Leif Johnson
Leif Johnson's Reviews
The tech specs are demanding, but this is the Middle-Earth game to rule them all.
Styx gets its hardcore stealth right, but its controls and platform elements fall short.
The Legend of Grimrock 2 is an RPG that's as much Myst as D&D, and benefits from the strengths of both.
Lords of the Fallen has fun combat and a good spin on Dark Souls' skill system, but its hero is overpowered.
Warlords of Draenor is a triumphant return to form for World of Warcraft
Much like Portal, The Talos Principle makes you feel smart just by playing it, as the bulk of the puzzles hit that sweet spot between too easy and near-impossible.
If you can stomach the plodding matches, Scrolls delivers a rewarding melange of collectible card and tabletop gameplay.
Blackguards 2 removes much of the chaff from the original game, but you'll still need some patience.
Hand of Fate delivers a fun, atypical RPG experience that lets you act out the scenarios of a trading card game.
Oblitus is a entertaining and challenging 2D roguelike inspired by Dark Souls, with only a few issues marring its success.
Obsidian (and its Kickstarter backers) have done it: Pillars of Eternity is one of the best RPGs since Baldur's Gate.
Bastion remains as strong of a game as it was in 2011, but there's no need to buy this version if you already own it.
Dungeons 2 is a decent mashup of Dungeon Keeper and real-time strategy conventions, but oversimplification keeps it from being a keeper.
Both land and space combat lack punch, but there's a fun if predictable 4X game waiting underneath.
Smart co-op partners make Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown's tactical combat work, but anything less falls short.
Galactic Civilizations 3 doesn't re-invent the wheel, but it delivers a top-notch, highly customizable 4X experience.
Technobabylon combines tricky puzzles with fantastic world-building and storytelling.
The Elder Scrolls Online: TU's combat handles well on a gamepad, making it a great way to experience all this content.
FFXIV: Heavensward is light on new features, but its story and wealth of content make it an expansion to remember.
Traverser boasts a fun presentation, but the gameplay doesn't always follow suit.