April's Best Games: Sekiro, Devil May Cry 5, and more

We be eating enemies and laying eggs. We'll be exchanging bullets with the not-so-friendly survivors of post-apocalyptic Washington D.C. and laying waste to hordes of demons using a robot arm. We'll die many, many, many times in the deadliest re-imagining of Sengoku period Japan, ever.

Here's our list of recommended games, you know, because holidays are upon us.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

"Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice" may share the DNA of FromSoftware's notoriously difficult Soulsborne games, but that's where the similarities end.

"Sekiro's" mobility options are amazing. You'll be sprinting, jumping, scaling walls, hanging from ledges, swimming (yes, swimming), and, grappling between vantage points, Batman-style. The game's speed, freedom of movement, and verticality are breathtaking – and it helps that the levels are so expertly crafted that they make the perfect playgrounds for your one-armed ninja.

Areas are patrolled by numerous enemies, so it pays to be stealthy while you study their movements and the lay of the land. Thankfully, there's a lot of tall grass to hide in as you go about your investigations. You can even eavesdrop on enemies for useful information, or ambush them from a place of concealment.

Combat is brutal. Enemies are adept at defending themselves, and will eagerly repel your strikes. If "Bloodborne" encourages players to parry, "Sekiro" demands it. You won't get far by simply banging your steel against theirs; you'll have to deflect enemy attacks to deplete their stamina and make them susceptible to death blows. Precision is now more important than ever.

As you progress through the game, you'll learn a variety of stylish new skills. You'll also discover upgrades for your prosthetic arm, allowing it to transform into useful tools. The axe, for example, can destroy wooden shields, while the flame vent spews balls of fire at enemies.

"Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice" is a new level of ruthless, but it's just as rewarding, if not more so than the Soulsborne games. Add to that excellent maneuverability, exquisitely designed levels, and heart-pounding stealth, and you've got yourself a winner.

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

Devil May Cry 5

"Devil May Cry 5" takes wild, explosive combat, straps it onto a rocket-propelled robot arm, and sends it flying straight into your face.

Simultaneously frenetic and methodical, "Devil May Cry 5's" combat isn't afraid to get stupid for the sake of style. But what makes combat truly special is its depth and flexibility.

You'll control three characters boasting extremely diverse playstyles. Dante has multiple ranged and melee weapons as well as styles. He can switch from one to another on the fly, allowing for stupendous amounts of variety. Nero gets to equip an assortment of robot arms, each with special abilities. He can even remove said robot arm and ride it as it flies around the environment. The new character V hangs back and lets his summoned demons do the fighting for him, before teleporting next to the enemy to deliver the deathblow.

The more you play, the more abilities, moves, skills, and upgrades you'll unlock, giving you even more opportunities to exercise creativity amidst the chaos. It helps that the enemies – from the squishy, smaller demons to the gigantic, tough-as-nails bosses – are exceedingly fun to fight.

The game can be completed in around a dozen hours, but as the following playthroughs introduce incrementally tougher challenges, "Devil May Cry 5" is a highly replayable, action-packed ride that'll have you craving for more.

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

Tom Clancy's The Division 2

"Tom Clancy's The Division 2" will not win any awards for innovation, but its shooting and looting loop sure is satisfying.

The game takes you to a fantastic recreation of Washington D.C., complete with iconic sites overgrown by nature or ravaged by man's desperation to survive. Exploration is a blast, and there are always new items to discover, people to meet, and enemies to shoot.

The gunplay has been refined and is better than ever. Multiple types of enemies (from suicide bombers to remote-controlled robots) come with different behaviors and weak points to add variety to combat.

The progression is where the game shines. Missions take you to new regions, where you'll find and assume control of outposts. Using gathered resources, you can upgrade these bases, which rewards you with new NPCs, side quests, blueprints, gear, and a whole lot more. Your actions can even change the world and the behavior of its inhabitants, giving it a dynamic feel. And all the while, you'll be enjoying diverse ways to improve your character and craft unique weapons.

All in all, "Tom Clancy's The Division 2" is a rewarding action game that'll have you keep playing long after you've finished its main campaign.

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

Yoshi's Crafted World

"Yoshi's Crafted World" is a cute side-scrolling platformer brimming with charm and unique ideas. You play as the adorable dinosaur Yoshi, who can eat enemies and turn them into eggs. By aiming your targeting reticle, these eggs can be thrown at enemies to kill them, or at objects to produce an effect, such as creating a staircase.

The levels are diverse and cleverly designed, with each introducing a fun new idea. In one level, you'll be smashing blocks with a triceratops skull. In another, you'll be using magnets to access hard-to-reach areas. The creativity and imagination are also reflected in the game's gorgeous handcrafted aesthetic, making "Yoshi's Crafted World" as much of a joy to look at as it is to play.

There are tons of collectibles and secrets to uncover. Eventually, you'll also be able to play inverted versions of levels. You can even spend in-game coins to acquire the nearly 200 costumes available. All these elements give you additional incentives to replay levels.

The game is on the short and easy side, however; even if you scour every level for secrets, it can be beaten in around 12 hours. Nevertheless, "Yoshi's Crafted World's" effusive charm and fascinating variety is hard to resist, and will delight anyone of any age.

Platforms: Nintendo Switch

— LA, GMA News