Powerful characters, nuanced story-telling, and stunning visuals make Mafia: Definitive Edition one of the best story-driven games of the year.
Wasteland 3 is a testament to the power of the branching narrative, taking it far beyond binary choices and into a grand canopy of cause and effect. It gives the wintry climbs of Colorado a lifelike quality that must have been painstaking to build. The most impressive RPG in years, Wasteland 3 is a masterpiece.
Many of Battletoads' design sensibilities may seem archaic in 2020, but that was ultimately Dlala trying to build on the chaotic formula set by the original. Battletoads struggles as a single-player game but soars as a varied couch co-op experience party game for up to three friends. And hey, it's often laugh-out-loud funny too.
Othercide could use some quality-of-life improvements, but this is one of the most stylish games I've played in years, complete with oppressive gameplay that is as thrilling as it is rewarding.
A perfect blend of satisfying Wild West tropes, a surprisingly compelling story, and an endlessly-gratifying tactical layer that will make you feel like the architect of a bandit-murdering Rube Goldberg machine. With guns.
Minecraft Dungeons meat is in its satisfying combat and complex character-building opportunities, and in that, the game delivers by the truckload.
Held back by a few flaws, Gears Tactics remains a rock-solid turn-based strategy game fans of the genre will love.
Bleeding Edge misses its mark, but there's a spark inside this game worth keeping your eye on.
DOOM marches back to the gates of hell with confidence, but some of its attempts to try new things fall flat. Literally.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps triumphs despite some rough edges, with what might be the most satisfying and evocative platformer ever made.
Two Point Hospital is a rewarding and addictive sim that must not be missed.
We can't get enough of wanton 4-player zombie slaughter, and Zombie Army 4 sits among the best of them.
For what it lacks in scope, Bad North makes it up with an addictive, rewarding roguelike strategy gameplay layer.
Civilization is a legendary strategy franchise, and to finally get it on Xbox One is a dream. Just be warned, this is one hell of an addictive game.
While rough around the edges, The Outer Worlds journey across the stars is an instant-classic RPG fans cannot miss.
This is a staggering achievement that strategy game fans shouldn't miss out on.
The future of Gears of War has never been so bright — and sure, there's room for improvement, but this is the evolution that the franchise desperately needed.
Ultimately, Wolfenstein: Youngblood feels more like the product of a shareholder meeting, where non-gamers pushed this idea of turning Wolfenstein into a quasi service-type loot shooter, only without loot.
They Are Billions is a wonderful game – on PC. This direct Xbox port is not only missing crucial features from its PC counterpart, like the campaign mode, but has horrendous controls that practically beg you to use a mouse and keyboard instead.
Green Planet is an awesome addition to Surviving Mars, but it puts a spotlight on some vanilla features that could use some love.