With Doomsday, you get the original game along with the improved mechanics and the extended Doomsday campaign. To top it all off, the game is bargain-priced and definitely packs a lot of play for your dollar.

The camera and controls can be a little flakey at times and some of the missions can go from being repetitive to just about impossible. However, there is just too much that has been done right to capture the characters and the town of Springfield to hold this game back from a good recommendation.

X-Morph Defense is a pleasant surprise. The blend of shooting action and tower defense fits rather well, and the constant action keeps things at a very frantic pace almost all of the time. It could've used more weapon variety and more modes outside of co-op, but as it stands now, X-Morph Defense is an enjoyable romp for fans of either genre.

Day of the Tentacle Remastered is a solid port of an excellent cult classic.

Mortal Shell is an enjoyable title for those who are already fans of the SoulsBorne sub-genre, and it has more positives than it has flaws. The swamp hub world is bland and confusing, but the different biomes you eventually reach are gorgeous, even if they're relatively familiar. The lack of a deep leveling system has a very good replacement in the shell system, which ends up providing more versatility in your character build and the attack system. The relatively shorter length makes it great for newcomers, while genre veterans will find it to be a great debut effort from a small development team.

A great addition to a classic series and should satisfy the twisted pervert inside all of us ... well, inside of me, anyway.

As a setup episode, Game of Thrones: Episode 1 – Iron From Ice has all the right hooks to keep fans enthralled and newcomers interested.

This game won't go down as one of the classics, but for fans of the genre, it's definitely well worth your time.

Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is a surprising sequel that does a good job of living up to its predecessor, but it doesn't exactly tread new ground for the franchise. A cute but forgettable plot, solid gameplay, and a near-infinite amount of grinding potential give the game a solid amount of value. The only thing holding it back are the unimpressive visuals and poor performance. If you're a fan of the Nippon Ichi games or the original Phantom Brave, there's a lot of fun to be had in this sequel.

Straddling the line between art piece and puzzle game, LEGO Builder's Journey is an experience that focuses on the creativity of play above all else. Kids or adults, Builder's Journey is something that anyone can play. Everyone who does play will take away a slightly different experience.

In the end, Guns, Gore & Cannoli is a pretty good side-scrolling shoot-em-up.

In addition to being easy, Sudeki is ridiculously short, clocking in at twenty-five hours max. For a game that was purported to be the first real epic RPG on Xbox, this is almost incomprehensible.

EA Sports UFC 2 is a perfect example of how to capitalize on a mostly solid start. Even though it could still use additional improvements, the fighting system remains solid, and the tweaks make it more accessible to those who aren't well versed in fighting games.

Blacktail is a welcome surprise for the end of the year. Combat can come off as cruel due to the limited number of arrows and the limited dodge mechanic, but the actual firing of arrows is excellent. Boss fights feel very satisfying once you finally get a read on what they're doing, but the variable difficulty that can be utilized during boss battles can provide some relief if players are more interested in the story than gameplay. The world is the real star thanks to the grimy yet alluring presentation and the cast of characters. The side-scrolling sections after every boss fight act as neat breathers before you return to your adventure. Blacktail is intriguing overall and well worth seeking out if you love adventure games.

A decent dungeon crawler. If you’re a fan of these kinds of games, this is a good one, and if you’re not, this will not be the one that changes your mind. It’s a well-done take on a relatively standard formula.

Fat Princess Adventures is a great entry into the hack-and-slash genre for those who don't necessarily want something sprawling. The lack of deeper mechanics and loot is compensated by a fun combat system that feels good whether you're playing multiplayer or solo.

Whether it's the insane amounts of fighting that you can take part in, wielding Neo's incredible, almost god-like powers, or just having the opportunity to participate in the events of the movies, Path of Neo throws everything the Matrix has at you and more, and you'd be hard-pressed to not find something to love about this game.

Despite the relatively high difficulty level, this is a prime example of old-school gaming at its best.

Overall, Trauma Team is a very solid inclusion to the franchise. It is undoubtedly a kinder, gentler entry to the franchise that tries to appeal to gamers who've been scared off by the high difficulty of the previous entries.

The Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection is a great collection. It contains six solid and enjoyable games with a lot of nice quality of life features that make this the definitive version of the game. The only real flaw is that the games have aged, and no smoothing filter can hide the jagged GBA pixels. If you can look past that, then this is a great addition to any Mega Man fan's collection, and if you missed these gems on the GBA or DS, then you owe it to yourself to give it a chance.

Overall, if you can put up with DRM and GFWL headaches, and don't mind risking losing your save games and progress - or at least having them tethered and more complicated than they need to be - Resident Evil 5 for the PC is probably the version to get.

Boasting an incredible story, great presentation and fun, sensible puzzles, this is one game that fans of the genre and fans of the classic story have to play.

Even though it is rather late on arriving to the PS5 compared to other platforms, Slipstream makes for a good arcade racing experience. The drifting mechanics take some time to master, but options to tone down the difficulty and drift precision ensure that everyone can make some progress. The presentation is excellent for the most part, and the number of racing modes means that the game has built-in longevity. As a game to play in short bursts, Slipstream is a fun time.

Though not as thematically strong as its predecessor, Wolfenstein: The Old Blood still provides solid gameplay.

For Tales of the Abyss, what we're left with is a bad port of an old, polarizing game that is mediocre at best and dangerous at worst. Given all of its flaws, there's really not much of a reason for this port to exist, outside of it being The First Pretty RPG for the 3DS. If that's enough for you, then by all means, grab this on the cheap and play it in 2-D mode. Otherwise, you're better off waiting for games made expressly for the system.

A title that is easy to learn, but difficult to master.

Throughout Mugsters, Reinkout has created a game that solidifies how well interactivity and fun work together. The addition of a simple goal and no instructions makes this game an absolute blast to play. While the controls can sometimes be wonky, Mugsters still works well. In general, even the game's side missions (collecting people to save from the levels, destroying certain weapons, etc.) are fun, intriguing, and feel like they're worth the time. Coupled with the vibrant aesthetics and minimal tone and sound, this makes Mugsters a fascinating puzzle game that feeds the player's curiosity like few other games have.

Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn is still a cute and enjoyable game, but although it's seen some improvements, it's more of a lateral move than an upgrade. The portability and Devilish mode are welcome additions, but the loss of co-op and the lackluster implementation of Ravel abilities drag down the game. It remains a delightful and charming title for young players, and the strengths and charm of the original game remain apparent. It's absolutely worth playing if you like Kirby titles and don't mind the low difficulty level. Whether it's on the Wii or on the 3DS, Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn is still one of the cutest games on the market.

Children in the target age range for the "WALL-E" movie will undoubtedly love this game, from the youngest in that demographic to the oldest. But the game is also quite enjoyable and good for adults, especially fans of "WALL-E" or Pixar movies in general.

If you are looking for a masterpiece of racing as a genre, Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition Remix probably isn't quite it, but it's plenty close, with open-ended free play where you can choose what to do freely.

The Super Ultra Dead Rising 3 Arcade Remix Hyper Edition EX Plus Alpha DLC is a nice addition to a very solid core game.

The worst thing that I can say about Evil Wizard is that it isn't really anything new. A malicious black mage-looking bad guy battling heroes who are actually villains is a well-worn trope at this point, and the combat and general exploration is fun but somewhat unmemorable. It's a fun game through and through, but it's also exactly what it says on the tin, and it revels in it. Evil Wizard offers goofy humor, video game references, and fun combat — and sometimes, that's all that it needs to do.

All in all, Torment: Tides of Numenera is an enjoyable nostalgic trip into the strongest days of PC RPGs. It's well-written, engaging and interesting, if occasionally bogged down in its own setting. Both reactive and exciting, it makes the simple act of talking to characters or exploring areas feel rewarding and exciting. Only some lackluster combat drags down the experience, and that's easily avoidable. Those looking for a successor to Planescape: Torment should find a lot to enjoy here, but this offering does not eclipse the original. It's an enjoyable game, both as a spiritual successor and on its own merits, and that's all you can really ask.

