Games of the week: Alto’s Odyssey, Apex Construct, and more!

The week’s best games are a diverse bunch, demonstrating there’s a gem for every gaming system, whether it’s your mobile phone or virtual reality headset.

Here they are below in no specific order.

Alto's Odyssey

While 2015’s “Alto’s Adventure” had you boarding down magnificent, snow-covered environments, this year’s “Alto’s Odyssey” is about racing through gaming’s most breathtaking desserts.

Those sand dunes are huge, their downward slopes so steep you’ll be hurtling across levels at breakneck speeds. As expected, there are plenty of opportunities for aerial acrobatics. You can’t be too reckless, however, or you might just end up planting your face in that rock blocking your path.

“Alto’s Odyssey” introduces new features, such as tornadoes that catapult you high into the stratosphere, platforms that crumble from beneath you, the ability to wall-ride, and more.

Every run, you’ll have to complete 3 challenges, such as covering a specific distance or leaping over a set number of rocks. But the best thing about “Alto’s Odyssey”? The journey itself. Soaring down those dunes can be surprisingly cathartic; the levels, with their majestic landscapes rendered in wonderfully subdued purples and oranges, bring about a calming joy that’s hard to refuse.

While the game is now available for iOS devices, Android users will have to wait a couple of months to play the game.

Platform: iOS

Apex Construct

If you’re not yet convinced of the viability of virtual reality gaming, allow “Apex Construct” to change your mind.

Metroidvania “Apex Construct” takes place in a decidedly colorful post-apocalyptic world, where you’re the last human standing and robots have taken over. To find out how all this came to pass, you explore lush 3D worlds crawling with mechanical monsters eager to see you join the rest of humanity in the grave. Your best means of defense is a hi-tech crossbow capable of firing unlimited ammo and generating energy shields. As the game progresses, you’ll be able to upgrade your equipment, allowing you to gain access to previously closed off areas.

The story will keep you guessing – one of the reasons why “Apex Construct” is so compelling. To get far in the game, you’ll also have to hone your archery skills instead of simply relying on attribute or skill values. These reasons, among many others, contribute to the fantastically immersive experience that is “Apex Construct.”

Platform: PlayStation VR

Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus

“Pac-Man” has endured the test of time thanks to solid, timeless gameplay that’s just as engaging now as it was decades ago.

But 2016’s “Pac-Man Championship Edition 2” wasn’t content with making a reskin of a beloved game; instead it revitalized the formula by giving Pac-Man new abilities (such as jumping to another section of the maze to get out of tight spots); modifying ghost behavior (you have to bump into them 3 times before they turn hostile); adding new elements such as sleeping ghosts that, once awakened, form a train that will then chase you around the maze; and more. Not to mention the game was faster and exceedingly more frantic than previous iterations. It was also visually arresting with its neon sheen, and dynamic close-ups that captured the most thrilling moments.

This year, “Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus” for the Switch has even more to offer with the addition of a 2-player co-op mode. Here, players have to work together to attain the highest score. It’s as fun as it sounds, though the ensuing chaos could leave some frustrated and confused. Nevertheless, the game is an exhilarating, stylish, and addictive experience that’ll gobble up your hours like a certain yellow blob gobbles up pellets.

Platform: Switch

Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet

The role-playing game and third-person shooter genres combine as “Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet” takes you to the post-apocalyptic world of Gun Gale Online.

“Fatal Bullet” steps away from the standard “Sword Art Online” experience by putting guns in your hands – and there’s a bevy of them to choose from, too, from submachine guns, to long-range rifles, to guns that heal your targets. Deep customization options mean you’ll be tinkering around with a lot of your weapons and gear, allowing you to tweak your tools to suit your particular playstyle.

You also get to create your own male or female character. Kirito and company are still around, but your own unique creation will be the center of attention for a change.

The game does suffer from some dull environments, and the controls can seem unwieldy at first, but there’s enough story, exciting gunplay, and RPG goodness here to please fans of the series.

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

— LA, GMA News