Diablo 4 will provide dozens, if not hundreds, of hours of entertainment for those seeking a solid action RPG looter. However, some may be left wanting by the story, power fantasy and some of the endgame.
Amnesia: The Bunker is Frictional's best entry in the series since The Dark Descent. Its environmental design and mechanics offer multiple solutions for problems, and its use of darkness leads to some genuine dread. Just don't go in expecting a very long experience.
With heavy doses of action platforming, a dash of Metroidvania and some striking visuals, Convergence: A League of Legends Story provides a compelling side-story for Ekko.
Street Fighter 6 is more than the sum of its individually excellent parts. It's a return to form for a franchise that's been on the back foot for years, and a stellar fighting game as a whole.
After Us combines solid platforming with a wonderfully realized post-apocalyptic vision of over-consumption. Even if Memories feel like a missed opportunity, the overall narrative and gameplay make it a worthwhile trip into a morbid future.
Planet of Lana is an incredible journey. It's a down-to-earth traipse through a unique but endearing off-world setting, with tight pacing and excellent presentation underscoring a tale of camaraderie and familial devotion. Whether it's the incredible visuals or the stellar gameplay, it's worth your time.
Honkai: Star Rail upholds miHoYo's strong reputation for compelling RPGs. Even with the gacha systems, it offers a fun free-to-play experience with fun story-telling, interesting companions and sleek gameplay.
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.