Ys Origin is a solid port of a solid game. The somewhat dated visuals and basic gameplay don't hide the generally strong game design. It never reaches far beyond the level of "pretty good," but it's still a blast to play. If you've never played any of the Ys titles, then Origin is an excellent place to start. If you have, Origin might seem too basic compared to some of the more recent offerings, but it's still well worth a look.

It's Pokemon. Moreover, it's Pokemon with online play. If you're a Pokemon fan, that reason alone is enough to pick up Diamond and Pearl, ignoring the new Pokemon and new features.

Metro Exodus is an absolutely solid, all-around experience. Although the change from indoor to outdoor scenery is striking at first, it allows the gameplay to breathe and feel different from previous titles. The signature makeshift guns are paired well with the new crafting ability, and their lack of stopping power makes firefights meaningful and stealth sections tense. There are still issues here and there, and the presentation could be tighter, but this is a worthy sequel to a game that has earned its cult status throughout the years.

Yakuza 6 is a solid entry in the franchise. It's carried by a strong story and excellent visuals that make up for the fact that it's a fairly bare-bones Yakuza title that has less content than other titles in the series. Fans of the franchise should find a lot to like in Yakuza 6. It's not the best entry for a newcomer due to it being the end of Kiryu's story, but it's a solid and enjoyable game.

Skylanders: Imaginators fun, accessible and easily played by gamers of any age. It doesn't break the mold, and the highlight of the game is in creating your own character. The core gameplay will feel very familiar and perhaps too safe. The ability to create your own Skylander means there's a lot of potential fun for the younger set — though it can be a hit to the wallet for parents! Players who are aging out of or burning out on Skylanders might not see much of a boost from it.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is and isn't the game I wanted it to be. It's a rollicking fun story where you fight monsters, save lives, and lead your plucky team of adventurers against impossible odds. At the same time, it feels more like Mass Effect than Dragon Age, and since The Veilguard is the climax of a story, it might be difficult for newcomers to hop into. If I set aside my expectations, it's a pretty darn fun action-RPG that stands well on its own.

With all of the included DLC, there's a good amount of gameplay and value, and the revamped way it applies the DLC to the game is novel enough to force everyone to experience the content as it was meant to be.

Skylanders: Swap Force is the best kid-friendly game available on the PS4.

Capcom Arcade Stadium is complicated. On the one hand, most of the games are timeless classics and rarely seen in compilations, so it feels fresher than the entries on the older PlayStation consoles even before you factor in the emulation perks and the various challenge modes. On the other hand, the number of repeats from older PS4 compilations makes this feel a bit lazy, while the lack of customization stings when you see the overall purchasing method. It's still a good package for retro fans who want to play on their HDTVs, especially when compared to the PS3 release currently accessible on PS Now, but here's hoping that Capcom simply iterates on this rather than create another compilation specifically for the PS5.

Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival proves to be another solid entry in the series. In terms of quantity and variety, the default song list is on the same level as Drum 'n Fun, and while the DLC will pad things out, the 30- and 90-day song passes do a much better job of making this feel like the most packed entry yet. The removal of minigames is a bit disappointing for those who liked them, but Great Drum Toy War and its strategic elements more than make up for it. It's a much better experience if you're willing to shell out for the drums, but even if you don't, you'll have fun with Rhythm Festival if you're a big rhythm game fan who isn't too hung up on grooving to familiar Western pop hits.

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona is a fun RPG, but compared to other Persona titles, it's rather unexceptional.

Medal of Honor isn't the perfect marriage of campaign and robust online features, but it is certainly an entertaining, often exciting, shooter experience - especially in the multiplayer modes.

There's a lot to see in Rune Factory: Frontier, and while the premise might sound a bit boring, it's well worth taking a look at.

The combat, while repetitive, is easily approachable and manageable with the extras added to the PC version. The narrative is excellent, with enough plot points and well-veiled twists to make it a beautiful thing to watch.

