What I was hoping for when I booted up Shiren the Wanderer was another anomaly – a title in the roguelike genre that I would enjoy, and that wasn’t what I found. Instead, what I got was a fairly standard entry in the genre- crafted well by a developer that’s been making these kinds of games for years, and even though I did not find the title to my tastes, I could easily see why someone else might.

It feels simplistic in nature and it actually really is, then you look into the Grid system and see all the potential Under Night actually has and you have yourself a pretty great fighting game. Keep in mind, you may need to go to an outside source to figure everything out, but for the most part, this is a great fighting game that I think fighting game fans will really enjoy for a cheap price.

The art design is outstanding, and the fighting is solid, but it really just doesn’t do anything to stand out from the pack. The lack of features and paltry online community mean this game is likely already forgotten about.

Riptide GP Renegade is a solid follow-up. I really wish they would tweak the difficulty though, as it stands it gets far too difficult, far too quickly in career mode. This stunts progression, and makes continuing on a real grind. However, if you are like me and simply love the wave racing genre, this is yet another solid entry in a category we get far too few games in.

While the name may be confusing, this could easily be a blueprint for the successor to Ghosts ‘n Goblins, which is what it seems they set out to do, and they nailed it. If you are like me and grew up pulling your hair out at these punishing side-scrollers, this game is an easy purchase. It captures the magic, while bringing enough of its own charm to make it feel fresh. Plenty try to capture that magic, but few achieve what the team at Abylight Studios has managed to create here.

The art direction astutely compliments the gameplay and the self-referential, retro-infused style of Zombie Night Terror. It is a title that feels a lot like a postmodern love letter to games of a bygone era.

As a fan of the Gundam series, seeing all the different mobile suits with their signature moves duking it out should have been a dream come true. However, a dull single player campaign and a complete lack of online multiplayer makes Extreme VS-Force very difficult to recommend.

What we have is a game that takes inspiration from a classic genre years, before and while doing nothing very original with the idea, still provides a good time.

Ninja Pizza Girl showed a lot of promise. The gameplay was solid enough, a lot of the music choices were great, and there were funny and quirky ideas. Unfortunately, the game frustrated me in several other areas. While the game had many rough edges, I still saw charm and effort put forth by Disparity Games.

Abzu is something that was never even on my radar. Then I booted it up, and never let go. Every area was an experience, and it made an impact on me. I don’t spend my time trying to figure out what it means, I just enjoyed the ride, and it is easy to recommend. Especially to those that enjoy the idea of swimming in the depths of the ocean, and exploring the alien life found below the waves.

Dangerous Golf is a weird game. On paper it sounds perfect, exactly what I would want from the guys that made t-boning cars so much fun. However, in practice it feels empty. Nothing about it screams “one more hole.” Even with the changes they have made this is an empty game that lacks anything to keep me coming back for more.

Daydreamer had the potential to be a sleeper hit in the Summer of lacking game releases, sadly it falls short on the most important of game fundamentals. I wanted to love this game a lot more than I do, but it just misses all the important notes in its execution.

Dex just never stood out enough for me. The generic and clichéd story left me cold, and the technical issues made the game hard to like. However, it is worth noting that the various performance issues I encountered on the Xbox One were not present on the PC version. So if you feel like you need to check Dex out and have the ability to do so, get it on PC. It doesn’t differ much in general, but at least it will be slightly more pleasant to play.

MX Vs. ATV Supercross: Encore is not a very well done game. While it has a few redeeming qualities, the actual racing and controls (the part of the game that really matters) is just far too inconsistent and just not that fun to play.

Rather than investing in an immersive, intuitive, enjoyable gameplay experience, they have, unfortunately, created a generic and rather boring click fest of a game.

ADR1FT is a beautiful take on the space disaster genre, but ultimately one that not everyone will get pulled into. It’s subtle, slow, and crawling at times, instead of intense, bold, or peppered with action moments.

Monster Hunter Generations feels like a slight step forward while changing things up a bit in the formula.

