As long as you’re a fan of simulation games, you will like the latest installment in the OOTP series.
After a bounceback year for the WWE 2K franchise in 2022, the key for 2K23 was to keep it simple and build on the foundation. MyGM is much deeper and more complex — and the latter is not a bad thing. The 2K Showcase, meanwhile, does a fine job of tying together over two decades of John Cena’s legendary career.
Need for Speed Unbound has been a blast to dig into. Between the story, the vibrant look of Lakeshore City, and gameplay that strikes the right balance, there really isn’t much to complain about with Unbound.
PGA Tour 2K23 is a decent golf game, and it is the route to go if you didn’t play 2K21. 2K23’s gameplay doesn’t have any glaring problems, and it offers enough of a challenge that makes attaining a low score that much more satisfying. Its biggest issues are with what PGA Tour 2K23 does not offer.
A year after a respectable release in NHL 22, 23 seems to have way more bugs than its predecessor and a gameplay meta that is just too much of a slog to enjoy.
In the third year of the franchise on the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, one would think that Madden would really round into form and solidify itself for a renaissance. Yet, it still looks and feels like a game that is missing quite a bit.
A common knock on sports games nowadays is that very little seems to change on a year-to-year basis. That’s not the case with F1 22, as a new gameplay system that revolves around the new cars brings new challenges and a gameplay experience that differs quite a bit from past F1 games.
The gameplay in MX vs. ATV Legends is a mixed bag. There’s a good amount to like here, as the bike and vehicle customization allows for players to get their ideal tunes, which is perfect for getting things right on bumpy, treacherous roads.
Since these are titles that have been previously released and are just merely being ported over to consoles, all Capcom needed to do is make sure that these games can be played like in the past, and that they are properly functioning. Capcom checked both of these boxes with Capcom Fighting Collection, but also passed that bar by adding on to the titles.
Having a lackluster character roster, as well as the little variety in terms of modes, does hurt Mario Strikers: Battle League’s. However, gameplay does save the day here. While simplistic, its zany, yet fun gameplay loop makes things interesting.
I happen to enjoy this year’s title, as a lot of those changes make the title a bit more challenging. But if you were looking for innovations to shake up the franchise, those just aren’t here.
As far as gameplay goes, Codemasters did a solid job, by and large. GRID Legends’ engine makes the play fast-paced and intense, thanks to hard-charging vehicles and an AI that’s not afraid to get aggressive sometimes.
Forza Horizon 5 doesn’t stray away from the successful roads that have been paved in past years. The fifth title of the Forza Horizon series offers an incredible amount of depth, and its gameplay finds the right balance between simulation and just pure fun.
On the other hand, HUT, Be a Pro, and Franchise mode don’t look that much different. The lack of changes does bring down this game a bit, but is it worse off than before? Absolutely not, and NHL 22 should give those who might have been worried about a NHL 15-like debacle some comfort.
FIFA 22 does have some room for improvement, but by and large, this wasn’t a bad start for EA and the FIFA development team.
Overall, NBA 2K22 plays like a strong offering from 2K, a welcome change from recent years.
If you’re a hardcore cycling fan, there’s a good chance you’ll love this game. The game modes are rather simplistic, but the gameplay has the kind of realism that will appeal to the individuals who can’t get enough of cycling.
As long as you don’t care about actually playing games, the immersive managing experience that the folks at OOTP Devlopments give to gamers is certainly something that we could all use during this time.
If you don’t want to pay $60 for NHL 20, or want a replacement for GM Connected, this game is a nice alternative. While it has some flaws, FHM 6 certainly has a lot to offer.
Sim-style games aren’t for everyone, but DDS can be quite fun for gamers who want to feel like managing their own team, and enjoy looking at sports from a different view. There’s also lots of potential thanks to a slew of customization options.