The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom sticks closely to the blueprint established by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but it’s a richer, more rewarding game in most ways that count, offering a more intricate world, versatile suite of abilities, epic story, and satisfying dungeons.
Pikmin 4 adds or reintroduces a lot to the series’ formula, including caves, nighttime missions, and an adorable doggy sidekick, to the point the game starts to feel a bit busy and unfocused. Fortunately, like a well-managed Pikmin squad, the game comes together in charming, effective fashion by the end. While the franchise may have bloomed slightly brighter in the past, Pikmin 4 will still provide a bountiful harvest of fun for longtime fans.
Super Mario RPG is a lovingly-crafted remake that retains the original’s peculiar off-brand charm, appealing combat, and varied level design while subtly tinkering with numerous elements to make the game more palatable for modern players.
The Low Road is one of the better point ‘n' click throwbacks I've played in a while. Sure, the game has a few rough edges, but its unique world, likable characters, engaging story, and varied puzzles ought to get fans of retro adventure games properly revved up
Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition finally brings the fight to everybody. Whether you want button mash with friends, prove your skills to the world, just engage in some low-stakes solo fighting, Arcade Edition has you covered. If you've been holding out until now, it's finally time to step up to the streets.
Candleman: The Complete Journey is one of the best indie platformers I've played in some time. Certainly, one of the best 3D indie platformers. Candleman mixes clever mechanics, varied level design, and a whole lot of charm to create an experience that's guaranteed to light your fire.
Sonic Mania Plus is an essential upgrade if you already own and enjoy the original version of the game. Newcomers should also give this updated offering a look, as it captures what made classic Sonic uniquely appealing, while fixing some of the base game's shortcomings. Sonic Mania Plus still has a few lingering issues, but, overall, this heartfelt hedgehog homage has been honed to the next level.
Overcooked 2 mostly sticks to a winning recipe. The clarity and simplicity of the first game has been muddled a bit – some of the new recipes and kitchens are a touch too complex for their own good – but the addition of online play makes up for a lot. If you're new to this series, I suggest you check out the near-perfect original Overcooked to start, but if you're an existing fan hungry for more, Overcooked 2 is a tasty second helping.
You can tell From Software was happy to try something a little different with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. The game has a few mechanical issues, which can be largely chalked up to new series jitters, but its energy and excitement mostly make up for its flaws. While I haven’t finished my journey through Sekiro yet, I’m fairly confident those with the Bushido to face its challenges will have a bloody good time.
Wandersong is an accessible, uplifting adventure that deftly builds to a memorable crescendo. Sure, the game has a few rough edges, most of which can be attributed its humble indie origins, but it more than makes up for its shortcomings with its heartfelt characters and story. Put on your adventuring hat and cape and warm up your pipes, it's time for an emotional world rescue.
Resident Evil 2 is a polished, respectful remake of a survival horror classic that probably would have benefitted from a slightly more daring approach. Hints of a braver revamp are sprinkled throughout, but it doesn't take the risks necessary to join the canon of truly great video game remakes. Make no mistake though, if you loved the original Resident Evil 2, you'll likely love the remake, and new players who can tolerate a few old-school quirks ought to have gruesome good time as well.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy is a satisfying collection of mysteries, many of which are still as sharp as when they were first published. Sure, certain aspects of these games feel a touch dated compared to some of the newer, edgier visual novels out there, but few can top Phoenix and friends when it comes to charm. This HD update is a bit barebones, but, overall, these classics are well-represented.
Mortal Kombat 11 is a first-class fighting game experience, featuring rock-solid core mechanics, impressive production values, and a story that wouldn't be out of place alongside the summer's biggest blockbusters. Of course, the game also suffers from some of the drawbacks of big-budget game development, including grindy customization and tacked-on microtransactions, but that stuff is largely superfluous. Beneath the triple-A fat, Mortal Kombat's bloody heart still beats as strong as ever.The links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Wccftech.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
The Walking Dead was worth saving. The usual Telltale caveats about polish and quick time action scenes apply, but this is exciting, powerhouse storytelling, packed with fantastic character work and edge-of-your-seat cinematic moments. The Walking Dead: The Final Season Episode 3 lines up the sights for a bloody good finale – let's hope Skybound nails the headshot.
The Walking Dead: The Final Season Episode 4 wraps up seven years of undead drama in satisfying fashion, delivering genuinely moving character moments and meaningful, ultimately uplifting, observations about parenthood. The Final Season Episode 4 can be slightly exhausting, both emotionally and because of an overabundance of action scenes, but fans who have been with Clementine since the beginning won't want to miss the final leg of her journey.
NBA 2K20 is the series' best showing in several seasons. The action is more refined than ever, MyCareer serves up a fun story with less grind, and MyGM mode is back on track. Microtransactions continue to be a concern, but the most egregious stuff is restricted to MyTeam mode, with MyCareer actually feeling less exploitative this year. Hopefully we'll see a more substantial refresh in the next year or two, but, for now, the NBA 2K dynasty remains strong.
Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince is an enchanting new highwater mark for developer Frozenbyte, featuring the series' best controls, visuals, puzzles, and bosses to date. Regular combat still feels a bit tacked on, but overall, Trine 4 remains a puzzle platforming dream.
Resident Evil 3 is the franchise's best action-driven entry since the glory days of Resident Evil 4. A beautifully-balanced combination of white-knuckle mayhem and satisfying old-school tension, Resident Evil 3 is compulsively-munchable popcorn entertainment that, unfortunately, disappears all too quickly. If you're looking for value, there are certainly meatier games out there, but few that will leave you licking your fingers as happily as this one.
Chicory: A Colorful Tale is an ambitious, absorbing, and creative Zelda-style adventure with some meaningful, heartfelt things to say about the creative process, self-doubt, and other big issues. Like its characters, Chicory isn't perfect – its controls can be a bit clunky and maybe its painting tools aren't as versatile as they could be – but it's an easy game to love. Does it fall slightly short of masterpiece status? Perhaps, but it's still very much worth adding to your art collection.
Riders Republic’s posturing is more than a little phony and the game may be a bit mechanically simple for some, but its playground is an impressive one. With travel still difficult, Ubisoft’s sometimes-breathtaking recreation of America’s greatest national parks feels like something to be grateful for, and this game’s wide range of activities and challenges means almost everyone will be able to find some way to amuse themselves amongst its peaks and valleys. Riders Republic is a surprising breath of virtual fresh air.