Because of its stronger starting point, Grounded 2 should wind up the bigger, better, buggier-in-a-good-way survival game. Its best new toys make survival gameplay much smoother and more enjoyable; the adolescent spirit that truly makes Grounded stand out in a sea of survival games is still on full display here, too. It will take some time for Creative mode to catch up and eventually surpass what the first game did for those who like to play this game more like an interior decorator than a hunter-gatherer. All of that means Grounded 2 is a good early-access game that improves on its previous version in some big ways, while still earning the label of being an in-progress experience. [Early Access Score = 70]

Despite being in early access, Ooblets has a well-established identity. It's a charming-looking game with characters and items with names that are all cheeky puns, and its relaxing gameplay loops leave you feeling good because you're bettering the living conditions of both yourself and the townsfolk. It's a very positive game, and I'll no doubt lose a lot more time to it once it leaves early access. In its current form, it's got some annoying bugs, and since it's not finished, there's not much reason to stick around once you've accomplished the initial set of tasks that the mayor sets out for you. But what's there is already a pretty substantial game. The card-based dance battles are adorable, it's fun to build new decks and try out different strategies, and there's such a deep satisfaction in transforming your modest beginnings into a beautiful farm. I want there to be more, but what's already here is pretty good. [Early Access score = 70]

Despite being in early access, Ooblets has a well-established identity. It's a charming-looking game with characters and items with names that are all cheeky puns, and its relaxing gameplay loops leave you feeling good because you're bettering the living conditions of both yourself and the townsfolk. It's a very positive game, and I'll no doubt lose a lot more time to it once it leaves early access. In its current form, it's got some annoying bugs, and since it's not finished, there's not much reason to stick around once you've accomplished the initial set of tasks that the mayor sets out for you. But what's there is already a pretty substantial game. The card-based dance battles are adorable, it's fun to build new decks and try out different strategies, and there's such a deep satisfaction in transforming your modest beginnings into a beautiful farm. I want there to be more, but what's already here is pretty good. [Early Access score = 70]

Overwatch's strongest aspect is how it manages to constantly teach you something new. Each match reveals another detail you might have previously ignored--the audio cue that signals McCree's lethal Deadeye attack; the sound a stalwart Bastion makes when entering its dangerous turret form. Playing Overwatch is a digging process, and finding new layers is part of what makes it special. It's not impressive that Overwatch tries so many different things--it's outstanding that it succeeds in every attempt.

What's amazing is that, despite how different each hero is, they clash, interact, and cooperate in compelling matches.

Almost 50 hours in, I finally feel like I'm playing Dragon Quest 7 proper; I have access to job classes, the main story is kicking into gear, and I've located a casino where I can try my luck at a few mini games while I continue my adventure. I'm wary after so many hours of repetitive questing and simple combat, but it's motivating to see signs of good things to come.

Nailing down my feelings on Pokemon Scarlet and Violet this past year has been difficult. In my review of the base game, I said it was one of "the best mainline Pokemon games in years," and 350 hours later, I still stand by that. Terastallization is the best battle gimmick the series has introduced to date, the open-world design fits nicely into the series' themes of exploration and discovery, and the competitive scene has been a thrill to follow and participate in. However, Scarlet and Violet's triumphant highs are still obscured by technical issues, and the same can be said for The Teal Mask. Scarlet and Violet's core issues still persist, but there's a lot to chew on here, both for hardcore competitive players and fans who want to see more of the Pokemon world. [Provisional Score = 70]

Minecraft is a forever-game for many people. Hypixel Studios has ambitions to get there, too, and the foundational gameplay here is solid enough--albeit partly due to the strict blueprint it followed--that success is at least possible, if not guaranteed. But Hytale will only find lasting success once it first finds its own path forward and does more than just rebuild experiences its players already had years ago. [Early Access Score = 60]

I am optimistic about the swings that Bungie is taking with the expansion, especially those that overhaul the core game. You're likely to find me spending too much time fiddling with weapon mods at the shooting range when The Edge of Fate launches on July 19. [8-Hour Hands-On Impressions]

Grounded has the foundation needed to turn into a great survival game, but it has a long way to go yet. The titular term comes from aviation--when a pilot finds themselves, for whatever reason, unable to fly, they are Grounded. It's a pretty apt name for the current state of Obsidian's foray into the co-op survival genre. But like a balsa wood airplane, Grounded sits at the outstretched tension point of a strong rubber band. It is pure, unadulterated potential energy, and all we can do is sit back and wait to see if that rubber band snaps or if the game achieves take off. I think it's gonna fly. [Early Access Score = 60]

