Heat Signature looks like Hotline Miami to the untrained eye, but this is a game that rewards planning more than violence at a breakneck pace. Sneak your way onto procedural-generated ships and use a wide variety of gear to maim, steal, swap, teleport, decrypt, and simply break your targets. Heat Signature provides some amazing watercooler moments, but eventually players will hit a pretty high difficulty wall and the game punishes failure hard. Until then, there's a unique stealth action title to be found here.
Divinity: Original Sin 2 is simply the pinnacle of the CRPG genre. It offers a campaign with memorable characters, interesting role-playing options, and excellent systemic combat. The environments are beautiful and the soundtrack is solid. That alone would put it at the top of the heap, but then Larian added offline and online coop, a PVP arena mode, and Game Master mode, the greatest throwback to the Dungeons & Dragons pen-and-paper games that underpin the entire genre. I might have small issues here and there, but Divinity: Original Sin 2 is one of the best in a strong year for gaming.
Destiny 2 is a vast improvement over the original Destiny. The shooting is still top-notch, Bungie has crafted grand worlds to explore, the environments are simply beautiful, and the delivery of the game's story is much better. The game still falters in when it comes to satisfying endgame progression and it's missing some standard MMO features. All in all though, Destiny 2 is a damned good MMO time, no subscription fee required.
Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite is full package, offering a fun Story Mode, online play, local Versus action, and a roster of 30 fighters. The issue is how many of those fighters are returning from the previous game, Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3. Even with the inclusion of the reality-warping Infinity Stones, Capcom can't change the reality that it feels like Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite needed more new blood.
Studio Wildcard has built a game that feels like a rough framework for players creating their own experiences, rather than a whole, cohesive experience in and of itself. There's a lot hear to see and do: gathering, crafting a wide variety of items, taming animals, and building tribes. But it's hidden behind an elder game that teaches players nothing and a mid-game of maintenance and tedium. But there's promise here underneath the cruft and rough edges. That promise just isn't full realized yet.
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle is a game that sounds like it shouldn't be any good. On the contrary, Ubisoft has crafted a charming adventure for Mario and its Rabbids. The game streamlines the strategy combat experience while still offering surprising depth. Its world is absolutely beautiful, full of color, life, and hints of Mario's long history. Mario + Rabbids has no right being this good. It's not perfect, but it stands as one of the better gaming surprises of 2017.
Sega remastered the original Yakuza in high style. Using an updated engine, the team behind the series added new character models, re-recorded voice acting, and an expanded city of Kamurocho, all in 1080p at 60 fps. Yakuza Kiwami bleeds love for the original game. If you haven't played any Yakuza, this is the release to get. If you have, this is a great remaster of a former cult-favorite. It's not as full-featured as current Yakuza release, but it's still a great time.
Nidhogg 2 is a worthy update to the minimalist dueling action game. Messhof offers a follow-up with a wildly different art style, more weapons, more levels, and more options for playing with your friends. The game overall feels a bit less precise, but this is still Nidhogg at its core.
Agents of Mayhem is a step back from the trippy, superpowered hijinks of Saints Row IV and Gat Out of Hell. The cast is colorful and eventually, you'll open up the game enough that you'll have fun, but for a Saints Row veteran, you'll always feel like a little bit is missing. There a definite highlights here and there, but otherwise Agents of Mayhem treads water most of the time. Fun, but not amazing.
In one of the stronger starts to a Telltale season, Batman: The Enemy Within builds on the new mythos Telltale has created for the classic DC Comics hero. Villains are still villains, but Telltale gives them enough twists to feel new. Great pacing, good tension, and what looks to be an improved engine make for a great Batman adventure. Hopefully they can keep the momentum up for the whole season.
The indie space is full of roguelike Metroidvania titles, but no one pulls it off in the same style as Sundered. Beautiful hand-drawn animation, some cool environments, and great sound design combine to create a haunting, lonely tone for the game. It's definitely a combat-heavy game though, so if you prefer more exploration instead, this might not be for you. If you want a challenge though, pitting yourself against murderous waves of foes and giant bosses, Sundered is for you.
Gigantic is a game that looks and plays great. The cast of characters is colorful and lively, with each playing very differently. The core gameplay mode is fast, while still retaining a strong strategic layer. The problem is Gigantic is a shallow experience: one gameplay mode on three maps. The game may become broader eventually, but right now it needs more. That said, being free-to-play means it's still worth your time to try it.
Episode One of Minecraft: Story Mode - Season Two draws from both halves of Season One. The episode feels like a complete journey on its own, but it also points towards a larger, grander story. Some of your cast favorites are incognito and the pacing grinds to a halt in one section, but Minecraft: Story Mode - Season Two is still off to an enjoyable start.
Master x Master is not the best at any one thing, but it offers such a variety that you can't help but find something to enjoy. Combined with a free-to-play model isn't too harsh and you have a damned good time. The progression system could use a bit of slimming as it's rather complex, but that shouldn't turn players off completely. Master x Master is definitely worth a shot.
DLC for the best of the best. Most of DLC Pack 1 is wrapped up in Master Mode and the Trial of the Sword. I welcome more options for players of Breath of the Wild, but I'm surprised there's not more here for the casual or mid-level player. If you're not as adept at the game, The Master Trials are probably not for you, leaving you to wait for the story-focused DLC Pack 2.
Final Fantasy XIV just keeps getting better. Stormblood stands as an improvement over the great Heavensward, with a strong story grounded in people attempting to free themselves from oppression. There are some stumbles here, but when Stormblood is on, there's an excellent adventure, great characters, and some awesome enemy encounters. Stormblood is the ongoing foundation of something magical for MMO and Final Fantasy fans alike.
Telltale's The Walking Dead continues with its third season, A New Frontier, which shifts the story to a new character and a larger scope. Unfortunately, our new hero spends time fighting for the spotlight with series mainstay Clementine. In addition, the pacing is fairly fast, giving characters little room to breathe. Telltale reaches farther with this season, but stumbles in equal measure.
All of the changes Zenimax Online has made to Elder Scrolls Online since its 2014 launch culminate in the Morrowind expansion. Returning to a classic Elder Scrolls region, the expansion stands a great update to old environments. The writing is excellent, though the overall presentation can feel a little dry at times. The new Warden class needs a second look as well, but overall Morrowind is an excellent welcome mat for new and returning players.
Crusade is everything that an expansion should be. It takes Galactic Civilizations III, sands off the rough edges, and adds new options for a deeper, more strategic experience. The new Citizens system offers more late-game options, espionage returns, planetary invasions are more tactical, and alongside the three new races, there's a new Civilization Builder letting you craft your own. If you're a GalCiv fan, it's an instant pick-up. If you're not, this might be the time to pick it up.
Where other 4X titles lean towards a more utilitarian presentation, Endless Space 2 starts with a great 4X game and layers on good art, great writing, and excellent UI design. There's a wide variety of play in the available factions and a deep political system that underpins the entire thing. The combat disappoints and the AI could use some improvement, but Amplitude is known for its expansions and improvements. What's here is already a 4X class act.