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]

F.E.A.R. 2 fails to innovate, which would make it merely a respectable but forgettable shooter if not for some good scares. [Apr 2009, p.80]

For $20, this European import is quite a steal, and should provide plenty of hours of heated gameplay. [Nov 2003, p.112]

Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?! is as stressful and satisfying as searing the perfect sirloin.

Hilarious, bursting with charm, and satisfying to play. Untitled Goose Game is a winger.

Packaged with the rest of the Master Chief Collection, it’s an easy way to hop in and see what all the fuss was about 20 years ago. If you’ve spent the last 20 years moulding Halo PC into a custom content chimaera, it’s a harder sell. What Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary is offering a clean slate.

This second attempt isn't going to convince anyone who wasn't won over by the first game, but for newcomers, anyone picking this up is still likely to be impressed by the TV presenters, impressive driver likenesses and depth of team simulation. Still, those key areas of racing and car damage need more obvious improvement next year or the series might start to flounder. Sadly, as with those infamous Mercedes sidepods, the new 'multiple lines' feature really isn't much of a step forward at all and it might be wise to revert to something a little more traditional sooner rather than later.

Beautiful and challenging, but the relentless and over complicated micromanagement can be exhausting. [Jun 2010, p.76]

Rainbow Six Siege is an accessible and deeply satisfying shooter that rewards planning and teamwork over a quick trigger finger.