Taken as a kind of tech demo of what the future of television could look like, #WarGames makes for an intriguing evening's entertainment. [May 2018, p.84]

A whole lot of colour and fun, with big things to smash, but it becomes repetitive far too quickly. [May 2018, p.82]

A stunning world of beautifully animated characters, let down by dated design and limited resources. [May 2018, p.80]

A novel adventure that fails to deliver on its dramatic aspirations. [May 2018, p.78]

There's solid gold to be found here... but so, sadly, is betrayal. Getting the right team is crew-tial. [May 2018, p.74]

A satisfying timesink with some enjoyable elements, let down by a complete lack of challenge. [May 2018, p.72]

An intriguing opening for a narrative series, with some of the most raddled faces we've ever seen. [May 2018, p.70]

A rare kids' game that lets younger players feel badass, but the post-sugar rush crash is steep. [May 2018, p.70]

A fitting swan song for Japanese gaming's finest protagonist, balancing drama with bonkers fun. [May 2018, p.68]

A perfectly madcap adventure, full of irreverent humor that will fill you with joy. [May 2018, p.67]

A fun distraction with some word-based cleverness, but it's far less substantial than it should be. [May 2018, p.66]

When it comes to co-op action, Warhammer: Vermintide II stands out from the pack. [May 2018, p.64]

Neither toothless nor incendiary, Far Cry 5 does its setting justice but colours within the lines. [May 2018, p.60]

It's rare to see a science-fiction story as insightful and thought-provoking as this in any medium, let along games. [Apr 2018, p.83]

An homage that shows bright potential. [Apr 2018, p.82]

A solid colony builder packed with complex systems, but the red planet feels a little too familiar. [Apr 2018, p.81]

Intermittently fun, but not consistently hair-raising enough to keep you glued to the steering wheel. [Apr 2018, p.80]

A compelling anthology of Americana that shines, in spite of some rough edges. [Apr 2018, p.78]

A tough, precise strategy-puzzle game that punishes human error with a stomping from alien bugs. [Apr 2018, p.77]

The story isn't much, but despite a lot of block shifting, QUBE 2's puzzles never stop feeling fresh. [Apr 2018, p.76]

The core concept of Debris is promising, but the dull world and mechanics diminish the experience. [Apr 2018, p.75]

Full of fan service, but struggles to welcome anyone who isn't already invested in Final Fantasy. [Apr 2018, p.74]

A tweaked combat system and open world are welcome, but more inspiration is needed. [Apr 2018, p.72]

A rather uninspired remake of a solid JRPG experience. It's still a great game, and a history lesson, too. [Apr 2018, p.70]

A perfectly enjoyable card game, but one that struggles to keep pace with the heavyweights of the genre. [Apr 2018, p.68]

A dreamlike Metroidvania, but hampered by gameplay pests that are hard to sing about. [Apr 2018, p.67]

The love that's gone into developing KCD shows through its outer skin of bugs and bloody violence. [Apr 2018, p.66]

A competent and well thought out survival game, but we wish it had more imagination. [Apr 2018, p.60]

As it stands, it's a beautiful but wasted opportunity. [March 2018, p.81]

For those determined enough, though, this is a survival game like no other. [March 2018, p.80]

An expertly designed, tough-as-nails platformer that rarely stumbles on its march to the summit. [March 2018, p.79]

Captures all the pomp and ceremony of a prize-fight, but leaves you a little distant from the action. [March 2018, p.78]

A fun strategy experience, limited by some rough edges and far too much repetition [March 2018, p.76]

The perfect sort of game to play wile doing something else - unless you're a whale, of course. [March 2018, p.75]

A meaty turn-based combat system means this should satisfy your hunger for traditional JRPGs. [March 2018, p.74]

Stunning and full of personality, this is a Dragon Ball game that has something for everyone. [March 2018, p.73]

A fresh coat of paint spruces up an already timeless classic that still feels like a breath of fresh air today. [March 2018, p.70]

Although peppered with flaws, this is an interesting experiment that rises far above tech demo. [March 2018, p.69]

Fans won't be disappointed. It's a prologue clearly made by people with love for the original. [March 2018, p.68]

A massive, sprawling beast with engaging depth to match. You'll be playing for months to come [March 2018, p.62]

A game that seems to have plenty to say, but struggles to express itself clearly. [Feb 2018, p.81]

Entertaining but slight. [Feb 2018, p.80]

Not quite what was advertised, but a splendid coda to one of the greatest games ever made. [Feb 2018, p.78]

A successful splicing of two beloved genres that thoughtfully expands on the lore of the series. [Feb 2018, p.77]

Fun, but often undone by its own structure, which can make the laid-back experience feel pressured. [Feb 2018, p.76]

This would be great if it were a free update to the game, but as a paid expansion it's severely lacking. [Feb 2018, p.72]

Flawed by facinatingly so, Doom VFR is a daring virtual remix that almost comes off. [Feb 2018, p.73]

Not quite the classic it could have been, and the appeal wanes with time, but still a strong party starter. [Feb 2018, p.72]

Intense, rough around the edges, and brilliant. Don't fear its popularity: embrace it, and enjoy. [Feb 2018, p.68]

Even with these minor niggles, this is the game that proves Sony's smartphone service can actually deliver on its potential. [Jan 2018, p.81]

Outcast hasn't improved on its accessibility enough to appeal to modern audiences. [Jan 2018, p.80]

A flawed horror game with few scares but plenty of B-movie appeal, it'll scratch an adventuring itch. [Jan 2018, p.79]

