Derek Johnson
Although Headquarters: World War II's premise is far from unique, the same thankfully can't be said for its gameplay, which is both superbly enjoyable and a welcome departure from the tried-and-not-always-true likes of Company of Heroes.
Although Highwater's combat is frustrating at times, and its story is a tad derivative, it's still an incredibly enjoyable and hyper relevant game because of its core messages and lore.
Terminator: Dark Fate - Defiance isn't without its issues, but its unique setting and gameplay mechanics set it apart from other strategy titles.
Although Tomb Raider Remastered does a phenomenal job at updating the original titles' graphics, it doesn't improve their abysmal controls or dated gameplay.
Helldivers 2 is the third-person Starship Troopers title that never was, which means that if you've been looking for an excuse to get into a bug fight, it's absolutely worth picking up the title so you can do your part to stop the alien menace.
War Hospital's anti-war sentiment is commendable, but its gameplay and narrative are simply too lacklustre compared to its contemporaries to make it worth purchasing at full price.
Ready or Not is not only a near-perfect video game, but one that advances the medium in a way that no game has before.
Booze Masters: Freezing Moonshine is outlandish to say the least, but that doesn't stop it from being a great game that will absolutely make you want to try your hand at making some moonshine of your own.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023)'s campaign is comically bad, its Zombies mode is zonked and its multiplayer just kind of sucks.
Thirsty Suitors, while not for everyone, is full of wit, charm and everything good about indie games.
Payday 3, while having a decent play loop, is a direct downgrade from its predecessor and is loaded with anti-consumer mechanics and major technical issues.
Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty, and its accompanying Update 2.0, is an exceptional addition to what is already an exceptional game.
Torn Away, with its gut wrenching narrative and beautifully grim graphics, is the new gold standard for visual novel-based video games.
Starfield is not only the best RPG since 2010's Fallout New Vegas, but one of the best video games ever made.
Jagged Alliance 3 is a near-perfect and playable recreation of an issue of Soldier of Fortune Magazine that has great gameplay to boot.
This means that, sadly, it’s tough to recommend Six Days in Fallujah, at least right now. It has the makings of a solid game with its generally good gameplay, and its dedication to the realistic setting is absolutely worth commending. However, for its high asking price compared to its contemporaries, there are much more finished titles on the market, many of which also comment on the harsh realities of armed conflict.
Although Aliens: Dark Descent has the makings of an enjoyable RTS title, its frequently frustrating gameplay mechanics and pointless genre-mashing missions make it a tough sell for anyone besides the most diehard of wannabe Colonial Marines.
Trepang2 is the most unabashedly fun first person shooter since 2016's DOOM.
For better and worse, After Us is yet another beautiful but otherwise boring and overly artistic game that does very little to advance the medium.
Even though Minecraft Legends isn't a bad game, the fact that it's in direct competition with its much better predecessor makes the title hard to recommend.