Underneath the cosy exterior lies a complex, rewarding shopkeeping sim.

If you can overlook the minor niggles, Resident Evil comes highly recommended. [Nov 1997, p.215]

It'll remind even the most jaded RTS fan how much fun total carnage can be. [Holiday 2004, p.84]

This intense semi-sequel significantly ratchets up the enemy AI. [Holiday 2005, p.56]

An original and pleasantly demanding puzzle-style game that leaves you wanting slightly more and slightly more variety.

The story is lacking, but great environments, a new class, and more freedom—partially from the free patch—make for a better Diablo III.

A true wizard’s wheeze, and a fine return for one of gaming’s oldest tactical classics.

A clever spiritual successor to Civilization full of both novelties and big ideas.

Hrot's very final boss was a joke that didn't land for me after an unbroken string of ones that did, but otherwise it's pure boomer shooter excellence.

You'll be impressed by how much depth and fun it packs into its 10 hours. [Oct 2012, p.69]

By turns sentimental and ridiculous, Death Stranding 2 nonetheless offers best marriage of mechanics and meaning in Hideo Kojima's storied career.

The definitive version of Street Fighter IV, but not the best until its technical problems are solved.

Better than the original one in just about every respect. [Holiday 2001, p.79]

The best-yet marriage of third-person gunning and MOBA spellcasting.

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]

Smite makes the MOBA more approachable with smart tweaks to the formula and action RPG-inspired combat.

If you find real history a bit bland compared to glorious nonsense made up by strange British people then Warhammer is the Total War for you.

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

A slick RPG with superb tactical combat, a detailed world to explore, and a gleefully crude sense of humour.

A charming watery theme park management game where fish are friends, not food. Until they eat each other or you forget to feed them.

A handful of flaws, but this fun and addictive city-builder still climbs high.

A still excellent football game that has been overburdened by features and is hungry for some real innovation.

For its graphics, and those stunning action sequences that you'll be boring your buddies with for weeks, Max Payne 2 is a definite must-have for action fans. But it's not quite the revolution tht made "Max Payne" a must-have for everyone. [Holiday 2003, p.124]

At its best when the screen is full of enemies, Amid Evil is a badass monster mash.

An excellent remake, prequel, and game in its own right—Crisis Core has it all.

If you've never played an Oddworld, this is the best place to start. [Apr 2015, p.56]

A sprawling survival game in a beautiful subterranean world.

An emotive story that is equal parts terrifying and traumatic.