This is definitely one of the better VR “turret” shooters – the controls are spot on, the challenge level adequate. Unfortunately there is not enough content.

As an open roleplaying world Eos is just in the minor leagues. Beautiful to look at but filled with redundant and basic fetch- and kill-quests, it is too evident, that Square’s open world experience stems from MMOs. Nonetheless, the fresh real-time battle system is a risk that I truly can appreciate, while storytelling and imaginative characters showcase the return of Square’s strengths that have been forgotten during the FF13-trilogy.

Too often pioneering in the games industry is based on technical achievements: bigger, faster, more polygons. But true magic begins behind the obvious – when the artistic vision starts taking shape in a virtual creation. Trico for me is the most fascinating creature in video game history. The Last Guardian is the counterpoint to the loud and hectic game design that tries to show off its bling on every corner.

Kudos to Schell Games. The “Escape the Room” concept works well with VR, while the puzzle experience is immersive and the Oculus Touch controls are intuitive and spot-on.

The pinball experience behind the lenses of PSVR is just as great as it was on Rift. But here (and even on PS4 Pro) you get jaggy visuals that make sure you don’t play as long as you intended.

At its core this is a decent port of the intuitive touchscreen jump-n-run-builder: Proven mechanics, technically sound and easy to control. Unfortunately Nintendo decided to take the online level exchange out.

If you ever wondered what would happen if you cross the minigame madness of Wario Ware with a ridiculous story and add rhythm game mechanics, this is the one to look out for.

Yes, the visuals are far from perfect, the multiplayer is scraggy while the character editor is superficial, but on the other hand the MMO atmosphere is convincing and the scenario is interesting.

Killing Floor 2 can be a neat but casual online gore-fest. But even with the interesting classes it lacks variety in terms of enemies, bosses and thrills, so you’re limited to hours of grind on the same maps against the same groups of enemies.

Together with the omission of Move controller support this mainly lacks immersion. The visuals are nice and the headtracking used for control is spot on, but with only four mini-games this is very short-lived.

This is the essence of everything Assassin’s Creed – good and not so good. While it is nice to see Ezio again and sneak as well as fight through dozens of hours of proven gameplay elements, you can’t help to think that even back then the progress within the franchise was limited.  


Barth doesn’t reinvent his concept of “creative work”, but extends it in the most comprehensive way, thus making Shenzen I/O to one of the best puzzle games around.

Of course I would like to talk about a sequel. But nonetheless six years after the original again I had a lot of fun with War and his improved visuals within the timeless comic design. Unfortunately some mechanical flaws remain untouched.

This is a paradise for park designer, a dream come true for coaster architects. The challenge level is quite low though, and there is just rudimentary economic management.

Headlander is a uniquely funny, sometimes weird and visually very distinctive action-adventure.

If you like your realtime tactics with a flavor of old school like Commandos or Desperados then you can look forward to intense infiltration with challenging missions and superb AI.

Visually this is the best mobile Pokémon adventure yet. And while the new pocket monsters with their final forms are creative as always the island hopping lacks the challenge of older Pokémon games.

Visually this is the best mobile Pokémon adventure yet. And while the new pocket monsters with their final forms are creative as always the island hopping lacks the challenge of older Pokémon games.

In theory, this is the climax of the 2D fighting that Arc System Works executed so flawlessly over the years: More fighters than ever in the series, refined mechanics and beautiful visuals. But be aware that beginners will hardly understand anything within the visual novel style story, while even veterans mourn the decision not to include English voiceover for the seemingly final chapter.

Even after ten years the campaign is as engrossing as ever while the multiplayer focuses on classic gun battles on huge maps. Unfortunately this is not yet available as a stand-alone.

Unfortunately, neither story nor VR implementation work in this space opera, that makes desperate efforts to please the EVE: Valkyrie clientele.

Initially I was skeptical as to how Phosphor would adapt the 360 degree room scaling of Vive for the limited capabilities of PlayStation VR. And even though their 180 degree turn solution can lead to the occasional disorientation, it is a good idea, so you can experience this intense horror shooter in almost all its glory.

A proper sequel to the anime civil war drama. More playable characters, new options within the turn based battles and a flexible skill system offer more variety for mobile strategists.

