In the world of sports sims, no other game feels like it’s even on the same level as NBA 2K17. Visual Concepts continues to embrace innovation and add benchmark-setting features for hardcore fans. With unrivaled gameplay, presentation, and game modes, 2K Sports’ latest hoops game is a must-play for all sports fans.

Monster Hunter: World is the best game in the series, and a welcoming gateway for newcomers to get in on the tail-chopping, rodeo-riding, and titan-slaying. I never want to play the series on handheld again after this, as the grainy graphics and clawed clutch can’t compare to the redefined experience core platforms facilitate.

Valve studiously avoided reinventing the wheel with Dota 2, and given how beloved the gameplay is that is undoubtedly the best thing for the game, the community, and the genre. The infrastructure for matchmaking, spectating, and everything else that surrounds actual matches is executed on a level only the best studios can rival.

It's not a quantum leap, but it's the kind of adjustments that will only endear the faithful to this already beloved series even more. [March 2005, p.115]

A solid, great-looking game, just not the masterpiece I was hoping for. [Dec 2002, p.123]

Unlocking cars is great, but it doesn’t take long before you tire of doing the same routine. Racing, of course, is what it’s all about, but where’s the personality? Where’s the great track selection that doesn’t make you feel bored within a few hours? Where’s the career mode that’s less like flipping through a car catalog and more like participating in an actual career?

The problematic gunplay and annoying stealth takedown mechanics keep the game from greatness, but if played a certain way, Human Revolution captures the spirit of its predecessors and can be a blast. Even if it's not a masterpiece, this entry lays the groundwork for a promising future for the series.

Easily the best new, exclusive game to the 3DS eShop. [Mar 2012, p.96]

The fight against The Boss, Colonel Campbell going nuts, the haunting tune as Chrysalis flies by – these are the kind of memorable events that define Metal Gear, and they are just as awesome as you remember.

I seriously doubt that anyone could spoof a superhero/comic book game any better than this. [May 2002, p.92]

The concept is simple, but a combination of stylized moves, tongue-in-cheek humor, and merciless difficulty make Viewtiful Joe absolutely irresistible. [Sept 2004, p.107]

Xbox 2K2 got the cosmetic makeover the PS2 version sorely needed. [Mar 2002, p.83]

EA has started down a road that sits directly between bieng boring and being goofy - creating a golfing tradition we can all get on board with, starting now. [Nov 2002, p.134]

Madden has a knack of making quantum leaps with each successive title. This new edition, however, breaks the streak. [Sept 2004, p.101]

FIFA 13 captures a lot of the passion and pageantry of world football, but beneath the surface its gameplay flaws can hinder the beautiful movements that truly make the sport great.

The result is a cleaner and tighter game than FTL, and one that is more fun, strategically complex, and consistently rewarding.

It’s a challenging journey through a weird and wondrous world that forces you to learn and master its punishing combat to succeed. However, the sweet thrill of victory keeps you pushing forward despite myriad disheartening deaths. Sekiro is one of the most difficult games I have ever played, but for those seeking adventure, exploration, and a truly realized ninja fantasy, the trek is worth the high demands.

I went into Chicory a bit dubious, but it surpassed my expectations with flying colors. The world and its inhabitants are a delight, its puzzles remain clever throughout the journey, and its main painting mechanic is the perfect stress releaser. Chicory taught me never to judge a coloring book by its cover, and that you don’t have to be a master painter to have fun with colors.

As a complete package, Tekken 8 doesn’t reach the heights of recent rivals like Street Fighter 6 and Mortal Kombat 1. But when the match begins, and you’re exploiting openings to unleash flashy combo strings and air juggles, it remains a thrilling, if very familiar, one-on-one experience. The latest King of Iron Fist tournament still has work to do to feel wholly satisfying or ground-breaking, but it remains a fun arena to test your mettle against friends and rivals.

Niggling complaints aside, NBA 2K13 puts in another solid performance with its unrivaled broadcast-style presentation, improved online experience, and the best single-player mode in sports. None of its new features revolutionize sports simulations, and cutting out the historical mode was a poor decision, but it's still a polished experience NBA fans should enjoy.

Less truly is more when it comes to Total War. Shogun 2, with a smaller scale and tighter focus, boasts the best gameplay and design of any entry in the franchise. I can't imagine a realistic way that The Creative Assembly could have made a better case to win back fans put off by Empire. [Apr 2011, p.92]

This is one of the most sophisticated, entertaining, and historically accurate strategy games ever made.

Holes in the AI show that the CPU isn't the brightest or most skilled of opponents. It's impressive what Kush has done, but EA's game outperforms it with ease. [Oct 2003, p.121]

NBA 2K12 isn't just the best basketball game; it's the most complete sports sim I've ever played. This is the new benchmark.

Astro Bot Rescue Mission feels like it came out of nowhere to quietly prove that familiar genres can feel like new experiences with the aid of virtual reality. While the medium is capable of creating entirely new interactive experiences, Rescue Mission serves as a great reminder that the styles of games we already like can be translated to VR, and when it is done as well as it has been here, you get a chance to experience something that feels genuinely new and exciting.

Without question, Jedi Outcast is the most enjoyable and accomplished Star Wars game yet. [May 2002, p.90]

Halo 2 is the undisputed king of console multiplayer, and this expansion pack only strengthens its stance. [Sept 2005, p.108]

With its unmatched co-op gameplay, intense shootouts, addictive loot collecting, expansive skill customization, hilarious dialogue, and insane level of difficulty, Borderlands 2 is one of the most rewarding gaming experiences of this console generation. [Oct 2012, p.90]