Even amidst the farming sim renaissance, Roots of Pacha cultivates a charming, community-driven vision of the Stone Age that’s endlessly satisfying and always enchanting.

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.