As a whole, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition is literally the complete package for fans of the series and genre enthusiasts. It's not the best platformer around, but it is a fun journey, especially with the additional DLC characters. I wish the developer would've embraced the Metroidvania aspects more, gotten more creative with some platforming segments, and included a few more environments for the DLC, but there is not much else I can hold against this truly fun platformer.

By and large, Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition is a very nice bundle if you loved the original Rayman and would like a nice, concise package of its history. You are effectively only getting mostly slightly remixed versions of the same game, so it depends on whether the price tag is worth it for essentially one platformer. The lack of the original soundtrack is probably the big blemish on the collection, but it's still a solid package for those who want to see where the weird, limbless hero began his adventures.

Like the first game, Nairi: Rising Tide proves to be a point-and-click adventure game full of charm. The art style and humor do a good job of contrasting with the more serious parts of the story. The puzzles can be real brain teasers, and while the hint system is cute, the ability to skip the puzzle dungeons ensures that frustrating moments remain few and far between. It's a good adventure game overall, but here's hoping that the next entry in what's supposed to be a four-part game doesn't take another six years to develop.

Sonic Origins isn't a comprehensive collection of Sonic games, as some of the 16-bit entries are missing. It also isn't the definitive version of these games, especially since the music for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 seems to be the sticking point for re-releases. What you have are four games that add a good deal of quality-of-life changes without changing anything else that made the Sonic games classics in the first place. If you can get over the initial asking price and confusion over the versions and are a fan of the older Sonic games, this one is worth a spin.

As of right now, World Tour puts on a solid show, but when the next game comes around, we're going to be expecting one hell of an encore.

As a translation of the board game, Battleship delivers exactly what it promises, along with a little bit more.

As stated in the beginning, The Lonesome Guild is a solid adventure game all around. The RPG elements are deep enough to give the action some teeth, while the action is easy to pick up but is involved enough that the game isn't a button-masher. The adventure is entertaining, while the story gives the game some unexpected heart. The Lonesome Guild will make adventure fans happy.

Overall, SoulCalibur 6 is a solid reboot of the franchise. It doesn't reinvent the wheel but focuses on sanding off the rough edges and returning the gameplay and storyline to the basics. The result is a game that's a distillation of what makes the SoulCalibur franchise fun. There's enough room and depth for people to get into the real -gritty of the gameplay, but there's also a lot of room for enjoyable fighting. It's a bit difficult to justify the purchase just for the single-player portion, but it's excellent for a couch party game — just like SoulCalibur should be.

It isn't perfect, but Zombotron ends up being a darn good tactical shooting title. The enemies aren't pushovers initially, and the inventory and leveling system help the game feel fresh. The dynamic nature of combat also makes the game fun, as you'll run into unexpected ways of dealing with enemies that make you smile. It is a good thing to see that the game is still being tweaked, as an over-reliance on melee doesn't seem to be intentional, while the lack of information on vending machines is a disappointing oversight. Overall, Zombotron is well worth checking out for action fans who want something a little more thoughtful.

It may not be the prettiest or the most innovative FPS out there, but Cold Winter is worth a look.

Where the Heart Leads is a comfortable game about choices, family, and appreciating what you have. "Comfortable" is really the best word for it. You can pop it on and relax for an hour or two as you guide Whit through the strange landscape that is his life. I don't think it's going to change anyone's mind if they're not fond of narrative-driven titles, but it's a good example of the genre. If you're looking for the game that's the equivalent of sitting down with a cozy book, then that is exactly what this is. Often heartwarming, sometimes depressing, and frequently thought-provoking, Where the Heart Leads is worth a playthrough if you enjoy these sorts of titles.

roncast rewards those who aren't easily frustrated by loss. The constant losing can be discouraging, but the incremental progress made through each defeat means the game eventually gets easier and more satisfying. It also helps that the only mode happens to be long enough to sustain many losses, so it'll be quite some time before players reach the end. For puzzle fans who crave difficulty, Ironcast is worth checking out.

