Scott Butterworth
Resource gathering and city building have never been more tedious.
Despite its ambitious premise, Homefront's efforts to reclaim Philadelphia are sabotaged by technical issues, faulty mechanics, and predictable storytelling.
Our favorite psychic secret agents return, trading platforming for puzzles and flat displays for a VR headset. The results are sweet but far too short.
Though its patience-testing puzzles hit a few sour notes, Song of the Deep still delivers a rich, imaginative undersea adventure.
The Wild Run expansion improves Ubisoft's lackluster "carPG" The Crew in a number of ways but can't quite redeem the entire experience.
After more than a decade of handheld titles and digital re-releases, Mario Tennis finally returns to consoles with Mega Mushrooms, online multiplayer, and a disappointing lack of content.
Andromeda's combat soars but its storytelling sputters, making the series' first venture into uncharted space a shaky but occasionally satisfying new adventure.
Embarrassing acting, questionable songs choices, and unwelcome microtransactions spoil the biggest mechanical improvement to music gaming in years.
Though Mafia III's storytelling is exceptional in every way, it's not quite strong enough to compensate for dated gameplay, repetitive missions, and technical issues.
Tex Murphy's latest weaves campy live action, silly puns, and convoluted mysteries into a fun, if dated adventure.
Escape Dead Island questions how we perceive reality, alongside questionable zombie-killing and stealth.
Outlast 2's scripted chases can grow frustrating, but its gripping atmosphere and unnerving sound design deliver unparalleled tension.
The arcade classic returns, bringing challenging, cooperative tank combat into modern virtual reality. The results are flawed but ultimately still fun.
With its customizable missions and randomly generated areas, Underground's Operations breathe new life into an ailing game.
Dead Rising's core combat remains simplistic, but the expanded open world, compelling central mystery, and added combo weapons refresh the formula enough for some light, bloody fun.
The studio behind imaginative indie hits Machinarium and Botanicula debuts its most ambitious game yet: a beautiful yet simplistic point-and-click adventure.
Though its plot doesn't fully pay off, Firewatch gives you a thorough, thoughtful insight into the formation of a meaningful relationship.
The rhythm game that put Harmonix on the map returns with spot-on mechanics and a brand new setlist that can't quite compete with the original.
Rock Band 4 recaptures the unadulterated gratification that made the series such a hit half a decade ago, but mainly because it's a relatively unchanged, repackaged Rock Band 2. A lack of content and general stagnation hold this particular iteration of Rock Band back, but new ideas like Freestyle Solos genuinely enhance the core experience, which remains a sincere and joyful celebration of music.
Left 4 Dead's frantic four-player co-op gets medieval with melee combat, mutant rats, and mixed results.