GameWatcher

Doom: The Dark Ages

8/10

Doom: The Dark Ages is a notable new entry in the long-running FPS series with a flavor and gameplay ideas of its own, but it can feel oddly unfocused at times, plus not every change is for the better.

Tempest Rising

8.5/10

Tempest Rising wears its C&C influence proudly, and while this overreliance on tradition limits its full potential, Slipgate Ironworks’ overall effort is remarkable and must be celebrated.

South of Midnight

7.5/10

South of Midnight’s strong story and presentation make the most of its overlooked mythology and oft-forgotten setting, but don’t embark on this journey looking for top-tier action-adventure game design.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

9/10

A sprawling medieval RPG that notably refines its predecessor’s formula by taking aim at many of its rougher edges, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II has plenty in store for both series veterans and newcomers. A lot of its slower simmer – whether in terms of narrative or progression – is intentional...

Age of Darkness: Final Stand

6.5/10

There’s a great ‘town defense’ RTS at the center of Age of Darkness, but the lack of polish even after its 1.0 launch is disappointing and the campaign lacks punch.

Two Point Museum

7.5/10

Two Point Museum inhabits the same space as the other entries in the series, confidently maintaining approachable levels of depth. Although its campaign comprises fewer stages, they’re more involved. Managing staff, finances, and exhibits comes with a good amount of familiarity. Still, I always looked forward to creating the next...

Avowed

7.5/10

Avowed nails its priorities and delivers a fun adventure full of charm, intrigue, and weighty decisions, but its RPG muscles could’ve used more work.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

5.5/10

Sniper Elite: Resistance delivers the expected stealth-action combo the series is known for, wrapping it in a forgettable narrative about stopping the Nazi war machine from totally winning the war yet again. But even as it’s a functional title, with levels that offer a decent amount of freedom and X-Ray...

Warcraft II: Remastered

6.5/10

Warcraft 1 & 2 remain RTS classics that any fan of the genre should try at least once, but Blizzard’s remastering efforts feel as barebones and often ill-advised as Warcraft 3: Reforged’s 2020 launch.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

9.5/10

Indiana Jones’ triumphant return to video games is a memorable adventure that gives fans everything they wanted while concocting a delightful mix of systems and design philosophies that no one had anticipated.

Planet Coaster 2

7.5/10

Planet Coaster 2 offers a genre-best box of creative tools and community-driven features and expands on its predecessor on almost every level, but chances are you won’t be as enchanted by its management systems, which continue to be a thorn in Frontier’s side.

Golden Lap

7.5/10

A largely straightforward motorsport management game with a distinct visual style, Golden Lap manages to offer tactical race simulation with off-the-track drama in a minimalist package. It may not satisfy hardcore petrolheads, but for slightly more relaxed race enjoyers, it’s a fine sim experience.