Bakeru is a cute, fun, instantly accessible game for kids of all ages — and maybe even some adults. It doesn't reinvent the genre, but it's a pleasantly comfortable platformer that provides the sort of pleasant experience you'd expect from a developer named Good-Feel. The only things potentially holding back the title are that it's a bit simple and basic for older gamers, and there's some occasionally poor performance. If you're a parent looking for a safe and comfy game for your kids, Bakeru is a great choice.

The type of game that the Wii needs more of. It's instantly accessible, yet there are times when its genuine challenge and excellent design can cause the player to pull out his or her hair. Hudson needs to make a sequel to this ASAP.

There’s a certain, “been there, done that, bought the t-shirt” feel to the game and what’s going to determine the long-term success of the game how much the mod community endorses the game.

Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance can best be described as an improved continuation of the Supreme Commander story with six new campaign missions that offer much larger and more challenging engagements.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge Dimension Shellshock DLC is a well-thought-out piece of DLC. The roguelike nature of the survival mode is neat thanks to the various backdrops that are rendered in the modern pixel style and the various powers that tweak the combat for the better. The bonus characters are awesome to play, as they complement the roster without feeling overpowered as their stats would suggest. For those wanting to return to the game after a year or playing it for the first time, the Dimension Shellshock DLC is worth adding to the game experience.

WWE 2K24 remains a very good wrestling game. The fighting engine is solid, and while there are still a few things to work on, the new additions make it stronger than last year's entry. The modes may have some flaws, but the modes are fun and plentiful enough to keep players busy for a very long time. Add in the robust presentation, and WWE 2K24 is an easy pick-up for wrestling fans. It also means that the series needs to continue to make significant tweaks to stay on top.

Greed Corp is a very surprising and entertaining title.

Scratches is not "F.E.A.R." – it is infinitely more subtle. It is not "Monkey Island" – it is far darker with less arbitrary puzzles. Scratches is a work of art in the horror genre, and if you aren't willing to appreciate it as such, you should not bother.

A solid attempt at changing up the Soulsborne formula. It doesn't quite hit the same marks that make From Software's franchise so delightful, but it has its own strengths. Co-op is a lot of fun, and having a game genuinely built around it is a welcome change from phantoms and the ilk. Remnant is at its strongest when you're playing with other people and working together to take on huge Root monsters or figure out the answer to a riddle. If you're looking for a co-op based Souls game, then Remnant is worth a look.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is a very strong game that's dragged down by a lackluster plot and weak story structure. If you enjoyed Human Revolution for the gameplay and exploration, you'll find a lot to like here. This is not a story-driven narrative that advances the world of Deus Ex, but anyone who enjoyed Human Revolution will have fun with Mankind Divided.

With solid quests adding flavor to the endgame and with new ways in which to scratch your itchy trigger finger while Perking out your Monty Haul avatar, fans who haven't gotten their fill of Rad Away, Nuka-Cola, and Fancy Lads Snack Cakes may find that this add-on might be as good a reason as any to head back into the wastes.

A solid and very enjoyable reinvention of the series. It returns the franchise to its roots and does a great job of updating and improving the archaic PS1 gameplay mechanics without losing the Resident Evil feel. Both the strengths and weaknesses of the franchise are present. The high-tension atmosphere, spooky monsters and cheesy cornball villains combine to create something that is undeniably Resident Evil. Fans of the series should love that it's spooky, silly, and requires you to solve puzzles in order to find a shotgun so you can fight biological horror. Isn't that what Resident Evil is all about?

Depending on what you're looking for, Killzone: Shadow Fall is either a hit or a miss. If you're looking for something to showcase the power of the PS4, this does the job very well.

Tales of Graces f Remastered is a strong remaster of a solid game. The plot is relatively weak but handily carried by its extremely strong combat system, which makes the game worth playing on its own. The additions to the remaster are all genuine improvements, and even the bundling of cheat-mode DLC is only a problem if you let it be. If you're a fan of action-RPGs or the Tales franchise and haven't given Graces f a gander, this is the ideal way to play it.

Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl has a limited audience. It exists for people who want to get into dungeon crawlers but find the mechanics confusing and the plots lacking.

