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We don't have a review ready yet for Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, as we weren't provided a copy in advance. So for now, here's our reviewer Mitchell Saltzman, talking about his impressions of the game from the most recent Open Beta.
Beast of Reincarnation reviewed by Travis Northup on PC, also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.Beast of Reincarnation has an interesting, apocalyptic setting, an extremely memorable wolf companion, and an action-packed beast-battling premise that is instantly very cool, but its execution falls short of its promising ideas more often than not. The story is a bland, cliche-filled tale better-told by other games in the genre, combat quickly grows stale due to a lack of enemy variety and the predictable attack patterns that undermine what makes action RPG combat thrive, and boss fights end up being quite disappointing despite looking badass as all get out. There’s still plenty to like about Beast of Reincarnation, though, especially the dire wolf himself, who is actually exactly as awesome as he looks, plus some memorable levels to explore and creatures to fight every now and again, but those blooming flowers can be hard to spot among the weeds.
The Relic: First Guardian review by Jarrett Green on PC.The true dark fantasy of The Relic: First Guardian is all of the potential it squanders. It is the bones of something that could have grown to be a notable action game, especially in its energetic combat. But everything about this experience, including its combat, is marred in some way by its own shambolic state. The janky subtitles and sometimes straight up terrible visual quality could be tolerated, but The Relic is fundamentally broken in too many inexcusable ways. It’s a gem that's barely cut, let alone polished.
Grand Theft Auto legacy review by Luke Reilly. Reviewed on PC and PlayStation."Like a Stone Age axe, Grand Theft Auto is hard, primitive, and – honestly – more than a little cumbersome. However, like said axe, it’s nonetheless a valuable artefact that maintains an effective edge to it. Fearless but flawed and endearing but unnecessarily difficult, the original Grand Theft Auto may be tricky to wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who didn’t previously play it during its moment back in the late ’90s, but I can’t deny how fascinating it’s been to re-experience its prehistoric brand of open-world freedom in the context of everything that’s come since. It just demands patience, precision, and a paper map by your side."
Spider-Man: Brand New Day refocuses on battling inner turmoil, swinging around NYC saving the day, and looking cool while doing so. #SpiderMan #MCU #BrandNewDay
Tom Holland is back for a fourth solo outing as Spider-Man in Brand New Day. Along with Brand New director, Destin Daniel Cretton, your friendly neighborhood webslinger is up against a mysterious new antagonist (cast just as mysteriously with Sadie Sink), but where the title might hint at a fresh start for Peter Parker, can the film itself go back to basics and deliver everything you need from a Spider-Man story? IGN's Tom Jorgensen reviews the movie to talk about that, how Punisher is a great uncle and why only one actor is a little bit wasted.
Palworld 1.0 reviewed by Travis Northup on PC, also available on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5.Palworld cleverly blends an amusing creature collecting adventure with a traditional survival game to create something that’s bizarre, disturbing, and incredibly bingeable. Forcing Pals to work in your growing empire of industrialization as you conquer a hostile world in search of greater power is one of those endlessly satisfying loops you can lose some serious time to, especially when accompanied by friends. The story isn’t worth following, some regions can feel pretty barren, and the base-building mechanics could have used more time in Early Access– but those shortcomings are little more than a footnote when measured against the consistently enjoyable adventure around them. Palworld had me meticulously hunting every Pal in my Palpedia, excitedly grinding for better gear to take on the next challenging region or boss, and self-reflecting on whether or not I was a bad person as I turned innocent animals into beasts of burden, adding them to my army of unpaid interns. The answer is probably yes, but that doesn’t mean I want to stop any time soon.
Halo: Campaign Evolved reviewed by Michael Higham on PC, also available on Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5. It's no secret that Halo: Campaign Evolved is a test run for developer Halo Studios and its future using the Unreal Engine, and from that perspective, it makes sense why this is a pretty slim package that retreads well-worn territory. The fact that I still had a blast revisiting the original Halo story in 2026 speaks to its timelessness, however, and the gunplay that revolutionized first-person console games and co-op multiplayer make it worth playing today. But that's largely a credit to Halo in general, and not necessarily Campaign Evolved, specifically. The new prequel missions are a fun couple of hours of usual Halo fare, and the elevation in technical detail with UE5 and the subtle tweaks in the older missions are nice to see. But I don't think they're transformative in a way that makes a significant difference to what's been great about Halo even two-something decades later. With the Master Chief Collection right there, which also has the robust multiplayer suite, Campaign Evolved is mostly a shiny trip down memory lane.
Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game reviewed by Mitchell Saltzman on PC, also coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 1 & 2The potential of Avatar Legends is immense. This is a gorgeous 2D fighting game that excels as both a throwback to the bygone era of sprite-based fighters and a faithful adaptation of the beloved cartoons it’s based on. It’s got some of the most satisfying movement of any 2D fighter I’ve played, combos routes that are challenging but immensely rewarding to learn, a 12 character roster that feels way bigger than it actually is thanks to the clever support system, and flexible combat that allows for a ton of creative expression. The lackluster story mode, complete absence of some basic options like difficulty settings for the CPU, and lack of a guided tutorial to teach you how to actually play certainly make Avatar Legends hard to recommend to casual Avatar fans, but for fighting game fans looking for something with “the sauce,” Avatar Legends is about as saucy as it gets.
Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender is a lovingly crafted and gorgeously animated movie. While the plot might be a little thin, the action scenes and settings are thrilling and deserved to be seen in theaters.
Splatoon Raiders reviewed by Logan Plant on Nintendo Switch 2.Splatoon Raiders is an amazing action RPG with an expertly executed loop. It has fantastic new powers with crazy upgrades that are worth chasing, tough battles that force you to put care into your build in order to overcome them, and a huge variety of fun level types to jump between. The pacing, balance, and difficulty curve are very impressive: I always had to work to get better, but none of the campaign ever felt like grinding or needless padding. Raiders stays fresh by constantly introducing deeper ways to customize my abilities that spark new ideas for creative combinations. I reached the credits more than 20 hours ago, but thanks to an overpowered endgame worth coming back for and the option to seamlessly play with friends online, I’ve got plenty of raiding left to do. This is the best Splatoon campaign yet and one of the top games on Switch 2.
Backyard Baseball on PC, also coming to Mac, Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch.It’s always pleasant to see familiar faces from your childhood, even more so if you spent countless hours playing matches and winning championships with them. But with this latest edition of Backyard Baseball, nostalgia is skin-deep, lasting as long as a seventh-inning stretch. This reboot capitalizes on that affection instead of paying full respect to why it was earned in the first place. The simple joy present in those classic games has been replaced by an unrewarding, lopsided easiness in this one; almost-effortless hitting and improved but overpowered pitching turn each match into uncontested, near-defenseless blowouts that no amount of big names or attractive artwork can paper over. The result is an incomplete on-field experience, like a prospect that can’t round the bases.
Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey movie adapts Homer through a new eye that brings a sense of horror and existential angst to the story – and some humor too. It may not be a perfect movie, but it’s a pretty great moviegoing experience all the same. Check out our full review by Scott Collura!
Denshattack! reviewed by Will Borger on PC, also available on Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, and Switch 2.Denshattack’s learning curve can be steep, and you’re going to make a lot of mistakes before you master its long list of input combos – but if you can get past that, it’s an excellent anime-inspired train-tricker, and I enjoyed every second I spent in its world. Hitting the track and chaining tricks together is a joy, a constant stream of new mechanics means it never runs out of steam, and its story is breezy and enjoyable, even if it does mostly just play the hits. We love to see a punk rock group of misfits take down a megacorporation with the power of friendship. Nothing stops this train.
The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu reviewed by Len Hafer on PC, also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.If you have a reliable group to play with, The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu can be a challenging and entertaining horror excursion. Sometimes it feels a bit too oppressive, though, and could benefit a lot from more nuanced difficulty options, especially for introducing newer players into a high-level group. Still, clever sanity effects, great enemy variety, and an expanse of eerie, majestic jungle to explore are enough that this one will probably stay in my crew's rotation when we're up for something heart-pounding.
Moss: The Forgotten Relic reviewed by Will Borger on PlayStation 5, also available on Xbox Series X, PC, and Switch 2.Moss’s world is stunning, its fairy tale nature is incredibly charming, and aside from a couple of minor issues with the camera (and one weird bug that briefly stalled my progress) this is a very smooth remake that doesn’t feel compromised by breaking free of its VR-exclusive origins. It may be simple, but its combat and puzzles are satisfying and amusing. But for me, Moss’s appeal comes back to Quill and her world, wondering what would happen to them and wanting to see this story through. Moss is a game about a mouse, but Quill has the heart of a lion, and this book is better for having her in it. I’m grateful to have gotten to spend time with her, and for the story we shared. High five, Quill.
College Football 27 reviewed by Will Borger on PlayStation 5, also available on Xbox Series X.College Football 27’s excellent gameplay, largely smart on-field additions, and best-in-class presentation make this a junior season worth suiting up for. Dynasty and Road to Glory’s additions are welcome, but while both modes are better for having them, they also make me feel like I am never doing much beyond living inside of a spreadsheet when off the field. I wish College Football 27 had more space for on-campus life, and some of the monetization stuff is… gross. But what’s here, especially on the field, is still quite good. This season ain’t gonna knock anybody’s socks off. This was a good team last year, and it’s a good team this year. Just be prepared to worship the Evil God of Numbers a bit more than usual. I guess you either die a hero, or live long enough to operate a spreadsheet.
Doom: The Dark Ages’ action was already among the best in the genre, and the Revelations DLC elevates it even further by fusing it with just the right amount of Doom Eternal.Reviewed by Mitchell Saltzman on PC. Also available on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5.
Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced brings one of the best games in the series up to today’s standards.
Evil Dead Burn continues more than 40 years of Deadites conjured from the Necronomicon and wreaking bloody, gruesome and sometimes funny havoc upon the world. For as straightforward a story as that is, it's still difficult to nail the spirit of Sam Raimi's original cult classic. Following a Fede Alvarez reboot and a Lee Cronin sequel, How well does Evil Dead Burn carry the franchise torch? IGN's Tom Jorgensen reviews the Sébastien Vaniček entry, chatting about its visceral, gore-splattered highs, the underbaked story-based lows and just how tricky a relationship The Evil Dead has always had with comedy.
Echoes of Aincrad reviewed by George Yang on PlayStation 5, also available on Xbox Series X/S and PC.Sword Art Online games have mostly been decent, although never truly exceptional. Echoes of Aincrad is a half-step in the right direction with a novel story starring an original cast of characters without heavily relying on Kirito to help it stand out. However, the open zones and world design are big stumbles due to its restricted exploration, along with the lack of variety in both the environments and enemies. The fiery combat and the smithy’s hot iron coals don’t bring enough heat to thaw out the story’s glacial pacing, either. Echoes of Aincrad may seem like a hardcore Sword Art Online fan’s dream game, but divorced from the anime’s branding, it’s just a passable action-RPG.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced reviewed by Jarrett Green on PC, also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S."While the original Black Flag holds up well enough that it probably wouldn’t have been my first pick for an Assassin’s Creed remake, sailing the high seas, sending other tubs to Davy Jones’ Locker, uncovering ancient secrets, and asking “What does that have to do with me getting rich, exactly?” have made it clear Resynced was a necessary second pass over one of the best games in the series. More than just a face lift, it also brings Black Flag’s systems and sensibilities up to today’s standards. Both land and sea combat have been bolstered by new tricks that add depth and clarity to all of the action. The top-tier story of the Kenway patriarch proves it’s beloved for a reason, with extra content that further fleshes out certain character moments. Missions have been adjusted and restructured just enough to take advantage of the mostly smart updates to parkour and stealth. Even where it stumbles, like its long-standing issues with overly sticky free running or sometimes dumb enemies, it never feels like a step backward. As a result, there's never been a better time, or a better way, to return to the Golden Age of Piracy."
Dead or Alive 6 Last Round Reviewed by Will Borger on PC, also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.Dead or Alive 6 Last Round is a great fighting game wrapped up in a very bad package. If you've never played it before, this is a good time to try a game that still has a lot going for it. But if you’re a fan hoping for long-awaited improvements like rollback netcode, cross-platform play, Tag Battle, or even just some new content… this ain't it. Things you'd expect from the definitive edition of a fighting game in 2026 simply aren't here. Rollback is the standard now. Cross-platform play is the standard. In a world where all the DLC was included, or Tag Battle was added, or where there were new characters and stages included at release, those omissions would be easier to forgive. But that's not the world we live in. Dead or Alive 6 is still a great fighting game. But it deserved a better last round.
Rhythm Heaven Groove reviewed by Sarah Thwaites on Nintendo Switch 2, also available on Nintendo Switch.Rhythm Heaven Groove is a superb sequel that expertly capitalises on the captivating energy of its excellent music across a series of joyfully animated minigames. The solo campaign is well-balanced and stuffed with genre-shifting earworms you won’t forget fast. The new Beatspell RPG mode and more straightforward Toybox levels don’t quite reach that same impressive bar, but the co-op mode does stand as a great addition with a solid range of competitive and collaborative games that quickly got me and my friends laughing. Even so, this irreverent return to Rhythm Heaven hits all the right notes, solidifying itself as an unmissable addition to the series.
Civilization 7 reviewer Leana Hafer takes a fresh look at the game after its 1.4.1 patch.
After a memorable crash landing in last year's Superman, Milly Alcock is back as Kara Zor-El in Supergirl, her first solo adventure in the James Gunn DCU. Directed by Craig Gillespie, this hard-drinking version of Woman of Tomorrow is a grab bag of influences from True Grit, Mad Max, Guardians of the Galaxy and, as any self-respecting film with practical makeup effects for a menagerie of alien extras should be, Star Wars. While Alcock is great and Jason Momoa as Lobo is as fun as we thought he'd be, the movie might actually take a little too literally from these influences. IGN's Clint Gage reviews Supergirl and talks about superhero alter egos, flashbacks vs chronological order, and why the future is bright for Kryptonians on the big screen.
Star Fox (2026) reviewed by Jada Griffin on Nintendo Switch 2.Despite knowing nearly all Star Fox 64’s shortcuts and secrets for close to 30 years now, this remake’s impressive coat of paint and compelling new cutscenes made me smile like I just did my very first barrel roll. Finding hidden routes to unlock different stages or small optimizations to push my score sky high is still much deeper than it first appears, keeping the brief campaign runs fun across multiple playthroughs. And while the new Challenge mode and revamped multiplayer don’t go quite as far as I’d like in terms of content or creativity, they are still amusing ways to shake things up once you’ve exhausted every alternate route. Given the decade-long drought since the disappointment that was Star Fox Zero in 2016, Nintendo was wise to return to Star Fox’s best game in order to revitalize this 33-year-old series, and has reached a new peak for it in doing so. Hopefully this is just the beginning for Fox McCloud, because Nintendo has proven the Arwing isn’t out of style quite yet.
EA Sports UFC 6 reviewed on PlayStation 5, also available on Xbox Series X|S.EA Vancouver believes that every fighter has a story, and with EA Sports UFC 6, it’s completely proven its point. Despite a few unnecessary additions, like Flow State and The Gym, slightly hindering its overall success, the heart of UFC 6 — two modes that pay supreme respect to the fighter’s journey in Hall of Legends and The Legacy — more than redeem it. Taken in its entirety, this game is very much like a fable itself; a violent one that’s split between fiction and reality, which typically isn’t a good thing. But ultimately, the care and attention given to the sport’s history, culture, icons, and everything in between helps it reach a satisfying end that any MMA fan should be proud of.
The Steam Machine is Valve's new piece of hardware entering the scene as a mini PC built for living room gaming. We love a lot about it, had some issues with it, but overall came away from our time with it feeling very positive. The big question mark has been around the Steam Machine price. After the Steam Deck had a jump in price, we knew that would be a major factor in who to recommend this to for PC gaming. The Steam Machine specs in coordination with how well it works with the Steam Controller being still make this an appealing PC rig to consider. For all things Valve and Steam related, keep it locked to IGN
After almost two full years, HBO's House of the Dragon is back for season 3 and by the Old Gods the premier episode is spectacular. With naval warfare, dragon fire and intricately established politics providing the drama, the Game of Thrones spinoff proves with Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood that it can stand toe to toe with the original series. Helen O'Hara reviews the first episode then chats IGN's Clint Gage about the perfect score, why this might be the season we start caring about more of the cast of Westeros and how that character's death stacks up to the "major character deaths" Game of Thrones series seem compelled to throw at us.
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales reviewed by Scott White on Nintendo Switch 2, also available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales isn’t without blemishes, but it’s still an excellent action-adventure game that continues to prove why the HD-2D art style is among the best around. Its interesting time travel concept doesn’t quite land, with not enough changing between the various time periods to keep its enemies and environments from getting a bit repetitive. But Elliot is a hero I wanted to cheer on, with a supporting cast whose stories were more than worth seeing through to the end. The Magicite system gave me plenty to min-max as I messed around with different builds on the fly, and I can’t wait to see all the cool combinations people find – though I do wish it let me make more of its discoveries on my own when it came to stuff like finding collectibles. Still, I grew to love this world and the people who call its various ages home, and I truly hope this isn’t the last we see of Elliot the adventurer and his feathered red cap.
Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the rest of the toys are back for Toy Story 5, and this time they're facing the toughest threat yet... screen time! While it's been a flagship franchise for animation pioneer Pixar, they've managed to write two separate satisfying endings for the sentient toys. So why do they keep coming back? Clint Gage reviews the fifth installment of the series to talk about that, plus series newcomers like Lillypad (Greta Lee) and Smarty Pants (Conan O'Brien) why some legacy characters getting sidelined is exactly what Toy Story needs, and the conversations he had with his kids after the screening!
Gothic 1 Remake reviewed by Jarrett Green on PC, also available on Xbox Series S|X and PlayStation 5.Gothic 1 Remake is undeniably the best way to play this cult classic RPG – and not just because its an old game that has become hard to run on new PCs as time forgets it. The scope of the changes are largely quality-of-life improvements, making it easier to look at, listen to, and interact with on basic levels, even if it still doesn’t make for a bug-free experience. Its still-one-dimensional combat, uneven pacing, and disappointingly dull second half have aged like milk. Yet, the earnest and ahead of its time worldbuilding remains a high watermark for the genre, feeling like a clever and fresh take even all these years later, and that’s bolstered by new side quests that only enhance it.
NBA The Run reviewed by Nico Vergara on PC, also available on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5.NBA The Run plays more like a distant descendant of the NBA Street series than a successor, which isn’t a bad thing. Although the two share certain traits, like their curated roster of NBA stars and street legends, an ample rotation of carefully crafted courts, and the sultry, ever-present vocals of DJ Bobbito Garcia, The Run’s core principle of online, run-and-gun action over the classic single-player arcade approach makes it a much more exciting and enticing present-day package than its predecessors. Unfortunately, its emphasis on pushing you through a steady flurry of quick matches is also where its biggest weakness lies. While this modern, run-it-up style might work for the first several runs, the games played, highlights made, and championships secured all eventually blur together, turning the excitement of those first title wins old much too soon. That means I was usually ready to pack up and head home before the lights were too low to see the rim, but these runs are still undoubtedly enjoyable in short bursts, and I’m eager to see how future updates might pull me back in for a few more.
Steven Spielberg is back in theaters, and he's brought aliens with him for the first time in years. Disclosure Day is a very welcome return to blockbuster filmmaking for the director who pioneered it 50 years ago with Jaws. And while Disclosure Day provides all the things Spielberg does best, with some incredible lighting and camera movement, great performances from leads Emily Blunt and Josh O'Connor, the story of disclosing the existence of alien life to the entire world leaves a few unidentified flying leaps in logic that are worth talking about. Clint Gage reviews the film for IGN and talks about easily duped bad guys, the nits that feel more worth picking than others, and how the ending is a true Rorschach test for the audience.
28 Years Later, reviewed by Tom Jorgensen.28 Years Later finds Danny Boyle and Alex Garland mining the last two decades of cultural strife to build a timely coming-of-age story full of beauty and brutality in equal measure. Newcomer Alfie Williams ably shoulders the harrowing plot, flanked on either side by similarly strong performances from Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jodie Comer. Boyle has plenty of new tricks up his sleeves for how to shoot 28 Years Later in a way that evokes the spirit of the original without copying it, and the same goes for the action, which feels more like an evolution of 28 Days Later’s self-assured perspective on infected carnage rather than an attempt to outdo the running, biting hordes of imitators it inspired.Its scope is much more narrow than 28 Days Later’s, but its message is just as powerful.
The Nintendo Switch 2 reviewed by Tom Marks.The Switch 2 is a Switch but bigger and better in nearly every way, with all of its successes and most of its faults accounted for. Its hybrid nature is still just as good of an idea today as it was eight years ago, and a lot of its best games benefit massively from the beefier tech inside it that allows for 4K, higher framerates, and faster load times. But all of that feels more like Nintendo getting back to treading water as the Switch started to fall a little too far behind what people expected from their games rather than providing a compelling reason of its own for you to pay 50% more for this upgrade. The new Joy-Con take an impressively creative swing at giving you that reason, but while its innovative mouse controls are a game-changer on paper, they’re so ergonomically uncomfortable to use in practice that I can still feel the strain in my arm as I record this. The end result is a console I really like for all the same reasons I loved the original Switch, but one that’s also left me strangely underwhelmed. It’s a step up that’s vital if the Switch 1 is the only way to play games that you have access to, but currently feels about as exciting as a long overdue phone upgrade for anyone with other options.
There’s only so much you can do to improve on a tried-and-true design of a controller, and making changes for the sake of it might just open it up to new flaws along the way. Such is the case with the new Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, which sticks to what works and doesn’t veer far off the beaten path. That begs the question: why not just keep using the original Pro Controller if you have one? Well, you can, and you wouldn’t miss out on too much, if you’re not swayed by some of the Switch 2’s new features. We still have our gripes with Nintendo’s official gamepad, including the jump in price, but the Switch 2 Pro Controller remains a well-built gamepad that does some things better than most. And for those who play docked, it’s an essential Switch 2 accessory as it’s miles ahead of even the new Switch 2 Joy-Con in terms of performance and comfort.The Switch 2 Pro Controller was reviewed by Michael Higham on IGN.
Elio, reviewed by Carlos Aguilar.The newest movie from Pixar is an inspired effort about a boy who wants to leave Earth for a chance at belonging somewhere among the stars. With incisive humor, radiant, eye-catching animation, and peculiar alien characters, there’s enough entertainment value in Elio to satisfy viewers who are the protagonist's age or younger. But it’s the heartfelt insight about universal (literally and figuratively) sorrows and joys that make this one of the studio’s most poignant projects to date – even if it leaves you wishing some of its imaginative concepts and creations would have received more screen time.
Dune: Awakening reviewed on PC by Travis Northup.Dune: Awakening is an excellent survival MMO that captures Frank Herbet’s sci-fi world incredibly well, mostly to its advantage and occasionally to its detriment. The survival climb from dehydrated peasant to powerful warlord of Arrakis is a joy almost every step of the way, and the story and worldbuilding filled this nerd with absolute joy. There’s still plenty for Awakening to work on though, as its combat never really hits its stride, the endgame is a bit of a chaotic mess not worth the effort, and there’s quite a few technical bugs yet to be squashed, but even these rough patches felt like tiny desert mice next to the leviathan shai-huluds that are this survival game’s wonderful successes.
F1: The Movie follows the sports movie playbook almost perfectly. Directed by Joseph Kosinski and starring Brad Pitt as an aging never-was racecar driver giving it one last shot with an old friends racing team and his cocky young driver with plenty of lessons left to learn, the movie finds ways to be just that much better at nearly every stage of its 156-minute runtime. And even though Formula is kinda right there in the title, is F1 a little too devoted to the sports movie format?
Tron: Catalyst reviewed on PC by Leana Hafer. Also available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.I have no really strong criticisms of Tron: Catalyst. But I also don't have any great praise to heap upon it. Nearly across the board – from combat, to music, to writing, to area design – it competently gets the job done and calls it a centicycle. It may just become the seven out of ten game I think of in the coming years when someone wants a really good example of a seven out of ten game. And for what it's worth, that means I had a decently good time with it. In a world of bloated, hundred-plus-hour, obscenely high-budget collectathons, I think a Tron: Catalyst here and there is a nice, restrained palate cleanser. But it does leave me with the vaguely unsatisfied feeling that I wanted it to be a bit more, especially with its rewind mechanic that seemed like it could’ve been something special.
MindsEye reviewed by Luke Reilly on PC. Also available on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5.When its performance is stable and you’re explosively blasting your way through robots, MindsEye can masquerade as a serviceable action shooter for a few minutes at a time. However, its flashy graphics and cinematics can’t hide its distinct lack of substance. High on ambition but low on original ideas, MindsEye’s rigid mission design renders its open world largely pointless – and it’s consistently undermined by vanilla combat, janky AI enemies, and its sloppy frame rate and bugs. Throw in its insultingly unfinished free roaming component and it’s clear it was simply not ready to be released. If you had your sights set on MindsEye, think again.
Reviewer Tom Marks takes a look at the Nintendo Switch 2 port of Cyberpunk 2077 after playing its early missions.
The Alters reviewed by Dan Stapleton on PC. Also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.The Alters is a highly atmospheric sci-fi character study of one man who meets the effects of the formative choices he’s made throughout his life face to face. Managing Jan’s relationships with his alternate selves while extracting enough resources from a hostile alien environment to survive is a balancing act on top of a balancing act, and it cleverly builds up the pressure over the course of its story. Exploration of these barren but eye-catching maps presents a series of puzzles and threats without resorting to blasting aliens, and the conversations and moral dilemmas that arise from Jan’s clones are a novel way to approach a game like this. It’s clearly not a big-budget game with resources to throw at cinematics and character models, but it does a lot with a little to tell its story effectively, and its occasional interface quirks don’t get in the way of that.
Deltarune reviewed by Brendan Graeber on PC and Switch, also available on PlayStation.Toby Fox and his team have really accomplished something incredible with Deltarune and its new chapters, even if that accomplishment isn’t quite finished just yet. The fact that what appears to be a halfway point in the story can leave off on such a phenomenal and high-stakes note after roughly 20 hours still has me reeling knowing I’ve yet to see the true depths of where this adventure will lead. Though I have my own share of theories, I’m highly confident that no matter what Deltarune’s true ending holds in store, its incredible and well-refined culmination of captivating characters, hilarious and earnest writing, and stellar music has already left one hell of a lasting impact I am not likely to forget.
Mario Kart World reviewed by Logan Plant on Nintendo Switch 2.The Nintendo Switch 2 is officially off to the races, and Mario Kart World is a great way to get things started. The first brand-new Mario Kart in a decade makes huge changes to the established formula, but ironically, the best parts about it closely follow the blueprint of every entry that’s come before: unbeatable local multiplayer racing on well-designed tracks that more than live up to the series’ legacy. World’s tight controls, celebratory soundtrack, and universal polish marvelously complement the action, and I can’t wait to see how top players will take full advantage of its exciting parkour mechanics in the months and years ahead. The way Nintendo built 30 courses into an interconnected series of highways is undeniably impressive, too, but Mario Kart’s first attempt at an open world is also fairly uneven across its variety of modes. The clear standout among the new ways to play is Knockout Tour, a thrilling battle royale that makes the best use of World’s intertwined roads. But when you add in frustrating online multiplayer limitations and some head-scratching design decisions around the interface and unlockables that will hopefully be fixed in future updates, World feels like it was hit with a blue shell right before the finish line. Still, Mario Kart World’s chassis is so strong that, with a few key tune-ups, I’m confident it will eventually end up popping champagne in victory lane.
How to Train Your Dragon, reviewed by Eric Goldman.The live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon is incredibly faithful to the animated version in nearly every way, to the point that it could feel redundant to anyone who’s seen the original. But at the same time, writer/director Dean DeBlois’ re-creation of a story he first told 15 years ago shows he still has a lot of affection for this world and these characters, and that gives this How to Train Your Dragon an impressive amount of resonance. Within all its rigid recitation, there’s a heart and soul that demonstrates how DeBlois has managed to get so much mileage out of the loving story of a Viking boy and the dragon he befriends.
Reviewer Tom Marks gives his impressions of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's Nintendo Switch 2 Edition after playing for a few days.
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour reviewed by Tom Marks on Nintendo Switch 2.Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is a charming concept, mixing an interactive instruction manual with minigames and tech demos that show off the Switch 2’s coolest features in a hands-on way. The execution of that idea, however, is a somewhat muddled collection of quaint distractions and missed opportunities dressed up as a completionist checklist without much point. This digital showroom is littered with dry informational slideshows that only occasionally feel like they are actually allowed to share something interesting. And while the minigames can be briefly amusing, it was almost never in a way that made me excited to push my high scores or check every single box. Tie that up in a world that’s cute to look at but obnoxious to progress through, and you’ve got a Switch 2 showcase that I certainly had fun with at times, but left me wishing I had just been exploring my new console with an actual game instead. It’s not worth your money and, even if it were the free pack-in game it feels like it was always meant to be, it would only barely be worth your time.
Lies of P: Overture reviewed by Travis Northup on PC. Also available on Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5.Overture is a prequel DLC that simply provides more Lies of P, and that’s an extremely good thing. The new areas are largely a breath of fresh air, and the added enemy types inject even more variety into a world that was already pretty well-stocked with things trying their absolute best to murder your puppet face. There isn’t much in the way of surprising ideas or interesting new mechanics, but having a fresh set of formidable bosses to take down is compelling enough in its own right, with some of them standing amongst the most exciting encounters that can be found in Lies of P. Couple those with a fully-featured story that’s every bit as satisfying as the original, and this is one creepy puppet show I’m glad to revisit.
Reviewer Travis Northup revisits Hogwarts Legacy on the Switch 2 to see how it compares to the original Switch and the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC versions.
Tristan Ogilvie gives his early impressions from the first few hours with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition."The Nintendo Switch 2 has finally arrived, and call me crazy but I’ve opted to celebrate its launch by playing the same game I played day one on the original Switch: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is of course an enhanced version with visual upgrades, faster loading times, and support for the Zelda Notes service via the Nintendo Switch App on your mobile device. It’s admittedly a fairly modest upgrade in terms of actual new features or content, but a welcome one, and it makes this undoubtedly the best way to play a sprawling epic that still stands tall as one of the greatest achievements in Nintendo’s iconic adventure series."
Predator: Killer of Killers, reviewed by Eric Goldman.Predator: Killer of Killers definitely delivers on its premise. Its journey through several time periods is the perfect way to give us multiple Predator stories that each have their own distinct flavor and action highlights. As he established with Prey, director Dan Trachtenberg is exactly the right fit for this franchise, understanding how to provide both Predators and human characters who can kick ass and creatively prove their mettle, no matter which side of the hunt they begin on.
Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon reviewed by Will Borger on PC. Also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon is a new take on a tale that has been around for centuries, and as a story and a world, it works. It certainly gives a new meaning to the phrase “The Once and Future King.” All of this has happened before, it claims, and all of it will happen again, unless we put an end to it, and perhaps not even then. The stories we tell ourselves are eternal, repeating, folding into and swirling around each other, mixing in the telling – and, sometimes, a myth and its impact on us is more powerful than the reality that spawned it. That’s just how stories are. That’s how I felt while I played The Fall of Avalon. It fails, sometimes, as a game you play – as a piece of technology, as a product. It is buggy, the quest design is rote, and it has the same flaws as every RPG of this style. But when it works, it really works, and I cannot deny that it compelled me. I think, sometimes, that matters more. I enjoyed spending time in this world, with these characters, exploring this story. I did not always like playing it, and its unfinished nature frustrated me. But I can’t stop thinking about it, either. Maybe that’s enough. Arthurian myth is a tragedy; it never ends well. But the idea is that, if it happened again, and we’re promised it will, it might end differently. That failure now does not mean failure forever. That sometimes, trying something ambitious and getting close is enough. That’s not to give Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon a pass for its flaws. But they don’t stop me from believing in its successes, too. Perhaps, like Arthur himself, the story here is not about what is or was, but what might have been, and could be again. And what could be is still pretty remarkable.
From The World of John Wick: Ballerina reviewed by Clint Gage.The World of John Wick gets a little bit bigger with Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas as a vengeful assassin from the Ruska Roma. Spinoffs are a tricky thing to pull off, especially when the franchise is as iconic and beloved as John Wick. But de Armas' Eve goes toe to toe with the Baba Yaga himself and proves that this Ballerina truly belongs in The World of John Wick.
Game of Thrones: Kingsroad reviewed by Sarah Thwaites on PC, also available on iOS and Android.Game of Thrones: Kingsroad attempts to respect its source material, imbuing its impressively recreated map of Westeros with grand architecture and appropriately grim side quests. Unfortunately, behind every interesting or well-thought-out idea is a frustrating pay wall, unsightly NPC animation, or grindy roadblock that halts any momentum you’ve worked up. And the passable combat that acts as the foundation of this action-RPG isn’t deep enough to make vaulting those hurdles much fun on its own. There’s plenty to get up to in this intricate reimagining of the TV show’s world, but ultimately, when you play the Game of Thrones: Kingsroad, you pay or you die.
F1 25 reviewed by Luke Reilly on Xbox Series X. Also available on Xbox Series S, PlayStation 5, and PC."F1 25 launches off the line with the first drastic shake-up of the core ‘My Team’ career mode since it was introduced in F1 2020, alongside a conclusion for the story mode that began as a short prologue way back in F1 2019 (and became a mode of its own in F1 2021). The driver career mode makes little attempt to differentiate itself from its debut in F1 24 but, when combined, F1 25 is a far broader and better package than last year’s installment. There are still several areas where it hovers frustratingly short of its full potential – and I’ll never be able to get behind its fascination with clothing and emotes over meaningful classic F1 cars and content – but it’s comfortably the strongest the series has been since the fan favourite F1 2020."
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time reviewed by Travis Northup on PlayStation 5, also available on PC and Nintendo Switch.Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time expertly combines easygoing life sim mechanics with light action-adventure RPG goodness, resulting in one of my favorite cozy games in a long time. Whether it’s the compelling job grind while hanging around town, building your own community, or the more action-packed exploration and combat, I found myself continually surprised by what this adventure threw at me the longer I played. I was happily sinking hours into chopping down trees and picking flowers, and got oddly invested in its goofy but compelling story. As far as having your time stolen goes, you could do a whole lot worse than Fantasy Life i.
Karate Kid: Legends reviewed by Eric Goldman.Coming off the triumph of its extension into TV with Cobra Kai, The Karate Kid franchise returns to theaters with Legends, a movie which is far less impactful than that show, yet still reminds us why the underlying story and themes of this series can still connect. Ben Wang is a strong new Karate Kid and it’s certainly fun to see Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan (eventually) team up and connect two parts of the franchise’s history, even as Joshua Jackson ends up as the surprise MVP. It’s also easy to give yourself over to a story of this type, because underdog stories are easy to invest in when done well – and few have ever been told as well as the original The Karate Kid. At the same time, an overly frenetic approach to the second half doesn’t let emotional moments connect in the way that they could. That’s often frustrating, since you can see how easily it could be re-edited to land better. But at the end of the day, everyone loves an underdog, and Li is another one you can root for. Given this franchise is clearly not going anywhere, maybe they can do better by him in the inevitable Karate Kid 7.
When Elden Ring Nightreign is played exactly as it was designed to be played, it’s one of the finest examples of a three-player co-op game around – but that's harder to do than it should be, and playing solo is poorly balanced.Reviewed by Mitchell Saltzman on PC and PlayStation 5 Pro. Also available on Xbox Series X|S
Wishlist Streets of Rogue 2 now: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2165810/Streets_of_Rogue_2/Chaotic open-world sandbox RPG where players must topple a corrupt president of a massive, procedurally generated country, solo or in co-op.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown reviewed by Charlie Wacholz on PC.Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown cleverly pays homage to a decades-long legacy of both personality-filled cartoons and sharp beat-em-ups while making an impressive leap into a completely new genre for the team. Its clever, engaging movesets and solid TMNT story made up for its slim enemy variety and disappointing lack of bells and whistles. Even though that new coat of paint doesn’t always suit the sewer-dwelling teens, it still stands as a fun, quick tactics game reminiscent of the arcade classics that continue to define TMNT.
JDM: Japanese Drift Master reviewed by Luke Reilly on PC."JDM: Japanese Drift Master is a hugely ambitious and earnest racer that’s very clearly in love with the art of drifting as much as its intended audience is. With its regularly gorgeous and interesting map, robust drift handling, and a mostly licensed car list, it also reset my expectations of the scale that can be achieved by indies in the racing space. Unfortunately, while I had a good time cruising and drifting, the same can’t be said about the unwelcome surprise events that render your drift cars out of their element, or the poorly optimised grip racing mode plagued with clumsy AI. Developer Gaming Factory has promised more modes and fixes over the remainder of 2025 and beyond, but it’s a plan that overtly leaves JDM feeling like an unfinished project that’s shipped without the early access caveat, if you catch my drift."
Palia reviewed by Travis Northup on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5, also available on Nintendo Switch.Palia is a fantastic multiplayer cozy life sim with strong characters to bond with, engaging activities to grind, and a nearly endless chase for more resources to build your perfect home in the world’s kindest village. I wouldn’t have guessed that the cozy sensibilities of Animal Crossing would mix well with the online design of an MMO, but it’s difficult to pull myself away from setting off fireworks with friends and helping the bumbling mayor find his misplaced sandwich, even after more than 70 hours. There’s still plenty of room for Palia to grow, whether it’s the surprisingly brief story we’re gotten thus far, a scarcity of multiplayer-focused activities to engage with, and enough bugs and performance issues to put a not-so-cuddly fly in the otherwise soothing ointment, but it’s still a great candidate for your next virtual vacation.
Monster Train 2 reviewed on PC by Dan Stapleton. Also available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S (on Game Pass), PC, and Nintendo Switch.Monster Train 2 is a fantastic upgrade for what was already one of the best deckbuilding roguelites out there. Its new Equipment cards layer on even more ways to build a team of super-powerful monsters, and its five new clans of delightfully weird characters are every bit as ripe for experimentation and unexpected results as the original cast. You can play it dozens of times and not take the same approach twice – and even if you choose the same starting options you have to adapt and think on your feet to make the most of what fate decides to give you. I can easily say right now that its endless challenge and the pleasant surprises I’m still discovering within it will keep me coming back for hundreds of hours.
Blades of Fire reviewed by Jada Griffin on PlayStation 5, also available on Xbox Series X|S and PC.Blades of Fire’s blacksmithing burns bright, but it doesn’t forge a sharp enough edge to put its customizable weapons to good use. The combat is serviceable but overly simplistic, and the mediocre story often failed to evoke any kind of emotion in me at all, positive or negative, as it just goes through the motions from start to finish. The unintuitive map also frequently left me running in circles, making what could have been a fun hunt for worthwhile secrets feel more like a chore. And when those pain points are compounded by unflattering comparisons to the games it so clearly took inspiration from, Blades of Fire just can’t cut it.
Lilo & Stitch, reviewed by Eric Goldman. Narrated by Nick Maillet.Where the weakest Disney remakes feel like they’re parroting the original without capturing any of their genuine emotion, Lilo & Stitch retains and often amplifies the most stirring aspects of the rightfully beloved animated film. Director Dean Fleischer Camp and screenwriters Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Wae understand that the innate joy and humor of the mischievous Stitch work just fine (and can still sell plenty of merch) in support of a story about an alien chaos agent falling into the laps of two grieving sisters and helping them figure out their next step together. All of which is to say, yeah, it made us cry.
Deliver At All Costs reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on PlayStation 5. Also available on Xbox Series X|S and PC."In its best moments, Deliver At All Costs is as entertaining as it is uneven. For every truly creative cargo haul twist there’s another that’s uninspired or lacking in intensity and urgency, and although there’s certainly fun to be had crashing through its many structures like a bully through a sand castle, the novelty wears off long before it ends all you’re left with is an impressively realised 1950s world with depressingly little else to do in it. Throw in a silly, slapdash story and some toys for your truck you’re largely forbidden from playing with, and Deliver At All Costs is one shipment that’s far from the complete package."
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 - Brushes With Death DLC reviewed by Leana Hafer on PC.Even if you're eager to return to Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, I have a hard time enthusiastically recommending that you come back just to play through Brushes With Death on its own. Credit where credit is due: the writing and voice acting are still strong. There are a few inspired and memorable plot moments among the largely simple fetch quests. And I felt satisfied with the way Voyta's canvas turned out. It's not bad at all, it’s simply a bit threadbare as a standalone experience, and it didn’t feel like a strong follow-up to what had come before. I wish I had waited until Henry's big adventure wasn't so fresh in my mind and experienced it woven into a brand-new save file instead, or at least until there’s more than one DLC to split my attention between and make it feel like there were more new stones for me to turn over. That's how I'd encourage you to approach this and the remaining two announced story DLCs for this grand RPG.
For nearly 30 years, the stunts and action sequences of Mission: Impossible have been synonymous with big-screen spectacle. And as expected, the franchise’s newest entry finds Tom Cruise’s alter ego Ethan Hunt risking life, limb, and the fates of millions, this time in pursuit of stopping The Entity, the evil A.I. introduced in 2023’s Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. But the way the sequel plays out – which stopped being Dead Reckoning Part Two sometime in the last two years – it might be trying a little too hard to top the IMF’s greatest hits.
The Midnight Walk reviewed by Will Borger on PlayStation 5, also available on PC.The Midnight Walk is not long, but it is gorgeous and touching, and it took hold of me early and never let me go until I took the last step on my journey. It isn’t mechanically ambitious other than to play with perception in unexpected ways, and it challenged me to go into the dark unafraid, and find truth, and companionship, and I did.
Andor Season 2, Episodes 10-12, reviewed by Clint Gage.Andor concludes its second season (and its entire run) by sharpening its focus on the little guys, giving nearly everybody but the title character a satisfying sendoff. It manages to clear every hurdle a prequel series might encounter except for the last one, leaving the bulk of its “ending” up to Rogue One – but even that feels appropriate in its own way. Like the Rebels who fought and died for the cause only to be forgotten about, Andor deserves to be remembered as some of the best Star Wars ever had to offer.
Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade reviewed by Jarrett Green on PC, also available on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X|S.Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade can be fun for a bit, but with repetitive levels that lack a significant challenge for most of the three campaigns, it doesn’t stay that way for long. Though its quick and basic combat is solid, the potential of its diverse weapon selection to bring variety and nuance to battle is undermined by how easy so much of it is without really investing in them at all. Not to mention you’ll see all there is to see, enemy and level-wise, by the end of the first chapter of the first character you choose. And when its stories fail to do much more than provide a flimsy bridge to the next group of baddies to kill, you might be convinced pretty quickly to let sleeping legends lie.
Final Destination: Bloodlines, reviewed by Tom Jorgensen.In Final Destination: Bloodlines, death is the life of the party. There’s little novelty to the boilerplate family trauma plot of this sixth Final Destination movie, but what its comedy-forward take on the franchise’s established formula lacks in thematic depth, it more than makes up for with delightful, well-designed kills and boundless gallows humor. A testament to the powerful, simple joy of a well-executed setup and payoff, Bloodlines’ lethal Rube Goldberg machines are tactile and satisfying, benefiting from a solid blend of goopy practical and visual effects. It’s a fantastic jumping-on point for new fans, but the Final Destination faithful are well taken care of with cheeky references to previous movies and a truly poignant farewell from one of the horror genre’s late kings, Tony Todd.
Avowed reviewed by Travis Northup on Xbox Series X/S. Also available on PC.With awesome worldbuilding and stellar character writing, Avowed reminds me why I fell in love with Obsidian’s RPGs in the first place. However, the bigger picture is that it plays it quite safe, with a by-the-numbers fantasy adventure that’s more familiar than evolutionary, and there’s bear-ly any enemy variety to keep its swords-and-sorcery battles interesting for long. Even if it doesn’t swing for the fences or leave a memorable mark on the genre, though, it’s still perfectly competent with all the tried-and-true stuff I expect, including chaotic combat, leveling systems and a loot progression that lets you build the kind of character you want to play, and meaningful decisions that can have a massive impact on the world. Plus, the whole thing’s surprisingly technically stable compared to its reliably unreliable peers. I enjoyed my time parkouring my way through Eora and think you will too – just don’t expect Avowed to show you anything you haven’t seen before.
