Jonathan Bolding's Reviews
The flock of dizzying strategic possibilities and the brilliant plumage it's dressed in make this digital board game a must-play.
Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition preserves for posterity the core of this weirdest 00s RTS experiments while making some much-needed changes. Love it or hate it, the definitive edition is Age of Empires 3 amplified.
If the RTS is dead, then Iron Harvest is some pretty slick necromancy. A classic single-player campaign with a strong story complements the absolute satisfaction of big, stompy mechs.
Ambitious in the extreme, Shadow Empire is a unique sci-fi wargame that's a little lost in its own details.
For better or worse, this is a classic hex wargame with updated graphics.
MechWarrior 5 is a showcase of nostalgic, joyful mech combat.
In terms of core design, turn-based tactics games don't get much better than Phoenix Point.
Wargames don't see a lot of innovation, but Unity of Command 2 builds new things out of familiar parts.
A sometimes tricky RPG with gorgeous art that's perfect for co-op.
Inventive in some ways and stagnant in others, Elex will appeal to die-hard RPG fans and few others.
An accessible ambassador for its genre, Xenoblade Chronicles X makes good choices building a world, but stumbles on writing you a guidebook to it.
If you're in the mood for some N64 era platforming held to modern standards, or have a bad-at-platformers partner to tag along, Woolly World is just what the doctor ordered.
To some players it's going to feel like a handful of aesthetic features, but once you use the new mechanics After Dark draws you deeper into making your own little world.
The core gameplay of Arkham Knight is nearly flawless, and most players won't even notice my problems with story or dialogue.
It shouldn't be as good as it is... but who am I to deny something this inkredible?
It innovates from prior games in the series, and is undeniably fun, but Galactic Civilizations III isn't the clear leader in a packed genre.
The finest city builder in over a decade, Cities: Skylines's few flaws are so minor I only noticed them after hours of enjoyment.
This game preaches to the choir - the hunting faithful will love it, everyone else, maybe not.
Majora's Mask holds up well, and even if it isn't as near-perfect as Ocarina, the comforting improvements make it more than worth your time.
Endless Legend is a lovely game with deep strategy that's a singular pleasure to play, but can sometimes disappoint you in finer details. Know that if you're never going to play multiplayer, you're not getting the whole experience - so bring a friend.