A.J. Maciejewski
Playing Skeletal Avenger is a great deal of fun, especially via multiplayer and it has plenty of nifty perks to discover along the way.
Not everyone will appreciate Skul: The Hero Slayer's high degree of challenge but I absolutely loved learning the ins and outs of its world.
For fast-paced arcade-style 2D action, BATS: Bloodsucker Anti-Terror Squad offers a solid formula that provides a decent challenge.
It may not be the deepest or most strategic tower defense game out there but JARS' sense of randomness makes it rather enjoyable.
No matter how you slice it, Neptunia x SENRAN KAGURA: Ninja Wars is a great deal of fun, especially with its hilarious dialogue scenes and cheeky cast of characters. It could have been a lot more enjoyable with some sort of multiplayer component, though.
Toy Soldiers is an excellent game and even though this HD iteration isn't a huge improvement over the original, it's still sure to provide hours upon hours of tower defense fun for fans of the genre. Plus, its multiplayer modes can be a genuine blast.
I wouldn't say Evertried is a difficult game but it will challenge you to hone your strategic abilities more and more until you can tear through its many tricky floors like a champion. For that, it's a wonderful game but it still lacks in content and variety.
Although I was impressed by how solid its gameplay is, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl still feels like a hollow experience that could have been elevated to new heights if it featured additional modes and a more fleshed-out presentation complete with voice acting.
It's amazing that there's a Puzzle Bobble VR game, never mind a 3D one so if you're a fan of the franchise then you definitely have to play it. With that in mind, Vacation Odyssey could have gone a bit further to make it a more well-rounded and intuitive experience.
Lego Marvel Super Heroes is a classic entry in the long-running licensed Lego game franchise that provides solid fun with a friend. With that being said, many of its successors have since surpassed its level of quality so it feels a bit dated in comparison.
Gley Lancer is one of those obscure shoot 'em ups that has aged impressively well despite its occasional annoying moment. Plus, the fact that it's been modernized in clever ways and you can even play it as a twin-stick shooter is just radical, dude.
Circuit Superstars is a lovely-looking old-school racer that'll appeal to those who are wanting to hone their skills within an intuitive yet deceptively challenging formula. With that in mind, it feels like the overall package is missing a few too many elements.
The Lightbringer is a beautiful game that'll appeal to anyone who enjoys 3D platforming with elaborate puzzle-filled stages. I wish that it was a bit more forgiving with its continue system, though, as playing through a lengthy stage again can be a huge pain in the tuchus.
The Riftbreaker is one of the most rewarding games that I've ever played. With that in mind, that sense of accomplishment will come after many stressful moments and heartbreaking failures which could have been alleviated with some more intuitive mechanics.
It definitely has its issues but I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Phoenix Point: Behemoth Edition. From its clever battle mechanics to its depiction of a world at the brink of utter annihilation; it's one immersive and exceptionally rewarding SRPG.
UnMetal is a hilarious spoof of the Metal Gear series that manages to forge its own identity through clever inventory-based puzzles. With that in mind, it's hard not to get frustrated whenever you bite the dust due to some unexpected shenanigans.
You can keep your AAA games like Far Cry and Grand Theft Auto because even with their ludicrous budgets, they'll never kick as much ass as a good old action-packed rail shooter. Thankfully, ExZeus is one such game that'll rock your socks off and then some.
Metroid Dread is one of the best Metroidvania games out there with its awesome collection of abilities and its action-packed E.M.M.I. areas. It may not provide as much challenge as old-school fans would expect but it's still an undeniably incredible adventure.
If you enjoyed the previous entries then you'll absolutely love Mary Skelter Finale. It's so jam-packed with content, cleverly designed scenarios, and incredible characters that you'll find it hard to put down even after hours of bloody good dungeon crawling.
Couch co-op games often get compared to Overcooked but KeyWe is such an excellent example of the genre that from now on, games should be compared to it. If there's one co-op game that you play this year, make sure it's KeyWe.