Even with the bugs, Pillars of Eternity is an RPG that any fan of the genre must play. It keeps the old-school mentality of the genre alive, while also offering something fresh and original.
There's no arguing Mortal Kombat's timeless design, but the newest entry doesn't attempt to evolve the fighting genre or even the franchise itself. And yet, Mortal Kombat X is a competent fighting game, and it bears the marks of an experienced team that knows how to give their fans what they want.
It is nice, refreshing even, to see Assassin's Creed doing something a little different from the norm. But the differences are only skin deep. Much of ACC: China is routine and unpolished, failing to capitalize on an opportunity to stand out from the rest of the series.
Magicka 2 flashes potential in its gameplay, but can't come up with a way to turn that potential into a good game. Couple the boring design with the technical issues and it's a difficult game to recommend.
Everybody's Gone to the Rapture is an incredibly engaging piece of fiction. Its investigation into humanity and relationships far exceeds its desire to wow you with action. It is a slow game, a contemplative game, and it's one of my favorites this year.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Banner Saga 2 continues the tale in splendid fashion. It's dark, beautiful, and impressively written.
Alienation feels like a series of half-measures that never come together, destined to be little more than a mediocre arcade shooter.
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.
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.
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.