Subject matter that doesn't suit a party game, and writing that isn't worthy of a budget thriller. [Jan 2018, p.78]

It has lots of potential, but ultimately lacks focus and is home to some genuinely shoddy moments. [Jan 2018, p.77]

Challenging, with smaller stories well worth telling, this DLC will satisfy anyone who loves HZD. [Jan 2018, p.75]

It's not Rocket's-manners bad, not mixtape great, just kind of stuck in the middle with you. [Jan 2018, p.74]

A tasty fusion of adventure and puzzling, with enough charm to hide any burnt bits. [Jan 2018, p.72]

Your Star Wars fantasy made real, wrapped around a poorly-designed progression system. [Jan 2018, p.70]

Opens up a world of team action to a new audience while being an ace competitive game in its own right. [Jan 2018, p.66]

Barely interactive, and fails to capture the suspense and nuance of superior games in the genre. [Jan 2018, p.65]

Your brain will realise that it's imperfect and messy, but it's bound to set your heart aflutter. [Jan 2018, p.64]

It doesn't build on the formula (ha!) much, but it's one of the best - if least technically stable - entries. [Jan 2018, p.62]

An uneven start makes way for another Monolith monster full of life, loot and madness. [Jan 2018, p.58]

Really, it's hard to recommend this game, period. To see two rich, generous Kirby offerings on 3DS followed by something so stingy and lacking in imagination is depressing. [Christmas 2017, p.81]

This canny combination of gaming media provides a deep and satisfying virtual pen-and-paper RPG-esque adventure that's certainly worth taking a gamble on. [Christmas 2017, p.80]

Vast and visually sublime, Origins overcomes samey stealth thanks to its sensational map. [Christmas 2017, p.76]

A fun yet flawed racer that runs out of steam prior to the conclusion of its uninspired narrative. [Christmas 2017, p.75]

Sonic Forces is messy, frustrating, and surprisingly basic, but there is fun to be had in perfecting a level. [Christmas 2017, p.74]

An often excellent, authentic wrestler, but the squared circle action deserves a better campaign. [Christmas 2017, p.73]

Handles beautifully and has a promising online mode - but it's been passed by the competition. [Christmas 2017, p.64]

Chock-full of solid single-player shooting, but ultimately missing the spark of greatness. [Christmas 2017, p.70]

Some of the best multiplayer in the whole series is let down by a mediocre campaign mode. [Christmas 2017, p.66]

Once you do start putting it together, it's actually a relatively simple tale, but the revelations along the way are a fun reward for those determined enough to find them. [Nov 2017, p.81]

Baffling. [Nov 2017, p.81]

You'll find yourself far more invested in your new grappling hook than the fate of the world. [Nov 2017, p.80]

An ambitious and relentless horror adventure that keeps coming up with startling new ideas. [Nov 2017, p.78]

A cocktail of stealth and action, perfectly mixed to create a clever, gripping, and tense experience. [Nov 2017, p.77]

Way too bloated, but the trials and cunning crimes are to die for (and, indeed, to die during.) [Nov 2017, p.76]

A superb spin-off that stands on its own as another great entry in the consistently impressive series. [Nov 2017, p.75]

A staunch challenge for boss fight obsessives, but for many it'll simply be too frustrating. [Nov 2017, p.74]

This is a huge game, huge fun, and a huge time-sink too. In this case, bigger is definitely better. [Nov 2017, p.72]

Another annual masterclass in sports games, but the VC grind is edging close to breaking point. [Nov 2017, p.71]

New dekes, revamped defence, and a breezy Threes mode - lots to enjoy, but the clock's ticking for a revamp. [Nov 2017, p.70]

Different rather than strictly better or worse, MvC's combat still holds up, even if its personality doesn't. [Nov 2017, p.68]

Sharper players, a fab campaign, and FUT's increased value make FIFA 18 a match made in heaven. [Nov 2017, p.66]

One of the best racing games ever made. Gorgeous (even on a regular Xbox One), vast, and fun. [Nov 2017, p.64]

Mediocre story aside, this improves on The Stick of Truth's successful formula to great effect. [Nov 2017, p.63]

An uncompromising and varied simulation racer. The thrilling action is let down by glitches and unruly AI. [Nov 2017, p.62]

Builds on the best bits of the original to become a ruthless, compelling machine of orc conflict. [Nov 2017, p.60]

Perhaps the most charming Mario ever made, and a game that never forgets the plumber's proud past...With hundreds of Power Moons to unlock and some kickass secrets to discover - including the coolest end-game East egg we've ever seen - only BOTW can match Odyssey as the most must-have package on Switch. Mario's star has rarely shone brighter. [Dec 2017, p.56]

Masquerada's got heat - give it a chance, and it'll give you a wonderful world to lose yourself in. [Nov 2017, p.79]

Forget the internet, then - Windjammers' arena is the living room, and there it shines just as brightly as it did in 1994. [Nov 2017, p.79]

All the additions will be a breath of fresh air for any XCOM 2 veteran. [Nov 2017, p.78]

A superb, technical racer. F1 fans will love the career mode, but be disappointed by the classic content. [Nov 2017, p.77]

It'll delight you, it'll make you despair, but ultimately Ark will leave you with a real sense of satisfaction. [Nov 2017, p.76]

One for those who enjoy crazy golf, rather than those who fancy themselves the next Rory McIlroy. [Nov 2017, p.73]

Like Doctor Foster's puddle, Absolver packs a surprising amount of depth into a small space. [Nov 2017, p.72]

PES continues being brilliant on the pitch and less so off it, but it's a worthy upgrade over last year's entry. [Nov 2017, p.70]