I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Grime 2, for those that are fans of the genre this is a weirdly, beautiful game. The move from the more horror focus of the original to the artistic surrealism that developer Clover Bite has embraced is really a sight to behold and one I think helps make Grime 2 stand out. While I would have preferred a more, straight forward narrative the combat, creatures and world presented here are all interesting enough but the game is held back by some technical issues and a lot of repetitive backtracking.

Typoman: Revised creates a unique and clever experience that ends just in time to salvage a positive experience. The game may not be perfect, like Limbo, but it still looks and plays great, has a message that resonates, and is a genuine surprise in its own right.

Duck Game is simple in name and fun in style. While the multiplayer aspect is fun, as is playing with friends or online strangers, the real absurdness comes from the crazy challenges in single player mode.

The Legacy of Kain series is still one of the richest worlds in all of gaming. It is great to have it back, and for the price of admission, this remaster is worth diving in for fans. Newcomers will balk at the archaic game play, but no one can deny the impact of the narrative. Here is hoping we can get the original Blood Omen remake/remaster at some point. This series deserves to return, and I am all for the resurrection of Kain.

I cannot help but find enjoyment in the creative setting, excellent visual style and intriguing story. Even with all of its problems The Saboteur is one enjoyable trip down the overplayed setting of World War II.

It is near impossible to fault MotoGP based on its merits as it does nearly everything right for fans of the sport.

The single player game is all but useless here unless you love repeating the same things over and over again, but when you get a solid group of players together for a six-man castle romp, things really open up.

Choplifter HD is not as addictive as the games I have compared it to, but it definitely walks that same line of action. If you enjoy small spurts of game time, with incentive to play levels over and over, this is a must buy. The price tag may be a bit steep for some, but it definitely warrants it if this is your thing. The game is polished, humorous and, most importantly, fun.

As a beat ’em up, Absolum comes quite close to a perfect 10; the enemies are responsive, the characters are incredibly fun to master, the bosses are unapologetically brutal, and the gorgeous 2D art brings everything together perfectly, creating a game that is beautiful to see in motion. Sadly, some of Absolum’s roguelike mechanics feel alienated from the rest of the game, failing to connect properly in a satisfying way. Modern roguelikes follow an unfortunate trend of only providing players with the most boring, safe tools possible, and it feels like the genre as a whole is now used as a crutch by developers to enforce repetition...Regardless of its issues, Absolum is still a fantastic beat ‘em up developed by some of the most talented people to have touched the genre. Roguelike veterans might find Absolum’s early progression a little grating, but the solid foundation laid out by Guard Crush and Dotemu manages to hold the game together until it hits its stride.

Like I said at the outset, After the Fall is a fun game albeit a very short one. Yes, there is an extra PvP Team-Deathmatch mode that is moderately fun if you like VR multiplayer shooters. I found it very passable, no real issue other than I just want a fan; but if you like the VR shooters like Pavlov among many others then you may have some fun in the deathmatch. The story for the game is really just an excuse to team up with friends, and that’s ok because whether you play with friends or random folks like me After the Fall does enough to make your time spent with it feel enjoyable; and really isn’t that all we really want from our video games?

I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed my time with Doom VFR. Skyrim VR had soured me a little and I wasn’t really looking forward to playing. But this shows that rethinking how a game will work in VR, instead of just shoehorning a game into VR wholesale, can make the world of difference. It also helps that the game has a price tag to match.

Tricky Towers is a party game first and foremost, best played with friends. Grab some extra controllers and have hours of fun trying to knock the bricks out of your mates. The ease in which your friends will be able to grasp the mechanics is Tricky Tower’s greatest asset, and it is worth the asking price alone.

One issue players of the original Sorcerer King might have with this iteration is that there really doesn’t seem a whole lot new to justify a purchase here. While owners of the first game are, to be fair, offered a discount when purchasing Rivals, other than the new conditions for victory and new champions this expansion still feels fairly bare.

The combat may be shallow, the story non-existent and the fetch quests tedious, but I still managed to have a blast with Sega’s latest offering.

Without an upgrade path this title comes down to whether or not you own it already. If you do on Switch, the upgrades aren’t necessarily worth a double dip. However, if you waited for the Switch 2 to jump in, this is more than worth the price of admission. Both games are excellent and worth checking out. I just wish Sega had included an upgrade path for existing owners. The game isn’t that old to begin with. For those that haven’t taken the plunge yet though are in for a treat.

