Mindseize is a solid metroidvania that lacks spark and memorable characters.
Through the Darkest of Times paints what feels like an accurate portrait of life in Nazi Germany. Cherry-picking major events, like the Reichstag Fire or the opening ceremony of the Olympics, it convincingly places you at the scene, putting you in the shoes of a regular German trying to come to grips with how one person--or even five people--can respond in the presence of evil.
Lenna's Inception is an enjoyable, procedurally generated ode to The Legend of Zelda.
Unity of Command 2 maintains a strong supply of deep, compelling wargame strategy once you break through its wall of jargon.
Phoenix Point takes a good shot at revitalizing the XCOM formula.
Blacksad: Under the Skin is a decent detect-'em-up that lacks a bit of noir style.
Disco Elysium is a detective RPG that sets a new standard for storytelling.
Deep, varied, and punchy combat make The Surge 2 worth the effort, even if you have to bear through its lifeless story.
Knights & Bikes is an endlessly charming, knock-about adventure.
Age of Wonders: Planetfall is a robust hybrid strategy game that adds a fifth X to the 4X genre.
Night Call is an absorbing noir adventure with plenty of heart.
It's a smartly designed game at its core, despite the distractions. Just like a lone zombie can bring about your demise, sometimes one strong idea is enough.
Imperator: Rome is grand strategy on a modest scale.
Pathologic 2 offers a hauntingly bleak tale, then does its best to stop you from experiencing it.
Anno 1800 is a beautiful and comprehensive yet strangely cold Industrial Age city builder.
Pathway is a workmanlike XCOM-lite whose breezy tone stumbles into some tired tropes.
Hypnospace Outlaw is a time capsule of the late '90s internet that has a message for today.
The Occupation is a smart, story-driven stealth adventure, the sort of game that gets under your skin in ways you didn't even realize.
Eastshade is a rare first-person open world game about doing nice things and bringing communities together, a genuinely feelgood and gorgeous experience.
With embellished diplomatic options and climate change bringing new strategic choices, Gathering Storm is a whole new way to play Civ VI.