Top 5 Games of 2016 (Game of the Decade Countdown)

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

2016 is sort of the middle of the current console generation. It was a time for some games we had been seeing since the PS4 and Xbox One debuted. It was a year of many notably great sequels and reboots. And 2016 saw some of my favorite games of the generation in a year I didn’t realize was so packed. Sadly however I did also miss some of the best games released then so this list is, in theory, subject to change.

Top 5 Games of 2015 (Game of the Year Countdown)

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

There are a few massive titles released in 2015 that just won’t be on my list. This is subjective after all. I do however love the games I will be talking about. I have fond memories of my favorite games ads you do your’s. So here is a list of the game I loved the most from one of the best years for released during the console generation.

Top 5 Games of 2014 (Game of the Decade Countdown)

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

2014 was an interesting year for my gaming experience. Since I never even owned a Wii-U, I missed out on some of 2014’s greatest experiences, which I would later get on the Switch. I also didn’t play or just didn’t love a few of the most high profile games released that year either. But with all that being said, I did find myself enjoying some titles in 2014 immensely. So let’s go back to the first full year of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Top 5 Games of 2013 (Game of the Decade Countdown)

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

As the final year of the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360, 2013 was easily one of the best years in gaming. There are few years that have so many amazing releases across their 12 months. 2013 was a wonderful swansong for the seventh generation of consoles and it left me with plenty of favorites.

Top 5 Games of 2012 (Game of the Decade Countdown)

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

Following the stellar year of 2011 and even 2010, I was wondering what games stood out in 2012. Then I looked it up and I was brought back to a year with some of my favorite experiences on the consoles at the time, though perhaps some quiet favorites, differing from most people. So with that, I am very excited to count down with you my favorite games then.

Top 5 Games of 2011 (Game of the Decade Countdown)

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

With the decade coming to an end, it is time to look back at the last ten years and talk about my favorites. I already posted my top 5 games of 2010, so go check that out. In this list, we will revisit what is one of the objectively best years in game releases, that being 2011.

Top 5 games of 2010 (Game of the Decade Countdown)

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

With the decade coming to an end in just a few days, it is time to look back on the many video games released. There were many titles that I enjoyed across most to all platforms from 2010 to this year. In fact, this decade is when I really got into gaming. So I have decided to break up this discussion into multiple countdowns. I will be writing a list for each year of the decade, counting down from 5 to 1, my favorite games of that year. So let’s take a trip back to 2010.

Who Should be Super Smash Bros Ultimate's Final DLC Fighter?

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

With the SNK icon (or maybe not, depending on who you ask) Terry available for a bit now, it’s hard not to question who is going to be the next character to debut in “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.”

There have been many leaks suggesting some beloved characters are or are not in fighting chance (no pun intended) of making it into the roster. Wishful thinking is something I always do when it comes to such a topic though. So, let’s take what we have heard and put it aside, as only facts from the developers are what guarantees anything for sure. I’d like to do a countdown of 10 characters I most want to see appear in “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” as the fifth DLC fighter.

The 2019 Games That Never Were

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

This year saw plenty of hotly anticipated games release. We finally got a proper “Devil May Cry” sequel, “Borderlands” returned better than ever and Electronic Arts released a single player “Star Wars” game with no loot boxes or microtransactions. But 2019 had a lot of titles set to be out before the end of the year. As Thanksgiving is over and December is here, it is sad to see a list of games that are set for a 2019 release to have no release dates. It is pretty safe to assume they aren’t making that deadline afterall. These are some of those games.

December in Gaming is Quiet... But That's Nothing New

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

It is almost December and subsequently the end of another year of too many games to play. Over the last 11 months, many titles have released across all platforms. Many of 2019’s game of the year contenders hit store shelves and digital marketplaces alike over the course of September to now. With “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order” and “Pokemon: Sword and Shield” releasing last Friday, it is almost completely safe to say I have no new games coming out to worry about until next year. And I have a strong feeling that others can say the same.

