EGGCONSOLE SILPHEED PC-8801mkIISR is a bit too retro to wholeheartedly enjoy nowadays but it's great that we can actually play this long-lost shmup gem despite the fact that it hasn't aged all that well.

I loved revisiting the origins of this underrated shoot 'em up series so I'm very happy that Arcade Archives AERO FIGHTERS is finally here.

As one of my new favourite shmups for Switch, BATSUGUN Saturn Tribute Boosted will make you feel like a force to be reckoned with.

From its nifty scoring mechanics to its diverse characters and its awesome music to its sharp 3D visuals, Castle of Shikigami2 is great stuff.

XIIZEAL further cements Triangle Service as a stand-out shoot 'em up developer but be warned: it's quite difficult; even for pros.

DELTAZEAL is a superb shoot 'em up and this release is bolstered by top-notch commentary that shines a light on shmup development.

Playing Vetrix Worlds is highly entertaining at first but once your arms start to hurt and the repetition kicks in, you'll happily move on.

Toy Trains is one of my new favourite PlayStation VR2 games with its wondrous world, oodles of charm, and satisfying gameplay.

Towers and Powers VR is one of the best tower defense games I've played which goes to show that the formula can work great in VR.

I initially had a great time with Ancient Dungeon VR but after a while, I began to feel defeated by its repetition and lack of rewards.

Ven VR Adventure is a solid 3D platformer with a mix of fun and frustrating moments yet it doesn't do anything particularly special.

Vertigo 2 is a weird game that can be off-putting for sure but once you get immersed in its odd world, you'll end up having a blast.

Although its levels are highly entertaining, Tiger Blade's boss fights will make you want to turn the game off in rage. They're not fun.

Telenet Shooting Collection includes a variety of early '90s shooters from the multidirectional Granada to the enemy copying fun of Gaiares. If you have nostalgia for the genre then I certainly recommend picking up a copy for yourself.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Jinshin and hope to see many more RPGs with a similar fantastical take on Japanese culture. It may be simple at its core but it's also hard not to appreciate the wealth of unique content that it has to offer.

I enjoyed roaming the Terarium while controlling my favorite Pokemon and the sheer number of different Pokemon spread around the Kitakami and Terarium regions is sure to make all Pokemon collectors happy.

Molecano is a sweet and simple puzzle game that's packed with oodles of levels to master and characters to unlock. Its basic gameplay does get repetitive rather quickly but holy moley, it's still a wonderful game to wind down with via short play sessions.

I had a solid time with Koumajou Remilia II: Stranger's Requiem and it is a step-up from the first game but it doesn't really go above and beyond what you'd expect from 2D action games. It's certainly worth at least a playthrough, though, especially if you're a Touhou fan.

Arashi: Castles of Sin: Final Cut can be enjoyable when it works; specifically, the stealth component. Even then, it doesn't do anything exceptional and the resulting formula struggles to rise above an average VR action game. That dog sure is cute, though.

Lake: Season's Greetings is a wonderful holiday treat that will get anyone in the mood for the season even if it is a little repetitive.

This Bed We Made is an intriguing mystery that warrants multiple playthroughs if you want to experience everything that it has to offer.

Toasterball is indeed the next must-have party game thanks to its top-notch use of variety while keeping the core gameplay simple.

Backpack Hero is a novel game that can be enjoyable at first but its awkward controls and repetitive dungeons get stale rather quickly.

As a lover of trains and real-time strategy, Train Valley 2 - Community Edition really scratched an itch and it's a superb sequel to boot.

I had a blast with Teardown as it really got its hooks in me with its clever combo of destruction and strategic missions. Great stuff!

Catering to both 2D action enthusiasts and casual gamers alike, Astral Ascent is a roguelike that anyone can thoroughly enjoy.

I had a great time with TEVI and wholeheartedly recommend it to any fellow Metroidvania fan, especially if you love cute adventures.

Coral Island is a carefree island farming sim with a lot of charm set in a vibrant world. It borrows quite heavily from similar games yet it also manages to forge its own identity and throw in a bunch of fresh concepts, too.