events: Half-Pipe, Big Air, and Slopestyle. It (mercifully) doesn’t beat you over the head with an in-depth storyline and instead opts for a documentary approach of sorts.

Dead Rising 4: Frank’s Big Package still comes with all the flaws and warts it had during its original release, but if you can look past that, and deal with some laggy multiplayer connection problems, there’s still a fun and varied story experience waiting for you here.

As tiring as it is to have to play through the first 15 hours with very minimal changes to gameplay and story, the wait is worth it, and the game continuously gets better as you keep going.

As tiring as it is to have to play through the first 15 hours with very minimal changes to gameplay and story, the wait is worth it, and the game continuously gets better as you keep going.

Ultimately, Gear.Club Unlimited it a very basic game in comparison to many other console racing titles.

Revelations 2 is a consistently fun game that will keep you hooked on its plot all the way to the conclusion. But be aware that the port is full of little grievances that can test your patience.

I am still heavily invested in the story of Batman: The Enemy Within, and I’m excited to see how things develop from here. But little niggles like inconsequential ‘big’ decisions still feel too heavy-handed and put into the story for a bit of shock value that doesn’t really amount to much in the end.

Despite some persistent technical issues that dragged down the experience, Monster of the Deep is surprisingly ambitious, and one that I did not expect to enjoy as much as I did.

If you’re not willing to simply sign up for more of the same Sonic with the same problems and not enough meaningful innovation, Sonic Forces will easily lose your interest and leave you frustrated with its many shortcomings.

The tabletop element of Hand of Fate 2 is a blast. The variety in the objectives forces you to build new decks and develop new strategies on how to tackle each new challenge. Some of the challenges are designed so cleverly that you’ll have to discard some previous knowledge of how you thought the game worked in order to solve them. Not only this, but the way you unlock the cards are fair and addictive, adding hours of replay value as you try to acquire all of the gold tokens. But the quality of the overall experience is held back by the repetitive combat.

Rocket League on Switch is everything that Rocket League has to offer, with added portability.

Mario Party: The Top 100 was such a strong idea, but it unfortunately falls flat as an actual full-priced Mario Party title.

Being able to play such a massive RPG like Skyrim wherever you want is truly a technical marvel, and I’m thoroughly impressed with what Bethesda’s been able to pull off here.

Considering how enjoyable getting behind the wheel is in Need for Speed Payback, it is frustrating that so many elements don’t work in the overall experience. You may spend most of your time having fun racing but the b-movie story that stars unlikable characters, the presentation inconsistencies, and the poorly integrated upgrade system are frequent frustrations.

Star Wars Battlefront II offers a sizable improvement over the first game in almost every way.

Despite me thinking that the port doesn’t live up to its PC counterpart, I cannot recommend it enough if you’ve yet to experience the latest entry in the iconic series.

Playing Doom on the Nintendo Switch had me marveling at the game in awe all over again. Though it’s been more than six months since the official release of the Switch, the idea of taking a proper, AAA console game with you on the go is still an incredible concept, and it’s on full display here with Bethesda’s Doom port. My experience with Doom on the Switch has been nice, but technology has not yet advanced far enough for us to be able to enjoy a home console experience on a portable device without making a few, crucial sacrifices.

There’s enough in The Sims 4: Cats & Dogs to make this one of the best expansion packs you can get to date.

It’s a Franken-game, one where its parts don’t always fit well with one another, and will probably give you tonal whiplash jumping from Daniels’ somber reflection into a silly match of Gridiron football. But if you’re able to overlook one aspect in favor of the others, Call of Duty: WWII delivers on everything it’s expected to.

Nobody expected the latest Bubsy game to be any good and I’m sorry to say that those expectations were completely correct. Stay far away from it. Go play Mario or something instead.

In spite of these small complaints, Below the Bedrock is still another fantastic installment in the surprisingly well-written series so far. Minecraft: Story Mode’s second season continues to feature some of the best writing I’ve ever seen in a Telltale game, and the finale episode simply can’t come soon enough.

I’m excited for the inevitable second series so I can go saving the galaxy with the Guardians once more. However, Telltale really needs to up its game in making these decisions feel more consequential if its experiences are going to keep with the times.

The Frozen Wilds offers a delectable slice of familiar action in a new, dangerous, yet beautiful land with plenty of lore and content to keep you exploring The Cut long after you’ve completed your quest. Though not as polished and perfectly paced as the core experience, The Frozen Wilds is still more than worth the $20 price tag.

Despite how negative I sound to this point, Super Lucky’s Tale isn’t a bad game. Everything about it is fine, adequate, and distinguished as an effort.

It’s adorable, heartwarming, comforting, and just an absolute joy to play. Super Mario Odyssey sees the series return to the collect-a-thon/3D platformer genre that it, itself pioneered, and once again, Mario is setting the flag up high for others to follow.

