Despite its simplicity, I enjoyed my time with Crisis Wing as it brought me back to the 16-bit days when I'd rent a shmup from the video store and even if it wasn't particularly special, I still had fun trying to beat my own high scores.
After playing a couple of great AAA 3D platformers earlier this year, I'm absolutely blown away that I enjoyed Kena: Bridge of Spirits even more. With thoroughly challenging fast-paced combat, rewarding puzzles, and a breathtaking world; it's one phenomenal game.
Even with its faults, there's simply no denying just how special of a game Lost in Random is. From its awe-inspiring world to its ingenious gameplay, there's a lot to love in this incredible and memorable albeit often-frustrating adventure.
Is Aragami 2 rough around the edges? You bet. Does it lack challenge? Unfortunately. But, that doesn't mean that it isn't a heck of a lot of fun. In fact, its arcade-style approach to stealth gameplay had me hooked and I'm looking forward to more sneaky action.
After enjoying it for hours, Bonfire Peaks is easily one my favourite practical puzzle games of all time. From its distinctly presented world to its unconventional premise and its wealth of tricky puzzles to its variety of mechanics; it has everything you'd want from the genre.
Playing Horizon Zero Dawn on PlayStation 5 is such an excellent experience that it made me excited for the upcoming Forbidden West and keep in mind; I rarely get excited for upcoming games. If you still haven't played it yet, I wholeheartedly recommend it.
Flynn: Son of Crimson is one of the best 2D action platformers out there so if you love the genre as much as I do then I highly recommend giving it a go. From its gorgeous presentation to its tight controls and rewarding upgrades, it's one satisfying adventure.
SkateBIRD is a silly little indie game that does quite an impressive job of adapting familiar skateboarding gameplay to a bird-sized world. Completing its missions and finding its collectibles may be rewarding but you'd wish there was much more to it than that.
Sonic Colors: Ultimate does a decent job of bringing back a good game for modern audiences. Although I have fond memories of the original, this remake made me realise that my memory can't always be trusted when it comes to how well certain games will hold up.
Cruis'n Blast presents an arcade racing formula that's exciting at first but quickly wears thin due to its lack of challenge or need for skill. That being said, it can still be enjoyable for a few rounds of old-school racing entertainment with friends.
WarioWare: Get It Together is as random and frantic as you would expect a character-driven entry in the long-running series to be. However, you may not expect just how fun it is to play with a friend and that's where its gameplay shines brightest.
I was so impressed with my time playing Traffic Jams that it quickly became one of my favourite PlayStation VR games. The spot-on humour and frantic gameplay combine beautifully into one fun VR experience and I wholeheartedly recommend it to any PSVR owner.
I'm a very happy shmup fan now that Espgaluda II is finally available for console in the west. With challenging action and complex mechanics that are rewarding to learn and master, its core gameplay has everything that genre enthusiasts would want.
Spelunky is considered a classic roguelike for good reason. Its hazard-filled structure will have you constantly learning new tricks as you continue to progress further and further. In fact, it even remains superior to its recent sequel so I highly recommend giving it a go.
Baldo The guardian owls is the sort of game that you'd dig out of a bargain bin but that's not necessarily a bad thing because some of my fondest gaming memories came from such bins. In other words, it may be clunky but you'll still appreciate what it has to offer.
It's rare to come across a puzzler as enjoyable and challenging as Sokobond, especially considering the fact that it's educational albeit in a subtle way. With lots of puzzles to solve, you'll gladly combine elements for hours within its campaign that's full of variety.
If you love trains or puzzle games then playing Cosmic Express is a must with its brilliant collection of stages and adorable presentation. In fact, its variety of puzzles will have you laying tracks for hours while you happily watch the cute little train chug along.
I enjoyed my time with A Good Snowman is Hard to Build despite its brevity and the fact that I got stuck quite regularly. It's bursting with so much charm and lovely aesthetics that you'll roll snowballs with a smile on your face for as long as it lasts.
NIS Classics Volume 1 is bursting with SRPG goodness from a few generations ago. Although these games look dated, they're both still great fun to play with their own unique approaches to gameplay, story, and humour. Thanks for bringing them back, Prinny!
The way that The Medium brings trauma to life in various ways is awe-inspiring. At the same time, it's not all that good of a video game.