Toukiden 2 is a step forward for the monster hunting genre. The open world mechanics help reduce the tiresome grind present in similar titles to a minimum, and the story will keep players engaged until the end.
DESYNC is a stylish first person shooter let down by a few questionable choices. Gamers willing to overlook unfair enemy spawn mechanics and frustrating level design may end up loving The Foregone Syndicate‘s debut title, but it’s definitely not for everyone.
Torment: Tides of Numenera is an excellent spiritual successor to one of the most influential RPGs ever released. inXile Entertainment has created a game that dares to be different, letting players approach the task at hand in a staggering amount of different ways. It may be a bit short when compared to similar titles, but what it lacks in length, it more than makes up for in replayability.
Berserk and The Band Of The Hawk is one of the best musou titles to date, offering tons of quality content, a well told story and fun gameplay that will enthrall fans of the franchise and newcomers alike.
For Honor is an excellent multiplayer fighting title held back by poor matchmaking and annoying connection issues. Gamers willing to look past these problems will discover one of the best multiplayer experiences of this generation but less patient players may be discouraged by the title’s technical issues.
Rise & Shine is a beautiful 2D action title marred by annoying difficulty spikes and an uninspired story. It's not an outright bad game, as there is enjoyment to be found in its puzzle segments and Gears of War style cover based shootouts, but the overall package isn't very fun to play.
Titanfall 2 is one of the best shooters released this year. Respawn Entertainment mixed an unforgettable singleplayer campaign with an excellent multiplayer suite, creating the ultimate action package, something that every gamer worth their salt should at least try.
Earth’s Dawn is a stylish action RPG with a few noticeable flaws that prevent it from achieving greatness. Its complex skill tree, exhilarating boss fights and in-depth crafting mechanics will keep some players busy for a long time, but others may be discouraged by the game’s repetitiveness and annoying difficulty spikes.
Xanadu Next is an excellent action RPG which will undoubtedly keep players coming back for more for the duration of its 15 hours long adventure. Nihon Falcom has expertly crafted an engaging mix of exploration, puzzle solving and combat that can stand proudly beside other classics in the genre.
Yomawari: Night Alone is an excellent survival horror title that will keep players on their toes for the duration of its four hours long campaign. Nippon Ichi Software‘s latest title goes back to the horror genre’s roots, letting go of modern traditions and bombastic set pieces, and focusing on a more personal story instead.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 feels like a textbook example of a safe sequel. Gamers who enjoyed the previous title will definitely get a kick out of this one, thanks to the bigger and more detailed hub city, expanded character customization options and solid online servers. Newcomers to the franchise should probably skip the previous game, since DIMPS‘ latest production is better in every way.
Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence – Ascension is an excellent grand strategy title which will provide countless hours of enjoyment for fans of the genre. It’s a complex game, and most newcomers will probably bash their heads against a virtual wall for hours before fully mastering its systems, but climbing the social ladder and conquering Japan feels incredibly rewarding.
Clockwork Empires feels like a flawed gem. Gamers looking for an accessible colony simulator will certainly find a lot to love here, but frequent crashes and numerous AI issues spoil the experience.
Battlefield 1 feels like a massive improvement over its predecessor, and a genuinely great shooter. The single player campaign is fresh and exciting, and the multiplayer component rivals the series’ best.
Shadow Warrior 2 is an excellent follow up to Flying Wild Hog's 2013 reboot. Lo Wang's latest adventure is bigger, meaner and bolder, letting players embark on the ultimate power trip as they shoot, loot and slice their way through demonic armies.
Mafia III is a competent open world action game with an excellent story. Sadly, repetitive side missions, technical issues and brain-dead AI drag down the overall package, turning what could have been a masterpiece into a more mundane affair.
Clustertruck proves that first person platforming can be incredibly fun, and that not all games need a complex concept in order to keep players engaged.
Cossacks 3 is a faithful remake of the original game, and strategy fans looking for an old school RTS will enjoy it enormously. Sadly, the game’s AI isn’t as good as one would expect, and massive battles lead to performance issues, even on systems that exceed the game’s recommended system requirements.
RIVE is a masterfully crafted game that can be easily recommended to hardcore shooter fans. It’s high difficulty level may scare away potential players, but those who stick with Two Tribes‘ final game until the end will not be disappointed.
Necropolis: Brutal Edition is a successful mix of Souls inspired combat with roguelike elements. It may hit a few bumps along the road, but Harebrained Schemes’ third person action roguelike can be easily recommended to most gamers, and it’s incredibly fun in co-op.