It’s a shame that Monochroma ended up this way, as there are sparks of brilliance buried within. There is a real quality to the sound and level design, which really add to the atmosphere and the puzzles could have been challenging with a little extra work. But the poor controls and the frequent frame-rate issues hamper this puzzle platformer. If you liked Limbo, do yourself a favor and go and download Inside instead.

Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE isn’t just a side note in the Persona series; it is an evolution of it by taking many of the systems that people are familiar with, but enhancing them and making them more fun to use and develop. It is a master class in JRPG making, and one of the best games in the genre that I have play in a long time.

There are a lot of titles that boast what Rampage does, but few have done it with the execution found here. Even if these words scare you, like they scare me, this game is still worth checking out.

Recommend only for the most hardcore of space simulation fans and patience is a must

There is no excuse for launching the game the way it was in April, and most gamers have already forgotten about the title entirely. But for those that may stumble upon it on sale somewhere, feel good in knowing that you are picking up a solid, and unique title, that is finally worthy of sitting on a retail shelf.

While the game still is pretty fantastic, it just does not hold my attention the way it originally did. That’s not saying the game is bad, not in the least. I just played it a ton seven years ago and the remastered version just served me as a reminder of how much fun I had playing the game. Even if it is now outdated.

Stay away from this game even for a cheap buck. Who ya gonna call? Hopefully the store where this game was purchased from in hopes of asking for a refund.

Carmageddon: Max Damage is fun when it accomplishes what it sets out to do, but the disappointing online and limited modes really drag it down. If it had launched a little cheaper it would be an easy recommendation for fans of the original games. As it stands though, it needs a little more polish to be worth checking out.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII is most certainly not for everyone.

Despite having a few more shortfalls in comparison to Episode 1, this instalment also ends with something of a cliff-hanger in attempt to keep players hooked.

There’s a lot of new interest and goodwill rolling JJBA’s way in the last few years and I truly wish that this was competent fighter that I could point to get the gamer crowd interested in this legendary manga/anime series. However, the shallow, uninteresting combat, boring story mode and the lack of a local multiplayer mode makes this one hard to recommend, even to the most diehard of fans.

LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a much needed boost for the series. After Dimensions launched I thought all the standalone games would more or less be phoned in, but that is definitely not the case here. This has me excited for the next LEGO game, something I have not been able to say for years.

Grand Kingdom features a vibrant and charming art style along with a surprisingly well implemented multiplayer mode. However, the lackluster story and repetitive combat that sits at the very core of the experience holds the game back from greatness.

It is solid, entertaining, and most importantly fun, if you can get past its issues.

It has a few bumps along the way, but as a first attempt in the genre, Insomniac proves they’ve got the talent and heart for a game of this nature and for $15 it’s an absolute steal, totally worth player’s time.

INSIDE is a fantastic experience.

BoxBoxBoy is charming, easy to get into, and quality over quantity. It’s not the longest game, nor the hardest game, but it has a heart and should have a spot in most player’s digital library.

From its solid character customization to its strategic and enjoyable combat, it’s yet another great JRPG to grace the 3DS.

There just isn’t much here to get excited about, and it feels like the game is just checking the boxes of what it had to have, instead of bringing any new ideas to the table. Still, I kept playing. Even with all of its shortcomings the game kept me interested to its end. It just doesn’t feel like a full-priced title.

MXGP2 takes itself way too seriously in a genre that doesn’t require it in games. The realism is commendable, but also limiting to the appeal of the game. The lackluster visuals and goofy animations also stand out, and the lack of anyone playing online completely nullifies the need for that mode.

Lost Sea is a fun diversion, it’s colorful and beautiful in a cute way and offers some fun moments. It just seems better played in shorter spurts than longer durations and unfortunately the game punishes those that prefer that play-style.

Stiff and smooth animations just make it comical at times. A moment of screen stutter also occurs when the game auto-saves at times, highly annoying but I was able to largely get used to it. All these issues aside, I was still having a blast playing this, and I can see myself stepping into the world of 7 Days to Die on and off at times.

All in all, Image & Form have once again knocked it out of the park with Steamworld Heist. Fun, addictive and comical, it has everything in needs to become another success for the Icelandic studio.

