Part action game, part LEGO playset, Terraria is more or less Dig Dug taken to the extreme. The first hour or so is slow going, but once Terraria opens up, it can be very difficult to put down.

Assassin's Creed: Origins manages to be both experimental and safe. It tries a lot of new things, but it never ventures too far from the Assassin's Creed formula. There's a lot of potential in Origins, and it'll be exciting to see how the new features evolve in future games. Fans of Assassin's Creed should find a lot to like, and it may be time to revisit the battle between the Assassins and the Templars.

Although this isn't the definitive version of the game due to the lack of split-screen play, Halo: Reach on the PC is a solid experience. The campaign retains the magic that Bungie prided itself on during its time with the franchise and the multiplayer. While the multiplayer in Reach is not as populous as the older entries, it often has more options to satisfy anyone's tastes. This is a good indication of how the rest of the package will turn out, which means that there's going to be some positive buzz surrounding each release. Whether you're buying this on Steam or taking advantage of the Xbox Game Pass on PC, Reach is well worth checking out.

For those who don’t normally play Madden or who are looking for a good party version of Madden, I can not recommend a better version then the Wii. Of all the Madden games released since the days of the Genesis, Madden 07 for the Wii is the first that I was honestly excited to play.

After all these years, Disgaea 2 is still an excellent strategy RPG. The mechanics are very tight despite advances having been made in subsequent sequels and spin-offs, and it doesn't get old over the long period of time you'll want to spend with the game. The story remains engaging, and the characters and humor have withstood the test of time. Best of all, the PC version doesn't have a majority of the issues that plagued the console original. If you've never had the pleasure of playing this before and you don't own any PlayStation systems, Disgaea 2 is certainly worth checking out on the PC.

As expected, the Jurassic World Pinball pack continues the studio's impressive quality streak. The table layouts are well thought out to please both casual and veteran fans of pinball, while the gimmicks inherent to video game pinball are done well. If you're a fan of pinball, add this to your collection.

The Exorcist: Legion VR is easily one of the more effective horror games on the platform to date. Its reliance on relative unease rather than jump-scares makes it stand out from other horror games on the platform, while the number of challenging puzzles gives the title some real substance. While there's no doubt that more effective horror games can hit VR in the near future, The Exorcist is one of the better ones that you can find today.

If you're looking for an excellent wrestling experience and you don't want to be leashed to a television, Smackdown vs Raw 2006 has just obsolesced all your other options.

This is well worth a DS owner’s time, and easily one of the best things Square-Enix has published for the system.

Super Scribblenauts is about as straightforward of a sequel as you can get. It's almost easier to compare to an expansion pack than a full-fledged sequel. There are improvements and mechanical updates, but nothing really changes the entire experience.

A nice change of pace from most MMORPGs and should definitely be the first place one looks if they intend to let their children try online gaming, but due to its repetitive nature and the difficulty for a seasoned gamer to take this title seriously, I have a hard time giving it an extremely high recommendation.

The series' best effort in years.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure is just as good now as it was during the release of the PS5. Stunning presentation aside, the platforming mechanics remain absolutely solid, and the transition from 2D to 3D is rather painless. The campaign runs at the right length with the right level of difficulty, and unlike past series entries, the multiplayer feels good instead of chaotic. The creative aspects of the original series are missed, but the game remains a solid entry in any platforming fan's game library.

Muramasa: The Demon Blade is a gaming experience that must be played regardless of your console preference.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is an ambitious RPG that mostly delivers on its promise. The main quest is as lengthy as RPGs of yesteryear, while the amount and variety of quests bring an MMO flow to a single-player experience.

If you're wondering about picking up another iteration of the Madden franchise, it's safe to say that Madden NFL 13 is the best the series has seen in a few years.

The unique gameplay and deep strategy make this the ultimate test of both brains and reflexes, and if you've been looking for poker with a twist, then this might be right up your alley.

It's easy to be a little jaded about the fact that Call of Duty is going back to the Modern Warfare well. This latest entry into the franchise seems to be a significant improvement over previous entries, and it's closer to the type of game that the developers have been perfecting for years. The campaign is done well, the cooperative multiplayer is challenging, and the adversarial multiplayer is arguably better than it has ever been. Perhaps most importantly, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare appeals to long-standing fans and new players alike. It might even draw in those who have fallen out of the Call of Duty fold and are looking for a way back.

