For a game that relies on character interaction and puzzles to tell its story, Syberia 3 falls well short of being enjoyable and fails to deliver a captivating or impactful experience.
There's fun to be had in 2K's arcade-style basketball game, but a lack of variety and flawed gameplay make for a missed opportunity.
NBA 2K21 still manages to capture the art of basketball, but it's largely the same dance as years past.
The wild, exceptional combat of Rage 2 contends with some of the genre's greats, but it's disappointing that the game's world squanders its potential.
Travis Strikes Again succeeds as a simple hack-n-slash with seamless co-op, but doesn't do enough to avoid repetition or challenge you in meaningful ways.
Traversal and destruction highlight Just Cause 4 and new gadgets add a welcome layer to the formula, but missions rarely bring out the game's best features.
Many of the pieces that make up Styx feel dated, but they still come together to make a competent stealth-action experience.
Sand Land’s vehicular focus shows potential, but devolves into a by-the-numbers open world action game with storytelling that only occasionally manages to live up to the joys of the original work.
Backpack Battles’ satisfying inventory organizing mechanics make for an autobattler with a strong foundation, but its barebones Early Access launch leaves a lot of its potential waiting on the table.
The PS4 version of H1Z1 Battle Royale provides a simple, streamlined experience with the thrills of the genre's high-stakes combat. Nothing more, nothing less. [OpenCritic note: Michael Higham separately reviewed the PC (6) and PS4 (7) versions. His scores have been averaged.]
Bethesda's spacefaring adventure has its moments with impressive scale, satisfying combat, and some worthwhile side quests, but its shallow RPG systems and uninspired vision of the cosmos make for a journey that's a mile wide, but an inch deep.
NEO TWEWY is an eccentric action-RPG with an endearing youthful attitude, though its narrative lulls can obstruct its best moments.
Valorant hooks you match after match with tight, tactical gameplay, albeit in rather barebones fashion.
The sights and sounds of Indivisible, and its blend of action-RPG and 2D platforming, win your heart, though its pivotal moments let you down.
The co-op Wolfenstein spin-off lives on Switch, but inconsistent frame rates and visuals make it the weakest version.
Despite its limitations, inventive use of the Switch and Joy-Cons pave the way for a novel VR experience that's more about creativity.
This year's iteration of NBA 2K packs plenty of game modes and deep mechanics that occasionally falter. And unfortunately again, VC rules everything around it.
The Rising Tide works great as one last hurrah with new Eikons and a short but worthwhile adventure that shows a different side of FFXVI.
Infinite Wealth takes one step forward and two steps back, leaving conflicted feelings amid its outstanding RPG systems and phenomenal character moments.
RGG Studio's latest action-brawler is a captivating and emotional look at Kiryu's life that offers a 'greatest hits' of the series' gameplay.