Shadwen makes no bones about copying from other games. However, with the lack of compelling story-telling and gameplay, it fails to even accommodate interesting mechanics that other games handle better.
Overwatch heralds a brave new age for hero shooters, competitive multiplayer shooters and just shooters in general. It's a unique yet fun experience that's accessible to all and flawless with its execution.
Far Harbor doesn't reinvent the wheel but it does add some compelling gameplay and a good story to Fallout 4. Take the trip up north - you may find a reason or two to hang around.
Stellaris isn't perfect, but it can easily improve in its problematic areas. For the dozens of hours you'll sink into first establishing your empire, it's a fun experience even if it doesn't quite unseat the likes of Master of Orion or Civilization.
Battleborn feels like it's squandered the majority of its potential with its execution. If enough polish is applied and the objectives made less punishing, it could warrant investment for the PvP. But the limited number of PvP maps, lack of unique missions and shabby story are still severe negatives.
Battlefleet Gothic: Armada tries to combine the best of both worlds - tabletop strategy and RTS - and comes off a little ham-handed as a result. It can be fun but the punishing structure and difficult mission types may dissuade less hardcore strategy fans.
Ashes of the Singularity is truly a mixed bag of RTS goodies. Its strategy tactics and large scale battles draw you in but the lack of unit variety and drab campaign really keep from engaging you. Though a fun past-time for new players, strategy veterans may not find much lasting appeal.
A mysterious obtuse premise and frustrating-at-times combat both hinder and bolster the appeal of Hyper Light Drifter. It's not the successor of Zelda but it's still an incredibly well-designed, beautiful action adventure title.
Do you want to die? Dark Souls 3 will help you and then some, until you can take no more. Faster and more unforgiving than ever before, this is the pinnacle of the Souls series...even if it doesn't top Bloodborne.
Like riding a bike in zero gravity, Adr1ft takes some getting used to and offers an interesting, fresh and beautiful presentation. Sure, it has some rough corners but it has several more bright spots.
Fallout 4's Automatron DLC is a neat little diversion rather than the start of something epic. Its story missions are limited but its robot customization is strong, even with the usual bugs and hurdles.
EA Sports UFC 2 is a much better excuse to go looking for a fight than the previous game, even if it's missing the allure that made UFC Undisputed 3 so great.
Creating a mix of MMORPG and third person shooter elements was never going to be easy but Tom Clancy's The Division gets so much right. It's worth investing in at this stage.
Street Fighter 5 is as stoic and reliable as ever, right down to its character balance and network performance. Though Story Mode is underwhelming and there's a noticeable lack of content, its gameplay is still stellar and worthy of any fighting game fan's time.
Layers of Fear isn't a perfect marathon with its range of terrifying developments but the significance of its events will last longer than most horror sprints.
There are games that could be better and there's XCOM 2 which is amazing but hampered by its optimization. It's still game of the year material but needs patching stat.
Dying Light may not be the best of the best when it comes to open world games but with The Following, it's proven to be pretty damn fun. Whether you're a new player or seasoned veteran, Dying Light: The Following is fun for everyone.
As a departure from the typical Assassin's Creed series, Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India is as colourful as they get. Unfortunately, the controls and limited story fail to really deliver a compelling gameplay experience.
Precise to a fault, Rainbow Six Siege sees the franchise embarking on an intriguing and highly entertaining premise. The lack of content can be a nagging issue though unless Ubisoft really starts stepping up.
StarCraft 2: Legacy of the Void lives up to Blizzard's reputation as a leading RTS developer and offers plenty for both series and RTS fans to enjoy.