While the staging and the characterization of the fractions still is sub-par, this is better than Ashes of the Singularity in every aspect, especially in terms of the large scale skirmishes that give you an optimal strategic viewpoint.

The star is the level design that gives you some of the most memorable locations in recent years. This is an atmospheric, visually gorgeous and mechanically diversified stealth adventure that puts competition like Styx, Deus Ex or Thief in its place.

This is a short yet intense challenge that mixes elements of Homeworld with Eve: Valkyrie, but it lacks variety and a narrative.

This is better than expected, especially in terms of track design. But nonetheless Kylotonn is miles away from the quality that Milestone delivered with Sebastien Loeb Rally Evo, while Codemasters’ DiRT Rally is a whole different league altogether.

Ubisoft is definitely on the right path with their newest interpretation of open world action. For a metropolis like Frisco the streets could be more crowded, but the interactions you can actually witness are giving the impression of a breathing living city. That aside the hacking action relies a little too much on too similar patterns within the main missions, although in the last third there are enough pace changes and surprises to keep you going, while the script as well as the characters keep this more light hearted and cheek-in-tongue hacker tale alive.

In times of roomscale tinkering like Fantastic Contraption the conservative experiments of Crazy Machines 3 feel a bit outdated, but still manage to deliver solid puzzle fun.

A very entertaining and charming fantasy adventure with nicely constructed puzzles. It lacks the punch of the predecessor, though.

There are slight gameplay issues like the control scheme. But that is secondary against the beautiful art design and the quality of storytelling.

This still is the same time consuming monster that it always was. Depth, authenticity, atmosphere: everything is there, while there are some comfort functions and a superficial “Social Feed” was added. If you are new to the series, this is the one to go to, but veterans can stay with last years’ version.

Agent 47 started strong and after a continuous up and down with every episode finishes on a rather low note. The episodic format works well overall, though, and contains some of the most memorable locations of the Franchise. Something that can’t be said about the AI.

Even though the AI behavior shows well-documented stupidity from time to time, this is one of the best campaigns in recent CoD-history. And while the multiplayer doesn’t stray, the competition feels fresher this year.

If after Fallout 4 or The Witcher 3 you still have time and the need for another epic open world roleplaying game, then go ahead. This is still the great epic that it always was. But although it is visually enhanced sometimes the five year old engine foundation shines through while there are some new bugs to be found – mostly in connection with the Mods that are allowed on console.

Challenging and motivating at first, but the technical faults up to total crashes make sure that the fun is short-lived.

If you have a good VR stomach, this is one of the most interesting experiences on PlayStation VR. Between zen gaming and challenging parcours, this is an intense platformer that will make you feel like a hybrid of Peter Parker and Faith of Mirror’s Edge fame.

In its best moment Through the Woods is an atmospheric trip into the world of Norse mythology. But what this adventure desperately needs is depth. While the simplified story premise is very interesting, the actual storytelling is as shallow as the stealth mechanics.

The two-color mechanics are reminiscent of Ikaruga, but be aware that this experimental shooter is as interesting and sometimes intense as it is short.

A charming adventure with interesting viewpoint changes as well as enchanting music and art design. The puzzles on the other hand are way too easy, while the story feels unnecessarily rushed.

I am not opposed to simple concepts, but with Pixel Gear it is too simplified. Visuals, mechanics, content: everything is just basic stuff with no depth.

If you are looking for a more than competent twinstick-shooter for your VR headset, this is it. Plus you’ll get the new VR level which turns out to be a BattleZone light. Not too shabby.

This is visually improved and with quite some content enhanced  Carmageddon: Reincarnation – simply the best version of the reboot.

The headtracking works exceptionally well, while the visuals are crisp thanks to the closeness to EVE: Valkyrie. But nonetheless this is merely more than a little action snack.

While the concept is interesting and puts a 360-degree shooting gallery at your disposal, it lacks depth and is merely more than a VR snack. Plus: the movement detection for the blade throwing is sub-standard.

The tank mayhem is a worthy heir to the arcade classic. Simple at first, complexity is added by upgrades and slight tactical decisions. And furthermore it is a prime example for the usage of VR, when you get totally immersed in the colorful world. Unfortunately the AI is not with the name, while the difficulty spikes due to sheer numbers can become frustrating.

