Ravi Sinha
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.
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.
Serious Sam 4 won't rewrite the book for narrative FPS campaigns and that's perfectly fine. It sticks close to the series' roots while offering some contemporary improvements and improved presentation. If you're hankering for some straightforward shooting action that doesn't take itself too seriously, Sam "Serious" Stone's got your back.
Disintegration is a straightforward experiment that offers an intriguing if derivative world to explore and characters to like. Its FPS/strategy mix of gameplay is inherently limited, especially in multiplayer, but the campaign still makes for an enjoyable romp.
Mandate of Heaven may not be a total overhaul to the series' formula but it still offers a lot of new things. The familiar map and lackluster new units are offset by the entertaining new styles of play, new heroes and interesting events. Definitely worth checking out if you've been itching to get back into Three Kingdoms.
Despite lagging behind in certain key areas and roughly developing others, Death's Gambit is a relatively enjoyable romp for fans of 2D Souls-like hack and slash. Siradon won't beckon you like Lothric or Yharnam anytime soon but presents some enjoyable sights and sounds otherwise.
Surviving Mars combines so many interesting mechanics and genres but seems to lack the overall depth that defines more specialized titles. Nevertheless, it's an entertaining romp in exploration, survival and colonization that's good for a couple dozen hours or so.
Like comfort food for the hack and slash enthusiast, Warhammer: Vermintide 2 is supported ably by its co-op action. Loot/progression dynamics, the odd few bugs and some repetitive action aside, it does warrant a closer look.
Fe is dreamy and looks the part but doesn't completely immerse one in its whimsical setting. It's a trip that's fairly painless but doesn't offer much more than a few amazing highlights.
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds is a great primer into the world of Last Man Standing. Those hearing the name “Battle Royale” and expecting a bloodbath of dramatic proportions might want to temper their expectations and try it out first.
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.
On the one hand, Destiny 2 will feel like old times, an adventure that begins with the words "Be brave" and culminates in epic shenanigans. On the other hand, Destiny's soul doesn't feel any more defined in this sequel and it's prone to many of the pitfalls of the original while introducing some new mistakes. Highly recommended for Destiny fans and new players but those who didn't like the original might want to think twice.
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.
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.
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.
As the first episode in the series, Realm of Shadows offers a compelling start to what could be an enjoyable Batman adventure. Performance could be better - notwithstanding other issues plaguing PC gamers - and Telltale's gameplay is getting pretty old but Batman: The Telltale Series more than holds up with its story-telling, art and mechanics.
LawBreakers attempts to reconcile the hero shooter genre with the arena shooter genre and somewhat succeeds. However, for as fun as it can be, it needs more than nifty movement and fast action for the long run.
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.