I certainly had my doubts about Pokkén when I booted it up for the first time, but it’s safe to say that it’s thoroughly won me over. The vibrant visuals with some spectacular animations, along with a combat system that’s deceptively deep but simple to grasp makes Pokkén easy to recommend to anyone, whether they be a fan of Pokemon or not.

The Dominus Collection is a welcome addition to the Konami classics. Revisiting these games gave me a new appreciation for them. They all three hold up well and the music continues to be timeless. Yet another stellar package of classics, now Konami needs to sort out the Symphony of the Night issues and perhaps add them to the 64 and PS2-era games for one final collection. That would be epic.

Fans of those types of racing games will be in awe of what Shin’en has accomplished here. I know it is cliché to say, but please give this team the rights to make a new F-Zero game. Fast Racing NEO is the closest and best thing to happen to the genre in years.

The most amazing thing about Dead Space Extraction is that even with everything working against it, it still rises above the challenge.

A great co-op experience. It’s fun alone and competent enough to play through, but with online folks or friends it’s even better, and where the experience truly shines.

Wheelman is a good game, with a bit more polish it might have been a great one. Having some good dialogue, a great soundtrack, and pretty cool premise helps distract from the pop-in that comes up every once in a while.

I loved my time with this game and it being offered on Game Pass for Xbox owners only sweetens the deal. Even still Switch and PS4 owners should not hesitate. For $20 this is one nostalgia trip worth taking, even for those that didn’t necessarily grow up with the games it attempts to mimic. A good game is still a good game regardless of generation.

While the gameplay, levels, and locations are something that everyone will experience by the end game, how players build their towns and help the townsfolk is what will give each person their unique experience.

Still, at the end of the day Tales of Hearts R is a testament to the fact that with enough care and attention to detail, a venerable series can make the transition to the portable market with great success.

Roche Fusion is an extremely addicting arcade shooter. It might take a lot of ideas from various other games in the genre, but it still finds itself in the position to stand out and be unique all on its own.

Blood: Refreshed Supply is yet another outstanding port of a classic shooter from Nightdive. I continue to be impressed with how much love and care they put into their releases and am always anticipating what comes next. This is definitely worth a look as it is one of those games that has a certain mystery around it. Lots of people talk about it, but it isn’t as well-known as titles like Duke Nukem and Doom. Now you can discover one of the most unique and fun shooters from the late 90s.

It can become quite the addiction.

Buzz! Quiz TV is more than just a good quiz game. An abundance of questions, some DLC already available and online features combine to make a lasting product. Lighthearted and well-paced, trivia junkies and social gamers just won't find a better fix than Buzz! Quiz TV.

I loved this game when I first played the demo a year ago. I am glad players can finally get their hands on it, and truly this is not a game to be missed. It combines two genres perfectly and ends up creating the surprise hit of the year. It will be on my mind when game of the year rolls around and I recommend everyone giving it a look. I know the game world is swamped with releases this year, but this is one experience you do not want to miss.

The Unfinished Swan is a wonderful experience that drew me into its world and never lets go. I am still thinking about it long after finishing it, and that says a lot. The impact it leaves is memorable, and it will go down as one of the most unique experiences I have had this year. I recommend anyone who enjoys stepping outside the box of traditional gaming give it a chance. You will be surprised just how much it sticks with you long after the credits roll.

Spanning well over thirty hours with five different endings, there’s a great deal of fun to be had in the world of Ar nosurge. It’s just unfortunate that the lack of localization for the prequel ends up hurting the full enjoyment of this great sequel.

After my playthrough, I can safely say that while this is certainly no souls game, it’s one worthy of the time of anyone who seeks a truly rewarding challenge.

The environments are lush and lively; I'll never forget leaning against a tree and being startled by a tarantula crawling across the bark an inch away, or the time I had my rifle poked over a boulder in a tense standoff, and a butterfly landed right in front of my face, only to fly away when my opponent shot at me.

For series fans it’s a great opportunity to experience these games again, and genre fans like me who haven’t played them should definitely check them out.

Fans of the series should not miss out on this game, and newcomers wanting to try out a Warriors game will find an easy and fun way to get into them with Samurai Warriors 4.

The combat is intoxicating, and the level of gore is definitely satisfying.

Above all, as a portable game Young Thor hits the mark. Levels are portioned out appropriately, with an easy-to-follow story and the option of more depth.

The message and weight of the game are top notch and impressively implemented, but the bland puzzles and inconsistent polish hold it back a little.

Anyone who has played Resident Evil: Village and is looking for an inexpensive, well made horror game that was clearly made by fans of the genre will likely find a lot to enjoy. I also still think anyone who likes metroidvanias should give this a shot too. I can’t wait to see what Pulsatrix Studios does next.

In the end, Wreckfest is a game that you will tend to make your own fun in. The career mode can get a little old after a while, but the multiplayer makes it even more fun throwing other players into the already impressively crazy mix. Bugbear knows what their players want out of a game from them, and they offer it up in a really fun, chaotic package that any arcade racer can enjoy.

In the end, Skylanders Giants feels like the right evolution for the series. There are enough tweaks and new content to get people back into the game, while the new figures only amount to 16 this time around (unless you really need to collect the new Series 2 ones) it makes it more manageable on your wallet.

Shantae and the Seven Sirens is a great addition to the series and a return to its more Metroidvania roots. I loved it a lot more than the last iteration and continue to look forward to each new chapter. While the series is not as well-known as other games, I feel like it should be. The quality is there and each version just seems to add enough new to keep it fresh. This is a title that should not be overlooked, and it is available on absolutely everything, so there is no excuse not to give it a go.

I am glad to have this series back, and this new iteration has been the most fun I have had with it to date. Sadly right now though it is only recommended as a local experience. Online is far too fickle at launch, so if that is what you are coming to King of Fighters for, you might want to wait it out.