Kallie Plagge
Rise and Fall introduces smart new features to Civ VI that enhance the base game without overcomplicating it.
Fe's ethereal world compels you to explore, but its adventure never builds to something greater.
Detective Pikachu's simple gameplay and story is made better by its goofy and entertaining star.
The Invisible Hours is less about solving a murder and more about appreciating the interwoven stories of its compelling characters.
Nintendo Labo is a great tool for learning and creation, but the games themselves lack lasting appeal.
Destiny 2: Warmind is geared toward high-level players, but it offers little in the way of motivation while you grind levels to get to the endgame.
Overcooked 2 brings new levels and small-but-smart additions to the already great couch co-op formula.
Little Dragons Cafe's charming world and cafe management are enjoyable, but it's held back by significant pacing issues.
Destiny 2's Forsaken expansion is dense and rewarding, though it does require a bit of patience.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is both broad and deep, but the star is its smartly executed take on battle royale, Blackout.
RDR 2 succeeds as both a prequel to Red Dead Redemption and a story in its own right, and though it can take some patience, your effort is well worth it.
BioWare's Anthem has good ideas, but most of those ideas don't end up working well together.
Delightful and imaginative, Yoshi's Crafted World rewards your curiosity with the little things.
Days Gone has its exciting moments, but it fails to say anything interesting or meaningful about its story and characters.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a game that is mechanically complex, consistently rewarding, and very hard to put down.
Sayonara Wild Hearts has moments of brilliance, but too often, movement and timing issues disrupt its enchanting aesthetic.
2019's Modern Warfare both draws from the original and lays a good foundation for the rest of the series, despite some thematic issues and co-op pitfalls.
Death Stranding is dense, complex, and powerful, steadfast in its belief in the power of love and hope when faced with overwhelming adversity.
Pokemon Sword and Shield scale down the bloated elements of the series while improving what really matters, making for the best new generation in years.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons gives you more creative freedom and more to do on any given day while preserving what makes the series special.