Yomawari: Midnight Shadows shines a brave light to eschew some genre conventions, but not all. Though the lack of sound and solemn streets are sure to please anyone who loves horror, the abundance of save points makes death inconsequential, removing some terror that the atmosphere instills. Despite that, this is a horror game that is still very much worth your time, if only for a rainy weekend alone in the dark.

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is a fluid, brutal, and challenging first-person shooter and one that is insane and over-the-top from start to finish, but it is the unique cast of characters and the story they’re a part of that shines. B.J and his crew of revolutionaries add heart and humor to the otherwise bleak world and help create some of the most memorable moments in single-player focused games this year. Machine Games has built on what made The New Order great to produce one of this generation’s finest shooters.

Many were wondering if more time would do the series any good, and I can now safely ask: why didn't they do this sooner?

There are so many things you can do differently over the course of the story, and the game has incredible replay value. And should you ever get tired of replaying the same mystery, you could always invite a few friends over for an intense night of distrust and suspicion.

It’s a terrific crossover for those who’ve enjoyed the modern releases, but much less so for fans who might have been hoping to be reacquainted or properly introduced to the old heroes of yore.

Through its celebration of both the art and intricacies of driving and the cars that make it such a joy, GT Sport is a stunningly classy racing experience. It handles wonderfully and does all it can to make you a better driver through its campaign’s structure. If you’re looking for a more traditional Gran Turismo experience, however, one that is solely single-player focused, GT Sport may feel more like another prologue experience than the winning entry you’ve been waiting for.

Episode two ends with just the right amount of suspense and major reveals that you’d expect from a Life is Strange game. The reveal was exciting, albeit a little predictable if you tap into the clichéd nature of the series. Even so, as the credits rolled I was once again hyped to dive into the next chapter of the series and see what Deck Nine has in store for us.

Battle Chasers: Nightwar is 40-or-so hour JRPG experience that’s well worth the time invested. Although its storytelling likely won’t inspire anyone but diehard fans of the comics, it has enough clout to keep franchise newcomers motivated, and importantly, it’s accessible enough for those unfamiliar with the source material to jump in too.

There’s no experience like playing through a massive episode of South Park where the hero of the story is you. The superhero angle really lands, and is an excellent wrapping for the story this time around.

Echo thrives on its conceptually impressive mechanics and simplistic gameplay, but suffers from repetitiveness. Nonetheless, Echo is an enjoyable game that fans of the stealth action genre should experience, especially when there’s nothing like it in the market.

A Hat in Time is an incredible effort and delivers on its promise of being a worthwhile return to the 3D collect-a-thon platformer genre. It tugs at the heartstrings and delivers all those nostalgic feels. It’s not perfect, and it probably could have been a little more ambitious with some more time or manpower, perhaps. Despite that though, A Hat in Time is one of the best 3D platformers certainly in recent times, but it can also hang with the greats from years ago as well.

The Evil Within 2 is held back by a forgettable story and annoying AI issues that would probably put a serious damper on your gameplay experience if you were playing on Nightmare difficulty. And yet, it also does exactly what a horror game should do, and it does it well. Despite its flaws, The Evil Within 2 is a thoughtfully constructed horror rollercoaster ride that strikes a delicate balance between giving the player the power to fight back, and also making them realize that sometimes, all those guns and gear won’t save you from the terrors you can’t understand.

Though it drags a little during the middle, episode four did manage to hook me back in by the end. I’m intrigued to see exactly how the series pans out considering the state of the Guardians by the episode’s close. In that sense, Telltale has succeeded in setting the stage for its finale, and I’ve now learned enough about most of its leading characters to really care and get behind their cause in episode five.

Gundam Versus has a lot to offer, and fans of the series will no doubt be pleased with the frenetic combat and roster. It may not be as accessible to those that don’t know anything about Gundam, but there’s still a fast and engaging battle system to take part in with a strong multiplayer offering. While the staggering roster of mobile suits is intimidating, it’s impressive how much variation there is, and just trying each one out and mastering it is going to take you quite a while.

An incredibly polished and satisfying racer.

Middle-earth Shadow of War consistently shocked and surprised me around every corner, with every Orc betrayal, every revelatory fortress takeover, and menacing look from the Bright Lord. It gripped me in ways I certainly didn’t expect having played the first game, and I’m already missing my trip through Mordor.

The plot in Golf Story isn’t the most gripping or complex, but its world and characters simply ooze with so much charm it’s hard not to fall in love with it. Though the gameplay mechanics on show here might not be as deep as you’d want from a proper golf game, Golf Story is still a wonderful delight to play from start to finish, and it’s a gem of an RPG that Switch owners shouldn’t skip out on.