The balance of slow-burn inspection work and sudden chaos gives the game a pulse that a lot of sims completely miss. When you’re marking down discrepancies like a stern librarian one minute and trying not to get shot in a forest the next, it leaves an impression. Contraband Police isn’t polished, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s engaging, tense in all the right moments, and strangely absorbing once you settle into the rhythm. The rough edges in combat and driving hold it back, and the repetition eventually starts to rub, but the core loop is strong enough to earn its stripes on console.

Destroy All Humans! 2 Reprobed is yet another solid remake of a franchise that somehow hit a downward spiral after the first couple outings. This remake is definitely a lot of fun even if it screams a product of its time. There are some things that have not aged well, but I had a lot of fun with what is here. I would love to finally see a new game now, do NOT remake Big Willy Unleashed…I beg you. As it stands this latest remake is great, I just wonder how well it will do being limited to only new consoles as well as PC.

A safe sequel that does more to refine the franchise than re-invent it. If you are a fan then there may be enough here to satisfy your need for speed, but if the last outing left you craving something new than this is not your game.

While the main mission’s brevity may turn off some, I compare it to when I was younger and telling myself I would pay half the price to get to play games early. Sure being in this line of work now changes that, but fans will likely find plenty of stuff to do for $30. The ending is better than most full-priced titles, and I have easily squeezed out 8-10 hours of game play from this package.

Lost Orbit: Terminal Velocity is a decent game. The gameplay can get slowed down by the story at times, but when upgrading abilities and hitting that Zen moment while speeding through a level, it feels pretty great. Even if it is just a short time with the game, it’s still a pretty fun time. I would suggest picking it up if you are a fan of the trial and error style games like Velocity, Trials, and others where you don’t mind trying to perfect your time.

Horizon Chase 2 is a solid sequel that adds some new pieces that make it a worthy sequel. I do wish the track design was a little better and the upgrades worked across all cars instead of having to dedicate it to the one I am driving. Still there is a lot to love here, the soundtrack, the speed, and the pure arcade excitement. If you have any reverence for games from the arcade era, this is a no-brainer. Definitely worth checking out.

Phasmophobia on Xbox Series X is a must-play for horror enthusiasts. Playing with people is the most fun one can have; I don’t think anyone should hunt ghost alone. Phasmophobia has lots of levels and lots of spirits to track down, as well as a level system for players to improve their character and gear. The game is made for replayability, if you like spooky games with your friends or if you have always wanted to hunt for ghost but don’t really want to leave the house, well have I got a game for you.

The budget price will keep gamers feeling satisfied for their twenty bucks and the addition of new maps and options should keep the action fresh. A lack of true single-player does tarnish it a bit but for the price you really shouldn’t expect much.

King of Fighters XV is a wonderful addition to the series. If you are like me and are hoping for an expansion of the single player modes though, you are going to be disappointed. Still the roster and game play are excellent and the online modes are robust. This is an outstanding entry to the series and I cannot wait for more characters to be added. Now if we could just get SNK to add in some proper single player modes I really feel like KoF could extend past its niche audience.

For $20, players get a decent adventure game that has some pretty good puzzles and a decent story. Granted, it’s not the longest game out there and completionists can get pretty much everything on their first run if they really try. Conarium came out of nowhere and surprised me when I finally played it. It takes a few moments to get into it, but when it ramps up, it gets pretty good. Give it a shot if you enjoy adventure games and a decent horror story.

Kung Fu Panda: Showdown of Legendary Legends was a surprise for me. I expected another quick license cash-in, and instead got a pretty solid Smash Bros. clone. The price feels a little hefty considering there is DLC also available, and let’s be fair, these characters don’t have the draw of Nintendo’s roster, but for those without a Wii U, it is a solid substitute.

Wizard of Legend 2 is a smart sequel. It grows the formula, expands the world, and doubles down on build variety without losing the core “magic” that made the original stand out. Yes, the combat feeling has changed, and no, it’s not quite as tight. But the added depth, visual upgrade, and co-op potential more than make up for it, if the technical side keeps improving.

The real star of the presentation, though, is the sound design.