RAGE 2 held plenty of potential, but even considering how great the combat is, falls well short of that goal. The sequel is hampered by the same issues that cropped up in the original. The campaign is a non-factor and the open-world needed more life in it. Third time's the charm?
Slay The Spire is an ingenious and addicting blend of card game strategy and rogue-like mechanics. It's a potent mix that will keep you coming back for more, even if death often awaits you.
By choosing to flesh out the supporting cast, Life is Strange 2 reaches a new high with the release of Wastelands. It's an emotionally intense episode that both builds and destroys the bonds Sean has worked so hard to forge.
BoxBoy! + BoxGirl! is far from a total reinvention, but the series remains as charmingly enjoyable as it always has. The addition of a fun co-op adventure is just the cherry on top of an already solid package.
Outside of the excellent co-op play, World War Z is a mixed bag of issues. With no story to get invested in, the progression system is a total drag and there's little here you haven't seen done better before. However, as long as you have friends willing to join in, this shooter can be an intensely enjoyable time.
Mortal Kombat 11 is arguably the most enjoyable entry in the long-running franchise. It's visually incredible and a blast to play. However, questionable design decisions -- namely, a grind-heavy approach to progression -- hold it back from true fighting game greatness.
Design and technical issues aside, Hob: The Definitive Edition is a solid little dungeon crawler that will hopefully find a new, more appreciative audience on the Nintendo Switch.
Generation Zero holds plenty of promise, but its current state makes it impossible to recommend. From the painful inventory management to the lifeless open world to the haphazard multiplayer, there's little positive to be found here.
Although Golf Peaks could have benefited from there being more content included, it's still a solid puzzler that is more than worth the cost of admission. Its delightful presentation, calming presence and pick-up appeal make it perfect to take on the go.
Dead or Alive 6 maintains the same excellent fighting engine and graphical fluidity of past entries, but it's bogged down by a litany of problems. From the tedious grinding to unlock costumes to the bare-bones online play, it's a disappointing debut on current-gen consoles.
Degrees of Separation is definitely not great, but it's not exactly bad either. Instead, it's something potentially worse: forgettable. An intriguing premise is wasted on dull gameplay that never rises above simply being serviceable.
Trials Rising is not an evolution for the franchise. Instead, RedLynx delivers a smart sequel that offers up the same great gameplay while improving upon various side-aspects of the series.
Although Steins;Gate Elite has a tendency to get lost in the minutiae, this updated release is perhaps the best way to experience 5pb's kinetic visual novel.
Despite some questionable moments in the second episode, Life Is Strange 2 is off to an excellent start. Daniel and Sean's journey is a tough, racially-heated story that will draw you in, even as it breaks your heart.
Despite some questionable moments in the second episode, Life Is Strange 2 is off to an excellent start. Daniel and Sean's journey is a tough, racially-heated story that will draw you in, even as it breaks your heart.
The Hong Kong Massacre is a classic case of style over substance. The beauty of the title's slow-motion bullet ballet is just a fancy cover for its frustrating, un-evolving gameplay.
Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes can be engaging and stylish when it wants to be. However, it rarely wants to be either of those things, and is instead content to be a bland, boring slog that never gets out of first gear.
Absolutely jam-packed with content and technically proficient on the Switch, Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends Definitive Edition is far and away the most complete entry in the long-running franchise.
Onimusha: Warlords Remastered can feel as dated as you would expect from a PlayStation 2 era title, but Capcom has done a solid job of improving the visuals and reworking the gameplay in order to make it worth revisiting in 2019.
Both a faithful spiritual sequel and a fresh adventure, Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom is an excellent platformer with some truly gorgeous visuals.