Matt Bertz
Tactical shooter fans should find Insurgency's skirmishes riveting, if they can live with some old-school design in regards to respawn times, respawn distance to fire zones, and limited progression
A good suite of game modes that could have been great had 2K fixed its server woes
NHL 20 makes strides on the ice with its improved shot, but makes some curious decisions off it.
Battlefield V is a good, if safe game that feels more iterative than innovative. Its legacy will likely be defined by how steady and interesting the stream of new content is moving forward
One year after release, Doom's campaign is still one of the generation's best
Whether you want to play on the couch with buddies, grind for cards in Hockey Ultimate Team, compete online, or build a new dynasty in Franchise mode, NHL 18 mostly delivers
The spongy, fantastical gunplay stands at odds with the Tom Clancy brand, but The Division features some great combat arenas and a well designed loot system that keeps you coming back for better gear
A game best experienced with friends, Wildlands is a surprisingly long adventure that gives players a lot of tools for tactical experimentation. Solo play is viable as well, but with by-the-books companion A.I., your strategic options are more limited
Welcome improvements to the general gameplay and franchise mode make this the best NHL in years, but the team still has a lot of work to do with modernizing its career mode and cleaning up legacy issues
Improved interrogation options help these cold cases hold up six years after they originally released. However, the fantastic open-world setting is still underutilized
If you're going to buy an NBA game this year, 2K14 should be your choice
A haunting, atmospheric shooter definitely worth a play
Artyom's journey across Russia is filled with interesting locales, a steady flow of new enemy types, and a cause worth fighting for
Don't come to Frostpunk if you want sunshine, unicorns, and happy outcomes. This is a bleak game about making difficult decisions to survive inhospitable conditions
The campaign is a glorious, bloody return to form for the godfather of first-person shooters, but the multiplayer and SnapMap can't match
DICE successfully defends its position as a major player in competitive multiplayer, but another wayward single-player campaign begs the question of why the studio even bothers
The rich setting is fun to explore, but the familiar gameplay experience doesn't stray far from Far Cry 3
The story falls short, but The Division 2 is filled with loops to keep you invested in upgrading your agent well beyond the endgame, including gear score optimization, Dark Zone ventures, and daily challenges
The most well-rounded sports game on the market once again
With a robust offering in the franchise, single-player, multiplayer, and collectible card modes, NBA 2K18 delivers hundreds of hours of fun