Timegate Studios has worked on what was perceived to be Kohan’s biggest weakness: its graphics. To this end they succeeded, the game looks good now.

A technically competent basketball simulation outfitted with years' worth of features and created by a development team with an obvious passion for NCAA ball. If you're looking for an NBA simulation, that's absolutely what you should play.

They fixed what was broken, and that should be enough.

For anyone who likes racing games, particularly street racing games, Midnight Club: Los Angeles is definitely at the top of the pack this year. The customizable vehicles, music, online gameplay, varied game modes, and, most importantly, fast racing all combine to make this one of the best racers out there.

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is a charming and enjoyable little RPG that is geared toward Monster Hunter fans who are looking for something with a slower pace. The story and tone may be a tad childish for some, but it works well for the characters. The strong core combat system buoys some lackluster dungeons and a generic story. It's a chill RPG for Monster Hunter fans and a pretty good introduction to the franchise for newcomers, especially younger children who may be frustrated by a traditional Monster Hunter title.

Signalis is the type of horror game that keeps you hooked from beginning to its true end. The story is told in a confusing way, but the delivery succeeds in keeping you intrigued enough to see its conclusion. Sparse inventory management aside, it achieves a nice balance between puzzles and combat, and even if you figure out that flight is a more formidable strategy than fight, the overall tension and sense of unease remains. For horror fans who want the feel of a bygone classic, Signalis is worth checking out.

Tentacular shows how well VR can be done once you stop limiting it to exercise, combat, and rhythm-based genres. The puzzles are simple to understand, and the presence of a timer doesn't make it frantic. Your floppy tentacles and the finicky physics can lead to some frustration, but all of your tasks are still possible. The presence of room scaling and analog stick movement makes the title accessible for many setups. It's all done with an adorable aesthetic and a runtime that feels meaty — even before you include the playground. Tentacular is a fun experience for VR fans who are looking for something calming, different and fun.

Keeper is a keeper. The story is good, but the method in which it is told is memorable because few other games try to do it effectively. The gameplay is simple to grasp, with only a few puzzles that are challenging and only a few instances when the camera is a hindrance. Fans of adventure games will enjoy this short experience with good pacing and a solid presentation.

Moonlighter is many things: charming, fun, and well designed. The gameplay loop is brilliant and addicting, and the pacing feels just right. The enemy and item variety is wide, and the combat feels tight. Despite some hiccups with the shop management system, it works well due to its simplicity. Overall, Moonlighter is a great RPG for those looking for something a little different in the genre.

This is definitely the greatest example of comic book fan-service ever conceived, but the gamer side of my brain has too many issues with the title to let it off the hook for those reasons alone.

Despite my issues with its combat and optimization, Hand of Fate 2 provides a wonderful experience for those seeking an interesting deck-building game to add to their Switch library. There's a good bit of bang for your buck here, and with additional levels available as paid DLC, I could imagine players getting lost in Hand of Fate 2's tabletop-inspired world for countless playthroughs. Just be sure to bring an open mind and plenty of patience.

Just like Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon, Shovel Knight Dig proves to be a very solid spin-off for a very beloved character. The familiar platforming of the original mixes well with the predominantly vertical focus, while still maintaining a responsiveness that fans expect. The roguelike nature of the title means that there's a good amount of randomization and temporary upgrades. The quick average runs mean that levels aren't a slog. Overall, it works well as a starter roguelike, and it's a perfect choice for both Shovel Knight and platforming fans alike who are looking for something different.

Catan is a well developed version of "Settlers of Catan," and truthfully, I think Big Huge Games was just the right company to do it. It played very smoothly and is without a doubt is the next best thing — if not the best thing — to playing the original version of "Settlers of Catan."

I suspect that many players will have an uneven time with Planet Zoo. At times, it's pretty straightforward and provides the player with plenty of feedback so they can improve their zoo. Other times, the game has you digging around in areas that are unnecessarily tough to figure out, with tutorials that barely touch on the feature (if at all). The thing with Planet Zoo is that it is so charming and appealing that the fun parts outweigh the frustrating ones. It's not a perfect game in the genre, but it is one of the best ones you can play right now.

Definitely the best version of Tiger Woods you're going to get your hands on this year, and it offers a lot of promise for versions to come, especially with the Motion Plus accessory being available just around the corner.

Madden NFL 08 again serves football gamers on both sides of that fan fence.

