Kyle Bradford
Persona 5 is good. It's very, very good. It's the sort of game that only comes around once every few years. It's a game that is so unique in every aspect that it'd be impossible to mistake a single moment of it for anything else. It's also a game about real life, despite the wacky hijinks you'll often find yourself in. It's about the moments you have with your friends, laughing around a hot pot as you make jokes only those there would understand. It's within those moments that Persona 5 enters a league of its own, untouched by its contemporaries in every respect.
While technically the game may not be as impressive as others, Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen is special.
While plenty of levels will look like a Super Mario Maker level from hell, they more often than not are so intuitively designed that you may understand its complexity before you even realise it
Sociological questions about mental illness and crime, unethical romantic relationships, and mysterious world building all combine into a game that demands you to think in ways many others do not.
Not since Mark of the Ninja have I played a stealth game that felt so impactful, lingering in my thoughts long after I put the controller down.
Mega Man 11 is one of the rare instances where I'm forced to ask myself, is this a perfect game? Unfortunately, the answer is no, but it's still pretty damn close.
It is indeed one of the best games in a series of greats, and a JRPG that is without a doubt an instant classic. One I will undoubtedly cherish for many years to come.
Slime-San: Superslime Edition goes the extra mile in almost every regard. As it makes its way onto more platforms, I can only be thankful that it got another shot in the spotlight. Because dammit, it deserves all the time there it can get.
There's no more excuses. You should play NieR: Automata.
Multiple times the game offers you situations that feel almost impossible, until reaching that 'ah-ha!' moment where everything just clicks. It's these moments that every puzzle game strives for, and The Sun and Moon expertly crafts many of them
Whether you’re playing with your children, your significant other, or a room full of friends, Abraca is a tool to bring people together
Halo Wars may not be as strong as some other legitimate classics of the genre, or even the franchise it is associated with. However, what it is, undoubtedly, is an underrated game that deserves more attention.
Despite its difficulty, Flywrench never lets up. While it’s not casting a particularly wide net, for those that fell in love with the games of its kind it is without a doubt one of the best in its class.
While strategy RPGs may be harder to come by these days, Summon Night 6 is a thirst quenching oasis for any genre-loving desert travellers.
While there can be quite a bit of hand-holding, which may turn off more hardcore fans of the genre, Tokyo Xanadu eX+ offers a great respite from other, bigger holiday releases. If you've got some time this holiday to sit down with a meaty JRPG, this one might just be the one for you.
If you were expecting Zwei: The Arges Adventure to be a hidden gem finally unearthed to play, you'll be plenty disappointed. While there's a lot to love within The Arges Adventure, it's mostly superficial due to a frustrating combat system that forces most of the game to become a slog.
Dissidia NT successfully builds upon what came before to make its resurfacing as a competitive focused fighter a deeply satisfying one.
Mulaka feels deeply personal. A true passion for the Rarámuri culture shines through, as does an equal appreciation for games like Ocarina of Time.
In Atelier Lydie & Suelle: The Alchemists and the Mysterious Paintings, there's a charming story and intricate systems that help make it one of the best entries to date. I can't think of a better way to help celebrate 20 years of this long-running series.
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero - Ultimate Edition is without a doubt one of the best platformers out on a modern-day console.