More than just a competent roguelike fresh out of early access, Skul: The Hero Slayer delivers power-swapping action and a mostly satisfying loop that should sufficiently satisfy your Dead Cells or Hades cravings.
Call of Duty: Vanguard continues the high standard set by 2019's Modern Warfare, providing a grounded, classic Call of Duty campaign, coupled with a deep multiplayer experience rich with progression and an inviting Zombies mode that welcomes all skill levels.
Though not the same tectonic shift as its predecessor, God of War Ragnarök represents one of the finest pieces of interactive entertainment available. By expanding on all the ideas set forth in 2018, Ragnarök culminates in an emotional, enthralling finale for Kratos and Atreus.
They Are Billions' crucible of experimentation and failure molds players into rugged survivalists. The RTS-style resource management and tower defense test the ability to aptly devote time to the bare necessities that will fend off countless hordes of undead. Harder to master console controls may add an extra layer of tension but living another day remains the sweetest of rewards.
Warhammer: Chaosbane joins the large family of Warhammer properties in a small stable of action-RPGs. Though somewhat derivative of the genre, it offers enough new blood and style to be a valuable entry for those looking for dungeons to crawl and loot to collect.
DeadToast Entertainment's My Friend Pedro is the expected offspring of a Devolver Digital title: oozing with style and enough substance. Players looking for an addictive score-attack game in the vein of Hotline Miami will embrace the over-the-top gunplay and the emphasis on skill and replayability.
The Blackout Club manages to wedge itself into a crowded cooperative space with the use of clever tricks and an approachable atmosphere. But unless the developers build off this initial offering with new content to slice through repetition, it will soon get lost in the dark.
With The Outer Worlds, Obsidian Entertainment recaptures the secret sauce that Bethesda has let spoil in recent years. Hilarious, engaging, and rife with player possibility, this space-faring romp is everything an RPG fan has been craving.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time on PlayStation 5 is every bit the difficult, satisfying experience it was on last gen consoles. But the improved performance and new functionality make it the optimal place to experience Crash's new lease on life.
Olija juggles action and narrative in a strange, wonderful balancing act that never leans on one element too heavily. It will mystify curious players seeking a journey inspired by the past that never wears out its welcome.
Borderlands 3 is the quintessential Borderlands experience, warts and all. Humor, loot, and style are sprayed in every direction with a few shots missing the mark. Gearbox chose not to reinvent their well-polished wheel but perhaps delivered a game that just came short of being something special.
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy subverts expectations. An expertly written and wonderfully acted script results in humor, drama, and heart, elevating the source material beyond its MCU trappings.
A Plague Tale: Innocence transforms a hopeless period of human history into an intoxicating drama. Personified as a supernatural torrent of rats, The Black Death bookends a brother and sister's struggle to overcome the impossible, giving players a piece of entertainment that is unforgettable in its emotional resonance.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge is retro-inspired beat 'em up that aspires to be nothing more than a pure flashback to earlier times. It may not push the envelope but it exudes fun and warmth through every pixel.
Gearbox's release of Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition brings the missing piece of the franchise to current generation consoles. Mechanical and visual improvements solidify Borderlands has always been a fun, beautiful game that was quite forward-thinking despite some things not aging well.
Immortals Fenyx Rising's Myths of the Eastern Realm DLC is a noble effort by Ubisoft Chengdu to infuse new and rarely touched upon mythology into the mainstream of games. Though mainly a reskin of the base game, fans should enjoy this godly romp.
Borrowing from greats like Binding of Isaac and Dead Cells, Neon Abyss throws every type of weird ability and gun imaginable at players, making for a roguelike not lacking in substance but strangely missing a touch of style.
Combining the block-breaking hook of Arkanoid and the simple platforming of the original Mario Bros., Antonball Deluxe is a great hook wrapped in a tiny package that is best experienced with a group of friends.
By maintaining most of previous XCOMs' roots, XCOM: Chimera Squad is a mostly successful entry that emphasizes brisk encounters and a guided narrative through tense battles of strategy.
Since its announcement, Massive and Ubisoft have said all the right things about The Division 2, from a wealth of content to a robust endgame. For once, it's refreshing to see the reality be more than mere words as The Division 2 sets a new standard for the genre. This is the high bar "games as a service" should aspire to.