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.
Trackmania's thrilling speed and simplistic style make it an easily accessible racer that will thrive on a dedicated, creative community who have the patience to navigate its subscription model and basic menus.
In an increasingly busier time for the roguelite genre of tunneling further into a game's loop, Dreamscaper is a surprising breath of fresh air, using a grounded tale of anxiety and loss as a catalyst for fantastical beasts and familiar mechanics.
Plucking inspiration from several unsettling sources of entertainment, Transference delivers a creepy, cerebral virtual reality tour through a broken family dynamic that is unimpeded by taxing puzzles and relishes in immersing players in haunted house of tragedy.
Immortals Fenyx Rising's final piece of DLC unexpectedly changes the traditional perspective and progression of many previous Ubisoft games, making The Lost Gods a genuine treat for the new IP's conclusion.
Though Far Cry: New Dawn treads similar ground as its predecessor, this direct sequel signals the franchises is stretching its wings by introducing RPG mechanics and easily replayable content. This is still a game packed with zany characters, bizarre moments, and fast-paced fun.
Tribes of Midgard blends survival, crafting, and action in a cooperative Viking setting. But if you aren't matched with a helpful, communicative lobby, be prepared to spend long stretches of time engaging in the game's less fun activities.
In a matter of weeks Anthem has marveled with its engaging action and technical incompetence. As a power fantasy, the game achieves many co-op thrills but the highs are often spread too thin over questionable design choices. BioWare's pedigree feels suppressed by a game that needed much more time in the oven.
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.