Exceptional building mechanics support a game that sometimes feels like a chore.

Despite its captivating graphics and enchanting music, Myst IV feels stunted. It ships on a DVD and has a 3GB install, so why can't I move around freely? Where's the adventure in my adventure game? [Holiday 2004, p.101]

Bloody good combat carries Ninja Gaiden 4 through its more granular and extraneous "modern" additions.

An old school point-and-click adventure with a captivating story, strong characters, and a rich, well-realised sci-fi setting.

Dragonflight isn't the most thrilling expansion in the MMO's lineage, but it's a fresh start, which is a rare thing for a 20-year-old videogame to get.

Previous World of Warcraft releases have been genuine events. This one is simply an expansion pack. A good expansion pack, for sure, with lots of content to keep you playing one of the best and most beloved MMOs ever created. Just don't expect it to be anything more.

A shining indie gem, yours for a throat-cuttingly reasonable price.

Strong, handsome and, at times, fantastic, but FIFA 15 still never quite feels like football.

An exceptional collection of puzzles bound by narrative which gets a little ahead of itself.

Light performance problems and a poor loot box system can't quite distract from Forza Motorsport 7's accommodating difficulty, stunning beauty, and lavish racing options.

A tense and spooky stroll through a gorgeous world, some fun supernatural detective work, and an efficient script with sparse dialogue.

Flight Simulation X: Acceleration is the company's first official expansion pack for its Flight Simulation franchise since 1990, and the $29.99 release adds a trio of new aircraft, dozens of new missions, and a long awaited DX10 graphics upgrade to the best-selling flight simulator. [Jan 2008, p.85]

An excellent implementation of the BUILD engine that makes for a tuly wicked shoot-'em -up. [July 1997, p.208]

A gorgeous tactics card game that's simple to pick up but has significant depth.

Any game in which a giant laser cannon pops out of Teddy Roosevelt's head on Mt. Rushmore is a winner in my book...Red Alert 3 is a highly polished game that doesn't take itself the least bit seriously, and co-op play might jus be the next big thing in RTS. [Holiday 2008, p.62]

The box says it's guaranteed to improve your real game. I believe it! [Mar 2001, p.83]

A great buy for Sims junkies; and if you missed the first one, go out and buy both. [Nov 2000, p.137]

A sports classic. [Holiday 2002, p.106]

An extremely refreshing space exploration take on the massively multiplayer genre. [Holiday 2002, p.92]

Subtle surfing nuances are the bulk of the gameplay, but if you're a fan of BMX and skateboarding games, you'll find a lot to enjoy here. [Feb 2004, p.88]

By some creative miracle, modest difficulty and interaction are outweighed by genuinely great survival storytelling.

If you're not a fan, buy the original, become a fan, then buy this. [Jan 2010, p.85]

Monster Hunter Stories 2 may look cute, but it still retains the huge amount of depth the series is known for. No, it's not as expansive or as fast-paced as the likes of Monster Hunter World but that works in its favour. Stories 2 is the approachable series entry point I've been waiting for and has inspired me to return to other games in the series to test out my skills again.

If you ask me, and you have, a real and formidable talent has emerged in Original Fire Games. Somehow, using some cute little cars, a camera perspective from the arcades of yesteryear and surprising sim touches, it makes all-out racing sims feel a bit like doing a tax return by comparison.

Vermintide 2's combat and level design are so feverishly fun that I'll put up with its bad matchmaking and RPG progression if it means chopping more ratmen in half.

Another witty Turnip Boy adventure chock-full of eccentric humour and enjoyable if not simple gameplay, I wish Snoozy Kazoo gave this root vegetable lad a little more room to commit his dastardly deeds.

A short but spectacular surfing game, Sword of the Sea's atmosphere and movement propel it where its simple and repetitive puzzles can't.

