With a handful of bugs to iron out, Alien: Rogue Incursion isn't quite a "perfect organism", but it is a creepy good time with compelling performances and a great use of virtual reality.
The move to a cloud-focused game has caused some turbulence on takeoff, and it would be good to be able to decouple from that decision with an "install-all" option, but Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 elevates the game in just about every other way. It'd just be nice if it did it more cleanly. That said, if you have even a passing interest in flight, this simulator is still the best out there.
Soul Reaver and its sequel are both perfect storms of story, voice work, soundtracks, and now they have the final pieces they needed to become classics for a new generation with revamped controls and now gorgeous graphics. While I'd like to see the execution be a touch cleaner, the sum of its parts is so damned strong that it lets you experience this incredible game all over again. I know you, Raziel. You are worthy.
Even with a handful of last minute bugs to iron out, Planet Coaster 2 lets me build the park of my dreams. More than a water park expansion, it takes everything the first game did well and makes it better. Don't wait, get your ticket now – heck, this one is even worthy of a fast pass.
The writing can be overwrought, written by committee, and occasionally forced, but it's also a major step forward for a team that needs the win. Dragon Age: The Veilguard brings us compelling characters, excellent combat, and a world worth saving.
While there's certainly several coats of polish still to add, the core of MechWarrior 5: Clans gives us an excellent storyline culled straight from the novels, combined with cutting edge graphics and gameplay only Piranha Games could deliver. THIS is the MechWarrior game we've all been waiting for, and damn, is it fun. Reactor online, sensors online, weapons online. All systems nominal.
Equal parts DLC and fully-integrated expansion, Void Shadows is a fantastic addition to the already-incredible Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader package. A must-have, and all-new content, all rolled into one. Stop reading this and go get it for your next run – the Emperor demands it.
I came away from Undisputed frustrated. In here is an incredible boxing game buried under entirely too many bugs, balance issues, and incomplete features for launch. Maybe round 2?
A fantastic expansion with a very compelling set of features, including a new class, a far-better approach to bosses, and a few borrowed elements from their other MMO works. It's a big step in the right direction, and I can't wait to see what's next.
There's a lot to like in Star Trucker, and it's bursting with potential. It's also in need of some balance and tweaking. Still, what's on offer is well worth the asking price, and should keep you trucking for a long while.
There’s nothing that’ll fully prepare you for the lore-heavy Warhammer 40K universe, but Space Marine 2 does a great job of bringing the player along for the ride. This game is made by people who know and love Warhammer, and it shows, deeply.
When Riven was first released in 1997 it was heralded as a majestic piece of art. Now almost 30 years later, Cyan Worlds returns to that world, bringing it to modern standards using the tools of today. Once again, they've created a majestic piece of art, and a world worth exploring all over again. It'll test your mind, it's a feast for your eyes and ears, and if you enjoy deep puzzles, it's a game you absolutely cannot miss.
Broken Roads is a solid effort that falls short of capitalizing on its central mechanics. While it takes some ambitious steps, it doesn't realize them in execution. Community engagement suggests patches will address the big rocks soon, but know that it's a moving target thus far.
Homeworld 3 is everything I hoped it could be. It improves on its predecessors in every conceivable way, and adds meaningful new features including a cooperative War Games mode. I never thought it would happen again, but I'm happy to report…the mothership has cleared the scaffold...we are away once again.
While not every gambit succeeds, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes delivers us the spiritual successor we all dared to hope for, but never expected to get. While things like the War Mode and some balance issues and bugs will require additional attention, there's a great JRPG here worth playing.
Skull & Bones exists in the space between GaaS and MMO-lite at launch. There's fun to be had, as long as you recognize that this is a looter shooter more than a pirate game.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora has some excellent mechanical depth let down by repetitive missions and a very safe story. When you're flowing through the environment taking out RDA soldiers with volleys of arrows, it feels fantastic. Unfortunately, the game doesn't provide many opportunities to use the full breadth of its systems. Still, it's drop dead gorgeous and very fun for what it is.
An absolute blast from start to finish, Arizona Sunshine 2 outdoes its predecessor in every way, and that's high praise indeed.
A few bugs continue to hold it back, but about 50 hours of fun is yours for the asking. While it doesn't take any risks, the Spaceport Expansion for Construction Simulator lets you build an entire space program for a small island from scratch, and that's satisfying.
Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord is a great idea. Playing as a Ghostbuster recruit in VR is exactly what you’d have hoped for when you heard of this game, from the proton pack to the Ecto-1. Until a fix is discovered for the audio, however, the ghosts will continue to inhabit the streets of San Francisco, completely unrestricted.