Avowed is a game full of fun exploration, an interesting story tied to lackluster combat, and an annoying equipment system that keeps it from reaching its full potential. When I was engaged in Avowed, I would spend hours wandering around, talking to NPCs, and completing quests. However, when the game wasn't firing on all cylinders, I was frustrated and frequently bored. It's a game of high highs and low lows, but the highs were enough to keep me engaged despite the flaws.

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.

Europeans already know this is the best of the best; take the plunge and see why this is the most successful series overseas. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

I really like most of the changes in Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land. There are a number of rough spots that keep it from being perfect, but it's a very solid attempt at shaking up the franchise without losing what makes it successful. I can see it being a controversial entry in the franchise due to the shift in tone and gameplay, but it does a lot of things right. I had a great time wandering around, collecting items, and crafting items and weapons. In general, it felt like I was on an adventure. It might not be the Atelier I was used to, but it was plenty of fun.

Doom Eternal on the Switch is another great port from Panic Button. Graphically, it is a massive step down from the other console versions, but it makes smart concessions to ensure the gameplay shines even when played on weak hardware. It's impressive to see how solidly the title runs, even though there were quite a few obvious visual compromises. If you can stomach the high price point given that the other versions have long dropped in price, the Switch port is a solid option to play the game. I'm a huge fan of the gameplay decisions that Eternal makes to evolve the formula, and I believe Eternal is a must-have title if you're an FPS aficionado — especially if you don't have access to another game console or value portability over visual quality.

Trine is one of the better platformers I've played this year, and it's definitely worth buying.

From an artistic and technical standpoint, Sleeping Dogs is not a marvel, but it is perhaps my favorite summertime game. It's a game that fuses some of the best parts of other open-world titles and fuses them with Hong Kong Triads. In many ways, that's all I wanted.

It all comes down to what you're looking for in a racing game. Test Drive Unlimited for the PSP has the potential to keep you playing for months on end, as long as you don't sit down for extended sessions.

Remnant II is a darn fun game. It's clear that the developers took to heart all of the major complaints about the first game and worked on improving them. The result is a title that seems determined to put having fun above all else, and it works. Assuming you have friends along for the ride, this can easily be one of the most enjoyable Soulslike experiences out there, and it's still fun as a solo game.

Overall, Company of Heroes 2 doesn't capitalize on its own strengths and ends up paling in comparison to the juggernaut that started the franchise.

In the end, Rime is a solid adventure game that is an absolute stunner in the presentation department. The puzzles may not be that difficult, and they start to repeat in the latter half of the game, but they remain enjoyable. The game also has a very good length, so the journey is enjoyable as long as you don't mind the sudden flurry of exposition at the end. Itmay not have the kind of grand mystery that keeps players coming back, but Rime is certainly a game that's worth playing at least once.

Overall, Trine 4 is a delightful game that's sure to satisfy anyone looking for a fun, light-hearted physics-based puzzle game. With roughly 10 hours of content, it's an easy recommendation if only to experience the game world's rich art design and clever puzzles. The puzzles aren't as complex as those found in Portal 2 or The Witness, but the variety of approaches is rewarding in its own way. For that reason alone, it's easy to recommend Trine 4, a game in a genre that rarely receives entries with this level of heart and soul in the art design department.

All in all, the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is a solid collection of games. They have their flaws, and some of the game design choices may feel too punishing for a modern audience. When you're playing them, it's easy to see why Crash maintained a solid audience despite years of neglect, and it's even easier to see why people are excited to play them again. The port is done well, and aside from a few flaws, the trilogy should be an enjoyable experience for anyone who's looking to replay the original PlayStation mascot's adventures.

The extreme sense of speed, beautiful graphics, precise handling and lines that I strive to perfectly hit every time I pick up my controller make for a nice addition to my X360 library.

It is a technically amazing piece of software, with no issues with errors or bugs with the coding.

All in all, I'm impressed with The Sims 3: Into the Future. EA/Maxis packed a lot of content into its final expansion, and it ranks among my favorites for The Sims 3.