Captain America: Brave New World reviewed by Tom Jorgensen. In theaters February 14, 2025.Captain America: Brave New World feels neither brave, nor all that new. Recycling The Winter Soldier’s political thriller structure (and even specific plot points) is no way to set Sam Wilson apart from Steve Rogers on the big screen, but the actors are here to save the day. Anthony Mackie’s Cap may finally be the undisputed Star Spangled Man with a Plan, but that chip on his shoulder isn’t going anywhere anytime soon and Mackie brings each side of Sam’s personality to life well against seasoned scene partners like Harrison Ford, Carl Lumbly, and Tim Blake Nelson.
The Lenovo Legion Go S is a smaller handheld gaming PC, packed with an AMD Z2 Go APU, 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. But can it keep up with the recent run of excellent gaming handhelds?
Synduality Echo of Ada reviewed on PC by Will Borger. Also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.Synduality Echo of Ada is a tense extraction shooter with a cool sci-fi premise. Its mech-based action plays well, but the early grind is an absolute slog and upgrades are always slow to unlock, even if you’re not dying much. My drive to play even started to die after a while because I was forced to do the same things on repeat. But I powered through that part and I’m ultimately glad I did, because what comes after that slow opening is great. There’s nothing quite like smoking some poor sucker who picks a fight with you in single combat. Oh, and if you’re rolling with stuff you really like, please buy insurance. It’s a scam, but it may save your life – or at least your mech. And in the world of Synduality, that’s really all you have.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak 2 reviewed by George Yang on PlayStation 5, also available on PlayStation 4, PC, and Nintendo Switch.The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak 2 makes a few missteps with the pacing and structure of its multiversal story, but it’s buoyed by a focus on quality character moments and impressive worldbuilding over earthshaking reveals. The turn-based combat and party customization haven’t changed much at all, but they didn’t really need to, and the real-time action side of things has seen some small but meaningful improvements. Daybreak 2 doesn’t move the needle in the overall Calvard saga much, but this more personal story is still another good entry in the Trails series overall.
Tokyo Xtreme Racer reviewed by Luke Reilly on PC.Tokyo Xtreme Racer is an infectiously addictive time capsule of a racing game that needs little more than a bit of menu refinement and some major aggression injected into its sound to really soup it up and prep it for even more classic Japanese cars to race in and against. In fact, it’s already well worth its early access asking price. It’s narrow in scope, but its highway battle hook makes it hard to put down, and its total lack of modern baggage like microtransactions and tacked-on multiplayer is outright refreshing.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 reviewed by Leana Hafer on PC. Also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S."In many ways, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 feels like it’s picked up and run with the reactive first-person RPG torch that Bethesda left lying in the mud years ago in pursuit of a broader audience. And it has excellent melee combat, which The Elder Scrolls never came close to even at its peak. Sometimes it's not sure if it wants to be a cinematic tale about a specific guy going on a specific adventure or a truly dynamic open-world sandbox packed with interesting and varied side quests, and that can lead to a few immersion-shattering conflicts. But most of the time, leaning into one doesn't get in the way of the other, and you’re free to go on any of its many optional adventures along the way to a thought-provoking and rousing finale for the main plot. I was delighted to get lost in its world, and it will be a long time before I forget its exceptional story."
Civilization 7 reviewed by Leana Hafer on PC, also available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, Mac, and Linux."With Civilization 7, the desire to streamline and simplify this legendary 4X series feels like it has gone a bit too far, particularly when it comes to the interface. It’s frustratingly inadequate at providing me with the information I need to play well, or even understand what's going on sometimes. Even so, it does have improved warfare and diplomacy, a bit of added narrative flair, as well as mostly gorgeous graphics and sound, so it can still give me reasons to keep clicking one more turn late into the night. There’s good reason to believe that with Firaxis’s usual pace of patches and expansions it can refine its new ideas and become everything it ought to be, and while what’s here right now is at least still a fun time, it’s also a bigger step backward for the series than we’re accustomed to when a new age dawns."
The Monkey, reviewed by Tom Jorgensen.The Monkey marches to the beat of its own, bloodstained drum – and it’s an irresistible rhythm to groove to. Osgood Perkins and cast balance the horror and comedy inherent in the movie’s silly premise exceptionally well, and the surreal, absurd touches the Longlegs director adds to a world sketched out by Stephen King only help to set it apart from less imaginative, body count-obsessed movies. The evil influence of the titular, cursed toy results in blockbuster showcases for fantastic gore effects that, when paired with the film’s surprisingly gentle stance on the inevitability of death, affirm how potent horror-comedy can be when executed with a strong perspective and a willingness to get weird.
Hello Kitty Island Adventure reviewed by Shailyn Cotten on Nintendo Switch, also available on PC and mobile.For fans of Sanrio's lovable cast of characters, Hello Kitty Island Adventure might scratch an itch left in the wake of Animal Crossing: New Horizons in the broadest sense. On the surface, its large and colorful world, cutesy critters, and never-ending to-do list feel energetic and new. But sadly, that surface is all there is. A shallow pool of endless gifting and mindless tasks are locked behind daily progression gates to distract you from the fact that you are, in fact, never getting anywhere fast.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black reviewed by Will Borger on Xbox Series X, also available on PlayStation 5 and PC.Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is neither Ninja Gaiden 2 nor Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, but instead a secret third thing that mixes both versions together to create something that is wholly unique and by far the most beautiful version of this excellent action game yet. While I have a hard time calling it the definitive release because I prefer the original’s “more dudes who are more aggressive but die faster” approach, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a definite improvement over Sigma 2, fixes several long-standing issues, and unlike the original, isn’t trapped on the Xbox 360. It isn't the version I was hoping for (get on it, modders), but it is still an incredible game and I'm happy it exists. Ninja Gaiden 2 is remarkable, even with its flaws, and it's good to finally have it back in Black.
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector reviewed by Jarrett Green on PC, also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector does not stray too far from what made the first one a cult hit, but it doesn’t need to. It tells a rich and poignant story about the complex nature of control on one’s self when that self is a machine that can be rebooted and hacked, finding and enriching community in the face of overwhelming odds, and expressing personhood both to oneself and to others. It’s visual novel-like presentation is heavy on reading and dice rolling, so its not exactly pulse-pounding, but the retooled character classes and stats, new crew missions, and stress mechanics provide just enough feedback and create a sense of precarity throughout that it stays engaging.
Assetto Corsa Evo Early Access reviewed by Luke Reilly on PC. "Assetto Corsa Evo already feels absolutely fantastic behind the wheel but, with aggravating AI opponents slamming into you every which way and hamstrung as it is by online-only features that are currently inaccessible, it doesn’t feel like an essential early access purchase. The handling may be excellent, but I’ll be parking it up and waiting for the finished product – including the promised epic-sized map of Germany – before I put the keys back in the ignition."
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man reviewed by Joshua Yehl on Disney+Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is a marvelously good time. By swapping out Tony Stark as Peter Parker’s mentor and replacing him with Norman Osborn, we’re treated to 10 episodes of insidiously fun superhero TV. Given how it ends, it’s clear Marvel has a lot of juicy (and unexpected) new ideas they’re eager to explore in the second and third seasons Disney+ has already ordered. This is a truly fresh take on Spider-Man filled with many delightful surprises, from fun superhero cameos to shocking plot twists. The inclusion of real-world issues does give it an air of authenticity, although it’s essentially window dressing for a fun action show with great characters. And while the animation has some distracting quirks, overall, it works quite well. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man has lively pacing, the writing is as sharp as a scorpion’s tail, and it finds new ways to make you laugh and gasp every episode. For a character whose stories are as well-tread as Spider-Man’s, this is just what the doctor (Octopus) ordered.
Rift of the NecroDancer reviewed by Charlie Wacholz on PC, also available on Nintendo Switch.You could wear out your keyboard slapping arrow keys to the beat and jamming in your seat to Rift of the NecroDancer’s excellent soundtrack, fervently chasing down a perfect run of a song for hours. Whether you're fighting stuffy puppet masters, rhythmically ridding the world of monsters, or just waddling around in a silly mole costume, it provides many excellent flavors of arcade-style rhythm action. Even though this “Greatest Hits” anthology isn’t as focused or Earth-shattering as Brace Yourself Games’ genre-bending debut album, it still continually surprises and delights by providing clever twists on time-tested mechanics.
The Stone of Madness reviewed by Eric Van Allen on PC, also available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.The Stone of Madness has some excellent art and great moments of sneaking around. But what should have been a fairly replayable and interesting prison break ends up buckling under the weight of its technical problems. Progress-halting bugs, graphical issues, and finicky controls all turn otherwise-engaging sneaking missions into frustrating excursions. With some extra tuning, The Stone of Madness could be a refreshing take on tactical stealth. As-is, there are too many obstacles getting in the way of what’s good here.
Eternal Strands reviewed by Mitchell Saltzman on PC. Also available on PlayStation and Xbox. When Eternal Strands is good, it’s very good, thanks to exciting boss fights that iterate upon Shadow of Colossus’s gigantic encounters better than just about any of the other games that have used it as inspiration. Those gigantic fights are sandwiched between a forgettable story, some frustrating weather mechanics, and underwhelming combat against normal enemies, but none of those flaws are dealbreakers when you consider how great the high points area.
Sniper Elite: Resistance reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on PC. Also available on PlayStation and Xbox."Sniper Elite: Resistance is a modest retread for the Sniper Elite series, rather than an exaggerated goose step forward. A near total lack of innovation makes Resistance seem like little more than a Sniper Elite 5 remix, rehashing everything from the skill tree to the traps and enemy types, and serving up some sniping sandboxes that are for the most part a bit too similar to locations that have featured in the series’ prior entries. Its bonus propaganda missions are fun but fleeting, and its X-ray kill-cam still blasts balls and brains to bits but no longer blows my mind. Those only just getting on board with the series will undoubtedly find a bit more to like, but I’d argue that on balance, Sniper Elite 5’s superior story sandboxes and otherwise similar feature set makes it a much better buy even three years on from its release. Sniper Elite: Resistance is a solid stealth-based shooter, but it fails to set its sights high enough in order to pull off a truly spectacular execution."
Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap reviewed by Dan Stapleton on PC. Also available on Xbox.Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap's roguelite spin on the action-tower defense series works pretty well. Even if most of its traps and endless parade of highly killable enemies are carried over from past games, the new Warmages' abilities and the combined impact of its randomized modifiers can really shake things up nicely for quite a few runs. Puzzling out how to steer the orcs to their doom and then taking part in the bloody carnage is as much fun here as it is in the rest of the series. I did lose steam due to the slow meta progression and the increasingly long series of missions where the first ones are too easy and the latter ones got frustrating because of bullet-sponge enemies, but that was only after a few dozen hours of happily chewing up orcs and spitting them out both solo and in co-op.
Hyper Light Breaker reviewed in early access by Travis Northup on PC.At its early access launch, Hyper Light Breaker is a sloppy roguelite that makes poor use of the Hyper Light world I adore. Combat is messy and repetitive, bosses are cheesy and frustrating as all get out, the procedural worlds are awkward to explore, and both loot and progression are half-baked. Cover all of that in a thick layer of the usual work-in-progress technical problems, and you’ve got yourself a particularly rough package, even when accompanied by friends. Riding around on a hoverboard while taking in the colorful scenery can give way to some enjoyable moments, so I’ve still found reasons to be hopeful things could be polished to a more impressive shine over the course of Hyper Light Breaker’s early access development. But for now, you might want to wait and see if there’s a hyper light at the end of this tunnel.
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 has officially taken the performance crown from the RTX 4090, but with less force than previous generations. When it comes to traditional non-AI gaming performance, the RTX 5090 provides one of the smallest generational uplifts in recent memory. However, in games that support it, DLSS 4 really does deliver huge performance gains – you just have to make your peace with the fact that 75% of the frames are generated with AI. See IGN Preorders on Jan 30th for the latest info on where to buy across retailers.
Wolf Man, reviewed by Katie Rife. Narrated by Erik Adams.Leigh Whannell’s Wolf Man is impeccably made, with a unique take on werewolf lore. But the emphasis is on craft over storytelling. Universal has updated its most famous lycanthrope for the 2020s with some very successful camera wizardry and stylish lighting and sound design. But the storytelling is less successful, sacrificing tension for muddy commentary on gender.
Aloft reviewed in early access by Travis Northup on PC.Aloft is a promising blend of a survival crafting game and cozy sensibilities with a memorable airborne setting, but it misses the mark in quite a few other places as of its early access launch. Turning any floating island into your own personal flying pirate ship is very satisfying, and mixing survival mechanics with low-stakes, feel-good charm is a potent combination. That said, with weak and repetitive combat encounters, a scarcity of things to keep you busy, and loads of technical issues, there’s a lot of room left for improvement that can be a little tough to endure at the moment. There are enough good ideas here that I’m optimistic Aloft could be quite worth your time at some point in the future, but right now you might want to wait for stronger winds to blow before setting sail.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD reviewed by Logan Plant on Nintendo Switch.Somehow, Donkey Kong Country Returns returned… Again… but Nintendo’s third full release of this 2010 Wii platformer is almost as fresh and fun today as it was 15 years ago. DK’s satisfying, weighty movement paves the way for a challenging, momentum-based platformer that demands more skill and precision than the average Nintendo game. But it stays fun rather than frustrating thanks to incredibly impressive level design that explores every clever idea to the fullest and a ton of hidden collectibles worth tracking down. As a remaster specifically, it’s no more than a passable update, with graphics that can only really be described as “good enough” and some outdated elements that could have used more modern touches, like a lack of checkpoints during boss fights and a few obnoxious sections full of one-hit kill obstacles. But Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is still a competent update and easily the best way to play one of the greatest 2D platformers Nintendo has released this century.
Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare, reviewed by Matt DonatoPeter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare takes itself more seriously than its predecessors in Rhys Frake-Waterfield’s Twisted Childhood Universe, which is a problem. Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 star turned Neverland Nightmare director Scott Jeffrey strives to accentuate his main character’s arrested adolescence by turning the boy who never grew up into a serial killer and kidnapper – keeping him more grounded than the typical pirates-and-fairies image of Peter Pan. As Wendy Darling squares off against this throat-slashing, brother-snatching version of Peter, Jeffrey skips the imaginative sparkle of the stories that inspired his film. Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare might be bleak and gory, but more notably, it’s a dull adaptation of Peter Pan’s adventures that makes him no different than a thousand other van-driving murderers who’ve come and gone before.
Dynasty Warriors: Origins reviewed by Jada Griffin on PlayStation 5, also available on Xbox Series X|S and PC.If Dynasty Warriors: Origins is meant to be a new beginning, it’s off to a masterful start. It doesn’t just have the largest amount of enemies the series has thrown on screen at once, it also deepens its combat, improves its storytelling without getting in the way of the action, and provides a healthy amount of replayability and postgame content – all while looking better than ever. Your amnesiac hero is a bit too much of a blank slate at times, but the impressive ensemble cast make this story sing. Origins is both a great entry point for newcomers and a triumphant return for veterans who felt the last few entries had become stale or missed the mark.
The hit Netflix show Squid Game is back, with Squid Game season 2. In IGN’s Squid Game season 2 review, we discuss how Squid Game finds its second wind by exploring the complex layers of a deadly system. Storytelling continues to be Squid Game’s strongest asset, and a leaner season two helps to focus energy on a more nuanced approach to this expanding fictional Squid Game universe.Squid Game Season 2 stars Lee Jung-jae, Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young,Park Sung-hoon, Jo Yu-ri, Cho Sang-woo, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Lee Jin-uk, Choi Seung-hyun, Roh Jae-won, Won Ji-an and more! And of course, it wouldn’t be Squid Game without creator and director Hwang Dong-hyuk.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3, reviewed by A.A. Dowd. Narrated by Erik Adams.They may have started on the wrong foot, but the Sonic the Hedgehog movies appear to be getting better as they go. Pushing further past the dopey buddy comedy of the original and the tiresome pop-culture references of its marginally better sequel, this third installment offers much more pleasing CGI, blessedly fewer human foibles, and a kind of tortured nega-Sonic in Shadow, a fan favorite antihero voiced by Keanu Reeves. The real draw, though, is Jim Carrey, coaxed out of supposed retirement to deliver a dual villain performance that doubles all the exaggerated comic pleasures of his ongoing turn as Dr. Robotnik.
Mufasa: The Lion King, reviewed by Robert Daniels. Narrated by Erik Adams.Moonlight’s Barry Jenkins makes the leap to big budget, popcorn entertainment – and just like the CGI stars of Mufasa, he lands on his feet. This origin story stands alone by pitting familiar characters against new villains, resulting in a photorealistic film that’s driven as much by its storytelling as by its technology. The ungainly structure and self-aware winks at the audience can sometimes distract from Mufasa’s powerful mythmaking. But Jenkins’ knack for eliciting deep emotion and visual wonder remains sharp, especially when bolstered by Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr.’s delightful voice work.
Alien: Rogue Incursion reviewed by Travis Northup on PSVR 2, also available on PC.Alien: Rogue Incursion is a faithful and entertaining stab at bringing Alien to virtual reality. The excellent story, spot-on Alien environments, and creepy Xenomorphs keep the horrifying times going throughout its eight-hour duration – even when repetitive combat, predictable AI, and the odd bug here and there make it clear this is the first attempt that it is. But while there’s plenty of room for this budding series to grow, I can already happily recommend Rogue Incursion as a strong proof of concept to Alien fans and newcomers alike – one that’s left me eagerly awaiting part two.
Delta Force reviewed by Justin Koreis on PC.Delta Force isn’t the best extraction shooter, nor does it do big PvP battles better than games you probably already own. However, doing both of those modes reasonably well in one free-to-play package is pretty noteworthy. The massive, vehicle-filled battles are respectable fun – especially in Attack and Defend – as long as you can get comfortable with the more realistic shooting mechanics and how they mix with fantastical powers. The Operations mode, meanwhile, makes for one of the most formulaic and accessible extraction shooters I’ve played, though the great levels are wasted on too much direction toward the only worthwhile loot. Still, it’s a good option for either way you want to play, and deserves credit for doing a solid, if unspectacular and not especially imaginative job of two very different first-person shooter styles.
Kraven the Hunter takes aim at turning the Marvel villain into a pro-animal antihero, points its crossbow at its own foot, and pulls the trigger. Sony’s latest – and prayerfully, last – attempt to stage a live-action superhero movie using Spider-Man characters and not Spidey himself is one of the worst of the modern era.
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, reviewed by Emma Stefansky. Narrated by Erik Adams.The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is more interesting as a concept than as a finished film, with a runtime that will test the limits of even the most seasoned anime fans. Director Kenji Kamiyama’s foray into the world of Middle-earth is thrilling at times, but dull at others, with a choppy animation style and a plot made up of recycled bits of more beloved films that only serve to remind you of something else you wish you were watching instead.
Neither the MCU nor the hero shooter genre are at the glorious heights experienced by both in the past decade, but that isn’t stopping Marvel Rivals from doing everything it can to be a success story today. Approachable, yet with a high skill ceiling to reach for, it's consistently a great time no matter which fan-favourite comic book character and accompanying skillset is at your fingertips. It may be following closely in the slipstream of the hero shooters that have come before it, but by doing so Rivals has firmly placed itself in a strong position to take the crown for itself.Marvel Rivals reviewed by Simon Cardy on PlayStation 5 Pro. Also available on Xbox and PC.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind reviewed by Will Borger on PlayStation 5, also available on PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind nails the look and feel of both Power Rangers and the classic arcade games it’s drawing inspiration from. While the Super Scaler levels can be a bit of a mixed bag, they sing when they work, and they’re still only manageably frustrating when they don’t. Everything else, though, rules — the gorgeous sprite work, bumping soundtrack, rock-solid beat ‘em up gameplay, in-jokes for fans, and other little touches like playable in-universe arcade games. And while nostalgia will certainly enhance the experience for some, you don’t have to know your Green Ranger from your Black Ranger to enjoy it. It might even give you an itch to revisit the classic games, or give the original television series a watch. You may not be able to go down to your local arcade anymore, but if Rita’s Rewind is any indication, you can always go back in time. Just pack some spandex.
Path of Exile 2 reviewed in Early Access by Travis Northup on PC.At its early access launch, Path of Exile 2 is already shaping up to be the sequel we’ve been waiting for. Everything from the refined action-RPG gameplay to the surprisingly fleshed-out endgame has seen major improvements, and the half of the story we’ve got so far shows plenty of promise, even if the setting feels a little generic in the realm of dark fantasy worlds. The downsi de of playing in early access, though, is that you’ll have to slog through all three acts twice to reach the endgame, the loot game still needs some major tweaking, and some mild-to-severe technical wonkiness threatens to take the wind out of your sails – but it’s nothing that makes me concerned for the future of this expansive sequel. Even while we wait for 1.0, Path of Exile 2 is already a stellar way to lose dozens of hours and a clear leap forward for the series.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 review by Seth Macy on PC, also available on Xbox Series X|S.We have hit cruising altitude. You can safely unbuckle your seatbelt and move freely about the cabin. It was understandable to think Asobo Studio might not be able to capture the lightning in a bottle of 2020’s Flight Simulator again – but Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is an astonishing follow-up once you take the time to get to know its new features now that its launch problems have been cleaned up. It's more than just simulating the experience of flying: you can use it to learn the technical side of how pilots actually fly planes, including the stuff that doesn't involve ailerons and elevators and trim thanks to the Flight Planner. Encountering some new term you don’t understand is just an exciting opportunity to learn, so you can fly virtual airplanes on a digital twin of the planet Earth with as much realism as is possible. It's not flawless, with some lingering problems in those new systems and tutorials that are lacking – or worse, nonexistent, making Google a constant companion. But it’s hard not to be in awe of what's here.
Infinity Nikki reviewed by Carli Velocci on PC, also available on PlayStation 5, Android, and iOS.Infinity Nikki is the peak free-to-play dress-up game. It still has a few too many currencies and all the gacha pulls you’d expect from its mobile roots, but it's all in service of building a gorgeous, gigantic wardrobe worth getting excited about. It features some of the most intricate and detailed outfits in any game, and while unlocking them can require a lot of grinding (or some real-world money) that just means time spent joyfully exploring its packed open world. There's always something new and either cute or bizarrely dark to discover, and you'll still be unraveling secrets after dozens of hours. Infinity Nikki is perfectly girly positivity rolled up in a pink and sparkling package, and regardless of whether that is something you've wanted, it might just be what you need.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle reviewed by Luke Reilly on Xbox Series X, also available on PC.Indiana Jones and the Great Circle nails nearly everything about the best parts of the storied franchise upon which it’s based, from the title card and location fonts to Harrison Ford’s finger waggle, but its successes go way beyond its faithfulness to the finer points of the films. With a host of gorgeous and lavishly detailed levels, satisfying combat hinged on jawbreaking haymakers, and a focus on slow-paced exploration, platforming, and puzzle solving (interspersed with a handful of high-voltage action scenes), The Great Circle is an irresistible and immersive global treasure hunt for Indy fans who’ve felt underserved by the likes of The Dial of Destiny and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Moreover, it sets itself apart from this decade’s increasingly homogenised third-person action games by opting for a classic first-person perspective inspired by the likes of The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay. If you butt your head against its generally basic stealth systems, cracks will show – but when played as intended, The Great Circle immediately ranks amongst the best Indiana Jones games ever and its story is closer to Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade than anything that’s come after.
Secret Level, reviewed by Steven Nguyen Scaife. Narrated by Alan Wheeler.If Secret Level isn’t quite a transparent marketing ploy, it still falls victim to the sort of fatigue that results from mainlining one video game trailer after another. Beyond a few highlights, it is too often a humorless smear of action-heavy conflict that fails to convey the breadth of the medium, all while suffering the usual pitfalls of the anthology format. If nothing else, the series accurately represents what a season of Love, Death, and Robots might be like if it were all about brands.
LEGO Horizon Adventures reviewed by Jada Griffin on PlayStation 5. Also available on PC and Nintendo Switch.LEGO Horizon Adventures reimagines Horizon Zero Dawn with a playful Lego twist, simplifying the story while keeping the heart of its key moments and characters. Combat feels great and offers plenty of difficulty options for players of all skill levels. While the randomness of gadgets and rare weapons can be an annoyance, especially when trying to complete certain challenges, it’s cute that the use-what-you-can-find nature of Horizon has been embraced. There are also plenty of customization options for your characters and the hub town, which was enjoyable as I strived to make Mother's Heart my own. Couple that with visually impressive levels full of excellent music but disappointingly predictable level design and a lack of extras and I ultimately found myself having fun with LEGO Horizon Adventures even if I was left wanting more.
Empire of the Ants reviewed on PC by Dan Stapleton. Also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.Empire of the Ants’s multiplayer modes have some clever ideas for how insects do battle, having you scurry around as a commander giving orders and casting buffs on your legions of bugs. Managing its deceptively small-scale battles presents some interesting challenges, and the impressive, hyper-realistic graphics are let down only by animations that grow repetitive after a few matches. What undermines it most is the lack of unit variety and multiplayer modes, which don’t include multiple bug factions or any options to play as a team or against a competent AI. Without that, it’s hard to see this game having a lot of legs. While Empire of the Ants’s nearly photo-realistic world looks incredible at first glance, its boring and annoying real-time strategy campaign is the ant-ithesis of that. Combat missions are mostly trivially easy because the AI doesn’t seem to understand crucial mechanics, and those that aren’t are obnoxious because you can’t save mid-mission to replay the tough parts without trudging through the easy setup; Meanwhile, all of the non-combat missions are tedious searches for needles in haystacks and the story fails to make ant politics intriguing. It’s easily the worst single-player campaign I’ve played in years.
Dune: Prophecy episodes 1-4, reviewed by Tyler Robertson. Narrated by Erik Adams.Dune: Prophecy’s depiction of a fledgling Bene Gesserit gives fans of later Dune novels a lot to chew on. Many of the more character-focused elements of its story are thrilling, and Jessica Barden, Emily Watson, Emma Canning, and Olivia Williams are superb as ancestors of House Harkonnen. But with a lack of cohesive vision, the prequel series fails to live up to the expectation of quality set by the books and films that preceded it.
Gladiator II, reviewed by Tom Jorgensen.Gladiator II finds strength and honor in the well-worn armor of its predecessor. Paul Mescal is adept in the belabored-hero role, going toe-to-toe with not only the delightfully deranged Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger, but also with Denzel Washington, whose mercurial Macrinus practically screams “ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED” at the audience every second he’s onscreen. Ridley Scott balances Gladiator II’s action and drama admirably, and even though he’s treading familiar ground, Scott’s at least willing to loosen up the tone in a way that gives Gladiator II its own identity. The shadowy political battle for Rome’s fate may prove more reliably entertaining than the fantastical showdowns in the Colosseum, but both underline the importance of bravery and temperance in the face of turbulent times. They do so in the way only blockbuster cinema can: with a bunch of swords-and-sandals dudes working together to avoid death by giant rhino while a brain-rotted Emperor with a monkey on his shoulder howls from the best seats in the house.
Arcane Season 2 Acts I and II, reviewed by Rafael Motamayor. Narrated by Alan Wheeler.We'll have to wait to see how Act III resolves the many plot threads as well as where the characters end up, but for now, the first six episodes of Arcane season 2 build on the masterpiece that was season one. Piltover may be on the brink of war, but it's the individual characters where the series excels, pairing a stellar voice cast with stunning animated acting. With fascinating worldbuilding, larger-scale action, and animation that continues to push boundaries, this is a more-than-worthy follow-up.
Metal Slug Tactics reviewed by Charlie Wacholz on PC, also available on Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.From its lively, cartoonish sprites to its energetic soundtrack, Metal Slug Tactics is a meticulously crafted ode to the arcade classic that never gets lost blindly chasing its adoration for the series without understanding what makes Metal Slug great. Instead, it introduces a handful of distinct innovations to the tactics genre that masterfully meld Metal Slug’s action-packed platforming and shooting onto a grid. Even with some frustrating bugs, there is plenty of fun to have on each run as you experiment with new strategies and team compositions.
Agatha All Along, reviewed by Joshua Yehl. Narrated by Stella Chung.Agatha All Along may not top WandaVision, but it’s still one of Marvel’s stronger television efforts. Headlined by a powerhouse performance from Kathryn Hahn, the series takes us down the Witches’ Road for a spooky, fantastical journey unlike any other. Though the story is uneven and at times frustrating, it’s also an incredibly enjoyable thriller made all the more intriguing by a cast of colorful characters.
Paddington in Peru explores odd and unnecessary territory for everyone’s favourite London-based bear, and in doing so fails to live up to the lofty bar set by its practically perfect predecessors. But thanks to winning performances from Ben Whishaw and Olivia Colman, this trip to the jungle preserves enough of the series’ sweet-natured fun to make it worth the somewhat sticky journey.Paddington in Peru opens in UK cinemas on November 8, followed by US theaters on January 17, 2025.
The PlayStation 5 Pro seems like it should be more exciting than it actually is. It's without question the most powerful console you can buy right now, and the PS5 Pro enhanced games I've been able to play ahead of launch do look great and run much more smoothly than the standard PS5 can handle. But it's also completely unsurprising that the faster PS5 is faster, and it's also more expensive. Considering that the original PS5 can still provide enough power to run games competently, spending $700 means you have to really want the best of the best from your games to make the PlayStation 5 Pro a worthy investment.
Mario & Luigi: Brothership reviewed by Logan Plant on Nintendo Switch.Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a disappointing return for an RPG series I love. Apart from the combat, it fundamentally misunderstands its own past success, and completely fumbles Luigi’s role in puzzle-solving and exploration by making him more of a pain than a partner. The story is simplistic and unoriginal, its attempts at humor fall flat, and the overly chatty writing holds your hand to a ridiculous degree. It’s not a total disaster, as the flashy turn-based battles are some of the best this series has had – but even those somehow manage to wear thin as the repetitive final act crawls across the finish line of this roughly 34-hour campaign, which suffers from surprisingly bad performance issues nearly the entire time. The Switch has been home to many triumphant revivals for Nintendo, but the Mario & Luigi series has sadly missed the boat.
Slitterhead reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on PlayStation 5. Also available on PlayStation 4, PC, and Xbox Series X|S."Slitterhead features some interesting body-swapping exploration and a unique blood-based battle system, but it never fully capitalises on either of them due to its small handful of repeated level settings and largely indistinguishable enemy encounters. Its story is disappointingly primitive in its presentation, and its time-looping structure only really serves as a feeble attempt to mask the fact that it takes about one hour’s worth of story mission ideas and repeats them incessantly across its 13-hour duration. Like a bloody blade worn down by a few too many battles, Slitterhead grows increasingly dull over time and ultimately just doesn’t cut it."
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Zombies mode reviewed by Will Borger on PC, also available on PlayStation and Xbox.It is absurd and campy and amazing and goofy in all the right ways, and when you clear a map for the first time, that monumental task will have you feeling equal parts exhausted and triumphant. There are some annoyances here in terms of bugs, but that hasn’t made me want to stop playing.
No More Room in Hell 2 reviewed in Early |Access by Carli Velocci on PC.No More Room in Hell 2 has a lot of potential. It plays around with clever ideas about how to get players to work together through some excellent level design, but those concepts aren’t explored enough yet to make it more than just another co-op survival horror shooter with generic guns and scarce loot. This Early Access launch at least allows you to team up with friends for a few fun rounds, but with a single map that gets repetitive fast and a mountain of serious bugs that cause unexpected problems, it needs a lot more time in the oven. With a slew of hotfixes already arriving and more supposedly on the way, hopefully the flames of hell are hot enough to cook it to perfection down the line, but you should probably wait until they do.
Life is Strange: Double Exposure reviewed by Nick Maillet on Xbox series X, also available on PlayStation 5 and PC.After several attempts to recapture what made the original Life is Strange so enduring, developer Deck Nine Games really knocked it out of the park with Life is Strange: Double Exposure. This is a worthy sequel to a game that captured the hearts and minds of millions of people, myself included, way back in 2015. The writing is great, the music is excellent, the cinematography and acting are top-notch, and Max’s new powers are a fun and intuitive fit for its murder mystery structure.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Multiplayer reviewed by Seth Macy on PC, also available on Xbox and PlayStation.With BLOPS 6, Treyarch and Raven Software have taken almost everything I love about the Call of Duty multiplayer experience and given it a beautiful polish. The maps are excellent, built to please almost everyone's favorite gun styles; the meat and potatoes – moving quick and dishing out firepower – is aces this year; it's fast without feeling too twitchy, and the weapons dispatch your opponents in exactly the way you expect them to; the Omnimove system is fun and flashy, which makes for some great highlights but doesn’t completely take over as the best technique for every situation. I do wish there were more new and innovative modes to explore, but that’s about the only thing I feel draws fire other than the initial lack of goofy skins available. Overall, Call of Duty Black Ops 6 shines because, although it plays a lot of things safe, it nails the fundamentals of multiplayer combat in a way that feels better than it has in a long time.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard reviewed by Leana Hafer on PC. Also available on Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5.Dragon Age: The Veilguard refreshes and reinvigorates a storied series that stumbled through its middle years, and leaves no doubt that it deserves its place in the RPG pantheon. The next Mass Effect is going to have a very tough act to follow, which is not something I ever imagined I'd be saying before I got swept away on this adventure. Enjoyable action combat, a fantastic cast of allies with sweeping story arcs all their own, top-notch cinematics, and moving, nuanced character writing are the wings on which this triumphant dragon soars, pulling out all the stops in a whirlwind tour of Northern Thedas and capping it with a terrific finale that’s built on memorably tough choices and consequences. If we never get another Dragon Age, at least it got to go out on a high note.
Uzumaki, reviewed by Mat Jones. Narrated by Stella Chung.We presumed Uzumaki’s lengthy production was to ensure that the entire series would be of the same high caliber as its first episode. It’s now clear that’s not the case. Strange decisions and circumstances have befallen the creative team over at Adult Swim, who have given us a mostly poor attempt at translating the rest of Uzumaki to TV, with minimal animation, bad compositing, and a rushed-through story. It might be worth checking out the premiere and writing the rest off.
Like a Dragon: Yakuza, reviewed by Mat Jones. Narrated by Ronny Barrier.Without the Like A Dragon name attached, this series would get very little attention. There's so little that's very Yakuza in tone, and it’s so limited in inspiration from the games that there’s hardly much you’ll recognize from them. There’s great character work from some of the cast – particularly Kento Kaku as Nishikiyama – but sadly nothing very interesting for them to do.
A spy thriller worthy of the name, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's campaign is a hugely welcome reinvigoration of the long-running first-person shooter series. It looks back at what has historically made the best CoD single-player modes so great and throws its own exciting and novel ideas into the mix, to fantastic effect. Telling one of the most engaging stories the series has ever seen, Black Ops 6’s enticing variety and impressive scale provide a stellar return to form.Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 reviewed on Xbox Series X by Simon Cardy.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed reviewed by Luke Reilly on PC. Also available on Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch."Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed certainly looks the part, coming admirably close to emulating the scrawled, asymmetrical look of the acclaimed 2023 animated film it functions as a sequel to. It also sounds the part thanks to some genuinely impressive voice acting (although shelling out for some of the ’90s hip hop that gave the movie its own aural edge clearly wasn’t within the budget). However, despite a visible effort to make Mutants Unleashed a lengthy and credible follow-up story to the film, its simple button bashing action quickly becomes boring thanks to its slim selection of enemies and its constantly reused levels. Trying to do too much with too little means it all just becomes rather… vanilla, and that’s a shell of a loaded word to use around the green machine, who rock the town without being seen."
Batman: Arkham Shadow reviewed by Dan Stapleton on Meta Quest 3.Batman: Arkham Shadow does an admirable job of adapting almost everything I love about the Arkham series to work in a full-fledged VR game, and it’s impressive looking for a game that’s exclusive to the standalone Meta Quest 3 headset. There are a few hitches and aggravating bugs that mean some parts don’t work quite as well as others, but its vigorous brawling, exploration, tricky puzzle solving, and stealth are all in full effect as you sneak and punch your way through Blackgate prison in a twisting undercover pursuit of a mysterious cult leader where just about everybody’s a suspect. It’s certainly smaller in scale than any full game since Arkham Asylum, but it’s far larger and more built-out than you might expect after Batman: Arkham VR, and a return to an enclosed prison setting makes it feel dense and intricate.
Alan Wake II: The Lake House DLC reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on PC. Also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S."The Lake House DLC is another spectacular and spooky slice of Alan Wake II action. It introduces some fantastic new supporting characters to the Remedy Connected Universe, as well as a terrifying new enemy type to overcome and some wonderfully eerie environments to explore. The challenge of its puzzles may be light, but its combat is still chillingly dark even despite the fact it’s not hugely different from that of the main game, and scouring for the many notes, videos, and audio recordings littered throughout its fear-inducing facility made for a genuinely absorbing investigation. Funny, frightening, and full of surprises, The Lake House DLC is a tightly paced slice of psychological horror that serves as an absorbing addendum to Alan Wake II."
Raw processing power, full-color passthrough, and snappy Touch Plus controllers make the Quest 3S a fantastic standalone VR headset that also brings entry-level mixed-reality gaming to the masses for – arguably – the very first time.
Venom: The Last Dance, reviewed by Tom Jorgensen.If this is truly the last dance, then things end for Venom much as they began: with a mostly boring superhero story occasionally elevated by a jittery Jekyll-and-Hyde performance from Tom Hardy. Venom: The Last Dance is torn between its responsibilities to big-budget comic book moviemaking and a more-focused genre story of a boy and his alien. The threat Knull poses from afar often steals the movie’s focus to disappointing results, but there’s still some fun to be had on this freaky ride into the sunset – largely courtesy of the toothy, titular symbiote. Lackluster action and new additions that distract from the unique relationship at the franchise’s heart suggest it’s past time to send this Venom horse to the glue factory. Hopefully we get something back that sticks a little more.
Starship Troopers: Extermination reviewed by Jarrett Green on PC. Also available on Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5.In the Space Imperialist vs Alien war for your attention, Starship Troopers: Extermination brings a knife to a nuke fight. It’s a shooter you and some friends can find fun in, especially in its tough Horde mode using its simple-yet-distinct classes that help focus the overall large-scale bug-blasting vision. But you’re doing so in spite of how long it takes to unlock all the more interesting gear and abilities those classes have in store, how uncoordinated some of the multiplayer modes are, how downright bad the single-player campaign is, how barren the handful of available maps feel, and the lack of biodiversity in the bug swarm. It’s a serviceable battle that can get frantic in the thick of it, but there are far more noble causes to give your virtual lives for in 2024 than this.
Kong: Survivor Instinct reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on PlayStation 5. Also available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox Series X|S."Setting a Metroidvania-style platforming adventure against a backdrop of building-razing beasts is certainly an intriguing idea, but unlike its towering cast of kaiju cameos, Kong: Survivor Instinct itself simply doesn’t measure up. Its story and characters are underwritten, its ravaged urban playground is eye-catching but not particularly surprising to explore, and its combat fails to evolve enough to keep the fights interesting over the course of the journey. The occasional room-rocking escape sequences do literally shake things up, but they’re few and far between and only distract from the otherwise uncomplicated platforming for short bursts at a time. Kong and his kind may hail from an alternate world hidden deep inside the Earth’s core, but the actual gameplay of Kong: Survivor Instinct is strictly one-dimensional."
A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on PC. Also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S."A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead does a commendable job of taking the uniquely silent scary movie series and spinning it into an interactive adventure, even if its methods for sustaining stress seem a bit too clearly contrived at times. I greatly appreciated the many handcrafted human touches that made its evacuated spaces so evocative, and the safety net of its consistent auto-save meant that my numerous instant deaths never became a source of frustration. However, although it may maintain a regularly tense atmosphere every shuffled step of the way, the absence of any significant story surprises or enough substantial changes to its simplistic stealth-based gameplay means that A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead doesn’t quite have enough twists and turns to make for an unmissable journey."
Sonic X Shadow Generations reviewed by Jada Griffin on PlayStation 5. Also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox, Switch, and PC. Sonic X Shadow Generations takes an already excellent game and spring jumps it to new heights at a blistering pace by doubling up the campaign length with creative level design, fantastic bosses, plenty of collectibles, and an appreciable graphical upgrade. While the brand-new Shadow content isn't necessarily long on its own, it adds a nice change of pace to the collection of all-time great Sonic stages Generations already contained, and there’s an exciting new story that’s filled in as you explore the overworld for collectibles, activities, and challenges. This bulked-up remaster soars far and above previous enhanced versions we've gotten in the Sonic franchise, and hopefully will be the gold standard Sega holds itself to when it decides to bring back other Sonic games from the past.
MechWarrior 5: Clans reviewed on PC by Will Borger. Also available on Xbox and PlayStation.MechWarrior 5: Clans surprised me with its excellent campaign, carried by a thoughtful, well-told story, great mission design, fantastic walking-tank combat, and all of the customization you could want. I genuinely loved playing Clans, especially in co-op, and several story moments and missions will stick with me for a long, long time because of the way they simultaneously made me consider the ethical questions of war while grouping my rockets and lasers to obliterate a target and turning my damaged armor out of harm’s way. I just wish my first playthrough hadn’t been so buggy, especially in co-op. If Piranha’s promised post-launch patches can fix its issues, Clans will have a lot fewer frustrating lows to drag down its many impressive highs – but one way or another, I’ll definitely be suiting up for the Smoke Jaguar Clan for another run in the future.
Unknown 9: Awakening reviewed on PC by Travis Northup. Also available on Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5.Unknown 9: Awakening is the kind of routine action-adventure game that probably wouldn't blow me away even if it was executed well – and the fact that it isn’t just makes the whole thing fall completely flat. Everything from the formulaic story to the shallow and dull combat and stealth are well below the standard set by genre peers, and the consistently disheveled performance and bugs don’t do Awakening any favors. There’s at least some fun to be had in its interesting reality-bending powers, especially the mind-controlling abilities that let you briefly play as your foes and sabotage the enemy in clever ways, but these bright spots run their course quickly, leaving us with a wholly underwhelming adventure.
Smile 2, reviewed by A.A. Dowd. Narrated by Erik Adams.From the writer-director of the 2022 horror sleeper Smile comes a solid sequel that sicks the suicide-hex phantom on a pop star played – in a highly volatile, committed performance — by Aladdin’s Naomi Scott. Smile 2 doesn’t quite match its sadistically effective predecessor in the scare department, because once you’ve seen one phantom doppelganger grinning like the Cheshire Cat, you’ve seen them all. But the movie works as a nasty portrait of the downside of music-biz fame, and it builds to an ending deserving of every crooked smile it earns.
Super Mario Party Jamboree reviewed by Logan Plant on Nintendo Switch.Super Mario Party Jamboree is an amazing follow-up to Mario Party Superstars and easily one of the best games in the series. Not only does it faithfully return to the classic formula established in the Nintendo 64 entries, it confidently improves upon it with a fantastic set of boards that introduce unique and memorable mechanics. It’s also the most flexible Mario Party has ever been, with tons of ways to customize your game, including its brilliant new optional Pro Rules that reduce luck-based elements and crank up the strategy for those who want it. The wonderful maps are supported by a great lineup of new and returning minigames and character-specific challenges that steal the show, even if I wish there were just a few more minigames in the rotation. The side offerings may not have much staying power, but when partying with friends and family locally or online, Super Mario Party Jamboree confidently completes the series’ redemption arc as its newest superstar.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero reviewed by Jarrett Green on PlayStation 5, also available on PC and Xbox Series X|S.Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is a final flash from the past, sometimes to a fault, as demonstrated by its archaic menus and remedial training tools. Its Episode Battles have the kind of reaction-heavy difficulty that doesn’t really exist in most games these days, more than once crossing the line between challenging and frustrating. But the feeling of traveling back to a simpler time when games didn’t have to be balanced or competitive to be fun is a good one, especially when that action stays so true to that of the show it’s recreating. Reliving a story that was foundational to my youth, looking and sounding as great as I remember it, with the opportunity to alter it in sometimes dramatic new ways is clever, and the addition of tools to attempt to create our own stories could elevate the experiment even further if a community can figure out how to make the most of them.
