Steven Messner
Swords of Legends Online's endgame is great, but you're going to have to put up with a lot of crap to get to it.
World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade Classic's endless grind is brutal, but the way it fosters community and relationships is still magical.
Ambitious but uneven, Shadowlands is an exciting evolution of World of Warcraft.
Bloody and captivating, Valhalla is Assassin's Creed at its best.
Genshin Impact's open world and clever combat are fantastic, but its endgame tries way too hard to milk you for cash.
World of Warcraft Classic's uncanny ability to bring players together and immerse them in adventure hasn't aged a day.
Coupled with a striking new world to explore, Shadowbringers' poignant and character-driven story is one of the best in the entire series.
Anthem's disjointed story, boring loot, repetitive missions, and shallow endgame are all disappointing. At least it's pretty.
The additional layer of choice, breathtaking scenery, and colorful sidequests make Odyssey not only the best Assassin's Creed to date, but one of the best RPGs since The Witcher 3.
Even if its new loot system is a bust, Battle for Azeroth is a vibrant expansion full of wondrous new locales to explore, characters to meet, and stories to tell.
Warframe's daunting complexity doesn't detract from its delicious combat and flexible progression.
Vermintide 2's combat and level design are so feverishly fun that I'll put up with its bad matchmaking and RPG progression if it means chopping more ratmen in half.
By making excellent use of its procedurally generated world and wacky gadgets, Heat Signature is a mission worth taking.
Stormblood's rousing tale of rebellion and exceptional boss fights aren't just exquisite by MMO standards, but rival even the most beloved Final Fantasy games.
Repetitive combat and an abrupt ending spoil what is otherwise a remarkable feat of worldbuilding.
If Blizzard can continue to deliver, Legion sets the stage for what could be the best chapter of World of Warcraft yet.
Overwatch is like going for an evening of speed dating and realizing everyone you meet is marriage material. I'll stare at the character select screen before each match, unable to decide which hero I want to play because I want to play them all.
Tree of Savior's biggest grind lies in chipping away all of its flaws just to experience its nostalgic charms.
The Banner Saga 2 is a beautiful sequel. There are moments where, as I watch the drama unfold in the dialogue and cutscenes, I almost forget I'm playing a game that came out in this decade. There's an evocative sense of timelessness about the story and world that few RPGs create.
It's exciting to play an MMO that understands the importance of building a world worth living in, not just erecting a corridor of static set pieces to run through on your quest for power.