Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice is the pinnacle of the series and really does cater to the hardcore fans.

The game is quirky and humorous and full of things to see and do. So much in fact that it should keep you occupied for months on end.

Yes these games are products of their time, but I adore seeing them return in 2018. For those that have fond memories these are a no-brainer. My one gripe is that the price of $20 feels a bit much. I would have liked to see them both bundled for that price. Still I can’t stay away. Returning to Turok feels so good. Now if only we could get a remaster of Shadow of Oblivion, or even better, a brand new game in the franchise.

I think GreedFall may be the sleeper hit of the year. It’s an RPG that captures the best parts of BioWare’s works while adding in their own gameplay elements and a unique setting. The side stories are given just as much importance as the main quests. The world is large despite not being one large open world experience. Combat is the perfect blend of real time action and turn based decision making. After playing Bound by Flame earlier this year I had little expectation for GreedFall. I am happy I was wrong to doubt Spiders, because it is one of my favorite games of the year.

Raiden has always been a shooter for the masses and I love that it continues to be around to this day. It won’t test your skills or reach the heights of others in the genre, but it is always a good time. I love seeing more and more releases in this series dropping for more consoles. I had a blast with this and if you have even a remote interest in the genre this is a must own. Now to sit and patiently wait for more Raiden to drop on consoles this summer.

I wish Pearl Abyss had focused in a bit more on Crimson Desert’s quiet moments. I enjoyed scaling mountains and finding ruins to explore or meeting randoms in small towns; these moments felt the most special to me. Sure, it’s nice to have the ability to do… well just about anything you can think of in a game but without a more meaningful narrative I felt like I was all dressed up with nowhere to go most times. Crimson Desert is an odd game for me to place, I enjoyed it for the freedom I had to make my own story and for all the combat and systems but I wasn’t a huge fan of the narrative; even though it did get better. If you are a fan of sandbox games that allow you to live out a fantasy then Crimson Desert is here for you, I just don’t know if I can recommend it for its story. If you are looking for a great narrative, well you will find that in another castle.

Ultimately, AI: The Somnium Files is a game that has moments of brilliance that are obscured by a disjointed narrative and investigative process. Aside from the Somnium sequences – which are, admittedly, very cool – the game failed to motivate me to truly engage with its overarching story. I just didn’t find it appealing. That said, it may be worth a look for fans of the genre (or detective stories in general), who are likely to feel at home here if not altogether blown away.

Even with an exclusive license and no reason to improve their game, Tiburon and EA Sports continue to refine the best football experience ever made.

Even if you don’t have a lot of experience with the franchise, the on-ice trainer will help get you up and running quickly. If you’re coming solely for Be a Pro mode though be prepared for a lackluster experience, but with the new franchise mode fleshing out the experience there should be plenty for most sports gamers to like.

I liked the new attack moves that they have added, and I really enjoyed the story. It is very immersive and really tugs at your heartstrings at times.

Fear the Spotlight is a good first effort from the Blumhouse games initiative. It hits all the notes of a classic horror game with the hint of nostalgia for those of us who grew up with the 32-bit consoles. I am excited to see more and more of these drop over time and definitely recommend picking it up for a spooky weekend of fun during the holiday season.

I enjoyed the original Tails of Iron, its hand drawn art and the story is what really did it. Tails of Iron 2 delivers more but polishes some of the rough edges that the original launched with. The new setting of the game is nice as well as the additions to the combat. The best addition by far is the ability to dial down the challenge, I love that we are seeing these sliders more and more in “soulslike” games. Whiskers of Winter is a solid sequel, even if it played it safe by not really making drastic changes to the formula from the original.

A breath of fresh air to the PSP family.

If you own a Wii U, it is definitely worth checking out, if for nothing more than the smile it will put on your face, the entire time you play it.

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.

If you were a fan of the WWE from 1997 through 1999, you owe it to yourself to check out WWE 13 out for the Attitude era mode and Superstars. It's an incredibly nostalgic trip through an awesome period in the industry's history. Current fans of the WWE will also find a lot to like here, from the huge roster to the cavernous depths of the creation system. If you are willing to look past the issues, you'll find a lot of fun to be had with WWE '13. Regardless of the future of the WWE license, there is some great single player content here to build on.

You'll never feel more like a badass and you'll never have a bigger smile on your face.

Xenoverse 2 feels more in line with what I wanted the original game to be, with its flexible combat engine, wealth of compelling content and an online component that actually worked properly from day 1. Even with the issues with the frequent crashes and the dumb AI, this is still a wet dream for DBZ fans and comes highly recommended.

The Foundation is a great expansion that I had to wait too long to play. I really hate timed exclusive content, and especially DLC. If not for a review code I might have passed on this simply because Control was so far out of my mind at this point. I am glad that is not the case, and if you are like me forgot this existed, it is time to remember. I cannot wait for the second pack and to once again return to the Oldest House to learn more about the Bureau.

Shuten Order is a game of great ambition, unfortunately lacking in execution and polish to properly shoulder the weight of said ambition. While there is a good story to experience and some great moments sprinkled throughout the adventure, the issues with its storytelling and half-baked gameplay elements makes it come far short of its lofty ambitions.

You really do not need to know much about the original to find this one fun and enjoyable.

Granblue Fantasy: Versus makes a great first impression with its stellar visual flair but falls a bit short on the gameplay department with simplistic combat mechanics and a story mode that becomes boring a little too quickly.

Alien Isolation is a great game marred with problems that make it frustrating the longer it goes on, and it goes on for a lot longer than it should.

If you’re still holding out for season two, do yourself a favor and pick it up. It’s a tragic, surprising and entertaining ride.

The only other problem I had with the game was the fact that Metal Gear doesn't translate well into a portable game. When you spend 5-7 minutes in a cut scene just to do 2 minutes of game play, the portability is just not there.

Even with these subtle improvements the game is still the same package you have been able to play on all the other consoles for a while now.

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.

Joe Danger 2: The Movie is a fun game to play. However, even with the change in scenery for each level, and the use of different vehicles, it can become quite repetitive over time. Much like the first game, some levels can be extremely frustrating if you want to complete every available objective. But if you enjoyed the first game, then you will likely enjoy this one. Just don't expect a lot of difference between them. Even with a few niggles with the controls, it is thoroughly entertaining, and there are hours and hours of play available for your money.