Rick Lane
Total War heads to the Bronze Age for an entertaining and evocative brand of strategy.
Paper Beast's origami animals delight, but the resulting game is less than the sum of its parts.
Ultimately it doesn’t matter who you’re fighting or why. What matters is the fight itself, the spectacle and the flow. Superhot’s self-directed choreography emerges triumphant; stylish, dynamic and gripping.
If you’ve always fancied painting a big map in the colour of WAR, but get intimidated by complex UIs, there are certainly worse places to start. That said, I’d be more inclined to recommend something like the aforementioned Unity Of Command, which cuts right to the heart of large-scale strategy without a single mini-game in sight.
It wouldn't be Gears of War without gore, and combining strategy with viscera dispersal aplenty, this cerebral twist on an old favourite remains true to form
The classic shooter series gains a thrilling new perspective, thanks to VR tech that works symbiotically with the narrative
Finally complete after fourteen years, Crowbar Collective's remake is more than faithful to Valve's masterpiece.
I’m not sure Taur has enough depth or variety to justify its price tag, but it is good for picking up in half-hour bouts and knowing you can make a decent chunk of progress.
With a fun concept, superb creation tools, and finely crafted puzzles, Besiege is a construction game to savour.
There's much joy to be had building freight networks and watching cities grow … but what about the real-world pitfalls?
Transport Fever 2 offers a pleasingly detailed logistics simulation, although it does move mightily slow at times.
The granular gameplay in this post-apocalyptic strategy game becomes an administrative headache, and the story is presented with all the drama of an engineering textbook
Espire 1's VR stealth is brimming with neat ideas, but the end product is slightly less than the sum of its parts.
Thrilling night races make Heat the best Need for Speed in years, even if I want to batter every one of its racers.
Invigorating arcade racing let down by lightweight multiplayer and campaign modes.
Poorly stapled-on mechanics and a general lack of polish make Breakpoint's open-world tactics simply not worth the time.
A female protagonist, more comedy and increased tactical options bring subtlety without sacrificing adrenalin
A flawed but fascinating hybrid, Remnant: From the Ashes is a looter-shooter charged with potential.
A thrillingly authentic take on the first-person shooter's 90s heyday, delivered with nerdish enthusiasm.
Impressive heritage and a handful of neat ideas bubble beneath this co-op horror, though they're both ultimately squandered.