A chaotic(yet surprisingly deep)tower defense game, Revenge of the Titans is as charming as it is challenging. [July 2011, p.76]

Dungeon of the Endless pulls from many popular games and genres from the last couple of years, but what's wonderful about it is that all these elements come together to create something entirely new.

Star Wars: Squadrons delivers on great dogfighting, even when its campaign doesn't live up to its full potential.

Easily one of the most engrossing shooters ever made. [Holiday 2008, p.70]

World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade Classic's endless grind is brutal, but the way it fosters community and relationships is still magical.

Empire at War finally delivers a truly satisfying Star Wars strategy experience. [Apr 2006, p.62]

In the weeks ahead--maybe even by the time you read this--Silent Hunter 4 will likely grow into the sub-sim classic its ambitious designers intended. It's just too bad that the out-of-the-box version narrowly missed the boat. [June 2007, p.64]

A lifelike and heartfelt celebration of a beloved toy that overreaches in later levels.

While not quite a work of staggering genius, and a bit laborious in parts, the brazenly intricate 1701 A.D. handily sails into position as the best empire-builder of 2006. [Feb. 2007, p.67]

A small but satisfying strategy puzzler that comes, does its job and leaves without fuss.

Features some challenging and logical puzzles and an entertaining story. [Feb 2005, p.72]

Unexpectedly engrossing. Heed the mockers and you'll miss one of the PC's finest and freshest driving games.

The best simulation of the Battle of Britain yet, despite its flaws. [Apr 2001, p.77]

Though Ahriman's Gift is far superior to the original Kohan, it still feels like the same experience. [Apr 2002, p.71]

A grim reminder of the senselessness of war and the best old-school survival horror game in ages.

A sometimes tricky RPG with gorgeous art that's perfect for co-op.

Rough spots aside, the game represents a worthwhile expansion and is a welcome addition to the genre. [Nov 2007, p.71]

Emotive storytelling that puts the tedium and stress of work before pleasure, but somehow still has a lightness of touch. [July 2013, p.70]

Windjammers 2 is a blast when you get into its zone. But despite that joyful core, it feels like a failure to bring this classic game to a new generation. Just as its style is trapped in the aesthetics of years gone by, so too is its approach to design. There a lot to like about it, and for some the stripped down challenge will be a welcome callback, but I imagine most will be left wondering what the fuss is about.

Vermintide is a brilliant twist on the Left 4 Dead formula, and deserves much of the same praise heaped on Valve.

This is a fun, vibrant open world game with a great sense of humour. I just wish it felt nicer to play.

Deep and unique enough for genre veterans, yet also simple and welcoming enough for newcomers.

A brawler that's bursting with content and fan service, but held back by flakey online play.

A beautiful adventure with heart, humour, and satisfying hacking puzzles you can enjoy even if you don’t know anything about coding.

Provides nice visuals, new buildings, and some fun options for crafting and managing your city.

Intentionally and unintentionally thorny, but still one of the most compelling mystery adventures since Disco Elysium.

It'd be a heck of a lot of fun, too, if the gameplay wasn't plagued with rampant technical issues. Between pauses, hiccups, and slow-downs in heavily populated areas of StudioTown, it's a complete lag-drag. [Aug 2003, p.62]

Earth Defense Force 6 is big, dumb co-op fun and a masterclass in asset recycling.

The problem with this is that death, rather than some looming, ominous, ever-present threat, becomes little more than a minor inconvenience. And sometimes, when you’re stuck on a puzzle, it can be annoying too. Minit has no real stakes, which cheapens the timer system and makes it feel somewhat arbitrary.

The biggest problem with online play is that it's far too easy to dominate with a single player. [Feb 2005, p.52]

A rich world and amazing dungeon design more than make up for dips in the story.

Smart co-op shooting slightly undermined by poor stealth mechanics and dogged insistence on withholding the best toys.

Visually stunning but mechanically lacklustre, Valiant Hearts gets in the way of its own storytelling.

No polish or refinement, just lots of giant ants and plenty of ways to kill them. Ridiculously fun at its best, which it frequently is.

Modern Warfare 2 sets a new bar for Call of Duty all over again.

Well-formed and horribly addictive. [Nov 2011, p.75]

Difficulty spikes aside, this is a great PC edition of a fantastic arcade shooter.

But the eye candy is really secondary to its amazing action. [June 2008, p.86]

If you've been away from EverQuest for a while and you're thinking of coming back for this add-on, don't bother unless your goal is to eliminate corpse-runs. [June 2005, p.74]

Some scuff-marks aside, A Hat in Time is a creative, playful, and polished tribute to a genre that doesn’t get nearly enough love on PC.

A winning but wayward chimera of survival game, surrealism and storybook adventure.

Come for the neck stabs and stay for the surprisingly great combat, Assassin's Creed Shadows is a stealth action buffet with a story to forget.

Knights and Bikes tells a touching, albeit overlong, coming of age story about friendship and grief.

Hell Let Loose is a fun and accessible introduction to milsims, but I miss the complexity.

Don’t mistake price for quality – this is a top-notch shooter, limited in resources but not in heart.

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

A more gritty survival horror experience than Stay Human, but Techland's new first-person parkour game still stumbles a bit.

Metal: Hellsinger manages to remain entertaining despite its lackluster story due to its great soundtrack and well-integrated rhythmic combat.