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy is a worthy successor to the Phoenix Wright Trilogy released in 2019. It contains all of the same basic upgrades and improvements, and it finally means that the entire franchise — minus the Edgeworth games — can now be played on one system. The overall quality is similar, with the somewhat weak Apollo Justice being followed up by some of the finest Ace Attorney has to offer. It doesn't really matter if you're a newcomer or a long-tie fan; if you like turnabout cases and back-and-forth courtroom drama, this trilogy has you covered.

For the isolationists out there (like me), one selling point of Far Cry Arcade was not only being able to play by myself, but also the fact that any perks or benefits that I got from playing Arcade could actually be carried over into the main game, which added a different dimension to the prospect of boosting my character.

Gunbrella is a very solid game. It isn't perfect due to some easy boss fights, and it isn't quite a Metroidvania because of the game's linear nature. However, it does make good use of the titular weapon in performing some nice platforming tricks, and you'll enjoy some meaty combat with most of the enemies. If you don't mind the game's short playtime, you'll have some fun with Gunbrella.

Overcooked is delightful and appropriate for players of all ages. The core mechanics are solid, the cooperative gameplay is enjoyable, and it's a great game from start to finish. Perhaps the only real complaint one can level against it is that the single-player gameplay isn't as enjoyable as the multiplayer.

It's that safety in embracing the past that represents Age of Empires 4's most obvious flaw. In many ways, it plays and feels like the game is simply Age of Empires 2 with a very well applied fresh coat of paint. Love letter or no, between the rough issues with the campaign and the reuse of the multiplayer, it feels more like a remaster of an older game than of a new entry into the series. It is not easy to please fans of the long-running franchise while also attempting to attract new ones to it, and Age of Empires 4 finds itself in a strange no-man's land between those two goals.

Your enjoyment with Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection is going to mainly come down to whether your primary focus is online play. If so, then this isn't going to be your game due to the online play that is spotty at best and non-functional at worst. If not, then this package will definitely be for you, as you'll get 12 arcade-perfect games with gameplay that's still enjoyable today. With the Switch becoming a system that is getting some really good fighting games, this makes for a perfect addition to that genre library.

A terrific game. The gameplay is simple, fun and forever addictive, and it's coupled with chunky, colorful graphics and a multiplayer system which has served as the de facto model for many other titles.

Steamworld Heist 2 is a full-on sequel to the first title. Overall, it's better in every way that matters: more weapons, more skills, more enemy types, more gameplay, and a lot of adjustments that make the game more fun to play. Only the new world map feels more like a lateral move than an actual upgrade, but it doesn't get in the way of the quality of the rest of the game. Steamworld's streak of excellent titles continues, and it makes me excited to see what the development team comes up with next.

With great multiplayer fun, epic boss battles, tons of unlockable content and strong online play, any comic fan looking for a party game would do well to pick up a copy of Ultimate Alliance.

Overall, The Jackbox Party Pack 9 is average, so if you're looking for new material for virtual get-togethers, this is a serviceable option. Fibbage 4 is dependable, and Junktopia was a pleasant surprise. The enjoyment of Nonsensory and Quixort is heavily dependent on the prompts that players receive in each of those minigames. I can't imagine anyone willingly returning to Roomerang.

Somewhere between the incredible combo system and the freakish amount of extras, this game captured my heart like no other in its series.

Syberia: The World Before is a very good adventure game that also serves as a touching capstone to Sokal's career. Most of the puzzles follow a sensible, logical path that is fun to figure out without making you question the solutions. The story is very well told, but the ending is frustrating for those seeking closure. The title also features a gorgeous presentation, so adventure fans who don't mind open-ended narratives will be pleased.

I tried my best to not to compare Perfect Dark Zero to "Halo" because in most ways, they are two completely different games offering two divergent experiences. I will say, however, that "Halo" is a far more polished game.

The ability to play through the story mode with a friend is enticing and is only one of many features that makes it worth the price to add to your collection. Where else can you beat up everyone around you, loot, steal car radios, mug, and graffiti complete neighborhoods with a $5 can of spray paint?

The new grapple and action system is wonderful, but everything else either stays the same or ends up falling flat in its execution.

The online experience could be better, especially with such a small community, but the game is solid enough in other areas that it is easily one of the better fighting games for the platform and worth checking out.

It says something about the original Ninja Gaiden that Ninja Gaiden II being a merely good action game is such a letdown. Ninja Gaiden II's graphics are fantastic and the action flawless, but this perfection is marred by a jerky, awkward and terrible camera and a difficulty level that's the product of the camera and enemy positioning, rather than an actual challenge.

