Skull and Bones shows its development troubles across every system both big and small. Its combat and customization are solid, but the world, people, and core fundamentals around are lacking, flat, and uninspired. Skull and Bones’s biggest sin is that you never once feel like a pirate and instead a glorified delivery driver on the open seas.

While its use of the license is what it is, the gameplay itself is solid for a little distraction here and there. I played huge chunks of this game portably via a few lunch breaks and found a decent amount of enjoyment from it.

Overall, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is marvelous, a wonderfully crafted love story by a team that has elevated their game to new heights. Its central cast is remarkable with lives that felt truly lived, their pasts that really define them as people.

Alisa: Developer’s Cut takes aim at emulating the origins of survival horror. From its fixed camera angles, tank controls, and visuals, it’s a faithful love-letter to the genre, warts and all.

Dreamcutter is an overly simple action platformer that certainly has its issues, but a surprisingly well-written story and some of its art result in a very adult and largely enjoyable experience.

Warhammer 40: Rogue Trader can often be a great experience, complete with an approach to the CRPG genre that benefits the licence. However, a slew of technical issues and poorly implemented systems hold it back from being the game it truly should have been.

Turnip Boy is back! Where his previous outing was a fun take on the Zelda-like, the young turnip has returned with his own take on the Rogue-lite. Break in, steal some cash, and then invest in making each additional run faster, smoother, and deadly.

While Lords of the Fallen suffers from some severe technical issues, the game itself is one of the best Soulslikes out there. From being a great showcase for Unreal Engine 5, the real star of Lords of the Fallen is its stellar co-op system that is both easy to use and offers a wealth of freedom in its use.

While The Lost Crown is vastly enjoyable, often incredible at times, the execution of its story and characters rarely impress, making for a somewhat inconsistent adventure by the time the credits have rolled. 

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora takes the high-end visual fidelity of the James Cameron films and translates it beautifully into a massive open world rich with vibrant detail and life. As a Na’vi who has escaped captivity of the invading RDA forces, you must unite the clans to save Pandora.

With the inclusion of a dog to join you on your journey, Arizona Sunshine 2 has a pretty compelling story that keeps your interest. While manual reloading can certainly make firefights intense, several technical and control issues start to sour the experience in some disappointing ways.

Every slash of your weapon to the Prayer you’ll unleash feels great to use and allows your skill of its tools to drive your engagement. It may not impress with its narrative, but its gameplay is nonetheless the star of the show and shines brightly upon the Penitent One’s holy crusade.

While its ending and resolution for Kiryu are its best components, little else allows The Man Who Erased His Name to feel like a memorable and worthwhile addition to the series. It’s certainly not the best Like a Dragon title, but it’s far from the worst. 

Gangs of Sherwood takes the classic characters of the Robin Hood tale and places them in a co-op character action game where you take the fight to the Sheriff of Nottingham, a man overflowing with the technological power of the Lionheart, a mystical object of power.

While The Last Faith certainly revels in that mix of both modern and nostalgic, it rarely finds its own unique voice alongside what is essentially a greatest hits of the genre.

With gorgeous visuals that match both the beauty and horror that can await you, Dredge is one adventure that is worth discovering, taking in its mystery, and always on the hunt for that one big catch, as long as you tend to it before it gets dark. 

RoboCop: Rogue City has been one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had all year. It certainly is a bit rough around the edges with its noticeably low budget, but that doesn't stop its action and spectacle from shining through, creating a game that honors its long-lasting legacy.

Teardown might sell itself off as a destruction simulator, but it’s a rather complex puzzle game built around performing the ultimate heist. With a complete voxel world to destroy or alter to your needs, you’ll need to use every tool at your disposal to get the job done.

While All-Star Brawl made good on certain elements of the Smash Bros. concept, it launched in a state that felt devoid of the personality of its roster, a game that was by all accounts bland, boring, and soulless.  That said, its sequel is anything but.