While there are a few stability issues, it's nothing that can't be fixed, and the gorgeous effects of the game outweigh the small bugs.

The Cave is a solid adventure game.

Pinball FX VR is a solid pinball game for enthusiasts who want the facsimile of an arcade experience. The idea of building out a virtual pinball arcade experience in your home is neat, but the game thrives on nailing down an overall pinball experience that's close to real life. The only question is whether Zen will follow through to make this into a platform instead of another one-off game, but those who aren't hung up on that debate will find this to be a good addition to their VR game library.

In the end, Dungelot: Shattered Lands is a surprise. It seems simple on the surface, but the numerous game mechanics make for quite a deep game.

By no means is Ashwalkers an action-packed survival adventure sim, but the story and importance of the journey was compelling enough to have me on the edge of my seat through my playthrough. I cared about Squad Three and wanted them to succeed, and for a narrative-driven game such as this, isn't that all you can ask for? If postapocalyptic survival games are your jam, Ashwalkers is worth its very reasonable $12 price tag and offers a different spin on the genre that you know and love.

Cost aside, Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a perfectly delightful, charming and enjoyable puzzle-platformer that doesn't overstay its welcome. Taken entirely on its own merits, it is an excellent game that is a perfect mix of platforming and puzzle gameplay. It doesn't break any molds, but it provides an excellent arcade-style experience with minimal muss and fuss. Only its short length keeps it from being a strong recommendation, but if that isn't a flaw to you, then pop it into your queue.

Overall, Capes is just fun. If you like XCOM but wanted your heroes to have more power from the get-go, Capes scratches that itch incredibly well. The by-the-numbers plot and somewhat-thin characters hold it back slightly, but the title is engaging enough to keep you invested in the next fun stage or exciting boss fight. It's a great example of how the XCOM formula still has plenty of life in it, as long as you're willing to look at things from a different angle.

At the same time, Off the Record is still Dead Rising 2, with the thematic dissonance that I mentioned in that game's review. It's even more pronounced here, if anything, as Frank throws out sly little side-long quips on everything like he's starring in both a "Mystery Science Theater 3000" episode and the movie it's mocking. I don't exactly mind Frank as a character, but you have to be a lot more of a fan of him than I am before this works as well as Dead Rising 2 did. Still, it improves on that game's basic model and adds the much-needed sandbox mode, so call it a wash.

Pinball FX3: Williams Pinball Volume 2 is another winner thanks to the variety of tables included and the improved use of flourishes. You get a better sense this time around that Zen knows how to spruce up the visuals without losing track of the solid gameplay in the original titles. The fact that Zen did so with both well-known and lesser-known tables is a good sign for the future of the license. At this rate, we can't wait to see what the next pack will hold.

Fundamentally, Art Academy isn't a game. You are not rated for your actions in any way, shape or form, as one would expect from a game.

Ghostrunner II finds itself right on par with the first game. The action remains razor-sharp in the beginning, with tight movement and combat that feels rewarding when you master it. The tweaks to existing mechanics and the addition of new moves keep things from devolving into being just "more of the same" when compared to the first title. The more open areas of the desert wasteland feel too freeing, and the various inconsistent issues put a damper on the game when players are experienced. Overall, Ghostrunner II is satisfying for those who can get a thrill from quick bursts of well-executed playthroughs.

Stranger of Sword City can be a little archaic as far as mechanics go, and it certainly isn't very welcoming for those not already accustomed to the slow first-person, dungeon-crawling style. It is, however, very deep in the gameplay department and showcases new mechanics to complement a rather long campaign.

No More Heroes III feels like a sequel to the first two games in every way, for all the good and bad that entails. It's creative, clever, charming, and delightfully weird. The combat system is simple but fun, and it doesn't overstay its welcome thanks to a wide variety of creative boss fights. However, everything outside of those elements feels a bit dull. Thankfully, like the first two games, No More Heroes III has enough interesting stuff going on to overshadow the flaws. Newcomers would probably be better off trying the cheaper No More Heroes titles on the Switch to see if Suda 51's specific eccentricities are to your taste.