It's not the lack of death that drains the game of its urgency and suspense; it's the lack of purpose in each level, other than to show off the lovely design of virtual monkey bars topped off with some fireworks at the end. [Feb 2009, p.66]

While hardly perfect, Joint Ops is an adrenaline-fueled good time that provides a tactically deeper alternative to "Battlefield Vietnam." [Sept 2004, p.58]

Brimming character and imagination, Wargroove occasionally loses its groove over long-winded core gameplay.

Its resplendent scenery, changeable weather, and exquisite lighting and particle effects are absolutely mesmerizing. [Holiday 2004, p.104]

It's let down by lacklustre combat and some annoying enemy design, but Prey is still a compelling, beautiful immersive sim.

Sunken King won’t do anything to convince you to play Dark Souls 2 if you don’t already love it, but stays consistently challenging for even veteran players.

A brilliant, brutal survival horror dripping in atmosphere. It’s from the oldest of schools, but still offers a rewarding challenge.

This is the sort of smart, focused resurrection of old games I want more of, something that feels old and new with every expedition step. I managed to put more than 40 hours into this quote-unquote small game.

If you're already hooked, pick it up. Otherwise, the benefits aren't worth the investment. [Mar 2001, p.68]

An extremely flexible sim that really puts you in the middle of the flak at 20,000 feet. [Mar 2001, p.80]

Adheres strongly to the Keep It Simple, Stupid principle. By doing so, it manages to meld these different genres where others have failed. [Nov 2002, p.120]

An evocative life-sim RPG you won't want to wake up from.

A gritty, brutal WWII shooter that uses its scale, setting, and fidelity to great effect.

These are decent enough remasters, but not the outstanding ones these RPGs deserved.

A different kind of adventure, in a very different kind of world that wastes no time before growing on you.

A triumphant return to the top for footballing’s favourite son.

What it lacks in complexity, it more than makes up for with intense action and ease of lay that consistently draws you back for more. [Feb 2005, p.48]

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]

A superb arcade racer that's a feature or two away from greatness. [Feb 2006, p.88]

The one design flaw I can't forgive is the lack of in-mission saves. [May 2002, p.65]

I'd recommend this game at $50. At the cost of a quick snatch-and-grab from the nearest recruiting station, it's easy to call it a must-play. [Jan 2003, p.118]

Any repetition is mollified by the fact that you really do have the run of Springfield. [Jan 2004, p.105]

A unique and polished adventure game with a strong, sustained historical flavor. [June 1997, p.108]

Like a reunion concert of a band you once loved, or a candy shop selling a particular brand of candy that brings to mind childhood summers of sun and sea and all that other cliched crap, Broken Age is a well deserved chance to remember the old days and realize that they're still closer than they might sometimes feel—even if the second part is a little further away than intended.

Clever questing and a stand-out combat system make for an entertaining MMO that's as large as it is full of character.

Cyber Shadow isn't the peak of the genre, but it's a shuriken's throw away.

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

A charming meowtroidvania.

The scope is ultimately limited, but what a roaring spectacle of broken car bits Wreckfest manages.

Victoria 3's attractive historical sandbox is filled with potential, but it's on you to unlock it.

This old-school shooter suffers from a lack of 21st-century game design. [Nov 2005, p.72]

World of Warcraft Classic is still the exact same MMO I remembered losing so many nights to as a teenager, and 15 years later it's still just as fun and as frustrating as I'd hoped it would be.

A charming space sandbox that will keep you busy and entertained for hours.

An atmospheric world with deep, absorbing puzzles, Bonfire Peaks is thoughtful and charming—but without establishing its tricks, it risks leaving less fluent puzzlers behind.

A brilliant marriage of mechanics, level design and music that will be played and talked about for years to come.

DICE is certainly guilty of taking an “if it ain’t broke” attitude to creating BF4, but its modest multiplayer refinements alongside excellent maps are enough to make it one of our favorite current FPSes. A cynic would call BF4 a deluxe map pack in sequel’s clothing. If that’s your predisposition, know that it’s at least a wonderful map pack, one with enough variety, depth, and quality to survive a year of intense play.

A slow start gives way to a thought-provoking adventure in a remarkable setting. A fitting follow-up to a beloved RPG.

