Ars Technica's Reviews
Try it if you really want to see how hard it is to make branching narrative work on this scale. Otherwise, just catch up on Westworld.
State of Decay 2 is a smart, messy idea without much of a game to go with it… again. Try it if you don't mind bugs or repetition too much.
Destiny 2: Warmind is more of the same built on a shifting foundation. Try it if you're curious about the direction the game is going.
BattleTech throws players into the deep end, but what a depth it is. Buy it if you want a turn-based tactics game that forces you to take a hit or three.
Frostpunk is a city builder focused on story and setting over creativity. Minor issues hold it back but not enough to ruin its grim vision of alternate history. Buy it.
Yakuza 6 sums up its lead character succinctly and emotionally, while shaking up enough to make the return ride feel fresh. Buy it.
Extinction is a good idea poorly executed over and over again. Skip it.
Far Cry 5 could have been the next step forward for the series after the extra time bought by Primal. Instead, it mostly feels like a step back. Skip it.
If you play PC video games at all whatsoever, buy Into the Breach.
Pressure to avoid a dark age might force you to make strange choices just to game the system to keep the good times rolling
It's a great game to fill a contemplative afternoon. Buy it.
Buy. Celeste is the first must-own single-player game of 2018.
If you've already burned through your pile of Metroid-likes, Iconoclasts is solid fuel for the fire. Try it.
Try it. If the first episode is to your liking, you'll dig the rest.
Hello Neighbor is the worst game I've reviewed all year. Skip it with prejudice.
Do you have kids? Buy and share Gorogoa as soon as you can. This game is admittedly dark and somber, but its saddest content is more of an issue of tone and confusion than outright inappropriate material, and its delightfully illustrated puzzles do not come more recommended for children. Hardcore puzzle fans, meanwhile, should do their best to take a breath while coming up with Gorogoa's solutions and admire the gorgeous story.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 makes up in manic energy what it lacks in elegance. Its mountain of ideas don't always work, but the core of the game justifies its experiments. Buy it.
If you have a room-scale VR system, try. Otherwise, avoid.
Even if EA fulfills promises, this game may still be too far gone to the Dark Side.
This is a step backward for the series—and not just chronologically. Skip it.