I’m just not sure if Telltale has the chops to pull every story development and important character (Tiffany Fox is still largely ignored in this episode too, by the way) and tie them together neatly and coherently.

Cuphead ultimately leaves me at an impasse. I absolutely love the style of the game, and when the game works well it’s a truly rewarding experience that overcomes the seemingly impossible difficulty. Every time I beat a boss I felt re-energized, ready to tackle the next (and there are quite a few of them). But randomness and all too frequent bugs are rotten apples that spoil what could be a damn near perfect barrel of fruit.

Fighting game players who are into the genre for the sake of going toe-to-toe with other players will have far more to look forward to than those who are attracted to game’s overall presentation or alternative game modes. So in the midst of quite a few missteps and mediocrity, you can’t deny that at its very base Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite did at least offer some solid improvements to gameplay while still keeping the overall pace and feel of the franchise. Unfortunately, the game struggled to achieve much else outside of that.

Divinity: Original Sin 2 is raw and savage, and it’s easily one of the best RPGs we’ve played this year.

NBA 2K18 has one of the biggest and boldest changes for an annual sports title but inadvertently introduced some serious flaws that are difficult to overlook. Nonetheless, the developers have created a great foundation for the series.

Controller support has vastly improved compared to the first game, with configuration options and game assists available to tailor your experience.

FIFA 18 doesn’t feel like as drastic an improvement as its predecessor did over FIFA 16. Its improvements to offensive play certainly allow for some spectacular goals to be scored and help the fluidity of play. Unfortunately, these same improvements result in a fairly one-sided battle between attack and defense.

While the same issues of bland presentation, a lack of in-game atmosphere, and licensing inconsistencies return once again in PES 2018, if you’re looking for a football game that plays close to perfectly, offering you the control to be precise with every touch of the ball, Konami’s game is comfortably the best option around.

Though you have to finish it in order to truly appreciate its genius, the journey along the way is one hell of a ride.

Don’t let the fact that this is a remake fool you; it’s a fresh experience, and hopefully one that means even more Metroid is on the way.

Jailhouse Block excels at illustrating the dynamics between all of these characters, and it all comes to a head when the player is finally presented with a heartbreaking choice near the end of the episode.

Pokken Tournament DX is still one of the most well-executed fighting games that’s able to cater to casual players, while also delivering enough depth and complexity to master for those looking for it. While the bulk of the title hasn’t changed much, it’s the small things that really add up. The expanded roster and improved local play, combined with the game’s existing fantastic gameplay and rewarding sense of progression, makes this the definitive version of Pokken Tournament.

I have a feeling that NHL 18 suffers from its lack of competition. While, as always, its gameplay is strong, its presentation is pretty much perfect from in-game to the menus, and there is plenty of enjoyable modes for all standards of players to sink their teeth into, the lack of substantial new features and innovation mean that it is a step behind even some of EA’s other marquee sports titles.

But here, in Destiny 2, from the moment I took control of my Warlock, whom I missed dearly, I was legitimately enjoying myself. From each story beat to every public event where players refused to trigger Heroic, right down to all the engrams that became everything I didn’t want, I’ve had fun.

Strangely enough, the game manages to convey a wealth of emotions through its wordless narrative and faceless cast. After the credits rolled, I couldn’t help but think about how far we would personally go to save someone who was important in our life. With its simplistic puzzles, captivating narrative, and amazing art style, Last Day of June is definitely a game you’d want to pick up.

While the story may take a bit of time to really get going, once it gets there it will grab a hold of your attention and refuse to let go. It is, ultimately, what the Utawarerumono series could have (and should have) been from the very start.

When you finally get over the initially steep learning curve and find fellow like-minded players that you can group up with, ARK: Survival Evolved becomes a truly enjoyable sandbox game where anything goes. But not even the impressive dinosaurs and cool tech can cover up just how repetitive the game really is, and how you’re forced to sink in hours and hours of grinding before you can finally start to get to the ‘good’ stuff.

The thing that surprised me most about Knack 2 was how the experience got better as I kept going. The first few missions can be slow, but once the story and combat got their hooks in I found myself having a blast with the game.

There are a few design and progression issues but, ultimately, Everybody’s Golf is a triumphant return for the series. The golf gameplay is deep yet simple enough to fully understand, there is a huge amount of content both online and off to get stuck into, and the light-hearted tone and style make the world a joy to spend time in. It is the perfect golf game for seasoned players and newcomers alike.

Before the Storm’s first episode is an excellent starting chapter for this prequel. With a strong, endearing protagonist in Chloe, a deeper choice and consequence system than the original, and some intriguing mysteries surrounding the story, I found myself invested in Arcadia Bay once again, and it feels hella good.