NHL 25 reviewed by Nick Ransbottom on PlayStation 5, also available on Xbox Series X|S.There’s no denying that the action on the ice looks better than ever in NHL 25. And it’s nice to see Franchise Mode get some welcome changes to add authenticity for lovers of the mode. But this year's iteration is quite lackluster as a whole, and feels like more of the same as last year yet again. For being the first NHL game available exclusively on current-gen consoles, it’s a shame that NHL 25 is still stuck in the same last-gen rut.
Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, reviewed by Ryan McCaffrey.There are certainly pieces of The Legend of Lara Croft series that fans of the Tomb Raider games will recognize; not just characters but locations too, which adds a bit of extra fun for gamers watching this show. And outside of the main villain’s arc (which had me rolling my eyes), the eight-episode story isn’t bad. But just about everything else – characters, story, animation – is mediocre. And that’s just not going to cut it in this age of peak TV, which has produced far better animated video game adaptations than this one – there’s no reason for Netflix subscribers to waste their time on Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft when they could be watching the aforementioned Castlevania (so good it earned a spinoff), Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, and the League of Legends-based Arcane.
Reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on PlayStation 5. Also available on PC."This remade version of Until Dawn features a substantial visual upgrade that bring it in line with some of the best-looking horror adventures on the PlayStation 5, and Supermassive’s definitive horror story is just as gory and schlocky as it’s ever been. However, its cinematic flair is slightly undermined by the new over-the-shoulder camera, and it suffers at the hands of a frame rate that’s choppier than even the most caffeinated of axe murderers. Movement is noticeably slower and more sluggish than it used to be, and the handful of new gameplay features – like the pointless totem-turning mini-game – are unwelcome and don’t even come close to justifying this remake’s premium price tag especially when the original is sitting right there next to it in the store. Never mind the eight potential victims to be found inside its cabin in the woods, if you’re still determined to play this half-hearted horror remake you should at least wait until it’s the price that is slashed instead."
Undisputed reviewed by Andrew McMahon on Xbox Series X, also available on PlayStation 5 and PC.Developer Steel City Interactive's approach to boxing in Undisputed is on the right track, but there’s a long road ahead of it. Its emphasis on realism, preparing for fights using RPG-like mechanics, and creating an adrenaline-filled experience in the ring are significant building blocks. Still, the fluidity of its gameplay animations and reactiveness of its commentators don’t come close to living up to the high bar that was set by the Fight Night series back in the late 2000s, and its realistic fighting can be a little dull if you’re in the mood for a KO instead of a TKO. That said, it does serve as a decent meal for an otherwise-starved genre, and that’s a lot better than we’ve had in the last decade.
Metaphor: ReFantazio reviewed by Michael Higham on PC, also available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.There’s a certain familiarity to Metaphor: ReFantazio, but Atlus takes the principles of its already excellent RPGs and refines them in a way that effortlessly ushers you through its brutal, and sometimes whimsical, fantasy world. The Archetype system brings satisfying progression along with all the new wrinkles added to the turn-based combat for some great hard-fought battles, and the social elements are streamlined to better deliver the most important aspects of the stories they tell. And for all its cliches, there’s a powerful sense of purpose behind this adventure. I felt a unique warmth in its message, because it’s driven by the ideals of a just society and smartly contextualized in surprising ways. Metaphor: ReFantazio is poetic, and at times, idealistic, but it also understands its complexities and that change requires action, and that even far-fetched fantasy stories can serve as inspiration to make our world a better place.
Starfield: Shattered Space reviewed on PC by Dan Stapleton. Also available on Xbox Series X/S.Starfield: Shattered Space fills the conspicuous Va’ruun-shaped hole in the main campaign with a generous helping of quest content that’s thick with snake-worshiping lore and tough, teleporting enemies. Elder Scrolls and Fallout fans will recognize a lot of these story outlines, but the Starfield twist makes them more than simple reheats. Refreshingly, the new planet is more of a traditional Bethesda-style open world that feels more like a real place where there’s a lot to do, which is a welcome improvement over hopping between mostly barren worlds. However, there’s not much to take with you once you leave, since outside of new quests and a handful of new weapons and building options there are no new gameplay systems – or even new powers or skills – you’ll want to try out after a new run through the Unity. It’s more Starfield for those who want it, but Shattered Space doesn’t shatter a lot of conventions.
Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred reviewed by Travis Northup on Xbox Series X/S and PC, also available on PlayStation 5.Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred is an awesome expansion that adds an excellent new area to explore, a gloriously modular character class that I can’t stop playing, an impressive debut raid activity, and lots more. But while just about everything it adds to the action is awesome, it definitely doesn’t do enough where the somewhat flaccid campaign and story is concerned, and numerous bugs can occasionally drag it down. Thankfully, the changes to the meta, a greatly improved progression system, the resurrection of rune words, and NPC companions are all major wins for Diablo 4, even if it seems like we’ll be waiting a while to see where this interlude expansion leads.
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Patrick Star Game reviewed by Sarah Thwaites on PC, also available on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch.SpongeBob SquarePants: The Patrick Star Game is obviously geared more towards kids than those of us who grew up loving SpongeBob, but so are things like Astro Bot and Super Mario Wonder, and those games are brilliant. By contrast, the lack of exciting puzzle solutions or meaningful challenges offered across this six-hour adventure is bad enough that it feels like an underestimation of that audience. Propped up by the iconic and playful world of Bikini Bottom, it makes a strong first impression that quickly wears thin. Its physics-heavy sandbox can briefly be a joy to explore if you’re a fan of the TV series, however the slew of monotonous minigames and host of on-loop conversations within it fail to fully capture that show's spirit. Without an engaging goal or overarching story to latch onto, the end result is a repetitive and uninventive adventure that does a disservice to Patrick’s protagonist potential.
Silent Hill 2 reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on PlayStation 5. Also available on PC."Silent Hill 2 is a welcome modernisation of a survival horror masterpiece. It smoothly polishes down the rough edges of the original game’s combat while taking a piece of heavy grit sandpaper to scuff up every rust and mold-covered surface of its nightmarish environments, successfully making them appear far more abrasive and menacing to explore. Previously primitive boss battles have been transformed into substantially more intense encounters, and its intimidating audio design kept me acutely aware that every fog-cloaked street I walked down could quickly hurry me towards my own dead end. It does feel a little padded out in parts, and I do wish that Bloober Team had streamlined some of its more convoluted puzzle sections to prevent the story’s momentum from sagging on occasion. Still, intermittent pacing problems aside, Silent Hill 2 is a great way to visit – or revisit – one of the most dread-inducing destinations in the history of survival horror."
EA Sports FC 25 reviewed by Robert Anderson on Xbox Series X, also available on Xbox One, PlayStation, and PC."After more than 20 years of EA Sports football titles, the cracks in this series are no longer subtle—they’re threatening its foundation. FC 25 takes steps forward, introducing some interesting new features such as the fast-paced and compelling Rush mode, but much of the package beyond that continues to feel overly familiar. Gameplay tweaks that are heading in the right direction don’t stop it from being stale and uninteresting this year, and struggles with a clunky, touchscreen-inspired UI bog everything down. Rush is the best thing to happen to the series in years, but even that can’t fully mask the prominent underlying problems."
Salem's Lot, reviewed by Tom Jorgensen.Salem’s Lot is one of the most aggravating Stephen King adaptations in recent memory. Writer/director Gary Dauberman builds some undeniable atmosphere and assembles a likeable enough cast of townies-turned-vampire hunters, and when it’s content working on a more intimate level, it has some real strength. And then, the vampires show up in earnest – and fittingly, the movie too loses its soul.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom reviewed by Tom Marks on Nintendo Switch.The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is far greater than a gimmicky spinoff led by Zelda instead of Link. Its echo summoning is used to cleverly combine the expertly crafted dungeons, puzzle rooms, and item progression you’d expect from a classic-style 2D Zelda with the borderline unhinged freedom provided by Tears of the Kingdom. This experiment doesn’t produce an entirely perfect result, with a little bit of clunky menu management and combat that simply isn’t quite as compelling, but it’s an impressively successful one all the same. Echoes of Wisdom is also a glowing proof of concept for how a modern 3D Zelda could recapture some of what fans like me miss about the series before Breath of the Wild without sacrificing the intoxicating creativity it introduced. Creating echoes aside, if this is the future of Zelda, I can’t wait to see more.
Ara: History Untold reviewed on PC by Leana Hafer.While Ara: History Untold is a visually captivating historical 4X with an interesting underlying economy, it gets bogged down well before the midway point, mainly because it doesn’t provide enough tools and UI support to manage all of the things it expects you to manage. Your choice of leader, religion, and government almost always simply add uninteresting passive modifiers, which means most playthroughs will feel roughly the same other than the layout of the map itself. I had a pretty decent time with my march through the ages, especially in the first of its three acts. But it did require me to eventually give up on trying to play optimally, passing turns without doing anything until I emerged victorious. A lot of these systems are exciting and clever in their design – they're just not that enjoyable to interact with past a certain point.
Terrifier 3, reviewed by Matt Donato. Narrated by Erik Adams.Damien Leone’s beloved, slaughterhouse-scrappy franchise nails the art (heh) of the kill once more in its third installment. Unfortunately, like Terrifier 2, it’s too long, too disjointed, and more like a vision board of ideas that never find their connective tissue. Terrifier 3 earns points with extreme practical gore effects and a dedication to making its audience wince – I'll be gushing about multiple Terrifier 3 kills for a while. (The same can’t be said for the messianic arc now set up for Lauren LaVera’s Sienna Shaw.) It feels like Leone’s trying to keep up with his franchise’s overnight success by chucking plotline ideas at us in hopes something meaningful sticks, but the result is as sloppy as expected. Art returns to deliver a night to dismember, but everything else – like storytelling, or coherent continuity – plays a disappointing second fiddle.
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster reviewed by Luke Reilly on PC. Also available on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5."Above all, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster preserves the iconic original’s experience while including some very logical and welcome modern adjustments, like auto-saving, a new navigation system, and NPCs that seem less inclined to serve themselves for lunch. Not all the new voice acting is an improvement – and there are a variety of other tedious flaws that have gone unfixed – but wading back into the Willamette Parkview Mall after all these years has been an effective reminder of just how brilliant the original Dead Rising was back in 2006. Coaxing as many hapless consumers as I can back through throngs of the festering undead is as compulsive as it was nearly two decades ago. At the very least, now that I’ve paused to actually package this review together, it’s still gnawing at me to return – and that’s the sign of any great game (or reasonably effective zombie, for that matter)."
Satisfactory reviewed on PC by Travis Northup.Satisfactory is the best automation game ever made and I seriously can’t recommend it enough. Every moment of the over 130 hours it took to build messy conveyor belt disasters and delightfully efficient factories was engaging, ridiculous, and an absolute blast with friends. Exploring this gorgeous, bespoke world in search of secrets and resources serves as a fantastic change of pace from constructing assembly lines, even when combat doesn’t offer much more than a few generic aliens to shoot at while doing so. It’s a drag thatSatisfactory’s insatiable appetite for electronics also results in regular technical annoyances, but none of them come close to souring this stellar factory builder.
Frostpunk 2 reviewed by Dan Stapleton on PC.Building up multiple colonies, researching technologies, and passing laws in Frostpunk 2 is quite the act of plate-spinning. Just about anything you do is bound to make one of your city’s factions angry at you, and a powerful storm can literally and figuratively freeze your whole economy. This is a city-building sequel that might have lost some of the intimacy of the original by thinking bigger, but what it’s gained through its ambitious philosophy of reinvention rather than iteration means you can play it immediately after the original and not feel like you’ve done most of this before.
The Penguin, reviewed by Erik Adams.It’s tempting to pat The Penguin on the back for at least trying something. But that’s the type of patronizing gesture that would cause Colin Farrell to sneer through the layers of prosthetics that transform him into Oswald “Oz” Cobb. A highlight in small doses in The Batman, Oz withers in the spotlight of The Penguin – when he’s not overshadowed by ally-turned-enemy-turned-ally-turned-enemy-again Sofia Falcone, played to the hilt by Cristin Milioti. The limited series worships at the altars of The Godfather, Goodfellas, Scarface, The Sopranos, and Breaking Bad, but Sofia’s family are no Corleones, Oz is no Tony, and in these eight episodes, they’re not given the time or space to get anywhere close to those crime-drama landmarks. The Batman was overstuffed, too, but at least it had a solid, straightforward mystery at its core for everyone to orbit. The mob drama being built around Oz requires something grander and more operatic to succeed. Unfortunately, The Penguin lacks the chops, the wit, and the wings to reach those heights.
The Plucky Squire reviewed by Logan Plant on PlayStation 5, also available on Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.At its heights, The Plucky Squire is a beautiful Zelda-inspired adventure filled with brilliant wordplay-packed puzzles. Jot’s ability to manipulate his own storybook from both the outside and within result in clever dimension-hopping mechanics and solutions that make each problem a joy to unpack. While genuinely funny at times, its wordy script often gets in the way of the action and occasionally spoils a puzzle’s solution before it even begins. It also drags in its drawn-out final act, as the adventure continues a couple hours after it’s already used up all its best ideas. But prior to that late stumble, The Plucky Squire is full of surprises, breaking up its puzzles with cute minigame homages to classic video game genres and fun sections that take Jot outside of the pages of his story.
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown reviewed by Luke Reilly on PC. Also available on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5."Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is far and away the most ambitious driving game that developer KT Racing has ever put together, but it’s plagued with problems. Forced online requirements that feel needlessly punitive towards solo players, inconsistent and non-adjustable AI difficulty levels, a stale car list, and chore-like progression all conspire to undermine an otherwise robust driving model and eye-catching open world. The former home of the WRC series has come out swinging with Solar Crown, but unfortunately the studio may have flown a little too close to the sun."
Enotria: The Last Song reviewed by Jarrett Green on PC, also available on PlayStation 5.Aside from the fundamentals of combat, Enotria: The Last Song really tries to step outside of the box when it comes to dressing up the standard soulslike. The sun-drenched environments and wild, Italian folklore-inspired character designs are a real breath of fresh air straight from Italy’s Alps. Combat is fun, even when the difficulty spikes unexpectedly and despite the bloat of many, many systems that govern all of the more nuanced abilities and stats. The unapproachability of its RPG systems, and the wonky performance when a smooth frame rate matters the most are what really prevent Enotria from taking center stage.
Funko Fusion reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on PlayStation 5. Also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo Switch."Funko Fusion has no shortage of oversized heads, but between them all it still manages to contain precious little in the way of interesting new ideas. Its simplistic shooting is dull, its many bugs and backtracking requirements are exhausting, and its peculiar marriage of child-pleasing character styles and LEGO-like level design with a number of film and television licenses that are distinctly adult just seems ill-advised from the jump. Although it definitely nails the signature look of the pint-sized collectibles, it’s really not much fun to play which means that just like your Funko Pop collection it’s probably best left on the shelf."
Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions reviewed by Will Borger on PC, also available on PlayStation and Xbox.When you’re flying around the pitch, Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions can be a blast. Each position has a lot of depth to it, whether you’re harassing the other team’s Seeker as a Beater, drifting to keep up with the Snitch as a Seeker, faking out a Keeper to score as a Chaser, or making the perfect save yourself. Quidditch Champions makes smart rule changes to make this fantasy sport more fun while capturing the look and feel of the Wizarding World. There just isn’t much here off the pitch to keep you playing long term, and co-op progression issues mean you can’t easily take on its career mode tournaments or grow your collection of unlockables with friends. Quidditch Champions did the near-impossible by turning quidditch into an actual competitive game, but I just wish there was a little more bristle on the end of this broom.
Transformers One reviewed by Tom Jorgensen.Transformers One’s core duo of Orion Pax and D-16 and the fallout of their broken friendship provide an occasional spark, but despite the efforts of its impressive voice cast and a standout performance from Brian Tyree Henry, this animated origin story rarely shows anything more than meets the eye. Its G1-inspired aesthetic is cool in small doses, but Transformers One regularly fumbles trying to follow its transforming robots through the action. Though the tragedy of Optimus Prime and Megatron’s storied rivalry could have felt larger than life, Transformers One is mostly content with half-hearted puns and barely legible Cybertronian battles that could have used some major transforming before rolling out.
World of Warcraft: The War Within reviewed by Leana Hafer on PC.The War Within is the best World of Warcraft has been on all fronts in many years, and possibly ever. When returning franchise creative director Chris Metzen got on stage at BlizzCon and said it was time to come home, he really wasn't just stringing us along. The writing is strong. The gameplay is strong. The music and zone design are exceptional even by Blizzard standards. The endgame loop feels good and offers tons of satisfying ways to progress, including more appropriately difficult and rewarding solo content than ever. The level 80 experience has some wonky tuning and annoying bugs, but I trust Blizzard to get that ironed out in due time. Somehow, this two-decade-old MMO feels fresh and thrilling again.
NBA 2K25 reviewed by Nico Vergara on PlayStation 5, also available on Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.The more things change, the more they stay the same, and that’s never been more true than with NBA 2K25. Although the core gameplay feels familiar (and it most likely always will), a handful of improvements such as Go-To Moves, Rhythm Shooting, and Shot Timing Profiles also make it more novel and challenging. I love that the Heart of a Dynasty storyline and the return of Streetball highlight a renewed focus on single-player experiences that, I hope, mean things will be even better next year. Don’t get me wrong; microtransactions are still as pervasive and frustrating as ever. But spending money doesn’t always feel as necessary this time, especially in MyTeam, thanks to the return of the Auction House. So, although NBA 2K25 isn’t on the level of Michael Jordan’s splashy return in 1995, it can at least compare to his late-career stint with the Washington Wizards; you know what you’re getting at this point, but it still has a few tricks up its sleeves that longtime fans like me can be pleasantly surprised by even as we grumble about long-standing issues.
Fortnite reviewed by Charlie Wacholz on Xbox Series X, also available on Xbox One, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Mobile. No matter which version of Fortnite’s battle royale shooter you prefer, Epic Games makes sure that there’s always something on the horizon waiting for you, both in or out of a match. Whether it’s the enticing glow and heavenly hum of a treasure chest full of loot, the faraway glint of an opponent’s sniper scope on a ridge, a sports car in your favorite color, or an exciting quest to complete, you’d have to try to get bored while playing. Epic’s dedication and support have made Fortnite one of the best-maintained ongoing multiplayer games out there as well – even when a new weapon or seasonal direction occasionally feels like a dud, there’s usually something great around the corner to even it out. It’s rare to see a game on this scale constantly experiment, take risks, and have so much fun with itself. And while its goofy, over-the-top crossovers with beloved games, movies, and TV shows more often bring a whiff of corporate synergy with them, it’s undeniably cool to squad up with friends as your favorite characters and compete for that sweet Victory Royale.
I Am Your Beast reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on PC."I Am Your Beast is a stirring, snack-sized shoot ‘em up that succeeds in spite of its simplified story and slightly punitive progression. Its supremely responsive controls and readily available arsenal of pick-up-and-slay weapons made me feel like a one-man army unleashed on groups of unsuspecting enemies, while its strict time-based goals and bonus objectives gave me reason to return to most of its levels to continually refine my approach. It may lack a truly unique hook to put it head and shoulders above the pack, but I Am Your Beast was still furious enough to sink its claws into me and keep me gripped to it throughout its short stay."
Joker: Folie à Deux, reviewed by SIddhant Adlakha. Narrated by Erik Adams.The worst thing about Joker: Folie à Deux is its unfulfilled potential. It begins with the promise of a novel approach to the Joker and Harley Quinn, placing them in a world where the opposite of cruelty is musical romance. Unfortunately, the DC sequel gets bogged down by a lengthy courtroom saga, which not only keeps the dazzling Lady Gaga away from the spotlight, but centers the movie entirely around its own predecessor, without doing or saying anything new.
Astro Bot reviewed by Simon Cardy on PlayStation 5.A fantastically inventive platformer in its own right, Astro Bot is particularly special for anyone with a place in their heart for PlayStation. Astro Bot is released on PS5 on September 6th, 2024.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 reviewed by Chris Reed on Xbox Series X, also available on PlayStation 5 and PC.Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a terrific third-person shooter with a compelling story, loads of weapons that are a blast to use, and a healthy variety of enemies to use them on. It once again borrows many of its ideas from the Gears of War series, but they’re good ideas, and Space Marine 2 does a fine job of making them its own. And while the Operations PvE mode that accompanies it doesn’t currently offer enough to keep me coming back, the deep customization options for your Space Marine do look promising if it’s supported in post-launch updates as planned. Besides, when you’re eviscerating aliens on planets as pretty as these, it’s hard not to leave satisfied.
The Casting of Frank Stone reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on PC. Also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S."The Casting of Frank Stone’s repetitive, time-hopping horror tale is packed with dozens of character choices to consider, but really the most important decision that Dead by Daylight fans need to make is whether or not a sub-standard, six-hour story is worth sitting through purely to spot the odd recognisable weapon or slight reference to the source material’s lore. I would argue it’s not, since no single stretch of this sluggish and forgettable horror show ever comes close to matching the frantic amounts of fun to be had in a single, 15-minute Dead by Daylight trial. Unable to match the intensity of its murderous multiplayer inspiration and lagging well behind Until Dawn and The Quarry as a standalone story, The Casting of Frank Stone is a second-rate interactive slasher that just can’t hack it."
Squirrel with a Gun reviewed by Travis Northup on PC, also available on PlayStation and Xbox.Squirrel with a Gun is an awesome, immediately charming idea with legs as short as its fluffy protagonist. While platforming around by firing off weapons and causing mayhem in the small sandbox areas yields plenty of enjoyable moments, shallow combat, numerous technical issues, and a short runtime left me wanting more. Even the over-the-top boss fights, which are definitely a high point in the zany adventure, come to an end all too quickly and are in short supply. I still adore this violent rodent and would love to see a sequel that’s bigger, more fleshed out, and less prone to crashing, but this first shot leaves a fair bit to be desired.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2, reviewed by Samantha Nelson. Narrated by Clint Gage.Season 2 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power does a great job portraying Sauron’s machinations and his impact on those he manipulates, but too much time is spent on disconnected subplots delivering only mediocre intrigue and thin characters. A tighter season would have been great, but the moments of powerful pathos and dramatic action the season does deliver are bogged down by scenes focused on places and people who will only become important later in the saga of Middle-earth.
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice reviewed by Siddhant Adlakha. Narrated by Alyssa Mora.Tim Burton allows the cast of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice to have fun, even if they're all off in separate movies that barely overlap. Its story is intentionally robbed of dramatic weight, but this makes way for the goofy, imaginative practical effects of Burton's early days, resulting in a small-scale legacy sequel that doesn't take itself too seriously (because it doesn’t need to).
Concord reviewed by Travis Northup on PC and PlayStation 5.Concord isn’t the most innovative or content-heavy hero shooter you could play, but with such fantastic competitive gameplay, 16 compelling characters to master, and 12 well-designed maps, it’s got the makings of something that could go the distance in the months and years to come. In fact, it’s a testament to its FPS chops that even while it has a virtually nonexistent story and a serious need for a signature game mode, I still found myself losing dozens of hours to its PvP charms. Hopefully the live-service roadmap will do its thing and show this promising shooter the love it needs to become something truly special, but right now it’s at least good enough for me to recommend trying out.
Visions of Mana reviewed by Nick Ransbottom on PlayStation 5, Also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.Visions of Mana finally brings the long-dormant classic RPG series into the modern age, looking great and playing even better thanks to multi-layered class and skill systems that interact in clever ways. There are definitely some pacing issues and a few questionable design choices later on, and the occasional framerate drop or awkward lipsyncing can distract. But the flashy and exciting combat, deeply rewarding class system, and cast of likable characters make Visions of Mana a winning comeback for the classic series all the same – and a great game even if you haven’t spent decades waiting for it.
Monster Jam Showdown reviewed by Luke Reilly on Xbox Series X. Also available on PlayStation, PC, and Nintendo Switch."Monster Jam Showdown distinguishes itself from the last two decades of officially licensed Monster Jam games by actually delivering a decent, if modest, serving of monster truck mayhem. It’s a great looking, family-friendly racer that feels good to fling over giant jumps, but it’s light on track variety and crying out for a deeper career mode and customisation."
The Crow (2024), reviewed by A.A. Dowd. Narrated by Mark Medina.After years of delays, a new version of The Crow has finally flown into theaters. But even with a gamely brooding Bill Skarsgård in the title role, it’s a shadow of the 1994 version – a more generically operatic superhero movie that lacks the flashy style and Gen X attitude that made the original an instant sensation with goth kids of all ages. And despite some fruitful tweaks (like devoting more time to the doomed romance The Crow is avenging), it’s not different enough to compensate for the ways it fails to match the splashy, moody dumb fun of what came before it – or, for that matter, the morbid star power of the late Brandon Lee. Maybe there’s just something futile about trying to raise this story from the graveyard of Hollywood franchises.
Star Wars Outlaws reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on PlayStation 5. Also available on PC and Xbox."It’s ironic that Kay’s ship is called the Trailblazer, since there’s actually not a whole lot of ideas in Star Wars Outlaws that haven’t been done before in other action and open-world adventures. Instead, it’s quite like the Millenium Falcon: a bucket of bolts held together with repurposed parts and prone to breaking down, but at its best it’s more than capable of jolting your pleasure centres into Star Wars fan hyperspace. A clever syndicate system brings real weight to almost every task you choose to undertake, some of which have creative quest designs that can often conjure up some genuinely stunning blindsides. Having a pal like Nix at your side the entire time not only adds an extra dimension to Kay’s fairly generic smuggler character, but also gives her an enhanced set of useful abilities. But even he can’t quite make its stealth and combat feel any less rigid and repetitive, and the odds of avoiding the many glaring technical issues present at launch are 3,720 to one. But you probably didn’t want me to tell you the odds."
Madden NFL 25 reviewed by Will Borger on Xbox Series X, also available on PlayStation 5 and PC.There’s a lot to like in Madden NFL 25. The on-field action is the best it's been thanks to BOOM Tech and the additions from College Football 25. The presentation upgrades are very welcome too, but the modes are functionally the same. Ultimate Team is still a Skinner Box, Superstar is still mediocre, and the Skills Trainer really needs an update to help newer and lapsed players along. Franchise is the best thing here, and it also still needs help. The improvements it did get are nice, but long overdue, and you don’t get a parade for doing things you should have done years ago. EA seems content to continue skating by on being the only company with the NFL license, and that’s not a way to remedy the same old things that have been dragging Madden down for years.
This video review is an updated version of our Black Myth: Wukong PC Review that features footage to illustrate some of the bugs and technical issues we experienced during our playthrough that we were not able to show you pre-release, due to embargo restrictions.Black Myth Wukong Review by Mitchell Saltzman on PC. Also available on PlayStation 5.
Tactical Breach Wizards reviewed by Jarrett Green on PC.Tactical Breach Wizards doesn’t demand knowledge from lost magical tomes to conquer its character-focused missions, each of which is filled with lots of doodads to fiddle with and not a lot of space to do it in. Being easy doesn’t mean it isn’t fun though – in fact, the very opposite is true here, thanks to the creative kits on every unit and how dynamic the combinations between them can be. Wrap that up in a vibrant and weird world with some truly incredible writing and it’s hard not to get entranced in its spell.
Fallout London reviewed by Justin Koreis on PC.When you consider it’s a completely free mod for Fallout 4 rather than an official game, Fallout London is incredibly impressive. It’s a massive RPG worthy of the Fallout moniker, and the way it uses its titular city to shake up the series’ US-centric formula is extremely effective and refreshingly novel. The twists and turns of the main story are compelling, aside from when you’re sent off on unrelated busywork, and going off the beaten path to adventure with companions is as fun here as it is in any modern open-world Bethesda game. However, the technical challenge of being a fan-made mod is still something you need to be prepared for, with an installation that’s more involved than just pressing a button and a distracting amount of bugs and crashes once you’re in. But of course, it’s all worth it in the end: If you can stomach both those hurdles and its occasionally obtuse mission design, there is a lot of fun to be had in Ol’ Blighty.
Black Myth: Wukong is an ambitious and oftentimes jawdropping action game that both delighted with its excellent combat and fantastic boss battles, and frustrated due its puzzling lack of a map and technical issues. Black Myth: Wukong reviewed by Mitchell Saltzman on PC. Also available on PlayStation 5.
Alien: Romulus reviewed by Tom Jorgensen. In theaters August 16, 2024.Evoking the genetic f***ery that always spells doom in these movies, Alien: Romulus is a lean, mean, chimeric beauty. Fede Álvarez proves that his Evil Dead remake was no fluke: The director seamlessly keys into the narrative and aesthetic touchstones of the series and marshals them to breathtaking ends. Romulus occasionally takes a turn down a dead end hall pace-wise – and unfortunately its most audacious bridge to the franchise’s past is extremely rickety – but those missteps are forgivable considering how confidently and judiciously Álvarez handles them elsewhere. Helped along by a talented ensemble of young actors and reference-quality production design, Alien: Romulus’s back-to-basics approach to blockbuster horror boils everything fans love about the tonally-fluid franchise into one film, and it’s one that you’re going to need to start making time for the next time you plan on marathoning Alien and Aliens.
Stormgate Early Access reviewed by Leana Hafer on PC.As a competitive RTS, Stormgate is what's next. Or at least, I hope it is. It pushes that classic basecraft formula forward with a veteran's eye for what works and what doesn't, and gets me pumped to queue up again right after I finish a match – win or lose – in a way I haven't been since the early days of Wings of Liberty. If I were judging it only based on that, it would get high marks already. But the short, low-rent campaign is less than inspiring, leaving one of its major factions entirely without context and retreading very familiar narrative ground. However, it's rounded out with an exciting co-op mode that features some cool heroes and offers a nice entry point to anyone who doesn't want to leap straight into the jaws of 1v1 matchmaking. For Early Access, Stormgate is pretty promising when it lays all its cards on the table. But it still has miles to go.
Borderlands, reviewed by Matt Donato.Borderlands is an abysmal waste of a beloved franchise that takes a kooky band of murderous misfits and drains the life out of their first adventure together. Eli Roth is no James Gunn, and this film has none of the lovable lunatics, awe-striking sci-fi visuals, and out-of-this-world storytelling of Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy. The hyper-stylized flair of the Borderlands games is replicated only on the most superficial level, and with a PG-13 rating, all the limb-severing gore, dirty-minded humor, and uniquely deranged themes are replaced by recycled blandness geared toward mass marketability. It's the worst-case-scenario Borderlands movie that goes against everything Borderlands stands for as a series – a miserable failure.
SteamWorld Heist 2 reviewed by Dan Stapleton on PC, also available on Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch.Steamworld Heist 2’s charming adventure refines the original game’s clever turn-based combat with a flexible mix-and-match class system and hand-made maps that are built around using teamwork to accomplish their objectives and escape unscathed. On top of that, it serves up a light and entertaining real-time nautical exploration game as a palette cleanser between battles, and swapping between them helps things stay fresh for more than twice the first game’s 15-hour length. It’s occasionally mired in grinding to unlock the next area and the skill system will make you waste a lot of XP if you don’t know what’s coming, but there’s no shortage of loot, amusingly off-kilter robot characters, and fantastic original folksy music along the way.
Earth Defense Force 6 reviewed by Travis Northup on PlayStation 4 and 5, also available on PC.Earth Defense Force 6 is yet another riotous entry in one of the most ridiculous and corny series ever to make very poor use of our fancy gaming hardware. It looks at least a decade out of date, is absolutely dripping with plot holes and awful voice acting, and has some of the silliest combat I’ve seen in a long time – but all of that works to its credit, coming together as a game I’ve happily lost dozens of hours of my life to while giggling like an idiot. Not all of its rough edges add to its charm, though, and an overly long campaign filled with repetitive levels and some irritating design choices definitely work against it. But those things are pretty easy to forgive when you accidentally blow your friends up with a rocket launcher that sends giant ants sailing into the air and skyscrapers crumbling into rubble.
The Sims 4 base game reviewed in 2024 on PC, also available on PlayStation, Xbox, and Mac.The Sims 4 is starting to feel its age in 2024, but what keeps it so compelling is that magical feeling that occurs when all its parts work together to create the rich tapestry of your Sims' lives. The complex character creator and approachable building mode are both impressive – and as personality quirks rub up against the houses you’ve tenderly built, you’re rewarded with hilarious and profound emotional reactions from the beloved families you’re guiding. There’s a deeper focus on replicating the complexities of human life than any other game in this genre. Yet despite maintaining the bar for life simulators at large, the last decade has also left the base game with an outdated fashion sense and locked what now feel like core features such as pets behind paid DLC – a problem that can only be escaped by indulging in fan-made mods or costly expansions. Even so, after hundreds of hours of playtime and nearly a decade of history, I’m still always excited to build a new family dynamic and start the chaotic cycle of life all over again.
College Football 25 reviewed by Will Borger on Xbox Series X, also available on PlayStation 5.If you know and love college football and just want to pop into Dynasty, build up your favorite school, and play some football that looks good and handles well, College Football 25 is likely to please. But if you’re expecting a great off-the-field experience at your program of choice, you’re going to be disappointed. Sure, maybe EA will fix the UI issues, add a proper tutorial, and flesh out the modes a bit more in next year’s iteration, but promises of tomorrow aren’t certain, and they’re not what you’re buying today. College Football 25 isn’t a bad game, and the effort that has been put into its on-field action is clear, but the lack of that same care elsewhere means it’s not a great game, either. Like any good-but-not-great football team, there’s a solid foundation here; you just hope it can reach its full potential somewhere down the line.
Nobody Wants to Die reviewed by Carli Velocci on PC, also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.Nobody Wants to Die’s relatively brief story isn’t completely original, but it has a cool mix of inspirations and unique worldbuilding touches that all work well together to create something new and engaging. It holds your hand a bit too much for a game about the art of investigation, but its conversation system picks up the slack with humor, unexpected outcomes, and a surprisingly deep story about how your past can be your present — even when you’re facing immortality.
Deadpool & Wolverine reviewed by Tom Jorgensen. Opens in US theaters on Friday, July 26, 2024. Deadpool & Wolverine is an outrageous, consistently funny superhero comedy that succeeds largely thanks to the contagious enthusiasm of leads Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, and a surprisingly classy perspective on superhero movie history. Wade and Logan’s profanity-laced adventure forces the MCU farther out of its comfort zone than it’s been in years, even though old and increasingly frustrating issues like forgettable villains and a barely there plot show that breaking the fourth wall isn’t always enough to solve a movie’s foundational problems.
F1 Manager 2024 reviewed by Henry Stockdale on PlayStation 5, also available on PC, PlayStation 4, Switch, and Xbox.F1 Manager 2024 doesn't completely escape the pitfalls that come with being an annual series, though evolutionary changes make this a welcome third outing. New features like creating your own team offer strong customization options, and securing victories with a tailor-made squad feels even sweeter than building upon an existing team. The mechanical faults and expanded sponsorship systems add welcome strategic depth, too. Several flaws like the tedious contracts system could use further work, and some lingering issues like collision damage haven't been solved, but this is still Frontier's best take on a Formula 1 management sim yet.
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn reviewed by Jada Griffin on PlayStation 5, also available on PC and Xbox Series X|S."While the early hours are a bit rough, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is one of those soulslikes that only gets better as you get further in, unlocking more of the interesting skills that allow you to fully take advantage of its attack chains and XP multipliers. However, you’ll need to want to head off the beaten path to hunt down its optional extras in order to get the most out of it. Thankfully, Flintlock respects your time while doing so with its use of shortcuts, fast travel, and other ways of making exploring fun and easy. It may have an abridged run time compared to other RPGs, but it makes good use of that time with interesting sidequests and an excellent minigame. Unfortunately, Flintlock’s story meanders a bit towards the middle and wastes a few opportunities that could have let its main characters shine, but this adventure did leave me interested to find out where Nor and Enki will go next."
Once Human reviewed by Justin Koreis on PC.Once Human is a lot of fun, with survival-crafting that is simple and accessible, but still rewarding to dig into. Building a house is amusing, even if pieces aren’t always cooperative about snapping together in the right orientation. And while the combat is generally pretty basic, the grotesque weirdness of the monsters more than makes up for that, especially when you get a menagerie of weird little creatures of your own to fight with. Once Human would benefit from more creative quests and a flatter difficulty curve, but I still had a great time, and I’m eager to continue my adventures in this twisted world as its first season progresses.
Twisters, reviewed by Siddhant Adlakha. Narrated by Mark Medina.Twisters has charm for days, even if it doesn’t slow down long enough to let us get to know the characters better. Thankfully, stars Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, and Anthony Ramos bring plenty of personality to the film through their performances. With scenes of natural disaster grounded in a human point of view, Lee Isaac Chung's spiritual sequel transcends its visual shortcomings, and proves to be a wildly fun and effective summer blockbuster worth watching on the biggest and loudest screen.
Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail reviewed by Michael Higham on PC, also available on PlayStation and Xbox.Dawntrail has some growing pains and notable lulls as it establishes a new era for Final Fantasy XIV, but the compelling cultures of Tural are strong enough to carry you to its greater moments – it’s also nice to see real-world influences near and dear to me represented so well. Once the main story flips the switch and shows you what it’s really about, it hits the kinds of peaks we’ve seen from the MMO time and time again. Dawntrail had me stunned by spectacular combat encounters, but more importantly left me floored with a unique sense of self-reflection. It doesn’t forget that this is a Final Fantasy story, and the way it ties in its past, present, and future makes for incredible moments that continue to define the series. Dawntrail is a worthy extension of FFXIV, and it leaves a world of fascinating possibilities for what’s next.
The First Descendant reviewed by Travis Northup on PC and Xbox, also available on PlayStation.The First Descendant has all the building blocks of a fantastic looter shooter, but they’re buried under a pile of monotonous quests, a terrible story, and an infuriating free-to-play model that has influenced its game design in the worst possible way. In its best moments, blasting aliens apart with both fireballs and a satisfying arsenal of weapons makes for a really great time – but at least an equal portion of my time was spent battling perplexing design decisions that tested the limits of my abundant patience. Like its peers, future updates could evolve this live-service into a much more consistently enjoyable way to spend time with friends, but for now it misses the mark too often to make its grind feel worthwhile.
Zenless Zone Zero reviewed by Sarah Thwaites on PC, also available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and mobile.By leaning into early 2000s nostalgia and then blending it with a stylish vision of the future, Zenless Zone Zero crafts an inimitable world that’s easy to get invested in. Exploring New Eridu and getting to know this charming cast both in and out of combat was a thrilling ride I was keen to keep at for hours on end. It’s not necessarily as deep as many of its gameplay inspirations, and momentum-killing hacking puzzles can sometimes sour the mood – but with exhilarating, approachable combat and many extracurricular activities to take care of, it was always easy to turn a corner and get swept up in the captivating culture nonetheless.
Moving the action (as quietly as possible) from rural America to New York City provides A Quiet Place: Day One with an elevated sense of tension, and Pig director Michael Sarnoski takes the reins from John Krasinski to great effect, maintaining a strong emotional backbone that keeps Day One grounded throughout its alien action.
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F reviewed by Luke Reilly. Available on Netflix on July 3, 2024."With a tone consistent with the original trilogy, a straightforward premise that creates space for fresh faces without disrespecting the main character, and a well-paced mix of comedy, action, and silky smooth synth riffs, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is a highly watchable return to form for Eddie Murphy. The heat is definitely back on."
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak reviewed by George Yang on PlayStation 5, also available on PlayStation 4, PC, and Nintendo Switch.The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak is an exciting new start for the series. With an awesome new cast of characters joined by a handful of familiar faces, it’s a welcoming point to jump in fresh while also rewarding veteran players for returning. Daybreak’s updated hybrid battle system still has a few kinks to work out with its real-time elements, but enhanced movement options and other impressive tweaks make the turn-based aspects better than ever. Wrap that up in an engaging story full of political drama and a compelling new setting, and Daybreak is exactly what the Trails series needed to reach new heights.
Luigi's Mansion 2 HD reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on Nintendo Switch."With its substantially enhanced graphics and more flexible twin-stick control setup, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is undoubtedly the definitive version of Luigi’s second apparition-filled adventure. If you’re a newcomer to the series – or perhaps you only came onboard with Luigi’s Mansion 3 and are working your way backwards – then there’s plenty of ghostbusting and puzzle-solving fun for you to find in Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD’s five haunted houses. However, if you’re a fan of the original Nintendo 3DS version and you were hoping for more dramatic gameplay changes or additions, then you may well be a touch disappointed. What’s more, playing this remaster in the wake of the third game may put its limitations in an unfavourable light. All told, though, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is a great installment in Nintendo’s spectre-snaring series, even if it’s not the best one you can play on the Switch."
House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 2, reviewed by Helen O'Hara. Narrated by Alan Wheeler.The thing about build up is that it can provide a satisfying sense of growing tension and excitement, or it can block an artery. If House of the Dragon does much more slow building it may lapse into the second sort of buildup rather than the first. In Episode 2 of Season 2, Rhaenyra is back at the head of her council, exercising control; Daemon is once again a wild card and Alicent is desperately trying to keep her warring family in check. Would it be unkind to ask for more dragons from the house of the dragon? Even exchanging one scene in council for a single reptile would help. It feels like we’re ready for the next step, it really does. Let’s move.
Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 reviewed by Siddhant Adlakha. Narrated by Mark Medina.The first of a possible four Western epics, Kevin Costner's Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 is a throwback that tries (and fails) to reckon with the genre's ugly history. By the time the film ends, its three storylines are nowhere close to intersecting – heck, one of them doesn’t even get started until the 2-hour mark. With scenes that linger well past their welcome, and a muddled perspective on the past told through boring, verbose filmmaking, the project is practically dead on arrival.
Bodycam early access reviewed on PC by Justin Koreis.Bodycam is a mostly competent multiplayer shooter and what you can see through the limited field of view of the titular bodycam looks great, but the narrow perspective manages to strike an unfortunate imbalance of being both in the way of good action and immersion-breaking. When all the elements align, like during tense games of Team Deathmatch on some strong maps, it can feel grounded and rewarding to wrestle the kickback of its punchy weapons and score a few one-shot kills before the enemy can line up their own shot, but too much of the time it feels in need of major reworks and rebalancing – especially the terrible respawn system in Deathmatch and when you get killed because you got caught on a tiny obstacle. If there were meaningful progression, like more interesting cosmetics than the paltry ones available or something to chase beyond climbing up a leaderboard then I would be more inclined to stick it out and see how things develop over time. But as it is, Bodycam is an interesting tech demo and little else, so you’ll probably want to wait for it to be fleshed out before jumping in.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance reviewed on PC by Michael Higham. Also available on PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch.I was more than happy to revisit Shin Megami Tensei V, one of my favorite games of 2021, through this definitive version. Vengeance doesn't necessarily make drastic improvements per se, but I enjoyed the new twists, content, and quality of life upgrades it does bring all the same. And while the storyline and route exclusive to Vengeance are a bit better than the original, their appeal as a returning player is really just in how they shake things up at certain points. Don’t get it twisted, though – there’s never been a better time to play this hard-nosed RPG, if not for its satisfying turn-based combat, then for its masterful execution of a uniquely demonic world. There’s a certain attitude that comes through vividly in its art style, character design, and music that you just don’t get in other games. So, if you're simply looking for more SMT or have yet to experience Atlus’ devilish RPG series, Vengeance is absolutely worth seeing through.
Inside Out 2, reviewed by Siddhant Adlakha. Narrated by Tristan Ogilvie.While its chaotic new cast serves a clear purpose, Inside Out 2 is more metaphor than meaning. It explains plenty about the confusing emotions associated with puberty, often in intelligent ways, but it rarely lets them be felt or experienced, the way its predecessor did. It also fails to live up to Pixar's own high watermarks for emotionally driven tales of adolescence – movies like Luca and Turning Red – so it feels like a step down in several regards.