But we still have a whole month. It sounds like I am skipping December. Sure I am worked for the holidays but the month is anything but exciting when it comes to brand new game releases. A quick dive into the titles still to come for the remainder of 2019 proved to me that the final month of the whole decade is going to be one of the quietest yet in gaming. But that’s expected.

I revisited December and its game release schedule over the decade and found a pattern. The trend is that it is a quiet month for games coming out, especially given the fact that it follows some of the most jam-packed months in the form of October and November, even September as of late. So the big fall releases really are just fall and not holiday season after all.

DISCLAIMER: the games releases I researched for December 2010 to December 2018 exclude ports. I found a ton of notably great games with December release dates but those were ports to other platforms. I am strictly going by initial launch.

There's Ambitious and Then There Is Watch Dogs: Legion

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

When it comes to innovating in the modern age of gaming, developers and publishers really have to push to stand out. Once upon a time, tropes like choices that actually matter, a focus on storytelling and narrative execution and dynamic open worlds to explore were all new and unheard of. Today, as we near the next generation of consoles, few titles really attempt unheard of ideas and good ones at that.

While Ubisoft has certainly missed the mark on plenty of their games through questionable decision making over the last several years, I am on the side of believers in the French publisher. Ubisoft is responsible for some of my favorite games of the current and previous generation. Few have left me with such fond memories as 2016’s “Watch Dogs 2.” And its predecessor, though clearly flawed, was also a favorite of mine. So when E3 2019 went down and Ubisoft unveiled an extensive look at the next game in the hacking series of open world mayhem, I was sold right away.

8 Pokemon that Deserve Evolutions

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

As if we needed more of a reason to be excited for the next generation of “Pokemon,” earlier today some new Pokemon were revealed for the upcoming “Pokemon: Sword” and “Pokemon: Shield.” Weezing has a Galarian form (yes they are doing this again for the Galar region… and yes that is awesome) leaving it to look like a cross between a bong and Abraham Lincoln, though some social media users may go with Doug Dimmadome instead. But the Pokemon that got attention in today’s news that really stood out, at least for me, was Linoone. A creature that is as generic as any other “HM Slave” of yesteryear is actually getting both a fresh Galarian form and a new evolution. I thought this was awesome news and leaves me all the more curious to see if and how Game Freak will best their attempts at improving older Pokemon as seen vividly in “Pokemon: Diamond and Pearl.”

So here we go with a list that everyone has done before. The difference is I have good incentive to countdown with you Pokemon I want to evolve thanks to today’s exciting news. These are the top eight (I chose to with eight since this is generation 8 technically) Pokemon that deserve new evolutions, specifically in “Sword and Shield.”

What Games Am I the Most Excited for This Month?

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

Sure, the summer has never been the most lively time for game developers and publishers to come out swinging; nevertheless, there have always been at least a few notable titles to hit store shelves and digital marketplaces alike amidst the heat. I personally loved and continue to love my time with “Super Mario Maker 2” capping off June and recently found myself very invested in the brutal action of “Wolfenstein: Youngblood” making the last two months at least somewhat impactful for game releases for me. This month may just step it up tenfold though with more than a couple of games that are genuinely on my radar. Read on to see what games of August 2019 I'm most excited for and why. Then be sure to leave me your own list or single game that has you the most hyped in this swansong of summer.

Top 10 New Games of E3 2019

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

E3 2019 may have just begun for those attending the event; however, for viewers like myself sitting at home, the conferences define E3. And with that, this year’s press conferences, though less in quantity than usual, have come to an end. I watched Microsoft, Bethesda, Ubisoft, Square Enix and Nintendo and, despite them overall lacking in comparison to some of the past, they all left me with some titles to get very excited for. Of course, many were already technically revealed in the past. For this list, I’d like to look only at the new games, titles that got proper reveals at E3 2019 and not prior, titles that I am the most excited for. Be sure to let me know in the comments below what new game reveals of E3 you are looking forward to and loved seeing revealed the most.