When all the pieces slide perfectly into place, Absolver truly shines as one of the best action experiences I’ve had in some time. But with all the pressure hinged on solely the combat, it takes only one hiccup to throw it all off (and there is definitely more than just one in the game).

This isn’t an inherently bad game by any stretch of the imagination; it’s just not one that managed to withstand the test of time, no matter how much Capcom tries to polish it up. And if you’re a new player who adored Resident Evil 7 and you’re wondering if this little spin-off game is worth jumping into, I’d say have a go with Revelations 2, see how you feel about it, and then take things from there.

Warriors All-Stars sticks with the formula it knows best, and that works. For players looking to dive into a lengthy game with nothing but that satisfying punchy feel of the hack-and-slash combat, this is absolutely perfect. There’s an endless stream of side missions and content to tackle, and the unlockable cutscenes between the crossover characters are just the cherry on top. However, for players who might not entirely be sold on Omega Force’s classic combat, or even for players who have taken a 16-year break from these Warriors-style games and are just returning, you might find that it drags on a tad too long with no real variety in gameplay to shake things up.

If you’re a fan of XCOM 2 already and are looking for an excuse to fire it up again, this is as good of a reason as any. I have no doubt that – once XCOM 3 is on its way – they will use a lot of the features that premiered with War of the Chosen. With good reason, too.

Yet another fantastic game you should have in your library if you own a Nintendo Switch. It’s clear that Ubisoft respects the sanctity of these iconic Nintendo characters, and the game certainly does them justice. Kingdom Battle might not be the most challenging tactical RPG around, but it does offer a satisfying combat flow, and provides ample opportunities for players to come up with interesting strategies and team compositions to complete a map with. The Rabbids serve as the special X-factor ingredient that really makes this game pop with life.

F1 2017 builds on what fans loved in the previous game to make it arguably the best Formula One game Codemasters have made since they started creating games for the motorsport series in 2009. Whether you’ve not played one for a few years like myself or enjoyed F1 2016, this provides a worthwhile experience.

In its worst instances, the game crashes and breaks, which is something that should never happen in any video game.

Ultimately, Nidhogg 2 is a unique game that is filled with charming quirks and strategic challenges. It’s only real mistake is not trusting in its original formula and undercutting its own successes with added fluff that just wasn’t necessary.

Telltale is clearly trying hard to make their Guardians series feel like Guardians of the Galaxy. Whether it’s the goofy montage that plays out to a typical Guardians track, the bickering in the group, or just one of Drax’s superbly-delivered one-liners, episode three continued to just feel like a good time.

Kiwami holds a ton of appeal for anyone coming hot off of Yakuza Zero, but there’s ample reason for longtime fans to jump in, and it’s even a fine starting point for new players as well. Despite the slow starting hours, once Kiwami and Kazuma Kiryu grab hold of your attention, they don’t easily let go.

Last year, I said that Madden NFL 17 was refined, yet was lacking something. Something that could shake the series up. Well, this year they took a gamble with Longshot and it paid off.

The team has found a way to humanize and flesh out two characters that, for all intents and purposes, were just random secondary additions to the titles they premiered in.

The game is bursting at the seams full of smart nostalgic references that hardcore fans would pick up on, while also managing to feel like a genuine new entry. Sonic Mania is not only everything fans of the classic Genesis games could have wanted and more, but it’s one of the best 2D platformers of this generation, and of all-time. It has taken awhile, but with Sonic Mania, the series is finally back in the club of truly remarkable and exemplary games.

While I have to tip my hat to Housemarque for trying something different, Matterfall feels more like a side project than a proper release in the developer’s esteemed lineage of twin-stick shooters. The controls lack the same level of slick polish, the main experience is short, and there’s little to keep you coming back.

Though the game does have its shortfalls, like a lackluster tutorial zone and some infuriating boss mechanics, Undertale is undoubtedly a real stroke of genius. The game plays around with conventions and tropes normally associated with RPGs and subverts them in clever ways, all while telling a deeply personal story that everyone can relate to at some point in their lives. Undertale is a game that makes the player feel and think. It’s a game that fills the player with determination, and is most certainly one that you should play.

I expected to come out of Agents of Mayhem wishing that Volition simply made Saints Row V instead. But now? Now I’m looking forward to what other trouble this budding agency can get itself into, and that’s saying something.

The episode featured a few surprising story twists, a difficult moral dilemma, and ended off with yet another cliffhanger and an ominous preview of things to come.

LawBreakers doesn’t necessarily offer anything new or groundbreaking, the weapon and character skins that you can unlock as you level up aren’t exactly very enticing either, and at this point, it’s difficult to say whether the game will be able to keep its player base engaged in the long run. However, if you’re simply looking for something new, LawBreakers is a solid enough arena first-person shooter game to get into.