Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right… For many of us, every day is National Video Game Day, but we’d like to take a moment to appreciate the sheer genius of this relatively new holiday. In celebration of the special day, we’ll shed some light on our favorite games, along with a look at some upcoming new releases. Let the button smashing commence!

For years, video games have captured the imagination of fans, dating back to the early days of Atari. Sure, we might have cutting-edge technology and dazzling graphics these days, but it’s always fun to pay homage to classic games like Pong and Pac Man. With VR tech becoming increasingly more common, sometimes it's nice to reflect on how far the videogame industry has come. For many of us, just the mere mention of Mario and Kirby can have us swimming with childhood nostalgia.

Take things back with titles like Mortal Kombat and Final Fight, or belt out your loudest “Hadouken!” impression while playing Street Fighter. Whether you’re all about role playing games, or you can’t get enough of first person shooters, everyone can agree—this is one holiday that shouldn’t be skipped. Many cite the Legend of Zelda for being an ultimate classic, setting the bar high for the RPG genre. Let the Playstation, Xbox and Nintendo debates to rest, for now, as this is one special day where everyone should partake in the festivities.

With games like Resident Evil VII, Mass Effect: Andromeda and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, this year has already seen the release of some major titles. Next week, get ready for action with Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite. Players can choose to battle it out with characters like Black Panther, Thor, Hulk, and Spider-Man, from Marvel and Capcom favorites like Ryu, Chun-Li and Mega Man X. Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite will be available for PS4, Xbox One and PC gamers.

In October, car enthusiasts can gear up and get ready to go with Forza Motorsport, out for release on October 3rd for PC and Xbox One, while Lord of the Rings fans can look forward to Middle-earth: Shadow of War, due for release on October 10. Two of the biggest titles of the month are certainly Super Mario Odyssey for the Nintendo Switch, and Assassin's Creed Origins for all three major platforms, both set to release on October 27.

In November, get your game face on for Call of Duty WW2 on November 3rd. Star Wars fans might be eagerly awaiting the release of The Last Jedi in December, but they can get swept away to a galaxy far, far, away, a little earlier with Star Wars Battlefront 2 on November 17th. Unlike the first release, SWBF2 boasts a full player campaign mode, following the story of Iden Versio and her elite Imperial team known as Inferno Squad. On the same day, Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon will be released for the Nintendo 3DS.

No matter if you’re all about playing the latest game titles, or you prefer to keep things old school, be sure to enjoy the holiday to its fullest. Stay tuned for more nerd news and updates regarding any new videogame releases coming soon! 

Written by Jade Nicolette

Twitter: @nicolette_style