Devilishly moreish and hard to put down, only failed by performance snags and the absence of key quality-of-life features.

One of the best strategy titles of the year…an out-and-out classic. [Feb 2002, p.65]

Despite its minor flaws, RE successfully combines the excitement of the restaurant biz with the deep number-crunching of a dedicated business sim. [July 2003, p.81]

Trainz isn't so much a game as a collection of maps, locomotives, rolling stock, and editing tools with which to develop your own Union Pacific Scotsman clones. [Feb 2004, p.73]

The genius here is how well the expansion integrates with the regular game. [Jan 2005, p.85]

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

One flipping good idea can’t save this repetitive roguelike deckbuilder from only rolling above average.

A smart and thoughtful science fiction mystery featuring a cast of believable, nuanced characters.

One of the best open world games to come along in ages.

Robocop: Rogue City's fantastic shootouts are held back by a dull narrative and bloated pacing.

Forget the high-def TV and wireless Xbox 360 controller; Battlestations Midway plays better with a mouse and a joystick. [Apr 2007, p.58]

Although not as flashy or well-funded as EA's "Need For Speed" series, Flatout 2 blazes a unique trail through the arcade racing world--one collision at a time. [Nov. 2006, p.118]

Fine fighter with an enjoyably daft story, marred by wobbly port to PC.

Graphics from the '80s with RPG gameplay from the late '90s and writing like nothing else: Skald was 2024's biggest pleasant surprise.

A pachinko-roguelike that properly rewards strategic play. Terrific.

But despite the visual inadequacies of the graphics engine, the game more than compensates for deficiencies with its constantly challenging gameplay. [Oct 2007, p.54]

Cold War is an inessential distraction from the best Call of Duty on offer.

Aquatic Adventure distills the Metroidvania into its most essential parts and says something meaningful with it.

Frozen Synapse 2 has plenty to offer with its campaign, but again, this sequel is at its best when playing against other fallible humans.

Sable's lonely, heartfelt journey of self-discovery will sit with me for a lifetime.

Assassin's Creed Mirage isn't the triumphant return to glory that I hoped it'd be, but it's a good first stab.

A less dramatic reimagining than it pretends to be, but hopefully enough to breathe new life into the coolest MMO universe around.

A smart, hypnotic city builder that won't leave you tearing out your hair.

More of an interior-design sim than the Vegas epic you're probably imagining. [Mar 2004, p.61]

If you want to make Total War: Warhammer harder, the Wood Elves are here to ruin your peace of mind.

BHD has environmental richness to spare, and lots of flash and thump. [June 2003, p.64]

We're given lots of initial wow factor, but Battlefont can't go the distance against the likes of the "Battlefield" series. I can't complain too much, though, because I still left the experience with a wide grin on my face. Battlefront is definitely a Star Wars geek's dream. [Holiday 2004, p.110]

Its graphics may be bland and its sound effects cheesy, but I can't stop playing the damn thing. [Nov 2002, p.126]

A compelling cyberpunk story told in an imaginative way, and one that will really test your moral compass.

Ironclad's impressive sequel has made me proud to be a sinner.

Overall, however, pet lovers and fans of The Sims 2 will find this expansion disc more fun than licking yourself silly--and believe me, it doesn't get much better than that. [Jan. 2007, p.74]

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

Unique folkloric inspiration and interesting tactical considerations are let down by a slow second half.

Fans of the Cthulhu Mythos may go straight to heaven with such a faithful adaptation of Lovecraft's spine-chilling years. Others may find that <i>Call of Cthulhu</i> drives them to the mountains of madness. [July 2006, p.55]

It's simple fun, but if you or a family member are into Clone Wars, simple fun if probably what you're after. [June 2011, p.75]

Toothless writing, old-fashioned open world design, and ropey port work undermine what should be a thrilling cinematic adventure.

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.

Huge, inventive and the reason I'm sleep deprived. It's brilliant.

