Age of Empires helped define an entire genre, and under the steady hand of RTS masters Relic Entertainment, it may once again wear that crown -- Age of Empires IV is that good.
Tinytopia is a casual city builder that hits all the fun notes without asking too much of the architect. About a dozen hours of pure fun, only a few bugs, and an easily-gamed happiness meter hold it back. It's good city-building comfort food.
Far Cry 6 is the next iteration of the Far Cry universe, and you can see some of the blending from other Ubisoft properties here. While the formula may be a little more visible than we'd like, and the AI could use a shot in the arm, what is here is a thrill ride adventure sure to give fans of the franchise exactly what they are looking for.
Diablo II: Resurrected delivers on the promise of a rebuilt original, without tampering with the soul of what made it amazing in the first place. With completely remastered graphics, all-new cutscenes, and console cross-progression, Diablo II: Resurrected takes us back to Hell, and it's every bit as amazing as it was when we played it 20 years ago.
Like some sort of peasant Animal Crossing, Medieval Dynasty casts us in the role of mayor of Dysentery Village. You'll slowly grow from labor-intensive shacks to a semi-self-sufficient hamlet through the sweat of your brow, building a dynasty that will last generations. You'll just wish your peons would pitch in and carry their own water...and stop eating the buckets.
Underneath stability problems and bugs lies one of the most ambitious games I've played, bringing a tabletop game level of choice to RPG enthusiasts. The rich story and excellent writing delivers in a huge way...if you can get the game to cooperate.
This is an excellent VR title for newcomers and VR veterans alike, with pickup and play action, and a well-paced challenge throughout. Hopefully we'll see additional content expansion post launch to help keep our food fight fresh, but Clash of Chefs VR is fun for the whole foodie family.
I Expect You To Die 2's half dozen hours is easily one of the best ways to introduce somebody to VR. It's funny, well written, nausea free, and incredibly engaging at every turn. Regardless of which VR headset you have, this one needs to be in your library -- it's a must have.
We've waited far too long for an Aliens game this good, but it's finally here. With an exciting campaign, five exciting classes, a dazzling array of weapons, and a staggering array of monsters to use them on, Aliens: Fireteam Elite is a perfect organism.
A mashup of many genres, Tribes of Midgard manages to do many things well. It does ask a great deal from you, and it offers little in the way of instruction, but if cooperation and discovery under pressure is your jam, this is the game for you.
Ghost of Tsushima Tales of Iki delivers an absolute masterpiece to Sony's PlayStation 5, alongside a remarkable expansion to an already phenomenal game. Some new mechanics keep things fresh, as does another excellent story from Sucker Punch. While there are a few hiccups to contend with, this is easily a must-have title for the year.
Delivering on the potential of the original launch, the Fire & Darkness expansion for Godfall finally gives us the absolutely gorgeous game we hoped it could be. With a fresh storyline to chew, a new realm to explore, and a massive expansion to the endgame content, Godfall: Fire & Darkness is a must-have.
Capturing the cyberpunk aesthetic perfectly, The Ascent is a fantastic example of twinstick shooters with a few tricks of its own. There are a few rough edges, especially with online multiplayer, but the RPG elements and gorgeous graphics and voice work more than keep you locked into this neon soaked universe.
While it is a short experience, Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series offers up the most immersive virtual Jedi experience you can find. Authentic in every way, meeting Darth Vader face to face, and squaring off in the Lightsaber Dojo makes it worth every penny.
Filled with non-sequiturs, excellent writing, fantastic voice work, and hours of minigame and puzzle fun, Sam & Max: This Time It's Virtual! is a great entry into the entertainment pantheon of lunacy that'll leave you wanting more. More please!
Sniper Elite VR is an absolutely fantastic transformation of the flat-screen game, trimming the fat to just the parts that'll be fun in virtual reality. Translating the sniper rifle into a VR medium makes the game immersive in a way we've not seen capitalized in many games to date. This one should be in your library, if you can handle the gore, and the occasional braindead AI.
With a focus on multiplayer, Red Solstice 2: Survivors tackles the action/tactical genre, offering up hordes of foes and beautiful presentations in the field. Where it lacks is connection with the player, bugs, and some difficulty spikes that make it infuriating.
Infested with bugs from start to finish, Dark Alliance is a button mashing affair that drops the 5E rules in favor of flash. The bosses are great, but the parts in between less so. Here's hoping developer Tuque can pull this out of the Deep Wastes with their post-launch plans.
With exhilarating moment to moment gameplay, Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 delivers on its promise of longer shots, new gadgets, better contracts, and everything you've come to expect. Sure, it brings bugs and design choices that'll make you scratch your head, but that's no reason to avoid this one. Lock and load.
A roguelike where discovery of what to do is as important as how to do it, A Rogue Escape is an imaginative blend of escape room discovery, storytelling, and all the interactive elements you could ask for. While it is relatively short, that doesn't make the journey any less worthwhile.