Ubisoft E3 2019- Do's and Don'ts; Hopes and Fears

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

In a few days, Ubisoft will hold their E3 2019 press conference and in many ways, I am really excited for the event. For starters, the publisher already has a few confirmed titles on the horizon that are exciting for many, certainly for my taste. But also, there is a strong chance of at least a couple of surprises, chances for franchises to return with sequels that will be on our radars for both the end of this console generation and the start of the next.

Bethesda E3 2019- Do's and Don'ts; Hopes and Fears

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

With the Electronic Entertainment Expo excitedly returning in just a few days, there is certainly a lot of hype surrounding press conferences and appearances from publishers like Microsoft and Nintendo; however, others too will make their usual appearance. One of the publishers I am the most concerned for however is Bethesda Softworks. While the publisher is home to many a revered franchise including but not limited to “The Elder Scrolls,” “Fallout” and “Doom,” I am kind of excited but very skeptical of just how important a press conference can really be this time around for them.

What Does Mario Kart Look like in a Post-Mario Kart 8 Deluxe World?

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

Five years ago today, Nintendo shipped one of its greatest exclusives yet in the form of “Mario Kart 8.” And while the platform exclusivity didn’t help the Wii U as much as they certainly would have liked, it nevertheless went down in the console’s short history as one of its best games around.

Fast forward a few years and we see a bigger, better and ultimately much more successful Nintendo. They may have not provided their fans with the next proper sequel to the long-running kart racing series; however, the already great “Mario Kart 8” quickly found its way over to the Switch and somehow became even better.

Today, the niche of driving games that “Mario Kart” falls into isn’t overly populated; however, even when in comparison to other games with the “Mario” namesake and Nintendo's other big titles as well, “Mario Kart 8” remains to be one of the finest first party hits they have delivered in recent years.

In celebration of “Mario Kart 8’s” five year anniversary, I was originally planning on a bit of a retrospective for the kart racer, one that I’d use to look at all of the aspects that Nintendo incorporated into it that make it the definitive experience. I then however decided what would be more interesting would be to analyze what the series could do moving forward. With “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” on the Switch being arguably the best in the franchise and easily the most content-heavy and enjoyable game of its kind in today’s market, what could Nintendo possibly do in the future? It’s hard to imagine they haven’t already begun planning the inevitable “Mario Kart 9” but what exactly does that look like? I’d like to dive into what I think about the subject with you.

19 E3 2019 Predictions

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

At the time of writing, we are just days away from the biggest event of the year for gamers, that of course being E3 2019. Simply because it is fun and engaging to predict announcements, trailers, reveals and more and because it is 2019, I present to you 19 of my own E3 2019 predictions.

DISCLAIMER: This list is in no particular order

Pokemon Business Strategy Announcement- My Cold, Honest Reactions

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

On May 28, the Pokemon Company held a press conference about the future of the franchise. This press event was live streamed and ran around a half an hour. While my expectations were by no means on the levels of E3, I still hoped I’d end the livestream satisfied and excited for the near future of one of my favorite franchises in entertainment. I wish I could say that’s how I feel.

Another State of Play and the Problems with it

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

11 Guest Characters I Want in Mortal Kombat 11

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

“Mortal Kombat 11” is just a few days away from release and if you’re anything like me, April 22 cannot come soon enough. I am extremely excited for Netherrealm Studios’ latest roster, newcomers like Kollector and Geras and classics like Scorpion and Sub-Zero alike; however, it is impossible not to speculate and get excited for the future too. The game is guaranteed to have several new kombatants so these are 11 guests that I want to see appear in the DLC.

Top 5 April 2019 Media Releases

State of Play- The Best Games in Sony's Version of the Nintendo Direct

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

Monday, March 25 marked the very first “State of Play” for Sony and the PlayStation brand. The 20-minute presentation was quite like that of Nintendo’s recurring Nintendo Directs. Sony didn’t touch on the next generation of hardware, nor did they address games like “The Last of Us Part 2” or “Death Stranding;” however, this slightly low key event nevertheless delivered on showing us unique games and touching more on some we already knew of. It wasn’t the most exhilarating or wild presentation from Sony but there were at least a few games I am excited for out of it. Here they are and why you should care.

