Larian Studios has made something truly incredible, and even as the studio continues to fine-tune and polish with post-launch patches, Baldur’s Gate 3 feels like something absolutely worth playing now, and even more in the future. Baldur’s Gate 3 is a legendary RPG, and one that anyone with a love of storytelling, strategizing, or just thirsty for a few fantasy companions should take the time to experience.
Undertale is one of the most unique efforts seen in indie gaming. Combining a love for the old with a willingness to innovate and utilize game mechanics to express ideas, rather than a binary input-output, this game should be on any and every one's radar.
A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage.
Bloodborne takes what made Souls amazing in the past, and infuses it with speed, risk-reward play, and a haunting atmosphere. Only a few technical hiccups hold back a masterpiece from Miyazaki and From Software. This is a must-play game for any PS4 owner with a masochistic side.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt ends Geralt's tale in spectacular fashion, finding ways to fill a giant world with thrilling combat, beautiful sights, and a bevy of compelling content. A strong conclusion to The Witcher trilogy, and a masterpiece that will keep you enthralled for weeks and months to come.
A sublime execution on nearly every front, Overwatch turns a world in need of heroes into one of the best arena shooters since their heyday, and stands alongside Blizzard's finest as some of the most necessary playing in its respective genre.
Life is Strange is in its own category as a fiercely unique and moving series. Despite stumbles, it is poignant and moving, crafting excellent framing for some of the most difficult decisions and developing a memorable relationship between its protagonists. One of the best efforts of the year, unafraid and willing to take chances, and well-deserving of your time.
Command & Conquer: The Remastered Collection gathers up every conceivable ounce of content from the first two games in the series and gives it a full makeover, resulting in a collection that feels holistic, modern, and true to its roots. It has some wrinkles that add an asterisk, but only just that much. This is Command & Conquer, not just how you remember it back then, but how you'll want to remember it years from now.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a new frontier for the Yakuza series, and the life and crimes of the series feels right at home in this new setting. Ichiban is an instant addition to the pantheon of Yakuza legends, his party an endearing band of ruffians, with the combat doing just enough to make everything familiar feel new again. Where Yakuza goes from here is anyone's guess, but mechanical friction aside, this is a step in a fun and compelling new direction.
The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles as a unified duology really captures everything that draws players into this series in the first place. It’s got big reveals and turnabouts, clever use of examinations and deductions, and a cast littered with memorable, endearing characters. Naruhodo’s journey through the legal system of London is one that’s been a series highlight. It’s nice to finally have these games in the West, as both a great onboarding point for newcomers and a nice treat for Ace Attorney fans. No objections here.
If we’re setting off to new horizons and, eventually, a new Mass Effect, then Mass Effect Legendary Edition serves as a solid collection of this trilogy. This is everything these three games were, and still are to many fans, preserved for time. Just like the capsule Liara makes during Mass Effect 3, this is what can hopefully stand the test of time and carry what this trilogy is—its characters, its worlds, and its stories—forward for ages to come.
A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage.
What Citizen Sleeper achieves in a fairly short hour count, though, is a sci-fi story that sticks.
A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage.
A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage.
A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage.
A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage.
Slay the Princess is a horror meta-narrative visual novel about the choices we make, and how they change us and those around us. It’s about the interpersonal relationships that can wound us, make us versions of ourselves we never imagined, yet teach us. It is a damn good story, and one worth experiencing.
Tom Happ's Axiom Verge keeps the best of the past and improves on every facet, crafting a game about singularity, identity and pure pixellated fun. This is concentrated, unfiltered, Super-Nintendo-excellence given the modern treatment, and a landmark indie title.
Few games can come close to creating the same mayhem and excitement as Gauntlet can. While not the game for a lone wolf, Gauntlet is all about friends competing for gold and shooting each others' food. From the new hero designs to the variety of enemies and snarky humor, this is one that co-op fanatics won't want to miss.