CONTROL: Resonant is the kind of sequel that swings for the fences, and for the most part, it lands. Remedy has taken everything that made the original Control special and expanded it into something bigger and stranger, filled with otherworldly level design that feels pulled straight from an alien’s mind and brought to life. Dylan’s melee-based combat is also a welcome shift, creating satisfying encounters that complement its semi-open world with focused, fast-paced action. Still, many things need addressing, from performance issues during crowded encounters to a deeply underwhelming ending that leaves more questions than answers. Overall, these faults don’t take much away from the experience, which is packed with Remedy’s visual and audio splendor. With just a few imperfections, it remains an otherwise mesmerizing science-fiction story that breaks the traditional Pattern of what videogames can be.
In a perfect world, Final Fantasy 15 would’ve been a fully realized game that exceeded everyone’s expectations. But we don’t live in a perfect world. The result may not have matched what Square Enix initially envisioned, with its shallow real-time combat and disjointed storytelling delivered through a bizarre transmedia format. Still, flawed as it may be, it became a serviceable Final Fantasy adventure that ultimately grew beyond what was left of the Versus XIII promise through its series of updates, backed by a fantastic bond between its four main characters that, despite all those royal fumbles, still walked tall.
RuneScape: Dragonwilds condenses 25 years of magic into one massive survival crafting open-world game. This major shift from its traditional “Buying GF” MMO roots feels like a natural evolution for a franchise that inspired countless others, and now it’s RuneScape’s turn to take a few pages from its peers. What keeps 1.0 from being the complete package, however, is that this addictive grind eventually hits a wall, as the lack of meaningful endgame content leaves little reason to keep pushing once you’ve conquered its biggest challenges. Still, that hasn’t taken away what makes its gameplay loop so addictive: horizontal progression that's more forgiving for casual players, while still giving you another reason to keep going until you suddenly realize how many hours have passed.
The Blood of Dawnwalker is a confident dark-fantasy RPG from Rebel Wolves that wears its The Witcher 3 influences proudly while carving out an identity of its own through its 14th-century European setting and ambitious 30-day time system. While its barebones combat and mediocre visual presentation leave more to be desired, the fantastic writing coursing through its veins proves that it’s more than just a shadow of its silver-haired inspiration, leaving plenty of room for Coen’s journey to sink its teeth deeper into fans of this fresh-blooded IP boiling with potential.
How to Fish is a great online co-op game to play with friends, but it’s slightly less enjoyable solo because of its grind-heavy progression. However, when you have a full squad by your side, the game’s chaotic gameplay and boss fights make the repetition much easier to stomach, as you’re immediately pulled into its addictive blend of fishing and first-person shooting, hook, line, and sinker.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope is a fantastic expansion that builds on what made the base game so compelling, even as its slow-burn pacing and punishing gameplay remain largely unchanged. Its strong narrative on two of the series’ popular factions, as well as its deeper dive into the convoluted science-fiction mythos makes it a worthwhile return to the Zone. The addition of Update 2.0 and two new explorable regions, including the iconic CNPP, gives longtime fans more than enough reason to soak in the Roentgens and smell the irradiated roses.
Lootbound is a great, bite-sized roguelite that’s best enjoyed in short bursts. It’s addictive, sure, but its barebones storytelling, overreliance on luck, and early-game grind can sometimes get in the way. What ultimately carries the experience is its surprisingly deep buildcrafting, which should appeal to veteran roguelite fans while giving you plenty of freedom to shape your own journey through the loot you pick, party members you recruit, and bosses you face. It knows exactly what it wants to be, giving you just enough control to feel like a Dungeon Master while leaving enough to chance to make every victory feel earned, one roll at a time.
Mistfall Hunter's blend of Soulslike combat and extraction gameplay shouldn't work on paper, but Bellring Games has found a compelling middle ground that delivers addictive progression and tense PvPvE encounters. While its technical issues and uneven class balance leave room for improvement, the game lays a strong foundation for a live-service adventure with plenty of long-term potential. The mist hasn't lifted just yet, but I can already see what's waiting on the other side.
