Hitman: Season 1 isn’t bad, but it is unremarkable. 47 is back, but the game doesn’t provide enough reasons for why anyone should care.
Gears of War 4 is a game made for the fans, by a similarly passionate development team. The campaign and multiplayer offer new elements that will please most players, but hopefully the next effort from The Coalition will see the core gameplay get a similar revamp.
NBA2k17 is recommended to those who haven’t played in a few years, but for fans who bought the most recent iterations, I don’t see any big reasons to pick up this year’s edition.
I liked ReCore's first part enough that I wish this score could be higher, but taken as a whole the game can't be qualified as "good". Again, I like ReCore, but I can't recommend it without tacking on a few asterisks.
Stardew Valley is an awesome experience. What it lacks in scale and scope, it makes up for with heart and variety. I spent dozens of hours being immersed in Stardew Valley and I think you will too.
I am Setsuna may not blow you away - it’s simple and understated, but there’s a lot of charm in that. This quiet JRPG is a solicitous throwback that makes its case through thoughtful moments instead of flashy cutscenes.
Necropolis has some good core mechanics, but the game assumes that you’ll want to start run after run simply out of your good graces, and fails to provide anything of merit for your efforts.
Battleborn is a solid competitive multiplayer title, effectively blending the MOBA genre with the first person shooter. Unfortunately, the devotion to be an e-sports future leaves it wanting in places.
Alienation feels like a series of half-measures that never come together, destined to be little more than a mediocre arcade shooter.
The Banner Saga 2 continues the tale in splendid fashion. It's dark, beautiful, and impressively written.
Not every change is perfect, but MLB The Show 16 is the first entry in a long time that sees the series take an impressive step forward. If you've been off the field for a while, now is a great time to step up to the plate.
Superhot relies heavily on its gameplay, which just happens to be the only part of the experience that is engaging. The rest is a bit uninspired, but if you don't need impressive visuals or a deep narrative, Superhot earns a recommendation.
At this point you've seen the best this series has to offer and if you haven't, then I would suggest playing ACC China and leaving it at that. Unless you're a dedicated fan, Assassin's Creed Chronicles: Russia is not worth your time or money.
The core of Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India might be alright; the tech and aesthetics are decent enough. But once you starting playing, the experience falls apart, leaving very little worth praising.
It's hard to deny the charm and wonderful atmosphere which so warmly embraces this unique subgenre title. There are some good moments in Hard West, but the overworld struggles with lifeless text-based action and the gunfights lean more toward frustrating than tension-filled.
Rise of the Tomb Raider is a competent sequel. There are some nice additions to the design, and the familiar mechanics from the previous game are the strongest aspects of the experience. But Lara's new adventure isn't interesting, and the serious tone doesn't do it any favors.
Tales from the Borderlands has got it where it counts and delivers a series that is more than worthy of the franchise name. It's a Telltale game that's a winner for all, not just fans of the best-selling shooter.
NBA 2K16 is another solid entry in a series that is really starting to establish itself as one of the best in sports. It might have its drawbacks and fall short of certain expectations, but the core of NBA 2K continues to be strong.
The core of Blood Bowl 2 is great. It's a wonderful realization of a fun board game, brought to life with a competent design. Unfortunately, beyond the one-off matches, the title is catered to a very specific kind of fan.
Until Dawn is a fascinating horror experience, using the creativity of its gameplay to approach the genre in a new and surprising way. It's well-paced and the blending of horror with choice-based gameplay is a fantastic union.