Baz Macdonald's Reviews
If you aren't entranced by mechanically shallow games like Journey, don't bother. But if you find exploration titles even marginally interesting, Abzu is an absolute must-play – it's the most majestic one yet.
Super Mario Odyssey is an innovative masterpiece that takes an already creative series to the next level, demonstrating that there is no limit to the adventures that can be had in games or the ways they can be played.
Quantum Break is magnificent, pushing the boundaries of what's possible both technically and from a narrative perspective.
Majora's Mask for 3DS represents the best execution of the game, boasting impressive graphics and extraordinary gameplay depth.
Convoy name-checks some heavy hitting properties, but manages to be more than the sum of its parts.
Crypt of the Necrodancer evolves the roguelike genre substantially with an exceedingly simple addition. The rhythm mechanics, combined with some really great music and the roguelike experience, create one of the best titles either rhythm games or roguelikes have to offer.
The Witness is an expansive and wickedly smart follow-up to Braid, with puzzles to test even the brightest minds. Its mental gymnastics are well worth the occasional frustration, and you'll come out feeling like a genius.
Forza Horizon 4 continues the incredible success of this series, taking its already lofty achievement to even greater heights. The team at Playground games have created a title that cleverly balances realism with fun in a dynamic, beautiful world with a wide range of exciting and meticulously designed events and activities.
Odin Sphere Leifthrasir is a cult classic for good reason. It's a strange title, but an engrossing one that's only let down by some one-note characters.
A textbook multiplayer sequel, Garden Warfare 2 builds upon the solid class-based shooting of its predecessor, while both refining the core mechanics and adding a shedload of new content.
We'll never know what Titan was like, but thanks to Overwatch we won't care. A first-rate team-based FPS, it has seen Blizzard rise to the top of yet another genre.
Hearts of Stone is everything great about The Witcher 3, delivered in a neat little package.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe takes the franchise to a new level, and makes further argument that the Switch is a fantastic portable console.
Revenant Kingdom is a better game than its excellent predecessor, which makes it a must-play for genre fans and curious folks alike.
If you're a fan of Call of Duty multiplayer offerings - boy howdy do Treyarch have an instalment for you. But, if you're in it for the single player, you're going to be severely disappointed – though hopefully that's not a surprise, considering we've known there would be no campaign for five months. The combination of Multiplayer, Zombies and the brilliant new Battle Royale mode Blackout, offer a multiplayer feast. A smorgasbord of experiences which makes it feel like a package which will remain interesting, fun and exciting far beyond the release of the next annual COD instalment.
Beat Saber is possible the best VR experience ever made. It is an incredibly satisfying rhythm game which uses the immersion of VR to evoke a sense of scale, power and energy that hugely enhances the underlying gameplay loop. The mechanics, music and VR environment tap into something deep in your psyche that creates an irresistibly fun and empowering experience.
With Super Smash. Bros Ultimate, the development team set themselves the lofty goal of bringing together an incredible amount of the franchises back catalogue of characters, stages and other miscellanea. With this much fan service-focused content, there was always the danger that the game would get buried beneath it. But thankfully, the game sits proudly on top of it, in this game that simultaneously celebrates the very history of gaming while presenting a deep, incredibly fun fighting game for everyone and everyone, no matter how you choose to play.
As much as we love remasters, it is not often they are as justified as Crash Team Racing Nitro Fueled has proven itself to be. The well-balanced difficulty of this games map and AI fills a niche in the Kart Racing genre that is sure to delight multiplayer parties and provide a healthy challenge for both nostalgia-filled millennials and newcomers alike.
Dreams has opened up the artform of games to the experimentation and creativity of anyone and everyone in a way never before achieved. As a result, it is an experience that is wonderous, fulfilling and exciting - regardless of whether you are learning to develop, developing something, or playing something made by others.
Doom Eternal has taken what were already some pretty innovative new approaches to gameplay, and either refined, expanded, or built upon them in a way that elevates this visceral, kinetic and exhilarating approach to combat up several hundred notches.