Consoles, PCs, handhelds, Facebook, smartphones — the world of gaming is becoming increasingly confusing and fragmented, but don’t worry, we’re here to simplify things for you. Each week I’ll rattle off five games I think you might want to check out this week. Keep in mind, these articles aren’t meant to be comprehensive lists of everything coming out that week so much as a nice rounded tasting menu. So, let’s get to it…

This Week’s Game About A Witch With Hair Pants

Bayonetta 2 (Wii U, Oct. 24th)

Bayonetta is back, and the second entry in the series about a witch who wears her own hair as clothes looks as fluid, frantic and slightly embarassing as ever. Bayonetta 2 is the best-reviewed major game of the year, so hey, maybe it’s time to finally take the Wii U plunge.

This Week’s Old School Platformer

Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse (Wii U & 3DS, Oct. 23rd)

WayForward’s super charming, sexy (in a kid-friendly sort of way, if that makes sense) Shantae series returns with another Metroidvania-style adventure. Past Shantae titles have been top-notch little throwbacks and Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse should be no different.

This Week’s Episodic Adventure Game

Dreamfall Chapters (PC, Mac & Linux, Oct. 21st)

The Dreamfall series finally returns this week with the first half of the Kickstarter-funded Dreamfall Chapters. For those not up to speed on the Dreamfall series, it involves various female protagonists unraveling mysteries and conspiracies across two alternate universes – one a bleak, cyberpunk-style Earth and the other an airy, magical fantasy world. Dreamfall Chapter comes in two parts, with the next chunk promised for sometime in 2015. Here’s the game’s Steam page.

This Week’s JRPG

Fantasy Life (3DS, Oct. 24th)

Fantasy Life is a new adorable JRPG that gives the player an unusual range of playable classes. You can play as a standard adventurer and set out on quests, but alchemist, tailor, cook or any number of other atypical roles are also available to you. You can also change classes at will, advancing the plot in creative ways using different abilities. They basically took Animal Crossing or The Sims and plunked it in the middle of a classic JRPG, and the results look like a ton of fun.

Pick of the Week

Civilization: Beyond Earth (PC, Oct. 24th)

Yeeeeeesss…new Civ. NEW CIV. Civilization: Beyond Earth takes Sid Meier’s classic 4X strategy game to outer space, but this isn’t just a sci-fi re-skinning – the new tech web and Affinities system should throw some significant twists into the classic Civilization formula. Time to use up some of those sick days Civ fans.

Great week if you happen to dig Nintendo and Civilization, which I very much do. Any games you’re itching to get your hands on that I failed to mention? Hit the comments and let the world know.