Rampage Knights is a very good choice for beat-'em-up fans who are looking for something a little different.

Odallus: The Dark Call is a great adventure game that hearkens back to the 8-bit era. Combat is fun, and there's a good balance to the difficulty; bosses, save for the final one, can be defeated once you know their patterns.

With so many highlights like collectibles, skills, skins and additional story chapters, Aragami: Shadow Edition has much to be enjoyed. At its core, Aragami is a game about redemption and choice that is reflected throughout. Those qualities make it a worthwhile experience for any players in search of a compelling story and attention to detail.

Playing through the games on offer in the Castlevania Anniversary Collection is somewhat like opening a time capsule. Those old enough to remember the original releases of these titles will enjoy going through them again, while players who grew up on PlayStation and Xbox get to enjoy these classics as they were meant to be played. Either way, there is plenty of value here for your gaming dollar.

All these years later, Resident Evil remains an excellent survival-horror game. The puzzles are still good, the brief bouts of action are still tense, and the scares still deliver even if you know about them beforehand. The appeal of this port is the fact that the game can now be portable, so the benefits of the smaller screen really come into play. It might have slightly longer load times in some areas, but if you want to play the remade classic on the go, this is a well-done port.

The Hot Wheels expansion for Forza Horizon 5 is a solid addition that almost feels like it could be a stand-alone game. The team has done a great job of providing a fun sandbox and plenty of different cars to use while playing in that sandbox. It doesn't matter if you're a big kid at heart or an actual kid; if you love playing with toy cars, you're going to have fun driving them around in Hot Wheels Park and across the Mexican landscape.

Super Alloy Ranger is a solid game. The story may be a bit of a snoozer, but everything else — action, controls, level design, movement and presentation — are good examples of what makes the genre tick. The easing of things, like one-hit kills, introduces newcomers to this style of adventure, while the variable difficulty, including the presence of challenge levels, grants more experienced players a chance to test their mettle. Super Alloy Ranger is priced well ($10 USD), so fans of 2D action games should pick up this title.

As a compilation, Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection is fairly well done. The gameplay concept works not only as an alternative for a standard Mega Man title but also as an action/strategy title. Combined with the deck-building elements, it makes the game resonate with a modern audience, and the extras are sure to please any fan. Players will wish that the series weren't so repetitive over the years, as that doesn't play out as well for a title like this compared to a straight action-platformer.

As a compilation, Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection is fairly well done. The gameplay concept works not only as an alternative for a standard Mega Man title but also as an action/strategy title. Combined with the deck-building elements, it makes the game resonate with a modern audience, and the extras are sure to please any fan. Players will wish that the series weren't so repetitive over the years, as that doesn't play out as well for a title like this compared to a straight action-platformer.

Tetris Forever is a package of two halves of varying quality. Even though it hasn't been discussed much in this review, the documentary portion maintains the level of quality seen in the previous Gold Master Series titles from Digital Eclipse. There's an extensive amount of information about the game's lifetime. On the other hand, the games are fine, and some are outright brilliant, but the package can feel disappointing for many. The game selection doesn't contain many of the more memorable iterations in the series, and other versions of the same game could've been excluded. This may not be anyone's first choice when it comes to playing a few rounds of Tetris, but it's a good way to chronicle the history of this influential title.

As a whole, The Knightling is an enjoyable romp. The lighthearted storyline and tone complement an adventure that feels open and engaging at almost every opportunity. The use of a shield as your only weapon and pseudo multitool is novel but very enjoyable, and the presentation is good overall. It needs a little more polish and bug fixing for the game to be considered solid. For adventure fans who are looking for something that doesn't follow the Souls-like trend, The Knightling is worth checking out.

A gorgeous, well-made technical racer that will test your braking and turning abilities just as much as your ability to jam on the gas and hold on tight. If that sounds like your idea of fun, then buckle up and get yourself to the starting line.