I spent a lot of time just exploring Forza Horizon 6's world without a waypoint on the horizon or events to be distracted by, and I was surprised by how therapeutic and engaging the experience was. It goes to show just how much attention you can draw through a setting alone, letting the backdrop do most of the work when there's little more than weaving through traffic to focus on. There's going to be a lot more to the final product, with many, many more races, new car meets, and even more ways to enjoy Japanese racing culture at its best. But even with all of that stripped away, Forza Horizon 6 is delivering on its setting alone. And after waiting all this time, I'm so excited to see what other surprises it has in store. [Hands-On Impressions]

Bearing in mind what's still to come, 30XX is nonetheless off to an excellent start. It's already a thoroughly enjoyable homage to the likes of Mega Man or Turrican, with tight controls and polished character design securing the foundation and a roadmap to version 1.0 promising a steady supply of new content. I wouldn't hesitate to start your run now, no matter what the Bureau of Encouragement might say to the contrary. [Early Access Provisional Score = 70]

All in all, I'm enjoying playing Mass Effect 1 again, something I never thought I'd say (I find the original game's combat too frustrating). I'm eager to get back to it, and see how the Legendary Edition may have changed Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 as well. [Review in Progress]

Although its narrative setup is enjoyable, Modern Warfare 3 can't get out of its own way, with nearly half of the missions being the underwhelming Open Combat style. The bumpy pacing and abrupt ending make Makarov's big return a disappointment, dragging Modern Warfare 3 down as the weakest entry of an otherwise strong reboot series. [Campaign Review Score = 50]

As a whole, my time with InZoi was underwhelming. Though I know more items and cosmetics are headed to the game and that there's plenty of time and potential for its developers to focus more on the game's social aspects, as it stands right now gameplay isn't enjoyable and I worry that InZoi won't place as much importance on its social-simulation aspects as I'd prefer. Though I'm opting to remain hopeful, after spending a few dozen hours with InZoi--and despite my absolute delight at getting the opportunity to review a game I have been eagerly waiting to play since its announcement--I've come to the conclusion that I most likely won't pick it up again until it's spent far more time in development. [Early Access Provisional Score = 60]

It's got a bit of challenge without ever feeling overwhelming, and the frequent checkpoints keep the frustration to a minimum. It's all the fun of being Batman without any of the anxiety. [2-Hour Hands-On Impressions]

As it stands, Splatoon 3 is a wildly inventive story campaign paired with a massive amount of multiplayer modes and options, making it the most robust Splatoon game so far. I need more time to put the multiplayer modes through their paces, but the foundation appears strong. [Review in Progress; Provisional Score = 70]

If you've never experienced God of War Ragnarok, then there's a strong chance this port will satisfy you after the extended wait. It's just a pity it's not flawless as the extra time might have you expecting. [Unscored PC Version update]

My overall impression after 25 hours is that Marvel's Avengers is a fun but flawed game with a lot of good ideas. It still feels as though the story campaign and the live-game missions are pretty divorced from one another, and I miss the moments when it was just me using my skills to take down a tough boss, rather than just watching as Taskmaster or Abomination get absolutely mobbed by me and three other superheroes. But there's a lot of depth in the combat Marvel's Avengers offers as you unlock more and more of a character's skill tree, and especially when you get a decent team that works together, there are quite a few opportunities to feel super.

Menace is off to more than a running start already. The turn-based tactical action is some of the best I've played lately, and I love the distinct, voiced squad leaders, as well as both the variety of missions and enemy factions. The biggest missing piece is really story and context. It's hard to get too invested in what's going on in the Wayback when I'm not even really sure why we're here yet. But for Early Access, this is a truly impressive effort, and there's plenty of fun to be had already. [Early Access Provisional Score = 80]

Based on what I played, 007 First Light is shaping up to be a phenomenal IO Interactive game through and through. It takes everything the developer has learned from many years of creating, refining, iterating, and evolving Hitman games, and puts the pieces that make the most sense together to create a James Bond game that could end up being one of the best games of the year, and also the best James Bond game ever created. 007 First Light could be the culmination of IO Interactive's vision for modern sandbox action games, as well as a spectacular payoff for a 16-year audition to make a James Bond game. [Hands-On Impressions]