This game should have been a slam dunk (pun intended) when it comes to having fun. I adore Looney Tunes and all the sports here have several templates to mimic. Somehow they made just about every single one worse than its counterparts. It is almost impressive how off some of these feel. I wanted to love this game, and just came away so disappointed. I do not recommend picking this one up, even on a deep sale.

So, what do I say? It’s fun, people should play it but clearly not on Switch. The campaign is fairly long as is, but I had around 10 crashes playing the game. If the game ran well (which out of good faith I will assume is the case on other platforms) it would absolutely be a must buy at $34.99 for the amount of great content of the campaign alone. Since I didn’t beat the campaign, I didn’t get to see the mission mode. I will likely buy this game somewhere. It will run better and the reviews seem to match what I wanted to give this game which was a 9, but alas I had to heavily drop the score.

Rugrats: Adventures in Game in Gameland does exactly what it sets out to do. Nostalgia for the cartoon and characters are imperative to its enjoyment. It is a solid game with some awkward mechanics that make it feel like a passion project on most levels. I had fun with it but wouldn’t find myself coming back for more after finishing it.

Despite a few minor bugs that can be patched, Beyond Galaxyland is a testament to what indie developers can achieve with passion and creativity. With a wonderful combination of beautiful graphics, a fantastic narrative and engaging gameplay makes Beyond Galaxyland feel like a must play for fans of scifi epics and RPGs. It’s a journey that will stay with players after finishing, and it’s yet another shining example of the strength of the indie games.

Sparking! Zero is a visually stunning and action-packed game that captures the spirit of the Dragon Ball series. While its episode mode may not be its strongest feature, the game’s dedication to fan service and its impressive roster makes it a must-play for any Dragon Ball fan. The combination of breathtaking visuals, engaging gameplay, and nostalgic elements ensures that Sparking! Zero will be a favorite among fans for years to come.

The Vessel of Hatred expansion is a must-have for Diablo 4 fans. It offers a wealth of new content, a compelling story that is going places that I didn’t see coming, a beautiful new region and a powerful new class, Vessel of Hatred is a more than worthy addition to the Diablo series, and I cannot wait to see where the team goes from here.

I mean this with all sincerity, the best EDF game is almost always the newest one but the one people should buy is always the last game because it’s likely on sale and is essentially the same game. I love EDF, but EDF 6 is a time travel story that blatantly reuses assets from EDF5… THEY EVEN SAID THE LINE ABOUT THE FROGS LOOKING LIKE PEOPLE. No amount of plot (the thing most people are not playing EDF) can justify this and to charge full price is unacceptable. Not only that, EDF 6 released and within a month EDF World Brothers 2 released in the same year Helldivers 2 has people looking for more stuff like that and I just don’t think dividing your audience is a smart idea but I’m not a publisher…

The Dominus Collection is a welcome addition to the Konami classics. Revisiting these games gave me a new appreciation for them. They all three hold up well and the music continues to be timeless. Yet another stellar package of classics, now Konami needs to sort out the Symphony of the Night issues and perhaps add them to the 64 and PS2-era games for one final collection. That would be epic.

Longtime players of the NBA 2K series already know what to expect from 2K25. The game has played well for a long time, and this years game is no exception. While there were more glitches and issues than I would have liked, you’re still getting a solid on-court experience from this years edition. With that said, I simply can’t score the game higher than a 7 based on the continued overemphasis on microtransactions to the detriment of what should be the most enjoyable mode in the game. I can’t recommend buying the game at full price, knowing that you’ll need to pay the VC tax if you want to have a shot at being competitive online. I hope for next years game 2K will consider decoupling MyCareer and MyPlayer online and do something more akin to MLB the Show, while making microtransactions much more optional and less intrusive. That feels like wishful thinking however, as the game continues to sell hand over fist. If you plan on taking the dive again this year, just make sure you know what you’re getting into.

Iron Meat is an amazing Contra-like that does some things better than the game it is impersonating. I cannot recommend this title enough for fans of that style. It has a rocking soundtrack, outstanding visuals, and perfect controls. Now if you will excuse me, I have some more meat to grind.

The brightest things about this game were when it was pitting the cast against the supernatural but these things are few and far between and take a LONG time to get to. This is an extremely slow burn, and since the characters feel paper thin; there just isn’t a lot to grab onto here. The Casting of Frank Stone has tons of references for Dead by Daylight fans but the lack of scares and likeable characters makes this one best left on the hook.

Epic Mickey: Rebrushed feels like a triumphant return that beautifully blends nostalgia with modern some enhancements. The visuals are captivating, the gameplay is enjoyable, and the heartwarming story still shines. However, the absence of voiced characters feels like a significant missed opportunity, one that could have taken the emotional experience to new heights. Despite this, Rebrushed remains a must-play in a sea of great platformers, inviting players to rediscover the magic of creativity and adventure in Wasteland. Whether you’re revisiting or experiencing it for the first time like I did, Mickey’s artistic journey is one worth taking.

With an interesting premise and a solid combat engine, Reynatis has the foundations of a good game. However, the myriad of questionable game design choices, ugly visuals and an uninteresting story makes for a hard sell for anyone but the most enthusiastic action RPG fan.