The Boys Season 4 premiere, reviewed by Matt Donato. Narrated by Ronny Barrier.The Boys Season 4 slinks back to basics in a less-than-impressive but still substantial three-part premiere that hinges on dilemmas that have been part of the show from the very beginning. Butcher’s motivations have always been narcissistically bleak, and his Boys have often paid the consequences, but Season 4 heaps the heartache on even heavier. It’s back to the drawing board, but no one erased the original formulas. Season 4 is off to a stable start under Nice Guy Butcher’s shot-calling; I just wish the show didn’t taste like microwaved leftovers from a bomb-as-hell dinner.
House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 1 – "A Son for a Son," reviewed by Helen O'Hara. Narrated by Alan Wheeler.Aside from that one shocking murder – perhaps thankfully less shocking than it might have been visually – this is a period of phony war for the Greens and Blacks, as each side casts about for alternatives to violence and finds none. It’s also an episode with relatively little action, setting up the stakes of this season rather than delivering huge amounts of drama in its own right. Still, that final bloody slaying shows that the cost of all this maneuvering will be high, and that it will be borne by those least able to defend themselves. It’s a horrifying illustration of the cost of a civil war: with a family turned against itself, even the youngest and most innocent are not safe.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC reviewed by Mitchell Saltzman on PC. Also available on PlayStation and Xbox. FromSoftware says Shadow of the Erdtree is the only expansion Elden Ring will get, so it’s fortunate that it’s hard to imagine a better DLC than this – as long as you’re not hoping for it to do anything radically outside the box. Everything I loved about the original has been condensed into an incredibly tight package – one that’s the size of many standalone games all on its own, and can only be considered “small” in comparison to the absolutely massive world of Elden Ring itself. Erdtree’s absolutely jam-packed with secrets, valuable treasures, challenging boss battles, and horrific monstrosities to face off against, as well as cool new weapons, spells, Ashes of War, Spirit Ashes, talismans, and more to play around with and use to find even more novel ways to tackle its memorably brutal battles. Add on some very interesting lore revelations, not to mention the same spectacular visual design and stellar music that accompanies its larger-than-life bosses, and you’ve got what is certainly one of the best DLC expansions I’ve ever played.
Still Wakes the Deep reviewed by Leana Hafer on PC, also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.This horror game deserves credit for its fantastic art, dialogue, voiceover work, and setting. But it's frustrating to play with its nearly on-rails structure that actively scoffs at the idea of exploration. And as much as I wanted to be freaked out by it, I almost never was, trying as I might to set the mood as best as possible. It's the kind of game where I think watching someone else play through it and playing it yourself would be nearly identical experiences, and that doesn't make it easy for me to recommend.
Destiny 2: The Final Shape reviewed by Travis Northup on PC and Xbox Series X|S, also available on Xbox One and PlayStation.Destiny 2’s potential was clear from the first time I blasted my way through The Red War seven years ago, but Bungie never actually realized much of that potential until The Final Shape. This finale expansion’s story largely succeeds at delivering a satisfying ending, the raid is brutal and epic, the Prismatic subclasses breathe fresh life into combat, and the new enemy faction adds some much-needed variety to the things you’ll spend hours shooting in the face. None of that makes Destiny’s avalanche of confusing RPG systems, currencies, and storylines any easier to digest – but for the first time in a long while, I can wholeheartedly recommend pushing through that darkness, because there’s now a bright and beaming light at the end of the tunnel.
Star Wars: Hunters reviewed by Justin Koreis on Nintendo Switch, also available on iOS and Android.Star Wars: Hunters is a simple but enjoyable hero shooter. The Star Wars infused presentation is well executed, striking the right over-the-top tone without tipping into obnoxious. Its amusingly chaotic casual modes find a good balance of being accessible while still allowing skilled players to rise above the pack. It’s just shallow beyond that fun, with a competitive scene that narrows the “right” choices down to just a few viable characters, and rewards that aren’t very, well… rewarding. The most intriguing things you can earn are the additional Hunters themselves, and that process eventually starts to feel like an overly aggressive monetization push. As it is, Star Wars: Hunters is like a party at the Death Star: Impressive for a bit, but probably not a place you’ll want to hang around for too long.
Alan Wake II: Night Springs DLC reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on PC. Also available on PlayStation, Xbox, and GeForce Now."Alan Wake II: Night Springs is a compact collection of standalone stories that veer from entertainingly violent shootouts, to tense stretches of survival horror, before settling on and reveling in the utterly batshit craziness that makes Remedy’s multiverse of madness so keenly absorbing to explore. There’s admittedly not much new here from a gameplay perspective, and it feels like a bit of a tease to play as a version of Control’s heroine stripped of her special abilities in the second episode. Even so, the highs I felt during my short return to Alan Wake’s universe greatly outweighed the lows, and I’d gladly play through another collection of bite-sized side stories if Remedy ever decided to bake another batch. Could there be more Night Springs in the future? Hope springs eternal."
The Boys season 4 reviewed by Matt Donato. Premieres on Prime Video on June 13, 2024.The Boys Season 4 is a solid crash back to earth for Prime Video’s anti-superhero satire. With so much ground to cover – both ongoing stories and new plotlines – Season 4 could have benefited from being a couple episodes longer. Everyone in Butcher’s crew is dealing with some messed-up issues while Homelander’s co-conspirators tiptoe around Vought Tower, trying to keep their bodies in one piece. Season 4 feels like a fuse slowly fizzling toward the last episode, but the fireworks it ignites are relatively dinky compared to what The Boys has done in the past. Maybe that sounds harsher than it should because there’s still plenty of what I love about The Boys packed into a season scarred by sorrow, heartbreak, and so much angst. It’s just hard to be as excited about Season 4 after the back-to-back bangers of Season 3 and Gen V Season 1.
Wuthering Waves reviewed by Jess Reyes on PC, also available on iOS and Android.Wuthering Waves’ combo-heavy action, quick movement, and enticing Echo collection enhance combat and exploration enough to let it respectably stand out from its competitors. The fights are polished and sophisticated, rewarding reactivity and optimal builds and teams. On top of that, the Echo equipment system ties your character progression into the environment in a way that encourages you to uncover every inch of the map, which can be satisfying despite the repetitive process of fighting overworld mobs. Unfortunately, the story is a bland, exposition-heavy slog, with dull writing and voice acting. So while the quests aren’t its main draw, Wuthering Waves is still worth looking into as a refreshing spin on the typical open-world gacha RPG.
MultiVersus reviewed by John Carson on PC, also available on PlayStation and Xbox.MultiVersus is an entertaining and deep platform fighter, but everything outside of simply jumping into a match as one of the eclectic characters in its cast is tedious. It’s worth coming back to experiment with things like Iron Giant’s perk build for team play or learning how to use a new character like Banana Guard to its fullest, but it would be easier to be glued to this game if there were more opportunities to earn memorable variant skins or provide a challenge in increasingly tough PvE battles. Instead, MultiVersus offers days of grinding to earn the opportunity to grind more to attain its most enticing rewards, whether that’s the chance to play as an upcoming character sooner or to swag out your favorite fighter. While it’s a huge boon that the actual fighting is solid and worth the time to dig into, it’s going to take an injection of more fun objectives to complete and more fruitful rewards to make it worth returning to over and over again.
Star Wars: The Acolyte Episodes 1-4 reviewed by Eric Goldman. Narrated by Erik Adams.Setting its story in a longer, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away allows The Acolyte to feel fresh and different from other recent live-action Star Wars series, with an intriguing storyline that seems to be setting the stage for the return of the Sith we know is coming. However, outside of its exciting Jedi fight scenes its execution sometimes feels off, with frequent cheesy moments and a lack of visual flair that contributes to the ongoing concern that all these Star Wars streaming series have diminished the epic nature of the franchise and what makes it special. Taken on its own terms, The Acolyte does offer some enjoyable character dynamics and an enticing mystery, but its first four episodes fail to coalesce into something that truly shines. But look, it does have a wookiee Jedi, and that’s always a plus.
Bad Boys Ride or Die, reviewed by Eric Goldman.Following the franchise refresh of Bad Boys For Life, Ride or Die delivers the Bad Boys version of Fast Five: a sequel that takes the best parts of the earlier films in a long-running franchise and builds and expands upon them in a big way. Bad Boys: Ride or Die provides a much more entertaining package than what came before, with thrilling and inventive action direction from Adil & Bilall. Yes, it’s as over the top and silly as ever, but it’s done with more panache and genuine wit than before, proving these Bad Boys, even at their older age, can still deliver.
Disney Dreamlight Valley reviewed by Travis Northup on Xbox Series X|S, also available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, PC, and Mac.After more than a year since its original debut, Disney Dreamlight Valley is still pretty great, with cartoonish and colorful areas to explore and loads of charming characters to meet. Hanging out with a growing roster of Disney icons is a remarkably good time, and some of the recent additions, like Gaston, made my return to the valley an even more worthwhile venture. But a lot of the shortcomings from the Early Access days haven’t necessarily improved much either, including its habit of leaving stories on a cliffhanger ending, a monstrous grind that just don’t quit, and bugs that continue to plague an otherwise good time. Still, there’s something undeniably riveting about chilling with the goofy oddballs and loveable toons from Disney’s impressive catalog, and returning to this zen-like simulator washed my troubles away like few cozy games can.
Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game reviewed by Travis Northup on Xbox Series X|S, also available on PlayStation and PC.Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game is as silly and entertaining as the movie that spawned it, and that makes for a surprisingly compelling asymmetrical multiplayer game to boot. The back-and-forth between the wacky, murderous Klowns and the whiny teens is a blast no matter which side of the equation you find yourself on, and unlockable classes and abilities add some much needed variety… for a little bit, at least. After a handful of hours, once you’ve tried out all the human and Klown options and learned the layouts of the small number of maps, that competitive loop can get pretty stale. Here’s hoping developer Illfonic has some tricks up their baggy, checkered sleeves and can deliver updates to keep the clown car chugging along beyond that, but for now Killer Klowns makes for at least a dozen hours of really enjoyable hijinks.
F1 24 reviewed by Luke Reilly on Xbox Series X. Also available on Xbox One, PlayStation, and PC."In isolation, F1 24 remains a slick, deep, and marvellous motorsports experience. If you’re a racing gamer who’s just getting into F1 (or an F1 fan who’s just getting into gaming) it’s terrific stuff, packed with options, assists, and various other tweakable toggles to make it hugely approachable to F1 fans of all skill levels. However, if you’re a returning player of F1 23, and F1 22, and so on, it’s hard to deem F1 24 essential. Despite its refurbished career mode and handling overhaul, it’s basically a neck and neck finish with the last few years’ versions. And when you have a head start, that’s kind of a loss."
Capes reviewed by Dan Stapleton on PC. Also available on Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch.Capes’ clever and challenging take on superhero-flavored turn-based tactical combat gives you all of the information you need to turn the tables on its villains. Watching the action figure-like characters combine their powers and supercharge their diverse ultimate abilities sells their teamwork well, and chasing optional objectives in each mission gives you a lot to think about to counter a wide range of enemy types. Stealth missions don’t work quite as well but they’re mostly optional, and the story, heroes, and villains are entertainingly written throughout the substantial campaign.
XDefiant reviewed by Phil Hornshaw on PC, also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.XDefiant joins the free-to-play shooter crowd as a respectable competitive FPS built around various Ubisoft franchises, but little makes it really stand out. Its shooting mechanics generally feel great, and even dying doesn’t kill the momentum since you're dropped right back into the action within a few seconds. Some of its issues, like weapon balance, are relatively minor elements that we can expect Ubisoft to adjust over time. Tougher to solve, however, is the clash between its main ideas: fast time-to-kill makes a lot of its class abilities feel difficult to make the most of because you’re usually dead before you can use them. It’s also lacking a defining mode, leaning on samey point-capture ideas and tried-and-true but tired concepts like Payload and Kill Confirmed. On the other hand, excellent maps keep things interesting longer than they otherwise would be, so hopefully it’ll have the time it needs to carve out its own niche.
Atlas reviewed by Matt Donato. Now streaming on Netflix.Atlas earns more than a shrug, even if it won’t settle relevant and alarming debates about artificial intelligence’s place in contemporary society. Brad Peyton oversees a futuristic action thriller that frequently plays like a clone of other cautionary tales about AI – but those movies, shows, games, and books don’t have Peyton’s secret weapon: Jennifer Lopez. She’s able to command the screen, bicker with software programs, and sell a convincing heroine’s arc from behind a mech-suit’s windshield. Atlas is far from the “Justice for AI!” disaster its premise implies, and while it’s not the next groundbreaking sci-fi epic, it earns points for building an entertaining, adequately executed movie around a hot-button topic.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door reviewed by Logan Plant on Nintendo Switch.Paper Mario has finally returned to its RPG roots with an amazingly loyal and visually dazzling remake of The Thousand-Year Door. Everything fans have been begging Nintendo to bring back is here, including a delightfully varied turn-based battle system with satisfying real-time elements and unique, lovable party members who are essential to both the story and gameplay. Rogueport and its surrounding areas are bursting with personality thanks to writing that’s just as sharp and funny today as it was in 2004. It also introduces a host of modern improvements that streamline – but don’t eliminate – the original’s backtracking issues, easily making this the best way to experience Mario’s quest to gather the Crystal Stars. There’s a reason The Thousand-Year Door has been considered one of the greatest Nintendo games for the last 20 years, and this brilliant remake ensures it will maintain that reputation for at least a thousand more.
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on Xbox Series X. Also available on Xbox Series S and PC."Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II delivers a spellbinding adventure packed with cinematic spectacle and story surprises that maintains a surging sense of forward momentum and never wastes a second of its slender run time. Its combat manages to feel consistently intimidating and immediate despite its mechanical simplicity, and its perspective-based puzzles regularly scratch cerebral itches even though they largely rehash or rework concepts from Senua’s previous story. A journey as brutal as it is beautiful delivered with hardware-pushing visuals and persistently absorbing audio, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is another Viking-worthy feast for the senses that meets the high bar set by its predecessor, even if it never really manages to clear it."
Sins of a Solar Empire 2 reviewed by Will Borger on PC.In its current state, Sins of a Solar Empire 2 is hard to recommend. On the one hand, it’s clearly not ready for prime time, despite what its Epic Game Store page and post-1.0 version number would want you to believe. It’s buggy, makes no effort to teach you how to use its huge number of very complex systems, its menus are weirdly and counter-intuitively arranged, and there isn’t even a server browser. On the other hand, all of this confusion comes on top of what is a very faithful follow-up to a beloved real-time 4X game, and developer Ironclad Games has added some cool new ideas to it on top of the under-the-hood and graphical improvements. Sins 2 can be pretty fun with a friend once you figure out how most things work and your massive fleet is blowing some poor guy’s home planet to Kingdom Come, but man, does it take a long time to get there. Maybe when it arrives on Steam with the features we’ve been promised, Ironclad will have (ahem) ironed out all these problems and atone for the sin of releasing it prematurely and hoping nobody would notice.
Gray Zone Warfare Early Access reviewed on PC by Justin Koreis. Gray Zone Warfare’s early access version has some excellent ideas for a highly realistic take on an extraction shooter, but most of them come with a caveat or two at this point. Yes, the map is huge, lush, and full of enemies to shoot at, but you will need to be prepared to wait far too long for rides to and from objectives. The damage system is realistic and immersive, but it shoots itself in the foot with unreliable hit registration, and playing wounded is a lot less fun. The detailed weapons are painstakingly true to life, with lots of great customization options, but if you don’t already subscribe to Soldier of Fortune magazine it’s going to be tough to make great use of it. The enthusiasm and ambition behind this game is palpable, even if it is currently rough, buggy, and too often unreliable. But like a greasy burger at a roadside dive, its charm isn’t in craftsmanship, it’s in the earnestness. While its flaws are a bit too numerous to list, much less completely overlook, it can hit the spot just right if you have the right sort of hunger.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga reviewed by Lex Briscuso. Narrated by Erik Adams. In theaters May 24, 2024.It’s hard to overstate how immaculately crafted Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is, both as a prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road and as a stand-alone story of how the Wasteland created a powerful character. With a ferocious and savage heart, George Miller’s film takes flight into epic status. Weaving together top-notch worldbuilding, an emotionally resonant directorial eye, searing performances, sharp cinematography, and a hell-raising score, this is a remarkable hero’s journey punctuated by incredible action scenes and an utterly stunning reflection on life and love prevailing beyond the fall of civilization. Maybe Hideo Kojima said it best: “George Miller is my God, and the Saga he tells is my Bible.” Witness it.
Homeworld 3 Single-Player Campaign reviewed by Dan Stapleton on PC.Homeworld 3’s campaign goes out of its way to change up the style of missions we fight our way through as Imogen S’jet seeks out a missing Hiigaran fleet and faces an unhinged enemy. The resulting battle of wills feels more consequential than the off-screen galactic threat behind it. Relatively close-quarters scenarios have you guiding dozens of ships through eye catching gauntlets of asteroids and enormous space stations, and the dogfights and capital ship slug-fests that play out are a sight to behold. Being able to pause time and give orders makes managing your fleet much less overwhelming, especially given the tricky controls and sometimes disobedient friendly ship AI. Straightforward tech upgrades and a limited selection of ship types limit the campaign’s replayability, but building an armada and watching it tear through the enemy is always a satisfying sci-fi light show.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes reviewed by Eric Goldman. In theaters May 10, 2024.Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes isn't as emotionally complex as Dawn of the Planet of the Apes or War for the Planet of the Apes, and isn’t attempting to punch you in the gut like those films do. But as this series enters its post-Caesar, Disney-owned era, Planet of the Apes is still on remarkably solid footing. Advancing the timeline is a smart move, allowing director Wes Ball to depict a dramatically changed world while screenwriter Josh Friedman shifts gears into an appealing adventure mode. This is a different Planet of the Apes, but it still feels like it fits in with what came before.
Fallout 76 reviewed by Travis Northup on Xbox Series X|S. Also available on Xbox One, PC, and PlayStation.Fallout 76 has come a long way since 2018, transforming into something that’s much closer to the original “Fallout with Friends” pitch that was so enticing about it. The combat, exploration, and RPG systems all feel so good that it’s easy to lose dozens of hours running around the massive map getting lost in over-the-top action. That said, this wasteland still has plenty of room to grow, as its added Expeditions are less interesting than I’d hoped for, the endgame is still a bit thin, and the inventory system seems designed to infuriate – or worse, twist your arm into paying for a real-money subscription to ease the pain. Even still, I never thought I’d return to Appalachia after my initially harrowing experience with it, but Bethesda has really put in the wrench time on this one, and I’m so glad I gave it another shot.
Animal Well reviewed by Rebekah Valentine on Switch and PC, also available on PlayStation 5.Animal Well is a veritable feast of brain teasers that’s far more concerned with twisting your mind into knots than any grueling platforming challenges. It’s lovely to look at thanks to gorgeous pixel art and dynamic lighting, and an excellent use of haptics and well-tuned physics systems make it fun to touch, too. The steadily unlocked toybox of tools thoroughly rewards play, curiosity, and experimentation for hours upon hours after the credits roll. Though that late-game maze of mind-teasers might grate once in a while if you’re reluctant to ask for help, the massive onion of Animal Well’s secrets remains dense, clever, and thrilling even when you’ve peeled back as many layers as you think you possibly can… and then peeled a few more beyond that.
Little Kitty, Big City reviewed by Imran Khan on PC, also available on Xbox and Switch.Little Kitty, Big City is an undeniably cozy and mechanically minimal game tailor-made for cat lovers. Its small but inviting sandbox can provide a few hours of ticking objectives off a list before any repetition sets in, allowing this feline adventure to stretch its exploratory legs before wearing out its welcome. Its graphics are cute and delightful, especially for people who just like to watch their pets leap into boxes or trot along when they realize they are not supposed to be in the kitchen. What’s missing are a few layers of polish on its movement and camera controls, which can make climbing around this city more frustrating than it needs to be. And while the campaign may be brief, being a street-level cat discovering the world a few blocks at a time easily holds up across it.
Stardew Valley reviewed in 2024 on the PC 1.6 update, also available on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and Mobile.Stardew Valley is not only the best farming game I’ve played, it is one of my favorite games of all time. That myself and others keep returning to this eight-year old gem each time it gets even the smallest update speaks to how it’s truly a masterpiece in the genre it both reinvigorated and has come to define. It is chock-full of bizarre and memorable characters, moments, and conversations, not to mention a never-ending to-do list that fuels the completionist in me. It’s also an intensely strategic adventure, using its cozy farming activities and cute pixel art to make the deeply engaging time management challenge underneath it all effortlessly inviting. Stardew Valley has earned a spot on your platform of choice as a modern classic, standing proudly alongside gaming’s all-time greats. I’ve played countless hours already and will surely play countless more, because every time I boot it up, it feels like coming home.
V Rising reviewed by Leana Hafer on PC.V Rising has been nicely polished up during its dark slumber in Early Access, allowing it to fully rise to the occasion with its excellent boss design and challenging ARPG combat. Keeping the killing rays of the sun and your dwindling blood supply as ongoing concerns is effective and evocative in selling the vampire fantasy, as is the ability to craft the sprawling, spooky estates of my nightmares. And the huge amount of customization available when setting up your own private server practically eliminates the need to do chores that are timed to real-world days in a way that only really makes sense for playing with a larger clan and having those timers going even when you're not online. It's one of the best ARPGs – and one of the best vampire games, in general – of this moonlit age.
Even in its Early Access state, Hades 2 is just about everything one could ask for in a sequel to one of the best Roguelites of all time. Featuring excellent refinements to its roguelite progression, a fantastic new main character in Melinoe, and two unique sets of levels that have you fighting foes on the surface and in the underworld.
Dead Boy Detectives Season 1, reviewed by Eric Goldman. Narrated by Erik Adams.Dead Boy Detectives serves as an acceptable snack between seasons of The Sandman. It’s not trying to be as ambitious as its parent show, but the core conceit here – ghost detectives solve ghost mysteries – is solid and leads to some fun installments. The more serialized aspects are hit-or-miss, with some subplots and characters feeling extraneous and meandering, even while strong performances help elevate the threats posed by its villains.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes reviewed on Xbox Series S, also available on PlayStation, PC, and Switch.One you get past its slow start, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes mostly succeeds in weaving the stories of multiple countries and characters together into a sprawling epic. Its turn-based combat system operates smoothly, even if other modes like its strategy RPG battles can encourage simplistic strategies over critical thinking. And while collecting and experimenting with its titular hundred heroes can be entertaining, you won’t get to know the majority of them because of how much screen time they need to share with the rest of this bloated cast. Still, there’s plenty of satisfying side quests and castle building to fill in the gaps, which makes Hundred Heroes eventually feel worth the journey.
Knuckles, reviewed by Ryan Leston. Narrated by Erik Adams.Knuckles is an absolute riot. Wade Whipple’s over-the-top antics give the stoic echidna a much-needed foil, and the result is a laugh-a-minute road movie that just happens to be a six-part miniseries. It’s bold, creative, and takes some big swings. And there’s some heartwarming payoff, too, as Knuckles and his hapless human sidekick grow ever closer with each passing episode. Knuckles really nails what made Sonic and Sonic 2 so great, but with its own unique style and a bit of ’80s flare.
No Rest for the Wicked Early Access reviewed by Travis Northup on PC. No Rest for the Wicked is a compelling and unique action-RPG that blends a whole bunch of great genre ideas into one promising package, even though its incompleteness can be felt throughout the abridged early access version’s story. With lots of loot and inventory shortcomings, some technical issues, and some isometric camera angles that take getting used to, there’s still plenty to tweak in the months of development to come before 1.0. I, for one, hope the balance of inventory management and grinding health items tips back more in favor of getting you into the action of its skill-based combat. But even in this early state – before co-op multiplayer even arrives – I’ve had an absolute blast with the precise and challenging combat, memorable exploration, and art, voice acting, and characters that make me really eager to see more of the story and further explore the high-risk, high-reward roguelike mode. With so much going for it already, I could easily see this becoming a landmark game for action RPGs, and that potential is exciting.
Another Crab's Treasure reviewed by Travis Northup on PC, also available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.Another Crab’s Treasure is one of my favorite soulslikes in quite some time. It borrows a lot from the usual genre playbook, but adds a colorful, irresistibly charming, and wholly unique veneer that makes it all feel brand spanking new. The story is well-written and filled with memorable moments and characters, the shell-swapping mechanic is unique and adorable as heck, and the unrelentingly cheerful mood is like finding land after years adrift in an angsty sea of Bloodborne imitators. Its combat isn’t the deepest ocean around and it has a bit of jank here and there, but Another Crab’s Treasure is so clever and wonderfully ridiculous that it’s absolutely worth your time.
Sand Land reviewed by Michael Higham on PlayStation 5, also available on PlayStation 4, PC, and Xbox."I'm happy to see Sand Land get a second wind with an open-world action game, and it can sometimes adapt the series in impressive ways. But while there is the potential of an interesting expansion of the manga here, it doesn’t manage to replicate what Toriyama's panels were able to illustrate so effectively. Beneath some ho-hum dialogue and stilted cutscenes is a fun story with its heart in the right place, and Beelzebub and friends at least have the charisma to carry you through to the end alongside a quirky set of supporting characters and villains. Dialing in on vehicular combat and exploration pays off to both maintain the spirit of the original work and deliver some high points, but the quests themselves fall into repetition. Thus, Sand Land suffers the same fate we’ve seen in many other game adaptations of anime and manga – competent in several respects with a few moments of brilliance, but for the most part, a simply okay adventure that can only occasionally capture what makes the source material special."
Stellar Blade is great in all of the most important parts for an action game, but dull characters, a lackluster story, and several frustrating elements of its RPG mechanics prevent it from soaring along with the greats of the action genre. Stellar Blade Review by Mitchell Saltzman on PlayStation 5
Manor Lords Early Access reviewed by Leana Hafer on PC."Manor Lords is a gorgeous medieval city-builder that kept me occupied for hours building my perfect, cozy hamlets. But it's not the type of Early Access game that seems like all it needs is some spit and polish to be fully playable. No, it's definitely unfinished in several key, critical ways, notably lacking much of an endgame challenge or any way to put its flashy RTS battles to a real test. It's a great foundation, and I see a lot of promise here. But there was only so much fun I was able to squeeze out of such an incomplete demo. I will definitely be keeping my eye on Manor Lords and eagerly awaiting each new update, but I also wouldn't blame you if you decided to hold off on striking the earth for now. That's not a dig at all. I said the exact same thing about Baldur's Gate 3 when it first released into Early Access, and it eventually came full circle to become one of my favorite games of all time. But I have to be realistic about what's here right now – and it’s somewhat less than what would allow me to recommend it wholeheartedly."
TopSpin 2K25 reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on Xbox Series X|S. Also available on Xbox One, PlayStation, and PC."TopSpin 2K25’s chunky career mode may occasionally be marred by periods of grind amidst its Grand Slams, its licensed player roster is a little slight compared to its impressive stable of stadiums, and its implementation of virtual currency attributes bafflingly unrealistic values to goods and services as though they were appraised by a kindergartner with no understanding of money. In spite of these drawbacks, though, TopSpin 2K25 is an absolute blast on court, and one that I’m struggling to put down. Claiming this is the best tennis simulation since Top Spin 4 may be a bit of a backhanded compliment since there haven't exactly been any other genuine serve-and-volley contenders released in recent years, but there’s little doubt that despite its rough edges this is still the most enjoyable way to get a realistic rally going in your own home without building an actual court in your backyard."
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants reviewed on PlayStation 5, also available on PlayStation 4, PC, Switch, and Xbox."How much you enjoy Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants will depend on what you’re looking for in a beat ‘em up. If you just want something easy to play so you can laugh along with friends while you’re all splitting a New York pie on the couch, you’ll likely have a good time for the hour and change it takes to burn through it. But f you’re looking for something more mechanically nuanced, you’ll probably be hungry for more after the credits roll. What’s here feels good, but I wish there was more of it, and the lack of online co-op is a total bummer, dude. It’s like a two-dollar slice of pizza you pick up while walking home in New York City after a night on the town: it hits the spot in the moment, but it’s not gonna fill you up for long."
Tales of Kenzera: Zau reviewed by Jarrett Green on PlayStation 5, also available on Xbox Series X|S and PC.The worst thing I can say about Tales of Kenzera: Zau is that it’s platforming and level designs are fun, clearly inspired by some of the best Metroidvanias around, but don’t really produce any moments that rival those inspirations. Its combat, though also simple and familiar, manages to sing thanks to the small but meaningfully different offerings of skills and enemies. And that action is ultimately just a satisfying break from the main attraction: a truly moving tale about how to go on in this world when your loved ones have passed on to the next.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare reviewed by Matt Donato.The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is a solid Guy Ritchie take on World War II that tells an incredible, sort-of-true story as only this specific British filmmaker can. Henry Cavill leads his band of merry misbehavers to war against any Nazi in eyesight, blending spy game thrills with safeties-off action sequences. The overall pacing stumbles slightly between Gus’ antics and supporting character focus shifts, and storytelling can be reductively familiar at times, but neither torpedoes that production. It’s fine that Ministry exists almost entirely to dance on Nazi graves — more movies should. You typically know what you’re getting from a Ritchie movie, and that’s never a problem with this ungentlemanly delight. Whenever momentum dips, Alan Ritchson shows up and aggressively murders a Nazi — you’ll be just fine.
Rebel Moon Part Two: The Scargiver is now streaming on Netflix. Reviewed by Hanna Ines Flint, narration by Max Scoville.Ed Skrein's antagonist performance stands out amid a sea of uninspired filler in Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver. Zack Snyder's unsatisfying conclusion to his bombastic space opera is filled with flimsy character studies, exposition overload, and largely half-baked action sequences that rarely live up to the sci-fi classics it emulates. This finale is the cinematic equivalent of finishing a second-hand jigsaw puzzle only to find several pieces missing.
Abigail opens in theaters April 19. This review is based on a screening at the Overlook Film Festival. Reviewed by Carlos Aguilar, narration by Erik Adams.While the overall concept of Abigail comes across as if cobbled together from disparate sources, the actors (for the most part) occupy a consistent, darkly humorous wavelength that helps the elements congeal. Thanks to their chemistry, they land almost every blood-soaked punchline. At the center of the chaos, Melissa Barrera commands our attention as a level-headed antiheroine with the clear goal of owning up to her past mistakes. Her solemn performance grounds the movie and its gnarly gags in real emotion.
Harold Halibut reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on PC. Also available on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch."It may take place at the bottom of the ocean on a distant alien planet, but Harold Halibut’s story is an entirely human one, both in terms of its carefully handmade environments and its strong emphasis on empathy towards its eccentric cast of characters. While I wish that there was a little more interactivity to be found throughout its subaquatic setting, and Harold’s shuffling run could have been boosted to a sprint to reduce the time spent repeatedly schlepping from one end of its levels to the other, I nonetheless remained captivated by his whimsical quest to unite his community and explore the spectacular surroundings of his sunken home. Consistently funny and full of surprises, Harold Halibut is a wholesome, handcrafted adventure with plenty of heart."
Broken Roads reviewed by Malindy Hetfield on PC, also available on PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch.Broken Roads is an ambitious RPG that can’t meet the expectations it sets for itself. It asks you to invest in an intricate morality system only to not end up making good use of it, giving you choices that don’t lead to much. A lot of this could be forgiven if the story held up, but there really isn’t much of a story to begin with, despite the philosophical angle Broken Roads tries very hard to get across. Couple this disappointing journey’s interesting but poorly executed ideas with often busted combat, and Broken Roads lives up to its name in all the wrong ways.
Arriving on Amazon Prime Video, in collaboration with Bethesda Games, is the Fallout TV series: a bright and funny apocalypse filled with dark punchlines and bursts of ultra-violence, Fallout is among the best video game adaptations ever made.Fallout Season 1 is scheduled to release on Prime Video on April 10th, 2024.
Children of the Sun reviewed by Luke Reilly on PC."Strip essentially everything out of the Sniper Elite series except the bullets – then make the bullets magic and capable of steering, stopping, and speeding up – and you’re maybe four-fifths of the way to understanding what Children of the Sun is. Either way, puzzle-shooter is probably too broad a term to adequately describe it, which makes it a rare commodity. That is, it’s weird, and it’s different, and it’s not really like anything I’ve played before. However, while this slickly-packaged and shrewd supernatural sniping game is packed with satisfying spatial problems to solve (and shoot), once you’ve had success on a map there’s not a great deal to glean from trying it again."
Botany Manor reviewed by Saniya Ahmed on PC, also available on Xbox and Nintendo Switch.Clever clues entwine with Botany Manor’s charming old English setting to make a lighthearted first-person puzzler worth tending to. Figuring out how to grow its fantastical plants keeps you on your toes, and the blossoming flora painting onto the pages of your herbarium with bright colors provides a comforting sense of achievement. Deciphering its puzzles was more engaging than reading the notes and letters that make up its fairly one-note story, but the variety of surreal seeds with unique traits in each new area gave an exciting cadence to the somewhat repetitive act of tracking down clues. Botany Manor is a laid-back game that doesn’t ask you to do too much, simply grow some strange plants and decompress – and sometimes that’s exactly what you need.
Astra: Knights of Veda Video reviewed by Jess Reyes on PC, also available on iOS and Android.Astra: Knights of Veda has an intriguing mystery and engaging combat, but its sluggish progression and unintuitive user experience make this RPG feel like it’s fighting against you. The beginner rewards are reasonable enough that it's fairly safe to check out as a free-to-play gacha game, but be warned that the best of its story doesn’t come around until at least the halfway point of the campaign. Anyone taking on this adventure will need the patience to learn the layers of systems, grind to high enough levels to survive its hardest enemies, and come back even after your game inevitably crashes. It’s a tough ask, but one that’s worth at least looking into if you’re interested in a darker take on an anime fantasy RPG.
The First Omen, reviewed by Eric Goldman. Narrated by Erik Adams.The First Omen manages to serve as a well made prequel as well as an unsettling and creepy horror film in its own right. It takes awhile to get going, and the very end bends backwards pretty far to create setup for potential follow-ups, but the brunt of the movie is very strong, with lead Nell Tiger Free and director Arkasha Stevenson both cementing themselves as stars on the rise.
Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile reviewed by Phil Hornshaw on Google Pixel 6a, also available on iOS.It's tough to think of a mobile game that comes as close to giving the full-scale multiplayer experience as Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile does. There's nothing here that reinvents Warzone, but that isn’t the point. Though the touch controls put you at a clear disadvantage to anybody using a Bluetooth controller and your phone may struggle to keep the frame rate and textures smooth if it isn’t the latest and greatest, Warzone Mobile excellently uses maps and gameplay elements to provide a fast and fun battle royale experience. If you’re already into Warzone, cross-progression makes it feel like an extension of the game you already like, with more opportunities to play it more often. It’s fair to say that the best thing about Warzone Mobile is that it makes it easier to play more Warzone.
Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2, reviewed by Matt Donato.Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 doubles down on a smorgasbord of satisfying slasher kills, employing some gumption and gnarliness in pursuit of a sick, twisted, and self-aware horror curveball. Rhys Frake-Waterfield's sequel looks infinitely better – and with ten times the budget, it ought to – but that doesn’t excuse the many flaws it inherited from the first Hundred Acre horror flick. Blood and Honey 2 is a story that craves substance beyond Winnie-the-Pooh decapitating ravers. It boasts a nastier midnight-movie appeal, radical practical effects, and a brisk 90-minute runtime. It’s a shaky first step for Frake-Waterfield’s proposed “Poohniverse” concept – but it’s a step in the right direction.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, reviewed by D. Hood.Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is a textbook visual thrill ride punctuated by brief moments of forced emotion and little else. Director Adam Wingard has a lot of fun with textures, colors, and camera work, and he’s adept at giving fans the over-the-top monster action that they demand via an imposing new villain. Unfortunately, there’s no time to spend on making things make sense or even matter all that much, and what few emotional punches are thrown lack the necessary wind up to connect, save for some very well done moments between Kong and his Hollow Earth kin.
Pepper Grinder reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on PC. Also available on Nintendo Switch."Like its diminutive main character, Pepper Grinder may be a little on the short side, but even this small pinch of Pepper still packs plenty of punch. Plowing through platforms feels fantastic, no two levels ever seem the same, and there are some wonderfully destructive toys to discover and employ along the way. I do wish the boss fights outside of the final encounter were a bit more challenging, and the lack of anything meaningful to buy in the in-game store meant I didn’t feel compelled to take too many return trips through each world to collect any missed currency and extend my playtime. But if you’re in the mood for a short but sweet slice of propulsive platforming action of a kind rarely seen since Ecco the Dolphin’s last adventure, Pepper Grinder is all driller and no filler."
Open Roads reviewed by Sarah Thwaites on PC, also available on Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch.Propelled by a star-studded cast and charming retro world, Open Roads' tale of family tragedy stumbles over its heavier themes, delivering an earnest but ultimately safe road trip mystery. Pottering through meticulous environments full of kitschy decor was at least enough to keep me entertained for its short runtime. However, with sharp teeth and no bite, I was left hungry for something meatier and more emotionally charged by the time the credits rolled.
Outpost: Infinity Siege reviewed by Travis Northup on PC.Outpost: Infinity Siege takes some pretty big swings with its mishmash of ideas, and succeeds at a surprising number of them – whether it's the insanely dense RPG mechanics, its tight FPS gunfights, or its open-ended base-building options. It certainly doesn’t stick the landing everywhere, with a dreadful story, overly grindy and RNG-driven progression, and levels that become monotonous and predictable after a few visits. But even so, I found myself gladly sinking dozens of hours into a delightfully weird and unpolished adventure that’s unlike anything I’ve ever played before. Not everyone is going to have the patience to learn the sometimes incoherently complicated systems required to get the most out of Infinity Siege, but those willing to make the effort are in from a very good time.
Millennia reviewed by Leana Hafer on PC."I felt the same way finishing up a game of Millennia as I did finishing a game of Humankind: It made me want to play Civilization 5 again. Several have tried to claim the turn-based history crown at this point, but none have done it better than Firaxis. And while things like city needs, National Spirits, and production chains allow Millennia to stand out, they don't really let it stand up under its own weight. I think Percy Shelly said it best: Round the decay of that colossal wreck, limited game set-up options, horrid late-game performance, and a cumbersome tile economy, the lone and level sands stretch far away."
South Park: Snow Day! reviewed by Travis Northup on PC, also available on Xbox and PlayStation.We know exactly what a great South Park game can look like, and South Park: Snow Day! couldn’t be farther from it. I’m a huge fan of throwing out the rulebook to try something completely fresh, especially in this age of samey sequels and forever live-service games that increasingly play it safe. But this bold attempt at a new direction misses the mark so drastically I’m aghast at just how sideways things went. Whether it’s due to the thoroughly unenjoyable combat or the uncharacteristically toothless and unfunny story, I can’t recommend anyone waste their time on this cooperative lost cause – even my fellow die-hard South Park fans.
Halo Season 2, reviewed by Hayden Mears. Narrated by Erik Adams.Halo Season 2 is indeed a step-up from its predecessor, but the show's chronic inability to manage its many disparate threads, coupled with its pervasive hollowness, continues to work against it. The acting remains a highlight, even if most of the main cast don’t get nearly enough to do. But while stunning action and high stakes may keep these 8 episodes watchable, Halo’s character mismanagement, unfocused plotting, and lack of emotional resonance make it an underwhelming sophomore outing.
MLB The Show reviewed by Justin Koreis on PlayStation 5. Also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.Hank Aaron’s motto was “Always keep swinging,” and MLB The Show 24 does just that. It continues to push the envelope for what a baseball sim can be by adding a deep respect for the history of the sport on top of its already excellent gameplay. Season 2 of the Negro leagues is off to a fantastic start, and I can’t wait for the next episode to drop. The addition of women to that and Road to The Show emphasize Sony San Diego’s commitment to the idea that baseball is for everyone. With great new features like Custom Game Entry in Franchise, and seamless integration of Major League Baseball’s latest changes, not even a lackluster Storyline and a Diamond Dynasty mode in flux can change the fact that this is a great way to play baseball.
Rise of the Ronin reviewed by Will Borger on PlayStation 5.Rise of the Ronin marries a cool historical setting, Team Ninja’s mastery of tough-but-fair combat, and some smart RPG design to make a game that is immediately compelling, and even more fun with friends. It’s full of cool little touches, whether it’s throwing something at an enemy with the grappling rope or dropping from your glider onto your horse. Unfortunately, it’s also a game full of map clutter, bloated systems, and a truly absurd amount of junk loot, and the time I spent clearing out everything that didn’t spark joy and dealing with all these non-essential systems made me pine for a leaner, meaner, more focused game. Rise of the Ronin is excellent when it has the courage to be itself and lean into its challenging, rewarding fighting; too often, however, it feels stuck in indecision, torn between what it wants to be and what it feels it’s expected to be, and not even the best samurai can overcome that.
Princess Peach: Showtime! reviewed by Logan Plant on Nintendo Switch.Princess Peach: Showtime! is more closely aligned with Kirby and Yoshi’s simple, cheery romps rather than Mario’s polished platformers and Luigi’s haunted mansions. There’s fun to be found in the Sparkle Theater, as these delightfully simplified takes on some of gaming’s most popular genres are entertaining to blast through, and the whimsical stage play aesthetic gives Peach’s game an identity all its own. I’m also thrilled that Nintendo is finally giving Peach another crack at her own solo outing after nearly two decades, and I hope this is the start of an ongoing spinoff series within the wider Mario universe. Some noticeable performance issues and the frustrating lack of a chapter select means I won’t be returning for an encore, and I wish there were a few extra levels to lengthen the somewhat brief campaign, but Nintendo and Princess Peach at least know how to put on a good show.
Dragon's Dogma 2 Video reviewed by Jarrett Green on PlayStation 5, also available on Xbox Series X|S and PC."Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a strange and wonderful game that seems haunted by some of yesteryear’s bugaboos. It is a retelling and reimplementation of all of those wonderful ideas from the 2012 cult-classic, including an awesome dynamic world and some of the best combat in the genre that integrates a subtle but amazingly complex physics system. On the other hand, its finicky ally AI, clunky climbing, choppy frame rate, and camera with a habit of going haywire at the worst times are all “features” I wish hadn’t been brought back for another round. Even so, there’s an action-RPG here that’s richly rewarding and incomparable to its contemporaries if you can be patient with its quirks and open to embracing its hands-off open-world and quest designs."
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire reviewed by Tom Jorgensen. Opens in theaters March 22, 2024.Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire races onto thin ice overburdened with disparate, uninspired ideas – and no one behind or in front of the camera quite knows what to do once the movie’s flailing in the water. The new generation of Ghostbusters have to give up too much time to an overcomplicated plot – time that could’ve been used to embellish the bedrock elements of comedy-horror that the 1984 original deployed so well. If all you need to feel good about busting is ghosts, jumpsuits, and proton packs, you may have some fun, but Frozen Empire makes one thing clear: the franchise should be put in cold storage until someone can figure out how to do justice to the central concept without Murray, Aykroyd, Hudson, and Potts dropping by to prevent mass hysteria.
Alone in the Dark reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on PC. Also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S."Like a Louisiana voodoo priestess, Alone in the Dark is not without its charms, but its basic combat lacks the flexibility and function of Resident Evil 4, its inventive narrative is never as mind-bending as Alan Wake 2, its uninspired creature design can’t compete with Dead Space, and it’s not nearly as scary as any of them. Its central mystery intrigued me enough to lure me through its strand of imaginative settings all the way to its story’s end as Edward, and its puzzle design did feel consistently rewarding, but I was disappointed to discover that there wasn’t a substantial enough difference to make a repeat playthrough as Emily feel particularly worthwhile. While this remake is undoubtedly a step up from the three-decades-old original, Alone in the Dark fails to escape the shadows of the other contemporary survival horror titans that it helped spawn."
Civil War review by Raphael Motamayor at SXSW. In theaters April 12, 2024Civil War delivers a challenging, thrilling, heart-pounding movie about the importance of journalism in times of conflict, about how easily we become desensitized to violence when we’re living through it. Writer-director Alex Garland gives the story the scope and visual style of a massive summer blockbuster, but keeps the focus on the journey the characters take and how war affects them.
