The basic hack-and-slash action is simple enough to get the job done, but reconfiguring your spells to overcome each puzzle and combat challenge is consistently rewarding
This heartfelt and poignant adventure offers thrilling moments centered on a strong core idea
Overworld missions keep the action moving, but the XCOM-like turn-based combat is the real star
At its best, John Wick Hex makes you feel like a trained assassin, but those moments are interrupted by strings of repetitive action
Chimera Squad's action remains incredibly rich, but the slightly repetitive combat mars the overall thrill
Like the original, Super Meat Boy Forever tests your resolve, but it's easy to jump back into the action and the thrill of success is worth the endurance
Skyward Sword has some of the best dungeon design in the series, but the sections between each dungeon are a slog
You can power through a few rounds of Tower of Guns quickly, and the inventive enemies and non-stop action keep you coming back
Like most multiplayer games, Temple of Osiris is better with friends. Thankfully, the game does a good job making each person feel like an integral part of a team
Each level is a tight-knit firefight that unfolds like a classic gun-fu action film
Halo Wars 2's story is engrossing and the battles are fun, but the mission design follows a predictable pattern
Some of the puzzles are laborious to complete, but the rewards are usually worth the effort
If you're in the mood for a grind, Battle Chasers delivers more than enough. Nightwar is full of tense action, but you have to be patient to make it to the end
New missions and tasks come at a steady clip, so you're never at a loss for things to do. Even so, I had the most fun when I went off-script and created my own goals
Mastering time is fun and weaving past enemies in the nick of time is a thrill, but fine-tuning some of those near misses can be monotonous
As usual, Nintendo's quirky writing is full of laugh-out-loud moments, but your quest is full of tiresome backtracking
When Maquette is firing on all cylinders, it is a beautiful journey through a series of ever-larger environments, and Maquette’s love story is poignant and a little heartbreaking. Sadly, my interactions with the puzzles were also full of heartbreak. While Maquette has some missteps, I look back fondly on my time with it. Much like a real-life romance, my affection for this game is complicated.
As always, WarioWare's randomness is charming, and the minigames are fun, but this is far from a high watermark for the series
If you love getting scared, Outlast provides you with an enjoyable weekend; if you don't, your weekend is better spent elsewhere
The turned-based battles will leave a lot of strategy fans happy, but I wish you could fast forward through the rest of the game