A hybrid sim/arcade racer that challenges and entertains, despite controls that must be tweaked into submissions. [June 2011, p.68]

Nine years in the making, Cyanide has expanded Styx's scope in all the right ways without sacrificing its steadfast focus on stealth.

Hardcore fans will be enthralled by the (optional) authentic engine-management procedures necessary to keep each of these magnificent machines airborne. Also, in a cool departure from current industry practice, an honest-to-goodness 155-page printed manual is actually included in the box. [Dec 2004, p.102]

KSP's sandbox gets bigger by focusing on what makes it a great PC game: flexibility, freedom, and random explosions.

Flotilla is a charmingly crafted bite-size portion of tactical fun. [Jun 2010, p.81]

Suffers from a severe lack of character development in almost every nook and cranny of its design. But it offers an interesting main story, bottomless value for the dollar in terms of sheer open-ended exploration, and a very cool co-op mode. [May 2003, p.96]

Breezy fun that also rewards combo-chasing mastery. Barrel through the story once for a laugh, then replay the best levels until you are John Wick on a skateboard.

Even with its limited replay appeal and some lackluster voice acting, at $24.99, Shadowgrounds delivers a noteworthy value-to-fun ratio. [Aug 2006, p.35]

Not quite on par with Sapienza, Hitman's third episode is nonetheless a detailed, intricate playground for murder.

Cygni: All Guns Blazing is a rollicking bullet hell-inspired blockbuster that never lets off the gas.

Kalimba is a beautiful, cheerful platformer that finds a neat middle ground between reflex-oriented running and taxing puzzle solving.

A slow opening and a slightly dated core game engine do not detract from a thrilling and engaging samurai epic that's ported with skill to PC.

Gods Will Be Watching is a very clever idea well executed; one that opts to avoid the branching and overt morality of most similar games in favour of simply asking you to judge yourself as you see fit.

Delivers a winning combination of lively off-road driving physics and eye-popping graphics. [Jan 2003, p.82]

Even if you never log on, it's a killer laptop game with lots of replay value for just $20. [March 2005, p.74]

May not offer much more than BM2002 did, but the new online support is vital for those who want to match their managerial skills against other humans. [Sept 2002, p.84]

While it lasts, Mutant Year Zero is a tense, absorbing and atmospheric new member of the XCOM family. I suppose wanting more of it is a good problem to have.

Puts out where it counts. Cold Fear is a pants-browner. [Aug 2005, p.68]

A great one-shot adventure or an enjoyable grindfest, depending on which you want.

A brilliant stealth sandbox and unconventional RPG in one very ambitious but buggy package.

Technical shortcomings aside, Dragonfall’s story rocks; a well-spent $15 for any RPG fan.

Ultimately, it's more of the same. Thankfully, the first game left us wanting more. [May 2005, p.64]

A worthy send-off to Guild Wars 2's Elder Dragon saga, and a reason to be optimistic about the future of the game.

Gathering Storm is an ambitious expansion full of welcome additions, even if it does falter at the end.

I endured a lot of frustration in some of the more challenging levels, but for the quick-witted and cool-headed, Vertex is full of cerebral, frantic fun. [Nov 2011, p.77]

A decent boost to the already feature-packed gameworld. [June 2003, p.86]

A satisfying detective adventure based around a weird and wonderfully imaginative retro internet.

And did I mention massive? The Shadowlands expansion introduces a whole new quasi-metaphysical world to explore, along with two extra professions. [Jan 2004, p.107]

It's a must-have for any West Front aficionado. [Feb 2005, p.75]

Still, Plain Sight is certainly one of the best times you can have blowing yourself up. [July 2010, p.75]

A terrific concept that isn’t terribly far away from realizing its full potential. [Feb 2002, p.72]

Man of Medan tells a familiar story in a fascinating way, and even moreso with a partner.

I hope we don't have to wait another 10 years for more. [Mar 2010, p.81]

Sunday Gold didn't set my mind on fire like those artsy fartsy RPG/adventure game hybrids, but it makes up for it with honest, lunch pail, hardcore resource management.