Visually this is one of the most beautiful and atmospheric VR titles so far – Crytek is a master of the craft. But when it comes to puzzle design and storytelling, it is too obvious that they are not in the top tier.

Cool stunts embedded in challenging turn-based tactics will spark your interest. Unfortunately there are still control issues present.

If you like roleplaying games that focus on decisions with consequences as well as moral dilemmas or is simply a fan of adventures like Planescape: Torment, you will find yourself drawn into the world of Tyranny.

There is no creative construction and the resource gathering is rather bland. And on top of that, the social component feels superficial. There is hardly any fun found in this society. Just tedious work.

I love DriveClub VR for its competent driving physics, the concept and the heightened immersion behind the wheel. But the visual compromises Sony had to settle for take a lot of the atmosphere away.

In theory this is pleasantly presented no-frills coop-action with cartoon visuals. But the technical foundation is not sound enough. Loading times, camera positions, framerate and collision detection are substandard.

I was really looking forward to Infinite Air with its skate-infused controls. But unfortunately the control scheme is clumsy so your boarder feels like someone who had a few too many shots before going on the slope.

A lighthearted expedition into the realms of the famous roleplaying serious that mixes elements of Pokemon with one of the most refined versions of the Active-Time-Battle-system yet.

This is definitely the weirdest title in the PSVR launch lineup. Sometimes an impressive showing of how immersive and claustrophobic horror in virtual can be, mechanically most of the time it is just not interesting enough. Plus there is a decent issue of motion sickness that even hardened VR players might succumb to.

Simple shooting and VR can go together as for example Gunjack or Until Dawn proved. This, on the other hand, is underwhelming. Except for the well-executed archery mechanics, this lacks finesse and structure.

Xenoverse 2 definitely serves up more content than the predecessor and looks crisp in 60fps. But nonetheless the visuals are totally outdated while the time travel theme leads to some poor design choices like replaying quite a few fights from part 1. The fighting mechanics can salvage a lot, though.

Simple, yet quite entertaining flying in VR through a deserted Paris that appeals to soloists with loads of challenges as well as leaderboards, while the online hunts deliver with fast paced pursuits.

Tethered is easy on the eyes. And easy in terms of mechanics. While it is always a joy to watch over your devoted followers the micromanagement soon becomes tedious and redundant.

Not really a sequel but rather an enhanced version of last year’s strategy with a few new options and a hefty price-tag.

Solid VR puzzler with nice immersion, some control issues and a steep learning curve.

The enchanted scenery could have been bigger, the story longer than roughly five to seven hours, but nonetheless Ashes of Ariandel is a good expansion.

Like its PC brother the console version of City of the Damned delivers challenging turn-based strategy. And like its PC brother it lacks technical finesse and precision. But that rarely impacts the fun.

Maybe it is time for Yuke’s to give the pro-wrestlers a break, take a good look at their game, question everything and leave no stone unturned. While the fight mechanics reflect the tension and pace of the “real” battles of the WWE superstars and the roster is more stacked than ever, there is nothing surprising in this year's grappling attack on your wallet.

Arkham City still is one of the prime example of a streamlined open world where everything is tied it to the comic origins, while Arkham Asylum also captures the spirit of the visual novels in a sense that will keep you glued to the screen. Unfortunately both games on both systems suffer from technical shortcomings, mostly framerate issues.

Traveller’s Tales could have improved the visuals, while gamers used to recent Lego games will be shocked when they hear the mumbling and grunting that serves as communication. But that aside Harry’s adventures still show off their charm, their humor and especially some of the most beautifully crafted hub areas in the history of Lego adventures.

Not only does DICE deliver their best campaign to date this side of Bad Company. It also pushes online-multiplayer to new heights with atmospheric battles and intense gunfights.

Even with the restriction that the AI is seemingly unable to cope in the final third of the game, this is a good and content-rich old-school strategy that keeps calling me with the infamous “one more turn”.

A rather disappointing expansion that doesn’t add or improve anything to the storyline or the redundant hunt for better equipment.

With the reduction to action-adventures’ core elements and the option added to create your own heroes this is the most refined Skylanders so far.

Even with slightly less impressive visuals due to a lower resolution than on Rift Valkyrie shows how immersive and engrossing action can be if it is developed for VR and VR only.

Yes, it is entertaining. But is also hardly more than a fairly short and repetitive time travel trip through Sega's console history.

