A.J. Maciejewski
If you're a fan of twin-stick shooters and want to enjoy something different then playing Bartlow's Dread Machine is an absolute must.
I love when indies impress me and Jet Set Knights certainly has with its action-packed 2D gameplay that lends itself well to co-op.
Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?! is the sort of game that you'll keep coming back to whenever you want a fix of frantic multiplayer fun.
Undead Darlings is a gem of a dungeon crawler so if you enjoy exploring grid-based maps and fighting hilariously quirky monsters then you'll love what it has to offer. Throw in a charmingly lighthearted story and you're left with one memorable zombie-filled adventure.
Rebel Galaxy Outlaw will make you feel like a bonafide space cowboy with its fantastic mesh of gameplay elements and memorable cast of characters. Just make sure you're willing to put a lot of effort into learning how to play it before you take the plunge into space.
It's mind-blowing that Herzog Zwei released over 3 decades ago as it holds up as an incredible real-time strategy game and playing it made me wish there was a modern remake that smoothed out its more dated aspects. I look forward to the announcement, Sega!
It definitely doesn't give a good first impression but as you progress in Ben 10: Power Trip, you'll be impressed by its wide variety of abilities that make playing it a blast. I recommend it to Ben 10 fans and 3D platformer enthusiasts alike.
Management sim fans will find Little Big Workshop to be an enjoyable game to wind down with. Its adorable aesthetics and rewarding progression systems make for a wonderful time and there are a lot of clever intricacies to discover as you expand your business.
Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix is a wonderful racing game that kids as well as adults who grew up in the '90s will enjoy a great deal. The nostalgia factor is off the charts and more importantly, the racing gameplay is impressively fun stuff.
Prinny 1 & 2: Exploded and Reloaded contains a couple PSP games that are pretty fun and undeniably challenging. However, their clunky controls lead to much frustration so make sure you have plenty of patience in your pouch before you dive in.
No matter how you slice it, Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time marks the return of a gaming icon in a masterful way as it manages to take risks while offering familiar gameplay. I love its high degree of challenge and hope to one day achieve 100% completion which may be quite a tall order but the fact that I'm compelled to do so just goes to show how much fun this long-awaited sequel is.
If you have a soft spot for retro RPGs and want to spend time in a lighthearted world with plenty of humour then you'll definitely enjoy what Dragon Lapis has to offer. It may be too simple at times but there's no denying just how well-crafted of a journey it is.
Spelunky 2 is the definition of an addictive game with its high degree of difficulty, charming world, and sense of randomness. However, addictive doesn't necessarily mean fun and unfortunately, I stopped enjoying it after a few hours even though I kept playing anyway.
I'm loving Super Mario Bros. 35 and can't wait for the many inevitable updates that it'll receive in the coming months. The blend of its highly competitive online structure with classic 8-bit gameplay is simply a blast and I hope to see you online, too.
CastleStorm II isn't a bad game but it's definitely a substantial step down from the classic original. Speaking of which, after playing this over the past few days, I think I'll go back to enjoying the fantastic first game as it's a far more polished experience.
Out of the hundreds of shoot 'em ups that I've played in my decades of gaming, I can easily say that Ginga Force is one of the best. Its combination of skill-testing stages, rewarding customisation, and lively presentation make it one must-have shmup.
Alwa's Legacy is a lighthearted Metroidvania that's hard to put down once you start playing it. With tight gameplay that features an impressive amount of variety, I certainly recommend picking it up if you love exploring 2D worlds.
Those who have been playing video games for as long as I have will adore what Tamiku has to offer. From its charming visuals to its brilliant arcade-style gameplay, I highly recommend it to any old-school arcade game enthusiast.
Hades is in the upper echelon of roguelikes so if you enjoy action-packed combat, concise yet engaging stories, and unlocking rewarding goodies then you'll have a phenomenal amount of fun trying to escape the Underworld.
You might enjoy Trollhunters: Defenders of Arcadia if you're a fan of the show but even if you are, there's no denying just how unchallenging and unrefined of an experience it is. Here's hoping that a much better Trollhunters game is made down the road.