Whether you're a rabid fan of platforming games or you've grown disillusioned with them over the years, Rayman Legends has the charm and gameplay to leave you enthralled.
XCOM: Enemy Within takes an already excellent game and makes it bigger and better. The addition of Meld, Gene Mods, Cybersuits, and the EXALT faction creates a wholly new experience -- a must-have for fans of the core title.
Broken Age is charming, attractive, funny, and all-around entertaining. For fans of adventure games, it leaves little to be desired short of its second act. If that meets the standard set by the currently playable bit, Double Fine looks to have dropped a classic in its wake. Regardless, the experience of Act 1 is enough to recommend outright — don't hesitate to add this title to your library.
More than just fan service, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is a modern approach to the world established by the 1991 SNES adventure, A Link to the Past. Traverse the same overworld to uncover a brand new system of delightful dungeons — a familiar formula injected with fresh abilities and mechanics. This homage to a classic is itself an instant classic on the Nintendo 3DS.
The papercraft world of Tearaway is full of beautiful landscapes, charming characters, and creative gameplay, but it also seamlessly melds with the “real” world in unprecedented fashion. Upon completion, it will feel like your own story, different from anyone else’s. The conclusion is simple: no PlayStation Vita game collection is complete without this title.
System Shock is a remake years in the making, and Nightdive Studios masterfully reimagines the critically acclaimed classic. From the challenging puzzles, dangerous combat, cyberpunk aesthetic, and the tragic story that serves as the backbone for it all, there’s a lot to love about this game. System Shock’s legacy will live on in this brilliant modern take.
Darkest Dungeon II continues the legacy of the original game as a brutally dark and difficult roguelite turn-based RPG. Much like the characters in the game, riding out in a hopeless effort to stave off the apocalypse, the player will find themself pushing forward despite certain defeat, with only a weak promise that next time it will be a little easier. It’s impressive that such a relentlessly challenging game can still have the player coming back for more.
Alan Wake 2 proves to be worth the wait. This sequel is an upgrade in nearly every way, and while player influence on the story can feel limited at times, the engaging narrative more than compensates. From the challenging, tense combat to the excellent environmental storytelling, Alan Wake 2 will have no trouble hooking players from start to finish.
From the audio design right down to the creatures themselves, Flock, from developers Hollow Ponds and Richard Hogg is oozing with charm. Learn to leverage your powers of observation to document dozens of strange and vibrant species that call the Uplands home. A bare-bones narrative pushes the player to explore further without getting in the way of a joyful experience. I already know this will be a cozy world to return to again and again over the coming years to see how my flock is doing.
A tower defense strategy game shouldn’t work as well as this does, even if it’s upgraded with gorgeous graphics and hack-and-slash action. Capcom’s Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is one of the most surprising and unique games of the year so far for good reasons. Every part of this game, from unlocking and upgrading villager roles, to strategically placing them on the battlefield, and then jumping straight into the fight yourself is engaging and exciting. Even if you aren’t a fan of strategy or action games, this is enough of a blend that it still comes highly recommended.
Avowed is so much more than Obsidian’s take on Skyrim. This game sets the standard for what future Western RPGs should strive for. Nearly every option in combat is worth exploring, the companions are fully fleshed out with backstories that beg to be uncovered, and the anti-imperialist message at the center of the larger narrative is full of thoughtful nuance and intrigue. Obsidian has created a wonderful adventure that I can’t wait to start playing again.
Split Fiction is another jewel in Hazelight Studio’s ever-growing crown of co-op adventures. This game constantly introduces new mechanics that keep the gameplay fresh, and each new story feels unique, despite continually returning to the same two genres. There are random difficulty spikes that can easily trip up inexperienced players and lead to frustration, but this was some of the most fast-paced, light-hearted fun I’ve had in a long time.
Sunderfolk is the debut game from Secret Door and Dreamhaven. It expertly facilitates a TTRPG experience for a group of four players, using phones as controllers. It perfectly balances accessibility and depth, making it easy for new players to jump in and tactical veterans to find a challenge. The few weeks I’ve had Sunderfolk for review have been some of the most fun multiplayer experiences I’ve had in years. I look forward to playing a lot more.
I never could have seen this coming, but it makes sense that such a talented indie studio would make an awesome Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game. Fun and challenging battles combine perfectly with a unique tabletop-like art style and an excellent soundtrack, making this game feel like a new side street off memory lane.
To a T is one of the strangest, most adorable, most heartwarming games I’ve played in a long time. Through all its absurdities, it has a profound message that will stay with you long after you put the controller down. This is a short, delightful experience that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to anyone. It’s nearly impossible to play this game without smiling.
If you're new to Shadowrun Returns, skip the initial release and start with Dragonfall Director's Cut. Nearly every aspect of the Dragonfall campaign is superior to Dead Man's Switch, and there's far more to be excited about than afraid of. When backers were so eager to offer their support for Harebrained Schemes' Kickstarter campaign, Dragonfall Director's Cut is the game that made the investments pay off.
My time with Everdeep Aurora is an unforgettable experience. This world is full of memorable characters and stunning set pieces. At some point, after you delved deep underground, you’ll realize you need to get back, look up at the winding, chaotic path you’ve made to get here, and discover how this game uses the player’s curiosity and exploration in such a fun way. While it’s not entirely perfect, Everdeep Aurora is a wonderful, short, cozy experience you won’t want to miss.
While Theatrhythm Final Fantasy was a great tribute to the franchise's music, Curtain Call goes the extra mile with tons of additional content to become the definitive game in the series.
The Walking Dead Season 2's gripping tale of growing up in a hostile environment might not be the instant classic that Season 1 was, but it still belongs in the library of any adventure game fan.
It's frustrating to see the same developer who gave us the decent campaigns of the Bad Company games continue to fall flat with the story modes in the core titles. But while it feels as if DICE is standing still while the industry passes them by in terms of single-player experiences, they continue to innovate and raise the bar for multiplayer warfare. With new game modes, an enhanced interface, evolving maps, and greatly improved small-scale battles, Battlefield 4 continues the franchise's trend of setting the standard for the squad-based multiplayer shooter.