Mortal Sin is a skeletal roguelite, but the surprisingly meaty combat goes a long way to making up for that.

A very competitive RPG, if not quite up to BioWare caliber. [July 2001, p.65]

The best in Activision's Spidey lineup, packed with comic-book excitement. [Holiday 2005, p.78]

More of a touch-up than a full-on renovation, but Sandbox mode is exciting.

An enjoyable brew of lush graphics, solid voice-acting, and fun gaming that once again reminds me why I'm still hacking and slashing 20 years down the road. [March 2005, p.66]

Addictive action and loot collection make it worth putting up with constant irritation from nearly all other aspects of this uniquely beautiful shooter. [Holiday 2009, p.61]

It's inconsistent and sometimes annoying, but ultimately a charming, challenging, heart-string-pulling fable.

Has nothing in common with the original series, but it's a solid action/RPG. [Sept 2005, p.81]

This would have been a much more compelling horror game if not for the bizarrely sluggish mouse movement, which feels strangely slow and floaty. [Holiday 2008, p.68]

A surprisingly fun genre-bending pirate game, equal parts RPG and strategy. [July 2001, p.70]

Incredibly tough but perfectly fair, Ghostrunner cuts the cybernetically enhanced mustard.

A mind-boggling grand strategy game that tries to do way too many things, but ends up doing some of them extremely well.

The PC port doesn't introduce much new and certain elements could be stronger, but Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen still shines as a uniquely enjoyable RPG.

A captivating story and varied card battles ensure this light-touch RPG remains entertaining throughout its lengthy campaign.

Sharp and compelling strategy that expands on the first game with a clever new progression system, but at over twice the length it's in danger of outstaying its welcome.

Repetitive but fun, a hellish challenge or a relaxing, spectacular gore bath depending on how you approach it.

A diet XCOM in a fascinating techno-cultist skin.

Battle Chasers: Nightwar is a gorgeous, challenging RPG that’s light on story but big on tactically satisfying battles.

A witty take on sci-fi and co-op that’s teeming with life and begging for you to get creative with its gadgets.

Engrossing, lovely to look at and with a potentially healthy shelf-life, if the multiplayer gets a toehold and gels cross-platform.

Not as groundbreaking as it could have been, but still an excellent game. [Nov 2000, p.138]

It’s still a terrific, dazzling action experience with a core mechanic that empowers you, and ultimately, this feels more like Crysis 2: Episode 2 than a sequel that deserves your maximum enthusiasm.

A joyous addictive action puzzler. [Holiday 2010, p.76]

If you've been jonesing for a return to a huge, open-ended roleplaying world with a ton of depth and a rousing storyline, you'll find yourself right at home in at least one of these Two Worlds. [Dec 2007, p.78]

This Xbox 360 port retains all the high-octane thrills of the original snowy adventure while incorporating features for the PC like mouse/key support and DirectX 10 effects(finally!). [Oct 2007, p.62]

The combination of drop-jaw visuals, absorbing missions, and overall realism make for good times...Better suited for casual players. [Nov 2004, p.102]

Fortunately, the overall plot doesn't really matter since each mission is essentially a self-contained story, and every one of them is great(if sadistic)fun. [Aug 2006, p.36]

Once you learn the ins and outs of the complex menu-driven tactical situation, the battles are absolutely breathtaking. [Mar 2002, p.78]

Element4l knows what it wants to be, a new kind of platform game, and nails it with audacity. [Oct 2013, p.66]

A genuinely thrilling, occasionally heartbreaking tale that shines a new light on well-known Greek gods. The musical aspect makes it one of the most unique visual novels you'll play, but its inconsistency in quality lets it down.

A grab bag of game systems to bring new life to Civ V. Definitely worthwhile, and almost certainly holier than thou. [Sept 2012, p.76]

Bigger, better, more refined than its predecessor. Perhaps standing out a little less now, but with vast potential.