Backpack Battles Early Access reviewed by Michael Higham on PC.Backpack Battles has a strong foundation, smartly mixing the satisfying puzzle of inventory organization with some clever RPG elements and autobattler combat. The systems and ideas in place offer something refreshing, although its current barebones state leaves a lot of potential waiting on the table. As it stands, there's a noticeable lack of content and few reasons to come back to it after you've seen everything once. What's there is enjoyable, though, with plenty of room to grow, and my time with the Early Access build of Backpack Battles has me excited to see it do just that.
Tribes 3: Rivals Early Access reviewed by Travis Northup on PC.Tribes 3: Rivals is a return to form for the series that absolutely nails the most essential parts of this iconic high-speed murder fiesta – but in its current Early Access state, it’s also missing a whole lot that its predecessors pulled off so well, from alternate game modes to vehicles. I’ve had a blast relearning the ropes and becoming a badass titan of the skies once more, despite weird party size limitations and the odd bug here and there, and I’m hopeful the planned ongoing development will make this a more fully featured sequel. But for now, much like controlling the jetpack-powered commandos it stars, Tribes 3 is a really fun time that threatens to run out of fuel quite quickly.
Immaculate reviewed by Katie Rife. In theaters March 22, 2024.Immaculate has all the elements of a successful religious horror movie: A macabre setting, a rising star, a disturbing premise, and creepy imagery. It’s beautifully shot, and very loud. But much of the film is simply too mild and reliant on jump scares, and Syndey Sweeney’s performance doesn’t achieve the hysterical heights a movie like this needs until it’s too late.
Firewall Ultra reviewed by Gabriel Moss on PlayStation VR 2.Firewall Ultra simultaneously feels like two steps forward and two steps backward. It somehow does just as much right – and wrong – as Firewall: Zero Hour, a VR game that is now over five years old. While its shooting and tactical teamwork feel, look, and sound better than ever, its content is limited and it’s filled with questionable uses of new tech like eye tracking. What it all adds up to is a decent competitive multiplayer shooter that just happens to be in VR, but its awkward controls are a shot in the foot rather than the shot in the arm that the PlayStation VR2 desperately needed.
“Shadow Warriors” goes back to Ahsoka Tano’s origins in Star Wars: The Clone Wars in an excellent, nostalgic episode.
Lies of P reviewed by Travis Northup on Xbox Series X, also available on Xbox One, PlayStation, and PC. This retelling of Pinocchio may not branch out very far from its soulslike inspiration, but like a marionette controlled by a skilled puppet master, it plays the part extremely well in a wonderfully dark fantasy world. If you’ve been waiting for a Bloodborne remaster or sequel that may never come, Lies of P is the next best thing.
NBA 2K24 reviewed on Xbox Series X by Ben Vollmer. Also available on PlayStation 5. Narrated by Ryan McCaffrey. (Note: the PS4/Xbox One/PC versions are based on the previous-generation version and are not covered by this review.)The old adage “a tale of two halves” really encapsulates the NBA 2K24 experience. On one hand, the hardcourt experience is as good as it ever has been (as we should demand from a game that iterates annually), and there are a handful of game modes that allow all of that to be enjoyed without interruption. On the other, much more nefarious hand, MyCareer is nearly unplayable unless you open your wallet or endure an absurd grind. Even worse, mechanics like badge regression reinforce the worst parts of the microtransaction scheme. Beneath those issues, NBA 2K24 still offers a solid basketball experience, but it requires looking in the right places. Clearly, there is a love for the game of basketball on display in modes like MyNBA and Mamba Moments. But a lot of that love is lost the moment we’re asked to pay an absurd amount of money to compete in the main multiplayer mode.
The Nun II, reviewed by Tom Jorgensen The specifics of The Nun II’s mythology-heavy plot breeze by too fast to give the movie as much weight as it could’ve had, but on a visceral level, it's both inventive with and reverent to Valak’s menace. Moving the action to a boarding school full of scared kids amps up the stakes, with no character (except Frenchie) ever feeling completely safe. Taissa Farmiga and Jonas Bloquet make Irene and Frenchie a pair worthy of the Warrens, and director Michael Chaves keeps that heart in focus even while adding to Valak’s considerable reputation.
Episode 4 of Ahsoka has some great fight scenes and strong twists, but the show’s dialogue and protagonist performances continue to be a weak point. Hopefully things will improve in the second half of the season as the show finally moves past the setup for Thrawn and Ezra’s return and starts dealing with the consequences.
One Piece reviewed by Kenneth Seward Jr. Netflix’s One Piece strives to recreate the magic of its source material in live-action, but this requires jettisoning some pieces of the plot. This creates an interesting variation on the long-running manga and anime that works in parts, and the Netflix series is at its best when it charts its own path in response to the changes made by showrunner Matt Owens and the writing staff. Unfortunately, instead of committing fully to this retelling, One Piece constantly sails back into familiar waters and fan service, muddying the experience. It’s a shame considering most of the other aspects – from the visual and practical effects to wild action scenes and endearing cast – work well together. While this live-action version does an admirable job of showcasing the spirit of One Piece, its abridged treatment of the plot removes most, if not all of its heart.
Starfield reviewed on PC and Xbox Series X by Dan Stapleton.It’s never a great sign when someone recommends a game on the grounds that it gets good after more than a dozen hours, but that’s very much the kind of game Starfield is, and I do recommend it. There are a lot of forces working against it, and the combination of disjointed space travel, nonexistent maps, aggravating inventory management, and a slow rollout of essential abilities very nearly did it in. It was the joys piloting a custom spaceship into and out of all sorts of morally ambiguous situations in a rich sci-fi universe that eventually pulled it out of a nosedive. I’m glad that I powered through the early hours, because its interstellar mystery story pays off and, once the ball got rolling, combat on foot and in space gradually became good enough that its momentum carried me into New Game+ after I’d finished the main story after around 60 hours. Like Skryim and Fallout 4 before it, there’s still an immense amount of quality roleplaying quests and interesting NPCs out there, waiting to be stumbled across, and the pull to seek it out is strong.
Episode 3 of Ahsoka hews closely to Star Wars: A New Hope in its focus on Jedi training and space battles, delivering great and wondrous action along with developing a strong dynamic between its protagonists. While the show at times feels the strain of connecting so many different Star Wars properties, the focus on expanding the universe and re-examining the core definition of what it is to be a Jedi provides a lot of promising ways for the plot to continue to unfold.
Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy reviewed by Travis Northup on PlayStation 5. Also available on Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch.Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy is an awesome sequel that keeps the good times rolling for one of the best co-op puzzle-platformer series out there. This set of puzzles are some of the strongest they’ve ever been, and boss fights are creative and original – even if those highlights are occasionally cut short with snooze-inducing combat sections and a predictable story. It may not do much to innovate beyond what we’ve done four times before, but Trine 5 plays to its strengths extremely well and makes some important tweaks here and there that definitely make it worthy of a playthrough or two.
Sea of Stars reviewed on PlayStation 5 by Gabriel Moss. Also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox, PC, and Switch.Sea of Stars is an excellent tribute RPG that channels the best parts of its ‘90s-era forebears like Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy 6, and even Star Ocean: The Second Story. Because of that, it’s fair to say that its world, graphical style, and mechanics aren’t wholly original, but there are enough interesting twists in its 30-hour story to make for a rich and enjoyable experience of its own merit. This isn’t just nostalgia fodder. That said, its twitchy combat can be difficult to get a handle on, and once you do, it only stays interesting for so long before its limited customization options make it start to feel just a little repetitive. That’s made up for by a strong soundtrack, an approachable and endearing story, and a wide number of fun zones and boss fights that make this a trip worth taking.
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon’s stellar customization options feed into its excellent mecha combat, and the result is challenging combat puzzles that kept my attention all the way through its 15-hour campaign and beyond. It’s let down by a dull story, but lands direct hits where it counts. Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon review by Mitchell Saltzman on PlayStation 5. Also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox, and PC.
Madden NFL 24 reviewed by Wil Borger on PlayStation 5. Also available on Xbox Series X/S and PC.Note: The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of Madden 24 do not have the same features."Madden NFL 24 makes several much-needed improvements to the on-field experience thanks to fantastic additions to animations and AI, but it still suffers from the same problems it always has once you get off the field: everything here is just done better in every other sports sim, even the other ones made by EA, and this year’s tweaks just aren’t enough to make up for the series’ continued feeling of sameness and lack of progress. To continue the metaphor, Madden feels like a decent but not great football team: content to coast. If it were in the right division I could see it sneaking into the playoffs, or overperforming in a good year. But it’s the kind of team that typically gets eliminated in the first round. The on-field game might be the best it’s ever been, but there are too many off-field issues here to ignore, and with each passing year it feels more and more like they’ll never be fixed. Perpetually, Madden seems like it could be a contender with time and the right changes, but right now it feels like an also-ran. And you don’t win the Super Bowl like that."
Ahsoka reviewed by Samantha Nelson. Narrated by Clint Gage. Disney+’s new live action series Ahsoka has the potential to explore the more cosmic and mystical aspects of the Star Wars universe, but the first two episodes feel flat at times as characters have to spend too much time catching up viewers who didn’t watch Star Wars Rebels. The action and visuals are spectacular, but the new actors are too stiff in their portrayal of the wonderful cast of characters that made Dave Filoni’s animated series worthy of continuation.
Watch our Red Dead Redemption performance review. Red Dead Redemption's release on Nintendo Switch and PS4 has been met with a lot of criticism, but now that we’ve managed to get some hands-on time with it, what did we find? The original Red Dead Redemption is now playable on everything. So how does Red Dead Redemption Xbox Series X vs. Nintendo Switch stack up given that one is a free update and one is available at a $50 price point? We even go a step further to take a peek at Red Dead Redemption 2 and see how the Red Dead Redemption section of the sequel stacks up to the remake. Check out all of that and more in our Red Dead Redemption IGN performance review. Chapters0:00 Introduction and summary0:35 High noon, low bar - The port versions detailed3:10 PS4 Pro vs Xbox One X & visual increases5:37 Sound quality and Switch reductions6:50 Performance comparisons All versions11:31 For a few dollars more - What might have been & Summary
Immortals of Aveum reviewed by Luke Reilly on Xbox Series X. Also available on PlayStation 5 and PC. "Immortals of Aveum is an impressively confident first-person shooter that successfully trades muzzles and magazines for mages and magic. Its fast-paced, spellcasting combat is both satisfying to master and spectacular to look at, and it features a lengthy and hearty campaign packed with secrets to keep us going well after the story has wrapped. As someone who desperately hopes that unapologetically single-player shooters will live forever, these Immortals have done a great job of making sure they’re definitely not dead yet."
Baldur's Gate 3 reviewed on PC by Leana Hafer.I don't want to say every CRPG going forward should aspire to be like Baldur's Gate 3. Not everything needs to be nearly this big and ambitious, or even this dense. But it is a landmark moment in the genre, and if I had to point to one paragon that I would like everyone else making these to take inspiration from, this is absolutely it. I waited 14 years for the stars to align again so that we could get the ideal mix of crunchy, tactical, old-school RPG combat, an epic and well-written story with complex characters and lots of meaningful choices, and a level of polish and cinematic presentation that let me see the sweat and the sorrow on characters' faces in their darkest hours. Plenty of other games have partially completed that list, but the last time they all came together was Dragon Age: Origins in 2009. And I can finally say that game, and its Infinity Engine predecessors, have a worthy successor that’s not just matched their RPG greatness, but surpassed it. Baldur’s Gate 3 is just about everything I could have asked for.
Blasphemous 2 reviewed by Travis Northup on PC. Also available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.Blasphemous 2 is an excellent Metroidvania and a marked improvement over the original, even if it did occasionally make me cancel my lunch plans with its grotesqueries. What it lacks in originality with its design it more than makes up for with its bizarre world, appalling story, and inspired look and sound. The new weapons and focus on platforming definitely helped sustain my enjoyment for the campaign’s sizable duration, even when underwhelming enemy variety and unchallenging bosses leave something to be desired. Its stomach-churning religious torture porn might be as far as you can get from the adorable world of Hollow Knight, but you’d be hard-pressed to find something better to play while you continue your interminable wait for Silksong.
Blue Beetle reviewed by Alyssa Mora. Under Ángel Manuel Soto’s direction, Blue Beetle is a superhero movie that sets itself apart within the bloated genre through the deeply connected bonds of Jaime Reyes and his family. Xolo Maridueña is wonderfully cast, able to convey Jaime’s reluctance toward superhero-dom and the fierce protectiveness he feels for his family and community. His Mexican-American identity isn’t just set-dressing, it’s vital to the character and the plot of the film. Though genre cliches and the villain’s relatively uninteresting motivation impede the momentum of the third act, the emotional force behind the movie is enough to make it worth a watch.
Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew reivewed by Jon Bolding on PC. Also available on Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5.Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew is a peak example of the stealth tactics genre from a studio that is clearly mastering its craft. Its mission structure is spread across excellently entertaining levels with rich detail to find and master, while characters shine with voice performances, endearing humor, and colorful art that both delight and impress. With innumerable ways to approach its levels and an extremely smart integration of the practice of saving and reloading into the world’s fiction, it’s firing on all cylinders in all categories except perhaps enemy AI. Frankly, I don't know anyone I wouldn't recommend it to.
WrestleQuest reviewed by Jarrett Green on PC. Also available on Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch.WrestleQuest is truly an earnest attempt at telling an authentic wrestling tale in old-school RPG format. Competent combat mechanics add flair and depth to a usually pretty banal aspect of this style of game, but much of the depth feels easy to ignore, and the parts that aren't – namely dramatic moments – supply the opposite of a fun challenge. Likewise, it may take a bit of fighting spirit to make it through the slow and arduous dungeons and some of the bloated and jarring plot, yet it captures the intrepid lives of people who travel the world, beating each other up for fame and fortune in charming and touching ways that are enhanced by its Toy Story-style innocence. For being the first attempt at telling a pro wrestling tale in such a story-forward medium, WrestleQuest is championship material – but maybe just a mid-card title.
Gord reviewed by Jon Bolding on PC. Also available on Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5.Any way you look at it, whether it’s an RPG, a real-time strategy game, or a colony sim, Gord is as miserable as its downtrodden villagers. Other games are bad because they aim too high, attempt too much, and fall down on their own merits. They are at the very least hoisted on their own petard, doing us the favor of digging their own grave or being entertaining in their failures. Gord does not; it simply falls flat and rots where it lies, surrounded by monotonous micromanagement, a poor interface, and by-the-numbers combat. I am content to leave it there, but you may bury it if you like.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre reviewed by Travis Northup on PC. Also available on Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5.I have little doubt that in a year or two, when they’ve added more scenarios and maps, fixed the most pressing technical issues, and maybe thought up a better way for newcomers to learn how to play, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre will become a staple in my growing asymmetrical horror games library. For now, however, my recommendation comes with a lot of caveats. While the less lopsided take on the asymmetrical horror format definitely works, the shallow number of samey maps can get monotonous pretty quickly, and even with a fair number of playable characters and a solid progression system, I found myself way too comfortable with the three scenarios after just a few hours. Still, the potential behind this format and the reverence for the beloved horror classic it’s based on is clear, even when it does feel a tad half-baked coming out the gates.
Moving Out 2 reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on Nintendo Switch. Also available on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC. "Moving Out 2 is an extremely colourful and calamitous co-op sequel that’s as challenging as it is charming, serving up an enjoyably distinct set of crazy cargo collections that task you with bending at the knees while consistently splitting your sides. Spreading its preposterous brand of pass the parcel across multiple dimensions has empowered the developers to get really creative with the setup of each stage, and the addition of online multiplayer should mean that more players will be able to rope in a moving buddy whether they share the same couch or not. If you’re up for another hectic house party with friends, Moving Out 2 hits harder than a thrown fridge."
Disclosure: Humble Bundle is owned by Ziff Davis, the parent company of IGN. Humble Bundle and IGN operate completely independently, and no special consideration is given to Humble Bundle announcements or promotions for coverage.Stray Gods: The Role Playing Musical reviewed by Shannon Liao on PC. Also available on Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch.Stray Gods’ musical murder mystery is definitely worth a playthrough or two. You can tell when playing it that it’s been a labor of love from a team that appreciates musical theater, complete with unique artistic choices, crafted songs that shift based on your choices, and characters loaded with emotional angst. The gods are grappling with how they fit into the modern world and with life’s traumas, just as many of us (and I imagine the writers) are. But the overall predictability of the story and of these well-known Greek myths limit how replayable Stray Gods ultimately feels.
Atomic Heart: Annihilation Instinct DLC reviewed by Luke Reilly on Xbox Series X. Also available on Xbox One, PlayStation, and PC. "Atomic Heart: Annihilation Instinct still includes the same level of excellent and highly imaginative enemy designs of the main game, plus fabulous new environments, but its linear approach and weirdly limited arsenal is a step down from where we left off. That makes it a slightly confusing launchpad for the planned series of DLC expansions when it comes to tying up the loose ends Atomic Heart left behind back in February. But still, it’s nice to see NORA the horny fridge again."
Reviewed by A.A. Dowd. Narrated by Max Scoville. District 9 director Neill Blomkamp brings an appealing speed and cornball enthusiasm to his first video game adaptation, based on both the popular PlayStation racing series and the true story of a fan who traded the virtual steering wheel for a real one. The film is pure sports-movie hokum, done with just enough conviction (much of it courtesy of David Harbour, who's typically excellent in the stock role of a racing veteran-turned-mentor) to help you ignore how relentlessly Gran Turismo advertises the games themselves.
The Last Voyage of the Demeter reviewed by Matt Donato. Narrated by Stella Chung. The Last Voyage of the Demeter should delight horror fans raised on Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, and offers an R-rated bite of vampiric brutality for genre fans with a stronger bloodlust. Director André Øvredal does well to transport his cast to a time when scary stories were told around lanterns in the dead of night, and even if the moodiness evaporates due to a protracted runtime and the foregone conclusion of Dracula’s landfall, the director accentuates the basics of violent feeding sessions in hair-raising fashion.
Atlas Fallen reviewed by Gabriel Moss on PlayStation 5. Also available on Xbox Series X/S and PC.Atlas Fallen is a solid open-world action RPG with plenty of platforming and large monsters to fight. Putting aside its weak story and the console versions’ gritty graphics there’s a hidden gem of excellent combat, robust exploration, and surprisingly deep customization to uncover in the sinking sands of its arid wilderness. It’s slightly disappointing that co-op is online-only with no cross-play, but thanks to solid technical performance, it sticks in my mind as one of the better worlds I’ve explored with a friend lately.
The Expanse: A Telltale Series Episodes 1-3 reviewed by Zack Handlen.The Expanse: A Telltale Series is a solid entry in the studio’s long-running series of narrative-driven games. The episodes look great, and Cara Gee’s performance as the main character is excellent, helping to recreate the feel of the television series even when the most of the regular characters from the show are absent. The game struggles to find engaging mechanics outside of its dialogue scenes, relying too heavily on quicktime events and mediocre movement challenges. But the story and choices you make work well enough that these are minor faults.
Meg 2: The Trench reviewed by Matt Donato. Narrated by Mark Medina. Meg 2: The Trench has all the excitement of fishing solo for two hours without a single bite. Wheatley is a shell of himself behind the camera, devoid of personality and originality. If you copy greed-driven subplots, underwater escape sequences, and helmet-imploding deaths from better movies, maybe don’t make it so obvious, especially when it seems like the studio overseers don’t care enough about delivering a sequel that carries individual value. Meg 2: The Trench is a terrible megalodon-sized blunder haplessly cobbled together using parts stripped from throughout genre history, all made impotent and dulled in far lesser hands.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem reviewed by Tom Jorgensen. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem oozes confidence, energy, and heart, and the animated adventure represents a new high for the Turtles on the big screen. Top-notch voice acting, anchored by Jackie Chan’s Splinter and four instantly lovable teen Turtles, plus a killer Reznor and Ross score ensure that Mutant Mayhem isn’t getting by on looks alone. Even if the superhero tropes the story plays with feel worn, the enthusiasm with which Mutant Mayhem tackles them always wins out.
Beneath the bad puns and bulging biceps lies a brilliant ode to action cinema and retro gaming.
F1 Manager 2023 reviewed by Christopher Edgerton. Narrated by Luke Reilly. F1 Manager 2023 proves that Frontier isn’t one and done; it’s a championship contender. Race Replay is an absolute show stealer, and there’s nothing better than solving the strategic puzzle laid out for you in a single go. F1 Manager 2023 is as enjoyable to listen to at normal speed as it is to play, and although you can rush at 16x speed for an entire season in an afternoon if you want, it’s far more relaxing to treat it like an actual race and just chill out and watch. F1 Manager 2023 is a game that understands that racing can be a sport everyone can enjoy, and if you enjoy any type of management game at all, you should add this to your collection.
The Witcher Season 3 Volume 2 reviewed by Jarrod Jones. "The Witcher is back to flex even more political intrigue and surprise character reveals, and it reliably comes packing a stirring fight sequence or two, but the month-long wait to finish season 3 amounts to disappointment. As it subtly acknowledges the parting of star Henry Cavill while simultaneously attempting to hype its audience for the two Cavill-less seasons yet to come, The Witcher’s confused – and confusing – direction has never been more apparent."
An underwhelming and often dull espionage show, Secret Invasion fails to capture the excitement and threat that its Invasion of the Body Snatchers-like plot chases. It's built on well-intentioned foundations, and there’s some promising ideas that – perhaps in other hands – could have made for a strong reinterpretation of the comic book classic. Solid performances, especially those of Samuel L. Jackson and Olivia Colman, hold everything together, and there’s the occasional observation that provides the story with some deeper meaning. But a lack of complexity and overall intrigue means Secret Invasion is unable to grow its good ideas into anything genuinely compelling.
Disney Illusion Island reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on Nintendo Switch."Disney Illusion Island’s platforming may be extremely polished but it’s not particularly inventive, and nor is it likely to appeal to anyone who favours a more combat-oriented Metroidvania experience – its enemies are strictly for dodging rather than destroying, and its small assortment of boss fights are mostly anticlimactic. Where it excels, though, is in providing a wholesome co-operative journey through a charismatic cartoon world that’s well-suited to pairings of parents and their children, or perhaps older and younger siblings. It effectively gives every member of the party the means to happily bound along on the ride without ever being made to feel like a burden. If you’re after a frictionless, family-friendly platforming adventure that’s heavy on charm and light on challenge, then Disney Illusion Island fits the bill better than a muzzle on Donald Duck."
Double Dragon Gaidens: Rise of the Dragons reviewed by Jarrett Green on PlayStation 5. Also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC.It is very easy to have a good time playing a few runs of Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons roguelike gauntlet of four levels and bosses. Jumping in and learning its satisfyingly punchy combat and long list of fun and unique playable characters that you can tag in for combos turns a somewhat shallow pond of an early game experience into an impressive lake of collaborative combat options. But things got a little too repetitive and frustrating before I even got my first clear thanks to the shallow enemy pool, few game-changing upgrades, a brutal difficulty spike if you choose to save the wrong boss for last, and lack of worthwhile unlockables to chase outside of new fighters.
Twisted Metal Season 1 reviewed by Matt Fowler. Narrated by Kerry Palmer. Twisted Metal is absurd and hilarious in exactly the ways you want a dystopian Cannonball Run to be. Yes, it matches the games' crude humor but, mostly, it springboards from there and creates its own dark and warped wasteland sensibilities. During the back stretch of the season, there's a little bit of joke fatigue, but the demented tapestry presented here, grown from the seeds of the games and expanded into something workable as an ongoing series, is delightful. Mackie and Beatriz play characters you root for but also love to see get into impossible situations. Meanwhile, Church and Joe/Arnett provide the "order" and "chaos" out on the open road, making for a believable powder keg of violence at all times. This show is so so dumb, as only clever people could achieve.
Thanks to a solid final confrontation and big comic book showdown, Secret Invasion’s conclusion ends a disappointing run of episodes with its best foot forward.
Battlebit Remastered reviewed on PC by Gabriel Moss.BattleBit Remastered remembers what made Battlefield games great in their heyday: there are no flashy scripted tornados, just big maps teeming with combat hotspots and myriad destructible buildings. That kind of throwback fun shines through even the basic graphics, highlighting how this kind of gameplay was never about realism so much as it is goofy combat chaos with a ton of people. So it’s an easy sell for anyone looking to jump into hectic, squad-based action with hundreds of other players; whether for a few minutes or a few hours. Naturally the early access version isn’t fully cooked yet, especially due to some underbaked mechanics like stupid-fast running speed and clunky vehicle controls. But what already exists is an impressive first swing at what could become a much more comprehensive tribute to the Battlefield series, and even in its current state, it’s already one of the more captivating multiplayer shooters on Steam right now.
Exoprimal's unique take on the hero shooter genre is a bold one – with its best modes and surprises hidden deep within its goofy sci-fi story – but a variety of fun exosuits, the simple appeal of tearing through thousands of dinos, and great multiplayer design make that grind an easy one to recommend sticking with.
FPS: First Person Shooter review by Ryan McCaffrey. On sale through August 1. It's fun to revisit forgotten first-person shooter favorites like Starsiege: Tribes and Dark Forces, and the filmmakers did an awesome job of getting clean gameplay footage from everything featured, but nevertheless FPS: First-Person Shooter plays more like a Wikipedia page turned into a four-and-a-half-hour movie than a true dissection and celebration of this highly influential genre and why it’s continually mattered over the past 30-plus years. You’ll no doubt learn something interesting that you didn’t know before about first-person shooters – particularly if you’re under 40 – but treat it like a limited-run series that you consume in several sittings rather than as a single 270-minute movie and you’ll get the most out of what FPS: First-Person Shooter has to offer.
Remnant 2 reviewed by Travis Northup on PC. Also available on Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5. It’s astounding to think that if I were to create a list of my favorite soulslikes, my favorite looter shooters, and my favorite procedurally generated games, Remnant 2 would appear on all of those lists. This is a triumphant sequel that doesn’t just reimagine the soulslike genre as a co-op looter-shooter, but absolutely nails that concept in nearly every way – including many that the original did not. With completely engrossing combat, challenging and memorable boss fights, ultra-dense buildcrafting options, incredibly cool procedurally generated levels, and a clever multiversal concept that allows for a ton of different adventures in one package, it’s very likely going to become one of my most-played games this year. No matter which part of the multiverse you find yourself in, you should do yourself a favor and play this gem.
Unholy reviewed on PC by Tristan Ogilvie. "With the exception of the rich environmental detail to be found in its sinister underworld setting, Unholy otherwise offers precious little to praise. It’s not scary enough to succeed as a horror story, its controls are too clumsy to provide a satisfying stealth experience, and its enemy and puzzle variety are too limited to make any part of the journey feel truly distinct. What begins as an intriguing incursion into a cult-ruled realm soon unravels into a repetitive slog stuck in the shoes of an unlikeable lead character. Unholy is never quite unplayable, but it’s certainly uninspired, unwieldy, and unlikely to hold your interest all the way to its completion."
Oppenheimer reviewed by Siddhant Adlakha. In theaters July 21, 2023.A biopic in constant free fall, Oppenheimer is Christopher Nolan’s most abstract yet most exacting work, with themes of guilt writ large through apocalyptic IMAX nightmares that grow both more enormous and more intimate as time ticks on. A disturbing, mesmerizing vision of what humanity is capable of bringing upon itself, both through its innovation, and through its capacity to justify any atrocity.
Following what has been quite a messy journey so far, episode 5 of Secret Invasion finally lays its cards on the table and brings the rebel Skrulls’ plan into full focus. As a penultimate chapter, ‘Harvest’ does plenty to neaten plot threads and prepare Nick Fury for his final confrontation with Gravik. While all this does fall foul of Secret Invasion’s tendency to suck the excitement out of its best ideas, there’s a better sense of brewing tension this week that builds to a finale that promises a stronger concluding episode.
Pikmin 4 reviewed by Jada Griffin on Nintendo Switch Like the three wonderfully weird mainline games before it, Pikmin 4 has once again captured my heart with its charming creatures that fearlessly follow commands regardless of their own well-being. The difficulty leaned a bit too much towards the easier side, but all new features like ability upgrades, a pair of new Pikmin, and our loyal sidekick Oatchi add some variety to the traditional gameplay by offering options other than the grab-and-throw Pikmin formula of the past. Coupled with the largest number of enemies to battle, treasures to collect, and awesome post-game content that incorporates some great callbacks to the earlier games, I’m left with not just a positive outlook on Pikmin 4, but the direction the series is heading as a whole.
Barbie reviewed by Alyssa Mora. Greta Gerwig’s Barbie is a masterful exploration of femininity and the pressures of perfection. This hyper-femme roller-coaster ride boasts meticulous production design, immaculate casting, and a deep-seated reverence for Barbie herself. Margot Robbie sparkles at the center of the film, alongside Ryan Gosling’s airheaded Ken and America Ferrera’s well-meaning Gloria. Ultimately, Barbie is a new, bold, and very pink entry into the cinematic coming-of-age canon. Absolutely wear your pinkest outfit to see this movie, but make sure you bring tissues along too.
Viewfinder reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on PC. Also available on PlayStation 5. "What Viewfinder lacks in story substance and compelling characters it more than makes up for via the pure, mind-boggling exhilaration of its perspective-warping puzzle solving. Its superb, photo-based environmental deformation doesn’t just break ground – it bends and stretches it into entirely new shapes and forms in the wake of each puzzle completed, while also introducing regular game-changing parameters that forced me to continually think outside the frame of my shots. The ability to transport yourself into paintings and screenshots makes for a journey that consistently captivates in between each carefully considered camera capture, and the rapid rewind function emboldens you to get creative with puzzle solutions without fear of retribution. Spellbindingly surreal and stimulating to the end, Viewfinder is the freakiest form of photo mode in which every snap is a happy one."
Testament: The Order of High Human reviewed by Travis Northup on PC.Testament: The Order of High Human answers the question: “What would the phrase ‘quantity over quality’ look like if it were turned into a game?” The result is a tedious, frustrating, and cringe-inducing fantasy adventure RPG that goes on so agonizingly long with its bland and confusing story and god-awful combat that it turns its bad ideas into atrocious ones by sheer volume. Throw in an all-star roster of technical issues, and you’ve got the ultimate “Elder Scrolls, but make it hurt” tour de force that will haunt me for even longer than the dozens of hours it already has.
Jagged Alliance 3 reviewed by Leana Hafer on PC.Jagged Alliance 3 is a smartly-built, action-packed throwback tactical extravaganza that I enjoyed the whole way through. Its madcap sense of humor is very hit or miss – for me, it's usually miss. But for the most part, that doesn't hurt its ability to tell a story with just enough intrigue to keep you guessing, while not overcomplicating things too much. The huge variety of distinct characters, hand-built tactical maps, and objectives assure that a long campaign never goes stale, with limited but meaningful merc progression that let me build my dream squad and play almost exactly how I wanted to, with the added tension of trying to keep them alive through each combat encounter. If you know your way around a squad management game you may want to turn the campaign difficulty up a notch for your first playthrough, but even when you're rolling in cash, this lead-slinging blow-out is a hell of a good time.
With flat action and an underdeveloped central idea, episode four of Secret Invasion continues the season’s streak of diminishing returns. At barely more than 30 minutes long, there’s little time to explore its multiple revelations and provide the required complexity to the Skrulls’ building war efforts, but it does mean this dull chapter is over and done mercifully quickly.
Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals reviewed on PC by Carli Velocci. Also available on PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Android/iOS via Netflix. Narrated by Ryan McCaffrey.Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals is a sequel in a lot of ways. While the similarities with its predecessor can make it feel too familiar, highlighting a few missed opportunities for expansion of its puzzle mechanics and for fresh worldbuilding, it still creates an intimate but epic adventure. The world is built out just enough to feel fresh and to lead you to some unexpected and surprising places. However, its real strengths are its characters. Riley’s story is a standout, but she and Jacob come together to form a bond that carries you through to the (possibly) bitter end. The choice is yours.
Even if it starts to rely too heavily on surface-level startles, Insidious: The Red Door is a satisfying conclusion to the Lambert family’s long nightmare journey into The Further.
Everybody 1-2-Switch reviewed by Travis Northup on Nintendo Switch.Everybody 1-2-Switch is a tedious and surprisingly small catalog of unoriginal and mostly poorly designed minigames that’s guaranteed to bring any party grinding to a halt. Even with a few interesting ideas, like Joy-Con hide and seek or the color scavenger-hunting modes, there are simply too few options to keep a group’s attention for one game, much less for multiple matches. Throw in the fact that many ideas are mind-numbingly boring, and others are rehashes of stuff found in the original, and you’ve got yourself a great way to rid yourself of unwanted friendships but not much more than that.
Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One was reviewed by Siddhant Adlakha. Opens in theaters on July 12, 2023.Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One is a fun and finely tuned summer blockbuster hit that warrants a visit to your local theater to see all that it has to offer. The seventh installment in the Mission: Impossible franchise has an enormous scale and the entertainment value to accompany it. Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One manages to rise above the doom and gloom of Mission Impossible: Fallout creating a film that packs an explosive, self-reflective, and surprisingly funny time for moviegoers. Tom Cruise and company once again leave us not only wanting more but compels us to eagerly count down the days until its sequel slated for 2024.
Episode 3 of Marvel’s Secret Invasion frustrates as much as it enthralls with its half-hearted approach to the spy-thriller genre preventing it from ever being as gripping as it could be.
Crash Team Rumble reviewed by Will Borger on PlayStation 5. Also available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox. Narrated by Ronny Barrier.Crash Team Rumble may not be a traditional Crash game, but it is a very fun one. Some characters and powers definitely seem to be stronger than others based on the fact that the community brings them into every single match, but everything and everyone is viable in the right hands. Matchmaking is a breeze, the maps are absolutely incredible, there’s a lot of depth for those who want to mine it, and it’s easy to lose yourself in the hunt for Wumpa Fruit for hours at a time, especially if you’re playing with friends. Even the cosmetic upgrades are fun to mess around with. But those hours come to a close a bit too soon due to a lack of game modes, limited matchmaking options, and an unlock system that is often downright annoying. That leaves Crash Team Rumble feeling a lot like Wumpa Fruit itself: it’s a great snack, and it’s got a lot of flavor, but you’ll probably be hungry again 30 minutes later. I know I was.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie reviewed by George Yang on PlayStation 5. Also available on PlayStation 4 and PC. The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie is one of the best games in this almost 20-year-old franchise and a great RPG. While its overall story is a bit of a retread, its amazing pacing, and in-depth battle system, make it a satisfying conclusion to the Crossbell and Cold Steel arcs. It also makes good use of its admittedly way-too-large cast of playable characters. That said, newcomers who are unfamiliar with the series will certainly be lost without having played the previous games. However, it's well worth doing so in order to experience one of the best RPG universes ever crafted.
The Witcher Season 3 Volume 1 reviewed by Jarrod Jones. Streaming on Netflix June 29.The first five episodes of The Witcher season 3 are a great showcase for the chemistry between Henry Cavill, Anya Chalortra, and Freya Allan, but the series’ strict adherence to its source material pushes them to the side for long stretches of foggy court intrigue, prophecies, and conspiracies, which hardly matches the spectacle of watching Cavill swing a sword at some impressive foul beast.
Fight Forever: AEW reviewed by Jarrett Green on PlayStation 5. Also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox, and PC.“Unrealized potential” feels like the story of AEW: Fight Forever as a whole. So much of it feels like a very good start, going full gear with bouncy animations, the quick pace of the action, and fun and effective character design. But almost all of its good ideas are hampered by bugs and opaque or outright useless systems. Its big single-player mode is poorly written and, though it's a relative breeze to complete and full of branching options, it’s all out of good ways to point you to them. There’s a strong foundation to bet double or nothing on in a sequel down the road, and I think there's still fun to be had here with like-minded friends who are content with casually beating each other up, but this is no wrestling game revolution.
Park Beyond reviewed on PC by Justin Koreis. Also available on Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5.Park Beyond does a great job tapping into the childhood whimsy that theme parks can elicit. There's a great sense of wonder to be had by impossifying rides, and the simple interface makes it easy to do. Incrementally unlocking new rides and increasing park capacity is rewarding, and creating something utterly ludicrous can be a blast. But that joy dissipates quickly when parks become unmanageable, as the attendees get stuck, staff ignores pressing needs, and financial ruin springs seemingly out of nowhere, while bugs and crashes make a late-campaign difficulty spike a miserable slog. Like riding an unfinished roller coaster, there’s fun to be had until the eventual crash, but it feels like this park just isn’t ready to be opened.
Trepang2 reviewed by Gabriel Moss on PC.Trepang2 is a delightful tribute shooter that brings the relentless yet intelligent and often creative action of games like F.E.A.R. to the modern standards of 2023. Its diverse enemy encounters and smart level design are top-notch, though it’s less successful when it occasionally dips into lukewarm survival-horror elements, and that’s when it becomes apparent that it could’ve really used a stronger story and better scares. In light of that, it’s wise that it leans harder on action than stealth throughout, often keeping pace with the best first-person shooters when firefights heat up. However, it still ends a bit more quickly than I’d have hoped, even after padding out its length in higher difficulty modes and side missions. Trepang2 feels like a strong prototype for a Trepang3 that pairs this great action with a less paint-by-numbers story and an extended campaign, but in the meantime, I’ll happily go back in and play it all over again with the myriad cheats I’ve already unlocked.
Dave The Diver reviewed by Travis Northup on PC. Available later this year on Nintendo Switch.Dave The Diver is a tremendous and unforgettable RPG adventure that I can’t put down. The story and characters are full of heart and charm, the underwater exploration and restaurant management are easy to lose time to, and the sheer number of weird minigames and other surprises that are packed in the 30-hour adventure ensure things never grow stale. Even with wimpy bosses, simple puzzles, and a fair number of bugs, Dave The Diver has so many other interesting and intriguing things going on that it’s easily one of the best games I’ve played this year so far.
Final Fantasy 16's combat takes the series even further down the road of an action game, but it's story, characters, and magical setting are among the best the legendary RPG series has seen. Final Fantasy 16 Review by Mitchell Saltzman, on PlayStation 5.
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life reviewed by Jess Reyes on Nintendo Switch, also available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. "This remake of the Harvest Moon GameCube game is difficult to recommend over other farming sims with more expansive worlds, more interesting stories, and more satisfying progression. Marvelous has admirably updated the graphics and gameplay to cater to a more modern audience, but those improvements only do so much when the heart of it feels as dated as it does. Its standout feature is still the way the town and NPCs impressively adapt and age over the course of its potentially 30-year campaign, but there aren’t enough noteworthy characters or rewards to make you want to stick around that long, either. Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life doesn’t offend, but it sure doesn’t impress either."
Aliens: Dark Descent reviewed on PC by Leana Hafer. Also available on PlayStation and Xbox.If not for the technical issues, this would be easily one of the best Aliens games ever. And it still probably is. Borrowing from some of the greatest squad-based tactics games and adding its own twists, I don't think I've played anything that really gets what was so cool about Aliens, the film, since Monolith's Aliens Versus Predator 2 way back in 2001. And many have tried! It's the sort of game that makes me wish I could look the other way and praise it even higher, but on balance, I just can't. With a few weeks in the med bay for a bit of extra technical polish, it could shine up nicely into something amazing. As-is, it's still an intriguing, inspired, imaginative survival RTS that I can enthusiastically recommend, but only with some caveats.
Check out our review of Episode 1 and 2 of Marvel Studio's Secret Invasion, and with what we've seen so far, Secret Invasion is a welcome and solid return for the MCU’s lesser-used gritty espionage template, even if its first two episodes lack the sense of fear that it really needs.
Layers of Fear reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on PC. Also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. "Layers of Fear serves up a series of atmospheric and often surreal trips through the shattered psyches of some seriously tortured artists. It’s made all the more eye-catching thanks to Unreal Engine 5, and the addition of the flashlight provides some interesting new ways to both interact with your surroundings and mitigate the frustration of the stalker encounters previously suffered in the original games. However, its sleight of hand scare tactics are still all too clearly telegraphed and this predictable formula grew stale long before I reached the end of each of its main story threads. Ultimately Layers of Fear comes across as a largely scare-free 13-hour crawl through a string of mildly creepy hallways as opposed to a truly terrifying trek into darkness."
F1 23 reviewed by Luke Reilly on Xbox Series X. Also available on Xbox One, PlayStation, and PC. "F1 23 is a far heartier package than F1 22, with 26 tracks, the enjoyable next chapter of the Braking Point story mode that began in F1 2021, and – for players who love to recline back into the couch and race – the best gamepad handling in the series, ever. The racing-focused secondary career mode F1 World is also likely to be a step in the right direction after last year’s F1 Life for some, although it's equally probable its arcade-inspired, loot-based upgrade system will be divisive amongst traditionalists."
Harmony: The Fall of Reverie reviewed by Gabriel Moss on PC, also available on Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation. This powerful visual novel from Life is Strange developer Don't Nod mixes a world-bending story with deeply personal stakes. It takes a while to get going, though it also makes familiarizing yourself with its somewhat dense lore easy thanks to a built-in codex that explains most of the in-world jargon required to understand what’s going on. But hidden between Reverie’s magic and metaphors is a story firmly rooted in the power of community, reflecting the resilience of the human spirit itself.
Greyhill Incident reviewed by Travis Northup on PC. The fact that this alien horror game so wholly mangles so many of the things it tries to pull off, from its story to its stealth, certainly feels like a conspiracy – and one the government should have done a better job of covering up. Whether it's trying to be ironic or scary, Greyhill Incident fails in either scenario, resulting in a tedious but mercifully short jaunt through cornfields and backwater abodes that’s about as fun as actually being probed by aliens.
The Flash reviewed by Joshua Yehl. Opens in theaters on June 16, 2023.IGN's Joshua Yehl shares his thoughts on the new DC film in this review of The Flash. The Scarlet Speedster Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) uses time travel to attempt to save the life of his mother and clear his father's name, but he winds up in an alternate timeline where he meets a younger version of himself, a new Bruce Wayne aka Batman (Michael Keaton) different from his DCEU Batman (Ben Affleck), and Kara Zor-El aka Supergirl (Sasha Calle), and they must team up to stop the invading General Zod (Michael Shannon) from Man of Steel. Does The Flash run circles around the competition or does it fail to reach the finish line? Check out our The Flash movie review to find out!
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts reviewed by Matt Donato. Narrated by Gabriel Moss.Transformers: Rise of the Beasts proves that Bumblebee wasn’t a fluke, and that the Transformers series is finally accelerating in the right direction. Steven Caple Jr. oversees a solid balance between paint-by-numbers intergalactic doomsday storytelling and entertainment-first Transformers action, even though it never achieves the epic scope it’s aiming for and the human side of the story can’t keep up with the robots. There’s a focus on a story with heart and heroics, and that’s never lost thanks to reigning in Michael Bay’s brand of sensationalist chaos. Rise of the Beasts returns to Transformers basics on a larger scale than Bumblebee, but never gets too big for its britches. It feels like playing with Autobots and Maximals action figures in your backyard on a weekend, lost in a smashy-fun adventure that might not save the galaxy, but is a good enough excuse to watch robots turn into cars and fight for a few hours.
The Bunker reviewed by Leana Hafer on PC, also available on Xbox and PlayStation 4. The newest Amnesia game proves that smaller, anthology-style episodes within its universe can still bring the tension and the scares. Developer Frictional's bag of tricks is far from exhausted when it comes to getting our hearts pounding and making us carefully consider how to use the limited tools available to us. It's not an unmissable experience, but it definitely sates an appetite for gut-churning horror and moody, bleak storytelling.
System Shock reviewed by Jon Bolding on PC. Nightdive's remake masterfully brings most of the aspects that haven’t aged as well into the present day, with excellent new graphics and nearly all the modern gameplay conveniences you could want. Tweaking the technical workings of Citadel space station to come out on top and foil SHODAN's machinations is just as compelling as it ever was, making the original System Shock one of gaming's classics for a very good reason.