In contrast to the sometimes boring statics of Japanese visual novels inkle Studios show how lively “interactive digital stories” can be. A fitting conclusion to an exceptional saga.

It is so hard not to like DragonQuest Builders. With its mix of MineCraft-ish creative freedom, meaningful quests and a very superficial fight system this adventure sparks my curiosity and keeps me interested for a long time.

If you like the tension of Alien Isolation, you will like Syndrome. But you have to be able to ignore the frequent trial & error, which in combination with long loading times can get to you.

The controls are well conceived, but the puzzles as well as storytelling are without any challenge.

The concept is simple and motivating, while the technical execution is solid and delivers accurate head tracking. Unfortunately there can be a bug that can keep you from moving to the next level. Pity.

This is a timeless gem, an audiovisual piece of art that didn’t lose any of its fascination even after 14 years, while thanks to the VR implementation you feel closer to the action than ever before.

It is fast. It is unforgiving. But it always stays fair. What starts as a fairly simple variation of rhythm games soon becomes a hypnotic struggle to stay in the zone that will keep you motivated and frustrated at the same time.

The controls are top notch, the sickness factor bearable for most of the time and the visuals are among the best you can get on PSVR right now. But the lack of content harms this proof that VR and ego-action indeed is possible.

At its core Hybrid Wars shows a solid twinstick shooter foundation somewhere between the classics Expandable and Desert Strike. But the pace is off for most of the time while technical flaws, mostly framerate issues, make you want to look for alternatives.

Aragami is a pleasant surprise. It shows some technical deficits and it is not bug-free. But the stealth action is cleverly designed and if you can’t wait for Styx: Shards of Darkness you’ll find an interesting alternative that will keep your hunger satisfied.

For a short while Marooners presents neat party fun. But compared to games like Mario Party it lacks substance and content.

Supermassives takes the rail-shooter quite literally. But they succeed. While it is visually not as impressive as the game that spawned this light shooter, it still manages to induce panic and delivers its fair share of jumpscares.

It leaves you wanting more. And not only because it is so short. But also because it looks great and shows off a lot of interesting ideas. I hope that Rocksteady turns this into an episodical game. I would prefer this to Telltale’s caped crusader anytime.

Lo Wang’s run-and-gun excursion doesn’t want to be anything else but a classic shoot-em-up with cocky one-liners and bucketloads of blood. And hell, does it succeed. Duke Nukem would be proud.

Blizzard learned from past mistakes. Legion has a plethora of content and stronger story elements on offer, but would benefit from more depth within the classes.

The “Left 4 Dead” of the Warhammer Universe was a surprisingly good variation of the team-vs-horde mechanics. And it still is.

This could have been a great take of revenge. Instead you get a collectathon in an open world that suffers from technical glitches – with the exception of the gorgeous cutscenes. While the predecessors had their own identity this is hardly more than a faceless, insignificant action playground.

PlayStation VR Worlds is an interesting, but overpriced collection of tech demos showing off the possibilities of VR technology.

Enthusiasm and disappointment go hand in hand with Gears of War 4. While the campaign lacks the punch that you are used to from the 360-classics, the enhanced multiplayer gives you almost everything you can dream of.

With an exceptional port and an attractive package of bonus content the long waiting time has been made worthwhile. Lara's latest adventure is easy on the eyes and delivers good clean fun.

The star in Color Splash definitely is the art design. The consequence of the length the paper theme is executed is admirable, while the scripting of the stories you encounter is right on the spot. A higher difficulty level and a tighter direction are needed, though.

The board game was optimized for mobile gaming needs, but the fun factor of the minigames fluctuates quite a bit.

As a full-fledged action rpg à la Diablo this is merely average. Where Zenith shines is the humor and its delivery. Similar to The Bard’s Tale (2005) nothing in the genre is untouchable and will be used to get a punchline out of it.

Sometimes you ask yourself, if the repetition of tools etc. has run its course, but then again you’ll find more creative and entertaining assassination options than in the last episode, while the story starts to move forward finally.

It has its flaws, but nonetheless the constant change of abilities that first perfectly to the level design makes this one of the better entries in the Sonic games of late.

The discussions about the fetishes catered to aside, this is a solid, albeit grind heavy JRPG.