I find myself thinking back to a Gabe Newell quote from the book Half Life 2: Raising the Bar, regarding the game's large portions of missing content. "It doesn't matter what we cut, so long as we cut it and it gives us the time to focus on other things." I feel like this outlook is more pertinent than ever; there are too many games being released these days for them to waste players' time in the way Battlemage does. Editing in game design is as important as it is in writing or filmmaking. Get to the point. Respect both the time and financial investment of your audience. Above all else, don't send me chasing after the goddamn lorry.
Trine 3's vibrant world and creative physics puzzles are as appealing as ever, but the transition to 3D is a painful one.
After Dark makes some big changes to the visual variety of Cities: Skylines, but does little to alter the underlying simulation.
An impressive work from a single dev, but fans looking for further stories in the Half-Life universe should temper their expectations.
Visually stunning, Adr1ft is hindered by shallow core mechanics and a serious lack of interactivity.
Shadow Warrior's surprising new direction makes the sequel a riotous blast, though it can't quite live up to its predecessor.
If you picked up Battlefront last year and found it wanting, it’s worth a second look now. There’s easily a couple of evening’s worth of extra fun available for free.
Tyranny's depiction of evil is fascinating and thought-provoking, albeit somewhat obscured by convoluted quest-lines and repetitive combat.
Shallow simulation and lingering bugs make Rollercoaster Tycoon World a poor alternative to Planet Coaster.
Swathed in atmosphere and crammed with detail, Take on Mars is let down by frequent bugs and some enormously frustrating design decisions.
A gleefully gory throwback to 90s shooters wrapped in a rogue-like shell, Strafe is let down by uneven pacing and underwhelming guns.
A thrilling and creative multiplayer horror, Friday the 13th's compelling emergent play is hindered by a half-baked launch.
A CRPG of unparalleled breadth and dynamism, Original Sin 2 is Larian's masterpiece.
This lush and dynamic RPG prides itself on the historical accuracy of its recreation of 15th-century feudal Bohemia
The 90s classic has never looked better, but beneath the makeover it can creak.
Pitting you as a doctor turned bloodsucker protecting London from other vampires, this action role-player only fitfully explores its moral setup
Spidey swings through the canyons of Manhattan in eye-popping style, but the set-piece supervillain showdowns are confused and messy
Riddled with bugs and bizarre mechanics, Underworld Ascendant is a bafflingly poor debut from OtherSide Entertainment.
Parkitect offers a well constructed attraction, even if the ride is overly familiar.
The latest in the survivalist shooter game series takes you out of Moscow on a touching, tragic and engaging journey