BioWare's shooter jets promisingly into battle on a stunning alien world, but what unfolds is patchy
Anno 1800 is a rich and sumptuous city-builder, easily the grandest and deepest Anno to date. Its early game is a wonderfully relaxing experience, while the later stages will have you scratching your mutton-chops and happily stretching your braces in equal measure.
The systems run as deep as ever in Paradox's latest effort, though the personality isn't quite there.
The extreme violence will deter some, but this over-the-top fighter has brains as well as shock value
With weapons including a firestorm revolver, the shooting is thrilling and stupendously violent – but the vast post-apocalyptic setting is a letdown
In the end, My Friend Pedro's two halves of the banana reveal the perilous balancing act of game design. The first half is a stellar example of how to build an action game, of how to engender a sense of creativity through the player's toolset, and how to bake seamless flow into complex and challenging environments. The second half isn't quite the opposite of that, but it tries much too hard to be clever, with humour that's less goofy and more edgy, and level design that's too exacting in its structure.
The Nazi-splattering franchise returns, with thoughtful level design compensating for a lack of true play flexibility
Impressive heritage and a handful of neat ideas bubble beneath this co-op horror, though they're both ultimately squandered.
A thrillingly authentic take on the first-person shooter's 90s heyday, delivered with nerdish enthusiasm.
A flawed but fascinating hybrid, Remnant: From the Ashes is a looter-shooter charged with potential.
A female protagonist, more comedy and increased tactical options bring subtlety without sacrificing adrenalin
Poorly stapled-on mechanics and a general lack of polish make Breakpoint's open-world tactics simply not worth the time.
Invigorating arcade racing let down by lightweight multiplayer and campaign modes.
Thrilling night races make Heat the best Need for Speed in years, even if I want to batter every one of its racers.
Espire 1's VR stealth is brimming with neat ideas, but the end product is slightly less than the sum of its parts.
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
Transport Fever 2 offers a pleasingly detailed logistics simulation, although it does move mightily slow at times.
There's much joy to be had building freight networks and watching cities grow … but what about the real-world pitfalls?
With a fun concept, superb creation tools, and finely crafted puzzles, Besiege is a construction game to savour.
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.