With five new creatures, more than 120 set pieces, a new educational "Animal Talks" system, and a ton of quality of life improvements, this expansion pack is a must-have for any Planet Zoo enthusiast. Come for the Caimans, stay for the Penguins.
The fact of the matter is, there are over 100 hours of game ahead of me across three games and more than 40 pieces of high-quality DLC like Lair of the Shadow Broker, Leviathan, and Overlord now folded directly into the story. So the saying goes, you can’t step into the same river twice, but Mass Effect Legendary Edition is certainly going to make one hell of an attempt at it. Now, if you will excuse me, I’ve got some Keepers to go scan.
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.
With its incredible gameplay loop, Hardspace: Shipbreaker is as unique as it is addictive. A handful of minor bugs do little to hold back what is an incredibly immersive and rewarding experience.
Ultimately Triangle Strategy gets an excellent port, albeit one with fewer frills than we'd like. Still, that's nothing the modding community can't fix in very short order. Performance is fantastic on PC, and equally as good on Steam Deck. While the long-winded story might need work, there's no denying the tactical combat.
With a fresh story, AAA quality gameplay, a solid amount of gameplay, and now complete freedom of movement in the controls, Marvel's Iron Man VR is absolutely phenomenal. This is a major win for the Meta Quest 2, and a must-have for your library.
Full to bursting with unparalleled world building and lore, Hogwarts Legacy shows a level of care rarely seen. I’m stupefied with how amazing it is from top to bottom, and I have a feeling you’ll be hooked the moment you put on the Sorting Hat.
Demeo is a fantastic dungeon-crawler, and a perfect addition to the PSVR2 library. Demonstrating a visual clarity not seen on any other platform, the PlayStation VR2 version is the best possible platform. This is an easy recommendation and a must-have for any PSVR2 owner.
With incredible aesthetics and an ever-expanding soundtrack, Synth Riders continues to dominate the rhythm game beat. It's accessible, fun, and an absolute must-have for anyone with a VR headset. Come on in – join the neon-soaked party.
With fast paced frenetic combat, a story that keeps you guessing, and enough interlocked systems to bring it all together in a way the first game never could, Everspace 2 is the best space game I've played in a very long time. Rockfish reached for the stars, and damn if they didn't catch 'em!
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor improves on its predecessor in every way, giving us not only more of what we loved, but doing so in a massive cinematic interconnected universe full of brand new engaging features. This is your early contender for game of the year.
With unrelenting charm, excellent writing and voice work, and an art style that is sure to put a smile on your face, Disney Illusion Island is the magical Mickey Metroidvania you didn't know you needed.
With innumerable improvements to the formula, Mimimi has delivered another hit. Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew is a wonderful tactical title with an even better story than its predecessors. This is the formula perfected.
Excellent presentation, impressive volumetric technology, head-scratchingly fun puzzles, and a tight storyline come together with engaging VR interactivity to resurrect and reimagine a beloved murder mystery. This game is a must-have for anyone who loves a well-crafted puzzle game.
Red Matter 2 builds on the solid foundation established by its predecessor, giving us even better visuals, more interactivity, and all new devious puzzles to solve. It's a true showcase of Sony's PSVR2 platform, and a fantastic sequel to boot!
A showcase of what's possible in VR, Assassin's Creed Nexus VR delivers a completely unique foray into the world of Templars and Assassins, but in a first person perspective, and frankly, there's nothing quite like it. While the Quest 3 isn't up to the task, making for some wobbly frame rates, the game is thankfully a nausea-free experience you'll want to experience.
An absolute blast from start to finish, Arizona Sunshine 2 outdoes its predecessor in every way, and that's high praise indeed.
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris's new mechanics and graphical improvements make it a must-have for any couch co-op fan. The devious puzzles are matched by a better story and bigger bosses, making for a fun four-player romp that should keep any gamer entertained.
We had a lot of praise for Rocksmith 2014 on previous gen, and it's transition to new platforms has only improved on that. At least in my household it remains a fantastic family event that yields a real skill. Who said videogames never taught you anything?
Watch Dogs represents a step into a scary real-world future. It raises social and governmental questions around a person's right to privacy. It delivers combat, stealth, story, and an incredible amount of side content to bring the whole world to life. I'm amazed at what the team at Ubisoft has delivered here, and I'm glad that they treated the hacker world with more respect and attention to detail than any other game or movie to date. I'm hopeful that Watch Dogs becomes a franchise because it is the best sandbox title I've ever played.