Bandai Namco combines excellent writing, stunning anime visuals, and a deep, rewarding combat system to make one of the best JRPGs of the year.
A brutally challenging game made more accessible by both, being on a better console, and having the funkiest of Kongs as a playable character. Incredibly good fun and with an asburd amount of secrets to find, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is a truly impressive platformer that is so hard you will be a more grizzled gamer for coming out of the other side of it.
[Review in progress] 7 hours in and this game is addictive and rewarding in a way that suggests there will few other games this year that can compete. It is as if Level-5 have put everything they have done in a cauldron and magically created this incredible RPG.
A fantastic fighting game for newcomers and fans of the genre alike, filled with knowing nods to the fans of the show. Dragon Ball FighterZ is a genuine delight to play and to watch.
Overall this is an incredible game and a must play experience. The feel of the game is pervasive and stays with you while you aren't playing it as only the best games do.
Crossing souls is a masterpiece of both story telling and nostalgia. The gameplay is great and the game is as stylish as the eighties themselves. You will come for the nostalgia and stay for the genuinely brilliant story,
An immense collection of classic fighting games that shows off just how good the Street Fighter series is. The games themselves are one thing, but the inclusion of the Museum mode allows you to learn so much about the series. Games are often said to be love letters, this is a love encyclopedia and is essential for fans of the series.
A refreshing new entry in the Pokémon series that serves as an entry point for new players, and offers up some interesting new challenges for veterans. Don't sleep on this just because it is different.
Assassin's Creed has dipped itself firmly in RPG mechanics and a wonderful new setting. It is as deep as it is wide and will keep you occupied for a very long time to come. It certainly fits the myths in which it is steeped.
MOTHERGUNSHIP gives you everything you expect from a FPS Bullet hell. Which is to say that there are a lot of bullets, both to dodge and to fire. It is a frenetic and chaotic shooter with a great crafting system that makes the whole thing feel like LEGO had an angry baby with Doom.
Guacamelee 2 is a fantastic combination of jokes, knowing nods to other games and media, and titanium hard gameplay. Not only does it build on everything the first game did so well, it does it with the kind of spice that most sequels can only dream of. Grab your nachos and get involved.
The World Ends With You: Final Remix isn't just a long title. It is one of the best DS games reborn on a modern console. The music, the visuals, and the gameplay are all incredible, and having this cult classic come back to life is a blessing. This is an incredibly stylish RPG that demands your attention.
Diablo 3: Eternal Collection is everything from the last five years squeezed into a portable package. It plays brilliantly whether docked or not, and has more content than you could ever see. This is a game that is a must-play and to have access to it anywhere is almost unbelievable.
Gris is an immensely important game, one that is another shining example of how much can be done with the medium. The visuals and the sound design are both complemented perfectly by the intense story and serve to create an incredible experience. Gris is a must play and shouldn't be missed for any reason.
Gathering Storm enhances Civilization VI to such a degree that it is hard to think of this as anything other than the best possible Civ game. The array of new features make every match more interesting, and will keep you coming back for more time and time again.
Gorn is challenging, horrifying, hilarious, and a genuine joy to play. It manages to be brilliant in both short bursts and long sessions, and there are so many little challenges to complete and weapons to master that you'll never really be able to put it down for good.
Wattam is a rare wonder of a game, full of hope, charm, and poop. But it's also one of the kindest games to come out all year.
Fort Triumph expertly blends genres into a strategy experience that's infinitely fun and endlessly charming.
Party Hard is an arcade game with a great gameplay loop, a lot of challenging levels, and some really fun mechanics to work with. The levels are intensely difficult throughout because you’re always aiming for a clean sweep to succeed. The joy that comes from success is the sign of a level well-played, one where you either planned everything perfectly or were just quick on your feet. It’s that feeling that defines Party Hard, the feeling of succeeding and wanting to try again and do even better. This is sure to hook you if you are in the mood for something a little different, and a little reticent of the days that we all used to spend chasing high scores.
All in all, it is so good to have a Katamari game on Nintendo Switch. Katamari Damacy Reroll is a brilliant game and is one for anyone who wants something truly unique, the weird gameplay and wonderful sense of humour combine to make a game that will have you quizzically smiling throughout, then promptly jumping back in to see if you can beat your last scores. You’ll have a hard time stopping once you start rolling.