With accessibility to spare, a real commitment to diversity and an infectious sense of innocent fun, Overwatch feels like an important game — the sort that can bridge boundaries in the oft-segmented gaming community. I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say that this may just be the project to revitalize lapsed or disheartened gamers' interest in the medium, or the one to bring new players onboard the FPS wagon.
Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse provides more of the series' addictive combination of exploring, demon-collecting and fast-paced battling, all while continuing the delightfully warped narrative of its predecessor. This is pure JRPG bliss.
Final Fantasy XV's long, troubled development cycle is evident in some of its rougher elements, but ultimately, none of that really matters. Like many of its predecessors, this Final Fantasy's best elements — great characters, fun combat and a beautiful soundtrack — make its goofier shortcomings blend in as part of the endearing charm.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a landmark achievement for both the Zelda franchise and Nintendo as a whole.
If you're a fan of the genre and you've been holding off on Sony's latest console, here's your excuse to move into the next generation of JRPGs.
One might call October the "Month of the JRPG" on PlayStation 4. Hot on the heels of Disgaea 5, Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree's Woe and the Blight Below is the next must-have title for fans of the genre on Sony's newest console. Unlike other crossover incarnations in the Warriors series, Heroes incorporates enough of the legendary RPG franchise's traditional elements to create a giddy nostalgia trip. Even if you aren't a longtime fan, though, you'll have a chance to get caught up in a whirlwind of solid action-RPG goodness.
Bravely Second might not take as many risks as a sequel should, but that doesn't matter so much when you experience the great character interaction, impressive graphics, outstanding soundtrack and addictive gameplay of this wonderful RPG.
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE's first few hours can be frustrating as you wait for the game to open up. Once it does, though, it's a delight — this is an excellent new take on Shin Megami Tensei's combat, combined with a fresh narrative and lovable characters that infectiously idealize Japan's music industry.
Zero Time Dilemma is a masterpiece of storytelling.
Batman: The Telltale Series – Episode 1: Realm of Shadows offers a tantalizing taste of the new paths this series might forge for its legendary comic book hero. It's got everything you'd expect from a game about the Caped Crusader... plus plenty of things you wouldn't.
Pokémon Sun And Moon feel like the freshest new iterations of the series in a long time. They're not complete reinventions, but they do finally fix a number of problems that have plagued the franchise since its inception.
World of Final Fantasy is a loving 30th anniversary tribute to the beloved series, boasting an addictive monster-collection system and a fun (though admittedly goofy) narrative that brings together three decades of characters.
Horizon Zero Dawn is a stunningly gorgeous game, an awesome open world action-RPG that overcomes the gameplay conventions of the genre by giving you so many options on how to tackle combat. It does stumble a bit trying to tell a cohesive story, but I was too caught up in exploring all the little details of the world to let that bother me.
Sega's American branch made the right call bringing this one overseas — it's one of the best RPGs available on 3DS. Full to bursting with charming characters, gorgeous fantasy worlds and addictive turn-based combat, 7th Dragon III: Code VFD makes me wonder why Western gamers didn't see this series sooner.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's improved Battle Mode is bound to bring out some people's inner child in the best way (this author very much included). As for the rest of the racing action, the tight and polished multiplayer action is as good as it's ever been - and the ability to take it on-the-go is like a dream come true.
Those who haven't yet experienced either 999 or VLR are in for a real treat. Both games were already excellent in their previous incarnations, but The Nonary Games bundles two definitive editions together in one simple, appealing package.
Whether you memorized every map of the original game, or you've yet to set foot in the most intricate version of Yasumi Matsuno's Ivalice ever rendered, there's more than enough incentive in Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age to jump in.
OlliOlli 2 is absolutely overflowing with content. It's challenging, addictive, and gorgeous -- an absolute must-have for high score chasers and skate junkies.
Brutally unforgiving but impeccably designed, Invisible, Inc. brings espionage and roguelike elements together in a package that's equal parts cruel and beautiful.
If you've got a hankering for strategic role-playing and an epic narrative with plenty of player choice, The Banner Saga should become one of your priorities on PS4. The combat, while a little uneven difficulty-wise across the game's campaign, nevertheless manages to hit the sweet spot between simple accessibility and strategic depth. You'd also be hard-pressed to find an indie with as much artistic inspiration: gorgeous character art, painterly backgrounds and an exceptional put to rest the misguided notion that indies can't turn out aesthetic appeal on a limited budget. Sure, it's not always perfect — the game's lack of guidance, difficulty spikes and voice acting may occasionally leave you feeling a little lost and alone — but perhaps that's just in keeping with the unforgiving Norse world that inspired it.