Even alongside other recent, excellent retro FPSes, Ion Fury reminds us of how much this period of PC gaming has to offer. It's surely the best thing that's ever happened in the Build Engine, and although limitations of enemy and weapon design reveal themselves over time, the swift movement and sleek maps make Ion Fury a worthy indulgence in the past.

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]

Not for everyone, but turn-based space-sim fans will be hooked. [Mar 2001, p.92]

Thirty dollars may seem a bit hefty for a free modification, but the incredible experience is well worth the price of admission. [Aug 2003, p.72]

In context, the conclusion causes more of a ripple than a splash. [Aug 2007, p.70]

It's all a lot to handle for new players. [May 2010, p.65]

Absolute Power is a collection of small, but welcome enhancements--a splash of new content that doesn't change what the game is, but enough that anyone still investing hours in the perfect republic will love. [Sept 2010, p.84]

A big ‘ol chunk of game with a lot of things to do, and just as importantly, new ways to do them.​

A great setting, a good story, and more dialogue-based solutions than the base game provides.

Little Kitty Big City is an adorable, entertaining journey through a delightful world that’s just the right size.

A gripping horror story, but one where the interactive elements struggle to sustain the tension.

The Division is a challenging co-op cover shooter and a gorgeous open world diminished by bloated and unnecessary RPG tropes.

Resident Evil 4 is still a masterful shooter nine years later. Occasional slowdown caused by the locked 60 fps framerate hampers an otherwise great port.

Night of the Raving Dead lacks a truly memorable, show-stopping sequence to really put it over the top, but it's Grade-Z(for zombie and zany)through and through. [May 2008, p.66]

A vibrant mystery adventure but maybe not for you if you're picky about picross.

A quality step-up for a series that's still short of greatness.

Elden Ring Nightreign is just as confusing and abrasive as FromSoftware's other games, but there's really nothing else like it.

A supreme strategy game, rich with incident and detail. Finally some worthy competition for the Total War series. [Mar 2010, p.76]

Guitar Hero III's shortcomings feel like the unfortunate consequence of being a hastily made port. [Jan 2008, p.86]

A solid expansion addressing the right problems, but still shackled by its core game’s choices.

After a promising opening, Ghost Song collapses under the weight of its ill-conceived mechanics.

Skin Deep is an indulgent masterclass in immersive sim shenanigans, but lacks a standout level you'll be telling friends about for years.

Still, Survivor's variety of characters, aliens, and weapons deliver enough diversity to keep you entertained, especially for a game that will set you back a mere $20. [Apr 2008, p.70]

Battles are almost always won by veteran troops – which means it all comes down to who’s willing to log in epic amounts of playtime. [Holiday 2001, p. 82]

A solid game that feels like an add-on. This series needs a 3D overhaul. [Jan 2001, p.157]

Its dynamic world is one of the most interesting RPG settings ever. [Feb 2004, p.78]

"SimCity" elements tend to bog down the fun factor, but if you don't mind some biz sim with your strategy, you'll find this game pretty entertaining. [Sept 2003, p.77]

Rage isn't a complicated game. Despite what the developers might have suggested and we might have assumed, it's still set in a corridor. Fortunately, id still make some of the finest corridors in the world. [Holiday 2011, p.72]

A calming, likeable adventure with an engaging premise, but Waking Mars’s roots could go a little deeper.

Scary monsters, beautiful locations, and a story that's sadly lost in space.

I dream about its puzzles, contemplate solutions in my spare time, and imagine what lies beyond. But most importantly, I've had fun - and that's what adventuring is all about. [Jan 2004, p.100]

Eye of the North is mainly for those players who have exhausted Guild Wars' three chapters and just need more content. [Dec 2007, p.64]

What it lacks in charm, Temtem makes up for with mechanical depth and involved multiplayer.

If it's a bit flabby and messy, though, Nobody Saves the World is far more often a delight. Guacamelee was a showcase for ingenious level design, but here DrinkBox demonstrates a different knack for layering up complex systems, which combine and play off each other in deviously logical ways. Under the brash exterior lies a wonderfully technical game that offers the freedom to let you discover the quality of its craft in your own time. Grinding through quests is a genuine pleasure and, well, who doesn't want to be a horse with the powers of a slug?

While single-player practice against AI teams feels drab and slow-paced, a full-blown multiplayer melee with more than 20 people per team is flat-out amazing. [Dec 2003, p.136]

It's stinkin' great, everything about it kicks ass... If you play EverQuest at least once a week, this $28 download is a must-have. [Jan 2004, p.96]

A sumptuous fusion of sound, colour and love that everyone should try.

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

A novel and challenging survival game that puts you in the driver's seat of one the best cars in videogames.

Has fantastic parts, but isn't the sum of them. Wait for the inevitable remix version, which may fix some of the problems. [Aug 2012, p.55]

There’s a lot to parse, but understanding the nuances of Frozen Cortex reveals a deep strategic experience that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Frozen.

Technical issues aside, Wo Long is a master of its craft that future soulslikes should study under.

Tense and involving, if just slightly lacking smarts and spectacle. A firm foundation to build a series on.

No, really—they've actually changed things this year, and the football feels better.

A great tactical RTS with all the gorgeous aesthetics and atmosphere of the original series.

Trainz isn't really a game at all, but rather an intricate simulation of what is itself an intricate simulation. [May 2002, p.62]

A stylish, understated, and subtly chilling psychological thriller with a compelling mystery at its core.

Anger Foot is a funny, unique FPS only slightly let down by performance issues.

By making excellent use of its procedurally generated world and wacky gadgets, Heat Signature is a mission worth taking.

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]