While I know there are fans of the series, and from what I can gather, Tormented Fathers was actually a decent time, Broken Porcelain feels off to me. Perhaps it needed a few more months of development time to work out the bugs and maybe have a better optimized stealth mechanic, but I don’t think we’ll ever know. There is some complexity to the story and some decent atmosphere, but it takes a lot to actually get into it. If you’re invested in the series, this is a maybe, but if you’re looking for a horror stealth game, there are others to just play much better.

Pumpkin Jack is a great looking game, a great playing game, and a well written game. It should not be skipped in the slightest. The Halloween aesthetic may seem out of season now, but don’t let it fool you, this game is enjoyable at any time; the minions of hell rising up to destroy humanity truly is a timeless tale. The end credits show the development and love Nicolas poured into this game, and all of that can be found in the final product. I really hope this isn’t the last we see of Jack.

Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered is the perfect game to bring back. It harkens back to a time when racing games were simple and fun. I hope the Criterion team manages to get back to this formula. This was the last NFS game I enjoyed all around and have somewhat forgotten about the series since its release. It seems EA knows this considering this is the title they chose to remaster. For those that thirst for the classic days of the Need for Speed series, this is a solid title to add to your collection.

Ghostrunner is a game of pain and suffering. Repetition sets in. It never deterred me from hitting continue though. This marks a nice balance of forcing players to master their combat, while also intriguing them to keep going. I absolutely had a blast and cannot wait to see the upgrades on next-gen consoles. This is not a game to sleep on, just be aware it may cause nightmares.

Cobra Kai is a fun game that falls victim to a lot of the genre’s downsides. I enjoyed it for what it was, but have a hard time recommending it mostly due to the $40 point of entry. The game has enough content, but it drags at times. This leads to a game that would have been an easy win if it was priced a little lower. I understand why with having the actors portray their roles, but this game could have done better with soundalikes and a lower price point.

Hades stands not only as the finest, most well-crafted game from the exceedingly talented developers at Supergiant but as one of the pinnacles of the genre. If you never looked at rogue-likes seriously before due to differences in personal tastes and what you believe that they represent, this might be the very title to change your mind.

Transformers Battlegrounds is a decent game that is marred by being confused as to who it is aimed for. Diehard fans of the franchise like me won’t find much challenge or diversity here to enjoy. Kids jumping in might not share the same nostalgia for these characters. The game also carries a hefty price tag, doesn’t feature online play, and boasts a relatively short campaign. While Transformers could work well in the genre, I am not sure this one hits on all the right notes.

The combat is sound, the loot is there, and playing with friends is a great time, but it does absolutely nothing to stand out in the crowded genre. It also does very little to stand out from its own predecessors. That is the biggest crime this game commits. There is simply nothing here that screams bigger and better than the last game. Still even with these shortcomings Torchlight III is a solid ARPG that will please anyone who decides to take the plunge. I enjoyed the hours I got from it, and loved playing with friends online. I had a hard time coming back to it regularly like other titles such as Diablo III and Path of Exile, which is not good considering how old those games are.

Like a Dragon is a wonderful jumping in point for the series and also one of the best titles in it to date. Don’t sleep on this game, it is worth digging into.

Raji was a decent experience. While it never stood out from the combat focused platformer crowd, it never buried itself in the crowd either. It’s fine game that I think fans of this style of game will enjoy even with the issues I had. If only the loading screen wasn’t so long, I wouldn’t have had as many issues with failing at my jumps and at the combat with several enemies. In the end, this is a different take on a familiar style of game that is just fine, but doesn’t stand out.

DiRT 5 feels like a game that is built to showcase new hardware. Still, if players stick with the frame rate mode it works just fine on the last generation as well. I cannot wait to dig in once I get my Series X, but even on One X this game is truly a looker. The game play feels fantastic, it just feels like a game that will showcase better on more powerful hardware.

Foregone is a wonderful surprise in a crowded genre of gaming. There are a ton of other titles exactly like it, but this one just stands head and shoulders above the rest. I cannot recommend this game enough. It might tick all the usual boxes, but it ticks them extremely well. I haven’t had this much reverence for a game of this type in a long time. Do not sleep on Foregone.

I had a great time with 9 Monkeys of Shaolin. It was a fun time for the most part, and I constantly wanted to experiment with the different gear and skills. It was one that I always found myself jumping back into it just to get a few more levels in. If you’re a fan of the beat ‘em up genre, this is one you will need to check out. It has the style and the complexity to keep players having fun for the entirety of the game.

Star Wars: Squadrons is a wonderful entry in EA’s use of the license. It took long enough to get a proper dogfighting game, but the one they deliver should appease fans. The campaign is short, but sweet. The online is a blast with friends, and I hope it continues to flourish with players for a long time.

A true culmination of an epic journey filled with unforgettable characters in a world that has become as familiar and inviting to me as my own hometown. If not for the lackluster localization effort and continuous implementation of uneven voice acting, this could have been the perfect send off for the members of Class VII, Thors military academy.

