A sublime execution on nearly every front, Overwatch turns a world in need of heroes into one of the best arena shooters since their heyday, and stands alongside Blizzard's finest as some of the most necessary playing in its respective genre.
Total War: Warhammer mixes computer and tabletop effortlessly into a fantasy bloodbath. With four diverse races, plenty of character and a promise of much to come, it's hard to not recommend this to anyone who's ever dreamed of playing armchair general in the High Fantasy realm.
Stellaris captures the wonder of exploring space and colonizing the stars, but gets bogged down when the borders freeze and negotiations start. A solid foundation of things to come and an excellent entry-level grand strategy game, this will hopefully be a good start for a greater experience to come.
Battleborn merges cooperative and competitive, hero and shooter, loot and shoot into an excellent melting pot and symbol of the times. Charismatic characters, clever intricacies, and compelling gameplay make this one of the best multiplayer experiences of the generation yet.
Ray Gigant sacrifices complexity for accessibility, and while the final experience is a little rote, the style and streamlining make the most compelling case for a non-fan of RPG dungeon crawling to finally get interested.
Stories: The Path of Destinies mixes looping narratives, engaging brawler combat, and beautiful scenery to create a compelling indie adventure that should not be overlooked. Not wholly without fault, but even in the imperfections it's easy to find a lot to love in Stories.
Trackmania Turbo lacks some of the series' standards, but still offers a polished and engaging time-trial racer for those looking for a rush of speed. With tons of options for play and the constant chase for a better time, Turbo gets under your skin, and once it's in there, it doesn't let go for a long time.
Trillion: God of Destruction has wonderful characterization and compelling moments, but gets bogged down in a series of unintuitive design decisions and a lack of engaging main story content. Come for the concept, but don’t be surprised when it doesn’t hold for long.
When The Division fires on all cylinders, it's really something; a solid loot-shooter, with engaging mechanics and the perfect set-up for co-op online. What bogs it down, between a lack of variety and a mix of technical hitches, keeps it from reaching those heights. For now, it's a serviceable squad-based shooter effective at eating up a couple hours a night with friends.
Lost Dimension is a unique, innovative RPG that can pride itself on fantastic characters and an engaging combat system. While the narrative isn’t fantastic, the NG+ features and intricate Gift skills will likely have you coming back for seconds. A fantastic addition to the Vita library.
Superhot is short but full of style and substance, taking an inventive mechanic to its furthest and providing a unique shooter experience. The current offering is slim, but unlike anything else around.
Project X-Zone 2 is a dream crossover on paper that falters in execution, failing to excel in any area beyond unabashed novelty. The quality of the cast and engaging juggling mechanic are the most you'll likely get out of this crossover RPG.
Fire Emblem: Fates is easily one of the biggest and most intimidating entries in the series, but the refined systems and sheer breadth of content, mixed with a colorful and memorable cast of characters, makes this a grand offering for both Fire Emblem faithful and newcomers alike.
Fire Emblem: Fates is easily one of the biggest and most intimidating entries in the series, but the refined systems and sheer breadth of content, mixed with a colorful and memorable cast of characters, makes this a grand offering for both Fire Emblem faithful and newcomers alike.
As a competitive title and platform, though, Street Fighter V excels above most. The new design, excellent roster of fighters and re-vamp of the overall fighting landscape sets the stage for even more growth, and even more players to get involved in the sweet science. If you've been wanting a new title to sate the need for fighting and bragging rights, this is a solid entry, with a promise of even brighter things to come.
The Witness is a profound experience, unlike any other and certainly intimidating in its refusal to give away its secrets for free. However, those with the inclination to buy-in and delve deep will find a trove of excellence, in the way it utilizes simple mechanics to convey greater themes. One of the most cohesive and intricate releases you can find, but not for the faint of heart.
Firewatch is a beautiful story of escapism and loss, set against the beautiful Wyoming wilderness. The physicality of your interactions, the excellent radio conversations, and poignant writing and imagery are hindered only by slight issues in presentation and technical hitching. It's grounded, human, and one that you'll be eager to talk about for days after the credits roll.
Baba Yaga is a good excuse for another adventure with Lara, but it doesn't hook quite as deep as its base game. Besides an excellent boss fight and a few major moments, nothing here stands out from the fold.
Oxenfree is a smart, emotional adventure that feels focused and purposeful. It's got plenty of narrative twists that lead to great "a-ha" moments, but keeps the story well-grounded in its compelling protagonists and clever gameplay moments. Oxenfree is simply well-made, endearing, and very memorable.
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen is a worthy memorial to a criminally underrated title, and although it falters at times, the design, combat, scenery, and world this game molds is one that deserves preservation.