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From the arcadey '80s through the modern day, beat 'em ups are a dime a dozen. But the best of them offers a satisfying gameplay loop with thrilling co-op and unique visual stylings. Double Dragon Gaiden gets some of that right. It's not the worst beat 'em up game you could spend your time on. But it's most definitely not the best, either.
Pikmin 4 is well worth the long wait, and the best iteration of Nintendo's unique and charming strategy series to date.
Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening is a unique take on the strategy genre that chooses to focus more on the administration aspects of war rather than the battles. Coupled with in-depth mechanics for managing your economy, as well as a surprisingly deep political system where you have to pay attention to how well your officers are doing, you get a unique management-styled strategy game that is absolutely worth your time.
Blackout Protocol, despite being in early access, is already an incredibly fun game to play, with the caveat that you have two friends to play with or don't mind playing with random strangers online. If you're a solo player, you might want to look elsewhere.
Killsquad can be passingly fun in short doses, but it has too many significant issues to be an easy recommendation for even the genre's biggest fans.
Remnant 2 is a worthy successor, taking everything great about the original and expanding it in several fun ways. There are some blemishes and occasional frustrations, but it's still an engaging world-hopping odyssey.
With so many incredible releases over the past few years, Exoprimal feels like an odd misfire from Capcom. Its combat and graphics are good, but the live service elements, PvEvP focus, and more detract from the experience.
Jagged Alliance 3 successfully taps into everything that made the franchise great to begin with, giving us a unique blend of genres that mixes turn-based tactical gameplay with some light RPG elements.
If you're looking for the next big rogue-like, Ed-0: Zombie Uprising won't scratch that itch. The rogue-like elements are absolutely there. But the bland combat grind and unbalanced difficulty may detract you from sticking it out and finishing this painstaking experience.
You can roll credits on Oxenfree 2 in 4-5 hours, but every minute of that brief runtime makes a lasting impression. It spins a captivating tale that masterfully balances its horror elements against the story's more intimate side, and combines that with a simple yet engaging gameplay loop, with an excellent dialogue system serving as the centerpiece. The end result is a short yet memorable game that you definitely shouldn't miss out on.
Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg finally allows Western players to experience the series' beginning. However, despite some cute visuals, it's wholly unexceptional compared to the more recent Atelier titles.
Final Transmission is the proper "ending" for The Callisto Protocol, and while it closes Jacob Lee's story, the overall execution and content leave a lot to be desired.
GYLT is a game that's not without its flaws, but the simple gameplay mechanics and interesting atmosphere do a good enough job of retaining one's interest for its relatively short runtime.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Reverie is the epilogue players deserve after Cold Steel 4. It's a strong send-off for many of its characters and sets up the future well, even with its flaws.
Pikmin 1 and 2's Switch ports might not be much of an upgrade in a technical sense, but the games themselves have stood the test of time wonderfully well, thanks to their timeless game design, addictive loop, intuitive controls, and healthy dose of charm.
Pikmin 1 and 2's Switch ports might not be much of an upgrade in a technical sense, but the games themselves have stood the test of time wonderfully well, thanks to their timeless game design, addictive loop, intuitive controls, and healthy dose of charm.
AEW: Fight Forever offers the perfect combination of simple, fun gameplay that can be learned in a couple of minutes, but has incredible depth. Pair that with an excellent roster, a fun career mode, and an incredible amount of match types and unlockables, and the game ends up being a dream come true for fans of the fun, arcade-styled wrestling games of the past.
Aliens: Dark Descent is one of the most unique takes on not only the strategy genre, but the survival horror genre as well. Despite a middling story and a terrible tutorial, it's one of the most interesting and rewarding games out there.
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective isn't looking to overhaul what made the original version so memorable. It offers sleeker HD visuals and rearranged music while retaining the same great music, writing and characters. Some of the newer features feel superfluous, but the game's core is still strong.
If you're a fan of Crash Bandicoot, then you might owe it to yourself to consider giving Crash Team Rumble the old college try. The platforming you love from the series is ever-present, but mixed in with a healthy dose of competitive multiplayer action. With several maps, powers, relic summons, and all manner of chaos at your disposal, Rumble is thrilling, fun, and engaging. However, it does put all of its eggs into one basket with its solid, but sole game mode. For longevity, Rumble could use a smattering of other modes or potential options to alter the current game mode to stave off rapid burnout.