While I enjoyed my time with Song of Nunu, I did have a few small gripes. I wasn’t a fan of the stealth sequences; not that they were inherently bad I just am not a fan of forced stealth in games and wish it would go away. I would have liked some more time with a few of the side characters all of which come from LoL but that’s simply because I am a fan. What I really can’t wait for is the team to make a game on the Noxus Empire, specifically Darius. Oh man, he’s in the forthcoming fighting game but I really want a solo game to use ‘dunkmaster’ Darius. But I digress, as a fan of League of Legends this game is really a no brainer, but for non-fans looking for a fun, action-adventure title then you should look no further than The Song of Nunu.

Last of Us II Remastered could have been a cash grab with the success of the TV show, but instead feels like a solid upgrade with a reasonable path for owners of the original. The added content is more than worth the asking price, and the game remains one of the most impressive technical feats of all time.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is hands down the best Metroidvania that I have played in a long time. My gold standard has always been Castlevania: Symphony of the Night but Ubisoft has really knocked this out of the park.

Despite its few shortcomings, Fate/Samurai Remnant is a great addition to the Fate media empire that can be enjoyed by hardcore Fate fans and newcomers alike.

Listen, I have waited a long time for this game and Remedy delivered a masterpiece here, flaws and all. The new creation of their own Remedy Universe shines brightly with the amount of crossover on display here with their last game Control. It was almost surprising how much the Federal Bureau of Control comes up against Saga and the FBI over the course of the game. I say surprising, but it is actually exciting to see what the future holds for these games. If Alan Wake 2 is any indication, Remedy is just getting started and whatever the greater story being told here I cannot wait for more. Fans of Alan Wake and its spin-off American Nightmare are going to love getting to reap the harvest of those seeds sowed so long ago. But Alan Wake 2 is also accessible for new fans alike and I would admonish anyone who genuinely enjoys weird, deep stories to check this one out.

Panorama Cotton is a little different, the most obvious change is the perspective. This entire game takes place from a third-person perspective that is more akin to a rail shooter than a shooter. The game handles the perspective really well. The original game was released on the Sega Master System, but this version is built on the original. This game looks really good, even all these years later. Games of this type make a really good impression and hold up well over time. Both Cotton games are must plays for shooter fans.

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is a redemption and course correction that the series sorely needed to compete against some fantastic FGs out on the market already. If not for the overpriced DLC and lackluster single player content, it could have been “THE” anime fighter to beat. As it stands, it’s one I’m sure to go back to play from time to time and eager to see played at a high level during the majors coming later this year.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a fantastic game even if it leans heavily on its Far Cry roots. Graphically, Pandora is simply stunning to behold, whether running on the land and jumping from vines or soaring through the flying mountains; the visuals are just breathtaking at almost every angle. And while it has solid combat gameplay when it comes to the native weapons, I still can’t tell if the awkwardness of the human weapons is on purpose or not. Not to mention the awful objective markers, hunter vision and hunger system. Oh, I didn’t even tell you that you have to keep your Ikran feed as well. It’s all rather frustrating because I enjoy my time with Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and it would be a fantastic game but for those issues above. It all adds up and just amounts to being frustrated with the game which is devastating because there is a fantastic game buried under all these mechanics.

Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion is a weird game that doesn’t feel like it fits into the Turok trilogy, yet here we are. All three games are now available, and remastered with so much love and care. I cannot get enough of these remasters and Nightdive deserve to be commended for their efforts. Cannot wait for Dark Forces and of course whatever else they have cooking up. Keep these remastered games coming, and I will continue snatching them up. If you grew up with nostalgia for N64 shooters, this is a must for your collection.

If you are a fan of the Naruto or Boruto anime or manga then you will find loads to love about Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections. Touting the largest roster in series history and an in-depth encyclopedia that covers all the various titles and terms that are used in the series which makes it easy for newcomers to understand. Fights are dazzling and chaotic and developer CyberConnect2 has done an amazing job in that regard. But with the multiplayer being broken on Xbox and the fact the gameplay has been largely unchanged I can’t help but think that this series is in need of some sort of shakeup to push it forward into the future.

There is fun to be had in Gangs of Sherwood but it is really only found playing multiplayer either with friends or strangers. Not only does this make each act not feel as long, since there will be more people to pummel enemies but when players fall in combat it is better to have a friend pick you up than lose half your gold that you need to upgrade your character’s attributes. The entire game just feels like a mix-mash of ideas and things and while some things work, others are done better in other games.

As a RTS fan I don’t hate Realms of Ruin at all, its multiplayer matches are much more entertaining than the campaign; and they even have a ranked playlist for those who really wanna prove their stuff. But as a Warhammer fan I must say I am disappointed, while I am appreciative of the knowledge, I gained about the Age of Sigmar and some of these factions, I just felt that this game sacrificed the humor and over the top nature of the 40k universe for a stoic and very serious tale. But maybe that is just the nature of the Age of Sigmar side of things, as I said this was my first entry but if players enjoy multiplayer RTS games I would recommend Realms of Ruin for its fun and thrilling multiplayer.

Rollercoaster Tycoon Adventure Deluxe is a stripped-down version of the past games for sure, but I had a blast with its minimal limitations. I hate games like this that require hours of investment before I get to the “fun” parts. I had a blast with the campaign and of course the sandbox mode. If these types of games have always made you anxious about playing them thanks to all the micromanagement, then this is the version for you. It really strips away all the barriers and just lets its players have a good time right out of the box.