The best-ever WWII sim gets new planes, new settings, and carrier operations. [Jan 2005, p.76]

A gorgeous world eager to be explored with satisfying puzzles and fun, if occasionally clumsy, action.

Fight past the niggles and you'll find a truly epic grand strategy game with a tremendous sense of spectacle.

The Old Blood is a false start for Wolfenstein's life after The New Order, a creative step backwards that survives primarily because of the strong groundwork laid in the previous game. It will always be fun to fire these guns and MachineGames's presentation is still ahead of the curve, but this isn't the game you should play if you want to explore those qualities—that game was released a year ago.

Fans of <i>Bone</i> or point-and-click adventures shouldn't hesitate to grab it. [Ju;y 2006, p.99]

A simple yet nuanced roguelike packed with interesting decisions, tense fights and lots of digging.

Enjoyably tough and esoteric, if a little uneven, Mortal Shell is a decent debut from Cold Symmetry.

Rewards long-term play with interesting PvP combat. [Jan 2010, p.82]

Bloodroots is a brutally good slasher that often outstays its own welcome.

Ota Imon has something interesting to say with Wolfstride. I just hope it finds the right voice to say it with next time.

A documentary format worth expanding and repeating, more assists, and the same rough but rewarding racing.

Even if you're not the seafaring type, Pirates of the Burning Sea offers genuinely enjoyable core gameplay that, despite a steep learning curve and a few rough spots, will capitivate even the driest of landlubbers. [May 2008, p.60]

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

A beautiful, if simple, puzzle game that remains faithful to Myst without feeling dated.

Outside of the fighting, however, For Honor is a needlessly bloated game. There’s a lot of tediously granular customisation, a tacky free-to-play-style storefront selling in-game currency for real-world money, and a tangle of ugly, confusing menus to wrestle through before you can get into a battle. And as time goes on, and those stalwart, hardcore players continue to hone their skills, it’ll be even more unwelcoming to newcomers. Stick with it, though, and you’ll find a rich, tactical fighting game with wonderfully weighty combat and hidden depths to uncover. But if you want something accessible you can easily dip in and out of, you may want to swear fealty to another lord.

It isn't a challenge or an epic, but for an arty game that's worthy of a seat next to Limbo, Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet knows how to give you a good time without taking very much of it. [Aug 2012, p.69]

Planet Coaster 2 may not be the deepest management sim you can buy, but its powerful creation tools and newly added water attractions make a sufficiently satisfying splash.

The new features/graphics only ehnance what was already the best baseball game ever. [June 2001, p.64]

When the inevitable patches and mods do start shipping, Lock On is likely to transform from a stunning but gawky debutante into the Grand Dame of modern flight sims. [Feb 2004, p.82]

Transport Fever 2 offers a pleasingly detailed logistics simulation, although it does move mightily slow at times.

With a local co-op buddy Aegis Defenders becomes a fun mix of genres, but when playing solo it can be an exercise in frustration.

Strikers walks and talks like Persona 5, but no social game and bland combat make it one strictly for gigafans.

Look past the murky aesthetic and clunky combat: this is an exciting fusion of immersive sim and CRPG.

An exceptional Old West action game that everyone should play. [Feb 2006, p.34]

This hectic, multiplayer-focused Darwinia spin-off is as full of glee and spectacle as any RTS I know. [Holiday 2008, p.73]

A peculiar experience that’s personal, sincere, and full of questions to unpack, though it asks them far too bluntly.

AC is a first-class resource pig, despite its 2D origins. With no way to adjust detail, you need a mighty rig to runit when the screen is filled with warring units. [Apr 2003, p.104]

An awesome achievement, and if you can make the time investment, you'll be amply rewarded...If you have a high tolerance for micromanagement, you'll love the depth of gameplay. [Apr 2004, p.76]

Between the game's classy commentary and its sensational broadcast-style presentation, soccer fans will find a ton of depth in the championship mode, which you can take online to play others in one-on-one match-ups. [July 2004, p.65]

In the end, Clash of Heroes spends too much time trying to distract you from the one thing that makes it brilliant. [Jan 2012, p.80]

A well-made remaster with beautiful modern visuals and outdated platforming rooted firmly in the past.

