Grey Goo isn't a paradigm shift but Petroglyph still really know what they're doing when it comes to RTS. They introduce some clever new twists on the formula and tell an intriguing story in the process. For anyone wishing for a spiritual successor to Command & Conquer, Grey Goo is definitely it.
Republique Remastered is an effective, modern point-and-click adventure, and one of the few good mobile-to-PC upconverts. The controls and gameplay take some time to get used to. But it's well worth it to explore the lovingly realized world of conspiracy and paranoia.
Enter the Gungeon is one of those "your mileage may vary" indie games. The pixel art is deliciously good and the gameplay mechanics are rock solid, but trying to mix a brutally hard roguelike with a loot-chaser collectathon seems counter-intuitive. If you can stomach the game's unforgiving challenge then there is a lot to love here, but expect to tear your hair out when the game kills you and you lose your meticulously sorted gun collection.
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter is an intriguing walk down memory lane, and Night Dive Studios have done their usual good job of optimizing it for modern hardware. That said Turok hasn't aged very well at all, and there are some inherent flaws that keep the original from being as fun as the sequels.
Mario and Luigi Paper Jam successfully mixes the two long-running Mario RPG series, but outside of a few new Paper-based gameplay surprises it's the same solid, self-aware role playing experience you'd expect from the Mario and Luigi series.
Story of Seasons doesn't rewrite the book on farming sims, but it's a big, healthy break from the Harvest Moon series that adds a few strong new ideas. It's Harvest Moon in everything but name, and one of the best of this kind of game to come along in a while.
Ace Combat Horizon Legacy Plus is exactly what you want from the series: Ace Combat on the go. This new version isn't essential if you have the original 2011 release, but if you've never bought the game, the new Amiibo support and other features make the Plus edition the one to own.
Petroglyph, the modern maestros of RTS, have created a fun, accessible new entry that is a great way to get into the genre. There isn’t a lot of complexity here but the friendly art style and generous difficulty curve make 8-Bit Armies the perfect RTS for beginners.
Seraph has a very solid foundation but lacks the level variation and art variety to get truly addictive. That said, the combat is thrilling and the scaling difficulty is creative. If you can get this one on sale, I’d definitely pull the trigger.
Songbringer's general aesthetic and sense of humor rubbed me the wrong way, but the procedurally generated worlds are actually a lot of fun to get lost in, and the art style and music, though occasionally harsh, have a lot of love and nuance put into them.
Earth Atlantis mixes exploration and scrolling shooter elements to create a challenging, if occasionally frustrating experience. The map-inspired visuals are the most unique and eye-catching aspect of this game, but under the hood it's a good distraction that works best in portable mode when you have some time to kill.
Windscape has its rough edges, but the scope, ambition and heart of this one-man passion project help it to punch above its weight class. If you want a Zelda or Skyrim-style game that's great for relaxing after a long day, Windscape fits the bill nicely.
Puzzle Quest: The Legend Returns is still the same game but that isn't a bad thing. Bundling in all the DLC and adding some new classics, this match-3 RPG hybrid is just as addictive today as it was over a decade ago.
Jet Kave Adventure is a rock-solid (pun intended) platformer that doesn't outstay its welcome and offers addictive, retro-style gameplay. If you've ever enjoyed any of the Donkey Kong Country titles, Jet Kave Adventure is an earnest tribute that you're sure to enjoy.
The Pit: Infinity has a lot of good ideas and a solid sci-fi roguelike foundation, but it's stymied by early repetition and a few odd design decisions. For $19.99 it's not a bad deal, but I hope its developers continue to work on it as it could still be so much more.
Mechwarrior 5: Mercenaries brings back most of the combat and management the series is known for. Your mileage may vary on just how satisfying that is, but in objective terms there are a number of small issues—from AI to graphics—that add up and keep this game from its full potential.
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time is a competent, if linear and somewhat unbalanced, action adventure. You can tell that the game studio was made up of true fans who poured their love for the show into this game. But the scope and grandeur of the Samurai Jack IP are sadly limited by this game's low-budget restrictions. It's fun for what it is, but it left me hungry for more.
A Fistful of Gun is a tough-as-nails throwback to classic top-down arcade shooters. It's best played with friends, but its finicky control schemes and steep learning curve make it difficult to get into.
Hyrule Warriors Legends is a pretty amazing achievement on the 3DS hardware, but that same hardware imposes some rather glaring limitations. It’s almost feature-complete compared to the Wii U game but a smaller screen and lower resolution hamper the overall experience. What’s more, most of its new content will be coming to the Wii U version as DLC, so unless you really want to play Hyrule Warriors on a portable it’s hard to wholeheartedly recommend Legends.
Utopia 9 has a lot of good ideas but for me at least they just didn't come together in the end, and the somewhat clumsy controls just exacerbated the situation.