Lords of the Fallen has a lot going for it. The story is bland and the camera will get you killed if you’re not careful, but fans of this action RPG genre will have a really great time playing it.

A Rose in the Twilight is a title with a dreadfully oppressive atmosphere that stars a tragic heroine whose trials and tribulations are heartbreaking to experience. It features solid, albeit sometimes frustrating puzzles and an abundance of backtracking. It’s a title with a niche appeal, but to those that can appreciate a dark fairy tale and have the stomach to suffer through some disturbing imagery as well as some obtuse puzzle designs, this might be a flower worth cultivating.

The sheer sense of survival and dread at the world are unparalleled.

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.

SH2 remains a masterpiece and one of the defining moments of the genre. SH3 is not quite as impressive, but retains some of the downright creepiest encounters in a game, even to this day.

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.

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 is a solid sequel that is worth checking out for Skill Battle alone. For those that skipped the first game it is a must, for anyone who has exhausted it, it might be wise to give it time to go on sale. Either way the game is a blast and one of the premiere puzzle games currently available. It helps that it is available on everything, so no matter where you play, there is a cute quirky puzzler you can enjoy.

Trine 5 has no reason to exist. I was shocked when the series progressed past the third entry. Still, I get excited whenever a new entry drops. I find the ten-hour campaigns a blast to play solo and even more enjoyable when friends are added to the mix. This is just a game that knows what it is and rarely tries to be anything else. I think they should dial back progression and combat and focus more on the puzzle solving mechanics as they are clearly the highlight of these games every single time. Definitely recommend this one, it was a blast to play in between so many serious open world games.

Despite the lack of innovation, Nioh’s blend of character action and soulslike still manages to entertain, with its combat being undeniably polished to near perfection.

Terminal Velocity is a nice trip down memory lane. I enjoyed revisiting this as much as I did Forsaken when Night Dive Studios remastered it a few years back. These types of games are not as common today and I sometimes forget how much I enjoy them. If you grew up with the likes of Descent this is a must purchase. It holds up surprisingly well in the game play department as long as you can deal with the pixelated polygons plastered all over your fancy high-definition screen.

South of Midnight is by far the best game Compulsion has crafted. I love the story, characters, and world. The unique graphics are gorgeous to look at, and the combat is fun and interesting. Being on Game Pass is just the cherry on top. There is a lot to love here and another great game from Xbox this year. Their cadence finally seems to be in place and Xbox owners are eating well. Definitely recommended for just about anyone who enjoys action-adventure games.

With all that said the biggest question on everyone’s mind is whether this package is worth $40. yes this is not a small download title, it is clocking in at retail, disc and all. $40 may seem steep, but the content justifies the price tag, players should just know if that content is something they want to invest in. The demo gives access to all three types of game play, and if players enjoy that, then a purchase is certainly worth it.

God of War III Remastered feels like an empty shell of a great game. It is fantastic for those that never had a chance to experience it, but the price tag hurts the most.

New Super Luigi U is a fantastic package for the $19.99 price tag. There are a ton of new levels, and the unique mechanics create a whole new experience.

A new direction for the series, and in my opinion, a welcome one. I loved the diversity of missions and the focus on action. I didn't, however, like the drawn out missions and frustrating objectives later on in the game.

All in all the Capcom Arcade Stadium is a lovely little package. Whether you are an old-timer like me who reminisces over their mis-spent youth, or someone who would like to explore the earlier days of gaming, Capcom’s legacy as a maker of fine arcade games is here for all to see.

The Expanse: A Telltale Series is a fantastic companion piece to The Expanse show, telling a prequel story with so many weighty decisions that include the lives of various crew members is “classic” Telltale. Even when players make a seemingly good choice you can’t help but think about what sort of negative connotations its going to yield later down the road. I enjoyed virtually every moment of The Expanse, this is Telltalle at their very best anyone who is a fan of their past work shouldn’t miss this series.

This game just clicked with me and felt like the perfect marriage of stuff like Elder Scrolls and Mass Effect. Great story, great characters, and a world that is fun to explore with combat that never got old. I had a great time in the Living Lands, and I cannot wait to go back to a previous save and explore some more.

The 3rd Birthday is still one of my favorite PSP titles, and playing it again on the Vita just re-enforced my love of the series. Once PSOne titles start working on the Vita I can finally have my Aya Brea trilogy in one place to play at my leisure, and while this new game is a radical departure as far as gameplay is concerned, it still fits right in with the theme of the series as a whole.

The FPS genre is extremely rare on the system which means that the amount of quality titles is even rarer. Dementium sets a new standard on the system for presentation and visuals as well as delivering the first truly engrossing horror title for Nintendo’s micro-console.

Taito Milestones 3 has some of the best games in these collections to date, but I would really love it if they spent some time adding a sort of museum. I would love to learn more about these obscure arcade titles. Still, I have been on board with these since the first game. I do wish they would release them on more platforms and bulk up the extras, but they are hard not to recommend purely for nostalgic purposes.

With up to 32 player matches, the ability to use bots, and the incredible amount of customizable options this game will be played for a long time to come.

Mortal Kombat 1 is a great game that feels like a step back in the extras. They are all here but shoved into one mode that I found more cumbersome than enjoyable. The grind to max character levels needs to be tweaked, but with the promise of support for years to come these are things that can be ironed out. The fighting itself is outstanding and the story mode is the best it has ever been. It is easy to recommend this game, it doesn’t quite hit the mark of best MK game of all-time, but it delivers where it counts the most. I look forward to seeing how the game evolves over time. A new MK game is always an event and this entry is no exception.

There is no doubting that Dante's Inferno owes a lot of what it does right to a certain other franchise, but honestly who cares? The game is an action thrill-ride that will entertain anyone who enjoys action games at all.

While not quite living up to the “Advance” moniker in its title, Advance Wars provides a satisfying SRPG experience with its solid strategic combat and a wealth of content- making it a worthwhile addition to the library of any die-hard SRPG fan.

ilomilo is a wonderfully delightful puzzle game that will capture the imagination of just about anyone who enjoys a good thinking-man's puzzle game. The visuals and music are intoxicating and the level design is incredible.

Episodic games are always a gamble, as the full product can change and alter from the time players get the first episode done to the finale. King’s Quest started off very strong, but left me with a sour taste in chapter 2. Chapter 3 has completely washed that taste out of my mouth.

I have played a lot of the current survival games including Grounded and I got to say that Smalland: Survive the Wilds ranks really high on the list about it. The amount of polish was surprising to see from such a small team and the number of systems and size of the map are just proof that they have wizards over at developer Merge Games. Smalland even simulates the 4 seasons and the storms that come with them and these are some visually impressive parts of the game. I loved every rainstorm, just the peacefulness of it…at least while I was in my base. If you enjoyed Grounded or are just a fan of a good survival game, I highly recommend Smalland: Survive the Wilds.