Outside of some technical hiccups and some boring fetch quests, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot's colorful presentation and over-the-top battles should appeal to hardcore fans and baby-faced newcomers alike.
Rune Factory 4 Special delivers a wealth of content in a charming and engaging package that should keep newcomers and long-time fans happy for dozens upon dozens of hours.
The latest installment in the Yakuza franchise takes the series in a brave new direction. And while it takes a moment to get used to the new characters, setting, and battle mechanics, you'll soon find yourself sinking into a fully-realized world that's charming, heartfelt, and an outright blast to play - even if you're not a Dragon Quest fan.
No More Heroes deserves every ounce of love it has received since its release on the Nintendo Wii. From mowing grass to slaying enemies, the game's boundless energy helps you overlook its shortcomings. If you're new to No More Heroes, now's a fantastic time to dive right in.
A superior sequel in every way, No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle takes everything that made the first installment so memorable and gets rid of everything else. It also tells a more focused and mature story, though it doesn't shy away from extreme bloodletting and ridiculous humor. It's truly fantastic from start to finish.
The Yakuza Remastered Collection finally allows PC and Xbox owners to play through the entire Kiryu Kazuma saga on a single platform, and the games have never looked better. And while some of the titles have aged better than others, it's a must-have for those who want the complete Yakuza experience.
Biomutant could be the sleeper hit of 2021. Not only is it downright adorable, but it's also an absolute blast to play. Developer Experiment 101 has created a world that you want to explore, and it frequently rewards you for slowing down and taking it all in. Throw in some great combat, robust character creation, and a wonderful crafting system and you've got a game that should please even the most jaded of open-world enthusiasts.
The latest installment of the Lego Marvel series doesn't deviate too far from the franchise's formula, which means it probably won't draw new gamers into the fold. However, it checks all the right boxes and hits most of the necessary marks, giving fans exactly what they crave.
Cat Quest is a lightweight action-RPG that doesn't demand a lot of your precious time yet provides a deep enough experience to scratch a much deeper itch. It's a purrfect addition to the Nintendo Switch lineup.
Although this is nothing more than a port of the inferior PC version, Final Fantasy IX feels great on the Switch and will introduce a whole new generation to the game's many charms.
Although Digimon: Cyber Sleuth - Hacker's Memory is a blast to play and gives gamers a lot to do, it's essentially just more of the same.
This collection of classic Sega Genesis games features a wide array of great titles at an unbeatable price. Just make sure you have a passion for retro games -- or feel hopelessly nostalgic for the 16-bit era.
Despite some wonky controls, Sushi Striker's insanely colorful presentation and stable of silly characters make it one of the strongest puzzle games currently available on the Nintendo Switch.
This isn't the end-all, be-all of JRPGs, but it's still a damn fine Dragon Quest game, not to mention a great introduction to the genre for newcomers. Think of it as JRPG comfort food and you'll have no trouble whatsoever.
The Sims 4 Seasons introduces your Sims to the joys of spring, summer, fall, and winter -- and the dangers of bees, lightning, thermostats, and devious lawn gnomes. It's as quirky, weird, and funny as it sounds.
After years of waiting, Sega finally delivered the Shenmue experience we deserve. Although it's clunky and a little dated, the series holds up incredibly well after nearly 20 years.
Days Gone overcomes loose controls, familiar mechanics and gameplay loops, and a well-worn setting to tell a very relatable story featuring one of my favorite characters in recent years.
Addictive gameplay and a smooth, stylish presentation keep Persona Dancing: Endless Night Collection from becoming a simple, time-wasting cash-grab.
Although it borrows heavily from other games in the crafting/resource management genre, My Time at Portia offers just enough unique gameplay, not to mention a rich world to explore, to separate it from its brethren.
RemiLore: Lost Girl in the Lands of Lore delivers tons of loot-based hack-and-slash joy despite the repetition and a few frustrating hiccups with the procedurally generated levels.