With a revamped mission structure, online play, and brand new control scheme Armored Core 4 is a must own for fans of the series like myself. While there are a few glaring problems the core experience is still enjoyable.

Potionomics: Masterwork Edition is a magical and quite charming simulation game that offers a really unique blend of deck-building, business simulation and relationship building. It has a pretty engaging story and its cast of characters is really fun, but I was never able to get into the deck-building, haggle battles that players need to play in order to sell their wares. I am certain that there are fans that will love this, but it just wasn’t for me, and by that, I mean the card game. I loved everything around it, just kind of bummed I wasn’t able to fully embrace the whole game.

Monopoly Streets is a fantastic rendition of the classic board game that offers up just about any combination of play styles you can imagine.

ith a solid start for MyPlayer mode, and a strong big picture batting and pitching mechanic in place, I'm quite optimistic for the 11th iteration of MLB 2k.

Last of Us 2 is a hard game to critique. On one hand it sets new bars for performance capture and visual fidelity. Naughty Dog is truly head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to these areas. The world is impeccably detailed and the game is a true showpiece for visual fidelity. On the other hand it is just not fun to play at times. Whether it is the uncomfortable nature of what is happening or the fact that the game play feels like an afterthought to everything else included in the package. Combine that with a story that is sure to disappoint fans of the series and we have a mixed bag of emotions. There is no doubting the quality of this game, but I am not sure I needed or even wanted this sequel upon completing it.

These games are always a guilty pleasure and this debut on Switch certainly fits the bill. The addition of the 2D events is by far the highlight of this package. I just wish there were more of them. I love that these games drop every couple of years and deliver almost every time. Anyone looking for yet another great Switch game to play with friends, this is another great addition to the library.

The controls are silky smooth and responsive, the visuals are fantastic, and the multi-player is certainly proficient, but nothing really makes it stand out from the herd.

The co-op is fun, the action is intense and in fact the only negative things about this game are the camera, story, and pop in graphics. If you can get past all of those things underneath you might not find the ultimate 50-Cent experience but you will at the very least find a pretty good action arcade shooter.

STAIRS is filled with some really awesome moments and ideas, it just doesn’t end well and is rather short. If you can look past those issues though, you’re going to have a scary time.

With so much focus on creating an interactive experience in games today it is always nice to see one that simply focuses on being fun. The Club may not be the most intricate experience you will have on the consoles this year, but it certainly will be one of the most intense.

The series is getting long in the tooth, but I still think it has plenty left to offer, and if they continue with the vehicles in future games, I hope they iron out the problems presented in this version.

Mole Control may not be a perfect game and it sure as hell doesn't follow the fall and rise of a dysfunctional family in the town of Molar Creek. But what it is, is a fun title that can be enjoyed by a vast audience. A good balance of difficulty but challenging puzzles makes sure the player is never bored.

Crackdown 3 is exactly what I wanted. That is most glowing praise I can give it. I loved the original game, I really despised the second one, and this entry brings me back to what made that original so special. It never attempts to stray from being the big stupid sandbox it sets out to be. While not pushing the series further it does great at respecting the source material. For those that have Gamepass this is a treat. Download it and play it. For $60 though I feel like the price tag might be a touch much.

Metal: Hellsinger is a raw, old-school style of FPS, which a kick ass soundtrack that showcases a new rhythm mechanic (using original music from the team) while including lots of things from the recent versions of the Doom franchise. ‘Glory Kills’, air dashing and more are all here but even with those elements the developers have done enough to make Metal: Hellsinger feel different and unique all on its own. Its inclusion of the rhythm mechanics and even the ‘bullet hell’ aspects of some fights that have players dodging bullets and enemies around an arena is one of those things. This might not be the best example of a demon slaying game done right, but this is a fantastic tribute to those that have come before and a great example of thinking outside the box and taking a change on something different in a sea of sameness.