Disc Room is an addictive title that lends itself to short bursts of play. On its surface it’s a very basic title, but in reality it plays with its formula in such fun ways that make it more than just dodging discs. Anyone on the fence like I was should try out the demo, which is a great taste for what the game offers, because I don’t think I’m doing this game justice. Neither does all the promotion Devolver has done for this game. Disc Room is something different, and I like it.

NHL 21 feels like an incremental step up from last year’s game. What I enjoyed is that even with my limited knowledge of the sport I could hop in and have a great time. I really will come back once the NHL 94 mode drops into the game. Those classic games were great even if I had no clue what icing was. For those looking to upgrade it might not be revolutionary, but this year’s game sure is a lot of fun once you get past its shortcomings.

Operation Blackout nails the nostalgia. Everything about this package is incredible for fans of G.I. Joe. The problem is the game play itself. The shooting is not fun and for a game that revolves around that, it is hard to ignore. I kept playing wanting to love this game and simply could not. I hope the developers tweak and fix these issues as this game is begging me to love it. As it stands though it is a disappointing trip down memory lane. Now if you will excuse me I am going to go back to playing it in hopes that I can find enjoyment in nostalgia.

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.

Feeling very dated in both visuals and gameplay I really can’t recommend it at the full asking price, especially as there are ways in which you can still get hold of download codes for the original release at a fraction of the price. It may have been a different story had there been more work done bringing the game up-to-date and squishing those darn bugs, but this feels like nothing more than a cash grab to make up for some of the money spent on purchasing the IP. Wait for a price drop.

Avengers has the legs for a good games as a service model. It can stand on its own for a while, and with new content coming as soon as this month, it should keep things fresh. Now, that doesn’t mean monotony won’t set in, it most certainly does. Especially after finishing the best part of the game – the story missions. These types of games live and breathe on their player base and so far, it’s been alright. Only time will tell, and we’ll see how long Avengers is supported. While right now, Marvel’s Avengers is a good game that has a few issues here and there, but a fun time nonetheless, in a year’s time, it could very well be a great game with more varied content. There is most certainly the potential for that here. Let’s hope it actually happens.

I don’t see this being a huge sell to kids and clearly this game has kids in mind and it’s disappointing because the game is good. The license is just so squandered. It’s a game that I think is fun and is worth a play, but I cannot recommend paying full price. $30 is the sweet spot because it just lacks the character that other karts racers have. It’s simple to pick up and play so if Mario Kart has run its course (heh) give this one a try with some friends.

WWE 2K Battlegrounds is a fun romp that I enjoyed a lot more than I anticipated I would. Again, take it with a grain of salt as I am not a wrestling fan anymore. This reminded me of the more friendly spectacle of past games like WWE Arcade and Superstars. I wish there were more legends to be found and the models weren’t so creepy at times, but as a whole this is the best use of the license in years.

Spelunky 2 is likely to delight those who revere its predecessor. As for newcomers, a whole new world of curiosity, frustration, rage quitting, perseverance and reward awaits. This is a game that may be a challenge to get into for some, but sooner rather than later determination to succeed will likely evolve into devotion. This will be a game that will always encourage players to come back for more.

Super Mario 3D All-Stars is certainly rough around the edges as far as a classic collection is concerned, but there is no denying the impact of all three games. The omission of Galaxy 2 and the questionable ports are certainly head scratchers, but that doesn’t change the fact that this collection will deliver hours of fun for Mario players old and new. Another solid title for the Switch lineup. Now make sure to snag it before Nintendo removes it from sale…at least until they break it up and sell them individually that is.

NBA 2K21 is a tough game to review. On the court, the game is mostly very good. The passing and dribbling feels excellent and the My Career mode is certainly well-acted. It could easily be a high 8 or 9 if the whole progression system didn’t feel so broken. If you know how aggressive the microtransactions are going in, and are willing to either stall your progress or spend the money, you’ll find a really good on-court game here. If not however, it’s likely to be a very frustrating experience.

At $40 it has a lot to offer. I never found myself angry or bored revisiting previous levels. There’s a fair bit of content for that $40, it’s just that it isn’t perfect and one should know that going into Battle Through Time. Fans of Samurai Jack however will most likely love this game as it canonically takes place during the final season as Jack is trapped in time. I also think Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time is great for both adults and kids (whilemost action games nowadays definitely leans to a predominately adult audience). Definitely check it out in that downtime between big releases as there’s plenty here to be impressed by.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 is one of the best remakes of two of the best video games ever made. For fans like me who grew up playing it, this is what we have wanted since the series started its downward spiral in its later years. It feels like Tony Hawk is back for the first time in a decade. For those not familiar this is the best way to jump into the action. This package is incredible, and I hope Activision expands it with DLC for Tony Hawk 3+4 at some point down the line.