Definitely an RTS for cerebral types, but it's a welcome change from tank rushes. [May 2003, p.76]

It can be difficult to keep your concentration when all hell is breaking loose, and I found myself pausing the game a fair bit just to get some bearing on what in the name of zombie jeebus was going on. But once the smoke, literally, clears and you come out the other side victorious, there's little more satisfying.

At launch, SFV is merely serviceable for the seasoned online warrior. For the beginner, it is simply abysmal.

Labyrinth of the Demon King offers familiar first-person retro dungeon crawling, but distinguishes itself with its overpowering—almost unbearable—mood of dread.

Endearing, compulsive, and just weird enough to want to keep exploring.

As a pure adventure game, Situation: Comedy can be fretfully easy, but I appreciate that Telltale has tried to implement some kind of showcase moment into each episode. [Mar 2007, p.66]

There's a few bolts that could be tightened up here and there, but Jagged Alliance is back in business.

A touch too much repetition doesn't spoil this ambitious and elegant combo of run 'n' gun, tower defence, and roguelike.

It's not a vast improvement over the original, but it's just as fun. [Dec 2000, p.168]

PM08's sense of humor, topical subject matter, and discount price ($19.99) make it a candidate I'd happily endorse. [Sept 2008, p.75]

Considering its budget pedigree, Overdose's $39.99 price tag may seem a bit steep. But for fans of mindless fun, it's worth every penny. [Jan 2008, p.88]

Novel tactical mechanics make this indie a contender for the best strategy RPG this year.

Noita combines classic roguelike progression with complex RPG-style spellbuilding and sets it in an incredibly dynamic environment.

Though this expansion is small and inexpensive, it fits perfectly into Endless Legend, filling in gaps and extending concepts. It’s a mite uninspired—as we said giants and wonders aren’t exactly alien to 4X games—and it doesn’t fix the bigger problems with the game—that underwhelming combat—but it certainly guards against anyone stealing the 4X crown, for the time being.

It's truly rewarding to see your tactical decisions pay off (and devastating to see a tight lead blown). [Dec 2009, p.77]

Filled with what made the original game great, this second trip to Union City has been worth the 26-year hiatus.

This well-crafted aerial shoot-'em-up makes no apologies for its arcade roots. [Dec 2005, p.92]

Simple, yes - maybe even simplistic at times - but in the end, it's the first MMOG I've picked up in a long time that I'll keep playing and playing. [July 2004, p.52]

A worthy add-on. [Feb 2002, p.67]

Chivalry is Quake to War of the Roses' Battlefield, and those seeking a faster-paced bloodier experience will undoubtedly prefer Chivalry's type of steel. [March 2013, p.65]

A conservative but confident return to form from the masters of a much-loved genre.

A game that pushes VR’s boundaries. Strange, playful and committed to creativity, but intense if you're new to VR.

I continue to get whiffs of deja-vu. largely due to the blizzard of dumbass trade offers that seem to be a series trademark, but this is the best Mogul I've played in years. [Sep 2006, p.98]

The New Colossus is a fun and frantic FPS, even if it doesn't feel quite as fresh as The New Order did.

But even with so much free material competing for the attention of Oblivion fans, Knights of the Nine offers a compelling package of polished content. [Mar 2007, p.64]

Episode four makes Bigby's struggle more personal, then ends abruptly, transferring the pressure to deliver onto the finale.

A great cozy yet creepy puzzle adventure packed with dozens of little mysteries to solve.

Modern Warfare 2's convincing weapons, evil enemies, shock-and-awe set-pieces and beautiful-but-unrelated locales suit nothing so well as co-op. [Jan 2010, p.72]

The top-notch writing and superb voice acting, coupled with the visually vibrant hellscape, keeps your interest from start to finish.

Still, considering what it had to work with, Noblis has done the Da Vinci name proud. [Sep 2006, p.94]

An atmospheric, well-designed adventure elevated by borrowing elements from role-playing games.

Phallic imagery and sore wrists don’t stop this from being uniquely charming. Definitely worth a few quid and a few hours of your time.