By no means a perfect game, Styx: Shards of Darkness is still an improvement on the first. As the series continues to progress we can hope to see some better storytelling, world building and crisper graphics and sound, but for now at least we have an enjoyable experience with some interesting ideas to experiment with
With gameplay that can shock, amuse and satisfy in the same slowed heartbeat, Sniper Elite 4 is the best game in the series. While it graphics, story and characters can feel a little flat, the gameplay has always been the focus, and is so perfectly tuned to make the rest seem inconsequential.
Steep delivers great fun for winter sports game fans, although it can be a little difficult to find amongst a huge map and confusing tutorial/interface. What Ubisoft has tried to accomplish is mostly successful, and fans of winter sports games will find a lot that they recognize and a lot that improves on the genre in this mountain range.
Watch_Dogs 2 is a textbook example of a great sequel. It takes what was so much fun from the first game, expands it and cuts away most of what the players didn't enjoy.
If you've played a Just Dance game before, any Just Dance game, you'll know whether or not you like Just Dance 2017. It doesn't add much to the series but is another bombastic, deeply enjoyable game to play as you accidentally break your living room furniture.
Although the allure of returning to one of the most engaging Elder Scrolls titles might be overwhelming, Skyrim Special Edition itself feels dated, with little improvements made in terms of gameplay and graphics. You'll play it for hours, but you'll keep wondering why.
With an interesting, albeit familiar narrative, great gameplay and some really brutal battles, Gears of War 4 offers exactly what fans of the series have been yearning for: hours upon hours of great, weighty combat.
A beautiful early example of the narrative driven 'walking simulator' brought to life with stunning graphics and the same intriguingly muddled narrative as its become famous for.
NBA 2K17 is the greatest basketball game ever made, bar none. That said, it's not really accessible at first for newcomers, so keep that in mind; if you intend to venture into the MyCareer mode, be prepared for lots of unnecessary cutscenes, too.
This is a multiplayer game, not a single player one. Cruising through the skies against a squadron of human pilots is frantic and enjoyable. Anything else is not worth your time.
Beautiful, compelling and strange. There isn't a reason not to try Bound, and although its heavy emotional focus might not be for everyone, its well implemented movement and speed mechanics will surely be enough to keep even the most stone-hearted player entertained.
Although a lot could be improved in Dex, nearly everything is good and solid. With the exception of the hacking, you'll have a lot of fun running and fighting your way across the map, even if you don't always know where you are and where you should be.
Umbrella Corp is a game that should have been scrapped, not released. It may have started with the best intentions, but the end result is a game that relies on tired gameplay and a familiar name. Going back to the drawing board would have been better than what was released now.
Hard Reset Redux is not a bad game, but nor is it something you'll feel particularly satisfied putting an afternoon into. Its dreary setting has been better explored in games like Deus Ex and its combat has been better exploited in Doom. If this year hadn't already been so stellar for amazing releasing, Hard Reset would be more welcome, as it stands, there's a lot better to spend your time on.
If you've ever wondered what the fuss of MOBAs are, or wanted a little more shooter in your battle arena, Battleborn is perfect for you. It is so different from the competitive shooters on the market at the minute. Once you get through the initial trail and error, you won't look back at all.
Adam Venture is a good attempt at an exploration puzzle game. Although it isn't perfect, there is a lot to like within the game. Whether this can be improved in the future is yet to be seen, but for now there is enough to enjoy, although maybe not for the price tag on release.
While it might miss a trick from time to time, overall Dunegon of the Endless a great little game. Although doing well means you'll be spending two hours jumping from floor to floor, for the most part it feels like a satisfying game to pick up and play for half an hour, vowing to do better next time.
Although it might not be dragging people away from Call of Duty or the giants of the genre, PvZ: Garden Warfare 2 has a great atmosphere and some really enjoyable moments. If you've ever wanted to do battle as a piece of corn, sunflower or superhero zombie, this might be the only game to fill that niche.
Fans of the survival genre will find something refreshing in The Flame in the Flood. And although it can be a little rough around the edges at times, the themes and design of the game make for an interesting and enveloping game.
This War of Mine: The Little Ones adds more to the game that makes it both wholeheartedly enjoyable and deeply distressing. Its survival mechanics are impressively weighted, and the events throughout the war are harrowing. This feels like a game everyone should experience for themselves.