While more improvements can be made, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 still remains the best non-arcade golf game to hit any system until next year's version rolls around.

For players who may never had heard of Shadowrun, Dragonfall is a firm introduction to what the world is all about. In many ways, it finally fulfills the promise of a real sequel. It won't brutalize players who are new to tactical gaming, and it won't stop veterans cold, but Dragonfall does an awesome job of translating Shadowrun's world into a digital battlefield fraught with shady choices.

Pretty graphics or no, so much of the gameplay of Company of Heroes 3 is flawed in one way or another that it's difficult to recommend it. From campaign-breaking bugs in Italy to the inept AI that renders most Africa maps unsatisfying, the game came out in such a state that it's hard to believe it's part of the same series by the same developer. To the development team's credit, the game has been patched several times since release, but many of the issues persist. There are occasional glimmers of a brilliant game, but with so much of the content damaged by bugs, it is impossible to recommend it over replaying one of the other games of the series.

A much better game than the original. The single player, while still weak compared to multiplayer, is longer and more engrossing.

Like A Dragon: Ishin! is Ye Olde Yakuza, but that's all it needs to be. The setting is fresh for the series, and it provides a fun way to see the same crime drama action in a new historical setting. Even if I prefer the modern setting, Ishin handles the change of setting well. It doesn't break an molds, but it's a delightfully fun experience for fans of the franchise. If you're itching for more Like A Dragon, Ishin! scratches that itch wonderfully, and it's a darn fun game in its own right.

It's been a great run; court is adjourned.

It's one of the best-looking action games out there, and it's definitely worth your time … and some pain.

A Plague Tale: Innocence is a pleasant surprise during a season that usually has few significant releases. The story starts off in a fascinating way, and despite a few bumps along the way, the game maintains a player's curiosity throughout its runtime. The mechanics are great, especially since the title doesn't have many of the expected drawbacks, and it's all reinforced by an excellent all-around presentation. For those who want a rich story and strong gameplay, A Plague Tale is definitely worth checking out.

This is a great game for the soccer fanatics of the world, but has limited appeal for the average Joe Gamer.

Much as was the case with World of Tanks, World of Warships does a lot of things really well. Its gameplay is easy to get into but allows for a fair amount of depth in how you approach each battle

Steamworld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech is an excellent addition to the Steamworld lineup and a fantastic game on its own merits. The story is simple but charming, and the gameplay alone is strong enough to carry players to the end. The sheer amount of customization and variety in character builds and combat offers a lot of enjoyable content to players both casual and hardcore. If you're a fan of RPGs, then you should try out Steamworld Quest. It's one of the most enjoyable indie titles on the Switch to date.

It may not be a traditional game experience, but that doesn't mean Kinect Party is boring. On the contrary, whether you're five or 50, messing around in Kinect Party is an enjoyably amusing time-waster.

Compared to past entries, keep in mind that Black Ops III falls squarely in the middle of the series in terms of overall quality.

Cursed Castilla: Maldita Castilla EX is a perfect example of the kind of well-crafted, hair-pulling experience that adventure fans know all too well. Controls are precise, the retro look is as authentic as you'll get without modern flourishes, and the gameplay feels perfect, even if it is highly difficult. Some will dislike the tedious means of getting a better ending, but those who cut their teeth on the 16-bit era of platformers will be right at home here.

Sifu is still a solid action game that feels tailor-made for those willing to put in the time to learn the systems. The subsequent patches have opened up the game to more players who lean on either side of the difficulty spectrum, but it remains challenging even if you try to make the game as easy as possible. The main adventure is a more than satisfying romp thanks to the deep fighting system. The new Arenas mode adds loads more life to the game, even if your only interest is seeing which movies get referenced in a given scenario. Players on both the Xbox platforms and Steam are rewarded for their patience with a very good game, while the Arenas mode alone gives owners on other platforms and stores a big reason to return to Sifu.

Overall, Age of Wonders: Planetfall is a solid sequel that differentiates itself sufficiently and improves upon the franchise's formula. It has a diverse mix of units and races, wonderful artwork, and what appears to be a massive range of strategies. Customizing your forces with an array of passive effects and active abilities is handled effortlessly by the UI, and it's very rewarding to use it in the tactical combat. The campaign should take anywhere from 30 to 60 hours to complete, depending on how quickly you play, and that's before stepping into the random scenarios and multiplayer, where a wide range of options and customizations can cater to your play style.

