Darkest Dungeon 2 is a wholly different beast from the original, wrapping branching paths and compelling combat into a rogue-lite package. There are some hiccups and it may not appeal to all fans of the original, but it's still a fun journey to suffer.
Its performance leaves something to be desired, but Star Wars Jedi: Fallen is still an essential experience for genre fans and Star Wars fanatics.
Stray Blade has promise and could be improved with more polish and balance changes. However, the flawed combat, story-telling, progression and lead character often bring down the experience.
The Mageseeker: A League of Legends Story is another compelling spin-off from Riot Forge. Despite some imperfections, it offers fun gameplay, a well-realized world and a likable, if headstrong, protagonist.
Minecraft Legends isn't going to rewrite the book on action strategy games. However, it offers compelling gameplay backed by mechanics from the main game that rewards exploration and ingenuity, on top of having an easy control set-up.
Ravenbound has the potential to be something good, if not great. However, it needs some serious overhauls and improvements to even start down that path.
Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key doesn't completely rewrite the series' rules, so much as expand and improve on them. It's still a relaxing traipse with Ryza and friends, but evokes a sense of nostalgia and hope for the future.
Overwatch 2 is a soft reboot of the hero shooter, enabling a quicker pace thanks to 5v5, well-designed maps, and extensive rebalancing. There are still some progression and monetization issues to sort out, but this update/sequel establishes a solid foundation for the series' future.
One year later and Deathloop is still very much Deathloop. It's intriguing, boasts strong production values, and offers an interesting mix of immersive sim and roguelite mechanics. Unfortunately, this is all bogged down by repetitive gameplay, a so-so PvP mechanic, pacing issues, and iffy AI. It's worth a try, but your mileage may vary.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Hero is one of the best titles in the franchise and an incredibly well-made RPG overall. Experiencing the tale of the Special Support Section has never felt better, be it in terms of combat, writing, or presentation.
If you're itching for a brand new third-person shooter with some unique mechanics, then Rollerdrome may be the game for you. Its presentation, arena design, controls and combat are superb, and make up for the otherwise short length.
Sunbreak isn't something that every Monster Hunter fan needs to go out of their way to experience. But it is new, challenging content for Rise players along with Follower Quests and a new endgame to grind through. If you're a fan of the current formula, then the expansion is well worth jumping in to.
MX vs ATV Legends could have been a decent arcade-style, sim-lite racer. Whatever appeal could be found in mastering jumps and customizing vehicles is beset by numerous issues. It's not grossly offensive but you're better off investing time in just about any other racer.
F1 22 isn't going to blow your mind with its new features, especially when it comes to F1 Life. It does offer some compelling, fast-paced racing backed by some great Career modes, tracks. and presentation Familiar as it may be, it's still the definitive way to experience Formula 1 racing in video games.
Diablo Immortal is a sham. It's seemingly spectacular, only to reveal an ugly showcase of shameless greed, terrible design decisions, horrific porting, and boring combat. Just play Diablo 3 - or any of the other great action RPGs currently available - and forget this even exists.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is an interesting game, both due to its present quality and how much better it could have been with more time and resources. It's a fun journey but pacing issues and several underdeveloped aspects make it somewhat forgettable.
Rogue Legacy 2 is an excellent step up from its predecessor, adding tons of new, fun content along with heaps of systems for even more varied runs. Though it can be grindy and somewhat difficult, the enjoyable gameplay will keep you coming back.
Shadow Warrior 3 strips away much of the extra fluff from its predecessor for a short, straightforward thrill ride packed with violence. Its humor doesn't always land and the narrative can be slipshod but the gameplay is very fun and backed by solid level design. Just don't be too surprised at the overall campaign length.
Even with some rough edges, Heart Machine's latest is an endearing 3D platformer with its own unique hooks, carried by some strong lore, level design and aesthetics.
If your prefer your time-looping adventures to be more stylish and violence-oriented, then Deathloop may be for you. Even with its various issues, there is satisfaction to be had in learning each map and completing the perfect series of assassinations.