Disgaea 5 could have easily been one of the best games in the series if it wasn’t for the missteps in the post-game content, but even with those faults, the solid SRPG foundation along with a few exciting new tweaks/additions makes it a worthwhile experience all the same.

Detention might not be garnering a ton of talk about its release on the PS4, which is a shame. Looking at the PC release, the reception then seemed to show a lot of critics agreeing, Detention does a lot with what’s there on a smaller scale. An extremely well done story crafted inside a psychological horror game that nails its terrifying atmosphere. It might not be the longest game or even the best horror game, but it truly got under my skin at times, and that’s one of the highest accolades I can give any title in the genre. Independent horror games continue to shine and bring forth some of the most interesting experiences when least expected. Here we have one that mixes history with fiction creating an ultimately trippy, twisted journey.

At the end of the day LEGO Lord of the Rings is exactly what you would expect. Whether or not it is something you want is entirely based on your love for the two properties. LEGO games are not going anywhere. They are well made, cover fantastic franchises and, admit it; we all enjoy playing them from time to time. That said, if you enjoy the LotR series, you will undoubtedly love what TT Games has done here. It may not evolve the series, but it does enough to make fans of both franchises happy.

A very competent class based shooter. It holds up well against the competition, and brings a style unique to the genre.

Slam Bolt Scrappers is definitely unique and original, but not without its share of issues. Still, you will be hard-pressed to find a more chaotic and fun experience, especially if you have three friends and four controllers. I dare you not to get wrapped up in the insanity.

Gaijin continues to do a wonderful job of meshing new gaming ideas and trance music with the look and feel of classic gaming. Void is not the most immersive or innovative title you will ever play, but it goes a long way at standing out in the crowd of me-too shooters and platform wannabes.

Mario Tennis Aces is a fine addition to the series and a far cry from the bare-bones offering from the Wii U. The single player mode offers up plenty for solo players while the online and local play will keep me coming back.

For the most part, Kiwami is a good retelling of the very first game and arguably has the best story out of the entire series. The visual upgrades are nice, and the addition to the modern combat engine is most certainly welcome, but original fans as well as people who jumped into the series later on need to keep in mind this is a remake of a 2005 game that didn’t have as much content as the later entries. Still, I have to recommend this game to both fans of the series as well as people wanting to get into it. It’s a fantastic jumping in point for the story, and while the boss fights are annoying, it tells a fun tale while still being very entertaining gameplay wise, and at the price point of 30 bucks, you really can’t go wrong.

Neon Inferno stands out amongst the sea of other pixel-art 2D shooters. It leans into what makes these kinds of games good and doesn’t rely on nostalgia. It brings unique mechanics and a great presentation to round out the package. If you are like me and roll your eyes when another “one of those” is announced, this deserves your attention. The developers have done a great job of mixing the right amount of nostalgia with a core experience worth diving into.

Perhaps the games greatest accomplishment comes from building a solid framework for future iterations to polish to perfection.

As Switch ports go, this is definitely up there with the best. Turn Me Up Games have done a great job is stuffing so much gameplay in to a small cartridge (even if the game will still take up over 12GB of space on your console or SD Card), and if you have never played these games before, then this really is a viable option. However, as with all three of the 2K Switch collections I cannot help but mention that these games are available on all modern consoles, and at a much cheaper price. So, if you already own a PC, PS4 or Xbox One, those might be the better ways to go.

Evil West is a strong game that simply lacks enough diversity to make it a classic. It is visceral with fun characters that never takes itself too seriously. I had a blast playing it, but definitely could have done with a little more variety. Still it is an unapologetic romp that is a blast to play. There are not a lot of games willing to focus on strictly game play and I respect that. Combine that with the setting that is also highly underused and this is a game definitely worth checking out.

Overall, I liked the battle system. However, it can get very overcomplicated, very quickly.

While I appreciate 2K not cutting out anything, I do wish they have toned down these aggressive portions of the game. Still, even with these issues NBA 2K21 on Xbox Series X is mighty impressive. The game is a graphical showpiece and the amount of content is undeniable. If you skipped the previous gen versions, this is the one to get. Those that bought the upgrade version are going to be pleased. This is the most impressive sports game launch on a next-gen console in years, and more than worth the price of admission.

The puzzles can be difficult and challenging, and don't mind kicking you when you're down. But if you can get past that, and enjoy trying to find unorthodox ways of solving riddles, then this game will really be one that you can hold near and dear to your heart, and you will want to eat all the pie you can get your grubby little hands on.

For the price tag I highly recommend checking out this sleeper hit. I was shocked at just how much fun it brought me out of nowhere.

In the end Human: Fall Flat is exactly what I expected it would be, but with more to it than I anticipated. I loved digging through each area. Even when Bob fell to his death, respawning and trying again never bothered me. The simplistic design and clever physics-based puzzles offer up an enjoyable romp that is more than worth the price of admission.

While I would have much rather have seen the more accessible and modern, “Xrd” to see release on steam, AC+R serves as a great example of the series in its classic form and notorious depth.

If there is a guide on how to make a sequel, Pandemic read every chapter a dozen times. Taking everything that made the first game good, taking out everything that held it back, and adding just enough to make it fresh is certainly a recipe for success.

World Tour does so much right and mixing it with the familiar Nintendo universe seals the deal. Anyone with a 3DS has yet another must-own title to pick up for the handheld.

I was really pleased with this new offering of Uno. It’s one of those games that I will forever be opening up for a few quick matches

While I did have some problems with the multiplayer lag I would recommend Bioshock 2 to anyone who is a fan of great worlds, amazing atmosphere, cool characters, and fun action without hesitation.

A great game, it’s just not going to knock your socks off if you have played previous incarnations. Vicarious Visions seems content with simply improving the game as opposed to completely re-writing the formula.

Judgement is a game that was limited by its one console release. It is great to see the team at Ryu Ga Gotoku bring it to a wider audience. If you have never played a game in the Yakuza franchise this is a great jumping off point. It captures what makes those games so great without requiring a ton of investment in older titles to appreciate the story. There is so much to love about these games and I am constantly impressed at the way the team is able to craft genuinely fantastic characters and still pump out hefty experiences on a regular basis. I hope the Judgement series gets to continue, but as it stands this game is one worth checking out.

All in all, I am really encouraged by this year’s game. They’ve made some significant improvements on some important legacy issues that have held the game back for way too long. There is a ton to do here and a lot of different ways to experience the core gameplay. Showcase remains a highlight and the expansion of MyRise continues to flesh out the series as a single player experience. I’d like to see GM mode get a significant rework next year to make it feel like a more fully fledged option and continued work on the physics around foreign objects if you are a fan of wrestling games at all, WWE 2K23 is an easy recommend.

Still, LEGO Jurassic World is a fantastic addition to the series, and if it ends up being one of the last ones, it is going out with a bang.

Despite coming from a development studio that most people see as a one-series company, Blue Reflection: Second Light is a charming RPG with a clear identity of its own with a worthwhile story to tell and I’m glad I had the opportunity to check out after missing out on the original.

The small tweaks and new running game continue to improve upon the already outstanding foundation, but I can’t help but feel like the developers are being held back by older hardware more and more. Still if you don’t plan on buying new consoles, there is no good reason not to pick up the latest Madden NFL title. It is a solid outing that will deliver multiple seasons of fun.