Ben Sheene
Where the Heart Leads is a narrative journey taking players through the often mundane, sometimes impactful choices made in life. Lacking truly worthwhile gameplay, a swath of players may avoid this meaningful, surrealist story and seek out something less ordinary.
Little Nightmares II builds on the original's macabre formula of unsettling imagery and clever puzzles by crafting more diverse environments and expanding the player's toolset for solving and escaping tense situations.
MotoGP 18 is the official game of the sport yet despite an extensive career mode and an overhauled engine, developer Milestone has only iterated rather than innovated.
Rust Console Edition is, simply, a console port of an 8-year-old PC survival game that has managed to stand the test of time. It may not perform as smoothly on console yet but the desperate fights for survival against hostile forces still remains.
Prey: Mooncrash melds Arkane's excellent immersive sim playground with the challenge of a roguelike that gives players a good excuse to dive back into what made Prey so fun.
MXGP Pro is functional enough to fulfill the cravings for players who want this kind of game, yet it serves as another example that developer Milestone needs to give more time and care to its franchises.
Though Immortals Fenyx Rising may borrow familiar elements from other series, this new IP from Ubisoft establishes a unique identity through the lens of Greek mythology by using humor, intelligent puzzles, powerful combat, and clever world building.
Starlink: Battle for Atlas is an entertaining blend of planet-hopping adventure and spaceship customization built on the back of the dormant toys-to-life genre. The level of care and detail put into making this unique slice of space isn't burdened by somewhat repetitive gameplay and exploitative systems.
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons enriches the feel of classic beat 'em ups. The basics are supplemented with modern sensibilities that sprinkle in some variety but perhaps not enough longevity for players drawn in by its "roguelite" branding.
Though it doesn't reinvent the rogeulike genre, Fury Unleashed makes a name for itself through its comic book style and action-heavy combo system that relies on agile shooting and swift thinking.
In spite of its rough edges and games as a service trappings, Marvel's Avengers triumphs against most overwhelming odds by allowing players to live out a multi-faceted superhero fantasy with friends.
A surprising twist on the strategy and resource management genre, Kingdom Two Crowns offers players a mostly serene experience with gorgeous art and limited direction that may frustrate players not willing to uncover its secrets.
Fade to Silence makes bold attempts at twisting the survival genre into an expansive pallet of action-based combat, base building, and crafting. The freezing post-apocalypse is brutal and not often rewarding, yet there is enough personality to merit interest.
Forspoken, much like its main character, looks for a time and a place to belong. Besieged by a series of delays, the game wishes to sweep players away with its vast world and spectacular combat but, much like its open world, may become directionless as players seek purpose.
Rainbow Six Extraction somehow translates the phenomenal gunplay from Siege into tense PvE incursions but can stumble with Operator diversification and mission variety as teams master their relentless and deadly alien foes.
Solar Ash's sin of less than ideal platforming progression is outweighed by its constantly surprising, intoxicating world that features stunning vistas explored using primal speed, asking the player to be along for its dreamy ride.
The Crew 2 Demolition Derby is an update that makes the game feel more fully realized.
Fate/Samurai Remnant forgoes the deluge of sword fodder typical with most Musou games, offering a relatively dense experience with a narrative that will attract Fate veterans and hopefully not isolate newcomers.
The Surge 2 builds upon the unique ideas of its predecessor to create a more engaging, sprawling sequel. A few bumps in the road do little to impede a satisfying construct of combat and customization.
Hitman: Sniper Assassin is hopefully a suiting prelude to the kind of decision-making and variety players will get when Hitman 2 releases on November 13.