Falling into the PowerWash Simulator genre of zen-like task completion games, Hardspace has you dismantling and salvaging spacecraft as the employee of the Lynx megacorporation. There's just enough problem solving here to scratch your brain and it's a pleasant twist on the genre. There's nothing quite like tearing apart an entire freighter ship and turning around to see an empty shipyard at the end of your shift, the sign of a job well done. I also appreciate this game's story and rather refreshing that the developers had something to say, whether you agree with the message or not.

It gives me great relief to say that Unbound is a stylish and funky return to form for the Need for Speed series. Everything you want out of NFS game is here: cool cars, tight controls, harrowing police chases, challenging racing, and a bumping soundtrack. Add a story so cheesy that it's practically indistinguishable from a Step Up movie, and I think EA has found a winning formula.

Jusant was just the pallet cleanser I needed between playing a few larger games this year. A meditative and artistic climb up an immeasurably tall spire, this game makes climbing the central focus of its design, and it is a resounding success. In a similar vein to games like Abzu or Journey, you're often left with your thoughts as you pass hand over hand up the sheer massive cliff faces in Jusant, and maybe the hope is you learn a little something about yourself as you do so.

There's not much I can say about Portal 2 that hasn't already been said. What more can you add to a conversation when it's already been decided that a piece of art is an instant classic? My analysis boils down to this...Portal 2 made me laugh when I really could use a laugh or two, and for that I'm grateful.

LEGO Fortnite came out of nowhere and had me completely hooked. It’s a little light on content, but has all the promise to be a deep and lasting survival-crafter. As someone who typically plays this genre by myself, it was a special moment to have all my friends sharing the same world, running around in their little Fortnite skins, fighting off skeletons and cave diving for resources.