Starship Troopers: Extermination reviewed by Jarrett Green on PC. This early access launch is pretty light on content, but it already does a decent job of pitting a large group of marines against an overwhelming force of alien bugs, and building fortifications gives you something to coordinate on as you hold out long enough for a thrilling extraction. That said, those who would need to be convinced to drop their current forever game and enlist should wait and see how early access comes along over the next year. With some time, Extermination could become the premier bug-stomping romp for big teams, but in its current state, mobile infantry can do the dying without you.
The Boogeyman reviewed by Matt Donato. Narrated by Max Scoville.The Boogeyman can be described the same way car salespeople might market their mid-range best sellers: sturdy, dependable, and efficient. "Like a rock," they'd repeat. Rob Savage once more proves that PG-13 ratings aren't shackles on filmmakers who want to send their audiences screaming in the other direction, since The Boogeyman is the scariest horror film of the year (so far). But scares aren’t everything, and this familiar trapped-with-a-monster setup can sometimes be its own worst enemy as the story meanders between frightful imagery. Thankfully its cup overfloweth with nightmare fuel, elevating the otherwise-standardized storytelling that doesn't reach all that far beyond generic outlines of marginally better families-versus-demons showstoppers. The Boogeyman is a capable creepshow built for mass appeal that gets the job done because at the end of the day, scary is as scary does.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse reviewed by Tom JorgensenSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse surges with visual inventiveness and vibrance in an undeniably strong evolution of the style established in Into the Spider-Verse. Miles and Gwen’s search for their place in the multiverse is relentless and exciting, almost to a fault, and though the plot is often an afterthought to the pure chaos of creation on display, strong performances and character arcs that feel true to the heroes we met last time help ensure that Across the Spider-Verse is a more-than-worthy follow-up to an all-time classic.
Diablo 4 reviewed by Travis Northup on Xbox Series X|S, also available on PlayStation and PC. Blizzard's long-awaited sequel to Diablo 3 has near perfect endgame and progression design that makes it absolutely excruciating to put down. The story is a disappointment despite still being a noticeable improvement over Diablo 3 and there are some annoying bugs that need squashing, but the combat, the loot game, and both the sights and sounds of this world are impressive enough to smooth over those rough edges. Diablo 4 takes the strategy of refining things the series already did so well rather than giving it a more substantial overhaul, and that careful and reverent path has shaped this massive sequel into one of the most polished ARPGs ever created.
Reviewed by Mitchell Saltzman on PlayStation 5. Also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox, and PC. Street Fighter 6 comes out the gate swinging as the most feature-rich a Street Fighter game has ever been at launch. Boasting 18 characters, a 20+ hour single-player story mode, fantastic additions to the excellent 1-on-1 fighting formula, and a keen eye for nailing the smaller details that make a stellar fighting game. Street Fighter 6 has it all, and then some.
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum reviewed by Justin Koreis on PC, also available on Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch. Why, of all the interesting characters in The Lord of the Rings lore, would anyone want to play an entire game as Gollum? Why would one trade the solid action of prior games in this universe, like Shadow of Mordor, for busywork, uninspired and frustrating platforming, and bad stealth? It’s not clear who this is for, or what it was intended to achieve. What is clear is that it’s not fun to play, and not something to recommend to any but the most curious and dedicated Lord of the Rings fan.
Star Trek: Resurgence reviewed by Will Borger on PC, also available on PlayStation and Xbox. Resurgence does an admirable job of capturing the spirit of Star Trek in a Telltale style game. The choices are almost never easy, but the lack of a morality system or any indication of what you’re “supposed” to do creates a sense of freedom to act how you imagine these characters would.
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun reviewed by Jon Bolding on PC. Also available on Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch.Boltgun impresses with Warhammer 40K chops and a fully realized vision of the famous franchise as a modern retro-shooter, light on story but heavy on action and nods to the tabletop game. The level design of its many fast-paced arena fights is enjoyable, but the momentum drags once the new weapon and enemy types run out about halfway through. Nonetheless, the quality's high enough that I never got bored – but I think someone who isn't hungry for a retro-shooter or any 40K game they can get their hands on might be a bit let down.
The handheld gaming revolution has arrived for PC gamers, and there are more options than ever to choose from to get your gaming fix on the go. The GPD Win 4 makes for an especially interesting choice, with its PS Vita-like design and hidden slide-out keyboard. It feels more like a true pocket PC than any handheld we’ve tested so far, and is on the more affordable side at $799.
After Us reviewed by Gabriel Moss on PlayStation 5. Also available on PS4, Xbox, and PC.After Us is difficult to recommend for its platforming alone, though its nature-focused kitsch gives way to gorgeous visuals as you breathe life back into its post-apocalyptic world. Some of its levels left a grin on my face, whereas others had me begging for sweet release from the inconsistent controls and directionless world. At least there’s a silver lining in that its beautiful art direction and entrancing musical score make for some really cool sequences. And yet I can’t help but feel like After Us is too heavy-handed about its environmentalist themes for a video game that hardly characterizes its protagonist and has literally no dialogue. By the end, I felt like I’d have done less environmental damage had I simply chosen to skip it.
The Little Mermaid reviewed by Alyssa Mora. In theaters May 26, 2023.Halle Bailey’s brilliantly vulnerable performance as Ariel is the star of the show in Disney’s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. Melissa McCarthy follows closely behind with a magnetic performance as Ursula. As a whole, however, this version sometimes struggles to keep itself above water. Its problems lie in lackluster underwater sequences, realistic sea creatures missing cartoonish charm, and additions to the story that are quaint but not necessarily memorable. What works best are the elements it takes from the original, highlighted best by a show-stopping rendition of Part of Your World. While this version doesn’t always find its sea legs, there’s enough of those original ideas recreated here that it can’t go too far wrong.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny reviewed by Siddhant Adlakha. Opens in theaters on June 30, 2023.By yanking Indiana Jones out of retirement yet again, for a fifth (and hopefully final) movie, Disney proves that some things should be allowed to end. Or, at the very least, it proves that a franchise resurrection should spend at least some of its 154 minutes doing something other than trying desperately to justify its own existence. Earnest final efforts from Harison Ford and John Williams couldn’t rescue a movie so directionless and haphazard, or action that fails to recapture the swashbuckling joys of the originals. By asking why Indy is on this adventure in the first place, and what the character gains on the other side of it, Dial of Destiny concocts paradoxical answers that fail to meet in the middle. It’s a film about letting go of the past and moving forward, but one that refuses to do the same.
LEGO 2K Drive reviewed by Luke Reilly on Xbox Series X. Also available on Xbox One, PlayStation, Switch, and PC."One part The Crew 2, one part Mario Kart, and one thousand parts… LEGO parts, LEGO 2K Drive is a wild and whimsical all-ages kart racer that’s buried itself under my skin like the pointed edge of rogue plastic brick underfoot in a messy kid’s bedroom. Better still, it’s one that embraces the total creative freedom real LEGO affords like few games before it, with an incredible custom vehicle creation tool that’s just about worth the price of admission alone. The current inability to share those designs with others is disappointing – particularly in the shadow of another tedious microtransaction store – but LEGO 2K Drive is certainly the fastest and funniest way to rock out with your blocks out in recent memory."
The Outlast Trials early access reviewed on PC by Travis Northup.The Outlast Trials is a unique cooperative horror game with a fantastic premise and some really memorable scenarios, but while the early access version proves the concept there’s a lot of work to be done to make those ideas pay off. Running around with friends as you hide from murderous killers and complete utterly insane (and sometimes too edgy for their own good) death games is paradoxically tense and hilarious, but the fact that the enemy AI is about as effective as a concrete parachute and two of the three levels share too much of the same DNA certainly leaves a lot of room to grow on.
Fast X reviewed by Tom Jorgensen. Video edited by Tristan Oglivie. Opens in theaters on May 19, 2023.Fast X is the beginning of the end, but the race to the end of that beginning is a bumpy ride, saved nearly single-handedly by Jason Momoa’s bonkers performance as Dante Reyes, which deserves instant canonization on the Mt. Rushmore of Fast & Furious villains. There’s still time for the Fast franchise to cross the finish line in first, but this flat tire of a “part one” will make the last lap a nailbiter.
Humanity reviewed by Gabriel Moss on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation VR 2. Also available on PS4, PSVR, and PC.Humanity is a beautiful, modern reimagining of Lemmings that feels as esoteric and artsy as Enhance’s previous games, while ambitiously stepping onto new terrain for the action puzzle genre with the pitter-patter of countless little feet. It somehow manages to intermingle platforming, action, and real-time strategy elements with mind-bending finesse, and its open-endedness means I could be sitting here and tinkering with it for years – much like I have with other games with great level creators like Dreams and Little Big Planet. Humanity bursts out of left field with something so unexpectedly brilliant that I can’t help but recommend it to everyone who’s ever enjoyed a puzzle game.
Darkest Dungeon 2 reviewed on PC by Jon Bolding.Interesting turn-based RPG combat keeps Darkest Dungeon 2’s roguelite progression fresh for hours – if you can push past the early, intentionally punishing humps and like it for what it is, rather than the close retread of Darkest Dungeon that it isn't. Its structure may be frustratingly random at times, even so much as to feel meaningless or pointless, but a gambler's spirit can see you through those weird patches of bad luck or directionlessness. Besides, this game would have to be really bad to drag down the vibes of the moody lines and grumbling narration that live at the heart of Darkest Dungeon 2.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom reviewed by Tom Marks on Nintendo Switch. This is an unfathomable sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, somehow improving upon it in nearly every way – be that with simple quality-of-life improvements, a genuinely exciting story, or wildly creative new building mechanics that make you rethink what is possible. It both revamps old ground and introduces vast new areas with an alarming number of tasks to complete, mysteries to discover, and delightful distractions to keep you from ever reaching that place you naively thought you were headed. Nintendo has followed up a triumph with a triumph, expanding and evolving a world that already felt full beyond expectation and raising the bar ever higher into the clouds.
Honkai: Star Rail reviewed on PC by Jess Reyes.Honkai: Star Rail is the best free-to-play game of the year so far. Its stellar storytelling and satisfying progression systems offer dozens of hours of content that a HoYo newcomer can enjoy, even without paying for gacha items or having played Honkai Impact 3rd or Genshin Impact. Combat boasts layers of strategy for those willing to dig into details without barring more casual players from enjoying it. Its worldbuilding also expands outside of the main story into the side missions and interactable objects, making an already captivating world even more lively. It surpasses even Genshin in my mind, and I can see myself playing even months from now.
Redfall reviewed by Luke Reilly on Xbox Series X. Also available on PC."Redfall is a bafflingly bad time across the board, whether playing solo or with a friend or three suffering alongside you. That it comes in the wake of Arkane’s excellent Deathloop, the enduringly beloved Prey, and the acclaimed Dishonored series honestly beggars belief. Its performance on Xbox Series X is regularly dire, plagued with pop-in, stutters, and a long list of display bugs. It’s beleaguered with bodgy AI enemies that struggle to mount a basic defence, choose appropriate cover, or even effectively navigate the world. The one-note mission design recycles and repurposes itself all the way until the anticlimactic final encounter. Button commands break, characters vanish, and the cheap and static story scenes seem woefully unfinished by typical standards. There may be occasional glimpses of a competent co-op shooter on display but otherwise, Redfall is just like a vampire in all the wrong ways. That is, it really wasn’t ready for daylight in this state, and it sucks."
Star Wars: Visions Volume 2 reviewed by Samantha Nelson. Premieres May 4, 2023 on Disney+.While the themes of Star Wars: Visions Volume 2 can be a bit repetitive, the diversity of characters and animation styles presented in tight episodes makes it well worth watching. Alternately goofy, political, sweet, and thrilling, the show celebrates the broad reach of Star Wars and provides plenty of characters and plots compelling enough to anchor their own spinoffs.
The Last Case of Benedict Fox reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on PC. Also available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One."The Last Case of Benedict Fox features a wonderfully unique supernatural setting that’s full of interesting ideas, but mixed execution and control issues meant that I could only enjoy its morbid mystery in patches. While I derived great satisfaction from completing its genuinely taxing puzzles, my progress with the main case too often stalled thanks to ambiguous objectives and poor navigation tools that had me retreading sections of its sprawling map to an exhausting degree, routinely stalling the story’s momentum for prolonged stretches at a time. Many of its flaws are of the type that seem like they might be remedied via post-release patching, but in its existing state The Last Case of Benedict Fox is like one of its protagonist’s bungled double jumps – it reaches for greatness but falls a bit too short of the mark."
With Redfall arriving at IGN just a couple of days ahead of its official release date, reviewer Luke Reilly hasn't had enough time to complete his final review yet. However, after his time spent with the vampire-slaying shooter so far – solo, co-op with a friend, and also in a group of three – he feels thoroughly underwhelmed by Redfall’s vanilla missions and lifeless world, and very disappointed at its lengthy list of display issues and bugs.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 reviewed by Joshua Yehl. Opens in theaters May 5, 2023.The Guardians of the Galaxy deliver their swan song in Vol. 3 and it’s a rockin’ good time. Through Rocket’s tragic origin story we’re given a new appreciation for this whole family of lovable malcontents. And even though the plot has a bit too much going on, some of the humor feels stale, and Adam Warlock was woefully underused, the cast’s incredible chemistry and James Gunn’s soulful style remain unlike anything else in the MCU, and this movie sends them out on an emotional and action-packed high note.
Stray Blade reviewed by Jarrett Green on PC. Also available on Xbox and PlayStation.The striking color palette of Stray Blade’s world and its simplified combat are admirable but flawed attempts to stand out amongst the growing din of FromSoftware-inspired action RPGs. Its large scale turns that lovely world into a labyrinth bloated with endless pickups, made maddening by a miserable map. Combat is fun when it’s not bogged down by an unbearable lock-on mechanic and some repetitive and truly dumb enemies. Taken together with a forgettable story and likable but long winded characters, Stray Blade is an adventure more frustrating than fanciful.
Age of Wonders 4 reviewed by Leana Hafer on PC. The fact that your legacy follows you in Age of Wonders 4 is rewarding, and the faster pace of its very strong campaign mechanics and pretty good tactical battles make it feel like you can write a new chapter of this saga in a reasonable amount of time. Cranking all the dials up to maximum weirdness can lead to some edge cases that ruin the fun a bit, but it's not that big of a price to pay for the vast map and empire customization we get to play with.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor reviewed by Dan Stapleton on PlayStation 5. Also available on Xbox Series X|S and PC."Star Wars Jedi: Survivor takes what Fallen Order did and wall-runs with it, then double-jumps and air-dashes straight into an epic lightsaber battle. Rather than taking us back to square one to begin Cal’s journey as a Padawan again, we’re trusted with control of a full-fledged Jedi Knight who we can grow into a master of superhuman mobility and fantastic and challenging combat. With a new set of larger, more diverse, and densely packed worlds to explore and a memorable cast of returning characters, Survivor tells a story that may be predictable at times but is still fun and emotional to watch play out. Launch performance issues aside, it’s a sequel that does virtually everything better than the original – which was already an exceptional Star Wars game. If Respawn makes one more like this it’ll be the best Star Wars trilogy in 30 years, hands down."
Tron: Identity fills a void that’s been empty since the Tron world debuted in Kingdom Hearts II almost 20 years ago. After multiple playthroughs, however, it’s still not clear what the story means for the greater Tron canon. Identity feels more like a first chapter than a standalone story, which may very well be the case, but you might find yourself yearning for more of a resolution in the short term. Identity may be more about the journey than the destination, but Query’s night at the Repository is still well worth playing.
Sisu reviewed by Matt Donato. Opens in US theaters on April 28, 2023.Sisu wages a hellacious war against familiar fascist henchmen with an added boost of against-all-odds adrenaline. Jalmari Helander proves that killing Nazis never goes out of style – as long as you're willing to hit as hard as Sisu. Actor Jorma Tommila rages against a hateful German machine as Aatami Korpi with a heroicness fit for fable-like boogyman fantasies passed from one generation to the next. Helander keeps it simple and cranks the dial on intensity to produce an action-packed World War II epic that thrives on a smaller yet still decadent scale of destruction. We praise a tale of impossible might, unlimited mayhem, and a Nazi body count that sure isn't stingy.
Dredge reviewed by Gabriel Moss on PlayStation 5. Also available on PC, Switch, Xbox, and PS4.Dredge erupted out of the left field as 2023’s most unforgettably creepy fishing simulator. Without spoiling anything, its slow dive into Lovecraftian horror intermingles with subtle elements of seabound thrillers like Jaws and Moby Dick, and yet despite its twists, its fishing and sailing mechanics are simple enough to be relaxing – just as long as you don’t stay out past dark. Its colorful graphics, intelligent story, and seafaring sound design are alluring, but calling it a management sim betrays how simple and approachable it is. Though it still may not excite anyone in search of abyssal depths, its world map, upgrade tree, and story offer more than enough interesting decisions of their own to make a 12-hour fishing expedition feel concise. At the same time, a lack of combat and meaningful customization give little weight to its excessive grinding, and these are clear opportunities for improvement on the next voyage.
Disney Speedstorm Early Access reviewed by Luke Reilly on PC. Also available on PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch."Disney Speedstorm in Early Access is a fundamentally good kart racer that’s currently too light on tracks and too repetitive to warrant the required investment. Worse still, it’s buried beneath a veritable Splash Mountain of gacha garbage and so many discrete currencies that do different things that it almost seems like a parody of the entire free-to-play genre. Nothing sucks like gacha, plucks your bucks like gacha, makes you jump through hoops for Donald Duck like gacha."
A couple of poor boss battles aside, Forbidden West's Burning Shores DLC is a great new chapter with enough creative new bells and whistles to keep Horizon fans more than happy.
Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp reviewed by Jada Griffin on Nintendo Switch.With nicely redone graphics and excellent music bringing the classic turn-based tactical action up to modern standards, Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is a great return for this long-neglected series and gives me hope for a follow-up that includes the DS games. While there isn’t much variety in the game modes, Advance Wars’ depth comes from the number of variables you can adjust to make every match feel unique. The biggest miss is the lack of multiplayer matchmaking, which makes it harder to get into a game than it ought to be in 2023, but at least you can play online. Playing against the AI will keep me interested in the short term, but I predict the inability to play against random opponents online will limit my spontaneous play sessions. However, the sheer number of maps, playable COs, and options for each match means that when I do, it's sure to be a unique experience.
The Mageseeker: A League of Legends Story reviewed by Jada Griffin on PlayStation 5. Also available on PS4, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo Switch.The Mageseeker: A League of Legends story is another solid example of Riot Forge partnering with talented developers to bring League’s rich list of champions to life in new genres to showcase more sides of their characters. The story goes to some interesting places after a slow start, picking up steam in the second half and leading to a momentous finale. Levels are fairly straightforward and could have benefitted from additional content, like optional puzzles or bonus objectives, but the bosses and variety of abilities is enough to keep you on your toes despite some of the repetition.
Dead Island 2 reviewed by Travis Northup on PlayStation 5 and PC. Also available on Xbox.Dead Island 2 is a hysterical Los Angeles-infused satire that does most things well enough, but feels like a stroll down the Walk of Fame of celebrated zombie games I’ve already played without adding many new ideas of its own. In fact, aside from the stellar comedy bits, I can think of very few things that Dead Island 2 does better than last year’s Dying Light 2. Still, if you’ve ever wanted to put your Wolverine claws straight through a zombie’s face or knock someone’s head off with a golf club, Dead Island 2’s got you. Its bloodsoaked melee combat and memorable characters are a lot of fun, especially when accompanied by friends in co-op multiplayer. The somewhat generic crafting weapons and upgrading your skills as you lay waste to armies of spray-tanned undead is entertaining enough on its own, but the strong writing and completely irreverent tone are the true stars of the show.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once and Always Review commemorates the 30th anniversary of the MMPR franchise with a one-hour special event on Netflix. But is it Morphenomenal or less than phenomenal? Check out our review of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once and Always.
Minecraft Legends Reviewed by Justin Koreis on Xbox Series X, also available on Xbox One, PlayStation, PC, and Nintendo Switch. This Minecraft spin-off is an engaging strategy game that does a great job streamlining a notoriously complex genre without sacrificing the ever-important element of choice and consequence. The difficulty curve does have the potential to make the late game frustrating, but stellar co-op and PVP play still make this RTS very worthwhile.
Renfield reviewed by Matt Donato. Opens in theaters on April 14, 2023.If you're here for Nicolas Cage as an over-the-top Count Dracula, Renfield does not disappoint. The ultimate gratification that comes from a vampire splatterfest centered around one of our generation's greatest character actors becoming a horror icon is what endures. Nicholas Hoult lives his best oddball life as the wayward title character and warms our hearts as he aims to reclaim his independence, but the overall hodgepodge of concepts that stems from Renfield's emotional journey never fully come together. At just 90 minutes, there are simply too many ideas vying for importance, and few get the proper attention to be anything more than mindless blood-lusting entertainment — and you know what? That's just fine and dandy for Renfield.
Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on PC. Also available on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch."While Sherlock Holmes Chapter One may have its own fair share of flaws, it was still reasonably competent as a detective simulation. In comparison, this remade version of The Awakened feels far more like an inferior throwback to old-fashioned point-and-click adventures where trial and error was just as effective an approach as logic and reason, making its forensic deductions feel more like foregone conclusions. This wouldn’t be so bad if its Lovecraft-inspired mystery was compelling enough to sustain interest in its run-of-the-mill casework, but unfortunately it fumbles that too, with its hamfisted attempts at horror more likely to tickle ribs than raise hairs. Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened could have been an intriguing clash of Cluedo/Clue with Cthulu, but instead it’s just a case of squandered potential."
Mighty Doom reviewed by Chris Reed on iOS/iPhone, also available on Android. There is a devilishly fun roguelite hiding in Mighty Doom, but the way it’s been buried under all the most egregious money-making schemes in mobile gaming is hugely disappointing. The first few hours are fun, but it’s not long before a super-powered difficulty spike hits like a BFG blast to the chest. This invisible paywall and the free-to-play speed bumps that accompany it turn Mighty Doom into a teeth-grindingly frustrating experience.
Watch our The Last of Us: Part 1 PC vs PS5 vs Steam Deck Performance Review. Naughty Dog has finally released The Last of Us Part 1 on PC, and the launch was a rocky one. With patch 1.0.1.6 and 1.0.1.7 tested here, we take a journey with Joel and Ellie to see how well the classic has transitioned from PS5 to PC. In this IGN Performance review, we'll be covering how well The Last of Us Part 1 runs on high end PC hardware, PS5 vs PC comparisons, any issues and whether they've been resolved, and whether it scales down to the Steam Deck.Chapters0:00 Introduction0:34 Crashing onto PC - The porting process summarised & launch issues2:27 The good, the bad & the demanding4:23 Image quality, Patches compared and main problems6:19 Scaling above PS5 on PC7:13 Losing my memory - PC specific demands and bottlenecks explained11:54 PS5 comparisons to PC13:06 Scalability & Performance across PC hardware vs PS519:02 Steam Deck Performance & issues21:28 Summary
Crime Boss: Rockay City reviewed by Luke Reilly on PC. "Crime Boss: Rockay City is an overly ambitious air ball on all fronts, from its sloppy moment-to-moment gameplay to its largely abysmal voice acting – the worst of which sound like single takes spliced in with mistakes intact. There’s an earnestness with which Crime Boss has been put together that I do admire – as a kind of direct-to-VHS knockoff of Payday on a promising ’90s backdrop – and there is an inescapable novelty in seeing these de-aged Hollywood stars steering the story here. Unfortunately, the hokey charm on display is nowhere near enough to offset the repetitive and regularly frustrating mission design, its roguelike single-player rapidly becomes a total chore, and its co-op juice just isn’t worth the squeeze. Sadly, Crime Boss: Rockay City’s coked-up ego has been writing cheques its budget-priced body couldn’t cash."Note: Due to an unforeseen anomaly with our video capture, this review is only available in 720p. IGN apologises for any inconvenience.
Everspace 2 reviewed by Jon Bolding on PC, also available on PlayStation and Xbox. This sequel is pure, distilled video game, all about how its space combat action plays moment to moment rather than whether that makes sense in a game world or fits a complex and nuanced story. The story could be better written, more entertaining, and set in a more original universe, and the missions or enemies could have more variety. But those faults didn't take away from the main reason you're there: To play with cool spaceships, tweak weapons into fun and crazy-powerful new combos, and meet new people to blow up.
Meet Your Maker review by Travis Northup on Xbox Series X/S, also available on Playstation 5 and PC. This is an awesome action game that beautifully executes on a terrific concept. It’s missing some depth in its tools of destruction, has some bugs and wonkiness, and its thin story is a big ol’ nothing burger, but as a starting point for another live-service game from the team that brought us Dead By Daylight, it's extremely impressive. Running through dungeons to best whatever unknown deviousness your fellow players have left for you is a great time, limited only by what the community can concoct, and building your own bases is the ultimate reward for your hard work that never stops being hilarious.
Bursting with infectious energy, vibrant visuals, and smart implementations of franchise history, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a fireball of animated fantasy.
The Great War: Western Front reviewed by Leana Hafer on PC. World War One rarely gets to shine so authentically in a strategy game, but portraying it with accuracy doesn't always translate into a good time. It's easy to feel bogged down when you might go several turns without any significant changes in the overall situation, with a successful offensive in one area completely offset by enemy momentum somewhere else. Still, it wouldn't really be World War I without these elements, and Western Front can still be a good time.
Ravenbound reviewed by Jarrett Green on PC.There is no part of Ravenbound that is absolutely bad – in fact, most of it is a good foundation for a fun roguelike, from its solid combat to its interesting setting and enemies. But so much of Ravenbound feels like it’s either missing a key piece that would elevate it or is just poorly executed, with frustratingly unpredictable loot and obnoxiously obtuse systems. On top of that, it’s infested with bugs that take those issues from disappointing to outright annoying. There’s certainly some fun to be had in Ravenbound, but it’s hard to recommend leaving the nest to find it.
MLB The Show 23 reviewed by Justin Koreis on PlayStation 5, also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. After a somewhat disappointing 2022, it’s amazing how far forward Sony San Diego has pushed MLB The Show 23. It seems like every element has received attention, whether its the improved scouting in Diamond Dynasty, updates to match the current MLB rulebook, or a vastly more helpful practice mode. This remains a gorgeous showcase for baseball, with some of the most lifelike sights and sounds to behold in a sports game. It remains to be seen if Sets and Seasons will frustrate in the long run, but the crowning achievement this year is the Negro Leagues mode. This playable piece of baseball history is a triumph, presented with care, grace, and attention to detail. It’s courageous and bold, like the pioneers it highlights, and it’s astonishing to experience something so affecting from a baseball game. If for nothing else, that alone makes MLB The Show 23 a must-play.
Forza Horizon 5: Rally Adventure reviewed by Luke Reilly on Xbox Series X. Also available on Xbox One and PC."For long-time fans, Forza Horizon 5 Rally Adventure is a bit of a full-circle moment for this class-leading racing franchise. After all, the first DLC for the original Forza Horizon was a dedicated rally-themed add-on back in 2012. This new iteration on that idea may be a lot more conventional than last year’s outlandish Hot Wheels expansion, but fusing the open-world foundations of Forza Horizon with the arcade accessibility of offroad racing icon Sega Rally is still a winning combination."
Travis Northup is back with a review in progress update after the second beta weekend and lots of time with the Necromancer and Druid classes under his belt. The build-crafting system, the joy of spontaneous alliances that its online model allows for, and the surprisingly engaging combat all continue to impress. We’ll be back with a final, scored review closer to Diablo 4’s June launch once we’ve had a chance to see everything it has in store.
Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham reviewed by Samantha Nelson. Narration by Max Scoville.Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham is a treat for Batman fans, putting a suitably horrific Lovecraftian spin on his allies and enemies that brings out some of the best parts of the Dark Knight while heavily emphasizing the “dark” part. While not all the tweaks to the original comic’s story are for the best, this largely faithful adaptation delivers plenty of unsettling horror, well-done action scenes, and detective-driven twists.
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – Chapter 2: Retribution reviewed by Gabriel Moss on PS VR2, also available on PC and Meta Quest 2.It sucks that this sequel's PlayStation VR2 rerelease is still unacceptably janky despite major performance and graphical improvements, but when its bugs aren’t driving you to quit in anger, its moment-to-moment action is undeniably improved over the stealth-oriented original. Moreover, the PS VR2’s impressive detail, haptic feedback, and all-new dynamic lighting systems mixed with the low black point of the headset’s OLED panels give way to a spooky atmosphere that transports you directly into the zombie apocalypse, making it well worth the hassle.
Diablo 4's first beta only gave us a glimpse of the full game, but Travis Northup is already very impressed by what he's played. There’s still a huge amount to see before we get anywhere close to a final review, but stellar dark storytelling, the best combat in a Diablo game to date, and a live-service foundation that aims to chart out a strong future for this beloved action-RPG series is encouraging so far.
Have a Nice Death reviewed on PC by Leana Hafer. Also available on Nintendo Switch.Have A Nice Death is a punishing but satisfying roguelike with some diabolically tough boss fights. The darkly dorky setting and office humor lend it more than enough charm to make me want to discover more of its world. But it's made significantly more frustrating than it probably needs to be by very stingy long-term progression and limited defensive abilities in comparison to its huge array of fun-to-use offensive weapons. When I wasn't feeling the discouraging void inside dragging me down, I was reveling in the hundreds of ways I could make these visually and mechanically memorable undead wish they never lived at all.
WWE 2K23 reviewed by Jarrett Green on PlayStation 5, also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox, and PC. Whether you want to experience a TV-inspired story of young wrestling talent rising to glory or take a guided tour of John Cena's most humbling moments, WWE 2K23 is worth pinning down. It’s at least incrementally better in almost every way from last year’s entry in that combat feels more rewarding, flexible, and consequential. Where it overachieves, like in MyGM, it starts to finally restore the feeling that we could be on the ramp watching a new golden age of pro wrestling games make its glorious entrance.
Resident Evil 4 reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on PlayStation 5. Also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox, and PC."Whether you're a fan of the original or a newcomer with a hankering for some action-heavy horror of the highest quality, Resident Evil 4 is like a parasite-riddled Spaniard: a total no-brainer. Its combat is friction-free but no less stress-inducing thanks to its ferocious cast of creatures, its story rapidly shuttles through a series of action scenes that are diverse in structure but uniformly unwavering in intensity, and its world is rich in detail and full of fun and often snarling surprises. Its improvements over the original are too numerous to list, from simple quality of life changes to completely overhauled boss fight mechanics, and with the exception of the disappointingly diminished personality of the merchant, the team at Capcom has barely put a foot wrong. Whaddaya buying? Only the most relentlessly exciting Resident Evil adventure of all time that’s been rebuilt, refined, and realised to the full limits of its enormous potential. A wise choice, mate."
The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR reviewed on PlayStation VR2 by Taylor Lyles. The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR is a fun on-rails arcade shooter, even if it’s one that takes less than a day to complete. It’s also one of the first games in the PS VR2’s library to really take advantage of the headset’s eye-tracking tech in an interesting and exciting way. However, the lack of scares, weak story, and occasional performance issues keep it from being a must-buy for PS VR2 early adopters.
Move over Wario, Peppino Spaghetti is-a-numbah one now. Pizza Tower is a blisteringly fast 2D platformer that can most easily be described as a spiritual successor to the Wario Land series, though that doesn't quite do it justice. Pizza Tower review by Mitchell Saltzman on PC
Shazam! Fury of the Gods reviewed by Tom Jorgensen. This sequel is a breezy, often funny second outing for Billy Batson and his family of young heroes. Each of the villainous Atlassian Daughters brings something unique to the screen (to the plot’s mixed benefit) and Helen Mirren’s performance stands out, but it’s disappointing that the distinctive heart of the first film takes a back seat to that expanded scope. The lack of focus on its lead character works against Fury of the Gods throughout, but it’s a testament to the strong foundation this movie’s built on that the assembled ensemble is able to share some of that burden.
Destiny 2: Lightfall reviewed by Travis Northup on Xbox Series X/S & PC, also available on PlayStation. Lightfall is a disappointing expansion with a campaign that falls flat on its face, an underwhelming new destination, and only a few new standout activities to take on. But Strand and the new Tormentor enemy are great additions to the sandbox, and some of the endgame activities, including the raid, are a blast. No doubt Lightfall’s shortcomings are made more painful by immediately following The Witch Queen and its strong post-launch updates.
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon reviewed by Michael Higham on Nintendo Switch. This spin-off is an absolute joy through and through. From its impressive, fantastical story moments full of childlike charm to its clever platforming puzzles and satisfying battles, this is a superb action-adventure where every piece comes together to create a wondrous playable storybook. Its dual-character concept doesn’t evolve that much once you get the hang of it, and its conclusion could have done a bit more to leave a lasting impact. But it’s a journey you’ll cherish all the same, and one that’s been brought to life through a beautiful art style, stellar voice performances, and an outstanding soundtrack.
It seemed like an impossible task, but the Baba Yaga has a history of delivering on those: John Wick: Chapter 4 stands above its predecessors – and the past decade’s worth of action films as a whole – as a modern epic.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves reviewed by Matt Donato. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves may not be as epic as The Lord of the Rings or as treacherous as Game of Thrones, but there's nothing wrong with being the jokier sibling of the fantasy adventure genre. Writers and directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein display a passion for Wizards of the Coast's famous tabletop RPG through humor that both roasts and respects dungeon masters everywhere. There's plenty to honor here beyond sticky-fingered thieves, which hopefully is the start of an on-screen universe that only gets stronger as quests continue.
The Ayaneo 2 is a major step forward from the Ayaneo Next and Steam Deck, and it feels almost as good as it plays. It’s expensive but excellent.
Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania DLC reviewed by Cameron Hawkins on PC, also available on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. The latest paid expansion to Dead Cells is a shining blueprint of how to do a crossover right. It celebrates the history of Castlevania while mixing it with Dead Cells’ own identity to make something that’s more than the sum of its already excellent parts. Not only does this collaboration feel like it makes total sense, the utmost care has clearly been put into every aspect, whether it be the still fantastic monster-slaying combat or the huge number of secrets waiting to be found inside. Regardless of whether this is the last content update Dead Cells will get or not, developers Motion Twin and Evil Empire deserve to receive their flowers and proudly take a massive bow.
Scream VI reviewed by Amelia Emberwing.Emotions and brutality are at an all-time high in Scream 6, setting it up to be the best sequel in the franchise yet. Though it does ultimately fumble the reason for Sidney Prescott’s absence, RadioSilence has officially proven that there’s a future for the franchise with or without its original final girl by giving us strong connections to the new Core Four.
Sons of the Forest early access reviewed by Leana Hafer on PC. This sequel to The Forest takes everything its predecessor did well and does it a little bit better. Exploring a huge, beautiful, deadly island through the changing seasons is a treat on its own. The new base building mechanics could entertain me for days without ever touching the main story. And to top it all off, we have smarter and more unsettling enemy behavior paired with thoughtfully improved combat. It's already great, and it's still in Early Access. With some healthy performance optimization and shining up of an impactful but sloppy ending, it could become incredible.
Familiar issues with storytelling and loot aside, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is another great entry in Team Ninja's growing collection of action RPGs that features some of the best combat in the soulslike genre, even though those battles start to lose their tension due to a distinct lack of variety to fill out the 20+ hour runtime.
The Mandalorian Season 3 Premiere reviewed by Samantha Nelson on Disney+.Entertaining fight scenes and adorable Grogu antics anchor The Mandalorian Season 3 pilot, which is mostly devoted to getting viewers back up to speed with the state of the world and its characters and setting Din on a new quest. The show goes back to the beginning to demonstrate how much has changed even if its core dynamic remains the same, laying solid groundwork for a host of new conflicts for the Mandalorian and his foundling to face together.
Gran Turismo 7 VR reviewed by Gabriel Moss on PlayStation VR 2. Gran Turismo 7 is the same amazing simulation-focused racer it always has been, but playing in a PS VR2 headset has elevated it in unexpected ways. Driving its intense and entrancing races in VR adds such a high level of tactility that you can physically feel the tweaks you make to your car, demystifying a lot of the otherwise intimidating optional customization for the average player. It also looks stunning, making up for flat menus and the lack of interactivity in its cabins with impressive lighting and audio alike.
Demeo reviewed by Gabriel Moss on PlayStation VR2, PlayStation 5, Meta Quest 2, and PC.Demeo is a delightful alternative to the mechanically engrossing (albeit burdensome) tabletop RPGs and board games to which it lovingly pays homage. It might not offer the same width or depth as a true RPG, and it may not satisfy a pen-and-paper purist’s love of creating and growing with their own heroes, but it’s such an enjoyably compact yet intelligently riveting experience that, if you can get past its occasional bugs, Demeo is a great introductory game for anyone who’s interested in seeing what D&D or VR is about.
Scars Above reviewed on PlayStation 5 by Axel Bosso. Also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox, and PC.Scars Above shows a lot of potential in its third-person shooting, fun elemental reactions, and a good number of creatures to experiment with. The thrill of setting out to discover a new alien world is short-lived, however, due to the weapons and gadgets in your arsenal quickly growing so powerful that nothing poses a threat. And while there are a few excellent environments to explore, everything within them – the characters, story, and universe – feel weak and underdeveloped, giving you few reasons to stop and smell the alien roses once you’ve blasted your way through.
Resident Evil Village VR reviewed on PlayStation VR2 by Taylor Lyles. Resident Evil Village VR is far more than just a gimmicky afterthought, adding enough improvements and tweaks to justify fans of both the series and virtual reality reliving Ethan’s not-so-great European vacation one more time. While the controls be a little cumbersome as you take the time needed to master them, and the VR perspective can cause a few awkward viewing angles, this is still a very enjoyable return to an already great game.
Blood Bowl 3 reviewed by Leana Hafer on PC, also available on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. While it's easy to recommend the Blood Bowl 2 Legendary Edition to have a gory good time with, you'd struggle to come up with a reason why this sequel needs to exist. There's less reason to recommend it over its predecessor than an especially weak year of Madden or NBA 2K. It's a sloppy, muddy, buggy rehash of a better game. Sure, the strong core mechanics can still lead to some tense, exhilarating matches, but you could have all of that with a much sharper presentation in the version that came out during the Obama Administration.
Creed 3 reviewed by Clint Gage. Opens in theaters on March 3, 2023.Creed III is a confident directorial debut from star Michael B. Jordan that shows he’s already achieved a mastery of the formula that’s brought the series so much success. An engrossing new visual dynamic to the fight scenes and a fantastic antagonist in Jonathan Majors’ Dame Anderson elevate it in the legacy of a franchise that’s no stranger to middling sequels. While it may not stray too far from the very familiar format of a Rocky movie, seeing Creed truly begin a legacy of his own apart from Rocky Balboa is an exciting chapter for the series.
Cocaine Bear reviewed by Brian Altano. Opens in theaters February 24, 2023.Cocaine Bear celebrates its nonsensical story, gives its characters (and its bear) plenty to chew on, provides a script with jokes that mostly land and kills that frequently delight, and gives us exactly and specifically what we signed up for. I hesitate to say you should shut your brain off to enjoy this movie as much as I did because I think that exercise is mostly thrown around to excuse truly bad films – or “so bad they’re good” films. I don’t believe that Cocaine Bear is either of those things. It’s a great horror-comedy about a bear that eats cocaine – probably the best we’ll ever get about such an inherently ridiculous premise. This is where you come in. If you’re the kind of person who can buy into this insane idea and enjoy it for precisely what it’s presenting itself as, you’ll probably have a great time. It’s gory, fun as hell, packed with hilarious grotesque kills and over-the-top characters, and at 90-ish minutes, it’s paced near perfectly and never overstays its welcome or overdoses on the joke.
Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe reviewed on Nintendo Switch by Colin Stevens.Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe takes a fun but straightforward Wii platformer, freshens it up visually, and adds a new mini adventure to pad out its otherwise relatively short campaign. Kirby’s journey across Planet Popstar starts as a slow, overly easy drudge. But once the difficulty picks up and the stages become more creative, this platformer shines through to its over-the-top conclusion – even if that conclusion comes far too soon. The Magolor Epilogue is also a welcome addition that stands on its own as another brief but worthwhile story. Return to Dream Land certainly isn’t Kirby’s best or most creative outing, but if you haven’t already played it on Wii, the Deluxe version is the ideal way to see what a traditional Kirby game is all about.
Company of Heroes 3 single-player campaigns reviewed on PC by Jon Bolding.The core of Company of Heroes 3’s pair of single-player campaigns is fun, tactical RTS action of the kind the series is well known for. Battles are often spectacular in their use of terrain and the series’ traditional mix of infantry and armor, and are consistently interesting despite the lackluster AI that loves to blunder its way into an unconvincing defeat. But its campaigns are both wrapped up in big ideas and stories that just don’t work out well. A buggy and frustratingly designed dynamic Italian campaign map feels like it’s just wasting time between the exciting tactical battles it loosely connects, and the North African campaign’s strong missions are strung together by loose stories that fail to connect. After the brilliant World War 2 campaigns we’ve seen from this series in the past, it’s hard not to be disappointed in these.
Atomic Heart reviewed by Luke Reilly on Xbox Series X. Also available on Xbox One, PlayStation, and PC."Atomic Heart is a deeply ambitious, highly imaginative, and consistently impressive atompunk-inspired attempt at picking up where the likes of BioShock left off – something it’s done with a lot of success. It certainly makes missteps, chiefly with an irritating leading man and a self-indulgent habit of using the same tired tropes it tries to make fun of, but this stern, superpowered, and stringently solo shooter has worked its way under my skin despite these flaws. Atomic Heart didn’t always blow me away, but it definitely has the ticker to punch well above its weight."
Metroid Prime Remastered reviewed by Samuel Claiborn on Nintendo Switch.Metroid Prime has been one of my favorite games for decades, but I’m still shocked that its bones are so strong. 21 years later, in 2023, Metroid Prime Remastered had to do so little beyond modernizing the controls and updating the graphics to become one of the best games you can buy once again. This ultimate solo mission is a respite from the noise of hint-giving companions and lengthy cinematic cutscenes that make up much of today’s single-player games. Those things have their place, but Metroid Prime Remastered shows that you can tell a story and create a grand adventure by building an amazing world and creating unique and fun tools to explore it with. I strongly encourage you to delve into Metroid Prime Remastered, and get lost.
Octopath Traveler 2 reviewed by Seth Macy on Nintendo Switch, also available on PlayStation and PC. Five years after the original, this sequel from Square Enix sticks a little too closely to the original systems without expanding on them much. The still lovely visuals don’t stand out as much anymore, but the turn-based combat system is still quite fun and satisfying. If you liked the original Octopath Traveler (or even any of the Bravely Default games) Octopath Traveler 2 is another good ol' fashioned 80-hour JRPG - it just might be one you feel like you’ve played before.
Like a Dragon: Ishin! reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie of PlayStation 5. Also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox, and PC."While its half-baked gunplay should probably have remained holstered, Like a Dragon: Ishin!’s stylish sword fighting and over-the-top Trooper card attacks successfully pair the Yakuza series’ brand of hysterical action with the historical fiction of its 19th century Japan setting. Unfortunately, its step back in time also presents a slight step down in quality for its substories and side activities, which have each been eclipsed in entertainment value by the other Yakuza and Judgment games in the years since Ishin’s original Japanese release, and the blander areas of its low-tech environment can’t quite compete with the flashy charms of Kamurocho when it comes to exploration. Even so, its high stakes story had me hooked throughout, and it was fascinating to get an insight into a period of Japanese history I knew very little about previously, albeit through a heavily fictionalized lens. No matter which way you slice it, Like a Dragon: Ishin! is an enjoyable and interesting spin-off from the Yakuza series, but not an essential one."
Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge Enhanced Edition reviewed by Gabriel Moss on PlayStation VR2Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge Enhanced Edition is an excellent way to showcase the best features of a fancy new PlayStation VR2 headset to friends and family, but thanks to the expanded content it’s also a worthy shooter and a memorable Star Wars game in its own right. Unfortunately there’s no way to skip past the annoying first chapter, but if Star Wars fans are accustomed to anything it’s sitting through some bad episodes before you get to the good stuff. While it's slightly dogged by a few monotonous quests and some slow-burn character development, once it gets moving and throws you into punchy blaster battles it recreates that signature Star Wars atmosphere in detail so vivid that most of the 10 hours you’ll spend inside your headset are a great time.
Winnie The Pooh: Blood and Honey reviewed by Matt DonatoWinnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey wastes an immediate-draw title on an underbaked, low-budget horror blunder that’s rougher than sandpaper. Outside of a few good kills, even horror fans just looking for mindless slaughter will probably be frustrated by Rhys Frake-Waterfield's unimpressive and unamusing adaptation. Every choice becomes more baffling than the last, as if attention was only paid to how much gore slathers the screen rather than, for example, making the title character look better than something you might pull off the shelf at a Spirit Halloween shop in early November. Not every horror film needs an airtight approach and Oscar-worthy composition, but it’s a crushing disappointment after Blood and Honey’s delightfully twisted elevator pitch grabbed so much attention that it seems to struggle to succeed at even the most basic movie-making elements. "Oh bother?" Try "Why bother."
Wild Hearts reviewed by Tom Marks on PlayStation 5, also available on PC and Xbox Series X|S. Koei Tecmo's Omega Force manages to introduce plenty of fun new ideas to the Monster Hunter formula while recapturing it well enough to stand proudly alongside the series that so clearly inspired it. The way it simplifies and streamlines things makes for a slightly shallower package, but its karakuri building mechanic adds a fresh new way to interact with the map in its place.
Horizon Call of the Mountain’s exciting highs elevate it just enough above its often monotonous climbing mechanics to create a fun first blockbuster entry into the PS VR 2 library.
With top-notch visual quality and immersively tactile Sense controllers, PlayStation VR2 represents a quantum leap over its predecessor, setting a new standard for console VR gaming.
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line reviewed by Jada Griffin on PlayStation 4, also available on Nintendo Switch. The latest in the DS series is full of charm and nostalgia alike, with cutesy versions of my favorite Final Fantasy characters and excellent remixes of the iconic songs that accompanied them. The light RPG mechanics, coupled with traditional rhythm mechanics, is easy enough to get into and deep enough to entertain fans of both.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is here so it's time to review the latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe from director Peyton Reed and writer Jeff Loveness. The third Ant-Man movie marks the start of Phase 5 of the MCU and introduces the fearsome Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors), the time-traveling villain He Who Remains warned about in the Season 1 finale of Loki on Disney+. Now it's time for Ant-Man/Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) to take on the tyrant with the help of his family, including Hope Van Dyne/Wasp (Evangeline Lilly), Cassie Lang/Stature/Stinger (Kathryn Newton), Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), and Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer).
Wanted: Dead's shallow combat, dated presentation, and poorly balanced difficulty are the tip of the iceberg of issues that ultimately sinks this disappointing action game from the makers of Ninja Gaiden.
Deliver Us Mars reviewed by Leana Hafer on PC, also available on Xbox and PlayStation. A rousing mystery brought to life by a great voice cast and nuanced character writing can't really save Deliver Us Mars from its shortcomings. Poor technical performance during cutscenes and backstory that is too often delivered by these barely-differentiated mannequins make it difficult to get sucked into this extraterrestrial world. Even when it’s running smoothly, frustrating climbing and platforming mechanics are just a chore to get through so that you can reach the more clever puzzles and rewarding exploration that break up the annoyances with moments of wonder and satisfaction.
Hogwarts Legacy revewied by Travis Northup on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC.In nearly every way, Hogwarts Legacy is the Harry Potter RPG I’ve always wanted to play. Its open-world adventure captures all the excitement and wonder of the Wizarding World with its memorable new characters, challenging and nuanced combat, and a wonderfully executed Hogwarts student fantasy that kept me glued to my controller for dozens of hours. It’s certainly weighed down by technical issues, a lackluster main story, and some poor enemy variety, but even those couldn’t come close to breaking its enchanting spell over me.
Hi-Fi Rush reviewed by Michael Higham on PC, also available on Xbox Series X|S. The latest action game from The Evil Within and Ghostwire: Tokyo develop Tango Gameworks has best-in-class animation, endearing heroes to cheer for, and villains you love to hate, all wrapped in good-natured humor. It turns a dynamic rock soundtrack into its greatest weapon, putting meticulous detail into syncing the beat to all aspects of the experience.
Knock at the Cabin reviewed by Matt DonatoKnock at the Cabin fails to knock the classic cabin in the woods horror methods out of the park. M. Night Shyamalan abides by unfittingly formulaic standards and produces a tonal flatliner despite an arsenal of emotionally targeted beatdowns and prophecy-spouting lambs led to slaughter in the name of blind faith. There's nothing uniquely surprising or exceptionally rousing, which is a shame given the unfathomably dreadful predicament and an interesting turn of a performance from Dave Bautista. It's a film without sensation that feels like it's pulling its punches across the board – development is stunted, ideas lack passion, and the camera avoids visible violence – before the ending strolls off into the sunset with barely any goodbye. Thematic messages tethered to Old Testament interpretations are lost when the story wraps due to increasingly stale predictability, as Knock at the Cabin exposes a Shyamalan script with surprisingly little to say.
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake reviewed by Travis Northup on Xbox Series X|S, also available on Xbox One, PlayStation, PC, and Nintendo Switch. This long-awaited follow-up to Battle for Bikini Bottom is a simple, unambitious 3D platformer that pales in comparison to its peers in every way besides all the charm and humor it borrows from the iconic show. Whether it’s the incredibly basic jumping and swinging that becomes irksomely repetitive within minutes, or the humdrum combat that has you mopping up the same handful of enemies hundreds of times without anything to meaningfully differentiate the first battle from the last, Cosmic Shake badly lacks the imagination and creativity for which the show is known. The original cast’s voice performances and silly gags are certainly a highlight, but if you were hoping for something akin to Super Mario Odyssey in a pineapple under the sea, sadly this falls far short.
Dead Space reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on PC. Also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X."With its stunningly redesigned spaceship, smartly and subtly enhanced story, and spectacularly reimagined action scenes, Motive Studio has managed to successfully breathe new life into the seminal sci-fi horror universe of Dead Space. Despite the fact I’ve returned to the 2008 original several times over the years and found it to hold up fairly well, my latest journey through the darkened hallways of the USG Ishimura still managed to consistently surprise me and pull me into Isaac’s plight far more than ever before, while still satisfying my desire to butcher undead astronauts with an enjoyable arsenal of wildly unsafe mining tools. It’s clear that this superb Dead Space remake has been a labour of love for the team at Motive Studios, who’ve very carefully balanced innovation and renovation with preservation, and to their credit the end result is undoubtedly the definitive way to experience – or re-experience – one of the best survival horror shooters that Capcom never made."
IGN's Review of the original Dead Space, released in 2008. Sci-fi survival horror is here, and space will never be the same again.
The DualSense Edge controller puts its customization front and center with its slick software and intuitive Function buttons, finally giving PlayStation owners an answer to the venerated Xbox Elite.
Forspoken reviewed by Tom Marks on PlayStation 5, also available on PC. Square Enix's latest action RPG is the kind of game you’ve probably seen before – from its stereotypical fish-out-of-water fantasy story to its giant open-world map full of repetitive optional tasks. Its combat is flashy and fun enough to entertain across its comparatively short RPG campaign, with fights that do a decent job of pushing you to shake up your use of Frey’s elemental powers even when the overall variety of enemies isn’t particularly impressive. Its parkour system is also satisfying enough, despite the scenery you are running through being about as picturesque as a bowl of rocks with an Instagram filter slapped on.
That '90s Show is now streaming on Netflix. Review by Laura Sirikul. Netflix’s That ‘90s Show is a blast from the past of the ‘90s and of memories from That ‘70s Show. With funny moments filled with nostalgia, That ‘90s Show is charming and has a lot of potential. The series follows the same format as the original, which works for the characters and their storylines, but relies too heavily on the original cast – leaving little room for the new wave of talented teens to fully develop their relationships with each other.
The Legend of Vox Machina Season 2 premieres on Prime Video on Jan. 20, 2023. Review by Rafael Motamayor. Season 2 of The Legend of Vox Machina is bigger, meaner, and funnier than its predecessor, moving away from the prologue to a proper fantasy epic with multiple locations, a grand quest, and character side missions. Despite an overabundance of tropes, the season gets by thanks to its charming voice cast and endearing characters, which get deepened in exciting ways this season.
One Piece Odyssey reviewed by Mitchell Saltzman on PlayStation 5. Also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox, and PC.
Velma will premiere with two episodes on HBO Max on Jan. 12, followed by two episodes weekly. Review by Brittany Vincent. Velma is an often funny take on the classic Scooby-Doo series with plenty of risqué humor. But it’s unfortunate that most of what makes Velma funny is completely unrelated to the character who gets a starring role. This show likely came about because of fans who have always wanted more for the teenage super-solver. Ironically, the series would be exponentially better without its namesake – or, at least a version of her with a bit more character growth.
HBO's The Last of Us is a stunning adaptation that should thrill newcomers and enrich those already familiar with Joel and Ellie's journey alike.Season 1 of The Last of Us reviewed by Simon Cardy for IGN. The series premiere debuts on HBO on January 15th.
M3GAN hits theaters on Jan. 6, 2023. Review by Matt Donato. M3GAN lives up to its memeable pre-release hype for mostly better and sporadically worse. Gerard Johnstone was the correct director choice, and Akela Cooper attempts deeper storytelling explorations centered around contemporary technological distractions — but you're watching for M3GAN. That's why she dazzles as the titular tyrant ready to rumble in the name of hardcoded primary user love, even at a detriment to the scenes where she's relegated obsolete. Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, and other performers are granted their momentary standouts (Williams anchors scene after scene), only to concede spotlights because M3GAN is the reason for the horror season this winter. A genre star is born from motherboards and violence in a movie that begs to be a tad leaner yet delivers clip-worthy "horrortainment" nonetheless.
The Bad Batch Season 2 premieres on Disney+ on Jan. 4. Review by Jesse Gill. Whatever you may personally think of Experimental Clone Force 99, the value of The Bad Batch as a series really lies in how it illuminates the era the story takes place in on the Star Wars canon timeline. The mission-to-mission arcs, meanwhile, are fun, although at times a little repetitive. But the animation and production quality are once again top-notch, and The Bad Batch Season 2 is a great way to kick off 2023 for Star Wars fans.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish hits theaters on Dec. 21, 2022. Review by Rafael Motamayor. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish takes not only the Shrek franchise, but DreamWorks Animation to exciting new places. This is a spaghetti western-inspired tale of an aging cowboy on one last adventure with some rather mature themes, aided by stunning animation that mixes 3D with 2D effects, and a painterly style that gives the film a unique look.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery debuts on Netflix on Dec. 23, 2022. Review by Rafael Motamayor. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is a bigger, bolder, funnier, angrier sequel that improves on almost every aspect of its predecessor. Rian Johnson plays with an air-tight script that targets the absurdity and stupidity of the one percent while delivering a hilarious murder mystery on the most luxurious private island not owned by a Bond villain.
World of Warcraft: Dragonflight reviewed on PC by Leana Hafer.Dragonflight reignites the sense of wonder and exploration that originally drew me to World of Warcraft, for about the first 30 or 40 hours. Beyond that, it definitely starts to feel a bit threadbare. Dragon riding is fun as hell, and I love the design of the new zones. But this expansion's back-to-basics approach is very much a double-edged sword. I won't burn out as fast because there aren't a million things to do every day just to keep up like there were in Shadowlands. But at the same time, I don't feel like there's enough to do that's genuinely interesting once I've cleared all the very well-written side quests. An excellent new crafting system is gated behind mind-numbing amounts of mindless grinding for resources, in addition to weekly caps, which feels like a double jeopardy situation. I like Dragonflight, but I fell out of love with it not long after hitting max level. I really hope Blizzard looks at this as a rebuilding year for WoW, and doesn't hesitate to iterate on some of the inventive ideas in Shadowlands that were maybe only a step or two away from being great.
High on Life reviewed by Travis Northup on Xbox Series X|S, also available on PC. The latest from Rick and Morty creator Justin Roiland's Squanch Games, this irreverent, absurd shooter manages to shine with its outrageous humor, silly setting, and some really goofy, foul-mouthed guns that pull the whole thing together. Combat is a bit sloppy, especially during the first act, and the whole sci-fi adventure sometimes has an unpolished feel to it, but once you get some more tools of destruction and movement options, it rises to the occasion.
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Chapter 2 - Retribution reviewed by Gabriel Moss on Meta Quest 2. Coming to PC VR and PlayStation VR 2 in 2023.The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – Chapter 2: Retribution largely offers more of the same to fans of the original. It ties just a few new gameplay additions to a series of rather mediocre missions that conclude (but struggle to give retributive justice to) the impactful story told in the first chapter. That said, if you liked the original, or even if you skipped it altogether, this is still one of the better zombie games you can play on the Meta Quest 2. Both the combat and the survival horror elements are just as good as they were in 2020, made better by powerful new weapons, a night mode, and an increased focus on action rather than stealth. But when the bugs, frame drops, and crashes begin to show up, it’s tough to shake off the feeling that this sequel was created on autopilot, kinda like a walker in need of a midday snack.
Dragon Quest Treasures reviewed by Josh Broadwell on Nintendo Switch. This spin-off is a light, charming take on the classic RPG series. In place of challenging battles and complex campaigns, it offers a cute fairy tale of two orphans finding riches, building a new family, and bringing happiness to a weary land. It’s hard to ignore the missed potential for a more nuanced story and more combat that could have been, but the relaxed pace and constant stream of rewards still make Treasures a satisfying RPG to plunder your way through.
River City Girls 2 reviewed by Jarrett Green on PC. Also available on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.Whether you're a long-time fan of these games, or you’ve just been recently introduced to the beat-’em-up by the genre’s renaissance over the past few years, River City should be your next stop. River City Girls 2’s RPG elements, dense combat, and witty sense of humor is a real shot in the arm to a genre that has been celebrating its history lately, but also in need of some innovation. Here, by expanding on its 2019 revival of the foundational design concept laid all the way back in 1989, Wayforward has blended history seamlessly with modern day vibes to create something true to its roots and new on the scene at the same time. You might call being led back and forth through the city’s map stale, but you can’t say those locations aren’t gorgeous and full of great music.
Avatar: The Way of Water debuts in theaters on Dec. 16, 2022. Review by Tom Jorgensen. Avatar: The Way of Water is a thoughtful, sumptuous return to Pandora, one which fleshes out both the mythology established in the first film and the Sully family’s place therein. It may not be the best sequel James Cameron has ever made (which is a very high bar), but it’s easily the clearest improvement on the film that preceded it. The oceans of Pandora see lightning striking in the same place twice, expanding the visual language the franchise has to work within beautiful fashion. The simple story may leave you crying “cliché,” but as a vehicle for transporting you to another world, it’s good enough to do the job. This is nothing short of a good old-fashioned Cameron blockbuster, full of filmmaking spectacle and heart, and an easy recommendation for anyone looking to escape to another world for a three-hour adventure.
The Witcher: Blood Origin debuts on Netflix on Dec. 25, 2022. Review by David Griffin. The Witcher: Blood Origin delivers an action-packed and memorable look into how the Conjunction of Spheres and creation of the first Witcher prototype came to be. While the villains and political storylines surrounding the Golden Empire are less interesting, the series is bolstered by its engaging band of misfits as they journey across The Continent kicking butt wherever they go. And though the special effects aren’t on par with more recent big-budget fantasy series out there, the stellar use of Iceland’s landscape as a backdrop for The Continent more than makes up for the average-looking monsters.
Sonic Prime Season 1 debuts on Netflix on Dec. 15, 2022. Review by Kenneth Seward Jr. Sonic Prime is a fun and overall entertaining, family-friendly show. Sitting tonally between the 1992 Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog and 93’ Sonic the Hedgehog – which features a similar “freedom fighters seeking to overthrow a cruel leader” vibe – it offers an exciting look at the past while presenting some new ideas. It has some issues concerning pacing and the abrupt ending of the first season won’t do it any favors. That said, Sonic Prime should be well received by new and longtime franchise fans.
Dragon Age: Absolution is now streaming on Netflix. Review by Alyssa Mora. Complex characters and compelling story beats make Dragon Age: Absolution a memorable installment in the fantasy franchise, but the series’ bite-size length and deep entrenchment in game lore often get in its own way. However, as a whole it’s still a wildly good time that fans of the games are definitely sure to enjoy. Fight scenes are expertly choreographed and the ensemble shines.
Call of Duty: Warzone 2 reviewed by Stella Chung on PC. Also available on Xbox and PlayStation. Building on the already rock-solid foundation of the original Warzone, Warzone 2.0 is a positive update to Call of Duty’s battle royale mode, even with few drawbacks of its own. Its new map isn’t the most exciting outside of being the biggest ever brought to Warzone, but great additions like proximity chat and an updated ping system change things up and bring new life to the struggle for survival. And while adding backpacks as lootable gear may have slowed down looting in general, the new take on the Gulag creates some memorable moments if you can convince your fellow prisoners to team up against a common enemy for the greater good. And, as an added bonus, the new DMZ extraction mode revitalizes Warzone by appealing to people who might not want to sweat through full battle royale matches every time, but still want to level weapons and get a quick taste of that fight for survival.
Choo-Choo Charles reviewed by Travis Northup on PC, also available on PlayStation and Xbox.
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio debuts on Netflix on Dec. 9, 2022. Review by Hanna Flint. Guillermo del Toro sprinkles his signature dark whimsy on a fairytale classic with stunning puppetry and catchy original songs. Filled with heart, humor, and historical grounding, it’s a phenomenal feat of animated cinema.
Need for Speed Unbound reviewed by Luke Reilly on Xbox Series X. Also available on PlayStation 5 and PC."When the rubber hits the road it’s evident Need for Speed Unbound hasn’t strayed very far from the fundamentals of 2019’s Heat. This is a little surprising following the series’ shift back to Criterion – a studio that has traditionally had a very distinct style of its own – although it isn’t a bad thing considering Heat was a welcome splash of gas for a franchise that was close to running on fumes. Unbound should, however, turn heads thanks to its bold new animated characters and special effects. Despite the odd juxtaposition between its traditional graphics and the cartoon-inspired flourishes, they are strikingly well done and make for an instantly recognisable instalment of this 28-year-old series. However, while the car customisation tools are as expressive as ever, it does feel unlikely that older players will be able to connect with the single-player mode’s preening cast of entitled chuckleheads, and unfortunately the separate online mode is currently missing core features like cops."
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7– Reunion reviewed by Colin Stevens on PlayStation 5, also available on PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. Crisis Core pushes the definition of a remaster to the edge, completely renovating the 15-year-old PSP game’s graphics, combat, and more. That said, many of the design choices made for the handheld original – like bite-sized side missions – are left intact, keeping this experience from feeling completely modern. But even with a few aging quirks, Crisis Core remains a fun, compelling, and integral chapter in the ongoing Compilation of Final Fantasy 7, and Reunion is the absolute best way to experience it.
Dwarf Fortress reviewed by Jon Bolding on PC. Infinitely explorable in its complexity and equally rewarding in the depth you’ll find there, this is the quintessential world simulation and building management game. Until now its magnificent worlds have been inaccessible to all but the dedicated few, but this new Steam version is beefed up with lovely graphics and equipped with modern controls, opening the floodgates for a new generation to blissfully drown in its magnificent story engine. What spills forth is a genre-defining masterpiece, proving just how incredible video games can be when a developer has a precise goal and valiantly strives to achieve it, even if the effort takes decades.
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide reviewed by Kyle Campbell on PC, also available on Xbox. This 40k follow-up to Fatshark's Vermintide games is one of the most entertaining co-op shooters since Left 4 Dead 2. That careful balancing act between multiple methods of murder is ceaselessly entertaining, especially while hatching diabolical plans with your buddies to silence whatever horrors lurk in Tertium's plague-ridden streets. Tedious between-mission progression and persistent framerate dips are the only things that can occasionally spoil that fun, which is a shame when Darktide otherwise nails virtually every fundamental of its genre.
Far Cry 6: Lost Between Worlds DLC reviewed by David Jagneaux on PC, also available on PlayStation and Xbox. Lost Between Worlds’ web of interweaving levels may be more restrictive than Far Cry 6’s usual open world, but this wild new structure totally works. What Ubisoft lost in vast level design they made up for with a creative alternate dimension concept that encourages replaying levels, unlocking new paths, and mixing up your approach. There isn’t much to the story this time around and the addition of color-coded enemies doesn’t do much to shake up its otherwise untouched combat, but the interesting premise and engaging gameplay loop at least help this add-on outrank the previous villain-focused DLCs.
The Callisto Protocol reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on PlayStation 5. Also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox, and PC."The Callisto Protocol is a supremely atmospheric and action-heavy tour through a spectacular slaughterhouse set in distant space. Its largely linear design makes for minimal backtracking, meaning it trims the fat while leaving no shortage of bone and gristle to rip and tear. However, it also betrays its survival horror roots by regularly tipping the balance of power too far in favour of the player, and while there’s plenty of murderous fun to be had using giant grinding mechanisms to make mulch out of mutants, such cheap thrills come at the high cost of puncturing any tension and dread that the tremendous art and audio design work so hard to invoke. Aside from the meaty melee combat, there’s also the overriding sense that there’s not a lot here that hasn’t been done before – and there’s disappointingly little to do once you’ve beaten the campaign. Thus The Callisto Protocol is a satisfyingly gory spiritual successor to the Dead Space series, but it’s ultimately more of a striking modern mimic than a scary new mutation."
Marvel's Midnight Suns reviewed on PC by Dan Stapleton. Also available on Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch.With Marvel’s Midnight Suns, Firaxis has put itself in the league of RPG developers like BioWare, Obsidian, Bethesda, and Larian. Its innovative combat takes a bit to get going, but once it does it makes excellent use of card game mechanics to keep its turn-based battles fresh, evolving, and unpredictable over the course of an epic-length campaign. The supernatural apocalypse story is given emotional weight by the family relationship between the hero and villain at the heart of it. Building intense friendships with famed Marvel superheroes does tend to feel forced and weird, but learning all their backstories and conflicts can be intriguing, and the fact that nearly everything you do outside of combat makes you more powerful in the next fight means it all tends to be worthwhile.
Willow premieres on Disney+ on Nov. 30, 2022. Review by Rosie Knight. Jon Kasdan brings unabashed joy and passion to Willow. His love for the property shines through, making this one of 2022's most unexpected and brilliant new series. Expertly balancing accessibility for new viewers and continuing the story that '80s babies love, with stunning cinematography, charming performances, and vibrant storytelling, this feels like Disney+ at its best.
Violent Night hits theaters on Dec. 2, 2022. Review by Matt Donato. In Violent Night, nothing is calm and fiery explosions are bright. Director Tommy Wirkola protects sentimental holiday cheer within a David Harbour showcase that gets nuttier than peanut brittle. Wirkola doesn't hold back as Home Alone becomes a graphic traps-that-kill homage or Santa pulverizes bone under heavy steel, embracing the B-Movie extremes that more than earn its hard "R" rating. Violent Night might take a hot minute to find its footing and keeps plucking low-hanging wordplay sugar plums, but at full strength, nobody's stopping Santa from making this year the reddest Christmas imaginable.
Andor is one of the very best TV shows of the year and as good as Star Wars has been in a long, long time.Andor Season 1 reviewed by Simon Cardy. All 12 episodes are now available to stream on Disney+.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet reviewed by Rebekah Valentine on Nintendo Switch. Discovering and catching charming monsters across an enormous open world with an actually good story is really fun. But it is completely impossible to play Scarlet and Violet and not notice at least some performance issues, and not just framerate problems: these games actively crash, disconnect, and break in highly distracting ways basically all of the time.
Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special streams on Disney+ on Nov. 25, 2022. Review by Alex Stedman. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special delivers all the Christmas cheer, sentiment, catchy musical numbers, and laugh-out-loud moments you could ask for in a quick 43 minutes. Kevin Bacon is hilarious as he plays himself in a bizarre situation, as is Dave Bautista’s Drax, but the real star here is Pom Klementieff as Mantis. James Gunn gives this former background character tons of layers, and Klementieff brings it all home with a charming performance. It all makes for a delightful addition to any MCU fan’s annual Christmas rotation.
Gungrave G.O.R.E reviewed by Will Borger on PC, also available on Xbox and PlayStation. Much of Gungrave G.O.R.E feels like a missed opportunity. There’s a genuinely great combat system here, but the lack of variety and repetitive enemy design often let it down. The art and environments are fantastic and ooze style, but the story told in this attractive setting isn’t very interesting. The music and sound design are largely wonderful, too, but the voice acting is a little uneven. It’s easy to see the very real potential here, but a mishmash of missteps prevents Gungrave G.O.R.E from ever fully reaching it.
The Samsung Odyssey Ark is a striking display that looks outstanding on paper, but in practice, it’s just too much screen that is meant to be viewed too closely, and doesn’t properly balance between being a television or a monitor. It’s nice for playing games, and is usable for watching TV or movies if you don’t mind sitting at a desk instead of on a couch, but using it as a regular PC monitor just isn’t a good experience.
Evil West reviewed by David Jagneaux on PC, also available on PlayStation and Xbox. This refreshing blast from the past from the developer of Shadow Warrior 3 nails the most important parts of its old-school, vampire-hunting action. The combat is smooth and its weapon options are ludicrously entertaining, but low enemy variety and overly similar level layouts can grow somewhat monotonous after a while. This is far from the most complex or innovative action shooter, but every so often you just want to have some fun smashing in monster skulls.
Call of Duty Warzone 2.0 is here after two years since it's original launch and it brings some new mechanics and a new game mode but also new launch issues. There are some ongoing struggles for players since launch but the game seems fun when you can get into matches. Here are our first impressions of Warzone 2.0.
Wednesday hits Netflix on Nov. 23, 2022. Review by Amelia Emberwing. Wednesday introduces a whole new generation to the Addams family with creepy and kooky hijinks and an incredible performance from Jenna Ortega. Some tertiary characters struggle from weak writing while more interesting players are kept on the sidelines, but it’s not enough to bog down the series too much.
Goat Simulator 3 reviewed by Travis Northup on PC, also available on PlayStation and Xbox. This sequel almost certainly won’t wow you with its level of polish or a deep, meaningful narrative, but sometimes it’s a good idea to turn your brain off and buck your hooves into an old lady’s face while she fires a rocket launcher at you. With a larger map, more ridiculous references and hilarious jokes, and multiplayer that only enhances the ludicrous good times, it's easy to recommend to anyone with a taste for its silly sense of humor and a few hours to kill.
The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on PC. Also available on PlayStation and Xbox. "The Devil in Me’s twisted murder castle setting provides the literal foundations for what could have been an exciting horror adventure, but pacing problems and an insipid group of potential victims makes for a slaycation that’s low in stakes and lacking in any substantial thrills or hand-wringing decisions to make. Efforts to bring gameplay variety to each playable character haven’t really shaken things up to any notable degree, and the quicktime event-based survival sequences adhere to a stress-inducing formula that’s starting to feel a bit too familiar. Ominous animatronics and a hulking aggressor mean the concluding chapter of The Dark Pictures Anthology is still capable of inducing the occasional jump scare, but for the most part The Devil in Me’s tour through a maniac’s mansion is disappointingly lacking in any real menace or surprise."
The Sega Genesis Mini 2 is a great collection of 61 games, including some rarities and never-before-seen ports and updates. However, a dull controller and a UI a little too similar to the original brings down an otherwise delightful trip down memory lane.
Somerville reviewed on PC by Ryan McCaffrey. Also available on Xbox. Somerville follows its own unique path within the puzzle-adventure genre. That path isn’t always a smooth one, with camera annoyances and physics wonkiness occasionally serving as a pebble in your shoe while solving its series of pleasantly challenging puzzles, and the story is more strange for the sake of being strange than it is thought-provoking. But thanks to its strong visual storytelling techniques and the way the opening minutes inspire an irresistible desire to find out what happened to this man and whether or not he’ll ever find his family, Somerville is nevertheless a very good tour through an exceptionally bleak scenario – all of which is successfully conveyed without a single line of dialogue.
Pentiment reviewed by Leana Hafer on PC. Also available on Xbox. "As an engrossing 15 to 20-hour adventure game, a chronicle of a small town and its people in turbulent times, a reverent celebration of the finer details of Late Medieval history, and a clever detective story in which straight answers are hard to come by – Pentiment is a clear champion. My gripes about it are all relatively minor, and I look forward to playing it at least once or twice more to explore roads not taken. It never suffers for its simplicity, lacking in combat or traditional puzzles, because of how effectively it tangled me up in the complexities of its gorgeously-realized world and made me want to learn all I could about its people and its past. There isn't much more to say about Pentiment, other than I can hardly recommend it highly enough."
Among Us VR reviewed on Meta Quest 2 by Henry Stockdale. Also available on PC.Among Us VR is a great ground-up reworking of a classic social game that feels right at home in virtual reality, remaining faithful to Innersloth’s hit while feeling fresh in a new perspective and with a few sneaky new tricks in play. This still feels like the same game many of us fell in love with years ago, yet thanks to new elements like proximity voice chat and mini-games made to work with motion controls, Among Us VR revitalizes action across The Skeld. Additional maps and cosmetics can’t come quickly enough, but if they’re up to the standard that Schell Games has set with the one that’s currently available they’ll be worth a bit of a wait. This is easily one of the best VR adaptations of an existing game yet.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has returned. In our IGN Performance review, we get All Ghillied Up across current and last gen consoles, comparing the game's performance across PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PS4. Join us as we test all modes in the 60FPS & 120FPS range, different resolutions, make cross generation comparisons, and more.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will hit theaters on Nov. 11. Review by Tom Jorgensen.Black Panther: Wakanda Forever had to be a sequel to a cultural juggernaut, a tease of upcoming MCU adventures, and of course, a loving farewell. There are stretches where the struggle to balance those mandates scatters the focus of the story, but nuanced and committed performances from the returning cast keep it grounded when it counts. Tenoch Huerta Mejía’s Namor is a strong foil to Shuri, challenging both her ideology and her grieving process, and his nation of Talokan gets a thoughtful (if rushed) history to complement the film’s themes of colonialism. Director/co-writer Ryan Coogler’s efforts are at their most powerful when Wakanda Forever is in conversation with the loss of T’Challa – of Chadwick Boseman. The specifics of Wakanda Forever’s long-winded plot will likely leave little impact, but that doesn’t stop the new Black Panther from standing tall.
Sonic Frontiers reviewed by Travis Northup on PlayStation 5, also available on Xbox Series X|S and PC. Sonic Frontiers is a delightfully weird and experimental evolution of the Sonic games so many of us grew up with. Its expansive islands are filled with so much variety and pieces of Sonic history, from classic platforming stages to silly minigames, that they’re enjoyable to explore even when awful graphical pop-in is a constant hedgehog spine in your side. Some of the new stuff Frontiers tries out, like the self-contained Cyber Space levels within its open worlds, are fantastic ways to pack as much Sonic goodness as possible into one package, while others – especially combat – are uninteresting experiments gone wrong.
Marvel Snap reviewed by Cam Shea on iOS with iPad Gen 9 (2021). Also available on Android and PC (Early Access). "Marvel Snap upends the collectible card game genre with some truly fresh ideas, impressive strategic depth, wonderfully slick presentation, and a fantastic use of the Marvel licence. Its high variance gameplay can be frustrating at times, but is mitigated by the short games and ability to retreat mid-match, while the collection system represents a bold move away from the norm, even if it eventually becomes slow and unsatisfying. Despite this, Marvel Snap deserves a place in the pocket of card game players and Marvel fans alike."
The Entropy Centre reviewed on PC by Leana Hafer. Also available on Xbox and PlayStation.The Entropy Centre is a more than competent riff on a Portal-style first-person physics puzzler, chock full of brain teasers that manage to have satisfying solutions that made me feel like a big brain time wizard, although it never realizes the full, imaginative potential of its mind-bending tools. The design of the chambers, and the writing for that matter, never reach the heights that the Valve classics which very obviously inspired it did. But an endearing voice cast and a thought-provoking story about racing time itself make the journey well worth it.
Resident Evil Village: The Winters' Expansion reviewed on PlayStation 5 by Taylor Lyles. Also available on PC, PS4, and Xbox. The Winters' Expansion is mostly an underwhelming follow-up to Resident Evil Village. While Mercenaries Additional Orders has some valuable new maps and characters that help flesh out the time-attack mode and give Lady Dimitrescu another chance to enchant us, the disappointingly short and inessential Shadows of Rose story campaign and somewhat awkward third-person option for the main game left me feeling unseasonably lukewarm on the Winters.
Resident Evil Re:Verse reviewed by Will Borger on Xbox Series X|S, also available on Xbox One, PlayStation, and PC. There’s a good multiplayer game somewhere within Resident Evil Re:Verse, but what’s here now is in desperate need of balance changes and more content. This third-person deathmatch that was added alongside Resident Evil: Village is an interesting take on the franchise’s most iconic locations and characters, and it has some good ideas – especially giving you a second life as a fan-favorite monster. That can be fun in short bursts, but nearly every match showcases its unbalanced roster, lack of variety, and monetization methods that make better perks more easily available to those willing to spend cash.
God of War Ragnarok reviewed on PlayStation 5 by Simon Cardy. Also available on PlayStation 4.God of War Ragnarok is an almighty achievement and creates a new high that makes many of its peers look mortal by comparison.God of War Ragnarok is out on PS5 and PS4 on November 9, 2022.
WRC Generations reviewed by Luke Reilly on PlayStation 5. Also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo Switch. "When you get into the guts of it, WRC Generations is by no means a drastic shake-up on its quality predecessors, even if there have been some small but welcome improvements to the career mode and customisation tools that have spiked my enthusiasm. It does, however, deserve credit for both the very respectable range of relevant rally cars it features, as well as its absolute mountain of rally locations. With almost every country to host the WRC over the last decade represented, WRC Generations may be KT Racing’s last WRC game, but there’s nothing least about it. The kitchen sink philosophy has resulted in a fantastic and uncommonly generous package for gravel groupies, asphalt addicts, and mud-slinging maniacs alike."
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 reviewed on PC by Seth G. Macy. Also available on Xbox and PlayStation.Modern Warfare 2 is the most fun I’ve had in CoD multiplayer in a good long while. It’s taken what was already a mechanically solid multiplayer game and improved on it with a weapon customization system that's almost limitless in its possibilities, and its new focus on bigger maps with tons of players has paid off bigtime. The giant Groundwar and Invasion maps have struck a fantastic balance between hectic and manageable, giving them a feeling of controlled chaos, and the cooperative Spec Ops missions are a treat to play through. That’s on top of the usual load of modes, and they all let the excellent, weighty gunplay shine. That said, performance issues on PC and even some across consoles put a damper on the fun, and at launch there are a lot more issues than I would have expected – including temporarily turning off that awesome weapon customization. But aside from those hiccups it’s been great, and the constant stream of unlocks are a really effective carrot on a stick that keep me interested moving forward.
Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord reviewed on PC by Jon Bolding. Also available on Xbox and PlayStation.It's good that Mount & Blade: Bannerlord’s combat is fun, because everything that's not a fight is just a bit of color before you get caught up in a brawl somewhere or decide to kick off a new war. It’s a shame that you’re able to auto-resolve its glorious action/real-time strategy combat but are forced to endure dozens of hours of laborious and repetitive activities on its dry, flavorless overworld map. If I could skip over the bugs, shallow grinds, and frustrating non-combat activities around building up your faction and quickly return to battle it'd be easier to recommend. When it comes to simulating medieval warfare at the ground level between hundreds of soldiers down to every swing of a sword and clash of shields, this is the only game in town.
The Valiant reviewed on PC by Luke Reilly. "The Valiant is a serviceable, squad-based RTS that serves up some usually well-balanced sword-clanging action for its heroes and their small bands of merry men, though it wears a bit thin once it’s evident how repetitive and backtrack-heavy the battles can get. There’s a sturdy story to drive it forward, though it too is let down at the last moment by an ill-considered final battle that renders all your decision-making throughout the campaign worthless. And while The Valiant does have multiplayer, don’t count on being able to find any opponents to clash with online."
Star Ocean: The Divine Force reviewed by George Yang on PlayStation 5. Also available on PS4, Xbox, and PC. Narration by Mark Medina.The Divine Force isn’t necessarily a standout in this long-running series, but it is a much more successful effort to bring Star Ocean into the modern age than its predecessor. The revamped battle mechanics do wonders for its previously limited combat system, offering more freedom and flexibility than ever before. The main cast of characters is also charming, even if the world they are exploring and the animations that accompany them are far less captivating. I wish its interface issues were less obnoxious, but even so, The Divine Force at least proves that Square Enix’s sci-fi JRPG certainly deserved another shot.
Tales of the Jedi is now streaming on Disney+. Review by Alex Stedman. Tales of the Jedi is a strong, tightly written showcase for two important characters in Star Wars lore: Count Dooku and Ahsoka Tano. Dooku in particular gets a good amount of meat added to his character’s bones, while the other episodes feature a welcome look into Ahsoka at different points in her life. It’s moody and methodical at times, while still managing to weave in some beautifully animated action. It may not be absolutely vital Star Wars content, but there are certainly worse ways to revisit these characters before Ahsoka gets her own series.
House of the Dragon is now streaming on HBO Max. Review by Helen O'Hara. Early on it sometimes felt too faithful to its predecessor, but after ten episodes House Of The Dragon has forged its own identity and established itself as a worthy prequel to Game Of Thrones. That’s largely thanks to strong writing, a wildly overqualified cast, and a veritable flock of dragons. More of the same next time, but a little more confidence too. They’ve earned it.
Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed reviewed by Travis Northup on Xbox Series X, also available on PlayStation and PC. Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed is an entertaining asymmetrical multiplayer game that’s held back by some probably-fixable balance issues and map wonkiness, but it badly needs more content.
One of the best combat systems in gaming gets even better with Bayonetta 3. It's story is a bit of a letdown and its wild action scenes take a toll on the performance in certain spots, but neither of those issues get in the way of Bayonetta 3 being a top shelf action game on the Switch.
Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities premieres on Netflix on Oct. 25, 2022. Review by Kenneth Seward Jr. Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities offers horror fans a few unique thrills. While the assorted monsters are well designed, it's the creepy atmosphere and haunting visuals that usually sell the horror. Most of what’s presented is conceptually sound and the cast of each episode provide some solid performances. That said, the uneven quality of the stories proves that even del Toro couldn’t escape the difficulties typically associated with horror anthologies. Some episodes are certainly better than others.
Victoria 3 reviewed on PC by Leana Hafer.Victoria 3 is the kind of game that sucks me in and doesn't let me go, whether I'm trying to turn Hawaii into an anarcho-communist utopia or make Afghanistan the centerpiece of the global economy by monopolizing the opium trade. The scope and depth of its simulation is remarkable. I would need to double the length of this review just to explain the enormity of it in full. And that's only outdone by the fact that it actually runs well. I wish there was a fair bit less overall jank and weird AI behavior taking me out of the illusion, and the warfare system feels very work-in-progress. But that hasn't stopped me from playing it until the sun comes up more than a couple times in the last few weeks. It's a great first step, with an even more promising tomorrow.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’s campaign is a lackluster follow-up to its refined predecessor, saved by its best-in-class shooting.
One Piece Film: Red debuts in North American theaters on Nov. 4, 2022. Review by Just Lunning. One Piece Film: Red breaks the mold of the typical anime shonen film, capturing the magic of the series. It’s confidently a musical, too, with J-Pop star Ado providing several fantastic earworms as Uta. Shanks doesn’t get as much screen time as fans may hope, but it’s still satisfying to spend more time with him. It’s not the movie that will convert non-believers into fans – it feels more like a lost episode than a cash grab for newcomers – but by heavily integrating itself with the main series and understanding the humor that makes it shine, Film: Red ranks at the top of One Piece’s features.
NHL 23 reviewed by Matt Paprocki on PlayStation 5. Also available on Xbox Series X.It’s overdue, but NHL 23 finally looks and feels like it belongs on these beefier new-generation consoles. The visual tech upgrade adds stellar reality to the on-ice play, which also benefits from players who are willing to dive for the puck to make a desperate goal or save. It gains new energy from crowds reacting to the action like real crowds would, bringing a definitive audio design that’s best-in-class for stadium effects. Franchise mode customization greatly expands, and seeing women in the fold for the first time feels right – and also overdue. At the same time there are several modes that are outright ignored, including the completely recycled Be a Pro single-player campaign, and its microtransaction-driven Ultimate Team mode comes with the usual caveats about its predatory, profit-driven nature.
Gearbox's New Tales from the Borderlands successfully recaptures the charm and humor of Telltale's original adventure-game spinoff of the Borderlands first-person shooter series, but its attempts to stretch out the gameplay and the story don't fare as well. Reviewed on PC by Ryan McCaffrey.
Gotham Knights reviewed by Travis Northup on Xbox Series X/S. Aslo available on PlayStation 5 and PC.Gotham Knights is a consistently disappointing return to Batman’s troubled city and a distinct step backwards from the past decade-plus of Batman games. Even if running around Gotham in two-player co-op can be decent fun and each of the four playable crime fighters are well executed in their dialogue and distinctive moves, too many of the fundamentals fall short for me to recommend it. From the inconsistent frame rates, to the weak story, to one-note combat that rarely feels good, there was virtually always something going wrong to make sure I wasn’t experiencing the triumphant return with my friends at my side I had envisioned.
Batman might be gone, but Gotham still has a battle ahead and performance should be at the top of their list. With the latest Gotham Knights launching across all current generation consoles and PC this week, we had time to swoop into Gotham and Unreal Engine 4 powering it, to take it for a ride. 30fps has already been announced but is that the best you can hope for? What about resolutions, graphics and does the PC release offer the best way to play? Join us in battle of wits, firepower and frames rates in our IGN performance review.
She-Hulk: Attorney At Law is streaming on Disney+. Review by Amelia Emberwing. It’s hard to bring something truly fresh to the table over a decade into a franchise, but She-Hulk: Attorney At Law does that by playing in the sitcom sandbox, introducing female sexuality into the MCU, and bringing major new players into the franchise. And, yeah, the Daredevil walk of shame wasn’t bad either.
Here's our full review for the new asymmetrical multiplayer game, Dragon Ball: The Breakers!In Dragon Ball: The Breakers, you play as either one of seven average citizens (called Survivors) or an iconic villain (called Raiders) from the Dragon Ball universe in a competitive asymmetrical multiplayer showdown. Villains like Majin Buu, Frieza, and Cell have to kill and absorb Survivors to reach new levels, and destroy the Super Time Machine before the Survivors can power it up! As a Survivor, you can play as different characters such as Bulma or Oolong, or a character that you customize! It’s a bit like Dragon Ball Dead By Daylight!
The Last Hero of Nostalgaia reviewed by Jarrett Green on PC, is also available on Xbox. The Last Hero of Nostalgaia doesn’t play very differently from its soulslike contemporaries, which makes it pretty easy to fall into for fans of the genre, but that also means it can be disappointing for anyone looking for a little more flair in its combat. Enemies are diverse and creative, but your offensive capabilities are limited and largely mundane. All of the pizazz is instead in its visuals and worldbuilding, which are a witty and enthusiastic love letter to the long history of video games, from the 8-bit era to now. Put together, this competent RPG manages to stand out from the pack of games that fit a similar mold filling digital store shelves, even if it doesn't stand too far above them.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is now streaming on Prime Video. Review by Samantha Nelson. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power largely succeeds by staying faithful to J. R. R. Tolkien’s themes and tone, if not all the specifics of his canon. Some inconsistent plotting and unnecessary misdirection slows it down, but doesn’t derail the story, and when it reaches its climax in the sixth episode it all comes together brilliantly. Amazon’s massive budget has produced some of the most remarkable sets and scenes ever on TV, creating a strong successor to Peter Jackson’s beloved Lord of the Rings trilogy. Yet The Rings of Power also remembers it’s the little moments of humor and character growth that really make Middle-earth really come alive.
