Mafia: Definitive Edition is a remarkable reimagining of the original title that flexes its muscles in graphical fidelity and storytelling but falls flat in other areas. While I fully enjoyed my time with it, its mediocre third-person shooting mechanics, abysmal AI, and erratic difficulty can sometimes be a test of perseverance. It is a reminder of the rather old game buried under the shiny new graphical improvements. It is an impressive retelling of an open-world classic, and it exceeded my expectations on that front. Some of its shortcomings are easily overshadowed by what the title does well. If you're a fan of the franchise, this is an easy recommendation, especially given its discounted launch price and the way it re-creates the series' arguably finest entry. On the other hand, if you expect a game that's fully up to today's high standard, Mafia: Definitive Edition may be a tad underwhelming.

Overall, Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo is a fun little visual novel that doesn't quite hit all the marks but is still a breezy and enjoyable romp with some creative use of gameplay mechanics. I had a difficult time getting past the fact that it wasn't the game I was had expected based on the first couple of hours, but once I did, I was able to enjoy it for what it was. The setting is clearly built up to potentially allow for more games in the same universe in the future, and I hope the next game in the series is willing to be a bit more daring.

Hyperspace Delivery Service is a charming, retro-inspired experience. Pixel graphics and chill synth tunes create a solid package for a game that wants to bring back a familiar experience. If you're looking for a high-energy space adventure, this may not be for you. The game isn't trying to be that, either. Instead, it seeks to expand on the genre of item management and economy gameplay with a dash of active gameplay.

Rune Factory 4 for the 3DS was one of my favorite games in the franchise, and the years have not dulled its qualities. If you enjoy farming, collecting, and casual dungeon-crawling, it's hard to think of a game that does everything as well as Rune Factory 4 Special. It's still a seven-year-old game at heart, and it sometimes does feel dated. Hopefully the upcoming Rune Factory 5 will keep everything that was improved in RF4 and give us a true successor to the 3DS classic.

Ori and the Blind Forest had the potential to be a game that appealed to all gamers, casual and hardcore alike. Unfortunately, the difficulty spikes (and the aforementioned bugs) keep this one solely in the realm of core gamers and speed runners.

Much like a "new and improved" cereal at your grocer, Trials Evolution successfully makes small improvements to its predecessor to cater to its fans. In that area, RedLynx has succeeded. Anyone who enjoyed Trials HD will no doubt love Trials Evolution. Unfortunately, those looking for something more than "more of the same" aren't going to find it here. As the name implies, this is just an evolution of what came before; it's not a revolution.

Overall, Immortals: Fenyx Rising is a good game. It's a shameless clone, but it's fun, and it's clear that Ubisoft's take on the formula was done with enthusiasm. If you were disappointed that this year's Breath of the Wild game was a Dynasty Warriors title, then Immortals might scratch that itch. It's always going to live in the shadow of the games that inspired it, but sometimes, all you want to do is climb some cliffs and slay some monsters, and Immortals provides exactly what it promises.

Overall, with some great presentation and truly fun video game hockey, not to mention a laundry list of features and without doubt clear improvements over the past couple years of the franchise, NHL 2K10 is a worthy hockey title. It just isn't likely to be the most worthy hockey title this year.

The concept may no longer be original, but Fractured Soul still boasts some great gameplay.

A fun, good-looking game that challenges all comers, and still isn't as sickeningly masochistic as, say, "Contra: Shattered Soldier."

Hello Kitty Island Adventure is a solid game that's full of charm for fans of the cozy game sub-genre. The map is large and varied, the number of characters feels like the right amount. The activities blend in well with the light adventuring aspect, and there are a few quality-of-life changes that feel like they should be adopted by other cozy games. The only knock is in the more prevalent progression gating, but if you aren't bothered by that, then you'll enjoy what this licensed game offers.

Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends Definitive Edition won't win over any new fans due to the core act of long battles against hapless minions, but existing fans will love the sheer amount of content here. With the many long modes available and all of the DLC present, this title offers some real value, and while the presentation isn't breathtaking, it is good enough to keep up with the relentless action. For fans of the series, DW8 on the Switch is well worth picking up.

Game of Thrones: Episode 4 - Sons of Winter is the first episode to end with both intrigue and satisfaction.

Despite some flaws, it establishes itself positively as one of the Wii's early standout RPG experiences.

Borderlands is one of the best co-op games on the market. It's fun and easy to pick up, and its unique combination of RPG and FPS elements makes it unlike anything else out there.

Much like PS Mini titles, games under the PS Mobile banner are often overlooked. It would be a shame to do that with Surge. It's a bite-sized puzzler that costs about the same as a Starbucks latte, and is a perfect fit for short play sessions. Sometimes, less is more.

Is Joy Ride Turbo worth checking out? Absolutely! It doesn't reinvent the wheel and actually seems quite content to imitate the standard Mario Kart formula. However, that formula is pretty well realized, and even without an interesting license to back it up, it's a lot of fun to play with friends.

Dying Light 2 is a good game that happens to be the long-awaited sequel to a great game. There's still a ton of fun to be had, and the exploration alone is worth the price of admission. At the same time, it's bigger without necessarily being better. I had a lot of fun with it, but I can't help but feel more positive toward the original. If you're looking for a fresh new world to smash zombies in and you're burned out on Harran, then Dying Light 2 will scratch that itch well.

The faster loading times and graphical bumps still make this a good-looking game, despite the age of the assets. The solo campaign still has some allure, and the online component has proven its staying power. If you've already played the campaign to death, then you might be tempted to grab this because of the ridiculously low, temporary intro price. If you're an avid GTA Online player, then you may be on the fence given the segregation of online populations. This version means that the wait for GTA6 is going to be painfully long, but what's here is solid enough to tide one over until that finally arrives.

If you enjoy Mario Kart Wii, you'll enjoy Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing.

As long as you favor quirky shooters, you'll take a liking to Lovely Planet.

Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster Collection is easily the best available version of the two games. Some nagging flaws, like inconsistent HD visuals and extra loading times, do little to detract from the overall quality of the experience.

In the end, Serial Cleaner is a fun stealth experience. The focus on non-violence is refreshing, and while there are some bits that don't play out so well, the entire experience is fun enough that you'll be motivated to retry it almost immediately. The '70s presentation is inspired, but the bonus levels and challenges give the game some replay value. Serial Cleaner is certainly worth checking out.

I found the single player mode of this game to very exciting and enticing, and I enjoyed the realism, strategy and cinematic moments that occurred during actual game play.

Batbarian: Testament of the Primordials is a very solid Metroidvania game. While the story isn't anything special, the humor in the writing is good enough to keep you paying attention to the cut scenes. The level design is well done, and it complements the bat powers. The combat is good enough, even if the leveling system may not be to everyone's liking, and the various gameplay tweaks mean that there's a good chance players can tackle this from beginning to end. For genre fans, Batbarian is worth checking out.

As the second part of a trilogy, Chaos on Deponia does exactly what it needs to do, and it does it well enough. There's some story progression here, as well as character advancement to help flesh things out. It's too bad that the advancement comes very late into the game, leaving the player with a somewhat alternate take on the original tale instead. The presentation holds up very well, and the adventure is humorously entertaining.

If you enjoy playing "Battlefield 2" and would like to experience a more frequently changing and updated gaming experience, War Rock is definitely worth trying.

Tower of Guns is a nice application of the roguelike formula to the first-person shooter genre.