Bard Gold is a decent little indie title, but it’s one specifically aimed at people who are into these roguelike games. Side scrolling, with a little dose of death and progression goes a long way to keep the game entertaining enough, but it just doesn’t do enough different or interesting things to garner much attention.

There is the sense that this was a quick and dirty project, created for who knows what reason, but here it is, and it’s only recommended for players extremely curious.

I would recommend Technomancer only to those extremely interested in the setting and going into it full well knowing that this RPG has issues.

Heart&Slash is a fun game marred by issues that should not plague this type of game. Frame rate stutters, a sporadic camera, and a seemingly useless dodge roll are almost dealbreakers in an action game of this type. Still, when I had a good run it felt good, and I can see the intentions of what the team was trying to achieve.

There are so many cool ideas scattered around the game that the sore aspects really stand out even more. Growing up such a huge fan of the Mega Man series has certainly left me starved in recent years, and Mighty No. 9 fills that void well. There is a great game buried in here, one that kept me coming back like the Mega Man titles I grew up with, but the rough edges really shine bright just when I start looking past them.

Despite the minor complaint, Zero Time Dilemma is a triumph in storytelling and world building with some of the most complex and yet satisfying narrative ever to grace a videogame. Whether this is the final entry to the Zero Escape series or not, the developers can rest easy knowing that they’ve managed to craft one of the finest visual novel series of all time.

Deadlight is a unique game that boasts a lot of great ideas and atmosphere. This new version does what it needs to have the remaster moniker attached to its name, but I don’t see compelling reasons to revisit it.

Total War: Warhammer should be given credit for breathing new life into the Total War franchise, a task it primarily accomplishes with distinct factions and a fun battle system.

Soul Axiom has some really interesting parts, but its whole is still something left to be desired.

While One Piece: Burning Blood may look pretty, offer some nice content and a bizarre cast (including a cross dressing pirate based on Rocky Horror Picture Show’s Frank N Furter), it wasn’t enough to keep me interested. I can’t even imagine fans of the anime would get much out of this release, especially as this is just the latest entry in a long line of games based on this franchise.

Kick & Fennick is a charming adventure that never realizes its potential. There is something here that feels unique and exciting, but it never manifests. I had fun romping through the short campaign, but it never really challenged me the way it should have.

Fenix Furia is a test of patience and fortitude. It is hard not to recommend for players who have perseverance. The pinpoint controls and addictive level design keep me coming back for more. For those that have exhausted Super Meat Boy, this is the perfect compliment.

TurnOn is a simple game, which is both a blessing and a detriment. The frustrating parts really drag down the overall experience, and the core game itself just isn’t that interesting. Sometimes simplicity is not the answer.

For those following the Witcher over the years in the gaming world, it’s a bit of a sad note to see that Geralt will no longer be the focus in future games set in the universe. Who even knows when or if we get another Witcher game, but at the same time it’s fitting to see just how well Witcher 3 and it’s expansions come together to not only offer great improvements and new adventures, but to really put a great and final end cap to a great character and an amazing world.

It’s an absolute joy to play and one that I believe will stand head and shoulders above the rest of the anime fighting game crowd for some time to come.

All this praise and I’m mostly referring to the single player main story, but with its bevy of other cool unlockable modes and the multiplayer party like games available, there is so much content here, it’s a great price for an absolutely jam packed 3DS cartridge.

I loved Dead Island when it came out, but I wonder who this collection is for. The games included are not that old, and with Techland’s newest entry leaps and bounds above what these games did, it is hard to go back. Still for $40 for the pair one cannot argue the amount of value packed into this package.

Gust’s first foray on the PS4 with their flagship Atelier title is a rousing success, and even though I lament the removal of the time limit mechanic from the series, it still proves one of the strongest entries the franchise has had to date, and one of the best RPGs available on the PS4.

Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus is a game that is difficult to recommend to people due to its content, but if you’re not fazed by that, you’re going to get a fun action game that rivals them all. If only they had a version of this game that didn’t feature jiggly breasts and constant unclothing schoolgirls.

