DragonBall Z: Kakarot isn't necessarily trying to reinvent the wheel, but it doesn't have to. After years of adding more and more "new" lore to the canon, it's nice to take a trip down memory lane and re-experience the characters and story that makes DragonBall so special. While the open world isn't necessarily the most engaging aspect of the game, the combat is epic and the characters are always entertaining. Simply put DragonBall Z: Kakarot is fun and is sure to please new and old fans alike.
Tennis World Tour 2 isn't necessarily the most robust or enticing offering when it comes to tennis games, but it's one of the only simulation games out there. If you're a die-hard tennis fan, it's worth a shot to see if it can keep your attention. But casual fans should consider looking elsewhere.
Those who are seeking out a challenging action RPG on the Nintendo Switch should give Warlocks 2: God Slayers a shot. It's just hard to recommend the game based on its tedious control scheme and slow moment-to-moment gameplay.
Jedi: Fallen Order mixes the magic of Star Wars with the stellar combat gameplay mechanics Respawn can provide. It's both challenging and exhilarating. Technical issues and minor graphical bugs plague what is otherwise the best Star Wars game in over two decades.
Kingdom Hearts 3 delivers the conclusion to the story started nearly 20 years ago in extraordinary ways. It has the best gameplay of the series, wraps up all the storylines and still finds room for some surprises.
Maneater perfectly embodies the fantasy of being a super-powerful shark to great effect, even if there are some small technical issues and rough-around-the-edges gameplay decisions. It never overstays its welcome and is fun to devour a few hours here and there.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales on PS4 is fun, frantic, and full of heart. While not as large in scope as 2018's Spider-Man, Miles Morales continues to build upon the world Insomniac has crafted to deliver a heartfelt story about a kid in Harlem just trying to deal with the responsibility of balancing being a hero with protecting his family. Miles Morales doesn't add a ton to the formula, nor does it need to. Swinging through New York is just as fun as it was in 2018, and some of Miles' new Venom powers allow him to feel different than Peter Parker. You're not going to get all the bells and whistles the PS5 version offers, but the story itself is a must-play.
Call of Duty Black Ops 4 isn't the best in the series, but it's solid enough to justify it's sequel monicker. Blackout is such an exhilarating take on the Battle Royale genre that it's hard to not recommend it to even casual fans. Zombies is engaging and fun, especially with its story, but I wish it took more liberties with its maps. Multiplayer is great for veteran Call of Duty players, but offers little to no innovation over previous entries in the series.
CoD: WWII's The Resistance DLC is a strong start to the DLC packs for WW2. While the highlight is certainly The Darkest Shore zombie map, the other four map additions are certainly welcome, and offer some much needed variety to the multiplayer mode.
Blue Fire is an enjoyable platforming experience and an otherwise decent game in all other aspects. While Void challenge rooms are fun to play through and navigate, Blue Fire's combat and world-level design outside of Void rooms leave a lot to be desired. If Blue Fire leaned into its platforming, I would be highly recommending it for everyone out there.
Diablo 3: Eternal Collection on the Nintendo Switch is a great game for old and new fans alike. Having the full Diablo 3 experience on the go is so very enticing, and is now my new preferred way to play the game. It's not the best looking Switch game out there; but with gameplay as satisfying as Diablo 3's, visuals be damned.
Skellboy's strong points come from its writing and visual identity, not from its combat and gameplay. While there are certainly some unique mechanics to keep the game going, there isn't much there to keep players invested. The game is enjoyable enough to get through the story alone, just don't expect a deep gameplay loop within.
Need for Speed: Payback features the same fun arcadey racing from 2015's entry, minus all of the heart and soul that game had. With a by-the-books story, and a downright frustrating system to upgrade your car, it's hard to recommend Need for Speed: Payback.
Dragon Ball FighterZ is an exceptional fighting game. Everything about it looks and feels like the 30+ year old franchise, and many of the fights make you want to scream Kamehameha as you decimate your opponent.
NBA Live 19 does a lot of innovating for it's career mode, “The One”, yet drops the ball when it comes to it's other modes. The inclusion of the WNBA is amazing, and really earns the applause it deserves. If there was at least one other new, deep and fun game mode, NBA Live 19 would be right up there with it's competitors. Instead, this year is yet another small step towards something great.
Star Wars: Battlefront 2 feels lackluster and dull in so many categories.
Thimbleweed Park is a great callback to the heyday of LucasArts-esque adventure games. It's wonderful characters and winding plot deliver a memorable and fun experience.
Call of Duty: WW2 is the best Call of Duty in years. Bombastic story, killer grounded multiplayer, and a dark and scary Zombies make up one of the most complete and enjoyable Call of Duty experiences in years.
The Spyro: Reignited Trilogy is a wonderful recreation of three of the most beloved PS1 games. Not only is it beautiful, but it's a fantastic trip down memory lane for gamers looking for that quick hit of nostalgia. While it's certainly not as challenging as I remember it being as a kid, that low barrier to entry is exciting for a new gaming generation.
Monster Hunter: World takes the formula of what's worked with the series and turns it up to 11. Every monster encounter and every armor set to be had feels so uniquely crafted that it's hard not to marvel at the scale and complexity of the game. While new players such as myself may feel a little daunted at first glance, the game does an excellent job of easing you in before throwing everything at you. If there was ever a game in the series to feel like a jumping-in point, it would be Monster Hunter: World.