Still Wakes the Deep is a good atmospheric horror game. Having it set on an oil rig is terrifying enough because of their innate labyrinthine structures, and the monster encounters provide the right amount of horror energy. The straightforward nature of the pacing and tale is refreshing, and even the presence of a few flaws doesn't hamper one's desire to play the game to the end. If you're a horror fan who favors exploration more than fighting, Still Wakes the Deep is definitely worth checking out.

In the end, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands is a solid spin-off to the main Borderlands series. The core game remains the same as before, but new additions, like the melee system and class combinations, make things feel fresh. The campaign runs at a good length, while the side-quests and post-game dungeon randomizer are enough to keep you going before the need for DLC kicks in. It really is the shooter that you already know with a medieval RPG skin on it. Since the moment-to-moment gameplay is still enjoyable, fans won't mind the offbeat detour.

It bears all the scars of troubled development, and it has a list of nagging issues a mile long, but it's more than the sum of its parts. It's fun to play and has plenty of charming and likeable moments that balance out the frustrating time-wasting elements and weak plot. FF15 is a solid entry into the franchise and is as accessible to newcomers as it is to longtime fans. It might have some rough patches, but FF15 shows that it cares about the most important thing of all: fun.

Overall, Mortal Shell: Enhanced Edition succeeds on several levels. It's an excellent update to a surprise indie hit that is still mighty enjoyable for anyone interested in the Soulslike genre. While difficulty and pacing get in the way, Mortal Shell is a short, sweet, and most importantly, challenging game to tide you over to the next main Souls offering.

Marvel Heroes Omega is a great example a free-to-play game done right. It's a shameless homage to Diablo with some great Marvel flair. The core gameplay is fun, and the free-to-play mechanics are largely unobtrusive. Some annoyances with the user interface and introduction to general mechanics drag down the game, but they're nothing too serious. Marvel fans or those looking for a fun action-RPG will be hard-pressed to find a better experience than Omega.

Dirt 5 maintains the tradition of being a solid racing title. The campaign is quite deep thanks to the various events and tracks you can choose from, while the inclusion of local multiplayer for just about every mode gives it a huge advantage over almost every other non-kart racing game on the PC platform. The title requires some pretty beefy hardware and other software to make the game shine, and there are still a few things that need patching, but as a whole, arcade racing fans who aren't looking for a bevy of top-of-the-line sports cars will get a kick out of Dirt 5.

The only problems are the excessive load times and some of the control issues that don't quite mesh with the new handheld.

Dungeon of the Endless gives a bad first impression that hides an addictive, fun game. The poor tutorial and unclear mechanics might initially turn off some players, but if you're willing to push past that, Dungeon of the Endless is an enjoyable combination of dungeon-crawling and tower defense. While the Switch version may not have the best controls, its portability is a great combination for the game design, and even those who've played the PC version may want to give this one a shot.

The TakeOver is an absolutely solid beat-'em-up experience. Get past some of the shortcomings, like constant load times and bad cut scene art, and you have a title that uses a solid base with additions that feel just right for the genre without going overboard. It's fun either solo or with a friend, and while online play would've been nice, fans of the genre will enjoy every minute with the game.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is everything that retro first-person shooter fans can enjoy, even if they have no love for the grimdark space setting. The action is constant, and the gore is plentiful, but the game forces you to play smart, even at the lower difficulty levels. The gameplay loop doesn't deviate from the classic key-finding formula, but the levels are larger, which means more enemies to shoot and a higher chance of getting lost, whether or not you're trying to find secrets. The game is long enough that multiplayer isn't needed, but it also never feels tiring despite some things that may be irksome. Boltgun is a solid piece of work and one that we'd definitely recommend checking out.

Assassin's Creed Mirage is a solid entry that builds on previous titles while also honoring the roots of the series. It was a smart decision on Ubisoft's part to release Mirage as a stand-alone title rather than as DLC for Valhalla, as it doesn't require any prior knowledge of the franchise storyline, making it an easy entry point into the series. New players who enjoy their time with Mirage can pick up Assassin's Creed Valhalla to see where Basim ends up.