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Gears of War: E-Day brings us back to the classic Gears gameplay with a fantastic new story and some interesting ideas. The story is filled with action and emotion, with great pacing to hit it home. Coupled with the iconic gameplay and some new mechanics, it was a joy to experience all the way through. There are still some nuisances with how obnoxious enemies can be, and some of the open-area segments stick around a little longer than I would have liked, but I still had a blast experiencing E-Day.

Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered brings back the classic Warriors experience, with the good and the bad. The classic Dynasty Warriors experience is preserved with some nice enhancements and a gorgeous new look, and I have missed it. However, the dated mechanics don't all hit the right spots, and it makes me appreciate some of the newer quality-of-life improvements in future games in the series.

Star Wars: Zero Company took me by pleasant surprise, which is the best kind of surprise in life. While I wasn’t expecting the game to be bad by any means, most things to do with Star Wars in recent years have made fans curl up and sob in a corner. Zero Company is the kind of game where you can tell it has been built with love and care, and despite some difficulty gripes and some unfortunate technical hiccups, I’ve had a lot of fun playing.

TOEM 2 is a wonderful follow-up to an Indie gem that shows why the first game was so highly regarded. The charm of the world and its characters draws you in, while the puzzles feel good to solve and will require some thought. Not all of the changes stick the landing, and it’s a very short experience, but it’s a worthwhile one.

Minecraft Dungeons 2 makes some welcome improvements that start to elevate the experience past what its predecessor was capable of. The revamped gear and interconnected world evolved the series in meaningful ways, making it a significant improvement. It still falls a little short of the more detailed, depth-filled ARPGs I enjoy, but it inches closer while keeping its accessibility and charm. For someone who just wants a simplified Diablo or is introducing kids to the genre, this is exactly what you should get.

Train Sim World 7 offers a couple of modest features to entice players of previous games. But ultimately, it will be the upcoming TSW7 exclusive DLC that will be the main draw. The DLC remains as pricey as ever, making it hard to recommend to anyone but hardcore train enthusiasts.

Silent Hill: Townfall is exactly the kind of horror game that I love. It focuses on atmospheric horror, creepy puzzles, and incredible sound design to keep me on my toes. The combat and sneaking around were better than I expected, and the trusty CRTV gave a nice edge while adding to the creepiness. There are some minor issues with how Simon reacts to the events of the game, and some enemies feel a little bit too obnoxious, but at the end of the day, this is one of the best horror games I’ve ever played.

Control Resonant is a fantastic follow-up to a game I consider a classic. The story is intriguing and gets better as time goes on; the combat is exhilarating; its unconventional nature makes it more rewarding; and the incredible art direction makes it a blast to just run through the world. The minor faults in its early storytelling and “World Events” start to fall to the wayside as the great aspects of the experience take center stage. This is easily a must-have game for anyone who loves Action RPGs.

There are some great things in Graveyard Keeper 2 that make it worth checking out. Having the undead become a real threat has a great impact on the narrative of proper burials, and I appreciate the general story beats. The voice acting is also pretty funny, and the game looks great. In terms of fundamentals, I respect it.

Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter is a fantastic example of what makes this series so captivating. The incredible story takes the stakes of the previous game and goes further, while the hybrid combat system has great depth and meaning that makes every fight feel worthwhile. Nihon Falcom has done a great job with this remake, making one of the best entries in the series, accessible and fresh in ways that make me enjoy playing from the beginning again.