Evotinction is a solid first-effort from this developer. The bones are there for a fantastic follow-up. For this adventure though it is worth knowing what you are getting into before diving in. If you enjoy tense stealth adventures, this could be for you. If you are looking for even a remote amount of action, best to look elsewhere. As it stands this curiously titled game is a solid, if lacking adventure that definitely has my eye on Spikewave Games.

There is some fun to be had in Quidditch Champions but that mileage is going to vary by player for sure. Hardcore Potter heads will probably love being able to experience this sport, and chasing all of the unlockables; including skins of Harry, Cho, and many other quidditch players in the books. For anyone else, this is going to feel like a subpar package, that if I am being honest feels like a ripoff for being $30. In a time where we just saw Concord, a major first party game, make the mistake to charge for a game that has a focus on multiplayer which should be free to play; Harry Potter Quidditch Champions just feels like its flying toward the same ending. It already is a bit of a niche game but tying it to multiplayer and therefore player counts just seems like someone was hit by an obliviate spell.

I am quite glad that Free Range Games kept their head down and turned around Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria. It is a fun experience for fans of the survival genre and I can say that you don’t have to be a fan of the LOTR franchise but will love it even more if you are. The team has polished quite a few systems that some of the other survival games employ and it makes for a much better crafting and building experience. While the game still has some goblins messing with the combat and causing issues, this is one game that deserves a delve.

The Plucky Squire’s a charming, inventive, and utterly delightful adventure that deserves a place in every gamer’s collection. Whether you’re drawn to its unique mechanics, captivating story, or simply the joy of exploring a beautifully crafted world, this game offers something special for everyone. Don’t miss out on this enchanting journey—The Kingdom of Mojo needs their hero!

Star Wars Outlaws is a rollercoaster of a game that I loved and hated in different ways. I could be having the time of my life one minute, and the next be frustrated and want to turn it off. It feels like a game that with some tweaks, could be a classic. I think after a while it will iron out and be remembered as a truly fun and great game. As of now it has a lot of issues out of the box, and its inconsistency makes it harder to recommend outside the most hardcore of Star Wars fans.

Gori is a simple and stupid game, and I love it. I miss titles like this. Sometimes I just want to turn my brain off and kill a bunch of enemies. I feel like so few developers understand that above all, games are supposed to be fun. There is no deep narrative here, no lavish open world, just a handful of hours of carnage, and I couldn’t be happier.

Green Hell feels like a must-play for any survival game enthusiast. Having come out in 2019 originally, I may be late to the party having just found it in 2024 with its Series X release. Its beautiful graphics, respectful depiction of native cultures, and intense survival mechanics set it apart from other games in the genre. Whether you’re a fan of Subnautica’s aquatic adventures or Ark’s dinosaur-filled landscapes, Green Hell offers a unique and unforgettable journey into the heart of the Amazon.

With the downfall of Mimimi Games, I feared that the real-time genre was all but lost. Its still a crying shame that their final game, Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew didn’t get more attention because it had a fantastic story and excellent gameplay. But the developer may be gone but their legacy is strong with Artificer games; Sumerian Six is a triumph in the genre with its immensely replayable levels, forgiving stealth approach and its quirky characters. Artificer has crafted an enjoyable game that blends the occult and science in an interesting story AND lets you knock out some nazis, what’s not to love here?

Each stage is its own treat and without spoiling levels there’s not much to say other than it plays really well. I never doubted GoodFeel’s talent because I’ve seen their work; this was clearly a passion project as they published this themselves in Japan, so I imagine the budget wasn’t huge, yet they still produced a high-quality game. I had a lot of fun.

Most players know whether they are interested in this collection. The fans have been begging for it for years. We finally have it, and as of this writing they managed to sort out the issues with the Xbox version, so it is coming to that console next year, so it will be available on literally everything. It is impossible not to recommend this package if you have any sort of interest in fighting games. There is a reason these games are still so well revered, and this collection gives a whole new generation of players a chance to find out why.

As a Gundam fan I went into Gundam Breaker 4 really wanting to love it, and while I enjoyed parts of the game; ultimately it didn’t hit the spot for me. The story felt that it may have been aimed at a younger audience and the combat, as great as stomping around in a mobile suit is; it just became very repetitive. What Gundam Breaker 4 does extremely well though is offer an almost endless number of parts and suits to chase, build and customize. There is even a diorama that players can unlock where they can set up their own scenes featuring any suits they may have built. This is a game that clearly knows its audience, and if you are a gunplay fan then this is THE Gundam video game for you.

Shadow of the Ninja Reborn is a must-play for anyone with nostalgia for the NES era, and likely more than that. The upgraded visuals are outstanding. The music is top-tier, and the game play is exact and precise. The difficulty may turn off some, but it can be beaten with persistence, and it is worth it. Definitely recommended.

I cannot stress how much is packed in this. I saw cameos I never expected. The nostalgia overload is almost too much at times. I haven’t had this much fun with a game in a long time, and even though I have rolled credits, I am going back to 100% this. Astro’s Playroom was my first Platinum Trophy, Astro Bot will be my second. This game brings me more joy than I expected, and it will be at the top of my favorite games of the year.

Sure these games are not going to hold up today. They are difficult, confusing, and a product of their time, but being able to access them on just about anything with a controller is fantastic. I highly recommend checking out this compilation if you have any reverence for Sunsoft. Seeing some of their early work is as much fascinating as it is informative.

I said it before and I will say it again, I loved Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2.