All in all, Etrian Odyssey Nexus is a solid entry in the series. It doesn't reinvent the wheel but is sort of a grab bag of everything that makes Etrian Odyssey work. It's very familiar, and longtime series fans may find that this outing played it too safe, but casual fans and newcomers should consider it a near-perfect place to start the series. All in all, Nexus is a fantastic end to the long handheld history of the franchise, and it provides a lot of hope for whatever comes next.

In the end, Horace is an engaging experience if you're patient or don't get riled up easily. The platforming isn't as infuriating as most precision-based platformers, but the obstacles in some rooms can be annoying. The instant respawns are nice, but they don't cancel out the frustration of occasionally spotty hit detection. The instant camera rotation can be dizzying, and the repetition of tricky jumps can get old, but the engaging story makes it all worthwhile, especially since this is quite a lengthy game. Horace isn't the next indie masterpiece, but it is good enough to be called a genuine sleeper of a game that people should play.

In the end, Redout is a very good racing game. It may not introduce anything completely new or revolutionize the genre, but it nails the fundamentals so well that fans will be glad that it exists. It has a great presentation and a decent track selection, while the amount of modes almost makes up for the lack of online community. If Redout represents the start of a comeback for futuristic racing, it is a good one, and genre fans will do well to pick it up.

At the end of the day, God of War III: Remastered is God of War III again.

After all those years of waiting, Black Myth: Wukong is a very good adventure game. Using a setting that rarely gets seen in the Western world makes the game intriguing, and that's strengthened when you discover all of the character background stories. The combat is just as varied as the environments you traverse, and while the game isn't as masochistic as other modern action games, it is difficult enough that a little patience and planning will still take you a long way in skirmishes. The presentation is amazing, but it stresses out even the best hardware at the moment. To optimize the gorgeous graphics in Black Myth, players need beefy hardware that can take advantage of various upscaling technologies. It is a worthy pick-up for patient adventure fans, and the title will keep players busy for quite some time.

Hiccups aside, Puzzle Quest 2 is a fine sequel that is sure to please fans of the original as well as draw in plenty of new players.

Stick It To The Man! is a great adventure game whose only crime is that it's over before you know it.

What's incredible is that Big Huge managed to introduce so many fresh ideas to the game yet still maintain the essentially balanced gameplay that remains as addictive as it always was.

The level of detail to which you can personalize and tweak MLB 2006 definitely makes this game one to consider.

Panzers is one of the best RTS games I’ve played in the last ten years, although I’ll put in the disclaimer that I really, really hate base building.

Prince of Persia is fun. It isn't really challenging, and it isn't really lengthy, but when you play it, you're going to have fun.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is a beautiful but ultimately hollow game. The fantastic presentation props up a story that is less personal and engaging than in the first game, and the gameplay feels like an afterthought. It was great to see Senua again and to see her outside of the grief-misery she was enveloped in during the first game, but beyond that, there's not much to Hellblade II. It's a short and less memorable experience that shows off Ninja Theory's visual craft to its fullest — but it achieves little else.

The only caveat is that true novices to this gaming genre will have to take a quickie crash course in Pigskin 101.

I found Kena: Bridge of Spirits to be one of the best treats of the year, both for the eyes and for the soul. Not only does it show elaborate craftsmanship, but it also feels like it was infused with joy and awareness. I'm happy it's here, and I look forward to seeing where Kena's bridge can lead.

Marvel vs. Capcom 3 has never been a bad game, and neither is Ultimate. It's important that you know exactly what you're getting into, though. It's been built to appeal to a fan community of die-hard experts, who spent 10 years playing Marvel vs. Capcom 2 at increasingly high levels of performance, who own their own customized fighting joysticks and who've been researching their team for the new game for the last six months.

All in all, Final Fantasy VIII: Remastered is a solid port. The new character models look nice, and the additional features are all welcome. At its core, it's still Final Fantasy 8, and almost nothing has changed about it. If you were a fan of the original, you'll like the remaster, and if you weren't, then it's unlikely this will change your mind. This is likely the definitive version of the game, blurry backgrounds and all, and it's well worth picking up for anyone who's looking to experience FF8 for the first time.