The most surprising part of all is just how enjoyable it really is. While the game is much too simple for the hardcore RPG player, casual fans and newcomers will adore the simplicity and entertainment the title brings with it.

Mantis Burn Racing is worth the time for arcade racing fans.

If you would call yourself a SoulCalibur purist and long for the days where you could show off how good you were in SoulCalibur II to everyone in the world, this might be for you, otherwise it’s just another cash grab HD re-release with very little new substance.

I think my time with Ash of Gods: Redemption was well spent, despite getting a very cryptic bad ending to the story. The writing was stellar and the world was super interesting. I hope to see more of it. Other than my own personal tastes I can’t fault this game for much. It’s gorgeous and I’d like to see more from this team and this franchise.

Bridge Constructor Portal is not the Portal game many would have been expecting, but with the reassuring presence of GLaDOS and the Companion Cubes (also, coincidently, the name of my new band), it’s nevertheless enough to scratch that ‘fun with portals’ itch left in the wake of Portal 2.

The Shadowrun Trilogy may be dated, but it is a worthy game to check out for people who enjoy turn-based combat. The fact that it is available on Game Pass also makes the barrier to entry much easier. This is also a beefy combination of games to get through with each one offering up their own unique setting and narrative. I am not the biggest fan of these types of games but Shadowrun Returns delivers on all fronts on what it sets out to do making it easy to recommend to just about anyone.

For fans of not just the three games in this series but the lore behind them, this DLC is almost a must play for the story alone.

Pinball FX 2's Epic Quest board seems like an absolutely marvelous way for a pinball newbie with an interest in giving it a shot to explore the genre. It eases a lot of the problems that would turn many of us off, while adding some clever new elements that deserve appreciation.

Super Daryl Deluxe is difficult game to describe due to its strange narrative and mix-match of gameplay elements. It draws inspiration from many movies and games alike and while it certainly could have used a lot more polish, it’s a worthy effort and a promising start to a brand new indie development team.

Ghost Recon: Wildlands is a rather fun co-op game. It’s made for co-op and should be played in co-op. While I’m against the solo play, I will say that solo players will have some rough times trying to get the AI to cooperate with you. But with a squad of four players, tagging enemies, syncing shots, and doing crazy stunts like jumping out of a helicopter onto and enemy base just to see what will happen is what really makes this game special. There are some issues here and there, and while the game can be difficult, it feels fair for the most part. The run and gun shooter fans may be put off from it, but I highly suggest Wildlands to players that are looking for a fun co-op shooter with some more tactical aspects. There’s a lot here for anyone who likes making their own fun in a giant sandbox.

Deceit 2 is billed as an online social deduction horror game and it definitely is. Players will have to play attention to their surroundings as well as make sure they aren’t being to weird as to make someone think they are the traitor. I really enjoy Deceit 2, its feels like a ‘grown up’ version of the great game Among Us. With a rewards track that includes costumes and even skins for tools there is always something to unlock, not to mention all the various tools that are unlocked as players progress as an innocent. Deceit 2 is a great game to play with friends or randoms, and being the perfect price of Free makes it even better.

While I suggest picking it up for the comedy factor and some of the stylish game play, I would still recommend you wait for a slight price drop for now, but when it does happen, pick this one up.

For $15, hardcore strategy fans should take a look at Anomaly 2, but be warned, it can get messy in there and when it does, you’re going to need a cool head if you want to survive.

The Thaumaturge is a dark game that deals with some of the darkest depths of human nature. There is uncomfortable language surrounding disabled and homosexual characters, depictions of mental illness and more but these are all time-appropriate; no matter how harsh it may seem to view through the lens of 2024. In the hands of the developers at Fool’s Theory these themes are treated in a way to not glorify the past but it helps to shed the light on the negative stigmas from the past and show how they even still exist in today’s world. While I will admit, I almost checked out early on The Thaumaturge due to its somewhat boring gameplay loop, I am glad I didn’t because the story that it told made up for the moments of boredom.