Latest Reviews
Judgment
Although I wish there was more depth to its detective work, Judgment’s smooth and spectacular street fighting, eclectic array of side activities, and suspenseful serial killer-based plot makes for the best original Yakuza game of this console generation. With its high-quality English-language dub and all-new cast of characters, it’s also...
Elsweyr is a worthy successor to last year’s Summerset chapter, even though the main quests don’t live up to the hype. It’s actually the excellent storytelling and exploration in the side quests that outshines the underwhelming dragons with heartfelt drama and comedy. Meanwhile, the new Necromancer class is by far...
Dauntless
Dauntless is a surprising achievement not only for its insanely fun and accessible monster hunting action, but also for its seamless cross-platform multiplayer and non-intrusive free-to-play mechanics. Removing much of the supporting systems' complexity from games like Monster Hunter leaves a core that’s immensely fun to dive into for quick...
Warhammer: Chaosbane can stand proudly alongside some of the best games that have used the foreboding, Gothic Old World as a setting. Action RPGs like this live and die based on fun combat and well-designed classes, and developer Eko Software really hit it out of the park on both of...
Outer Wilds
Outer Wilds’ tricky exploration and puzzle solving is definitely an acquired taste. Its very specific brand of active storytelling differs wildly from highly guided open-worlds that many of us think of when we talk about non-linear gameplay. Though it can be confounding at times when events don’t unfold in precisely...
Cricket 19’s presentation and gameplay may feature more distracting niggles than an Australian slip cordon, but in spite of such grievances it’s still the closest to the real thing that a cricket game has ever been. Scenario mode is a welcome inclusion in terms of the almost limitless replayability it...
Trover Saves the Universe is a short and sweet VR platformer wrapped in one of the most ridiculous video game stories you’ll ever see. Justin Roiland and Squanch Games have done an excellent job of taking the ludicrous, freeform humor of Rick and Morty and molding it around a straightforward...
The Castlevania Anniversary Collection may sport bare BONES emulation, but FRANKly that doesn’t matter, as most of the eight games are just so darn good. I’d go to BAT for rating Castlevania and Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse as masterpieces that everyone should play. Sure, the Game Boy games SUCK, but...
Mordhau
Mordhau is a complex medieval melee game that’s tough on beginners but satisfying to master, especially in one-on-one duels. Its robust character creator allows for plenty of different playstyles, and its large, varied maps will mean no two rounds feel the same. A long list of game modes means you’re...
Carried by hauntingly beautiful writing and an unsettling atmosphere, Layers of Fear 2 is one of the most stunning horror games of this generation. Using classic film and a descent into madness as its anchor, its rich ocean liner setting changes at every turn, producing constant unease in just the...
Observation is a smart, original science fiction story propelled by its novel approach to puzzle design and stunning attention to detail. So often, an experience like this can struggle to find the balance between challenging gameplay and a captivating story, but Observation doesn't suffer from this, and the compelling plot...
Team Sonic Racing nails what matters most: speed and finesse on the racetrack. The new team system is a fantastic evolution of the arcade racing formula that gives you a real reason to work together, and there’s a litany of customization options to keep you coming back to these excellent...