Grittier and more convincing than ever, Konami's soccer juggernaut excels on the pitch but barely tries off it.

A few technical issues aside, Quadrilateral Cowboy is a clever puzzle game bursting with personality.

Visually, Painkiller is sumptuous. I won't disclose the awe-inspiring setting of the last level except to say that it's one of the most dazzling displays I've ever seen in a game. [July 2004, p.76]

Vigorous and addictive. [May 2002, p.72]

A distinguished sim of the most fascinating and closely run campaing ever fought on the Western Front. Grognards will love its depth, and newbies can catch up fairly easily. [Mar 2004, p.77]

A PSP classic with systems that show age, but P3P's retelling remains a series best for its stylishly eerie world and intimate look at mortality.

The best Shadowrun to date, but the series is starting to go grey.

War Thunder rules the air but the lack of polish hurts, as does the dull ground warfare.

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

For SupCom owners, Forged Alliance is a must-have expansion. [Holiday 2007, p.70]

Wonderful writing resting on top of infirm foundations. Almost a classic, Sunless Sea falls a few leagues short of its final destination.

Telltale's character drama is as strong as ever, but Clementine's boldest dialogue options end up making her more capable than the adults around her.

Still untouchable on the footy front—but shelf life and that inconsistent 3D engine chip away at its tender Achilles.

It’s a welcome addition to the Crusader Kings family, but The Republic can’t quite overthrow its liege game’s throne.

Changing weather and festive traditions enrich the four-year-old life sim.

Relink offers fluid combat against inventive bosses in gorgeous landscapes—this is an essential ARPG.

This is still the most fun I've had with a singleplayer shooter since Bulletstorm, and the most substantially well-realised setting for a shooter campaign since Metro 2033. Its writing, music and environmental art all achieve far more than you might expect from the game about a preternaturally durable testicle with a revenge fetish and a gun in each hand. In a genre that is often overtaken by derivative or exploitative games, it's a pleasant surprise—a reminder of a time when a shooter's singleplayer campaign was the main event. A time when these games were made with attention to detail, care, and a bit of love.

Visually gorgeous and emotionally raw, True Colors is an incredible continuation of the Life is Strange series.

A smart, unembellished survival horror adventure which rewards patience and inspires introspection.

Technical issues marr an otherwise slick adventure. A must for Star Wars fans.

Isolation is a taut, confident, and electrifying horror game that perfectly captures the essence of Ridley Scott's legendary film. I just wish they'd been braver with the story.

A fiery test of awareness, speed and accuracy which upholds the series' devotion to teamwork and authenticity, but doesn't nail the asymmetry of modern era combat.

The Witcher is a fantastic RPG, and an amazing achievement for first-time Polish developer CD Projekt. [Jan 2008, p.82]

A powerfully evocative and beautiful subversion of point-and-click rote, but occasionally opaque and disorienting.

High skill cap melee combat is equally rewarding and daunting, though the archery and support roles could use some work.

An incredible world of demons, mystery, and vaporwave, Paradise Killer sets new standards for the detective genre.

The storyline is meaty but short by "Baldur's Gate" standards at around 30 hours, and although this iteration of Jade Empire gets the Special Edition moniker, it contains no new story content. [Apr 2007, p.48]

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

Flawed and overfamiliar, but still as joyously OTT and hilarious as ever.

Ashen's slant on the Soulslike subgenre isn't revolutionary, but is a wonderful example of the familiar formula executed well. It's thoughtful, gorgeous, challenging and a dream to explore.

The worlds are so huge, and the population spread so thin, that many players will find themselves feeling a bit lonely. Forming parties is easy, but it's often difficult to find players to join your cause.

The excellent story, still-superlative career and loot-based F1 World make for a convincing and gigantic F1 experience.

Even a terrible UI and choppy performance didn't spoil several dozen hours of numbers-go-up bliss.

​Stunningly rendered close-ups of nature make Unravel’s somber fable and irritating death traps just worth surviving.