Gears Tactics is a solid turn-based strategy game that has something for genre veterans and newcomers alike. The faster pace and more aggressive style of the game will appeal to fans of the franchise, while the tweaks to established elements, like action usage and overwatch, will also tickle the fancy of strategy fans. The brutal difficulty may be par for the genre, and while the lack of multiplayer will turn off some players, the strong campaign and post-game skirmishes will keep others interested for quite some time. Both the series and Splash Damage are relative newcomers to strategy, but they've done a good job of convincing people that they can handle the challenge.

A solid and enjoyable sequel. The tone has changed, but the characterization and combat are back in full force. There are a few nagging complaints here and there but nothing that should sour the experience for people who enjoyed the first game. At worst, it feels too familiar in both strengths and weaknesses. Almost every complaint and praise about the first game can be leveled at the second. ToCS2 is not a game for newcomers at all and is only for fans of the first. Likewise, be prepared for a game that leaves as many questions as it answers. It's a more satisfying ending than the first game, but there's still a lot more going on in Erebonia.

Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is an interesting "what if?" direction for the franchise. It genuinely feels like an alternate universe take on Three Houses with action combat, rather than feeling like a mere license. The core gameplay is a lot of fun but becomes one-note as you get more powerful, but it's not enough to sour the experience. Overall, it's a good Warriors game and a big improvement over the first Fire Emblem Warriors.

Without a shadow of a doubt, Buzz! Quiz World is the best trivia game on the PS3.

The fun of the original title is still here but has been amplified with the addition of new maps and classes.

Old World has its moments, but it's a very niche offering. I wouldn't recommend it to someone who isn't hardcore about 4X games because the learning curve is brutal. However, if you've played the rest and you're looking for something new, and especially if the overload of stats is something you find compelling, check out Old World. At the very least, you get to enjoy Christopher Tin's majestic soundtrack.

At best, it's an incremental upgrade to Madden '13, and while it's a solid effort, it's hardly worth getting excited about.

In terms of game mechanics, Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance is possibly the strongest entry in the franchise. Almost every change it makes is for the better, and the core gameplay has been polished and refined in countless ways.

It is difficult to pass a final judgment on Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures, given that some areas, such as the combat and story, are exceptional while others, such as the non-combat gameplay and questing, fall somewhat flat. With that being said, the pros outweigh the cons, and though the game is mostly combat-driven, the combat system is one of the most enjoyable aspects.

All in all, Dragon Quest IV is an excellent addition (or duplicate) to any RPG fan's collection. I recommend checking it out if you missed it the first couple of times as it'll keep you busy until the brand new Dragon Quest IX releases later next year.

Fire Emblem Engage is a mix of steps forward and back. On a gameplay level, it's pretty much the absolute best the franchise has ever been, with excellent level design, great new gimmicks and features, and a customization system that offers a ton of depth. The storyline feels too much like standard Fire Emblem to stand out, and the side content that isn't focused on combat feels tacked-on. It's still a delightful game to play, and despite my nitpicks, I had a fantastic time. Fire Emblem fans will find a lot to enjoy, even if the story might not be to their tastes.

As much as I enjoyed Bayonetta 3, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon feels like the game that the team wanted to make. There's a level of raw love and care in this game that I associate with Platinum's best, and it made me smile as much as Wonderful 101 and Okami did. It's good enough that I can recommend it to people who aren't fans of the Bayonetta franchise. While it has a lot of story and gameplay callbacks, it stands well enough on its own merits that it can easily be enjoyed by those who couldn't get into Bayonetta.

A title that's running on autopilot. It looks better than the previous Ace Combat offerings, but little else has changed.

Calling Sleeping Dogs something like an "open-world crime" game does it a disservice, as it invokes thoughts of simply shooting and carjacking yet another major metropolis. Sleeping Dogs is a more refined take on how an open-world game can play out, sacrificing the over-the-top content for a much more focused experience. The game does cut loose, and the melee combat is certainly a blast. Ultimately, Sleeping Dogs manages to marry open-world gameplay with an extremely engaging plot.

Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled on the Switch is my favorite kart racer, even managing to outshine Mario Kart. The focus on tight and challenging gameplay that requires skill over luck was a nice change of pace. Add to that the great presentation and amount of content, and there's not much else that you could wish for. At this point, the only real complaints are the long loading screens, the microtransactions that Activision is rolling out, and the sometimes-broken multiplayer component. It's enough to make it anything but a perfect game, but it's a good title, especially for the $40 price tag.