Victoria 3 is a remarkable, if a bit janky, nation-builder with ocean-deep political and economic systems that suck you in and don't let go.
Scorn is a relentlessly unsettling delve into a surreal, macabre world of alien mystery, but the scariest thing about it is the dreadful combat.
Real-time tactics meets old-timey politics in The DioField Chronicle, a fast-paced JRPG where quick and fun combat are paired with a generic story and some awkward controls.
Farthest Frontier needs a bit longer in the early access oven, but its realistic food systems and problem solving already provide a lot to enjoy.
The wacky humor might be hit or miss, but as a management sim, Two Point Campus graduates with honors.
Gwent: Rogue Mage is a new and satisfying way to play Gwent with an interesting roguelike twist.
Starship Troopers: Terran Command is a competent asymmetrical RTS, but its only substantial mode is a single-player campaign that takes a while to warm up.
While its time-consuming crafting aspects can take the bite out of the vampire fantasy, V Rising really does rise to the occasion with its excellent boss design and respectable ARPG combat.
Warhammer 40K: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters is an excellent XCOM-like and one of the best 40K games since Dawn of War II. Our review:
Dune: Spice Wars is a layered, clever, generally well-balanced RTS with great faction diversity that feels more or less finished even in its current early state.
Punchy, side-scrolling combat and a richly realized, anime-inspired world make Anno: Mutationem a blast, but the script is a bit rusty.
Most evident in its clunky, annoying combat system, Elex 2 is living in a janky Euro RPG past that its closest peers have nearly all transcended by now.
A fitting capstone to the trilogy, the story-heavy campaign and an armload of exciting new factions lead Total War: Warhammer 3 to victory.
Crusader Kings 3: Royal Court is the best kind of strategy expansion, weaving in new features that make running a kingdom a more complete and cohesive experience.
Expeditions: Rome deserves a Roman triumph as one of the most impressive tactical RPGs of the last several years, despite occasionally bending under the weight of too many systems.
Aiko's Choice is a polished, challenging, and welcome – though a bit short – standalone expansion to the exceptional Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun.
While park management and customization aspects are a bit shallow, Jurassic World Evolution 2 has tons of excellent dinosaurs and exciting ways to interact with them.
Shin Megami Tensei V's excellent JRPG combat and deeply rewarding customization shine bright, even when it sometimes feels like Persona without the heart.
Age of Empires 4 is an enjoyable RTS throwback that often plays it too safe, but excels when it doesn't.
King's Bounty 2 is a fairly strong tactical RPG that is dragged down by a mediocre plot and a lot of unnecessary jogging.