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Pyre definitely suffers from structural issues, and doesn't solidify into a truly great experience until its later half, but on the whole it's another fascinating entry from Supergiant Games - and that second half is worth it. Somewhat flawed, but recommended nonetheless.
Feral Fury is a fun little pick-up-and-play shooter that serves its function quite well. It feels at once familiar in its gameplay, and fresh in its cartoony overlay.
This revival of the miniature racer has a promising core, but poorly-handled multiplayer and a lack of replayability leave it sputtering on the starting grid. Micro Machines World Series might fulfill a night of local matches, but that's about the extent of its strengths.
The story and puzzles are decent in Aporia: Beyond The Valley, so it's a shame that the world is roughly designed, there are consistency and technical issues, and the horror element is shallow.
Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles is an enjoyable enough adventure, but it's missing a hook to get players invested. The game wants you to get lost in the economy and exploration it offers, but in just performing these menial tasks for their own sake it fails to create any moments where the entire experience is more than a series of distractions.
Nex Machina is another impressive addition to the portfolio of Housemarque. It's a top-tier shooter with dazzling visuals that never lets up on the action.
Derelict Fleet feels like something that was unearthed by a science team digging for artifacts from the early 2000's. This is a game that was somehow preserved until a 2017 release, and now has the audacity to ask for $10 from unsuspecting players. Not many redeeming qualities to be found here, nostalgic or otherwise.
The Golf Club 2 is a satisfying and challenging golf simulation that succeeds thanks to the depth and quality of its core mechanics and number of courses available, despite a lackluster visual presentation and lack of proper online multiplayer.
While most players will likely see where its influences lay, the dystopian world of Black The Fall succeeds on many occasions in creating a distinctly disquieting atmosphere, while a trial-and-error-based puzzle design offers just enough interactivity to keep its spooky narrative kicking.
Tekken 7 has reached a peak for the franchise in terms of combat quality and character variety. However, some online issues and lack of diverse modes for both online and offline play hamstring the game a bit. Still, whether you are a Tekken fan or fighting veteran, or complete newcomer, there's a lot here to get stuck into.
While ultimately 'for the fans', Activision and Vicarious Visions successfully bring nostalgic PS One classic romping back into relevance, while including some extra bells and whistles that (save for some control slips) allow the originals a greater depth.
Cars 3: Driven to Win has the potential to be an enjoyable enough kart racer, with plenty of content and true-to-film art style. Unfortunately, frustrating AI and poor presentation, on top of a full asking price, keep this title from reaching a podium finish.
Unless you're just dying for something different, Valkyria Revolution isn't worth your time. Its attempt at genre blending just leads to a confusing mess of styles that never quite works.
Conarium's fascinating world is closely based on a Lovecraft story, taking players through ancient tombs abandoned for eons. The adventure puzzles are a bit too simple and its rough edges needed smoothing, but it is still a faithful adaption.
The metroidvania-lover in me wished Randall turned out to be more enjoyable. There are some interesting ideas here, like the use of mind control, but the good of that is buried under a litany of technical problems and just general sloppy design. Like the titular hero, I found myself frequently battling headaches during my time with the game.
DiRT 4 is a better rally game than DiRT Rally because it has improved career progression, better multiplayer, randomized rally routes, and some casual-friendly options. The procedurally generated rally stages are a game changer and help to provide lasting value.
Tokyo 42 offers a stylish, polished, well-presented open world that's unfortunately just not an awful lot of fun to do anything in. A few nice touches put a spark in its heart, but they can't light up the overall experience.
Rough edges and thin map selection aside, Rising Storm 2 offers up an intense and immersive recreation of the Vietnam War that will thrill, terrify and occasionally infuriate anyone brave or patient enough to get past its initially steep learning curve.
OVIVO may be a bit artsy for some people, but the game is relatively short and always throwing something new your way. Even if it doesn't leave a lasting impression, the game is good while it lasts.
The smattering of flaws aside, NBA Playgrounds manages to be a fun multiplayer street hoops experience that is at least partially successful in recapturing the charm of NBA Jam. Player decks and lottery pick meter are subtle but effective elements to help give the game a bit of its own character.