Dinoblade is equal parts fun and rough around the edges. There's clearly more work to be done before it can earn its place in the soulslike food chain. But its solid gameplay foundations, borrowed from its contemporaries, prove that this game can stand on its own. With an over-the-top premise centered around dinosaurs wielding greatswords, it's a game that thrives on its meme status, provided you can overlook its technical hiccups and barebones storytelling. For $20, you'll get a surprisingly serviceable soulslike that has plenty of bite and enough personality to avoid extinction in an increasingly crowded genre.
Denshattack! is more than just the sum of its inspirations as it constantly pushes the arcade platformer genre forward with inventive level design and delightfully over-the-top boss encounters. In many ways, it's a love letter to Japanese pop culture, packing everything from mechas and kaiju to Akira slides into one unforgettable Shonen-adventure, even if its story leaves much to be desired. Once you overcome its steep learning curve, it becomes a nonstop thrill ride that never lets up, constantly building momentum and taking you to places you never thought possible.
Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced is the definitive way to experience one of the greatest Assassin's Creed games ever made. With its stunning visual overhaul, meaningful accessibility features, and thoughtful story additions, it fully delivers on the fantasy of living life as a swashbuckling pirate. Even without the modern-day storyline that once raised the stakes, and despite the occasional bugs and glitches, Edward Kenway's unforgettable voyage across the Caribbean never feels rudderless. Resynced sets a new blueprint for the series while making the original pale by comparison, proving itself to be well worth its weight in gold.
Four years after its release, Horizon Forbidden West remains one of PlayStation's finest exclusives thanks to its gorgeous open world, refined combat, and ambitious science-fiction story, even if its narrative doesn't quite recapture the magic of Zero Dawn. Despite a few unanswered questions and an abrupt cliffhanger, Guerrilla Games' sophomore entry in the Horizon series delivers a cinematic adventure elevated by the Decima Engine's industry-leading visuals and Ashley Burch's magnetic performance as Aloy. And the best part? Her journey is far from over, with even bigger adventures still waiting on the horizon.
Meccha Chameleon feels like a “forever game” in a sea of party games on Steam, and part of its appeal is all thanks to its inventive twist on the hide-and-seek genre. The best part is that it’s only the beginning for this viral sensation as more copies are being sold every day. Its low price point, paired with endless community mod support, can even draw in non-gamers because it’s such a low-risk purchase that’s well worth gifting to friends on a boring Friday night.
There is a lot to love about Voidling Bound despite its story and missions relying on frustrating grind and predictable objectives. Still, the core gameplay remains engaging enough to carry the experience, especially when experimenting with increasingly powerful Voidlings. Once you get past the mutational flaws in its lack of variety, there is a surprising amount of fun to be had. Much of that comes from its deep customization, supported by its Evolution and Splicing systems, which encourage constant tinkering and creativity that keeps you bound for hours on end.
Coffee Talk Tokyo’s compelling new Japanese setting highlights important cultural issues tied to living in a rapidly changing world, all told through Toge Productions’ nuanced writing. While the game could have benefited from voice acting and a few exploration-focused gameplay segments, these shortcomings hardly matter when Tokyo remains committed to delivering a fascinating blend of character arcs that are easy to care about. Paired with the cozy ambiance of simply listening to people talk over a cup of joe, the experience is more than enough to leave a strong and lasting aftertaste. All you really have to do is sit down and listen.
Thick as Thieves is an odd game that suffers from its barebones campaign and questionable launch content, but its incredible stealth gameplay and low price tag at five dollars easily carry the experience. Between its immersive atmosphere and layered heist levels that reward patience and experimentation, there’s still something to appreciate in its moment-to-moment gameplay. Still, it feels like a game that needed more time to properly reveal its grander vision, showing its cards too sparsely, without the kind of prep-time you’d expect from a master thief’s plan.
Dread Neighbor delivers a terrifying slasher experience thanks to its strong atmosphere and multiple character vignettes, even if it stumbles in its linear pacing and overreliance on jumpscares. Its short two-hour runtime and low price make it an easy recommendation for those looking for some quick, intense scares. While it doesn’t evolve much from the creator's previous game, Dread Flats, its shifting perspectives and strong final sequence help it stand out as a worthwhile follow-up.