Warhammer II is a worthy successor to its older brother, and fans of either series will relish the chance to throw themselves into its immersive world. However, those same shop-worn Total War tropes that were pretty past it last time have surely well and truly earned a peaceful retirement now.
Knack 2 makes better use of its protagonist's abilities – and like any good sequel, throws a few more into the mix – but there isn't much story to support the revamped gameplay. Even so, excellent sound and level design get Knack over the line.
The campaign's story falls to earth with a thud, and technical problems are currently marring its online component, but For Honor's masterful presentation and combat rescue it from mediocrity. Given a few patches, it'll be a force to be reckoned with.
There's no denying that Total War: Warhammer is an enjoyable and accomplished title. But it's also one that takes few risks, and so a sense of what could have been occasionally floats over its crowded battlefields.
Rainbow Six Siege delivers on its promise of tension, tactics and teamwork, but it might not be worth AU$70; there are bugs both big and small that need squashing, there's no server browser, and connection errors are too common. There's something else to consider, too: PC players have been abandoning multiplayer-only titles in record time this year.
WWE 2K16 pushes the franchise further down the sim path, to its detriment. It's also buggy and ugly – a fatigued veteran destined for the bush leagues.
The Talos Principle on PS4 lives up to the hype of its PC cousin. It's a genre masterpiece that anyone with the slightest interest in puzzles or philosophy should pick up as a matter of priority.
ScreamRide is fun, but it's not the Daliesque experience it's so desperately trying to be.
Total War: Attila iterates on Total War: Rome II. It represents an interesting diversion for fans of the series, but a lack of of new ideas and polish mean it's unlikely to appeal to a wider audience.
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris is a capable twin stick isometric puzzler best enjoyed cooperatively, some bugs and missing polish notwithstanding.
The Old City is rich in evocative sets, but it's too eager to impress with its cleverness.
The Elder Scrolls Online is a solid, meaty title. It has hours of gameplay, satisfying character trees, and a wealth of online role playing experiences to churn through. It's safe and secure. It serves up the classic habitual MMORPG experience, albeit with a "Tamriel Twist". And for many gamers, this will be fine. But Bethesda have created an example - not an evolution - of the genre.
Deadfall Adventures does little to right this wrong. Its gameplay is tedious and lacks imagination. Its narrative experience is immature and poorly executed. When it comes to good adventure titles, gamers are spoilt for choice. Deadfall Adventures is just spoilt.