War of the Chosen is the definitive way to play XCOM 2. Even if you weren't impressed with the original package, this feels like a whole new game. Buy it.
Before the Storm is at its best when it focuses on the untold elements of Life Is Strange. So far, those moments capture the spirit of the original, but I'm anxious to see if it can hold up as the timelines converge. Buy it.
The Evil Within 2 is a mechanical step up from the first game in nearly every way, even if the narrative is just as disposable as ever. Buy it if that balance doesn't bother you.
This is a step backward for the series—and not just chronologically. Skip it.
Agents of Mayhem has spirit, but not as much as its Saints Row predecessors and not enough to completely outshine the paint-by-numbers design. Try it.
Randomness keeps Darkest Dungeon's signature grind in a holding pattern, but new content breathes life into the whole experience. Buy it.
Total War: Warhammer 2 shakes up the wonderful strategy of its predecessor with new factions and locales. Although the DLC X-factor could shake up the campaigns even further. Buy it.
Rise of the Necromancer offers a new angle of attack on a great, well-supported game, but it's only worth the investment for dedicated players. Try it.
Dishonored: Death of the Outsider frees itself from the franchise's usual restrictions, while putting its usual tools to satisfying use. Buy it.
Buy it if you're still on the Brood War bandwagon. Try the free, old-school version if you're just curious how deep your nostalgia is for the game.
Hello Neighbor is the worst game I've reviewed all year. Skip it with prejudice.
Ruiner has a lot in common with other top-down action games, but blends bits of all of them into a uniquely demanding, satisfying shooter. Buy it.
Yakuza 6 sums up its lead character succinctly and emotionally, while shaking up enough to make the return ride feel fresh. Buy it.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 makes up in manic energy what it lacks in elegance. Its mountain of ideas don't always work, but the core of the game justifies its experiments. Buy it.
$20 isn't much to spend for a night's entertainment, but there are much better games of this type for about the same price. Skip it.
Try it. If the first episode is to your liking, you'll dig the rest.
If you've already burned through your pile of Metroid-likes, Iconoclasts is solid fuel for the fire. Try it.
It's a great game to fill a contemplative afternoon. Buy it.
Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire is a broad, deep, and excellent RPG in the tradition of Baldur's Gate. And it has pirates. Buy it.
State of Decay 2 is a smart, messy idea without much of a game to go with it… again. Try it if you don't mind bugs or repetition too much.