Ikai's interesting setting and unsettling atmosphere are let down by its clunky gameplay, mundane and repetitive structure, and several technical issues.
With engaging battles, a captivating story, excellent world-building, and interesting choices with actual weight and consequences, Triangle Strategy is an absolute gem that far exceeds all expectations.
Ghostwire: Tokyo mixes unique ideas with formulaic design, and though the latter does affect the experience, it is ultimately still a solid, enjoyable game that's well worth experiencing.
Grand Theft Auto 5's new-gen upgrade is solid and effective, but much too conservative, especially for a game that's long overstayed its welcome.
Monark has a lot of good ideas, but almost all of them are let down by a repetitive structure, grindy combat, and baffling design decisions.
Martha is Dead is best appreciated from a distance, because while its narrative premise and setting are certainly impresses, the game itself is slow as molasses and frustratingly clunk.
Cyberpunk 2077 isn't the disaster that it was at launch, but even on more powerful hardware, it's just a slightly more polished version of a deeply disappointing game.
Horizon Forbidden West is an impressive achievement in storytelling, game design, and technology, and in improving upon its predecessor in nearly every way possible, it delivers one of the finest games of its kind in recent memory.
Dying Light 2 Stay Human is often let down by clumsy writing, unbalanced progression, clunky combat, and technical issues, but its excellent parkour, engaging choice and consequence mechanics, and the expertly realized threat of the Infected make for a fun open world free-running romp nonetheless.
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection is a conservative remaster, but the inherent quality of the two games it compiles remains undeniable.
The Gunk is an absolute triumph- it looks gorgeous, crafts an addictive and engaging gameplay loop, and tells a story that succeeds on every level.
Though its held back by rough production values and gameplay inconsistencies, Cricket 22 is a decent enough game that fans of the sport should enjoy.
Halo Infinite’s multiplayer is one of the series’ best offerings to date. With time, it can become even better.
Chorus is one of the biggest surprises of the year. With a great story, excellent world-building, tight movement, thrilling combat, and rewarding progression, this is one of the most enjoyable space shooters I've played in quite some time.
Surviving the Aftermath doesn't utilize its dire post-apocalyptic setting as well as it could have, but those looking for an addictive, mechanically dense city builder/management sim will find a lot of enjoyment here.
Jurassic World Evolution 2 is the perfect sequel- it's bigger, better, and toothier than its predecessor in almost every way that matters.
Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition can be fun to play thanks to the inherent strengths of the three all-time classics it remasters, but the remastering itself feels shoddy, thoughtless, and rushed.
Football Manager 2022 richest, most nuanced, and most dangerously addictive iteration of Sports Interactive's yearly sim series yet.
Playground Games has been honing this open world racing formula for close to a decade at this point, making meaningful improvements with each iteration- and with Forza Horizon 5, once again, the series has touched new heights. As impossible it may seem in the moment that it will be surpassed, however, if history has taught us anything, it’s that this is a series that never stops improving.
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy might be by-the-numbers, but it's a consistently enjoyable experience with great characters and an engaging story, thanks to an excellent understanding of what makes this property tick.