Far Harbor has lots of new content and it’s great to return to Fallout 4. A dark, seedy, and just creepy island with a interesting back story only had me wanting to explore the world more and more.

Despite having one of the most generic titles I’ve heard in a while, Neon Chrome has a lot going for it – a solid rogue-like, with plenty of upgrade options and exciting action. It’s such a shame that the HUD issue put a dampener on things. As it stands, I would have to recommend waiting on this until a patch it released to address the semi game breaking bug.

It is clearly a passion project for the team at DICE, and it finally feels like it lives up to its ambitious design. There is little like it out there, which makes it easy to recommend, but also it is not a game for everyone. It is never overly challenging, combat is simply not fun, and there is little variety to the mission design. Still, I couldn’t stop playing it until the credits rolled, and again there is simply nothing else like it currently on the new consoles.

I love the shooter genre, and feel like we don’t see enough of these titles anymore. I am always happy to see a new one crop up, but with its lack of modes and hefty price tag, it feels like this game is really taking advantage of the players like myself just wanting a new game in the genre.

Odin Sphere Leifthrasir is a masterpiece of game design, and one of the forgotten gems of the PS2 era. I can’t recommend it enough, and it stands head and shoulders above other remakes on how to get the job done. For those that never experienced the original it is a must buy, but even for those with fond memories of the glorious Vanillaware classic, this package is more than worth a second dip.

I wanted to love Hard Reset Redux, especially after coming off Doom, which had scratched that 90s FPS itch I have almost annually. There just isn’t enough here to satisfy. Gunplay feels weak, enemies are boring to kill, and the world wears out its welcome quickly. Nothing about this game is overly offensive to the senses, but it just never stands out from the pack either.

Lumo has a heart. It’s filled with a charming aesthetics, classic retro style gameplay, fun references to other franchises, and just offers a solid good time for platforming fans.

I applaud the developers for focusing on making an accessible fighting game. It is even more of a bonus that it plays extremely well and looks fantastic. Combine that with the fact that I can use my fight sticks on the PC to play it, and one would think it would be a dream come true. Sadly, the lack of interesting characters and modes to play, not to mention a barren online community, make this one fighting game that is hard to recommend.

All in all, it’s not a bad TMNT game. Sure, the bosses may take too many hits to take down, and the combat will become a mash-fest after a while, but with a few buddies online, I had a pretty fun time seeing the lean green fighting machines back in action.

Downwell is a $5 game that anyone can pick up and play and have a fun time with. It’s not a game you play hours on end, but definitely something that can be enjoyed for small chunks in between games, and for that cheap price, it fits right in with the entire rougelike nature of the game. It’s a small, fun, and easy addiction that many will really enjoy all for a cheap price.

A gaming experience that’s more polished and exciting than I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing and one I’ll be sure to continue to play for the foreseeable future. If not for the inclusion of microtransactions, this would have been a perfect game in my book.

Anima: Gate of Memories is a solid action/RPG that would have easily slipped under my radar. It is longer than I expected, and continuously spices things up with new enemy types and puzzles throughout. I had a blast with this game, and it surprised me at almost every turn. I definitely recommend checking it out; the $20 price tag is more than worth the experience contained within.

Shadwen is not a bad game, but it is completely in the middle of the road for me. There are some issues that really drag down the gameplay, but at the same time, I really enjoyed the time mechanics.

Two steps forward, one step back. I want to like Homefront Revolution more than I do. It’s got a good heart and some solid ideas buried behind the mess, and most players won’t be willing to put up with it. Those that do will find some solid moments of gameplay strewn throughout, but if it’s worth their time is ultimately up to them.

Ultimately Paradox has created a brilliant and lasting experience in Stellaris; one that allows players to cultivate an empire that spans entire galaxies. It is both wonderful and appropriately grand.

Doom is exactly what I wanted from a modern take on one of my favorite franchises. There is more than enough meat here to satisfy even the most jaded player.

Bravely Second is a title that builds on the success of its predecessor without taking too many risks. There are only a handful of new mechanics and ideas present here, but as the original was brimming with so much innovation, I have a hard time holding it against the sequel for upholding the precedents made by its predecessor. In turn, it also stands amongst the best JRPGs on offer for the 3DS.

