Aven Colony is a capable sci-fi city-builder with great visuals and satisfying gameplay systems.
Serial Cleaner is a worthwhile purchase if you're looking for a light puzzle game to play in short bursts, because trust me, you will get mad at it here and there.
Black the Fall isn't the most unique or ambitious title in the puzzle platforming genre, but it's a welcome and impressive first effort from Sand Sailor Studio.
I would've liked to have seen a little more story content, even if it was just some additional lore, but that's a personal gripe. Most players will probably be too busy relishing the bloody carnage the Necromancer can bring, which is considerable. This is a great addition to Diablo III, one I highly recommend to fans of all of Diablo's existing classes.
If you're a fan of strategic management games, you have to give Planetbase a look. It's very good value for money. And who knows? Maybe you will enjoy the added challenge missions they throw in more than I did. Either way, Planetbase is well worth your attention.
Prey might not be the prettiest game, but it's among the most atmospheric. Arkane Studios has proven itself time and time again to be comprised of world-class world builders. Prey is no different. If you're a fan of Dead Space, Deus Ex, or Bioshock, you simply have to buy this game.
I am resoundingly impressed with how well the control schemes have translated to a controller, and it gives me hope that we could one day see more complex management-type games hit Xbox One, now that Cities: Skylines has shown us the way forward.
This game simply might not have been ready to emerge from its cryo-sleep, but the building blocks of an amazing game reside in Mass Effect: Andromeda. Hopefully, it will improve with future updates.
Overall, Ghost Recon: Wildlands is a solid sandbox adventure for groups of up to four friends. In solo play, Ghost Recon: Wildlands loses a bit of its mojo, but the game's unprecedented scale and piles of content should prove euphoric for fans of open world games.
If you're looking for a story-focused game where your choices truly matter, set in a rich, nuanced world absolutely crammed with sci-fi obscurities, fantastical beasts, and mind-warping trans-dimensional phenomena, you will adore Torment: Tides of Numenera.
Halo Wars 2 proves that the franchise is strong enough to work extremely well in other genres. Under the careful scrutiny of 343i and Creative Assembly, Halo Wars 2 doesn't feel like a spin-off. Instead, Halo Wars 2 stands proud among the greatest games the franchise has to offer.
Rebellion is on track to become an essential AAA studio with Sniper Elite 4. The bottom line: If you were a fan of previous Sniper Elite games — you have to buy this game. If you're a fan of stealth games in general — you have to buy this game. If you were holding off due to Sniper Elite's historical lack of AAA polish — you have to buy this game. Sniper Elite's fourth installment propels the series into the big leagues for the first time, and Rebellion deserves every shred of praise.
If you're a fan of the franchise, or of horror in general, Resident Evil 7 is a must-buy purchase.
Gears of War 4 just feels great. It feels like the return of an old friend, and The Coalition masterfully weave that nostalgia into the game without smothering us in it exploitatively — which is something they very easily could have done. Gears of War 4's greatest moments can be found in between the lines. They're in the shadows of familiar silhouettes, in the tones of nostalgic sound effects, in every COG tag you find scattered around the battlefield, and every ridiculous, over-the-top set piece.
Despite its imperfections, ReCore is exactly the type of game I want Microsoft Studios to take seriously. ReCore leans on some beloved gameplay conventions while injecting injected some of its own, gloriously unique and fulfilling elements. The RPG layer provides boatloads of additional gameplay and the setting, story and characters are just something I want to see more of.
I simply cannot write about some of Inside's most hauntingly memorable scenes and most diabolical puzzles without ruining the magic – so I won't. Fans of Limbo should know that they're in for a treat with Inside, and if you're new to Play Dead's brand of Lynchian puzzle games, know that Inside is a unique, 4-6 hour experience that'll change your perception of what a puzzle platformer should aspire to.
DOOM allows you to become the main character of your own personal gory action movie; the conductor of an unholy, death metal symphony. As you vault and explore vantage points, as you blast demons mid-air as you leap down and stomp on demonic brains.
While Quantum Break exposes the Xbox One's technical limitations, Remedy has crafted a masterpiece that earns its place among the best that the console has to offer. Quantum Break is the first thoroughly unmissable, truly unique console exclusive the Xbox One has. Every single Xbox One and W10 gaming PC owner should pick up this game, and the big-budget publishers out there funding similar cinematic experiences should take note. Quantum Break has permanently altered the way I want to experience storytelling in games.