The beefy spinoff of last year’s Infinite Wealth is an act of cosplay. While most of the pieces that make the long-running series so beloved are there, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio trades in strong writing for pirate pastiche with mixed results. Majima’s nautical adventure is at its best when flashes of memory break through its amnesia, reminding me that there’s more to Like a Dragon than its memeable moments.
Warriors: Abyss is a shallow Hades riff that doesn't put its creative squad building hook to good use.
Citizen Sleeper 2 isn’t about living in a perfect world free from oppressive systems, nor does it posit that such a thing is possible. Its comfort is in the belief that we can carve out a home in a world that’s built to box us out. That’s accomplished through the people we keep close, the communities we build, and what we do with our bodies. These should be the things that no one can take from us.
Rift of the Necrodancer captures the true essence of music by creatively visualizing rhythm.
Sniper Elite: Resistance offers more of the same action with virtually no surprises and a dull World War 2 story. That’s perfectly fine considering that the Rebellion team is still great at the one thing they’ve dedicated their career to doing: creating tightly designed murder playgrounds for those who want to vent their real world political frustrations in the safety of a virtual shooting gallery.
Dynasty Warriors: Origins is thrilling fun so long as you don't overthink its hollow story.
When Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is at its best, it’s a clever mix of Dishonored and Uncharted that rewards players for using their brains to get one step ahead of a fascist power grab. It does that while retaining the campy charm of Steven Spielberg’s original trilogy, even if its attempts at Hollywood spectacle can feel a little flat when compared to a medium full of adventure games that have long since beaten Indy to the finish line.
Infinity Nikki is the stylish open-world game that players have been begging for.
Lego Horizon Adventures isn't a perfect fit, but Sony's charmer snaps together where it counts.
The Rise of the Golden Idol makes a great mystery series even better.
Mario & Luigi: Brothership puts some creative new spins on an old formula to make for the duo’s biggest RPG to date. Though for all its inventive combat tweaks, Brothership finds the series getting even further away from the strengths that set the Mario & Luigi series apart from everything else in the Mushroom Kingdom. Even with some bright spots, it can’t escape a continued downslide for a series that can’t help but trade in clever writing for dull gimmicks.
Sonic X Shadow Generations represents the true future of a series that's finally ready to grow.
Batman: Arkham Shadow isn't just a great VR game; it's one of the best Batman games ever.
As a work of throwback video game horror, Fear the Spotlight passes, but only with partial credit. It’s a concise creepshow with a dual narrative twist that digs into the psyche of both of its teen heroines. Its attempts to look and feel like a PS1 game miss the mark, though, as it can’t shake the feeling of a modern indie game in a stage costume. The tonal discrepancy dims the spotlight around what’s otherwise an impressive passion project for a two-person development team.
Super Mario Party Jamboree’s core board game is still as fun as ever, and made even better thanks to some clever new maps. Its signature minigames, though, are a little more inconsistent as some of Nintendo’s best ideas are almost exclusively saved for hit-and-miss side modes. It’s a multiplayer package that spreads itself thin, but there’s enough fun content here to keep the dice rolling for another turn.
Neva may not be the most complex 2D platformer, but it still might make you cry.
Silent Hill 2's remake is a faithful tribute to a horror classic that hardly holds anything back.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom only feels like the beginning for what could become a great Zelda saga.
Ara: History Untold brings city-building to Civilization with strategic success.
UFO 50 will remind you why you fell in love with video games in the first place.