Gears of War 4 is an impressive return to form.

I'm amazed at how well Autonauts' many elements come together to form a simulation experience that manages to be as satisfying as it is open-ended. Throw in an adorable presentation and a well-executed campaign and you're left with one great sim game.

Demon's Souls is an excellent game whether you're new to the franchise, have only played the Dark Souls games, or are a fan of the original. However, if you fit in the latter group like I do then you may be disappointed by its less visceral yet admittedly gorgeous world.

Although Disgaea 4 Complete+ isn't a substantial upgrade to the previous iteration, what's here is still a fantastic SRPG. Therefore, if you don't already own it and are a genre fan then I recommend picking up a copy.

Chained Echoes isn't a perfect old-school RPG but it sure as heck is top-tier. I imagine that if it released on PS1 back in the mid-'90s, it would have either been a huge hit or gradually garnered a massive cult following and how many games can you say that about?

If you have even a sliver of child-like wonder left in your heart then playing Wattam is a must. Uncovering its exceptionally imaginative world as you interact with a diverse collection of oddities makes for one captivating and hilarious adventure.

Mafia II tells one of the best character-driven stories in all of gaming and it does so in a masterful way. Its gameplay may not deviate from genre norms yet it remains a wholly immersive and gripping tale that you'll want to see through to its jaw-dropping end.

SAND LAND is an unexpectedly beautiful game that's filled with heart, super-fun vehicle-based gameplay, plenty of laughs, and some of the most rewarding exploration out there. Definitely don't let its dry-looking world fool you into thinking any less.

I absolutely loved my time with Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero and hope that it marks the start of many more sequels as I'm excited to see where Marona's adorable adventures take her next.

Blades of Fire is an excellent Soulslike that boasts a unique and cohesive blacksmithing theme throughout with visceral combat and plenty of secrets to uncover. Its more frustrating moments are hurdles that you'll gladly overcome for more of its sweet weapons-based action.

Snow Bros. Wonderland is simply one of the best co-op games that you can play right now thanks to its varied and rewarding campaign as well as its wonderfully adorable presentation that's so cute, it'll make you want to clang Nick and Tom's oversized heads together.

Another classic Mario RPG has made its way to 3DS in this remake of Bowser's Inside Story. The updated graphics and enjoyable Bowser Jr.'s Journey wonderfully complement a title that was already packed full of fun gameplay variety and hilarious absurdity.

Fans of the Persona series will delight in this dungeon crawling sequel that features characters from the 3 most recent mainline titles. If you can get past the initial difficulty, you'll happily spend hours in this lighthearted and challenging labyrinth-filled world.

Record of Lodoss War -Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth- is a great Metroidvania that any genre fan will love. The adventure may be over well before you'd like it to be but it's sure to satisfy from start to finish with its unique gameplay elements and memorable game world.

This latest Tales title is definitely on my shortlist of the greatest. Watching the story unfold as I travelled the world with a collection of folks from all walks of life was a lot of fun. Thankfully, the developers added some variety in the overworld maps and if the dungeons were more interesting and sidequests played a larger role then I could see this being a contender for one of the best modern RPGs.

Modern additions to the classic Resident Evil formula have made Resident Evil 2 an excellent remake although I am a little disappointed with how the 2nd Run campaigns are handled.

Guilty Gear -Strive- rocked my socks off with its gorgeous visuals, kick-ass music, and tight fighting gameplay. I can't wait until it releases so I can spend hours beating up all sorts of folks in its impressive online multiplayer mode.

CrossCode is one of the best indie games out there. Its blend of old-school and contemporary gameplay elements is phenomenal and the wonderful cast of characters and distinct story are the icing on the cake. I highly recommend it.

Triangle Strategy masterfully accomplishes its blend of rewarding SRPG gameplay and engaging choice-driven story. If you're a fan of narrative-heavy games and tactical grid-based battles then it's a must-have game.

It may be a niche JRPG but Death end re;Quest is impressively innovative in both its storytelling and battle system. If you're even mildly curious about this kind of game, I highly recommend giving it a try.

I had a blast with SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance as its modern gameplay approach, enjoyable combat, and stunning presentation really make it stand out as a worthwhile reimagining of an iconic series.

FANTASIAN Neo Dimension is a jam-packed RPG that blends retro and modern elements wonderfully in both its presentation and gameplay. So, if you have fond memories of games like The Legend of Dragoon then you need to play this.

ARKANOID - ETERNAL BATTLE is a superb modern adaptation of the iconic arcade game that will easily appeal to newcomers and long-time fans such as myself. I'm definitely looking forward to playing it against actual players instead of just the AI.

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 brought me back to the glory days of anime fighters and made me excited for what the future has in store for the genre. With so much content and visceral combat that's exciting to simply watch, it's one superb fighter.

DRAGON BALL GEKISHIN SQUADRA is one of my new favourite online multiplayer games thanks to its incredibly fun and frantic large-scale battles that keep you strategising and forging ahead while taking in the awesome sights and sounds which will make any fan light up.

Stray is a delightful adventure full of beautiful visuals and endearing characters. I thoroughly enjoyed my time exploring the post-apocalyptic city from the unique perspective of a feline who's dedicated to helping out the remaining robotic residents.

Train Valley is a superbly challenging game that strikes the perfect balance between track-building sim and arcade-like structure. If you enjoy tough games that'll keep you strategizing as you think on your feet then I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Mario Tennis Fever is absolutely the best game in the series so far and if you enjoy the back-and-forth of the sport as you take in all of the wonderfully charming sights and sounds then this is a must-play game that really shines in multiplayer.