Whether you want to treat Hearthstone as a frivolous time-waster, or you're looking for a new obsession, the game is a blast either way. It caters to every type of player. If you're a Warcraft fan, there are plenty of nods to the series you love. And even if you've never crafted war, it really doesn't matter. Hearthstone is thoughtful and complex, but at the same time welcoming and almost irresistible. It may just be a card game, but it often feels like so much more.
Halo 5: Guardians is a massive game that we intend to keep playing for the foreseeable future. There are parts that let us down, particularly the story, but it's hard to feel too stung when there's just so much fun to be had. Halo 5 has a lot to prove and it seems fully capable of doing just that. It's a pleasure seeing the series in top form once again.
Yet Dragon Age: Inquisition is one of those rare games where its flaws sound severe on paper, but often melt away when you're actually playing. We can't remember the last time we've been so thoroughly absorbed by a virtual place or so attached to a cast of characters. In that sense, Dragon Age: Inquisition is a flawed journey, but it's one that we eagerly want to return to.
Outside of the repetitious boss, there's very little to complain about with Crown of the Old Iron King. As you descend deeper in Brume Tower, there's much to uncover and you're often given multiple paths to explore. Regardless of how you progress, that familiar sense of dread will plague every step. Crown of the Old Iron King only gets more insidious as it goes on and we wouldn't have it any other way.
Still, "In Sheep's Clothing" nails it where it counts. Not since episode one have we felt so fascinated with The Wolf Among Us. It ties the ongoing story threads in such a way that they become more significant, making us eager to see how it all wraps up. These characters may originate from simple bedtime stories, but Telltale has made them far more real than they've ever been before.
It's hard not recommending episode two for anyone that remotely cares about Bioshock. While we won't spoil the surprises here, the sheer scope of the episode and what it accomplishes with the story makes it feel essential. Even more importantly, episode two is the best kind of DLC by being both distinct and deeply connected with its associated game. If you're willing to invest in the struggling first episode, episode two considerably strengthens this interesting extension of Bioshock's world.
It's easy to look at Beyond Earth and see it as nothing more than an elaborate reskin of Civilization V. In many ways, it shares a similar interface and borrows many components. Yet as soon as you get to the end of your first game, you're acutely aware of how different it feels. At this point, it's cliche to say how time consuming Civilization can be, but Beyond Earth only lends further credence to the phrase "one more turn."
Evolve may not be as fleshed out as other multiplayer shooters, but it's still one of those rare games that chases after something different and actually succeeds. It's built for incredible, player-driven stories; when you just barely triumph over a level three monster, or when you wipe out a group of hunters within a few minutes. Our biggest fear going into Evolve is that it would only be fun in short bursts, but every time we play the session lasts for hours. Even now, there are still so many things we want to get better at and experiment with. Needless to say, we're going to be hunting on Shear for the foreseeable future.
Yet these gripes feel minor in a game that offers so much. After all the time we've spent traveling the wastes, there's still more we have yet see. Wasteland 2 may not be the best looking game nor does it play in any sort of revelatory fashion, but it can still pull you in and refuse to let go.
Plague of Shadows is a great addition to an already wonderful game. There's a lot to experience, and considering the asking price is absolutely nothing, it's a generous offering. It's so good in fact, that we've enjoyed Plague of Shadows more than most other DLC, which sometimes feel like you're being charged a lot for little in return. With our love of shoveling rekindled, we hope to see more of this classically-inspired gem very soon.
It's hard to get hung up on the game's shortcomings when the core fighting looks and feels so outstanding. Matches are often loud, colorful spectacles in a way few competitors can match. And though the roster isn't the biggest, each character has an abundance of style and complexity. Like the rest of the series, Guilty Gear Xrd takes patience and commitment to fully wrap your head around, but the rewards are so substantial that the investment is absolutely worth it. Nothing is quite like Guilty Gear, and Xrd expertly demonstrates why it's been missed so much.
Yet what New 'n' Tasty does right overwhelmingly outweighs its few annoyances. The level of care that went into this remake will make you fall in love with Oddworld all over again and if you've never taken part, now is the perfect time to do so. Just Add Water has proven that we definitely need more Abe.
The greatest achievement in Ground Zeroes is how bold it feels. There's so much new, and none of it obfuscates what originally made Metal Gear Solid special. There's still thrilling stealth and an attention to detail that's rarely seen, but all of it is smarter and streamlined. Ground Zeroes may only be a taste of what's to come, but it looks like Metal Gear is heading in the right direction.
Heroes of the Storm has plenty of room to grow, but even with its numerous deficiencies, we're simply not having as much fun with any other MOBA. At this point, we've overdosed on so many would-be competitors to League of Legends. Heroes of the Storm is a revitalizing and largely successful attempt at looking at the genre in a different way. Blizzard refused to say "me too" and we're all better off for it.
Galak-Z may be rough around the edges, but the core of it is so good that it's easy to recommend regardless. It's a game of ecstatic moments, where you'll kill a boss with only a sliver of life, or dodge a barrage of lasers at the very last second. Galak-Z may not have the highest production values, but it's one of the most energizing games we've played on the PS4 this year.