Chaz Neeler
Sniper Elite 3 may have the outstanding gunplay of its predecessor, but inconsistent AI and a myriad of bugs keep it from hitting its mark.
Abyss Odyssey set out to redefine a genre and create something that we'd never seen before. It's just a shame that it forgot what makes the genre so enjoyable in the first place.
Divinity: Original Sin is a modern take on the old school RPG mechanics, offering a level of freedom that many of us had long since forgotten. Fans of the genre should consider this a must-play.
If The Crown of the Sunken King is any indication of what we can expect from the next two pieces of Dark Souls II DLC, then fans are in for a real treat.
Sacred 3 has stripped away most of what makes an ARPG great while doubling down on hopes that its silly narrative will be enough to keep you going. This could very easily end up being a guilty pleasure game for a lot of you; however, there's simply not enough here to make it worth a full price purchase.
Metro Redux is a perfect launching point for newcomers, while returning fans will love seeing how well the games have been remastered.
Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition brings everything we love about the game to current-gen consoles, and the addition of couch co-op makes for a very tempting buy. However, unless you're purchasing it strictly for some local co-op, you'll probably be better served with the PC version.
Madden NFL 15 may not be the first Madden game released for the next generation of consoles, but it stands as the series' first truly "next-gen" iteration. That said, a couple of major issues keep it from being as great as it could have been.
Dead Rising 3: Apocalypse Edition is a mediocre port of a very good game. Fans of the franchise and newcomers alike should both seriously consider picking it up on the PC, but it might be worth waiting to see if the noted issues can get smoothed out first.
Gauntlet scratches the nostalgic itch perfectly and does right by its predecessors, but outside of a long slow grind there's nothing here to demand that you keep coming back once you've completed your quest.
Wasteland 2 is exactly what fans of the franchise were hoping to get: a well polished, old-school RPG. Minor issues aside, this should be considered a must play for fans of the genre, and for newcomers who are trying to see what all of the fuss was about.
Civilization: Beyond Earth is decidedly deserving of carrying the weight of the franchise in a new direction, but it's simply lacking enough variety for it to become the new standard bearer.
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth isn't a game for everyone, with its crude settings and heavy use of religious iconography. However, it's just about as close to a perfect game as we've seen all year.
While Endless Legend still doesn't have the polish or prestige of Civilization, if this is any indication, Amplitude Studios may be gunning to become the crowned king of 4X.
This War of Mine is a depressing look into how civilians caught in the midst of a war have to survive. It's hard, remorseless and soul-crushingly depressing, but it's also a must play game.
Rollers of the Realm just never lives up to its potential. Here's hoping that this mediocre offering doesn't spell the end for this genre, though, as I honestly feel we would be worse off for it.
Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions isn't a perfect representation of the formula, but at the end of the day, it's still a lot of fun.
Those who've visited Resident Evil's iconic mansion countless times over the last twenty years will be safe to pass on this remaster. However, if you're interested in going through it for the first time, then Resident Evil HD is the version to buy.
Evolve can flourish when you have a team of dedicated friends ready to play, but those rare moments of brilliance spent fighting against the monster are simply outnumbered by the moments you spend fighting the actual game.
Cities XXL feels more like a sidegrade than a true upgrade, as it offers little more than a performance patch for its $40 price tag.