While there is a lot of content in this update to bring players back to the game, it may not be quite extensive enough to satiate fans long-term. Hopefully, the time between content patches will shorten as Valheim continues its Early Access period, and players can look forward to further updates as solid as this one.
Sea of Thieves: A Pirate's Life is by far one of the best additions to Sea of Thieves in recent memory. The crossover with Pirates of the Caribbean is a natural fit, and it feels like the two IPs work together rather than vie for supremacy. The new enemies also feel appropriate, bringing much-needed variety to the lineup of foes players may face both in and outside Tall Tales. The beginning homage to the Disney Parks ride is a subtle and effective touch fans are sure to appreciate, and Jack Sparrow himself is exceptionally crafted. Rare has created something special with Sea of Thieves: A Pirate's Life, and it will be exciting to see how these new mechanics lead to future growth for the pirate-themed co-op.
A short but wildly enjoyable puzzle game.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition is still essentially what a remaster ought to be. It remains faithful to the original, emphasizing everything fans loved or loved to poke fun at while making necessary improvements that make gameplay far more enjoyable on contemporary systems. The inclusion of all three games, the new import system in the unified launcher, and the unified character creation options allows the series to feel like a single, cohesive story experience. Though not without bugs, and though Mass Effect 1 still suffers from its age, Mass Effect Legendary Edition is a great way for veterans to revisit the series and new fans to dive in for the first time - and it seems almost a certainty that Mass Effect Legendary Edition will renew interest in the franchise as work begins on Mass Effect 4.
Everything a Sims DLC should be.
Visage is terrifying, but lacks good guidance at times.
There is so much to like about Into A Dream, and the overall experience is a compelling, heart-wrenching look at interpersonal relationships, mental illness and connection. At a time when so many in the world are feeling understandably out of control, isolated and disconnected, Into A Dream is a welcome reminder of the beauty of compassion and empathy.
The Sims 4 Eco Lifestyle lets players better interact with their neighborhood and environment, offering a unique gaming and story experience.
In a year with dozens of game releases of massive scale and scope, it's easy for a relatively calming game like Pikmin 4 to be overlooked. But Pikmin 4 is a fantastic reminder that sometimes, games that are simply charming, cozy, and small can still have a massive impact.
The full release of Grounded is impressive due to its polish, attention to detail, and unique, compelling premise and world, but is still in need of some work to reach its full potential as a giant of the survival genre. It is staggering to see where Grounded started and how far it has come to reach version 1.0, and it is easy to get immersed in this familiar but new world. Grounded should, if nothing else, serve as the example for future game accessibility functions. Grounded is one of the more sophisticated and unique co-op survival games available today, and both veteran survival gamers and newcomers to the genre can find a lot to enjoy about its gameplay and style, especially if they've ever dreamed of exploring the world while the size of a bug.
Overall, Mothergunship: Forge comes out of the gate strong and gets more fun with each subsequent run. The randomization of the roguelite mechanics ensures almost endless replayability. Mothergunship: Forge feels far different than other wave shooters in the best way and gives players multiple customization options to build some incredible, zany creations. Despite the somewhat simplistic premise, the possibilities and variety do feel endless. With a few updates, the gameplay experience can be even stronger and easier to master. The graphics and sound design in Mothergunship: Forge are also well-done and contribute to the immersion, but the standout is undoubtedly the gun-building physics and the use of VR technology to put players more directly in the game. Mothergunship: Forge is a must-have VR experience and demonstrates so much potential, both for the future of virtual reality games and for its own future and the future of Terrible Posture Games as a developer in the VR space.
The Sims 4 Cottage Living has the potential to become one of The Sims 4's essential Expansion Packs in the eyes of the community, forever altering gameplay like Seasons and Parenthood did. There is a lot to like about The Sims 4 Cottage Living, and with luck, Sims 4 fans will see more like it in the near future.
A beautiful adventure awaits in the Deep Woods.