Gears 5 is a return to form for the venerable series, and though some new ideas and better writing aren't quite executed to perfection, they bring a welcome sense of freshness to a series where the fundamentals are as strong as ever.
Rad isn't really dramatically reinventing any wheels, but it's the perfect wee game to have sitting on your HD for some casual fun. You can bust out a run in its delightfully weird world in an hour or so and have a slightly different experience each time. It may not inspire the sort of rabid devotion of something like Spelunky, but it's a great gaming snack between meals.
World War Z is probably actually up there as film tie-in games go, and is capable of offering some nifty zombie action that can get your pulse racing. But once you've seen its tricks, it all gets a bit samey fast - faster because we've seen something very similar before - and it's hard to imagine it having much of a shelf life
Far Cry: New Dawn offers fans of the series much of what they have come to like about it and does some good work as a direct sequel, but its reduced scope has led to some changes that are not for the better, and it definitely stands as a minor entry
8-Bit Hordes is a pleasantly diverting and fast-paced “blast”-style throwback to the heyday of the RTS, with plenty of charm. It's also easy to pick up and play. But its major lack of depth will turn off hardcore strategy fans, and several annoyances detract from what would otherwise be a polished product.
Space Hulk: Tactics is probably the best video game adaption of the classic board game yet, with decent presentation and some welcome additions. But the faithfulness of its adaption only highlights the limited "tactics" offered by the board game's basic setup, and its lower budget makes for a lack of polish in some areas. Strategy buffs may be diverted for a bit, but won't fall in love.
Far Cry 5 is a handsome, mechanically dazzling, engaging title fused to story that doesn't deliver despite early promise.
When it's on song, the game is immersive and intriguing; at other times, it can be deathly dull. It's nice to see an RPG trying to do something a bit different and succeeding in many ways, but KC:D has an unfortunate "hmm, I wish this was Skyrim" vibe that many gamers may find difficult to shake off.
Star Wars Battlefront II's campaign is merely okay, and its multiplayer is hamstrung by an awful upgrade system. There's also the spectre of loot boxes hanging over it like a Lightsaber of Damocles. However, it looks and sounds amazing, and gameplay-wise delivers the goods.
Wolfenstein II's stealth, gunplay, sprawling levels, and different abilities offer plenty of scope for a variety of player approaches, while its excellent writing and voice acting serve a great story that successfully manages to blend an often serious tone with moments of levity and pulp. It's an affecting yet cathartic title, and one of the very best games out this year.
Its characters aren't much chop, but The Evil Within 2 coughs up some gruesome enemies and scares, while mostly justifying its shift to an open world design.
Destiny 2 is the game everyone hoped its predecessor would be; a massive, polished, breathtaking beast in a class of its own.
In a way, Absolver turns a truth about the genre into a kind of design aesthetic and philosophy; the ultimate raison d'etre of this fighting game is for you to get better at fighting. When you click to this, it becomes a Zen-epic sort of proposition, as you wander around the gorgeous and melancholy Adal getting into lonely contests under dappled greenery and atop perilous ledges, sloooooowly learning the skills you need to better defend yourself.
Matterfall contains some welcome formula tweaks and the usual level of Housemarque polish, but it's much less inspired than the Finnish studio's better shooters.
Outlast 2 is more of an ordeal than the first, in terms of content but also gameplay. The story provides some momentum, but trial and error sequences will see many succumb to frustration (and many large pick axes).
Sniper Elite 4 improves all areas of the franchise to a greater or lesser extent, and its protagonist remains the only real weak spot.
Don Bradman Cricket 17 builds on a strong foundation to provide video gaming's best crack at emulating a complex and (for the gaming mainstream) niche sport. While we give it an 8/10, in cricketing terms, it's a well-played four.
No Man's Sky was never going to live up to the hype, but sadly even those with tempered expectations are likely to be somewhat disappointed. It is by no means a terrible game, it just feels unfinished and empty.
Defect is an appealing and well-designed build 'n' destroy space shooter that lets you get creative, then challenges you to one-up yourself via a unique mutiny mechanic.
Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens dutifully follows the pattern set by prior Lego tie-ins to a fault, but it's nonetheless a sound title your kids will love.