Javy Gwaltney
Wolfenstein II brings the gruesome thrills and spins an unforgettable story filled with believable characters fighting for a better world
Titanfall 2 is that rare game where both its single-player and multiplayer modes are exceptional and highly entertaining in their own ways
As fiendishly clever as it is stylish, Quadrilateral Cowboy is one of the best puzzle adventure games in years
Birthright takes Awakening's combination of narrative flexibility and tactical strategy and makes it even better
Conquest is a challenging game that richly rewards players willing to undergo its trial by fire
An engaging and surreal first-person narrative adventure packed with mystery and effective emotional moments
Respawn successfully blends battle royale and hero shooters to great effect, raising the bar for free-to-play first-person shooters
Most purposely difficult games that have arrived in the wake of Super Meat Boy, Spelunky and Dark Souls are embodiments of a failure to understand that there's more to those games than just how hard they are, often making the only thing enjoyable about them the fleeting sense of achievement you get when you finally overcome a poorly-designed obstacle through luck or trial and error. Downwell, with its velocity and elegant simplicity, does not make that mistake. It's a difficult game, certainly, but it's also a generous one, likely providing its player with great heaps of joy for a ludicrously small time investment.
This challenging voyage makes for one of the most memorable and satisfying survival games in the last few years
Observer is a tense combination of sci-fi and horror, and one of the best cyberpunk games in years
The Switch version of Skyrim is a well-executed version of a modern classic that you can play on the go, offering the same delights (and minor frustrations) of the original
Thanks to its robust battle system, intriguing character-switching puzzles, and beautiful storytelling, Crossing Souls is a fantastic adventure that goes beyond its nostalgic trappings
The conclusion to Telltale's second season with the caped crusader is ambitious and spellbinding
Whether you're building a camp on the island or searching for clues to your son's whereabouts in dark and dangerous caverns, The Forest is a fantastic horror thrill ride
Kiwami 2 is more than a great remake: it's the best this strange, wonderful series has to offer and it shouldn't be missed by fans of action or RPG titles
Observation is a fantastic horror game thanks to its twisting plot, well-realized setting, and challenging puzzles
More than just a throwback to frenzied '90s shooters, Ion Fury is a fantastic game filled with creative weaponry, oodles of humor, and memorable levels.
What is [Apotheon's] song? One of delight and wonder, I would argue, an expression of unabashed love for myth. That it's possible to turn such love into an engrossing adventure that coalesces in a way so few games do reminds me of my own love for games and of their potential as a medium of beautiful expression. Apotheon, then, is the kind of videogame we need more of.
Sunset is a gift, an all too rare kind of game that focuses on people loving and hurting in mundane but almost unbearable ways. I will return to Ortega's penthouse in San Bavón soon, I imagine; if not in person, than in fond remembrance. It is, after all, the home I never knew I had.
Rocket League, besides being a game that's pure, unbridled joy to play, has gotten me curious after all these years about soccer again. I keep finding myself thinking maybe I'll watch the next World Cup, maybe I'll rent a FIFA game and give the series another try, maybe maybe maybe. Regardless, for now, there's the rumble of cars blasting across a stadium, their miniature flags wobbling as the crowd cheers, and that's more than enough.