The steely smash-and-crunch of the combat merrily pushed me through its 20-hour campaign and beyond into New Game +, compelling me to ignore the rudimentary world and focus on those glorious moments where sparks, limbs and scrap metal fly with brutal abandon. Deck13 has come a long way, welding together a solid, structurally sound Soulslike that adeptly showcases what makes this genre special.

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

For The King 2 is surprisingly one of the most tactically challenging games of 2023, but suffers from being a bit too much of the same next to the previous monarch.

A genuinely enjoyable, gorgeous action-RPG that lacks the storytelling nuance of previous Dragon Age games.

An RTS designed for entertainment rather than e-sport. Colourful, fun and memorable, its elements mesh surprisingly well.

It may not be original, but Rush to Berlin is fun, which makes it worth considering for a second, third, or fourth tour of duty. [Oct. 2006, p.73]

Evil Dead brings a brand new tactical thrill to the multiplayer horror genre.

A generic shooter with lots to say. Spec Ops: The Line trades quality gaming for quality narrative and interesting characters. [Oct 2012, p.72]

The roguelike and FPS genres haven't been spliced so successfully since Deathloop—and Wild Bastards deserves just as much acclaim.

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

More of the same, but with an increased focus on combat and dungeons. If that appeals, The White March may be worth a visit.

Neo Can is ambitious and thoughtful, but it sometimes overshoots into something too bleak.

Finishing it off and watching the credits roll is a bittersweet moment, as Pandemic's final game is also one of its finest. [Jan 2010, p.68]

Heaven's Vault communicates the beauty of assigning meaning to symbols, and thus the people who wrote them.

There still isn't any game on the market quite like Farming Simulator, but the series is overdue for a gameplay makeover.

Compelling, slick, handsome. The predictable campaign and so-so skirmish AI are mere flesh wounds.

Flashpoint's fresh subject matter, clever approach, and deep strategies make it worth playing. [May 2005, p.]

Blood Bowl 2 is the flashiest iteration of the game so far, but its dice rolls are frustrating, and its amble ruleset isn't introduced well to newcomers.

A quck-and-dirty port that's worth trying, especially for "Deus Ex" fans. [July 2005, p.60]

As a high-level expansion, Kingdom of Sky is well done, but lower-level players can give this one a pass. [Jun 2006, p.88]

The Ship is the shooter Agatha Christie didn't live long enough to make. [Sept 2007, p.65]

Kingdom Come is a mess of bugs, and there’s the constant feeling that independent developer Warhorse is biting off more than it can chew. But there’s a charm to its scrappiness, and it does enough interesting stuff that I’m willing to tolerate the creaky framework struggling to prop everything up. It’s one of the most satisfying, rewarding role-playing experiences I’ve enjoyed on PC for a while, but the inconsistent performance and the game’s tendency to completely break does test my patience from time to time.

Shadowrun Returns’ bang-to-buck ratio is largely going to depend on the quality of content that springs up from the devs and the community after release, but as it stands today, it’s a mostly average RPG running in a visually underwhelming engine.

It won't win any awards for innovation (or its horrofic yacht-rock soundtrack), but City Life is still a great, slightly offbeat take on an old-fashioned formula. [Sep 2006, p.58]

Riding and maintaining your bike is great—the boring world, dull missions, and overly serious tone, not so much.

A clever time loop setup devolves into frustrating repetition.

Surviving Mars is a lot of hard work, but managing a burgeoning colony never stops being compelling.

A free-to-play MMO of a higher caliber, Vindictus' combo-driven combat and addictiveness make it hard to resist. [Feb 2011, p.70]

Survival horror and action-adventure fans cannot afford to miss this one(especially at its $19.99 price tag), even if you have to take off your glasses to appreciate it. [Oct 2007, p.62]