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The Sexy Brutale nods back to ancient tradition while wrapped in the trappings of the 20th century, taking notes from some of the best adventure games there have been. At the same time, it looks forwards, unwinding to its own tempo, creating a game that feels distinct from any other.
Deck Nine has shown an extraordinary understanding of a delicate formula. For fans, it's a return journey to one of the most vivid, joyous settings in gaming. For them, and for everyone else, it's a brave effort which, at times, surpasses the original.
With Assassin's Creed: Origins, Ubisoft has found an oasis in the desert. It's refreshing, blending sensible new mechanics with an established formula; moreover, it feels as though it was designed by a team with their eyes and ears open. The rulebook was far from thrown out, but it's been burnished to an impressive sheen, and this is the best the series has been since Ezio's heyday.
The Switch may not have the power for a game as expansive as Observer, but even with its technical faults and the occasional gameplay misstep, it’s still an incredible experience. Whether it’s the morbid story, the disturbing atmosphere or the deeply involving detective gameplay, this is a genuinely brilliant horror-thriller that works its way under your skin and lingers long after you put the controller down.
Vostok Inc. is a moreish slice of rampant capitalism, an adventure in both space combat and middle management, sewn together with cute ideas and clicker-style mini games. Once you have that initial bump you'll be hooked, but if you can go cold turkey for even a short time you might struggle to go back, even though it felt amazing. Vostok Inc. is here for a good time, not a long time.
All eyes might be on Red Dead Redemption 2, but this year's best Wild West video game could well be West of Loathing. Saddle up and enjoy the ride.
Codemasters has tweaked and refined a Formula one driving experience that is, as of writing, unrivalled. Project Cars 2 lurks just round the corner, but it would require an awful lot to overtake this.
Sega reminds us that, with Yakuza Kiwami, not only is its heart in the right place, but it hasn’t missed a beat.
A powerful central relationship, an enigmatic plot, and terrific writing all elevate Before the Storm above the original series. This is fantastic adventure gaming, and some of the best writing in games at the moment, held back only by slightly shallow mechanics.
The cutesy presentation and pick-up-and-play feel of The Swords of Ditto belie its true nature: a fierce, fiendish, oft-frustrating roguelite adventure. You may not want to keep going around that loop forever, but luckily there's enough enjoyment to be found in the (minimum) half a dozen or more runs it will take you to beat the game for the first time that – if you do choose to stop there – you'll still feel rewarded by the experience.
An intriguing taste for what's to come in Life is Strange Season 2. The series' formula shows its age here and there, but what shines, as ever, is sensitive writing, and an excellent setting.
Life Is Strange 2 is everything a good sequel should be: It builds on what makes the first game great, establishes a thrilling new storyline and, ultimately, is far more comfortable taking risks. It still retains the first game’s issues, but this is ultimately a bold new step for Dontnod’s beloved franchise.
Much like the previous games in the franchise, Metro Exodus isn’t perfect. Yet, despite that fact, this threequel’s bold decision to take its world in a new direction means that its glaring positives outweigh its lack of refinement. The gameplay is solid, the visuals are terrific and Metro Exodus’s decision to try new, courageous gameplay mechanics makes it a thrill to play, overall, meaning that this is not only a fitting culmination to Artyom’s story, but also 4A’s studio-defining work on the franchise as well.
Mutant Year Zero: Road To Eden is an engaging, fun and fresh turn-based strategy game that plays with the genre’s conventions in unexpected ways. It could do with some fine tuning, but the interesting world, brilliant combat and challenging stealth mechanics mean this journey through the apocalypse is one that never wears out its welcome.
Forager is a game that appeals to all kind of gamers and that is part of its charm. It’s hard not to love the game for what it is. It doesn’t try too hard, and offers you a relaxing but busy place for you to spend your free time in. If you’re looking for something not too taxing, where you can catch some fish, mine some ore and fight some monsters, then you’ve come to the right place.
Yuppie Psycho may not look that scary on the outside, but there’s a lot more lurking beneath its charming aesthetics. An amazing story, strong writing and an eerie atmosphere make this a creepy comedic gem that’s rich in personality. It’s not all smooth sailing, but this surreal nightmarish odyssey has enough smart scares to make it work.
A few technical issues – and the over-reaching arm of the law – tarnish American Fugitive slightly, but it’s a game with a wonderful sense of place, impressive levels of detail, and a slew of engaging gameplay mechanics.
Don't let the endearing protagonist and lo-fi, vintage visuals fool you: Gato Roboto is a challenging, pedigree Metroidvania. But what sets it apart from its peers are the quality of life improvements that redress all of the genre's worst flaws, without blunting any of the barbs. This is a Meowtroidvania worthy of the name.
Control is another Remedy title that shoots for the stars. It might not quite hit in every respect – with a lacklustre third act and some glaring technical issues – but its ambitious scope means what lands does so exceptionally well. The combat is satisfying, the world is overflowing with secrets and the atmosphere is second to none, ensuring Control is yet another stellar addition to Remedy's portfolio.
This is easily the best way to experience The Walking Dead on a technical front. The graphical revamp of the first two seasons is impressive, the special features are a nice touch, and having all the games in one package is a convenient deal. However, it's the content you're here for and (for the most part) the games hold up exceptionally well. They may be slightly dated, but there's no doubting this package serves as a glowing reminder of Telltale's best work.