It’s a game filled with some insanely cool creatures, worlds, and enemy designs, along with a soundtrack that absolutely matches that, and some really fun moments.

This game knows what it wants to do, and it executes it flawlessly. The loss of characters and some of the more enjoyable mini-games is certainly a bummer, but let’s be honest, that is never why anyone played this game.

With somber filled emotions, a surprise or two, and some intense action moments, I’d absolutely recommend it to franchise fans. Just don’t expect it to totally blow you away in the process.

GunWorld 2 does a decent job of grabbing that nostalgic feel of the older NES games while still keeping it difficult as hell.

Valyria Chronicles remaster is an excellent addition to the PS4 library.

Rocketbirds 2: Evolution was a fantastic surprise for me. Having never touched the first game (even though I owned it through PS+), I had no idea what to expect. In the end what I got was a mostly solid single player campaign, with a co-op mode that could have me coming back for ages.

I wanted to love Superhot more than I did, but its simplistic design and lack of variety really hurt it, even with its short campaign length.

Fans of hardcore stealth game like the old school Hitman titles may get a lot out of Party Hard, but players thinking this is a action title with a wild premise will be in for a frustrating time. It has a lot going for it, but the gameplay relies far too much on pinpoint execution with no errors, and because many things are random, I end up learning nothing from my last run of the levels.

For those looking for that supplement to Diablo, Alienation should be right up your alley.

Players that have graduated past the simplistic design of the original Star Fox games won’t find much to bring them back in, but those that still enjoy doing barrel rolls will feel right at home with Fox’s latest adventure.

All in all, I’d say Battleborn is a very well made game. The gameplay is fun and actually well thought out, and the characters all bring something different to the table. The story mode can be hit or miss, but the competitive side of things is really where the game shines in its strategy and game play.

Episodic games are always a gamble, as the full product can change and alter from the time players get the first episode done to the finale. King’s Quest started off very strong, but left me with a sour taste in chapter 2. Chapter 3 has completely washed that taste out of my mouth.

The game works and I didn’t have any glitches so there is that much, but that’s about all I can say positively.

This is the best Uncharted game to date, and quite possibly one of the best games that will come out this generation.

Shantae is a classic game in the right senses. It’s got a decent challenge, it’s fun, and seeing as it’s on almost every console now, there is no excuse not to try it.

I wanted to love Paranautical Activity a lot more than I did. I actually got addicted to Ziggurat and other titles using the same premise, at least for more than a handful of runs. Sadly, this title doesn’t bring anything new to the table, nor does it set itself apart outside of the visuals. The levels are boring and the enemies and shooting are not satisfying enough to keep it going.

Stikbold is not going to set the world on fire, but it is one of the best competitive/co-op experiences I have had in a while.

Rogue Stormers isn’t going to blow your socks off by any means, but there is still some fun to be had, once you level up your characters and start experimenting with the sub-weapons. Add in a couple of friends to play with and you’re in for a decent time for at least a few hours. The grind may eventually get to you, but along the way, there can be some fun in there.

Koi isn’t a bad game. It just lacks content and a level of polish found in even the smallest of indie games these days. It’s a game that you can load up and just explore, without too much threat involved. But in the same breath, don’t expect too much back in return.

PopoloCrois follows in the footsteps of other hybrid genre JRPGs like the Atelier series, and instead of alchemy mixes in a heavy dose of a farming instead. While the farming aspect of this hybrid title is compelling enough, the dull combat and a snail’s pace holds it back from greatness.

Despite the lackluster dungeon designs and rather pedestrian difficulty, the gorgeous art style and a greater emphasis on its story and characters makes Ray Gigant stand out amongst its peers.

After all, a Vita exclusive first person dungeon crawler RPG with touch controlled combat seems rather long in the genre definition, and a rather insane proposition all things considered. However, despite all odds, they’ve managed to craft a title featuring a fantastic world that begs to be explored, and a combat engine that’s intuitive and the finest use of touch controls since Tearaway.