Fans of the Telltale adventure games and people looking for something unique in terms of storytelling and mechanics should really give Life is Strange a shot.

Surge Deluxe is perfect for a handheld system, allowing the player to dip in and out as they please.

ARMS is a truly unique experience that digs into my nostalgia with games like Punch Out! I just hope the free DLC will make it feel more fleshed out. Quality cannot be argued here, but content definitely feels far too light at launch.

Between the cost of the games separately on original DS hardware and all the changes Capcom has made to make the experience more enjoyable, there is zero reason to return to the DS originals. I won’t be and I own them. It’s another great collection in the Mega Man series and from one of their most overlooked renditions of the blue bomber himself.

What makes this version of the game the one to own is that No More Heroes III is by far the best in the series. Now it is not compromised as far as tech goes. It now runs brilliantly. This allows Suda51’s vision to be fully realized. I fell in love with this game on Switch and now I also enjoy playing it. There is so much to enjoy and discover in the third entry in the series and it is always nice to see more Japanese games dropping on Xbox. So it feels like a win/win across the board. Do not sleep on this wacky adventure. It is truly unlike almost anything I have ever played. It never failed to entertain me and I hope we see the two old games also ported to these new consoles. Give me all the Travis Touchdown.

Sniper Elite 5 is a solid follow-up. It won’t change the formula or anyone’s mind who finds these games boring or shallow. Still being available on Game Pass day one is a huge bonus. It is more than worth playing and I recommend at least checking it out. It is unapologetic violence and the design is high quality. This is the definition of gaming fast food, a treat for all the senses.

Longtime players of the NBA 2K series already know what to expect from 2K25. The game has played well for a long time, and this years game is no exception. While there were more glitches and issues than I would have liked, you’re still getting a solid on-court experience from this years edition. With that said, I simply can’t score the game higher than a 7 based on the continued overemphasis on microtransactions to the detriment of what should be the most enjoyable mode in the game. I can’t recommend buying the game at full price, knowing that you’ll need to pay the VC tax if you want to have a shot at being competitive online. I hope for next years game 2K will consider decoupling MyCareer and MyPlayer online and do something more akin to MLB the Show, while making microtransactions much more optional and less intrusive. That feels like wishful thinking however, as the game continues to sell hand over fist. If you plan on taking the dive again this year, just make sure you know what you’re getting into.

Hitman GO is a unique spin to a franchise and feels like the perfect combination of puzzle and strategy game, especially in quick bursts. I can only handle so much in one sitting, but every time I do play, I find myself sucked in just a little bit more.

Ultimately The Pathless is a very good game, with exceptional art direction and an interesting (if a bit shallow) story. I loved the interactions between The Hunter and her eagle, and found the boss battles to be a high point. The game’s six hour runtime helps to keep the somewhat repetitive gameplay loop from becoming tedious, but it also means it’s more difficult to justify the game’s $40 price tag. I believe that with some expanded lore and a lot more variety in the puzzles on display, Giant Squid could have easily stretched the game out to 10-15 hours. Still, The Pathless is undeniably a great game and a worthy (and unique) addition to the PS5 launch lineup.

Attack on Titan was a shock for me. It isn’t going to revolutionize any genre, but there truly is little else like it out there. Fans of the anime are sure to enjoy the attention to detail in almost everything, and like most Warriors games there is enough of an RPG element to keep battles from becoming too much of the same thing over and over.

Overall Olija is a good game. I just wish it was longer. I finished a fair portion of the game in around 5 hours and I can’t imagine I would have spent much longer had I decided to get all the collectibles. However, I think $15 is the perfect price for Olija; I much rather have a short good game than a long mediocre one and being left wanting more is a much better problem to have than never wanting to touch a game again. Just know that Olija is a concise but strong experience and a great way to start off 2021.

Sophstar is a fantastic game that feels like it was made by a team that loves shooters. Being someone who will play just about any one released, this one stands out among the pack with its unique teleport mechanic and addictive Cadet School mode. There is a lot here to enjoy and for less than $10 it is a no-brainer for fans of shooters. Don’t sleep on this team’s debut game, cannot wait to see what they deliver next.

WRC Generations retreads a lot of familiar ground while adding enough new to make it feel fresh. It has been a solid series for years and I am sad to learn it won’t be returning after this entry. Still this feels like a solid swan song to end on and I can tell the developers really poured their hearts into this final entry. I do wonder what they will build next and whatever it is, they have my attention. I have always loved rally games and this is one of the few simulation offerings that I have enjoyed over the years.

Given a choice, I’m sure I would pick a different game from NISA’s illustrious PS2 JRPG lineup that I would rather have a sequel of, but all things said, Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is a great sequel that improves on the original in almost every way, providing a fun, tactically satisfying RPG that I’m very glad made a return.

Dungeon Defenders is deep. I don't use that word lightly. RPG fans will be in heaven with this game.

Sanctum 2 does a good job of improving on the first game. There are new maps, characters, a fresh perk and upgrade system, enemies; almost everything is new.

I find that Soldner X2 to be one of my favorite horizontal shooters ever made. This just might give Gradius V (my favorite horizontal shooter) a run for its money, well worth the price of admission.

Console owners don't really have much in the way of choices when it comes to realistic tactical shooters. Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising does a great job of filling this niche, despite its flaws.

The visuals are stunning, and the presentation will leave you rather amused, and this is all for $15. You may be tired of zombies by now, but even if you are, this is one downloadable game that is worth checking out.

Exactly what the developers said it was going to be, a straight-forward shooter with a decent story and unique environment interaction. Sadly the length of the single-player and a lack of any type of multi-player mode really dampen the experience.

In a seemingly overcrowded genre it is nice to finally play something that feels great and delivers simple satisfaction from the outset.

Revelations is definitely reminiscent of the old school days of the series, and those craving that particular experience should not miss out.

Quantum Conundrum is a great game that stretches your brain and forces you to think in different ways. It's fairly long as well, and I spent about 10 hours finishing the main game. There are goals related to time and the number of shifts needed to solve a puzzle, which adds some replay value. It's a terrific game for puzzle and platforming fans alike, and at $15 it's a great bargain.

So long as the player expects nothing more from Xeodrifter than what it is very upfront about providing in terms of content, retro-aesthetic and gameplay, then it will be hard to feel disappointed after playing this game. It’s not perfect, but there is a sincerity here that is likely to charm even the most skeptical of gamers.

This is a really great tool to teach gamers how to really play guitar. Experienced players will grow bored with the core campaign mode, but the additions of the amp and arcade mini-games in Guitarcade will test your fingers for sure.

L.A. Noire was a unique game that deserved a second chance. My biggest hurdle in recommending this version though is the price. Sitting at $40 on XB1 and PS4, and a whopping $50 on Switch, that is a financial pill that is hard to swallow, especially when I can snag the 360 or PS3 versions for under $5 at any local used retailer.

This is one game that you can't just pick up and play. It takes a large level of commitment to get into. The small story that is there is forgettable, but it does try to explain what's going on.

It is very difficult for me to recommend this version of the game. We all know that Skyrim is amazing, but many people have played it for hundreds of hours at this point and the massive price tag just doesn’t seem worth it to experience it in VR. I also can’t see anyone wanting to spend the kind of time that this game demands with a headset strapped to their face. The time I’ve spent using my PlayStation VR has mostly been with smaller games and experiences; ones that can be played for short bursts. Skyrim is not one of those games, demanding long and intense play sessions. As such, I feel that this would have been better served as a low cost add-on, with the ability to transfer saves to the standard version of the game.