It’s not the best game on the system – but it’s the most original.

Shin Megami Tensei IV is one of those games where many people have probably heard the name but have never tried a game in the series. This is a great beginning point for anyone that has never played a MegaTen game before.

Sonic Mania is the Sonic game fans have been wanting. It hits all the notes (and problems) the originals had. But it is also why the series has remained relevant for so long. It delivers speed, fun, and chaos (no pun intended) all in one package. It also finally removes the stigma that all Sonic games are terrible. Let’s hope Forces is as well polished and enjoyable as Mania is.

Clocking in at around 6 hours, there isn’t any real replay value unless you’re someone like me who likes to go back to see how the experience changes after I’ve been enlightened with the full picture. While some may claim that it is far too short of a game, I would argue that it is the perfect length for this particular title, and as it retails at half the cost of a typical triple A game at $29.99, it more than justifies its asking price. After all, I certainly don’t think this would have been a better game if it was double the length at twice the cost.

Funny enough Vanquish seems to be a better game after all these years. The cover-based combat just feels so much better now than I remember it. Not sure if that has to do with the rock-solid frame rate or just the passing time, but this game is sublime. Pulling off stylish actions feels natural. The sliding mechanic just works, and makes combat more fun than most cover shooters. This is a game that has stood the test of time and somehow works better today than it did ten years ago.

For those of you who own all the Halo 3 content, your still getting a full single player experience, and a great co-op multiplayer add-on. For the rest of us the value is only bigger, for me I got dozens of new maps, Firefight, and the story all of which have so far been a blast to play.

Pure doesn’t set any standards in the department of innovation, but it does take everything fun about the genre and cram it into a tight package.

Resident Evil Village is another outstanding entry in one of the best franchises in gaming. Capcom has done a wonderful job of keeping the series fresh and interesting since its inception back in 1996. I still get excited when a new game in the series drops. It is an event that few other franchises can carry for this long. This game is one of the easiest to recommend and it is on a short list of my favorite game experiences of the year. I expect to be discussing it when the end of 2021 rolls around.

3DS owners looking for a new RPG to dig into will find a fantastic one here.

There is more than enough to see and do and I guarantee once you nail down the vehicle handling you will find a rich and vigorous experience that will entertain you for hours on end.

It's true that there are better tower defense games to play, and there are better twin stick shooters to play, but there aren't any that got thrown in a downloadable blender quite like Comet Crash.

The co-op implementation is great and the extra unlockable provides more than enough incentive to play the game through multiple times. If the controls don't bother you, anybody can have a great time playing through this adventure.

While there are still some improvements to be made in terms of difficulty balancing and dungeon designs, Octopath Traveler 2 makes meaningful improvements over the original and manages to realize most of its lofty ambitions, culminating into an experience not to be missed by any JRPG fan.

It is a very competent RPG with tons of upgrades and stat tracking. It really is a hardcore RPG fan’s dream.

Expanding the amount of content available (including the incredibly smart decision to open the horde-mode like Salmon Run game mode up at all times) makes this game the best one yet and one of the most enjoyable multi-player shooters on the market. If you have been a fan of the series in the past, Splatoon 3 is a must purchase.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided has a firm grasp on what made the original title so iconic- providing some of the best variety in how a player could approach every objective and making each of them feel just as fun and satisfying as the other. If not for the rather lackluster cast of characters and a story that ends abruptly, it could have been a new classic.

Madden NFL 11 is a must own for all football fans, and now it is even more accessible to the masses.

There are enough new and fresh ideas here to make it stand out, and there is certainly plenty of content to keep you playing. Black Ops 2 will easily be the best-selling game this year, but it will also be remembered for changing the way we look at the CoD series.

2K10 retains its crown as the best pro basketball game on the market, albeit just barely.

After many, many hours in Marathon I have come away with an overall positive impression. The game is held together by the tight shooting that Bungie is known for, but it oozes a style all its on which helps it stand out from the pack. For those that love the chase of loot and the thrill of a PvP fight then Marathon is probably for you. It feels like it’s a more hardcore version of the extraction shooter, at least in comparison to Arc Raiders. Don’t expect to have our hand held in this game, which is what a good hardcore experience should offer its players. If you like that type of experience, then Marathon is waiting for you.

The game is very complex yet so accessible. It's hard to explain without going into a two hour detail of it, but I can see how fans of both Persona and fighting games can pick this game up, learn at their own pace, and still have a blast with it in the end.

With over 60 different weapons and time manipulation combinations, a great score and look and some cool new gameplay elements, Sine Mora is a shoot 'em up that cannot be overlooked by any fan of the genre.

Need for Speed: Shift is a large step forward for the genre. The balance between arcade and simulation is nearly flawless, not to mention the graphics are jaw-dropping.

Crash Bandicoot 4 is a game that has been a long-time coming. Toys for Bob have really captured what made the original games special, while also modernizing it and delivering their own stamp on the franchise. Fans of the original finally get the sequel they deserved, and it feels good to live in this renaissance of PSOne-era games making a comeback. I hope Crash continues to live on and we don’t have to wait as long for Crash 5.

In conclusion, Tekken Tag Tournament 2 for the Wii U is a fantastic fighting game, and a must buy for the new Nintendo system. This game has so much to offer, and it adds a hard-core competitive element to Nintendo gamers that have been lacking for a long time.

Despite my complaints, it’s clear that the remake is most definitely the best way to experience what Nier has to offer. The improved visuals, performance and additional content are all much appreciated, and while it’s still a title with notable flaws, it’s infinitely easier to recommend to all who are willing to put in the time and effort to embark on a journey they’ll not soon forget.

One of the best games that I have played so far this year. The team at Square Enix has really taken a leap in the right direction for the JRPG genre. They have made a gorgeous game that is fun to play, yet at times challenging and rewarding.

NCAA Football 10 is no doubt the best college football game I have ever played. This year's outing still doesn't take the series to the next level like some were hoping it would (and it appears that Madden is doing), but it perfects the formula as much as possible.