Riverbond is a simple game that follows a blueprint. By mixing up characters, weapons, and environments, Riverbond does a decent job of reiterating this predictable path in such a way that each level is still a unique world – which is necessary to keep the player engaged and entertained. Overall, gameplay is easygoing and doesn't require much effort or critical thinking, making Riverbond a solid option to power up and knock out on a slow day.
A solid, but still returnable, second serve that could use a little more mechanical tinkering.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla: The Siege of Paris is less of an expansion and more of a continuation, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. While Eivor's character development seemed to take a step backward, fans of the base game will still enjoy another 10 or so hours of gameplay thanks to Francia's new storyline, characters, weapons, and abilities.
CastleStorm II's brand of real-time strategy tower defense is just challenging enough to keep you engaged, but not so much that you're throwing your controller.
Destroy All Humans! is not a complicated or even particularly difficult game. But it sticks to the original game's strengths.
World War Z doesn't hide its intentions. It's not a layered, in-depth survival sim. It doesn't try to be anything it's not. It's built around the horde effect, which it nails. They're like train wrecks: you can't stop watching them—except the train is headed straight for you.
If you're a fan of massive death machines, explosions, and a dab of entrepreneurship, MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries will appease your unique trio of interests. There are also enough mechs, customization tools, mission types, and environments to keep gameplay from becoming too repetitive. Lastly, although I wasn't emotionally attached to the story, it was still entertaining enough.
Mortal Shell embraces the Souls-like moniker with open arms. They welcomed comparisons, and, for the most part, delivered. What's more impressive is that a team of only 15 people created it. Mortal Shell will make you to rethink your ideas around patience and frustration. You will love this game for all the same reasons that you hate it.
The day/night dynamic is entertaining and mixes things up. The car list is better than expected. Customization is clean and maximizes personalization. And the driving mechanics aren't overly complicated but present enough of a challenge.
Prior to its expansions, Age of Wonders: Planetfall was already a content-rich game with a lengthy list of factions, commanders, techs, and units. Invasions bolsters Planetfall's diversity and replayability with intriguing new features. The Shakarn alone make the expansion worthwhile.
If you enjoyed Super Mega Baseball 3's predecessors, you're in for a treat. SMB3's identity as a quirky but committed sports title remains intact. With promising post-release updates ahead, SMB3 will satisfy your baseball cravings for the indefinite future. The Metalhead team listened to its community and implemented their feedback. For that, they deserve extensive praise and thanks.
If you're looking for an easygoing, mindless gaming session, Planetfall isn't in your ballpark—or even playing sports. But if you woke up this morning thinking, "Hey, I'd love to play XCOM and Civilization today, then you can kill two birds with one stone. Planetfall will fill your unique craving.