Ars Technica's Reviews
Yooka-Laylee stays true to its '90s platformer roots, even to its detriment. But there are just enough modern touches and excellent platforming to make it more than just another nostalgia play.
Persona 5 weaves engaging JRPG combat around a thoughtful, exquisitely stylish tale of thieves and the struggle to survive in an unfair society. Buy it.
Torment's uneven gameplay is pulled to the finish line by its engrossing world and story. Assuming you can get over the introductory hump (and all that text), it's absolutely a story worth reading, if not always playing. Buy it.
This is a good game. This is a BioWare space RPG. This is a Mass Effect game, in character and execution as well as in name. If you're a Mass Effect fan—the kind who created a custom Shepard and imported a single save game all the way through the original trilogy and has fierce feelings about the proper romance choices for Shepard—then you'll want to buy Andromeda, because even though it won't give you any more Shepard, it will give you more Mass Effect (and there are some hints and voice logs from familiar original trilogy faces to be found—if you look for them).
It's testament to Taro's talent for storytelling that the game inspires replay as much through its narrative hooks as its baser promise of trophies and a 100% competition record.
If you've got some friends to play with, give Wildlands a bash, but better open-world games are out there.
Night in the Woods wastes just a little too much time before getting to the heart of a story about the value of life when life doesn't seem worth living. Buy it.
Halo Wars 2's campaign is an exciting enough ride with a very plain final drop. Thankfully, there will be plenty of multiplayer modes to run with what the campaign teaches. Try it.
Nioh makes no bones about standing in the shadows of giants, but it extends and polishes the Dark Souls formula so much that it manages to shine just as brightly. Buy it.
A must-buy for horror gaming fans, HDR TV owners, and PSVR owners.
The slight amount of new content will only appeal to hardcore fans or those who desperately want to play Dream Drop Distance in HD. Skip it.
Yakuza 0 is a fine, goofy, and bombastic entry point for anyone who has wanted to see just what the hell is up with these darn Yakuza games. Buy it.
Gravity Rush 2’s personality and unique, physics-bending gameplay make it so unlike any other open-world game that it gets my whole-hearted recommendation, despite a few faults. Buy it.
With its reliance on deeply confusing fluff and numerous bugs, Space Hulk: Deathwing is only for fans of Warhammer 40,000 who absolutely can't wait for a patch.
Steep wants to impart a sense of freedom, but it lacks the courage to offer true openness and underwhelms as a result.
Final Fantasy XV takes the series in a new direction, but despite some memorable moments, it remains remains a confused, uneven package.
Buy it if you're ready to be an exceptionally patient pet owner. Watch some videos online otherwise.
Buy it for the excellent collection of built-in Nintendo-made levels. Get the Wii U version if you want to actually make your own.
Despite the weak career mode, the depth of Planet Coaster's tools and the strength of its community make it a thoroughly engrossing experience. Old-school PC gamers can rest easy: this is the theme park game you've been waiting for.
Dishonored 2 is one of the smartest, most well-designed games released this year. If you fancy a challenge, this one is a no-brainer.