It could be a whisper or a shout but Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice will stay with you. Deftly crafted with stunning detail and an expert depiction of psychosis, it's a journey that's as torturous as it is heart-breaking.
Rather than big and bombastic, Tacoma is small and personal, inviting you to be involved. It's a strong testament to the power of visual narration and characterization possible in today's video games despite some nit-picks here and there.
You've never seen anything like Pyre but you have to check it out. Whether you enjoy unorthodox battle systems, great story-telling and characters or a gorgeous amalgamation of visuals and music, Pyre is truly a stand-out in Supergiant's portfolio. And that's saying something.
Diablo 3's Rise of the Necromancer pack is a worthy purchase for all kinds of players but it might not suit those wanting tons of new activities, areas and whatnot to explore. Still, the level of polish and sheer fun of the Necromancer makes a strong argument for purchasing.
It may not be packed to the brim with content or have the best story but Tekken 7 serves up a tantalizing mix of deep combat and character balance to keep fans busy for a long time.
Familiar yet terrifying, Outlast 2 mixes excellent production values with genuinely disturbing imagery and subject matter. It's a long way down to the abyss but it's worth every minute of the fall.
Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War 3 is a masterful product that blends familiar but fun gameplay with a new story and challenges. It's the perfect fit for both hardcore Warhammer fans and casual RTS players.
Torment: Tides of Numenera is well worth the wait. It combines the lore and fantastical setting of the Planescape universe with well-written characters and a tout narrative. For all the reading you'll have to do, there's an enchanting universe in store.
Rise and Shine's awesome 2D art-style and references can't help the uneven shooting that pervades its shoddy gameplay.
Like Left 4 Dead without the undead heart or Vermintide without the variety and hooks, Space Hulk Deathwing will satisfy only the most die-hard of Warhammer 40K fans. And even then they shouldn't expect much.
Dead Rising 4 is the best at what it does and what it does is zombie killing. The presentation is strong and there are plenty of ways to kill zombies. Unfortunately, the game as a whole feels as worn-down and routine as West himself, from its side-quests to its way-point hunting and overall combat. Worth a look only if you're not fussy about exploring this mostly typical sandbox.
Dark Souls 3's Ashes of Ariandel DLC is an odd little piece of content...and little is the operative word. It's fun while it lasts, PvP receives some pretty cool new additions and the environments are gorgeous. Nonetheless, From Software is capable of so much more. This ranks slightly above acceptable.
An explosively amazing campaign, the same solid multiplayer with new modes and mechanics, lots of customization and excellent performance - Titanfall 2 is a keeper.
A MOBA with an identity crisis or an RTS with too little to offer? Champions of Anteria strikes an odd balance that doesn't quite gel and isn't helped by its numerous problems.
Gears of War 4 is more of the same but that's not a bad thing. The campaign is fun to get through with a decent story and characters while Horde 3.0 offers some excellent action with friends. However, it's all a bit too familiar at this point and we expect a bit more.
After significant in-roads over the past year, Destiny feels like its regressed with Rise of Iron. This would have been a great time for exceptional story missions and replayable content that wasn't completely frustrating. For its price, Rise of Iron should have offered a lot more and taken more risks.
Forza Horizon 3 is a compelling, all-round excellent racer that should appeal to both hardcore fans and first time players.
Fallout 4 offers a pretty good, if not spectacular, DLC send-off with Nuka World. The new zones and quests, along with the twist on raiders, offer a unique new way to play. It may not change hardcore skeptics' minds about the franchise but it's fun all the same for fans.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided isn't going to reinvent the wheel but it does present some truly great mission design, writing and gameplay with a plethora of options for any kind of experience. The story could have been improved but Adam Jensen's world is still worth extremely compelling for RPG/shooter fans and stealth enthusiasts.
An acceptably quirky adventure, Grow Up is an enjoyable experience that could have used a lot more polish, especially with regards to its movement, camera system and overall performance.