Black Adam introduces a powerful anti-hero to the DCEU, but the movie doesn't exactly blow us away. IGN reviewer Joshua Yehl shares where things went wrong for this DC film starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as Black Adam, Pierce Brosnan as Doctor Fate, Aldis Hodge as Hawkman, Noah Centienno as Atom Smasher, and Quintessa Swindell as Cyclone. The film adapts the fan-favorite JSA comics featuring Black Adam where his brutal sense of justice forces the heroes to rethink their views on good and evil.
Uncharted 4 and The Lost Legacy arrive on PC this week and we're putting the Legacy of Thieves Collection through its paces. This is the first time we have seen the Naughty Dog engine outside of PlayStation hardware. With 120fps+ options, improved visuals, ultra-wide display, and much more, there's lots to test. In this IGN performance review, we compare the Iron Galaxy port to the PS5 version, including 4K Fidelity mode, 1440p Performance mode and test out all the graphics settings, DLSS2, FSR2.0, and much more.
A Plague Tale: Requiem reviewed by Travis Northup on Xbox Series X|S, is also available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC. A Plague Tale: Requiem is an impressive sequel to the excellent action-adventure game A Plague Tale: Innocence, upping the ante in almost every way. It doesn’t do a ton to distinguish itself from its predecessor in terms of its actual gameplay mechanics, but with a depressing yet awesome story, fantastic graphics, and memorable rat-filled moments, this unique adventure very much deserves your attention.
Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope reviewed by Dan Stapleton on Nintendo Switch. "Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope takes the excellent tactical combat ideas of Kingdom Battle and runs absolutely wild with them. Its goofy characters still have the ability to bounce off of each other, but they’re now free of the rigid grid and are wonderfully customizable thanks to the mix-and-match Sparks that give them new and reliably interesting powers. Between fights you get to catch your breath in the large and brilliantly colorful open worlds, solving its light puzzles and being puzzled by its oddball story. It’s extremely gratifying to play an ambitious sequel that fixes all of the main issues I had with the original, and then some."
PGA Tour 2K23 reviewed on PlayStation 4 by Matt Paprocki. Also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox, and PC. Even after a year off, PGA Tour 2K23 returns offering minimal progress from its preceding, prior-generation edition. A new three-click swing is an unforgiving mess, it’s somehow worse at emulating the look and feel of televised golf, and the few spurts of personality that’ve been layered on can’t counter developer HB Studios’ penchant for preserving pro golf’s elitism above all, or the apparent terror of breaking from that form. At least PGA Tour 2K23 can define itself through the properly challenging golf sim at its heart and the barebones career mode that stands all but alone in its menus.
Scorn reviewed by Leana Hafer on PC. Also available on Xbox.If Scorn were much longer than it is, I think it would have overstayed its welcome. But the fact that it's such a bite-sized sprint through the grisly and surreal made it memorable and satisfying. The frustrating combat, mercifully, only haunts a fraction of that playtime. But the superb, darkly mystifying art direction and ambient soundtrack suffuse the whole thing like rancid blood bringing a creaky corpse back to life. It's an uneasy, sometimes disorienting experience from end-to-end. Yet, it's one I don't regret plunging into.
Halloween Ends debuts in theaters and on Peacock on Oct. 14. Review by Tom Jorgensen. Halloween Ends concludes the Myers/Strode rematch trilogy with an ambitious, if somewhat confused, final chapter. Despite dialed-in performances from Jamie Lee Curtis and franchise newcomer Rohan Campbell, David Gordon Green’s larger exploration of evil and trauma expands on the conversation he started in Halloween 2018 and Halloween Kills at a rate that Ends doesn’t quite have time to keep up with. There are some memorable kills and reverence for the franchise at large, but it stumbles as it brings it to a close.
Moonbreaker reviewed on PC by Matt Purslow.Moonbreaker is a fun and approachable digital miniatures game with an emphasis on smart turn-by-turn tactics, but it’s tarnished by microtransactions that threaten its future.
LEGO Bricktales reviewed by Sarah LeBoeuf on PC, also available on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. It’s a shame that LEGO Bricktales can often get in its own way, because it’s a fun adventure that breathes new life into what a LEGO game can look like. Building brick structures feels almost as good on the screen as it does in real life, and even when the limited camera controls and obscure objectives cause frustration, you might still find yourself smiling and fist-pumping after completing a particularly tricky puzzle.
The RTX 4090 bursts onto the scene as the new king of consumer graphics cards. It's big and beautiful, capable of pushing 4K framerates well into the 100s – but its $1,599 price tag puts it out of reach of all but the most dedicated enthusiasts.
Chainsaw Man debuts on Crunchyroll on Oct. 11. Review by Rafael Motamayor.Chainsaw Man delivers on all fronts with a premiere full of gnarly fight scenes, an incredibly bleak story, fantastic gallows humor, and one of the most fascinating anime protagonists in recent years. Faithfully adapting the first chapter of the manga, this is one metal anime episode that fully lives up to the hype.
Reviewed by Luke Reilly on Xbox Series X. Also available on Xbox One, PlayStation, and PC. "To its credit, Dakar Desert Rally has a fabulous sense of scale and is capable of some great, unique racing – especially when bombing over barren, building-sized sand dunes in a big rig while kicking up huge rooster tails of sand in search of a mysterious navigation marker. It is, however, dramatically undercut by unstable and annoying handling for several of its vehicle classes, its uneven performance mode frame rate, and some significant bugs that can cost you hours of progress. This game needed more time in the service area before being cleared to compete."
Battle & Superman: Battle of the Super Sons will be available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and Digital HD on Oct. 18. Review by Jesse Schedeen. Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons doesn't rival the best of the many DC Universe Movies. The plot is straightforward and predictable to a fault, and the shift to full computer-generated animation creates as many problems as it solves. Even so, the film succeeds where it matters most by capturing the wonderful dynamic between Jon Kent and Damian Wayne. These two are a more compelling Dynamic Duo than their fathers ever were, and that alone makes a strong case for a series of Super Sons movies.
The Midnight Club is now streaming on Netflix. Review by Amelia Emberwing. Mike Flanagan is a master of death and grief, and that’s on full display throughout The Midnight Club. Unfortunately, the more threads the club members pull, the weaker the story gets, culminating in an unsatisfying finale that feels as if it expects it will have more time to make its point despite the ten hours of series already feeling overlong.
FIFA 23 Legacy Edition (Nintendo Switch) reviewed by Simon Cardy.FIFA 23 on Switch is a prime example of minimal effort for maximum profit. If you've bought the Nintendo version of FIFA at any point in the past five years, there's very little reason to buy it again now.
Werewolf by Night will be streaming on Disney+ on Oct. 7, 2022. Review by Ryan Leston. Werewolf by Night is a wondrous homage to the classic Universal monster movies. It’s about as scary as those original films are to a modern audience, but that doesn’t matter – it faithfully evokes the kind of classic horror that we haven’t seen in decades. The style may be old, and the tropes may be well-worn, but the film’s Marvel twist is enough to keep it feeling relatively fresh while tapping into the nostalgia of horror film fans. Gael Garcia Bernal is excellent as Jack, and the dynamic between him and Laura Donnelly warrants further screentime. Werewolf by Night may not make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, but it will keep you on the edge of your seat with a slow, creeping tone that captures the very best of classic horror.
Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind will release on Blu-ray and digital on Oct. 11, 2022. Review by Brittany Vincent. Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind is an interesting effort to illustrate more of Kenshi’s past, but it muddies its own plot. It's a color-by-numbers apocalyptic thriller with a shiny new Mortal Kombat paint job. Some of Kenshi's story beats are satisfying, and it's refreshing to see a character that doesn't get much screen time shine for a bit. But that just isn't enough to carry the entire movie. Kenshi’s plight is worth watching for, but stripped away of its attachments to Mortal Kombat, what's left is a thin homage to post-apocalyptic carnage that simply won’t resonate with audiences that aren’t die-hard fans.
Slime Rancher 2's early access launch, reviewed by Travis Northup on PC. Slime Rancher 2 is a fantastic and charming life simulator that still has lots of room to grow. It probably won’t surprise anyone who played the original, borrowing quite a lot from its predecessor while inventing relatively little so far, but it continues to be bewitchingly fun all the same. If this is just the beginning, then this adorable adventure could evolve into something very special – but for now, it’s just a highly enjoyable start.
Hellraiser debuts on Hulu on Oct. 7, 2022. Review by Matt Donato. Hellraiser is a soulful revival of a soulless horror legend that never tries to oust Clive Barker's original. Director David Bruckner — alongside writers Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski — examines Hellraiser's themes with spectacle styles through addition. Jamie Clayton is the Pinhead a new generation deserves, awash in Bruckner's colder cinematography that stashes redder lighting to signify humanity is where true monsters reside. Hellraiser might be comparatively less grotesque, but a heady calibration of "pain or pleasure" storytelling brings Hellraiser 2022 screaming with glee into a reinvigorated ready-to-franchise configuration. It's cleverly calculated by saving gore for maximum impact and valuing the psychological edginess inherent in Cenobite storytelling, never getting lost in gooier intentions just for masochistic midnighter distractions. There are developments that feel slighter and less explored even at almost two hours, but that doesn’t stop Bruckner from delivering one of the best Hellraiser films since the original.
Overwatch 2 reviewed on PC by Simon Cardy. Also available on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.Overwatch 2 breathes new life into what was once the sharpest multiplayer shooter around, before it had its edges severely dulled by Blizzard’s attention shifting away. The switch to smaller 5v5 matches ushers in a new brawler age for Overwatch where individual duels take precedence over tactical teamplay, and crucially, all but a handful of shields have been thrown out of the arena.
Valkyrie Elysium reviewed on PlayStation 5 by John Carson. Also available on PlayStation 4 and PC.While Valkyrie Elysium is certainly not the next coming of the beloved PlayStation JRPG Valkyrie Profile, there are parts that shine. Sure, it's not a visual powerhouse, and it suffers from some occasionally aggravating camera issues, and the tale it weaves doesn’t leave you and your friends with much to discuss and dissect. But Elysium’s new take on combat does eventually grow into something fun and satisfying to play, and that’s enough to carry it through – just not to stand out.
FIFA 23 reviewed on PlayStation 5 by Jordan Oloman. Also available on Xbox Series X and PC (note that the old-generation console versions have different features).FIFA 23 is a bombastic swan song for the series (under its current name, at least) with a welcome focus on theatrical flair. FUT Moments, action replays and viral-friendly gameplay revisions like Power Shots make it a more considered, memorable game of simulated football with intentional defending and plenty of drama and goals. But EA's Spartan approach to the modes that don't make money ensures FIFA 23 is an all-too-familiar beast to previous years, and Ultimate Team’s offensive focus on microtransactions continues to take much of the fun out of it.
Hocus Pocus 2 debuts on Disney+ on Sept. 30, 2022. Review by Amelia Emberwing. The Sanderson Sisters are back and the cost is a lot steeper than hell this time. The original cast return to remind us why Hocus Pocus became a cult classic, and new players give fans being introduced to the franchise wonderful characters to cheer on, although Hannah Waddingham should have been given more to do. Some shoddy greenscreen work pulls Hocus Pocus 2 down, but otherwise, it feels like a Disney Channel Original Movie in a charming way.
The DioField Chronicle reviewed on PC by Leana Hafer. Also available on PlayStation, Switch, and Xbox.As an able, fast-paced tactical JRPG that spins a respectable, if generic swords and sorcery yarn, The DioField Chronicle is mainly let down by frustrating controls and stiffly-animated characters performing what is often a stiffly-written script. Shorter, action-packed missions make it an ideal Switch or Steam Deck game: something to chip away at little by little in your free moments. But even with its deep, multilayered progression system, there isn't enough heft here to make me want to sit back in my chair and sink into its uninspiring fantasy world for many hours at a time.
Reviewed by Luke Reilly on PlayStation 5. Also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox, and PC. "Session may be reminiscent of the similarly hardcore 2020 skateboarding simulation, Skater XL, but it picks up where its rival stalled by arriving with a far, far more substantial map selection, plus a simple campaign that stitches it all together. I also can’t deny the addictive charm of seeking out a spot and having dozens of attempts at sticking a slick trick sequence, for no other reason than it looks cool as hell when you nail it. Despite its unfinished feel and the unflinching precision it requires to play, I really am finding it rewarding and relaxing. However, while Creā-ture Studios’ unapologetically difficult-to-master ode to skateboarding is packed with a palpable love for the sport, it’s also packed with a few too many frustrating bugs – and its unsympathetic tutorial and mission design severely undermines its approachability."
Grounded reviewed by Travis Northup on Xbox Series X/S. Also available on PC."Grounded is a zany, challenging, and memorable adventure that benefits from Obsidian’s instantly recognizable style, humor, and RPG bonafides, making it one of the best survival games in years. There aren’t many games that I’ve been anxious to dive back into after playing for over 100 hours, but Grounded still has me daydreaming about my next tiny expedition. Even the obnoxiously small inventory space, occasional lost treasures, and continued wonkiness and stability issues haven’t come close to throwing a wet blanket over an otherwise fantastic experience. It’s a testament then to how incredibly strong every other part of Grounded is that these issues did very little to cramp my style or my immense enjoyment."
The Munsters is now streaming on Netflix. Review by Matt Donato. The Munsters has more personality in Herman’s detached right hand than other horror films find in 90 minutes — but at almost two hours, there’s a question as to how long Rob Zombie can sustain ‘60s sitcom schtick. All praise to the performers here, risen from graves without any sluggishness or rigor mortis. What’s unfortunate are the pencil-drawn interludes, hapless — intentional or not — post-production effects, and overall execution blemishes. Zombie’s crossed an entry off his bucket list, with sacrifices made it seems. The Munsters features all the attributes of titles that end up on some critics’ “worst of year” lists, which can’t be refuted — just like how in reverse, those who enjoy this tit-for-tat Munsters revamp can’t be told wrong. I’m oddly in the middle, somehow, smitten by Herman and Lily’s courtship. I embraced the camp, chuckled appropriately, and felt like I was watching an old-school The Munsters episode for better and worse. That must count for something?
Terra Invicta reviewed in Early Access by Jon Bolding on PC. There are brilliant ideas in the ambitious Terra Invicta, and a lot of fun to find for strategy game enthusiasts, but you need to be willing to drill down into sometimes-opaque and confusing mechanics to do it. The politics of its Earth layer are fun, if overwhelming, while the space layer is very cool on paper, but the two just don't gel in practice. When playing takes such a huge time investment of trial-and-error to see results, a recommendation has to come with big caveats until Terra Invicta has spent some more time in early access.
As part of IGN’s State of Streaming event, we’re taking a fresh look at the major streaming services and what they offer subscribers in 2022. Find out if Netflix is the king of the Great Streaming Wars in our full review.
Don't Worry Darling hits theaters on Sept. 23, 2022. Review by Siddhant Adlakha. In Don’t Worry Darling, pretty designs, inventive music, and capable performances hide an empty cinematic critique. Olivia Wilde’s modern Stepford Wives is too literal and insubstantial to say anything radical with its camera, let alone something mildly challenging.
Shovel Knight Dig reviewed on PC, also available on Nintendo Switch and mobile, with PlayStation and Xbox versions coming later. Shovel Knight Dig is a wonderful melding of the mechanics and feel of Shovel Knight and the ever-evolving roguelite genre. It stumbles a bit on its roguelite progression mechanics, and it's a bit on the short side, but none of that stops Shovel Knight Dig from being a blast to play.
The Ayaneo Air is easily the most portable handheld PC available today. It loses some processing power, but the tradeoff is worth the sacrifice. See how it compares to the larger Steam Deck and Ayaneo Next in our review.
As part of IGN’s State of Streaming event, we’re taking a fresh look at the major streaming services and what they offer subscribers in 2022. Check out our review of the Apple TV+ streaming service to see how it's improved since it launched back in 2019.
HBO Max retains its vast catalog of movies and zeitgeist-y TV, even if its interface leaves a lot to be desired, and its pricing options aren’t as competitive as other platforms. Before HBO Max makes even more changes, though, we’re taking a crack at reviewing how it stands today.
Soulstice reviewed by Jarrett Green on PC, also available on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. If you just can't get enough of action-slashers in the vein of Devil May Cry, Soulstice is a competent action game, but it's brought down by a bland setting and tedious level design.
As the streaming wars continue to unfold, Amazon’s Prime Video remains the quintessential “jack of all trades, master of none.” The service doesn’t rival Netflix for the sheer scope of original content. Nor does it boast the latest and greatest user interface or live TV functionality. But between its well-rounded library, its emphasis on optional Channels, and its competitive price, Prime Video is an easy choice for most cord-cutters. Watch the video above for our full review of Prime Video.
Andor is off to a fantastic start thanks to its compelling performances, corporate thriller undertones, and considered filmmaking.This is a spoiler-free review of Episodes 1-4 of Andor. The three-episode premiere debuts on Disney+ on Sept. 21.
As part of IGN’s State of Streaming event, we’re taking a fresh look at the major streaming services and what they offer subscribers in 2022, including Disney+. Watch our full review of the Mickey Mouse streaming platform to find out how it compares to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, and more!
Reviewed on PC by Ryan McCaffrey. Also available on Nintendo Switch. "After decades of believing that we’d never see Gilbert get to make his Monkey Island 3, I was in no way disappointed with Return’s conclusion. In fact, it moved me, and made clear that Gilbert cares as much about these characters as we fans do. I expected Return to Monkey Island to be funny. I expected it to have good and often-zany puzzles and hilarious puzzle solutions. You can see that in its writing, its acquired-taste art style, and its delightfully upbeat music. But I didn’t expect it to have such heart. Monkey Island has been known almost solely for its comedic prowess over the past three decades, but Return reminded me of why I first fell in love with Guybrush Threepwood in a way that will have me thinking about it for a long time. What longtime fans get out of it is definitely going to be markedly different from what newcomers take away from it, but I can say that Return to Monkey Island meant a lot to me before I ever clicked to start a New Game, and it meant far more after the end credits rolled."
Ever just sit around wishing your Nintendo Switch’s screen was just a tad bit bigger? Well wish no more, Super Ninfriendos, because today, we’re reviewing the Orion by Up-Switch. It’s a supersized display capable of taking your Switch experience up a couple notches with an 11.6” display, and then some! Yes, it’s quite the crazy setup for the Nintendo Switch, and that’s just how we like it. With the added benefit of using the Orion display with anything that will connect via HDMI, will the Orion by Up-Switch be worth the price of admission? Well… that’s for you to decide, and we’re here to help you make that decision!
Isonzo reviewed on PC by Luke Winkie. Also available on Xbox and PlayStation.Isonzo is an eminently approachable World War One game. The firearms and technology might be ancient by modern standards, but anyone who's played a modern first-person shooter can easily start storming the Dolomites and picking off headshots as soon as they boot it up. Developer Blackmill keeps it fast and loose with its historical touchstones, to the point that you can swig from a canteen to give your warfighter a quick stamina buff. It’s more historical fantasy than recreation, and most of its turn-of-last-century touches are revealed to be skin deep. That’s fine, since it allows you to fully participate in battle without knowing who killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand or being able to find the Austro-Hungarian Empire on a map, but it’s all too easy to forget about the time period you’re in and focus on popping off headshots to climb the score board.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners delivers a satisfying return to Night City that does a better job exploring why Mike Pondsmith’s famous location became so iconic in the first place. Streaming now on Netflix.
NBA 2K23 reviewed by Ben Vollmer on Xbox Series X. Also available on PlayStation 5. (Note that the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC versions are based on the older version of NBA 2K and have significantly different features.)I am heavily conflicted about NBA 2K23. On one hand, the new retro game modes have reached out to my inner sports geek and given me a way to replay NBA history in a way that I’ve never done before. Especially paired with a handful of really strong gameplay changes, like improved spacing and AI, I foresee myself dumping dozens of hours into reliving and reconstructing NBA history. Conversely, I now feel completely and utterly isolated from the MyCareer experience. I have no interest in shelling out additional cash (even beyond the expensive Michael Jordan Edition) or grind for insane hours just to be able to compete on the online court, and the density of The City and its shopping opportunities is lost on me for the same reason. Instead, I’ll take my metaphorical basketball and go home, where I can enjoy the parts of NBA 2K23 that I can fully experience without the repugnant emphasis of its microtransactions.
Splatoon 3's Multiplayer reviewed by Brendan Graeber on Nintendo Switch."Building from the solid foundations of its predecessors, the deluge of impressive quality of life changes and exciting improvements Splatoon 3 brings make it hard to imagine the ink-based shooter series as it was before this. More than just a simple upgrade, its array of new features make it just as enticing for competitive players as it is approachable for newcomers. And while there aren’t any huge additions that shake things up the way Salmon Run’s inclusion did for Splatoon 2, Splatoon 3’s new maps, weapons, and PvE bosses have still managed to make its already excellent multiplayer clashes even better."
Reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on PC. Also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. "Metal: Hellsinger is an enjoyably rhythmic riff on the metal-propelled mayhem of modern Doom, but its short length and modest variety in weapons and boss fights means it feels more like an energetic but unfinished collection of garage demos than a fully fleshed-out album. Hellraising high score-chasers will no doubt get the most mileage out of replaying the eight story missions, but it falls short of id Software’s heavy metal masterpiece when it comes to providing a truly meaty first-person shooter campaign, and the absence of any other major modes or multiplayer makes it feel a bit on the slim side when compared to similarly priced games. As a result, Metal: Hellsinger might not be the greatest demon-slaying shoot 'em up in the world, but it's certainly a stirring tribute."
Disney Dreamlight Valley reviewed in early access by Travis Northup on Xbox Series X, also available on PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and PC. An awesome life simulator that flexes its iconic characters to riveting, satisfying effect. Adding these instantly recognizable villagers to your magical kingdom and forging friendships with them through quests is a blast, even when many of those amount to mundane village errands. Even with a ton of bugs and a missing final act in this early access state, spending 40 hours running around with the gloriously beefy Maui from Moana and cooking meals with Remy from Ratatouille is a consistently delicious treat.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle R reviewed by John Carson on PlayStation 5 and PC. Also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox, and Switch.It’s great to have JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle represented on modern hardware with an improved combat system over its 2013 version. Its online implementation desperately needs an upgrade, though, and the crucial story context from the anime is nearly nonexistent. Still, All Star Battle R makes a strong case for itself in its raucous cast, accessible yet complex combat, and its set of solid – if safe – offline modes. It’s not the best fighting game out there, but for those who’re heavily invested in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, it’s one we’re glad to have on hand for a good time.
Clerks III hits theaters on Sept. 13, 2022. Review by Matt Donato. Clerks III delivers all the inappropriate cuss-cluttered humor and pot smoke that is Kevin Smith's trademark but evolves his sentimentality beyond bong-rip wisdom. The third Clerks installment is a moving ode to working-class nobodies that amplifies Smith's touchstone sincerity above Randal's not-so-passive aggression or Jay's lit-for-days attitude. Smith might be the most in touch he's ever felt as a filmmaker, and it's a semi-departure that presents Clerks III as a precursor for what's still to come from the rebooted writer/director. Whatever my quibbles are with the film's length and less successful humor when being just another Clerks sequel are a critic's nitpicks — a critic who still felt satisfied by Clerks III in 36 more ways than presumed possible.
Pinocchio premieres Sept. 8 exclusively on Disney+. Review by Tara Bennett. Pinocchio further proves that Walt Disney Pictures’ obstinate effort to remake all of its classic animated films into hybrid, live-action/computer-animated versions is an exercise in mediocrity. Nothing cinematic, original, or even lasting comes from their ongoing exercise which makes it a continuing head-scratcher. With this retelling, there’s far too much fealty to the visuals and plot points of Walt Disney’s 1940 animated classic, yet the script clearly bristles at being beholden to its old-fashioned constraints. The result is an occasionally beautifully rendered film with a schizophrenic script that alternates between old-timey twee and being too-hip-for-itself meta, complete with anachronistic dialogue. Aside from an unexpected ending, director Robert Zemeckis is basically doing a paint-by-numbers version of the studio’s much better original, just with modern animation and Tom Hanks. And while Tom always tries his best, even he can’t make this redo memorable on its own merits.
Beyond the Wire reviewed on PC by Luke Winkie.Beyond The Wire provides a delightfully hefty incarnation of World War One. Redstone Interactive makes its massive, 100-player servers sing with Arma-quality realism, complete with jolting firearm kickback, brutal melee beatdowns, and a huge number of dynamic character classes that can shift the tide of the battle. All of this takes place on beautiful multiplayer maps that capture the nightmarish truth of early 20th century warfighting. But it suffers from a manpower shortage: it simply doesn't have the number of players necessary to fully crew those fantasies, and Redstone hasn't made any design concessions to make it more playable with its smaller server populations. A flagging playerbase isn't necessarily the fault of a developer, but it still makes Beyond The Wire difficult to recommend – which we know doesn’t help.
Splatoon 3's Single-Player Campaign reviewed by Brendan Graeber on Nintendo Switch."Splatoon 3’s single-player campaign takes all the highs of Splatoon 2’s creative Octo Expansion missions and places them in a satisfying hub world where freedom of choice lets you get as much as you want out of your playthrough — confident that you’ll be back for more. Even when it relies heavily on familiar enemies, smart level design and objectives, and bosses brimming with personality keep things fresh for the whole ride."
Steelrising is a competent action RPG with an unforgettable setting, but it’s dragged down by its humdrum soulslike formula that doesn’t do anything to make its combat or exploration stand out. Despite having some memorable weapons and enemies, combat often feels imprecise or sloppy, and boss fights are largely forgettable. That said, even if the story is fairly straightforward, the recognizable faces from history you meet and the beautiful French vistas you find them can still help make fighting robots in an alternate history somewhat entertaining.
F1 Manager 2022 reviewed by James Swinbanks on PC. Also available on Xbox and PlayStation.Even after my worst race results, where everything fell apart at the seams despite having what I felt was a concrete strategy and top-line drivers, I never walked away from a session in F1 Manager 2022 without a dumb smile on my face. Sure, sometimes the racing can look a little robotic and there are some key facets of modern F1 racing that are missing entirely, but this never detracts from the thrill of watching my drivers cross the line for some hard-earned points or their first-ever podium. The excitement and thrill of Formula 1 is here in spades.
Ooblets 1.0 reviewed by Casey DeFreitas on Nintendo Switch. Also available on Xbox and PC."Everything in Ooblets is downright adorable, from the cheeky dialogue to the unique dance battles to the well-designed creatures themselves. That charm was enough to draw me in from the get go and keep a gleeful smile on my face for most of the 30-hour story. But while I could easily see myself going back to improve my farm, home, and Ooblets collection a while longer, the actual mechanics behind those tasks don’t have much to dig into past their skin-deep sense of style. That means Ooblets is an amusing farm battler, just not a very exciting one."
The Last of Us Part 1 on PS5 has now arrived! Is the Last of Us Part 1 on PlayStation 5 that much better than the PS3 or PS4 Remake? We had a chance to find out as we compared The Last of Us PS3 vs PS4 vs PS5 to see Joel and Ellie with this upgraded and significantly improved release of the beloved classic. With multiple modes of play, 4K resolutions, 60+ framerates, substantial visual upgrades, DuelSense enhancements and much more, we put it all to the test in this Last of Us Part 1 Performance Review.
Reviewed by Luke Reilly on PlayStation 5. "A gorgeous and well-honed remake of one of the biggest boppers in the PlayStation pantheon, The Last of Us Part I is the best way to play – or replay – Naughty Dog’s esteemed survival classic. The striking improvements it makes to its completely rebuilt world are complemented by the subtle refinements of its characters’ performances, and while it isn’t retrofitted with every one of the sequel’s best changes, the upgrades to movement and AI make a welcome difference in an already outstanding game. It’s harder to argue it was an entirely crucial remake, though, considering 2014’s The Last of Us Remastered still stands head and shoulders above nearly all of its story-driven, action-adventure peers to this day."
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power premieres with two episodes on Sept. 2 on Prime Video. Review by Alex Stedman. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is telling its own story using the lore of Tolkien as a foundation, and the first two episodes make a solid case for why that story deserves to be told in such extravagance. While the first episode gets a little too caught up in exposition, the second is able to build on the characters and their relationships much more naturally, setting in motion a few intriguing subplots and a respectable amount of action. Through it all, it’s always well-acted by its ensemble cast and gorgeously shot and produced, with cinematography, effects, costumes, and original music that rival the biggest of big-budget movies.
Reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on PC. Also available on Xbox, PlayStation, iOS, and Android. "Immortality is a thoroughly mesmerizing mystery and one of the most surprising video game stories I’ve played through this year. Its image-based search tool might make its actual investigating feel noticeably dumbed down compared to that of Her Story and Telling Lies, but the credibility of its faked film productions, the powerful performances of its cast, and its regularly confronting, David Lynchian discoveries kept me captivated for its nine-hour duration. Immortality might not live forever in my mind, but it's likely to linger there for quite a while yet."
John Madden is a worldwide name thanks to the hugely popular EA titles, returning as the face of the franchise again in Madden 23. This latest Madden release on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PS5, and last generation consoles, tested here with the PlayStation 4 Pro. We dive into the upgrades offered with FieldSense Motion blending, improved graphics, new modes, and much more, are you ready to play football?Presented by Hulu + Live TV
Destroy All Humans! 2 Reprobed reviewed on PC by Dan Stapleton. Also available on Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.Destroy All Humans! 2: Reprobed does a fine job of updating the 2006 original to look like a modern game, but that game was a fairly unambitious sequel that didn’t do much to evolve its gameplay. And while I’d be fine with a somewhat repetitive campaign that breaks up its missions with comedy, this is some solid C+ material that only occasionally lands a chuckle – and more often some serious cringes. Split-screen co-op makes it more enjoyable to blast through and combat does eventually get tougher when bulkier enemies join the fray, but by and large it’s more of the same B-movie sci-fi homage without a lot of brain-popping new ideas.
Reviewed by Tristan Ogilvie on PC. Also available on PlayStation, Xbox, and Google Stadia. "For a game that gives us so much freedom to be exactly who we want to be via its superb customisation options, it’s odd that Saints Row itself struggles to forge its own identity when it comes to the types of wanton criminal activities it makes available to us. There’s definitely no shortage of shallow shoot ‘em up thrills to be had here, but it’s a very familiar and uninspired brand of sandbox fun that’s unlikely to wow anybody who’s played a Saints Row game before, much less a GTA. There are a few spectacular story moments and the city of Santo Ileso serves as a sprawling new playground full of surprisingly antiquated and non-interactive amusements, but the distinct lack of new gameplay ideas – and the frequency with which some of its least interesting ones are reused – means this Saints Row feels more like a repetitive retread than a proper reboot. It’s definitely a new gang of Saints, but they’re guilty of the same old sins."
So you bought yourself a shiny new racing wheel, but using that cheap folding tray table your grandparents gave you isn’t cutting it anymore. What’s the next step for someone who just wants to get back to their racing sims the right way? Enter the Next Level Racing Wheel Stand 2.0. In this episode of Budget to Best, Seth test drives the Wheel Stand to see if it’s worth the investment! Adjustable wheel height? Check. Durable construction? Check. The ability to be folded up to save storage space? Check! What more is there? Whether you’re rocking a Logitech G923, a Fanatec GT DD Pro, or anything in between, this stand has you covered… maybe? Let’s take a look!
Madden NFL 23 reviewed on Xbox Series X by Kat Bailey. Also available on PlayStation 5. Note: the Xbox One, PS4, and PC versions are significantly different with fewer new features; this review does not apply to those versions.Madden fans will tell you that it hasn’t been a great decade for EA’s football sim. Like the NFL itself, the profits have continued to grow, but the product has suffered. Madden NFL 23, though, provides a glimpse of a light at the end of the tunnel with a handful of smart enhancements to animations, AI, and passing mechanics that make subtle but meaningful improvements to the moment-to-moment football on the field. To be clear, Madden still has a long way to go to catch up with other sports sims, the majority of which are more refined, less buggy, and have a clearer identity. After playing Madden NFL 23, though, I finally have a little optimism that it’s on the right path — maybe not an emphatic “Boom!”, but clear forward progress for a series that so desperately needs it.
House Of The Dragon’s premiere marks a strong, well-cast start to the Game Of Thrones spin-off. This feels very close to its predecessor in tone and content, but immediately establishes a struggle for power around an amiable, weak-willed king, and vivid new characters to fight those battles. We also have dragons, inbreeding, and resentment. It’s good to be back in backstabbing Westeros.
Farthest Frontier Early Access reviewed by Leana Hafer on PC. Performance issues and weird quirks of the gold economy are enough that it needs a bit more time in the early access oven, but there's a lot to dig into already thanks to the way it realistically gets into the weeds of food production and preservation in a middle ages village.
Red Matter 2 reviewed on PC and Meta Quest 2 by Henry Stockdale.Red Matter 2 is an impressive sequel that builds upon its predecessor well, pushing the Meta Quest 2 to its limits to nearly match the PC version’s graphics. With its intuitive control system, excellent object interaction, and some great UI design, this adventure is one of VR’s most polished games yet. It’s unfortunate that combat doesn’t quite hit the mark but there’s some delightfully tactile puzzles to sustain the six-hour story. It all leads to a curious mystery which is satisfying, if not entirely mind-blowing. Of course, the journey is more important than the destination, and Red Matter 2 takes us to some fantastic places.
Soul Hackers 2 reviewed by Cameron Hawkins on Xbox Series X, also available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox One. Soul Hackers 2 is a streamlined Atlus JRPG, serving as a great entry point for anyone new to the genre or the developer's other games like Persona or Tokyo Mirage Sessions. The combat and dungeon delving are entertaining, if fairly familiar, and the charming cast of characters stay interesting all the way through its roughly 60-hour campaign. But a disappointing lack of creativity in its battle systems and a fairly shallow overarching story mean this newly resurrected series will need to do more if it wants to set itself apart amongst Atlus’ best.
She-Hulk premieres Aug. 18, 2022, on Disney+. Review by Amelia Emberwing. She-Hulk: Attorney At Law hits all the right notes as a sitcom while still nailing the beats you’d expect out of an entry to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Though the first episode is all the necessary, run-of-the-mill origin story you’d expect, none of it is presented in a way that could be considered boring. And yes, the effects look better than the first trailer you saw.
Thymesia reviewed on PC by Jarrett Green, also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Thymesia’s solid kernel of an amnesiac plague warrior premise never pops into a worthwhile story. Its most creative locations and monsters are impressive, but they’re also sandwiched between mundanity. Even its best feature, the kinetic combat system, is satisfying only if you’re willing to narrow your playstyle to a relatively small window of options. If you generally find yourself looking for more off-the-wall and expressive ways to play action games in the mold of Dark Souls, you’ll probably be disappointed here. But Thymesia’s aggressive flavor of combat can still be enjoyable enough thanks to the interesting ways in which it differs from most others in the genre.
Rumbleverse Review by Mitchell Saltzman. Reviewed on PlayStation 5. Also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox, and PC.
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero hits North American theaters on Aug. 19, 2022. Review by Kambole Campbell.
The anticipated Spider-Man Remastered PC release is almost here and we got the chance to test it on PC, PS5, and Steam Deck. This Spider-Man PC Review will look at how this port from Nixxes handles Ray Tracing, framerate, CPU utilization, and more.
Cult of the Lamb reviewed by Tom Marks on PC, is also available on PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch. "Cult of the Lamb is an eclectic mix of a base management game and an action roguelite that come together extremely well. Its combat is immensely satisfying even if its short runs and the relative lack of variety between them doesn’t give it the lasting appeal of other action roguelikes, but building your very own cult base and tending to a flock of followers can be just as fun as any swing of the axe."
I Am Groot is now streaming on Disney+. Review by Matt Fowler. I Am Groot is daft and devious, owning its non-essential existence and leaning into Baby Groot's own impetuous, unruly behavior. It's hard to separate I Am Groot from its "content" -ness sometimes, since these five shorts are so breezy and quick they barely warrant their assigned thumbnail in the Disney+ catalog, but there's also a funky, spirited nature to the stories, which saddle up to the most monstrous Guardian during his most vulnerable, and vehement, state.
Digimon Survive reviewed by Travis Northup on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, also available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Digimon Survive is a standout visual novel wrapped around one of the worst turn-based tactics systems ever. Even if there’s a little too much filler padding out its length, the well-written story, charming characters, lovely visual style, and surprisingly dark tone are all fantastic. But those strengths only sometimes manage to overcome a combat system that’s so primitive and bland it hardly warrants being called a tactics game at all, dragging everything Digimon Survive does well down with it.
The Sandman is now streaming on Netflix. Review by Amelia Emberwing. The Sandman is everything longtime fans could have dreamed of in an adaptation. Tom Sturridge is utterly ethereal as Dream, and his co-stars seem to keep pace with him with ease. Meanwhile, stunning, sweeping images from The Dreaming to Hell itself keep us immersed in the fantasy. It’s as faithful of an adaptation as it could be, and, outside of the fact that it may go over a few new viewers’ heads, it’s just about perfect.
GigaBash succeeds as a fun arena fighter with a focus on four-player chaos, even if that fun doesn't quite translate over quite as well to the solo or online experience. GigaBash Review by Mitchell Saltzman on PC. Also available on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
Hard West 2 reviewed by Jon Bolding on PC. This sequel has plenty of little annoyances, but it's a supernatural western tactics game with a lot of style and the substance to back it.
Two Point Campus reviewed by Leana Hafer on PC, also available on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.This sequel to Two Point Hospital is a deep and rewarding management game, and that's what matters most here. Growing a college, hiring and training faculty, adding new courses, spiffing up dorms, and watching grades and profits soar in the Sandbox mode is fun for dozens of hours.
Prey debuts on Hulu on Aug. 5, 2022. Review by Tom Jorgensen.Dan Trachtenberg’s Prey never lets up. It’s full of the Predator franchise’s trademark violence and tension, but it’s the ferocious, star-making turn from Amber Midthunder that stands as its greatest strength. The movie’s sole focus on her lead character, Naru, means that the supporting roster comes off a little wooden, but when Prey’s tracking the young warrior’s duel with the Predator -- full of powerful imagery and creative kills -- it rarely falters.
Bullet Train hits theaters on Aug. 5, 2022. Review by Matt Donato.Bullet Train could be called Murder on the Smokin’ Aces Express with its heavy parallels to outrageously cartoonish 2000s action titles. Brad Pitt is endearing as a fists, knives, and blunt objects-only merc, while his supporting cast releases plenty of frustration that Pitt's chatty goofball counters with healing mantras. It's bloodier than expected, lands its punches at the right moments, and pleases with painful combos worth crowd-pleasing smiles. The craziness of David Leitch's train never goes off the rails nor reaches top speeds but still brings us along for a smooth and stable joyride that outshines its recent American action counterparts.
MultiVersus reviewed by John Carson on PC and Xbox, also available on PlayStation. MultiVersus is a raucous and fun competitive platform fighter that rewards players for learning the strengths and weaknesses of its eclectic cast of characters. Its focus on online 2v2 means it lacks the pick-up-and-play nature of a game like Super Smash Bros., but it also does a nice job of setting it apart from other games in the genre. MultiVersus may need time to grow its currently limited selection of stages and characters to meet its bright potential, but its foundations are already rock solid.
DC League of Super-Pets hits theaters on July 29, 2022. Review by Siddhant Adlakha.DC League of Super-Pets may have thoughtful filmmaking on its side, but what it doesn’t have is a voice cast that can lend life and personality to its characters. The superpowered pets end up with the short end of the stick; neither are their stories as rich as the movie hopes, nor are they ever truly funny beyond a few fleeting comic references.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 reviewed by Travis Northup on Nintendo Switch. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 can take some meandering detours across its massive 150-hour campaign, but great characters and addictive tactical combat make it all well worth the time.
Green Lantern: Beware My Power is available on Blu-ray and digital on July 26, 2022. Review by Samantha Nelson. Green Lantern: Beware My Power leans into the cosmic scale Green Lantern stories are capable of by drawing from two major comic book arcs. Unfortunately, writers Ernie Altbacker and John Semper and director Jeff Wamester can’t actually live up to their grand ambitions, failing to do those storylines justice while also robbing John Stewart of a satisfying backstory by using the film to introduce too many other characters.
Reviewed by Luke Reilly on Xbox Series X. Also available on Xbox and PC. "Returning to a well the Playground team previously tapped with the killer Hot Wheels expansion for Forza Horizon 3 means Forza Horizon 5 Hot Wheels isn’t able to arrive with the same infectiously unique splash, but it’s clear why the decision was made to return to this idea: Forza’s high-speed brand of life-sized, toy-themed stunt racing is still a riotous good time. We’re certainly in a golden era for Hot Wheels-themed racing games right now, with Milestone’s surprisingly brilliant Hot Wheels Unleashed successfully carving up its own patch of orange plastic as well, but Forza Horizon 5 Hot Wheels is an essential expansion for new and returning Forza fans."
Harley Quinn debuts on HBO Max July 28, 2022. Review by Alex Stedman. Love is in the air, but that doesn’t mean Harley Quinn isn’t as insane, blood-soaked, and hilarious as it’s always been. Season 3’s take on Harley and Ivy’s newly romantic relationship is still unsurprisingly the highlight, tackling all their highs and lows in ways that are incredibly true to each character. It also manages to pack in a few surprises regarding the Bat family, especially Batman himself, although other subplots, like Joker and James Gordon’s, don’t have the same staying power. Still, if you’re here Harlivy and all the raunch and violence you’ve come to expect from this delightfully biting little corner of superhero streaming, you won’t be disappointed.
Live A Live is a fascinating JRPG time machine that’s getting its dues at last thanks to a remake that brings out the best in its seven stories, strong combat, and unusual structure.
PowerWash Simulator's simple yet therapeutic style of gameplay provides an enjoyable way to chill out across its numerous generously sized levels.
Nope hits theaters on July 22, 2022. Reviewed by Siddhant Adlakha. A hilariously bleak vision of the American dream, Jordan Peele’s Nope is a farcical love letter to Hollywood filmmaking. A sci-fi-horror-comedy that builds cinematic myths before casually knocking them over, it’s one of the most effective and purely entertaining summer blockbusters in years, from a studio director at the peak of his craft.
Stray reviewed by Tom Marks on PlayStation 5, also available on PC and PlayStation 4. Stray is a delightful adventure in a dark but endearingly hopeful cyberpunk world, and that’s thanks in no small part to the fact that you are playing as an adorable cat the whole time. Its mix of simple platforming and puzzles with item-hunting quests is balanced very well across the roughly five-hour story.
Reviewed by Gabriel Moss on PC. Also available on Xbox. "As Dusk Falls is a masterwork of branching storytelling that makes the best out of its comic book-style animations, which end up giving you the opportunity to fill the negative space with your imagination – and this works surprisingly well during some of the more intense scenes. It’s an impressive solo experience, but its eight-player mode makes it a potential hit at family or friend gatherings where gamers and non-gamers mix. Its many possible choices, mixed with the emotional intensity of its expressive voice cast make it a great recommendation for fans of crime dramas like Breaking Bad and Fargo. Virtually no one is safe from the consequences of your actions, but even if you make a choice that results in an unwanted consequence, or mess up one of many simplistic quick-time events, the story can still manage to spiral out in several interesting directions that you won’t expect, even on subsequent playthroughs. That makes it a joy to approach again and again until you uncover each character’s secrets and mentally reconstruct the story’s bigger picture."
Ms. Marvel is now streaming on Disney+. Review by Emma Fraser. Over the first season, Ms. Marvel has greatly balanced a coming-of-age and superhero origin story. Kamala’s dynamic with her parents has shown significant organic growth, and Muneeba is far from a strict mother archetype. South Asian culture and history play an essential role in the story and atmosphere, further opening the MCU world. Kamala’s friendships and burgeoning romances (plural!) are other highlights. While the finale sticks the landing, the Clandestines are too underserved to have a significant impact. The heart of Ms. Marvel belongs to Iman Vellani, who has come across as a star since the first episode, and the finale assures her assent.