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Defragmented is a clever mix of varied RPG mechanics and hectic action-oriented shooting. While the camera needs a bit of work to use properly, you can still enjoy the great visuals and the stellar soundtrack.
Firewatch shows how a good combination of narrative, character interactions, exploration, and visuals can create a unique experience that keeps gamers engaged despite the limits of the actual gameplay.
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 could have tried to be a little more accessible for those who are not yet in love with the Naruto canon but even they will be impressed by the combat sequences and intrigued to find out more about the main cast of characters.
Assassin's Creed Chronicles: Russia ends the trilogy on a higher note, managing to add a few new things and improvements over the last two installments. Unfortunately, it still falls of short of really impressing fans. The exploration is still a bit stiff, the combat is clunky while the timed sections are a pain to get through.
But The Political Machine 2016 can also serve as an entry-level video game for those who are interested in politics and its limits serve as a good way to push a player to find out more about the process and to cast his votes only after careful consideration.
Fortified is a solid mix of tower defense and action third-person shooting. Its design may not be all that original, but its execution is great and should entertain you, as well as your friends, via the cooperative mode.
Crusader Kings II: Conclave represents the best incarnation of the veteran grand strategy title from Paradox Development Studio, a great experience for any player who loves history and wants to explore the many what if situations of the past.
Rise of the Tomb Raider successfully reiterates the success of its predecessor by updating and upgrading quite a few different things, like combat, crafting, or RPG mechanics, while improving the environmental design and the general flow of the campaign. There are very few downsides, and no matter if you were a longtime fan or not, you can have plenty of intense fun with Lara's latest adventures.
XCOM 2 is a great turn-based strategy experience that delivers plenty of tension, a wide range of ways for gamers to navigate missions and choices and enough procedurally generated maps to keep engagements interesting even after 50 hours or more of play.
Agatha Christie: The ABC Murders is a gentle game, constantly giving players information via observation, conversation or reasoning, without ever pressuring them to solve the puzzles and to move forward with the story.
Kung Fu Panda: Showdown of Legendary Legends is a good brawler, but it's a shame that the development team at Vicious Cycle has only sought to draw inspiration from the leader in the genre and failed to introduce any truly innovative feature.
Sebastien Loeb Rally Evo is not a perfect game, and Milestone would do well to make the progression a little faster via coming updates, but the mechanics as they are now are well suited for those looking for a deep sim.
Cobalt is an instant classic for side-scrolling brawlers. The combat is varied and addictive, the mechanics sufficiently complex to satisfy dedicated players, and the competitive modes can entertain all sorts of fans. Throw in the pretty fun story mode as well as the support for the Steam Workshop, through which players can devise their own maps, and you have a great investment.
Steve Jackson's Sorcery! can seem like a small game, with a focused player able to get through the two included chapters of the quest for the Crown of Kings in a little more than three hours, but there's enough depth in the world to support two or three campaigns.
Lego Marvel's Avengers is a solid journey into the Marvel cinematic universe, incorporating some of the best moments of the different films released throughout the years while respecting the limitations when it comes to the character roster. Gameplay is as captivating as ever, and the couple of improvements manage to fit quite well into the established recipe. However, there are some noticeable downsides relating to the voice "acting" not to mention the design of some specific stages that feel rushed or confusing.
Bombshell is a relatively decent twin-stick shooter. It most certainly isn't an action role-playing game, like its marketing claims. It's also weighed down by its shoddy story delivery and by its tedious stages. Some players can have fun with it but, especially at its 35 USD/EUR, it's not worth the investment.
AIPD provides a solid twin-stick shooter experience, with plenty of variety thanks to the customization elements for your ship, the gameplay, or the mode. Fun in small doses in single-player and adequately chaotic when more people are involved, you can't go wrong with this indie title.
Life Is Strange is an imperfect video game and the actual mechanics of playing it, including the time rewind, can become annoying of frustrating, especially when the development team tries to borrow from another genre. But the game makes it easy to create a connection with Max and to care about her choices and trials, a rare feat, and that means any fan of narrative-driven experiences should try it out to see how he deals with the feelings of the protagonist and the impact they have on Arcadia Bay.
Fear Equation is a hard game that can frustrate players but offers a unique mix of management and terror that fans of both strategy and survival genres should try out.
The Deadly Tower of Monsters is an interactive love letter to MST3K but also to those who love the old sci-fi movies that were featured on the show. You'll have a blast not only playing the title but also listening to the commentary or trying to spot from where all the different elements originate.