Upcoming Video Game Movies- My Thoughts

NINTENDO LABO VR? Which Nintendo Series Would Make Great VR Games?

8 Things I Want in the Next Generation of Pokemon

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

At the time of writing, we are just one day away from The Pokémon Company’s annual celebration of the iconic franchise. Pokémon Day 2019 has gotten the hype for it built up with teases and now confirmation of some news being announced then. With the hopes of it being a new generation, here are eight things I want to see in Generation 8 of Pokémon, aspects I believe would be very beneficial to the series moving forward.

Daemon X Machina Demo Impressions

Top 5 Games of Nintendo's February 2019 Direct

Predictions for Nintendo's First 2019 Direct

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

Confirmed for tomorrow, February 13, 2019, Nintendo will be streaming a Direct, the first non-indie focused of the year. There are many speculations regarding what will and will not be mentioned, revealed or expanded upon in the presentation and rightfully so, Nintendo has many games scheduled for 2019, some of which have yet to even be announced officially. I’d like to take a look at what I believe we will see in tomorrow’s Nintendo Direct, as well as what we won’t.

The Biggest Games of February 2019

How was the Anthem Demo? Am I Still Excited?

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

Bioware’s upcoming shared world shooter take on the role-playing genre has me super excited but not for any of the words just mentioned, save for “shooter.” I am looking most forward to the abilities the Javelins will provide me regarding movement. All of the marketing of “Anthem” thus far has lead me to believe come February 22, I will be able to feel like Iron Man. With the demo behind us, did it make me feel like my own version of Tony Stark in his prime? Did the gunplay feel good? Did the demo give me good vibes for what “Anthem” will bring?

Detroit: Become Human Was Amazing; I Just Missed It

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

It is no secret that Sony had an incredible year in 2018 regarding its first party offerings. Sony Santa Monica changed the industry with its April release of “God of War.” Not a full five months later, Insomniac Games came out swinging with a revolutionary experience for comic book fans in the form of “Marvel’s Spider-Man.” Amidst all of the praise I too gave these juggernauts, I nearly forgot the mere existence of the other triple A exclusive the PlayStation 4 earned in between the two. And just over a month into the new year, I can confidently say, sleeping on “Detroit: Become Human” was my biggest mistake of 2018.

What Nintendo Really Needs to do to the Switch in its Updates

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

Nintendo released its system update 7.0.0 for the Switch yesterday. It gave users access to a few new icons from “New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe” and Chinese, Korean and Taiwanese language options. And that is about it, save for a few general improvements in the system’s stability. Nearly two years into the console’s lifetime, the Switch hasn’t quite gotten the improvements, namely in the interface, that it should, or at the very least could. Here are those I think Nintendo needs to implement this year.

Square Enix- 2019 Publisher Predictions

Sony- 2019 Publisher Predictions

Nintendo- 2019 Publisher Predictions

Microsoft- 2019 Publisher Predictions

Electronic Arts- 2019 Publisher Predictions

Bethesda- 2019 Publisher Predictions

Top 10 Most Anticipated Games of 2019

Predicting the Release Dates for These 2019 Games

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

There are plenty of new games scheduled for release in 2019. Whether or not all of these titles make the cut this year is up in the air, and may very well be that way up through December. I however have decided to take a shot at predicting the release dates of some. Even if I think they will get delayed into 2020, I’ll make note of it as I predict the release dates for 25 of the biggest games announced for release in 2019.

Top 5 New Games of January 2019

Nintendo 2018- A Year's Retrospective

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

After the stellar launch year of Nintendo’s hybrid platform last year, 2018 was always going to be a tough act to follow. In the end, the year may have not done the impossible, bringing Nintendo back on the map and the release of two entries in its biggest franchises, but 2018 also came with enough heavy hitters to nevertheless reassure your Switch’s place in your home.