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Even with these issues though Wreckfest nails that feeling I had when playing classic games such as Destruction Derby. I love the wacky races, the destruction is perfect, and when it works it just feels fantastic. I kept playing through the issues, and I hope Bugbear continues to improve upon the foundation and maybe toss in some of those driver-tossing mini-games from the Flatout series. As it stands though Wreckfest is a solid game that hits a lot of the right notes, with plenty of technical issues that hold it back from being a classic.

Fans of shooters and challenging games will have a lot of fun here. Sure, the boss fights can get a bit annoying with the minions, the randomly generated areas can get repetitive, and the co-op, while it works well, isn’t perfect, but the world, the action, and the feel of Remnant is really what makes it a great playing game and one I think everyone should give a shot, especially at the price point it is at.

In the end, Mable and the Wood isn’t a bad game. It takes a familiar concept and throws in something different with combat and traversal, and it works for the most part. I just think some of the execution and sense of direction was handled poorly. I almost expected after beating a boss that I would have to spend 20 minutes trying to figure out where to go next after getting a new form to use, and that’s not ideal. People looking for something different will find it here, just know that it comes with some issues, but altogether, it is a decent experience.

The Forbidden Arts is a game that feels like a relic from the past. If someone had told me this was a budget title on Gamecube and somehow got the HD treatment, I would believe them. It just lacks polish and interesting content to keep players interested. I doubt many people have heard of this title and even fewer will remember it. It is just a plain adventure title that never steps outside the boundaries of mediocrity.

Man of Medan shows a lot of promise for The Dark Pictures Anthology. I never thought it was too difficult, and the scares really did get me a few times as well as my friends. Some may say it is too short, but I think it was the perfect length for the story and the great thing is, we’re getting a new story and game in less than a year. Fans of horror and adventure games will have a blast here. Any fan of Until Dawn should not worry, this one lives up to the hype.

Gears 5 is incredible. A true renaissance for the series. The changes made to campaign are exactly what I wanted the series to be. The multiplayer suite has something for everyone. This is just an incredible package that deserves its praises. I am excited for the franchise yet again. Gears 5 rekindles the magic the first three games delivered in their prime and it has me excited to see where the series goes in the next generation. This is one of the best games Microsoft has put out this year, and quite possible one of the best games of 2019.

The Vasara Collection is an unusual choice for a modern game port. A game not many people would have heard of and a genre that is more niche than most. I would certainly recommend turning down the difficulty for most people to ensure that you have a good time. But if you are the sort of person that loves the kind of challenge a bullet hell game provides, well there is certainly some of that in there as well. There is plenty of game for the low price point and I definitely had some fun mixed in with the frustration.

Knights and Bikes is a game that struggles to showcase its own individuality and message. Narratively, it tries to do a little too much at once, which obscures the stronger parts of its story. Similarly, subconsciously or not, it leans heavily on the iconography of both Tearaway and LittleBigPlanet. There is nothing wrong with having a distinctive style – as noted, the team at Foam Sword have crafted a beautifully distinctive visual experience here. Unfortunately, it simply lacks the unique charm of those games.

Metal Wolf Chaos XD is a ridiculous game and I love that we live in a time where something like this can come back. Players need to know what they are getting into before jumping in though. This is an awkward game from a different time and this remaster adds little outside of some sharper visual flare. It is still a truly interesting piece of gaming history and I am thrilled it can exist for players today to experience.

Technical hiccups and lackluster ending aside, I loved Control. I couldn’t get my mind off of it. I still can’t. I love weird science fiction and this game is filled with it. As a fan of Remedy I loved that they managed to once again prove that they know how to make third person shooters with compelling stories. I won’t say this is the best game of the year but it is definitely my favorite.