I loved my time in Sandrock, it genuinely feels innovative within the farming/cozy games that have come out lately. As I said it My Time at Sandrock offers a ton of content for players to tackle, even though it can be overwhelming at times. The PC version also allows players to play the game co-op, at the time of this writing its not planned to come to the other platforms but that may change. The colorful art style, desert setting and memorable characters make for a fantastic adventure that players of the genre shouldn’t skip.

In a world dominated by Super Smash Bro, Nickelodeon All Star Brawl 2 stands out on its own in so many great ways. If you’re like me and enjoy playing games with your kids, this game is a must buy!

There really isn’t anything like Little Goody Two Shoes. That can be a help or a hindrance. Some people will fall off immediately, while others will no doubt be talking about this game for years to come. It is always cool to see a game that really surprise me with its structure in this day and age, and developer AstralShift has delivered a unique experience that does a great job setting itself apart from the pack. These are the kinds of games I love to see coming out of the Square-Enix Collective.

Quantum Error feels like a game the team had passion about. There are good ideas here wrapped in a package that is executed poorly on all fronts. It doesn’t help that the developers decided to enrage fanboy wars on Twitter leading up to the release of the game. It put it in a spotlight the game wasn’t built to take. The price tag also hurts as this is a full-priced game in a budget game build. I could be a lot more forgiving if the sticker price was around $30, but at $60 I cannot recommend anyone lay down the funds for this one. It is disappointing in almost every aspect.

UFO Robot Grendizer: The Feast of the Wolves was a treat for me as a fan of the many genres and music on display. Even not having been familiar with the source material I loved the characters and art style on display here and will be tuning in when the reboot launches in 2024; I am very curious what’s done with the themes and story in the current day. I’ve said this a lot but 2023 has been just crazy for video games, and I am here to tell you that Grendizer is an extremely good game with a few minor blemishes but its more than worth some attention in this overly crowded year.

Well, if you play these games solely for the campaign, skip it and find a YouTube playthrough. The narrative experience is just too short and doesn’t do anything really new and exciting. Modern Warfare 3 ended up turning out how most feared and that is it just feels like a DLC with the developers focusing on the nostalgia of MW2 instead of pushing the genre and game forward.

Dreamworks All-Star Kart Racing is the definition of fine. The game plays well and the tracks are fun to traverse, but who was clamoring for a kart racer featuring Shrek and Puss and Boots? This is the hardest sell as Dreamworks has some interesting franchises, but not sure anyone was begging for games built in this universe. Still if you find yourself playing it it is the most non-offensive game I have seen in a while. It does what it sets out to do, it just doesn’t excel at any one particular thing.

The biggest crime Air Twister commits is that there just isn’t enough interesting stuff here. The stages feel boilerplate for the most part and it really never ramps up the difficulty until almost halfway through the game. With it being so short, this really drags down the experience and makes grinding out the stars for more powers feel tedious. I feel like with a few more modes or options this could have been a decent console outing, but instead it ends up feeling like a quick mobile port with little thought put into it.

Terminator Resistance: Complete Edition is a love letter for fans of the Terminator franchise. While the game has its fair share of flaws and glitches, making it feel like more of an AA game; this by no means is a bad thing. The gameplay is fun and addicting and what the story adds to Terminator lore is well worth a playthrough for a fan or for those who are just looking for a solid shooter with a kick ass story.

Every game has its negatives and none of the negatives mentioned in this review should keep you from trying this game out. It’s an absolute delight and a ton of fun to be had. If you’re like me and stuck in your gaming ways, step out of your comfort zone a little and fire this game up. You won’t be disappointed, especially since the game is on Game Pass.

Sonic Superstars is a great Sonic game that steps outside its comfort zone for the series. When they have done that in the past, it hasn’t always panned out for them. Superstars manages to make it work though even with the seemingly pointless time attack and battle modes. The campaign is enjoyable, the new character is interesting, and everything just looks and sounds delightful. There is little to complain about and once you get used to the new style, it really works on all levels.

While Visco is not a household name, these games are just as fun as titles everyone knows by name. I like obscure collections like this as it brings some great, unknown titles to the front once again. Nothing here is awful, all seven games are a blast to play, I just wish the extras were a bit more fleshed out. I love the history of gaming, and discovering the more obscure titles is always the best. If you have a sweet tooth for classic arcade games, this collection is a no-brainer. Grab it now!

The Nintendo Switch is an amazing system that can do some pretty amazing things, but at 6 years old it is struggling to keep up with modern games. Looking at recent releases like Mortal Kombat 1 and the state in which it launched is a great example of even with the best studios and intentions, sometimes the Switch just isn’t up to it. Sad to say that Wartales has also fallen victim to the aging system. As I said I think if I played this on PC my thoughts would be very different but as it stands no matter how much fun the actual gameplay was, dealing with all the issues that the Switch version has just makes it not worth it. Long loading times, unstable framerates and constant crashes managed to steal all the fun out of this one, Wartales is a story best left untold.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a fantastic entry. It takes chances with its mechanics and feels like yet another testing ground for Nintendo to see what works and what doesn’t. It is the best 2D Mario in a long time, but still doesn’t dethrone the kings from the NES and SNES days. I loved every minute of the 10 or so hour campaign and want to revisit stages over time. I cannot wait for the next iteration of the Switch as I feel like we may finally see the next big 3D Mario, but until then Wonder does an outstanding job of satisfying that Mario platformer itch that has been missing since Odyssey.

Even though there’s no hiding the PSP roots of this rather simplistic title, there is still a lot of fun to be had in its solid level design, satisfying sense of progression and great soundtrack.